time for a new year

Well here we are, the last day of 2022. And what a year it's been! For me personally, it was quite stellar, between having a large roster of students, playing two killer shows with my band, and working on new music towards the next album...

But it's time for a new year!

I did a year-end wrap-up interview this past Wed night with my friend/host Metal Mistress at her studio; she hosts The Metal Meltdown on Cranium Radio. We talked about how well MOOD SWINGS sold (hard to believe that cd is 15 months old!) and how my trio are working towards the ninth album, the first to feature bassist Brian Smith along with drummer Mike Sabatini. Also talked about my award for Instrumental Artist of the Month. And of course, played tracks from bands I like such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush, Iron Maiden, even threw in Nevermore and Slayer. 

Oh and some of my own songs ;)

What really surprised me recently was that another new song idea hit me and I had the smarts to record it quickly. I wrote Mike and Brian, simply said "I would like you to hear the new ideas, don't have to learn them." And they both said they liked the song and would get to work on it for the next rehearsal in two weeks. Have to say, in my many years of writing songs, I've never had musicians so eager to work on new songs. Normally, in the past, I would hear "Already? More songs?" and "Can't you just be happy with what you did?" Honestly, I am very happy with my last cd but I am fiercely creative. Things are moving rather quickly but we are not rushing things at all. I'm amazed at how wonderful everything is going.

The new song has two new riffs and one from...1990?! It came to me out of nowhere, as if to say, "You didn't forget ME, right?" I changed a few notes around but kept the overall gist of it. Once that was established, the song wrote itself. I like that! 

We will rehearse on Jan 11, work on the new tune as well as go over the other songs so far. If things work out well, there will be 9 songs on the album (eight as a band, one solo acoustic but that can change). 

Happy New Year to all of you!