EVACUATION

I was ordered to evacuate my home this morning after a fire broke out in the hills near our apartment. Deciding what to take and what to leave was quite the process. Although I'm fairly optimistic that our home is going to be survive the flames, I'm certainly a little wary of what the next few days might bring. Thankfully, I had time to grab a few important things before we left - a couple guitars, clothes, my toothbrush, and hard drives (always the hard drives). I'll try to post some updates they come along, even though I may be a bit busy with this in the near future. More soon...

Photo by Paul Aiken

TESTING THE WATERS

I've been going to a lot of shows in Denver over the past few weeks. Before we moved to Colorado, I'd heard some good things about the music scene, but wasn't exactly sure what it was about all because I couldn't experience it firsthand - I guess I'm an empiricist.

Regardless, I'm very impressed with the extent and caliber of what I've witnessed so far, as well as the enthusiasm of those in attendance. Live music (performing and supporting it) is undoubtedly ingrained in the culture here. There are tons of clubs and a myriad of local, regional, and national bands in town on any given evening. It's all very invigorating - and I'm excited to become a part of it.

THE NEW YOGA

I'm taking this opportunity to make you aware of a new album called Life Out East from my friend Joe Yoga, an extraordinary songwriter out of New York City. I recommend that you check out these songs and tell your friends about them.
HERE THEY ARE.

REEXAMINATION

A few days ago I finally listened to the songs I was working on back in July. It was interesting to hear them again after a couple months away from the project, which actually feels very beneficial in retrospect. My life is completely different than it was two months ago. And my assessment was fairly different as well. I reckon it’s another lesson of the advantages of stepping away from something, then coming back to it in a new light. Hopefully I’ll remember that…

FIRE NEAR HOME

A large forest fire started this morning a few miles west of Boulder. So far it's consumed around 3000 acres, including a number of houses. Hopefully all the people close to the flames have been evacuated and the firefighters are keeping safe. Here's a photo...

SEA LEGS

Everyone rides a bike in Boulder. And since I now live in Boulder too, I suppose that I should ride one as well. It's been ten years since I've ridden a bicycle, ever since mine was stolen in college, probably because I'd adopted the intelligent practice of not locking it up at night. I guess I had other priorities that were more pressing.

Anyway, I went bike shopping a couple days ago and found one that looked like it might work for me. No sooner did I get it outside and step up onto it than I subsequently fell to the ground in what must have been at least moderately humorous for pretty much everyone within viewing distance. Looking back, I'm not really sure how it happened. But it happened. Regardless, I go forth undeterred and will, one way or another, respectfully join these local legions of velocipedes.

But when I do, for the first few days, you know, watch out.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

We arrived in Boulder last Friday after the long drive out west. Things have been fairly busy since we arrived, opening box after box, putting everything in its place and so on. We found a place to live near a mountain with several trails leading up into the wilderness that we hope to start exploring soon as well. Good gracious this is a different environment than New York City, but altogether very pleasant and extremely welcoming. And though I'm sure it will undoubtedly take time to learn exactly how we fit into this little burg, the future appears to be very promising indeed...

THE MASTERING TRIP

Here are some photos from a recent journey to Asbury Park, New Jersey to master a new album I've been working on lately.

THE PORT AUTHORITY

THE WAITING AREA DOWN BELOW

THE BUS

THE INSIDE OF THE BUS

LEAVING NEW YORK IN THE RAIN

THE STUDIO

A CELEBRATORY BEVERAGE

WALKING TO THE BEACH

THE BEACH

THE BOARDWALK

THE GARDEN OF JOY

WAITING AT THE TRAIN STATION

THE TRAIN ARRIVES

TRANSFERRING IN LONG BRANCH

INSIDE THE TRAIN

CLIMBING FROM THE DEPTHS OF PENN STATION

PENN STATION

AND I'M BACK...

OF AN IMMIMENT ENSEMBLE

Over the past two years, I've been playing solo acoustic shows here in New York. It's been a wonderful experience to be able to gather up my guitar and take the subway or walk to every show. Since the end of 2004, I haven't played with a group of other musicians except on very rare occasions, all of which I've appreciated immensely. I'm really looking forward to getting out to Colorado and having the ability to put together a band in earnest again, learning new things from other musicians, sharing the energy that exists when a group of people play the same song together - you know, 'rockin out', as they say. I know it will take some time to meet people, find a place to practice, and all the other logistics that accompany such an endeavor - but I'm optimistic that it will all come together eventually.

PHOTOS FROM THE BRIDGE

GHOSTS OF HALLELUJAH

Last Thursday night, I listened to an album that I hadn't heard in a few years - Ghosts of Hallelujah by The Gourds. Although I know that other bands are more readily identified as alt-country legends, this album stands for me as one of the finest examples of the genre ever created. I'm certainly not a music writer, so I'm not going to expound on the reasons why I hold this opinion. But I invite you to investigate.

THE MCKIBBIN LOFTS

I have one or two more mixing sessions over at The Gallery before I finish this new project and move to Colorado. I've been recording there on and off for the last year or so, an interesting and informative experience to say the least. Yesterday, I found an article in the New York Times from a couple years ago about the McKibbin Lofts, where The Gallery is located.

When I first visited the lofts and the surrounding area, I certainly wasn't struck by an overwhelming sense of charm. I came to view the studio, meet Brian Forbes, and talk about what would eventually become By The Numbers. What did impress me was Brian's amiable disposition, his vast knowledge of the technology and eagerness to serve the music to its highest capabilities, all of which were more important to me than the snazzyness of the environment in which I'd be working.

Regardless, if you would like to get a better picture of where I've been recording over the past year, here's the article.

FIGMENT FESTIVAL

So I played at 11AM this past Saturday out on Governor’s Island during the Figment Festival, which is almost certainly in the running for top 3 earliest show times in my life. There were a few early birds there, though not many. I did make at least one new fan though…

MUSIC @ SOUTHPORT

When I was in Florida briefly last week, I went to my favorite dive, Southport Raw Bar, for some conch fritters and a pitcher of beer. There was a band playing that afternoon, consisting of two guys playing 'island' music, one with a guitar, one with a bass, plus a drum machine between the two. Simple, but effective for the surroundings. Good times.

VIDEOS FROM THE GALLERY

Below is a collection of videos from sessions recorded at the Gallery Recording Studios in May 2010. Segments include Aaron Steele on drums, Dan Asher on bass guitar, Brian Forbes on electric guitar, Thomas Bryan Eaton on pedal steel guitar, Raphael McGregor on lap steel guitar, and me. I also apologize for the fairly sloppy editing on this. I'm obviously not an expert at putting videos together - but I wanted to share.

Thanks for listening.

WAGONS WEST

We’ve spent almost two years here in New York, which has been undoubtedly amazing. However, come this August we’ll be moving again, this time to Colorado, Boulder specifically, about 25 miles northwest of Denver. We’ve always wanted to live out west, and now it’s actually going to happen. The next couple months will be filled with the logistics of a long-distance move, but I doubt it will be that bad - we’ve done it before. I’ll miss New York a lot, mostly my friends, but also the convenience of the city. Every move causes me to assess where I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m going, which is never a bad thing. And so far, I feel pretty good about this one.