THIS SITE IS GOING THROUGH DESIGN CHANGES
Spoon’s
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Lost and Haunted Ways
Solo acoustic fingerstyle, 12 tunes from 12 years in the life of the artist
New Guitar TAB added!
Abbots Bromely ! | Cotswolds Yellow Stone Blues! | Abbots Bromley Repirse!!!
and more…
In-depth Album Notes Here
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March 23, 2023 – Spending a Day with Dick Boak
Maury’s Music invited Dick Boak of Martin Guitar fame to the popular Martins and More podcast. In return, Dick invited Maury Rutch and Spoon to his home to check out some of the guitars he has made in his private workshop since his retirement and across the COVID-19 lock down.
What follows are the video version of the podcast, a video tour of Dick’s private workshop, and this short video of Spoon giving some of the amazing Dick Boak original instruments a test drive.
Two all-spruce guitars, one spruce body with a mahogany neck, a solid Ziricote and solid mahogany “Aardvark” guitars, a flame-grain Brazilian dreadnought, and a Honduras rosewood dreadnought.
I thought of a zillion questions after we left! Thanks Dick, or all the years of friendship and contributions to worldwide music..
Gosh I would love to have one of Dick’s Spruce Geese! Maybe someday.
Gosh I would love to have one of Dick’s Spruce Geese! Maybe someday.
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May 17, 2022 – Pangea Supper Club, New York City
Opening and closing numbers. Playing Spoonville tunes with Doug Pierson and Rob Meador for the first time in 15 years!
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Post-COVID Return to Nazareth, PA
Spoon Phillips demos the CS-D-28-1937 on stage at the Martin Museum
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Spoon dons his Irish National Football Team’s jersey for the annual St. Patrick’s Day gig
David Bowie’s “Dig Everything.”
It was great to be back in front of a live audience for the first St. Pat’s since 2018!
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Freddy’s Bar in Brooklyn hosts the Highland Shatners
Purveyors of Celtic tunes and 1960s Paisley Pop!
We had to cancel our annual St. Pat’s show due to the 2019 NYC COVID lockdown. Last year, we had to do a short cyber set. But for 2022 we are BACK!
Let’s hope their awesome corned beef sandwiches are back for St. Pat’s too!!!
“The perfect bar!” – NY Times Home – Freddy’s Bar (freddysbar.com)
627 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 718-768-0131 – 8 PM SHARP!!! with Hot Burlesque later that evening!!!!
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01/25/22 – Blast from the Past for Burns Night – the Highland Shatners
Now you know where Spoon got his flatpicking bit he does on guitar reviews. 🙂
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Sunday, January 23 – Live Stream Discussion on New Martins
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T Spoon Phillips Answers Questions About Martin Guitars Live – latest episode
Aaron Short Music – January 17, 2021
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Clissold Park
Video featuring culled photos taken in London’s Clissold Park at various times of year, set to Spoon’s composition of the same name.
Tom Waits for No One
That was the name of the act preformed by the late Eric Hansen for decades at the very end of the Blow Hole Theater variety show in NYC, where Spoon has long been the traditional opening act and sometimes co-host/stage manager/sound man. Eric’s hugely beautiful voice graced the Columbia U. Glee Club back in the day, and many choirs and choral ensembles ever since. This was recorded at a memorial celebration in Brooklyn, where members of many tribes met for the first time, all having Eric in common.
Summer in the City Part 1
Spoon is very happy to be a part of the annual Porch Stomp festival on Governors Island, June 26 from 11am – 5pm.
17 performance sites were designated throughout the northern portion of the island, in and around historic Victorian homes, the old Coast Guard barracks, and various parks. Spoon performed a variety of songs inspired by novels and plays, at the Bushwick Book Club “stage” and had a fabulous time watching so many fun and inspiring performers.
Blast from the Past
The Martin Guitars has been closed to visitors over a year now. But at least they are back to making guitars. This video was captured in the Martin Museum on the second day of NAMM weekend, in January, 2019.
This custom deep-body OM-42 slot-head is made of Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce. I do miss it, but it found a good home and helped pay for my current custom shop guitar that is much better neck for my aging high school football injuries.
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Tradition Means Music Around Here
The Highland Shatners sorta live…
From their shore leave in the Omicron Delta system, to a viewing screen near you…
The Highland Shatners coalesced from a larger collection of musicians who performed for an annual event at La Mama ETC of Scottish music and poetry, to raise money for the Burns Night Supper of a now extinct Scottish society in New York City.
