Jason Mancine Music

NEW RESTAURANT (and possible future music venue???)

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Friends are opening a new restaurant in what was formerly the Boiler Room in Wilton...it will be called "Calzolaio Pasta Co." and will feature Italian food, fresh made pastas, gourmet pizzas and an impressive wine list.

I have had "inside access" to the renovation process and the place is looking AWESOME. What was already a nice room in Wilton is now shaping up to be a venue in the league of some of the great Italian joints in Boston/NY.

This is very a very promising and exciting business in an otherwise crappy economy, and a very good thing for the town of Wilton. They are planning on opening this month.

So, please visit the website (http://www.calzolaiopasta.com) and please support this and ALL of your local businesses.

I don't think there are any plans for live music, especially on the 26-show-per-year pace I used to play at The Boiler Room, but HOPEFULLY if enough people ask for it, I'll be able to book some gigs for the summer.

So, when you go in to have some great food and wine, PLEASE be sure to mention that you would love to hear some live music! :)

-J

~~~

Back to Mondays!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Starting next week, I will be playing MONDAYS at the Carrabassett Inn instead of hosting the Wednesday open mic night.

Funny thing...as soon as you start getting a little success in building an open mic night, all the other bars in town decide to do it the same night to "compete". Nothing could be further from a good business move, but unfortunately good business sense is VERY hard to come by, especially during this recession.

Anyhow, we've pulled the plug on the Wednesday open mic and will begin immediately with Monday nights (their Mexican night)...while I probably won't bill it as an "open mic", friends are always welcome and encouraged to come down and jam.

~~~

Gepettos + Myspace Update + New Years Info

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:33:00 +0000

My second Saturday "Apres" of the season at Gepettos is today at 3pm. Hope to see some familiar faces there!

Next Wednesday is New Year's Eve...instead of my usual Wed night gig at The Carrabassett Inn I will be playing a show at The Granary in Farmington from 10pm to 1am.

Also, there's a new calendar mini-feed on my Myspace page (www.myspace.com/jasonmancine) for anyone who prefers to look there for information. The only events it does not show are my weekly Granary (Tuesdays) and Carrabassett Inn (Wednesdays) dates.

~~~

10 seasons and counting.

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:34:00 +0000

It's hard to believe, but on Saturday at 3pm, I kick off my 10th season of playing music at Gepettos. Last year was the first time we tried the Saturday "Apres Ski" and it worked out great. So, once again I will be playing EVERY saturday (3pm to 5pm) from now until the end of March.

I've also had the great pleasure of playing 3 shows in the past 3 weeks at The Phoenix House at Sunday River. I can't say enough good things about this place...a top notch, proactive approach to entertainment. For example, the existing stage was in a corner in the dining area, away from the bar...which made it difficult to interact with the Apres Ski bar crowd and to set an appropriate volume for the diners while still reaching the bar. But instead of letting this be a problem, the great staff and owners at The Phoenix House removed a corner booth near the bar and built a SECOND stage. The fact that they had one stage was cool enough. Brining in a second smaller stage to create a viable Apres Ski venue is brilliant! This makes the Apres performances much more interactive with the bar crowd, and also allows the evening bands to set up during the apres performance instead of everyone having to rush to transition between acts.

While I am sure there is some concern over the lost revenue from that corner booth, I really believe that they will make up for it (and then some) in Apres bar sales. It is just nice to see such proactive measures being taken to retain guests, and to allow the entertainers to "bond" more with the audience. Kudos!

More news on the horizon, but that's all for now....

J

~~~

Happy Thanksgiving & New Venues!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:14:00 +0000

I wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

On Friday at 5:00PM (and again NEXT Friday 12/5), I will be playing at The Phoenix House at Sunday River. This place is suh-weet...check them out at:

http://www.phoenixhouseandwell.com/

I'm quite pleased (and a bit humbled) to be in the company of the other great acts that are booked here this winter like Denny Breau, Dave Rowe, Mitch Alden, Boston Horns, The Grumps, Sly Chi, and more...so be sure to make a trip to The Phoenix House.

Saturday evening, I am playing at the MAMHS class of '98 reunion at The Homestead in Farmington. Though I've lived in and around Farmington since the class of '98 were sophomores, this is one of the few rooms in town I have never played in. Should be a fun time!

