17.

Ra and I are ready to head home.  We’ve been away for about 5 weeks now either playing music shows or traveling for Figs & Ginger, our handmade jewelry line that butters our bread if you know what I mean.  It’s been wonderful to be able to spend time in New England seeing loads of good friends and playing unbelievable shows.  For a while now I’ve been a bit down in the dumps about music, but the last 4 or so shows have been so incredible that I’m completely revitalized and excited!  Our show at Mideast-Up even got mentioned in the Sunday Boston Globe, unfortunately they put the wrong date.  Those poopers.

Last night we played a show in an attic in Peabody, MA with 50 or so friends and other folks hanging out.  It also happened to be Ra’s birthday, so the vibe was lovely.  Great fun + red velvet cake…mmmm.

The night before (Sunday) found Jake, Samantha, Rhonda and I playing at Mideast-Up at near capacity.  We’re told that there were over 150 people in attendance!  That’s a lot for me.  I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t overwhelming.  The sound was rough, and we could hardly hear each other’s instruments through the monitors.  But, that stuff happens, and I feel we made the best of what we were given.

All in all we’re ready to get back home.  We’re so thrilled that we are making our living with our own hands, by making things, by playing music, by traveling – in general having fun/working hard.  It’s everything Rhonda and I hoped would happen when we got married 5 years ago.  (Our anniversary is coming up on the 28th!)  Now we’re working on bigger dreams.

My BFF Jason Rozen of Grinding Tapes Recording Company has been doing an incredible job of booking and promoting amazing shows in Boston.  It’s encouraging to see folks picking up on this.  One Boston blogger recently said, “…They curate some of the most interesting (mostly) acoustic acts around.”

Thanks so much if you came out to a show this week.  I’ve got some more coming up in VA, NC and TN.  I’d be thrilled to see you there.  The blog Cheap Thrills Boston also said some nice stuff about me recently.  I’ll paste a clip below.

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tiny mtns is the new project from Elijah Wyman who must be enjoying New England as he’s spending quite a bit of time away from North Carolina. Of the four artists, his lyrics hit me most immediately. There’s strong emotions and ideas in his musical tales. I’m beginning to think there really may be something in the water or the air in that state that gave us James Taylor, Ryan Adams, and many others.
– Cheap Thrills Boston