MELROSE—Harriet Schock is embarking on a lot of new projects. The songwriter and singer will be performing with J.D. Hinton in concert at M Bar Hollywood at Vine and Fountain on Thursday, October 28. Dinner will start and doors will be opened at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. Some of J.D. Hinton’s songs include “I Have a Dream,” which was be sung by Celine Dion. The talented singer has also performed at The Vatican.
Schock is no stranger to our readers. She’s a gold and platinum songwriter and recording artist with seven solo albums. She was Grammy nominated for her hit song “Ain’t No Way To Treat A Lady,” which was sung by Helen Reddy. This week I caught up with Schock to ask about her newest projects.
Q-Harriet, is this a new venue for you, or have you sung there before?
A-“The M Bar is a venue I’m very familiar with because I have hosted the L.A. Women In Music Singer/Songwriter night there, once a month for years! I really like John, the manager, and Joe, the owner and all the staff there. There’s a grand piano and the seating is very comfortable. It’s a gorgeous room in the middle of Hollywood so it’s centrally located for everyone and the food is superb. They don’t require a drink minimum, just a $10 food minimum so you can come and see a show without having to buy overpriced drinks like you do in most clubs. Everything about it appeals to me. I’ve played there once before, but J.D. Hinton, the artist who’s co-billed with me, has not. I wanted to introduce him to the M Bar. He’s from Texas and I know he and his fans will love it.”
Q-You enjoy songwriting and performing so much. Do you ever get stage fright?
A-“I remember having stage fright the first time I played an industry showcase. The president of the record company had invited everyone who’s anyone to the Troubadour to see me, and because I hadn’t performed very much, I was terrified. I remember saying to the audience, ‘Performing is sort of like sex. The first few times you do it, you’re too scared to enjoy it; but you get the feeling there’s something there you’re going to like later if you just stick with it.’ From then on, the audience was very forgiving and I wasn’t scared anymore. But, true to my theory, I do enjoy it a lot more now.”
Q-How excited are you about this upcoming show?
A-“Tommy, I’m really excited. I’ve been acting this year, as you know, in the world-premiere play by Henry Jaglom, ”˜Just 45 Minutes from Broadway’ which ran for 10 months. Then they shot the film, which I’m happy to say I was in. During the whole time, I only did one show. The concert celebrating the release of my seventh CD, ”˜Breakdown on Memory Lane.’ This upcoming show on the 28th is the only other full band show I’ve had a chance to schedule and I’m thrilled about doing it. I’ll have my bass player, Joe Lamanno, my back up singers, Andrea Ross-Greene and Pam Maclean, my flute player, Kelly DeSarla, my harmonica player, Herbie Katz and Steve Wagner will join me on guitar for the song we wrote together. I rarely get to play an acoustic grand piano, also, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Sounds like a fun night at M Bar. To attend the event go tobrownpapertickets.com/event/132348, and use the password: Texas.
