FIRST ANNIVERSARY / END OF FIRST YEAR CELEBRATION.
What better way than to present two of Notlob's first artists?
MIKE & RUTHY MERENDA
with very special guest LYN HARDY
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Notlob Parlor Concerts are presented at the historic Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. 02130. Built in 1760, the venue is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has been an historic house museum since 1926. Its beautiful period decor and intimate size make it an ideal setting for acoustic music. Run by volunteers, 100% of the donations go towards series expenses and artist compensation.
Notlob’s 28th and final production of the 2007-2008 season is MIKE & RUTHY MERENDA with very special guest LYN HARDY.
Ruthy, along with Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still) and Kristin Andreassen (Uncle Earl), performed at the very first Notlob Parlor Concerts on June 2, 2007, and returned one week later with Mike to perform the second concert. Since then Mike and Ruthy have been very busy, producing both a baby and the critically acclaimed “The Honeymoon Agenda”. To celebrate both their return and the series’ one year anniversary, very special guest Lyn Hardy, who happens to be Ruthy’s mom, has agreed to perform.
MIKE & RUTHY MERENDA
When Mike met Ruthy he'd already written a hundred songs - some of which he no longer remembers. When Ruthy met Mike she'd already decided against being a musician like her parents - a rebellious stance that quickly faded in the musical excitement.
A mutual friend had the bright idea that they should sing together, and one very late evening, down in the tiniest factory/apartment building in New York City's looming financial district, they first combined their talents over cheap beer and not much else. The results were magic.
Since that first night in 1998, their writing, singing, and musicianship have grown to match their enthusiasm. And some of Mike's very old songs are working their way back into the setlist - along side Ruth's sparkling versions of soul and folk classics, and their new and original creations that hint at love, pain, and beauty.
When not touring as “Mike and Ruthy”, they can be heard and seen as part of the “Ungar Family Band” (with Jay Ungar (Ruthy’s dad) and Molly Mason) and “The Mammals” (with Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Chris Merenda and Jacob Silver).
LYN HARDY
Lyn Hardy Has Performed Folk, Rock, Blues And Country Music In The United States, Canada And Europe Since 1965, performing with: Jay Ungar, The Putnam String County Band, Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys, David Bromberg, Rude Girls, Abby Newton (Celtic Crossing) and toured and recorded with them all. She currently performs with Tom MacKenzie and Ann Whiting (Clogger) at local festivals.
She helped to form RUDE GIRLS, an eclectic all woman band renowned for their beautiful, outrageous and humorous music. RUDE GIRLS took the Festival Scene by storm in the mid eighties and it wasn't long before they had a FLYING FISH (now ROUNDER RECORDS) record contract. AWARD WINNING ALBUM (NAIRD) for INDEPENDENT LABELS' BEST STRING BAND RECORD for their first Album, "RUDE AWAKENING". They went on to record one more album, "MIXED MESSAGES". Lyn wrote most of Rude Girls original material.
Lyn is a gifted singer and songwriter and solo performer. Her song, "THE BALLAD OF FRANCINE HUGHES" has been chosen by the Smithsonian Institution for a 4 CD collection of "New" folk songs called, "FOLK SONG AMERICA, A 20th CENTURY REVIVAL" . Lyn and David Hornungs’, "GIRL IN THE RED VELVET DRESS" has been recorded by Ronnie Gilbert on her album, "LOVE WILL FIND A WAY".
Lyn's singing has been described as rich, honest, strong, stirring and straight from the heart. She is known for her rock solid rhythm guitar playing having played for square, contra and swing dances for more years than she would like to admit!
Her performances draw from a vast and varied repertoire of music. She can touch your heart with a country song, make you laugh the next minute and then reach into your soul with a sultry blues number. Lyn loves to sing and her joy is infectious, whether it's a concert, coffeehouse, festival, workshop, or a children's show, she gives her all!
Artists: MIKE & RUTHY MERENDA with very special guest LYN HARDY
Artists’ websites: http://www.myspace.com/mikeandruthy
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmerenda
http://www.michaelmerenda.com
http://www.myspace.com/ruthungar
http://www.ruthungar.com
http://www.myspace.com/76978728
http://www.themammals.net
http://www.lynhardy.com/
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Doors: 7:30pm
Concert: 8:00pm
Suggested minimum donation: $20 (or $15 with advanced reservation) + $1 LG House preservation fee.
Notlob website: http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com
Notlob artist information: http://www.myspace.com/notlobparlorconcerts
Reservations: As seating is limited to 40, reservations are recommended. Email notlobmusic@gmail.com Reservations expire 15 minutes before concert time, when unclaimed seats will be released to walk-ins.
Venue & accessibility: Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, the large yellow house at the intersection of Centre and South Streets, across the street from the Civil War monument. Handicap accessible; call 617-524-3158 for more information. Please do not call the venue for reservations.
Directions: http://www.lghouse.org/information.htm
Parking: The Loring-Greenough House lot holds 12 cars, gates are closed when full. Parking is also available on the street and in the public lots located behind Blanchard’s liquors, one block away, and at the intersection of Centre and Harris Streets, two blocks away.
MBTA: Take #39 bus from either Back Bay Station or Forest Hills Station to the Monument stop, directly in front of the Loring-Greenough House, at the intersections of Centre and South Streets.
Dining: There are several fine restaurants on Centre Street within 2-3 blocks, with on street parking and a large public parking lot behind Blanchard’s. At Centre Street Café – http://www.centrestcafe.com/ - (669A Centre Street, 617-524-9217), show proof of your reservation and get 10% off. More information at http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic/web/centre-street-cafe-becomes-a-notlob-restaurant-partner
Coffee, tea, water and pastries are available for a donation.
Thank you for supporting live music in Jamaica Plain.
Jeff Boudreau
"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."--Brian Wilson
