Hamilton Guitar Association: September 2011

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Mon. Sept. 19 , HGA... Sofga meeting

   Hey everyone, me again. Last year was very exciting as we started to figure out together exactly who we were going to be as the new H.G.A. The glowing performance from Mike Anderson, who we've all watched develop into a gifted performer and artist finished the year on a high for the coming summer.

I hope you had a great summer playing at drunken festivals and nude beach parties each and every night, till the morning light,......     like me. But now the summer is all over but the paternity suits.

   We have another exiting year of great solo performance of guitar music from beginners , students, artists and masters. This year, we'll continue to build a community where the art of solo guitar performance can thrive.

   In eager anticipation, and to come down from the summer hangover, I'll see you this Monday, and we can all detox together.

Hair of the Dog,

Markis

Saturday, September 24, 2011

First Meeting Of the 2011-2012 season

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

It was great to reconvene after a summer away and see all our friends again. Everyone played a few tunes, we got a feel for how the year was going to play out and also a great discussion on aching body parts. Allot of enthusiasm was shown for our visits to the Alexander Place palliative care centre and we hope to return soon for another song circle.

At the next meeting, we'll hand out full schedules for the year and plan some future events and concerts.

Take Care , Mark

David Gillis At HGA

This week, May 30, the Pheaesnt Plucker, 8:00 to 10:00, HGA is proud to present the return of, multiple award winning finger style guitar (...and ukulele) player, long standing member and friend to HGA /sofga David Gillis.

I've always admired David's ability to display his amazing guitar technique, vocal and song writing while building an increasingly close connection to everyone in the audience. It makes for a dazzelling, unique and uplifting musical experience.

You can spend an afternoon watching clips of super talented musicians going under the handle "Gillis", ( Ariana and Briar for example) Here's a clip of David on his own, doing a favorite to many , one super-cool (as well as documented and published) arrangement of... Spiderman.

S.O.F.G.A.

Southern Ontario Fingerstyle Guitar Association

Some five years ago, I typed finger style guitar into a search engine because that was the type of playing I wanted to explore. Mostly because I was tired of replacing all my lost guitar picks. What I found was the SOFGA, a club dedicated to this guitar style and encourageing new people to learn by providing a non competative performance environment. They met right here in Hamilton, I knew that this was something I had to check out.

What I found was a community of people enjoying each other's music, company and friendship. And the amazing music! Cutting edge acoustic, celtic, old blues , entire bands seems to leap from guitars held by one person. No fake effects or back tape. Each meeting, one great player after the next would play. Then, one of them would take some time to show you thier style.

This is where I found my guitar teacher and mentors and some realley good friends. Though I was just a beginner, these people seemed to have a genuine desire to hear my music. This encouragement was pivital, at a time when the rest of the world just wanted me to forget the whole guitar thing .

Some five years later, when it comes to music, I still don't have it all together most of the time, but I've come a long way, mostly thanks to SOFGA.

Now , it's called the Hamilton Guitar Association but the goal and spirit are the same. That's why I'm happy to slug all the gear up the stairs at the Pheasent Plucker every other week, set up the mics and board, then, watch it all unfold.

Mark V