My Father's 76th Birthday

April 7, 2008 - So a day after what would have been my Father's 76th Birthday - April 6, 2008.  Unbeknownst to the Anchorage Press, they published their superb piece Into the Sky on my Father the same week as his Birthday.  Take a look, and maybe get a bit more into my head (not that this blog doesn't do that).  I often wonder how his life would have evolved - and, naturally, how ours would have (all of us children and my Mom).

Its been one of those months.  In Saipan playing for friends last month, now back home (still waiting for the house to be finished) and mixing a bit of that political and musical life of mine with a large dash of community.  The usual mix. On the music front, I will be playing here in town at Side Street Espresso on the 17th and Esther Golton is opening! Her Dulcimer and flute and my sound (hopefully joined by my good friend Rolfe Buzzell on harmonica) should be a great time to get out and celebrate (one hopes) Spring.  After the five inches that fooled us this past week - its time for the real thaw!

Nearly done with those Sonnets - just had one posted to DailyKos.  Du'a Khali Aswad was a Yazidi girl in Iraq who was "honor" murdered by her family for dating a boy of another sect.  The brutal killing was captured on cell phone cameras, by cheering members of her family as this 17 year old life was snuffed out.  It saddened me then and does so still.  Check out the blog and the Sonnet there.

Starting to book the end of the year, events coming in May, June, July.  Keep checking back, and I will see you down the road!

Santa Barbara

March 21, 2008 - Spring is a great thing - felt heat in the sun yesterday and attacked my driveway with the pick and shovel...  Remodel nearing its close... back at home after a GLORIUS week of music.  The combination of the SLOFolks concerts (thank you, thank you, thank you Elisabeth) and being joined by my good friend and mouth harp player Rolfe Buzzell and his partner Sharon Holland made it memorable in Morro Bay (thanks to Coalesce Books) and the Green Acres Lavender Farm - where we were also joined by the fine stylings of Claudia Russell and her fabulous band - Bruce Kaplan on mandolin and guitar, Mark Petrella on base. I slipped down to LA and, in the house built by his grandfather, saw Severin Browne and a number of my LA friends (hey Dana!), Severin's wife Melinda had a house concert/revue - great acts like Dan McFeely, Severin and so many others.... playing standards and original music.  Quite cool.  At the end of the night I played a few songs in the chapel with Dave Morrison, and Jaynee Thorne - that was cool. Also saw the dungeon... another story, that....  Drove up to Santa Barbara that night where I stayed at my good friend Anne Bussone's apt. - she was generous to put up with, er... put up Rolfe, Sharon and I in Santa Margarita at her house when we played up near San Luis earlier in the weekend.  Came down to Kulak's on Laurel Canyon Blvd. for a great open mic night ( I was #34 - essentially last, but it went well... Saw fellow Alaskan Marian Callthere - she did a great a cappella song (her accompanist had already returned to AK, she was heading out at 3 am).  From there it was off to Garret Swayne's MSSS and a really good night of music on the bill (again) with Jeff Gold.  Rolfe and Sharon joined me again and a number of friends showed up - Russ and Julie Paris, Bruce Grossman, Tim O'Gara (love that CD), Michael Doman (can't wait for that cd!), Gene Lippmann and so many more.  Always a great time.  I usually get to stay and listen as the night goes on, but an airplane to New Jersey was calling so it was off for an 11 pm flight all night.  Returned from Jersey on Friday (after sleeping in Seattle airport) and headed up to Whole Wheat Radio in my old stomping grounds of Talkeetna on Saturday.....  What a night that was.... Lots of folks online, and the local crowd made it happen.  The music flowed and at the end I even read a few... Jim Kloss and Esther Golton were the best of hosts (okay and Beta too) and the next day we did a long talk on politics, philosophy and music - a great radio conversation while eating breakfast - loved it.  EVERYONE needs to listen to Whole Wheat.

As I drove back to Anchorage that morning, I couldn't help but think about how cool people are on the road, how important playing for a few or even a lot of folks is - in New Jersey I wrote a song for their Juvenile Justice Commission - and I thought about how much I love being able to do this.  Not possible with out all of you....

San Luis Obispo

March 3, 2008 - March dawns with a brisk cold and finds me at home for a moment getting ready for the Southern California tour - San Luis Obispo Folk Society (SLOFolks) has me at two events: the first in Morro Bay the second in Atascadaro.  Following that I head to LA and Garret Swayne's Mainstreet Songwriters' Showcase for a repeat performance.  Hope to catch some of you folks there.  Still working on those sonnets - getting close now...  Much to do and little time it seems - Spring cannot be far now!

