First off, thank you to my friends who came down to hear me at the sidewalk cafe last Saturday night. It was fun to try out the new songs.
I have a couple of new shows coming up in July. One at The Rockwood and one by the East River with a couple of my fellow NYC songwriters. Please check Calendar for details.
While in Texas my friends Regan and David filmed me singing a new song called Jesus Candle at the Kerrville folk Festival at their camp site called Camp Lethargy. I wrote the song the night Hurricane Sandy hit NYC. I hope you like it. I had a great time in Kerrville and love all the folks I have made friends with over the past few years.
I am proud to announce that I have won the Kerrville New Folk winner competition! this is an honor. Once a year the Kerrville folk festival in Texas holds this competition. I am forever indebted to the late songwriter and mentor Jack Hardy who took me there in ’09 and encouraged me. This one’s for you!
I played two new songs, ‘The Devil Never Did” co written with the great songwriter Diana Jones and “Hank Williams Guitar.
A lot to tell you about. I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of both the Wildflower and Kerrville competitions again this year. I will be playing on the Courtyardstage on Friday, May 17th for a full set at Wildflower. The next day I’m in the Wildflower songwriting competition. The following week it’s back out to San Antonio to be part of the Kerrville songwriter competition. Both are wonderful festivals!
I’m also thrilled to announce that I was chosen to be in the NERFAOne Day Conference at the University of Rhode Islands Fine Arts Center to perform 3 songs in a showcase with many of my favorite fellow songwriters. This will take place on June, 1st.
All my ducks are lined up and I’m ready to roll. I’ve also been writing as much as I can and have new songs that I’m very excited about.
See you soon and stay healthy
Paul Sachs
"We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are." Tobias Wolff
My song "Dirty Trucks" got picked in Alternate Roots' Top 50 songs of the American condition. I am thrilled to be mentioned with so many of my hero's and teachers. Click hereto read the article.
In other news I was selected to be in Wildflowers' Performing Songwriter Contest next month in Texas. I performed there last year on the courtyard stage so I am amped to be returning again to do both!
I had such a great time playing at Kathryn's House concert!! Thank you to everyone who came out!
I am looking forward to tonight's show at the LIC Bar in Queens!! I read somewhere that the Who donated the sound system! It's free to get in but there is a one drink minimum.
Tonight's show at coffelabs in Tarrytown is canceled! They got in touch with me and due to weather conditions they said were closing early. I will post when show is to be rescheduled. Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience.
In the music section I’m offering a free download of Bridges Burning off 2009’s The Refuge CD for one week only.
I’m looking forward to playing this coming Friday night, February 1st at The Postcrypt here in NYC. It’s one of my favorite places to play and there is no amplification. It’s below a church located at Columbia collage. You don’t want to miss this and I will be doing a new song or two. I hope everyone is having a peaceful winter and staying warm.
Trying to get rid of a bad case of bronchitis to start off the new year was not exactly kicking in the jams, but I’m on the mend. My Song “When the River Didn’t Flow is available for free in the music section here. About a town that gets Fracked. If you don’t know what Fracking is click here. Fracking is going to take center stage in the coming months here in NYC as our governor tries to push for drilling sometime in February. There has to be a better way. Spread the word!
In December I was flattered to be asked to play at the Harry Chapin Tribute concert. I covered his song, “Sunday Morning Sunshine” and had a blast listening to others interpret his songs. As some of you know he has had a big influence on my songwriting. Thanks to the Folk Music Society of Huntington for having me!
2012 was a great year filled with lots of music and adventure. I traveled to Texas 2X and played both the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Wildflower Festival. Opened for the great songwriter Diana Jones a couple of times and wrote some new songs I’m proud of.
Thanks to anyone and everyone who comes to my gigs. It’s really great to see you there and means the world to me!
Take care, stay healthy and see you in the coming year!
I wrote a song after the Aurora shooting called If Guns Could Talk. After yesterday's senseless violence in a Connecticut elementary school I made a video of the tune. I feel so sorry for those families who lost children in that tragedy and all the shootings that have happened. My heart goes out to them.
Since The Columbine High School massacre nothing has been done to stop gun violence in this country. Since then it has become much worse. The Supreme Court ruled that The Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep a gun even if it has nothing to with a militia. “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
I don’t see the word “Gun” in there. Nor “Semi automatic” Pistol, Rifle... Shame on the NRA!
Hi everyone. I figured I’d write an update since it’s been awhile. In case anyone was wondering: I made it through Hurricane Sandy okay. The electricity went out for about four days, but it’s back. Just waiting on the heat and hot water. Compared to what some of the other boroughs are going through I’m not complaining. I did watch the East River rise from my window and flood my street taking cars and trees. In the dark I also managed to write some songs by candle light. Who knows. There was something interesting about watching my part of the city grow dark then pitch black. It reminded me of all the Ray Bradbury stories I grew up reading.
