It's been an extremely busy January, and for that I'm most grateful! I haven't really had time to update much, so some gigs slipped by before I could post them. But there's a lot coming up in February and for the rest of this month, and in just a couple months South By Southwest will be here again... and that's going to be insane, for both Nelo and Progress. In the meantime, I've been getting involved with a number of cool projects, including some stuff with the incredible D Madness, that I can't wait to see unleashed upon the world. I'll also be playing my first gig with the legendary Jon Blondell on Valentine's Day. 2012 is already gearing up to be even busier than 2011, but please come say hi if you're at a show!
Calendar
1/26: Nelo at the Aardvark, Fort Worth, TX
2/6: Nelo Acoustic at the Saxon Pub, Austin, TX
2/10: Progress at Lambert's, Austin, TX
2/13: Nelo Acoustic at the Saxon Pub, Austin, TX
2/14: Jon Blondell at the Elephant Room, Austin, TX
2/15: Monster Big Band at the Elephant Room, Austin, TX
2/16: Nelo at the Blue Light, Lubbock, TX
2/23: Progress at Skinny's Ballroom, Austin, TX
2/24: Nelo at the Parish, Austin, TX
3/16: Progress at Key Bar (free unofficial SXSW show!), 4:00pm, Austin, TX
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Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Inspiration from the Northwest
Rain is tapping against the window of the bedroom I'm borrowing from my eighth-grade nephew. While I've visited Portland, Oregon a couple times in the past, I've never spent an appreciable amount of time exploring the city and its surroundings as an adult; in the past I've only passed through with my family on the way to the coast, or Seattle. The majority of my current visit consisted of a relaxing week with my parents in Moscow, Idaho, but for the last two days I've had the opportunity to get a feel for downtown Portland, Oregon: its books, its coffee, and its excellent Chinese food.
Since I grew up in Albuquerque, which gets three hundred days of sunshine a year, I never had the overexposure-driven aversion to rain that many northerners do. So, while I'm a northerner by genetics and, realistically, by mindset, I happen to love the rain, and perceive it as a moody, depth-enhancing treat. Living in Austin, I don't have to have this mindset shattered by overexposure, particularly during abnormally dry years like this past one.
It's been raining nonstop since I arrived in Portland from Moscow, and today I went on a hike that may be the best I've ever experienced. Multnomah Falls, which lies not too far east of Portland, may be the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The dense ferns and moss decorating the massive trees amongst a series of impressive rapid rivers and waterfalls make for an endlessly inspiring series of views. The whole place is staggeringly beautiful, and I can understand why writers and artists have, over the years, traveled or moved to this part of the world for inspiration: the penetrating beauty of this place makes me want to create. I'm hoping to bring this energy home with me and use it to start some new pieces, for Progress or otherwise. Regardless, this trip has been an irreplaceable experience, and I'm already looking forward to my return to the Northwest.
Since I grew up in Albuquerque, which gets three hundred days of sunshine a year, I never had the overexposure-driven aversion to rain that many northerners do. So, while I'm a northerner by genetics and, realistically, by mindset, I happen to love the rain, and perceive it as a moody, depth-enhancing treat. Living in Austin, I don't have to have this mindset shattered by overexposure, particularly during abnormally dry years like this past one.
It's been raining nonstop since I arrived in Portland from Moscow, and today I went on a hike that may be the best I've ever experienced. Multnomah Falls, which lies not too far east of Portland, may be the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The dense ferns and moss decorating the massive trees amongst a series of impressive rapid rivers and waterfalls make for an endlessly inspiring series of views. The whole place is staggeringly beautiful, and I can understand why writers and artists have, over the years, traveled or moved to this part of the world for inspiration: the penetrating beauty of this place makes me want to create. I'm hoping to bring this energy home with me and use it to start some new pieces, for Progress or otherwise. Regardless, this trip has been an irreplaceable experience, and I'm already looking forward to my return to the Northwest.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
End-of-year reflections, love for my squad
Well, gentlepeople of the internets, the year is drawing to a close and I've retreated up to the lovely hills of Moscow, Idaho, to recuperate with my family after what turned out to be an incredibly busy fall. 2011 ended up being a year of extremes: there were some very difficult things to deal with, but there were some incredibly great things that happened, too; some of the months were absolutely devoid of work, and other months were so jam-packed that they more than doubled a normal month.
More than anything, I'm glad to have been able to spend time with many good friends, on and off the bandstand. I had the privilege of meeting some people who quickly became great friends and some of my favorite guys on the planet, and strengthened bonds with people I already knew were awesome. I can't even put into words how happy I am to have gotten together with the guys who became Progress, and having people around that are that fun to make music with-- and, on top of that, who really get MY music and are able to make it sound its best-- is beyond awesome.
There are some very exciting things coming in 2012. I'm not counting on the Mayan apocalypse happening. Nelo is in the process of planning an extensive spring tour that will take us to the east coast and back, and I'm planning on doing both live and studio recordings with Progress. If all goes according to plan, I'm also going to find some time to play more with my soul-brothers in Snarky Puppy. They just recorded a new live audio-video masterpiece, it's going to be awesome, and them fools really and truly are blowing up.
Thanks so much to all of my dear friends in Austin, Dallas, Albuquerque, New York, and everywhere else for making this year, and my life, a joy. I love you all, and I'll see you all in the new year. In the meantime I'll be chilling with my awesome family in the hills of Idaho and Oregon. Holla.
More than anything, I'm glad to have been able to spend time with many good friends, on and off the bandstand. I had the privilege of meeting some people who quickly became great friends and some of my favorite guys on the planet, and strengthened bonds with people I already knew were awesome. I can't even put into words how happy I am to have gotten together with the guys who became Progress, and having people around that are that fun to make music with-- and, on top of that, who really get MY music and are able to make it sound its best-- is beyond awesome.
There are some very exciting things coming in 2012. I'm not counting on the Mayan apocalypse happening. Nelo is in the process of planning an extensive spring tour that will take us to the east coast and back, and I'm planning on doing both live and studio recordings with Progress. If all goes according to plan, I'm also going to find some time to play more with my soul-brothers in Snarky Puppy. They just recorded a new live audio-video masterpiece, it's going to be awesome, and them fools really and truly are blowing up.
Thanks so much to all of my dear friends in Austin, Dallas, Albuquerque, New York, and everywhere else for making this year, and my life, a joy. I love you all, and I'll see you all in the new year. In the meantime I'll be chilling with my awesome family in the hills of Idaho and Oregon. Holla.
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