Almost too much to cover as far as catching up goes, but I will focus - and limit myself!

1. Travel

2. Circus

3. Art/work

I know that I am indeed a lucky sucker. In ways that can get hard to count. And I steep myself in gratitude as my starting place as often as I can. It’s a good place to start.

I’ve just had a really lovely travel adventure filled with discoveries and people - and the circus featured prominently. Which I will share about in a moment.

1. First, the travel

I have always loved traveling - sticking myself in new surroundings, making my way somehow, relying on strangers, trying out kindness - its limits and surprises. This was just two weeks, but it was filled with all of the above.

My wife Kathy gets a short summer break before she starts up again with her amazing work with middle school children at a school here in NYC. It is intense and exhausting work, and she made a commitment to completely unplug from it for the trip. Wise woman.

The inspiration for the journey was to finally visit Jack, son #1, in Germany, then on to Vienna to meet his awesome GF Marion’s family. After that, Kathy and I would continue on to Prague and London. About three days in each spot for a total of two weeks. A bit of a whirlwind, but we were game. Of these places, I had only been to London 40 years ago - so really, all new territory for me!

We were quite blessed with great weather throughout - a couple of hot days, but all manageable. And we did a great deal of walking - 10-17 miles a day! Our dogs were barking by the end of each day, but man it was worth it. I won’t go too crazy with travelogue and pictures here, but it was wonderful. Especially nice to meet Marion’s parents and be all together, walking and walking, learning a bit about each other - and experiencing the people, culture, architecture - and food!

2. Circus

I think it’s the eye-opening that I like best about travel. The out of my comfort zone, fish out of water, how-do-they-do-it-here kind of experiences that I cherish the most. I had plenty of that for sure, but there was one environment where I felt a gorgeous pang of nostalgia - and felt right at home.

The circus.

We were in Prague. I was initially taken aback by how congested with tourists it was - but then completely charmed by the city. Gorgeous, romantic - not hard to see why it is so popular. But I did long to see the locals in their happy place somewhere….

Turns out it was also my happy place.

About a 15 minute walk up the hill from our spot on the “lesser” side of the river was an international circus festival. SIX performance tents set up - and I mean BIG tents seating upwards of 500 in a couple of them, as well as young and adult workshops, juggling tents, rows of food trucks, a stunning view of the city below… in short, heaven.

My brother Matthew and I did run away and join the circus one summer together. (Well, our parents were on board, so not as rebellious as all that, I guess.) He was 18 and I was 16, and the Otrabanda Company somehow let us come along and join their summer gig - it involved a quick rehearsal period in New Orleans, then building an 11’X19’ pontoon raft in Commerce, Missouri (yes, the director David Dawkins was a big Mark Twain fan), floating down the Mississippi, erecting a circus tent in underdeveloped river towns along the way, and performing an original musical - a goofy story set to Motown favorites - for the local communities (and a couple of prisons, too!) This was back when the National Endowment for the Arts supported bringing live performance to places where their exposure was limited. Imagine that - support for the arts….

We didn’t get paid - we got fed. We passed the hat, but these communities were poor, and our take was minimal. But they were always a very engaged and appreciative audience. We slept in tents on the riverbank, Greg, our cook, somehow made amazing meals ON the raft with a teeny oven, and I escaped biting flies in the shaded area on the raft by getting the only real tan I’ve ever had. It was, needless to say, a pretty memorable summer.

We even came up to my present home of NYC, where we performed in the Lincoln Center outdoor festival. I keep thinking it couldn’t have been that prestigious if we were performing in it. I’ve since had the remarkable good fortune of being employed there a few times, and have enjoyed the sweet grin of recognition each time I take in the iconic fountain in the plaza - knowing that it was turned into a stage one summer - where my brother and I performed as teenagers. Crazy.

So. In Prague. I climbed up the hill one evening, after just discovering there was actually a festival there (thanks to the cool gal in the marionette shop) - leaving Kathy to rub her feet after another long walking day. I grabbed a ticket to see Australian troupe, Circa perform “Wolf” - a spectacular, organic, dance-like series of contortions and assemblies - with just their bodies - to a completely sold-out house. I convinced Kathy to join me for the following night - for a troupe from France, Cirque La Comapnie, do their “Pandax” - acrobatic flips and breath-stopping tumbling feats - along with several other solo turns, wrapped in the conceit of five brothers going to bury their father’s ashes. All accompanied by live original music, wonderfully played and sang. And after the show, as we exited, the acrobats and musicians played us out…

It’s hard to capture the gorgeous, joyous spirit up on that hill. The families gathering, juggling together, couples strolling, teen agers dating, sharing carnival food - life being lived and shared so naturally and easily in the embrace of highly accomplished artists sharing their craft and, um, being supported mightily - by the government (!) and by the people.

3. Art/work

So, yes, I did some goofy drawing on my iPad this trip…

…but the artwork I’m talking about is more on the “Work” side.

I keep thinking about support for the arts and how it is perennially difficult. How artists often don’t get paid, how our government has abandoned the mission of arts as a healthy economic (not to mention spiritual) engine — and what we can do about it.

So I continue working on PayMusicians - a place where people like you can go, drop a little support in the hat - and designate it to go to whomever you choose - 1 or 20 artists, monthly. Maybe someday, those artists can see that they have something coming in - maybe even enough to help sustain them - allowing them to keep making art. Art that moves us, makes us laugh, that makes life richer and keeps our communities vital.

I was moved to tears in Prague, witnessing how simply art and culture fused into community. Starting a project like this is daunting. And this was medicine I needed. I will keep at it with this PayMusicians project. Join me HERE.

The other art/work, the acting, auditioning and music making, continues. Back on the horse here in NYC - and quietly overjoyed by a collaboration brewing for the musical theatre idea I had after my writing retreat.

London was our last stop - we saw “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Globe theatre (you may have seen it in last year’s movie, “Hamnet”). It was playful, rowdy, sweet, funny, and included the audience - bringing them up on stage numerous times! The faeries were in full force and making some very good circus-like mischief. And to cap it off, Kathy and I had tea with one my mentor heroes, who has agreed to walk a bit on the path with me as I work on this new piece. Honestly, I cannot believe my good fortune.

Grateful, indeed, for the faeries. And for all of you.

Here’s to making and enjoying the art/work in your lives!

Ah…NY, NY and Times Square, home of quietude and inspiration.

Well, actually….

1. Retreat

2. Time to get paid

3. Travel

Fun stuff first. The little grey room. (Wait, fun…?)

Yep. Some of you know I did a little in-town writing retreat last week. It’s a cool thing that the Roundabout Theatre sponsors, called Space Jam, providing snacks (which I did, sadly, eat); stationery supplies; a stage manager who calls breaks, lunch and “we are back from break”s; and - space. A large space that about a dozen writers share with desks set up with outlets - and then a room that I have occupied a few times with co-writers in the past. I was flying solo this time.

And…yeah, kinda flying. This was a new space for me (their old rehearsal spaces on 45th Street were de-commissioned - lots of great memories there!), so I wasn’t sure what room there would be. There were actually two rooms - one with a piano! But after sound-testing the piano, it seemed that wouldn’t really fly without being distracting. So, I used the other little grey room.

Two folding tables and two chairs - I brought in a different chair without arms for the guitar. Also brought throughout the week (well, 5 days), a mandolin, dulcimer, harmonium, thumb piano, recorder, harmonicas…I think I employed everything but the harmonicas. Honestly, forgot I had them.

You get it - like a windowless office situation.

Heaven.

Truly, it was. Distractions were at a bare minimum, and I got a lot of writing in. Like, a lot.

My darling Kathy handed me a book, (that was handed to her by my dearest stepmom, Kath) a couple days before I did the retreat. Not gonna tell you what it is yet. Because. Well, I wrote 12 songs based on that book last week. I like a good handful of them. And I may be…writing a musical??

Something about the material just resonated with me, I guess, and it was a super-productive time. Even got off a 13th tune - a bluegrass thing based on a title I had scribbled on an envelope the day before.

Really didn’t prep for this, just wanted to see what would come, and I started out actually setting to music almost an entire (short) chapter from the book word-for-word.

I will share at some point the book info, because it’s so gorgeous. You all should read it. In the meantime I’ll share a song below.

Process-wise, it was more music-forward than usual. I grabbed an instrument, noodled, played around, tried not to judge or edit too much, grabbed a motif or chord or rhythm - then hit lyrics.

Another thing I did, which handles a big need on my end, was to video a bit. Especially when the writing is happening in bursts like this, actually remembering what I wrote is challenging! So, some goofy/bad vids of me playing through stuff - so I can SEE what I did! Sometimes in chunks, if it was a long tune. There are a couple of episodic ones, so I just tried to document the ideas a bit at a time, as I didn’t really have time to learn them - I just wanted to write and keep moving forward. Really helpful. Here’s a quick piece of one I did when I got home one day to remember chords, mostly.

Yes, I could write them down, but this also covers left hand and feel, too, so….

I remember taking a long bus ride from KY to NYC when I was a kid, and I had a music workbook, that essentially taught me music theory! It had a flap where you did the quiz parts and then the answers were underneath - and I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I swear I would get it agin if it still existed. But there are apps now. And phones. And ways to record. And attach those recording to the lyrics. Etc. Not a lot of excuses left for not getting things down, huh?

I’ll share the first rough iPhone take of this tune from the little grey room below.

Writing a musical?? May be. Kind of a bucket list item for me. A real book musical. Made a lovely piece with my dad’s beautiful writing and songs of mine many moons ago, Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre here in town called Feast Here Tonight, but not a straight up book musical. Average time to get one up? Oh, about 7 years. Buckle up, campers.

2. Did you say “app”?

Very quick update on the PayMusicians project: In August, I’m actually going to Pay Musicians. On the 7th, if all goes well, the gears will turn, and those that have hopped in to support their indie musician pals and faves will see the fruits of their support make their way to those artists! Very excited to learn what I learn from all this - and get the pipes working properly on this beta-launch!

The first of the month is when the next cycle begins, so if you want to someday say you were in on the very first moment of this, hop in quick! You can nominate an artist (even yourself), and then immediately throw some love their way in the form of monthly support! It’s fun! :) And I would love your feedback to make it better - your voices have really shaped this already!

