{ORDER A COPY OF ELEVEN SONGS

May 4, 2008

Been taking a bit of a break from the live shows lately, but I've finished writing what's now being referred to by most as "the game show record". Its actual title will be: Your Favorite Game Show.

Your Favorite Game Show will be the first official release on my newly minted label El Radar Records. El Radar is named for the boxer Wilfred "El Radar" Benitez who went 15 rounds with Sugar Ray Leonard the night I was born. My parents were watching the fight when I decided to begin my own. Round one: that Checker cab backseat. Checker Records (a subsidiary of Chess that represented a young Aretha Franklin) was taken so I adopted the underdog's namesake for my own operations below, above, and as The Radar.

March 15, 2008

Go to the SONGS page to listen to selections from the Feb. 28, 2008 show at Bordello. Special thanks to Dorian Wood for recording the set.

March 11, 2008

11 Songs is the Pro/File feature in this month's issue of Electronic Musician (w/ They Might Be Giants on the Cover...which really, shall we say: puts a little birdhouse in my soul.) Check your local newsstand or read the article here: www.electronicmusician.com

January 28, 2008

I just did an interview with Paradigm, an art/literary journal put out by Rain Farm Press. Read it here: www.paradigmjournal.com/music.

In other news, the video shoot for Loma Prieta went really well. Thanks to Josh and all the crew who helped make it happen. We have a few more pieces to take care of, but the final product should be done pretty soon. Look out, YouTube.

January 4, 2008

Happy New Year. Here's hoping that your first week of 2008 was as resolute as you set out for it to be.

We're shooting the video for Loma Prieta in a few weeks. It's being directed by Winch and Pulley, AKA Josh Forbes. I'm excited.

Plans for 2008 also include more touring, especially up and down the West coast and to the Southwest and, more writing---I'm five songs into a new album.

See you Sunday at The Redwood downtown.

November 18, 2007

Heidi Klum and I now have one (and only one) thing in common: the December issue of Lucky magazine. Since the version of this special periodical with me in it only went out to Amazon.com subscribers, I'll see about scanning it and posting it here. It's very... glossy.

For those of you who did subscribe via Amazon 6-10 weeks ago, thanks for visiting!

Now, the article says my CD costs $27.99 and at press time, it's true, the only copy available on Amazon was from renegades re-selling copies claiming they're supporting independent artists. I assure you you can get 11 Songs for the absolutely reasonable price of about $12 on Amazon, or CD Baby, or probably even less on iTunes. For my CD to cost $27.99 I'd have to be importing it from France or something. No such luck(y).

October 24, 2007

My heart goes out to all the fire victims across this Southland. Scary shit, indeed.

But to those of you who are concerned in other parts of the country/world: I am not on fire. This has been a common question on the phone/in emails this week. Thank you for your thoughts.

I do have a lot of shows coming up so, in a sense, I am on fire. But not in the way Southern California is. Please check the shows page for the details.

October 13, 2007

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Hotel Cafe last week. I felt my first show there was, overall, a success. They've invited me back next month, so, I must have done something right.

This Monday night, I'm going to Beverly Hills. I've only lived in L.A. for a few months now, so that still makes me think I might see Brenda scamming with some college guy, or Dylan tearing by in his Porsche, on the way to find the losers who stole his dad's money!...

No, in all honesty, I'm going to Beverly Hills to do a live internet radio show put on by Hunnypot which, according to their web site, is:

"a community for entertainment Industry professionals and access for like minded friends who enjoy the Music, Film, Television and Advertising world."

Could be you, right? The show starts at 7 and goes 'til 10. You can listen here: www.hunnypotunlimited.com or, if you're too busy watching your 90210 DVDs after I got you alll nostalgic, they keep the shows up on their web site, I think, forever so... up to you.

Next in the flesh show: Mr. T's Bowl, Sunday, October 21st. It's going to be a good one! Links to the other bands on the bill are on the shows page.

September 17, 2007

The East Coast Paratrooper Mini-Tour went well.

Time Out New York wrote this about the Pianos show, and there's a blog on my myspace page with thank yous and highlights. I am glad to have done it and glad to be home!