In other news. I have a show in December in Long Island I’m looking forward to. I hope some of you can make it. Next week I’m off to a NERFA conference which is a folk music gathering for 4 days in upstate NY. I was nominated to play a couple of songs at the DJ Showcase which I’m proud to have been asked and be a part of.
Till next time.
Stay healthy.
Paul
P.S. Thank you Jack for the wonderful letter. That meant a lot to me : )
Thanks to everyone who came down to John platt’s On Your Radar to hear my set. I had a great time and it was an thrill to be a part of it!! Did you know that you could download some free songs here on this site including my first CD “No Trouble Here” in the record store section. It comes as a zip file and you just open it up in itunes or whatever player you have.
Next show coming up on July 23rd, is by the East River with my fellow songsters Carolyn Solebello,WOOL&GRANT and Sharon Goldman. I’ll be doing my homage to the east river singing my tune East River Fishing. It should be a great night on July 23rd. You can also download that tune free! : )
It’s been a wild few weeks of travel for me. First I flew to Dallas Texas to play the Wildflower Festival in Richardson and flew back. A week later I landed in San Antonio to play the Kerrville folk festival to be part of their wonderful new folk competition. I had a fantastic time and I’m grateful for the chance to have been part of such a prestigious contest. I have been going there for the past three years and always have a great time making new friends and hearing wonderful songwriters around the camps. The first time I went to Kerrville in 2010 I drove down with the wonderful songwriter and mentor Jack Hardy whom I dedicated my set to at the competition. We’d driven straight to Texas. Only stopping for ribs in Memphis. This scenario was repeated on the way back to NYC.
At new Folk competition. Thanks Neale for the pic.
For 12 days I camped out at Kerrville. One night at a campfire a scorpion crawled across my boot. I’d never seen one before so I asked the folks I was with and they confirmed it was a scorpion. (You don’t see them in NYC.) I picked my guitar case off the ground and tucked in my shirt.
On Tuesday, June 12th, I’m playing John Platts’ “On Your Radar” show at the Living Room here in NY. I’m very excited about this gig. John Platt is a wonderful DJ at WFUV who supports the folk music scene in the NY area and beyond. I’m very proud to have this gig. I play a half hour set along with two other bands.
Anyway it’s time to get back to writing songs. Take care and thanks again to all the wonderful friends I made both at Wildflower and Kerrville. I am eternally grateful.
T is for Texas and that’s where I’m heading! I’m very proud to announce that I’ve been chosen as one of the finalists in this year’s prestigious Kerrville New Folk contest where I’ll be playing two songs on Sunday, May 27th. Before then I’ll be in Dallas on the courtyard stage at the Wildflower Festival doing a full set on May, 19th at 3pm. Most of my favorite songwriters come from Texas from Buddy Holly to Guy Clark, so this means a lot to me. Stay tuned for more info. I’m shining up my boots and I’m ready!
Also there are a few new video's taken from the show I did with the band at the Living Room here in NYC this past April on you tube. Here's Oil Town. Thanks to Laura Foord for shooting the video's!!
Take care and Stay Healthy and stay tuned for updates. If you'd like to follow me I'm on Facebook. Friend me as they say.
A big thank you to the folks who came and stayed to hear me play at Coffee Labs tonight in Tarrytown. It's nights like this that keep me going. Enjoy the tunes!!
Here's a video my friend David Plakke shot of my tune City Wedding's. It's from the gig the band and I just did at New York Living Room. With Paul Kuzik on bass, Ned Stroh on drums and Mark Dann gtr. Mary Foster Conklin sings with me! Thanks to everyone again who came to see us!
Thanks to everyone for coming down to hear Diana Jones and me at the Christopher Street Coffeehouse tonight. What a great place to play. The Coffeehouse is in St. John’s Lutheran Church. Great acoustics and it was fun to try out a few new songs. This Wednesday I’ll be with the full band at the Living Room here in NYC. Again, thanks everybody.
Diana Jones and me last night. Photo by Gordon Nash Stay healthy and goodnight
Tomorrow night 3/22/12 I'll be on Radio Unnameable from 12:00am-3:00am. Tune in. I'll be talking, singing and taking phone calls. Not at the same time.
Hi everyone. This month I’m proud to announce that “Oil Town” got reviewed in the venerated folk magazine “Sing Out” by Angela Page where she writes, "Song after song he creates some lovely melodies. The cuts on "Oil Town" involve those challenged by love, by work, and the struggles created by economic imbalance...” I’m honored to be mentioned among so many great songwriters! It can be read in the press kit section.
