I haven't been so good at staying in touch with everyone lately, too busy dealing with life, working on new album and such, so here it goes.

Moved to Austin, what, about 10 months ago?   Seems like yesterday.  Adjusting to a new city, new state, is a challenge.  Firstly, I was raised in the liberal hot bed of Southern California, and for people who think Austin's 'so weird' and 'so liberal', I would have to dissagree. Of course, for the people who come here from other parts of Texas to escape the oppressive smaller towns, I can understand why they'd think it was free and easy.  I still see segregation, hear racial slurs and feel the presence of a good 'ol boy network that goes WAY back.  The music scene, though burgeoning is saturated and extreme.  It's either hipster havens or country licks.  The music scene, as I've discovered, can be good though, and there are good opportunities.   I've played at Emo's, a pretty prominent club, and a hipster place, called, The Beauty Bar, and those were great shows.   The other extreme is the Poodle Dog Lounge, which I played a couple months ago.  I think most people there were related by blood, in an inbred sort of way.  I'm sure that will get me in some trouble but can I say Twin Peaks?  David Lynch should shoot a movie there.

The weather when I got here was beautiful.  Winter is a dream in Austin, mild cold, beautiful rains, and greenery abound, but the summer is brutal.  Especially this summer.  This year, with record breaking months of over 100 temps, it has been somewhat intollerable.  Basically you have to stay inside for your health.

I was lucky to meet a great drummer (Alan Boatright) just a couple months after landing here, and an engineer who's interested in recording (Jamie Estrada) my next album, for which the material is done.  We're in pre-production and it's going pretty good, although, never fast enough for me.

I haven't been able to find a permanent job, like many here, and that's dampered my usual touring and such, but I'm sure it'll come.

I knew I'd miss California, but I didn't know why I'd miss it.  There's an excitement and sense of 'anything's possible' in Cali.  The weather, the food, the never-ending explosion of great underground venues, the great parties, the people.  California is more internatonal, more integrated, more progressive.  That's what I miss.

As with any big move, it takes time to discover the great things about a town, a state, and I am slowly getting to know the great things about Austin.  The trails, the lake, Barton Springs, ACL, SXSW, the independent film and music festivals, but it's hard in this economy to get out and see it all.  Most people I know here are broke.  The wages are lower and the job market is dwindling.   The art scene is what I'd call "sub par", not very unique and the art is very 1980's 1990's.

But, as always, I am happy to have my music (and Alberto!) and hope the new album goes well.  We should have something for you at the beginning of 2010, and that's good.

That's it for now,
Yours
Chase Frank