It’s good to be home from a month-long stay in Manhattan, the highlight of which was near the end of my sojourn, a mid-morning subway trip, guitar in hand, to Lincoln Square, where I visited the impressive ASCAP offices, had my picture made to clear security, and met with one of the Vice Presidents about the progress of my music.  I really felt like a kid on a field trip that memorable day when I realized something very important about the direction of my life.

Now, I’m back to playing the weekly shows with my good friend and fellow songwriter, Jimmy Pizzitola, here in Houston, and then I’ll be off to Nashville in September for the Americana Music Conference, where I’ll be meeting with the team who are handling the release of Perfectly Legal just after the conference.  It’s been about two years’ worth of songwriting, rehearsing, recording, mixing, mastering, manufacturing, copyrighting, registering UPC codes and ISRC codes, registering titles with ASCAP, setting things up with the distributor, setting things up with the publicist, promoters, and producers—all of this going on behind the scenes, while traveling and playing shows, live and on the air.  It is truly a road less traveled, but I’m so glad I ventured down this winding, wayward path to self-discovery.  One of my favorite Edward Albee quotes sums up my experience pretty well:  “Sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly.”  I’m so glad I decided to go that distance out of my way a few years ago.  The alternative would be unthinkable now. 

And this brings me to the third song in the installment of eight that I’ve been posting on my Web site over the last month or so.  These Days is the third track on the new release, recorded out at Jimmy Pizzitola’s enchanting 1940’s Texas ranch house/studio.  It’s about a life never lived, dreams never realized.  I’d say the mood is “haunting.”  Sometimes I think Jimmy’s place is haunted by the ghosts of all those by-gone souls who came to hear the music of the roving Texas bands that graced its stage back in the long-ago days.  I could swear they were there with me behind that mic when we captured These Days on a magical first take.  Go to glennabell.com and give it a listen.  What do YOU think, my dear reader?  Y’all come!

And I’ll be doing two more on Saturday afternoon (August 14) from 1-4 and 4-7 EST. The Perfectly Legal pre-release party with Big Kev will spill over into the Free Form show with Ralph Drake.  We’ll be spinning tracks from Perfectly Legal, talking about the making of the album, and I'll play a song or two live on the air.  Sounds like fun.  You can also listen to these shows online at http://www.wxlvradio.com/station/

All of the details are on the calendar page of my Web site at http://www.glennabell.com

And I’ve also posted the second song from Perfectly Legal, so when you visit glennabell.com the first thing that you’ll see is the gorgeous cover art by Theo Anderson and Natali Leduc, and the first thing that you’ll hear is my bare-bones a cappella rendering of the 1963 Sam Cooke hit, Lost and Lookin,’ which he recorded with the minimal backing of only a standup bass.  Go to the music page, click on the song title, and while the song is playing you can read my impressions of Lost and Lookin’ and why I wanted to record it.  Keep listening, and you will hear Frankie and Johnny, which was the first installment in the song series that I’m posting from Perfectly Legal.  Click on the song title on the music page, and you can listen while you read why I decided to record this American folk classic “out at the ranch” in Stafford, Texas.

Y’all come! 

And I’m excited to say that my new album, Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder, is hot off the press.  It will be released in September through Burnside, but I delivered some advance copies to KPFT 90.1 FM here in Houston about a week ago, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised to hear almost all of the songs on one program or another so far.  This morning, it was The Cougar Anthem on the Blues on the Move show, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. V and their sidekick, Nancy.  I really love to listen online at kpft.org on Sundays while I drink my coffee, but I didn’t expect to hear myself today when Mrs. V said there was a song going out to the Houston-based music writer, Roger Wood—a song by one of his colleagues.  That caught my attention because I myself happen to be one of Roger’s colleagues, and I was thinking, “now, who could that song be by?”  When I heard the first strains of The Cougar Anthem emanating through my speakers, it was quickly revealed to me that it was ME!  Hah!  It’s a lot of fun to tune in to community radio.  There’s so much great music to discover that you would never hear on mainstream stations.  If you’d like to preview the new songs from Perfectly Legal, you can call and request them at the KPFT studio: 713-526-5738.