Here you go: PayMusicians App

And for more info, here you go again: PayMusicians site

3. Travel

We will indeed be WAY out of town for a coupe weeks, as we visit son #1 and his GF in Germany! I’ve never been, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what his life has been like over there the last couple years. (This is the theoretical physics guy doing his post-doc. Son #2 is virology, immunology, microbiology guy up in Rochester, pursuing his doc. I have nothing in common with these people. :) We’ll take a train to visit Vienna where GF’s parents are, then grab a week by ourselves to goof off. Definitely time for some goofing.

Ok, tune-time!

From the MUSICAL. Holy crap.

Sending love and music and hope and all good things to all of you!

This character has been betrayed and lied to and…needs to sing about it, clearly. I was trying not to bother the other writers TOO much from my little grey room…But imagine someone singing it…who can sing it. Here come the drums:

Unforgiving
I will be unforgiving
You are among the living
Because of me

Unclouded
My sight is now unclouded
The truth has been unshrouded
From mystery

Alone
I was alone
I was fine alone
Mine alone
I had made a home
A home without you

And now
How bout now
What is it now
It’s changed somehow
Can’t imagine how
I’d live a life without you

Unmanned
I’ve been unmanned
All that I had planned
Has been undone

Unharmed
I am unharmed
Now that you’re unarmed
From this hateful gun

Alone
I was alone
I was fine alone
Mine alone
I had made a home
A home without you

And now
How bout now
What is it now
It’s changed somehow
Can’t imagine how
I’d live a life without you

How could you lie in my bed
And lie so easily
Speaking my words
Learning my tongue
Learning the song
I wish I’d never sung 

Alone
I was alone
I was fine alone
Mine alone
I had made a home
A home without you

And now
How bout now
What is it now
It’s changed somehow
Can’t imagine how
I’d live a life without you

Can’t imagine how
I’d live a life without you

More on that in a sec.

1. Other Peoples’ Music

2. New feature - and upcoming FIRST payout!

3. Space Jam!

1. Other People

One of the things that has surfaced for me lately is that I am always slightly uncomfortable writing these letters. Writing isn’t the thing I feel I am necessarily on the planet for (some people definitely are put here for that!) - I prefer in-person visits. But I’m learning to let go of the self-judgement part, knowing that you all can take it or leave it, and the struggle I have around ego and “sharing” can be dimmed by shining the light on others that I love!

Substack is definitely growing as a place to share music, and I want to share some music of others today.

from North Carolina, is the kind of guy I wish I lived next door to. Actually, when I lived in Yellow Springs, Ohio, going to High School in that Blue-dot Woodstock-like wonderland where my parents met and went to college at Antioch, where Shakespeare and puppets and Brecht and sculpture and painting and music and hippies made a glorious gumbo together, I feel I kind of DID live next door to him.

I was there, living with my Mom initially, after leaving the farm in KY for a High School that might (and did indeed) give me a better education. Then Mom moved to Louisville to run the ballet company there (one of her many hats), and I lived with the very cool town electrician, Larry Electric. My folks had always empowered me with a fantastic sense of self-sufficiency. They put me on a bus from KY to NYC when I was 10 to visit my grandparents - a 32 hour ride back then because of all the stops - and I loved it. Different times.

Anyhoo - Yellow Springs, Ohio does still lives in different times. It preserves its Shangri-La-La personality (Dave Chapelle has done a lot there recently, as a son of the town, to keep it afloat), and I recommend it as a stop on your next Ohio visit. I have very early childhood memories from pre-school, but my High School memories are strongest. That’s when I discovered musical theatre (“What? You can sing AND be in a play??”), my wonderful teachers Becky and Suzanne, my first girlfriend (Hello Elizabeth!), and — the coolest older friend group you could imagine.

I often vibed with older folks back then. And because of my roommate, Larry Electric, I fell in with some super-fun, charismatic and welcoming people, all older than me. They drank beer, did the occasional drugs, and were totally protective and supportive of me sticking with ginger ale. I was welcome at the volleyball court, the kitchen table and the poker table. I loved it so much.

One of the reasons I loved it was the music. Rolling Stones, Dylan, Hendrix, and a very eclectic mix of super-fun and interesting stuff - most of it curated by Peter Bent. He was the musicologist in our midst and it was like having a professional DJ spin tunes for your volleyball cookout. Sounds fun, right?

Why this bio detour?? Well, makes me feel like that. Like I am hanging with the coolest, funnest guy - who happens to be a fantastic musician. He’s had a storied career helping others with their brands, and has reunited with his band, The Gumbys and they just put out another record. It puts me in mind of driving to the beach on the Jersey Shore with Kathy and the boys, listening to Fountains of Wayne. In other words, It is VERY fun.

Looking forward to him moving next door. Enjoy the album in the meantime!

The other album I’m sharing is from a family member.

This cool lady, Cynthia Hammond, (scarf, Annie Lennox do) married my sweet brother Matthew (he finally got it right!) and became Cynthia Hammond Jenkins in 2019. And, In 2025, she released her band’s first official album, Breaking Through.

But of course that doesn’t tell the story.

Sally's Dream, based in Bloomington, Indiana (rehearsals started in a shipping container!) was together for six years touring this tight, loose, rebellious sound throughout the Midwest and Boston from 1983 to 1989 - honoring their heroes like Patti Smith. (They shared the stage with 10,000 Maniacs, ok? ‘Nuff said!).

Sadly, in 2022, they lost their dear friend, lead guitarist and songwriter, Chrissie Dickinson.

This created a need to reunite - and that created the momentum for releasing this album of re-mastered cuts - their first official full-length release. It was a lot of work to get there, but you can hear - and just imagine - the impact that Jenny Davis, Chrissie Dickinson, Cynthia, and Emily Jackson had on Bloomington and beyond. They were indeed remembered fondly, recently enjoying a LOT of radio play - requested by fans old and new.

I won’t dig in too much here, but how very cool indeed! Cynthia is working on a book now, chronicling the band’s journey - so she will soon fill you in on the whole story. We will be on the lookout for that!

And one more little tidbit: This week, my pal, Deniz Cordell, shared, salon-style, three songs from a new musical he’s working on. Deniz shares Yellow Springs roots (he went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs? What??), and we also share the wonderfully winding journey getting the Maltby/Shire revue About Time on it’s feet here in NYC - he, the gifted pianist and arranger.

I won’t divulge what the source material is for his show (ptui, ptui! …theatre superstitions!), but the lucky handful of listeners were rapt. His tunes had engaging, playful, gorgeous progressions, melodies, rhythms… all with a really solid emotional center. A VERY strong proof-of-concept outing as he starts his journey on this project!

Really proud and pleased for him. (I gave him a kick in the pants by enforcing a deadline. Like a writing retreat, it’s a good motivator!)

2. New PM news!

A quick update on PayMusicians. It’s getting real!

After a few months of learning, building and testing, the first artists are on board and the first support is coming in! The next test is actually getting the paying pipes working…! First payouts are on August 7th and I am weirdly excited.

I’ve encountered a funny trust thing - maybe it sounds too good to be true or something? Like, “Who is this guy who wants to give me money?" kind of thing. (Not everyone knows that I’m not a scam artist!). So I will work on that.

But it is indeed working so far. Sis-in-law Cynthia was asking about being able to manage artist profiles, so I dug in on that this week - and now, artists can upload and edit their bio, picture and links!

It’s good that the numbers aren’t huge right now, as much of it is hand-cranked by design at the moment, so I can reach out personally, answer questions, learn and make adjustments.

But I’m working on my elevator pitch, too, as I enter the next phase of acquiring users. So for those who don’t know, PayMusicians is an app that allows listeners to nominate and immediately support the independent musicians they already love and listen to - all in one place.

No need for them to create content, sell you a t-shirt, a ticket or an album - you can sustain as many artists as you want - monthly. That’s it! YOU are the record label for these folks - that you are already streaming. You probably are aware that they don’t really get paid for those streams - this is your way to make that happen!

Hit me up with your elevator pitches for this idea, people! :)

And come on in, nominate and support these awesome musicians (David and Cynthia are on the list)!

3. Sweet retreat

Tomorrow I head to a spot in Times Square with some sweet memories, too.

I had the incredible good fortune to do Roger Miller’s musical Big River in my first years in NYC (Well, my first “adult” years - I was born here, after all….). I then got to do it again reprising the role I did 20 years earlier (!) …well, providing the voice for that role - for the beautiful hard-of-hearing actor Ty Giordano - who portrayed Huck Finn in Deaf West’s revival. That version changed my life again - in too many ways for me to go into now - I’ll save that for another article. Suffice it to say, I loved every single moment of it.

And tomorrow I’ll be in that theatre for five days - but upstairs in a space provided by Roundabout Theatre, where they invite folks to come in and write for a week for… “Space Jam”! A room full of playwrights will be at desks in the larger room, and I will be tucked in a smaller room with a guitar and whatever else I bring, from 9 to 6 doing some songwriting. Away from most distractions. And very much looking forward to it!

I've done this before - mostly with co-writers - and it’s always revealing and productive. Gonna see if I can get the writers to share something when we get to Friday (we’ve never done that before), and sure, I’ll share a song or two in process.

Getting a little better at the sharing. Tender as it can feel.

Thanks for staying this far. Hope you are all breathing full breaths (Eek! Smoke! Floods! Tornados!!) and getting a walk in today.

XOX,

DJ

HERE1. Abigayle

2. Oops.

3. Have you checked this out yet?

4. Song

I know I just sent a letter the other day. #2 will tell you why you’re getting another so soon.

1. Abigayle

Ok. Starting with this: If you don’t know , you will thank me when you click on her name. Just a great songwriter and singer - and it turns out - community builder. She just got off a tour where she gathered folks in all sorts of places - backyards, community centers, festival stages - and shared her music with them. This is a good thing to do. Especially good for her audiences, because she’s…really good. (She also just got off a wild ride on ”The Voice”, but she was good before that.)

Abigayle’s been doing a songwriter’s book club for the last few months and I’ve attended all but one. They’re great. Buncha music-oriented folks yakking about a book - and then, if they got to it, they share a new song, lyrics or (gorgeous) poem inspired by the book. Really nice way to prompt some writing, encourage some reading, and get in a little community. I definitely dig it.

