Journal 2005

Dec. 20, 2005
Velvet Elk City

So time to put my money where my mouth is...always is. Headed to the diner this morning, and I buckled my seatbelt a wee bit late. It somehow made me realize, or acknowledge that I had never been in, or I should say caused, a car accident. You know, being the ..1 ranked driver in the world and all. Anyway, so there I am, waiting for the car in front of me to turn left after the traffic passes, and I decide that I can no longer wait. Thwack! Yes, I did turn on my signal, but in an instant-my life "no accident" record was vanquished. What this will do to my world ranking is yet to be determined, as I also happen to be the president of the ranking society. But that aside, I pleasantly exchanged insurance info with this 60-some odd year woman whose car I had just scraped and detached the side vire mirror from. Nobody hurt, thank goodness. I decided right then and there to not squabble over who's fault it "technically" was. These things are uninportant in the grand scheme of life. So I gave her my info and told her to send me the estimate and made sure she was calm about the whole thing.

Dec. 3, 2005
New York City

Tremors?
So, is it safe to assume at this point, that most of us have seen all or at lest some parts of the (dare we say it?) cult-classic Tremors? I am mystified by this. So much so, that I am convinced that it is a sociological experiment that simply went too far. Surely Mr. Bacon cannot count this as one of the hi-lites on his acting resume. My main question here is...WHY IS THIS MOVIE ON IN PERPETUITY?!?!?!? I mean, it is ALWAYS on tv. Did I say always? Dudes, you can find this film (and stupefying subsequent television show spin-off and inwxplicable sequels) on the tele at any moment of any given day. Trust me, I've tried very hard to NOT find it playing. As a matter of fact, it appears as though TNT is contractually obligated to show the film during 75-80% of their programming hours. So why "Tremors?" It seems like an arbitrary selection. My guess, is that the folks that made or own the rights to the film just told everybody that would listen, that you can show this film for FREE. Anytime! AS many times as you like. The film bombed, it's campy, special effects-challeged, etc. Out of spite, they figured they'd make everybody watch it out of default. Assualt them with the number of times it can mathmatically be aired in a given chunk of hours. Force a "cult hit" on us. Are you getting me here?! Tremors? I need to talk to the people that know the people who worked with the people in charge of initiating "Project Tremors" on the unsuspecting American public!

Also, I wish for world peace.

Nov. 29, 2005
Bluff, UT

Was wonderful to come out here to the remote reaches of Southeast Utah and visit my sis and just-turned 4 year old nephew. My sister lives in this dusty and close-knit southwestern town among the red-clay mesas just outside of the mystifying Monument Valley. For those that have never made their way out there, and many have not due to it's remote location, this is truly one of the more gorgeous spots on planet earth. You essentially transport yourself to another planet, most probably Mars. My flight from New York City to Phoenix was shorter than my drive from Phoenix to her home in Bluff. Four and 1/2 hours in the air, five and 1/2 hours in the car. But the drive that takes you north up through the elevations of Flagstaff and through Navajo country beyond, is wonderous. It was all I could do to not stop every 100 yards or so for a new photo. The only thing that really kept me from this was the inevitable reality that these photographs would never capture the wide-open big-sky country that I was travelling through. Simply could not be properly replicated in a 4x6 area of space. I have been quite fortunate in my musical and wanderlust travels to find myself in the Southwest, but it gets better every time. I played a warm, wood-stove heated concert in Bluff on Saturday to a highly appreciate crowd that came out from amongst their small hamlet to see me warble my neo-country troubadour rock with a twist. Somehow, they all got it. So thank you to all that made me feel so welcoome out there in Bluff, Utah. And if you find yourself out there for any reason, say hi to the folks at Comb Ridge Coffee.

