Streaming Concert_#378: Roots Cafe: James Von Lenz & Geoffrey Himes
Tony Denikos and Geoffrey Himes
Recorded on 11/14/21
THE ROOTS CAFÉ SINGER-SONGWRITER SERIES PRESENTS:
AN EVENING OF PANDEMIC SONGS FROM
JAMES VON LENZ & GEOFFREY HIMES
Two of Maryland’s top songwriters unveil the songs
they wrote during the 2020-2021 lockdown
The covid pandemic shut down most live performances around the world for 15 months. Some artists sulked; some hosted live streams from their homes, and some restocked their catalogue with newly written compositions. James Von Lenz and Geoffrey Himes did a lot of the latter, writing dozens and dozens of songs during the lockdown. They won’t be able to play all of them during this special concert at An Die Musik, but they can showcase their favorites from that period of enforced solitude and unexpected creativity.
JAMES VON LENZ: - Whether performing as a solo artist or as a principal singer-songwriter in the much-loved Baltimore bands Doc Pine & The Respect He Deserves, The Thorn Apples, and Voodoo Pharmacology, James von Lenz (Doc Pine) combines old, creepy Appalachian music, off kilter honky-tonk, murder ballads, yodeling, and down-and-out blues stomps. He claims his songs “have been filtered through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal, which imparts a distinct smoothness to the music.” Doc hails from the suburban wastelands of Crofton, Maryland, and his band, Doc Pine & the The Respect He Deserves, released their debut, outlaw-country album “Welcome To The Victory Lounge” this year. www.facebook.com/james.vonlenz
GEOFFREY HIMES: - Though he is best known as a music critic for the Washington Post, American Songwriter, Baltimore City Paper, Nashville Scene, Jazz Times, No Depression, Paste and many more, Geoffrey Himes is also a longtime singer-songwriter who has co-written songs with Si Kahn, Fred Koller, Walter Egan, Sonia Rutstein, Billy Kemp, Stephen Wade, Jim Patton, Tony Denikos, Alan MacEwan, James Von Lenz, Ed Pettersen, Andrew Grimm, Bob Kannenberg and others. As the founder of the Roots Café, he has served since 2008 as the host of Maryland’s best singer-songwriter series. http://www.facebook.com/RootsCafeBaltimore
Streaming cost is $12
Donations are welcomed.