This month’s book I highly recommend - The Humans, by Matt Haig. It is light and deep at the same time. Laugh-out-loud funny quite often, whimsical, mysterious, and quite moving. I really enjoyed the comedic, plot and emotional high wire he walks on this one. A good beach read - but honestly, just a good read.

2. Oops.

(Pro-tip: Apparently, if your email subject says, “Oops” - people will…open it! Huh!)

So, yes, a really fun and beautiful book. With an alien for a main character. (forgot to mention that!). I was looking forward to writing a tune for this one. But it would have to wait. (See #3).

Or would it?

Abigayle kindly sent out a reminder yesterday that our songbirds book club would be meeting again on the 9th, just as I thought. Um, nope…YESTERDAY. I thought I had a few days. I did not.

I saw the email in the morning, but had a lot on my plate. It would have to wait for the afternoon. When I also had a lot on my plate. So, I cleared a glass from my desk in the afternoon and made some space to write. I grabbed a title, jammed on some lyrics, added a some guitar, pretended that I had a melody - and sent it to the book club. Sometimes a deadline - even an unexpected one - is very helpful!

Last night was a thoroughly enjoyable session with some lovely folks. Some great shares (yes, Abigayle shared one that was…SO good). You want in on the book club? Reach out to her on her Substack. Sharing my tune below.

But first….

3. Did you check this out yet?

I made something that took a few months - with a couple years of cogitation. It’s an app that links listeners to musicians directly. You don’t have to navigate to multiple platforms to get behind the musicians you love. You don’t have to change your listening habits, either -- but you can listen knowing that YOU are making the music more possible. Your monthly support allows artists to focus on... making the music.

My friend Jill said she didn’t really know a lot of independent musicians - then she heard Taj Mahal say he was broke. (Looks like Taj has a new supporter…!)

I told her that the people she hears and likes - suggested by friends (or by Spotify, etc.,) are struggling as well. She does know them. She’s already listening to them. And if she nominates them - I will find them - and pay them.

Here’s the app - I hope you’ll take a look. It would mean a lot. (Click ↓)

…and here’s the site, if you want more context. Share with your friends, ya’ll - we’re kicking the tires and seeing if this beta-jalopy will run! (Again with the clicking ↓)

4. Song

You made it this far. I owe you a tune.

The Wonder of it All

I have come from far away
A place you cannot understand
I have come to learn the ways
Of what you may call a man

Come to save him from himself
Do some damage on the way
Body parts and something else
They’ll be a heart broken today

And through the nonsense of it
When I leave there’ll be a few things that I covet

The breath you take then leave upon the backseat window
Write hello in reverse so passers-by can see
The way you run your finger down your belly so you shiver
The way you cross your legs just to give yourself a squeeze
Playing go fish with a deck that’s missing half it’s cards
Solving impossible equations just because it's hard
I’ve seen a million things
The joy and pain they bring
When I go back I will recall
The wonder of it all
The wonder of it all

I’ve been directed to do awful things
I’m changing horses in midstream
I’d like to see what a new season brings
I’m gonna close my mouth and scream

And if I betray my masters
I’ll know just why I did

The breath you take then leave upon the backseat window
Write hello in reverse so passers-by can see
The way you run your finger down your belly so you shiver
The way you cross your legs just to give yourself a squeeze
Playing go fish with a deck that’s missing half it’s cards
Solving impossible equations just because it's hard
I’ve seen a million things
The joy and pain they bring
I’ve felt the push and then the fall for
The wonder of it all
The wonder of it all
The wonder of it all
The wonder of it all

5. EXTRA, EXTRA! Wanna learn about the whole States Project thing? (Democracy in action, anyone?). We gather monthly - grab a newsletter for info HERE.

Sending love, music, books, this cool tech thing I made - and good trouble - to you all! - DJ

2. Book/Song/Retreat

1. Can you explain the spelling…?

Yes, I am aware what day it is. It’s the Semidemiquaverquincentennial! 250 years of fireworks, hot dogs and imperfection as a union! Watching the tall ships come up the Hudson today, doing my part with The States Project, and already had my hot dogs last night, so I’m all set there.

But it’s Independents Day because… I am celebrating the BETA release of PayMusicians! Are you an independent artist? Do you know independent musicians you’d like to support - conveniently? You’re already listening, streaming…and you want to support them, right?

Already know about this? You can nominate an artist (including yourself!), and support artists here - click the pic!

PayMusicians

No idea what the heck this is about? Click THIS pic:

Artists are already coming in! A head’s up: this is indeed a BETA-version, and I’ll be taking your notes! It’s a very bare-bones application (no design goodies, and no “paste your playlist link” functionality yet - that’ll come next!). Really just checking the pipes - making sure everything is working with the apps first users….YOU ALL!

Thank you in advance for helping to make this happen!

2. Book/song/retreat

So, obvy, I’ve been very focused on getting this first version of the app out the door, so music making has taken a backseat to that.

But not for long!

Next up is the awesome ’s book club. Gotta write a song for that! We read a funny, deep book, The Humans, by Matt Haig. Very much recommend. I’ll pop an iPhone recording in here when that tune materializes.

And…retreat? NOT retreating - absolutely charging forward! But I’ll be doing an in-town writing retreat sponsored by the lovely folks at the Roundabout Theatre Company here in town (I’ve been in their sweet embrace ever since the wonderful experience we all had doing the Deaf West revival of Big River there). Maybe I’ll get my dad to join? Either way, I’ll be 9am-6pm in a writers room with my guitar, while a handful of other playwrights and writers camp out at desks in the big room. The week of July 20th. Hoping to have some fun stuff to share afterwards!

In the meantime, join us for the States Project event this Thursday at 7PM ET, if you’re interested in perfecting our precious union.

And enjoy your hot dog. (Really just a vehicle for mustard and sauerkraut for me… :)

And happy Semiglossquartermilleddovetaliversary to everyone!

I’ll try to keep it short. I mean, I’ll try….

1. My Amazing Wife

2. The song

1. Miss Kathy

So, Kathy’s birthday was this week. I get a little weepy as I’m writing, because I am so beyond proud of her.

Kathy made a big shift in her life a few years back, a jump-into-the-deep-end kind of commitment to becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist after a lifetime of acting on stage and screen - and raising two boys. You might know how challenging that was. Or maybe you don’t….

It meant an hour subway ride to and from Brooklyn for about three years to take a raft of post-bac classes that her diploma from Mount Holyoke did not encompass. Then a pretty grueling two and a half year graduate course at Hunter College. Anatomy, Neurology, Chemistry, Statistics, Audiology…the list goes on. Definitely not in her grab-bag from her arts education. She came through with flying colors - no surprise to me. But it was not easy.

Internship, clinical fellowship… and now she has been providing services to middle school kids for a few years uptown in Inwood. It’s a boisterous bunch (I mean, it’s middle school, right?) with obstacles galore - one of which being that the school’s model is to do “push-in” services - meaning the vast majority of the treatment she gives happens IN the classroom while the teacher attempts to lead the kids through their very challenging curriculum. An ambitious structure that has its benefits - but not exactly a cakewalk.

“Miss Kathy” is changing these kids’ lives. Providing so many tools that they will carry with them - not just the speech and articulation you might be thinking of, but basic cognitive, reading, communication and social skills that are in short supply. And the central take-away of kindness. To oneself as well as to others. It is focused, intense and exhausting work, and she is using “every part of herself” as she said to a friend recently. An accomplished actor - and now a dedicated “SLP” providing services to these kids that need them so badly.

The stories she brings home are funny, wild - and to me, very moving. I know how lucky these children are to have her in their lives. Because my children and I have also been on the lucky end of that stick.

2. The song

I am not an amazing present giver. Occasionally I’ll find something good, but I’m always happy to make something - a meal, a cake…. And as I cast around for the right present, I realized that Kathy doesn’t really need a thing….

So this year, it’s a song. This one tumbled out a few days before her birthday. As we know, some of them don’t do that. I woke up with the first line, then later that day drafted the lyrics. Grabbed the guitar and drafted the music and re-drafted the lyrics. Made a little iPhone recording for myself, then polished and arranged. Then into the DAW to record. (Nothing like a nice solid birthday deadline!)

Then, the cherry on top - Jesse, our younger son, came to town from his studies (pursuing his PhD up in Rochester in virology, immunology and microbiology…yes, with the older son doing his post-doc in small particle theoretical physics, I am officially the dumb one of the bunch!).

Jesse is also a really fabulous piano player. Jazz-focused, but he’s adaptable. So he chipped in for Kathy’s birthday present. That cherry on top is indeed really sweet. Lucky x 2 to get to share music with my beautiful son.

I got permission from Kathy to share the rough mix of the song here. Didn’t really get permission for the rest of this article. Sorry, darling.

Happy Birthday, Kathy!!

“You’ll Be Here”:

1. The courthouse

2. The build

3. The music

1. The courthouse

So, for some this is drudgery. For others, romance! For me, it is a lovely combo of both.

I had a task to do, but I don’t often find myself in this part of the city. It is way downtown and east of where I am, and there is usually a mission involved - jury duty usually, or maybe some legal box-checking of some kind. Today, my mission was connected to the application I’m creating (gonna start using that word so it feels more…creative!). I needed to get a legit Business Certificate - for my DBA status, (Doing Business As) - for the Sole Proprietorship of PayMusicians. (< Click if you’re curious. I know you are.)

Is it weird that I was excited to go to 60 Centre street? I mean people don’t normally like to do this kind of stuff. But I have started to understand (and honestly, if this is the only thing that happens in my heart around all of this, I think I’d be okay), I’ve started to understand how people can feel chuffed around the creation of a business! It’s really not unlike art - you make a hat…where there was no hat, as Mr. Sondheim would say. It’s is indeed creation - granted, a much longer arc than songwriting for me - more like an epic poem.

But yes, it can actually feel romantic to get these necessary things done. And nostalgic in this case! I needed to get the form to fill out first. I timed it for after the jury duty crowd had trundled in, arriving at 10AM. Nobody in the security line. Check. Greeted the lovely security folks as I passed through, dumping all my pockets out and attempting to re-fill them afterwards (put a pin in that). Then I backtracked to the entrance as the policeman at the front told me to return to the pocket-sized kiosk tucked away in the corner to purchase a copy of the form I would need. For three dollars. I mean, how 1972 is that? Hahah!! Literally getting the official form from the magazine/coffee stand?