Oct. 31, 2005
Velvet Elk City

A first in a series of videos for the new album, "Lonely and Afraid" has been edited and posted up on the website. Reviews have been pouring in from all corners, and so far, the verdict is...Why don't you see for yourself - right this way

Oct. 22, 2005
Velvet Elk City

Ok. So it's finally "in the can" and all that and ready for the world to, umm..well, I guess listen to it. "Photographs of 1971" took the last couple years to finish as I found myself involved in building my own dream studio in the woods of Northeastern Pennsylvania during the smack-dab middle of my record making. So upon completion this spring, I blew off the dust on the mixer and re-tuned my banjo and pressed play again to see where the hell I had left off and what the hell I was trying to say. With the help of some amazing musicians and an unexpected understanding of the mating habits of the wild turkeys native to the studio's backyard, I was finally able to let go, stop recording, and say "done". I'm proud to say that I think it's my best album so far in case you were wondering. And "eleven" is the answer to your other question. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks for taking the chance...Don

Sept. 10, 2005
New York City

Personally, this is a very sad day for me. My beloved guitar, the first guitar I purchased, and the ONLY guitar that I have played at every single show I have ever played, was stolen last night from my truck. Now, some may say I was a fool for leaving it overnight in a vehicle in the city. But a)it was unavoidable in my circumstances, and b)it was completely out of sight. This was a random break-in that landed the thief my irreplaceable musical companion. And I HATE that I have to feel bad about trusting people to not take what isn't theirs. And in light of all the tragedy down in the Gulf Coast, I can't get too upset over one guitar. But that being said...so many songs were written on that guitar. Actually, nearly ALL my songs were written on that guitar. Aww shit. It just sucks. I can only hope that in it's new journey in lands in the hands of someone who will appreciate it for what it is. A small mahogany six-string box of inspiration. I know there are many many more songs to come from that guitar. Maybe one day I'll hear an amazing song, and get a strange familiar feeling...it could happen.

August 2, 2005
Portland, OR

Though New York City has the "buzz" factor going on and all of it's accompanying locked secrets, beautiful folk, and amazing characters, I might have to put a vote in for Portland as perhaps the overall coolest city. What New York may seem to lack (at least in any immediate sense) lacks, it has...mountains, lakes, rivers (swimmable!) and an open, sprawling, green community of streets and ornate homes with each owner seemingly intent on introducing even the slightest of variation on someone else's theme. Individuality seems not only a must, but a city mandate. So why do I ramble on about this Northwest treasure. Am I a Yankee traitor?
Well, I just returned from Portland where I was mixing my new, albeit dragged out, album with uber-producer Gregg Williams, who many of you know has been on tour with me quite a few times. In addition to producing one of my favorite records over the past 5 or so years (The Dandy Warhols "13 Tales from Urban Bohemia), he also just completed producing the Dandy's new album with them set for release this September. So I was very excited that he could squeeze in my little engine of a record that should. We mixed sleeplessly for nearly two weeks (games of horse notwithstanding) and I return with 13 completeed tracks in addition to the 5 i already had done. So ladies and gents, I need only to decide if they should all remain. Try and divorce myself from the artist and make damn sure it's a complete and beautiful album for all to hear. Or at least comment on. Maybe a nod?
So as I return from my gratifying stay in rainy Portland (I've yet to see a raindrop in my 5 or so years that I've been visiting. They're lying to us!), I sit back to briefly reflect on all the great characters that I encountered out there and tremendously thank Gregg and Polly for being the gratious and fun hosts that they were. Next, I put together this damn thing and get it out there. I will try and post a few tunes in the next couple weeks for some feedback. Would love to hear some. I need it. In the meantime, hope y'all are getting your own slices of life out of this summer. See you soon

