Dan Garner

I Am Shreveport's 1st Registered Street Performer!

2011-11-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

Read Shreveport's new Street Performer Ordinance by clicking HERE....and HERE!

And so it goes...

2011-11-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Shreveport AllStars Rock Hospitality House

2009-12-27T12:40:00.001-08:00

The Shreveport AllStars, a wide array of local musicians, have been entertaining the patrons of Sister Margaret's Hospitality House each Saturday since the beginning of December. Last Saturday featured Victoria Williams, Heydun Kamp, Susan Garner, Howling Henry Robinson, Lane Bayliss, Brian Blade, Tracy Chappell, Bruce Flett and yours truly. Hospitality House is located in the historic Freeman-Harris Building at the corner of Pete Harris Drive & Fannin Street. They have served two warm meals a day, 364 days a year since 1983.
(photos: Barbara Beaird)

American

2009-12-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

Possibly my next release...

3 Flyers for Upcoming Gigs...

2009-11-03T17:58:00.001-08:00

I've Been Thinking About Sister Margaret McCaffrey...

2009-10-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

...and if you knew her you either loved her or you didn't.
I did.
She was the Mother Teresa of Shreveport.
Her name was Sister Margaret McCaffrey and she came to Shreveport in the early 60's to do the unheard of:
She provided warm breakfasts for schoolkids who usually didn't get any breakfast.
Sister Margaret made history in Shreveport by organizing the Poor Man's Supper that drew whites and blacks from many different religious denominations to the first citywide "Christian Service" event. Incredulity and pride marked that evening as Shreveporters, always separated by economic and cultural practices, supped soup and broke bread together.

In 1983 she opened up the Hospitality House in the old Cotton Club, down on Sprague street. It could hold about 60 people. She fed over 200 people a day in there, twice a day, 365 days a year.

She opened up a homeless shelter for men, a homeless shelter for women, a neighborhood clinic and numerous homes for homeless families. She was able to help people with their prescriptions, utilities, and transportation...and when other agencies could not help, due to restrictions of governmental funding, they sent them to Sister Margaret, who never took state or federal money. When the riverboat casinos came to town, offering to help, she refused them.

She had a clear vision of what was right and what was wrong. Poverty was wrong, ignoring people's dignity was wrong, gambling was wrong...
...killing, for any reason, was wrong.

In the 80's when the Gulf war began, she protested it with a group called Pax Christi. She protested the killing being done over there and signed a letter of apology to those people whose lives were being destroyed by our military.
WWJD?

This inflamed and galvanized folks in these parts. Counter- protesters took the placards calling for love and peace and threw them in the bayou.
Sister Margaret would not stand down...she never did.

I think that quality was what I admired most about her. No matter where the political winds of change blew, she was steadfast and unswerving.

In March of 1997 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and opted to go without treatment, but continued the day to day of her "Christian Service" work.
The last time I saw her, was in the hospital, reading "Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom".
She said she found it comforting.
I picked up a copy after she passed away.

That was ten years ago.

This Sunday, Nov. 1st, is All Saints Day and I'll be paying my respects to a Shreveport Saint, Sister Margaret McCaffrey.

Sunday November 8th is the date set for this year's Poor Man Supper and Christian Service — the organization that Sister Margaret founded to help the poor — will recognize Dr. Robert Jackson and the Martin Luther King Health Center (Shreveport, Louisiana's first free clinic and pharmacy which was opened in 1985 by Dr. Jackson & Sister Margaret) with its Sister Margaret McCaffrey Award.

The supper will be held at 6pm @ The First United Methodist Church on Texas Street, in Shreveport.

My New Film Diary

2009-08-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight I start a 3-night stint working as an extra on the re-make of STRAW DOGS by Rod Lurie, in Bossier City. I just finished reading Robert Rodriguez’s “Rebel Without A Crew” at about 4:am this morning, which is partly why I’m starting up this diary.

Last year I had decided to make a “no-budget” film to take advantage of the movie making that has been pouring through North Louisiana lately. I’m not sure what that advantage is, other than the local recognition and acceptance that, yes, a film can be made in North Louisiana, and that maybe it could catch the eye of someone who might be able to help me get the movie out there, once it is completed.

My idea was to use gear that I already own to create my film: two Canon GL2 video cameras, 3 lights, an assortment of wireless and hand held microphones and a Zoom digital audio recorder for redundant audio. I bought the gear right before I left my job at a local cable station (where I had worked for 21 years) which also included a digital video editing system called “The Kron” that immediately became obsolete the moment I bought it.

The film is “PLAN X FROM BEYOND” and is homage to the old no-budget sci-fi movies from the 50s. The germ of the idea came from a film I saw called “Lost Skeleton of Cadavra” which was shot on video and bumped up to film. The idea had been kicking around in my head for about a year and then one night my wife and I went to see a big screen showing of the movie “Plan 9 From Outer Space”…That night I decided on the title of my film and began working on script ideas.

My thinking was that this would be no-budget because I didn’t have any money, but I did have gear and creativity on my side. I also thought that I would shoot it with no real time schedule…just here and there as the winds and ways would allow. That has turned out not to be such a good idea.

I did some preliminary shooting at Big D’s Bar B Q of the opening dance party sequence (which subsequently got shut down by the police) but lost my wind, when my 2 main characters, my daughter and my son, left town to go back to college.

Since then I haven’t really picked up the cameras again.

Other ideas have wafted through my head for possible no-budget movies:

A period piece called “The Cross Lake Monster” based on a true story…

A movie about a couple of would be blues guys and their misadventures on the road to obscurity….

A film about an older guy in his mid fifties, trying to start a career as a singer/songwriter…

And the adventures of an out of work super hero with no real super powers trying to get back on top of his game…

These have all been “just ideas” with little to no development going on…a few false starts of scripts that have been lost to time.