The proprietor told me to head to the basement with my form - and I stepped in here:

I am always a bit blown away at how lovely this austere building is. The ceiling mural is stunning and the marble floor patterns and statuary… what a grand place to work, visit, practice law…. There was a time, when I was a teenager, when I was quite enthralled with the law and all things US History. (I looked into being a page in the Senate…) This place does weirdly give me a sense of pride about our country and its institutions. As unpopular as that may be in some circles.

I head to the basement to find myself the ONLY customer in the business area. A nice young man, John, helps me fill out the forms, does a remarkable amount of stamping and sealing on my certificate. We are surrounded by shelves of huge ancient books - all holding business records from the long gone days of pre-computer filing (1996 and earlier). I find it all…yes, romantic.

John walks me to the cashier and notary office. (He walks me there - that is actually the protocol.) He’s been there two months and seems to like it so far. He loves the building, too, and enjoys that his division is pretty quiet - he is a quiet fellow himself, and quite adorable.

I pay my fee, John drops me off there, makes lunch plans with his co-workers there (Italian today), and then I get notarized (for free) right there in another short line. The notary is wearing one of those tall hats that hold dreadlocks. He hails from Trinidad. Kieran. He shows a real smile when I ask his name. I tend to do that these days to break the ice. Some, like John, are initially a little suspicious about why I want to know their name. The friendly default has been replaced with trepidation lately. Understandable. I push through that as much as possible to reinforce the friendly part.

And here is my glorious booty:

Another shot of the lovely rotunda as I go…

And in case you weren’t convinced about the romance, two women getting married and taking shots on the steps of the courthouse:

Pride month, indeed.

2. The Build

Yes, the application build has been my central focus for a while now, and the learning continues. There are days where things surge ahead, and days where they stall, go backwards a bit, get a re-think and adjustment, and then get back on track. A familiar rhythm for many - very new to me. But when I think of it, not that dissimilar to creative pursuits - I just think it was not my expectation of the process. Maybe, because it seemed a more dry and technical process from the outside, I thought it would simply be a slow slope upwards to completion. Why did I think this? Life isn’t like that, is it? That being said, if I stretch the arc out - I can see that slope. While I’m in it, it feels like a lurching rollercoaster - but the gentler upward arc is there when I step back and take it in.

I think I’m about two weeks away from a “soft launch” of the beta version! I’ll have a few artists on board and a few listeners/supporters, too - to test the pipes and make sure everything is secure and functioning well. That’ll be the first wave. Then it will grow, and in the next version, become easier to use on my end (a lot of manual work to maintain in the first version, as expected) - and be even more robust, fun and convenient for the users, as well. I’ll be learning about how to do proper outreach then.
If you’d like to be in on the fun from the beginning, you can check out the idea and sign up HERE!

3. The Music

Yes, I am still making music! I confess that the application puzzle is a jealous beast right now, but a new tune is coming for a special day this week. I’ll keep you posted. And maybe post it. :) And my dad is infatuated with the baby osprey at the moment. I’ll get him in to record some tunes at some point, but who can blame him, right…?

Remember that pin I told you to place? Occasionally romance has a price. I returned home from my downtown sojourn to discover that I had neglected to refill my pockets with…my keys. So, I got an extra trip downtown. Got a shot of City Hall to remind myself how remarkable it is to live in this city. Even when I do stupid dad stuff, like leave my keys at the security check.

Happy Dad’s Day, friends!

2. Math attack!

3. Here’s how you do that helping thing.

4. Where’s Dad? And where’s my song??

1. First — the win.

I’m a fanboy of Mad Records Collective. They have their heads on right, know what their values are, and have a remarkable community of musical artists inside. They have recently partnered with the gifted and prolific music journalist to grab three artists’ tunes and feature them in a write up called Good Music Monthly. I am so flattered to be in the company of these amazing music-makers - j.pastel, and with For What Joy. Just a GREAT couple of tracks to check out - so rich and full and….then my tune. :) HERE you go. My tune is from the EP that’s out on the streamings and here on the ‘Stack - My Gift to You.

And I’m actually going to be Talking Music with Chris Hedden LIVE here on Substack on June 18th at noon! Whaaa? Yeah. I am definitely stretching myself these days!

2. Math attack!

Some of you have been following the PayMusicians build for a while now. You’ve seen the landing page (just got an update!). Maybe filled out the survey. You know the concept: a simple, direct way for listeners to support the artists who already matter to them.

The core idea hasn’t changed. But the approach has.

Heads up… incoming reality check, people!

The original vision was so elegant, right?

Subscribe for $5. Pick five artists. A dollar goes directly to each of them every month. No algorithms. No discovery. No noise. Just quiet, consistent support for music that already means something to you.

I still love that vision. It’s clean. It’s true. And I will continue to (obsessively) work towards that. It’s what PayMusicians is going to be.

But…MATH.

My pickleball friend and psychic tech mentor Bharat Chopra (check out his Pickleheart project for our local public park’s site!), pointed out something I couldn’t argue with: If 50 listeners each nominate five different artists, I’m doing 250 cold outreaches to musicians I’ve maybe never met. Hmmm.

I was following my heart in to the deep end of a pool in a jungle that…finish the metaphor for me, please.

So I’m adjusting the approach. (But not abandoning the dream!!)

Here’s what’s actually changing.

Instead of building the automation first and hoping the community follows, I’m building the community first.

PayMusicians is going into a nomination phase. Before anyone subscribes, before any money moves, I want to know which artists you want to support. Tell me who should be on this platform. I’ll reach out to them — not with just a cold email from a stranger, but with: “Fourteen people who love your music are already waiting to support you directly.”

That just makes better sense. I don’t need a flood for Phase 1 - I need a nice, cool glass of water. And I need to make sure the application works. Beta vibes.

(And yes, I will indeed be grinding on the automation dream in the meantime — that will be Phase II…!)

Why I’m telling you this.

Because you’ve been here from the beginning. Because some of you filled out that survey and told me this idea resonated. Because if anyone is going to help shape what gets built, it should be people who already understand why it matters.

And some of you did shape it. You said you wanted to choose your own artists directly in the survey. And that adjustment is actually lining up with where I need to start.

Music creates real value in people’s lives. The people who make it deserve direct, human support from the listeners who love it.

That hasn’t changed. The first step just got more honest. I wanted the whole flight of stairs. That will come as I continue to build - and my screwdrivers will have motors that spin like a whirling dervish in a.… stop me.

3. Here’s how you do that helping thing.

Nominate an artist. It takes thirty seconds. Tell me who should be on PayMusicians — the indie artist whose record you’ve played a hundred times, the musician whose shows you never miss, the songwriter you love who needs to know folks have their back.

We’ll take it from there.

NOMINATE AN ARTIST → HERE
(And if you’re a musician reading this — yes, you can nominate yourself! We’d love to hear from you too.)

PayMusicians is in development. This is the first public step!
We’re building the roster now, one nomination at a time.

4. Where’s Dad? And where’s my song??

Ok, I hear you! Dad is just fine. Birding his brains out. He saw seven Great Blue Heron nests with babies in them this weekend. So don’t worry about him, he’s good.
That being said, YES - I want to get him into some recording sessions soon. I’ll keep you abreast. Robin red abreast. _{(I know, I know.)}

And here’s the promised sing-along! This was written and performed at a recent political fundraiser for Creatives for Democracy. Check us out. We flip state houses blue. Lyrics in my last article, but you’ll get it - you just sing along for the title line: “One Step at a Time!”

See what I did there? See how that ALSO pertains to my new focus in the PayMusicians project? And, honestly, everything in life?

Work hard, sure, but change comes one step at a time, people! (New Pickleheart hat from Bharat’s site…!) Woot!

1. The States Project - protest song

2. The Dad project - still simmering

3. The Project project - that’s where the sleep schedule gets addressed

Methinks thou dost protest too much!

Nah….
One of the buckets that I pour energy into is The States Project. We focus on state legislatures - which are having an unusually powerful moment in the national discussion these days, as “re-districting” (such a sexy word!) is something that everyone is now aware of. Guess who makes that happen? State legislatures. Guess who’s been working there since 2017 to flip those legislatures blue? The States Project. And whatever you hear about the national picture - this has REALLY been working - and giving me a big measure of hope - and relief, knowing that I’m in the right place!

I’m a co-captain in one of almost 200 giving circles in The States Project called Creatives for Democracy. My friends Jill and Winnie have been there since the beginning and it has grown to include new leaders and members over the years - and we are having our annual live event TOMORROW. The lead-up involves lots of planning, too many newsletters, script writing - and this year - songwriting!

I’ve gotten a couple protest songs out over the years - this one tailored to the event. Here’s a lyric for you - I’ll grab a video at some point. (It’s a call-and-response, so you can sing along! Make up a melody!)

One Step at a Time
CHORUS:
One step at a time
(One step at a time)
It may be a steep incline
Wanna see that view
You know what to do
Pull on your boots and climb
One step at a time
(One step at a time)
No use to cry and whine
That’s how the race is won
That’s how we get it done
One step at a time
(One step at a time)

People talk about the shape the country’s in
Everything is hopeless
Don’t know where to begin
Crooks in charge
Living large
Nothing they won’t skim
What more can we lose
When we’ve lost the right to choose
But it’s the darkest night
Before the light
So put on your walking shoes

CHORUS - (One step at a time....)

If you want that change
wanna rearrange
the senates and the houses
Time to hit the street
talk with your feet
and put your money where your mouth is

CHORUS - (One step at a time....)

The mountain’s high, but if we trust
We don’t have to scale it all at once
We can reach that peak, every one of us
One step at a time
(One step at a time)

There’s one rhyme in there that made me grin so much when it appeared. I’m betting you can guess which.

Tomorrow evening (6-8PM ET), we will share food, music, conversation, laughter, and yes, beverages. Actually over-extending myself this year (surprise, surprise!) and making it a hybrid event (remember those?? ). This will be a three-camera Zoom (handmade Zooming at its best!) so folks can tune in from wherever they are. If you’re interested, come join! You can watch me try to remember the words to the song! Actually sang “Try to Remember” from The Fantastics last year. What a gorgeous melody….

