Carolynn Black: News

Yep, that's right, I decided to leave The Clyde Stubblefield Band and free up my Mondays for awhile. It's been a blast funkin it out every week for the past three years, but I felt like I needed a break. So if anyone wants to hang out on a Monday give me a ring! Oh, and if anyone out there is looking for a fun gig and can really sing, and I mean REALLY KICK BUTT, head on down to Madison's on a Monday and introduce yourself to Clyde. He's the one behind the drum kit...

I know I know, it's been the whole freaking summer since I've updated, but life with a one year old can get pretty darn hectic, so bear with me.

That recording with clyde didn't really go anywhere, but we're holding onto the tracks for a future project. Ya never know, right?

Vibe Syndicate is having a humdinger of a summer. We just played at recreational Rhythms 5 this afternoon and man was it HOT!! I was melting in the heat so we dashed outta there right after our set. We played the Orton Park Festival last weekend to an incredible crowd. I thought it would be a bit early in the day for our kind of music, but the whole neighborhood was out there grooving and dancing along with us. It was AWESOME!!! I love this town so much and can't believe that I got to play at Art Fair and Orton Park this summer, and it's only my 3rd summer as a Madisonian! Thank you Tom once again for bringing me to this wonderful town. It never ceases to amaze me how much fun and generous this place and its people are. Thank you thank you, thank YOU!!!!

What else, oh, yeah, ZEKE!!! He is fantastic little boy, just about really to walk, and pointing at everything. He wants to know what everytihng is, and currently thinks his daddy is the greatest thing on earth. Life is sweet and crazy and wonderful.

That's all for now. Later dudes and dudettes,
C

So I went into the studio on wednesday with Clyde and the Funky Monday band for a free session at The Madison Media Institute. Biff from tthe Gomers teaches a recording class there, so the session is free for the bands, it just take a bit longer to get set up - patience is a virtue my friends, free is FREE. We had a good time reworking some old classics like Chain of Fools and Tell Mama. We've got the next two Wednesday lined up as well so I'm pretty exctied about it. I should have the better part of an album wrapped up in a few weeks if all goes well. I'd also like record some more stripped down tunes afterward, but we can do that here in the basement now that we've finally got it set up right for playing. Musically, things are really humming right along. Vibe Syndicate's got a bunch of great festival gigs lined up this summer, starting with next sunday's WORT Block Party. How cool is that?
Busy, busy, busy, Gotta run.
C

That's right, The King Club is closing its doors as a live music venue. It will shut down for a month for renovations and will re-open as something else. Lisa and Tristan have taken on partners and are hush-hush about the whole thing. It's sad indeed, but there is a silver lining - FUNKY MONDAYS WILL PREVAIL when the new club re-opens. This coming Monday, January 14th will be the last one before they close, so come and get your groove on the dance floor before it's gone!

In other news, Zeke is 5 months old now and rolling around alot. He loves to laugh and makes me giggle right along with him. Being a mom is amazing (and exhauting!) and I can't imagine not being one. We went to NYC for Thanksgiving and basically took him on a whirlwind publicity tour - everyone wanted a piece of Zeke! He's just a darling little boy, and I couldn't be more proud and humbled.

On that note, I'm off to bed.
C

Well, it only took a year and then some, but Vibe Syndicate''s debut cd "Check Yourself" has arrived and it is HOT! Be the first on your block to get your very own copy. Join us on THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th at The KING CLUB. Local band Saboroso opens at 10pm and the cover is only $5.

In other news, Zeke will be 12 weeks on Friday. I can hardely believe it myself, but it's true. He's all smiles and silly noises. He's just started to laugh recently and it's all Tom and I can do to elicit that magical sound. My mother is coming on Friday for a long weekend, and I just know she'snot going to want to leave. Ya know, living in Madison is awesome and all, but it's pretty hard on the grandparents. I guess that's the price you pay for living in a cool town. Life is getting easier now that he's sleeping for longer stretches at night, and since we're settling into some sort of routine during the day. No one ever tells you just how hard AND rewarding parenthood will be - you have to learn for yourself. All I know is that I am SO in love with my little boy, I can't imagine life without him.

Allright, that's quite enough mush for now. I hope to see you all at The King Club to help us celebrate Vibe Syndicate's mighty accomplishments. Stop by and say "hi!"

C

The 2007 Annual Manual is out at Vibe Syndicate was voted Madison's Favorite New Band.
Check it out: http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Arts%20and%20Entertainment

FINALLY!!! Well, it's been quite a week to say the least. As of 2:44pm Friday August 3rd, I am the proud mother of Ezekiel Marley Schwartz. He made his way into the world 11 days overdue, via c-section, weighing in at 8lbs 1oz, 21 inches long, and screaming like a banshee.

