Kathryn Hallberg at Half Price Books Humble
Thursday night! May 24th, 2012 7:00- 9:00 pm at the Half Price Books in Humble.
Genre: Acoustic / Americana / Pop
from SPRING, Texas, US
Website www.cdbaby.com/cd/kathrynhallberg
Record Label River Bend
Type of Label Indie
Archie Rocks Acoustic, Totally Rocked Half Price Books
Booking musicians to serenade customers at a bookstore has been pretty fun so far. Sure, it has ups and downs… a great musician, a no show musician, a nice musician, a quirky musician… but tonight it was all UP! Archie Parks had the tips flowing, the book buying happening, and customers tapping their toes while they shopped LP’s, and applauding from the DVD aisles. A couple came to find me to ask if he had cd’s for sale and why not. So after the show, I took some time to pour over the calendar with him and conduct an interview for my blog.
Who are your biggest influences?
Bush, Gavin Rossdale, Cobain. That dude from Seether, I can’t think of his name right now, but I’d know it when I see it. 90’s Grunge music mostly, you know STP. I could go all day… Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Shoe.
When did you start playing and why?
Jr. High. My Dad had a guitar and a friend had a drum set. Started writing our own songs because if we messed up nobody knew. And then it snowballed. So I guess the answer is boredom.
Where else are booked to play?
I’m trying to set up a show at Bohemeos. It’s real chill there.
What made you decide playing in a bookstore would be right for you?
It’s chill. My new style is perfect for a chilling bookstore.
Since we’re in a bookstore, who are your favorite authors?
Asimov, he’s the shit. Herbert, I love science fiction, obviously. I heard a new Dark Tower came out, Stephen King, but not Stephen King, I like his alter ego Bachman. But Asimov is number one. I love robots, man. And those dudes that came out with new Dune books, they weren’t Herbert, but they were still pretty sweet. And I’m into Eastern Philosophy. But it’s fucking lame. I’m into it, but not to be a hipster.
Do you read much? Does your reading affect your lyric writing?
No, I don’t read much. It doesn’t affect my writing. What does is school, I’m taking Creative Works.
What messages do you wish to convey through your music?
My number one theme is love. I sing about it all the time because I love the ladies. But my goal is to help people find the right path for them. That’s why I like Eastern Philosophy and I’m not a hipster. Help people find themselves, and feel stuff.
When do you think you’ll have cds or downloadable songs ready for sale?
I have enough material for a seven track album. But I’m leery, I need moral support because I don’t want to rip people off just selling me and a guitar. I have higher standards. I don’t want to put my name on crap.
At which point, I had to tell him that I thought the idea of a cd with just him on a guitar wouldn’t be a rip off at all, it would actually be quite lovely. He’s very humble, but not in a self degrading well. He was genuinely pleased and surprised that customers were interested in buying his music if it was available.
Indie Blue Grass Rock With a Roll
Come on down for a unique Bluegrass sound. Humble hometown boy, Austin LeBlanc, will be performing at the Deerbrook Plaza Half Price Books on Thursday, April 12 from 7-9 pm. While you are there don’t forget to pick your way through HPB’s unique music section, and maybe pick up a book that suits the musical mood.
Live Shows at Half Price Books Humble
So, if you follow my blog at all, you know I’ve been coordinating events for Half Price Books in Humble, which by the way is a complete blast! In February, Christine Hand came to town and serenaded the store for two hours (Friday, the 24th between 7 and 9 pm).
Adam Jones and Christine Hand Jones at Half Price Books Humble for a Live, Free, Unplugged Show
For those of you unable to make it, or who don’t know who Christine Hand is, you should know that the very next day, she discovered her Bob Dylan cover was being played on the radio in Dallas. I happily brag about this to let you know that we book great musicians, and when you hear about Half Price Books having live artists in the store – you should definitely take time to stop by so you don’t miss a rare and great opportunity to meet the artists of the future!
If you did miss that last performance, no worries! I’ll do my best to make it happen again. And as a sign of good faith, my lovely customers, I’ve booked Tito Ortega for March!
Tito Ortega is another Dallas local making a special trip down to Houston to play at the Humble store. He, too, writes his own music in a fun, low-key and soothing style. A testament to his great songwriting is the fact that Eric Tipton, a recent contestant on The Voice, did a cover of his song Something Beautiful on his cd Straight From the Couch (that album is a personal favorite of mine, check it out here: http://www.myspace.com/erictipton).
