A Christmas Song for You.

Henning Goes to the Bing

Announcing a new Henning concert.  This one is happening at the Bing Arts Center in Springfield, MA.  Friday October 12, 2012.  It starts at 8:00 and ends at about 10:00.
What has he got planned? Lots of songs for sure, maybe some new ones, probably some old ones, likely some from Henning Goes To The Movies, indubitably some School for the Dead songs but what about a classic famous crowd-fueled Madlib? Why not?! Little colored lights? I wouldn't say no. Banter. Yeah, I imagine they'll be banter.

Come on down, it's not often that Henning gets to take a whole show and make it his own. But it usually works out real well when he does.

Song on Woody Guthrie Tribute Album

I recently had the fortune of being asked to contribute a song to this new Woody Guthrie tribute record "Keep Hoping Machine Alive" (Spare the Rock Records).  

"The new album, whose title is drawn from Woody’s list of New Year’s resolutions for 1942, is timed to honor what would have been his 100th birthday.

Keep Hoping Machine Running represents the third release for Spare the Rock Records, following 2010′s Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti and Science Fair, released on July 3. Like both of those earlier releases, Hoping will benefit a good cause: 100 percent of the net proceeds from sales will go toward the Woody Guthrie Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the care and administration of the Woody Guthrie Archives. 

More than 40 years after his death, Guthrie’s presence continues to be felt in American music — not only through his influence on the work of countless artists who followed in his steps, but through the way his songs have been so thoroughly absorbed by generations of listeners. Simple, powerful, strong, defiant, tender, and funny, Guthrie’s anthems of American living remain as rich and vibrant today as they were when he wrote them. 

The timeless power of Guthrie’s music is reflected in the story behind Keep Hoping Machine Running, which was hatched in a spur-of-the-moment meeting between executive producers Bill Childs and Dadnabbit and Popdose‘s Jeff Giles; the project was conceived on a Saturday afternoon, and by Monday morning, artists were already calling dibs on songs and sending in recordings for the album. 

In the spirit of Guthrie’s doggedly prolific work ethic and beautifully simple aesthetic, artists were told to keep their performances as natural — and to record them in as few takes — as possible. (As Dean Jones of Dog on Fleas put it in a letter of advice, “Laugh and make mistakes.”) The result is a collection that demonstrates the continued relevance of Guthrie’s work while preserving some of its inimitable spirit."

The song I chose to do is "Little Black Train: and you can find it here: iTunes, Amazon

The Baseball Project - My Banjo

The Baseball Project (with Mike Mills) borrowed my banjo for their recent performance of the National Anthem at Fenway Park.  My banjo is more famous than me.

Review: PopDose.com

There's a very nice review of "Henning Goes To The Movies" over at Popdose.com.  Author Bob Cashill clearly listened carefully.  Thank you, Mr. Cashill.


Here's an excerpt: "Henning (it seems strange to refer to him as “Ohlenbusch,” so intimate is the connection these songs make) has wisely taken an evocative approach to this album. The songs bear the titles of the movies, but other than that there are few shout-outs to the plots or the characters. He takes one or two strands from each film and unravels his affection for them over the course of each song."

You can read, share, and comment on the whole piece here: PopDose CD Review: "Henning Goes to the Movies"

Logan's Run Paper Box Pop Sculpture

Check out this cool free Logan's Run paper box pop sculpture kit from Sherry Lou Toys!

"Download and build this simple PaperBlox Pop Sculpture based on the movie Logan's Run. Stands about 6" high and looks like one of those movie stand-ups you see in theaters. This makes a great gift for a fan and looks great on a desk or shelf!"

I'm so going to do this.

Henning and Hodgman Go To The Movies

Henning has an interesting gig this Sunday.  He'll be playing songs from "Henning Goes To The Movies" as an introduction to Movie Trivia Madness, a fund raiser for Amherst and Pleasant Street Theaters starring John Hodgman and Bill Dwight.

Even though none of the news pieces about the event mention Henning, we promise, he'll be there.  He'll start playing at around 2:30 at Weinstein Auditorium in Wright Hall at Smith College.  This all happens on Sunday March 11.

24 teams will be competing in a trivia contest while Dwight and Hodgman riff on stage.  We went down and checked out the venue last week and it's a really nice spot.

Learn more about how to attend here: Amherst Cinema: Screen Test

And here's an article about it: Masslive

Henning Goes To a House

photo by So Many Stars

On Saturday, I played a house concert in Hartford, Connecticut.  The concert was the first in a series put on by So Many Stars.  I had a wonderful night.

