Dispatches from the home office: Summer edition

Time does indeed fly. You really start to notice this the older you get. One minute, you’re up to your knees in snow and counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report. The next, you’re walking around in denim cutoffs and a half-shirt, sweating like a whore in church.

That’s why I haven’t been in touch for a while. Time has flown and I’ve been busy. So while I have a few spare minutes, I figured it’d be a good time to bring you up to speed on what I’ve been doing. It’s all good stuff. I’m a fortunate dude for many reasons. And one of those reasons is that incredibly talented people ask me to play drums for them.

Take Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding) for instance. We’re going to be doing a couple of shows next week, including a free show July 13 at Pastorius Park in our shared neck of the Northwest Philly woods. The following night we play Jammin’ Java just outside D.C. Haven’t played the Double J in 11 years. Last time I did was with Pernice Brothers, and it got a little strange. (Then again, most shows near the end of seven-week tours tend to get a little strange.)

You know who else is talented? ELIZA HARDY JONES! She’s been touring forever and a day as part of Grace Potter’s band, which is totally great for Eliza except that we’ve only managed to play one show behind her amazing solo album Because Become, which is one of the best things I’ve ever played on. But we’re finally doing a second show! Sunday, July 24 at Wiggins Park in Camden (about 3 miles from where I grew up in Merchantville, NJ) as part of WXPN’s Xponential Music Festival. We kick off the main stage at noon.

More hot festival action: I’m playing with Heart Harbor at the 55th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival on Saturday, August 20. It’s traditionally an earthy, crunchy vibe at the Folk Fest, but the last few years they’ve been letting some weirdos like us crash the countryside hang. For the uninitiated, Heart Harbor is the nom de rock of Kerry Hallett. I play on her debut EP Tender Trap (which we tracked in Philly last year with Erin McKeown producing) and you should absolutely hunt it down… post haste!

Some other stuff of note: I spent four days in Hollywood (California) last week recording with The War on Drugs. We had a tremendous time making noise at Boulevard Recording (formerly Producer’s Workshop, where a lot of your favorite records were recorded and/or mixed) and it felt great to be playing with those dudes again. I did a bit of touring with them back in 2012 and played a little on the Lost in the Dream album. We were tracking with producer/engineer Shawn Everett who dialed in some bananas drums sounds and is about as decent a person as they come. Dunno much about plans for the album but I can confirm that the tunes I played on were KILLER.

And one more bit of news that I am especially proud to share: I am now an OFFICIAL ZILDJIAN ARTIST! I’ve been playing Zildjian cymbals since I was 12 and 32 years later (that’d make me 44, if you’re scoring at home) I am now endorsing them. My opinion: some companies make terrific cymbals that are extremely unique, but Zildjian is the only brand I’ve played that covers ALL the bases. They have the perfect cymbal for every situation. And the satin jacket is SO COMFORTABLE! A HUGE debt of gratitude to Zildjian for bringing me into the family.

Last but absolutely not least…  We’ve been working on a new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah record on and off this year and it sounds really, really sweet. We’ve been tracking it mostly down at Dr. Dog’s studio just outside Philly. Nick Krill has been killing it at the desk and Alec brought in some classic tunes to work on. I can’t wait for people to hear these songs and this incarnation of the band on record. Hope it's not too long a wait...

Ticket info etc. for all these gigs on the SHOWS page.

That’s about all I’ve got for now. Be good to each other.

Dispatches from the home office: Some new jams, some upcoming shows

The dog's head is currently resting in my lap because it's almost his dinnertime, so I'd better keep this brief.

I've had the pleasure of recording with some great people this year, and some of the fruits of this labor are beginning to bear.

That's me playing drums AND bonogs on the new Cliff Hills single, "Love Not War." Typical of Cliff, it's a lovely guitar-pop number and you can sample/purchase it here. We're celebrating the release of the single with a show I'll tell you about in just a second.

