Last Thoughts for 2014…

As I sit at my desk in my empty office I thought I would leave you all with a few final thoughts for 2014. I have the next 10 days off and will be catching up on some video work, recording for a new project, and listening to the hypothetical “piles” of digital submissions I have received over the last few weeks to provide reviews. If there is nothing else I do in 2015, I will promise to review more music and expose folks to some amazing acts they may not have heard of before. That I will promise. So alas…some final thoughts about this year.

I have been so lucky this year to become closer with so many amazing people in my musical world. No matter how many folks say “oh, you play music? That’s a nice hobby to have”, I know it is so much more than that. It is a passion, a lifestyle, a community and a family that has grown around me and I am so lucky to be a part of. There are countless people who made a huge difference in my life as a songwriter, performer, musician and a person this past year, but I want to call a few out.

Connor Millican has become a dear friend to me and has very quickly become one of the songwriters I respect most. Connor and I are cut from the same cloth I think. He has a drive and dedication to not just further his own craft, but that of those around him. With his The Old Guitar series and the newer The Meeting House Tour, he has a desire to provide platforms for artists to hoist themselves up on and proudly display their craft. Connor has also asked me to play mandolin and guitar with his amazing band Wise Old Moon on occasion. This has really made me stretch my mando fingers and try to be a better player. Learning and adapting to their songs, while adding my own flavor.

Through Connor I have also met the boys of The Meadows Brothers. While I have got a few years on Dustin and Ian, I feel like these boys are well beyond their age in the style, grace, and quality of their songwriting and talent. I shouldn’t know these fellas all that well (hell, I think we have only actually hung out a handful of times), but for some reason I do. I am happy to see what 2015 brings these fellas…and also, they are in deep with The Meeting House Tour folks. The track “Climb” from my last record was arranged with the way these two guys perform well in mind. Harmonies, 2 guitars and 2 voices recorded live.

That being said, my last record wouldn’t be anything without Ian Fitzgerald. Over the past 2 years Ian has become a great friend and still remains the most talented songwriter I have ever known. Having him play and sing on my songs was an absolute dream and what he was able to add in the way of a solid rhythm guitar (where I tend to be all over the place) and perfect vocal harmonies was a gift that I don’t think could ever be repaid. Ian makes me want to be a better songwriter. I think 2015 is going to be Ian’s year and I cannot wait to see how he breaks out in a big way with a new record on the horizon and I am sure a big light shone on his art.

Eric Lichter. I could leave it at that because anything I say past it does not do the man justice. I feel as though Eric and I are kindred spirits of sorts. There is just an unspoken connection that I have to him…perhaps that is just how Eric is. He can connect with people on a deeper level. What he has done for me in making me confident in my abilities as a songwriter and what he has done for my songs is unbelievable to me. Eric is an amazing human being and an even better friend. He has become family to me, and that is a bond that will never be broken.

Steve Wytas for your generosity for LCL and your ears for ‘canyon’. James Maple for co-engineering with Eric when you just came to the studio to hang out on a whim. I think you and I are going to become real good pals in the new year my friend and see a lot more of each other.

Sam Margolis and Andrew Kramer are absolute godsends. When I first approached them about recording Locals Covering Locals at Riverview Studios I thought they would have hesitation, but nope. They were in it and fully submerged in this project. They are the reason this project was so successful and we were able to record as many folks as we did in the time that we did it. Truly amazing, amazing and talented guys. I cannot thank them enough for how much they gave to this project and truly adopted all that it stood for.

The Folk Family at Newport Folk Festival for being so good to me the past 2 years and always having an ear open to chat about music and the industry. Britt, Caps, Lima and Steve in particular you guys are amazing and I cannot properly explain what your friendship and open hearts and minds mean to me.

There are a ton of other folks who have made my 2014 an amazing and memorable year. Whether its Matt Smith letting me play music at one of the most respected listening rooms in the country or Mark Whitaker agreeing to play a duo show with me or any of the other countless musicians who have joined the Roots in the Round residency at Toad this past year. Radio folks who have been spinning my songs or songs from the LCL compilation. And everyone else who has shared the stage or a song with me over the past 12 months. Thank you all so much for your art and your friendship.

The music I have heard this year has been incredible…ok, most of it has been. There is a bottomless well of talent in this town and the fact that so many of those people support one another is an absolutely beautiful thing to me.

Here’s to 2015…