Won’t You Be My “Forever Young” Neighbor?
Exactly one-month from today, on Saturday, October 2, I'm releasing a brand-new LP, "Forever Young."
It's a collection of songs I loved growing up that I hope my three-month-old daughter, Maggie, will love someday too. Of course, I'm counting on you and your family enjoying it as well!
The record features many of my dearest friends lending their voices, guitars and keys to benefit The Fred Rogers Center's efforts toward advancing early learning and children’s media.
The complete "Forever Young" track list:
1 - Forever Young ...
Where Are You Calling From? (Or, Virtual Rock & Roll)
I probably should have known better than to be working on a new album during MTV Video Music Awards season, but here I am, knee deep in "Forever Young" with less than two weeks to go until the channel's big night.
The timing was, of course, to be expected. As my colleague, Rachel, put it, "No one does fall like you." I have a long history of Q3 releases ("Almost Home," "Love & Other Indoor Games") typically jammed-packed amidst marathons and tours. This year, though, the reasoning was simple: "Forever Young" is inspired by Maggie. By ...
Am I Off The Rails?
With "Forever Young," I may be off the rails.
A few weeks ago, rock journos Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis aired a special episode of their weekly "Sound Opinions" program called "Off The Rails." In the show, the two tallied artists who'd detoured unforgivably from the promise of their early career: Lauryn Hill, Metallica, Liz Phair. The first spot was assigned to Rod Stewart whose "Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Vol. III" -- in the duo's estimation, anyway -- undid Stewart's work with The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, and as a solo ...
Jeff Jacobson’s Abatab
I first met my pal Jeff Jacobson at singer/songwriter Casey Shea's wedding. He was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee with chanteuse Amy Hills. I sat down and slipped right into their conversation, one that continues to this day.
Jeff has a thoughtful demeanor and dry, self-effacing wit. He's one of the best guitarists and most capable singer/songwriters I know. He pitched in on the first two Holiday Benefit albums, and sings "Sweet Baby James" with me on my forthcoming "Forever Young" benefit album. He's an awesome ...
Wake Up, Maggie (I Think I Have Something To Say To You)
Loving music led to playing music led to writing music led to performing music led to recording music. Still, I wouldn't have bet on this.
Tony, Chris, Ryan and I started recording "Forever Young" in February. The record is due in October, and benefits The Fred Rogers Center. The conceit is simple: record a bunch of classic songs that kids and parents alike love with a bunch of friends and release it for charity. Said conceit came with a perk too: throughout Abbi's pregnancy, I placed headphones on her belly and played little Maggie ...
Mister Rogers, Jeff Tweedy & Me
It's been quite the few weeks around here. As more than one person has said, "You delivered two babies in two weeks!" Of course, while I couldn't be much prouder of "Mister Rogers & Me," the film doesn't hold a candle to Maggie.
Nonetheless, the film's premiere has played a roll in my three-week paternity leave. I snuck away to the Nantucket Film Festival last week where the film was met with a wonderfully warm response. One viewer commented, "Within minutes of the film starting, my goose bumps (not to mention tears) suggested that I ...
Something To Say
It wasn't until somewhere around Christopher Street that I realized that Thursday night's Rockwood Music Hall set was littered with references to breaking silence, speaking up and being heard.
From "Giving Up The Ghost" ("It's impossible to argue / It's impossible to scream") to "Live Forever" ("There's nothing left here to say"), "St. Anne (Of The Silence)" to "Dear Elizabeth" ("I still have something to say"), "Trying To Tell You" to "I'll Be Waiting" ("This is a message to you"), the set -- in this case drafted by my pal Chris Abad but ...
May Your Song Always Be Sung
It was a strange rehearsal. But then, it's been a strange gig from he outset.
I booked this Thursday's Rockwood Music Hall performance months ago, but didn't mention it to the guy's until a few weeks ago; I wasn't sure how to approach it (solo, acoustic, electric, etc), I just knew I wanted to get one-last show in before the baby comes. And I knew I wanted to play it exactly five years to the day that Abbi and I met there.
A few Thursdays back, I mentioned the booking to Chris Abad.
"A Thursday night at eight o'clock?" he asked, ...
Crazy Nephews
My brother, Christofer, called Sunday morning.
"Dude, is there any way you can watch the boys this afternoon?" he asked breathlessly. Jen took Ella to the hospital. I'm running up there to meet her."
My pointer finger was on their Upper West Side buzzer fifteen minutes later. I could hear Ethan and Edward's tiny feet scurry on the hardwood above me as I climbed the four flights of stairs. I knocked on the door to the sound of giggles. The door swung open mysteriously to an empty hallway.
"Boo!"
The boys leapt from behind the ...
Golden Slumbers
Last night, just before her eyes turned heavy after her traditional page and a half of reading, I slipped a pair of Sony headphones onto Abbi's belly, and pushed play.
I was running two hours behind my "Forever Young" recording schedule when singer/songwriter Misty Boyce finally took her seat at the piano. She banged out "Morning Has Broken" with just seconds of practice in three takes. Moments later, we began recording our cover of The Beatles, "Golden Slumbers."
"Do you think I'll be hung in effigy if I added an extra chorus?" I ...