Seldovia

February 13, 2008 - Below a picture from our Tim Mason/Tom Begich Crazy Crow House Concert hosted by the wonderful Susan Mumma down in Seldovia on February 10.  What a great time and great photos from Savanna Lewis (she shot my MySpace photo).  Tim invited me to join him on his Alaska tour and we had a great time developing a set combining spoken word and music (listen to Gideon'e Bible and Midnight Run here).  I'll try to post some of that as time goes by, but all is available at Whole Wheat - thanks Jim Kloss and the audience there for really making that evening real. Tim and I closed his three venue tour here with two sets at Whole Wheat Radio where I will be playing on my own on March 15 (competing with the Talkeetna Oosik Festival, alas!).  It has been a busy two months and many, many thanks to Sharon Harrigfeld in Boise for the great House Concert, Randall Williams for being a wonderful guest and musician (and Caroline also!), Mike McCormick for allowing Randall and I to open for Ann McCue, Nora and the crew at the Anchorage Folk Festival (that was an amazing night!), Mike Huelsman at Out North (and Shotzi for allowing me to follow the play and Daniel for posting one of the songs...) for two January performances and as always George Gee and Deb Seaton at Side Street for hosting Randall and Tim on two different nights.  A whirlwind for sure!

Photo (c) 2008 Savannah Lewis

Email

January 18, 2008 - I have just discovered that my tom@tombegich.com e mail address was drifting into the netherworld.  As recently as this week I sent some one to the web site to get a CD order they had paid for, and he probably sent it in, but I never received it. I think this might have been going on for the better part of the year.... If you are out there, e mail again, its fixed! Just this evening (late on the 17th, early on the 18th) I have recovered my computer after a series of fatal flaws. Still without my address book, all else finally seems to be working. Tough when you depend on these things....  Playing a lot this month, and a little next.  Jump on the gigs link and see what is up!

Boston

December 11, 2007 - It seems these may become monthly entries.... In Boston now after although bought of laryngitis, that did not stop the show from going on at the Burren.  Hugh was behind the bar and Brandon hosted for what was a great night.  I had the joy of listening to some great music, hanging out with friends like Tim Mason, playing a little then hearing from remarkable DC-based spoken word artist Chris Chandler who played Passim earlier that night -- he and his guitarist, Seattle's Paul Benoit, were an amazing way to end the night.  Really top notch.  Not only did Ray come down from New Hampshire and bring in Ian (a great music fan), and Julie, Cecely and Rob stop in, but the guy who taught me guitar and taught me how to teach, Bob Reid, slipped in by the bar. The first song I ever wrote I called the Bob Reid Blues, premiered it that night! After probably 25 years, it was a treat to talk with Bob again, though it was over way too soon.  Tomorrow night at Passim, opening for Kelly Joe Phelps and then Sunday in Morrisville, VT at Bees Knees.  Quite a week!  Stayed with old friends Tory and Wayne this last few days, and hitting the road soon to try and visit with those I can...  Note:  at home my house is torn up, a remodel job, so for once I don't miss that place!

Vancouver, WA

November 8, 2007 - Late at night trying to catch up on music e mails after a great weekend at the FAR-West conference in Vancouver, WA. Got to see old friends, make new ones and play lots and lots of music. Still a little tired these days, but almost back to normal. Still pushing the deadline for the poetry book and just relaxing (when not working) in a snowless Alaska!

Rose Street House of Music

October 17, 2007 - Well the tour was going great -- Fun gigs with the Holders at Rose Street House of Music (with Emily Kurn too!), Cozmic Cafe in Placerville, at Nina Jo Smith's house, and at Ordinary Miracles in Cotati, but in the midst of it all I took ill.  On my way to Las Vegas for our Garage Mahall gig, I stopped at my Mom's in Carson City and she convinced me to go to the hospital to check out what was ailing me (all kinds of indigestion-like pain and other things).  Before I knew it I was in the emergency room and, five days later, walked out without a gall bladder and with medication for pneumonia and other ailments.  Wheww.... what an ordeal (which caused me to miss the Las Vegas gig where Terry and Jerry did a great job picking up my slack). I'm on the mend now and will be up and about a little later this month.  See some of you at FAR-West in early November!