The Festy Experience 2014

Inspired by my bandmate Chris Pandolfi's Insiders Guide to Festy Five, I put together a list of bands I'm stoked to see at The Festy in a few weeks.

New Mastersounds
My favorite band on Jamcruise, I'm thrilled to see the English fellas get funky in Nelson County. On a boat full of funk, this rhythm section rose to the top.

Keller Williams and More Than A Little
This is the best Keller side project, totally kick ass.

David Wax Museum
Played a show on bass with David and Suz last spring, had this song in my head ever since.

Sunliner
Shameless, I know, but I think my new band with my wife, songwriter Sarah Siskind, and our drummer Brian Caputo is absolutely rockin'.

2014!

So far 2014 is off to a roaring start. It started with a legendary New Years Celebration in Richmond at the National. 4 bands a night for two nights, our first time away from Rooster as a couple and some great trail running by the river. Immediately thereafter we headed for Jamcruise, an on-boat celebration that can only be described as epic (that most overused word). Funk for days, beach drinks, legs sore from dancing and success on the blackjack tables. Two nights in Athens at the Georgia Theater followed, the 'Dusters are sounding as good as we've ever sounded, in my opinion. I woke up the next morning at 7:30 for a marathon drive to Nelson County by way of Nashville.

Monday, January 13th my solo record, Alice, arrived. I had a couple hundred envelopes to stuff but no time to stuff them so I wedged in addressing between everything else that was going on that week. Tuesday Peter and I embarked on our first Stageit show, Live from Monkeyclaus, which proved to be a huge success. Wednesday through Friday I was in Monkeyclaus helping my friend Gary Broyles start a record, the first in his long life, with Sons of Bill members Sam Wilson and Todd Wellens. Thursday night I played Staunton then hung out with the Staunton Crew led by Nathan Moore. Friday I made an appearance on WTJU radio, recording an hour long solo show that can still be streamed from their website. Saturday I played Devils Backbone Brewing Company and thus ended one of the busiest music weeks of my life.

Sunday I watched the Broncos go to the Super Bowl. Gigs in Waynesboro and at Fardowners in Crozet followed. Yesterday I got up to Wintergreen to ski for the 4th time this month, the legs are getting stronger but I know I'm going to get crushed on Ski Tour, it happens every time. Today I'm pulling double duty with a 3 hour gig at Blue Mountain Barrel House followed by an opening set with the Farewell Drifters at Kirk Avenue in Roanoke, VA.

I'm thrilled to be playing in the David Wax Museum next Tuesday at The Southern Cafe this Tuesday, January 28. I'll open solo then join David, Suz and Sam Wilson for a set of David's unique music. Finally, I do an afternoon set at Democracy Vineyards the first of February and thus end one of the busiest, most interesting and diverse months of music so far in this life. Thank you life and thank you Virginia!