The kids finally went back to school today. Jesus Christ, that was a long break. What a beautiful time it was, but I’m ready for routine again. My anxious brain needs it. I woke up feeling the forward momentum of a “normal” day beginning. Coffee, meditation. I’m going to try and get to the gym here in a bit. I’m playing a show in Houston on Thursday (day after tomorrow) and I’ve been meaning to send a little note and tell you about it, as this is my only means of communicating with the outside world. Obviously I didn’t get around to it until the very last minute. Alas, there are still some tickets left. You can find them Here if you happen to be able to go. It’s an early show, 6pm. I’m going to try and play some new songs.
2025 was really great for writing. I started getting the bug over the summer, and just kept it going. I wrote a ton on my own, and had a blast cowriting some others with friends. Now I have something like 30 tunes that I haven’t even made demos of yet, and i’m sure still more to come. One of my resolutions this year will be to make at least one album. The last one “yesterday’s news” was a fairly somber sentiment, and the stuff I’m writing now is much more fun. I’ve been listening to a ton of country again. Don Williams, Keith Whitley. I’ve been particularly interested in tunes written by the great “Bob Mcdill”. Like “Don’t close your eyes”. His writing is so simple and to the point, and yet so incredibly poignant. I’ve also been obsessed with 70’s Irish music again. Will oldham turned me on to this Dick Gaughan Record “Handful of earth” that’s been playing on repeat since last month. For that matter Will’s last Bonnie Prince record “Purple Bird” was a huge highlight. The songwriting and production is beautiful and easy feeling. I’d highly recommend giving that a spin today. I’ve also recently been obsessed with another Paul Brady record “Welcome Here Kind Stranger”. I’m back in a phase of just listening to music again. The way I did when I was a kid. I know this may sound obvious, but for some of us, especially those whose life revolves around music, it can be easy to forget how much you genuinely just like listening to it. I’ve been laying down at night and putting an album on in headphones instead of watching tv, and just vibing out. It’s just magic, you can get that rush of emotion from just sound alone. I hope to do a lot more of that in 2026. If you have any records you really love, please don’t hesitate to share, and I’ll try and do the same. Hope to see some of you in Houston on Thursday, and beyond. I’ll leave you with a cool cover of a Bowie song we did with St. Vincent for Colbert last year. I’m rocking bass. Happy New Year everyone!
Speaking of Paul Brady, I'm so glad to know you're a fan! Are you familiar with his 1995 album, "Spirits Colliding"? The entire album is fabulous, and the first song, "I Want You to Want Me" includes the lyric "With you it's forever." I had that line inscribed in Giles' wedding band before we were married in June 1998. Fortunately, we got to show it to Paul Brady when he was featured at The Telluride Bluegrass Festival a few years later. It's rare for me to hear from other fans of Psul Brady, even though he is considered to be the finest songwriter in Ireland. By the way, the song, "The World is What You Make it" remains one of my favorites. It featured Bela Fleck and the Flecktones who are featured in Telluride at The Bluegrass Festival fairly often. It's jazzy, Robert...just your style! Listen to it!
Where and when are you playing in Houston on Thursday night?