#11. 1 October 2018

friends near and far!

i hope you're all doing so so great.

by way of introduction for new folks who've been added to this list without my asking here are a few points: 
1 - i send one of these about once a month.
2 - if you'd like to be removed from this list, simply ask. i'd be happy to oblige.
3 - i send these emails to promote my own projects, BUT ALSO to share other music that i've been listening to. often by my friends. sometimes by other people.

so here's my first pittsburgh edition.

Benji. :: Smile, You're Alive! 
i played a wedding gig a few weeks ago and Benji stepped in on bass last minute and totally crushed. turns out his new album is also crushing. i love everything about this recording. soulful melodies. clever and thoughtful lyrics. nasty grooves. go have a listen.

Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs :: Amaranth
devin has been a great pal for many years. we spent a hell of a lot of time together in my '98 honda accord between minneapolis, macon GA, boston, montreal, germany... every damn place. i'm incredibly proud of the work he did on this brand new record. his compositional vision is crystalized to a point i haven't heard before. and aaron darrell plays a solo version of "Being You" that literally made me weep when i listened back to it. i happen to be on this recording. but i never remember that when i hear it.

Paul Pinto / Erin Rogers (ThingNY) :: minis/Trajectories
i've had the pleasure of seeing Paul perform a few times in pittsburgh in the last few months. most recently in Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's 8 Songs for a Mad King (it. was. in. sane.). this recording features his compositions alongside those of Erin Rogers. the works and the performances on this recording are deadly serious in execution and somehow totally irreverent throughout. everything by this collective (thingNY) is worth checking out.

Five Dollar Ferrari :: Forgotten Cities
buddies Brad Henkel and Dustin Carlson have released a scorcher. this is not necessarily an easy listen but it is extremely rewarding. lots of quiet sounds. lots of loud sounds. lots of crunchy chords. some melody. all incredibly special and totally unique to these two wonderful weirdos.