November 25th will be my first performance as a married man! Crazy! I couldn’t kick it off with a better show…my good friend Gerry Williamshas asked me to open up for him and his incredible band and I jumped at the chance. I will be playing again with Geoff and Alex like I did at Rock For Hunger 4, but we may be adding something…..mmmm……funky. I hope you can make it.
The Social w/ Headliner Gerry Williams
54 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801
Cost: $5
The Social 54 North Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801
The day is fast approaching…come November 20th I am a married man! My soon-to-be-wife and I were baptized together on Sunday, April 26th, 2009. We attend Summit Church and Isaac Hunter, our pastor, baptized us and will also be marrying us. I put this short video together for Christy because she is doing so much for the wedding-the woman never takes a break. It’s only days now until we get married and I thought this would go a long way in removing some of the stress that will be with us in the coming week. This is for Christy.
First off, thanks to everyone that came out last night. Rock For Hunger put on a great event with a ton of music.
I played last night at Tanqueray’s from around 8:30pm-9:30pm and our set felt great. Alex and Geoff were on point and the whole experience was amazing for me. I haven’t played with a band since the Rock For Hunger Spring Show @ Backbooth a year or so ago, and even then we only played 3 songs together. Aside from that show it has been close to 3 years since I played with a group live. Last night was an entirely new animal from my usual solo/acoustic/looping. I was still able to incorporate some of my looping into the beginnings of certain songs and I think it flowed pretty well. What I’m most excited about was how well we were received. Most of the familiar faces in the crowd had only ever seen me play solo and after the show I was told how much more powerful the songs came across.
All I can say is that this is just the beginning. Alex, Geoff, and I were only able to squeeze in 2 rehearsals before this show and it still went great, though not flawless by any means. Still, the excitement from the set last night has rejuvenated me musically. Expect to see and hear more of what went down last night…
Hello all! I am excited to tell you that I will be playing @ Tanqueray’s on Saturday, October 10th as part of Rock For Hunger 4. My set will start at 8pm SHARP…so don’t be late! I will be playing with a full band so come out and hear something a bit different from my usual looping/acoustic stuff. I will be playing tunes off of the new album along with some oldies too. The set list may include songs like: Focus, Dirty Jim, Old, War, Mission, and Skeleton. So who will be in this band? My good friends Alex of the Fling (Bass) and Geoff of The Escape Pod (Drums).
All of the money raised from this event goes toward Rock For Hunger which continues to do great work in the Orlando community. I hope to see you all there. Follow RFH on Twitter.
I have been hard at work on a full length album filled with new songs. The title of the record isOut of the Wellbecause songwriting to me is often like purging feelings from within. Some of these songs are old and you may have heard them performed LIVE but most of them are new. I am once again recording with my good friend and brilliant producer Jason Gloria of Diatonic Productions and Frotastic Records. After working well together on CB Radio we couldn’t wait to put our creative energies into a bigger project.
Recording 'Bread' on CB Radio
Things to look forward to:
Out of the Well will be more of a full band sound with Rion Smith on drums (Shak Nasti, Sam Rivers) Alex Eastman on bass (The Fling), and a slew of other great musicians doing everything from horns to strings, to pedal steel. Like I said, certain songs that I play LIVE now, like Skeleton and Old, will find their way onto this record but with a much bigger sound than I can pull off by myself. (Me and my little pedal) This CD will also feature a full booklet containing all of the lyrics and my good friend Shawn Romono will be heading up the art design for that project, as well as the album cover. (Driftminer.com)
I will be stretching out a bit myself, playing acoustic and electric guitars as well as piano. It looks like the record wont be out until the beginning of next year but I hope once you hear it you will feel that it was well worth the wait. In the meantime I will continue to play solo shows around town, although you may see me sneak a couple shows with a full band (though I am trying to save that for the CD Release Party).
*I will be releasing this album under my record label:CB RADIO RECORDS
I think that about covers it~thanks to everyone that has supported me over the years and a special thanks to everyone that purchased CB Radio.…………stay tuned!!!
Falling In/ Falling Down is a song that I wrote for Christy. (There is a LIVE version of it on my MYSPACE…the volume is a bit low but it is a FREE DOWNLOAD. The studio version will be on my next record and I’m so excited for how it is turning out.)
I wrote this song on piano because I wanted it to be different from all of my other ‘guitar driven’ music; I wanted it to be unique like the love I feel for Christy.
The song is about how we, having both been destroyed by love in the past, feel about being together. I wanted to write down exactly how it feels to be with each other now, armed with the comfort of knowing that we are through with heartache – we are both finished falling in and then out of love; falling down and being hurt.
