Billy Goodman: NEWS

I just returned from a few shows in the Austrian Alps. I played at a big chalet in a picturesque village called Damuels. Both shows went really well. It was a five hour drive home back to Heidelberg but a smooth ride.

The recent show that Steve Kimock and I did at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, Pa. is available for download.
It was a special night.

http://www.livedownloads.com/live-music/0,6924/Steve-Kimock---Billy-Goodman-mp3-flac-download-9-23-2011-Godfrey-Daniels-Bethlehem-PA.html

I got this e-mail today. I have to admit I don't remember meeting Jerry but you never know who's life you're going to influence. Trippy stuff.

Hello Billy,
I came came across some of your youtube videos and wanted to reach out to you. I doubt you will remember me but here goes!
I was a student/stage hand when you came through Trenton State College (New Jersey) with Jorma in the late 80's. You were very gracious to me and even let me come out to a second gig in Asbury Park when you were with Hot Tuna. I bought your book and learned a lot from it, but more so from your advice. You eventually hooked me up with Lonny Mondell who was also very, gracious to me. In 1991 I went on tour with The Allman Brothers Band as a lighting tech(my first tour, amazing, COMPLETELY skipped van tours, I might be the only one EVER) , Travis Tritt as set carpenter, Leann Rimes as a stage manager, Interpol as production manager, and The Pretenders, Tenacious D, The Mars Volta, Pete Yorn, The Fleet Foxes, and Weezer (and many others) and a guitar tech. I've been everywhere I've could hope to go in the world and had a great career in no small part thanks to your kindness and example. I always pass that same kindness on to anyone who asks me about our career.
I hope you are doing well, glad you are still making music, and hope to cross paths sometime in the future.
All the best, and thanks a TON!

Jerry Riccardi

The twins and I broke out the electric guitars last night at the Prinz Friedrich in the old town. The students are starting to roll back in so we're gonna start cranking it up for the fall and winter season. Speaking of cranking it up, I'll be playing drums for the boys next Thursday night at Billy's Blues in Heidelberg. We're making a guest appearance at Jason Wright's monthly rave-up.

http://www.billyblues.de/
http://used-theband.blogspot.com/

I wish to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Siggi Oehmig. Siggi just fell down and died last week after a gig at the age of 45. He'll definitely be missed. He played great bass and was a very cool guy. Rest in Peace Siggi.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10563628-siggi-oehmig-a-wonderful-instrumentalist-remembered

I had a great day in New York City last week. I spent the day with an old friend banging around Greenwich Village in the sunshine. Today I'm back in Germany. I'm a little jet lagged from all the running around. I fell asleep at the library for a half hour today. That was sweet. I must have looked good.

Los Angeles. What a trip. First of all, the weather. Unbelievable. I'm outside after nine at night in a bathing suit and a t-shirt. Warm breeze. I forgot how wonderful the weather is in Southern California. Then there's the Mexican food. I had beef and pork tacos this afternoon at Pinches on Sunset. Totally cheap. Totally great. The blazing sun. The pool. Just too good. It's great to see my brother Jon. He's such a trip. A great guy. So much like my father. It's a good thing I'm out of here in two days or I might never leave. Only kidding, honey.

I completed my run of U.S. shows last night at the historic John and Peter's coffee house in New Hope, Pennsylvania. There's a framed photo of my brother Frank and I hanging on the wall backstage, dating back to 1975. All of the shows went really well and I could not have been treated better. I'll rest up today and then head out to Los Angeles tomorrow for five days. Can't wait to get some of that California sunshine.

I had such a great day. I went to visit my old buddy Rob Paoletti at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia. Rob is an assistant pastor there and just the most anointed musician i know. We grew up together in Bucks County. I could just go on for hours about Rob. He is just a brilliant teacher and a very funny guy. I had such a great time. Praise the Lord. He is so good.

I'm back in beautiful Bucks County, Pa. staying with my old friend Randall Thompson. Randall is a great guitarist who I've played periodically with since i was 14 years old. He's heading out for a three gig run today and I'm stringing up a borrowed Guild acoustic and preparing for my first show tomorrow night. The weather is stellar and the air is crisp. Pennsylvania rocks.