June 22, 2005
New York City

First things first. The show at Jack's last week was a real treat for me and I thank each and every one of you who came to the "sold out" event, such as it was. The performance space there is obviously a unique situation and it made for a special evening. The love vibes were flowing. I'm packing my geetar for the west coast today where I'm excited to be back at the Hotel Cafe in West Hollywood...another great space, and one in which you never know who may show up. Last time I was there, the stand-in for the guy who almost dated Alice on "The Brady Bunch" almost bought me a beer. Imagine the stories! But I digress. Yet another gorgeous day here in New York, I just got back and I'm leaving again. I'm everywhere and nowhere all at once. Think about that for a moment. Okay. That's enough. I'm not even sure what that means myself. But this recent run of shows and intense studio time is getting me all excited again to hit the road with the new album. So thanks for all the prodding to those who keep wondering what the fuck I'm actually recording! I'm not sure myself, other than it's about done. One last trip to Portland the 2nd week of July to mix with Gregg Williams and I can breathe easier. Oh yeah, one last thing..look out for a screening of an independent film short, "Anna on the Neck" in NYC this summer, and the festival rounds to follow. I sleeplessly contributed most of the non-sensical musical interludes strewn across the film. Did everyone see the moon last night?

May 17, 2005
Torino, ITALY

Well, I am getting set to return to my beloved New York City. A good trip away sometimes is all I need to remember how great a city it really is. Anyway, while I was away, I sent a series of emails chronicling (perhaps embellishing?) my stay. I will post them here in a day or two. Hope you find them at least slightly amusing.

April 5, 2005
Life is Good

You know, there's really not much else to say on a day like this in New York City. 65 degrees and my street is drenched in sun streaks. A far cry from the 12 inches of snow we got at the studio last week. Man, last week! The ONLY thing that would make it better today is if the Red Sox score a couple runs here in the 9th to beat the Yankees. Yes, I've mellowed out much about the whole thing since they won it last year, but.....hell, yeah! Jason Varitek just crushed a home run to tie it up. Aren't you glad I'm wasting your time with this non-relevant nonsense?

I finally got around to recording one of the last elements of the new record, Pedal Steel Guitar. Man, have I waited a long time to get this done. But Bob Hoffnar out in Red Hook played some amazing stuff on about 5 to 6 tunes and I begin the task of starting to mix all this stuff. Yes, it's been a long time coming, and I've dissected this from every angle as to why it's taken me so long to complete this record. And I'll get into that some other time, because right now I'm feeling invigorated and SO ready to release some new music. I feel like pulling a "Ryan Adams" and releasing 5 albums this summer. We'll see. It's all about supply and demand people. Supply and demand. I'm working to make the latter greater than the former.

First step is trying to play these new songs live, and that started last Thursday at the legendary Living Room. For all the rehearsing and practicing that can be done, you can never fully prepare for the live element. Like, for example, the club losing the key to the room where your equipment is being stored while the audience waits for you to go on. Or, just as an example, there being no way for a couple of your musicians to hear themselves sing thereby rendering moot the weeks of 3-part hamony singing y'all have been doing. Hey, it happens. It's happened before and most DEFINATELY will happen again. Personally, it through me a little off, but thankfully that didn't translate, I think, to the audience. And why I'm really writing all this is to thank everyone who came out to the show. The turnout was better than I had expected, since it had been a while, and it immediately helped to override any of the "technical' issues happening on stage. The show helped give me a push to finish the album and get back on the road and have my equipment locked in other club's storage rooms across the country. Man I love Rock-n-Roll!
So thanks again to everyone and please spread the word. Summer's around the corner and with it the new album.

March 21, 2005
re: Life to Limb

You know, as I sit here surrounded by what's seems like a fallen and defeated forest, it occurred to me that it was only a couple months ago that the "100-year ice storm" hit this area with a vengeance...twice! After basically taking 6-7 months off from my music creating to build myself a studio in the woods that I had always dreamed of, this bizarre and random ice storm deposited three trees on the house, one of which found it's way actually into the studio I had just finished building. I still have that tree limb, but the studio is completed and functioning. As the spring continues to refuse to rear it's long-awaited head, I'm feeling bizarrely bittersweet about the whole mid-winter shock. Like a captive becoming attached to it's captor. So even though it's still another semi-cold damp winter day (actually the 1st day of spring), I will go outside and clean up that tree limb and bring it inside. Maybe it was just looking for it's own creative outlet. Perhaps I've found a new muse. Perhaps I'm just entertaining myself with thoughts of animating inanimate objects. Is anyone reading this? Happy 1st day of spring. It's been a long time coming.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

Return to Top