Ten music enthusiasts gathered at a diner in Westminster, California for the March 2017 edition of the Songsalive! Orange County Monthly Songwriting Workshop. Our Guest Speaker was the incomparable JoAnn Braheny, who brought her years of experience in many aspects of the music industry to share with us. Six songwriters presented their works for discussion tonight. Bob Winter started things off with a heart-tugging song about how simple projects can bring families together in trying times. Joyce Melton turned things around with a whole different kind of love: A boot-scootin' country song of dancing and desire! Gail Wasserman kept things in a country vein with a song (written with Paul Rasmusson) about the craziness that can come with a bad break-up. Kate Albright had a literally brand-new song about the underprivileged who finally raise their voice. On the other hand, Kip Corley's song of love and mortality was one that he has presented before and since re-worked -- and it nearly had everyone in the room in tears. Finally, Gil Mosard presented what he called "his first protest song", and it was a stirring reflection on life in America that many people present said had some of his best word-play to date.
​After the song critiques (and dinner, thanks to the Goldenwest Diner), JoAnn Braheny had a chance to get up and speak. Her subject was Career Paths In The Music Industry, and interestingly she was able to tie that idea together with the story of her own varied career in music! The first female DJ on pop radio in Atlanta, Georgia, she was able to dovetail that into working in A & R, music publishing, music supervision, and many other aspects of the industry which have given her an impressive and large group of contacts -- plus a wealth of resources that she uses herself in her consulting and other musical activities. Add to it her friendly and helpful personality and you have an evening that left everyone feeling great about their future in music! -Rod O’Riley

NAME OF NEXT EVENT: Songsalive! Orange County Songwriter Showcase
DATE OF NEXT EVENT: April 11th, 2017
TIME: 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Sam Ash Music Store, 14200 Beach Blvd, Westminster, CA 92683
COST: FREE!
SHOWCASE ARTISTS: Tim Griffin
More information at www.songsalive.org/calendar

On Sunday, February 19 2017, Songsalive! continued it’s monthly songwriter workshop by featuring hit songwriter, producer and publisher, Clay Drayton. Clay covered a favorite topic of his, writing strong verses and what to look for He also covered what the difference is between a hook and chorus. Clay fielded questions throughout the afternoon from a very attentive audience. -Rik Lawrence

NAME OF NEXT EVENT: Songsalive! Workshop

DATE OF NEXT EVENT: March 19, 2017
TIME: 12PM – 3PM
LOCATION: The Cahuenga General Store
COST: Free for Pro members

Speaker: TBA
Topic: TBA
More information at www.songsalive.org/calendar

ORANGE COUNTY SONGSALIVE! MARCH SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
The Month O' Green comes alive in song!
Listen to original music by two of our amazing singer/songwriters.
WHEN: SECOND TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH
NEXT: Tuesday, March 14th, 2017
TIME: Starts 7:30 PM.
WHERE: SAM ASH MUSIC STORE
14200 Beach Blvd.
Westminster, CA 92683
http://www.myspace.com/37samash
COST: FREE and open to the public. Join us for an hour of free music, free coffee, and free snacks!
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ARTISTS PERFORMING:
Bobbo Byrnes
Singer & Strummer Bobbo Byrnes has been writing, recording and touring for over 2 decades. He's been compared to Springsteen and The Replacements, he's won awards, released 7 cds, he's fallen off of 2 stages and was once hit by a bus. He is inspired by an open road, a jangly guitar, any paragraph by Kerouac, a nice pair of boots and long rambling lists of things.


http://www.thefallenstars.com/
Doug Schmude
Doug Schmude is an Americana Singer / Songwriter who combines rock, folk and country with a common thread of storytelling and vividly drawn characters. His latest record, Ghosts of the Main Drag, is a collection of 10 original tracks that should fit well within a playlist of artists such as Son Volt, Wilco, Jason Isbell, Reckless Kelly, Chris Knight and Tom Petty. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Doug spent most of his formative years in Oklahoma and Texas and has called 8 states home. He honed his songwriting in the late 1990's while performing in and around Boulder, Colorado. In 2000, he relocated to Nashville to further develop his craft. While in Tennessee, he was nominated for several awards through his work with the acoustic blues duo Hot Foot Delta. Currently based out of Southern California, his music is littered with souvenirs of the places he lived and seen. His debut CD, A New Century, was nominated for an Orange County Music Award. http://www.dougschmude.net/
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APPLY TO PERFORM AT A FUTURE SHOWCASESEEKING SINGER/SONGWRITERS TO PERFORM:
* You must be able to guarantee a min. of 3-5 guests.
* 6 song acoustic or electric set (small ensemble)
* You must be a Songsalive! Pro member. Join on our website.* Existing Pro Members log into BACKSTAGE from our website and click "Apply To Showcase"
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LINKS
More info and RSVP for this event:
http://www.meetup.com/songsaliveThe Songsalive! website
http://www.songsalive.org

Once again seven songwriters gathered at the Goldenwest Diner in Westminster, California to discuss the seven songs we had brought along for this month’s Songwriting Workshop. Last month we gave each other a songwriting idea to try and write a socially conscious lyric by this workshop. Bob Winter got us started right off with a rockin’ song about how groups of people can take on a “we right, they wrong” attitude that starts off fun and very quickly becomes sociopathic. Joyce Melton took things in a different direction with a country song of unrequited love that was downright funky at the same time. Lucius Austin continued that line of thinking with a dark electronic song about feeling VERY ambivalent towards your lover. Turning things around completely, Kate Albright invoked the spirit of Tom Lehrer with a jaunty if sarcastic piano tune about the damning power of Conformity. Host Rod O'Riley kept the humor going with his bouncy song describing how the music press sometimes ends up celebrating performers who have proven themselves to be Not Very Nice.  Kip Corley turned things around again with a beautiful, philosophical guitar ballad. And Gil Mosard finished up the night with more acoustic guitar, this time a story song of the musical journey of Bob Dylan.
NAME OF NEXT EVENT: Songsalive! Orange County Songwriter Showcase
DATE OF NEXT EVENT: March 14th, 2017
TIME: 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Sam Ash Music Store, 14200 Beach Blvd, Westminster, CA 92683
COST: FREE!
SHOWCASE ARTISTS: Bobbo Byrnes, Doug Schmude
More info at www.songsalive.org/calendar

Upcoming Songsalive! Event
NEW YORK SONGSALIVE! SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE & OPEN MIC
Stick out your tongue and taste the talent!
Listen to original music by our amazing singer/songwriters.
WHEN: EVERY TUESDAY!!!
TIME: Starts 8:30PM
WHERE: AMERICAN TRASH
1471 First Avenue (Btw. 76th and 77th Streets)
New York, NY 10075
www.nycamericantrash.com
COST: $5 Suggested Donation. Open to the public. Come support original music in an intimate setting!
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LINKS
More info and RSVP for this event: www.meetup.com/songsaliveeastcoast
The Songsalive! website: www.songsalive.org