Had a blast sharing this new song, Magic, at the Songwriters in the Round show hosted by Becca Rae. It was a packed house at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, and we luckily had the talented George Johnson videographer record the whole thing. Hope you enjoy!
The new album, OLD FREIGHT
"What seems like a simple formula: acoustic guitar picking, sincere vocals, thoughtful lyrics and professional production is in fact nearly impossible. So when someone does it right and in this case for his debut record it’s a moment to celebrate." Songs:Illinois
- #10 Album, March 2018 Folk DJ Chart
- #15 Album, March 2018 Roots Music Report
- Two top 5 songs, March 2018 Folk DJ Chart
LATEST NEWS
Singer Songwriters in the Round - Round 2!
Originally scheduled for September, this event was postponed due to a hurricane! It is now coming around, April 27 at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, NC. The show is hosted by local favorite Becca Rae and features a total of 4 North Carolina songwriters. I've heard so many amazing things about the event, get tickets soon because this show is known to sell out! Facebook event is here.
Live on WHUP 3/21 6pm
I'll be back in the WHUP studios in Hillsborough, NC on Friday 3/21 and 6pm, sharing some new songs and stories with Bob Johnson and Kirk Ridge on their weekly Pass the Hat show. If you're local come on by for an in studio performance, or listen live online at whupfm.org.
New demo videos for Lowe Vintage Instrument Co
Always love being invited to shoot some guitar demo videos for Lowe Vintage Instrument Company in Burlington, NC. They exclusively sell high end vintage guitars (and also banjos, mandolins, dobros and basses), so it is a real treat to play their instruments. Here are a few of the ones I tried out a few weeks ago.
Farewell Trion
Farewell Trion, in open C tuning. Alabama fiddler Joe Blaylock (born 1854) wrote this tune after being laid off from the Trion, Georgia mill. James Bryan added a third part and was the first to record it.
This lovely tune with its wordless three-part melody somehow seems to perfectly convey everything I have experienced in the past few months. I am just now overcoming a mysterious sickness that left me unable to sing - and for the most part, talk comfortably - since mid-November. It was a dark time, but despite the difficulty I am now able to look at it as a sort of teacher. To accommodate the condition I made drastic improvements to my diet, stopped drinking alcohol and caffeine, stopped singing, cancelled gigs and recording dates, and engaged in various activities to reduce stress. I’m not sure what caused the condition, and I am not sure what fixed it. But moving forward I am hopeful to continue to treat my body and mind with respect, and to take music - and life in general - a whole lot less seriously. I am glad to be saying farewell to the sickness, and am glad to also be saying farewell to the other parts of my being that no longer serve me. Sure, the condition might come back, but I am hopeful that the darkness I brought with it will not.
Sometimes we can write a beautiful tune that stands the test of time only after we overcome the difficulty of saying farewell. Changes are coming. Stay tuned. And in the meantime, Farewell Trion.