A bit of current news...

Some of my work with Adam Marsland's Chaos Band (AMCB) is among the entries on the current Grammy Awards Nominating Ballot. We're delighted to be eligible this year in six categories.

Adam Marsland's Chaos Band (in this instance, Adam Marsland's Chaos Band - featuring Evie Sands and Alan Boyd) released a live album in 2007.

After touring with the songs, "Long Promised Road : Songs of Dennis & Carl Wilson Live" (produced by Adam, Evie and Alan) was recorded live in Los Angeles on June 24, 2006, by Brian Wilson engineer Mark Linett ("Smile") and mastered by Earle Mankey (who engineered Dennis Wilson's legendary solo effort, "Pacific Ocean Blue," along with other Beach Boys albums).

If you happen to be a voting member of The Recording Academy, now that you know we're among the entries, hope you'll consider us as you peruse the ballot and make your choices. As a sidelight: It would be very cool indeed, if Dennis Wilson was acknowledged/nominated, 24 years after his passing!

I've posted the track, "Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again." It will stay posted for a bit, so any one interested (and all of you Dennis Wilson, BB fans!) can hear it.

Thanks everyone, for taking the time to look /listen. We appreciate it :)

----------------------------------------------------------------
(Additional 'Fyi' background at the very bottom...)

- Here's the ballot info (for voters):

Category 1 - Record of the Year
"Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again" -- Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
• Ballot Entry number: 371

Category 2 - Album of the Year
Long Promised Road : Songs of Dennis & Carl Wilson Live -- Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
• Ballot Entry number: 312

Category 3 - Song of the Year
"Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again" (Adam Marsland's Chaos Band)
Songwriters: Dennis Wilson and Stanley Shapiro
• Ballot Entry number: 655

Category 4 - Best New Artist
Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
• Ballot Entry number: 192

Field 1_Category 7 - Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocal
"Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again" -- Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
• Ballot Entry number: 062

Field 1_Category 11 - Best Pop Vocal Album
Long Promised Road : Songs of Dennis & Carl Wilson Live -- Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
• Ballot Entry number: 133

------------------------------------------------------------
FYI - More info / brief background:

Apart from our own music (Evie, Adam, Alan) ...
Musically challenging, diverse 'theme shows' are a 'once-in-a-while' feature of AMCB shows (ie: John Cale, 70's soul). With the high regard and respect the band has for Dennis and Carl's music (whose work is generally 'under-appreciated' when compared to brother Brian) and the addition of Alan Boyd -- Beach Boys archivist and a noted filmmaker -- we decided 'Dennis and Carl' would be the 'theme' show whenever the next time happened to come around.

The response to that show, what happened after, etc., led to AMCB, (including me) and Alan, touring with the songs about a year later (2006). Per Mark Linett's suggestion, we agreed to record the show back home in Los Angeles at one more performance, after the tour was over.

One of the songs, "Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again," has never been previously released or booted. Thanks to Alan Boyd, AMCB got to hear the song -- and with the cooperation of the Wilson family and co-writer Stan Shapiro, etc., permission was granted for us to release this first-ever recording of the song. (It was originally from the "Surf's Up" sessions.)

as posted on the BMX Bandits page (www.myspace.com/bmxbanditsgroup):

Here is our recent Billy Sloan radio session in two parts to download. We were joined by special guests Evie Sands, Norman Blake (of Teenage Fanclub and sometime BMX Bandit) and Jim McCulloch (The Green Peppers, Isobel Campbell's band and original BMX guitarist).

Part One: Chat (4:22), BMX Bandits songs: "Doorways" and "Almost Nothing":

Link: http://www.office-glasgow.com/bmx/bmx_pt1.mp3

Part Two: Chat, Evie's songs: "I Love Makin' Love To You," "Anyway That You Want Me" and from the Bandits, "Witchi Tai To" (BMX Bandits with Evie guesting on vocals):

Link: http://www.office-glasgow.com/bmx/bmx_pt2.mp3

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also: Here's a link to two clips on YouTube, posted by someone in the audience at the BMX Bandits/Evie Sands show at ABC2 in Glasgow (July 16, 2006). One is from Evie's set and the other is from BMX Bandits set, with Evie guesting on vocals. It's a bit out of synch, but still cool to watch... :)

"Any Way That You Want Me" - at ABC2 - Glasgow, July 16, 2006
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqtKk0YmAHQ

"Wichi Tai To" - BMX Bandits w/Evie - at ABC2 - Glasgow, July 16, 2006
Link: http://www.youtube.com/v/zoW8K1G_NjI

PS - If you have trouble with the links, you can just go to "YouTube.com" and type "Evie Sands" in the Search box...

