29.

New Recordings!

I’ve been aloof for a while not because I stopped loving you but because I’ve been working hard and sleeping little.  It’s been wonderful.  wifeRhonda and I have been overwhelmed in a good way between our business Figs & Ginger, traveling and making things…like songs!

I’ve got two new songs for you to hear.  I recorded them in NC with Scott Solter who’s worked with some of my favorite bands including John Vanderslice, Mountain Goats, Spoon, Superchunk and Liam Singer.  His studio is a wonderous space crammed with more analog oddities than a Decemberists show.  Many of the effects you hear on these tracks were crafted by Scott with tape and wires and knobs galore.

In these recordings I play autoharp, vibraphone, bass, Hammond chord organ, glocenspiel, guitar and floor toms/rimshots/cowbells/tambourines/a bigass marching drum/stickclicks/HUPS!  I’m aiming to make sunshiny folk pop w/ reggae and rootsmusic influenced rhythms.  Solter dubbed out bits of the songs with damaged tape distortion and stutter/fluttering echoes.  This is most noticable in the song Small Towns.  Both tracks were mastered by TW Walsh of Pedro the Lion fame.

I’m making rules and following them. I’m thinking things through. I’m proud these songs.  Please check them out at my new Bandcamp page: http://tinymtns.bandcamp.com

Also, East Coast tour dates announced soon.

15.

tiny mtns CD Release Party (and 1 st show under new name) Nearly Sold Out!

Photo by Rich Orris

Thanks to everyone who came out to Club Passim on Thursday night and made my EP release/Grinding Tapes Showcase incredibly warm, and fun and cozy.  The sing-alongs were fabulous.  We were 10 people away from selling out the show!  I was so heartened by the experience and am excited about my show at Middle East-Up in Cambridge, MA on Sunday Aug. 23rd at 9pm w/ Manners, The Points North,  Dreamtigers (mem. of Ambitions and tiny mtns!)  This is Dreamtiger’s first show too! Be sure not to miss them. You’ll be hearing more about them in the future, and their upcoming release will be digitally released by Grinding Tapes, so we’ll be label mates!

BUY TICKETS NOW for the Mideast-Up.  This show might sell out!!!
Oh and if you haven’t ordered my new EP yet you can here.

Here’s a few more photo’s taken by my buddy Rich Orris at Club Passim.  I’ll post a track or two from the live recording soon too!

My new and much improved autoharp makes its debut.

Samantha Hale & Jake Woodruff make up tiny mtns' band for the coming spat of shows. We love eachother.

We received some good press for the show: (more to come!)
Bostonist
Ryan’s Smashing Life
Cheap Thrills Boston
Enough Cowbell
All Boston Blog

11.

I’m playing a sweet show in Asheville.  Yup, that’s where I live , and it’s at my favorite venue in the whole wide world! The Grey Eagle.

Here’s the info:

Sat. July 18th – 9pm
@ The Grey Eagle w/ Tractenburg Family

Opening for Danielson sans PA at The Greagle.

I’d love to see you at the show!

Here’s a list of reasons why I love The Grey Eagle:

1.) I’ve seen Silver Mt. Zion, John Vanderslice, Mtn. Goats, Danielson and more there.
2.) Great sound
3.) Best fried green tomatoes I’ve ever eaten!
4.) Local beer

Oh, Tractenburg Family Slideshow Players collect  slides from yard sales and such and write songs about them.  They’re also a real family.  I think their drummer is 12!  So that’s pretty cool.

Here’s a video of the last show I played at The Greagle opening for Danielson Famile (I only open for family bands now):