Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Performing in the Guild Lounge, SXSW

This past March, Chloe Charles and I had the pleasure of showcasing for Guild Guitars at the Fender Showroom during SXSW. After performing several tunes, Jeff (their wonderful Artist Relations Rep) invited us to check out their factory in New Hartford, CT.

Hard hats only, y'all.

So this week, Chloe traveled down from Toronto, and we took a personal tour of their operations facility in New Hartford with Frank Untermyer, VP of KMC Music & General Manager of Ovation, Fender & Guild USA.

We learned all about the process of building a Guild. Their production facility in New Hartford is like a boutique – only turning out about 14 high-end guitars a day. From start to finish, the process takes about 5 Weeks. Which, from my understanding of guitar speak, is kind of an insane amount of time and attention to detail.

We also learned that 100% of Guild guitars are now made completely from sustainable, eco-friendly wood. Everything from the source of the wood to the working conditions at the timber companies they order from.

Cheap Trick

They also do quite a bit of repairs & custom work for specialized guitars. Like the one pictured below, for Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick.

After an hour long trip through the process of building each guitar, we were invited to play a few tunes for the staff at Guild (about 40 employees). Best part? We each got to play the Guild’s D-55 Cutaway – and GN-5 Classical.

The staff was a blast – a few folks had taken the time to check out our music before our arrival. We even caught a few singing a long.

…I’ve got plenty of video and lots more to share, so keep an eye out. Needless to say, you’re looking at a die-hard Guild convert.

Chloe & I with Frank and the D-55s

It’s been a crazy few days of driving, not unpacking, and…finding more reasons to avoid unpacking. On that note:

My first official show as a New Yorker is this Sunday at Rockwood Music Hall. Yeehaw!

The details:

Sunday, April 7th
Rockwood Music Hall (LES)
196 Allen Street – Between Houston & Stanton
7PM – NO COVER

Featuring Ian Baggette on upright bass and the lovely Chloe Charles (Toronto, ON) on backing vocals.

Since Chloe’s coming all the way from Toronto, expect to hear her do a tune or two (and thus melt your face off). I’ll be playing plenty of material from the upcoming record.

I don’t know how y’all New Yorkers do Easter Sunday. but where I’m from we chase each other around with cascarones and eat chocolate till we’re ill. I plan to keep up with that tradition.

….don’t say I didn’t warn you.

This week I kick off my Winter North American Tour with The Sweetness. We start out in Toronto, head down to Memphis, showcase at Folk Alliance, and wrap things up at SXSW in Austin, TX.

No German film crew this time around. Yes, we all miss the Germans.

The Sweetness North American Winter Tour

Feb 8th, The Supermarket – Agency Group GO POP Series, Toronto, ON
Feb 11th, Grumpy’s, Montreal, QC
Feb 12th, Radio Bean, Burlington, VT
Feb 16th, Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY
Feb 17th, Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
Feb 18th, Auburn Road Vineyards, Pilesgrove, NJ
Feb 19th, The Stone Room House Concerts, Falls Church, VA
Feb 21st, Live on WFPK – Louisville, KY
Feb 21st, Shine Wellness Center, Louisville, KY
Feb 22nd – 25th, International Folk Alliance Conference, Memphis, TN
Feb 26th, Lamasco’s, Evansville, IN
Feb 28th, Mojo’s Boneyard, Evansville, IN
Feb 29th, The Deerhead, Evansville, IN
Mar 1st, The Barn, Nacogdoches, TX – w/ Band of Heathens
Mar 2nd, The Barn, Nacogdoches, TX
Mar 3rd, Acoustic Medicine – Olmos Bharmacy, San Antonio, TX
Mar 7th, Saxon Pub, Austin, TX
Mar 8th, Frank, Austin, TX
Mar 9th, Revolution, College Station, TX
Mar 10th, Vivogig Day Party, Austin, TX
Mar 13th, Samsung Bloggers Lounge – Austin Convention Center – Austin, TX
Mar 13th, Varsity Bar, Austin, TX

My furniture is sold, bags are packed (kind of. ok not at all), and tomorrow, I fly up to NYC, where I will (1) visit the people & city I love (2) freeze by butt off and (3) play a lot of music with some very fine city folk.

I’ll be playing at Rockwood Music Hall, Eric Wheeler joins me on upright bass.

Rockwood Music Hall
Friday, Feb 3rd
7PM
No Cover
196 Allen Street

Hope to see you there!