Another new tune I'm featured on: "Hating Nothing," the lead track off the debut EP from Heart Harbor, which is the nom de rock of Kerry Hallet. We spent a day tracking with Erin McKeown producing earlier this year in Philly and I'm really excited for the EP to find some ears. Kerry's got great songs and does a lovely job fusing the electronic and the human element, I think. Stream "Hating Nothing" here and look for the EP, Tender Trap, soon.

In show news, I'm rounding out the year with Cliff's single release show at Steel City in Phoenixville, Pa. Nov. 28, then it's a rare Photon Band show in Philly December 5 at Johnny Brenda's (old heads - I hope you've lined up the babysitter for that one), a record release show with Madalean Gauze at Boot and Saddle in Philly December 17 and the last one of the year: a special Clap Your Hands Say Yeah New Year's Eve show at Rough Trade Records in Brooklyn. Tix moving fast for that one.

And I'm also totally effin' psyched to begin 2016 playing with Eliza Hardy Jones, January 6 at Boot and Saddle. Eliza is the real deal. If you're familiar with her work (she has a great band called Buried Beds, she's played with Strand of Oaks, she's currently playing with Grace Potter and we've played together in the Lindsey Buckingham Appreciation Society) you know what I'm talking about. I recorded a bunch of songs with her over the course of the last two years and they're going to be on her debut solo album which will hopefully be out sometime in 2016. It’s so good it makes me cry.

Ticket info etc. for all these gig on the SHOWS page.

That's it for now.

I am playing multiple shows in Philadelphia this fall

While I spent the summer playing Fargo, Buenos Aires, Spain, and many points in between, I haven't played on my "home turf" of Philadelphia for a while.

But just as soon as the Pope splits town (I wanted to let the pontiff enjoy his moment and not steal his thunder - that's just the kind of guy I am) you will have multiple chances this fall to see me bring the heat on my Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals in the 215 - with a variety of artists, in a variety of venues.

The lightning round rundown:

Friday, October 2 I'll be playing with the amazing Madalean Gauze at the Boot & Saddle.

Saturday, October 3 I'm going full-on Phil Collins-at-Live Aid, playing behind my man Cliff Hillis at 4 pm at the Roxtober street fest in the Roxborough section of town, and then making the grueling 3 mile trek to play a house concert in Philly's Mt. Airy neighborhood with Cliff that kicks off at 7.

Sunday, October 18, I make my return to the Tin Angel (where I believe I last played in May of 2001) with Wesley Stace and the English U.K. We'll be playing some choice selections from Wes's John Wesley Harding days at this one. It's a cozy room and I reckon this will be a sellout.

Saturday, November 28 I'm again hooking up with Cliff Hillis on his home turf of Phoenixville, Pa. at the Steel City Coffeehouse.  Again, cozy room, sellout likely.

And I'm super excited about Saturday, December 5: the return of the Photon Band! Our first Philly gig in two-and-a-half years. We're gonna turn it up nice & loud at Johnny Brenda's to celebrate the release of the Songs of Rapture and Hatred album we dropped back in June. More on this special night later, but I strongly advise you old heads to book a babysitter and/or notify your parole officers now.

More details on these shows and links to buy tix here.

What else? I’ve played on some great sessions this year with folks like Madalean, Eliza Hardy Jones, Robert Griffin Lowe, and Heart Harbor. Hopefully you’ll hear these recordings before too long. We’ve also been messing around with/demoing some Clap Your Hands Say Yeah songs recently. Some very interesting stuff in the mix. Don’t quite know where it’s leading yet but Alec has some fantastic songs, I can tell you that much.

Ok, everyone be cool and we’ll catch up real soon.

Back from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour and ready to pinch-drum with Wesley Stace and the English U.K.

Happy September to you all! I am just back from my maiden voyage to Latin/South America with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and it was completely fantastic. Amazing shows in Mexico City, Bogata, Lima, Santiago, Bueno Aires and Sao Paolo, with nearly 100 percent drum backline compliance! (All I ask for is a good set of vintage Ludwigs with coated skins, Zildjian A's all around, a throne with lumbar support and a riser - I'm not an unreasonable man).

