Now that the summer is steadily advancing upon us, I have, thankfully, a hell of a lot more time to devote to music and writing and things like keeping myspace up to date. So from now on, I'm going to attempt to update this site with new songs, pictures and anecdotes as often as possible. Whether anyone is actually reading or listening isn't too important - although it is nice - as I'm thinking it's probably a good way for me to keep track of whatever it is I'm doing. I can only hope that whatever it is I'm doing is maybe, in some minute way, worthwhile. Here's hoping.

In this vein, I suppose I should explain the sudden appearance of some new songs. Last week, myself and my good friend, Ryan Langlois, spent 8 hours traversing the length and breadth of Ireland on the way to Belfast to do make some new recordings. I met Mr. Langlois at an open mic in the Cellar bar in Galway city in January of this year and we have been making lots of music since then. Originally from Maine way up in the North-East, he moved to Texas when he was younger and now lives in Galway. He's a wonderful guitar player who knows the value of both subtlety and of Stevie Ray Vaughan solos. I should be his publicist. At any rate, we were invited to Queens University in Belfast to do some recording with another friend of mine from Donegal, Miss Claire McD, who is studying Music Tech there. And it was good. We got play in this big old music room, with high ceilings, a balcony littered with old harpsicords and a massive pipe organ blocking off the light from one of the two stained glass windows.



We set up with just our two Seagull guitars and our voices for company. No headphones, click-track or overdubs. The room itself was a pleasure to play music in. It had this rich natural reverb to it that lent itself to all the songs we did. Which brings me to the songs themselves. We put down two new songs of mine, 'Araby' and 'Pictures of Russia'. Then we did a version of the Hank Williams song, 'Lost Highway', followed by Joni Mitchell's, 'A Case of You'. Those two are probably up there when it comes to undeniably great songs. After that, Ryan put down a song of his own, 'No-one should have to die alone', which might be featuring on his new album, more of which later. He also recorded a rather majestic version of 'Amazing Grace'. Claire did an amazing job of engineering and producing. We are forever in her debt.



I'm seriously considering putting together an EP with the songs that we did in Belfast on it. The possibility of infringing some copyright laws is one consideration I need to look into first. If anyone knows what the procedure is in terms of releasing covers of Joni Mitchell songs, do let me know. If I do that, it'll probably just be a hundred or so. It would nice to get another CD out there though.



On the way back through Dublin we had a Guinness with Rachel McIntyre before legging it to the station. While Ryan was getting some food I had a brief conversation with an East European security guard. We both agreed that the weather was a disgrace and that Ryan wasn't a shoplifter.


Myself


and Ryan.