I’ve also been spending some time posting new photos and the first new song installment at http://www.glennabell.com/.  The first thing that you will see is the gorgeous album cover by Theo Anderson (photography) and Natali Leduc (design).  And the first thing that you will hear is my rendition of the American folk song, Frankie and Johnny, which is the first track on Perfectly Legal.  Frankie and Johnny is the initial installment of the full album, which I will post one song at a time until the release in September.  And there’s a hidden surprise that you can unveil by clicking the title, Frankie and Johnny, on my Music page:  it’s a little write up that I posted about the song’s history and what I like best about performing it.  Perfectly Legal will be available in retail outlets and through digital download this Fall, but there are a limited number of pre-release copies for sale for fifteen dollars, plus tax, at Sig’s Lagoon record store in Houston, right next door to the Continental Club on Main Street at Alabama.  Autographed advance copies are also available for fifteen dollars, plus two dollars’ postage, by emailing me at Glenna@glennabell.com

I’m busy packing for a big month-long trip to New York where I’ll be staying somewhere that was described to me as a “fantastic apartment in a great location.”  It’s in Manhattan, a block or so from Central Park, and I can hardly wait to have the time to focus on my writing while I’m there.  I’ll also be doing some radio appearances and live shows, debuting the new songs from Perfectly Legal up East.  I dedicated this new record to Edward Albee, who was my mentor when I was in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston.  Mr. Albee wrote Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and won the Pulitzer three times.  He has been such an inspiration to me in so many ways.  I’m looking forward to seeing him while I’m in New York.

I’m sure that there are many more adventures ahead on this road less traveled, and I thank you again for joining me.  Before I close, I want to let you know about a very special show that I’m doing here in Houston at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck on Tuesday, July 20, the night before I fly to Newark.  A few months ago, I received an invitation to perform with someone whose song writing I’ve admired since I was a teenager:  Shake Russell!  Shake wrote the haunting duet, Deep in the West, which was recorded by Waylon Jennings and his wife, Jessi Colter.  Shake also penned another one of my all-time favorites, You've Got a Lover, which Ricky Skaggs took to the top of the Country Music Chart in the 1980s.  And Shake has composed a solid body of work over the course of a career in music that spans several decades.  A genuine troubadour—I’m honored to share a stage and a song swap with Shake and award-winning Texas singer-songwriter, Kelly McGuire.  Check out the details at the Mucky Duck Web site: http://www.mcgonigels.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=229&catid=32 

And y'all come!

 Hey, Everybody!

 Just a quick reminder about the Houston Press Music Awards:  I would surely appreciate it if you would take five minutes to nominate me for “Best Folk” and “Best Country” at http://polls.houstonpress.com/polls/hou/musicawards2010/ if you haven’t already done that.

 Also, I’m pleased to announce that my friend and fellow songwriter, Matt McDonald, invited me to join him again tomorrow evening (Tuesday, May 25) at one of Houston's newer venues, The Broken Spoke over on the recently revamped Washington Avenue strip between the Heights and Downtown Houston.  Don't let the name throw you.  When I first heard of the place, I thought it would be what one would naturally imagine in Texas—the old wagon wheel sign out front with the "broken spoke."  But, in fact, this is a Belgian cafe with good food (including fresh clams!) and a romantic ambience that is comfortable and yet not stuffy or highbrow.  Check out the moderately-priced menu on their Web site at http://www.brokenspokecafe.com

 And check out Matt, too.  His music mesmerized me the last time I heard him!  Here's a link to his site: http://www.myspace.com/mattmcdonaldsmusic

 The show runs from 8:30-10 p.m. and I will be playing from 9-9:30.  Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

And another Avant Garden Wednesday with Jimmy Pizzitola is right around the corner.  We’re there from 8-10:30 p.m. most of the time, but every now and then there’s a private party, so you might want to email me first at glenna@glennabell.com.  The Avant Garden Web site is at http://www.avantgardenhouston.com/