The band’s set lists typically contain traditional and modern Scottish music, as well as folk songs from England, Wales, and Ireland, together with Paisley Pop tunes from the ’60s and ’70s and, appropriately enough, songs from the original Star Trek series.
Although it has been some years since they performed with any frequency, the Highland Shatners continue to play each St. Patrick’s Day at Freddy’s Back Room in Brooklyn, NY. Come by for a good time, March 17, 2022, and a spectacular corned beef sandwich too!
March 8, 4 PM EST – Spoon on Aaron Short Music
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Spoon’s Article in the Journal of Acoustic Guitars!
Starts on Page 36
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Spoon on Scalloped Braces
Symposium: D-28 vs. HD-28
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Very Old Strings Play a Very Old Song
Spoon on Aaron Short Music – YouTube Live Streaming Show
#playmusiconyourporchday
Here is Spoon’s contribution to the world-wide Play Music on the Porch Day
Longfellow’s opus “The Day is Done” 1844, set to music by Bill Peebles of Loveland, Ohio, with help from your humble Spoon.
Play Music on the Porch Day happens the last Saturday in August. Search for #playmusicontheporchday on your favorite social media to see MANY fun and inspiring videos of participants from around the globe, of all ages and musical styles.
Music for a Social Distancing Audience
YouTube – onemanzguitar channel
Latest Performances Live from Brooklyn
June 14, 2020
June 7, 2020
May 31, 2020
May 27, 2020
The Steeds of Culloden – from the April 15 set.
April 16, 1746… a hoard of delusional Scotsmen charged, raving like mad badgers, across an open, boggy terrain, through freezing rain, and straight into a hot lead rain, as they roared into the jaws of the mighty British army…
The Complete Social Distancing Concert April 15, 2020 on YouTube onemanzguitar channel
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Upcoming Concerts on YouTube Live.
Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern (5 PM West Coast) with a run through for the overseas audience at 3 PM Eastern (8 PM British Summer Time, 9 PM Central Europe Summer Time)
Go to Youtube and search for onemanzguitar if you are not already a subscriber.
If the first video listed doesn’t say “LIVE,” keep refreshing your screen until it does.
Martin SC-13E acoustic-electric hybrid!
The day before the Winter NAMM Show opened in Anaheim, CA, Spoon was at the Martin Guitar factory to check out the production version of the new SC-13E and compare it to the various prototypes that led to it.
His review was published that night on One Man’s Guitar, just as the new Martin was being unveiled to the press out in California. He shot the video in Martin’s private sound room the next morning, a couple of hours before the NAMM Show opened its doors. You can read the review and see the video here.
Later that day, Spoon did an interview with Martin’s Jason Ahner in the Martin Museum about the new model. And the day after that he shot this video review for Maury’s Music, “Where you get it for less!”
Martinfest XVIII – August 2019
The late night song circle starts to fill up
(Neil Young’s “I Believe in You,” with Diana Keller)
Paul Ukena Trio Works Up a New Tune for Martins on Main
Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose” with Paul Ukena and Frank Krupit
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Blow Hole Theater
Monday, April 15
Sid Gold’s Request Room
165 W 26th St, New York, New York 10001
7 PM Sharp! I am the opening act, as usual.
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Just got back from a three day marathon of shooting videos of the 2019 Martins for Maury’s Music
And boy are arms tired!
And we even had time to shoot some video of me playing one of my own songs on one of my own guitars, on the stage at the Martin Museum.
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* FYI – the official Freddy’s email went out stating the Highland Shatners are going on at 9 PM – not 9:30 on Sunday Night.
I think it is safe to say that if you arrive by 8:30 you may have time for the foam on your Guinness to settle and your corned beef sandwich to ring up at the food counter prior to whenever we actually start our first ditty.
It is fair to warn you all that I had a dream the other night that our front man, Kodos the Executioner, acquired a gigantic novelty leprechaun hat made of fuzzy fake green fur, festooned with big plastic shamrocks on springs, and sundry shiny green and white Mylar ribbons.
Hopefully the hat was but a dream. I will however be wearing my authentic Irish National Rugby Team jersey for the occasion. *
Freddy’s is at
Address: 627 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: 718-768-0131
Menu: freddysbar.com*
March 2019 – St. Pat’s with the Highland Shatners!!!
