Wow, it’s been a while since I last invaded your inboxes - how’s your 2012 going?

Things really started to pick up at the end of last year in my musical world: Playing the ‘White Album’ with the Fab Faux in LA; embarking on my third tour of Japan (will it ever stop being amazing? I doubt it); discovering the über-young, ultra-incredible fingerstyle guitarist Sandra Bae and having her open for me at an insane end-of-year show at Steel City; dropping in to play some holiday tunes for ‘The Treasure of Philadelphia’, Helen Leicht, for her WXPN Holiday Show; played more shows with the Faux in NJ, Chicago and NYC and had the best NYC show in years at the Rockwood.

Kept it all going this year with another great night at the Rockwood, then striking my lead electric guitar poses with rich pagano and the sugarCane cups, followed by a trip to LA to play for my good friends and fine folks at Line 6 at the NAMM show. So thankful to have so many great opportunities to play and share my music with people. Thank you all.

And there’s even more . . .

WEDNESDAY, 02.01.12
MILKBOY PHILLY
PHILADELPHIA, PA

Here’s two words that always bring a smile to my face: Pete Donnelly. Love his playing, his songwriting and his spirit. He’s got a great new album out called ‘When You Get Home’ that will return your investment of disposable income in spades (full disclosure: I sing on a couple tracks, but I don’t even think about that while I’m loving listening to it) and he’s in the midst of a six week residency at Milkboy Philly (that’s the one in Philly, see what they did there?) to promote it.

This Wednesday (02.01.12) is Week Two, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. I’ll be playing a set and then joining Pete later for his set. In between, we will both join Terry Adams from NRBQ (as is Pete, but you knew that) for a set.

I am out of my mind excited to be playing with Terry - this will be a 2012 highlight for me.

Come out and share the good music and good vibes.

The Recap:
Wednesday, 02.01.12 - 9p
PETE DONNELLY / TERRY ADAMS / JIM BOGGIA
Milkboy Philly
1100 Chestnut Street - Philadelphia, PA
$10. 21+
Buy Tix

FRIDAY, 02.03.12
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL
NYC

I’ve got my own ‘First Friday’ residency going on at the Rockwood in NYC for January, February and March. This will be the second of the three, which makes it the troubled middle child, Jan Brady of the shows. Come witness the angst as I preview songs from my new Broadway-bound musical ‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!’.* Mike Lookiland sits in on bass.**

The Recap:
Friday, 02.03.12 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 1)
196 Allen Street - NYC
No cover. 21+

* For anyone reading this under 40 or from a foreign country, this is a joke.
** This too.

RADIO, RADIO (Radio and, possibly, Radio)

(Radio) - Just missed the opportunity to tell you to tune in to Gene Shay’s show this past Sunday (01.29.12) on WXPN because, um, it already happened! But I do want to thank Gene as always for being so supportive and having me on the show and it was great bringing along Pete Donnelly to play some tunes as well.

RADIO - But there’s more radio coming up this week. Tuesday night (01.31.12 - 9p) I’ll be on the XPN Philly Local Hour with ‘The Treasure of Philadelphia’ Helen Leicht. Sitting right beside me and playing some songs will be the amazing Sandra Bae. I’ll be playing a couple of tracks from my upcoming live LP because my throat will be too sore to sing. I know this because it’s pre-recorded!

RADIO - More big fun with Pete Donnelly this Friday (02.02.12 - Noon) as he plays XPN’s ‘Free at Noon’. Those of you in Philly should come on down to see it live, the rest of you if you’d just rattle your jewelry.*** I’ll be playing guitar and singing on Pete’s fantastic tunes.

(and, possibly, Radio) - I know Pete is playing on XPN sometime during the day on Wednesday, don’t know if I’ll be able to make it or even if it’s a live performance thing, but check my Facebook and Twitter for updates and details.

ALL of these radio spectaculars are happening on WXPN (and all times are EST). You can listen in Philadelphia on 88.5 and you can listen from anywhere in the world (uh, maybe not China) on the internet here.

*** And this one, but maybe not the part about the foreign country.

Back to school, back to work, back to life, back to reality, back-to-back, ‘Back to Black’, back-to-basics or back-up-against-the-wall, I hope you all had a great September.

