I Gotta Tell Ya
(Wittless Journals)

Sue takes it off!!

...for locksoflove.org

May 6, 2005

Late-breaking news: Outlandish singer-songwriter sue witty lost it all yesterday afternoon.
"I don't know what happened," she is believed to have muttered. "The day was going along like any normal day. Then I met some woman named Delilah. We talked for a while about routine stuff (love, war, the Philistines...). She asked me from what do I draw my strength in times of melancholy. I told her probably from my long hair, because I am able to hide my sad eyes behind my hair at my own will and pretend everything is fine. She said, "Lose the hair. Your strength must come from within or from above, but not from creature comforts, aesthetically pleasing attributes, or escape mechanisms." (She really said that. Delilah was one crazy chic--not afraid to lay it all out there.) So next thing I know, I am over at 'Fantastic Sams Hair Salon' with my hair wrapped in 5 ponytails and a woman next to me with scissors in her hands repeating some bizarre mantra: "Are you sure???" Seconds later I stare somewhat aghast into a mirror, witnessing an apparition of myself from over 2 years ago (when I shaved my head in protest to the war)...

I took it off. I took it all off. Come out to the MAY 21 gig at RED LIGHT and see!! I'll be opening for Atlanta's beloved and you-bin-gone-too-long WENDY BUCKLEW."

April 20, 2005

Hey folks! Hope all is well with your souls. If you haven't been getting out to hear much live music lately, shame on you. There's so much great stuff out there. Last Monday I shared the stage with a local Atlanta group called "Butterfly Stitch" at Smith's Olde Bar--they kick ass, man. And for those of you in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, I finally made it out to the Cave on Franklin Street to hear "Nikki Meets the Hibachi" (a good friend of mine has only been raving about them for the past decade... Ok, so sometimes I'm a little slow...), and it was a superb show--nice and smooth. Check out their website:

www.nikkimeetsthehibachi.com

I didn't get the contact info for Butterfly Stitch, but if anyone out there can help me track them down, I would be eternally grateful. How grateful, you ask? So grateful that I will come mow your lawn for you. So grateful that I will walk your dog for a week, no charge. So grateful that I'll give you a 20-minute backrub every day through the month of June. Seriously. Sonia Leigh, the lead guitarist, said she'd hook me up with a friend of hers who plays sax, but she hasn't gotten back to me on that, so I NEED TO TRACK HER DOWN!!

All right. That's all from me for now. So get off of your Lazy-Person Recliner, click off the TV, and head out to hear some live music, OK?
Rock on,
sue

3/27/2005

Happy Easter, everyone! Amidst concluding this morning that I should have named my dog "Don Quixote" (she soars through the house from room to room in mad pursuit of an invisible "other"... well, invisible to me anyway), I paused to reflect upon my own elusive visions as I chase the mirages in my head. In spite of what I perceive to be my life's shortcomings, I've attempted to remind myself of exactly how fortunate and blessed I am. And yet even as I immerse myself in gratitude, something makes me hesitate. Is it the other paths I "should" have taken? Is it the voices I blocked out? The efforts of others that I casually neglected? My mind has been a whirlwind lately, and I've tried to channel that into some new music--which, if all goes well, will make it onto a CD this fall. But these musings seem to lead me to the closing sentiment of the film Saving Private Ryan: Have I lived my life the "right" way? Have I done a good job? Maybe I'll go write a song...

God bless you all.

3/12/2005

Wow, what an amazing week this has been!! Last Friday I got to see Meshell Ndegeocello for the first time live in concert ( www.meshell.com ). What an amazing experience!! And then Michael Levine rocked the IF Coffeehouse Saturday night ( www.michaellevine.net ). Man, he is really something. He and Matthew Smith are the duo of the decade. Then Tim Porterfield and I (that is, Reef Rain) opened for Australian sensation Jeff Lang this past Wednesday ( www.jefflang.com.au ), an immensely surreal event. Thanks to an incredible week, I am stoked about what lies ahead in the next several months...

If you've already checked the gigs page, then you know we've got a bunch of festivals lined up for this summer. I am thrilled to head back to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area for the Apple Chill Street Fair (April 17th; www.applechill.com ) and the unbelievable Festival for the Eno (July 4th weekend; www.enoriver.org/festival/ ). There is nothing I love better than playing outdoors with a bunch of other musicians, knowing we are all donating our time and artistic efforts to preserve the sacred land. If you have no plans for the fourth of July, I highly recommend you head to Durham, NC for this event.

In other news, Alayne is helping me scout out opportunities to have some of my music incorporated into indie film projects. If you know any film producers or are interested in assisting us with tracking down leads, give us a holler!! I hope all is well with your soul. Mach's gut.

~sue

1/24/2005

naked expressions, #19:

hey, folks.

I just wanted to post a journal entry to check in with you all and see how you are doing. I think that many of us have been experiencing some emotional turbulence in the past few months for various reasons (the Tsunami; the on-going genocide in Darfur, Africa; political tensions between the Smurfs and the Cliffords, etc.). Are you doing ok?

