'Surreal Housewives' to debut
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091219/NEWS/912190320/-1/NEWS
Woodstock inspires musical snapshots
By DB LEONARD
December 19, 2009
WOODSTOCK Jules Shear has been a force in music for more than three
decades. He has recorded more than a dozen records over the years
solo and in various incarnations. The output of Jules Shear has been
as varied as his musical interests, from new wave to rock to folk.
From his home base in Woodstock, Shear continues to maintain a
powerful presence as a songwriter.
"This is what I do," Shear says.
Clearly not every songwriter has his gift. Shear penned the hit "All
Through the Night," made famous by Cyndi Lauper. The Bangles had a
smash with his "If She Knew What She Wants." He has been produced by
Todd Rundgren and has co-written songs for 'Til Tuesday. And he
conceived and hosted MTV's "Unplugged" series. Now Shear's work has
taken another turn: A song cycle, written with poet Ed Sanders,
called "The Surreal Housewives of Woodstock," which will be performed
Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Colony Cafe.
In 1965 Sanders co-founded The Fugs, a New York band that combined
poetry with eclectic rock.
"They are an outrageous band," Shear says, glowing with admiration.
"They really took this whole approach, of like, 'We're poets, and we
can make a band.'"
When Shear met Sanders at a benefit in the Hudson Valley, he felt
compelled to reach out. After a few writing sessions together, Shear
came up with the idea of writing a musical. Sanders came up with the
theme, and the two began in earnest.
Bordering between lighthearted snapshots and portraits of deeper
meaning, "The Surreal Housewives of Woodstock" presents a canvas
revolving around the personalities who reside in a legendary town.
With song titles including "Anger Management Annie," "Shy Genius
Sheila" and "Too Many Causes Tara," the song cycle is in the process
of being developed into a full-blooded musical with eyes on Broadway.
Sanders submitted poems to Shear, who composed the music, adding his
signature vocal harmonies and stylized approach to the guitar. He
recorded and delivered them to Sanders' mailbox, anxiously awaiting
his response.
"We were going at it," Shear says, "pretty much all the time."
--
IF You Go
Jules Shear and Ed Sanders present "The Surreal Housewives of Woodstock"
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 19
Where: Colony Cafe, 22 Rock City Road, Woodstock
Tickets: $15
Visit myspace.com/julesshear
.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Sixties-L" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