Wait - you want to come, you say? RSVP HERE for both the Zoom, and to get the live event address in Soho here in NYC! Just want to know more about our circle? Here you go. You want my goofy newsletter? You are amazing! (I do indeed try to keep it goofy…) Here you go!

Dad! We want to hear about DAD!

Yes, yes, I know. Always Dad, Dad, Dad….

I have a few more song-starts on our list, Chorus/Verse first passes that may deserve a melody and structure so we can bring them to the next draft. Also have an idea for a tune that would be more of a stretch - a poem that Dad would write that I would just set to music. A different approach. Just to shake it up! And then…. what’s next?

My guess is another house concert. Somewhere. If I can get Dad into it. I gotta say, a deadline was a motivator for me! Dad has many of his own interests and project ideas, too, of course. Anyone know the gorgeous piece by Dylan Thomas, Under Milkwood? He has a long history with it and it’s something he cannot shake, understandably. He directed a beautiful workshop of it a couple years ago that was insanely effective for a 5-day process. I got to do it with him and it was truly beautiful and powerful. So that is making its way back on the list, too! Maybe it gets some music…?

Then, at some point, maybe sooner than later, I want to record some of the songs we’ve been making. Maybe recording them very simply. Because, man, I love his voice. In his writing and in his singing. What a remarkable artist and human. I am a very lucky human to have this guy in my life. And that he happens to be my father is just dumb luck on my part.

I’ll take it.

What are you doing up at this hour??

And the thing that has monopolized my time the last couple weeks or so? The Project.

A lot of you already know that I am in embroiled in the mysterious and captivating spell of… making a business?? Whaaaat?

So what that actually means is that I am following something that I have not been able to shake for the last couple years. The idea that musicians are being listened to more widely than ever before in our history - and that simultaneously, all that listening has made musicians’ income shrink. Doesn’t make sense, right? So, I’ve been wanting that to change.

I don’t think that most people are going to step away from streaming. I think many people will - and I completely support that. Building community (like here on Substack) is one of the things digital media can actually help make happen! People are also embracing less digital ways to enjoy music again. Again, I SO support that. (Hello, radio [check out ], old iPod and new turntable!) And nothing beats an in-person experience - my best guess about where things are heading right now: there will more and more desire and opportunity for that!

But in the meantime, there are huge numbers for steaming. That is what is happening RIGHT NOW. Over 800 billion dollars in streaming revenue. But independent musicians aren’t getting that money. In fact, indies, the vast majority of them - are actually getting $0.00 dollars for their streamed music. And I don’t see the convenience of streaming being overtaken anytime soon.

Wow, I guess I came here for a lecture….

Ok, ok, I’ll stop.

But yeah, a LOT to say about this topic. But I actually want to DO something about it. (Kind of like The States Project work!!)

So I am building PayMusicians. An application that will allow listeners, who ALREADY listen to the artists they love, actually support them financially. Directly support them. Without having to buy a CD they will likely never play, or a t-shirt they may never wear. Those purchases are really about how much they want to SUPPORT those artists - they are less about the stuff than they are about the love. And the desire to help those artists continue to make…art.

So I shout out to my amazing wife, Kathy, who restrains herself from saying anything like, “Are you going to step out of your room at ANY point today? Are you in LOVE with your mouse or something…?”

I do find myself remarkably engaged with the puzzles and strategies around how to make this application and build a business. Not something I ever thought I would be doing! Glide, Make, Google sheets, Runable, Notion, interfaces speaking to other interfaces, vibe coding, advice from people in this sphere already, investors.… My brain is a bit on fire these days, but I’m really enjoying it. And learning a TON.

Why? Because it’s not so much about me. It’s about solving a problem. Helping others in my larger community. THAT really gets me up in the morning. And yes, sometimes that means 3AM or whatever, but I will take this love and passion in my heart at the moment over the cloudy-headed feeling around sleep schedules. I count myself pretty dang lucky on that score, too.

HERE is the landing page for now, where you can give me a little input, if you like! I’d really appreciate it!

Prototype is what I’m working on now. Hoping I can get it to function properly so I can test it (meaning getting folks like you to try it!) - and then it will get a glow-up eventually and be pretty and all that. It is on the way, and I’m really excited to share it with you when it arrives!! Here’s a screenshot of how I’m assembling the User Interface in Glide (Kathy is obsessed every time I mention Glide. HAHAHAHAHA.).

Here’s a couple of the screens dummied with names you know, but they will likely be small independents, mostly, as those are the folks people want to support - like YOU, people!! But this will give you the idea….

A shout out to all the folks out there who do all the “wiring” and “plumbing” and designing and and and…. Making these things actually function is a complicated process to say the least - and I salute you!

I’ll be in the back room if you need me!

Good morning!

To be fair, not really sure where the night ended and the morning began, but after a 1:30 wake-up, my brain turned on. Sometimes that happens, right? My brain has been a little over-active these days, so it’s not surprising. (Anybody have a fix for this? Suggestions welcome!). So yeah, I gave up, went into the kitchen, put a dark towel over the lamp and started writing in the semi-dark without my glasses. (Kinda sounds like I was stoned, huh? Nope, just half-asleep!)

Nice to write freehand, though. I often write at the computer these days, but still like a pencil and paper. Who knew if I was gonna be able to read it without proper lighting and spectacles, but I was still hoping for a return to sleep, if possible. Coffee eventually won that battle.

So - a lyric journey and song draft below. But first….

My Bwaaain!

Kind of a running joke in our family - our eldest son was in his aunt’s pool one summer many moons ago, got splashed, water went up his nose, and he exclaimed “My bwaaain!”, thinking that the discomfort was emanating from his cranium. (He recovered, no worries - and actually became a lifeguard years later!)

I’ve been exclaiming like that to some degree these days - but happily so. I am learning systems and spreadsheets and interfaces and vocabulary around building a platform and an application… (HEY - I can see your eyes rolling into the back of YOUR skull!!). Yes, a rabbit-hole, for sure, but I am learning a lot, and grateful for that! Collecting teachers along the way, too! Hi, , , , - and more keep coming - teachers of teachers and experts and consultants… all ready to pitch in. Overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support. Hoping I can get time with all of the good folks volunteering to help!

I won’t go on about it here, but here’s the first real product of my energies - a landing page! Woohoo! PayMusicians. You guessed it - it’s all about…paying musicians! :). I even put a couple questions at the bottom of the very short site to get your ideas and input! THANK YOU in advance for that!

The new baby!

Don’t freak out. It’s a new tune. I’m probably not the only one out there who thinks of it this way, though.

This was another one that sat on the stove a little while. Dad and I have both been busy with…life. But he gave me some notes to synthesize and I finally took a break from my spreadsheets (I KNOW!) and got the next draft out. Here’s the verse and chorus we had from that note session:

VERSE
Pop made a tool chest in 1923
I passed it on to my son
Smelled of leather, oil and wood
Measured twice and cut once
Drawers pulled out so easily
Didn’t matter which one
I made mistakes, sure, all my life
But those tools taught me this
A shiny new thing ain’t always the way
A smooth handle gets it done best

CHORUS
You had to use it
You had to pay your dues
Gonna hit your thumb 
Now and then
But if the handle’s smooth
You know what you’re holding
Because it’s not brand new
The tongue fits in that groove
The plum is nice and true
That’s what Poppy told me

We started with a more rudimentary version and edited to this version when we talked. Then Dad gave me some great notes about the tools themselves having a genie inside - wisdom, history. And more tales about “Pop”, his grandfather. (Here’s a tune about “Mom” we did at the house concert in April). I finally got back to his notes - at 1:30 AM this morning.

Ben Franklin gets the credit

I always think of Ben Franklin when my brain pushes me out of bed. Apparently, it was a thing for him, too. And he just allowed it. Made use of the time. I’m good with that. We also share a birthday, so he’s my Bday bro.

Also, today is my brother Josh’s birthday! Happy Birthday, actual Bro!!

And thanks, Ben.

Next draft:

Smooth Handles

Pop made a tool chest in 1923
I passed it on to my son
Drawers pulled out so easily
Dovetail joints on every one
Smelled of leather, oil and wood
And every tool inside
Teach you more than any wise man could
If you learn to hold it right

Ain’t that handle smooth
Feel the weight in your hand
Gonna hit your thumb 
Now and then
You can buy a brand new hammer
But it won’t hold a candle
In a world that’s full of fools
Ain’t no better school
Than the teachers in these tools
When you’re holding their smooth handle

At the workbench I hear Pop’s voice
Measure twice and cut once
Saw’s gonna bite you if you give it a choice
Have an apple for your lunch
Get satisfaction from a job well done
No matter what you do
Ask for help when you need it, son
My soul is in these tools

Not much!

1. Album recording

2. Busy-ness

3. New tune - that started upside down!

It is indeed About Time

So - even though we recorded stuff from the summer’s production (which may come out, as well!), we are recording the entire album with the NY cast for About Time, the Maltby/Shire revue in the studio today. Not sure why I woke up so early, ‘cause it’ll be a late one, Honey!

We finished up the run, and there has been some lovely response that has continued - along with award nominations to the show, the writers, and the remarkable Lynne Winterstellar. We are kvelling!

We’ll have the whole cast in the studio, two pianos and a bass (and me on banjo!) along with the writers, producers, engineers - it’ll be a full house! And we will record the entire show - top to bottom - Um, that’s 27 numbers (I should spell that out: TWENTY-SEVEN). In one session. Crazy, you say? Yes, I agree! But honestly, that’s how it’s done people!! One or two takes, a couple pick-ups maybe and we MOVE ON. Send us all your good vibes, friends!!

I’ll try to remember to take some pics. Should be nuts - and fun!

[Side note - also just self taped an audition with my amazing wife Kathy - before we both ran off to work today! Fi-diddle-lee-dee!]

Business corner!

Yes, I am starting a business. Yes, it is a music business. Mostly, it’s a way for artists in the music business to sustain their ability to be in the music business. Yes, I will get better at messaging without repetitive verbiage.

I’m entering a long learning curve process as I start turning the wheels of PayMusicans. This will be an application allowing listeners to subscribe and pay artists directly for the music that they stream.

