2011 Blog
3-15-11:
Just taking a break from what has already been a very busy winter for me with 34 shows performed in 2011 alone. As I'm only in the middle of two consecutive days off, it isn't much of a break, but it still feels pretty good! Tomorrow starts 4 consecutive nights of performing, beginning at Rosa's in Bethlehem, and ending at the Beal House in Littleton on Saturday. Saint Patrick's Day will find me performing at Patrick's Pub in Gilford, NH from 4:00 to 7:00. I dread this day each year...lol! Every year I say it will be my last for St. Patty's Day. I'm not Irish. I don't play Irish music. Yet people expect me to play Irish songs all night. I always manage to have a few appropriate songs ready (and I mean a literal few...3 or 4) which I'll find myself playing many times throughout the evening. One of these years I'll learn :-) Ronda and I just filed our tax return for 2010 and I counted the number of shows I performed last year. The end result: 192 shows played at 32 different venues! I haven't kept track of my previous years, but this past one has to have been my busiest. Last month also marked 4 years that I have been doing this exclusively as my
occupation. I've been peforming the solo shows a little longer than that, but in February of 2007 I took a leap of faith and made this my full time gig. It's been a ride. Good and bad...
occupation. I've been peforming the solo shows a little longer than that, but in February of 2007 I took a leap of faith and made this my full time gig. It's been a ride. Good and bad...
6-6-11:
Josselyn recently finished her last year of preschool!!! One more summer with my little girl before she begins Kindergarten! In music news, this is a very busy time of year for me. Saturday night marked 7 shows performed in 7 days! While I did manage to have a night off during that stretch, a double booking on another day made up
the difference. During that span, I'm excited to share that God has opened the door for me at 2 new venues! During Tuesday evening's show at the Little Grille in Littleton, the manager of "Mulligan's Irish Pub" in Barre, VT was in
attendance and asked me if I'd like to perform at his venue. As a result, I will be there for the first time on Wednesday, June 15th. This is a great venue and promises to be a good time! Then, on Saturday night I performed at Tuckerman's Tavern in Intervale, NH, and the entertainment director for the "Attitash Grand Summit Hotel" located in Bartlett, NH was there. He offered me a booking at the hotel, and I will be there for the first of what hopes to be many performances on Saturday, July 30th. I am always looking for new venues, but I can't remember a time when 2 doors opened up within 1 week like this. I
give all the credit to God as these new jobs are an answer to prayer. I know some will consider it nothing more than a coincidence. That's okay with me. In other news, I will be back at the Chang Thai Cafe on Main Street in Littleton this Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00. I love this room and I look forward to entertaining for them again. Thank you to all who support the live shows. Check out my schedule and make plans to catch a show soon! This weekend, Josselyn will be turning 5 years old! The pages within this site document stages of her entire life. It's really cool to be able to look back through some of the old photos and remember specific times. As I mentioned, she'll be starting Kindergarten in the fall! Up to this point, she has been with me during the days (she's in her room playing as I'm typing this :-). It's sad to think she won't be with me as much when fall comes around. Also, as an update to a previous blog...the St. Patty's Day show at Patrick's Pub was a nightmare. I will never again play a show on that date. Oh well,....we live and we learn.
the difference. During that span, I'm excited to share that God has opened the door for me at 2 new venues! During Tuesday evening's show at the Little Grille in Littleton, the manager of "Mulligan's Irish Pub" in Barre, VT was in
attendance and asked me if I'd like to perform at his venue. As a result, I will be there for the first time on Wednesday, June 15th. This is a great venue and promises to be a good time! Then, on Saturday night I performed at Tuckerman's Tavern in Intervale, NH, and the entertainment director for the "Attitash Grand Summit Hotel" located in Bartlett, NH was there. He offered me a booking at the hotel, and I will be there for the first of what hopes to be many performances on Saturday, July 30th. I am always looking for new venues, but I can't remember a time when 2 doors opened up within 1 week like this. I
give all the credit to God as these new jobs are an answer to prayer. I know some will consider it nothing more than a coincidence. That's okay with me. In other news, I will be back at the Chang Thai Cafe on Main Street in Littleton this Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00. I love this room and I look forward to entertaining for them again. Thank you to all who support the live shows. Check out my schedule and make plans to catch a show soon! This weekend, Josselyn will be turning 5 years old! The pages within this site document stages of her entire life. It's really cool to be able to look back through some of the old photos and remember specific times. As I mentioned, she'll be starting Kindergarten in the fall! Up to this point, she has been with me during the days (she's in her room playing as I'm typing this :-). It's sad to think she won't be with me as much when fall comes around. Also, as an update to a previous blog...the St. Patty's Day show at Patrick's Pub was a nightmare. I will never again play a show on that date. Oh well,....we live and we learn.