I’ve spent most of September in my cave. I’ve been working on a special CD for my upcoming Japan tour (details below), recording with Tracy Bonham (that stuff’s sounding GOOD), trying to finish my Live LP (more trying, less finishing), recording background vocals for albums by my friends Day One and Pete Donnelly (man, I have me some talented friends) and finding that there’s STILL things to discover lurking deep in the grooves of those Beatles’ records (prepping for White Album, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper and more coming up with the Fab Faux).

Frankly, I’m ready to BUST OUT! So, I’m flying the coop (yes, I know I said it was a cave) and taking it on the road, which is to say, in the air, and traveling West and then so far West, it’s East.

Which is my way of saying . . .

RETURN TO LA!

WEDNESDAY, 10.19.11 - 8P
GENGHIS COHEN
LOS ANGELES, CA

Wow. LA, has it been two years? Well, you look good - been working out?

I’m putting together another shindig at Genghis Cohen. They’ve always been great shindigs - you have been the main reason why. I hope you’ll come out for another.

A lot of people may have forgotten about this, but October 21st is the REAL Apocalypse (not just a “spiritual” one like back in May), so this may not only be your last opportunity to come to one of my shows, it may be your last opportunity to go to ANY show.

Either way, hope to see you there.

The Recap:
Wednesday, 10.19.11 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
Genghis Cohen
740 N. Fairfax Avenue - Los Angeles, CA
$10 - 21+

SATURDAY, 10.22.11 - 8p
FAB FAUX plays THE WHITE ALBUM
ORPHEUM
LOS ANGELES, CA

Okay, the rest of this email operates under the premise that the Apocalypse will NOT take place on October 21st. In the event of the Apocalypse, these shows will all be canceled or, at the very least, moved to different venues.

I’m joining the Fab Faux to perform the White Album in its entirety. This show finds me in my role as Faux #6 - Utility Infielder. I’ll be running around the stage playing acoustic and electric guitars (and left-handed 12-string electric guitar played upside-down), keyboard, bass, drums (oh yes, drums), percussion, singing and doing even crazier things on ‘Revolution 9′. Quite the spectacle.

The Recap:
Saturday, 10.22.11 - 8p
FAB FAUX
Orpheum Theatre
842 S. Broadway - Los Angeles, CA
$39, $49, $59, $69, $79, $89 - All Ages
Get Tix

RETURN TO JAPAN!

SEPTEMBER 25 - 30, 2011
JIM BOGGIA FALL ‘11 JAPAN TOUR
YOKOHAMA, FUJI, OSAKA, KAMAKURA

PLUS:
‘JIM BOGGIA - OFFICIAL BOOTLEG . . . LIVE AT CAFE GOATEE’ CD

I can’t believe I’m going back for my THIRD Japan tour in the last 12 months. Getting a chance to travel Japan and play has been a true gift. Thank you to all the wonderful people in Japan who have been coming out and making the shows such a success and enabling it to continue. I can’t wait to come back and see you all again!

During the planning of this tour, I was asked about doing a special CD release for the Japan market. The result is ‘Jim Boggia - Official Bootleg . . . Live at Cafe Goatee’ featuring a collection of performances from my last two tours recorded in front of the incredible audiences at Cafe Goatee in Kamakura. This CD will be available at all the shows on the Fall tour.

THE SHOWS:
Tuesday, 10.25.11 - 7:30p
Cafe Goatee Presents: Bruce Hughes, Matt The Electrician & Scrappy Jud Newcomb with special guest Jim Boggia
Thumbs Up
1-22 2-chome, Nishi-ku
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan 220-0005
前売 5,000/当日 5,500 (要ドリンク＆フードオーダー) - TBD
Get Tix

Wednesday, 10.26.11 - 8:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Never Land
Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
前売 2,500 / 当日 3,000 (1ドリンク付) - All Ages

Friday, 10.28.11 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
club WONDER
7F-A, 1-6-31, Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuou-ku
Osaka, Osaka, Japan
前売 3,500 / 当日 4,000 (要ドリンクオーダー) - All Ages