Streaming has been great for artists in one way - they can distribute their music for very little cash outlay. They can reach millions of listeners - without a label, without having to create and sell hard copies of their stuff (much as I still love my vinyl!) - in short, the “distribution” gatekeeping has dissolved. Listeners have access to a remarkable library of material.

But listeners don’t have a simple way to support the artists they love and listen to. It feels like they are supporting them when they stream, but the reality is that artists don’t get a meaningful part of their streaming subscription - if they get anything at all.

My model (to start off) would be a $5 subscription - $1 going to five artists that the subscriber would choose - every month. That means if 500 subscribers listed an artist - they would get $500 every month. That kind of support could help sustain a musician - and keep them doing it.

I’d love your help in shaping this product that I’m making. (DIY project - if no one else is gonna do it, it’s gonna be me!) Filling out this 5-question form to give me some data and input would be HUGE. I really would appreciate your input! Here you go:

2-minute survey! :)

Enough with the business stuff. Here’s a tune!

This was an interesting one!

Started with a title from our random, three-minute title-generating exercise:

“A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Lose”

We rattled off a verse and a chorus. I returned to it later, added some jazz chords and fell in love with it a little. Here’s what we started with:

VERSE
Rolled out of bed at 5am
Made my way to the coffee cup
But it didn’t didn’t help, cause I couldn’t tell 
Which way was up
I’ve lost my senses
Lost my grip
Can’t find the handle
Lost my focus, can’t pay attention
Lost my balance and my keys
But the one thing I know I shouldn’t lose
Is the one thing that I need 

CHORUS
A mind is a terrible thing to lose
All the rest can go
You can get the blues
But that cute little Cupid
Sure can make you stupid
‘Cause if you lose your heart
It takes away your smarts
And soon you’ll find 
That you can’t choose
And a mind is a terrible thing to lose

Okay! I sent it off to Dad and we made a date to return to it. I thought maybe we’d rattle off another verse, maybe a bridge, polish, and be done!

But Dad had some notes first!

“Of course - shoot!”

He did a fabulous ramble about, well, a lot of stuff - asking and answering questions, being lost, something about an intro (that I still don’t think I grasp - we’ll work on that, Dad) - but for the first time, I just really didn’t get what he was saying - or how it related to any lyric changes. I wrote it all down, but my brain was just - “um…?”

I think what happened was I fell in love with it a little too much and just had to break up with it! And - another hot tip - I needed to absorb and step away for a day as a result.

Which is what I did. So here’s the next draft. A clearer concept. More polishing to do. But it turns out… a mind is NOT a terrible thing to lose.

Yes, there is a whistling instrumental. Just for now. Just for you.

A Mind is Not a Terrible Thing to Lose

Is it morning or is it night
If I’m I dreaming, why’s it so bright?
Is this coffee or tea in my cup
What’s going down, which way is up?
Is this the kitchen?  No, it’s then den
Should I scramble some eggs? Better find a hen
What is the feeling I’m getting behind
Well whatever it is, I don’t seem to mind 

A mind’s not a terrible thing to lose
Might be lost at sea, but it’s a pleasure cruise
Cute Cupid
Makes you a little stupid
When you give your heart
You leave your smarts behind
And find 
You’re inclined to choose
A mind is not a terrible thing to lose

(Whistle chorus)

Not concerned that I’ve cooked my goose
All my marbles - I’ve let them loose
Cheese is off my cracker, missing a few screws
Standing in traffic, and the driver’s confused
Lost my senses, but found my way
A few straws short of a stack of hay
Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier
Might be flying blind, but one thing is clear

A mind’s not a terrible thing to lose
Might be lost at sea, but it’s a pleasure cruise
Cute Cupid
Makes you a little stupid
When you give away your heart
You leave your smarts behind
And find 
You’re inclined to choose
A mind is not a terrible thing to lose

Don’t forget to send the good vibes for the recording today! And yes, I forgive myself for spelling errors today! :)

What are we celebrating again?

Time to celebrate, right? It’s May Day!

What the heck is that you ask? SUCH a good question.

CTA (“Call to Action”. I’m learning business terms! Woohoo!)

But first - 60 seconds. I’m building an idea to distribute funds to musicians who need it most. The basic idea: A $5 subscription to PayMusicians would give $1 to the top 5 artists that you pick - or that would be automatically taken from those you already stream, refreshing monthly. I’ve had the idea for a couple of years and am now diving into the research and development phase (it’s a large task!!) - which means I could use input. Here’s a 5-question, 60 second form. I would SO appreciate your thoughts!

Ok. Back to the May Day thing

I’ll give you the thumbnail to catch you up - The “pole” kinda May Day celebration is the oldest - a pagan tradition taken from tribes in Ireland and Scandinavia. We adopted it in this country (any excuse to drink beer in excess), and it remained as a day to dance and be merry - and to make “May baskets” of flowers and goodies to hang on others’ doors - maybe even someone you “liked”. I remember the dancing around the pole in grade school - though I don’t think I ever understood the May Day idea (probably because there was no beer involved) — but I was down for a dance!

Then there’s the labor movement - The Haymarket Massacre, International Worker’s Day, the Soviets grabbed it as a day to show off weapons in the 30’s, so it got wed to Communism for some… but the protest side started in the 1880’s with demands for an 8-hour workday. Union support, marches and strikes are common, too. There’s a general strike tomorrow (May 1st), if you haven’t heard!

Are we political up in here?

Hard to avoid politics these days. Some folks can do it. I have been leaning in more the last few years. I have been engaged through The States Project - and that engagement has brought me a lot of relief. There’s a lot of anxiety around how to make things better - and this work has really helped me. (Yes, I will answer any and all questions you might have about this!)

I know this is a music space, mostly. But it’s also just a “me” space. This is definitely a part of who I am. I love me a May Pole dance (any dance, really!), I love communities that look out for each other (hello unions, musicians, actors, friends, good neighbors), I love being able to protest when the mood strikes, without fear. I love that we are a nation of immigrants. (LOVE that Steve Earle song City of Immigrants). And coming from hippies like I do, I’m all about the pagan stuff, too. So, protest songs hold a special place in my heart.

Did you say protest song?

Yup. So the awesome has a book club (which you should definitely join!). She’s a uniquely gifted writer and singer - and in the club we read a book, then see if it inspires a song. (For me, two deadlines, so a win-win!).

So, for May Day, here’s the one I wrote from our last read, “Martyr!”. I’m wearing the red knit hat my pal made - in honor of the ”Melt the ICE” protests in Minnesota - and based on the hats Norwegians wore to protest Nazi occupation. They worked so well they were banned! Go, knitting!!

Quiet Desperation

Quiet desperation
gets louder every day
Sick of silent suffering
Cause there’s too much to say
The direction of this country
That’s clearly lost its way
Makes quiet desperation
Get louder every day
Getting louder every day

When those without are worthless
And empathy is gone
When children’s education
Is historically wrong
With made up facts and figures 
That make ignorance seem strong
Quiet desperation
Won’t stay quiet very long 
Can’t stay quiet very long

Now power-hungry despots
May have the upper hand
But they are far outnumbered
By the brotherhood of man
There's no need to feel powerless
When you do the best you can
Then our quiet desperation
Will be heard throughout the land
Will be heard throughout the land

Our quiet desperation
gets louder every day
Sick of silent suffering
Cause there’s too much to say
The direction of this country
That’s clearly lost its way
Quiet desperation
Gets louder every day
Getting louder every day

As a listener, the convenience of streaming is hard to escape (though I’m actually getting back into the LP experience these days…), but the library aspect is hard for me to quit.

As a musician, though, when I use streamers, I get a little a queasy.

I know firsthand how little artists are paid (or, rather, NOT paid) per stream. I know that even when someone listens A LOT, the financial return to the musician is essentially nil. That has felt wrong for a good while now - to those of us making the music - and to many of us listening.

So how can we ethically support musicians while we’re streaming their music?

I think many people genuinely care about artists — they just don’t have a simple, convenient way to support them. Buying merch, vinyl, going to shows, or joining Patreon campaigns are good ways to support — but they require extra effort, extra steps, and sometimes more money than people are willing or able to spend. (BTW, I’m all for the extra effort - I think that only increases one’s connection to the music!)

So here’s the idea I’ve been playing with: What if listeners could subscribe with a small amount each month — say $5 — that would be distributed directly to the five artists they actually stream the most?

Not based on algorithms. Based on their real listening habits.

You’d connect your streaming account, and the app would distribute your 5 bucks to your top five - the artists you listen to already (or that you could choose) - and a bonus: these artists would be real people, as opposed to AI engines. The app would then reach out to the artist to let them know there are funds available to them.

This isn’t another streamer. It isn’t meant to replace or partner with Spotify or other streamers. It’s meant to sit alongside them, to remove the ethical obstacle we all feel. You could set it and forget it, knowing that your listening wasn’t cheating the artists you love. (I’m thinking you could customize it, too - choose your artists, change the number of artists to support, the amount.…)

I’m genuinely interested in the ethical problem here: how do we make listening feel less like consumption and more like relationship? How can we take these giant libraries and make them feel more grounded and real to us, make us feel better about using them - all while supporting artists?

I completely understand the desire to leave these platforms altogether. I do dearly hope that smaller, audience-based models of connection win the day. (That’s a big reason that I am here on Substack!) In the meantime, I’m thinking about how to solve a problem that exists right now. And perhaps supporting a musician - even at $1/month - could encourage a deeper connection.

I’m curious what you think.

I’d dearly love your input. Here is a 60-second question form that would help me with market testing and backing moving forward! You are a CHAMP for doing that for me!

1-minute form

For now, this is just an idea — but I’ve had it for two years and I can’t quite shake it. Streamers are going to be here for a while. They’re not likely to be bullied into being more fair. So maybe it’s up to us to get creative….

Thanks for listening — in every sense. And yes, go buy some vinyl while you’re waiting for this app!

Quoting myself? Why not. I like that lyric. At the end of “My Gift to You” from my recent release, the lyric says, “Gonna wrap it up..” about the birthday present - and about, well, wrapping up the song. Fun!

The garden is back!

So yes - I’ve been in the real world mostly these days, (as opposed to the online one, but, sure, that’s real, too!) wrapping up a few things….

But before I get to that - some gardening today! Look at all the goodies I have to plant in our building’s little backyard garden here in NYC — Spring has sprung! (Our garden was out of commission last year because of construction, so I’m extra excited this year).

