Progress Report

How's it going y'all!  I'm currently enjoying a ginger-turmeric tea with plenty of honey, giving my immune system all it needs to fight off these damn allergies.  I have some exciting news and updates for ya!

This last month has seen some great progress with all of my projects.  The currently unnamed Nola Night Band (Emmett Harrity on keys, Ryan Curless on drums, and Max Cantlin on guitar) has been rehearsing and is tightening up nicely.  We're going to be hosting a New Orleans vibe night somewhere in Portland, probably Local 188, so keep on the lookout for that if you live close to there or are in the area.  

The single 'City of My Mind' has its final vocal performance DONE by Dave Gagne!!!  I am so stoked for y'all to hear this...Royal Hammer crew on rhythm section and Gagne on vocals makes for some serious heat!

Bence/Redman/Mahan has our first performance booked!  We are playing at the Apohadion Theater on July 8.  We've been working on getting our ears sharpened up for this and we are talking about releasing some recorded material that night as a celebration for the new project.  

I traveled to NYC recently to record on Bonehart Flannigan's new album, which was really fun.  Bonehart (Jon Dell) is a great songwriter from Lincoln, Nebraska and he got a stellar band to cut his new record.  Be on the lookout for that gem!

Binky Griptite throws a blues jam hang on Sunday's in BK, so I went after my session and sat in.  Somehow, the next day I found myself working on Binky's new album at Electric Ladyland Studios in the A room!  The other bass player couldn't make it, so Binky asked if I could come in and dial in sounds and such.  I humbly accepted.  Thanks Binky!

I play guitar in Kenya Hall's band and I've been shedding a fair amount to keep sharp.  I played my first guitar solo in a performance setting and got a ton of positive feedback, so I must be doing something right.  While guitar is similar to bass, the role of the guitar is different and I love exploring new territory on different instruments, it makes me approach music from a different headspace.  For instance, I've been singing a lot lately and I feel like my bass playing has gotten much stronger as a result.  I'm fully intrigued now and can't wait to dig deeper into instruments I am unfamiliar with.  

Well, you're up to speed.  Keep on the look out for new music, more performances, and other happenings as they come up.  I'm still trying to figure out how to get more past recorded music up on my audio page, sorry for the delay!

Stay well out there everyone!  These beautiful summer months are upon us and there's a lot of positivity floating in the air :)

May May Maaaaaaay

I am so damn glad its warm out again.  I've been walking around in shorts and flip-flops, turning heads towards these bleach white legs of mine.  TMI?  :)

The last few months have brought an encouraging amount of clarity and focus in my life.  I've been practicing and creating nearly everyday and have some great things on the horizon.  Kenya Hall asked me to play guitar in her band, which I enthusiastically accepted.  Additionally, my friends Jaw Gems asked me to go on tour with them this summer for a week...playing keys!  I have been shedding piano/keys for quite some time now and I am tickled to death that these fellas think I'm good enough to keep up with them.  I am so humbled that my friends asked me to play in their bands on instruments other than bass.  

I have been listening through the material Zach, Henry, and I recorded over the last few months and I can safely say its dooooooope!  I am rolling around the idea of releasing a 'clips' album, where we take the best improvisations and let them loose into the world (with minor mixing due to the nature of recording all three of us with one microphone).  One of the jams is really vibey and we're talking about releasing that one as a completed idea.  Lots to consider!

This reggae track I've been working on found its way into a final mix, which I'm stoked about.  I sent it over to the talented Dave Gagne, who sang on the track, and he requested to do the vocals again.  While it's taken quite awhile for me to get this thing out, I allowed him to recut.  While the original take is stellar, I want him to feel good about his performance.  I am eager to hear what he changes/how he improves it!

Young Joon and Andi over at Moollon have generously sent me their new '56 Tele bass, which I have found nothing short of stunning.  I am absolutely thrilled with this new instrument and you'll be hearing me play it wherever I am in the future.  I'm not retiring my old p, but this thing is bonkers and makes me approach things differently.  

Keep an ear and eye peeled for my goings-on.  Thanks so much for the support!