If you have ever worked at a job that you didn’t like (or hated with every fiber of your being) it was usually due to the fact you were not paid enough to deal with your boss. You know the type: Someone that you are far more qualified than yet they are somehow in charge of you…they call you names, belittle you, and abuse their power. A few years ago I wrote a bluegrass song titled, “Dirty Jim” to help convey the frustration that most of us feel in this situation. The song has been welcomed with open arms by most. The only gripe some have with the lyrics is that there are a few cuss words. This is tough for me because although I feel for the sensitivity of those with “little ears” and tender sensibilities, the frustration I felt towards this particular boss evoked, artistically, certain emotions and therefore the cuss words I used in the song were born.
Why am I even explaining this? Because I love the song and I love to play it live but I am also a person that does not like to offend anyone. (Particularly people that like my music) Of course if I spot a child in the audience I quickly turn on the PG rated version, which is not nearly as fun. I hope that people can see why I used the words I used and realize that all language can be used to express emotions. I also feel strongly that had you worked for this man you would see nothing wrong with the cussing and you would probably suggest that there should be more.
Now gather round’ my friends
And I’ll tell you all again
The story of how we killed Dirty Jim
Dirty Jim was our boss
Everyday he would get sauced
And then wold get quite cross
You don’t talk back to him…
Oh, how we hated Dirty Jim
He was cold and he was mean
The blackest eyes you ever seen
Every word from his mouth was a threat
And there’s a story that’s been spread
That will fill your heart with dread
When you’re alone in your bed
He set his own Ma’ on fire…
Just to light a cigarette
I can’t work any faster
I wish I was dead
I really hate this bastard
I think I’ll bury him instead
We came up with a plan
To dispose of the man
Ideas were filling to the brim
There shouldn’t be a fuss
There’s one of him and four of us
And if he starts to spit and cuss
We’ll tear him limb from limb…
and end the reign of Dirty Jim
I can’t work any faster
I wish I was dead
I really hate this bastard
I think I’ll bury him instead
Well, the time had come at last
And it all happened so fast
Dirty Jim was tied upon the ground
And I know it seems absurd
But I never even heard him
Him say his last words
But maybe that’s because the only sound…
Was that concrete pouring down
I can’t work any faster
I wish I was dead
I really hate that fucking bastard
I think I’ll bury him instead
One year to the day
An investigator made his way
From the new police department down the street
The evidence was slim
In the case if Dirty Jim
With no hide nor’ hair of him
All he could do was walk the beat…
The answers right below his feet
The answers right below his feet
The answers right below his feet
Last night Christy and I went to Club Firestone for the Orlando Weekly’s ‘Best of Orlando 2009’ shin-dig. It was a good time, made even better by the free beer and food. While being pressed up against the bar in the back I was able to snap a couple pictures of a few of the winners names as they flashed up on the wall.
First I’d like to give it up to a talented musician here in Orlando, ‘Best Folk Artist’, Matt Butcher. This guy is a great songwriter and someone I truly respect. I feel honored just being in the same category as him.
Rock for Hunger won 2nd place for ‘Best Local Charity Group’ (I think they should have gotten 1st Place, but I am also extremely bias). You have never taken the chance to serve with Rock for Hunger on Monday nights where they feed the homeless by Lake Eola you should. Its a great experience and it truly does help bring a sense of community to people that are often not looked at as people.
And finally, as Christy was telling me “…there it is, take a picture!” I was shoveling a chicken wing into my face and washing it down with some free suds, I frantically reached for my iPhone and snapped away. Thanks again to everyone that voted me ‘Best Indie Act’. It really does mean a lot and gets me excited to drop my new record. Thanks for recharging the batteries!
One of the biggest influences on my songwriting over the years has been Paul Simon. His first solo album ‘Paul Simon’ (pictured here) is a must have for any songwriter. Still, The Only Living Boy In NY is by far my favorite from his Simon and Garfunkle collection. (This song became popular again when it appeared in the film “Garden State”.) You can view my live version of TOLBINY on YouTube.
Over the last year and a half I have played everywhere and anywhere in the Orlando area and I have had a blast doing it. Thanks to everyone that purchased CB RADIO and those of you that have supported me by coming to my shows. I have just been voted “Best Indie Artist in Orlando” by The Orlando Weekly’s Best of 2009. Thanks to everyone that voted for me.
I am currently working on a full length album which I am looking to release within the next few months. I am once again teaming up with my good friend and producer Jason Gloria. (Diatonic Productions/ Frotastic Records) I am super excited. I will also be revamping everything (website/youtube/myspace/facebook/etc…) so stay tuned and get connected!
I have been hard at work on a full length album filled with new songs. The title of the record is Out of the Well because songwriting to me is often like purging feelings from within. Some of these songs are old and you may have heard them performed LIVE but most of them are new. I am once again recording with my good friend and brilliant producer 