7-31-11:
July ended up being a crazy month for me with 18 Shows performed, which brings the total number of shows (to date) this year up to 107. That's a lot of shows but believe it or not, I'm still behind last year's pace which finished with 192! If you haven't made it out to a show yet, check my schedule and plan a night out soon. With shows up and down I-93, you should be able to find one close enough to you. Catch an outdoor performance while you still can! August will find me in Wolfboro, NH for the 1st time (on the 27th) as I entertain at the Wolftrap Restaurant. Stop by if you're in the area. Last night I performed at the Grand Summit Hotel in Bartlett, NH to a welcoming audience. What a great room! This was the 1st of what I hope will be many future shows there.
"Rosa Flamingos" in Bethlehem, NH has been a great time this summer, with the opening of their new patio bar. It's pretty impressive! I've been playing some last minute shows over there when the
weather is good, so check back often for any midweek updates. Other great venues that are keeping me busy include The Creamery Restaurant in Danville, VT and the Little Grille in Littleton, NH, both of which feature great food and are perfect rooms to catch a live show!
I want to thank Robert Rowell for taking some live photos of me at the Woodstock Station this past Thursday (below are 2 of the pics). I can always use more live shots, so if you plan to catch a show bring your camera. Snap a couple pics and send them my way! Many thanks in advance!!!
"Rosa Flamingos" in Bethlehem, NH has been a great time this summer, with the opening of their new patio bar. It's pretty impressive! I've been playing some last minute shows over there when the
weather is good, so check back often for any midweek updates. Other great venues that are keeping me busy include The Creamery Restaurant in Danville, VT and the Little Grille in Littleton, NH, both of which feature great food and are perfect rooms to catch a live show!
I want to thank Robert Rowell for taking some live photos of me at the Woodstock Station this past Thursday (below are 2 of the pics). I can always use more live shots, so if you plan to catch a show bring your camera. Snap a couple pics and send them my way! Many thanks in advance!!!
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9-13-11:
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The days are getting shorter and the cooler weather is moving in. As summer winds down, I welcome
the slower pace. This month has brought about a huge change in my life, as my daughter Josselyn has started Kindergarten. She is doing great! I think this change has been more difficult for my wife and I than it has been for her. Our little girl is growing up, and it's happening too fast. She attended her first dance class yesterday! She wants to be a ballerina. While we're excited to see her experience life, I guess there's a part of me that wants to keep her small forever :-). I've posted pictures from her first day of Kindergarten on my facebook page. Check them out.
It took me a long time, but I have finally upgraded to a new guitar! Well, new to me at least. I worked like crazy this summer, saving pennies, and I recently purchased a 2005 Taylor 314ce. It just came back from the Taylor factory where the frets were replaced and the neck was reset. It's like having a "new" 6 year old guitar...lol! It's an amazing instrument and I'm looking forward to playing out with it!
New venues that have come along since my last post include Fabyan's Station in Bretton Woods, NH; The Knotty Shamrock in Northfield, VT; and The Little Grille in North Haverhill, NH. View my schedule to see when I'll be at each of these new venues. This month also brings me back to Tuckerman's Tavern in Intervale, NH; Mulligan's Irish Pub in Barre, VT; and Tony's Italian Grille in Thornton, NH. Each of these are great rooms to catch a live show!
the slower pace. This month has brought about a huge change in my life, as my daughter Josselyn has started Kindergarten. She is doing great! I think this change has been more difficult for my wife and I than it has been for her. Our little girl is growing up, and it's happening too fast. She attended her first dance class yesterday! She wants to be a ballerina. While we're excited to see her experience life, I guess there's a part of me that wants to keep her small forever :-). I've posted pictures from her first day of Kindergarten on my facebook page. Check them out.
