Back from Niagara Falls

Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? Have you ever fried your transmission on a road trip? Have you ever paid too much money for a burger? Have you ever sat under a tree in a torrential downpour seeking respite from the elements? These all were things Megan and I experienced in Niagara Falls. Well, before I continue, let me say that the trip was really awesome, though many unexpected things happened. I'd say, if you ever have the chance, check out the falls (from both sides) and make sure to take a trip on the Maid of the Mist (on the Canadian side). It's totally worth it, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime (or twice, or three-times) experience. Make sure to stand on the upper deck, on the starboard side.

Nashville Pics Posted on Flickr

I just wanted to quickly let everyone know that new photos from my Nashville recording trip are posted on Flickr. Here's the link: http://flickr.com/photos/92307107@N00. I've included a pic, just to tease you a little bit...

Nashville Day 2 & Klondike Bars

Tuesday morning, I hooked up with Jeremy for the first time in about seven years. We easily reconnected (and of course, we had been communicating by phone and email for several months prior to my arrival). We headed out for a coffee at the local drag, Bongo Java, East. We talked music and philosophy and gospel. Recording went well, and we spent the majority of the day working on "You Coulda Been".

After the session, as I loaded up my car to head back to my hotel room, I noticed a curious, little nail in the side-wall of my rear, driver's side tire. I pulled it. Hissssssssss.... Jeremy had a patch kit, so we tried to patch it. Making a long story short, the tire blew on Wednesday night. Thursday I drove on the spare. Friday I purchased a new tire for the 500 mile drive home.

Sovereign chaos.

Flash forward. Today: I just finished eating a Klondike bar for lunch (yeah, not the healthy way to go). I'm convinced that every year these major snack food corporations shave a few millimeters off of their products each year - hoping both that consumers won't notice it, and that even if they do, they'll buy the company's rationale: "Oh, it's healthier for the consumer to eat smaller portions of junk food..."

I'm working on booking shows for a fall tour. Colleges, mainly. If you know anyone who books at your college, please put me in contact with him or her.

A Week in Nashville, Now Back Home

There were so many sweet things about my trip this past week that it will take me a couple of weeks to process it all, and say everything that needs saying about it. Working with Jeremy Casella was an awesome experience. Three new recordings - the first installment of several more to come, in anticipation of a new CD - and a few new friends. The trip was well worth it, and I feel a renewed passion for my music, thanks to the sessions and several after hours drinks and meals talking with Jeremy.

First, let's get to the goods: We still have about three weeks worth of work to do on the songs before they're completed. We have a bit more tracking to do, and mixing to boot. We recorded "You Coulda Been", "Not Rainin'", and "I Remain".

I'll start with a little story... Monday, after spending the morning with Megan, celebrating our two-year anniversary, I headed for Nashville. No AC in our 1996 Chevy Lumina V6 3.1 Liter. The drive went fast - both because of how I drove, and because I like driving. I was in Nashville by about 7:30 PM. I quickly unloaded my gear, showered up, and headed to an open mic at the legendary Bluebird Cafe.

Arriving there, I decided I'd grab a bite to eat and scope the place out before bringing in my guitar, etc. Well, I ended up locking my keys in the car!!! I didn't freak out, though. Who was I going to freak out to? I decided to go inside, eat, and figure it out after I had a little something in my stomach. (The last time I ate was at breakfast with Megan.)

There's a lot more to the story here, but the chase is that I met a guy my age (a month older), who owned the same car as me, who was originally from Illinois, who had also previously locked his keys in his car and had successfully broken into it. While Aaron, his sister Clara, and I were outside trying to "break in", other songwriter/performers began filtering out of the club. Each one saw our trouble, proudly flaunted his experiences locking his own keys in his car, and successively breaking into them, and then tried his hand on my vehicle. I met a good deal of songwriters that night that way.

A joke came to me: What's the best way to meet people in Nashville? Lock your keys in your car. And, How many songwriters does it take to jimmy a car... (I didn't figure out the answer.)

More stories to come...

JM

Concerts This Past Weekend

This past weekend was totally busy for me! My mom had her 50th birthday party, and I went to two concerts! Two friends of mine are singer-songwriters, and, as a friend does, he checks up on them every once in a while.

Saturday night, Megan and I went to see Lilia Griffin play with her band in a warehouse in Schaumburg. It was for a live album recording. I was totally impressed. She has a natural feel on the guitar (which is hard to come by) and her voice (though she said she was sick) was full, clear, and, on the highs, very crisp. Overall, some of the best female singing I've ever heard live.

The second concert was Sunday night at the Beat Kitchen. Julia Klee and her band, Clockwork, played a 45 min. set. Klee's band rocked out on a few super-solid numbers at the beginning of the set, and closed with a few intimate, no-drums tunes. Guitarist, Andrew, really fed off of Klee. Julia, who plays piano and sings, has written and arranged some really cool vocal lines and harmonies, and reminds me of a catchier Fiona Apple.

Fat Bean Show Thanks!

I just want to give a quick thanks to everyone who checked out my show at Fat Bean a few weeks ago, with Peter Frederiksen, Daniel Hautamaki, and Matt Schweinberg! We had an awesome time playing, and we even made a few new friends! Thanks to Billy of Dashney for running sound for us, and thanks to Tom of Screaming Beaver for promoting the show.

I've just finished pre-production on the few new songs, which means I'm ready to record a few in the studio. It looks like I'll be doing work on my next album in sections. I feel like my songs, musically speaking, really stretch into different genres, which makes them difficult to record with the same producer, etc. (unless, of course, it's me).

I'm also really excited about the prospect of working with a songwriter/producer in Nashville. His name is Jeremy Casella, and we've been communicating a bit by phone and email, talking about the possibility of recording some of my more "David Gray-esque" songs. Very exciting.

As for some of the other songs, I'm trying to hook up with an old buddy of mine who works out of Villa Park, running a studio, producing, and engineering.

Alive and Kickin'

Just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and kickin'! I have atleast one more week left before completing some new recordings. I'll let you know when they're done and online. Also, I'm working right now to solidify deals with an attorney and manager. Big stuff. Bringing other people on board is the first step to "upping our game," you could say. Keep in touch!