Murphy’s Law

You’re familiar with Murphy’s Law, yes?  “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” I was invited to perform at a wonderful Mike Nesmith tribute show back in December. Several of my friends and peers would be performing, and it sounded like a fun way to spend an evening, playing music, hanging out with friends, […]

Recording Resumes!

After a break of a few months, recording has resumed on the forthcoming Mystics Anonymous album.  Gondwanaland, my studio, is back up and running and yesterday I celebrated by (re-)recording some vocals for the album.  There are a few tracks that I’m having trouble deciding how to approach vocally, so yesterday I put down several […]

Show Alert: Spanish for Hitchhiking

You’ve already heard me extoll the virtues of Spanish for Hitchhiking. Well, this evening they are playing Sierra Grille in Northampton, MA. I recommend you go. It’s only a $3 cover for 3 bands (Grammerhorn Wren and Cause a Rockslide are also playing). And it’s a great venue as well. Check out Spanhike’s album The […]

Show Alert: Lord Russ

If you don’t already know Lord Russ from his many endeavors, including band The Aloha Steamtrain and one-man play Queen Elvis, you are in for a treat. Lord Russ has focused his creative energies on creating his first solo album, Heir of Mystery (a title worthy of a Morrissey album, in my humble opinion). This […]

Nesmith Tribute Show: A Look Back

Back in December, I played a Michael Nesmith tribute show, along with several talented performers. Brian Marchese, who put together the show, has created a little video with photos of the night and sound clips from each song performed. The Mystics slot is third, with our un-rehearsed version of The Crippled Lion. This video is […]

Paradigm Shift

Here in New England, we’re buried in snow. This has me thinking wistfully of warm, wide-open spaces and Southwestern landscapes. In that spirit, here is a track from Middle Distance, the album Mystics Anonymous released as part of an art installation featuring said landscapes. Paradigm Shift is a noir-ish desert theme, and marks the point […]

Show Alert: Dennis Crommett

I have been remiss in promoting some excellent shows in the Pioneer Valley lately, but I am correcting that now by ensuring you hear this: singer/songwriter Dennis Crommett is playing The Parlor Room in Northampton, MA this Friday 2/1. You may know Crommett from his guitar-playing in indie champer-pop band Winterpills, or as the lead […]

Black

To this day, Okkervil River’s “Black” always hits me in the gut when I hear it. Here’s a great column on the song, including an interview with Will Sheff. If you don’t already know the song, you can hear it here too, and read along with the lyrics. Deep Cuts: Okkervil River, “Black” (With Will […]

Camper Van Beethoven Love

Anyone who knows me or has followed my work knows of my love for Camper Van Beethoven. This seminal band and its love of genre-crossing (and resultant uniqueness) is a huge part of my psyche, both as an artist and as a human being, sharing space with others like Jack Kerouac, R.E.M., Mark Twain, David […]