Bunker Rock/JimBaumerMe
Movin’ On (A New Musical Home)
Vol. 3/Issue 2
I’m actually working on this newsletter on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. I don’t love this time of year, where, at least in these parts, the days start out dark and the light fades far too early.
Dec. 20 follows Dec. 19, which this year would have been the 40th birthday of our late son, Mark. It was nearly seven years ago that he was hit and killed by an SUV along a desolate stretch of highway in Florida’s Panhandle while attempting his second walk across America. Many of you know the story, so I won’t elaborate.
We celebrated one year in Lynchburg back in November. I’m getting used to the area and trying to figure out the music scene—or in terms of Lynchburg—the lack of one. If you don’t play covers or you haven’t been playing the same three bars with your sorry hard rock band, gig opportunities are slim. I played out less in 2023 than any of the previous three years.
Instead of letting this deter me, I started working on new material and releasing some singles. Each of the past three songs I recorded have gotten steady plays on Amazing Radio and a few other places. My last single, “The Music Shift,” got some great feedback when I submitted it for December’s REM (Record Every Month) songfest. REM is an arm of the RPM Challenge. I had people digging the guitar and even comparing my approach to both REM and Buffalo Tom. The latter comparison really made me feel like I’m hitting my marks because Buffalo Tom was a favorite of mine back when I was hosting an indie rock radio show on the Bowdoin College station, WBOR, back in the mid-90s.
Two Saturdays ago, I played my first live gig since August. I headed up to Harrisonburg (home of JMU) and delivered a three-hour set at a great nano brewery, The Friendly Fermenter. I even found a Lynchburg University videographer, Tiana Artese, to shoot some video and take pictures to update my marketing content. Tiana films the college baseball team, who happen to be reigning 2023 D3 champions. She did a great job, so I have a record of my night, which is cool.
As we close out 2023, my plans are to begin venturing out from Lynchburg in the spring and I’m hoping to find places to play in Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro, and maybe Richmond. All places where original music is appreciated. I’ve submitted to a couple of festivals in the spring and summer, also. I may even hit the road in June for a two-week tour of the southeast, once school lets out. Oh yeah—I’m working as an instructional assistant for Lynchburg City Schools. I’m enjoying the day job.
Here’s to wishing all my fans a festive holiday season and I hope to catch some of you out on the road in 2024. Stay tuned for a new release in February/March. I’m hoping this will be a big one!
Cheers!
Jim
JimBaumerME