Before the evening started I thought it was going to be a slow night at Pies and Pints. A couple of our regular players had other obligations and it was a nice weekend and a hot night. Nice weekends usually mean folks drain out and stay in Sunday nights. Hot evenings usually mean people avoid hot restaurants with exposed ovens like the plague.

However, shortly before playing, I got a text that my buddy Garrison would be showing up. And then a buddy, Oded, who had long ‘promised’ to come, showed up as well. In addition, the place was packed with a good dinner crowd.

After two really great sets with Tom, Colin Klein, Pat Ferris, and myself, we were joined on stage for a couple songs by Gus Clark on accordion. Gus has a booming voice and personality and it really kicked everything up a notch. After Gus, a gypsy-jazz group, let by Jusef(?) played a set of tunes. The night ended with a random set of folks kind of shooting songs off here and there. But a good time was had by all!

No tags

Another blog left stale… Sorry about that.

Anyway, rather than rehashing too much, I’ll just rehash a little.

Played a really fun show out in Sedro-Wooley a few weeks back. Johnny Fitzpatrick and Robert (bass) picked up Tom Rooney and myself to play the gig. It was slated for Nettlehoney, but two of their members are out of the country. A wide open venue overlooking a riverside park, the acoustics were great. On the trip out, we packaged and labeled a first-run of our CDs. Was a great feeling to sell them within hours of leaving the press ;)

Pies and Pints has been going really well. Rickie Bobby (aka Rickie Gene Powell) has been playing mandolin with us. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to focus on the fiddle. Or, in one case, when an extra fiddler arrived, to hop in on snare. Otherwise it’s been the usual suspects, with Johnny and Colin Klein alternating sets (and often playing together) on Banjo.

As for Creeping Time, we are in the final phase of mixing the album. With lots of details to fill out, we’re expecting a full public release sometime in early 2012. How about that for a 3 year recording project!

No tags

Georgetown Carnival – what a event! Nice & interesting folks. Saw a few great friends I haven’t seen for a while. What a great thing, bringing lots of people together. Good beer, interesting booths and attractions.

Creeping Time played first at 1:15. Really nice folks and didn’t seem to mind when our kids ate all the fruit and we fed our families. Though does it count if we played our hearts out? Felt really natural playing with everybody. The set ended 10 minutes early when Dave told us we had one song left. Apparently he misread somebody’s signal and we still had 15 minutes remaining. We definitely tried playing it like it was the last song ever.

Here are some Flickr pics.

No tags

Last Sunday there weren’t too many folks at Pies and Pints that weren’t either playing music or working there.

We played unplugged because of the limited attendance, and the music felt amazing! Everything was so clear and easy, and though lacking electron-electricity, it was surely electrifying my soul. There were a few tables, so that made me sad. But everybody listening seemed as psyched as we were, and that made me happy.

No tags

Big news and good times for Sunday.

First, the big news: In the morning, Ken Nottingham came by with Carrie Wicks and we completed tracking for the upcoming Creeping Time album! This thing has been one and a half ‘official’ years in the making, though many of the songs are much older. Turning out to be a really great album with lots of creative pieces. We are fully embracing the idea of doing things in the studio that we won’t necessarily replicate live. Though we can come pretty dang close and we surely put forth the emotional content. Later that evening I sang all my backup tracks, and viola, we are ready to mix! Get ready for a fall release…

Pies and Pints turned out to be a much needed improvement. After last week’s slow night, this week turned out to be a great one. Lots of great pickers turned out and sat in. Jim Marsh was in town from Maine and supplied bass for the first set! Its funny how music and relationships are just plain easier when everybody’s having fun and there are people there to support you.

No tags