Dressed in period soldier's clothing, Matthew Dodd takes listeners back in time to feel what it was like to be a soldier, civilian, loved-one-at-home or escaped slave in the Civil War Era. Through period songs, excerpts from actual letters, and anecdotes (humorous and poignant) Matthew evokes the feelings and passions of that pivotal era of American history. Matthew bypasses the stories of the generals and the battle movements and concentrates on the feelings and stories of the individual soldier (North and South) , the mother, father, or sweetheart left at home, and of the men and women who "followed the drinking gourd" to freedom. Matthew sings and plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin in an informal campfire or story circle setting.
Songs and Stories of
Old Railroad Days
Dressed in old-time railroader clothes, Matthew Dodd takes listeners on a journey through time, featuring railroad songs, (new, old and even older!), plus stories of famous trains, train wrecks, famous engineers, brakemen, famous passengers and railroad builders; railroad legends and ghosts, railroad lore, jokes and superstitions, and more! Matthew sings and plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin.
Songs and Stories of
Old Canal Days
Dressed in period clothing, Matthew takes listeners back in time to feel what life was like for the men, women and children who ran the boats and tended the mules on the old canals and of the lock tenders who served dawn to dawn at the canal locks. Matthew has collected a variety of songs written by the folks who were there, and he uses background stories (some humorous, some serious) to put the songs in the context of the times. Matthew sings and plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin.
Songs and Stories of
The Old West
Dressed in period clothing, around a "cowboy campfire at sunset", Matthew takes listeners back in time to the days of the pioneers, the cowboys, the lawmen, the gunfighters and the Indians who made the Old West the most romantic and fascinating era of American history. Using traditional Western songs, true stories and tall tales, plus many, many fascinating little-known facts, Matthew brings the Old West back to life once more. You'll feel like you were really there! Matthew sings and plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, mandolin and concertina.
Songs and Stories of
ThePioneers
This show is a prelude to the Old West show. Dressed in period clothing, around a "campfire at sunset", Matthew takes listeners back in time to the days of the men and women, the trappers, explorers, the the pioneers, the Indians, the folks going west in covered wagons, the prospectors, and the Alamo, with songs and stories from the time of from the Lewis and Clark expedition up to the beginning of the cowbly era. Matthew sings and plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, mandolin and Indian drum
Songs and Stories of
Old Sailing Days
Dressed in1800's seamen's clothes, around a set of a ship's forecastle, Matthew takes listeners back to the days when men spent years "before the mast" on the great square-rigged sailing ships-- the merchantmen, the navy men, the whalers, the fishermen, the pirates and the privateers. Matthew uses true stories and "yarns" plus ballads and sea shanties (the unforgettable work songs of the average sailor) to tell of the daily life, the hardships, the dangers, the superstitions and the extraordinary adventures (at sea and in port) of the men who sailed the world on deep sea ships, and of the women who waited for their return. Matthew sings and plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and concertina.
Songs and Stories of
The American Hobo
Dressed in accurate period clothing, around a hobo-jungle campfire, Matthew sings and tells the true stories of the "Knights of the Road", who rode the rails in, on and under boxcars from job to job and town to town in the early 1900's. Matthew uses period songs and stories from hobo autobiographies to tell how the true hobo (not a tramp or a bum) lived and why he chose that unique style of life. Matthew sings and plays guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin to recreate the hobo philosophy.
Songs and Stories
of the
American Revolution
Dressed in Colonial garb, before a set of a Colonial tavern, Matthew takes audiences back in time to the days of the American Colonial settlement and the American Revolution. Using rousing period songs and stories that put the songs into the context of the time, Matthew brings to life the exciting Days of 1776. Matthew sings and plays guitar, banjo and mandolin
And a related show
Songs and Stories of the War of 1812
Songs and Stories of
the American Road
Take a fun trip across the history of Americans on the move with fascinating stories and classic songs about Conestoga wagons, wagon trains, the railroads, the National Road, early automobiles, trucks, classic cars, classic TV car ads, Route 66, hot rods, and motorcycles. With theatrical backdrop and props. Throughout the show, Matthew sings and plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica.
Songs and Stories for Down on the Farm
Dressed in farmer clothes, with farm backdrop and props, Matthew sings songs (new and old) and tells stories of farming from the Colonial period up to today, including interesting facts and corny jokes about farmers, barns, silos, farm animals, tractors, 4H, FFA and more. Plus the story (and a song) of John Deere, Johnny Appleseed and the Grange. The show is right for all ages (with a special version for a mainly kid audience that teaches children a love of farming). Throughout the show, Matthew sings and plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica
Dressed in period clothing, Matthew
takes listeners back in time to one or other of six fascinating periods of American history, using songs from each period and stories (humorous and poignant) that show what it was like to be...