Of course, my inner critic keeps yelling at me, “This is stupid! You’re almost 54 years old! This is a young man’s game! You’re just spinning your wheels.”

Then I read Rodriguez’s book and it inspired me again.

It inspired me not only to move forward on making my own no-budget movie, but it also inspired me to do it all myself and with a quick turn-around time to complete it.

I need a deadline, folks...

So for the next three nights I’ll be an extra on someone else’s movie and I’ll use my time developing and writing my script. At this moment, I’m not sure what it will be.

I’m making a list of things to carry with me in a small back pack.

Pens

Pads

Gum

Deck of cards

Business cards (in case I meet some folks who may be good to have in my movie)

Rodriguez’s book.

It’s beginning to rain…hope the production is still on for tonight.

The Sweet Spot...

2009-06-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

I left Tipitina's Foundation back in March to become a full-time musician. What was I thinking?
This:
If I could manage to increase my monthly gigs I could theoretically make more money performing music than working at my previous day job. This month I hit the sweet spot, i.e. I have officially surpassed what I would be making if I had stayed on with the foundation...and looking at my calendar I will hit the sweet spot again next month.
This is all possible because:
A) I have a very understanding wife.
B) Now I am able to take on gigs at unorthodox times during the day or night and sometimes both.

It is not the easiest work.
Each job is a compilation of finding the gig, getting the gig, setting up for the gig, playing the gig, tearing down after the gig and if everything goes right, being able to get the gig again. And this process is ongoing. No, it isn't easy, but if it were, everybody would be doing it.

At the moment I am doing most of my own booking and juggling solo performances with two different duos and at least three different bands. There are also the "out of the blue" gigs that are always satisfying. 'Frinstance, I just went in and cut a commercial, doing all the music (guitar, harmonica, vocals AND my 1929 National Triolian) as well as the voiceover. I haven't done this kind of work in several years but I guess, like riding a bicycle, you never forget how once you've done it for a while.

Mind you, so far all of the work I've been doing has been local. I've taken a couple of jobs in East Texas and there are a couple that have been a few miles outside of the city limits. I haven't really gone on the road yet, which is sorta on my to do list.

I was just reading a short blog by Seth Godin, "Priming The Pump of Efficiency" and it talks about the lag time of becoming efficient once you've changed the way you do things. That got me thinking about my lag time in getting to this place, the sweet spot, but here I am.

So this is a follow-up report to my last installment for those of you that may be interested. From time to time I'll try to write an account of my trials, tribulations and preferably successes as I continue to pursue "The Sweet Spot".

Why I'm Not At Tipitina's...

2009-04-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

(Long Article Alert)

If you've read anything I've written, you're aware that I'm not much of a word smith...and I've been struggling to find a way to explain to people why I left Tipitina's after four years...usually right after they ask me why I left Tipitinas. Well, for one thing, it was time. It was four years...a good four years in which a good program for local musicians was implemented and successful to boot...Ronny Cates is now heading up that venture and I can't think of anyone more qualified.

I had never worked in the non-profit sector before and it was a great experience. The musicians and digital artists who became part and parcel of that experience taught me more than they thought I taught them and they were, in a way, responsible for my paradigm shift...

One purpose of the Co-Op is to provide musicians with the tools to make the next leap forward in their music business. I had first hand access to those tools and I began thinking, "Why am I not taking advantage of those resources and taking that next leap?"

Then two other things happened. I attended the International Folk Alliance in Memphis, thanks to the Shreveport/Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau
and met a lot of folks who are living as musicians AND I read the following blog by Lee Stranahan, a guy I have had long term respect for.

Here it is:

"Yesterday afternoon, I signed some papers, turned in my badge and walked out of the job that I’ve been working at for five years. I wasn’t fired or laid off. In the middle of a huge economic crisis and big unemployment numbers, I left of my own free will. I walked away from a steady paycheck, benefits and health insurance…and I walked away smiling.
People’s reactions generally fell into two methods of showing concern for my welfare. Some people showed a mixture of concern and an odd sort of pity at the horrible and possibly insane decision I was making. Others looked me in the eye and told me they weren’t worried and that they knew I’d do great things. Both of these reactions came from people who cared about me but they show the single biggest factor in deciding to make a living without a job.
Fear.
If you can overcome your fear by thinking through your options and coming up with a workable plan, you can overcome your fear and leave your job.
I wasn’t afraid today when I walked out of the the building but I sure have been afraid. I was in fear that I’d be laid off or worse, that my hours would be cut or that everyone in the company would be required to take a few extra weeks off without pay. I’d seen it happen and I was barely making it, living week to week and paycheck to paycheck. I was afraid of blogging the wrong thing and losing my job because of something I said. I was afraid to do much to try and get outside work to increase my income and I was afraid to make waves or ask for more money.
I walked out on fear today. I got tired of the illusion of security and of trying to tell myself that my job was somehow going to work out any better for me in the future. It wasn’t. Simple math and common sense told me that I wasn’t making enough to pay my bills or that the work wasn’t going to become satisfying. So, I quit.
I quit fear…that’s what I gave up."

This blog lead me to read his other postings:

"29 Dec, 2008
Shifting To A Make Money Mindset
Posted by: Lee In: Success
In the five years that I’ve had a full time 8-4 job, part of my brain has melted away. When I was freelance for the prior fifteen years or so, I constantly had MAKE SOME MONEY thoughts rolling around in the back of my head. I had to or I wouldn’t have eaten.
Now that I get a check every Thursday, those brain cells are dead. I know money is coming is in and even though it’s not enough to pay my bills, really, that false sense of security envelopes me in a nice warm cocoon of stupid so I don’t have to have income ideas percolating. Now I think about all sorts of stuff - art projects, things I can write, film ideas - but making money isn’t a constant.
If ever there was a reason to not have a job, this is it.
It really does lull you into the self sustaining myth that having a job solves some problems. In my case, it’s caused more problems than it solved if I stop to think about it. I’ve gotten further in debt because my false security said taking on more debt would work out okay since I have a job. It’s cost me income. It’s hurt my brain.
So I’m having to kickstart my brain and literally force myself to try and get the freelance attitude back, even though I’m still at my day job right now. I try to trick myself into thinking that no more paychecks are coming When I have an idea that could generate income, I jump on it and try to take some action on it right away to create a little momentum for myself.
What do you do to keep your brain generating income producing ideas for you?

