Good morning. I’m writing to you today from the air. I’m currently on a Delta flight from Texas to North Carolina. I’m realizing the last time I shared anything with you was in the late spring…it’s now already Autumn. I hope everyone had as wonderful a summer as I did. We can just consider this a “quarterly” newsletter.
Let’s see, I was out with St. Vincent a lot since the last email. We did South America, Europe and the UK, and shows in the states. I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it has been to play with Annie and that band. I just genuinely love the music and the people so much. Really insane musicianship and great vibes all around. The last full band shows of the year were in late August, and I have to say I’ve really missed the traveling circus energy.
In September I went out with White Denim for a run on the west coast playing guitar. Those shows were also a fucking blast. Another group of shredders and killer material. I feel very fortunate to get to contribute to all this music in whatever capacity I can. It’s nice to be a part of something larger and be of service to that thing.
I’ve also played a handful of solo shows. If you happened to catch one, I appreciate it! I’m actually en route right now to play a few shows over the weekend—two opening for the Turnpike Troubadours and Dawes, and one headlining show on Sunday in Wilmington.
When I land today in Raleigh, I’m going to go spend some time with my dear friend Tift Merritt. She’s getting ready to go into the studio here in November to record a new record, which I’m playing guitar on and extremely excited about. I’m sure we’ll mess around with some music this afternoon, maybe write something together. I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately, and much of it with others. There’s something really magical about collaborating with friends in that way, and the result is often (though not always) more than the sum of its parts. When I look around me at all of these incredible artists and people I get to make music with and really share my life with, I just feel immense gratitude for this whole project.
As you get older it becomes increasingly difficult to find a real sense of community. It’s easy enough to make “friends,” but beyond that, to have a group around you with a shared goal or belief that feels important enough to outweigh any differences you may have, and to force interaction. I see it in the military—my friends who served have such a strong bond with those they served with. I think it’s a big part of what people want out of religion, and likely why it seems to be on the rise again. But in most parts of civilian life, in secular life, the stakes of friendship just aren’t often very high. I mean, you wouldn’t help hide a body for someone you just go to trivia with once a week. To be clear, I’m not saying (publicly) that I would hide a body for any of the people I make music with. (If you happen to be reading this, please don’t ask.) But it is a bond that feels important, and a circle that I want to continue to strengthen and grow. Being vulnerable with another person, trying to get down to the heart of the matter, expose that part of yourself to one another—it’s just a wonderful thing. It’s also the only way to do big things requiring coordination. You don’t build skyscrapers or go to the moon, or make good records without the help of others, and even if you could, you wouldn’t want to.
Be well, and I know this is a hilarious segue, but come see me play SOLO somewhere this weekend and beyond! Dates below
-R
Fri, OCT 24- Salem, VA- Salem Civic Center- W/Turnpike Troubadors and Dawes
Sat, OCT 25- Asheville, NC- Harrah’s Cherokee Center- W/Turnpike Troubadors and Dawes
Sun, OCT 26- Wilmington, NC- Bourgie Nights- SOLO
Fri, DEC 5- New Braunfels, TX- The Redbird Listening Room- SOLO
Thanks for coming to Asheville! I hate to miss you and Dawes, but it's the same night as SG Goodman and Fust :'(
Are you playing with White Denim in Columbia, SC next month?