 We’re really enjoying building this weekly gathering of people who like songs, and we’re happy with the enthusiastic responses we’ve been getting from such a friendly bunch of listeners.  I hope that you will keep our Wednesday shows in mind if you’re in the area.  Word of mouth is how these things develop, so please mention it to anybody you might know who would appreciate a relaxed good time and original songs with some off-the-beaten-path covers thrown in at one of Houston’s established artistic spaces—the charming Avant Garden, which the New York Times called “one of Houston’s must-visit venues.”  Avant Garden is located in Houston’s Montrose arts district at the corner of Westheimer and Taft, and there is a parking lot, as well as parking behind the venue on Lovett Street near the KPFT radio station.  Admission is free, but I believe you have to be at least twenty-one years old to attend since they serve a variety of coffee drinks, etc. but also a nice selection of better beers, wines, and liqueurs.

 And speaking of the New York Times, a place I love to play—Jimmy’s family’s restaurant, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue—was written up in the NYT Travel guide just a couple of weeks ago.  It has officially been named the restaurant of choice for bar-b-cue in Houston, which confirmed my “good taste.”  Hah!  Here’s an excerpt that I posted on my Web site before the NYT review came out:

 Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue joint over on Shepherd near I-10 is the kind of place that goes way back in Houston, just like the family who owns it.  The neighborhood's certainly changed in the many decades since Pizzitola's opened, but its 70-year-old smoker is still spreading the attractive smells of meats cooked over East Texas hickory.  With the rampage take over of town home complexes, chain restaurants and bars on the "new" Washington strip nearby, Pizzitola's is a welcomed reminder of "THE REAL HOUSTON"—the kind of spot to take folks from out of town, one of the last restaurants in Houston that actually feels like Texas.  I find myself making my way to Pizzitola's just about every week when I'm in town, so Jimmy and I decided to make it official, and I'll be sitting in more regularly this summer on Thursday evenings between 7 and 8 p.m. and on Saturdays between noon and 2:30 or so.  A variety of good players from bands around town often show up and accompany Jimmy, and local songwriters like Matt Harlan who was recently on the Billboard chart also perform when they're not on the road.  I'm really having fun doing these family-friendly shows, and I hope that you will join us for supper one Thursday evening or for lunch on a Saturday.  There is plenty of parking, and the bar-b-cue is THE BEST.  In May 2010, the New York Times said that Pizzitola's is THE place to go for the real deal in Houston.  See for yourself at http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/travel/09hours.html?hpw

 Now, you can't beat THAT.

 Pizzitola’s is located on Shepherd near the I-10 freeway, across from The Cadillac Bar.  Check out the Pizzitola's Web site at http://www.pizzitolas.com

 Hear tracks from Jimmy Pizzitola's new release at http://www.poetontherun.net

 And y’all come!

So Jimmy and I are keeping it real in Houston.  Playing our songs and sticking to our Texas roots here in the inner city as the Houston Press Music Awards evolve year by year, more categories for the new “urban genres” and fewer nominations in the tried and true areas like zydeco, blues, folk, and country.  At the Awards ceremony last year, there was even talk that some genres may be eliminated altogether due to lack of public interest.  Well, I feel honored to have been nominated for several Houston Press Music Awards in the roots categories (Folk and Country) over the last five years or so, thanks to the support of many of you who took a few minutes of your time to write me in.  And I want to keep being a contender, a vibrant part of a vibrant scene here in Houston, so I would certainly appreciate it if you would nominate me for “Best Folk” and “Best Country” again this year at the link, below:

http://polls.houstonpress.com/polls/hou/musicawards2010/

Thank you.  And to close, here’s a thought for the day.  Just something off the top of my head:  It is fun to participate in a process.  Life is a process, I’ve learned through experience.  And so is my journey in music.  I hope that these letters have brought you some sense of sharing this time with me here on the road less traveled.  I’ve enjoyed that good feeling myself through different endeavors of mine, such as observing my students at Houston Community College develop and grow as writers and as individuals. There is a unique pleasure in seeing others succeed at what they feel passionately about through hard work and time.  And to somehow be a small part of that success is even better.  My good friend, Manisha Thakor, once wanted to be a writer and publish a book.  About ten years ago, we would get together for coffee at our favorite coffee house in Houston, and we would brainstorm and discuss copies and revisions that she was working so diligently to “perfect.”  This Friday (May 14), Manisha will be a featured guest on the Rachel Ray talk show, which is poised to replace Oprah!  Manisha is now a twice-published author of two successful books on financial management and a guest on a plethora of talk shows.  On the Rachael Ray show, she will be helping a couple who is having financial angst.  In Houston it airs on KPRC (Channel 2) at 2 p.m.  To find where it's airing in other markets click here:  http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show-info/showtimes/

If you want to know more or sign up to receive financial tips from Manisha, you can go to:  http://www.ManishaThakor.com

Manisha has been a source of insight and inspiration to me through the years, and I believe that you would find her to be genuine, accessible, and educational.  I plan to tune in on Friday, and I hope that you will, too.  Y’all come!

On Tuesday evening, April 27 between 8 and 10 p.m. I’ll be joining songwriter, Matt McDonald, who’s on his way to Austin, at one of Houston's newer venues, The Broken Spoke, over on the recently revamped Washington Avenue strip.  Don't let the name confuse you.  When I first heard of the place, I thought it would be what one would naturally imagine in Texas -- the old wagon wheel sign out front with the "broken spoke."  But, in fact, this is a Belgian cafe with very good food and atmosphere.  I think the idea of the broken spoke relates more to cycling, which is the direction the new Heights seems to be heading--condo's, SUV's, and a bunch of health conscious folks who are on that "upwardly mobile" track.  Check out the reasonably priced menu on their Web site at www.brokenspokecafe.com and stop by Tuesday evening if you're in the area.  Matt and I will be playing and singing up a storm!

I'm also excited about doing a residency with my friend, Jimmy Pizzitola, at Houston's popular nightspot, Avant Garden Social Patio, Bar, & Lounge on the Westheimer curve in Houston's Montrose arts District.  Though a well kept secret (Avant Garden doesn't advertise), the New York Times named it one of the top “must visit” spots in Houston.  We'll kick it off there on the first three Wednesdays in May from 8-10:30 p.m.  I'll be playing songs from Perfectly Legal, as well as some Johnny Cash covers like Get Rhythm and Sunday Morning Coming Down, plus a few by Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams, Sr. and whoever else I might decide to throw into the mix.  I’m really looking forward to this chance to work with Jimmy, who produced three of the songs on Perfectly Legal and who will also accompany me on drums and keyboards at Avant Garden.  Also, Jimmy will be playing some of my favorites by Sam Baker, Del Reeves, and Blaze Foley, as well as the GREAT originals from his new release, Poet on the Run.  The famous music critic, Joe Nick Patoski recently wrote, "I'm digging the Jimmy P... he covers Blaze great, but it's his songs that close the deal for me.  Between the sentimental romance and the vivid imagery in Poet On The Run, Jimmy P.'s got it going on" (March 5, 2010).  I agree wholeheartedly.  In fact, Poet on the Run is on my list of "top albums ever recorded."  No kidding.  It's really THAT GOOD.  Visit Jimmy's site and listen to some tracks at http://www.poetontherun.net and check out Avant Garden at www.avantgardenhouston.com

Y’all come!

