Six Strings & Seven Seas: Jim Madsen's Home on the Web

We just moved to Norman, Oklahoma.

How about that? Consequently I have no flippin' idea where I'm going to go out and play music NOR what kind of stuff they will enjoy...I hope they don't want to hear "Okie from Muskokie" because I'll be seriously S.O.L. if they do.

Needless to say I'm excited about getting out and gigging a little, although with the youngin's it may be fewer and farther between when I do. HOWEVER - check back if you dare and I'll post any gigs here.

Music Schedule:

Open Mic Nite
Date - Thursdays starting in September until who knows when
Where - Othello's
Time - 9:00-12:00 - don't know when I get on stage, but I'll stay until I do!
Address - 434 Buchanan St., Norman, OK, 73069
Phone - (405) 360-2353

This is a pretty cool open mic location and they get in some great talent. I'll be happy to share the stage wit some of these players.

Songwriter Open Mic Nite
Date - Tuesday, September 8
Where - Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar
Time - 7:00 - 9:00
Address - 207 E. Mail St., Norman, OK
Phone - (405) 579-3387

This is a Song Writers Association of Norman event and is an original songs only (no spoken word/no covers) open mic location and they get in some great local song writers.

Open Mic Nite - Song Circle
Date - Tuesday, September 15
Where - Cafe Plaid
Time - 7:00 - 9:00
Address - 333 West Boyd, Norman, OK, 73069
Phone - (405) 360-2233

This is a Song Writers Association of Norman event. It's a real cool mix of songwriters from all ages and walks of life. There are folks here who gig 4 nites a week and others who come here for the first time.

Songwriter Open Mic Nite
Date - Tuesday, September 22
Where - Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar
Time - 7:00 - 9:00
Address - 207 E. Mail St., Norman, OK
Phone - (405) 579-3387

This is a Song Writers Association of Norman event. Emphasis on original songs only (no spoken word/no covers) open mic location and they get in some great local song writers.

Songwriter Open Mic Nite
Date - Tuesday, September 29
Where - Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar
Time - 7:00 - 9:00
Address - 207 E. Mail St., Norman, OK
Phone - (405) 579-3387

This is a Song Writers Association of Norman event. I am really impressed by the local songwriters down here. This is an original songs only (no spoken word/no covers) open mic location and they get in some great local song writers.

Monthly SongWriter Association Meeting
Date - Tuesday, October 6th
Where - Cafe Plaid
Time - 7:00 - 9:00
Address - 333 West Boyd, Norman, OK, 73069
Phone - (405) 360-2233

This is a Song Writers Association of Norman event. Topic: Writing Chord Progressions and Music for Your Songs - Gregg Standridge . Quick song circle following program - bring your guitar & a song...

MY FIRST GIG IN NORMAN!
Date - Saturday, October 10
Where - Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar
Time - 7:00 - 10:00-ish
Address - 207 E. Mail St., Norman, OK
Phone - (405) 579-3387

This is my FIRST OFFICIAL gig in Norman. Starting to feel a little more like home every day - and Michaelangelo's feels a lot like Uncle John's Coffee shop where I used to play oh so long ago. It's GOOD to feel like home.

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Hopefully here are LOT'S of dates to come - I've just been so busy getting to know my new haunts in Norman and settling in with the girls that I just haven't gotten around to booking them yet.

It's also a LOT harder networking here when bar owners don't know you from Jack or Adam or whoever. And there are LOTS of good players around so it's going to be hard to break into playing on a regular basis. HOWEVER - be on the lookout for possible Parrothead Parties or other shenanigans in your neck of the woods - which is NOW the greater Norman area! I'm also going to try and replicate the "Three Tennies" here, although I'll miss Mike Langley terribly!

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It's hard to replicate the music scene I left back in Iowa and South Dakota. I have a lot of great friends still making great music back where I used to call home...and it's important to support them and support live music. So if you're up in the tri-state area, be sure to look for Mike Langley, Jack Langley, Becky Sands & Jerry Kessler, Rust, T. Wilson King, The Rogues...the list goes on...

Not sure where to look to find it? Pick up a "Weekender" or an "XL"...

Still too much work? Then go to these places on any given weekend: Theo's Steakhouse, Theo's in Sioux Falls, Uncle John's Coffee House, Rhonda's, The Icky Nickle... In the middle of the week check out Tom Fooleries, Marty's Pub, Jim's Tap or any one of a number of out-of-the-way places where you can catch some great tunes in Sioux City.

One of the things Sioux City is notorious for is NOT patronizing the cool things to do in town. And the problem with this is that if you STOP going to hear live music, eventually it will all just go away...think about it: Uncle John's Music Cafe, The First Edition, and on and on. Get out there and SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC - WHEREVER YOU LIVE!!!

BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, of all the places I've played, Beach & "Parrothead" parties up at Lewis & Clark lake in Yankton and more recently at Tom Fooleries in Sioux City with Harp Man Dave Sherry are the highlight of my summer. And OF COURSE there's my fellow sailor and the best bassist to ever slap a string, my buddy Gregg Fettin.

If you've never been to a beach party, they're really hard to describe...but let's try: digging your toes in the sand and dancing under the stars on the beach, a warm night breeze coming in off the lake, bucket's of beer, microwave popcorn, "Trivia Pursuit for Free Beer" and twizzlers.

And let's not forget about "The Three Tennies"! What? You don't remember 3T??? Mike, Paul and I were all pretty good at picking up the key and hearing the chord changes coming for all the songs that we've never played before. I don't know how many songs we knew between the three of us - but it was a ton. We would each take a turn starting a tune and the other two would just jump in and hang on...often nailing the harmonies on the fly. 80% of the time we even amazed ourselves at how good it sounded - and the other 20% of the time it was a total train wreck on stage. But we had a blast - and the audience did too - and it made all the hiccups worth it...in fact, the hiccups were almost more fun.

Now that I think about it - I guess that sums it up pretty well afterall.