“Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind of person’ for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.
I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.”
—Mildred Loving, June 12, 2007
I haven’t posted about music in a while, so here’s something sweet and awesome about love.
Archiving live sets…
I’ve recently realized the vast amount of live recordings that I have of this band, and I’ve decided to start sharing them. The first one has just gone up, expect more in the coming weeks. Click the flyer here to hear a set from February of last year featuring the talents of Peter House and a handful of other folks.
I used to play loud treble-y guitar and droning organ with Matt Hall and others and it was fun. This set includes several songs not available on albums, which is cool
How Not To Write About Female Musicians: A Handy Guide
I read this a couple months ago, but it keeps popping into my head so I thought I’d share it. Also applies to all writing about women, you know, doing anything.
Thank you so much to everyone who’s shared the album over the past week! I means a lot to me.
I decided to make the digital download pay-what-you-wish, and the CD option $7 (includes download). This covers shipping (about $2) plus the $5 I will be selling it for in person. I still plan on releasing this on cassette in the future, but don’t have the means to do so yet.
I invest all of the money I get from selling my music into things that help me make more music. For example, the next thing on the list is a cassette dubber. Followed by a banjo, though I may just dip into tax return money for that.
So if you’re interested in a copy, check it out here.
Pennsylvania Road Atlas
Released today! You can stream the whole thing online, plus there’s an option for buying a CD copy as well. I still have plans to release this on cassette, but I don’t have the means to do so at the moment.
This album features the talents of many of my friends. I’m thrilled and honored to have captured these performances, and the result is much more musically varied than I could’ve done alone.
Featuring:
Ryan Ashe: guitar, piano, vocals
Malachy L. Gately: violin
Sean Godreau: bass
Steve Greenberg: bass
Matt Hall: drums
Austin Petrashune: vocals
I played guitar, banjo, sang, and wrote the words. Sean and Matt also mixed the album, ran the recording sessions for 4 of the songs, and stayed patient with me through the process. Serious props to these guys.
Everyone featured on this album is an active North Country musician. You can hear them play in Letters, Five Mile Line, Retropilot, Marco Polio, Long Cat and Doomfck, and probably in many others as time goes by.
(one more from the album, before it comes out)
Susquehanna River Song
Peter House - banjo, guitar, vocals
Ryan Ashe - guitar
Steve Greenberg - bass
Malachy L. Gately - fiddle
DESPERATE THING
Track 07 off of Pennsylvania Road Atlas, which is coming out shortly.
Recorded to 4-track cassette in Plattsburgh with Matt Hall (drums, army of mics) and Sean (bass, owner of fancier Tascam 4-track)
WINTER SONG
Track 02 off of Pennsylvania Road Atlas, which is coming out shortly.
Recorded to 4-track cassette in Plattsburgh with Matt Hall (drums, army of mics) and Sean (bass, owner of fancier Tascam 4-track)
New American Royalty
The folkiest of the new bunch (except perhaps tomorrow’s entry) Written in pieces on the bus and on the job hunt last fall.
Brothers
I missed a day in the whole ‘song-a-day’ deal (anniversaries trump all internet chores), but here’s a rollicking number that people who like some of my songs like.
One was tame, one was wild
Brothers Cain and Able style
But I wasn’t able, I wasn’t Able
And I sure as hell weren’t Cain
Look so different in that picture
One is truth, one is fiction
Versions of each-other or
Versions of the truth
* Find yourself in the eyes of your brother
* Find your face in the kind of another
Look so different in that picture
One is truth, one is fiction
One was tame, one was wild
Brothers Cain and Able style
But I wasn’t Able and I wasn’t Cain
Or my brother under a different name
One lived east, one lived west
Tattoos cover the others’ chest
And one was drunk, the other stoned
But neither was himself anymore
*
One lived east, one lived west
Tattoos cover the others’ chest
And one lived in peace, one lived in war
Neither knew what the hell the other did the other - for
Different times, different conclusions
Different lives, different solutions
*
