Archive for December 2009
The Year In Photos, 2009
What a year. From The Inauguration to The Oscars to my tenth New York City Marathon, no previous loop around the sun has been more jam-packed with mind-blowing moments. I played the Iowa State Fair, contributed a song to The Nadas “Crystalline” compilation, and helped raise four grand (and counting) for 826NYC with “A Holiday…
Read MoreAnd Baby Makes Three
I woke early — too early — on account of a message from my younger self. Well, not exactly. It was 29-year-old singer/songwriter Casey Shea (nearly ten years my junior) texting me in the small hours of the morning as he sauntered home from a rock show on the Lower East Side (as I have…
Read MoreUp In The Air
I accrued 49,000 AAdvantage miles this year. Not Ryan Bingham numbers, to be sure. But enough to get myself to Puerto Rico and back (if I could only find available departure dates). His is a familiar world: the poetic geometry of the Midwest from 30,000 feet, the satisfaction of finding one’s name on the Hertz…
Read MoreThe Year In Song, 2009
These days, I mostly listen to music while walking to work, or running around the city. Not surprisingly, then, I tend towards songs that psyche me up to deal with the chaos of things: stress, noise, pain. Heck, maybe we all do. Much as I try to keep up with Pitchfork, the flavor of the…
Read MoreMerry Christmas, Baby
I saw Oasis perform at Radio City Music Hall in May, 2000. Truth is, I was there to see openers Travis, but the Gallagher Bros. guitar assault was impressive and infectious. That night, after the show, I unwittingly cribbed a song title from Noel. “Live Forever” was released years later as the second track on…
Read More“A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3” Release Party Is Tonight!
Twelve hours from now, “A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3” will be in full swing at Pianos! Which is a good thing; I don’t think I have the energy to do yesterday over. I tucked all sorts of small tasks into my already busy day at The MTV: gathering 826NYC materials, a final email to all…
Read More“A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3” Silent Auction Is Open
It’s all coming together! Tonight, I’m calling into Ralphie Aversa’s syndicated “Ralphie Aversa Radio Show” to talk “A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3.” Tomorrow, Chris Abad and I are dropping by Sirius Radio to talk some more before crossing the East River for rehearsal with Tony Maceli et all. And Wednesday night at Pianos we officially…
Read More“A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3” Video Premiere
Comprising twelve tracks from some of New York City’s finest emerging artists, “A Holiday Benefit, Vol 3” is a seasonal charity compilation spanning the delicate (Bess Rogers’ “Little Saint Nick”) to the downright bombastic (Bryan Dunn’s “Don’t Believe In Christmas”) with a dash of holiday hilarity (Casey Shea’s “The Chipmunks Song”) in-between. In addition, the…
Read MoreMazel Tov!
Way back in 2000, my then-boss foisted an interview on me with a recent college graduate named Jonathan. “Trust me,” he said. “This guy’s cover letter was so over the top, you’re gonna’ love him.” I won’t front; I was dubious. But sure enough, the kid had moxie. So we hired him. In his first…
Read MoreGoodnight, L.A.
The American Airlines Admiral’s Club is actually kinda’ rockin’ right now. I’m gonna’ put occupancy at 74%. And I’m also gonna’ bet half of those are on my midnight red eye. A guy in a brown sweater and wire-framed glasses just ladelled some Ranch Dressing onto a plastic cup of carrots and celery. A woman…
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