DANISH DESIGN

In 2009, I traveled to Copenhagen with Mike Viola & Brian Wolfe. While there, we opened three shows for Danish superstar Tim Christensen and his band. They made quite an impression on us, not only because of their musicianship but also because of their kindness, coolness and grace. Here's the latest video from their camp:

CLASS APPLES

NASVHILLE. VIA HOLGA. VIA ME.

If you can manage to see beyond the poor home-scanning and the NUMEROUS bad shots, you'll (hopefully) see some halfway pleasing shots of Nashville, TN as seen through the Holga camera. I'm trying to experiment with multiple exposures, light leaks, looking through the view-finder, NOT looking through the view finder... it's fun!

TEARS IN THE MORNING

Creating colors, experimenting with color theory while listening to The Beach Boys, "Sunflower"... couldn't ask for a better ending to this refreshingly SPRING-like day.

MISSTEPS AND FUMBLINGS

I'm back in Nashville now, reflecting on what a fun and productive time I just had in the Northeast: Recording the 1st installment of the duo record with MV & Pete Donnelly in Hudson, NY... playing a show at Joe's Pub and then taking the bus to Boston the next day to do it all again at the Lizard Lounge. Four great days at Ducky's... rebuilding 2 of the new MV tunes we started as a trio with Brian Wolfe, witnessing the beginning of the end of the beautifully quirky/cool Peter Block project, and on my last night there, celebrating my birthday with the guys at Turner's in Melrose, MA. Finally, I returned to NYC, played a Tammy Wynette Cover Set with the darling Madison Square Gardeners, and persevered through the stormy weather to share some quality time with a few good friends. The time was too short...

So here I am again, in a city I'd like to call home, but can't. Looking at pictures of the trip and posting the stupidest one in the batch because it represents the awkwardness I've felt ever since I moved here.

Sometimes it seems like you have to endure 10 disappointments or mistakes in order to enjoy 1 moment of peace or celebration. Why is that? Since I moved to Nashville, my life has felt like a mountain of obstacles to climb: A new culture, a smaller town, a couple new friends and a few angry ghosts. I have never felt more unsure of the future. Meanwhile, so many of my friends are struggling through life and death and a schmorgesborg of crises. We're all surviving, but man... these days I just pray to God to give us a break. You know? You probably do...

Maybe it's the end-of-winter blues, or maybe I'm at the age now where you hear more about death and illness and look for affirmation that you're on the right track. Whatever the case, through it all, I'm counting my blessings and keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have clearer direction and brighter days ahead.

LITTLE IMPERFECTIONS

I'm in Hudson, NY at Waterfront Studios, recording a duo EP to tape (!!) with Mike Viola and Pete Donnelly (as producer). It's going to be beautiful - 4 songs, 2 acoustic guitars, and 2 voices wrapped in the arms of a magnificent old church. Recording to tape is such a different experience (than digital). There are warbley sounds... the tape in the center of the reel is different from the tape on the outside... We're trying to achieve "performances," not "takes" that will eventually be compiled into one. The music is happening all at once, rather than in layers. It's refreshing, human and REAL. There are true "moments." We've finished 2 songs and there are slight vocal imperfections (to my ears), but i'm letting them go because I believe the discerning listeners will appreciate those "moments." This morning we were waking up and checking our emails and one of the tracks began to play from the other room.... it was perfect: music for the morning.