Bird House Studios

ABOUT BIRD HOUSE STUDIOS

People always ask me why “Bird House Studios” is plural, not singular. I have always been torn between the two worlds of visual arts and music. So plural it was decided as a name for this site. And why “Bird House”. When I first started doing home recordings we had birds living in the exterior walls of our house. They sounded so nice on the tracks when recording.
“Bird House Studios” is a small project recording studio which focus is geared to recording of spoken word and singer/song writer projects. I can also provide drum tracks for your projects, and I have a crew of side musicians that can make your project shine. If you have a gig and your drummer can't make it, I'm available as a sub (drums packed and ready to gig). I also have a very nice small PA system and can provide sound reinforcement. I also will be taking on drum studios at this time. I continue to perform lives shows and this will be a grand place to see what I will be up to in the months and years to come. It has been a wild and crazy trip from playing CBGB’s with DaMoronics to playing The White House for President Obama with O’Malley’s March. I truly have been blessed. Please see the services tab for a list of how I may be able to help you with your recording needs and/or shows.
Thanks to  everyone for your on going support.
 

ABOUT ME
I moved to Baltimore in 1972 from Portsmouth, Virginia to attend the Maryland Institute-College of Art receiving a BFA degree in 1977. I have played a wide variety of music in the Baltimore / Washington area for over thirty two years, R&B, soul, traditional American, Punk and Irish.
Bands I have played with over these years include O’Malley’s March, The Bobwhites, The T.T. Tucker Bum Rush, The Burren Band, The Truetones, Red Jones, Da Moronics, Colleen Shanley & Grand Junction, Scrimshaw, and Cousins – Mac Walters & John Cronin.
I have had the honor of sharing many stages with such notorieties as Patti LaBelle, Los Lobos, Blues Travelers, The Chieftains, Shane MacGowan & The Pogues, Black 47, The Saw Doctors, Bad Haggis, Charlie Musselwhite, Dennis Chambers, Carl Filipiak, Deanna Bogart, The Kelly Bell Band, The Slickee Boys, Half Japanese, The Prodigals, Eileen Ivers, Sue Richards, Maggie Sansone, Al Petteway, Billy McComiskey, Hasil Adkins, Almighty Senators, The Crawdaddies,  Edith Massey, Hibiscus & The Screaming Violets, Violent Femmes, Tinsley Ellis, Koko Taylor, Gaelic Storm, Flogging Molly, Great Big Sea, Robin Bullock and The Baltimore Symphony.
 