Saturday, 10.29.11 - 7:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Cafe Goatee
Stroll Bldg. 3F, 2-10-7, Komachi
Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
前売 4,000 / 当日 4,500 (要ドリンクオーダー) - All Ages

Sunday, 10.30.11 - 7:00p
JIM BOGGIA
Cafe Goatee
Stroll Bldg. 3F, 2-10-7, Komachi
Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
前売 4,000 / 当日 4,500 (要ドリンクオーダー) - All Ages

Hope you all had a fun 4th of July and got your fill of bbqs, fireworks and Ray Charles. I finally had a chance to catch my breath this weekend; the past two months have been a music-making blur for me.

I’m very happy to announce some BIG NEWS - I’ve been invited to play at this year’s Philadelphia Folk Fest as part of their 50th Anniversary. A huge debt of thanks to “The Treasure of Philadelphia”, Helen Leicht, for having me aboard (BTW, I’m trying to get this whole “The Treasure of Philadelphia” thing started with Helen, feel free to spread it around). I’ll be playing August 20th. Details coming soon.

Well, I can’t spend all of the time between now and Folk Fest just sunning by the pool in my speedos (sorry, ladies) . . .

I’VE GOT MUSIC TO MAKE!

SATURDAY, 7.09.11 - 8:30p
STEEL CITY
PHOENIXVILLE, PA

I’ve been playing Steel City for over 10 years now - I’m on my fourth or fifth owner (I’m told I’m listed on the deed with the place now).

One of the many reasons I keep coming back is the chance to share the stage with musicians I’m enamored with, having them open and getting to sit-in on each other’s sets (I may hold some sort of record for playing with the most acts I’m not a part of). This show, I’m super-psyched to have Pete Donnelly doing the honors. Pete’s played with me handling bass duties and I’ve been recently reciprocating by playing some guitar with his band - and, of course, he’s a member of the they-actually-make-me-a-little-angry-they’re-so-good The Figgs and now playing with Terry Adams in the newly-reconstituted NRBQ (I know!). Great musician, great songs, great person - not to missed, so come early!

The Recap:
Saturday, 7.09.11 - 8:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Steel City
203 Bridge Street - Phoenixville, PA
610.933.4043
ALL-AGES. BYOB.
8:30pm - $16 adv./$18 day of show

PETE DONNELLY opens!

Get Tix

SATURDAY, 7.16.11 - 7:30p
MUSICAL LAIRS CONCERT SERIES
ST. DAVIDS, PA

Wow, I’ve been playing Lee Bower’s Musical Lairs Concert Series for almost as long as I’ve been playing Steel City (thank god I started so young). Hosted, as always, by the fabulous Breck’s in the music room (and it really is - you could have a chamber concert in there) of their home in St. Davids, this is the house concert that isn’t a house concert (except that it is).

Unlike most house concerts, this one is open to the public and if you haven’t made one of these, you really should, it’s always one of the best shows of the year.

The grand piano don’t hurt, either. Unless I get too carried away and try to play things I don’t know. I’m pretty sure it hurts a little then.

The Recap:
Saturday, 7.016.11 - 7:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Musical Lairs Concert Series
The Brecks - St. Davids, PA
Doors open at 7:30.  Music begins promptly at 8:00.

Joe and Lisa Breck’s home is in St. David’s, PA.  Contact Lee Bowers at leebowers@comcast.net for reservations and directions.

Suggested contribution to the artist $20, and some finger food to share at the break.

LA IN OCTOBER
HOUSE CONCERT FOR YOU?

Dear LA,

It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Too long.

I hope you know, I hope you know that this had nothing to do with you. It’s personal, myself and I. We had some straightenin’ out to do.

But LA, I’ve missed you like a child misses it’s blanket. Can you “Fergie”ve me?

Yes, I’m coming back to LA, for the first time in over two years, in late October. I’ll be playing with the Fab Faux at the Wiltern Theatre Orpheum (performing the White Album) on October 22nd.

