We’re All In This Together

Last night I saw a final cut screening of Call and Response. I’ve written about this movie before. You need to see it. It’s coming to theaters in October. My response was to write a song - Sell My Sister, which you’ll be able to hear soon.

My new pfriends at Digital Freedom put me in touch with Breakthru Radio yesterday. We were going to try and do an interview last night, but I was at the Call and Response screening. So DJ Latola and I spoke this morning at 7:30. Early, yes… but I’m really glad I had the opportunity to chat with him. We talked about digital rights, the state of the music industry, DIY methods, some of my favorite live shows of all time and the mystery of melody. Check it out. Should be up later today, I think. BTR and Digital Freedom are advocates of believers in music. Support them.

Tonight, we play our second show as a three piece at The Rock and Roll Hotel. I’ve never played there, but this will be a cool introduction. Some great DC bands are playing - Justin Jones and The Driving Rain, Olivia and The Housemates and Meredith Bragg.

Come on out, if you’re around.  I’m playing slide on Give All now, with the new band arrangement.  We’re doing a cover that I think you’ll enjoy as well. 

Since I got Pro Tools LE I’ve been recording pretty much non-stop.  Every day. 

I don’t really like to take breaks to get food, so I’ve been munching on a lot of peanuts.  My favorite are Planters.  This is a habit I picked up on tour.  Also V8.  I am a V8 fiend.  I was thinking I should get endorsed by them.  Lifetime supply of nuts and tomato juice…that would be sweet. 

After seeing Call and Response: Concert to End Slavery, which I mentioned in a couple of my SXSW blogs, I wrote a song called Sell My Sister.  That one will probably be the first finished.  Atommik Boy is working on a remix of it too. 
I am working on another version of Lay it Down that’s closer to the live arrangement, and a pyschedelic gospel song called Sun Gonna Rise on Me. 

All of them feel like they are coming from the same place, so I am thinking about releasing them as a package.   I have my own ideas about how and where I want to make them all available, but I am open to your suggestions.  So, fire away.

I saw a bit of The Lemonheads set last night, listened to REM outside of Stubbs and met some interesting new pfriends, but the highlight of my day - and what will probably be the highlight of the week - was this movie. 

PASTE Magazine hosted the screening of Call and Response: Concert to End Slavery at The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema last night at 7:30.  It is heartbreaking and incredibly inspiring at the same time. 

Go watch the trailer NOW.

There are peformances and interviews with Imogen Heap, Cold War Kids, Cornell West, Ashley Judd, Madeline Albright and more. 

After Shawn and I left the theater and went back downtown, we walked around in a daze, looking at all the buzzery and indie rock politics taking place.  It seemed even more ridiculous than before. 

When this movie comes to your city, or even a couple hours near you, you have to see it.