I understand now why people do the 25-ticket buy to do the big-stage shows: Because they are fucking awesome. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt a half hour breeze by as quickly as the one that I got to play for last night did, but it was amazing. The soundguys were true professionals, the…
These last few weeks of being a ticket-selling machine have been weird for me — few things feel further from what I like doing with my music than hounding people for money (I know it’s going to be worth it, I’m just saying) — so it was nice last night to be able to just…
I’m opening for Rusted Root on January 1st , at Stage 48! I have a lot of intimate involvement with this group, to the point that I tend to think of them more as friends and peers than as Big Honkin’ Rock Stars, so it’s going to be great to start the year off with…
I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be playing at the National Underground a week from this Wednesday from 7:00-9:00 pm. The National Underground, owned by Gavin and Joey DeGraw, was the first club to give me a weekly spot when I moved here in 2008. It was a magical thing to have had a Saturday…
Last night at the Vagabond Cafe, Joel “The Sticker Dude” Cohen brought up an interesting point, in the hopes of opening a conversation. “At first,” he said, “I went to everybody’s show. Then there got to be too many people, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just go to the shows of people I like.’ That…
It’s been brought to my attention that I haven’t concentrated on writing about my experience as a songwriter on this site at all, so a newcomer will think that all I do is go to improv jams and play in the subways. The truth is, I haven’t been writing up a storm lately, because I’ve…
Another great night at Spike Hill! Kelly Ruth and Walden were great, but the true standout of the night was Musaic. Look in your eye by Musaic That can start your morning off right. Rodrick Covington is a pleasure to watch and hear live, and the whole band is super-energetic, while also maintaining the tightness…
I wanted to spread some love about Spike Hill last night, but holy shit did Twitter lay me low on the way home. Why is Chavril viral? Why does it not make sense to anybody? These two people are a completely feasible match. I got “into it” the other night with some friends, defending Nickleback…
About four-and-a-half years ago, I decided to move to NYC to find a fresh crop of opportunities. The action, I was convinced, was no longer in Pittsburgh. About four-and-a-half years ago, Morgan Erina decided to move to Pittburgh to find a fresh crop of opportunities. The action, she was convinced, was no longer in NYC….
Tonight at Spike Hill, I didn’t just come out solo after two bands, I came out solo after a 7-piece gypsy punk band. The Butcher Knives, while in err about not using the skills of Spike Hill’s soundman-in-residence Danny, brought a dancing, sweating, gorgeous crowd out to Williamsburg, and stuck around to hear my set…