Freddy’s Back Room – Sunday, March 17, 2019 – 9:30 PM
“One of the best bars in America!” – Esquire Magazine
“The corned beef sandwich they do but once a year is worth the trip alone!” – T Spoon Phillips
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January 2019 – Two days at C. F. Martin & Co.
Thanks to all at Martin Guitars, and especially Tim Teel, VP of Guitar Design, for hosting me and providing their sound testing room for my video reviews of the 2019 models, which were debuting at the NAMM show out in Anaheim at the same time. And special thanks to Michael Dickinson for handling the details of housing, meals, guitars, and access to the priceless Martin Museum instruments. The videos and written reviews will be appearing at One Man’s Guitar.
But I have been so busy with freelance writing I have not yet started to put the Martin stuff together. Soon…very soon….
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...A Visit to Maury’s Music
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Upcoming Appearances
Sunday, March 17 – St. Pat’s with the Highland Shatners
Freddy’s Backroom in Brooklyn – 9:30
Come have a Guinness, or a Smithwick’s, and their amazing corned beef sandwich made only for St. Pat’s!!!
The Shatners have been playing St. Pat’s at Freddy’s for years, and it is always a blast!
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*Saturday November 17, New York City, I will be playing solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar for my friend Dick Boak at the opening of “Illustrations and Guitars by Dick Boak and Paintings by Tullio Desantis.” 273 Bleecker Street (formerly Matt Umanov Guitar Shop,) NY, NY 10014. 5 – 9 PM. For those unfamiliar, Dick was the longtime good will ambassador and public face for C. F. Martin & Co., the premiere builder of acoustic guitars in the world, before his retirement earlier this year.
* Saturday November 10, Fogelsville, PA – D.O.R.K.Fest 2018, Sam Adams Brew Pub in the Lehigh Valley Holiday Inn Conference Center
* Sunday, August 26 – The Paul Ukena Trio House Concert – actually an outdoor theater concert for about 60 people in West Chester, PA, Sunday Aug. 26th, 4 – 7 PM. Inquire if you are in the area, as it is invitation only event, but the band has some clout with the venue.
Spoon is in Pennsylvania this weekend, where he will be making a series of Martin guitar demonstration videos for Maury’s Music, after taking part in the musical memorial celebration of the life of dear friend Greg Kendig of Autumn Brew, who passed away earlier this month.
Check out Spoon’s Martinfest Journal of Adventure at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
With Photos and Videos!
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Spoon’s Martinfest Schedule:
Thursday and Friday: C. F. Martin & Company, Nazareth, PA, catching up with old friends and playing new guitars.
Saturday: Martin on Main Street Fair, center of town at the top of Main St.
2:45 Spoon will be appearing with the Paul Ukena Trio on the main stage.
5:00 Spoon will be preforming solo on the main stage
Sunday: Nazareth Boro Park, rain or shine.
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Highland Shatners At Hank’s Saloon – Friday, April 13
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The Highland Shatners Annual St. Patrick’s Day Show
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The Martin 000C-21 TSP Public Debut
My new Custom Artist Martin guitar made its public debut at Bushwick Book Club, featuring songs inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s first novel Player Piano. At the new artist tea house called Mirror in the Woods, in the upcoming Gowanus section of Brooklyn.
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The 000C-21 TSP – Designed by Spoon for Spoon But Available to the World at Large
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In other news: I will be appearing at Bushwick Book Club on Tuesday, January 30. This installment of the show based on great books is at Mirror in the Woods, the hot new venue on Union Street in Gowanus, not far from Park Slope. They are doing songs inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano. But I did not write a song, but I will be playing with someone who did.
After all it is January, and that means NAMM and new guitars, and I got enough to write about as it is!
So that is all I can say about this particular new guitar for now!
Spoon, out!
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Blowhole Theater Holiday Spectacular!!!
Thursday Night! Dec. 14th – 7 PM
BLOWHOLE THEATER HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR!!!!!
Hosted by Don Rauf of Life in Blender and me, your humble Spoon
CounterEvolution
37 West 17th Street – SECOND FLOOR
New York, NY 10011
Inspired by the Coney Island sideshow of the same name, Blowhole Theater the (once upon a time) annual holiday variety show, is returning to December for the first time in many years.
Featuring the first NYC appearance of the Paul Ukena Trio in far too long!
Plus many fun musical acts, stand-up comedy, witty monologists; even the Amazing Sargasso, our mystic contact with the great beyond!!!