Check out Tito’s site at TitoOrtega.com, and follow him on twitter @titoortegamusic.
We’ll see you at the show on March 24th (Saturday) 7-9 pm! Come ready to enjoy an intimate show and purchase digidownloads or cds.
Somebody That I *Still* Know
“Somebody That I Used To Know”
(feat. Kimbra)
[Gotye:]
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it’s an ache I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I’ll admit that I was glad it was over
But you didn’t have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don’t even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough
No you didn’t have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don’t need that though
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
[Kimbra:]
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I’d done
But I don’t wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn’t catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
[Gotye:]
But you didn’t have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don’t even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough
And you didn’t have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don’t need that though
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
[x2]
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you’re just somebody that I used to know)
(I used to know)
(That I used to know)
(I used to know)
Somebody
This song has just recently blown up all over the Houston area. I hear it on the radio often, I periodically go to You Tube and watch the music video. It’s in my head, I can’t get it out, and I’m ok with that because it’s beautiful.
I played it for my sister and she said, “It’s so true, that’s how it is.” All I could think was: How odd, I didn’t expect that reaction. Until that moment, I had been completely in love with the song, and found it sad, but had never thought about the affect the lyrics might have on others. Because, for me, it has never been that way.
I’ve taken the time to put the lyrics on my blog, and talk about this song, because it’s one of the few songs I’ve heard in a long time that has made me count my blessings. I can hear that song and sing it loudly in the car and proudly and gratefully know that the only true ex-boyfriend I have, is still my friend, and so is his wife. (I feel as though I can safely exclude those who I casually ‘dated’ from this post.)
I am thankful of my choices in life. I only looked for relationships in people that I already called friend, so that when they ended or didn’t work out, it was all ok because we had a friendship to fall back on. There was no disappearing into the abyss; or pretending like we didn’t care about each other, we respect each other too much to behave that way. We were able to honestly admit to ourselves that we weren’t right for each other and that each one was in love with somebody else, and look where that got us! We are each happily married to our somebody else.
Having now thought about it in regards to other people, my empathy kicks in and Gotye now brings tears to my eyes. But they aren’t my tears, they are tears for all the broken people. My advice to the world? Think about this song before you haphazardly jump into dating relationships, because marriage is awesome, but dating really sucks.
If you haven’t seen it, watch the video, it’s beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
Walk Off The Earth also does an amazing cover.
Books, Music, and mostly Nostalgia
My favorite things in the world are books, coffee, and music, in no particular order. So it goes without saying that in college I spent many a hour journaling or reading in coffee shops around the DFW area. Many times, my collegiate friends were on stage or tucked in a corner with a guitar serenading me. They were happy times in a time when my life was mostly hectic and stressful: full time student, part time employee to multiple employers, to date or not to date, and finding out where I fit in the world all rolled up into a girl who for many a semester suffered from insomnia.
So now, as an event coordinator for my favorite bookstore, it’s a pleasure to host musicians I have always enjoyed listening to at a time when I can hang out, read a book, have a coffee, and not be simultaneously thinking about what assignment is due next, how I did on that last test, and how am I going to make rent and feed myself without flunking for skipping class. It will be nice to enjoy a few hours of peace without worrying about whether I made the right choice when I chose not to date so and so, and if it was a bad idea to kiss whats-his-name, all while trying to decide if getting married one day is even something that matters to me. School is enough; worrying about the career you want or don’t want after the fact is just exhausting. Now, I am married, I’m done with school, I work about 20 hours a month or so from home, and I write.
That’s why, I’m pleased to share with the world, the first musician booked at Half Price Books Humble, is Christine Hand. Although Christine has been in the same pocket of friends and social circles as me since I was eighteen, the truth behind why I booked her his pure pleasure and nostalgia. Christine was the one who serenaded me the most often. When I think back on all those evenings at coffee shops, I hear two voices: Christine Hand and David Ramirez.
David Ramirez is booked elsewhere at larger venues right now, check out his site here: http://www.davidramirezmusic.com/. But Christine has taken time out of her busy schedule and life to appease my nostalgia, and play at the Half Price Books in Humble on February 24th, 7-9 pm. Come revel in my past life, I’d love for you to join me.
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
The Piano Tuner
“‘It doesn’t matter. It is just a story, I suppose.’ ‘Yes, Mr. Drake […] They are all just stories.'”
Anakalian Whims 