I've modernized this little "Updates" section into a full-on RSS compatible blogger. The main reason was to make it easier to update. This means I will be updating it more often, including information about upcoming shows so be sure to check in and subscribe to the feed.
Since this required me to delete the existing blog, I have cut and pasted all prior entries here for posterity...at least back to September '06. :)
10.02.2007 - Yes...it has been over 2 months since I wrote anything here! I suck. But in that time I did have a baby and buy a new house. I also managed to play about 40 times since mid July. Been kinda busy, you see! But now I will be back to more regular updates, and hopefully some upgrades to the website.
Anyhow, my winter lineup is looking sweet. I will be playing double shows EVERY saturday from January to April starting with a 3-5 show at Gepettos at Sugarloaf and capping off the night at one of my other usual haunts like Gritty McDuff's, Northern Outdoors, or the Carrabassett Inn. I'll also have my regular Friday gigs at The Boiler Room and Sea Dog Topsham -- and some more surprises in store!
Hope to see you out and about, and thanks to all the people and businesses who continue to support my six-string addiction.
-j
07.16.2007 - I can't believe July is half over already. I've played 11 out of the first 16 days of the month, and will squeeze in another 12 days before we head into August.
Somehow I managed to find time to upload a new studio version of my song Satellite. I'm still hoping to have my CD finished by the end of summer, though with the current pace of live performances this is not likely.
06.22.2007 - I just confirmed a weekly Sunday evening gig at The Granary Brew Pub in Farmington starting THIS Sunday! This is going to be an early evening 6-10pm show outside on the deck (weather permitting). Come on out and enjoy some open air live music and the awesome food and locally brewed beers at The Granary!
06.13.2007 - Phew! It's been almost a month since I updated this. Things have been busy, but I'm still gearing up for July and August when I'll be playing 5 nights a week! On Friday the 15th, I am doing a double gig. The first is an early afternoon (around 2:30pm) show at The Granary Brew pub in Farmington where they are hosting the bikers supporting the Trek Across Maine. The second is a night performance at Sea Dog Brewing in Topsham -- always a nice venue in which to perform. Many thanks to everyone for the continued support!
05.19.2007 - Man, the Spring is flying by! I've still got a few Monday shows left at The Carrabassett Inn before they close for renovations. Also, my good friend Russ Copelin of the band Gristlestick is playing a few Wednesday nights there solo -- be sure to get out for hump day and check it out.
I'll be back at the Boiler Room in Wilton this Friday...last time was crazy! And next week I will be returning to Northern Outdoors for a third summer....always one of my favorite rooms to play!
05.02.2007 - I have decided to make May my personal "Live Music Awareness" month. So, get out and support some local musicians and the venues that host live music. There seem to be less and less of both every year, and the quality is suffering.
Venues that used to pay their entertainers well are skimping and ending up with amateur performers who play for free or on the cheap. While that may be artistically noble, it is feeding the tragic death spiral of the entertainment industry in this region. It is a cycle: when the music is not good (and let's face it, if the musician is playing for free it probably means they aren't good enough to get paid), people stop going to the venue, the venue stops paying for music, and everyone complains there is no "music scene" in Maine.
But, the solution is simple: get out and support the venues that support and pay professional entertainers.
At this point, there are only a handful of us left in this state, and if things don't change soon I fear our numbers will dwindle further.
04.14.2007 - Reggae weekend at Sugarloaf...always an adventure. I had an awesome crowd of folks from Brunswick at the Carrabassett Inn last night...you guys ROCK. Tonight, I'll be recording the band gristlestick at the Inn for a live CD to be released this summer. Speaking of summer, mine is shaping up to be the busiest ever. I am booked solid in July and August, and the May and June dates are starting to come together. In addition to my normal travels around the great state of Maine, I'll be playing a regular gig at The Margate Resort in Laconia, NH and returning to The Bull Moose restaurant in Errol! Thanks to everyone for the continued support...see you somewhere on the road.
03.15.2007 - St. Paddy's is Saturday, and I will be playing with a full band at The Carrabassett Inn from 9:30 to close. Best of all, there is no cover charge. So, if you are willing to brave the impending storm, head for the mountains.
03.01.2007 - I just got word that my show tomorrow night at The Boiler Room in Wilton has been cancelled due to the impending storm. But, I did book an additional show on Saturday night so I will be at the Shipyard at Sunday River from 3-6pm and the Carrabassett Inn from 9:30-close!
02.12.2007 - I finally made it through the illness that's been going around! I actually had to cancel a show a couple weeks ago, which is a VERY rare occurance! Last weekend, after my daytime show, I had the pleasure of playing a night show with my friend and fellow full-time performer, Bill Cameron, at the Bull Moose Restaurant in Errol, New Hampshire. We're going to try and crash each other's gigs more often! This weekend I've got a 6 in-a-row stretch that starts Friday night at The Boiler Room in Wilton, ME and ends at The Shipyard Brewhaus at Sunday River, ME. Check the calendar for details. Get out and enjoy the snow that's on its way!
