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| 09.02.09 | There are two things you should know: recording is at a stand-still, and I probably won't be able to play as many shows as I'd like to for a while. Viva la musica! |
| 07.28.09 | I have new t-shirts available! I advise you to pick one up, if only to have a shirt with a bison wearing a bowler hat and a monocle... On August 13th, I have a show at Chicago's Beat Kitchen. You can buy advance tickets here, which saves you two dollars and a whole bunch of grief on the day of the show when you're wondering whether or not to go... Keep an eye out for more information on the August 8th show at The Oasis in Grayslake. I'll be playing alongside some of my favorite acoustic musicians - don't miss it! |
| 07.05.09 | Last week's tour with Tricia and Steph went wonderfully, and now that I'm done with it (and since I'll be working full-time come August), I plan to record throughout July with an unwaivering fervor. I'm truly excited about this batch of songs... In other news, The Vinyl Experience, a wonderful new independent music podcast, has posted its second episode, which features some tunes from and an interview with yours truly. The show's creator, Roger, has been incredibly complimentary and supportive, and his words in the podcast are no exception. Roger does an excellent job selecting and showcasing music, so make sure to check out the first two episodes as well as any future episodes. You're bound to come across some great up-and-coming musicians. |
| 06.04.09 | Get out your calendars, music fans! Every night from June 22nd to June 27th, I’ll be playing shows with fellow acousticians Tricia Scully and Steph Plant. We’ll be kicking things off in St. Louis with John Krane, playing by the lake at Chicago’s Waterfront Cafe (but not before making our way over to John Davey’s West Lafayette residence), and then wrapping things up with a musical nightcap at Sleepy Creek Vineyards. Check out the complete list of shows here or on MySpace, and be sure to come on out if you want to hear some wonderful music! Also, if you're curious about how recording's going, it's going! |
| 04.26.09 | The academic year is winding down, and things couldn’t be busier. Aside from lesson planning and paper grading, I’ll be performing this Thursday at the Canopy Club as part of a benefit show for Invisible Conflicts and the Center for Women in Transition, covering a couple tunes at Exile on Main’s Bob Dylan Day on Sunday, and serenading attendees of an artist reception at the Springer Cultural Center the following Friday evening, which will showcase the work of Kristi Rae Wilson and Phyllis Rash Hughes. I also hope to start recording another full-length this summer. Woo! |
| 04.01.09 | Bad News Bears: My hard drive crashed (quite literally) and I lost all the data that I did not back up. Among these data were lyrics, demos, and photos, so I’m pretty upset with myself for not being more prudent. I also lost contact info for some of the people on my mailing list. Even though I barely send any updates as it is, I encourage you to either re-send me your info or become a Facebook “fan.” I won’t spam you too much, and I’ll try to refrain from sending you the April Fool’s worm as an attached file named “free song.” Enough with technology, though… There’s an awesome show set for this Friday night at the Red Herring. We’re talking So Long Forgotten, Good Night & Good Morning, and Casados, along with out-of-towners Glowfriends. I open at 8PM sharp. |
| 01.11.09 | To start off the new year right I'll be playing four different times in the C-U vicinity, all in January. On the 19th, I'll be performing live on WEFT Sessions, a performance that you can stream live at weft.org. On the 23rd, I'll be playing at the Red Herring with Sunset Stallion and Tall Tale's Tracey & Tricia. The 24th will find me in lovely Dewey, IL for an acoustic show with Todd Reese, John Davey, and Tricia Scully, among others. And last but not least, the 28th brings me to Canopy Club, where I'll be joining some C-U favorites in playing alongside Chicago's Joe Pug. If anything, don't miss Joe Pug... The moral of this post is that there's hardly an excuse for missing all four shows. |
| 11.16.08 | Schooling calls (ceaselessly), so I'll keep this short. Todd Reese and I will be embarking on a brief tour of the Midwest starting this Wednesday and ending just before ya'll roast your turkeys. It'll be my first extended musical endeavor outside the great state of Illinois, so if you're thinking of coming to any of the shows, please do! |