04 Jan, 2009
Who Will Make The Fries?
Posted by: Lee In: For Artists| Success
Be ever vigilant..
Pretend you’re a guitar player but for your day job you work at a fast food joint. One night, the Biggest Band In The World sees you at a gig. Afterwards, they pull you aside…a one night contract in hand…
“Dude, we want you to open for us tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden!”
It’s the best news of your entire life. It’s your big break. You go back to work at the fast food place expecting high fives and congratulations. Instead, you get pulled into the manager’s office.
Dude, you’re on the schedule for tomorrow night. This is your job, cancel that guitar thing. Otherwise, who will make the fries?
This is why a job - especially the wrong job - is deadly to creative people. Your fellow employees often could care less that you have a big break. In fact, the idea pisses them off. They don’t want to see you on the cover ofThe Rolling Stone or featured on Pitchfork while they are still going home smelling like burger grease for minimum wage. They don’t want to hear about your good fortune because all your dreams mean to them is that they have to work the fry machine for a night.
Maybe it’s your job where people feel this way. Or maybe it’s your family. Or maybe your friends. It really sucks but you can’t let people hold you back. They will if you let them.
At the first signs of this attitude, do what Freddie Mercury says…
Spread your little wings and fly away."

finally...
Lee suggested a click on this link:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-lots-of-money-during-a-recession/

so...that's pretty much it.

I figure that within the next 6 months, I can make more money doing my music related activities than I can working my former day job...and in the long run, a whole lot more,...

In other words, proving the Co-Op program is viable.

I feel empowered.

I've got a woman who is supportive and has pointed me in a direction that I could not have imagined for myself.

I am a working singer/songwriter/musician...and yet when I meet someone at Brookshires and they ask me what I'm doing now... I can see that they think that they are staring at someone who may be mad.

To quote Leonard Cohen last Friday night:

"I'm just a crazy kid with a dream,"

First Review For New Album DAN GARNER IV

2009-02-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a first review of my new album, DAN GARNER IV by Karl Hasten:

DAN GARNER 1V
“IV” kicks off with the neo-punk urgency of “Wild” and ends with a complete three-sixty on the sweet acoustic coda of “Calling of Your Heart.”
In between, Garner has crafted his most consistent and cohesive body of work rocking through a number of style-checks from such icons as Bowie, Alvin Lee and, dare I say, Nick Drake. There is even an understated homage to psychedelia – on the appropriately titled, “Something Strange.”
As always Garner liberally deploys his secret weapon, the virtuosic guitarist Mark Griffith who here flows fluidly from searing to plaintive with the blink of an eye. Griffith lets a “Jean Genie” riff out of the bottle on the rocking “In Love, On Fire, Not Ashamed” and lets his guitar gently weep along with the singer on “Happy Birthday To Me”. The latter song is a lament to loneliness that is tight, country blues perfection.
Though Garner never sounds LIKE any one particular artist, he deftly sprinkles subtle musical references throughout the CD’s ten impressive cuts. Rock is the dominant language here with a vibrant energy percolating in many of the pieces, yet the folk/blues/roots undercurrents are shaded in with an artist’s touch.
Most recording artists have a defining moment where all their influences and experience and daring coalesce into a masterwork that catapults them to another level - arguably “Rubber Soul” for The Beatles, “Highway 61 Revisited” for Dylan, and so on. In my humble opinion this one shows Garner has the legs to go the distance. “IV” is a X.

New CD, "DAN GARNER IV" Now Available!!

2009-02-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Click here to buy my CD.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, "25 THINGS" and "The Second Album" are only available on iTunes...

NOIR by Dan Garner @ H&H’s on Hope Through September

2008-09-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

NOIR by Dan Garner @ H&H’s on Hope Through September

Ron Hardy asked me to put together some paintings to hang @ H&H, located on Hope Street next to the old "Pete Harris Cafe" and across from the Intergalactic Headquarters of Playaz and Playettes. This is an all age participation non-profit operated by Ron. These guys are responsible for all sorts of good things happening throughout the city and in the Leadbetter Heights area.

Thought I Discovered Subrealism...Until I looked on the Internet. I Discovered I Am A Subrealist..

2008-09-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

SET OUR HOOTERS FREE!!

2008-08-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

What Is The Shreveport HOOTING ORDINANCE?

2008-08-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

This is how it reads:
(bold added by me)

Sec. 58-28. Shouting, hooting, etc.
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any persons in any hospital, dwelling, hotel or any other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity, is hereby prohibited and declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise in violation of this chapter.
(Code 1971, § 23-3)

I live in GollyWood!!

2008-08-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

So one Friday afternoon, last winter, in downtown Shreveport, I'm walking to "Just A Little Cafe" for a cup of gumbo and I come upon a road block with some policemen at the alley that I'm taking as a shortcut. I tell them I'm just going around the corner to the cafe and they let me pass. When I get to Marshall Street this is what I saw:

I know I keep seeing filming going on all around the city, but the absurdity of the scene, a meteor buried in our city street, cars and truck wreckage strewn about and a woman dressed in a blue fairy outfit...well, by golly....we're in GOLLYWOOD!!
So, I was equally amused when I started to check my MySpace and found the ad for "Disaster Movie". It's all downtown Shreveport. Ya gotta love it!!

I didn't see Ironman or the cow, but that's our downtown library on the left....

