With so much social networking around, it’s rare that I feel the call to express much beyond 140 characters, but there’s enough excitement brewing over here that I feel compelled to ‘check in’ with ya’ll.
This Tuesday August 3rd, I’m releasing a live EP, my first. It was the easiest of all my records to name – ‘Live in LA.’ Boom. Done.
The recording is taken from my show on July 19th at Hotel Cafe. It was a great night – my FAVORITE show of the last few years. I felt grounded and connected and was supported by fantastic musicians – George Stanford and Sarah Roberts – who really elevated the songs and made the night special. The recording is decent - there’s a bit of noise from the amp that George was using, my guitar sometimes it pitchy, and the mix isn’t exactly what I want – but I think it captures the spirit of the evening and that’s what’s most important with a live recording.
This is a release that I haven’t stewed over. I just listened, liked it, and am putting it out. Total victory for a soul that has a tendency to brood.
Here’s the cover – photo taken by Josh, text by Sean Akers
Here’s the tracklist:
1. Ghosts
2. Subterranean
3. Mistake
4. Over my Head
5. Hard to Breathe
‘Live in LA’ will only be available digitally at Bandcamp.com. Bandcamp offers better quality MP3s than iTunes and is super easy to use. Plus they don’t take a cut like other online music stores. If you have any questions, I will be happy to walk you through the process personally
I’m also lucky to have a fan/friend who managed to sneak footage of the whole show. Hotel Cafe is strict about video, so kudos to Jennifer for being such a secret agent! I’m posting a new video from the show every Monday for the next month. Here’s the first one posted earlier this week:
Next month, I get back to work recording with George. I’m about halfway done with my next record and I’m super excited to finish it up with some brand new songs. In the meantime, I have one final promo push for ride that is/was ‘Sad Britney.’ At long last, the oft-promised music video for ‘Gimme More’ is being shot this Sunday. Director Derek Woods has a great visual idea for the song and I’m stoked to see the finished product. I don’t know how long it will take before it’s ready for viewing, but it’s sure to be pretty slick.
Now I’m off to hang out one last day with my mama before she goes back to Michigan. We have had a lovely 3 day visit and I will be sad to see her go.
Thanks as always for your hearts and your ears. It means the world
I’ve been home for 2 days now and am so fully appreciating my kitties, my fella and the comfort of my own bed that I’ve forgotten how badly I missed them when I was traveling last week!
Double Trouble was short and sweet but long on fun and lessons learned.
Los Angeles to San Fran to Portland to Seattle and then back again. Just under 2600 miles and 7 days in my car.
This was the experience for me: Each show got better and better. I got more and more comfortable onstage and that comfort allows you to go to places as a creative performer that you don’t normally get to. This is the value of the road to me. It’s been so many years since I’ve toured and during that time, each show in my town seems to sit on a pedestal in the middle of my month. Even when I’m at my best, I still bring a load of anxieties onstage with me. When you start to travel and do a string of shows in a row, you don’t really have the opportunity to carry that anxiety and stress. You realize this is your JOB, so do it. And have fun. Free of those anxieties, the experience is completely different. I’m grateful to have found that on this journey. I stopped worrying about playing my guitar exactly right, about singing perfectly. I felt free to just sing and tell my stories.
My favorite show was is Portland. I was thoroughly charmed by my first visit to this town and LOVED the day leading up to the show with yummy food and a gorgeous hike on Mount Tabor. Thank you to new friend Lauren for hosting us!
San Fran was wild and crazy. Amazing hospitality and crazy nights out at the bar with new friends! Thanks Patrick. I can’t say it enough!
Seattle was a quick and super rainy visit but it was great to hug old and new friends and I had some of the best late night Chinese food I’ve ever consumed. Thanks to the Samsons for opening their home to us.
Los Angeles was the smallest crowd… and that’s all I have to say about that
Big thanks to all who came out and supported. It meant the world to feel the love in towns I’d never even visited before. ThankyouThankyou. I promise to keep getting better and better if you keep showing up!
Big thanks to all members of the Chris Dallman Connection who drove some pretty intense distances to see the shows and post about their experience on the website for those across the country and overseas who weren’t able to make it.
I’ve learned so much from Aiden James. He is an incredible musician and mentor. Watching how he carried himself through this tour, dealing with fans and friends and the staff at venues… all of this has taught me so much. Above all, he is someone who boldly and instinctively says YES when an opportunity arises. Sometimes I’m the same, but other times I take a moment in that breath allow fear to get in the way. And then the moment is lost. I want to start saying YES more.
He is also a pretty fantastic car buddy. Thank goodness for Marisa Tomei’s quotable tour de force in My Cousin Vinnie, Wong’s in Willows, Nolan the line-cutter, Brunello Di Montalcino, Ingrid Michaelson (you left your cd), the late-night new age radio poetry slam, and the fruit checkpoint. And thank God for Gaga.
My favorite songs of Aiden’s are the ones he hasn’t recorded yet, so for sure look out for the new record he is about to start working on. Below are a few videos from the tour (Thanks, Laura!) We will have more to share in the coming weeks.
I’m sad that the tour is over, but am excited to look to the future!
COMING UP:
I’ve got shows in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, and New York city in the coming months.
My video for GHOSTS will be airing on TV on FUSE on demand and on their website for the whole month of May!
I’m shooting a legit video for GIMME MORE with Director Derek Woods on May 15th and 16th.
There is so much I’m looking forward to and I feel a fresh energy in the air, almost as if THIS were the actual beginning of my new year.
I can’t pretend that the first couple of months of 2010 weren’t a little brutal. I had a kinda major shoulder injury, dental nightmares, cars towed and broken into, an iPhone soaked, a laptop ruined, 2 flat tires, and a couple weeks of illness. Definitely not the hardest time of my life and small potatoes in the long run, but not what I expected when I drunkenly assumed 2010 was going to be pumpkin pie.
But the new month of March promises much goodness. On the very first day, I will premier the BRAND NEW music video for my song ‘Ghosts’ from the ‘Never Was’ EP. We shot it on a rainy Saturday a few weeks back and the director Kevin Thompson showed me the first cut on Tuesday. I love it. It’s dark and simple and sweet and very CJD. Kevin also directed the video for ‘Over My Head‘ and it’s amazing to watch him grow as a filmmaker. I couldn’t be more comfortable than I am with him and that always makes for a good time.
The rest of the month is devoted to promoting the living hell out of the DOUBLE TROUBLE tour with myself and Aiden James. Check the poster. He gets allll the credit for hooking this baby up. It couldn’t be better!
The tour kicks off in LA at Room 5 on Tuesday March 23. From there, we hit San Fran and Portland, finishing the short run in Seattle. I can’t tell you how excited I am to share the stage with this guy. I’ll be looking for your help to spread the word about this in a week or so!
There is much more on the horizon, with shows in Phoenix, NYC, Cedar Rapids, and my home town of Milwaukee. Want me to come to your town? Let’s find a small venue or big living room and make it happen! While 2010 kicked off to a strange start for me, my one resolution was to give it all to music and THAT is the only thing going according to plan.
As always, I’m wicked thankful for all of your support. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you on Twitter and Facebook and am endlessly grateful for your part in helping me spread the music. Ya’ll know I have no agent, no manager, no pr, and no record label… and no money. What you’ve helped me accomplish is on par with my sweetest dreams.
Be well and don’t be a stranger. See ya Monday for the premier of the GHOSTS video!
