CIF Reunion - 1.16.10 - Photo courtesy of Howie Cockrill

Here are three more ideas I recorded in Prague during 2007. None of them ever turned into into anything more than what they originally were, however. Sometimes it's strange to look back on ideas such as these, wondering what it would have taken for me to follow through on them, to make them better. Apparently I wasn't in a state of mind where I felt like putting the time and energy into improving them into full-fledged compositions. Some songwriters say that their songs are their 'children' and that each one is special. I suppose that's true - but if I had keep track of 30 new offspring each year, I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to give each one the attention he/she deserved. And it's safe to say that my wife would be fairly upset...

Prague 23

Prague 33

Prague 38

Here's a second video of another new song I played at Goodbye Blue Monday in Brooklyn this past Saturday. I played this song live for the first time at Grudge Match earlier this month. I'm really looking forward to recording this one, plus all the others I have in mind for this new acoustic project. After a few years of recording rock songs, it should be pleasant to pursue something more lo-fi for a while.

Here's a new song I finished last month. I'm going into the studio next month to start recording an acoustic record that this plus several other new songs will appear on. Hopefully it will be ready by the end of the year if all goes well.

My friend Scott invited me to play an assembly at the K-8 school he teaches at in Virginia last week. I played acoustic versions of the songs on By The Numbers, after each of which Scott would cue the studio version for the kids to listen to and compare.

But my favorite part by far was the Q&A session at the end. Here's a transcript of some of the questions the kids asked, along with my answers...

Harry: "Have you ever been on the radio?"
Me: "Yes."

Scott: "What was the first instrument you ever played in a band?"
Me: "Bass guitar."
Scott: "What type of band was it?"
Me: "A punk rock band."

Spencer: "What type of guitar did you use on your CD?"
Me: "A telecaster."
Spencer: "Amen!"

Andrew: "Are your songs on iTunes?"
Me: "Yes."

4th Grade Boy: "How many albums have you sold?"
Me: "Not enough."

3rd Grade Girl: "Are you famous?"
Me: "No."