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NewsNothing like a good blizzard to make me feel like catching
up. Just back from a week in SoCal visiting my sis, and a blast of winter makes me feel right at home. Hope you all had an indulgent Thanksgiving…I sure did. My mom outdid herself this year; it was the best meal ever. How’s this for a classic mom: She makes an unbelievable pumpkin pie, and doesn’t even like it herself. Anyway, life is good here in Boulder. Like I had hoped, moving down out of the mountains has greatly increased the amount of friends I see, and improved my biking in traffic skills. Looking forward to a busy December of gigs, especially after a month of Hi-Beams vacation. Not that I wasn’t busy…. The first week of November, Jake Schepps and Expedition took to the western slope. We played Paonia and Carbondale, where they live high on the hog, and make sure visitors do, too. We’ll be recording an album come March, with Matt Flinner producing. Later in the month, I produced Boulder Acoustic Society’s upcoming release. We had a really fun three days in the studio, and made the most of their newest member, accordian and piano whiz, Scott McCormick. The band’s new sound is edgier and aggressive, and features my recorded upright bass debut. Take a look at the calendar….I’m doing all kinds of different stuff in the next month. Hope to see you out there shoveling G Adios, Summer I'm sure you haven't noticed how long it's been since I wrote an update.... Welcome to my favorite time of year. I do love summer, but always breathe a sigh of relief when it's over. Mostly because of the tourists, but anyway. August was a wild one. What other band can play two county fairs one week, and Manhattan the next? The Hi-Beams' first ever trip back east was a blast. The two gigs in Manhattan were the highlight for me. Lots of friends from high school came out, and everybody seemed to really dig our radical honky-tonk sound. They didn't know they liked country till they heard it. Kree and I spent two wonderful days on Fire Island, and pigged out at Gino's Pizza in Williston Park, my hometown. It's still the best pizza on earth. Spent a few nights in Astoria with Ray Capone, and got hooked on his wife Anne-Marie's Irish tea. We really lucked out with the weather, too...low 80's and dry. I hope we can go back and play sometime...they could use some Bob Wills in the Big Apple. Right after we got back, we got to open for Asleep at the Wheel at the Arvada Center. If we could take the hospitality from the Arvada Center and spread it out over a whole year, it would be a very different year. That same weekend was the New West Fest in Fort Collins.....a great event. Got to see Nickel Creek for the first time in few years....they we're amazing...I've never heard a bozouki that loud! Pete Kartsounes' record is coming along and sounding even better than I hoped. Two big days of overdubs got us most of the way there. So now it's September...A two gig trip to Paonia was like a vacation. Organic peaches off the tree, perfect weather, a honky-tonk dance, and a good visit with the Sweet Sunny South crew. Here's what's happening the rest of the month: I'm moving to Boulder! After fifteen years in the mountains, I've finally realized that it might be nice to be closer to everything I do. I'll miss the wild weather and easy mountain access, but not the driving. Looking very much forward to gaining some hours every week and getting my bike-riding-in-traffic chops back. Keep an eye on the calendar...the Hi-Beams slow down a little, and other projects pick up. There'll be some Expedition gigs this fall and winter. It's a quartet now, with Jake Schepps on banjo, Eric Thorin on bass and Ryan Drickey on fiddle. Hope you all enjoy fall as much as I do... July update Long time no type...sorry for the absence. I promise I'll write sooner next time. Anyway, why does two months of summer seem like five months of real time? Must be those long days and non-stop picking. First off, the Hi-Beams new CD, Midnight Rodeo, is in hand. Two and a half years into my tenure with the band, it's quite satisfying to have the current lineup represented. I think it came out great, and initial reviews agree. You can pick one up at www.hibeams.com. June was a blast, as far as I can remember. A few highlights: A rousing honky-tonk dance at the North Fork Bluegrass Festival in Hotchkiss, playing with songwriter Corinne West in Leadville, my first ever gig in Kremmling, a $700 car repair and a few weddings. The end of the month saw the Hi-Beams at an all day film shoot for an independent movie being shot in Denver. We're the band in one of those "movie scenes with a band". It was long hot day in a dive bar filled with extras and lights, and it was the first time I ever "guitar synched." The film is called Skills LIke This...check out www.skillslikethis.com. July's been fairly non-stop as well, with several trips to the western slope, including a fun bluegrass show with Justin Hoffenberg and Friends, with the friends being Ross Martin, Erin Coats, and Kai Furuto. Had a fun trip to Bozeman and Livingston, MT, despite two flat tires on the van, and another succesful trip on the Cheyenne Frontier Days Train last Saturday. Spent three days in the studio with Pete Kartsounes and Eric Thorin laying down basic tracks for Pete's songwriter record...it went great, and we got to eat at the Southern Sun three nights in a row. If you know anybody on the east coast, tell 'em the Hi-Beams are comin'. Looking forward to my first ever gig in NYC...check the calendar page and alert the masses. I'll put up some new photos, add a few dates, then go to sleep. Hope you're all well and seeing the sun rise from one end or another once in awhle... take care. G May Update Has it really been only one month? May's been a long one, but a good one. Right out of the gate the, first weekend, the Hi-Beams played on Prairie Home Companion. For those of you who know the show, I don't need to tell you what a dream gig this is. For those of you who don't know the show, get a clue! Anyway, they solicited local talent for their show at the Budweiser
Events Center in Loveland, and picked us and three other acts out
of 260 entrants. We played 3 songs, and played well, I thought.