J

~~~

More Continuing Education

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:25:00 +0000

News Flash: The economy has tanked. And the effects of this recession have now begun to severely impact the music entertainment business as we know it. Musicians who have had steady work for years, even decades, are finding large gaps in their schedules. Venues are closing permanently, and others are simply cutting or eliminating their entertainment budgets as a way to reduce costs.

Now, there is no denying that times are bad. But there is also no denying that this country and this industry has weathered tough times before. We can do it again -- we just need to be smart and proactive.

My opinion is that the most direct effect of a recession is to radically amplify existing problems in a business. Things like overspending and poor bookkeeping become drastically more obvious in bad times than in good -- this is true in every business and everyone needs to reign in spending and track every penny right now.

But in the music business, there is really one thing that catches up with us in the down times (and the good): FAILURE TO ADAPT. Here are some ideas that I think we should all be considering right now:

1. Be Flexible with $$$

We are ALL in a recession right now, and that includes venue owners. Regardless of what we were being paid two years ago in a venue, we need to adapt to this economy and realize that we might be getting paid less. But being paid less is better than not being paid at all.

I'm not saying we should be marketing ourselves for $100 a show...for most of us that would be running at a loss which no business can survive doing. I'm saying that playing for $25 or $50 less than in the past might be an appropriate way of keeping yourself working. It might not be as profitable, but remember -- everyone is in the same boat and trying to weather the same storm.

If we are stubborn and not flexible, we will have a hard time booking and will find ourselves scrambling for work.

2. No More Freebies as part of "the deal".

If venues are suffering, and they are taking a capital risk to hire us, it would just add insult to injury to demand or request freebies as part of the deal.

Of course, there are venues that will always offer to buy us dinner and a couple drinks now and then...that is cool, but instead of the lobster dinner, and Maker's Mark or Glenlivet, why not just have a draft beer or a soda that costs them virtually nothing. Yes, I would rather have that Glenlivet -- especially when someone else is buying -- but remember, it is coming out the pocket of the person who is already paying us. It is easy to end up tacking on another 10-15% of a performance rate via food and drink -- and trust me, venue owners remember that.

3. Concentrate on "Recession Resistant" venues

No venue is recession-proof. But there are venues that are more suited for weathering the bad economy than others. It should be easy to tell which of our current venues fall into this category...we need to concentrate on keeping that gig and booking as many into the future as we can.

But we also need to work on booking into more of these types of venues. This might mean traveling out of our normal geographic "comfort zone" to seek out new possible places to book. But again -- working for less profit beats not working at all.

There are many venues who simply can't afford to pay for music right now...lets not write them off forever, but don't waste time by trying to book into them. Getting the gig might pay our bills for the week, but it will do more damage than good in the the long run and will reduce our odds of being rehired in the future when times are better.

4. Break Routines

When times are good, it is easy to fall into routines. But when times get tough we often make the mistake of trying to fall back on those same routines. The problem is that rules of the game change constantly.

Now is the time to be learning 5-10 new songs a week and bolstering our repertoires. It is also a good time to evaluate how hard we are really TRYING to improve and adapt. Instead of just singing a song for the thousandth time, we should try to sing it better than we ever have. Maybe even practice! Record your shows and listen to them the next day.

We should evaluate and update our performances, stage presence, our interaction with the audience. Get out of the routine of just accepting that we're doing everything right, and start making sure that we're giving the best we can give.

5. Work Harder at the small things

One of the prime rules for any musician is to respect the venue, the clientele, and the staff. Especially the staff...they are the ones who's opinions will keep us employed. It is a small detail, but this just might be the single most important rule in this biz.

We need to get as many people to gigs as possible. Call them, email them, tell them that any support they can give -- even if they just come and don't spend any money in the venue -- would be greatly appreciated. There is perhaps no greater insurance for a regular gig than measurable "draw". If, at the end of the night the people who are there stayed to listen to us, then we have done our job and the venue will remember this.

Why is it so important to work harder and adapt during this downturn in the economy? Because venues have dozens if not hundreds of people constantly hounding them for gigs. If we don't make ourselves stand out, we will be passed over for someone who costs less.

I could go on and on...but hopefully I've gotten my point across. It is not time to panic, it is not time to act desperate. It is time to step back, evaluate what it is that we can do to weather this storm, and take proactive measures to do so.