This leaves me with a couple of days open to perform some West Coast Living Room Therapy. Do YOU have a west coast living room that needs to have an evening being filled with friends and fun and music? My house concerts have been clinically-proven* to bring clarity, peace, serenity** (and a guitar) to living rooms, dens, backyards and even the occasional basement.

I have Friday, October 21 and Sunday October 23 available for house concerts in the LA area. If your west coast living room could use some therapy on one of these dates, please contact Jack Leitenberg (okaybabe@aol.com) for more info.

* This statement not approved by the FDA.
** In comedy, this is known as a “callback”.

UPCOMING

Even more goodness in the not-too-distant future.

07.10.11 - Rich Pagano + sugarCane Cups - Maplewoodstock - Maplewood, NJ
07.14.11 - Jim Boggia - Gorgas Park with Ben Arnold - Roxborough, PA
07.18.11 - Tom Waits Tribute Night - The Living Room - NYC
08.20.11 - Jim Boggia - Philadelphia Folk Festival - Schwenksville, PA
09.17.11 - Jim Boggia - The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ
10.22.11 - Fab Faux - Wiltern Theatre Orpheum - Los Angeles, CA

I hope it’s off to a great start.

I’ve been keeping busy the last couple of months - starting with the uber-enjoyable run of shows with Tracy Bonham and Bleu as The Killer Bs; then an unexpected, quickly-arranged and once-again-magical return to Japan for a three-night run of shows at Cafe Goatee in Kamakura; a bunch of great nights sitting in with my friends Mike Viola, Jill Sobule and John Doe, Pete Donnelly and the aforementioned Ms. Bonham; 2 terrific nights handling keyboard, guitar and vocal duties with the Fab Faux - AND I even snuck in a couple low-key solo shows and some house concerts as well. Damn, I didn’t even realise how busy I’ve been until I typed all that out!

The bad news is that I’ve been struggling with some carpal tunnel issues in my right hand (and then also managed to smash my left index finger in a door), but I seem to have learned how to play whether I can actually feel my fingers or not, so . . .

LET’S PLAY SOME SHOWS!!!

THURSDAY, 6.16.11 - 7P
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL
NYC

My first time at the Rockwood. I hope it will be the first of many, but I’m gonna need a little help from my friends, which is a way of saying it would be particularly nice if you made it out to this one and it might be a fine time to bring a friend or two (or three?). TRACY BONHAM will be joining me as my special guest and later on in the evening another upstanding member of the Philly Music Community, MUTLU, has a set on Rockwood’s other stage. C’mon, ‘Friends’ is a rerun that night anyway (this line worked for me when I used it to promote a show in 1998, figured it couldn’t hurt to bust it out).

The Recap:
Thursday, 6.16.11
JIM BOGGIA
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Street - NYC
$10 Adv. / $12 DoS - 21+
Buy Tix

Rockwood 2. Opening for David Berekeley.
Jim at 7p SHARP!

SATURDAY, 6.18.11
THE SAINT
ASBURY PARK, NJ

Early acoustic shows are starting to turn into a regular thing for me at the Saint, and I’m loving it. The last one in back in February was probably one of my best shows of the year so far, I’m hoping to re-create that, except for the part when I couldn’t find the keys to the rental car at the end of the night.

The Recap:
Saturday, 6.18.11
JIM BOGGIA
The Saint
601 Main Street - Asbury Park, NJ 07712
$13. 21+
Buy Tix

Asbury Cafe Presents: Acoustic Rock: Feat. From Philadelphia, PA Jim Boggia / From LA, Jen Hirsh /  Xenia  and special guests, Doors 5pm, $13/ $15, This Is A Seated And No Talking During The Performances.

5:30 TBA
6:20 Xenia
7:00 Jen Hirsh
7:40 Peter Prasa
8:15  Jim Boggia

Some Words About The Philly Show In Particular:
When looking for a place in Philly to bring this show, we decided to take it to World Cafe Live, with it’s great stage and sound and amazing atmosphere. The ticket price on this show is actually LESS than you’d pay for one of my Philly area solo shows, Bleu and Tracy are both incredible in their own right and the collaboration between the three of us is a treat that may not be repeated here. All of this in the upscale confines of WCL add up to the fact that YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT MISS THIS SHOW. Seriously.