It took me a long time, but I have finally upgraded to a new guitar! Well, new to me at least. I worked like crazy this summer, saving pennies, and I recently purchased a 2005 Taylor 314ce. It just came back from the Taylor factory where the frets were replaced and the neck was reset. It's like having a "new" 6 year old guitar...lol! It's an amazing instrument and I'm looking forward to playing out with it!
New venues that have come along since my last post include Fabyan's Station in Bretton Woods, NH; The Knotty Shamrock in Northfield, VT; and The Little Grille in North Haverhill, NH. View my schedule to see when I'll be at each of these new venues. This month also brings me back to Tuckerman's Tavern in Intervale, NH; Mulligan's Irish Pub in Barre, VT; and Tony's Italian Grille in Thornton, NH. Each of these are great rooms to catch a live show!
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12-6-11:
Bracing myself for another winter season....it looks like it will be another busy one. Already in
December, I have performed 2 of 18 scheduled shows, and the remaining winter months are beginning to fill up quick. I am excited to see what the season will hold! If my schedule remains unchanged, I will end this year with 180 shows performed! A big number, but still 12 shy of last year's total. One of these days I'd like to go back through my books for the past 5+ years and see how many solo shows I've performed altogether. If I ever get around to it, I'll be sure to post the total here. Stay tuned!
In venue news, I'm happy to be back at the Beal House Restaurant in Littleton, NH! Thank you to Bill Sanders for doing such a great job with the place. If you haven't caught a show there, you should make a point to do so. Great food and a super relaxed atmosphere. Make sure to keep an eye on my schedule, and make plans to catch a show when I'm in your area! There is no shortage of great rooms to choose from.
In personal news, I have recently started going to the gym. This is a pretty big deal for me. I'm not in terrible shape, but I can always use more energy. Now I just need to be consistent! Josselyn is still doing great in Kindergarten. She is such an amazing kid! I can't believe how much she's learning (and how fast). Another personal acheivement worthy of mention is that I finished reading my bible (for the 1st of what I hope will be many times) back in September! If you trace my blog back to the fall of '09, you'll see where I began this journey. I am more passionate now about my faith than I have ever been. I can tell you with absolute certainty that God is real, and He wants a personal relationship with you. But you don't have to take my word for it. You only need to read the bible for yourself to see if its true. I'll try not to keep you waiting so long for my next post :-)
Here are a few more pics from 2011...
December, I have performed 2 of 18 scheduled shows, and the remaining winter months are beginning to fill up quick. I am excited to see what the season will hold! If my schedule remains unchanged, I will end this year with 180 shows performed! A big number, but still 12 shy of last year's total. One of these days I'd like to go back through my books for the past 5+ years and see how many solo shows I've performed altogether. If I ever get around to it, I'll be sure to post the total here. Stay tuned!
In venue news, I'm happy to be back at the Beal House Restaurant in Littleton, NH! Thank you to Bill Sanders for doing such a great job with the place. If you haven't caught a show there, you should make a point to do so. Great food and a super relaxed atmosphere. Make sure to keep an eye on my schedule, and make plans to catch a show when I'm in your area! There is no shortage of great rooms to choose from.
In personal news, I have recently started going to the gym. This is a pretty big deal for me. I'm not in terrible shape, but I can always use more energy. Now I just need to be consistent! Josselyn is still doing great in Kindergarten. She is such an amazing kid! I can't believe how much she's learning (and how fast). Another personal acheivement worthy of mention is that I finished reading my bible (for the 1st of what I hope will be many times) back in September! If you trace my blog back to the fall of '09, you'll see where I began this journey. I am more passionate now about my faith than I have ever been. I can tell you with absolute certainty that God is real, and He wants a personal relationship with you. But you don't have to take my word for it. You only need to read the bible for yourself to see if its true. I'll try not to keep you waiting so long for my next post :-)
Here are a few more pics from 2011...
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