J is for John

10/15/2008 – In my feeble attempt to get back to updating this site I’m going to hit you with a new entry in the journal! Had a fun show WonderRoot a few weeks back, and a great show last Thursday night at Kavarna in Decatur.

A few weeks ago I got started on some new recordings for my new project called The Low Days. It’s esecentally still a solo project but I hope to bring in a variety of folks to do some playing on the new songs, and make it more of a communnity vibe. I’ve already started playing the songs live under my solo name and under The Low Days. You can be my friend on MySpace, check out the demo up on The Low Days page. On the first recording session Derek Murphy put down drums for 4 songs, and I put down some guide bass and guitar for all the tracks and did a little singing. Last night James and I reconveened again and put down all the acoustic guitars and did a little more singing.

OK, just about catches you up. I’ll do my best to get by here alot more often in the coming weeks and days.

09/27/2008 – Hey friends, come on out to WonderRoot this evening. I’m playing a solo set at 9:00pm!

09/18/2008 – Hey everyone. It’s been ages since I’ve checked in, and it’s very possible that it will be ages before I sit down and commit thoughts to paper again soon. Who knows, maybe I’ll surprise you.

So, last time I wrote was just before the beginning of August, and I’ve done a ton of stuff since then. Let’s quickly recap.

At the beginning of August a bunch of us headed up to Rhinelander, WI for a long weekend of relaxation on the lake. We had some beers, played some golf, sheepshead, and lots of Rock Band. Before my flight out on Monday I stopped for a nice long visit at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

During August I completed most of the legal paperwork for my new company, Octane Guitars. I’m still building up my inventory, and I’ve already made my first sale!

I wrote some new songs and performed a set of new material at Newfangled Fest! I got a window busted out again! I saw Jack Johnson at Lakewood Ampitheater. Played Athens PopFest 2008 with the Mary O. Harrison Band and The Good Graces.

Headed down to St. Petersburg for my birthday weekend and had a fantastic time with friends and family. I caught a fun show by Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s at The Drunken Unicorn. Played The EARL with The Good Graces and loved the band The Dutchess and the Duke and James Jackson Toth on the same bill.

I played two sets at the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival, one solo set, and one with Mary O. I saw Aimee Mann at the Variety Playhouse, what a great show! I got an iPhone! Liz and I went to our first Atlanta Twitter meet-up. And just last weekend we went to a great weedding.

Ok, whew. That should catch you up. I’ll post more soon. There some cool stuff coming up in the next few days!

07/28/2008 – Greetings, dear readers. It’s been a measy 10 day since my last update and though that may be an eternity inthe bloggy world, for me it’s pretty good lately. Not too much to report except a fun show I played with Mary O. Harrison last Thursday night at The EARL. We played with The Preakness and Cassavetes. We had a fun opening set and then we hung around for The Preakness before hearding home. I had to get up early in the morning so, sadly I missed Casavettes. Next time for sure. This week I’ve got a few practices before a weekend getaway. I could really use a break at the moment so it’s coming just at the right time.

07/18/2008 – For the life of me I cannot keep up with this journal lately! Once again it’s almost been an entire month since my last propper update. Back on June 28th I played a fun couple of sets with The Good Graces and solo at Kavarna. (Photos) I spent a fantastic weekend down in St. Petersburg for the 4th of July (Photos) and again the following weekend for the wedding of a good friend. Recently the APWBWGTTD got togeher again (Photos), and last night I had a great time at the Taste of East Atlanta! (Photos). OK, that’s it, check back soon!

06/24/2008 – OK, first off I want to tell you about a last minute solo show I’m playing this Saturday night at Kavarna in Decatur. You’ve probably heard me sing the praises of this place so I’ll spare you the sales pitch. Just be there. I’ll be playing guitar with The Good Graces and I’ll be playing a solo set. It’s a free show. Just go.

OK, so I’ve done stuff since I last checked in. I was a model in a photo shoot. (Blog/Photos) The SDXE folks got drinks. (Photos) I went to Minneapolis wit Liz and had a great time. (Photos) We had the June Blogger meetup. (Photo) I helped demolish a kitchen. (Photos) The usual stuff. OK, that’s it, you’re caught up. I’m tired.

06/17/2008 – I admit that I’ve been terrible at keeping up with the website lately.

05/28/2008 – It’s been so long since I’ve sat down and committed some thoughts to paper that I’m not sure where to start. The beginning you say? OK, let’s get caught up really quickly, it’s been a month.

