Stevie Coyle (wrap-up)

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Stevie Coyle to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* This was a special concert in the home of fans of Tree House Concerts. We went a mile down the road in Carmel Valley Village to the home of Paul and Elizabeth Lane, where folks filled 38 seats to see former and founding member of the Waybacks, Stevie Coyle.

* Stevie brought his own sound equipment for the warm ranch-style living room, with lots of dark wood and a beautiful view of Garzas Canyon in Garland Ranch County Park.

* Stevie featured songs from his new CD Ten-In-One, which he described as a "concept album" where each track relates a story of our hero Mr. Ostler and his travels to the circus sideshow tent.

* Tree House historian Vince Lewis noted he saw Stevie recently play a CD release party at the Mission Coffee Roasting Company up in Fremont, where Stevie and two band mates played the whole Ten-In-One CD front to back.

* Stevie's humor knocked us out from the start, but a beautiful moment occurred in the first set when he played an Episcopalian hymn and invited all to sing the words, if they knew them. Someone did, and it was a lovely moment.

* Stevie is the second ex-Wayback to visit our home. We had Chojo Jacques come by in December 2006 with Ken Clarkson from Jimmy Chickenpants.

* Stevie had a big day, having to rush off to see Richard Thompson at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga that night.

* I met several promoters, including Audrey Morris (Carmel Valley) and Allan Molho (Watsonville). Audrey has Ken Emerson (Hawaiian/Blues/Rock) coming on January 2, and Allan just had Audrey Auld Mezera on Halloween (she's so good she's played our house twice!).

* I also met a lot of artists and picked up a few CDs. Give a listen to Dan Eyde and Michael Gathier, who's CD came by way of the "small world" connection made by Shelia Prader.

* I loved that Stevie has done lots of house concerts and has hosted them as well. He used the Irish phrase "rolling up the rugs" to describe the very old phenomena of inviting musicians into your home.

* Here's what Stevie mentioned in the encore/interview when you search for "house concerts" and "martha stewart." Good advice, except I would advise not looking like a "public accommodation," meaning a business. Here's even better advice from Russ & Julie's House Concerts down near Los Angeles.

* A funny moment (and there were tons) came in the second set, when Stevie sang the Tom Waits song "Chocolate Jesus," which evidently should never sing in Florida.

* And on behalf of my wife, Juliet and I, thank you again, Paul and Elizabeth, for such a lovely visit to your home and creating such a stolen moment.