He knows life can be a struggle, same as we do. He thinks the same thoughts we think and speaks the same language... but has a way of going about ten steps forward and then about ten steps back to glean truths that most of us either miss or have a hard time pinning down. He's able to find the right words and put them in the right order, has just the right story at the right time to make a point or get a wry laugh, writes songs that resonate deep with people like us. He draws from a deep well of living and the stuff that comes with it.You wouldn't know it from looking at him, but he's kind of a big deal. He was a New Folk Finalist at The Kerrville Folk Festival; an Official Showcase Selection at the Folk Alliance Conference; has shared stages with even bigger deals like Ellis Paul, Eilen Jewell, Suzanne Vega, Cheryl Wheeler, Sloan Wainwright, and The Kennedys; his CDs win prizes and land on best-of lists.But that doesn't stop him from continuing to play in small, out-of-the-way places like Bellows Falls — because that's where we are. We get him, he gets us.We're fortunate to have him in the room for an intimate show here at Stage 33 Live this Friday (yeah, Friday the 13th). Seating is limited to 40, then standing room — you can bring your own portable camp-style chair if you'd like. It's a cut-rate $10 ticket (his idea, be sure to thank him) either in advance or at the door... but the first 40 advance tickets through stage33live.com will have chairs reserved front-and-center. 100% of the money supports the performer.We'll wait a day or so before putting this out on social media, so you get first crackLocal musician 6foot6 is opening, a curiously overlooked talent. He really is six-foot-six and pretty easy to spot in a crowd, but that's not the curious part. Thing is, he's really good, but hardly anybody has heard of him. Yet. This is a chance to make a discovery — don't be late.Door at 6:30 PM, music at 7:30 on Friday, September 13. $10 advance or at the door, but the first 40 advance tickets through stage33live.com are guaranteed chairs. There's also plenty of standing room; you can bring your own camp-style seating if you wish.As usual this listening event will be recorded and filmed, so clear it with your witness-protection handler.Stage 33 Live is located at 33 Bridge Street in Bellows Falls, VT, and documents live performances and presentations of original material on a simple stage in a former factory building in front of an audience. Find more info about the nonprofit, all-volunteer project and their other upcoming events online at stage33live.com 

When I performed my feature set at The Evening Muse in Charlotte, NC, a couple of things happened that, for lack of a better term, changed my perspective. Or maybe it was just a reminder of how music can bring us together. The performers ranged from hip hop/rap artists, poets, stand-up comics, singer-songwriters, to R&B vocalists. I had a bit of anxiety as to how this straw-cowboy-hat-wearing, contemporary-folk/Americana songwriter from Buffalo, NY would fare. I started my first song, and there were murmurs from the audience. By the time I reached the end of the first chorus, I could see their faces begin to soften, smiles started to appear, heads began to move in time. After my third song, a twenty-something African-American male stood up and shouted, ‘That’s what I’m talking about!’ The walls came down. Age, race, gender, or any other metric didn’t matter anymore. That’s what music can do, and is supposed to — regardless of how the industry, the media, or our own minds attempt to package it. If it’s good, if it contains truth, and speaks to even one person — then it’s done what it is intended to do: put us ‘in concert’ with each other. — Davey O.