HEY!!!

Here’s the new single from my brain to yours. I’m putting it up here because it was on thesixtyone but that site confuses me lately.

Don’t forget to buy the single!  Or “illegally” (what a wishwashy word you have become) obtain the single through email from a friend, if you can put up with sleepless night after night of painful gmail mp3 download guilt.  There’s the new Big Girl track and then there’s Wire, which is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made and also my mom’s favorite.  Then there’s Baby (Demo) which sounds like an old school Chris Merritt demo from a couple years ago with updated songwriting skills and a manlier voice.

As for me, I’ve been recording, driving, starving, and generally living like a king.

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The Big Girl single is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Allright!!!!

Check it out streaming here.

Buy the new single (download) for only three bucks!!  The single contains two b-sides, Wire and Baby, plus pages of new, weird artwork, including a drawing of something that can only be described as a boob box. The singlw is digital distribution only for now.

This new single represents days and days of hard work and group creativity from Jake Thro, Brett Ripley, and I. We’re going for grittiness and craziness on this new record – weird time changes on different instruments, contrapuntal lines on the bass, etc. Note Jake’s insanely awesome picked bass and my weird dual-wurli solo on Big Girl. Also check out when the drums and bass randomly start playing in 5/4 on Wire, and note the aux percussion on everything. I’m excited about the new sound! We’ve got a good start on the rest of the record too.

AIIIGHT. Respec’

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I’ll be playing at Jammin’ Java in Vienna this Tuesday night COMING UP FAST!!!  This is a good lineup.  All night long, music that doesn’t suck.

Ian Axel is a successful New York fella who plays the piano.  He’s also a really genuine bloke and one of the people that convinced me to move to New York City.  Here is a video.

Gills And Wings are one of my favorite Virginia groups.  Their melodies are great.  Listen to their songs here

Look at this chart

Intelligence has emerged in the universe as a physical force.  It is by far the most successful genetic trait of any land mammal in history.  Now we’re creating a giant communal brain known as the internet.  At some point we’ll create artificial intelligence.  So in a world where technology is probably the most objectively important emergent phenomenon in the universe, does art have any place?  Is it important and beautiful or becoming obsolete?  Will people forever put their iPods on shuffle and be happy with mindless droning crap?  Will music make a comeback in the popular consciousness?  Has anyone heard the new Pearl Jam album?  It’s absolutely great!

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here’s a sneak preview boys and girls

these are from a couple days ago, 0% mixed, 75% tracked

tired, overwhelmed with grokking the world

it might be time to give up, or it might be time to double up

if i’m supposed to call you or email you back let me take a nap first

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WELL.  Geeez.  Sorry for the lack of updates here.  I’m feeling better.  Playing piano in NYC like a crazy man.  I played for an opera singer on New Year’s Eve and hung out with this fella and met his family – an absolutely sweet guy.  Meanwhile we played 3 awesome shows in NYC and I played a show in Upperville, VA.  They all felt like huge successes.  Thanks to everyone who came out to the Rockwood show and the Upperville show!  And to the three fellas shouting out songs at The Living Room.

We’ve been working our butts off on Virginia Is For Hoverers (Part Two), and specifically on the first single and two b-sides.  OH That reminds me

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

The bad news is that the new single won’t be released until later this week, even though it was supposed to be out today.  The GOOD news is that it will only cost 3 bucks as opposed to 6.  THREE STINKIN BUCKS!!!!!!!!  And these tracks are great, too.  I’m excited about them – it will be the first glimmer of this new album.  Also, there’s lots of crazy art along with it.  More info to come.

I haven’t slept in days.  We last-minute decided to drive from NYC to Richmond, VA, to help Jacob finish these tracks.  We left after my gig Saturday at midnight and we’ve been working ever since.  It’s good business so far.  There’s the Tom Petty-ish Wire and the White Stripes-ish Big Girl.  And the J-Pop-ish Asako-San.

This album is going to be lots of work.  20 songs to record.  All whittled down to 11 short songs full of weird noises and wacky Beatles-ish mixing.  Contrapuntal lines in the bass and drums.  Bill Evans Trio-esque insanity.  Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.  Krautrock.  A new sound, though.  Something new.

Check out these sculptures in the subway on the 14th street station.  I love ‘em.  Roland took these.  We got to hang out for a frantic couple of days.

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hi there

I have a really really bad flu.  I’ll still be playing tonight at 7pm at Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan.  But other than that, I’m really trying to take it easy.  I HATE being sick.  I had a hundred things to do and this huge new year plan for attack but I’m putting it all on hold.  It’s a big adventure just trying to get up and get a bottle of water or whatever.

Here is a pretty sweet Tuesday Tape for you.  Our awesome neighbor Mike from across the hall wrote it and sings on it.  He said he heard this song in a dream and he wanted us to figure out how to play it.  This is us jamming on it.  I think the song is called Little Sister.

here are some of the things I WON’T be doing in a timely fashion until I feel better:  finish lyrics for new singles, finish vocals/drums/piano/bass for new singles, learn new piano songs for piano restaurant, finish commissioned song vocals lyrics piano, set up Utah details/studio time, finish poster for jammin java show, send merch, pay electric/internet, start car (too cold to start), finish artwork for first single, get COK vid to KP nerds, post a 61 song, answer 8,000 emails, revive rotting/abandoned facebook/myspace, redesign myspace, post NY adventures, blog button post and sidebar, scratch track 17 potential songs for new record, write lyrics for new songs, meet up with ignored friends in NYC, marketing meeting, dry-clean suit, etc etc.

Stupid virus.

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Oops I almost forgot

does it still count as Tuesday???

this one is going on the record for sure.  it’s maybe my favorite song i wrote lately

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NY DATES

December 29th (tomorrow) – The Living Room (Lower East Side)  11:00 PM.  No cover charge.

December 30th (the day after tomorrow) – Spike Hill (Brooklyn)  11:00 PM.  No cover charge.

January 5th – Rockwood Music Hall (Lower East Side) 7:00 PM.

The free Upperville show was a huge success.  We even ran out of chairs!  Thanks to everyone that came.

At home for today.  Visiting Salt and Pepper, my cats.  I wanted to bring them to NY but they are country cats and they love running around outside and brutally murdering small animals.  I couldn’t bear to lock them in a small apartment.  Especially with weirdos like me and Brett!

Leaving for Brooklyn early tomorrow morning.  Show in Manhattan tomorrow at The Living Room, a REALLY REALLY cool venue.  No cover charge, swing by!!!  I think there may be a one-drink minimum though.  See you there.

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Virginia Is For Hoverers (Part One) B-Side

ps

FREE SHOW Saturday in Upperville, VA!  Just me and a piano.  Bring the family for a fun day-after-Christmas activity.  Imagine a nice country drive down 50 to Upperville – inside Buchanan Hall there will be songs and laughter merriment.  Or should I say Merrittment?  Donations accepted.

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I just finished a Christmas song!  It’s free for download.  Merry Christmas!!!  Grab it here at thesixtyone.

It’s called Lonely Christmas Eve and it features Melissa Hansen on girl vocals and Brett Ripley on percussion.  And also it features me on Jangly Bells.

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