01.25.2007 - The Dead Sexies and I had a great time playing the annual "Island Party" at Gepettos last night. It was crazy as usual! I wish more of my gigs were that way! This weekend, I wrap up a busy January with solo shows at Northern Outdoors on the 27th, Gepettos on the 28th, The Carrabassett Inn on the 29th, and hosting my open mic night at The Granary on the 30th. Then I kick of February with a three show weekend in Topsham, Bethel, and Cambridge, New Hampshire!
01.07.2007 - Looks like I'll be returning to Northern Outdoors for a third summer! Check the calender for details on solo Friday night shows as well as Saturday nights with my band, The Dead Sexies.
01.06.2007 - It may seem far away, but I have been busy setting up my schedule for Summer 2007. On July 5th, I will start an 8 week Thursday afternoon residency at The Margate Resort on Lake Winipesaukee in Laconia, New Hampshire. I'm also booked at Sea Dog Topsham and The Boiler Room in Wilton through all of 2007, and am finalizing booking for several other venues. This promises to be my busiest year ever...much thanks to everyone who's helped make it possible!
01.03.2007 - Happy New Year! I had a great time playing at The Carrabassett Inn on New Year's Eve along with The Former Something. This weekend I've got a 6-show stretch: Friday evening in Wilton at The Boiler Room, Saturday night with The Dead Sexies at The Carrabassett Inn, Sunday at Gepettos, Monday a solo show at the Inn, Tuesday night at The Granary, and Wednesday afternoon at the Shipyard Brewhaus at Sunday River!
12.25.2006 - Happy ChristmaKwanzaFestivakah, everyone! I'm taking most of this week off, and then gearing up for a VERY busy stretch in January, February and March...over 60 shows in all, including my first show in New Hampshire since 1996!
12.11.2006 - I survived my busiest weekend of 2006 headcold and all! The Dead Sexies rocked the Carrabassett Inn on the 2nd...thanks to everyone who made it to that one! This week it is back to The Carrabassett Inn on Monday and Saturday night, The Granary on Tuesday, and Sea Dog Topsham on Friday.
12.01.2006 - After a night at The Boiler Room in Wilton, I'm heading to the Shipyard Brewhaus at Sunday River tomorrow afternoon for an apres ski show from 3:00 - 6:00pm. Then, it's back to Sugarloaf for a show with The Dead Sexies at The Carrabassett Inn! It might have rained where you are, but there is SNOW in the hills, so strap on your board or skis and head for the hills!
11.21.2006 - Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! After my regular Tuesday night at The Granary in Farmington, I will be taking the holiday weekend off. I return next week with five gigs, including my first ever performance at the Shipyard Brewhaus at Sunday River.
11.13.2006 - I had a great time in Bangor last Saturday! Thanks to all the crazy people who came out to party. This week I'll be at Sea Dog Topsham on Friday night, and at The Boiler Room in Wilton on Saturday evening.
11.02.2006 - After a little "vacation", I'll be kicking off the winter season at the Carrabassett Inn on Monday 11/6, followed by Tuesday Night Live (my open mic night) at the Granary in Farmington, a full band show at Gepetto's on Friday the 10th, and a solo performance at Sea Dog Bangor on Saturday the 11th!
11.01.2006 - See those mountains in the picture at the top of this page? Well, they are snow covered now. So plan on some early season skiing at Sugarloaf this Fall, and don't forget to catch one of my shows while you are in town!
10.23.2006 - There are now three songs on my Myspace page from the forthcoming album. Check them out here.Also, a reminder that I play the Carrabassett Inn every Monday from 6-10. Come enjoy some weeknight entertainment, and Mexican food and drink specials!
10.15.2006 - The Dead Sexies will be assembling for two shows this week. The first is an eighties party Thursday 10/19 at The Granary. We've got some bitchin' 80's songs in store, so don't miss it! We'll also be playing Saturday 10/21 at Gepettos (Sugarloaf/USA).
10.14.2006 - As promised, the new website design is being unveiled in stages. I hope you like the new look. You might also notice that I have joined the rest of the non-conformists in the world and put a page up at Myspace Music. Will you be my friend? :)
10.12.2006 - Back in Bangor! It has been a LONG time since I last rocked the Sea Dog in Bangor. I'll be be returning to the regular rotation there Friday night at 9:00PM. I hope to see some familiar faces there!
10.05.2006 - I've set up a new mailing list so I can keep friends and fans abreast of all the upcoming shows and news in the world of "Sween". Join by sending me an email here. Even if you joined previously, send me a new email to get added to the new list. Thanks!
10.04.2006 - If you're going to be near Sugarloaf this Saturday, head to the Carrabassett Inn to check out Gristlestick! They are fresh off their cross-country summer tour, and sound better than ever.
09.27.2006 - I have officially begun booking shows at Sunday River in Bethel this winter! So far, I have booked 6 "apres ski" shows at the Shipyard Brewhaus, and there's more to come. A special thanks to Lisa from Sea Dog/Shipyard who helped me break into the Sunday River market!
09.26.2006 - I've got a new calendar page thanks to the smart folks at Google. Click the link above, or check it out here!
09.20.2006 - Check out a sneak peek of my newest song, "Satellite". It is still a work in progress, but I am very excited about the energy in this song. The finished recording will be on the CD, which I hope to release a few weeks before Christmas.