Didn't see Hulk, either, but again....our library:

...and here is Edwards Street in front of the CNB building(is it still CNB?)...

...this is the 400 block of Milam Street in front of the parking lot at the corner of Milam and Edwards, right down from Panos where I break daily bread...

...and finally, it comes as no surprise to find the caped crusader in front of our courthouse on Texas Street, in downtown Shreveport!!

Golly!!

At The Chelsea Hotel...

2008-08-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Kathryn wakes me up at 3:am.
"Did you know the world premiere for your TV series is in New York next week?"
"Hmmmm"
"And its only 7 minutes from the Chelsea Hotel!"
"Uhhmm"
"And I can get reservations!!"
"Mmmmm"
"And flights are reasonable!!!"
"Uh, baby? I'm not even sure what's going on then..."
"I checked your MySpace and you're not doing anything."
"Uh, baby?"
"There! It's booked."

And so began the incredible journey.

I had been an extra in a new series, for the gay/lesbian channel, LOGO. In "Sordid Lives: The Series" I play air guitar behind Olivia Newton-John who plays the part of a honky tonk singer/songwriter, Bitsy Mae Harling. It was a really cool experience. We started fiming at 6:30 in the morning and ended at 9:30 that night with a short break for lunch. It was a whirlwind.
This was all shot here in Shreveport and the bar that was to be "Bubba's" is actually "Mr. Crow's" or "Crow's" on W. 70th. I had even performed there with my crazy friend/brother Mike Jordan.

After we wrapped that was pretty much it... and then the videos started hitting YouTube.
There were about 6 music videos in all and the 3 I've seen, I have to admit, look pretty damn good.

Kathryn has ComCast cable in Shreveport, which does not carry LOGO. So in order to see the first two episodes we headed up to New York City for the "World Premiere" about a week before the series began to air.

Now, I knew a little about the Chelsea Hotel. What I didn't know I Wiki'ed.

"The hotel has always been a center of artistic and bohemian activity and it houses artwork created by many of the artists who have visited. The hotel was the first building to be listed by New York City as a cultural preservation site and historic building of note.
Owing to its long list of famous guests and residents, the hotel has an ornate history, both as a birth place of creative modern art and punctuated by tragedy catching the public eye. Sir Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey while staying at the Chelsea, and poets Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and Richard and Rebecca Eller chose it as a place for philosophical and intellectual exchange. It is also known as the place where the writer Dylan Thomas was staying when he died of alcohol poisoning on November 4, 1953, and where Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, was found stabbed to death on October 12, 1978.
People who live/have lived at Chelsea

Writers and thinkers
Art fills the staircase of the Hotel Chelsea
During its lifetime Hotel Chelsea has provided a home to many great writers and thinkers including Mark Twain, O. Henry, Herbert Huncke, Dylan Thomas, Dale Beran, Arthur C. Clarke, William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Miller, Quentin Crisp, Gore Vidal, Tennessee Williams, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac (who wrote On the Road here), Robert Hunter, Jack Gantos, Brendan Behan, Simone de Beauvoir, Robert Oppenheimer, Jean-Paul Sartre, Bill Landis, Michelle Clifford, Thomas Wolfe, Charles Bukowski, Raymond Kennedy, Matthew Richardson, and René Ricard. Charles R. Jackson, author of The Lost Weekend, committed suicide in his room at the Chelsea on September 21, 1968.

Actors and film directors
The hotel has been a home to actors and film directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Shirley Clarke, Cyndi Coyne, Mitch Hedberg, Dave Hill, Miloš Forman, Lillie Langtry, Ethan Hawke, Dennis Hopper, Eddie Izzard, Kevin O'Connor, Uma Thurman, Elliot Gould, Jane Fonda, and Gaby Hoffmann and her mother, the Warhol film star Viva and Edie Sedgwick.
Musicians
Much of Hotel Chelsea's history has been colored by the musicians who have resided there. Some of the most prominent names include The Grateful Dead, Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Virgil Thomson, Dee Dee Ramone of The Ramones, Henri Chopin, John Cale, Édith Piaf, Joni Mitchell, Marty Connolly, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Sid Vicious[1], Richard Hell, glam rocker Jobriath, Rufus Wainwright, Abdullah Ibrahim/Sathima Bea Benjamin, Indian musician Vasant Rai , and Leonard Cohen. More recently, artists such as Ryan Adams, The Libertines, and Anthony Kiedis have spent time at The Chelsea.
Visual artists
The hotel has featured and collected the work of the many visual artists who have passed through. Larry Rivers, Robert M. Lambert, Brett Whiteley, Christo, Arman, Richard Bernstein, Francesco Clemente, Philip Taaffe, Michele Zalopany, Ralph Gibson, Rene Shapshak, Robert Mapplethorpe, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Robert Crumb, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg, Vali Myers, Donald Baechler, Herbert Gentry, Willem De Kooning, John Dahlberg and Henri Cartier-Bresson have all spent time at Hotel Chelsea. Painter & ethnomusicologist Harry Smith lived and died at the Chelsea in Room 328. The painter Alphaeus Cole lived there for 35 years until his death in 1988 at age 112, America's oldest living person. Bohemian abstract and Pop art painter Susan Olmetti creates paintings outside on the sidewalk during her frequent summer residencies at the hotel.[4]
Fashion Designers
Charles James: Amongst the ranks of the legendary couturiers of the 20th Century who influenced fashion in the 1940s and 50s -- a man also credited with being America's first couturier. In 1964 he moved into the Chelsea Hotel in New York. James died of pneumonia at the Chelsea Hotel in 1978.
Warhol Superstars
Hotel Chelsea is often associated with the Andy Warhol Superstars, as he directed The Chelsea Girls (1966), a film about his Factory regulars and their lives at the hotel. Chelsea residents from the Warhol scene included Edie Sedgwick, Viva, Larry Rivers, Ultra Violet, Mary Woronov, Holly Woodlawn, Andrea Feldman, Nico, Paul America, and Brigid Berlin.
Explorers
Ruth Harkness, an adventuress/naturalist who brought the first live giant panda from China to the U.S. in the 1930s, stayed at the Chelsea Hotel after her return to the States."

