What a magical night!

Wow. I am still a little breathless after the beautiful show we had here in West Dublin this past Saturday night (September 22, 2012) to launch the new CD, Blackbirds.

A packed house: photo courtesy of Katy Hopkins of The Picture House.

We packed the old hall out and made the rafters ring. There were friends, neighbours and family galore, we sold heaps of cds (if you couldn't be there, you can get yours at Bandcamp or CDBaby), and received kudos from one and all. We brought our community together to hear songs about right here - songs written on the beaches, on the ferry, along the river road. There were also songs about anywhere, any time - an anti-fracking song (Can't Be Rich On Shattered Land) that would work just as well in Colorado or upstate New York, and Moonshine and Mischief which is as timeless and placeless a love song as I've ever written.

The band was smoking hot: Jude Pelley played lead guitar, Jordi Comstock was on drums, Jim Bell on bass and Liam Finney on banjo and mandolin. Our opening act was Pennybrook: Jude Pelley and Charlie Wilson playing and singing their fascinating original tunes and a few old-time covers. 

Charlie helped decorate the hall (including the brilliant idea of having blackbirds fly out of the poster), Shelah Allen of Lunenburg Town Walking Tours kindly staffed the door and merch table, my parents did a million amazing, wonderful things, my mom and her friend Cynthia made cookies, the Little River Folk Society helped sponsor our amazing sound man, Art Eaton and Mike Western, of Free Range Designs, made this gorgeous show poster. 

Of course, the CD itself uses a painting as the cover art: "The Caretaker" by Lynn Misner of the Power House Gallery in Lunenburg. Lynn and her 129 Lincoln compatriot, Steve Welsh (who's also my housemate) of Steve's Art Supply kindly donated decorating supplies for the occasion. 

It was a tremendous group effort and I feel very, very grateful to be surrounded by such love and support. Thanks to everyone who came. You made every bit of work feel totally worth it!