I myself have been kind of sad, for these reasons and others. One of the “others” is that I probably haven’t seen you at a gig lately. So I sit around and think, think, think (just like my hero and spiritual leader, Winnie the Pooh). “Maybe they think I’m no good,” one voice in my head says. “Maybe they’re not doing ok, and something’s wrong…” another one chimes in.

Well, whichever may be the case, I want to hear it. I know this sounds like a desperate plea, but please do come to a show sometime soon and let me know how you’re doing—and also let me know what you think of my music. I can’t really learn without your feedback.

Thanks.
sue

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December 13, 2004

Hey there, everybody!!   It feels like it has been a while since I have touched base with you... So here I am, touching base. Am I safe? Am I out? Should I steal home? You be the ump! (Gosh, I love softball/baseball!!) Anyway, I wanted to wish you all very merry, happy, joyous holidays. I myself continue to feel somewhat "lost in space" since my return from a year of European adventures. For example, I miss the German "Weihnachtsmarkt" terribly, and have therefore begun plotting with a few friends to initiate a similar holiday tradition here in Atlanta! Although we have unanimously voted to do without all of the bratwurst and other meat products (my apologies to all you carnivores!).

Europe was good to me in many ways. I have written a score of new songs and eagerly anticipate returning to the studio to lay them down. Alayne Wood, my trusty manager and booking agent, is feverishly planning a host of sue witty festival appearances for spring & summer, 2005--and I can hardly wait!! And I have been corresponding with Ellen DeGeneres about doing an impromptu appearance at some of these upcoming shows (ok, so these "correspondences" have been sort of one-sided; she hasn't exactly responded. But I know she's waiting to surprise us all. Don't forget to SEND HER AN EMAIL!! Details in the August 8, 2004 entry, below).

A heartfelt "thanks!!" to all of you who have come out to shows and who have bought CDs.  Honestly, I have had CD sales from all over the world. How incredible is that??? I love the Internet, I love CD Baby, and I love you!

Oh, one more thing--and this is REALLY BIG news for me--I received credit in the acknowledgement portion of the new book by Don E. Saliers and his daughter (my hero!!!) Emily Saliers (half of INDIGO GIRLS) in their HOT new book, A Song to Sing, A Life to Live (Jossey-Bass, 2004). Buy the book!! It's GREAT!! (Why do I feel like Tony the Tiger as I write those words?!?) I really want to see you in 2005. So stop hiding. I've already kicked the can. All-ee, all-ee, all come free! Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Love,

sue witty
PS. If you aren't already signed up for the mailing list.... Please visit my Yahoo Groups page and sign up now! You'll receive all the latest gig updates and miscellaneous rantings. No salesperson will call, no spam will hit your inbox! Don't delay!

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September 21, 2004

What is new? Hey, look--it's a brand new day, right? That's what Van Morrison says (well, almost. "Feels like, seems like a brand new day" implies that it's just an illusion, eh? What if this is all just an illusion? What if this website isn't really real, and you don't really know how to read, and you just think you're reading this, but really you're making it all up? Weird...)

Anyway, what ELSE is new are a score of new songs I wrote while in Europe (which are rapidly aging! YIKES!! Kids grow up so fast these days!!).

Have you come out to a gig lately? I didn't think so.
I didn't see you there, anyway. What do I have to do?
I ain't too proud to beg, you know. Don't let those hurricanes and tropical storms scare you. Brave the weather and come on out. It'll be worth it. I promise!!!

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August 8, 2004

Greetings, Beautiful People!

Well, after a year of toolin' and foolin' around Europe, I am back on U.S. soil! I can hardly believe it myself. That year away/abroad seems almost like a dream, but what a new and wonderful dream it is to be back home. I can't wait to start giggin' in cafes, clubs and festivals here so that I can share with you all of my new material!

That's right—Europe forced me to put pen to paper (Really! She said, “Write something new, goshdarnit, or we'll detain you here indefinitely!” And while I love Europe, well, I am a Cancer… and that “home” thing is kind of important… but I digress). I scripted a score of songs in the past year which I long for you to hear, mostly so you can say, “What's up with that?” or “What were you thinking?” But actually, being as indecisive as I am, I really need for you to hear this material to help me figure out what should go on the next CD. YEAH! That's right! The next CD!

If all goes well, I will hit the studio in January and aim for another May CD Release Party! YOU ARE INVITED! (I also invited Ellen DeGeneres—through the “Oh Yes You Can” portion of her website http://ellen.warnerbros.com/funstuff/yes/index.html —Oh sure. I know what you're thinking. "She's not going to come!" Well, maybe if we ALL write to her and invite her to the party, maybe THEN she'll come! Uh… right… Or maybe it could be like that film "Big Night," where I just tell you she's coming, even though she isn't. It would still be a party, you know, and then the next morning we could eat scrambled eggs together for breakfast).

Anyway, please come out to a gig soon. It's been a while. I miss you. And I need your help. You know you want to help me. You know if you don't, I will only become a menace to society. Wait, I mean, I will only continue being a menace to society. You know, I don't know what I mean anymore. Just come out. OK? I'll buy you a cup of coffee… I'll serenade you… I'll pet-sit when you go out of town…

Shalom,
sue

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