Including… Robin Aigner, Chris Rael, Chris Smiley, Charlie Nieland, Susan Hwang, Marlon Cherry, Henry Tenney, and Don Rauf, The Possible Gaynor, Martin Kramer, Leah Coloff, Andrew Lederer, Jessie Kilguss, Kenny Young and the Eggplant, Angela Alverson, Myron the Magnificent, Monty Banks, Bill Tipper, Jon Protas of the Nice Men, Michael Wilder, and The Jackson Pinks.
All in the amazingly cool showroom of CounterEvolution with handmade furnishings built from old bowling alleys.
FREE!!! – ok, there may be some small donation expected to help pay for the refreshments.
As ever, I will be doing a song at the start of the show, and the Paul Ukena Trio will be on sometime during the first hour. And I will be doing the co-hosting throughout the night, and running the traditional Blowhole Moonshine Ritual with volunteers from the audience.
The Most December Fun You Can Have With Your Snow Pants Off!!!!
Bring Both Your Friends!!!!!
Blowhole Theater – December 14th – 7PM Til the Reindeer Come Home!!!!!!
CounterEvolution
37 West 17th Street – SECOND FLOOR
New York, NY 10011
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You Can Say That Again!
I just got back from another visit to Maury’s Music to shoot guitar demos, “And boy are my arms tired!”
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Bushwick Book Club – Meat Cake Bible by Dame Darcy
Here is the tune Wax Wolf, with lyrics by Henry Tenney and music by your humble Spoon, inspired by Meat Cake Bible, the recently released collection of Dame Darcy’s macabre alt-comic Meat Cake, video by Dame Darcy.
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Blow Hole Theater – August 23
The seasonal variety show that goes back to the 1980s surfaces to send up another spout of talent, music, comedy, and impersonations of barnyard animals
Barbes, Brooklyn 6:30 – 9:30
Co-hosted by your humble Spoon
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Martinfest 2017 – August 3 – 7
Public Performances:
Saturday Aug. 5 – Main Stage at Martin on Main, Nazareth, PA.
I will be doing my own stuff at 1:30, and playing with the Paul Ukena Trio at 2:30
Sunday Aug. 6 – Boro Park, Nazareth, PA
Paul Ukena Trio – approx. 1:00
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“It was a total blast!” recalls former spokesmodel
Check out these and other revealing guitar demonstration videos at Maury’s Music’s YouTube Channel
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Off to the wilds of the Panther Valley and Coaldale, Pennsylvania, to shoot some guitar demonstration videos for Maury’s Music
This will be my first opportunity to see the new Martin 0-18 and compared it directly to the 00-18. Awesome!
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Friday, March 17, 2017 – St. Patrick’s Day with the Highland Shatners!
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Paul Ukena Trio Website
Check out the new site and add your name to the mailing list
unkenatrio.com
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Bushwick Book Club
I was happy to accept an invitation to accompany Henry Tenney at the June Bushwick Book Club, featuring songs inspired by David Lynch’s autobiographical work.
June 8, 2016
Counter Evolution in New York’s famous Manhattan
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Tennessee Williams Inspires New Music
Monday night The Bushwick Book Club at Superfine in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
The poster said 8, BUT the official start time is 7pm/SUNSET with a new conceptual piece by Marc Buchy.
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St. Patrick’s Day with the Highland Shatners
Thursday March 17 – 7:30
Freddy’s Bar
627 5th Ave near 17th St. in Brooklyn
We will be playing unplugged acoustic in the main bar near the piano
The R train to Prospect Av (which is 15th St.) at 4th Ave. and Freddy’s is between 17th and 18th St. on 5th Ave.
But the 5th Ave. bus from Park Slope is leisurely and drops you off right across the street.
So come get your Irish on with the Highland Shatners, even though we play Scottish music and stuff from Star Trek.
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Winter NAMM!
The Winter NAMM show opens Thursday in sunny Southern California.
I am off to the frigid snowfields of Nazareth, PA and the Martin Guitar Factory to get a hands-on look at the 2016 models.
My exclusive reviews will be appearing at
One Man’s Guitar
and check out my social and cultural commentary at
One Man’s World
But I intend to find time to further expand and improve on the new version to tspguitar.com
So check in from time to time and see how it’s shaping up!
Spoon, out
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Not all guitars are created equal
1930 Martin OM-45 Deluxe (photo: Robert Corwin)