A bunch of begonias and coleus (we have mostly shade back there):

Some nice herbs (I know, we’re pushing it with the shade, but sometimes they do okay):

And I found a piece of driftwood down by the river for the spot above the fountain!

Man, it’s nice to get my hands in the dirt. Lots of planting to do tomorrow! I’m enlisting folks in the building, too - because you know I love a community project! :)

Back to the wrap-up….

About Time was a wonderful time!

I recently finished the run of About TIme, the musical revue by David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. We had great, full, last performances, as people heard we were closing and clamored to get in to hear the tunes. Such amazing performers - I was truly honored to be among such masters of their craft. I heard that echoed by attendees, too - nice to be in a roomful of grown-ups who knew what they were doing. And man, these cats could SANG. It was an absolute gift for me to get to sing with them. (Stay tuned for album news…the music goes on…!)

I want to shout out to Deniz Cordell and his wife, Annie Pasqua. Deniz has been on this project from the beginning with me and Lynne Winterstellar, so three years (well, probably more..that’s when I hopped on). Musicals, even revues (that are essentially song collections with little scene-lets), take a long time to put together. Deniz gave blood and years to this project and his playing and vocal arrangements were truly stunning. Watching him and his gifted wife Annie hit the twin Steinways together was pretty damned cool. They were joined on bass by the wonderful Scott Chaurette. We were so lucky to have such accomplished players making music with us!

In the HOUSE!

Yes, indeed, I did a house concert/pot-luck at Cindy and Eric Sherman’s house here in NYC this week. I thought I was kidding about maybe wanting to only do only house concerts from now on. I may not be kidding. For me, and for many folks who came up to me afterwards, this was the kind of room they always wanted to be in here in NYC. So warm, fun, sweet, welcoming, with music, stories… wait - there’s food, too?? Yeah, pretty fabulous.

This is part of a project I’m doing with my remarkable human father, Ken Jenkins. I’m one of the lucky ones that gets to count my dad as a hero. I decided to compound that luck by writing songs with him - and then making him do this house concert with me! We had just embarked on the songwriting, but the house concert date I had agreed to earlier was coming up, so we scrambled to get some of the tunes to a somewhat finished stage. I also got him to tell a couple of stories (the dude is a pretty fantastic storyteller). I even got a Shakespeare sonnet out of him!

Our host grabbed some video, too. Here’s a couple clips. First is a tune called There We Go with an intro talking about the songwriting process a little. I’m joined by wonderful fiddler Kenny Kosek, who strums a bit of mandolin on this one. (Check out his latest fabulous album, Twisted Sage HERE). Then a story from Dad about the very first production of Shakespeare in the Park, The Merchant of Venice - that he was in!

Here’s Dad telling the “feather” story…

Now what?

I have been gifted with pretty steady employment for almost a year, so time for a step back and an assessment….

HAHAHHA!! You know that’s not me! I mean, I’ll take stock, certainly, but it’s hard for me to just step off. Tough for me to even watch a TV show by myself, as I always think I should be DOING something. Work ethic from farm life? Who knows. (Dad probably does….)

I want very much to keep writing these songs with Dad. It’s the most fun I’ve had in ages. Can’t think of being more creatively happy (and heart happy) than crafting tunes with my father. Maybe another house concert after some more writing? Maybe we record some? I think it’ll become clear what’s best. At the moment I am more than grateful to wrap up this gift and allow the next one to materialize.

Thank you, Dad. And thanks to all of you for the support. You make the city, and the world, a warmer place.

As we wrap up this run of About Time here in NYC, I wanted to highlight the final featured performer in our show - but first want to mention the understudies!! They are really “Swings” as they have to cover everything - splitting the six tracks between the two of them! Ethan Paulini and Nicole Powell have both been on for this run - and have knocked it out of the park! What a crazy, nerve-wracking thing to do - and they make it look easy! Bravo and Brava to them both!

The writers, Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, have a boatload of songs to draw from - and did indeed include a few for this review that have been pulled in from other projects - but they found that more writing was needed to make the piece cohesive. So these two 88-year-olds (sorry to keep mentioning their age number, but part of it is for my own benefit - “If THEY can do it…!”) got to work. They wrote funny, touching songs about their lives - and about the time we live in now. You know, like songwriters often do!

They have a commanding performer in this roster by the name of Darius De Haas. I got to see him do his live Christmas show at 54 Below this season, bought his album, and it was the first thing I played on my new record player! Do yourself a favor. Get it here.

I’ve heard Richard answer, when asked which tune he might be most proud of in this collection, that “What Do I Tell The Children” would top the list. It touches on the possibly quaint notion of what it means to have “character” these days - and the passion behind the message and the rich and powerful accompaniment make for a really stirring combination (the album release is still pending..!!).

I send this out with such joy and gratitude for being carried on this journey with all these remarkably gifted people the last couple years. Here’s to songs that inspire, laughter, connection, tears, outrage - and to not fading quietly.

Quite the opposite.

WHAT DO I TELL THE CHILDREN

MY GRAMPA GAVE ME LECTURES
WHEN TUCKING ME IN BED
“WHAT A MAN NEEDS MOST IN LIFE IS CHARACTER,” HE SAID
A MAN WITH “CHARACTER” WINS ALL THE FATES ALLOW
TODAY THAT WORD SOUNDS QUAINT SOMEHOW
YOU ALMOST NEVER HEAR IT NOW

WHAT DO I TELL THE CHILDREN
WHEN MY TURN COMES ALONG
AND IT’S TIME TO HAVE THAT TALK
      ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG
I WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO SETS THEM ON THEIR WAY
BUT WHEN I WATCH THE NEWS TODAY
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

DO I SAY, “GOD WILL PUNISH GREED
AND THOSE WHO LIE DO NOT SUCCEED”?
BUT CHILDREN SEE AND READ
AND KNOW THAT IT ISN’T TRUE
OH, THEY DO

SO WHEN I SPEAK TO CHILDREN
IT MUST BE REALLY TRUE
AND NOT JUST ONE MORE PIOUS LIE
        FROM GROWN-UPS
            THAT KIDS SEE THROUGH
BUT THIS DILEMMA PAINS MY HEART MORE THAN IT SHOULD
DO I JUST TELL THEM TO BE GOOD
THEY’LL BE REWARDED IF THEY’RE GOOD
I’D SAY THAT IF I COULD
BUT LOOKING ‘ROUND TODAY
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

WHEN SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ACCEPT EXPENSIVE TRIPS
THEN JUDGE A CASE ON ETHICS AND ANNOUNCE THAT BRIBES ARE TIPS
WHEN GREAT CHURCH LEADERS, SO EAGER TO CHIME IN
CONDEMN HOW OTHERS LIVE THEIR LIVES, THEN VOTE IN GUYS WHO SIN
HOW DO I SAY SUCCESS WILL COME TO THOSE WHO DO THINGS RIGHT
WHEN LIARS, CHEATS AND CHARALATANS FILL UP THE NEWS EACH NIGHT

KIDS! LIVE THE WAY I TELL YOU TO
YOU’LL WIN THE PRIZES IF YOU DO
BUT I KNOW THAT OLD SHOE
WILL NEVER RING TRUE TODAY
NO WAY!

I THINK WORDS HAVE MEANING –
THEY’RE POWERFUL AND STRONG
I WANT MINE TO BE MUCH MORE
THAN WORDS IN A STUPID SONG

IF YOU HAVE CHARACTER, YOU MAY NOT WIN THE DAY
BUT I SAY: DO GOOD ANYWAY
EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T PAY
THAT’S WINNING, THAT’S WHAT I WILL SAY
      AND WHEN I DO
I PRAY THAT IT’S STILL TRUE

Last week of performances!

Hey! Just continuing to honor my fellow performers in our last week at About TIme here in NYC. Some wonderful songs - and performances. Come check it out!

Big stuff

My first long-term connection with the songwriting duo of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire was in the Broadway musical big in 1996. It was, well, a LARGE show with many moving parts - and a very big heart. It addressed so many yearnings and growing pains - all very well-suited to this songwriting duo’s strengths.

If you remember the movie with Tom Hanks, I played that role of the young man, Josh Baskin, who makes a wish and then finds himself in the body of a much bigger young man. But the boyish energy and innocence was still there, including the parts he wants to get to a little sooner - like learning about love.

I remember them saying when they wrote “I Want To Know” they knew they had something. I fell in love with that tune - about wanting to learn more grown-up lessons, and sang it in a couple concerts leading up to the production. (then it was given to the “young” Josh. Dang!!). Some wonderful tunes in that show - check out “Stop Time”. Yikes. Hits that parenting button - an easy target for me. So good.

Susan and Sally

Susan Lawrence is his business-minded co-worker, who pursues a relationship with this new young go-getter Josh, and finds herself reflecting on her youth as a result. A “sleep-over” is just that to the young-minded Josh, Susan is surprised, charmed, and then swarmed with memories when Josh gives her a little present before hopping into the top bunk.

Sally Wilfert sings this tune expertly in our show. She has a gliding, sweet soprano that goes down like melted butter (no small achievement for a soprano!), and evokes these memories with humor, sweetness and longing - hitting the strengths of this writing duo perfectly.

Cut it!

This really lovely tune was actually cut in the original Broadway production! They were concerned that having two ballads in a row just wouldn’t work for the show’s energy.

But when the U.S. tour went out they tried it anyway - and it, well, sang. It teed up the essence of what Susan was feeling, and set the relationship up perfectly. It came back! And we have it back, too!

Favorite rhyme

This number also has my favorite rhyme in the show, which is saying something. Richard is universally known as a rhyming wizard. There are some impossible ones in this show - yes, he rhymes “orange” - as well as “Alte kaker”!

This tune evokes memories and a flood of feelings - all inspired by an innocent gift of a compass ring. After walking through those remembrances she sums up the emotional journey she just took us on with the line, “Mem’ries come in torrents/of Little Susan Lawrence….”

And it just kills me. I may be a soft target for this one, as well, as my first son was one year old when I did this show - and memories do indeed come in torrents for me - but my sense is that the audience does indeed feel the powerful wistful quality in this beautiful number.

