The Return of Live Music

My oh my, how I have missed you! Not just here on the blog, but in the real world of live music, group gatherings, and back porch pickin’ sessions. But now that it’s June 2021, and vaccination rates being what they are (at least here in Colorado), live music is making a comeback! And it couldn’t happen at a better time. I have spent the past year plus in the following ways: 1. Reeling from the pandemic. 2. Finding new ways to pass the time, such as building a woodshop in my garage. 3. Still reeling from the pandemic. 4. Writing new songs and making a new album! More on that later, as the release date is still TBD, but that album is finished and I am bursting at the seams to share it with you. In the meantime, I do hope to see you soon at one of the live shows I’ve been lining up. The World Tour (ok fine, Colorado Tour) starts this Saturday 6/5 at Upslope Brewery in Boulder (5pm), followed by 7/1 at BOCO Cider (also in Boulder, 5pm), and 7/21 at Denver’s Botanic Gardens. I hope you and your families are safe and well, ready to come out and get your folky boogie on with me. Stay tuned!

The messy art of songwriting

I’ve been spending more time in the home studio lately, as I embark on what I hope will someday result in my fourth studio album. There is plenty to do between now and then, and the biggest lift is going to be completing the lyrics on many of the songs I want to record. That’s always the most challenging aspect for me - becoming satisfied with the lyrical content of the tunes. I’m picky in a way that can become a hinderance to the entire creative endeavor. But I persist.

My vision for this album includes a variety of original tracks - some of them are recently written, some of them are yet to be written, and others were completed years ago. or at least the music was, and I’m finally coming around to finishing up the lyrics.

In the past few months, I have reunited with long-time friend and musical genius Peter Sharpe of the Railsplitters, as we performed a handful of outdoor shows as a duo. He sings beautifully, is a monster on the mandolin, and has this tenor guitar that slays me. The songs and their spaciousness sounded incredible, and I was inspired to try and capture some of the duo magic in the studio.

In the meantime, I will be writing and rewriting the way that I do, working the words until I’m fully satisfied. That usually means stacks of papers and lyrics here and there until they finally come together in a way that works. Here’s to finding the flow.
stay tuned.

JD

Another Year Down

As we navigate our way through another holiday season, I find it helpful to spend at least a moment reflecting on those people and circumstances that collided in ways both beautiful and tragic in 2019. Some moments were thrilling and heartfelt, others were stress-inducing and heartbreaking. Musically for me, it was an interesting year. On one hand, my song “Evangeline” won a lyric writing competition - one that may result in me getting a trip to Nashville and a wonderful co-writing opportunity. On the other hand, I wrote fewer songs and played fewer shows than in past years, largely because of shifting life circumstances. My daughter is now in the 8th grade, my partner moved in with us, we bought and sold a home, lots going on. BUT, I have very high hopes for 2020. As I continue to settle into the new home, I am thrilled that it comes with my own private office/studio which will be dedicated to music-making. So stay tuned, loved ones. I do believe my creative output in 2020 will surpass that of 2019. So as we move into our shortest days of the year, I urge you to light the candles, pour the tea, wrap the blankets, and snuggle up close. ‘Tis the season. Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I could not do it without you.

• Jeremy