There's a longer account of the experience here: Yea, myspace is bizarre, but at least I know who my friends are now. Our songs are on Prairie Home's archive: prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2006/05/06/ Next weekend was a trip to Grand Junction for a two night stand at Midnight Rodeo, a club with the same name as the Hi-Beams' forthcoming CD. Let's just say the highlight of the weekend was seeing Halden and Damon ride the mechanical bull, and Brett's friend Tom hosting us a pick and BBQ. Sunday night found me at the Cellar with Jake Schepps and Eric Thorin, doing the Expedition Trio thing...we probably talked too much, but it was a blast playing with those guys. The next week was super busy and fun for me...I basically put every instrument I own in my little Subaru, and drove and picked in circles. Did a fun session Gene Libbea produced...him, John Macy and myself laid down songs for cowgirl singer Bethany Zill from Laramie. Runaway Truck Ramp fiddler Ed Caner was in town....we joined old friend Patrick Latella for a night of cool improv at the elegant Chautauqua community house. Friday was spent at Airshow where the Hi-Beams CD was mastered. Always humbling to hear your music out of 8 foot tall speakers. David Glasser did a fine job, as always. Ed joined the Hi-Beams in Ft. Collins on Friday night, too. Got to visit the Stanley Hotel in Estes for the Clear Channel corparate party. Belly of the beast, indeed. They were nice enough, and it felt good to deliver them some non-focus grouped music. Last weekend was 3 shows in Moab, Utah, with a blown bus tire on the way. It's beautiful down there, but they're too worn out from mountain biking to dance much. As you can see, I've been workin' on the railroad, and that wasn't even all of it. June is more of the same, with a litte down time here and there. The Hi-Beams CD should be out by the end of the month, and we're gonna be in a a movie! More on that later... Drop me a line, and be sure to get out and smell the wildflowers... G Why is it always Sunday night when I'm writing one of these? Just home from a fun weekend on the Western Slope w/the Hi-Beams. Steve's Guitars in Carbondale is a dangerous place if you get drooly around weird old guitars. I might've gotten carried away wtih the Knob Creek, but at least I didn't buy anything. Saturday we played a benefit for the Marillac Clinic in Grand Junction, which turned out to be quite the shindig, with a performance by cowboy poet Baxter Black. Kree and I got to spend most of today staying way past checkout time and lounging in the hotel pool. Downtown Grand Junction actually has a cool "western CO '50s but you can still get a soy chai" vibe. Had a whirlwind trip to the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown earlier in the month with Jake Schepps and Expediton. We we're probably the least traditional bluegrass at the festival, but aside from one heckler I thought was Burle, we're very well received. It was a blast to hang and pick with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Chatham County Line fellers. Also had the honor of co-hosting the guitar workshop with Ross Martin, and the mandolin workshop with Caleb and Caleb. The new Hi-Beams CD is really down the homestretch now. Mixing is almost done - working with John Macy has been awesome, and he's got a bulldog. Looking forward to some more traveling in May, and a cool show at the Cellar on the 14th: The Expedition Trio...Jake Schepps on banjo, Eric Thorin on bass and myself on mandolin and guitar. I'll get to play and sing some tunes I don't normally get to....some swing, Bob Dylan and a handful of originals. OK...it's not Sunday night anymore...I'll put some new pictures up and call it a night till next time G March Madness Whew...I've made one news update a month so far. I'm always sad to see March go...it means winter's on it's way out, and I do love the winter. Anyway, it's been a good busy stretch of playing music with lots of different folks for me. Had a fun trip to Durango to play Sally Shuffield's CD release, the first (but not least or last) Jake Schepps and Expedition gig at Nissi's, and a rousing four song Tele-Vangelists set with Ross Martin, Eric Thorin and Damon Smith for the Jazz 'n Grass Benefit at the Fox Theatre. Look for more twin guitar freakouts in the future. The Hi-Beams busy season is just around the corner, as is the new CD, Midnight Rodeo. We'll have a new set of material for the summer, including a few more Bob Dylan songs! I'm updating the calendar and photos all the time, so check in often...hope to see all y'all out there enjoying real live music. G Folk Alliance and more Alright...my second news post! Got back last night from the Folk Alliance Conference in Austin. Wildness! Three days of non-stop playing and hearing music. So many amazing musicians from around the world. I played something like 25 showcases with Sally Shuffield, Jake Schepps and my old friend from Portland, Ashleigh Flynn. Epic jams were had with the Boulder Acoustic Society crew, John Stickley, Bill Cardine, Jeff and Vida and many, many more. Got to see Whit Smith's Hot Jazz Caravan - he's the guitar player from Hot Club of Cowtown, Johnny Gimble and Elana Fremerman swing it up, the Flat Mountain Girls from Portland, OR - crazy twisted old-time, the Duhks in a blazing 2 am hotel room and the incredible John Davis from Denver, and that's the tip of the iceberg. Also attended a day's worth of panel discussions on recording and producing with the likes of Bill Vorndick, Lloyd Maines, Gurf Morlix, Wendy Waldman, James Tuttle and David Glasser. Here on the home front, the Hi-Beams CD is nearing the mixing phase. KC Groves sang on a couple last night....she got sassy! It's sounding great...check back for updates. I've updated the calendar and am adding photos...feel free to drop me line, I'd love to hear from you. G Site is up! Howdy friends, welcome to my website. First, thanks to Ben O'Connor for getting this up...that guy'll do anything for a cinnamon roll! I figure this'll be a good way for people (myself included) to keep track of all the musical balls I've got in the air. There are lots of music samples from projects I've produced and played on; please check out the links to the artists, they'd love to hear from you, too. Drop me a line if you've got anything to say, want to get together to jam, or notice if I've spelled anything wrong. Take care and tune up. Greg |
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