Just back from an amazing trip to Scotland ... so fantastic, I'm motivated to post my first blog!

Reason for going was to do some recording with my friend, the tremendously talented Isobel Campbell. The rehearsals and sessions were a total pleasure ... great songs, great musicians, great people!

It's one of the best trips I've ever had ... so joyful and inspiring...working with such talented people, ALL of whom are simply the loveliest people to have the pleasure to know ... and work with!! Every day was jammed-packed, creative and a sheer delight! Celebrated my birthday while there -- first time I didn't spend it with Eric since we've been together. It turned out to be so VERY special and memorable, it's one I'll cherish forever. At the B.Day dinner, decided to try a small bite of haggis, white pudding and black pudding. Liked white pudding best. The other two are more acquired tastes, I think -- though the after-flavor wasn't bad at all. Just knowing what black pudding consists of is a bit off-putting, but I went ahead and tried it anyway. :) (Thanks again to EVERYONE who came to the dinner/party and for all the kindnesses!)

While there... did a show along with the legendary BMX Bandits (which was amazing -- one of my favorites, ever!), a radio session with the Bandits for the Billy Sloan show on Radio Clyde (also amazing and great fun) and recorded some backing vocals for a new Bandits track (yet another great day). Since I wasn't there for a tour and was without my band, main-Bandit Duglas Stewart was kind enough to round up an unbelievable and stellar band for me to play with: Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jim McCulloch (Greenpeppers, Isobel Campbell), David Scott (The Pearlfishers, BMX Bandits) and Stuart Kidd (BMX Bandits)! An added treat was having Bandit Rachel McKenzie join us to sing backing vocals. It was an honor and thrill to play with them... Turns out, both the BMX Bandits new album, "My Chain," (it's great, check it out) and my lastest reissue, "Estate Of Mind," were released last month on Rev-Ola -- so we're label-mates!

I was also VERY inspired and energized by the absolutely great music scene in Glasgow! So many superbly-talented musicians, writers, singers and artists ... all, really supportive of each other and such friendly, great people...and so musically knowledgeable about EVERY kind of music -- old, new, in-between, 'known' stuff and obscure -- and with no 'attitude' about what's 'cool' or 'hip'...it's just about music -- and the love, reverence and appreciation of it!

Even got to do a wee bit of sightseeing-seeing thanks to Isobel's mom, Alison! That was a thrill...Scotland is so beautiful. I couldn't have imagined a better way to end the trip. Spending the time with Alison -- including a few hours with niece and nephew, Sophie (10), Jack (5) and their friend Katy (5) -- was such a special treat. Went to the newly re-opened Kelvingrove Art Museum, out to the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Stirling Castle, etc...and stayed over at Alison's wonderful "homey" home in the country... and then (along with Kasha, her sweet dog), went to Loch Lomond, Luss, Hill House and Helenburgh, etc., the next day. It was grand!

A loving 'thank you' to: Isobel, Alison Campbell, Duglas Stewart, Joe Foster, Norman Blake, Jim McCulloch, David Scott, Stuart Kidd, Rachel McKenzie, Dave McGowan, Dave Patterson, BMX Bandits Jamie and Bryan, Steph, Alyn Cosker, Yasu, Ally Kerr, Euan, Jason, Bill Wells ... and everyone. Working, playing and hanging with you was a total joy!

Also: a note that good things happen to deserving people and those who wait... While I was there, Isobel was nominated on the 'shortlist' for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, for her album, "Ballad Of The Broken Seas" (winner announced on September 5th). Congratulations, Isobel!

I'm only back a few days now, but can't get Scotland out of my heart and mind. Hope to return very soon!