I'll spare you the truly gory details, but here's the basic timeline: On Weds August 1st, I was 9 days overdue, completely undilated, and carrying an 8lb baby, so my doctor thought it was best to go to the hospital that night to start cervical ripening. At 9:15 pm we got started with a dose of misal prostal (sp?). By 1am there had been no change, so we waited til morning for another dose. Early Thursday afternoon I was dilated 2 cm, so they broke my water (truly an eye opener) and started me on pitocin (a synthetic form of oxytocin, the stuff that your body makes and starts contractions). Contractions started soon thereafter and got pretty f-ing strong. I went into this wanting a totally drug-free, natural childbirth, but never imagined just how painful it would be. By 5pm, the pain was simply too much, so I asked for an epidural, and by 6pm I was feeling no pain. The contractions continued throughout the night, and my cervix continued to dilate, albeit verrrrrrry slowly. Early Friday morning the contractions grew in intensity so much that I could really feel it even with the epidural. I hadn't really slept or eaten in 36 hours and I was totally exhausted - I was actually snoring in the minutes between contractions! Finally around 9:45am I was totally dilated and they said I could start pushing, and push I did, for THREE HOURS!!! I took a break somewhere in the middle so they could check things out inside, and they discovered that Zeke was in a posterior position, meaning he wanted to come out facing up instead of facing down, and that this was most likely why he wasn't progressing. By 2pm the doctor said I could keep pushing for another hour and maybe he'd be far enough along for a venthouse (vaccum) delivery, but probably not. Or, I could have a c-section and he'd be out in 15 minutes. Let's just say I was disheartened, deflated, and truly exhausted, so c-section here I come! As they prepped me for surgery I was scared, teeth chattering, but hopeful and excited to finally meet my baby. Tom sat by my side for the surgery and when they asked him if he wanted to see them pull out the baby, he stood up and watched as little Zeke entered the world and said "we have a boy!" We cried and kissed and couldn't believe it was finally over. 26 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing and a c-section, whew! The end result is a beautiful baby boy with lungs of steel and eyes of blue. I couldn't be happier, (or more tired) especially now that we're home starting our new life as a family.

That's the story. I'll write more when I've had a chance to sleep a bit (yeah, right!)

Well, I'm still pregnant, but not for long. I'm 9 days overdue and sooo ready to have this kid already! Apparently, this child is just like it's parents - a little hard to rouse and independently minded - so we're heading to the hospital tonight to get things moving along. If all goes according to plan (HA!) we should have a little baby girl/boy sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening. YAYYY! All of the grandparents have been hovering around for weeks now and it'll be wonderful to have someone for them to fuss over besides me! Ahhh, family...

As for performing, I'll probably take at least a month off to settle in and figure out this whole parenting thing. I'll keep y'all posted as to when I'll return to the stage. It's been a blast singing every week with this baby in my belly. I have never felt more powerful as a singer than I do right now. Maybe it's that extra soul swimming around giving me all that strength...hmmm. who knows? All I do know is that I just can't wait anymore to meet my little bug. Stay tuned...

First up...The Clyde Stubblefield Band will be rockin the rooftop this Thursday June 7th at Monona Terrace. Join us for cool breezes and cocktails from 6-8. It's a free show and perfect for a little after school/work fun.

Okay, so it's been awhile, I know. I've been a bit distracted, being pregnant and all. I've got 7 weeks to go and have recently achieved full-fledged "basketball belly." I'm more excited and anxious as each day passes. We don't know what the sex is, but I've had a few baby dreams and it's always a girl. Who knows? Everyone agrees it'll be little rocker! I just can't wait to meet the little bugger.

Now, onto the MAMAs... The Clyde Stubblefield Band WON the MAMA for Blues Artist of the Year!!! The show was great and mercifully shorter than last years. Tom and I walked the red carpet and schmoozed with our fellow nominees. Unfortunately, Vibe Syndicate lost out in the R&B category, but ya know, I can live with 1 out of 2. We'll get 'em next year. Thanks to all who voted and supported this incredible cause. Alot of kids will get instruments this year thanks to you.