Summer is back in Heidelberg. It was in the 90s today which is fine by me. I'm getting slowly prepared for a trip to the USA in a few weeks. I'll do some shows in the Philadelphia area that are posted on my gigs link.

I'm on my way to the Wednesday night gig with the twins but I wanted to mention a little trip I took yesterday. The twins and I, along with the elusive Norbert, went to visit Carlos Juan at his guitar shop in Stuttgart bright and early. Carlos is a guitar genius who designs pickups, guitar amps and pre-amps. I happily purchased a new acoustic pickup for my old Gibson and it's singing.
He's a real character and we were greeted warmly while he gave us his full attention. All his products are worth checking out for all you guitar freaks out there.
Check out his credentials and you'll see why.

http://www.carlosjuan.eu/index.php

A few weeks back I met my brother Jon in Ireland for 5 days. Jon is the executive producer of an upcoming film called "Man On the Train". It features Donald Sutherland Larry Mullin from U2. You should be able to see it in theaters soon. We stayed in Dublin and Galway and really enjoyed ourselves. Jon and I are both dual citizens of the United States and Ireland.

The shows with Steve Kimock went great. Thanks Hans and Ruth Sichard, Hajo and Moni Lorenz and all the different folks and musicians who helped make it all happen. Not to mention Jen and Steve Kimock who came all the way to Germany to treat us once again to the incredible guitar playing of Mr. Steve.

It's a week until the first show together with Steve Kimock. There's a lot of preparing to do and we're all very excited about Steve's third visit to Germany. Southern France was off the hook and it wasn't easy to tear myself away. It was fantastic to see my brothers Frank and Jon. They're both brilliant and we had a really great hang.

A friend of mine just sent me a show I played in Nuernberg. Here's a version of Good Shepherd, in a sea of ardent Deadheads.

http://www.homegrownmusic.de/billy_goodman.40.html#/BILLY%20GOODMAN

I've extended my stay here in the south of France until June 11th so I won't be appearing in Heidelberg the next two Wednesday nights. We're going to have some very special guests when I arrive home though so stay tuned.

I'm in a village called Villefranche-sur-Mer in the south of France. My younger brother Jon rented some off the hook villa here and invited me down to see how the other half lives. It's been a couple of years since I've seen Jon so I'm happy to be here and glad to see he's doing so well. Also my friend Jens from Heidelberg flew in today so we're enjoying ourselves. Here's some photos of the place we're staying at. Like I said, it's off the hook.
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/France/Cote-dAzur--Riviera/holiday-villa-Villefranche-sur-Mer/p3432.htm

I've posted confirmed dates for Steve Kimock in Germany on the "Gigs" link. Steve is a 'one of a kind' guitar genius and we're happy to have him back for shows. Here's his website and a press release in English and German.

www.kimock.com

Steve Kimock and Billy Goodman join forces for German duo tour

Steve Kimock, one of the premier guitar and lap steel improvisers and composers of recent times, is coming to Germany. He is joined by his old friend and ex-bandmate, Billy Goodman, a slide virtuoso and acclaimed singer songwriter, who has been living in Heidelberg for many years, touring Europe. The two musicians first met and played together in the 1970’s in The Goodman Brothers, a folk rock band from the Philadelphia area that migrated to San Francisco to play for a number of years, Subsequently, Goodman went on to play with Jorma Kaukonen, Electric Hot Tuna and The Jefferson Starship, while Kimock appeared with many groups around the world including Zero, Ratdog, Phil Lesh and Friends, The Allman Brothers and The Other Ones. In a special feature in Guitar Player Magazine, Jerry Garcia called Steve Kimock his “Favorite Unknown Guitarist.” This is a rare duo event and a show not to miss!

