Breakfast With You

"Breakfast With You," my new song!

The River Walk Gig

We played a gig at the River Walk in Breckenridge. Here is my 9 year old nephew starting us off on "Red Haired Boy." We played bluegrass and blues for two hours and everyone involved had a good time.



Here is our second song "Blackberry Blossom." Fun stuff... I'm the guy in the white shirt and baseball hat playing my Martin D18GE.

Richie Havens

I saw Richie Havens last night in Breckenridge at the River Walk Center. What an amazing performer. I was able to shake his hand after the show and his gentle, kind nature, which comes through in his music, was apparent in person as well.

Here he is signing autographs after the show.



Here's a short, inadequate cell phone clip from my seat in the front row.




Here he is at the Cannes film festival singing freedom.

Richie Havens - Ouverture du 61eme Festival de Cannes
by RichieHavens

"Caroline," Moses Atwood

Moses Atwood sings his song "Caroline" on Vimeo. I like Moses Atwood and the way he plays. He bends his face along with his notes. I like his song Caroline and I like Vimeo as an alternative to YouTube.

This and other tasty morsels of fine homemade music can be found here:
http://www.vimeo.com/UsFolk


"Caroline" Moses Atwood from CTD3 on Vimeo

"Rowing Song," Patty Griffin

Song: "Rowing Song"
Album: Impossible Dream
Artist: Patty Griffin

I used to row on the ocean off the coast of Maine. This song takes me instantly back to the peace, and meditative quality of rowing.

The ocean is a powerful force and putting yourself on the ocean in a small boat is an exercise in humility and surprise. While the ocean might be calm now, there's always the understanding that at any time it can rise up and swallow you like a grape. It's the song's recognition of that underlying, mysterious power that takes this to another level for me.

When I listen to this I see a fog drifting and swirling, revealing and obscuring the unknowns in my own life.

Patty Griffin's voice is very beautiful and clear and the music meanders in an ebbing and flowing waltz that supports the images in the lyrics.

"Let It Be Sung," Jack Johnson & Matt Costa

Song: "Let It Be Sung"
Album: A Brokedown Melody
Artist: Jack Johnson & Matt Costa

I'm a huge Jack Johnson fan. I even did a cover of his song Rodeo Clowns on youtube. But, when I heard this song on the radio one day while driving home, it resonated strongly with me.

It's a collaboration with Matt Costa, and Zach Gill of ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), both of whom I also enjoy and appreciate. There's something special about hearing a collaboration between artists in this age of isolation. It suggests a humility in the artists-- that they would rather create something beautiful together than insisting on owning every possible right to everything they produce. There are good collaborations and questionable ones, this is a good one.

The production is cool. The beginning of the song sounds far away-- like maybe you're walking down the beach to your friend's house where music is already being played, and you can hear it through the open door. Then, you enter the room and the music is clear and loud.

"Chicago (Acoustic Version)," Sufjan Stevens

Song: "Chicago (Acoustic Version)"
Album: The Avalanche - Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album
Artist: Sufjan Stevens

I was first introduced to Sufjan Stevens on the PBS show Austin City Limits. I was captivated by the sheer number of musicians on stage (15), their elaborate costumes, and the immensely creative song writing. I was not surprised to find that there are five versions of this song: Original, Acoustic, To String Remix, Adult Contemporary, Multiple Personality Disorder.

Watch Sufjan Stevens on Austin City Limits

"How Lucky We Are," Meiko

Song: "How Lucky We Are"
Album: Meiko
Artist: meiko

I'm a fan of this down-to-earth, girl-next-door style. When a song can stand on it's melody alone, it's a winner. She could do a Suzanne Vega style a capella version of this and it would sound great. Meiko has mastered the inflections of hotness, but this does not obscure the underlying beauty of her voice. This song conjures a vision of coffee in the kitchen and a voice so beautiful that I don't want to speak, just listen to her talk about how lucky we are.

"One day we'll turn on the TV and we won't see nothing 'bout war."

Amen.