Journal

10 September 2008 : No foolin'. It's been awhile . . .

So welcome back! Much has been shaking these past few months, including some new tunes written, old tunes revived, and many that slip through the cracks as I hum myself into a rhythm, moving through the mountains with a backpack on and ten teenagers wondering what I'm humming.

I'm back in the Bay Area for now, largely bouncing around still, guitar still in hand and the performance hiatus still in effect . . . for now . . . I'd love to record a new song or two, though, and post it for all y'all. I will of course let you know when I do.

Also, big news for this musician-turned-climber (or the other way around). I’m offering my services as a climbing teacher and guide.  I have been climbing actively for over ten years, and would love to share my passion for moving smoothly and safely up rock faces with anyone interested.  Through my work with organizations like Outward Bound, a New Zealand university Alpine Club, and personal guiding, I have taught climbing fundamentals—as well as guiding longer, Grade III and IV routes—to hundreds of folks, ranging from 14 – 64 (really).

As always, shoot me an email or call to set up an experience, or just to inquire further, or chat about whatever.

Hope y'all're well! Much love . . .  

11 December : I love winter.

I've had flashes of homesickness the past couple weeks, for some cold, dry northwestern Montana winter air. Being in the desert, though, has its perks on a pragmatic level, and regarding the meta-picture, what can I say except it's where I am, and meant to be, right now? Nothing. So that's wonderful : lots of cold blue sky, joshua trees, creosote bushes, even a day of rain.

A new tune up, too, on the homepage, written in my friend's back "yard" in Twentynine Palms, the neighbor's rottweiler giving me a curious eye the whole event.

Happy days, amig@s.

17 September : I've released an old recording online, a 2002 project titled This Time Around. These 14 tracks are me at twenty-one years old with the old Epiphone, plus two with the violin uber-talent Jenny Fawcett. It's been a great project for me to dig this up, make a cover and get 'er out there, all spawned in part by some requests to make accessible those old recordings I've alluded to. I like it.

You can listen to and order This Time Around via CD Baby or iTunes.

'Twas a big summer for me in the Sierra Nevada mountains : lots of days under the stars, climbing some phenomenal granite peaks, and fortunate to get to work in the wilderness with a big handful of folks in that teen-to-twenties transition era. What an amazing time. And a reminder for me of the power of our human connection, coming without answers or diagrams about how life should flow, but an openness to really listen, and from there offer advice or a hug or a kick in the ass as needed. That was my summer in a nutshell.

And now I've the last few days of my month off before heading down to Joshua Tree 'til spring to continue this work with Outward Bound. And music! This summer was a musical sabbatical of sorts, playing only occasionally for myself and the crickets . . . though desire and a few new tunes have been brewing as of late. All things ebb and flood, right? I'd love to do a recording down there in the beautiful Mojave desert. I'll keep you posted, of course.

Happy autumn! Thanks for your emails that keep me updated on y'all, too.

29 April : Goodbye Fairfax . . . I'm off into the mountains, to teach and play. It's been a pleasure to feel such a part of the community here, and such sweet sorrow to go . . .

9 April : Out of the desert! I'm so, so glad that happened, to teach again and be with some fabulous high-schoolers, and to just be out in Death Valley, movin' and shakin' and counting my blessings. If you happen to see my looking lost on the street in a month or ten, please remind me how good a backpacking trip is for my soul. And for writing songs, too (new tunes at the next show).

And oh, sweet music. I'm excited to play out again, for the show on Friday. Y entonces? Another recording this autumn, more songs and a different sound? Thoughts, thoughts to entertain, to create down the line perchance. My ears are wide open. Thanks for listening.

27 February : And a month passes . . . hello! This has been an interesting month, musically and otherwise. I've heard a lot of questions rolling around in my head about really making "it" happen as a musician, which some of my musical friends seem so driven for and talented at. I listen to the radio and hear nothing in particular; I listen to a mixed CD from a friend and hear a phenomenal song. From who? Doesn't say, and maybe I'll never know.

What does seem clear and certain for me right now, though, is that what feels real and genuine, both in my songwriting and in the process of getting those songs out into the world, is my radar of sorts. Whatever deviates from that, however compelling the argument to do it for its own sake, or for popularity, or because that's how it's traditionally done . . . is not for me, at this stage in my life at least.

On that note, goodbye for another month! I'll be leading 10 high school juniors on a 25-day backpacking trip in Death Valley, which is something I used to do quite a bit, haven't much lately, and am excited for. Stay well.

29 January : Two days after the Mercy release party and . . . how to sum this up? Such wonderful folks turned out, all of it was very humbling, and the show rocked (if I do say so . . .). Hearing everyone voices singing along . . . first on the "reduce-reuse-recycle" song, written for a middle school assembly with Next Generation earlier that week . . . and then on "Mercy" was so simply beautiful.

The past week was a very powerful one for me. Monday night I played a few warm-up tunes, and then "Mercy" at the end of a peace vigil in San Rafael organized by students of Marin Academy. It was a powerful experience to hear first-hand accounts of war, where we are at as a nation and a unified desire to bring peace here, now. Roni Krouzman, founder of Next Generation and rockin' lead guitarist, helped organize the vigil, as well as teaming up with me to play, for 250 third and fourth graders, a "reduce-reuse-recycle" song I'd written (click here to see a picture). So cool, and again, such an honor to be some part of some amazing changes taking places.

7 January 2007 : New Year and here we go . . . Back in California feels great, actually even better than I'd expected after such a sweet trip home. Being back and feeling out how to market my music while still staying true to myself, there's the challenge right now. One thing remains consistent, though: I love performing. Playing for a receptive audience continues to be the fuel for wanting to play out more. So thanks, dear listener/reader, for that.

24 December : Happy solstice, y'all, and Christmas Eve. It's my last couple days home here in the northwest corner of Montana, in a trip that's been fully what I needed, and in ways I didn't even know. Each year, it seems, and right on cue : death, dark, rebirth, springtime. What a process. My shows over the last two nights, in a theatre on Friday and a bar last night, were potent reminders of what a sweet gift it is to be performing my music (as much as I can call it that) to receptive ears, and I hope an equally powerful gift for those listening. I love it. Thanks for reading, and stopping by so to speak, as I begin my 27th year on planet earth . . .

10 December 2006 : Amazing to me that this website’s almost up, the recording’s done, this dream that there’s been so much energy around, and now, now . . . it’s naptime.  A snapshot into any given day in the studio would’ve found me challenged (by getting my musical ideas pushed), elated (by some of what we came up with), and frustrated sometimes by the slow process (and by the rest of what we came up with).  I’m glad she’s done, for sure, and excited to share it, though funny this feeling that what I really want to do now is go back into the studio and record 12 new songs for another album.  As always, I’m learning more and more, we’ll see what plans the Universe lays at my feet.