I’ve got a busy week of shows ahead in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. I will literally be road testing the new songs from my newest CD, Ain’t The Same As Before, which I plan to release in April. I must admit though, I do have a little post-production-depression. While I enjoy being on the road and sharing music, I REALLY love being in the recording studio surrounded by many instruments and the collaborative spirit of talented musicians working together toward a common goal. I have never before experienced the ease at which all of the parts came together on this recording, and it has me really excited to share it. It’s been a collaborative effort from the start with most of the songs being co-written by myself and several songwriters I admire: James Moors and Kevin DeForrest. Contributing musicians include Jim Gilmour (producer, engineer, mixer, arranger, electric bass, harmony vocals, all-around good guy), Beth Wilberger (violin, viola, harmony vocals), Jeff Poremski (electric guitar) and Russ Lawton (drums), each bringing tons of talent to the table. On the road, I guess I am the core of the “band” with an ever-changing ensemble of collaborative musicians that round out the sound. I am looking forward to playing with Thomas Sneed (Reeltime Travelers) and Ben Winship (Brother Mule, Kane’s River and The Growling Old Men) this week in Jackson Hole. It’s also been a huge collaborative effort on the parts of you, my fans. Many of you have pre-purchased the new CD which goes a long way toward helping me afford the project, so thank you, thank you, thank you. ]]> http://www.kortmusic.com/blog/2009/03/aint-the-same-as-before/feed/ http://www.kortmusic.com/blog/2009/02/my-happy-place/ http://www.kortmusic.com/blog/2009/02/my-happy-place/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:13:38 +0000 Kort http://www.kortmusic.com/blog/?p=437 After three days of driving, I am finally in Vermont! And though I am tired, I’ve managed a somewhat unusual but ceremonious ritual upon arrival: a dinner of New England clam chowder and a couple of Long Trail Ales. I know, it’s so New England-y, but how else do I physically and emotionally prepare myself for the rigors of studio recording in the days ahead? When in New England, do as New Englanders do, right? Anyway, studies have found that beer can reduce the levels of stress inducing compounds that build up in the body after hours and hours of incessant driving. Yes, and the researchers have pointed to this particular beer and chowder combination, since they work synergistically, as the most adequate for maintaining the overall sound and quality of studio recordings. Can we agree that there is a movement towards authentic, locally produced foods, driven in part by a yearning for authenticity and community? So there it is, my recipe for success in the Southview Arts recording studio. Maybe I should get some sleep……..

It’s time for another wild Georgia-Florida football weekend! We´ll be kicking off the festivities tonight at the 10th Annual Cousin Catfish´s Pigskin Jamboree, the mere beginning of the fanatical football madness in store for the weekend. These people know how to party and take tailgating to a whole new level, an impressive accomplishment worth marveling at. At the game-day tailgating bash, it isn´t unusual to see folding chairs, drink holders, tents, grills, kegs, kegerators, generators, shirtless and body-painted fans, chicken wings, etc…but satellite dishes mounted in buckets of cement brought to provide reception to 42-inch plasma screen TVs? Of course! After all, this annual party will be talked about in the years to come. It´s a legacy to be lived up to each year at this time, and too much is never too much!

It´s been a busy week finishing up this leg of the Lickskillet Road Tour. We had a great time playing a house concert in Dallas…..a special thanks goes out to John, Ellen, Mike, and Jessi for making us feel welcome! Yesterday we headed to Houston to help promote baygo.com at the football game. And tonight, the last gig of the tour, it will be an honor to play a private party for the Dallas Cowboys Superbowl hero, Roger Staubach. We have some time to kill before the party, so we plan to pay a visit to Dido. Dido is a very small town close to Saginaw, TX. It was once a thriving community with a post office and stores but has declined after the railroad bypassed it in the 1890s. Among the 1,000 graves in the Dido cemetery is that of Townes Van Zandt, the aforementioned songwriter extraordinaire. Steve Earle was once quoted saying, “Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.” Later, Townes responded with, “I’ve met Bob Dylan and his bodyguards, and I don’t think Steve Earle could get anywhere near his coffee table.” Rest in peace, Townes.

Townes Van Zandt, on the other hand, was not your average Joe. He was a country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet affectionately remembered as “a songwriter’s songwriter” influential in the genre referred to as outlaw country. Van Zandt’s songs have been covered by many great musicians such as Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Norah Jones, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Be Good Tanyas, Gillian Welch, and the Dixie Chicks……to name a few. I mention him here not only because he is one of the best songwriters in the whole world, but because yesterday we drove through Van Zandt county in eastern Texas on our way to Dallas. The county is named for Isaac Van Zandt, a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and ancestor of Townes. Van Zandt County is one of 46 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas. This is sadly ironic because Townes Van Zandt pretty much drank himself to death. He died 44 years to the date after Hank Williams, one of his main songwriting influences. We paid homage to Townes yesterday

On our Lickskillet Road Tour, we’ve been lucky to travel in our buddy Ray’s RV. It’s been great and it has allowed us to save a little money by avoiding motels and restaurants. The RV is painted bright orange and covered in large logos advertising his company, baygo.com. It’s almost impossible not to notice this rig on the highway. But, despite our large size and bright paint job, someone (a deep-fried twinkie?) drove through a red light and smack into the passenger-side door at an intersection on the way home Saturday night. Luckily none of us, nor our gear, was seriously injured