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Showing posts from January, 2016

David Bowie, Rest in Peace

A Sunday morning, sixteen years old, sitting in my family Volkswagen in front of the newsstand on West Fourth Street, reading another issue of Billboard cover to cover. And there, in black and white, was the ad announcing Hunky Dory 's success, as well as the release of a new single "Starman."  I'd bought a remaindered copy of The Man Who Sold the World on Mercury some months before, on a tip from reading CREEM or Rock Scene undoubtedly. The production by Tony Visconti was fuzzy and wild, and the nascent performances of Mick Ronson and Woody Woodmansey were inspiring, especially on the riffy "Black Country Rock." So I was ready to love whatever Bowie brought next. Hunky Dory was so much softer, so much more gentle that it was a bit off-putting until "Queen Bitch" came through the speakers. It was an homage to the Velvet Underground and was certainly a presage of what The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust was going to sound like
Let's hit the ground running. I begin recording my single on Monday in the esteemed company of Mark Simonsen and James Wallace. Mark (left) is a member of  The Old Ceremony , one of Durham's finest bands; he also plays with me in  Baron Von Rumblebuss , Tray Batson's kiddie-rock ensemble. James (right) was the drummer for Max Indian, another phenomenal band from this locale, and he's played with almost every musician worth their salt since the band's breakup. Together, I think the three of us will come up with an eminently listenable slab of vinyl for you (and yes, there'll be a download card included). I look forward to working with these phenomenal cats immensely. On Friday, I fly to Panama City FL to participate in the 30A Songwriters Festival for the first time. It excites me to no end that I'll be among such amazing, inspiring songwriters as Willis Alan Ramsey, Matraca Berg, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey and Tommy Womack. Plus I get to hang with t