Snickerdoodles, Cosmic Betterment & the Unheard Imagination
Or, hanging with the cool kids, Art Houses, and other news
Yesterday, we had the honor of hosting a group of seniors from the Lipscomb University Commercial Music Program at home. Along with their profs, Brown Bannister and Casey McGinty, Andi and I gathered with the students in our living room for a conversation (more a monologue—as I suppose it was meant to be). Brown had asked if I would speak from my life in music and otherwise, hoping that story would do its unique expository work and play. He asked that I begin with the story of a turtle in a Chinese food box.
Andi's contribution in presence, word, and snickerdoodle was of no less importance. This was driven home to me as I saw one of the young women hug Andi at the end. I've realized that when someone bears witness to your own hopes and dreams, articulated or tacit, you might want to hug them—even if you're not much of a hugger.
As has happened many times in my life, I was struck by the bright light the young bear. We all know the brutality of our world, the circumstances that snuff the light from children, from teenagers. But yesterday, I was surrounded by the curious and cared for, the safe and sound. Each student took notes as a part of their collective creative process—the act of listening and writing—memorializing some butterfly dust that floated into their frontal lobe. The dust of meaning that might aid in making a life.
Thirty minutes before our guests arrived, I was resting my eyes. "Don't go to sleep now," warned Andi. I needed a minute. I'd been in the studio working on music: a new song that son Sam and I were collaborating on; another, a duet with the extraordinary fiddle and mandolin player, Andy Leftwich; for a third song, I had asked trumpeter/composer Matt White (professor at the University of South Carolina) to improvise two solos with my piano part in the mix and two without it. Why do this?
The piano part broadcasts the harmony assuredly. What if Matt improvised over a track with less harmonic assurance? Not a musician? Feel free to substitute something like informational assurance here or the certainty of knowing what's what.
I've seen it, heard it, often. Sometimes, when the harmony is less assured, the melody is freer. We'll see. Matt should have something for me to hear later this afternoon or in the morning.
What if I like his playing best without my piano part—one I spent valuable time creating?
If so, my time and the part will not have been wasted. It was used and enjoyed. It just won't be heard in the final mix.
The nuance of unheard imagination or creativity affecting that which is heard is what I hope the Lipscomb seniors grasp intellectually and put into practice. "Non-neutrality," I told them (among many other things)—like seen and unseen worlds.
As they gathered to leave, we gave everyone a copy of our book, Why Everything That Doesn't Matter, Matters So Much. "Non-neutrality, like the title of the book," Brown observed. Yep. Indeed.
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Contact: charliepeacockmusic@icloud.com
Welcome and What’s To Come
I'd like to welcome all new subscribers to the Substack newsletter. Between now and some point after the release of my memoir Roots & Rhythm in February 2025, I'll be leaving social media. This has been in the planning for well over a year. Until then, you will continue to see/hear me on social media vigorously inviting friends and followers to find me at https://charliepeacock.com and here at Substack. Between these two, you'll find all the up-to-date news and writing. The Instagram and Facebook pages will stay up, but at some point (possible April 2025) will be inactive. I understand that these platforms are significant to many of you. In a future post, I'll explain why I'm making this change. I so appreciate you coming along with me.
Music & Meaning
If you've yet to hear it, please avail yourself of this brand new Music & Meaning podcast with singer-songwriter and Art House North cofounder Sara Groves. Click image for CT Media, Spotify, Apple and Megaphone listening options.
Art House News
For those in the DFW area, Art House Dallas is bursting with inspiring opportunities to learn more about living an artful life for the cosmic betterment of all. While we're at it, let's post some of the beautiful happenings Sara Groves and Art House North are up to. If you're in Minnesota or the Twin Cities area, I hope you'll join in with this great community.
On October 25 & 26, Sara and friends will be playing through here landmark recording Add To The Beauty at Art House North and would love to see you there.
Tickets are on sale now for the 20th Anniversary Concerts on Friday, October 25 at 7:30PM and Saturday, October 26 7:30PM
AHN Artist Groups have launched! This is the second year of our artist groups at AHN. Artists meet from 7-9PM AT AHN. Registration is offered through our online store this season. Please click on the image to find out more and to register for the fall season (4 sessions).
A Little Light on a Dark Night: Creatives in filmmaking, theater, and other avenues of the performing arts meet on the 1st Monday of the month (adjusting September for Labor Day!) to mingle and draw inspiration from one another, view current projects, and dream up possibilities! Fall dates are: Sept 9, Oct 7, Nov 4, and Dec 2
Open Write Night - Writers meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7-9PM to work on current projects or begin new works: Sept 10, Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10
Visual Artist Gatherings - Join us for painting, drawing, and other visual art mediums (whatever you want to work on!). We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month from 7-9PM: Sept 16, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16
Save the date for Songwriter Saturday on November 9th from 9AM-12PM. Coffee, scones and music making in the morning at Art House North with Sara Groves. We are looking forward to offering this event once again! Registration will be offered mid-September.
Get your tickets now for Bucket Brigade’s brand new show, written by Jeremiah Gamble.
Survivors of the Fire: Stories and Songs remembering the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894
September 20th-October 12th at Art House North
Tiered Ticket Prices: $25 (discount price), $35 (standard price), $50 (additional support). Only $20 for opening weekend! tickets and info
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Art House North, 793 Armstrong Ave W, St Paul, MN 55102, USA
Thank you MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE for the glowing review!
EVERY KIND OF UH-OH. The button below will take you to all the popular streaming sites, to Amazon and iTunes to purchase MP3s, and to Dolby/Atmos mixes at Apple. Note: Lyrics are now posted HERE.
Vinyl, CDs, t-shirts and signed bundles are available from UTR Mediat at the button below.
HOWEVER, UTR’s shop is not able to ship outside the United States. Not a problem. We are still willing to ship it to you, just not through the store. But, it is crazy expensive.
If this applies to you, visit the store below, decide what you’d like, and send a request to charliepeacockmusic@icloud.com —someone will contact you with instructions. Note: A $15 CD costs $15 to mail to Canada. A $75 bundle of items costs $75 to mail to The Netherlands. In short, an international purchase is approximately twice as much in cost. Ughhhhhh.
Hey Charlie, will the vinyl be available in stores? I checked out Yellow Racket in Chattanooga and they didn’t know it was available as they hadn’t seen an announcement about vinyl for stores.
Much love to you and Andi, Sam and Ruby, and the rest of the fam - I can’t wait to hear your duet with Andy!