That's all I got, but I promise to keep you posted.
C

You've got until Monday, April 30th to vote in this year's Madison Area Music Awards. Don't miss your opportunity to support local musicians and local children. Go to www.broadjam.com/mama/ and register for only $5; all the money goes to support Madison area music programs. You can vote in all categories for whomever you like, but of course, I'm going to urge you to vote for The Clyde Stubblefield Band for Blues Artist of the Year, and Vibe Syndicate for Urban/R&B Artist of the Year. No pressure though, I promise I'll still speak to you (begrudgingly) if you vote otherwise.

And don't forget to come out to The King Club this Saturday night, April 28th for a MAMA's showcase. Vibe Syndicate will be headlining the show at 1am, so be sure to get in a good nap before you come out and play ( I know I will!) Here's the lineup: 7:00pm: PINE
8:15pm: SKIP THE MIDDLEMAN
9:30pm: SUNSHINE FOR THE BLIND
10:45pm: SUB VOCAL
12:00am: THE DOROTHY HERALDS
1:00am: VIBE SYNDICATE

The $5 cover charge registers you to vote and you'll be able to vote there and then - no need to go online for you technophobes. The King Club is located at 114 King Street, Madison WI. Check my links page for their website.

One more reminder: I'm still shakin my ever growing belly every Monday night at The King Club with Clyde and the rest of the gang. I plan on singing my heart out until the little bugger tells me to slow down. Showtime starts around 10pm. Nothing's set in stone, but I'm usually on stage for the first set and the incredible Charlie Brooks does the second set. If you haven't been out for Funky Monday you don't know what you're missing.

I hope to see you all soon!

Carolynn

That's right, both Vibe Syndicate AND The Clyde Stubblefield Band have been nominated for Madison Area Music Awards (MAMA). I am thrilled (giddy, actually) and honored to sing in both bands, let alone get nominated. Plus, The MAMAs is such a great organization and I am so happy to support it and you should be too. Here's the lowdown: the money raised through submission and registration fees, benefit shows around town, and the big award show at The Barrymore on May 12th, all go toward putting instruments in the hands of Madison area school children who can't afford them. Basically, we're all helping to ensure Madison's musical future. No child should ever be denied the joy of music, dontcha think? Okay, so to support our children's musical dreams AND your local music scene, go to www.broadjam.com/mama/ and register to vote. It only costs $5 and now you know where the money goes. Voting begins April 1st and you can vote in all categories. Vibe Syndicate is nominated for Urban/R&B Artist of the Year, and The Clyde Stubblefield Band is nominated for the Blues Artist of the Year. How cool is that? As you can tell, I'm pretty psyched about the whole shebang.

In other news, I'm feeling pretty darn pregnant now. I'm just past 5 months and I've definitely "popped." I'm blooming along with the pretty purple crocuses in my front yard and feeling just as pretty. The little bug is kicking and swimming around more and more. It's very strange and wonderful...hmmm...that's lyrical...Life is pretty sweet right now. Here's to a swinging spring everyone.
C

WOOHOO! I'm still recovering from last night's show at Mr. Roberts. There's nothing like playing a hot show for a willing crowd. Thanks to all who turned out and danced with us. I admit I had to sit down for the third set, but hey, I am almost 5 months pregnant! And besides, I was groovin in my barstool...hey that's got lyric potential...

Come see me shake my growing belly at The King Club for FUNKY MONDAY!

Hey there everybody, it's a new year and there's lots to be happy about. I've been singing with Clyde on Mondays and just had a killer Vibe Syndicate show @ The King Club on Friday. Big shout out to Roots Collective and Reason for Leaving. Monster thanks to the incredible crowd that turned up to boogie all night long - YOU RULE!! Be on the lookout for a Vibe Syndicate release sometime this spring. Oh, and we're also submitting some tracks to this year's MAMAs for best R&B band. I'll also be up for Best Female Vocalist for both VS and The Clyde Stubblefield Band, so be sure to check out The MAMA's later this month. I'll keep y'all posted.

Okay, now the BIG news. As many of you already know (cuz I can't keep my mouth shut!) I am PREGNANT!!! That's right! Tom and I are expecting our first baby in July. We had the first ultrasound the day after xmas, and our little bug looked all cozy and waved at us! We're going to wait till the big day to find out the sex. There are so few true surprises left in the world, and all that really matters is that it's ours. So far, pregnancy seems to agree with me. Aside from some pregnancy booby related tenderness and back pain, I've got no complaints. No midnight cravings for pickles (thank god - I HATE pickles!) no food aversions, or even any nausea at all. I'm just lucky I guess. Not to mention, I'm not allowed to clean the cat box! Not gonna miss that one bit. I DO miss spicy tuna rolls and smoked salmon like crazy! Oh, and steambaths too. It's a small and temporary price to pay considering the payoff, a beautiful baby Schwartz. Ahhhhh. All the grandparents-to-be are as excited as little girls, as are we.