The Recaps:
Tuesday, 3.01.11 - TIME CHANGE!! NOW 7p
Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette Street - NYC
212.967.7555
$17. All ages.
Get Tix

Wednesday, 3.02.11 - 8:00p
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street - Philadelphia, PA
215.222.1400
$14. 21+
Get Tix

Thursday, 3.03.11 - 8:00p
Jammin’ Java
227 Maple Avenue East - Vienna, VA
703.255.1566
$15. All ages.
Get Tix

Friday, 3.04.11 - 9:00p
Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Avenue - Allston, MA
617.779.0140
$12. 18+.
Get Tix

REQUEST ‘THUNDER ROAD’ ON WBJB AND WXPN

I spent a day recently in the studio to record my ukulele version of ‘Thunder Road’ and I’m happy to say that both WXPN and WBJB have been kind enough to play it. This is not for sale, not on the web, it’s a radio-only release. I hope you’ll continue to call and request it and also to let them know you like it when you hear them play it.

This is a bit of an experiment. I’m trying to see if there’s interest in these types of things both from my fans and from the radio stations that I have long-term relationships with. I think the recording turned out really well. I hope you guys like it. Here’s the request line info:

WXPN 215-573-WXPN or requests@xpn.org
WBJB: 732.224.2905

Of course, both stations have live streams on their websites, so you can listen (and request) even if you’re not in the Philly (XPN) or NJ (WBJB - The Night) areas.

The UK could not have gone better. I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who came to the shows, hosted me in their homes, had me on sessions, took me to movies, made me Sunday Roasts (even the ones not on Sundays) and as well to everyone in the States who sent messages of support through Facebook and Twitter. I always, always love going to the UK, but this trip was particularly special. If you want to re-live some memories, I’ve made a collection of photos on Flickr that you can see here. There’s also this very nice review of my show at The Borderline in London with Tracy Bonham and Bleu. Finally, I’ve included a few videos at the bottom of this emailer.

As good as it’s been, it still getting better, which brings me to . . .

JAPAN TOUR 2010
11.27.10 - 12.05.10

I can’t believe the string of “oh my God, I get to do WHAT?” moments that have lining up these past few months, including playing Radio City Music Hall with the Fab Faux and a fantastic month playing shows in the UK. I’m sure I don’t deserve another, but this one may just take the prize: my first tour of Japan (and, for that matter, my first trip to Japan, period).

8 shows in 10 days, 7 different cities - even writing this with it only days away it doesn’t seem real. Needless to say, if you know anyone over there, please have them come out.

Here’s the details:

Saturday, 11.27.10 - 7p
JIM BOGGIA
LaCana
Daini-Kumazaki Bldg. B1, 2-1-9, Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku
Tel: 03-3410-0505
3,500yen (adv.) / 4,000yen (door) (+ drink)

Sunday, 11.28.10 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
Nouvelle Vibe
K Bldg. 3F, 10-7, Shichikencho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
Tel: 054-254-5969
2,500yen (adv.) / 3,000yen (door) (+ drink)

Monday, 11.20.10 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
Big Pink
2-237, Hisayasu, Kanazawa
Tel:076-245-2200
2,500yen (adv.) / 3,000yen (door) (+ drink)

Tuesday, 11.30.10 - 7:30p
JIM BOGGIA
club WONDER
7F-A, 1-6-31, Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuou-ku, Osaka
Tel: 06-6241-7772
3,000yen (adv.) / 3,500yen (door) (+ drink)
Shiba in Car opens.

Wednesday, 12.01.10 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
Cafe Bleu
4F-402, 2-2-8, Okaido, Matsuyama
Tel: 089-907-0402
4,000yen (w/ 1 drink)

Friday, 12.03.10 - 7p
JIM BOGGIA
Jittoku
Tel: 075-841-1691
3,000yen (adv.) / 3,500yen (door) (+ drink)
Kid At A-Low’s opens.

