Capt Nick

Dear Editor,

Following below, please find a Press Release written as an Article for your up-coming edition.

Also, if possible, could you please post this on your Calendar of Events. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Best Regards,

Clinton L. Brake

Ass’t Lay Leader



Hillsboro United Methodist Church

Hillsboro, New Hampshire 03244



Tel: (603) 478-4843
Cell:603) 620-3926

E-mail: cbrake@gsinet.net



For Immediate Release



House of Purpose Coffee House to open at Smith Church on Friday, August 10



Hillsboro , NH , August 6, 2007



The House of Purpose, a Coffee House held on the second Friday of each month at the Smith Memorial Congregational Church on Main Street in Hillsboro , will celebrate it’s Grand Opening on Friday, August 10 from 7:00 - 11:00 PM. The House of Purpose will feature the State’s premier faith based songwriters, musicians, bands, and poets who will showcase their work in a relaxed “Coffee House” setting. Also featured is the opportunity for aspiring performers to take part in an “Open Mike” segment of the evening with professional musicians available to provide back-up.



The House of Purpose is hosted by Hillsboro ’s own highly acclaimed band “Purpose”, comprised of band members Kathie Brennan, Jay Crowley, Bruce Saxton, Barbara Morgan, Nick Nicholson, Gene Gould, and Clint Brake. The featured performers for the grand opening include Purpose, The Betsy Ross Band, “Captain Nick” Nicholson, and Guitarist Kathie Brennan.



Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to perform or just relax and enjoy the music. For more information, please contact the Jam-Master, Clint Brake, at 603-478-4843.









- Clint Brake

From: "Clint Brake" <cbrake@gsinet.net> View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
To: granitequill@mcttelecom.com, news@nhcontender.com, editor@villagernewspaper.net, NShee@aol.com., info@wvnh.org
Subject: House of Purpose Opening Review
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:18:49 -0400
Dear Editor,

Following below, please find a Press Release written as an Article for your up-coming edition.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.



Best Regards,



Clinton L. Brake

Ass’t Lay Leader



Hillsboro United Methodist Church

Hillsboro, New Hampshire 03244



Tel: (603) 478-4843
Cell:603) 620-3926

E-mail: cbrake@gsinet.net



For Immediate Release



House of Purpose Coffee House grand opening a resounding success



Hillsboro , NH , August 13, 2007



The House of Purpose opened in downtown Hillsboro on Friday, August 10 with 15 area musicians performing to a packed house. The night was filled with great music, which spilled out from Smith Memorial Congregational Church onto Main Street , luring passer-bys into the venue to enjoy the performances by some of the area’s finest musicians.



The evening was kicked off by the host band, “Purpose”, who lived up to their reputation as one of the state’s premier faith-based bands. They performed original songs, written by the songwriting team of Kathie Brennan and Clint Brake, and covered songs such as Josh Turner’s “Long Black Train” to perfection. Their harmonies on the song “Down to The River to Pray”, sung accopella, were terrific. Purpose’s band members are Kathie Brennan, Nick Nicholson, Gene Gould, Barbara Morgan, Jay Crowley, Bruce Saxton, and Clint Brake.



“What a great band! Watching these guys reminds me of the super groups of the early 70’s like Crosby , Stills, and Nash” said one patron. “Their music and lyrics have a great message and is very uplifting. Their vocals, guitars, and percussion are very tight and easy to listen to. This is one very talented group of musicians”.



The very talented duo of Rick and Toni Spiegel followed, performing several cover tunes next including the Eagles “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”. “What a terrific performance’ said a new fan. “Toni has a “killer” voice, and Rick really knows his way around a guitar” she added. “We hope that Rick and Toni, or “Rigatoni” as we now call them, will become regular performers,” said Jam-Master Clint Brake. “Their easy style and incredible talent added so much to the evening, and the audience is just raving about their performance,” he added.



Kathie Brennan’s performance of Judy Garland’s “Over The Rainbow” was awe inspiring and left hardly a dry eye in the house. At the end of her amazing set, she was joined by new Purpose member and performer extraordinaire “Captain Nick” Nicholson for a version of Amazing Grace played to the melody of “House of The Rising Sun”. The performance was in a word, captivating, and one of the highlights of the evening. “Nick and I plan to record this on Purpose’s upcoming CD which we hope to release in the late fall” said Ms Brennan. We can’t wait Kathie!



Nick then went on to perform several of his original songs as only Nick can. The audience did not want his set to end, and urged “Captain Nick” to keep going, which he did much to their delight. “Nick is one of the most talented and wonderful human beings that I have ever had the privilege to play with,” said Jay Crowley, the drummer for Purpose. “His modesty, gentleness, easy southern style, and strong faith are an inspiration to us all and a very rare blessing for a musician as accomplished and talented as Nick,” added Clint Brake.



Purpose’s Gene Gould and Bruce Saxton premiered their original song “And Still They Prayed” with Gene’s strong vocals accompanied by Bruce on his beautiful “National” steel resonating guitar and vocal harmony. “The new song is terrific, and Bruce’s slide work on his resonator is unbelievable,” said Clint Brake.



Other acts included poetry and a short skit by Joseph McCarthy and a very entertaining set of old Merle Haggard and Hank Williams songs performed by the duo of David Feather and Henry Hill. “I felt like a kid again,” said Joe, “Tonight reminds me of attending Coffee Houses in Boston when I was younger, except more fun” he added.



The highlight of the evening though was the “Jam” that went on for most of the last hour and included almost all of the evening’s musicians on stage together performing covers of everything from Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, The Eagles, and Chuck Berry to Blind Faith, Johnny Cash, and The Beatles. It was unbelievable how everything gelled together especially since this was the first time that many of these performers had ever met each other. What a treat!



“I can’t believe the exceptional talent in this area” said one very excited audience member from the Keene area. “I cannot remember when I have had such a relaxing evening listening to great live music, drinking coffee, and eating home baked cookies and cakes, and all for free (“though I did leave a donation in the basket” she said as an aside) . I wish that I didn’t have to wait until next month for the next Coffee House,” she added.



The next House of Purpose is scheduled for Friday, September 14. Please look for the performing artist roster late in August. For more information, or to schedule an appearance, please contact the Jam-Master, Clint Brake at 478-4843.




- Clint Brake