Land Ho!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend.

He is risen!

At the end of January I untied the dock lines, set sail, and began to get my sea legs back after some time ashore.

I mentioned the potential of some new music in the distance.

As I sailed toward that infinite horizon, ahoy, I spotted a familiar vessel. It was Brian Phillips, the man who produced my last record, Feelin’ Fine. We anchored near each other and workshopped the new tunes. They were still slightly incomplete and needed his ears. We charted a course and made way.

And now we approach the shore.

Land ho!

I am back in the studio next week.

Brian (the producer) and the band he’s assembled were so fun to work with last time. I’m so excited to work with these guys again. They are absolute pros. Their creativity will add so much texture to the songs. I just can’t wait to hear it.

THIS FRIDAY, I will be playing in a backyard within Austin’s City Limits with a band that’s assembled over the last few months. They’re talented players with good energy. We’ve been working hard to get the tunes ready to melt your face.

We disembark the ship, paddle to the sandy shores, and make for the trailhead.

I hope many of you can make it.

The show will go on, rain or shine. We will move it inside the house next door if we need to. Might be kind of cool to pack a living room.

Rain or shine.

I need your help.

Last year I had the privilege to make a record, Feelin’ Fine. It came to life thanks to the generous support of a loyal community of friends who believed in me.

The Trail is more ambitious – a fuller production, with music videos, a live taping, and a plan to share it far and wide. I believe this music, and the art that will spring from it, will bring a little more color into the world.

The Trail attempts to express the tension between a restlessness for adventure and a longing for home in which to grow roots.

In a dimension where I am a far greater writer / artist / musician than I am now, imagine The Trail is a concept album written by Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy for a Wilco and Hiss Golden Messenger collaboration. With a John Prine cameo.

I created a webpage where you can read about the project, find out how to give, and track the campaign’s progress.

Check out the webpage here.

I hope you will contribute your hard-earned dollars to this work. Every dime will be stewarded with great intention.

And if you can’t swing a donation right now, that is ok.

Pray for me. Encourage me with your words. Listen to the music.

So far, so good.

The first patron of the project asked me point-blank, So do you plan on asking for money the rest of your life or what?

I appreciated that.

I sure hope I can make a living on the art I make one day. But if I have to ask for support to keep making what pours out of my heart, I will.

Artists have relied on the generosity of benefactors for ages.

People all over the world continue to listen to symphonies, are moved by paintings, and pray in cathedrals made by artists supported by patrons of the arts.

I hope to make art as beautiful, enjoyable, and enriching as the art that inspires me.

If this music resonates with even just one person on the entire planet, comforting them in some way or helping them see reality afresh, I believe it’s worth it.

I am deeply grateful for your support.

Sincerely,

CLO