| 09.12.08 | Slowcoustic.com posted a blog today with some nice things to say about a couple tracks from "Counter Intelligence." Thanks, Slowcoustic! In other news, it's not too late to purchase a pass for this year's Pygmalion Music Festival, which begins this September 17th and runs through the 20th. I'll be playing a free show at noon on Thursday, September 18 with Elsinore's Ryan Groff. It's at Blue's BBQ, so I can guarantee that things will get saucy. |
| 07.16.08 | 'Ello, 'ello. A few upcoming shows worth noting: an acoustic show this Saturday the 19th at The Oasis in Grayslake with Molly Robison and three other local acts, and two shows with Santa: one is in Waukegan on Friday the 25th with Motovune, and the other is in the wonderful Mike 'n Molly's beer garden on Thursday the 31st. Come one, come all! And if you haven't done so already, be sure to check out this year's Pygmalion Music Festival lineup, and then ask yourself why you haven't already purchased a pass. |
| 06.30.08 | The good people at the 217 and WPGU have been kind enough to name me their 'Artist of the Week.' Every day during the 4 o'clock hour WPGU will be spinning a different track off of "Counter Intelligence," and later on in the week they'll be having me in the studio for an interview, so stay tuned for that. Plus, you can read a fun little questionnaire here. |
| 06.16.08 | "Counter Intelligence" has been receiving a bit of press lately. You can read the album reviews here, a page that I'll be updating as more of them trickle in. And don't forget about the Elbo Room tomorrow! I play at 9PM. |
| 05.20.08 | "Counter Intelligence" is now available on iTunes. For those of you who remain steadfast in your preference for the tangible, worry not - it's still available on CD. |
| 05.13.08 | If you missed last week's WEFT Session, you can stream/download all the recordings here. Yes, those are new songs on the setlist! Chicagoans, don't forget to make reservations for this Friday night at Uncommon Ground, where I'll be performing with Jeanne T. Arrigo. I'm hoping to tumble around the Windy City a bit this summer, so if you come out to a show or two, I'll be happy as a moose. |
| 03.30.08 | "Words of the Wise" has been (wisely) used in a promotional video for "Archiculture", an upcoming documentary about the academic experiences of five diverse architecture students. The film looks interesting, so you should definitely watch the trailer and the aforementioned Archicast3. Also, "Coffee on the Rocks" is featured on the latest Indie Launchpad podcast (#93). Listen and leave some love! In other news, The Oasis, also known as the Grayslake Youth Center, is having its long-awaited grand opening on Friday, April 11th. I'll be playing along with TCBD and Butterfly Assassins, who are about to release their full-length debut "Sylvia" (which is fantastic, I might add). The Oasis will be all ages for the opening weekend, so there's no excuse for all you meddling seventy year-olds not to come. |
| 03.11.08 | So I released a new compact disc ("Counter Intelligence") a couple weeks ago, and it's currently available to buy at shows, online via PayPal, at Champaign's Exile On Main St, and at Urbana's Parasol. Be sure to check the shows section, because there are a slew of upcoming events that I'm excited about. Oh, and happy new year! |
| 11.12.07 | In case you missed my on-air interview and performance on WPGU-FM 107.1 last night, you can stream or download it here. For some reason, the stream cut out in the middle of "Words of the Wise," but you've all heard that song anyway. A big thanks to Lauren and WPGU for having me in the studio. |
| 09.18.07 | Ten shows, a Six Flags season, and a hospital stay later, and I don't really have much to say other than thanks to all the patient people who haven't forgotten that I'm still working to put out a piece of plastic for their enjoyment sometime before the Good Lord takes me. Please pester me with e-mails until I get it done... And you think I'm kidding... |
| 04.12.07 | An important update: I will no longer be playing the Savemore Lounge show as stated before, for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, lawsuit threats... Note to self: do not book shows on Friday the 13th... Also, 24 Hours of Music is being rescheduled for April 28th and 29th due to weather. |
| 04.11.07 | I play at 3PM on Saturday afternoon as a part of Bradley University's 24 Hours of Music, a benefit concert featuring 24 different artists to fund the public schools of Peoria's District 150. The festivities begin at 7PM on Friday night and go until 7PM on Saturday. Attendance is free, but donations are greatly appreciated! |
| 03.20.07 | The kind folks at Jstreet Radio have invited me to appear on their weekly broadcast for a live acoustic set and interview. If you have a computer (and functioning ears) you can stream the station here and listen in from anywhere on the globe. Otherwise, if you live in the Lake County vicinity, you can listen on the radio at WRLR 98.3 FM. I highly encourage you to call the in studio phone (847-546-9757) to say hello on the air! The show starts at 8PM this Thursday night, and I will be on around 9PM. |
