May 19, 2026

0:00That was fabulous. You are welcome back anytime. We’re so happy to have you here. Welcome to Philadelphia, and we look forward to much more music on the show. Thank you.

0:12Those of you on Zoom, our traditional toast is coming after this last performance, so please have your drink of choice ready. Returning to the salon is Gorgeous Porch, the lo-fi, dreamy, art-rock solo project of drummer and multi-instrumentalist Christopher C. Wood. His songs are as catchy as they are, moving, with his sunny vocals, airy tones, and devotional feel. Let’s welcome Chris.

0:44Some day I want to hear the story behind the gorgeous porch. Maybe at the reception you can tell us where that came from tonight. So can we give him a big round of applause? So we thank you for our part. The Salon exists to bring more beauty, inclusion, and peace and connection to this world. Please consider supporting the Salon. The donation link is in the chat and at zalonarts.org for those who feel moved to make a tax-deductible gift to the Salon and its musicians. My team and I gladly volunteer. A few quick things. If anyone has any leads to TV stations or a program that might like to do a story on the Salon’s 40th, please let me know.

13:12I have to do just a little plug. The composition I’ve been working on for three and a half years. I finished at 11 p.m. last night.

13:27Story of Drag, with a cast of nearly 100, premieres at the Wilma Theatre, June 18th, 19th, and 20th. Tickets are on my website. It’s Art Philly. If you can’t find it, just write to me. And we have one of our singers is here tonight, so we’re all very, very excited to bring this piece to life.

13:49And lastly, mark your calendars for September 27th, the 40-year anniversary. And before our toast, we will sing Happy Birthday to a very, very special person, my long-time friend and salon assistant for decades, Jennifer Cobb-Lewis. Would someone bring Jennifer up? Here’s the team to lead you.

14:12Lindsay, you’re the singer.

14:19Are you ready?

14:25Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Stories from the salons over the years, Jennifer has just been an amazing, amazing help and a wonderful friend, and now our salon tradition, for those of you on Zoom, please raise your glasses, for those of you here, raise your hearts, and you will We’ll have yours very soon, to music, to community, and to peace. Cheers.

15:37I now invite tonight’s performers forward if you’d like to join our Q&A. I’m going to face the Zoom audience and answer their questions and I’m sure they’d love to speak to some of you. Those of you here, please enjoy the reception. And, Bill, if you wouldn’t mind, please open up that door so people can go out on the deck. It’s really beautiful out there, so do enjoy it.