Last month I started playing with a new group called Bad Magic Number. We’ve only had two practices, but they were a ton of fun and I’m looking forward to more once everyone’s schedule quiets down.

On May 2nd I played the 500 Songs for Kids benefit at Smith’s Olde Bar. It was a blast. I played The Freshmen by the Verve Pipe. There were too many highlights to mention so go check out the (PHOTOS).

The following Wednesday was my last day at Super Deluxe. I had been there for around a year and half and it was indeed the best of times. I don’t think it was a surprise to anyone that we got shut down, but it was a sad day. I’ve made a ton of great friends there. I know I’ll see everyone in the future. I had a new job lined up that started the following Monday, so I was lucky.

For Mother’s Day weekend I headed down to St. Petersburg for a few days. I had a great time at the BAAMO street market, and I had a blast playing at the 2/3 Spiller reunion with Marcus and the Paper Stanleys at Cafe Alma. It was great to see everyone. (PHOTOS)

May 14th was the mothly enstallment of the APWBWGTTD blogger meetup. I got there late, but the group was still in full swing when I arrived. (PHOTOS)

Two days later was the Mary O. Harrison CD release party at The EARL. A few days before the show the opening act had to cancel so I stepped in as the first act. I had a great time playing solo and with Mary. Magnapop closed out the night and sounded fantastic as always. (PHOTOS)

The next two days I spent down in Box Springs, Georgia at Mahoneyfest. I played a solo show on Saturday, got a flat tire, and saw a ton of amazing, amazing performers. Check out all the (PHOTOS), it was nuts.

Later in the week a few of us from Super Deluxe caught a stand-up set by one of my favorite artist, Maria Bamford. She was hilarious on stage, and very sweet and nice when we all got to talk to her after the show. She even remembered me and left a funny little comment on my MySpace page. (PHOTOS)

On May 22nd I played two sets of original tunes at Kavarna in Decatur. I taped the show for posterity, hopefully I’ll post it sometime soon. I need to go through the recording and chop it up. (PHOTOS)

This last weekend Liz and I headed over to Wilmington, NC for the annual WE Fest XII. We had access to a great little beach house and the beach all weekend. I performed a solo set on Saturday night at the Soapbox (a laundromat rock club) and I played with The Good Graces on Sunday. There was a ton of great people there, and a ton of great bands. On Monday before we headed out of town we explored downtown, grabbed some yummy seafood and just relaxed before heading home. (PHOTOS)

On the drive back from WE Fest I got a call from Tessa from Super Deluxe. A good friend of our, Erlene has passed away earlier in the day in a tragic accident. I’ll always remember her as smart, charming, beautiful, energizing, motivated and sweet. When I first started with Super Deluxe we sat next to each other and swapped music, and made each other laugh. She will be missed by so many people. It’s tragic. My heart goes out to Aaron, her family and all of her friends. She touched everyone she met, and I consider myself lucky to have worked and played alongside her.

04/28/2008 – Hey everyone, lots to catch you up on so here we go with a quick recap of the last week or so. Two Friday’s ago the Good Graces played a fun but weird show at the 11:11 Teahouse. The crowd was small but the bands, for the most part were really good. Tiger Saw and Cathy Cathodic were a blast. (PHOTOS)

The next day The Good Graces and I played the See-Through Souls 2008 show in Kirkwood and it was a fun, laid-back time with some amazing window-art creations. (PHOTOS)


Liz and I also had a great time at Criminal Records for Record Store Day and the Sweetwater 420 festival in Candler Park was a great time too!

This last weekend saw me getting together with some folks for a second time and hammering out some new tunes. I’ll keep you posted as things move forward, should be exciting stuff.

This Friday night I’ll be performing at Smith’s Olde Bar’s 500 Songs For Kids. I’ll be playing around 9pm and it’s for a great cause. Hope to see you out and about.

04/15/2008 – Hey everyone, just a quick recap from last weekend! On Saturday I headed over to Chapel Hill, NC to record some guitar on the upcoming Good Graces‘ CD. Jerry Kee was producing the three songs that I was recording and I was excited to be working with him. He’s recorded a ton of my favorite bands from that part of the country like Superchunk, Portastatic, Seam, and Polvo!

When I arrived Kim was wrapping up her parts, so I said hello to Jerry and Molly the studio cat and got set up and tuned. I brought a few guitars, but it seems like the ‘62 blue Jazzmaster was all I needed to get the tracks down. Kim did some additional songs the next day. Jerry was a great guy, and so easy to work with. I’m anxious to hear everything when it’s mixed and ready to go. (PHOTOS)