| 02.25.07 | If you would like to purchase tickets in advance for this Friday's show at the Canopy Club featuring the star-studded lineup of Santa, The Squares, and Company of Thieves, be sure to e-mail me. |
| 01.18.07 | First and foremost, a belated happy new year to you and your loved ones! I got a considerable amount of work done on the upcoming album during my winter break, but I now find myself preoccupied with literature, essays, and applications. Thus, it'll take longer than expected, as I don't intend to cheapen it with arbitrary deadlines and such. Blame it on my teachers... In the meantime, check out the new Bovine Music Show podcast (070121), which features "The Cell." |
| 11.21.06 | Listen to the latest podcast (061126) from the Bovine Music Show, featuring "Words of the Wise" and an abundance of other music. |
| 11.02.06 | Two new shows... The first one is at Champaign's Mike 'n Molly's on November 13th. I'm playing with Oceans and Instrumental Quarter (the latter is all the way from Italia). If not for the music, come at least for a beverage or two. The second show is in Grayslake over Thanksgiving Break with some amigos, including Matt Enquist. Plus, it's absolutely FREE. So bring turkey or something... On a different note, does anyone know a violinist that would be willing to record an accompanying track on a song for the new CD? |
| 08.30.06 | Be sure to check out the first compilation CD from Stolen Mix Tape, featuring the song "Dissociation." It was handed out by Steven Vance at Grayslake's Rock in the Park 2... Also, feel free to request my music at anytime on Crossfire-Radio, an uncensored online radio station that plays just about anything. It's easy to do. Just go to requests and click the song you want. |
| 06.16.06 | Summer is upon us, folks, and I have two upcoming shows that you should consider attending: one in Bartlett on Saturday the 24th with an assortment of artists and the other on Thursday the 29th at the Grayslake Public Library with the one and only Sarah Jin. If you're feeling guilty about not keeping up with your summer reading, come to the library a little early. Since it will be outside, feel free to bring a blanket and a smorgasbord. Oh, and I started recording. |
| 04.27.06 | Calling all trumpeters, saxophonists, cellists, pianists, violists, pianists, harmonizers, and percussionists: I have some fresh beats in mind, and it's almost summer time, which can only mean that a new album must be recorded! If you're a cellist, please raise your hand. I need you... Thanks to those who came to the Illini Union show. 'Twas an enjoyable hour. Harry Chapin's sweet melodies never fail... And in other news, you now can sign up for a mailing list on the contact page. Why, you ask? So I can spam you about twice a year with useless updates like this one... Do it. |
| 04.09.06 | Independent Clauses has posted a review of "Something to Laugh About" here. The most-complimented aspect of the album was the artwork, yet "Houston" Brown was not mentioned. So here's to Justin and his work: *Cheers...* |
| 03.20.06 | The mp3s are now compatible with Windows Media Player. The Canopy Club's open mics are starting up again on the 28th. |
| 02.17.06 | Songs off of both CDs are now available for download in the music section. The song files are in mp3 format, but they seem to be incompatible with Windows Media Player, due to some codec issues. Let me know if you have the same problem. However, the files still work with iTunes, WinAmp, and RealPlayer... There are also some browser compatibility issues with this website, most notably the pictures section not working with Microsoft Internet Explorer. I recommend downloading the Mozilla Firefox browser, not only because it reconciles my HTML incompetence, but also because everything on the internet looks better, especially when you have a high screen resolution... |
| 01.13.06 | Over my lengthy winter break I decided to learn some HTML and make a new website. The GeoCities Easy Builder, or whatever it's called, is kind of a disaster. Plus, HTML turned out to be kind of fun. Thanks to some tips from Bryan Kveton and countless random websites, I finished the basic layout. But there's more, folks: a new and (not at all) improved guestbook and a store with t-shirts for ladies and gents alike. I don't really know how the shirts will turn out, and since they are somewhat expensive, order at your own risk! But let me know how they are if you end up getting one... Perhaps I'll buy a domain name soon, and also, depending on bandwith and file space limitations, I may be posting songs for download here. That's all for now. Happy New Year's! |