Also this month I have two great gigs. Tomorrow night in Brooklyn at the Two Moon Art Cafe 8pm 315 4th Avenue Brooklyn NY 11215 USA: $10.00 Suggested donation. I’ll be singing songs with Carolyn Solobello and WOOL&GRANT.
On March, 29th I have the pleasure of opening again for Diana Jones at the Christopher Street coffeehouse. 81 Christopher Street. $15.00 suggested donation. Come on by.
What a great time I had this month opening for Diana Jones at the Bezeck center in Yonkers and playing at a house concert in NJ with Honor Finnegan. Thanks to everyone who came out for those shows. And thanks to Tribes Hill! I hope you had as much fun as I did.
Please keep an eye on this site for more dates to come and other news.
Since Valentines' Day is here. You can have a free download of my tune "I forget About Her Everyday" off Oil Town. option-click for Mac's. Enjoy! And happy VD day! in the music section go to Oil Town. Up for free 24hrs only!
Wow. 2012 is blowing by fast! It’s already February. Lots of gigs coming up in this month Hope to see you at one of them. This Friday I’ll be with my good buddy Tim Robinson at the Postcrypt here in NYC. One of the best listening rooms in town. Saturday night I’ll be with Laura Dunn in Washington Heights.
I’ll also be opening a show for one of my favorite songwriters Diana Jones on February 18th. Then on Sunday the 19th I’ll be opening for Honor Finnegan in New Jersey at a house concert. Please email to info@heightshouseconcerts.com,
What a journey this year’s been. Not only did I manage to put out a new CD, but I was chosen as one of the Falcon Ridge emerging artists and played two songs on the main stage. My CD, Oil Town, was played all over the country on approximately 125 stations (including simulcasts) in over 25 states nationwide. It has also been played in Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, and New Zealand, and has received extensive Internet airplay. Thanks to all the DJs who made that possible. I’m very grateful. I met many great people and heard wonderful songwriters at the festivals whom I hope to meet and hear again.
Live at Falcon Ridge
My song, Dirty Trucks has been selected by Lufthansa Airlines for their Country / Folk / Americana Playlist on their inflight program.
Oil Town came out at a time of profound change in this country and the world. It was a matter of luck, chance and fate that it coincided with the Wall Street Protests here in NYC.
“And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Well, it's back to the writing table for me. Photo's taken by Bev Grant of Oil Town's CD release party are in the photo section. Also a video of a new song is posted in the video section called "One Hard Year."
Happy holidays to everyone all over the world. And thanks to anyone who bought a copy of Oil Town.
Oil Town's holding Steady at # 11 on "Cashbox Magazine / Roots Music Report's Folk Top 50" and holding at # 6 on Roots Music Report's NY: Roots Radio Airplay Chart. Talk about the little folk CD that could.
Here's an interview I did with Kathy Millar of WHUD radio which aired last night. Thanks Kathy. WHUD is based in the Hudson Valley area of NYC.
Oil Town this month is # 17 Top Album on Folk DJ charts also the tune "Great Gatsby Days" Charts # 20 Top Song. Thanks to all the DJ's for playing my songs. I'm truly thankful and surprised at how well the CD is being received.
Tomorrow night, Saturday I'll be playing at Coffee Lab Roasters upstate for two sets from 8-10 pm so come on by. 7 Main St Tarrytown NY.
There's also a video of a new song called Slogans posted in the video section.
This Wednesday, October 12th I'll be doing a 45 minute set at 9:30pm at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema located at 70 Henry St. You can take the A to High Street and or 2-3 to Clark St. (1st stop in bklyn) Free to get in. So come on down...
In other news. Here's some pictures from the Wall Street Protests. I met some great kids there who are smart,kind and educated. Not the way they are being portrayed in some of the news media outlets.
"Art takes time, time is money Money's scarce and that ain't funny Millionaires are things of the past We're in a low budget film where nothing can last" (Ray Davis, Low Budget)
I'll be playing a 45 min set in Brooklyn next week on
Summer is over and my favorite time of year has come. Autumn. I love it. Leaves changing and all that stuff. Things smell better in autumn. I used to love to smoke cigarettes in autumn, but...
I’m crossing state lines and doing a show this week with two great songstresses, Sharon Goldman and Honor Finnegan. Sharon and I were both chosen as emerging artists in this years Falcon Ridge Folk festival. Honor was a Finalist in the Connecticut Folk Festival Songwriting Competition this past August. Her voice has been touched by heaven itself and her melodies soar. Sharon has great introspective songs that grab at your heart. I’m really excited about playing with these two. It’s held in a bookstore in New Jersey this Thursday night. So come on down. We’re gonna play our tunes and talk about songwriting. It should be interesting. I’ve worked in bookstores but never sang in one.