This is not just about the music business...it is a concept that can be applied to any business. The irony of the recession/depression cycle is that while it might be devastating for some people, it is the start of OPPORTUNITY for those who stay focused and positive. Those people -- whether they are seasoned and smart, or ambitious and just starting out -- treat this as a market as one with no peak in sight...the only way to go is up, and the potential is virtually limitless.

The next few years could be the beginning of major growth, and with some smart business-sense we can be position to ride that wave into a prosperous future.

-J

--

busy week

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Busy week ahead!

TUE: Hosting the Granary Open Mic, 9PM
WED: Carrabassett Inn, 7PM
THU: Gritty McDuff's L/A, 8PM
FRI: The Granary w/The Dead Sexies
SAT: Montsweag Roadhouse, 6PM

Continuing education on the music PROFESSION

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:18:00 +0000

I recently had the displeasure of speaking with a very rude business owner who called to try to book me to play music in his venue.

Apparently several of his regular customers had requested me specifically, having heard me play in other venues. He had already picked out a bunch of dates, and several of them worked in my calendar. Things were looking great...

He then told me that the pay for the gig was $100. When I explained that the going rate generally starts at twice that, he became defensive and offered to throw in a few drinks. At this point, I thanked him and politely declined the gig. His exact response was to laugh at me and say, "Are you serious?".

He seemed awestruck and offended that I had turned down his offer, so I tried to explain that a business needs to turn a profit, and at $100 I would be losing money. It was not that I didn't want the gig...it was that as a professional I couldn't play gigs that cost me money. He laughed sarcastically and his ignorance became further apparent when he ranted, bitched, and moaned for awhile about how HE would be losing money if he hired ME before abruptly hanging up.

Now, you might think I would be angry at this guy. However, I believe his excellence at demonstrating his ignorance helped me realize what the music profession is up against, especially in these tough economic times.

There are several factors, but I have tried to break down the problem into two major categories:

1. There is a difference between a "musician" and a professional musician.

A professional musician runs a legitimate business, plays 5+ shows per week, and makes his living doing it. He creates a product and a "brand" through his music selection, the sound of his guitar, the quality of his audio equipment, and the quality of his performance. His product needs to command the price that allows him to remain profitable and to stay in business. The professional musician also is always aware that he has been hired to entertain, and in the case of bar/club gigs to generate income for the venue. This means he must constantly improve and adapt to ever-changing audiences, musical preferences, and economic challenges.

A regular "musician" is someone who might play solely for the love of playing, does not need the money, and might charge little or nothing to play in a venue. He might play once a week, perhaps only a couple times a month.

Now, there is nothing wrong with a regular musician. They play for all the right reasons, and in many ways they are a more "pure" form of musician. However, there is also nothing wrong with the professional who chooses to use his talent as a career.

The problem is that the general public seems to lump both types of musician into one. Many people believe that the regular musician who plays for free is a much wiser investment than the professional who might charge $200 to $500 per performance. Yet, I can attest from personal experience that the venues that make the most money are those that consistently hire and properly compensate professional entertainers. The reason is simple...the professional has the experience, the equipment, and the NEED to keep that audience entertained and in the venue. The regular musician is more likely to have a smaller repertoire, inferior equipment and sound quality, and to sound less polished overall...generally the last thing on their mind is whether or not the venue is making money.

Another great example of this concept is the high-pressure situation of a wedding performance. A bride wants her wedding day to be perfect, and music is often a big part of the ceremony and reception. The solution is to hire a professional...someone who has played weddings, has the equipment to sound right, knows how things work and is ready to adjust to keep the ceremony moving smoothly. It will cost you more, but this is why you hire a professional to play your wedding...because they are professionals. Getting it right is their only option, and they will deliver.

And finally...hiring musicians is just like buying cars, computers, or guitars. The old addage applies: you get what you pay for.

2. It COSTS money to play music!

First...we drive. We drive a lot. Usually at least 500 miles a week. The size and amount of equipment we must carry dictates that we drive large cars or SUVs and we rarely get over 20mpg. This translates to at least $60 per week in fuel costs. But what about tires, oil changes, depreciation, insurance, wear & tear...etc.?

