I keep thinking about this picture.* This is what I want shows to feel like, wherever they are. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s in a home, a bowling alley, a regular club, a church, a store… it’s just gotta have the spirit. Happy the year is starting with two shows that should be real good times.
This Wednesday in Sacto, I’ll rock the Press Club for the first time in what feels like lifetimes. Thx to Ryan & Show Me Golden for inviting me!
Then, on Sunday afternoon, I’ll be the featured artist at Thrive East Bay. They do a monthly-ish gathering full of words, music & meeting each other. I’ll be singing a few songs, and one of my favorite singers in the world (seriously) will be singing them with me. She’s called Errin Mixon, and I’m so happy to finally be collaborating with her. If you’re anywhere around Sacto or Oakland, please come out and/or spread the word if you know people who might wanna go.
I love singing is situations where the music is paired with communities and/or issues that are important for me. I’m planning on plenty of that this year and onward. Like:
Bay Area people, I’m singing at Glide most Sundays, either as part the ensemble or sometimes as a soloist. Either way, being part of the amazing work Glide does has changed my life for the better in countless ways, and I’ll bet it’ll do you good too, in ways that feel really good. You can sign up to serve meals, take part in all sorts of activities, or just come and hear some fantastic tunes & thoughts about real inclusivity & real love.
Nationwide-style, I’m teaming up with a growing collective called Face The Music that looks to help artists pair up with different organizations and overall use their shows as as a place to raise awareness about all kinds of activism, very including voting. Good stuff, especially in this beyond-crucial election year.
Over in the Yard Sale, I’ve just heard the neat news that 50ish more imported Water & Solutions color vinyls (in a new shade of blue and still with bonus flexi fun) are on their way from Germany. To celebrate, anyone who orders this week will get their choice of a free LoveMystery T or a free copy of Alone Rewinding (the book I wrote and recorded about raising my daughter while making stuff for a living). I’ll even throw in the orchestral Livin Small flexi & the LoveMystery USB filled with more music & words. I’ll do the same deal with the remaining Gratitude vinyls I’ve got. You can check available shirt sizes by clicking on the LoveMystery T, I’ll do my best to keep those current & accurate. Overseas people worried about postage costs, this is an extra-great deal in that you won’t be charged any more for shipping than if you just ordered the vinyl, as everything up to 2 pounds costs the same ($23ish). US postage for the combo will be $12ish (or less). As always, IDEAS people get free or reduced postage on every order.
Okay, back to working on a new batch of finally-fully-realized recordings. I’ve been having such fun in my room over the past few days playing with a new-ish song called Everyday Angels; adding thick, juicy guitars, messing with arrangements, just seeing where the song wants to go. More on all that lots over the next few months. If you want to hear demos of songs in various forms, along with a growing library of stuff that will never be on Spotify, and a growing community of people who want to share ideas in a place free of ads and data-mining and trolls, please join IDEAS today and let’s play.
Thanks always!
ps - About that pic: here’s some of what the photographer wrote when he posted it. Beyond the kindness, I was happy to realize that the stuff I said back then about me & why I create is the same stuff I just said in a recent interview/conversation.
“I still think about something that he told me when I interviewed him all those years ago. I asked him about his writing process and he explained that the music he makes is for him, it is his and he chooses to share it. I am paraphrasing, because it’s been a while, but essentially the process of creating music is his and he doesn’t create music to please others. If they like it, fine... if not, that is fine too. I still think about that conversation a lot, especially because some of the music I create is odd and not necessarily going to be liked by everyone. But for me, I enjoy it and I enjoy the process. And if others happen to like it, then that is icing on the cake.
The way Jonah conducts himself as a musician and as a human being has been inspiring and helped to give me a perspective of what being a rock star should be like. He plays shows at people’s houses, has a sliding scale for merch, and is a really genuine person. I have seen him perform more times than I can remember and I look forward to the next opportunity to see him live again.
I took this photo at the Huntridge in Las Vegas, NV in 2003 or 2004”