... a soldier of the North or South, civilian or loved-one-at-home or escaped slave in the days of the Civil War
... a rail splitter, track layer, passenger, engineer, brakeman or switchman or railroader's wife and child in the days of steam trains
... one of the canal diggers, blasters and workmen or canal boatman, lock tenders or mule drivers, canal wife or child in old canal days
... one of the explorers, pioneers, prospectors, soldiers, gunfighters, American Indians, and lawmen of the Old West
... one of the ordinary seamen who "sailed before the mast" in the days of the great sailing ships
... one of the Knights of the Road who rode the rails in the early 1900's looking for work and total freedom
... one of the Colonists who helped make us a nation in the American Revolution
And celebrate the holidays with
Songs and Stories
of
Christmas
Halloween
St. Patrick's Day
Valentine's Day
the Red, White and Blue
Summer
the New Year
Labor Day
for a Luau
of Thanks and Giving
with songs and stories of each season, featuring the legends and true stories behind the customs and symbols of each season. And a show that features and tells the fascinating stories behind America's greatest patriotic songs
Throughout the various shows, Matthew sings and plays guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin and dulcimer.
Plus--
Songs and Stories of the 1940s
Songs and Stories of 50s Rock and Roll
the 1960s
For more information and bookings ,
call Matthew at (717)766-0139
or e-mail Doddmatt@aol.com
Songs and Stories of
Christmas
Matthew presents a lively, fun Christmas show featuring Christmas songs both new and old for kids and grown-ups alike. He sings the songs we all know and love, sometimes with funny alternate verses, many of which he makes up as he goes along. Matthew also tells the stories behind such songs as Silent Night and Good King Wenceslas. Plus he tells stories of holiday customs around the world, and he personalizes famous songs by adding verses using names of folks in the audience. It's a sing-along, laugh-along heart-warming Christmas time!
Songs and Stories of Halloween
Matthew takes listeners on a spooky, scary and fascinating trip through Halloween with songs and stories about ghosts (real, unreal, famous and infamous) andhaunted houses (some in your neighborhood!)Plus fascinating stories on the history of Halloween and its many symbols and customs (jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treat, etc.). Matthew sings and plays guitar in an informal campfire or story circle setting.
Songs and Stories for
Valentine's Day
Featuring the stories behind our Valentine's traditions (who was Valentine? Who was Cupid?) plus stories of Valentine customs throughout the ages, and the true story behind fampus couples (Romeo and Juliet, Frankie and Johnny, Elizabeth and Robert Browning) all mixed wityh great love songs and poems from the middle ages to the present. For the romantic in all of us!
Songs and Stories of
the Red, White and Blue
For any time of the year, but especially for around the patriotic holidays, this show features America's greatest patriotic songs (The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, You're a Grand Old Flag, Yankee Doodle, This Land is Your Land, et. al.) and tells the fascinating and inspiring stories behind their composition and of the people who wrote them. All with a backdrop of the flags from each of the periods in which they were written.
Songs and Stories of
Summer
Featuring lots of great summer songs from the last 100 years, plus humorous stories of summertime in the good ol' USA. A great relaxing sing-a-long time!
Songs and Stories of
New Year's Eve
To ring in the New Year (any time of day), songs a of celebration and reminiscing from the last 100 years and stories about the origins of our New Year's customs.
Also Available
Songs and Stories of the 1940's
and
Songs and Stories of Mardi Gras
and
Songs and Stories of Ground Hog Day
and
Songs and Stories for Labor Day
And more on special shows for kids (of all ages) below.
i
Songs and Stories
for
St. Patrick's Day
Sure'n 'tis a time for the Irish as Matthew uses traditional Irish songs plus stories and legends to let folks know what St. Patty's Day is all about and why he is so dear to the Irish people. And you'll feel Irish too as Matthew tells the stories and sings the songs of life in Ireland, of the Irish fight for independence, of their coming to America and of the new life they made here, along with their humor and customs-- the leprechaun, the shillelagh, the shamrock, the wearin' of the green, the Blarney stone, the famous Irish blessings, and more
(Perfect for any time of the year you want to have a wee bit of the Irish)
Here are some videos from parts of my shows. The first video is in two parts-- part one is "Songs and Stories of Old Railroad Days" and part two is "More Songs and Stories of Old Railroad Days"