“The legacy of Sugar Hill Recording Studios is now documented for posterity with the release of the book, House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/Sugar Hill Recording Studios. House of Hits chronicles the past 69 years of music making history at the legendary facility. The book was written by chief engineer Andy Bradley along with acclaimed music historian Roger Wood and gives readers a "behind the console" view, starting with the humble beginnings of founder, Bill Quinn in 1941 WWII Houston.  Quinn—a recording engineer who pre-dated the home recording studio phenomenon by some 65 years—started a one-room operation that has survived to become the multi-studio facility that exists today. The book chronicles the growth and changes in the recording industry spanning seven decades of Texas music history.  Sugar Hill's roster boasts luminary artists, including Lightnin' Hopkins, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Bobby Blue Bland, Junior Parker, Clifton Chenier, Sir Douglas Quintet, 13th Floor Elevators, Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm, Kinky Friedman, Ray Benson, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams, Beyoncé and Destiny's Child.  Check out the article in theHouston Chronicle, Sunday edition:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/6931371.html

In the meantime, I’m also excited about an event here in Houston tomorrow evening (Saturday, April 3) from 6:30 ‘til “whenever.”  The artist, Natali Leduc, my friend and neighbor here in the “Segundo Barrio” at the edge of downtown, is throwing her annual shindig at her warehouse on Hutcheson at the corner of Navigation, heading toward the ship channel.  Natali is one of my favorite “characters” of all time, a Canadian who expatriated to Houston to complete a Ph.D. in French at Rice University, all the while establishing herself as a well-respected figure in the Houston art scene through her sculpture and her “award-winning” art cars (one of which was the first-ever Pennzoil-sponsored art car), as well as her participation in various underground theater and music events around town.  Natali graduated from Rice with her doctorate, landed a coveted position at Tulane, and promptly decided to return to Houston to follow her true calling, enrolling for an MFA in Fine Arts at the University of Houston where she belongs.  Natali is a shining example of the saying, “to thyself be true,” and a great inspiration to me.  Natali’s annual puppet shows are always very popular, and this year she’s doing Florville and Courval with puppets that she made herself from chickens.  Yes, I said CHICKENS!  Natali’s ever-fresh, creative spirit and whimsical humor never cease to keep me entertained . . .  Here’s an excerpt from her invitation—the rest (including directions) is on the calendar page at glennabell.com:

FLORVILLE AND COURVAL

Puppets, music, food

“Please join us for an evening of compelling puppets, meaningful music, and food (hopefully flavorsome food) on Saturday April 3, starting at 6:30 p.m.  Another wonderful, free event at the American Consumer Consortium Headquarters.

Florville and Courval

This PUPPET show is based on the Marquis de Sade’s short story “Florville and Courval,” written around 1778.  Do not expect obscenity… Rather: beautiful psychological disturbance.

Music by GLENNA BELL and JIMMY PIZZITOLA - and maybe by Iron Maiden (they have not confirmed yet) . . .

It’s a BYOC event (BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR); you might also consider bringing your own beverage and your own ideas.  If you stick long enough, you might get some free food!

It will be an outdoor event if the weather is nice; if it’s not, we’ll bring it indoors.

Oh!  I want to go, but how do I get there?  Be it by bicycle, car, foot, truck, airplane, elephant ride, magic carpet, etc. you can access the American Consumer Consortium Headquarters: 341 N. Hutcheson (Houston, TX 77003)

And you can send us letters now!”

Y’all come!

Tomorrow night (Saturday, February 27), I’ll be taking the stage from 8:30-9 p.m. with standup bass player extraordinaire, Nick Gaitan, to celebrate Johnny Cash’s birthday at the Continental Club over on Main Street at Alabama.  This event was initiated by Austin radio personality, Rowdy Tijmes, a few years ago and has gone over so well out there that he’s taking it to Dallas and Houston this year.  I’ve really had a great time playing the one in Austin the last couple of years and am looking forward to being part of the first Cash Bash right here at home.  There’ll be a good line up of acts from Houston, Dallas, and Austin, including the Craig Kinsey Band (of Houston’s ultra-popular Sideshow Tramps), as well as “Fluke” Holland, who was Johnny Cash’s drummer.  I’ve been getting lots of hits on my Web site that are coming from the Cash Bash link, so people are taking note and a strong turnout should be expected.  The doors open at 8, and I go on from 8:30-9.  More information is posted at http://www.johnnycashbash.com/band-lineup 

 Y’all come!