Even with some unexpected Paypal issues, this event went off beautifully and the most important thing was that we were able to raise over $2200 for the Eric Lowen Trust.

Guests were able to get water, coffee or tea and some desserts before the show. Once the lights came down, the show began with a short video narrated by Eric Lowen that briefly explained his story. Eric Lowen's true character shone through the video and I'm sure everyone could understand why we chose to undertake this event.

After the video, Berkley Hart took the stage and took the crowd by storm. Deftly moving through their songs, they also shared personal stories and anecdotes about Eric and Dan Navarro, that made the event even more special and significant. After their last song, the crowd jumped to their feet demanding an encore, which Berkley Hart were happy to oblige.

The last show of Meeting Grace at the house in Normal Heights was the best way I could think of to close that chapter of the series.

I introduced Berkley Hart and found myself moved to tears (unsurprisingly to most in attendance!) as the emotion of the event and the finality of it came over me. But Berkley Hart quickly had me smiling as they kicked off the show with some songs.

Then they introduced Cathryn Beeks and Matt Silvia to do some of their songs. They wow'd the crowd as expected and told some stories of their recording experiences in the house. Then they brought Berkley Hart back to the stage who performed again, gracing the crowd with old favorites like "Sink or Swim" and new classics such as "Hey, Darlene."

Visit www.berkleyhart.com to purchase $20 advance tickets.

Meeting Grace and Dark-Thirty House Concerts invite you to join Berkley Hart and Joel Rafael on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Swedenborgian Church for a special evening of music to benefit the Eric Lowen Trust. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 when purchased in advance at www.berkleyhart.com or $25 at the door the night of the show. Eric Lowen, of the influential singer-songwriter duo from Los Angeles Lowen & Navarro, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in March of 2004. All ticket sales will go to the Eric Lowen Trust which helps to offset the enormous costs of fighting his illness and helps support his family, which includes his wife and their 5 children.

Hello friends,
Please join us for an incredible evening of music featuring Berkley Hart & Friends to celebrate the end of another chapter in the story of Meeting Grace. Count on performances from Berkley Hart (of course), Cathryn Beeks & Matt Silvia, Eve Selis & Marc Twang, Lisa Sanders and more to be announced. All ticket proceeds will go toward moving expenses.

Yes, that's right, moving. The time has come for this incarnation of Meeting Grace to close its doors, but it won't be for good. But it's not just Meeting Grace that has called this house its home for the last 4+ years. The history of this house, part of the San Diego music scene for nearly 15 years, begins before Meeting Grace took residence in February, 2004.

Lizzie will be the March feature at this burgeoning reading that is sponsored by San Diego Writers, Ink. Please visit http://www.sandiegowriters.org/programs_readings_poeticbrew.htm for all the information. Hope to see you at Rebecca's!

UPDATE: 10/23/07 - 5:45 pm (PST)

I'm sorry for this turn of events, but I've made the decision, for a variety of reasons, to cancel the show with Annie Gallup. I will work with Annie to try to have her back on her next trip to California.

Thanks for your understanding and flexibility.
~~~
Dirty Linen claims that Annie Gallup is "...like the musical daughter of Joni Mitchell and Lou Reed, simultaneously confident and vulnerable, a practiced storyteller and poet whose stream-of-consciousness narratives of strange but vivid characters share space with diamond-cut confessional vignettes of off-center and sometimes reckless romances. Her lyrics are complex and often non-linear, but well worth following, her quiet but careful guitar accompaniment a well-matched frame."

Thanks so much for a great evening with Joel Rafael at Meeting Grace. It was a wonderful gathering of musical friends who were given the unique chance to hear some of Joel's classic tunes as well as forthcoming material from his next album. It was a pleasure all around!

For more information about Joel, please visit www.joelrafael.com.