SUMMER 2026
As Summer winds down, I realize I skipped my Spring Quarterly Report this year. It slipped my mind as I had my nose to the grindstone composing a film score.
FILM SCORE!
The feature film, Supermassive, is in the can.
In addition to composing the score, I contributed six existing songs to the soundtrack.
I was thrilled to have Sean T. Lane, fresh off the road with Heart, drop by the studio to contribute drums and percussion to a few cues. Other than that, I played all of the instruments myself. To keep me from losing perspective, my long-time partner, Elaine Summers, was on hand, donning her Executive Music Producer hat.
Director Steve Utaski was a joy to work with. We were both sad to see our collaboration come to an end. Steve is now submitting to festivals. (Fingers crossed we’ll have news to share on that front by the time my Fall report is posted.)
LIVE & IN PERSON!
GIG ALERT
Vashon Center for the Arts has announced its ‘26-’27 season. I’m thrilled to be returning to VCA’s Kay White Hall on Saturday, March 20, 2027.
Tickets will go on sale on Black Friday, November 27. (Premium subscribers to my newsletter will get early-bird access.)
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BID ON A HOUSE CONCERT FOR CHARITY
Elaine Summers and I have donated a special auction item to Vashon Island Pet Protectors’ annual fundraiser, The Fur Ball.
The winning bidder will enjoy a private house concert for ten on Vashon Island at the time of their choosing. O Sole Mio will provide pizza and drinks.
The Fur Ball auction will take place at O Space on Saturday, September 19 at 5:30. Those who can’t attend in person can make a proxy bid by contacting furball@vipp.org.
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HEALTH UPDATE!
September marks my eleventh year dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For the last few years I’ve been well enough to get a fair amount of work done. 2025 was especially busy—and challenging. Trying to keep up with the demands of releasing and promoting my album, Fade Away Blue, and a deluxe vinyl reissue of my 1994 debut, Necktie Second, pushed me to the point of total exhaustion a few times. Fortunately, those periods of severe fatigue were relatively short-lived.
Fatigue is still a constant in my life. It varies from day to day. While my baseline for the last few years has been workable most of the time, lately I’ve experienced a significant downturn, so I’m easing up on my workload and making my health a priority again.
I’m in a good headspace. We’ve had a lovely summer here in the Pacific Northwest. And I am lucky to have my own studio where I can, in the words of Captain America in Easy Rider, do my own thing in my own time.
IN THE STUDIO!
Work has begun on the follow-up to my critically acclaimed LP, Fade Away Blue. I’m chipping away slowly but slowly, as I like to say. I’m not in any hurry to release another record, so I’m enjoying a leisurely pace.
As I did with Fade Away Blue, I’m cutting my tracks in my own studio to drum machines. Then once my guitars and vocals are in place, I’ll ship them off to my amazing collaborators to overdub real drums, bass, keys, and whatnot.
In addition to tracking, I recently shifted some of my creative energy to songwriting. I have piles of song ideas in various states of undress. I expect some will rise to the top and be in contention to be included on the new long player.
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Fade Away Blue is available on vinyl or CD in my Bandcamp store.
And while you’re there, be sure to check out the 2xLP deluxe reissue of my 1994 debut, Necktie Second.
SUBSTACK!
Love Songs Etc is my Substack newsletter. It’s chock-full of demos, work tapes, live videos, and stories from the old days.
I’ve hit pause on the newsletter while I focus on my health. At some point, I’ll get back to posting new material. Until then, there are 169 posts and dozens of rarities in the Archive.
Sign up for FREE, and once I conclude my break, posts will land directly in your email inbox every couple of weeks.
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