Blue Sky Riders

Thanks to my good friend, Josh Kaplan, Blue Sky Riders now have their first “time-line video” of the writing of a song, in this case “Already Sayin’ Goodbye.” It’s a fascinating thing to watch how three highly opinionated songwriters navigate the tricky waters of collaboration, and I have to say it’s been rather smooth going so far. When I watch this video it still amazes me to see just how aesthetically in sync the three of us are. We all seem to know when we have a big fish on the line, or at least one that isn’t stinkin’ to high heaven. And even subtle word or melodic changes shift in and out of the process with nary a ripple in the waters. (more…)

“Hey…” a voice in the darkness whispers. His hand is over my mouth as I struggle to wake up. “What time is it?” I mumble, half asleep. “Midnight… Just come on. I gotta show you somethin’.”

As my brother Dan and I tip-toe softly out of my bedroom in the dark, the thrill of doing something really bad starts churning in my stomach. We will definitely get in big trouble if mom and dad wake up. This is exciting, and I have no idea what’s going on. “What are we doing?” I whisper to his back, as we sneak out of my bedroom.

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Imagine a field large enough to hold 100,000 people. OK, not a field… a gigantic parking lot… like Sears times 10. Add 100 degrees in the sun. Oh… and there is almost NO shade!

Now put 50 people in lawn chairs scattered almost randomly around the front of the lot towards the stage, and let the rest of that immense parking lot be empty. Mojave Desert empty. Empty like a concrete soccer stadium with a handful of popcorn salesmen wandering around aimlessly, as if rehearsing for when there actually might be fans there some day. Maybe. (more…)

I was on my way out of Nashville after 5 intense, exhilarating days back in the saddle, performing for the first time with BSR at Tin Pan South, Nashville. Having a glass of wine at the airport waiting for my flight home, I texted Gary and Georgia: “Finally slowin’ down. I am so proud of us, and treasure this 3^rd chance to reinvent myself. Thank you both so much for the rush!!”

To which Gary replied, “Who IS this?” That’s SO Gary. I howled. (more…)