It all started off with a dinner at Luna Pizza.  There used to be a Luna Pizza here in my town Northampton, Massachusetts but sadly, it went out of business.  When I realized the house concert was just a couple of miles from the Hartford Luna, it seemed like a must.  Lesa and I met friends, Debbie and Emily and we each got a pizza.  It tasted pretty much just like the good old days.

After dinner we drove off in the wrong direction, eventually made a u-turn, and found our way to the casa de venue.  There was no doubt which house it was since the door was adorned with little flashing lights.  As we approached with guitar and accessories in hand, a dog barked from behind the storm door.  Hello, dog.

We stepped inside and found a comfortable living room that had been filled with rented folding chairs.  I made my way up to the front and unpacked and arranged my items and I immediately felt comfortable in the little spot behind the microphone.  There were a few people milling around and there was a table with snacks and a cooler of beverages.  I met Colin, who was kind enough to bring a small P.A. for the evening.  I also met Helder who was operating a video camera for the show.  I already knew the host, Julie, who asked me if I needed anything.

As I tuned and arranged my table of CDs, more and more people came in and by 7:45, we decided I should start.  

I had planned on playing two sets of seven songs each with a short intermission between them.  I introduced myself to the audience, explained Henning Goes To The Movies, and played Joe Versus the Volcano.  It felt pretty good, I could hear, I could see everyone's faces, we were getting to know each other.  That's when I reached down and introduce the MadLib.  The audience was friendly and enthusiastic and provided me with good words through out the night with little to no begging on my part.  Ages ranged from, I would say, nine to fifty.  This is the set list that I played, I think:

Joe Versus the Volcano
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
The Year My Voice Broke
Egos, Weee!
Jake and Kim Broke Up (Leave Me Out Of It)
The Straight Story
Logan's Run

Superhero
Amélie
Superbad
We're All Stars (this was a debut)
Levitation
Meatballs
Poltergeist

For both Logan's Run and Poltergeist, I passed out my colored finger-flashlights to the audience and we shut off all the lights.  The room filled with colors, some folks tapped the lights in rhythm, others made the lights dance across the ceiling and walls, a few shown them right at their own faces.  I loved it.

When Poltergeist was done, it was time for the recitation of the MadLib. The title was "House Concerts".  Colin, who I had never met before had graciously agreed to come up and play my guitar for background music as I read the mostly funny finale.  He did a great job and overall the MadLib proved to be successful.

During the intermission and after the show I met a lot of new friends.  I'm ready right now for my next house concert.  Want to host one?

Henning Goes to the Houses

On Saturday March 3, 2012 - Henning goes to Hartford to play a house concert.  There might still be room for you to come!  Venture over to So Many Stars to learn more and get a seat now.

So Many Stars makes concerts in intimate, non-traditional listening environments such as apartments, houses, back gardens, and other non-public spaces.

The small scale of a house concert enables the creation of a special relationship between performers and listeners. Rather than struggling to be heard over the chatter and cheer of a public space, performers have direct access to listeners – listeners who have come to the venue for no other reason than to experience what the performer has created.

House concerts are grateful places. Guests and hosts support and encourage performers. Hosts and performers appreciate the presence of guests. Performers and guests honor the effort of the host.

Hope you can make it.  Thanks.

Logan's Run

Amsterdam's G.T. Thomas created this re-imagining of the song Logan's Run. While she kept my vocal and guitar she added all the other instruments and remixed.

Enjoy.

Best of 2012 - LiveWire Awards

Henning Goes To The Movies was named in Masslive and The Republican's Best of 2012 awards.

Henning Ohlenbusch, “Henning Goes to the Movies” – The talented Ohlenbusch from local outfit School for the Dead takes nine familiar films and recreates the personal impact of each in a song. So we get “Joe v the Volcano,” “Poltergeist,” and “Superbad.” Yes, it’s a concept album but don’t feel you need to over-invest in the theme to enjoy. Henning’s writing and gift for melody really carry the day here. The disc is available at rubwrongways.com

You can see the rest of the list here.

Henning's Two Songs from a Loretta Lynn Tribute Show

Honky Tonk Girl: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn

Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA

Eilen Jewell Band

Salvation Alley String Band

Rusty Belle

Jim Armenti

The Boxcar Lilies

Heather Maloney

Lesa Bezo

Henning Ohlenbusch

Rocky Roberts and Friends

Valley musicians interpret the music of the legendary coal miner's daughter in our annual January tribute show with proceeds to the Pioneer Valley Red Cross