Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth

This entry will round up various emails, quotes and other comments about the Chairman's doings that don't fit any obvious niche in particular...enjoy the ride, as they say. Updates to come, as events merit...for more quotes like the one below, click "Full Text," and go from there!

ED ZINCAVAGE (12/18/10 e-mail) The thing I like about your music style Ralph, is that it's honest, and genuine, and to the point. Your style reminds me of Eugene Chadbourne's music. That's a compliment.

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"The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in..." Chairman Ralph joins his fellow spoken word commandos and language ninjas in celebrating the impact of LONDON CALLING, by the Clash -- the first entry in CityLit Press's "lo-fi poetry" series. You're just one nuclear error....er, click...away from getting the full details!

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"Everybody has those 'I played to five people and a dog' stories, which is part of the game..."

One of many asides that I exchanged, thanks to the magic reach of email.

Actually, this chat came up via Craigslist, when I actually found it worth trawling through -- that's been a long time, hasn't it? -- where Tim Heenan, a singer/guitarist from Grand Ledge, MI, was seeking out interviews for www.tims52gigs journey, a site that he'd dedicated to his goal of playing 52 gigs, in as many weeks. Tim was looking to find out what fellow musicians thought about "this filthy racket called show biz," as I was jokingly calling it then, among other topics.

What the heck?, I figured, the idea sounds interesting. So I duly responded, and Tim got right back to me, with a form (!) to fill out: "Please feel free to answer as few or as many of the questions that you would like (of course I hope you answer all of them). 

"I posted the Craig's List ad all over the State so when I get a response, I don't necessarily know which part of the state people are responding from. I'm anxious to hear your stories.  The more I get into this the more interesting it is reading the interviews."

Thus prompted, I filled out Tim's form, and he posted the results. Alas, neither the original 52 Gigs link works (let alone the one for his own music), so I've gone to my archives, and re-posted the results for you to read. Just click "Full Text" below, and let your fingers do the walkin', as they say.

 Ever so often, an event rolls around that crosses so many boundaries -- and pools together so much talent -- that it'd be criminal to miss."

The Chairman summarizes his latest turn at the Artpost Gallery Poetry Marathon in this press release, exclusive to this site, fresh from the event! (Words: Chairman Ralph/Photos: Ralph & Lisa Quinlan-Heibutzki)

"It's like a big block party downtown. There's so much love in the air. It's about engaging people, and bringing people together under a common cause – which is to bring back this city." 

That was the verdict from Benton Harbor Vision Festival Chairman Kareemah El-Amin, in summarizing the three-day event that included live music -- plus a performance from Chairman Ralph, as part of her Xpression Session troupe, in this exclusive report for this website!

The Chairman's body of work includes originals about difficult bosses ("Fetch 'N' Step") and tribute ballads to the concertizing power of his favorite band ("I Saw The Clash"). He has also been known to pull out spy themes, country-fried arcana and unlikely covers--with '60s Beat figuring prominently on the menu (including the Kinks, Who and Yardbirds).

Chairman Ralph regularly plays around the Michiana area. His performing venues range from The Chocolate Cafe (St. Joseph, MI), to the Acorn Theater (Three Oaks, MI), and Foundry Hall (South Haven, MI), as well as South Bend's Artpost Gallery, where he appeared in April as part of its Poetry Marathon celebration.

"Good music takes you somewhere that you haven't already been," the Chairman says. "That seems like an afterthought nowadays, but it's not to me. It's all up for grabs."

For those who missed it, here's the original, unedited version of the preview for my 11/13/09 spoken word performance with Pam Blair (South Bend, IN), and Dave Casper (Benton Harbor, MI) -- in which we opened for blues, jazz and folk singer Claudia Schmidt, who's also dedicated herself to the art, as well!

"Being solo has its share of comedic moments -- I remember playing a teen club once, when these kids come crashing in...’cause they’re late, evidently...and somebody asks, all out of breath, “Is the first band here yet?” Life on the road, and other pressing matters, as only Chairman Ralph can express them!

For two years, the Chairman's been sharpening his guitar style, which he calls "untamed folk, with a twist of Americana, and roots punk."

"Good music takes you somewhere that you haven't already been," Ralph states. "That seems like an afterthought nowadays, but not to me. It's all up for grabs."

His music is mostly drawn from real-life observations, Heibutzki said. "I was living in Chicago when 'I Fired The Dog' was written," he went on. "I was visiting a friend who had gotten a dog and was making her husband walk it. Eventually they got rid of the dog because it was too much work. I made the joke that they had fired the dog, which led to the song. It's a social commentary."

Six works from Lisa Quinlan's show, "Budgie's Nest," now hang on other people's walls -- instead of her own -- and she couldn't be more pleased with the results.

"I enjoyed it very much, having the opportunity to show off my artwork, as well as the variety (of styles)," Quinlan said. "I look forward to other opportunities like this one."

The show closed on Oct. 20 with "Unraveled," a multi-media party that featured refreshments, and live music from local guitarist Chairman Ralph (Heibutzki). (For a sampling of the highlights, and works sold, see the accompanying photos.)

Exploring new territory isn't a problem for Chairman Ralph of Hillsdale. It's been his priority for nearly a year now, with sets ranging from countrified originals to improvised medleys, and his own versions of '60s Britbeat classics, like the Kinks' "You Do Something To Me." As always, look for Ralph's guitar to do its own talking on instrumentals like the dreamy, laidback "Big Bang (For Shiny Green Grasshopper)."

"Opened for three death metal bands, which is interesting, when you're a solo act! But they were singin' along by the third song, and clapping out beats for some of the other ones..." Chairman Ralph answers a few questions for the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

"His songs are punk through and through, with simple chord progressions and humorous wordplays that were at times political...Heibutzki was very talkative, conversing with crowd members often, and even made up some songs on the spot with lyrics about people in the audience. He elicited a laugh from the crowd when he made fun of a leaving concertgoer's Slipknot jacket."