Featured Story:
January 2012 Newsletter
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Owen, in full swing.
NOISEMAKERS
Happy New Year! This is a time when we bid farewell to the old and usher in the new with rowdy celebrations. The air is filled with joyous cries and the din of noisemakers. For many of us, this is a turning point, a special occasion. However, I ring in pretty much every day in similarly raucous fashion--my four year old son, Owen, is a drummer.
I'm not talking about an "oh-cute!-look-at-him-bang-on-his-mom's-pots-and-pans-with-chopsticks" kind of drummer. All our mixing bowls look like hammered steel drums and every chopstick in the house was reduced to splinters years ago. I'm talking about Owen getting a real drum kit for Christmas when he was three, and now we are gradually upgrading all its components. He's an "Oh-look-Santa-brought-me-a-new-hi-hat!" kind of drummer.
I am embarrassed that I feel slightly ambushed by the degree of his creativity--I thought I had a little more time before music became a potential parenting issue. I didn't get into playing rock n' roll until high school, and my musicianship feels less like a natural talent and more like something I constantly work at developing. Owen just has it. He is now getting his dad into "new" bands like The Avett Brothers, and quizzing me on whether it is John or Paul singing lead on a particular Beatles cut. He is curious about the architecture of songs, and he's always asking what you call "you know, that part in the middle of the song that's not a verse or chorus."
All this fills me with a strange admixture of pride and concern. Like any parent, I want my son to have as good or better life than me. I have known what feels like an above average degree of beauty, and I am grateful that what I do brings me (and others) joy. However, there are reckonings along any path you choose through life, art being no exception. There are things I have wrestled with I would never wish upon my son. I am not losing sleep over all this, but despite his tender age I can't help think about it. In 10 years, he may show no interest in music. For now, I find myself wondering if I can, or even should, try to spare him the frustrations he will certainly grapple with if he chooses a life in music.
As with so many things, all I can do is to set limits and do the best I can to encourage him. In deference to the neighbors, I tell him no drumming before 8 am. I tell him that the mystery section he hears in some songs is called a bridge, or as those lads from Liverpool referred to it, "the middle eight." I tell him that his ears can deceive him, that sometimes it's George or Ringo singing, or Paul and John singing together in unison. And I tell him yes, I'd be happy to play "Help" or "Kick Drum Heart" one more time before we have to rush out the door to pre-school. There will be time enough to struggle with all that comes with making a life in music. Now is the time to celebrate and make some noise.
MP3 of the MONTH: This month's free track is a cover of The Avett Brothers' slice of pop perfection "Kick Drum Heart." It features Zack Hickman on bass, Lori McKenna on vocals, Jake Armerding on mandolin and yours truly on Owen's ABC-decorated kick drum. You can download it for free for the month of January at my Bandcamp page.
SHOWS:
SEVEN CURSES with JEFFREY FOUCAULT
Thu Jan 5th - Watercolor Cafe, Larchmont NY - 8 pm
Fri Jan 6th - The Cellar Stage, Baltimore MD - 8 pm
Sat Jan 7th - Burlap & Bean, Newtown Square PA - 8 pm
Sun Jan 8th - University Cafe @ Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY - 2 pm
The only thing better than coming back to a bunch of towns that I haven't been to in a few years is coming back with a friend. This run is currently the last one on the books for the Seven Curses tour with Jeffrey Foucault. These shows will feature our joint collection of murder ballads, as well as joint interpretations of songs from our respective catalogs. Catch us while you can.
ALASKAN TOUR supporting JOSH RITTER
Thu Jan 12th - Vagabond Blues, Palmer AK - 7 pm
Fri Jan 13th - Latitude 62 Lodge, Talkeetna AK - 7:30 pm
Sat Jan 14th - Discovery Theatre, Anchorage AK - 7:30 pm
Who tours Alaska in January?!? Apparently, Josh Ritter does, and he asks me to come with him to open up. My last trip to the Land of the Midnight Sun was seven years ago, which sounds like a long time, but it hasn't really been as long if you count it in in dog years or Palin governorships. It was -27 degrees F in Talkeetna this morning...can't wait.
Thu Jan 19 - WUMB Member Concert, UMASS Boston, Boston MA - 7:30 pm
Barnstar!, Boston's premier quasi-imaginary bluegrass band (featuring myself, along with Zack Hickman on upright bass, Charlie Rose on banjo and Taylor and Jake Armerding on mandolin and fiddle) is performing a special show exclusively for members of WUMB. It's one of the best radio stations in the country and they've been long-time supporters of me and my music...if you're not a member there's still time to sign on and come to the show.
Fri Jan 20 - Fairfield Theatre, Fairfield CT - 7:30 pm
I'll be opening for and accompanying Lori McKenna. Need I say more?
Sat Jan 21st - Old Ship Coffeehouse Off The Square, Hingham MA - 8 pm
I've never played in Hingham before, so I'm bringing upright bassist/multi-instrumentalist Zack Hickman to help me put my best foot forward. The folks in Hingham won't know what hit 'em.
Sun Jan 22nd - Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry NH - 7 pm
I love this place and I love it even more when I get to open up for Lori McKenna, and then accompany her on a variety of instruments for her entire set.
ON TOUR with CARSIE BLANTON
Thu Jan 26th - Black Cat, Washington DC - 8:30 pm
Fri Jan 27th - Steel City Coffeehouse, Phoenixville PA - 8:30
Sat Jan 28th - Milkboy Philly, Philadelphia PA - 9 pm
Sun Jan 29 - Passim, Cambridge MA - 8 pm
I would have been honored just to have been asked by Carsie Blanton to open this tour celebrating the release of her new record "Idiot Heart." That she also asked me to play electric guitar in her band is a real treat, as I am a huge fan of her whole deal. These are going to be special shows. You should come!
ON THE HORIZON:
Feb 11 - Rose Garden Coffeehouse, Mansfield MA (w/Jake Armerding)
Mar 10 - First Baptist Church of West Hartford, West Hartford CT
Mar 11 - House Concert, Sandy Hook CT
peace,
mark
