back to claire's home page Claire Lynch News

claire Lynch Band schedule more

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Hear Claire on MYSPACE

archived News

January 2008

In This Issue:

 

Greetings for the first time in 2008! The CLB has lots of changes, so let's jump right in!

Missy Flies Solo

Claire and Missy in Guthrie, OKI guess it's been close to 13 years now since Missy Raines decided she'd play with our band. The first time she took the stage with us it was at the Grand Ole Opry, no less - big night to remember! From the first note, we had groove. What a pleasure it's been! But now, as many of you have heard, Missy is looking to open a new chapter of her illustrious career with the launching of her own band "missy raines and the new hip" (lower caps intended!). Missy, I can't help but be sad - nobody's been a more loyal, hard-working team member than you. Your departure is a great loss for us, but I know it's time for your own unique musicality to be expressed. So now that you have a platform for that - you go, girl! I'm comforted by the fact that I'll never lose your friendship and in the scope of things, that's what really counts. I'll miss your sweet, quiet nature and that steady, sensibility you so uniquely possess. (I was going to mention your excellent navigation skills, but then there's that time we ended up in Binghamton when heading for East Hartford...) You are truly one of bluegrass music's "sweethearts" and rightly so. I love you to no end!
 

Missy's Goodbye top of page

I'm so honored that Missy would want to write something for all of us to read. She is so good with words, so I'll let her do the "talking":

The first time I ever played with Claire Lynch and the Front Porch String Band was on the Grand Ole Opry. I think it was in February and I know it was 1995. Other than the obvious and still present sense of awe at being on the Opry stage, I was most struck by Claire's singing. I had been a fan of her voice since I first heard it on a crackly cassette player in a van headed down a Virginia highway in 1981. It was magical moment to me. And here I was playing with her in a band, and I couldn't believe it.

I played several more dates that year and later became a full time member of the Front Porch String Band, staying until the band officially ended in 1999. During my stint I learned so very much about music and performance. Claire's keen attention to detail taught me to understand that it is the detail in performance that makes the difference.

It was during those years particularly that, as a musician, I was growing at lightning speed, being whisked along by the talent beside me and being exposed to such a wide audience as we toured all over the country. I was awarded my first IBMA Bass Player of the Year honor in 1998, and I believe that was in large part due directly to my time in the FPSB.

After a hiatus for Claire and an unforgettable and ground-breaking duo with my dear friend, Jim Hurst, we all got the chance to be together again. I've lived long enough to realize that second chances don't come that often if ever, and so I eagerly accepted the opportunity to be on stage, again, with one of my biggest heroes, Claire Lynch.

The last 3 years have been glorious. With the forming of the Claire Lynch Band, Claire was able to step to the forefront as the principal leader and exercise her finely honed and gifted musical sensibilities. Crafting her art while simultaneously encouraging participation and input from her band and constantly shining the spotlight on each one of us, and, as one fan put it, "letting us breathe". And breathe we did! What a band!

Jim Hurst and I have been playing music in some form or another since 1995 as well. We met the first time at the Grand Ole Opry, too… well, actually it was the Ryman, and actually, it wasn't an Opry night, but we did play on stage together that night and although Jim had just met me, he introduced me by saying, "this ain't no lady, this is a bass player". I knew from that moment on this was going to be fun!! And it was.

Jim Hurst is also hugely responsible for the honors I've been so fortunate to receive through the years. Within the Front Porch String Band, The Claire Lynch Band and the Jim Hurst and Missy Raines duo, Jim has been a mentor and a friend. He pushed me when I needed pushing and gave me quiet encouragement when I needed that. I couldn't have asked for a better road buddy or musical partner. Thank you, Jim. You are indeed a hoss!! The Groove King!!

My time with Jason Thomas in the CLB has been the shortest, but nonetheless completely wonderful. Jason so fits this band both musically and vocally it's almost scary. It's as though he was always meant to be there. His engaging stage presence and inexhaustible desire for perfection have been inspiring.

I feel so very lucky that I have been able to experience music with Claire, Jim and Jason not just in the studio but, on the road, in life, day to day. Playing songs for people all over the world, each time working so hard together, listening to each other, supporting each other and being inspired by each other, as if any given night was the most important gig in the whole world. And you know….they were, each of them. And I wouldn't take anything for any one of them.

I have been fortunate beyond expression to be have been alongside (well, mostly behind J) Claire Lynch for the better part of 12 years now. It has been my great honor.

Thank you, Claire, for all you have given me, but mostly thank you for giving me a chance to play in your band so long ago. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.

The time has come for me to grasp another opportunity and that is to launch my own band. This has been a dream of mine for many years and while I'm sad to leave such a happening, fantastic ride as the CLB, I'm thrilled that the time has come to make this dream a reality for me. The time is right- we have a strong team in place and we're ready for the future! I have a whole lot of new music bursting inside of me and I've been more than fortunate to find some of the best musicians around who also happen to have endless supplies of creativity bursting at their seams.

Missy Raines & The New Hip will be touring full time starting January 1, 2008. The New Hip features Megan McCormick- acoustic and electric guitars and vocals; Michael Witcher- dobro and lap steel and vocals; Ethan Ballinger-  mandolins and guitar; and Lee Holland- percussion. An EP and CD are in the works.

To all of the dear fans who made my life so special in the Claire Lynch Band and the FPSB, I appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you for making it all worthwhile.

Missy
_______
 

Welcome the Incredible Mark Schatz! top of page

CLB new bass player, Mark SchatzAlthough it's sad to know that this chapter of the CLB is closed, with each closing begins a new chapter, and so we happily announce that Mark Schatz will be the next member of the CLB beginning February 1, '08.

Mark is a prominent figure in the New Acoustic Music scene. Twice named IBMA Bass Player of the Year, he has worked and/or recorded with an impressive variety of artists including Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connell, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tim & Mollie O'Brien and most recently, Nickel Creek. He also acts as Musical Director for the internationally-acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, which showcases his other talents - clawhammer banjo and Southern Appalachian clog dancing.

Mark has two solo recordings, Brand New Old Tyme Way and Steppin' in the Boilerhouse, both on Rounder Records. He's also released two instructional bass videos on Homespun.

We are all looking forward to making new music with Mark. He's a gentle, kind man with an enormous amount of talent. Yes, indeed . . . here's to 2008!
 

Looking Back on 2007 top of page

Looking Back on 2007!It has truly been a vanguard year. We traveled from Tampa to Vancouver and in between! We played out on the ocean and inside of Eastern Europe. We made many, many new friends while managing to grow closer with our loyal fans. I've put together a little slide show on MySpace with some memories. Come by and have a look if you can.

Best of 2007
Here are some votes for "best of '07 Folkwax "Best of 2007" picks - "Crowd Favorites, A Claire Lynch Collection"

Claire's picks for '07:

We'll be in Greenville, SC soon (January 12) - and We'll be in Asheville NC for the very first time - at the Grey Eagle Tavern on Sunday January 13. Don't forget the Red Light Café all you Atlanta Bluegrassers! That's Friday January 11.

Check out our Winter performance dates.

~ Claire