Saturday, 12.04.10 - 7p
JIM BOGGIA
Cafe Goatee
Stroll Bldg. 3F, 2-10-7, Komachi, Kamakura
Tel: 090-8430-9708
3,500yen (adv.) / 4,000yen (door) (+ drink)

Sunday, 12.05.10 - 7p
JIM BOGGIA
Cafe Goatee
Stroll Bldg. 3F, 2-10-7, Komachi, Kamakura
Tel: 090-8430-9708
3,500yen (adv.) / 4,000yen (door) (+ drink)

FOR INFO ON ALL THE SHOWS IN JAPANESE:
Jim Boggia Japan Tour 2010

I don’t know how it is where you are, but here on the East Coast of the good ol’ US of A, Fall seems like it arrived with laser-like precision. I spent Labor Day in Central Park with friends picnicking and playing music and then - BAM! - Tuesday it was time for long sleeves and you could smell Fall in the air. I’m all for Fall, but let’s give Winter bad directions so it spends a few extra weeks driving around trying to find the place.

I’m gearing up for a whirlwind of an end to 2010. Just rolling up my sleeves to learn my parts for the Fab Faux’s ‘A Night In The Life’ shows to celebrate John Lennon’s 70th birthday at Radio City Music Hall (Sept. 25) and the Keswick Theatre (Oct. 9). I’ll be playing congas and drums in addition to my usual guitar/keyboard duties. Playing with the Faux has not only been a great experience because I get to play my favorite music of all-time, but also because I’m constantly given things to do that stretch me as a musician. Still, I do not expect to be taking any gigs away from conga legend Tommy Lopez any time soon.

After the show at the Keswick, I’m off to the UK for just under a month, playing shows in England and Scotland. More info to come, but mark your calendars for October 23 when I play the Borderline with Tracy Bonham and Bleu, and October 26th when I go back to the 12Bar and play with my friends Dan Clews and Alex Lipinski. Lots of other shows set up as well. I’ll be putting an emailer together with all the details soon.

After catching my breath in Philly for a couple weeks after that (and hold Nov. 22 open if you’re in Philly - I think there’s going to be a cool event announced soon, just not confirmed yet), I’ll be headed to Japan for a couple of weeks to play my first ever shows there. To the countless throngs of Japanese fans I have who I’m certain are reading this, you can find a list of the currently booked shows at jim.boggia.com. More to come and I will, of course, be writing with more details as the tour gets closer.

On a sad note, one of my kitties passed away a few weeks ago. Bailey came with me (with 6 others!) to West Philly five years ago from the farm in Roxborough. She was one of the kittens that Jones had underneath “shipwreck deck” - the somewhat dilapidated porch that wrapped around three sides of the house. With Jones and her litter began a multi-year odyssey of domesticating about a dozen of the feral cats that lived in our backyard. Bailey was painfully shy most of her life but had come out of her shell quite a bit in the last few years. She passed away quickly and without suffering. She will be missed.

FRIDAY, 10.01.10 - 8P
THE LIVING ROOM - NYC

I haven’t played a full show in NYC since LAST YEAR (but that’s not why I hate New York), and I’m coming back with a big Friday night extravaganza. I’ll be playing an extended set, plus there will be opening sets by my good friend Adrien Reju and Londoner-turned-NYC-ster Findlay Brown (they are both extremely ear-worthy).

Plenty of surprises and feats of derring-do are planned. At least one ukulele will be involved. No children or animals will be hurt during the performance.

In honor of this being a ticketed show, I have asked them NOT to pass the bucket around during the set. Who says I don’t look out for my fans?

And - because I know that you are people with exquisite musical taste - YES - I will have you out in time to go ’round the block to catch Harper-Blynn at the Rockwood. So, you can have a dual-venued, multi-artist, sound-spectacular of an evening!. But don’t just take my word for it, read what I’ve typed below that I’ve imagined Harper-Blynn would say:

Pete (Harper): Aw man, you guys should definitely go see Boggia before coming out to our show. He’s even playing some ukulele.
J (Blynn): Without a doubt. He’ll have you out in plenty of time to see us. Man, I hope someone records his show so we can hear it.

If you can’t take Harper-Blynn’s fictitious word for it, I don’t know what else to tell you . . .

EXCEPT:
I’m excited to come back and play the Living Room. It’s been too long. I hope you can make it out with some friends.