ABOUTS SOME OF THE BANDS 
O’Malley’s March  – Irish Folk Rock
” Leading the charge on vocals, guitar, bodhran and tin whistle, Martin O’Malley has brought together six musicians: some born and raised in the traditions of Irish music, some classically trained, some life-long students of blues, rock, jazz. Many of them are all of the above- and all students of the experience that can only be gained by standing on stage and putting ones heart and soul into a performance, while making the audience feel that they are a part of this dynamic chemistry..
Jared Denhard, Jim Eagan, Sean McComiskey, Pete Miller, Mac Walter, Jamie Wilson and Martin O’Malley are O’Malley’s March.You could call it Celtic Rock- but it is so much more. This band has refused to stand in one place and simply play the usual fare. Mixing the hauntingly beautiful, soulful and rousing music of Irish tradition with the music that was created out of the Irish Diaspora with original compositions by Martin O’Malley and Jared Denhard, who received a Masters in Composition from the world-renowned Peabody Conservatory, they continue to grow, to listen, to go beyond what they know, to share their intimate connection with the music  they have learned, the music they have written and the music that has written them.”
YOUTUBE CLIP (O’Malley’s March)
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Good & Ready – Perfect for Wedding and Special Events
First and foremost a “Party Band”, GOOD & READY compliments any occasion. Whether you are entertaining guests at an intimate cocktail party or looking for a high energy dance band, GOOD & READY has the music and veteran showmanship to satisfy your needs. Their songbook is vast, with styles ranging from Classical String arrangements, R&B, Soul, Rock-N-Roll to Contemporary Pop, Jazz, Latin and World Rhythms.There is no better band for your event.
Band Members:
Michael Mathias: Keyboard
Michael Mathias  has played Rock, Classic Rock, Pop and Jazz in the Baltimore/Washington area for countless years, There is not a musical instrument that I have not seen Michael pick up and play; that he has not been able to master . Michael is also a very gifted vocalist.
Dana Goode; Violin
Dana Goode is Peabody Institute, composer, teacher, musical director, conductor, and a superb violinist. She leads Dana Goode and The Castaglia String Quartet. She also joins in with Good & Ready on violin playing everything from jazz standards to pop.
Pete Miller: Bass
Pete Miller’s musical career spans playing everything from in show bands for theater producing, to jazz, rock & roll to tradition Irish music. Pete has played with the East Point Oyster Boys and O’Malley’s March at nearly every venue in the Baltimore/Washington/Annapolis area.
Jamie Willson: Drums
Jamie Wilson’s musical career spans playing New York City’s CBGBs with Baltimore’s Godfather’s of punk, Da Moronics to playing The White House with O’Malley’s March. Jamie has had the honor of sharing stages with likes of Patti LaBelle to The Chieftains and more……
Jared Denhard: Trombone and everything else
Celtic harper, storyteller, highland piper and trombonist Jared Denhard is a member of the Celtic rock band O’Malley’s March, the medieval jazz group Keltia, and the early music ensemble Boar’s Head Consort. He is a visiting artist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Arts Excel educational outreach program. A popular performer at Celtic, classical, and jazz events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Jared has performed as soloist on the highland bagpipes with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Municipal Band, and the Lexington Brass Quintet.
Maureen McCusker: Flute, Piccolo, Tenor Sax, and Vocals.
Maureen received her Bachelor of Music degree from Towson State University, where she was a member of Hank Levy’s Towson State Jazz Ensemble. She was the 1982 recipient of the St. Johns Episcopal Concert Series Artists Guild Award and the Towson State University Talent Award Competition. Maureen is a cherished alumna of the Peabody Ragtime Ensemble (1984-1993) and re-joined Peabody Ragtime Ensemble in 2005! We are proud to have Maureen join our line up.
Marshall White: Trumpet. Marshall is a top notch trumpet player with the papers to show for it. We he is not on stage performing and is teaching. Marshall also played with the Peabody Ragtime Ensemble for a number of years.
Eric Rose: Guitar
Eric Rose comes to us from the Washington DC area where he has played jazz, blues, and roots rock music for over 30 years. Eric is one tasty guitar player and we are happy to have him on board.

Jordan Feldman: Electronic Wind Instrument and harmonica
Jordan is a virtuoso on what ever instrument he picks up. His EWI is a midi wind instrument that can product any sound. your ears are wanting to hear.