And now Kathryn and me.

I had just finished my CD, "College Radio Dance Party" and am finishing up the next one, "DAN GARNER IV". Kathryn had wanted me to do a solo project that would be just me, harmonica and acoustic guitar, an unplugged, if you will.

So I began to hatch a plan. I would record, there at Hotel Chelsea and see if I could catch some of the vibe of the place. I have a little ZOOM 4 track digital recorder that looks like a Taser and fits in your palm. I would record in the room, in the halls, on the stairwell, on the fire escape, in the elevator and on the roof (that didn't happen).
I hated the idea of having to carry my guitar on a plane, because of a bad experience in Toronto, but we found a guitar shop on premise at the Chelsea, "Dan's Chelsea Guitars" and so we would get in on Sunday, I would buy an inexpensive guitar and begin recording every day and see a bit of the city every night. The Sordid Lives Premiere was Tuesday night, so that would give me plenty of time, I reasoned to record, at least 10 songs.

We missed our flight and by the time we got in, "Dan's Chelsea Guitars" had already closed. We looked in the windows and Kathryn said, "What kind of a guitar is that?"
"Looks like an old National Steel, kinda like Johnny Slim used to play,"

We went back to the hotel.

Our room was great...perfect really, for our bohemian sensibilities. We had a great meal at the Spanish restaurant and went to bed fairly early.

The next morning my first stop (after breakfast with Kathryn) was the guitar shop.

It was sweet. I asked about a little Martin guitar behind a velvet rope.

"That's $17,000,"

My eyes immediately shifted across the room at a black Ovation hanging overhead.

"What about that one?"

"$350"

BINGO!

"Uh, can I look at the National in the window?"

"The 12 String?"

"No, the old 6 string."

It took my breath away. I was handed a glass slide that fit my finger perfectly and sat down to fall in love with this guitar.

THE GUITAR'S STORY

It was a scratchy old 1929 National Triolian with a BAKELITE neck, serial number A 1317. It purred and it hummed as I sat in the tight corner of that little guitar shop trying out my best licks.

"So, what's the story on this guitar?" I asked.

It had come in yesterday. The guys who ran the shop were sort of ticked that they had to stay late for the guy with the guitar, who traveled down from Upstate New York. They were in the middle of grumbling about it, when a large water pipe, from the hotel above, burst, showering the shop below. If they hadn't been waiting for the guitar, the shop would have been flooded and their entire inventory of highly collectible guitars would have been ruined. As it was, they were able to save everything.

If Kathryn and I had not missed our flight, we would have gone into the shop before they closed that Sunday and I would have just bought the Ovation and never looked back...

I called Kathryn and she came down from the room and bought it for me (the heavenly hosts now begin their trumpet fanfare and best choral arrangement of Hallelujah).

I immediately went back to the room an set about the business of recording my songs...

All in all I recorded 13 songs at Hotel Chelsea and expect to release it some time late September, early October.

We eventually made it to the Sordid Lives Premiere and had a wonderful time.

A NEW review of "The Second Album" by Karl Hasten

2008-03-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

"THE SECOND ALBUM"/DAN GARNER

"Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm sad" Dan Garner sings on "Without A Broken Heart", the rocking first cut on his newest CD release. That seems to be an appropriate sentiment symbolizing the melange of feelings on the release, "The Second Album", where Garner candidly portrays a wide range of emotions.
As on his former release "25 Things", Garner also shifts fluidly between styles and genres, from the stripped down folk of "Red Balloon" to the country shuffle of "I've Got A Fever" – the latter stoked by the always flawless guitar of Mark Griffith who adds great flair to the CD in several notable places. Listen for his subtle nod to Hendrix on "Gypsy Woman".
When Garner checks into "Wing Motel" it is with an endearingly insouciant, Guy Clark-meets-Leonard Cohen vocal, yet he moves easily to the Kinks-like, neo-punk rave up on "Same Sun".
From rockers to acoustic, Garner maps the shifting landscapes of love with a practiced hand. Whether reflecting on the "wreckage strewn" or being "down to my last card" on "What Is Happening To Me" or the driving optimism of "I've got a fever, white hot and pure" on "I've Got A Fever" he deftly illustrates that he has been to both the deserts and the oases of relationships.
Though "The Second Album" is filled with one strong cut after another-even more consistently than "25 Things" (possibly due to the shear number of songs on the latter) – Garner seems most at home on the acoustic singer/songwriter work he is known for in his many live performances around the region. "Where Are You Now", recorded live, is a real standout, exemplifying his striking talent for intimate connection in delivering his heart-felt lyrics.

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The Second Album: This Is The Fun Stuff!!

2008-02-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

Click here to buy my CD.

Click here to buy my CDs.

So, Chris Alexander(aka Mister Christopher), of "Why The Hell Not Music" comes to me and says, "We're doing a big release party at the Warehouse on February 9th....wanna put out another CD?" I sorta had a few tracks leftover that didn't go on the "25 Things" CD and a few other songs that I really wanted to record, so I said, "WHY THE HELL NOT?!!" Next, Derrell Stephens came in with a demo of some songs he was going to pitch up in Nashville. "Whatcha think?" he asked. I'm not much of a judge of country music, but I loved the production. "Ummm, where did you record those songs?" I asked.
Turns out, it's a great little studio up in Nash, Texas (right outside of Texarkana...check my top friends for their site) called Smart Productions. Derrell (also in my top friends) put me in touch with them and time was booked! Next, I assembled the "A" team: Mark Griffith on lead guitar, Rick Willis on bass guitar, Jim Obrien on drums and Cookie Garner on background vocals and percussion. Our stalwart band headed north where we met Matt Whattley, who engineered, mixed and mastered 5 of the newer tracks on the CD. He seemed to really get what we were going for, and I believe he delivered!! So now the ALBUM IS OUT and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!! ...This is the fun stuff!!

