February 2nd-8th: More recording, writing, and getting ready for shows!

Hello again! Welcome back if you’ve been keeping in touch with me here-if you’re new, welcome all the same!

This week has been a kind of slow week, but I still managed to get some things done! I sometimes dread these kinds of times because I think I’m more productive when I’m busier, but as a musician, you gotta keep moving or you’ll get left behind.

i was able to work up another song idea on Tuesday this week, temporarily titled “Broken Down, Hearted.” Another love song (go figure) but I came up with it by thinking about a friend of mine who has been having a lot of vehicular troubles as of late. This isn’t a dedication to him or anything, he just had to keep dealing with the problem, and the more he kept saying that his car was ‘broken down,’ the more it got stuck in my head. Before I knew I made this connection between that being ‘broke and down-hearted’ and from there, a song idea came to me. I’m hoping it will turn out to be a great tune, but you all will just have to wait and see!

Last week, I had the pleasure of working and playing with Mr. Charlie Barath on his new record, and this week, I have the excitement of working and engineering Mr. Steve Ludwig’s new record he’s working on!! Steve and I have actually been working a long time on this, as we get a good stretch of time together, plowing through the process, but then we go long stretches where we’re both too busy to make it in to work on it. Today, Steve will be coming back in, and we’ll begin with the vocal tracks! His style is similar to that of the old Reno & Smiley records of the 40s and 50s-hardcore, driving bluegrass stuff. It’s been a really fun process working creatively with Steve, as I’m a bit fresher to that specific substyle of bluegrass, but Steve knows what he wants, and with my skills, this record plans to be a hit! As we complete more, I’ll be posting more about it, so keep it here!

Im also gearing up for a string of shows that expects to be LIT (I think that’s what the young kids are saying these days.) Friday and Sunday, I’ll be at Missing Links Brewery in Meridian, PA with 2 of the bands I’m currently playing with, and then Monday, I’ll be at North Country Brewery in Slippery Rock playing that evening. I’m also happy to announce that I will be in attendance and performing at the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Tribute Show at The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh on Bonus Day (February 29th!) This will be my 2nd consecutive year playing this show, and last year, the floor was sold out! If you’re interested in attending, there are tickets currently on sale, so get yours now!! As an added bonus, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the movie and the soundtrack, which makes this year even more special! It should be lots of fun, and I hope to see you there!

Well, now you’re caught up! Hope I didn’t scare too many of the new folks away! I’ll see you all next week!