Lots of local shows coming up this fall. First off, a house concert with Nick Jaina and Run on Sentence. Interested in attending? Write and I'll send you the information. In October: Hotel Cafe, Mr. T's, Halloween... I'm excited.

September 6, 2007

A killer heatwave capped the summer in Los Angeles. I am sure that the sun reaching out and palming our portion of Earth is an anomaly because Home Depot, Sears, Target, Best Buy, and little Virgil's Hardware were ALL sold out of air conditioners by Saturday morning. But the temperatures broke yesterday, which is why I'm able to write this report here on the .com.

Three months in, and I still love LA. Probably even more so than I did when I got here. Every day, I see something I never thought I would when I woke up that morning. Yesterday, a man rode by me on his bike, barking like a Pomeranian. A few weeks ago, a woman pulled up across the street from my house, got out of her car, opened the trunk, pulled out her bagpipes, and started playing right there on the sidewalk. Maricahis at Beverly and Normandie, horses crossing Santa Monica Boulevard, and maybe the most unexpected: Rebel Rebel at a dive in Studio City. As the list grows, I'll be sure to post the brightest oddities here.

This month, I'm heading to the East coast for the first installment of my experiment in Paratrooper Touring--meaning, fly to a region, play a couple shows at piano-equipped venues, and fly back home. Check the shows page for details about next week's dates. Suggestions are welcome for future regions. Please write with ticket deals to your city.

June 12, 2007

There's been a change of venue. I've moved south to Los Angeles. I drew a thick curtain on these plans so this may be a surprise to you but it's real---I'm looking out the window and there are the palm trees to prove it.

My year in San Francisco was a great transition from Texas back to California. I was able to make a new record, spend some quality time with my family, and cure the homesickness I'd had since I left at 18.

But onward and upward.

While cresting the Grapevine road yesterday, I thought of Naomi Watts riding down the escalator at the beginning of Mullholland Drive, a young startlet arriving in L.A., hopeful, the cliche to end all cliches, and I thought, "at least I'm not an actress". But the soft air here IS thick with that intoxicating, Lynchian weirdness and talent and hope. I've felt it every time I've visited LA. People say you either really love it or really hate it. Please feel free to weigh in now that I've signed the lease, but I'm sure you can see this next sentence coming... In the words of Randy Newman, "I love LA".

Come visit any time.

May 21, 2007

NPR.org is now featuring Vacation Romance, track four from Eleven Songs, on the Open Mic portion of All Songs Considered. Visit NPR.org to read the article and listen to the song. Thanks, NPR.

May 3, 2007

To read about the tour, visit my myspace page, and read the blog titled "Spring Tour Thank Yous and Highlights". It's substantial. There are also lots of pictures on my flickr site.

The Bay Guardian ran a great review of the 11 Songs CD release party. That Todd Lavoie really gets it.

For those of you extreme minimalists who have gone so far as to eliminate all jewel cases from your shelves, 11 Songs will soon be availble on iTunes.

Next up: a quick tour East at the end of the summer, and this fall: The South. Get in touch via the contact page to set up a show in either area.

March 31, 2007

Thanks to all of you who showed up at the Utah Wednesday night. It was great to have such a full house. I hope all of you who bought copies of 11 Songs are enjoying it, thoroughly!

Chris and I traveled to Sacramento last night for the first out of town show on the tour. We had the supreme pleasure of sharing the bill yet again with our new friends John Vecchiarelli and John Weinland, et al. If you haven't already, please check out their music. John Weinland and his band are like going out on the first night where it's warm enough to not wear a jacket. Vecchiarelli is so non-assuming, yet striking...there is a lot going on inside those black converse high tops. Sacramento local Julie Meyers closed the evening. Her breath control is...envyable!

We're off to Eugene and ports beyond early tomorrow morning. I'll be keeping a tour diary and plan to post the highlights when I get home.

As for 11 Songs, it will be available via CDBaby.com around April 10th. Bay Area fans can check Amoeba and Aquarius Records in a couple days.

