I’ve always enjoyed playing music and, as a singer/songwriter, I’ve spent a lot of time playing and performing solo. While performing music solo is a great experience, there’s something extremely special about getting together with other musicians and adding parts together to create rhythm, melodies and harmonies. I finally got the chance to experience this again opening for the Cast Iron Cowboys and The Rollin’ Rust Band on Thursday, August 27th for the Downtown Ithaca Summer Concert Series.
When the nice folks at CRN Events and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance asked if I would open up on August 27th, I knew I wanted it to be something a little more special than my usual solo performances. It’s an outdoor gig in the heart of the Commons so I wanted to bring some extra energy to my short set that would fit in well with the Cast Iron Cowboys and The Rollin’ Rust Band.
That’s when I asked professional drummer, Sam Fishman (Driftwood), to join me on drums and Mathisen to join me on upright bass. We had one rehearsal a couple of weeks before the show and a quick run through of some songs during sound check and then a high energy 40 minute set.
Sam had the idea to use chains on “Busy My Spade” which was a hit for many listeners and Mathisen added amazing vocal harmonies several songs.
It was a wonderful experience and I look forward to performing again with these guys so contact me if you’d like to book us!
Bands I’ve had in the past
Most shows I’ve played have been solo acoustic but I have been in a few serious bands that have had a profound impact on me.
Back in college at the Rochester Institute of Technology, I was in the Jack Swift Band. It was a high energy jam band with keys and a horn section. We even went on tour across the Northeast in the summer of 2009.
When I was living in Boston in 2019, I got together with a couple of musicians to start Jeremiah Craig and the Rusty Crowbars. We had a couple of shows before we were quickly derailed by the COVID pandemic and the lockdowns that kept everyone from getting together.
Other than that, I had a bluegrass band in high school called Bluegrass Tuesday and I had a couple of short stints in cover bands in Rochester and Phoenix.
Looking forward
The Rusty Crowbars was my last band six years ago and getting together with Sam and Mathisen has reawakened my joy of performing with other musicians. There’s an extra level of energy and enjoyment for me and the listeners.
I look forward to playing with these guys again so if you know of any venues you think we might be a good fit at or if you’d like to book us for a gig, reach out!
Thanks to Sam, Mathisen, DIA, CRN Events, and Beginnings Credit Union for making it possible. And thanks to Natalie Curry for the photos and to Sound on Sound for the live mix.