Welcome to the Year of the Ox (Jan 26 '09- Feb 10 '10). The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. The American equivalent would be Capricorn. Technically, I am an Aquarius but because I am on the cusp of Capricorn, I am in the gravitational field of the Ox. The 'ruling hours' are from 1am to 3am. This confirms my place in the realm of the Ox brethren. Regardless of whether you are an Ox or not, fortitude and hard work should get you somewhere. This brings us to 2009.

But let's go back for a moment. I didn't write a Christmas greeting or give a New Year's shoutout. I didn't want to solicit you to buy my album for Christmas... it's not very Christmas-y but it is excellent for drives in the car or as as an antidote to traffic related stress. The holidays were good but felt a bit compressed and I thought I'd wait until the passing of the year had come and gone to poke my head above the surface of '09 and write. 2008 was an up and down affair. Early in the year I was fortunate to work on Rocco Deluca's second album 'Mercy', scheduled for release in March of '09. After we started tracking songs, Rocco played a solo gig at Spaceland in Silverlake and struck a chord with a man who was watching intently in front of the stage. It turned out to be Daniel Lanois (producer: U2, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson). He came onboard to help finish the record and the result is a decidedly artistic turn for Rocco and his sound. There are some stunning songs on this record. It is not a lollipop affair that will get your radio rocks off in short order... but it is one of those albums that will creep up on you the more you listen to it and realize that some music is made without A & R reps in the room salivating and trying to live their dream vicariously. It will be interesting to see how it is received and where it takes Rocco. Keep you ears tuned in March.

I have quietly been feeding the nascent musical talent of my nephew. He's now closing in on four, and continues to amaze me with his ability to inhale music and teach himself through observation. First he started to build his own version of a drumset in the middle of his room using Lincoln Logs cans, toy buckets, a drum pad I gave him, a tambourine, a cylinder with a cooking pan on top and a plastic pedal that he imagines is his kick drum pedal. I never instructed him on how to do it or what to put where. He just does it, improves it along the way and refuses to let others set up his scene. Now when I show up at my brother's house, he steps to me and says "let's jam". He has been curious since his 2's and I've brought him on stage whenever I can and try and I encourage him and talk to him about music like he belongs. He has zeroed in on the drums and the guitar but seems particularly keen on the drums. He tells people he's in a band and that his band is called The City Lights. He knows the lyrics to 3 - 4 of my songs and hums melodies and makes cymbal crashes with his mouth. Recently, before we started jamming, he said, "When the lights go down, that's when we start" and continued, "and the lights need to go like this..." (while he crossed his drumsticks in the shape of an upside-down X... like stage spots). My brother bought him a mini drumset for Christmas and all day long when we were at my aunt's house on Christmas day, he kept saying "I wanna go home"... to get on the set, of course. He is well versed in the Schooled in Song DVD (from a charity show in '07) and through watching the dvd picked up the idea to have a drumstick in one hand and a shaker in the other. The other day, we started with our usual jam through City Lights and he was content taking his time and hitting the drums and using a shaker when he felt appropriate. He played along with me on drums and when we got to the outro... without prompting he hopped off of the drumkit and onto a toy piano that was behind him in the corner and he started to accompany me on piano (which is what happens on the recording) as I strummed through the outro... plinking small little notes along with me. Again, none of it prompted! Each time we play I seem to notice something else he has picked up on. He also began to hum the guitar melody in Umbrella while on the kit. Blows my mind that he's too young to really consciously think about what it is he is doing but just does it because he hears the elements and enjoys playing. I'm trying to get snippets of video but it's also not an "on-command" scenario. He does it when he's comfortable and when he wants. While other aspects of the year have been up and down... his ability to tap into my soul has been a constant rejuvenator for me. My brother's daughter is awfully creative as well and likes to sing on the mic and do plays. Way better than video games!

Relationships have come and gone. I am grateful for the good times, attempting to come to terms and slowly change my imperfections, and still trying to figure out how to make things work in long form. Hence... ups and downs. Thusly, this paragraph will remain short because I don't have the answers here... just moving fallibly forward.

It is now time to redouble my efforts into new music. I have a number of songs that I have been working on and some pieces of music that will ripen nicely, but finding the appropriate words to lay upon them has been a challenge. Sometimes you have to live some time out in order to find out what it is you have to say. I am now back to sleeping with my yellowpads and making daily offerings to instinct and intuition. I will proudly share them when we're ready.

I have also been playing shows with my talented friend Molly Jenson. Last year she signed a record deal with Bully Pulpit/Nettwerk records (Sarah McLachlan, The Cardigans, Martha Wainright, Dido, Josh Rouse, The Weepies...). Her record 'Maybe Tomorrow' will be re-released nationally in March. Indie darling Greg Laswell co-wrote and produced the record with her, and you can catch Molly as she steps out to promote her album in 2009. Hopefully I can continue to support and sing with her and help the songs shine on stage.

Most of all... thank you for your friendship and support. I am grateful for the friends and family I have. I'm fixing to book some shows and would love to see you come out in the flesh and have a listen. Take care and see you round the bend - Brett