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The Barrage Band Orchestra:  Balkan & Eastern European, and New Orleans
Barrage Band Orchestra is a community / street band from the city of Baltimore. We play people’s music: Balkan & Eastern European, New Orleans, and the occasional punk cover. The band feels that music is too important to be played only by professional musicians dictated by consumer industry standards. This is why we play on the streets and practice in the parks.
We are a continuously evolving collective. If you are interested in playing with us, email us at barragebandorchestra@gmail.com and/or come and speak with one of us after a gig. We practice every Thursday evening from 7:30-9.
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Panama Rex Band – Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band
Ellicott City, MD
Rex Allan writes this about Panama Rex Band
About a year ago my teenage daughter came up after a gig and said ” you know daddy you sing just like Jimmy Buffett ” I only played one Buffett tune out of 40 or so songs , I believe it was Margaritaville , I had no clue she even new who Jimmy Buffett was . It was a nice compliment and end of story. Weeks later I’m promoting my Classic Rock Band to a club owner and it’s going no where , at the end of the conversation I thought why not mentioned the fact I was working on a Jimmy Buffett Tribute band. The fact is , I was not , it just popped out . Well you could have knocked me over with a feather . He gets excited and proceeds to tell me that Jimmy Buffett is his favorite artist. So he says e-mail me when you get it together . Well after that conversation it did not take a whole lot motivation to get me started . Went to the Howard County Library and asked for every Buffett CD they had . About a week later I get a phone call from the Library , your CD’s are in. When I showed up at the Library I remember seeing a huge stack of CD’s on the counter . Their must have been over 30 CD,s .I had no idea that Jimmy has been putting out albums since 1970 and to date has over 70 albums.I had one more thing to follow up with . How many bands I’m I competing with in the area , NONE . That’s my story , I proceeded to learn some 30 tunes in 4 months , the tough part was asking my Rock Band to covert over to Buffett . The deciding factor was , we can get work and make some money. With all that said I went out into the cruel and tough world of Bar & Club owners with no demo and no marketing promo package hoping to get us some club dates . Any company with that business plan would surely be destine for Failure . NOT ! I have presented my enthusiasm to over a dozen clubs and bars to date “Panama Rex Band ” has been invited to play in Eleven Clubs and Bars in the local area. I am in the process of putting a demo together for future engagements ..I can solo up to a 6 piece band , I bring the atmosphere with my palm trees and my parrot , Jimmy B to set the mood , the music does the rest. Moral of the story , who needs a business plan when all you need to ask the question. How about a Jimmy Buffett night !!!!
YOUTUBE CLIP (Rex Allan doing a song solo while the bands on break)
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SwampB’donk: A Crazy Fun Tuba, Harmonica, and Percussion Band
SwampB’donk is a super fun trio out of Baltimore, Maryland that plays everything from Old Time Music to Pop Songs on Tuba, Harmonica, and Percussion. Over the summer we have been putting together a few sets of music and we are ready to start taking bookings for the fall season on 2017. For bookings contact us at birdhousestudios@mac.com.
Here is our band lineup: Jared Dendard on Tuba & Banjo
Jordan Feldman on Harmonica, and Jamie Wilson on Percussion.
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T.T. Tucker & Friends – Americana
2017 – T.T. Tucker is back in the saddle. We will be booking and playing so special shows as a trio, so keep your eyes on this, It is a show not to miss.
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Buck Subtle and The Little Planets – Rock
BUCK SUBTLE AND THE LITTLE PLANETS, are a Baltimore based all original musical group. We play some dreamy tunes you will love. We are presently recording out first CD, “Low Down” at Invisible Sound, Baltimore, Maryland. The band line up is Mark O’Connor on keyboards & vocals, Mary Lis on guitar & vocals, Mindi Siegel on sax, Charles Emmett Freeman on bass guitar, and James M. Wilson Sr. on drums. You are going to just love these guys & gals.
SOUNDCLOUD – Buck Subte and The Little Planets  – song: Poor Pluto
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Third Sunday Band
Third Sunday Band has its home at St. Margaret’s Church in Annapolis, MD. Begun in 1998 as an expression of contemporary worship music for a traditional setting, this group of friends and musicians has continually grown on its journey in God’s gift of music.
Influenced by a diversity of musical styles, Third Sunday continually crafts  unique arrangements of popular contemporary christian songs and traditional hymns as well as an extensive collection of original music. The Third Sunday Band features acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard, harmonica, mandolin, flute, and percussion along with four part harmony in a blend of folk, rock, country, reggae, jazz, and blues styles  Essentially, wherever the Spirit leads us.
If you arrive for worship at St. Margaret’s Church (www.st-margarets.org) in Annapolis on the third Sunday of each month you will find this unique musical offering with a traditional Episcopal liturgy.
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Da Moronics
Flash from the past, here is a little history from the past about one of the first bands I played in after moving here to Baltimore. Late 70’s early 80’s
[Tom DiVenti co-founded and played guitar in Da Moronics, Baltimore’s first punk band. He now recalls his days as a poet, publisher, art student, and rock ‘n’ roller in a weekly column for Splice Today (www.splicetoday.com). When not writing, DiVenti can be heard playing with the T.T. Tucker Bum Rush Band. Check out his collected works at tomdiventi.com, which includes a treasure trove of Moronics fliers, photos, videos and memorabilia.- Tom Warner, BOL]

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