The new 7 song EP “Under Western Skies” will be released on December 21st! Yesssss…It was a surprise to me too! I wasn’t planning on writing anything for a while, as typically, my so-called sponge is squeezed dry after an album release, (“Shadowland” was only released a few months back.), and I need some good time to soak it back up before another squeezing. As it happened…this was not the case. My song antenna was struck by many lightning deluge from outer and inner space, and the only thing to do when this happens, is to take this lightning and direct its flow unto a recording device. The theme of this flow, hinted from the title (As all my titles do…) is about the West… from the Great Divide on to the coast of California. When I talk about the West, it is not like a history lesson, but a feeling. If you have been “out West” you might know this feeling, if you haven’t well….I don’t know what to tell you.
One interesting aspect, is normally, I practically play everything on my albums, but this time, I have included a group of people I have worked with, and friends, that have brought their talents for my songs. Matt Lynott on drums (On almost every album I have done…), who is a singer-songwriter, Molly Thomas, on fiddle and violin, also is a singer-songwriter…Frank Lee Drennen, on space harmonica, also a singer-songwriter, Greg Friedman on accordion, also a singer-songwriter, Steve Peavey on Pedal Steel, and can play anything with strings, Erdis Maxhelaku on cello, and Marta Z on violin and viola.
I hope y’all like the songs…