Bowery Ballroom Show

So there I was, sitting inside the Mercury Lounge during sound check hours before the show.  I was eating terrible chinese food.  I was eating it way too fast.  I was nervous that we might be biting off more than we could chew.  I had yet to meet the cellist, and never rehearsed with any of the brass.  The day before, I found out that Anchor and Braille's car broke down and they could not make the show.  So this was it.  The defining moment.  Could we really sell out the Mercury Lounge Show?  Could we truly create the same magic that had happened there the month before?  Could I honestly concentrate on the magic of the moments and not worry about all the "suits" coming out to the show?  My good friend Harlan Alford had been running around town all day.  The show would not have happened without him.  The show would not have happened without you.

The clock strikes 10:00PM, and I have been second guessing myself for the past 3 hours leading up to this moment.  I strum my grandfather's 49' Electromatic and hope for the best.  I look up and it all hit me.  I am staring at people who know me well.  People who have heard this music in this city for the past 3 years.  New faces stand back in the dim light while the tried and true take deep breathes with me as I gather myself for the first note.  The rest is magic.  A time captured by something more important.  We were waiting for the future.  We were not worried about the past.  We simply were there in the present and completely taking in the greatness of the moment that was happening.  It's not the songs, it's not the music, it's the community.

New ideas are on the horizon.  New songs have started taking up my moments of clarity.  Songs about you.  Songs about your stories.  Thank you for sharing life with me.

Zach

I was talking to a dear friend today named Ken Rockwood about music, record labels, and moms when this story came up.

I've been playing in the beautiful NYC music venues for almost 3 years now. The first real show I had was at 2:00am on a Monday night at a fantastic spot called "Rockwood Music Hall" (Ken Rockwood owns this little spot). I would play my tunes to 10, sometimes even 11 people if my love showed up. All the while Ken would tell me "don't stop making this music".

Last year Ken started talking to a few of his buddies at a major record label about how I could do them some good. Unfortunately, I did not fit in the game plan for the label. Ken's mother did not take this news too well.

One day Ken and his mother took a trip up to this record label to meet the head hancho, the cheese, the bossman of the entire label. Now Miss Rockwood is no ordinary woman. I've heard that she is the epitome of class and a Lower East Side Bombshell living a life of adventure. Mama Rockwood walks right up to this man, looks him dead in the eye and says "you know you really dropped the ball with This Zach Williams guy!” To which he politely replied "Oh yeah?"

When Ken told me this, I smiled to myself and thought- I don't need no record deal! I don't need financial security. I don't need to live in an apartment bigger than the 550 square feet I live in now. All I need is valuable moments, meaningful stories, fearless friends, and a song. Hearing this story about this sweet woman who enjoys my tunes was a good reminder to keep the main thing the main thing. Make music, moments, and friends.

I hope to meet Miss Rockwood someday.

Today is the big day! After years or writing and playing shows, STORY TIME is out on iTunes and Amazon MP3!

We're celebrating here in New York City tonight with a show at The Mercury Lounge! Dusty Brown will be kicking things off. It's an early show with doors at 6:30pm. So come on out, have a good time, and sing along if you know the words.

June 9, 2009
Zach Williams
Dusty Brown
at The Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston St #A
$10, 21+, 6:30 doors

We'll have physical copies of the record at the show!!!


-Zach Williams

We are proud of our drummer Greg Ritchie's article in the New York Times!  He is the smooth operator on the far left with his eyes closed.

Click Here to read.

love,

Zach

The past two months have been an up and down mess of thoughts, decisions, colors and frustrations. We finished the first 5 tracks of our record. I can't believe it. I am grateful to be apart of such a beautiful music community here in NYC. As Lars Deitrech from The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music lead the brass section with his perfect display of conviction and freedom I couldn't help but think about where we have come from. From the ice cold waters of the North Atlantic to the thick hot dirt of Georgia... here we are. Making music together. Music that means something to us. Music that tells stories of confusion, hope and the past. As we venture off into the great unknown I am hopeful. I am happy to know that my life is surrounded by beautiful stories. I am thankful my family is loved by thoughtful people in a beautiful city. I'm happy to think of the future. Where will we be? What will make us happy? What will be our convictions? I believe we will be better. I believe we will know how to love more, forgive more, fight better, create better and love each other for all of it. This week I played at a beautiful theatre in Austin Texas called "The Paramount". As I sat in the green room surrounded by posters of other artist who had found themselves in this beautiful hall I couldn't help but wonder; What was Houdini thinking while he was performing on this stage? Was Ella Fitzgerald taken by the view from the edge of the stage? Could Aretha sing stronger in this room than others? I could feel the presence of greatness on this stage. A timeless America. I place where people came to pause their life. To think more about the beautiful and strange things that surround our existence. Are we experiencing greatness on a daily bases? Go for a walk without you're phone. Walk deep into the woods somewhere. Lay down on your back in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to do the same. Let me know what happens. Zach

Names that Fell from Zach Williams on Vimeo.