A First Review For "25 Things"

2007-03-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Click here to buy my CD.
A FIRST REVIEW OF "25 THINGS": 25 THINGS/Dan Garner A sprawling, ambitious project with 25 songs, ³25 Things² paints a diverse sonic and lyrical landscape that showcases Garner¹s broad diversity of musical influences. At times displaying the perceptive intellect of a Leonard Cohen, at others, exposing a Warren Zevon playful slyness, ³25 Things² cooks up a gumbo that sacrifices stylistic continuity for an always surprising and satisfying ³eclectricity.² On the opening cut, ³I Told You Before,² Garner attempts to impart world-wizended wisdom to his children, and that lyrical maturity is masterfully counterbalanced with the raw musical energy of a proto-power punk music bed. This is a great device for luring the kids in to listen to the message with music they can relate to. Telling an obstinate, know-it-all teen, ³you¹ve got more issues than Time Magazine² smartly sums up every parents dilemma with their rebels with or without causes. Garner moves from the energetic power of proto-punk to the realm of ³sensitive singer/songwriter² with effortless ease. In ³You¹re So Beautiful² he tells the object of his affections that ³you¹re so beautiful, you don¹t even know.² This is a subtle but searing romantic line guaranteed to make a heart melt, right up there in a league with ³you had me at hello.² On several notable cuts like ³What Makes The World Go Round,² ³Someone Who Can² and the unsentimentally nostalgic ³Bossier Strip² Garner slips into the smooth blues grooves indigenous to this area . Garner is not only a prolific writer but a well-versed student of the musical history of this area and beyond. Given that talent, Garner references several genre and artists without sounding like he is copying any of them. His vocals do occasionally evoke early Dylan and Nick Drake, even Michael Franks here and there, but he never appears to be doing a cover. And, since he wrote all the songs on the CD, he has kept everything well within the range of his voice. There are some stand out guest star s on ³25 Things² including guitarists Mark Griffith, Ron Johnson and Dave Green; background vocalists Cookie Garner and Amelia Blake and The Ever Ready Gospel Singers to name a few. Ron Johnson¹s fluid, blistering lead work on ³Someone Who Can² channels Stevie Ray Vaughn¹s swagger and Dave Green adds an alternative and progressive fire to ³I Told You Before.² Griffith¹s ferocious space blues attack on ³Bossier Strip² seems to come from a Boom Boom Room in a parallel dimension. The closing title cut gives us a hilarious menu of arm chair philosophical nuggets encased in a musical shell of talking blues a la early Dylan. They are guaranteed to make you think - and to make you smile, if not laugh out loud. Remember, ³it ain¹t the jeans that make your butt look fat.² Tales of love both lost and found; insights both profound and tongue in cheek; superlative songwriting craft; and vocals comfortable in their own skin. These elements make for one of the most entertaining and enjoyable releases in recent memory. All songs written by Dan Garner. Produced by Dan Garner Mastered and Released by Why The Hell Not Records Art Design: J.K. Potter ----------Karl Hasten, The Forum
Click here to buy my CD.

2007-02-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

I'm now featuring four songs on my site, www.myspace.com/dangarner and on www.myspace.com/25things, straight from my new CD, 25 Things. Hope you enjoy them!!

I can't believe the incredible job that "Why The Hell Not? Records", Chris Alexander did with the music I gave him, but finally after about 3 years I'm putting out a new CD called "25 Things" and I'm very happy about it.

There are still so many songs that couldn't be included this go round, but maybe I can get around to those more quickly since Chris made this a very non-traumatic experience.

The art/photography was done by my good friend J.K. Potter and the musicians involved are some of my favorites!!

I'm even set up with an online account that you can order directly from....click here to buy my CD.modern technology never ceases to amaze me.
Don't forget to check out the CD Release party this Saturday, February 24th (see details below) I'm going to kick it off with a short set at 8:pm...Other great music will follow on my heels as I head out to my gig at Lee's with Cookie and The Kingcakes!!

MySpace and welcome to it...

2006-07-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yes. I've become addicted to the crack cocaine of the internet: My Space.
I've returned, here to let you know that if you don't find many updates, it's because I'm doing them primarily on MySpace.
Check it out:
http//www.myspace.com/dangarner
http//www.myspace.com/dangarnersongs

Ron Capone has left the building...

2006-02-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

Just got word today that a great, sweet, incredibly talented man passed away. Ron Capone left Baton Rouge as a teenager and went seeking fame and fortune as a drummer in Memphis. He eventually found himself at Stax Records, doing more knob twirling than skin pounding. Mostly, Ron learned how to place a microphone and hear.
Ron became the engineer on most of the legendary music out of Stax, including "Dock of the Bay", "Knock On Wood", "Soul Man", even winning a Grammy for his work on "Shaft".
When Steve Cropper left Stax, he lured Ron away with him to Southern California. Ron got homesick and wanted to be nearer to his folks, so he took a job in Shreveport at Nightwing Studios. When that folded he found himself working on projects with Stan "The Record Man" Lewis, and eventually hired on as staff engineer for Denny & DeAnza Duron's "Louisiana Light" Studios.

Ron worked on just about every CD project that I had anything to do with. He had incredible ears and knew instantly if an EQ adjustment needed to be made and could tell you exactly what the adjustment should be.
The world has lost a great sweet soul and a truly great engineer.

Songwriter's Night, 7:30pm, Each Wednesday @ Java Junction!!

2006-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'll be there along with some of the best songwriter's in town, through the end of February. It's good food, good folks, good music, good times and no cover!! Who could ask for anything more? To see Java Junction's full calendar of entertainment, go to their MySpace by clicking on the title of this blog. To see my complete calendar click on the link to the left, "The Music of Dan Garner".
I'll see you, soon!!