The Recap:
Friday, 10.01.10 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
The Living Room
154 Ludlow - NYC
$10. 21+.

Opening sets by Adrien Reju and Findlay Brown (expect some jumping in on each other’s sets, too).

Living Room Get tix

I hope you’re staying cool this incredibly hot Summer. I’ve spent most of the last two months convincing my hands that they knew how to play keyboards so I could do some dates with the Fab Faux performing all of Let It Be and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. There were some incredibly frustrating moments while sitting at the piano several hours a day, but it felt great to push myself and wind up pulling it off.

Now I’m reminding my hands how MY songs go. Got some places and dates where I’ll be pulling that off. Check it . . .

SATURDAY, 8.14.10
STEEL CITY
PHOENIXVILLE, PA

Wow, it’s like I made a conscious decision to not play shows in Philly or something. I haven’t been to Steel City since last October! Well, let’s fix that immediately. I’ll be back on Saturday, 8.14.10 at 8:30p. A mystery guest will open. I’m trying to save you a seat, but tickets are going fast, so you may want to order today.

The Recap:
Saturday, 8.14.10 - 8:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Steel City Coffeehouse
203 Bridge Street - Phoenixville, PA
610-933-4043

All Ages. $16 Adv. / $18 DoS.

Get yer tix.

FRIDAY, 8.27.10

That’s really all I can say right now. More details to come, but you just might want to keep that box on your calendar open.

HEY HEY, UK
I’MA COMIN’ YER WAY . . .

. . . It’s better to book gigs, if you like to play.
Hey, hey UK.

You can stop reading this in a Neil Young voice now.

Yes, it’s time for what is becoming my annual trip to the UK. I’m headed out October 13th and coming back to the States on November 7th. I’m in the process of getting all the dates together, but I’m also wondering if there’s any folks in Blighty that would like to have me entertain in their very own home.

House concerts have become a pretty big thing here in the States and I know they’re starting to catch on over there. Wanna be a trendsetter? Here are some details on how it all works. You can reply to this email or contact Jack Leitenberg at okaybabe@aol.com if you’re interested or have questions.

In any event, more details on the UK tour soon. As always, I am really excited to come over and play.

How’s your Summer going so far? I’ve had a couple afternoons to sit in Rittenhouse Square playing my new ukulele, but mostly been spending my time trawling through my closet/archives transferring and backing up, working in the studio picking performances and mixing them for a live album I hope to have out by the Fall and spending LOTS of time shedding for some upcoming shows I’m playing with the Fab Faux. Yes, my right hand CAN play the piano solo to ‘Lovely Rita’, thanks for asking. No, my left hand CAN’T play along at the same time . . . YET. But it will by next month.

I’m also preparing for my next trip over to the UK for shows in October. Right now, the trip is looking to be from around the 13th of October through November 3rd. If you’re in the UK and would like to arrange for a house concert during that time, please reply to this email and we can work it out (I can play that with both hands already).

SATURDAY, 6.26.10 - 7:30P
MUSICAL LAIRS HOUSE CONCERT SERIES
ST. DAVIDS, PA

This is it. My annual visit to the gorgeous home of the Breck’s in St. Davids for Lee Bower’s Musical Lairs House Concert Series. Traditionally in July, this year we’re squeezing it in at the end of June because the anticipation was just too much to take.

What can I tell you about this show that I haven’t already said the last eight years? Ah, just go into your saved emails folder and read it all again. Really? You don’t save these? I’m hurt. Well, it’s a grand setting with a grand piano and I make a grand entrance. You should come.

Contact Lee Bowers at leebowers@comcast.net for reservations and directions. I’ll type that again in a minute (actually, I’ll probably cut and paste now that I know you don’t save these).

The Recap:
Saturday, 6.26.10 - 7:30p
JIM BOGGIA
Musical Lairs House Concert Series
The Breck’s - St. Davids, PA
Suggested contribution to the artist $20, and some finger food to share at the break.
All ages.

Contact Lee Bowers at leebowers@comcast.net for reservations and directions (see?).

