October has just been a blurry blast so far! Haven't had a month this busy for awhile. HOBEX had a great set at the Main Event Block party... taper John Bischman has already posted a recording on Archive.org. You can download it and/or stream it
right here... please do!
My solo dates in the Pacific Northwest were incredibly fun, thanks to my buddy
Andrew McKeag of the Presidents of the United States of America. He played some smokin' guitar, put me up, and drove me around to all the gigs. What a friend! Also got to watch The Presidents rock a Microsoft party... heh heh.
If you missed these NW dates, plans are in the works for another run in the near future. The venues would like to have me back.... we're gonna do it again and I'm climbing Mt. Ranier next time. Really enjoyed my Maryland gigs with Hugh McGowan and David Glaser this past weekend as well - wonderful songs, guys. Thanks to my pals old and new that made it out to the shows!
DILLON FENCE THIS WEEKEND
Dillon Fence is playing at the
Turnage Theater in Washington NC this Saturday, October 17th! This show has been organized by our friend Emma Stallings Holdscher. Drummer Scott Carle, Bassist Chris Goode, Guitarist Kent Alphin, and myself would love to see you there - advance tickets are available at the Turnage Theater
site.
A little background on the Fence for those unfamiliar: This fall happens to be the 20th anniversary of our self-titled self-released Dillon Fence EP. We had been playing on the weekends for three years, saving up money to record and release a record. The unexpected success of this 1989 debut EP sent us on a 5 year touring journey that started on the southeastern college circuit, playing to sellout crowds alongside groups like the Connells, Hootie, and Dave Matthews Band.
A later deal with Chapel-Hill indie rock label Mammoth Records led to three full-length albums and US and European tours with Flat Duo Jets, X, Weezer, the Lemonheads, and the Black Crowes. Lots and lots of rock shows... up to 250 dates a year. Whew! We stopped touring in 1995.
Since 2000, we've been reconvening at least once or twice a year... we just enjoy seeing each other and playing our catalog of music. Of course, it's always great to see our old friends and fans there! Thank you all for your amazing support over these 20 years. See you at the show.
MORE OCTOBER DATES ADDED
I've added a couple more shows at the end of October. On Friday October 23rd, I'll be taking part in David Dozier's annual music festival, held this year at Brevard NC's
Jordan Street Cafe. HOBEX bassist Andy Ware and I will play be playing an electric set with world class drummer Jeff Sipe... expect some special guests as well!
On Tuesday October 27th, I'll be hosting the first installment of
Public Nudity Songwriters' Night, a new songwriter series I'm doing at the
Broad Street Cafe in Durham, NC. My first guests are a couple of area songwriters,
Jonathan Byrd and
Peter Holsapple. If you don't know them, you should!
Jon is a rising star on the folk circuit - just a flat-out great writer. Peter is an inspiring songwriter who has fronted Continental Drifters and my heroes the dBs, in addition to long stints with R.E.M. and Hootie. He and his family relocated to Durham after Katrina hit New Orleans.
Here's an opportunity to see these guys in a casual songwriters-in-the-round environment. The next installment is on Tuesday November 24 with Michael Holland and Kenny Roby... more to come.
NOVEMBER DATES
Got some good November shows lined up. First up is Snuzzfest West at Greensboro NC's
Blind Tiger on November 8th! A great music lineup is in place for this show, the second installment of our attempt to help Britt Uzzell raise money for some tough medical bills in his fight against lymphoma. I'll be playing and singing a couple of his fantastic songs. If you can't make it to the show, You can contribute to the cause via paypal: snuzzfest at gmail dot com.
On Wednesday, November 18th, I'll be performing a solo set opening for the Carolina Chocolate Drops at
Canyons in Blowing Rock NC So glad to be playing with the Drops again - If you haven't seen them yet, you need to. They are on fire and I can't wait for this show.
HOBEX has added a show for Thanksgiving weekend! On Friday, November 27th, we'll be at the Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh NC. The lovely and talented Jeanne Jolly opens the show. This will be our one and only club show of 2009, and most likely our last show of the year. See y'all there!
Cheers,
Greg
If you'd like to listen to
Trunk Songs, it's streaming at
greghumphreys.net . If you'd like to buy
Trunk Songs, Physical copies are available at
our online store. Its available at
Itunes,
Emusic,
Rhapsody, and other digital outlets; there will also be copies for sale at live shows. I created a cool lil'
music video out of cell phone vids for the song "All You Know is Blue" from
Trunk Songs. Check it out and see how many people / places you recognize - NSFW, though!
Trunk Songs has received some nice press -
Independent Weekly "...these tracks prove Humphreys is capable of mostly anything" - Chris Parker
Yes Weekly "...yet another feather in the cap of a North Carolina treasure" - Ryan Snyder
Winston-Salem Journal "...a document of one man‘s musical journey and a quiet testimonial to musical integrity." - Ed Baumgardner
Mountain Xpress "...comes on like a gentle breeze but contains the power to knock the listener for a loop.." - Alli Marshall
Our Spring '09 Shakori Hills HOBEX performance is now available on
Itunes,
Emusic,
Rhapsody and other digital services! Recorded by festival soundman John Lloyd, This is a great sounding set running though favorites from our various albums. Longtime bassist Andy Ware and I were joined by Guitarist Gibb Droll (Keller Williams, Brandi Carlile, Marc Broussard), Drummer Rob Ladd (Roger Daltrey, Don Henley, Pressure Boys, Don Dixon, Let's Active etc.), Organist David McCracken (Donna the Buffalo, CJ Chenier), and vocalist / percussionist / Chapel-Hill favorite Taz Halloween. I have uploaded a track,
Rollin' 4/16/09, to our Reverbnation music player at the
HOBEX site, if you'd like to check it out!
Bull Session is out now! Gibb Droll and I recorded this acoustic EP earlier this year, culled from a few recording sessions at my home in Durham. Featuring a great version of Gibb's song
Birmingham, a lovely instrumental
Cellophane Sunrise with John Garris on Fiddle, and covers of
Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) and
Blue Velvet. Also featured on the EP is my sister Ann Humphreys on backing vocals. Now available on Itunes, Rhapsody, Emusic and other digital outlets.