I Stepped Into The Past, Sunday...

2006-01-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

...after I received the following email:

Municipal Sunday, Jan. 8th.

Elvis birthday celebration  2 till 4

Backstage Pass 2 till 5  A number of local musicians are going to get together for a
little jam session.

Thanks,


Johnny Wessler, Executive Director
Stage of Stars Museum
Friends of the Municipal Auditorium
705 Elvis Presley Ave.
Shreveport, La.  71101 www.stageofstars.com

Among the singers, songwriters, musicians and listeners on hand to wish Elvis "Happy birthday"
were:
The original Louisiana Hayride Band, Virginia Frank, Tom Pace,  Michael Barker,  James Burton,
Rob Menapace (special effects guy from the film "The Guardian"), Dianne Patrick, my daughter,
Susan Garner, Frank Page (he originally introduced Elvis onto the stage of the Municipal in '54,
folks), Amelia Blake, Tillman Franks, Edie Foy, Johnny Wessler, Teresa Micheels, Odette Smith,
Derrell Stephens, Louise Burton, Mrs. Vosbury, Bud Christian and many, many more!!!
Talk about a wonderful event....The cool thing is, they're going to try to do it each
Sunday!!

Java Junction Songwriter's Showcase

2006-01-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

...spoken word artists are also invited!!

2006

2006-01-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

New Year, New Stuff!!

2005-12-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

As far as I know this is my performance schedule through January, 2006:
Songwriter's Open Mic, 516 soundstage:
Thursday nights, 7:30pm, December 22nd, December 29th.

Songwriter's Open Mic, Lil' Joe's Grill across from Centenary:
Wednesday nights, 9:pm, December 14th, December 21st, December 28th.

With Cookie & the Kingcakes:
Horseshoe Casino, Friday December 15th & Friday January 7th.

Paparrazi's 6535 Line Avenue, Fridays and Saturdays- January 13,14,20,21,27,28.

Check out Amelia Blake's new blog!!

2005-12-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

Her site is having some problems getting updates, but you can get her new performance dates by going to
http://ameliablake.blogspot.com

It was overwhelming...

2005-12-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Poor Man's Supper
talent included Barbara Jarrell, Invasion, Eddie Giles, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers and The Bluebirds!! I was floored...

I'm thinking about Sister Margaret right now...

2005-11-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

Sister Margaret made history in Shreveport by organizing the Poor Man's Supper that drew whites and blacks from many different religious denominations to the first citywide "Christian Service" event. Incredulity and pride marked that evening as Shreveporters, always separated by economic and cultural practices, supped soup and broke bread together.

In 1983 she opened up the Hospitality House in the old Cotton Club, down on Sprague street. It could hold about 60 people. She fed over 200 people a day in there, twice a day, 365 days a year.
She opened up a homeless shelter for men, a homeless shelter for women, a neighborhood clinic and numerous homes for homeless families. She was able to help people with their prescriptions, utilities, and transportation...and when other agencies could not help, due to restrictions of governmental funding, they sent them to Sister Margaret, who never took state or federal money. When the riverboat casinos came to town, offering to help, she refused them.
She had a clear vision of what was right and what was wrong. Poverty was wrong, ignoring people's dignity was wrong, gambling was wrong...
...killing, for any reason, was wrong.
In the 80's when the Gulf war began, she protested it with a group called Pax Christi. She protested the killing being done over there and signed a letter of apology to the people that the killing was being done to.
WWJD?
This inflamed and galvanized folks in these parts. Counter- protesters took the placards calling for love and peace and threw them in the bayou.
Sister Margaret would not stand down...she never did.
I think that quality was what I admired most about her. No matter where the political winds of change blew, she was steadfast and unswerving.
In March of 1997 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and opted to go without treatment, but continued the day to day of her "Christian Service" work.
The last time I saw her, was in the hospital, reading Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom.
She said she found it comforting.
I picked up a copy after she passed away.
A couple of days ago someone came to my office to tell me that I am the recipient of this year's Sister Margaret McCaffrey Award.
I was and still am dumbfounded.
I'll be presented with it, Sunday, December 4th at "The Poor Man's Supper".
It begins at 5:30pm at 1st Methodist's Hunter Building in Downtown Shreveport at the head of Texas street. Entertainment will be provided by Barbara Jarrell, The Shepherd Family, Rev. Eddie Giles (re: of Eddie Giles & The Jive Five, "Losin' Boy" fame), The Ever Ready Gospel Singers and The Blue Birds.

I can think of a wide range of folks that are more deserving of this award than myself, but I will certainly accept it as one of the highest honors I can imagine.
I'd like to think that Sister is looking in getting a kick out of this.
I would find it comforting.

The Velvet Swivel Rockers Return...

2005-11-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

November 12th, 1:35 to 2:35pm
Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Columbia Park, Shreveport, LA
featuring John Bicknell, Dan Garner
& legendary harmonica player,
Howlin' Henry Robinson!!

Stop Me If You've Heard These...

2005-10-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

...but I've just loaded some songs from the "Uncovered" project to a new MySpace. I've also begun blogging some of my newer and older visual art pieces. I'm always surprised that people aren't aware that I occasionally serve time as a cartoonist, painter, sculptor, videographer, musician/singer/songwriter and magician. I feel pretty schizophrenic, trying to remember exactly who I am and what I do. My current solution is to blog my different entities as much for myself as any other curiousity seekers.
My friend, Jeff Potter recently sent me this photo. It's a shot he took of me at St. Roch's in New Orleans when we were both pups. I really like Jeff's work.