Ok, most people might call it “my closet”. Heck, even I call it “my closet” sometimes as it is, technically, a closet (though since I rent, I suppose there’s some possibility for an honest difference of opinion as to the whole “my” part of it, but we’re splitting hairs now).

WAIT - don’t just skip down to the part about the show. I’ll pick it up a bit.

The point is, the vault/my closet holds what I like to call “my archives” but, again, you might like to call it an overwhelming amount of audio, video, photos and press clippings on tapes, CD-ROMs, minidiscs, hard drives, 3.5 inch floppy discs and even more esoteric media formats that I have amassed during my disturbingly large number of years making music. There’s also at least one metal kazoo (the plastic ones suck).

Since the beginning of the year I’ve been going through it, attempting to identify, date, label and catalogue as much of it as I can, then digitizing it and putting it all in an absurdly over-organized, quickly-filling 1TB hard drive. You down with OCD? Yeah, you know me.

But why am I telling you all of this? Is it because I was under the misguided impression that you were all fascinated by even the most insignificant details of my life?

No (though that’s probably why I’m on Twitter).

Oh right, I was picking it up a bit. Sorry.

Anyway, it’s a big, BIG project that I’ve wanted to tackle for a long, LONG time and I’ve decided that this is the year. You’ll be hearing about it from time-to-time as I push my way through it and turn up things I think you might be interested in.

Which FINALLY brings me to:

RARE (AND NOT-SO-RARE) BOGGIA LPS NOW AVAILABLE VIA BANDCAMP

I’ve come across a lot of the original source material for not only my three “official” albums, but most of those other quirky, homemade, limited-release albums as well. By original source material, I mean the full-fidelity, CD-quality audio files (AIFFs, for you technically-minded folk), as opposed to the tiny, crappy-sounding mp3s that I’ve had on my iTunes as my only copies for so long.

At the same time, I’ve found this great site called Bandcamp, which sells downloads but uses full-fidelity, CD-quality audio files (AIFFs, for you technically-minded folk), as opposed to the tiny, crappy-sounding mp3s other sites use for their source material. They give you the ability to download songs in all sorts of formats that sound A LOT better than what you can get on iTunes (even mp3s, which they offer at 320k quality, over twice as good as what you get on iTunes). Are you one of those people cool enough to know about and use FLAC-format? I’m not, but if you are - they have it, and lots more (Ogg Vorbis, anyone? I’m not even making that up).

They also pack the files with lots of extra stuff like:

• Lyrics - Yes, lyrics. I don’t even print those in the CD booklets!
• Credits - Ever wonder who played electric sitar on ‘Bubblegum 45s’? These files will tell you!
• Liner Notes - You mean, the meandering, nearly-incomprehensible stuff I write about the albums? Yes, that’s the stuff!
• Original Promo Emails - You didn’t save the uproariously funny email I wrote heralding the release of ‘JPGR’? Now you can laugh again!

The three studio LPs are there, but also ‘Transistorized 220′ ‘JPGR’ ‘4 Sketches’ ‘Transistorized 220 - Volume 2′ and ‘The Abbey Road Session’. I’m still looking for high-quality versions of ‘Tragical Blistery Lure’ and the Oxfam record. I’m sure they’ll turn up and when they do, I’ll post ‘em. I’m also working on getting a lot of the things I released on the podcast together (can you say ‘Somebody to Love’?).

I’ve had a lot of fun finding this stuff and hearing it again in high quality for the first time in years. There were moments hearing a lot of this music where I was actually able to listen to it like I wasn’t the guy who made it and it sounded damn fine to me. I really hope you’ll enjoy it, too.

The Recap:
JIM BOGGIA on BANDCAMP
Click the link and you’ll be taken to the index page. From there, click on the individual albums and enjoy!

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010
THE NIGHT CAT
EASTON, MD

Stepping out of my closet for a trip down to Easton, MD to play the Night Cat this Friday (6.11.10) at 8p. A comfy room with good sound and Bryan Russo opens, to boot.

The Recap:
Friday, 6.11.10 - 8p
JIM BOGGIA
The Night Cat
5 Goldsborough Street - Easton, MD
$15. All Ages.

Bryan Russo opens.