It was like this...

...I'm in the band room jamming with 3 other guys on "Oleo," trying to keep up, because for some reason it's not allowed to ever play that tune at anything less than breakneck speed. Suddenly some dude bursts through the door just *wailing* on a tenor sax, and it takes me a second to realize that it's Branford Marsalis, wearing a green t-shirt that says "let's play a round." He's trailed by his piano player, Joey Calderazzo, who wears a "Titleist" hat. "What is it with these guys and golf?" I think to myself before thinking "Holy Mo Betta, Batman, I'm playing with Branford Marsalis." After Oleo, Branford said, "Hold on, let me get my soprano." Nobody was in a rush, so we held on while he got his soprano sax, and then we played "Autumn Leaves." After that I lay on the floor and watched him give a sax lesson to some lucky young reed player. Then they played "Giant Steps."

Currently listening : These Are Jokes By Demetri Martin Release date: 26 September, 2006

7:28 PM - 8 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

My song's gonna be in a Randy Travis movie
Current mood: none, or other
Category: none, or other Music

My song "Messed Up Every where Blues" will appear in a film starring country crooner Randy Travis. You're doubtless familiar with Randy's work in "Young Guns," "King of The Hill," and "Casper's Haunted Christmas 2000." Well, he's got a movie coming out later this year called "The Wager," and they're using my song in it. Here's a trailer. Also appearing in the film are Jude Cicolella ("Mike" in "24") Bronson Pinchot ("Cousin Balki") and Candace Cameron Bure ("D.J." from "Full House.").

Currently listening : The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East By The Allman Brothers Band Release date: 14 October, 1997

1:42 PM - 11 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Vote for me, eh?
Category: Music

How's it going? I'm good. I had a good old Saint Patty's day with lots of beer and corned beef and cabbage and fried fish and then tonight I had church. Now I am going to send this email and read my book and then go to bed.

(I'm reading Gore Vidal's "Lincoln" and I love it. Tobacco stains all over the White House carpet. Spittoons at every chair. Eww, now that I think about it.)

So, I could use your vote in this contest:

I am one of 8 featured artists at LiveAudioMag.com, an online music magazine which features North Carolina musicians and songwriters. Currently the magazine is holding a promotional contest which allows people to register for free and vote for their favorite artist. The musician or band with the most votes gets $1000.

If you are willing to vote for me, go to LiveAudioMag.com and click on the link that says "Vote for your favorite Artist Free! (no credit card required)." After you register (they just ask for name and email), look for the link that says "the Official Vote."

This contest ends at the end of March.

Currently listening : Free Fall By The Dixie Dregs Release date: 14 July, 1998

10:38 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I got 2 new songs you can download:

"In My Room," is, of course, a Beach Boys' cover I did in 2002 for the "Making God Smile" tribute to Brian Wilson. I did all the vocals, guitars, and bass. Dale Baker did the drumming and bells and stuff. Word is that Brian Wilson heard it and dug it.

"Movie"

Recorded Live at Eddie's Attic, 9/22/06

Lately this is my favorite song to play. Written about the feeling you get when you're really into someone and you really hope she calls and she doesn't call.

Also the feeling you get in the movies when you see something so true and that feeling sinks inside of you and becomes you and you become it.

Also, Yul Brynner from "The Magnificent Seven" sneaked in there.


I went out to the movie
I got lost on my way down
Oh so dark at the movie
I don't want to be found

See the hard-bitten hero
In the West, out on his own
Riding with the sun in his eyes,
I don't want to go home

Hey that's me up there
Yeah, that's me up there
Shining

I got lost in your eyes
Waiting for you to call
I forget what they shine like
No, I can't say at all

But they call me out
When they look at me
Oh so dark at the movie
I just want to be free

Cause that's me up there
Yeah, that's me up there
Shining

Now I'm sinking in my seat
Just beneath that beam of light
That's my dim blue Damascus
I just want to be right

Cause that's me up there
that's me up there
Shining

Currently reading : God Laughs & Plays: Churchless Sermons in Response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist Right By David James Duncan Release date: 01 April, 2006

12:17 PM - 8 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Lloyd Maines
Category: Music

Last night I played at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, where I finally met Lloyd Maines, who I had spoken to briefly on the phone about 8 years ago. Lloyd is perhaps best known as the father of Natalie Maines, who is perhaps best known for her dislike of George W. Bush, who is perhaps best known for um, making America safe or something like that. 

Built like a linebacker, Lloyd is a genuinely nice grandfather of 4 and a Texas music legend.  He told me he has Living In Skin on rotation in his office.  Right on!

(Now, if he would just talk to Natalie about the Dixie Chicks covering one of my songs... hmm.... what do you think, Lloyd?)

10:10 AM - 5 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

I confess
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I'm just updating this because I'm embarrassed it's been so long since my last update. I just saw Amy Sedaris on Craig Ferguson's show. We love the Sedarises. Her brother refinished my grandmother's floors. And her sister went to high school with my friend Jonathan. I guess there's a "Strangers With Candy" movie out now. I'll see it if it ever comes here.

I saw "Superman Returns" last night. Other than Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor, it was a waste of time and money. I should have rented 1978's "Superman: The Movie."

Currently listening : After The Gold Rush By Neil Young Release date: 25 October, 1990

11:32 PM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

"Bright As You"
Category: Music

Greetings from Somerville, Mass.  This is just a quick note to let you know my second CD, "Bright As You," is available for purchase on .

8:20 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"Living in Skin" on iTunes
Category: Music

My first solo album, "Living In Skin," is available for purchase and download on .  Allright and right on.  "Bright as You" should be up soon.

9:20 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Merlefest Photos
Category: Music

Merlefest was a blast. It was like Space Camp without the jumpsuits and nausea. At Merlefest, it's not unusual at all to make a trip to the hotel ice machine and run into Mr. John Prine, or to brush shoulders in the lobby with the very lovely Emmylou Harris (she said "hi" to me!) or to hold the door open for a suitcase-encumbered Bob Weir.  Here are some photos.

2:40 PM - 3 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

MF stands for Merlefest
Current mood: awake
Category: Music

Hey I'm in Grand Rapids Michigan, home of Gerald Ford and throughway of the Grand River.  Do you want to hear about the great Log Jam of 1883?  Well fine, cause I'm not going to tell you anyway.  By the way, when was the last time the words "log jam" were actually used to describe a log jam?  Ah who cares.

So greetings from Michigan and thanks to all you folks at the Modern Exchange in Detroit who came to hear hardcore music but listened to me anyway and dug it and had such nice things to say.  You guys rock.

Merlefest is cool:  http://www.merlefest.org.  Emmylou Harris is going to be there, and her name appears right before mine on the artist roster.  Nice.  Here is my itinerary:

-- I'll be playing on the "New Directions"/Americana stage with a full band at 11:20 a.m. on Friday, April 28.

-- At 2:00 p.m., on the Austin stage, I'll be one of the judges for the 
annual Chris Austin Songwriting contest (Jason won first place in the bluegrass 
category of the CASC in 2000).   

-- Finally, at 3:45, again on the Austin stage, I'll be part of a North Carolina
Songwriters' showcase with the Avett Bros., Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell, and
others.  

11:48 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment