Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Nashville, TN

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Work continues on the next record.

I'm using a Martin D-28 in standard tuning and an Alvarez acoustic one step down. This here's my Les Paul Epiphone. It's criminally overdue for a new set up but she stays in tune better than I deserve. 15 years ago I bought a Fender bass out of Musician's Friend magazine. It'll show up on the record. That's about as much gear talk as I know. The vocal mic we're using is some custom-built piece of magic. The drums, no idea. Evan Sieling's on those, and the dials. Sam Barrows on all things horn. Strings on the way.

Let's see. Let's play catch up. Here's me and friends with David Ramirez after he played The High Watt recently.

from (L) to (R): awesome person, awesome person, David Ramirez, charred marshmallow

So, what else. Ah there was a show in November I'm long overdue thanking you for coming out to if that was you. We sold the place out. Kevin, Sam, Tim, thank you. Here's a picture I took of the stage and my ridiculous equipment bag. Just look for the Dalmatian print. I was in-between equipment bags, sue me. I have a new one now, with a smidge more style. And pockets.

What does this picture make you think of? I like how the spotlight shines on the case on the stage. Points to the music. I'm tempted to think the picture makes me lonely. OK it does. But that might do some disservice to the energy spilt all over that place that night. Ya can't see it but, well I can still kinda see it.

I'm currently reading "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield and "Getting The Love You Want" by Harville Hendrix. Which is a heavy-hitter. I was all over the place with books this year. A bunch of Navy SEAL stuff, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown, some other self-help stuff with a mix of Buddhism/meditation/spirituality. Been doing a lot of guided meditations on YouTube and just totally slaying myself. I recommend it.

If you're like me you're ready to throw 2016 in the trash can. I don't really mean that because there's no growth without pain, or at least 'change' right? 'Change.' There are more severe words. I am grateful, though. I'm grateful for all the changes in my life. I trust myself, I like myself. There is no chaos here because it is not allowed. 2016 will be revealing lessons for years to come, probably. I feel like it's the door that opened that ushered in so many new wonderful things into my life. I've already started to collect. I wish peace for everybody.