The food and sights were amazing too. Rock bands, I can assure you that a trip to Latin/South America is well-worth the shit-ton of paperwork it takes to make happen.

All in all with CYHSY this summer, we played 20 shows in nine countries across three continents. Which means I now have enough frequent flyer miles to get a free can of non-premium domestic diet soda on any trans-continental flight * (* some restrictions apply).

Now that I'm back, I'm happy to report that I'll be pinch-drumming with my close, personal friend and kinda neighbor (we live 2.4 miles from each other) Wesley Stace and his crack band the English U.K. for two great shows of varying stripes next week.

Friday, September 11, we're doing Wes's Cabinet of Wonders "variety" show at City Winery in NYC. Joining us that evening will be special guests Ted Allen (host of the cooking competition show "Chopped" and formerly of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"), author Stacey D'erasmo, total package entertainer Dave Hill (another close, personal friend!), Sally Timms of The Mekons, Dar Williams, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, and Ryan Miller of Guster. Show starts at 8:00.

The following day, we're heading to Delco (Delaware County - the birthplace of Wawa!!!!) just outside Philly to headline the 4th annual Haverford Music Festival, which also features Laura Cantrell, the Grip Weeds and many others. It's a free, all-ages, all-day family event and we play at 7:30.

More info on both shows here.

And more song & dance from me soonish...

Getting back to my DJ roots

As some of you may know, I was a DJ in a former life. The details aren't important.

Point is, I'm getting back to my DJ roots this Thursday (July 2) at Dan Reed & Freddie Rojo's weekly hang at the Dawson Street Pub in Roxyunk. Bruce Warren is filling in for Freddie (who's on tour with Amos Lee), and I'll be doing a 'special guest DJ' set, spinning some nice rock & soul & whatever vinyl records.

Please forgive me if I slip up and say "Please help me welcome Skylar to the stage... "  

The whole sordid business starts at 8pm. More info here.

Thank you, David Letterman

Because my parents let me have a TV in my room when I was 10, and never really established a hard & fast "bed time," I was watching Late Night with David Letterman religiously from the start.

That show set a ridiculously high bar for televised comedy and subversion. Few things in my life have impacted me the way Late Night did.

And while Dave's CBS show has had a different feel and never moved me in the same way, I'd still tune in frequently. Because it's still Dave. Like Tom Petty, Charlie Watts, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Garry Shandling, Dave's earned a lifetime pass from me.

My favorite recurring part of the CBS show has been when Dave asks the drummer from that night's musical guest if the drum kit was a rental. I'd always hoped he'd be asking me that one day. Despite playing in 87 bands, I never got there. Oh well... I'll always have Bill Henley's 10! show.

I'd be remiss if I didn't put a word out there for Chris Elliot, Larry Bud Melman, Peggy the Foul-Mouthed Chamber Maid, Gruff but Loveable Gus, Hal Gurnee, Steve Jordan's snare drum, Art Donovan, Crispin Glover, Harvey Pekar, Richard Lewis (seemingly) on Blow, Merrill Markoe, the NBC Bookmobile, Joe Frazier, Andy Kaufman, and all the other people and things that had a hand in making Late Night the weirdest and funniest damn thing I've ever seen.

So, thanks, mom and dad. And thanks, Dave. You were far and away the best at what you did.

I am drumming with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah this summer!

If it's summer I must be hitting the road again with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Just like last year, I'll be sharing the drum throne with my good friend Rob Walbourne as CYHSY hits the road to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its self-titled debut album. We'll be doing the album in full, though not necessarily in order. That's about all I can divulge at this point. Judging by the possible set list ideas bouncing back and forth, I think it's gonna be a great show.

Rob's going to be handling the first leg of the tour, May 26-June 19. I'll take over in Seattle July 17 through August 16 at the Riverfest Elora, just outside of Toronto. Full dates and ticket info here.

The lineup is Alec Ounsworth (duh... ), Matt Wong on bass & keys and Nick Krill on keys and guitar. Super bonus: Nick's fantastic band Teen Men opens the entire tour.

DOUBLE DRINK TICKETS FOR NICK!!!!!!!