Be proud of what you have done and be aware of what you plan to do. However, you must understand that the only thing you have control over is what you are doing. The past and the future should live in your head, the current resides in your your hands.

A couple weeks ago I played the Naked Songwriters Showcase upstairs at Dinosaur BBQ. As soon as I struck my first string to start my set I noticed that the room went completely silent. Suddenly I realized that my body was experiencing an emotion that was completely new and somewhat foreign. Were these people really there to hear what I have to say? Are they searching for something just like me? These questions went through my head numerous times during the performance as I gazed around the room to find wide open eyes connecting with mine.

I have played music in hundreds of rooms but never had I experienced full attention, not like this. It reinforced my journey and refueled my vehicle. I am not a musician or an entertainer. I am not trying to write a radio song or get rich doing this, that is completely irrelevant. I am a person just like you that just happens to be writing down how I feel in the format of song. I can’t help it. I write songs for myself and I sing them for you. I am using my songs like an insect uses antennae, feeling my way through life. My songs are me, open chested. When people let the words in, it is the most powerful buzz imaginable. It is the buzz I will continue to chase until I am in a pine box.
I ended my set with a song that I had written that morning. I explained to the crowd, “This is a song that I will never perform again. I wrote it this morning and I am going to play it now. It is a song that I want all of us to experience together, it is not for me or for you, it is for all of us and it will be forever be.” These are the lyrics…

This is a song I wrote today
It may be yours tomorrow
I only need it for a day / Cause I have more to say
And more to borrow

This is a lesson I learned today
I pray I’ll remember it tomorrow
I learned to chase after stars / To find out how far
My heart goes

I’m not gonna wait for my calling to come
I’m not gonna wait for my kingdom to fall
I’m not gonna wait cause what good is waiting after all

What are we waitin’ for
nows the time
and theres the door
nows the time
and theres the door

The ultimate goal of my shows is to present my songs like conversation. Conversation requires nothing but words and the silence in between. Bells and whistles get noisy. I want people to leave my shows looking within themselves, uncovering their dreams or questions, blowing off the dust, and marching forward with a new sense of awareness and confidence. Because that is how I feel when they listen, that is what they are doing for me. I want to display where I am currently and use that to visit my long lost relatives, my fleeting memories, and my ultimate ending. I will write songs until I die. The surface of the sea is constantly rippling and forever changing, although it is appealing to the eye, below the surface is where the life is. Listen close.

Thank you so much to all of you that listen, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Most people have the ability to see things, we call that “eyesight”. Few people use their ability to see into, through, and beyond things…we call this “vision”. Use your vision and let the world in.

November is in motion. The weather has been excellent in Central New York, but we all know we are headed into the tunnel. I drove up to Vermont a couple weeks ago to met up with my good friends from Barefoot Truth. We played a show together at McCullough Student Center on the campus of Middlebury College. It was an awesome night. I have posted three videos in the media section of the site from this show. Also, I am waiting for the Barefoot Truth keys player, Wayne-o, to post a pre show video of Jay Driscoll (guitar) clamping a stage clip on his nipple. Painful, I bet…entertaining, I know.

This past weekend I played a Words and Music Songwriter Showcase at Jazz Central in Syracuse. I have been performing music for about five years now and I have only played listening rooms a handful of times. I love playing rooms where the audience is there to “LISTEN”, it makes me feel more comfortable and allows me to be more exposed. I had a great night and played for a great crowd. I thank you all.

Next stop is Dinosaur BBQ. This Friday I am playing with Lisa Gentile and Annie Fitzgerald as part of a songwriter showcase called Naked. My favorite kind of music is pure. Naked is a series that prides itself on providing music in its most organic form possible. Straight from the horses mouth. I am really looking forward to playing this show. The show will be recorded so I will be sure to post some video in the media section.

I have a bunch of shows lined up in Syracuse over the winter until I take off again and hit the road. I hope to see the locals out at one of the upcoming shows. Sending all the best to everyone.

I met the coolest kid ever yesterday.  My Sister Gretchen introduced me to him.  He is the man…