On this glorious Monday we catch up with the songwriting, multi-instrument playing, stylish hat wearing, character that is Greg Klyma. A very engrained musician in this local community, an advocate for bringing folks together, and a hardworking traveling mistrel of sorts, Klyma has been singing his songs around town for years and building a following of friends and fans as a result. He tells us all about his most recent ventures, including a new record and his Americana Mondays series, in this edition of "Catching Up With"...
1) Ok, first and foremost, in as few sentences as
possible, Who are you and what do you do?
GK: My name is Greg Klyma. I host Americana
Mondays here in Somerville (it's the weekly good time) and occasionally
tour in support of a new album. My latest is called Another Man's
Treasure. You're gonna dig it.
2) Greg Klyma, the songwriter, the artist, the
performer has been around the Boston music scene for quite some time. How have
you seen it develop over the years? Do you think it has improved? Do you think
it could improve more?
GK: In Scott Alarik's novel, Revival, there is a passage
where the lead character quotes Pete Seeger. I take it that Pete once
said: If you're a musician, it means you're going to die unfulfilled. It means
you'll spend the rest of your life on an upward learning curve, because you'll
never be as good as you can be. You'll die an apprentice, a student; and
there's nothing better than that. To have achieved the best you can ever be -
that's a tragedy.
From Aug 1998 till Aug 2010, I lived out of my van, man
- traveling around the country, seeing friends and playing shows. The
first time I came here from Buffalo was sometime around
1997-98; I played open mics and crashed with friends. Danielle
Miraglia booked me to play my first paying gig here sometime in 2001
or 2002 when she hosted the then new songwriter series in the Burren Back
Room. I think it was 2007 when I really made a point of being back every
3-4 months, but it wasn't until Aug 2010 that I started living here and
immersing myself in this great community.
I honestly don't know that I have a perspective on how the
scene has developed over the years, ya know. That would be a
question better answered by maybe Sean Staples or Billy Beard. What I
do know is that my own life has improved considerably for being surrounded by
art in the company of talented musicians and writers on a daily basis. I love
it here. Do I think it could improve more? Taking a note from Mr. Seeger,
I hope it never stops.
3) You had a new release come out recently, and now along
with it, a release show as well. What are the details of both?
GK: Another Man's Treasure was released to radio on
Nov. 1, 2013. It debuted at #20 on the Folk DJ Chart, #49 on the
national Roots Music Report and got into rotation here in town on WUMB - all
amazing things. The album was recorded in a small town south of Buffalo - Eden,
NY - with Ryan Fitzsimmons, Mark Whitaker, Chris DeSanty, Jeff Gaynor, Michael
Eck, Ashlee Amoia and Jim Whitword - the only time they have ever all played
together. We recorded 16 tracks on 1 inch tape in just 21 studio
hours over the course of 2 gorgeous days in June. Then boiled it down to the 12
tracks that made the best album.
The album is available online here:
Ryan Fitzsimmons, Chris DeSanty, Mark Whitaker and I will be
joined by Kirstin Lamb on upright bass on Sat. Jan. 25 for the official CD
release party at Sally O' Brien's in Union Square.
4) What inspires you as a songwriter?
GK: I like wordplay and enjoy the English language. What
inspires me? Based on some of the songs I play regularly
I guess love, fear, loss and hope, maple syrup, kale, chicken,
the City of Buffalo and another town, history, natural disasters, the
wastefulness of mankind, time flying in this circular world, men in my family, the
fact that I don't remember my dreams and the notion that I'm livin' the life.
Probably some other stuff, too, I figure we're only here for a short, short
while.
5) Boston is noted as a very community driven music
scene (especially this folk/Americana community). You are really doing your
part with your Americana Mondays series. Tell us about it and how have you
experienced the community here and what are your thoughts about it?
GK: Yes, Americana Mondays! Thank you. The weekly good time
is a great place to hear live music, enjoy a few drinks, see old friends, make
new ones and dance. The residency started up in July 2013 at a bar called Radio
and moved to our current home at PA's Lounge in October of that year.
Our first summer night was spent with 12 friends, the
band and the bartender. My friend Abigail was there, saw potential in it
as a great hang and started sending out weekly invites on
Facebook. From there the scene has grown so much in such a short time and
our community continues to grow. I'm elated and excited for all the
potential.
As a kid, music was my hobby. Then I started writing songs.
All these years later, my music is how I make my way through the world. A
few years ago I discovered a real need in myself for a hobby. Dancing
was a natural and I found that I love to 2-Step, waltz, and blues
dancing or to just get out there and boogaloo. Social dancing
introduced me to a whole other community - dancers! Americana Mondays is
bringing worlds together, for me and others.
The band features Joe Klompus on upright bass and Steve
Latanision on pedal steel and fiddle. David DeLuca joins us every week on
Telecaster and I play host. Remembering all the times The Fibs had me sit in
with them at Nietzsche's back in the day back in Buffalo, I frequently have
friends up on stage to play a couple songs. It's never booked in advance, it
just happens. Magic! Sometimes I play along with special guests on guitar
or mandolin; other times, that's when I get to cut a rug for a few
minutes. Monday nights are glorious.
There is no cover charge for Americana Mondays. The music
starts a little before 8pm and continues till around 11. And remember... You
don't have to dance, but you can. You don't have to drink, but you probably
will. You don't have to have fun, but it's hard not to. Americana Mondays rock!
6) Lastly, plug anything you feel like plugging...
GK: First and foremost, thank you for this! I hope to see
you on Sat. Jan. 25 at Sally O' Brien's for
the official CD Release Party for Another
Man's Treasure. Ryan Taylor Band is going to open the show, followed by a long
set from me and my comrades. Doors are at 9pm, music at 9:30. There's a $5
cover for this show.
If you can not make it to Sally O's on Jan. 25, be sure to
join us any Monday night for the weekly good time at PA's Lounge. I love that
block in Union Square. So much good stuff going on down there!
If you can't wait for a show and want to get your hands on a
copy of Another Man's Treasure, please visit Village Produce. It's local and
it's awesome: http://shop.villageproduce.com/greg-klyma/another-man's-treasure
My website is www.klyma.com. We
keep it up-to-date with shows and good news. If you ever wonder where I'm
playing, KLYMA.com is your best resource to get informed. See ya out there on
the scene, folks!
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Thanks to Greg for Catching Up With Red Line Roots. Be sure to get out to either his release or one of these Americana Mondays. Its a guaranteed good time!
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