Steve Kimock und Billy Goodman als Duo auf Deutschland-Tournee

Steve Kimock, einer der herausragendsten amerikanischen Gitarristen und Komponisten unserer Zeit, der sich vor allem durch seine brillanten Improvisationen auf der Lap Steel Guitar einen Namen gemacht hat, kommt endlich nach Deutschland. Begleitet wird er von seinem langjährigen Freund und ehemaligen Bandmitglied Billy Goodman, einem begnadeten Bottleneck-Slide-Gitarristen und Singer-Songwriter, der seit über 15 Jahren in Heidelberg lebt und sein Publikum in Deutschland und anderen europäischen Ländern begeistert.
Die beiden Musiker lernten sich in den 1970er Jahren kennen und spielten zusammen in der Folk-Rock-Band The Goodman Brothers aus der Gegend um Philadelphia, die es schließlich nach San Francisco zog, wo sie viele Jahre lang auftrat. Nachdem sich die Band auflöste, spielte Billy Goodman zunächst mit Jorma Kaukonen, Electric Hot Tuna und The Jefferson Starship, bevor er nach Deutschland übersiedelte, während Steve Kimock weltweit in den verschiedensten Bands auftrat, darunter Zero, Ratdog, Phil Lesh and Friends, The Allman Brothers, Bruce Hornsby und The Other Ones. In einem Artikel in dem amerikanischen Magazin Guitar Player wurde Steve Kimock einst von Jerry Garcia als sein "liebster unbekannter Gitarrist" bezeichnet.
Die Duo-Tournee von Steve Kimock und Billy Goodman ist somit eine ganz besondere und seltene Gelegenheit, die man sich nicht entgehen lassen sollte.

Philadelphia based band 'The Hooters' are on tour in Germany this week. I've known these guys for a long time. They're all excellent musicians, a ripping "live" band and just a bunch of really good dudes. I could go on. The drummer Dave Uosikkinen (big dave) and I have been to hell and back and I look forward to hanging out with him tomorrow in Aschaffenburg.I'm presently on the Hauptstrasse (main road) of Heidelberg. The weather is gorgeous and the tourists are out in full force. It's nice.

Gorgeous day here. I've been keeping busy and am well blessed. My pal Joseph Parsons is rolling in to Heidelberg today. He's a good singer songwriter from Philly who relocated to Hannover. Cool town. He's going to play the Prinz Friedrich tomorrow night with his band. Mostly guys from Holland. Check him out on youtube. They're darn good.

It was a beautiful spring day here in Heidelberg. I took the old Gibson acoustic guitar down to the riverbank and got in a little practice. It was pretty funny because different people just sit down on the park bench with you or hang around within earshot. They're just drawn in by the sound of the old guitar. It blessed me and they seemed to like it. The Wednesday night gigs at Prinz Friedrich have been going great. Thanks everybody for showing up. I love having a residency gig in town. You can really get a buzz going and build something from the ground up. Plus you gotta stay on your toes to play new stuff every week and always play better than the week before.

It's confirmed. Steve Kimock www.kimock.com is coming to Germany in mid- June for 3 weeks and we're going to do shows. More info to come.

The gig at the Prinz Friedrich went really good last Wednesday night. The place was packed and the Spirit was moving. I started out with a solo set that included several new songs. After that the twins and I ( Marco and Dario Klein aka: www.used-theband.de ) played a full set of old Stones covers from the 1966 album "Aftermath". Then the twins played as a duo and to top it off I played another short solo set. Quite a bit of music. I didn't get much of a rest. This is going to be a cool residential gig in Heidelberg.

I'm really happy about picking up this gig on Wednesday nights in the Altstadt. I've been praying about it for a while and feel led to go out there and give it my best shot. This traditional German guesthouse is hundreds of years old and the room I play in has a warm atmosphere with a wooden floor and wooden tables. The owner Mustapha Abassi is an interesting guy from Tunisia who loves music and plays Duke Ellington on the sound system. Wow. That's a welcome change. Real Music. He reminds me of a guy I would play for in New York. Just a cool guy who's not afraid to work long hours and take a chance on live music. It's not an easy gig and takes a special kind of person. He's also cooking outrageous pasta dishes and can be seen peeling clove after clove of garlic while talking with the early shift of regulars. That's my kind of club owner. Let's eat and then rock.