NEWS:
Bill Kaffenberger and Duane Horst will be appearing together in concert for free from 8 pm to 10 pm on Saturday 18 July 2009 at Bella Cafe, US Route 1 at Boswell's Corner, Stafford, VA.
Bill Kaffenberger: The Byrds and Roger McGuinn meet born again Bob Dylan doing a jingle jangle folk rock Rickenbacker Electric 12 String dance with Van Morrison and Gene Clark, sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric, always fun.
Features heavy doses of that jingle-jangle electric Rickenbaker sound made popular by Roger McGuinn and the Byrds on such hits as MR. TAMBOURINE MAN and TURN TURN TURN. Bill's new CD "Jingle Jangle Morning" contains 14 Bill Kaffenberger originals, one rearranged classic folk song, and two songs by other writers (Richard White and Gene Clark/Jessie Davis).
Also check out my new eFolkMusic web site at:
http://efolkmusic.org/ArtMusic/ViewArtist.aspx?AID=1542&Artist=Bill%20Kaffenberger
Biography
Bill, now a resident of central Virginia, was born in Washington DC and grew up in the Northern Virginia area. His musical influences range from classic artists such as Bob Dylan, the Byrds, the Beach Boys and the Beatles to folk artists such as Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, and Tom Rush as well as some things from more modern artists like System of a Down.
Bill has been singing and playing acoustic and electric folk rock for many years in coffeehouses, churches and other venues, primarily throughout the MidAtlantic region. He has upcoming appearances in Fredericksburg, VA, Richmond, VA, Bealeton, VA, and College Park, MD, among others. He has performed both solo and as a group member. He uses an Epiphone acoustic 6 string, a Yamaha acoustic 12 string, and a Rickenbacker 370-12 Electric 12 string when he performs. His most unusual singing experience was performing folk music for a hall full of country music fans at the Crossed Timbers Country Opry, in Stephensville, Texas.
Bill has written and co-written nearly 100 songs and previously has released three albums of original material.
Review of this new CD:
Jingle Jangle Morning – Bill Kaffenberger
Bill Kaffenberger’s sophomore effort, Jingle Jangle Morning, lives up to its title … and then some! Byrds and Roger McGuinn fans should dig this disc in its 17-track entirety. The title song is very reminiscent of McGuinn’s electric work, and numerous other songs fall into the McGuinn/Tom Petty school of chiming Rickenbacker folk-rock music. Like McGuinn, Bill Kaffenberger is not reluctant to display his spirituality in his choice of lyrics and song topics (“Mystic Night” and “Stand With You Awhile”). The McGuinn influence is also evident on the rap raga tune “Who Are All These People” (which appears as a full-length song with lyrics and a shortened instrumental track). “Trouble On The Border” opens with a chord progression that is very similar to the McGuinn-Clark-Hillman Top 40 song “Don’t You Write Her Off.” The highlight among the acoustic tracks is Bill’s cover of the great Gene Clark ballad “With Tomorrow.” Bill’s material often reminds me of fellow singer/songwriter and Rickenbacker 12-string wielder Herb Eimerman. Bill’s growth as an artist is particularly evident in his vocals and songwriting - both more confident than on his 2005 debut album, This World Is Bound To Fall. Jingle Jangle Morning will definitely please Baby Boomers … and it should appeal to younger music fans that appreciate the timelessness of 60s-inspired pop and folk-rock music.
---- Eric Sorensen, music journalist, www.fufkin.com
COMMENTARY ON EACH SONG:
1. JINGLE JANGLE MORNING: This is an autobiographical song about me and my buddies growing up in the era of Top 40 Radio. We weren’t that big on the Beatles; our favorite music centered around The Byrds, Bob Dylan, The Beau Brummels, The Turtles and other purveyors of that Rickenbacker Electric 12 String “jingle jangle” sound. Jack Alix and Cousin Duffy, mentioned in the song, were our favorite DJs (disk jockeys) from the “Good Guys” on WPGC Radio in Washington DC.
2. MYSTIC NIGHT: Coming back from a singing engagement years ago late one wintery night, my friends and I stopped on top of a mountain near Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It was a crystal clear night and, looking up, it seemed as if we could see every star in the universe. And it seemed as if God was looking back at us too. This is a song I wrote about the experience.
3. WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE:..Eric Sorensen of Fufkin.Com has described this song as “raga-rap”. Sort of my commentary on the state of the “formal” music business in this day and age and in a way explains why I am an “indie” musician. The closing solo is my attempt at getting that “Eight Miles High” era Byrds sound on the Rickenbacker.
4. THE WATER IS WIDE: My folksy arrangement of a tune that has been around forever and done previously by many artists. I hope I have given it a bit different twist.
5. TROUBLE ON THE BORDER: This is one of my more Dylanesque songs that has even me wondering is it about revolution or about romance? I’m not really sure myself!
6. SOMETHING MORE: Many years ago, I was in a band called Stonehedge Players. We cut a couple of songs at the old Track Recorders and Rodel Studios in the Washington DC area. I added some acoustic guitars and Rickenbacker to the original and remixed it. At the time we had befriended Lillian Claiborne, a local and legendary Washington DC music producer and label owner, since deceased, who was known primarily for her work with rhythm and blues groups like Maskman and the Agents and Harmon Bethea. She liked our sound and was a sort of “hovering presence” while we were recording all those years ago despite our not being under contract to her label. While she was never able to get our stuff in release, she provided a lot of encouragement and fun times for some young musicians just getting their feet wet. This song is dedicated to the memory of Lillian Claiborne.
7. SHE JUST TALKS: Most guys have had that one bad date and lived to tell the tale. This song is about a girl I went out with in high school with less than stellar results. Live in person.
8. ARE YOU EVER COMING BACK TO ME: Another one of my “woe is me” sad love songs.
9. STAND WITH YOU AWHILE: My sole commentary on this song is “John 3:16 from the Bible.” Written by a friend of mine.
10. ATOM BOMB SONG: A humorous but serious at the same time song that I wrote awhile back. With all the attention now again on the Middle East, it seemed appropriate to include this song. Live in person.
11. LEFT ALONE WITH MY DREAMS: This song came to me one day while I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself over a past relationship. I always seem to get a couple of good songs per CD out of that sort of thing!
12. SOMETHING INSIDE YOU: Written by me and my friend Jim Howard.
13. FASTEST WAITRESS ALIVE: An instrumental song that was just an experiment with a digitally generated bluegrass band plus some real acoustic guitars. Did not come out perfect but I thought I would include it as a change of pace. The inspiration was a friend of mine, a waitress at a Greek restaurant that I go to. I imagined her running around from table to table at 20 times normal speed like you see in those old comedy movies. This one’s for you Irene!
14. AUGUSTINE STREET: Another autobiographical song (well, most of them are anyway in one way or another) about a restaurant I frequent and the family that runs it.
15. WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE (INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE): The entire song ending Rickenbacker Electric 12 String solo from number 3 above.
16. WITH TOMORROW: Written by the great Gene Clark (of The Byrds) and Jessie Ed Davis. Gene Clark has got to be my favorite song writer of all time. He, along with Roger McGuinn, is my co-favorite from The Byrds. I first heard this song on Gene Clark’s album known by fans as “White Light”. To me this is at the same time a sad but also a hopeful song. In memory of Gene Clark. I hope I did the song justice.
17. JINGLE JANGLE MORNING (INSTRUMENTAL): This song was originally going to just be an instrumental. This is the instrumental version with a different mix and somewhat different sound from song number 1 above.
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