Thanks, everyone.

March 2, 2007

Clips from the new album are up on the songs page. The CD Release party is March 28, 2007 8:30PM at The Hotel Utah in San Francisco. Doors are at 7PM, John Vecchiarelli will play at 8:30, followed by John Weinland, and then: me.

February 14, 2007

I just returned from mixing the record in Los Angeles with Brian Kehew. I'm so happy with the results and can't wait for you to hear everything. I'll post some clips soon.

Brian and I had a great time adding some key parts to a few songs and coming up with names for the record, among them: Downer, Take Prozac Before Listening, Lashes Long, Dork Hill, Saturate!, Tours, Not Wars, Enjoying the Lope, DelRubio!, A Rhodes By Any Other Name, Middle of the Rhodes, Dwarves, Ape Men and White Robed Giants (thank you, Ralph), and Scare the Fuck Out of You.

After long deliberation, I decided on 11 Songs. I know, Dwarves Ape Men, and White Robed Giants is sooo much better, but I was hesitant to put any special focus on one track in particular. I wanted to make sure you listeners really gave each song due process. And, I'm paying humble tribute to Randy Newman's 12 Songs. Randy is one of my favorite writers, possibly even my #1.

Here's the track listing for 11 Songs for those of you who are interested:

Loma Prieta
Desaturate It
I Had to Tell You
Vacation Romance
Go On, Kill Me
Open
I Am Not That Rabid Dog
The Born Again April Fool
Keep Going West
Soldier’s Girls
Hall Filled Up Like A Lake

The CD release date has been set for Wednesday, March 28th at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco. I'm very excited to say that John Vecchiarelli and John Weinland from Portland, will be opening the show. This is also a send-off show, as the Western states tour will begin soon thereafter.

January 24, 2007

Todd Lavoie, of the Bay Guardian wrote a great preview for this Sunday night's show at the Make-Out Room. Pick up a copy, or read the article here.

January 18, 2007

"January was blinding / as we climbed from the basement." - The Prayer Boat

Going back down into the basement. All album news suspended for now.

January 8, 2007

The sessions in Austin went very smoothly. The town was empty, and everyone had that relaxed, post-holiday, glazed assuredness that comes with a new year.

Gary, Jeff, Lang all delivered more than I ever dreamed they would and I'm excited to sort through the goods. If all continues to go as planned, I expect to have the final product in my hands (and yours) by the end of March.

December 28, 2006

The first section of recording at Hyde Street is finished. Christmas ran parallel to the sessions and both events had the same unique ramp and release, sickness, guilt and joy that seem to only happen during the holidays. Scott McDowell has been doing a fantastic job engineering. I don't think he'll be an intern much longer.

I hope you're all landing evenly at the end of 2006. I'll post some rough mixes soon.

December 3, 2006

All is calm. All is bright. Studio time is booked for the new record and a spring tour in support of this yet-to-be-titled album is in the works.

November 9, 2006

Just booked a last minute show November 19th at the Make-Out Room. Go to the shows page for details.

October 27, 2006

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Starry Plough last Thursday. It was a pleasure sharing the bill with Danny Allen's High Diving Horses and Courtney Fairchild. They even helped me load out at the end of the night. "There's five of us, and only one of you." Nice.

For those of you who couldn't make it, I just booked a San Francisco show at the Make-Out Room, January 28th. Nothing like ringing in the New Year with a good murder ballad.

September 7, 2006

New song up on myspace. It was intended purely as a demo for my own self-torture but it turned out alright so I thought I'd get it up here for your ears. This is the direction most of the new songs are taking--stripped down, both in production quality and in terms of lyrics. Click here to listen.

July 27, 2006

Today I renewed my California driver's license. I felt 16 again. In fact, they still had my picture from when I was 16. I got a new one taken. I didn't have to take the written test again though. California still trusts me.

The new set is shaping up nicely. I'm working on all the songs, getting them ready to walk out the door. Chris's drums are also adding a beautiful, minimal pulse to the songs. I'm pleased. New recordings will be up soon. For now, welcome to the new site! Take a look around.