June 2010 Newsletter
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Leaf jumping with Owen, Nov 2009
TWICE
It's been a busy month here at Mark Erelli World Headquarters (aka my house). Coming off one of my busiest months of touring in recent years, I have been consumed with lots of household chores. Furniture has been moved from upstairs down to the basement. Closets have been cleaned out. Gutters have been unclogged. Doors have been hung. Gardens have been planted. All these domestic activities fall under the general heading of "nesting," though I have been watching birds build a nest under the eaves of my neighbor's house and they don't seem to sweat (or curse) nearly as much as me when they do it.
All this is a long-winded way of saying that a brand new Erelli is on the way, a boy, expected late this month. I did a lot of these same sorts of nesting chores when we were expecting our first son, Owen, but it felt very different because we were renting at the time. Now that we own our home, I am more inclined to take the time to do things right, and it feels like I am making a solid and lasting investment in both a house and, more importantly, our home.
A few years ago, I remember feeling a fair degree of uncertainty as to how fatherhood would affect how I do my job. I have definitely changed my work habits (sorry West coast, I WILL be back!), but after three records, and gigs everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to the Royal Albert Hall, I have thus far managed to balance parenting and being a working musician (albeit with much help from my family). With the second boy on the way, questions about how I will manage to tour and find time to write new songs definitely linger, but fortunately Owen keeps me from having much time or energy to stress about it all. My short-term memory has also degraded to the point that if I do manage to work myself into a lather wondering how this all will work, I...wait, what was I just saying something? Nevermind.
Years ago, back when procreation was a very theoretical thing and it seemed cute to joke about breeding my own band, I wrote a song for "Hillbilly Pilgrim" called "Let's Make A Family." A couple years and a bit of maturity later, I wrote a song heavily-influenced by first-time fatherhood for my record "Delivered" called "Once," extolling the virtues of knowing that sort of love just once in your life. To be blessed with it all over again is very humbling, and I cannot wait to meet the new guy in my life.
Now that I am on my way to raising my own rhythm section, I guess I'll have to re-write that song "Once" to reflect the current tally...anyone have some good rhymes for "Twice?"
SEVEN CURSES: My record of murder ballads with Jeffrey Foucault has been getting some reviews, but since they are all in Dutch I can't understand any of them. I assume that they all say how brilliant the record is. I tried Google Translate once or twice, but after one mention of my original song "Wyoming Wind" translated as coming "from the well of Erelli herself," I stopped that. The good news is that "Seven Curses" is now available digitally through iTunes and other fine e-music outlets.
LITTLE VIGILS: Speaking of iTunes...if you like my new solo record (or even if you don't), I encourage you to post a review on iTunes. While you're there, why not use the "Gift This Album" option and send a copy to someone you think might enjoy it?
MP3 of the MONTH: While I'm waiting for the new baby, I thought I'd share a song about the first one, a live version of "Once" recorded at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry NH back in April 2008. It's available for free for the month of June on the downloads page. Enjoy!
SHOWS:
Sat June 5th - Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge MA - 10 pm
This is my only show this month (see above), but it's a special one. First off, it's one the only full shows with a band that I've done in the last few years. I will be joined by 3/4 of the band from "Little Vigils" (Zack Hickman on bass/pump organ, Charlie Rose on banjo/pedal steel and Neil Cleary on drums/sardonic quips). We'll be doing most of the new record and a bunch of tunes from the back catalog. Nothing fancy, just beer, rock n' roll, and a fun way for me to end with a bang before taking a month off for the new baby. A word about the venue: Atwoods IS a bar, but if you don't think that's your cup of tea, think again. The guys that run this place are a cut above. Really great food, an expansive selection of beers, and a very warm and respectful forum for local musicians to play. When I go to hear live music, this is where I go to hear it.
SIDEMAN SECTION:
June 15 - Cantab Lounge, Cambridge MA (bluegrass with Jake Armerding)
ON THE HORIZON:
July 19 - Cambridge MA (**Seven Curses w/Jeffrey Foucault)
July 24 - Pomfret CT**
July 25 - Keene NH**
July 28 - Whately MA**
July 29 - Great Barrington MA**
July 30 - Ogunquit ME**
peace,
mark
