It's been pointed out that I make a confession in each column. So far, we've learned that I stole a glass on the last night of the Patio, despite working in a coffeehouse for seven years I do not drink coffee, and I have an unnatural affection for Steve Earle. This week's admission-I'm forty-four years old and at the age of twelve I took a class titled White Gloves and Party Manners at L.S. Ayres. I think that puts some things in prospective. I believe that it is just as easy to be polite as not. The more I'm out and about I realize that respect for others is ageless, and the music community is terrific. A NYC musician sleeping on my sofa this week said that he's heard more "thank-you's" and "excuse me's" this trip to Indianapolis than he's heard in the last year. That is why I was surprised when the opening act, Jason Collett stopped in the middle of his song to demand that the televisions be turned off. He gave a lecture about having the television on in music clubs. I wondered why he did not make the request before he took the stage. The owners of Birdy's are very supportive of original music, so I was taking the implication that Mike and Sue cared more about having the TV on than music very personally. It was going to take a lot for me to like this guy. As it turned out, as much as I tried not to, I enjoyed his music. He looked and sounded more like Bob Dylan than, well. . . Bob Dylan's son. His songs were well crafted and intelligent. We'll give him a lesson in diplomacy the next time he's in town.

The real reason this show was a sell-out was the very talented Leslie Feist. She bills herself on tour by her last name. She started her musical career as a teenager. After winning a contest, her high school band, Placebo played their first gig opening for the Ramones. They toured for five years, until she was told she'd never sing again from straining her voice. She holed herself up in a basement, learning to play guitar to replace her voice. She played guitar and toured with the band Broken Social Scene. She also found time to record two solo albums and along the way became the darling of the indie music crowd. She put on an amazing show, live, and the packed house enjoyed every minute of it.

Audience for the BR-549 show was full of musicians, which is always a good sign. Washboard Breezy, Reverend Peyton, Otis Gibbs, Amy Lashley, Mark Cutsinger and Joe Moran were just a few of the talented people in the crowd. BR-549, or BR549 as they're now calling themselves, has undergone several line-up changes in the last decade. The most recent one is the addition of Carmel native Mark Miller on bass. BR549's music is classic country. This group is always entertaining. Grandson of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, Chris Scruggs plays steel guitar and signs with the band. Chris' mother, country great Gail Davies joined the group for a few songs. A good time was had by all!

As you all know (and sometimes regret), I love the back-stories. Here goes. . . my sister Beth, used to have a restaurant in Zionsville. The son of two of her favorite customers, Karen and Fred had just moved back from Europe. They mentioned to Beth that Matt was looking for a place to play. They bragged to her what a great guitar player he was. Beth asked me to book him to play at CATH Inc. I not so generously gave him a Saturday afternoon slot in 1999. At the time I was thinking, "yeah, yeah. . . everyone's son plays guitar". I'm here to tell you, Matt plays guitar-and well. He's also a tremendous songwriter. Soon Matt was playing in the acclaimed rock group Citizens Band. In 2004 Matt toured with Mark Kozelek's band Sun Kil Moon. He moved to Denver last year, and has been racking up great reviews. I always really enjoy his acoustic shows, and the Upper Room (above the Broad Ripple Steak House) show was amazing. Matt was joined by Dusty Privette on drums, which was the perfect accompaniment to Matt's guitar and his remarkable voice. Matt sang songs from his EP Sukuinage, Citizens Band tunes, and he covered one of my all time favorite songs, Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City. I'm looking forward to Matt's next Indianapolis visit. Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, I'm sorry I doubted you!

I would jump in front of a train for Louisville's danny flanigan. In fact I did, sort of. danny and his band, the rain chorus, recorded a CD at Hit City Recording, across the street from CATH. They packed the Patio whenever they were in town. danny asked me if they could play an acoustic show at the coffeehouse. I couldn't say YES! fast enough. And that boys and girls, is how CATH began to have live music. Which lead to hundreds of shows (and just as many musicians sleeping on my sofa). And is how I met Joel Henderson. Joel recorded a song or two at the coffeehouse after hours for his High Risk EP. I also had the great pleasure of introducing Joel to the Indiana State Fair.

Kit Malone, who used to host the songwriters circle at CATH now books the Fractured Folk Showcase at Local's Only. What at great line-up, good job Kit!