Local musicians come together to learn and network

Nobody knows exactly how many people in Cape Girardeau own acoustic guitars, but any musician knows there are a lot.

For every musician playing out in bars, cafes or restaurants, others are languishing away at home, writing songs and playing for an audience of none.

Jerry Swan has always wanted to get those musicians together. For that reason he started the Traveling Acoustic Open Mic, creating an informal venue for musicians to come display their talents.

But for those musicians looking for self improvement, Swan and a small gang of friends have another alternative. Their group, the SEMO Acoustic Musician's Guild, exists to network local acoustic songwriters, and maybe provide them some advice on the songwriting craft. They meet every month in the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

"There were a couple of people there, including myself, who didn't really know how to write songs," Swan said of the guild's beginning last summer. "And there were so many people there who did write songs. For me it's just pushed me to start writing, and now I probably have five or six songs under my belt."

The meetings started out as an extension of the Acoustic Open Mic with a featured performer. At one meeting local folk musician Stephanie Fridley suggested the group form a circle and talk about music.

The circle was formed, and from that point on the purpose of the guild changed, said Swan. Instead of a performance-oriented approach, the members started thinking more about the process of songwriting, critiquing and improvement.

The circle has stayed, now called the "Circle of Friends" by Swan and company.

"It's an interesting group because I always come out of there knowing something I didn't know before," said Swan.

So far the groups have been small, with a group of about five or six regulars and three or four spectators. But Swan doesn't think the guild is limited to those small numbers with a population the size of Cape Girardeau's.

"There are so many people who write songs in Cape, I really think it has room to grow," Swan said.

Swan has nothing but praise for those few regulars. People like Dr. Dale Haskell, Dennis Herbst and Dan Wiethop make up the backbone of the guild. They bring the songwriting experience Swan himself was lacking when the group started.

Wiethop, a multi-instrument musician who's been playing acoustic music for 40 years, has attended since day one.

"I thought it was a great idea," said Weithop. "I mainly wanted to support what they were doing because it was helping the local musician."

Wiethop has written songs for years and played with musicians in Nashville. Now Wiethop has gotten away from performing original songs, taking up covers instead. Guild meetings give him a chance to hear other local songwriters' material -- material that he might pick up and play himself, with permission, of course.

Copyrighting songs is one of the topics discussed by the group, giving a how-to for the inexperienced in attendance.

So much talent exists in Cape Girardeau, said Wiethop, but the musicians get so little love.

"We've got a lot of regional or national touring folk musicians that come to town, but they're no better than the people who work here," Wiethop said. "A touring musician is often somebody that just doesn't have a good job someplace."

Herbst said the meetings are primarily a way for him to meet other musicians, but he benefits greatly from the constructive criticism provided.

"A couple of people didn't like that part of it, but I welcomed it," said Herbst.

With few venues for acoustic musicians to play and hook up locally Herbst sees the guild as a way to help fill that vacuum.

Guild meetings are open to the general public. Swan wants the public to know that means open arms for more than just folkies.

"People think we're just a bunch of folk singers," said Swan. "I just wish we could get the word out to other bands and musicians."

Some non-folkies have already attended guild meetings -- like blues rocker Stella Blue and jammer Bob Camp. But Swan wants more. He wants his group to serve as a networking and educational tool for all songwriters.

The atmosphere is relaxed, and no one who wants to learn will be ridiculed for weak songwriting attempts, Swan said.

"It's just laid back," said Swan. "It's not really a jam session, but sometimes it turns into that.

"It's open to all musicians. We just try to keep it acoustic because we meet in a library."

For more information on the guild, call Swan at 270-5114.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182