It’s been way too long. I miss them as I’m sure some of you do. Thankfully, our friends over at Vulcan Army Booking have lined us up with Good Night, States. The show will be Friday May 17th. I’ll work out the particulars later and update the House Concerts page. I don’t have the time it takes to do this band justice in a post. They did a tour with the Lumineers this past summer and I really need to read up a little bit on that before I go any further. So for now, I just want to share some of their music with you. Hope to see you there!
This is my favorite song, so far…Ceilings. I hate to make comparisons, but makes me think Pixies. There, I said it.
Growing up, at least the part where I was learning to play guitar, I was a huge REM fan. At the time, their music was completely original to me. It was low-fi, melodic, angry, happy, and just plain original. I didn’t even care what Michael Stipe was singing about. I just enjoyed the music and the melody of his voice.
Having spent the majority of my young life listening to heavy metal, it was weird to me that I would gravitate toward something so completely different. But I did. And it really changed everything for me as far as music was concerned.
So like I do from time to time, I did a youtube search for REM and came across this video of Pilgrimage performed by the Long Players in Nashville. If you are unfamiliar, the Long Players are a loose group of mostly studio and touring musicians that get together every so often and perform a classic CD from start to finish and have guest singers step in to perform various songs. A friend and school mate of mine, John Deaderick plays with these guys. Whether you know it or not, you’ve heard him play with just about anyone who is anyone and I’m really proud of him for all he has been able to accomplish in the music biz. It never ceases to amaze me at who he has shared the stage and studio with.
This particular song, the Long Players had Don Dixon, the producer of REM’s Murmer to sing. As I’ve mentioned on here a time or two, Don Dixon played bass and produced RJ Cowdery’s first CD One More Door, which was recorded here in my house. It still hasn’t quite sunk in to my brain that I got to share my house with the producer of REM’s Murmer as well as RJ, Todd Burge, and a couple members of the Mountain Stage band. Maybe it never will, but I can tell you it was so incredible and uplifting to walk into the house after work and hear the beautiful music that was being made.
Seeing this video this morning just brought a rush of emotion and tied several distinctively different parts of my life together all at once. It’s cool, and I love it!
If you can’t make it to SXSW, you should go check out CBCW (Couch by Couchwest). Stay at home and check out all the great bands and artist that didn’t get to perform at SXSW. Everyone uploads a video/videos made especially for CBCW to Youtube and the folks at CBCW make the playlist. If you are looking for a way to find some new artist, this is it.
I figure I got time for just one this year. Maybe more. We’ll see. I did Muse, recorded in the attic with one of the stage lights that pulses more the louder you get. Thanks for listening/watching!
It’s hard to believe that a year ago tomorrow Naked Souls will be a year old. Yes, we did it! And I hope you follow that link and read it. It was a fun time and I am still eternally grateful to everyone that helped me put the CD out there.
Did it live up to any of the crazy expectations I had? Nope, not even close. But it did live up to most of the realistic expectations I had. It was a hard road, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was fun, and I can still go back and listen to it without too much second guessing about things I was never completely happy with. So I got that going for me…
To celebrate, I’m going to knock the price of the CD down to $5 on the BandCamp page as well as the actual CDs I have with me at shows. I’m also going to be playing at the Adelphia Thursday, November 1st as part of Songwriter Night with Todd Burge. It’s a free show and there will be a ton of great songwriters performing: RACHEL FIGLEY, CAREY MURDOCK, BRUCE DALZELL, DAN CUNNINGHAM, WORMZ HAYFIELD AND CROW, JUSTIN ARTHUR, and MICHAEL IAFRATE.
I’m really really happy that Carey Murdock will be here. I had to cancel on a house concert with him for October. So I’m happy I’ll get a second chance to see him perform and show him the hospitality that we try to offer every house concert performer.
I’ve been a negative Nancy lately with the cancelled shows. Sorry. So it’s all puppy uppers now! Nothing better to help us with that than to have the Water Liars play at the house this Sunday. We’re asking for a $10 donation. Show starts at 8pm. Here’s something to get you in the mood. Don’t forget to check out the Water Liars on their site and at their page on Misra Records. And of course their Daytrotter session.
We’re quite lucky to have them coming to the house and so too will you be if you join us! More info and music on the house concerts page.
I’m having a heck of a time getting to the editing out of all the video I got from the last house concert. But here’s one with The Kernal, Where We’re Standing.
Tune in (if you are up) on Saturday June 23rd from 7am-9am. My song, It Might Work Out will be played on the NUA Show (New Unsigned Artist). I don’t expect too many of my friends will be up that early on a Saturday, unless they haven’t gone to sleep yet. But afterwards and until the next installment of the show you can vote for me, or your favorite if it isn’t me, to be played on the next show.
I’m still plugging away with the Demolicious project. Although you don’t see it much from me on this website, I’m happy to report that things are moving along very quickly.
The cool thing about the project is that all the demos will become final products very fast once I move into that stage of the recording process. Until then, please enjoy this version of Back of the Line.
It has been really really way too long since I posted anything on here. First and foremost, as the title says I’ll be playing at the Parkersburg Downtown Market this Saturday. I’m excited about this for a few reasons. First, it’s important to support local farmers. If I bring one person in contact with one farmer and they do business, that’s a win.
As a performing songwriter, this is a great way to connect with new people. A chance to be heard. I don’t think of it so much as a business, but I think there is a place for me out there. I’m not completely where I want to be as an artist. But I think there’s a market for where I am. I just need to find it. So being heard by a new audience is a good thing
There’s also the idea of going outside my comfort zone, which consists of my house and The Adelphia Music Hall. Hehehe! For me, that used to mean a bit of anxiety, or stage freight if you will. I don’t feel that now, though. That’s a good thing. Finding a comfort level when you perform is the best way to guarantee a good show. Whether I sell one cd, or one hundred, I want to do a good show and put my best foot forward. Rob Szabo says it best, starting at about the :52 mark of this video.
I love that sharing this didn’t really hit me until I started writing. They are such true words. Something to write on a card and read over before every show. I need those kind of reminders. It’s also a good segue into Rob’s latest production on Peter Katz’s new CD, Still Mind Still.
I really need to stop. Just check out Peter’s new CD. It’s so good! Hope to see you Saturday!!
Video for the demo of Good. New song that kind of came up real quick. You know the drill with the demos, go to the bandcamp page for Demolicious and download for free. If you don’t know, that’s my pre-CD project, to demo a bunch of songs and then go back and work on the ones I like and you like. We can meet there, somewhere. Hehe! Enjoy!
I like the things I’m able to do in this video with the animated things. I just haven’t figured out how to make them a little cooler and fit the story a little better. Not bad, though.
We’re super excited to have Small Houses coming to our house April 7th! It seems like forever since we booked this show, so now to have it so close…the giggity factor is creeping up. First of all, he’s a finger picker. I love finger pickers because I’m not one. It’s fascinating to me to watch as they move through the notes in a chaotic dance of fingers, wood, and wires.
His voice creeps up on you. Not quiet enough that you can’t hear. But just enough to make you lean in. And once you do, you’re hooked. His latest CD, North is filled with gems. My personal favorites are the title track, Country Flowers, and Late July. But that’s certainly not all I like. These songs speak to me, though.
We’re going to start the show at 8pm. More info at the Facebook event page. And heck, how bout a video?
It’s also a good segue into Rob’s latest production on 