Oil Town is for sale on Cdbaby where you can Download it or by the disk
This thursday night I’ll be on Radio Unnameable with Bob Fass from 12 midnight to 3 AM. 99.5 FM talking about the new CD.
"Paul Sachs' big voice frames the eloquently told tales of working class desperation in these times of corporate takeover. This new effort marks the emergence of an important voice in the genre of social commentary folk music". Richard Cuccaro, Acoustic Live.
I had a great time at the Falcon Ridge folk festival. I played two songs off the new CD Oil Town” on the main stage “Poor Man’s Out” and “Dirty Trucks”. I met sooooo many great people who work at the festival and again I want to thank them for their kindness.
I was set to leave falcon Ridge when a man by the name of Neil Scott said he was looking all over for me. He had read my bio that Richard Cuccaro had written in his acoustic live newsletter and wanted to do an interview for his show Recovery From Coast to Coast. When I get the interview I’ll post it as I don’t know when it’s suppose to air.
While Scott and I were talking I realized I don’t talk about my own recovery as much as should on this site. I thought I’d keep it directed on my music. But my own battle with alcoholism is present in many of my songs. 100 Proof, and the new songs off Oil Town, Rear View Mirror, and Crazy Again, all deal with addiction and alcoholism.
All I can say is this. I’ve been sober now for over 12 years and my life has changed and taking on directions I’d never could have dreamed of had I’d been drinking. I’ll post my Bio again for downloadable pdf file. I never know who comes to this site, but if my music and life can have any connection and impact for someone who has this disease I realized I should just put it out there.
The New CD, "Oil Town" is for sale now where you can buy it from me directly. You can hear two of the songs in the music section. Also there is a new video of me singing Poor Man's Out live at the Living Room.
11 new songs!
Track listing: Poor Man's Out Dirty Trucks Oil Town When the River Didn't Flow High and Low City Weddings Rear View Mirror I Forget About Her Everyday What Passes For Love Crazy Again Great Gatsby Days
The new CD , Oil Town is in the can and in production right now. It will be ready in a few weeks. Here’s the cover.
Most of the songs tell story’s of what America’s going through and deal with the economy, oil and war. The song, “When the River Didn’t Flow” is about fracking or some other man made disaster, (take your pick) and how it damages the town that lives by the river. High and Low, deals with war and how it affects different generations of one family. City Weddings is a duet I sing with the great singer/songwriter Amy Allison. It’s about a couple that is meeting each other on the day they Wed and what they’ve seen and had to go though to get there. I’ve had a lot of fun putting this one together. Stay tuned for more updates.
Stay healthy
Paul
The list of songs
Poor Man's Out Dirty Trucks Oil Town When the River Didn't Flow High and Low City Weddings Rear View Mirror I Forget About Her Everyday What Passes For Love Crazy Again Great Gatsby Days
I’m putting the finishing touches on my new CD this week. It will be called “Oil Town”. It contains 11 new songs including two that are already posted on this site , “Poor Man’s Out” and “Dirty Trucks”. The CD sounds wonderful and if I haven't said it already, I’m really excited about this one!
My photographer David Plakke and I went running around the streets of NY last week and the shoot went late into the wee hours last Thursday.
Its an all hands on deck kind of feeling. Stay tuned and I’ll keep trying to post updates. By mid July it should be ready!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything on here. I just got back from Texas where I was at the Kerrvile folk festival. I camped out for a week hearing songs and playing tunes. What an amazing experience it was. While there I met many great songwriters. Late one night as I lay in my tent I checked my email and discovered I was chosen for the Falcon Ridge/ Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase to which I am so honored to be a part of. I can’t wait.
In other news. I’m at work on a new CD which should be ready in a couple of months or sooner. I’m very excited about the songs on this one so please keep on eye out on further developments.
There’s a new video of me doing, "Rye Grass" a song written by Jack Hardy. It was filmed by my friend Frank Mazzetti.. It was performed at the Christopher Street Coffeehouse for the Jack Hardy Memorial: An Evening of Song in Memory of Jack Hardy. I was honored to perform there. It was a great night and wonderful to hear everyone’s interpretations of Jack’s songs.
Jack Hardy lived and breathed songs and the craft of writing them. He wasn't into waiting for a song to happen. His belief was to write, and write more (at least a song a week believing that it would make you a better writer). When someone was playing his or her song for the first time he would listen with such concentration that it was as if nothing else in the world mattered. The importance of the art and craftsmanship of songwriting poured out of him. Like countless others who passed through the Songwriters Exchange, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by his passion for it. He inspired me and made me a better songwriter for it. In a world where everything is transient, there was a sense of something eternal about Jack that can’t be put into words. My life and art were forever changed by his tutelage. Goodnight to...