Even the IRS now acknowledges the cost of operating a vehicle for business at $0.585 per mile. Sadly this is WAY too low...but since it is an "official" number it is what we must use to calculate travel costs. So, if you're not great at math, that means for every gig I play that is 50 miles away, my travel cost is $58.50. For 100 miles away, my cost for travel is $117. But wait there is more!

A professional uses professional equipment. The big costs are instruments and sound equipment, as well as home office equipment. This initial investment is generally in the $5000 to $10000 range. But things break and wear out so there is a constant fluctuation in microphones, mixers, speakers, cables, stands and even instruments. As a rule of thumb I figure this cost at $200 per month...the built in overhead of the business. For calculating this cost I factor in $10 to each show ($2000 per year).

The day to day things that really add up are guitar strings (a new set at LEAST every 3 shows usually), picks, batteries (several 9V's each week), etc. For me, these items account for an average of about $7 per show ($1400 per year).

And what about food? Generally at least one meal is required during a trip...often two and sometimes all three meals are on the road. I factor in a cost of $4 per show ($800 per year) for meals...based on my actual numbers, this may still be too low.

Sometimes there is lodging, sometimes there are special expenses (costumes for Halloween shows, special wardrobe requests for wedding gigs, lighting rentals, additional sound equipment rentals, and so on). Add another $2 per show ($400 per year) to cover these special expenses.

So far, the cost of playing that gig 100 miles away is up to $140. And believe it or not, there are MORE costs to running a business. Things like printer paper and cartridges, office supplies web site fees, professional organization dues, tax preparation fees, and on, and on, and on!

And did I mention that this is all before taxes...and that self-employed persons actually pay TWICE the rate for FICA that everyone else does?!

Maybe you can understand why I didn't take that $100 gig. Maybe not.

The fact is that this is a real business with real expenses, real overhead, and a real need to turn a profit. So the next time you are inclined to hire a professional musician, please don't act shocked when it costs you at least as much to hire them as it costs them to perform!

-j

~~

New Venues

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:31:00 +0000

I am very happy to announce my winter schedule, including two NEW venues!

Of course, I have my regular weekly gigs: Tuesday are Open Mic at The Granary...10 years and counting! Wednesdays I'm at The Carrabassett Inn playing with local guest musicians. And every Saturday from 3pm to 5pm I will be back at Gepettos for my 10th year of music there.

The rest of the winter will be spent at The Carrabassett Inn, Northern Outdoors, Gritty McDuffs, Saddleback and other great venues. Check the calendar for details!

My new venues for the winter are The Montsweag Roadhouse in Woolwich where I will be performing November 1, January 9, and March 6...their website is:

http://www.montsweagroadhouse.com/website/

And the one I'm most excited about -- The Phoenix House & Well at Sunday River where I am scheduled November 28, December 5, December 13, and February 6. This place is AWESOME and I expect it to rapidly become one of my favorite venues...check out their website at:

http://www.phoenixhouseandwell.com/

See you in the mountains!

Roller Coaster

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:22:00 +0000

I've been predicting it for years, and the tough times have certainly trickled down to the music business. I was sad to learn last month that one of my regular venues was closing for good...The Boiler Room in Wilton was open since 2000 and was one of my first regular gigs. It was also the last "local" venue in the Farmington area for me other than hosting Tuesday open mic at The Granary.

If you don't think that going out to support local music is important, just consider that 6 years ago there was weekly live music at 5 venues in the Farmington area (Granary, Dugout, Field Goals/T-Bones, Front Street, Boiler Room). I used to play regularly at three of those venues. Now, two are closed, The Granary has stopped regular entertainment except Tuesdays, and Front Street only has bands occasionally. Yet, over and over I hear people complain that there is no "scene".

Yes, there are many reasons for the demise of the music scene in this area, but none more important than the severe decline in people coming out to see bands. I don't care if the economy is crappy...most of the shows are FREE, and just being there is the key.

Take a look back to my May 2007 post in this blog...that is almost 18 months ago, back before the economy was to "blame" -- and this problem was already affecting the scene enough for me to blog about it. I hate to be right in this case, but I believe I was right then and I worry that I'm right now. The profession of live entertainment is suffering a slow death at the hands of technology. People are too plugged in listening to music to go out and hear it live.

So, I again urge all of you music fans to start getting out and supporting live music before it becomes extinct.

winter's coming

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:37:00 +0000

another CRAZY summer has all but passed, and I'm already looking ahead to the coming winter.

But before winter, I've got some down time in September (phew!) and a busy fall as we head toward another crazy winter.

Once the snow flies, I'm very happy to announce that I will be back at Gepettos for my 10th year of playing music, starting December 20th at 3:30pm. 10 years...wow!