So that's my story. I'm all blissed out, barefoot and pregnant, singing my heart out and feeling strong. Stop by The King Club on a Monday or sign the guestbook, and let me know how YOU'RE doing!

Truly Happy,
Carolynn

Hey people, Black is Back!
It's been 6 weeks since my vocal chord surgery and I'm back on stage. I tried out my new pipes last week and it was an absolute thrill to be up there with Clyde and the band. Can you believe it's been so long? Now, of course I have to take it easy and not blow my wad all in one shot, so I'll only be singing one or two tunes at a time. I'll gradually work that up to a full set, but for now you'll just have to be satisfied with me being a "special guest."

I would like to thank everyone that has approached me lately to say they miss me and my voice. I've missed my voice too! Y'all are so sweet and I hope you'll come out to see and hear the new me. It's Funky Monday again - you know the drill.
See ya soon
C

Okay, so Funky Monday is comin around the bend Septmember 18th. Be sure to check this one out cuz it'll be my last for awhile. I'm having surgery to remove those nasty polyps from my vocal chords on the 25th, so I'll be out of commission for at least a month after that. Not to worry, I've got a fantastic surgeon and a loving husband, so I've got all my bases covered. It sucks that I can't sing for awhile, but hey, I'm only human, right? I'll be back with flying colors sometime around Halloween I guess. So BE AT THE KING CLUB THIS MONDAY NIGHT FOR MY LAST FUNKY MONDAY for awhile anyway. It sounds so dramatic, doesn't it? C'mon, it'll be great - me, Clyde, the horns, adorable Stephanie behind the bar, what could be bad?

Before I go under the knife, I've got one more gig. Tom and I are going to Cincinnati next weekend to showcase at the MidPoint Music Festival. We're playing on Thursday, September 21st at The Blue Wisp. So, I'f you've got nothing to do, and you feel like a taking a road trip, please join us! We're flying, but ya'll can carpool or something... Check the calendar for more details.

Okay, that's all I've got. For more on the whole vocal chord thing, I'll probably keep a blog at my myspace page, so if you're curious what it's going to be like when I'm not allowed to talk for three days (I certainly am!) check back there in a couple weeks. Later.
C

REMINDER: This Sunday, Sept 3rd is Recreational Rhythms 3, an all day music festival held at Elvehjem Park on Madison's East Side (1202 Painted Post Drive) Free music, $10 donation for beer, and all proceeds go to a local charity. Here's the line-up:
1:00 - Kegs are tapped!!!
2:00 - Creators of the Masterverse
3:00 - Baghdad Scuba Review
4:15 - Vibe Syndicate
5:30 - Ill Groove Movement
7:00 - The Get Down Syndrome

See you Sunday,
Carolynn

If you ever get a chance to see a concert at the Overture Center here in Madison, I highly recommend it. I just got home from a fantastic show and I'm still humming the tunes. Keb Mo opened up for Bonnie Raitt and they both gave stellar performances (like I would expect anything less!). She played a bunch of tunes from her newest album, Souls Alike, some golden classics, including a gorgeously heartbreaking "I can't make you love me," as well as some of her more obsure earlier tunes. She brought Keb Mo back out onstage to close the show with a stunning acoustic "Angel from Montgomery." I've still got goosebumps! My friend Babs and I decided to stick around and wait by the stage door for her and the band to come out, and after a little rain we got lucky. First the band came out - George Marinelli, John Cleary, and Hutch Hutchinson - all very cool and down to earth dudes. Babs and I chatted with George and Hutch - Babs and Hutch are both from New Orleans - and I put my cd "livin in a ball factory" in George's hand and told him that track 7 (Ride) would be perfect for Bonnie. He said she listens to everything she gets, so hey, ya never know? Then the great Ms. Raitt came out and I got to meet her, shake her hand, and introduce myself. I mentioned the cd and she said she'd listen to it - WOOHOOO!!! Oh, and I got them all to sign a cd for me. What an awesome night, awesome show, awesome musicians. I wanna play the Overture someday. What an incredible hall to see and be seen in!

Other cool news: Noteborn Music, an international publishing company that hand picks quality music for use in movies, TV shows, and advertising campaigns, has selected my tunes for their catalog to "exploit" them in anyway they can. Now that's Blacksploitation I can get behind!

I was also recently selected to play at a Machine Records Tuesday Night Music Showcase at Hogs & Kisses in Lake Geneva, WI. I haven't picked the date yet, but I'll let y'all know as soon as I do.

