While I was on tour in Los Angeles a few weeks back, I had the pleasure of meeting up with an old music pal, SoCal songwriter par excellence, Brandon Schott, for a taping of his online songwriting show, Defying Gravity Music.
There’s a shortened video version of our chat- during which we covered such burning topics as sweatpants vs. PJ’s, what I like to cook, and why Bob Dylan is redonkadonk- and a longer podcast show, where you can hear us get a bit more serious and chop it up about music. Also, there’s an essay Brandon had me pen about ‘Hadacol Blues’, a cut from The Key & The Cross.
I’m very happy to announce the upcoming release of my new record, The Key & The Cross. It’s a collection of solo guitar/voice performances, captured live by Ben Jenkins at Kill Room Studios in Seattle earlier this year. The sole exception is a lovely duet with Gina Belliveau, also cut live in the same sessions.
The material here is quite different from anything else I’ve ever done. It’s predominantly blues-based, and many of the songs have roots in old traditional blues and folk tunes. Here’s a taste:
The record will be released digitally through Bandcamp on 11.1.2012. I used this site to get my last batch of music out into the world, and it seemed to work great. It’s easy-peasy for both artist and consumer, and I love that you can choose your preferred file format.
Unlike that record, I’m pressing some actual compact discs (remember those?) this time. It’ll be just a short run of 300 to start with, and to celebrate, Gina and I are going to throw the discs, my guitar, and my amp in the car and play a few shows around the western half of the country in November. Here’s the basic itinerary, and you’ll find more details at Reverb Nation.
(Warning: there are a lot of hyphens in the following post. If you have a medical condition which might be aggravated or triggered by hyphens and/or hyphenated phrases, please go here for relief immediately after you read this.)
If you’re in my fair city next weekend, it’s my pleasure to invite you to what should prove to be a fantastic show. I’ve got the honor of joining two local bands-on-the-rise- The Past Impending and Highway Evangelism- at one of our truly great live music venues. This is a seriously sweet-sounding room, folks.
I’ll be hitting the stage at 8pm to open up the night. As I’ve been fortunate enough do at other recent shows, I’ll be singing a few tunes with friend, musical co-conspirator, and indie-folk soul siren of Tacoma- Gina Belliveau.
It’s going to be good one- hope to see you there!
Columbia City Theater (4916 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA ) Sunday, March 18, 8pm. $6/21+. Advance tickets available here.
I’m writing this with a drizzly panorama of urban dreariness in the window, and a warm, kitty-fortified den of coziness here in the room. I love this time of year for that very contrast. Concerts around the holidays usually feel the same way, and it’s a great feeling when a bunch of friendly folks are packed into a welcoming room, sipping something warming, and enjoying some music.
I’ve got a few opportunities for that scenario to play out coming up. Tomorrow night (Friday, 11/25) I’ll make my way back to Tacoma’s finest singer/songwriter refuge, The Mandolin Cafe. I’m very much looking forward to sharing the stage again with the wonderful Gina Belliveau. Gina’s music has been a great companion the last few weeks, after I left our show here in Seattle with a copy of her new record. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s the kind of music that unfolds slowly but surely through repeat listens, revealing layers of rich nuance and secret delights. She’s got a knack for making naturalistic imagery and personal reflection merge in striking ways; it sometimes feels like the audio equivalent of early American naturalist photography and paintings to me. The songs evoke skies and landscapes- sometimes with words, sometimes with notes. Take a listen to one of my favorites, ‘Birdseed‘, for an example of what I’m talking about.
The word about Gina’s already out in Tacoma, but I’m hoping she’ll be able to get in front of some more folks here in Seattle in the year ahead.
Friday, 11/25 – Tacoma, WA – The Mandolin Cafe – w/Gina Belliveau and Nick Deonigi – 6pm, $5 suggested donation Facebook event
My next show here in Seattle is going to be very close to home- just down the street, in fact. I’m excited to make my debut at one of West Seattle’s finest watering holes, Shadowland, on Saturday, 12/10. I’m not sure who I’ll be sharing the bill with that evening, but I’m sure it’s going to be a fun night. As far as I know, this will be my last local show of 2011, so I’ll be doing my best to make it a good one.
Saturday, 12/10 – Seattle, WA – Shadowland – 9pm, Free
I’ll be wrapping up the year with a hometown gig in Anchorage, AK. To say I’m looking forward to this show would be to seriously understate things…I’m thrilled to be both heading home for the holidays, and getting the chance to share my new music with old friends and family.
Thursday, 12/22 – Anchorage, AK – The Tap Root – 9pm, $5
So there you have it- my last few shows of 2011. I hope this finds everyone well on Thanksgiving Day, and I hope to see you at one of these shows if you’re in the Northwest or Alaska in the next month.
It’s been yet another long spell between posts here, and I apologize for the delay. I’ve been settling into a new home and a new job in Seattle, and it’s all kept me pretty busy. But I’ve also been making and playing lots and lots of new music; I just haven’t been playing it on stage all that much.
I’m happy to say, that’s changing next week. I’m kicking off a little run of shows here in the Pacific Northwest with a performance at the Seattle’s (Ballard’s, really) Tractor Tavern, supporting Tim Easton. It’s one of my favorite places in the country to play, and I can’t wait to get back.
After that, there are a few more shows on the calendar. I’m hoping to keep adding to this lineup, but here’s what it looks like so far:
9/13 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern - 9pm/21+/$10 – w/Tim Easton and Jonny Corndawg – adv. tix
11/19 – Tacoma, WA -The Mandolin Cafe w/Gina Belliveau, Bobby Jo Valentine, and Andy Kong
11/22 – Seattle, WA – Stone Soup Theatre Downgate, 7pm/$10/all ages, w/Larry Murante, Bobby Jo Valentine, and Andy Kong
11/25 -Tacoma, WA - The Mandolin Cafe - 6pm-8pm/all ages/free, w/Gina Belliveau and Nick Deonigi
These shows are going to give me a chance to share stages with some great musicians, and I’m really looking forward to that, as well as playing a bunch of new music. I feel rejuvenated and excited to see if this new material works as well on stage as it does in my living room.
Here are a couple of demos I recorded at home recently- the first being a Lightning Hopkins tune, and the second coming from Furry Lewis:
Death Bells
Falling Down Blues
And here’s a video of me and Beth Wood, with Scott Docherty on keys, performing a rehearsed-just-before-the-show version of Patty Griffin‘s ‘Mary‘ at the show in the last post.
If you’re in the vicinity of one of these shows, please drop by and lend an ear.
Head here to check it out.
I’m very happy to announce the upcoming release of my new record, The Key & The Cross. It’s a collection of solo guitar/voice performances, captured live by Ben Jenkins at Kill Room Studios in Seattle earlier this year. The sole exception is a lovely duet with 
I’m happy to say, that’s changing next week. I’m kicking off a little run of shows here in the Pacific Northwest with a performance at the Seattle’s (Ballard’s, really) 
