It’s been a minute. Sorry I’ve been MIA, things have been busy around here. I’ve had a month long bout of Bronchitis and have been spending most of my energy trying to get healthy. Currently, I’m still unable to sing but am making progress. Meanwhile, I’ve got some gigs coming up where I’m just playing guitar so keep an eye out for me around town. Hope everyone is well! Thought I would just post a few of my current favorite things so here we go:
Jason Isbell and his mighty band just released a live album from a performance at the Ryman in Nashville. Incredible energy on this record - what you’d expect from such a talented artist in this sacred space. Love all the live versions but hard not to be moved by this take of “Cover Me Up.” When Isbell sings his lyric “…but I sobered up and swore off that stuff,” the audience erupts in roar of cheers. As a recovering alcoholic, this must be a deeply moving moment for him. Go listen to it on ITUNES or SPOTIFY.
My sister Rosemary came to visit me in NYC last week. It was the first time I’ve seen her in almost a year. She studied abroad in China last semester so we haven’t had the chance to see each other outside of Skype. Enjoyed showing her the city and catching up. Definitely a favorite.
We lost our beloved Aretha Franklin recently. This is a subway platform on my way home in Brooklyn. Love this tribute.
This song has been on repeat for a week at my house. Jamie and Allen are forces of nature. Obsessed with this groove.
Current favorite book. Been getting inspired about the world again (easy to get blue with current affairs). Looking forward to checking some of these places off on tour. Get it here.
Dream House is hard to find even if you are looking for it. Located at 275 Church Street in Manhattan, the entrance to Dream House is just another nondescript doorway on a busy city street. Ring the buzzer to get in and follow a long flight of stairs. There you will be greeted by an attendant who will kindly request that you remove your shoes and pay the $10 donation/entry fee. Upon entering the space a fairly jarring tone fills the air. It’s a little off putting at first, but as time passes it becomes almost pleasant. The tone is drone of lower and mid frequencies. I noticed that depending on the tilt of the head, the tone changes ever so slightly. Lit by only purple and blue ambient lighting, the space does really feel dream-like. The entire area is completely empty other than a few art pieces on the walls. In the main room a large tapestry covers the largest wall. Behind the tapestry is a projector that seems to bring certain patterns to life as you look at it. The floor is carpeted and I found myself sitting staring at the wall. Other folks wander in and out of the space, sometimes laying down or using one of the provided cushions to sit. This experience is hard to describe and probably sounds pretty trippy - which I guess it is. I thought I had been in Dream House for maybe a 30 mins but when I left it had been over an hour.Afterwards, I felt extremely calm and relaxed.. Later on I did a little research and found that Dream House has been an installation since the 90s and the likes of Brian Eno and David Byrne have made visits. If you’re in the NYC area or are visiting soon try to make time to check this out. More information can be found here. Also check out this write up in Rolling Stone magazine here.