Performing Schedule(such as it is):

Friday, October 28th-Lee's, 639 E. Kingshighway, Shreveport, LA
with Cookie & The Kingcakes...9:PM to Midnite

Saturday, October 29th- Horshoe Casino, Bossier City, LA with Cookie & The Kingcakes...10:PM to 2:AM

Songwriter's Night, each Thursday night, 7:30 until @ 516 soundstage, 516 Texas Street, Downtown Shreveport, LA

A Musing..."Eternity is in love with the creations of time."- William Blake

2005-10-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

What does it look like when folks in Shreveport sit around and invoke the Muse? I believe it looks a lot like this:

Nothing much new...

2005-10-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

...and yet I offer these views from around my way.

Did I mention that I have a beautiful daughter?

2005-10-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

...I do.
I can just hear Susan now,
"Aw, daddy..."

Cools Things at The Revel, today...

2005-10-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

The Ever Ready Gospel Singers, Odette & my kid's 1st place art contest entry...

2005-10-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Only rock-n-roll, but I like him...
My son, Paul.

2005-10-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Back and Badder Than Ever....

Aw Shucks.

2005-09-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Things haven't settled down yet, but in accordance with the purported purpose of this blog here is where I am and where I'll be:

September 20th, the legendary Lee's (aka Lee's Liquid Assets & Lee Wright's) 639 E. Kings, Shreveport, LA 7:30pm-until

September 24th, Chimpstock, Sully's Tavern, downtown Shreveport, LA 3pm-3:45pm
(This event has been cancelled due to Hurricane Rita.)

September 26th, Sandbox Studios, adding vocals tracks, noon to 3:pm,

September 27th through 30th, Toronto, Canada, performing for the Louisiana Tourist Bureau

October 1st, (Saturday) Holiday Inn, downtown Shreveport, LA, 7:30pm

October 5th, Noble Savage Tavern, 400 block of Texas Street, downtown Shreveport, LA 8:pm until

October 18th, Sully's corner of Spring & Travis, Shreveport, LA 10:pm -Midnite

I continue to co-host "Songwriter's Night" with Heather Romero, each Monday night, 7:30pm @ Holiday Inn, downtown Shreveport, LA & Thursday night, 7:30pm @ 516 sounstage, 516 Texas Street, downtown Shreveport, LA.

2005-09-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Things haven't settled down yet, but in accordance with the purported purpose of this blog here is where I am and where I'll be:

September 20th, the legendary Lee's (aka Lee's Liquid Assets & Lee Wright's) 639 E. Kings, Shreveport, LA 7:30pm-until

September 24th, Chimpstock, Sully's Tavern, downtown Shreveport, LA 3pm-3:45pm
(This event has been cancelled due to Hurricane Rita.)

September 26th, Sandbox Studios, adding vocals tracks, noon to 3:pm,

September 27th through 30th, Toronto, Canada, performing for the Louisiana Tourist Bureau

October 5th, Noble Savage Tavern, 400 block of Texas Street, downtown Shreveport, LA 8:pm until

October 18th, Sully's corner of Spring & Travis, Shreveport, LA 10:pm -Midnite

I continue to co-host "Songwriter's Night" with Heather Romero, each Monday night, 7:30pm @ Holiday Inn, downtown Shreveport, LA & Thursday night, 7:30pm @ 516 sounstage, 516 Texas Street, downtown Shreveport, LA.

2005-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

So much going on...At least it feels that way...As usual, I urge you to check out the songwriter's nights, Monday nights at Holiday Inn, downtown Shreveport & Thursday nights at Soundstage 516 Texas Street, downtown Shreveport.
Maybe I can even get you to check out the "New" Louisiana Dan blog. I've added it to the links...

Louisiana Dan...The legend begins.

2005-07-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

It was a colorful night @ Soundstage 516 for Songwriter's Night, hosted by Heather Romero. Talent included Bruce Spence and Lane Bayliss, David Reed, Mike Westbrook, Nate Brown, David Love Lewis, Shirley Campbell, Bobby Dunne, Heather Romero and yours truly. This event happens every Thursday @ 7:30 pm. Every Monday night the Songwriter's Night is held at The Holiday Inn in downtown Shreveport at 7:30 pm.

2005-07-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Upcoming gigs include:
Host of Songwriters night, 7:30PM Thursday July 14th, Soundstage 516 Texas St., downtown Shreveport, LA, ...No Cover
Solo @ Holiday Inn/downtown , 7:30PM, Friday & Saturday night(July 15th&16th)...No Cover
Host of Songwriter's night, Holiday Inn/downtown, Monday July 18th, 7:30PM, No Cover
Solo @ The Noble Savage, 417 Texas Street, downtown Shreveport, 8:PM, No Cover

Check out the photos from our last Songwriter's night @ Holiday Inn.
Artists included Heather Romero, Eric Gipson, David Love Lewis and Bruce Spence.

2005-07-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Ah, July and these are the few gigs on my plate...
Come on down!!
Beginning July the 11th, each Monday, 7:30pm @ Holiday Inn, Downtown Shreveport, LA for
Songwriters Night (I'll be alternating each week with the lovely and talented Heather Romero as host).

Each Thursday, 7:30pm @ SoundStage 516 (516 Texas Street, Downtown Shreveport, LA) for Songwriters Night (ditto on the Heather Romero alternating).

Wednesday, July 20th, 8:pm @ The Noble Savage Tavern, 417 Texas Street, Downtown Shreveport, LA.

2005-06-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

I'm brand new at all of this, so here is my attempt to let you know where I'll be currently performing. Hope you can make hide or hair of it.
Thanks,

Dan Garner

June 27th- 7:30pm
Holiday Inn, Downtown Shreveport, LA.
(You can't miss it from Interstate 20- It has a giant rose painted on it's front.)

June 30th- 8:pm
The Noble Savage Tavern, 417 Texas St.,
Downtown Shreveport, LA (318) 221-1781

July 4th-Private Party with Amelia Blake (My personal all time favorite singer/songwriter)