Rocking...and Reading

Like many area music fans, I’m looking forward to this Wednesday night’s concert at the Railroaders Museum, featuring renowned Pittsburgh recording artists The Clarks with special guest Bill Deasy.  Bill Deasy takes the stage at 6 PM, and The Clarks are expected to start at 8 PM.  This same concert was a big highlight of last year’s inaugural Alive @ Five Concert Series at the Railroaders Museum, and with good weather forecasted, this Wednesday’s concert should be another fun show.

If you like to read, you might be interested in knowing that the opener, Bill Deasy – former singer for signed Pittsburgh-based 90’s band The Gathering Field – is also a published author.  Last year, Deasy released his first novel, Ransom Seaborn.  And copies of the book should be available for purchase at this Wednesday night’s concert.

I read Ransom Seaborn last month while I was on vacation at the beach.  This turned out to be an interesting book, full of unusual twists and turns, and a sad and bizarre ending. The story follows the main character, Dan Finbar, as he enters college and soon befriends the book’s title character, the eccentric Ransom Seaborn. But a brutal plot twist early into the book leaves behind Ransom’s leather-bound writer’s journal and his surviving part-time love interest, Maggie. Dan and Maggie explore the journal together in search of answers, and along the way learn about Ransom’s soul and about themselves. I liked Bill Deasy’s ability to paint pictures with words, as he describes various characters and settings throughout the book’s course.  This, of course, is a talent that Deasy also frequently displays in his song lyrics as well.

Musically, expect Bill Deasy to perform songs from his latest CD, The Miles, and perhaps even some old Gathering Field numbers as well.  And it is possible that, like last year, Deasy may perform with a full band, which last year included Clarks guitarist Rob James.

The Clarks are currently working on song material for a new CD, and it is possible they may perform some new songs at this Wednesday’s show.  And of course, the group will likely tap song favorites from throughout their storied career.

It should be another great time, as well as one of the last chances to enjoy an outdoor concert during the summer of 2008.