“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’ ‘BlackHand’ ‘‘BlackHand’

DECEMBER 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 12

From The Nest…

HEY NOW…

THANK YOU ALL for an amazing 2013!! It was full of ups & downs, firsts & lasts, and

new & old!! We made even stronger, some of the local relationships that have been so vital

to our success, and forged new bonds with

folks we are sure to have a fruitful & mutually beneficial experience with! To our

weekly hosts the Petters Family, & amazing downtown teammates at the ‘Blue and Gray

Bar & Grill’ of Gettysburg, we cannot express enough Thanks!! To the Wolfe Family & the

great staff of our ‘living room’ venue, The N.E.W. A-ville Inn…Thanks for another great year! TO EVERY venue that supported “BlackHand” in 2013…THANK YOU! TO EVERY fan that came out in support of live local music in 2013…THANK YOU!! TO EVERY one of our musical & artistic performance peers…THANK YOU!! KUDOS for continuing forward in an unforgiving, unending ‘Search for the Sound’! Thank You, Glenn at ‘Yummy

Tie-Dyes’! (www.etsy.com/shop/yummytiedyes)

Thank You, Compass Rose at gratefuldeadtributebands.com! Thank You Toni Brown & Ed Munson!! Thank You to ‘Reid’s Orchard & Winery’! Thank You to ‘Liquid Hero Brewery’! Thank You to Don at ‘Gig Goals’ & ‘Snipes Farm’! THANK YOU TO ALL, as there are far too many to continue this list to completion…for your continued

enthusiastic support of “BLACKHAND”! We are so completely humbled by your love

& appreciation of our music…we promise to keep digging deeper, & reaching higher!!

Be Well…Stay Blessed! Peace, Love, & Light!

ZZ, Alex, John, & Kyle ~ “BlackHand”

“BlackHand” …is an American band which plays

PsychodelicFolkRock in central PA,

northern MD, & entire east coast.

The 'players' are:

ZigZag-Guitar & Vocals;

Alex-Percussion & Vocals;

John-Piano & Vocals;

Kyle-Bass & Vocals

www.blackhand.us

This is a ‘Forest-Friendly’ publication!!

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’

DECEMBER 2013 VOL 3, ISSUE 12

Stringz-n-Thingz…

It’s certainly been a wonderful year, full of exciting moments, and huge blessings. We worked hard this year,

and wanted to make things as fun for you all as it was for us. We introduced & worked out the performance nuances of new original material. We took on an ‘album project’

this year for “In & Out of the Garden We Go” Festival, performing Grateful Dead’s ‘Built to Last’ in its brutal entirety!! We wrestled diligently with overworked & underpowered sound equipment, trying always to maintain

a functional balance between the richer organic sound of older instruments & amps, and enjoyable tonal qualities to our live sound production. NOT an easy task, when there really is no such thing as ‘down time’ for this band!

“BlackHand” also tried to expand its audience by performing at events sponsored by radio stations, Harley-Davidson dealerships, recreational/amusement businesses,

and breweries & wineries that afforded us opportunities to expose our show successfully to ‘foreign crowds’!! Our biggest ‘resolutions’ for the upcoming year, are simple. The first all original ‘studio album’ by BH WILL be

released this year!! Funding has been tough…we WILL be asking for your help to finally make this dream a reality!! The other goals for us lie along the merchandising lines!

We have some amazingly talented friends enthusiastically on board to help us get to you, the great ‘BH schwagg’

you’ve been beggin’ for!! BIGLOVE!! ~ ZigZag

The Key is…

I'd like to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year and I hope you all had a great Christmas vacation filled with family, fun, and music! This time of year always reminds me of going to my Grandmother’s house! It was

literally ‘over the river & through the woods’ as we lived in the Maine wilderness most of my life. She would have the Christmas music playing on the radio and it seemed to always be snowing. We would walk up to the church and

attend the evening service, then go back to enjoy food & punch...& presents. She used to take me to the church and 'make' me play Christmas songs to whoever would listen,

she was so proud of me. The only thing I can really remember from 8 years old was the guy who played the saw with a violin bow…that really intrigued me. I've always had a strong love for music...and my Grandmother. Happy

Holidays one and all! We'll see you all New Year’s Eve at the A-Ville Inn...AND New Year’s Night at the Blue and Gray! BE

SAFE out there!! ~ John

www.blackhand.us

NO TREES were harmed by this Enewsletter!!

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’

DECEMBER 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 12

The Drum Circle…

The end of the year always causes me to reflect on the past year, and all it had to bring and offer. We were introduced to many new friends and business partners, many doors to new venues and relationships were opened. As a band, we hit pinnacles and achieved goals that I didn’t always think were possible. It is truly an honor to play with the musicians I am blessed to play with. They are not only stellar at their craft and put all their heart into what they do, but they are damn fine people too. The fact that they are always ready to put business last and do charity events, even when it takes time away from family and friends and earning opportunities, speaks volumes as to their character. To all the folks reading this, a HUGE thank you for supporting all we do, giving all you have, and being there for us, not only as a band, but as friends and family. We couldn’t do it without you. Much love for

the New Year! ~ Alex

The Bomb Shelter…

I was recently going through a lot of Grateful Dead set lists for New Year’s Eve shows. I was stunned at how much the year influenced the band and song selection! I knew many if not most songs were specific to an era, but I could really see that years influence and tensions; from not having NYE shows in the mid-70's, then the three-set acoustic and electric shows, to the huge and extravagant Billy Graham shows and rocking Brent -driven set lists, the sad turmoil after Brent's death, and the happy-go-lucky yet somewhat distant early-90's. Not having been able to see the Grateful Dead, I have to rely on historical accounts like recordings and Phil's "Searching for the Sound" to learn about the GD culture and tradition. It never occurred to me to look straight to the primary documentation of the music to find some depth of understanding. There it was in front of me, my rawest and purest look into what it was that I have been trying to understand; it was never a big façade, and it was always representative of the music and the musicians... Hope you Handerz have a great and prosperous New

Year! ~ Kyle

www.blackhand.us

Doin’ what she loves!!

“I’ll get up and fly away…”

GO GREEN…or go home!!

DECEMBER 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 12

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’ We cannot begin to thank each one of you nearly enough for your

unwavering support of & commitment to ‘BlackHand’!! Your attendance & enthusiasm at our live shows is contagious…and we

hope to always be worthy of that kind of deadication!!

Our mission is to bring happiness to ALL…through music !

“BlackHand” Performance Schedule

********************

• “NEW YEARS EVE RAVE” ‘The N.E.W. A-ville Inn’ Tuesday, 31st December

9:30ish-Whenever we make our point!! Arendtsville, PA

********************

• EVERY ‘Black & Blue Wednesday’!! -

‘Blue and Gray Bar & Grill’

“Wood & Steel” (acoustic)

8-11pm!

Gettysburg, PA

(717)677-4978 booking@blackhand.us www.blackhand.us www.reverbnation.com/blackhand zigsblackhand@gmail.com

Ph.#