I also have a few midweek gigs at Saddleback, and my usual weekly Wednesday nights at The Carrabassett Inn.

I'll also be moving to Thursdays once a month at Gritty McDuff's in L/A, as well as playing my regular shows at Northern Outdoors, and The Boiler Room, and hosting the open mic night at The Granary on Tuesdays (my 10th year there as well!).

-J

howdy!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:42:00 +0000

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I posted here. Things are going great, still playing every Monday at The Carrabassett Inn, hosting Tuesday Night Live at The Granary in Farmington on Tuesdays, hosting the Mountain Music Showcase at The Carrabassett Inn on Wednesdays and on Fridays and Saturdays making the rounds of the other great venues in which I play.

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of playing at Andy and Kristy Bishop's wedding...thanks for inviting me guys, it was a beautiful ceremony and a perfect day!

I'm at the Boiler Room in Wilton every other Friday all summer. Hopefully I'll get set up on the deck some evening when it is nice out and the black flies have died down!

This coming Saturday (May 31), I'm at The Carrabassett Inn with my band The Dead Sexies. Always a good time, so be sure to come out for a rare Spring sexies show. We're also planning a HUGE show for June 28 at the Inn...multiple bands, outdoor shows starting in the early afternoon and going all night. It is going to kick ass.

Thanks for the continued support, everyone!

-J

Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:50:00 +0000

My last "apres ski" show off the season is at Gepettos tomorrow (3/29) at 3pm...followed by my band The Dead Sexies at The Carrabassett Inn at 8:30. 'nuff said.

j

Phew!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:29:00 +0000

9 gigs in 8 days...phew! Thanks to the "cheesy 80's" fans at Northern Outdoors who helped me get through that ninth show. Man, I was tired, but it was a fun time.

After a day off yesterday, I'm back at The Carrabassett Inn tonight for my weekly Monday show, and will continue for a relatively quiet 5 show week.

Later!

J

schedule change!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Rather than trying to compete with the Patriots game, I'll be taking Saturday night off. My first show of the winter at Northern Outdoors will be on January 26.

Tonight, I'm at The Boiler Room in Wilton, and tomorrow is my weekly apres ski set at Gepettos from 3 to 5.

hasta,
j

Carrabassett Inn Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:50:00 +0000

I'm playing a 7-10 set at The Carrabassett Inn tonight...come up and hang out before you hit the slopes tomorrow. And by the way, I'll be at Gepettos tomorrow from 3-5pm!

J

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:22:00 +0000

Merry Chrismakwanzaukah and Happy New Year to everyone! I had a great weekend, playing at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley on Thursday, and for the Rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony of Brian and Erin Demshar in Farmington on Friday and Saturday. Congrats!

I'll be at The Carrabassett Inn on New Year's Eve, running the open mic at The Granary on Tuesday, at Gepettos Saturday afternoon, and Gritty's in Auburn on Saturday night. Hope to see you somewhere along the way.

-j

Super Saturdays!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:20:00 +0000

Starting this week, I'll be playing two shows just about every Saturday until April. The best news is that this Saturday I'll be returning to the Carrbassett Inn which is finally reopening. PLEASE come out and help them kick off their season despite the late start. Prior to that show, I'll being doing a 3-5 apres ski set at Gepettos, so why not hit the slopes and make a day (and night) of it?!

Gepettos!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:01:00 +0000

Saturday is my first show of the season at Sugarloaf! It is an afternoon 3 to 5 set at Gepettos, which will be a regular thing most Saturdays. So, if you're on the hill come in and enjoy some apres music at the best watering hole around.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:28:00 +0000

I visited The Carrabassett Inn tonight, and their renovations look great! The bar has been expanded to about 80 feet long, and the room is a lot bigger. They are also renovating the kitchen and putting in a more formal dining area in the back. It will be an ongoing project, but they will be opening for the season in the next week or so. I'll be starting back up on Mondays VERY soon, and will also be playing some BIG weekend shows there, including New Years Eve, St. Patrick's Day, and Sugarloaf Reggae Weekend. They'll also have other musical monsters like Gristlestick and Pete Kilpatrick making appearances this winter, so be sure to check it out.

AND if that is not enough, I will also be hosting the Mountain Music Showcase which will be a bi-weekly event that features local musicians playing 45 minute sets of their best material. Once again the Carrabassett Inn will offer the BEST lineup of music at Sugarloaf -- if you didn't know that from years past then you've been missing out.

Speaking of Reggae Weekend...I've got over 100 shows booked between now and then. It should be a fun winter! As always, thanks to everyone who helps make it happen.

-J

Cancellation!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:54:00 +0000

Unfortunately, I've had to cancel my show at The Boiler Room tonight. Sorry for any inconvenience!

-J

New Blog, Old Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Mancine Music) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:20:00 +0000

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.