Other sucky news: after having some vocal issues the past couple months I went to see an otolayrngologist (ear, nose & throat doc) to see what's going on, had a stroboscopy, and saw with my very own eyes two nasty little hemmoragic polyps on my vocal chords. Basically I strained my voice too much and developed a couple blood blisters. The bad news is that they won't go away on their own. With speech therapy and some behavior modification I can prevent further damage, but I'll eventually need surgery. The good news is that Steven Tyler from Aerosmith recently went through a similar situation and had successful laser surgery. So if it's good enough for Steven, I guess it's allright for me! I've been through this before (I had a polyp removed 10 years ago) so I'm not too worried, but it's a bit nerveracking to say the least. I'll probably wait till October to have any kind of procedure and then I'll be out of commission for at least a month, but I'll be back better than ever. In the meantime, I'm still doing Funky Mondays with Clyde, but only the first set. So if you want your weekly dose of The Goddess of Soul, get to The King Club before midnight!

That's my story, for now.
Peace, love, & music,
Carolynn

So I finally figured out how to get pictures from my cool new camera onto my computer (yes, I've joined the 21st century) so check out the gallery and see my summerfest photos. I'll put new ones up as I take them.

Also, don't forget to come down to the King Club this Friday, July 21st to get a double dose of funk. Chicago's Treologic is opening up for Vibe Syndicate at my favorite Madison venue. Check the calendar for more details.

See ya friday, or monday, or whenever you feel like gettin' your groove on...

Carolynn

That's right, for those of you who missed it, The Carolynn Black Band ROCKED Summerfest 06! Big shout out to Hunter & Jules for coming and partying with us in the afternoon. Dude, I want to see the video! Okay, okay, so how cool was it you ask? It was so f-ing cool it was HOT (truly, you should see Tom's sunburn!) We took the stage after a great acoustic folk/soul set by Reynaldo Moreno - a sort of Jeffrey Gaines meets Tuck & Patti. The CBB lineup consisted of me on acoustic guitar, my hubby Thomas Frederick on electric guitar, the incredible Joey B. Banks on drums, and Vibe Syndicate's own John Mesoloras on bass guitar. Even though we never actually got to rehearse for this show, we managed to rock the Tiki Hut right! As soon as we started playing, people started to smile and bounce their heads and tap their feet. It was such a thrill to see so many people rockin out to me and the boys. I sold a stack of cds, gave away a gazillion stickers, and made some great contacts, including a killer funk band from Denver, Filthy Children, and Joe Barnes of Joe's Podhole. Joe interviewed Tom and I for a future podcast that will include "Ooh Baby." As usual, I'll keep you posted as to when you can check that out. After the show, Tom and walked around the festival to check out the other stages and every 10 minutes or so I was approached by people telling me how great we were and how much they liked my stuff. Now that's what I'm talking about! Each and everyone of my new fans got a free sticker and a very heartfelt thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! So to all of my new best friends, I LOVE YOU, and keep checking back here for news, new tunes, and gig info. If you want to join my email list, please go to the guestbook and sign up. Hopefully The Carolynn Black Band will be coming to a stage near you SOON.

Okay, so what else is going on? Well, for three long days this past weekend, Vibe Syndicate was in the studio laying down the foundation for our debut CD. We knocked out 15 tracks and will probably tweak and overdub for a little while before it goes to the cd burning gnomes. I've heard the rough mixes and so far I can tell you this one's gonna be smokin! I'd love to tell you when it's going to be finished and ready for release, but I've recorded enough to know it's best to keep the cat in the bag til it's actually finished. So, just be patient and you'll all be the first to know.

Alright, that's enough for now. As always, if you're looking for something fun to do on a Monday night, come on down to The King Club and get funked!

A big "hey there, hi there, ho there" to everyone who partied up on the roof of Monona Terrace Thursday night with me & Clyde & The Clyde Stubblefield Band. It was a glorious evening, replete with cool breezes, dancing babies (and babes!), and the best view in town. If anyone out there took pictures please send some along - I'd love to see what we looked like with the Capitol dome rising up behind Clyde. Everyone was so cool and the band really had a great time. I could do that gig every week! I hope to see some of our new fans at The King Club on a future Funky Monday, or possibly at Summerest for The Fourth of July! Hey, it's only Milwaukee - that's like, next door, right? And besides, Elvin Bishop AND The Psychedelic Furs are headlining that night on the big stages. I can't wait! Okay, I'm off to practice, practice, practice...