fake spring

It’s a spring-like day in February. The world seems upside-down in many ways, but music is still a saving grace. Since our last update, much has happened in Almshouse World. In September 2016 we played a rolicking set at the Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, and the band included Tony Winkler on guitars, Nate Graham […]

Read more "fake spring"

Bitter Thing, words

From the CD “BITTER THING” Into the Night ©Belli/Lambrou/Schoenmeier In my darkest hour I’m still making jokes People all around me but I’m still alone I sit and light another smoke And into the night I go I’m like the stars at night when the galaxy glows Hide in the shadows of daylight then put on […]

Read more "Bitter Thing, words"

Sepia, Birds & Music

Last weekend Ken, Troy and I met photographer Bill DiCecca at Pennypack Trust for some album artwork photos. For Ken and me, avid birders that we are, this location doubled as an opportunity to view some good spring specimens, since the trees are still just budding and the Trust property is a well-known birding haven. […]

Read more "Sepia, Birds & Music"

chasing ghosts

The weekend’s weather was a long-awaited taste of springtime, but we were booked at Kawari all day both days. The good news for Troy, Kenny and me is this studio in the wooded suburbs has a nice big deck, so we could work with the door open and take occasional breaks from the red-velvet-shrouded control room […]

Read more "chasing ghosts"

Secret Christmas

It’s been a long time since the last post here. We played a full band show in late August at World Cafe Live-Upstairs, with our new friend Matt Muir behind the drum kit and our old friend Tony Winkler on electric guitar. We took some time off from the studio and stage in September, while […]

Read more "Secret Christmas"

Opening for Lee Roy Parnell

On June 29th, on the big stage downstairs at World Cafe Live in Philly, Troy and I played a 40minute set to open for blues slide guitarist and songwriter Lee Roy Parnell. We were thrilled, obviously, to get the call for this, and although we haven’t finished the new record or filled out the band yet, […]

Read more "Opening for Lee Roy Parnell"

Liberty Lands, No Rain

During this summertime lull between recording sessions, we’re planning strategy, and also performing a few shows that call for less than a full band. Last week, Troy and I returned to Northern Liberties, where I spent 11 (mostly) idyllic years with terrific neighbors of the human and canine variety. Mayor Larry Freedman puts together the […]

Read more "Liberty Lands, No Rain"

Mixin n Playin

Listening to the drum and bass mixes on Fretz, Ghost and Into the Night as I write this. Ken’s bass parts are masterful. Matt’s excellent drumming makes everything groove just right, especially on I2N. Impressed they played so well together, the first time they ever played together. I’m really looking forward to putting proper vocals […]

Read more "Mixin n Playin"

Harmony

Troy and Ken are due at Kawari next week to continue recording. In the meantime, we’ve been rehearsing for the Puck show on May 9th.  We’re working out versions of some of our songs in an acoustic format — not truly acoustic, of course, since Troy is playing electric guitar on a handful of them, and […]

Read more "Harmony"

Day One in the Studio

This past weekend Troy and I spent some time at Kawari Sound with Matt Muir, recording rhythm guitar/vocal shells for six Almshouse songs. Kawari is in the sun-filled annex to an enormous Victorian house in Wyncote PA, and it’s full of guitars and vintage amps and snare drums and percussion treasures and microphones and keyboards of all shapes and […]

Read more "Day One in the Studio"