Since last time I dropped an email I’ve done the mini tour and some small shows with Mike McCarthy. Mike’s songs are amazing and I love just playing guitar and going along for the ride. I’ve probably said this a few times already but if you need some great music go and get The Lion’s Share. You will love it.

I’ve also done some writing with Cam Mackellar including a track we co-wrote which will be on his impending album. I’ve been listening to mixes of the album and it is incredible. I will also be playing some guitar with Cam on some shows so keep an eye out for those. If you are on the Central Coast put July 7 in your diary for the Lizottes show supporting Mark Moldre.

In regards to my own stuff I have been writing a lot of new stuff and will be releasing some new stuff this year. Last night I went to the legendary Bill Chambers’ songwriter’s night and did some tunes and it was an amazing time. A great bunch of music lovers appreciating some great songwriters and players. If you are local you must come along. Its on every second Thursday at Quattro Cafe and offers a free night of music by some of the best writers and musicians in this country. I’m going to make it my regular spot to go and trial out new songs so come along and check it out. I will buy you a beer if you buy me one.

That’s about it for now. If you want to get in touch or see what’s happening with gigs and stuff pop me a message on my Facebook page. I’d love to hear from you.

This is my favourite guitar ever. I call her ‘Red Roses.’ She is a 2006 James Trussart Deluxe Steelcaster with red engraved roses on a cream finish and Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups. She’s perfect.

Photo by Daniel Ferris.

- I absolutely love playing guitar (I already knew that but anyways).
- I absolutely love playing music with good peeps.
- Mike has written a stonker of an album.
- Melbourne is ok. Avoca is better. Newtown is the best.
- I love my James Trussart Deluxe Steelcaster more than anything (other than my family and close friends).
- I’m not 21 anymore. I find myself saying things like “I’ll just have one beer so I’m in good shape tomorrow.”
- Loading gear into a car is nearly always best done by the bassplayer (unless he is drunk).

Life lessons for all there. Next we head south soon for a show near Nowra. I’m also writing now for a new release of some description in the new year. In the meantime have a listen and look through some of the bits from the album and tour and stuff below.

Photos by the inimitable Daniel Ferris.

As well as being a TOP BLOKE Mike writes great songs and plays guitar like nobodies business. Listen to him laying it down on his National guitar and it will get into you. Deeply. Is he one of the best blues guitar players in this country? Undoubtedly. One of our best songwriters? Hell yes.

If you haven’t already you must go and buy Mike’s last album “The Harrowing Account of John William Tate” right now. Don’t dilly dally. Get it here.

It’s my pleasure also to mention that I’ll be joining Mike and his band on guitar for the upcoming album launch tour dates in October. Check out the latest single “Sink Me Not” and the video competition below and if you are local come out to one of the gigs. I can’t wait. Yew!

A couple of weeks back Cam and I put a day in to try and get this new song of mine “Be With Me, Gently” closer to the finish line.

We gave it a working over in the morning, just figuring the arrangement out and putting some work into Verse 2 before doing a quick live take in front of a couple of nice microphones after lunch. Being such a delicate track the simple acoustic arrangement works really nicely I think.  Me on my Martin and Cam on his nylon string. As you can see Cam has a great room full of quirky stuff and nice gear. It’s a perfect spot for writing and Cam is brilliant. Ears, hands, heart, brain … the lot.

Photographer buddy extraordinaire, Daniel Ferris, was there to capture the whole process. Video above. Lovely shots below.

See all the photos here.

I have plenty of projects to keep me busy. I am currently working with a learning startup on a fun quiz website for kids. I am also working on a large social network platform for a London based Not For Profit. I am also working with a fantastic musician on a campaign for his album release later in the year. I am also doing odds and sods for a Surry Hills based marketing agency. So that side of things is all going swimmingly. WE HAVE THE IDEAS. WE HAVE THE SKILLS. WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS STUFF HAPPEN. Drop me a message if you’d like to chat about working together.

As you’ve probably noticed too my new setup is giving me more time to get back to making music. I am loving EVVY, and working with Cam, and thinking about Gold Top, and writing new stuff for myself too.

It feels like I’m back after quite a long hibernation. Since being back in Australia (Three years now!) I’ve felt a bit confused about how I fit back in, but in the end I decided it doesn’t really matter. Fitting in is overrated. JUST GOTTA DO IT MY WAY BABY.

It was especially great to hear “Keep You Safe” “Don’t Fear the Fear” coming to life as its our first attempt at a co-write. The song is really Cam’s baby but he was generous enough to knock it back and forth with me to get it into shape. I’m not sure you should do that with a baby. Anyways.

You can also hear a quick grab of our patented TREAD ON ALL EFFECTS PEDALS INTO A CRANKED VINTAGE PRINCETON GUITAR TONE™ in the video below.

We forget though that by simply creating we validate ourselves as creators. As artists. If you write poems you are a poet. If you write songs you are a songwriter. No record contract required.

Commit to the craft. It is a reward in itself. Do it because you can and because you believe you have something to say. There is nothing stopping you. Put the pen to paper. Commit the song to tape. Upload it to Bandcamp. You’ve arrived and its all the sweeter because you did it and you own it.

You don’t need a recording contract to be a musician.
You don’t need a book deal to be a writer.
You don’t need a venture capitalist to be an entrepreneur.
You don’t need a Hollywood agent to be an actor.
You don’t need mega movie studio backing to be a director.
You don’t need to get the big conference gigs to be a real expert in your field.
You don’t need the in crowd to give you the nod.
You don’t need permission.

Generally I practise guitar every day. By practice I mean just playing. I don’t run scales, I try and make music. Familiar patterns fall under my fingers. New progressions meander their way across my fretboard. Mostly I try to grapple with something familiar and mash it into something meaningful. Nearly every day I have a little friend that runs in and gets in between me and my noise. I have to say though that its a beautiful interruption. I used to be frustrated by the interruption but now I realise that its one of the joys of my life. Her desire to leap into my world with a smile and make sure I know she’s there. I honour the interruption and the interrupter with my attention.  The notes will be there when I return. And they will benefit from moments taken for love.

Just before Christmas my life was interrupted by a nasty injury.  I threw a cricket ball and somehow dislocated my shoulder and broke my arm just above the elbow. Prior to it everything was going ok. Working. Paying bills. Uninspired. Frustrated. Stuck. Sucking it up because I felt I had too. The injury hurt a lot (go figure) and I spent the best part of 3 months on the couch. That gave me a lot of time for thinking.  The basic conclusion I came to was that I was letting things slip away from me. Working but not living. Running to stand still. But the break gave me the beautiful gift of time. Time to think. Time to act. Time to take control and steer things in a different direction. Sometimes in life something painful comes to make us stop and take stock. The interruption cuts through the grind of day to day life. Rehabilitation. Contemplation. Re-imagination. Days turn into weeks and months. Hurting. Healing. Requiring love. Accepting help. Feeling loved. Dreaming again.

My arm is still wonky but it will come good. And I’ll take the interruption as an opportunity to sort some things out and grab life (with one arm) by the throat again. Stop being imprisoned by the status quo. Seek less affirmation for crazy plans. Just run after them.