Cast recording is still in process. Here is the wonderful lyric:

LITTLE SUSAN LAWRENCE

LITTLE SUSAN LAWRENCE
FRIENDS WITH ALICE BLOOM
TEACHERS HAD TO KEEP US FAR APART
SO ONE DAY MISS GILMORE
MOVED ME 'CROSS THE ROOM
RIGHT BESIDE THE BOY WHO'D STEAL MY HEART

HE WAS BUZZ BABCOCK
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY LIFE
IF I CLOSE MY EYES
I CAN SEE HIM STILL
HE HAD A BEATLES HAIRCUT
AND HE ALWAYS WILL
IN MY MIND I MEAN
WHERE HE'S ALWAYS SEEN
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY LIFE

LITTLE SUSAN LAWRENCE
LOVESICK LITTLE THING
TILL ONE DAY BUZZ WALKED ME HOME THROUGH THE PARK
THAT'S THE DAY HE GAVE ME
A PLASTIC COMPASS RING
THAT WHISTLED, AND DECODED
AND GLOWED IN THE DARK

DEAR SWEET BUZZ BABCOCK
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY LIFE
IN MY WHOLE LIFE LONG
I WON'T SEE HIS LIKE
THE WAY HE SWUNG HIS LEG UP
JUMPING ON HIS BIKE
IN A FROZEN FRAME
HE REMAINS THE SAME
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY…

I REMEMBER EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT WINTER
EVERY HOUR WAS FILLED BEYOND THE BRIM
EVERY DAY WAS LIKE A MONTH
EVERY MONTH WAS LIKE A LIFETIME
WITH EVERY WAKING MOMENT TOUCHED BY HIM

LITTLE SUSAN LAWRENCE
SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
I COULD SAY I'VE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN
THOUGH I'VE HAD A LOVE LIFE
THOUGH I'M HARDLY… COLD
MY HEART NEVER BEAT THAT WILDLY AGAIN

OH GOD, BUZZ BABCOCK
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY LIFE
HAVEN'T SAID THAT NAME
FOR A HUNDRED YEARS
BUT THIS MEM'RY YOU'VE AWAKENED
BRINGS ME CLOSE TO TEARS
OF A GIRL I WAS
WITH A BOY NAMED… BUZZ
THE VERY FIRST LOVE OF MY LIFE

MEM’RIES COME IN TORRENTS
OF LITTLE SUSAN LAWRENCE
A GIRL WITH A COMPASS RING
IN LOVE

Final performances!

First, I’m entering the last week of About Time - the Maltby/Shire revue I’m doing here in NYC. If you’d like to hear some great songwriting and storytelling, come on down, we close on April 5th! Check it out HERE.

Joy bomb

And right after that, I’ll be prepping for the House Concert I’m doing with my dad, Ken Jenkins, and dear pal, Kenny Kosek. (This is oversold at the moment, so I’ll let you know if we do it again!) I’m surrounded by Kenny’s - What joy!

I had a similar moment of joy when Kenny Kosek joined me on the recording of the EP I released this year on my birthday, January 17th, My Gift To You. I’d been chipping away at it, and at one point I realized that there was a deep community I could reach out to for help. Kenny being one of the deepest.

A little backstory

We did a show together in 1985, Big River, based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with songs by none other than the great Roger Miller. It was, to say the least, a remarkably fortunate welcome to the theatre community here in New York City. I played Huck, alongside pal John Short as Tom Sawyer who I knew from Actors Theatre of Louisville (as well as a young John Goodman as my “Pap”!) - and many other fabulous singers and actors, dear Ron Richardson as Jim chief among them.

Kenny Kosek was the fiddler in the show - and appeared onstage as well (an unusual event back in 1985!). And to top it all off, my dad, whose work I revered and admired all my life, came to join us during the run, stepping into the role of the Duke. How absolutely wonderful to be on Broadway with my dad. This was actually the first time we were on stage together. Hard to describe how grateful and dumb lucky I felt.

Simply moved

So, when I got to the recording phase of the EP, I finally got the guts to ask Kenny to come play on it. I don’t know why I was so tender about it, but I’ve always had a little bashful quality about sharing music - and having a pro like Kenny aboard was a big step for me.

Well, he walked in and raised the quality of the work exponentially. Kenny has a grounded and easy way that makes a tune spring to life. It’s that thing that we all want to be in a room with at some point in our lives. It’s the reason AI can’t compete. There is no one like Kenny, and there never will be.

And I am so very grateful indeed.

The Kennys

And now, he is joining us for the house concert on April 13th. We gathered to go over the tunes the other day and get started on learning all this new stuff. We will be sharing the results that will firmly be in “process” mode. But I’m good with that. Music stands, people sitting on the floor with their potluck plates. Sounds like a plan. And I remain moved at the generosity of the Kennys - and of the community of friends who are good with it, as well - this sharing of process and music.

Maybe I’ll get a little less tender about expanding the circle and sharing music if I keep doing this…!

Banjo tune

I knew I wanted to do one banjo tune. My brother Matthew is way better at this banjo stuff, but I will have Kenny Kosek - and my dad, Ken Jenkins joining me on this, so, that is definitely a win! This is the most recent collaboration tune with dad, but I’m committing to sharing the process…!

What Do You See?	

I spy with my little eye
Something grey and brown against the sky
Looks like a fella lifting up his arms and asking this old world, “Why?”

I know what that is grandpa, that’s way too easy
A tree

Okay, smarty pants, make me a hard one
Tell me, what do you see?

I see a lady on a big brown horse
Oh look, Grandpa, she waved to me!
I see a sailboat in the pond over there
It’s red and blue and white and got a little green
I see a statue of a man looking up
And from behind, I can see his butt 
I see a yellow dog, I see a juggling clown
A man with a trumpet, a rock, a stick, a cloud 
Ok Grandpa, your turn
Tell me, what do you see?

Everything goes by so fast
That is clear to me
It’s hard to hold on and make it last
It’s a trick of memory
But take my hand and walk this path
And we will find and seek
What the beauty of this world can be
Tell me, what do you see?

I see a lady in a long blue dress
I see a man with tattoos all over 
I see a family on a picnic by that rock
With two babies in a stroller
I see a girl at the top of the slide
I see her daddy down below her

I see people from every single country
Some far away and some are closer
I see each color of the rainbow in your eyes
I see that time’s not moving slower

Everything goes by so fast
That is clear to me
It’s hard to hold on and make it last
It’s a trick of memory
But take my hand and walk this path
And we will find and seek
What the beauty of this world can be
Tell me, what do you see?

Dad stuff!

Yes, I am still writing songs with my dad. (!!) Yes, it is making me very happy. :) Yes, we are doing our house concert and pot-luck on April 13th with dear pal and fab fiddler Kenny Kosek (and are sold out - sadly, I need to cut off the waiting list, too! Chances are we’ll do it again). I’ll put a draft of the newest tune up shortly….

Showtime….

In the meantime, About Time, the Maltby/Shire revue I’m doing 8 times a week here in NYC, is getting a good head of steam as people discover it. It touches a lot of bases - performance, aging, relationships….it’s really moving - and pretty hilarious at times. Our Sunday matinee was packed today - and raucous!

There’s a wonderful feeling that you get when there is a good house - I liken it to sailing. (Which I have done rarely and not well, just FYI.) When you don’t get a lot of response back from the audience - that’s fine - it just means that you have to make your own wind to get the sailboat moving. Sometimes you even have to turn the motor on…. And it does move, and people enjoy it. But when you have a crowd like we did today, all you do is steer and go for the ride. Their laugher and enthusiasm makes all the wind your sail needs. No motor required. And unsurprisingly, you are energized after you leave the theatre!

Energizer Bunny

Speaking of energy, meet Eddie Korbich, one of the six players in the show. He is a spark plug of human positivity and provides the through-line for our show. (There’s no plot really, as it is essentially a collection of songs). Eddie is the “writer” of the show and is trying to find his way throughout. It is impossible not to root for this guy, because he is just so damned sweet and fun. Here he is:

You might guess that Eddie is a song-and-dance man.

You would be correct. His resume is as long as both of my arms and he is delightful.

The tune he does at the top of Act II is Kensington Kenny and the lyricist, Richard Maltby gives us a little backstory:

The Backstory

This number was originally written for the musical, Sousatzka - so yes, it is a “trunk” song. Richard realized that he had some built-in personal context, as his mother’s Cockney father was a music hall aficionado, and learned all the songs by going, repeatedly, to the shows. Richard’s mother would teach him the songs, including one sung by a cross-dressing female singer - dressed as a man. (A dangerous thing in public, but a common trope in music hall shows.) The song keeps us guessing.

Richard is also happy with one element in the song: He uses 16 “ark” rhymes! (Including “ARK”!)

The tune

I’m not gonna give too much away, as it is a scene as well as a song, but yes, he pulls his props….out of a trunk.

I’ll just include the lyric below - you gotta come to the show for the rest! Suffice it to say - there’s some lovely gender-bending done by the song-and-dance man Eddie Korbich…!

Kensington Kenny

AM I
KENNETH FROM KENSINGTON
STUDLY AS DUDLEY
OR GWENNETH FROM ST. JAMES’S PARK?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GUESS
SHOULD I WEAR PANTS OR DRESS
OR JUST WAIT TO FIND OUT IN THE DARK?

AM I HER OR HIM
OR A CREATURE OF WHIM?
DO I WEAR TWO-PIECE SUITS WHEN I GO FOR A SWIM?
THAT’S A JOKE, FOLKS!
I’M ONE OF THOSE BLOKES
WHO CAN SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FOR A LARK
AM I KENSINGTON KENNY,
THE SAME AS SO MANY
OR GWENNY FROM ST. JAMES’ PARK?

I’M GWENNETH! NOT KENNETH!
I’M GIRLY AS SHIRLEY!
THE DARLING OF ST. JAMES’S PARK
I’M YOURS TO ENJOY, FRIEND
YOU DOUBT? ASK MY BOYFRIEND
ALTHOUGH HE’S A BIT OF A SNARK

IT’S TRUE WHEN I DANCE
I PREFER TO WEAR PANTS
AND I DO TEND TO LEAD WHEN I’M GIVEN THE CHANCE
OH, BUT GIRLS, GIRLS!
HAVE FAITH IN THESE CURLS
AND THOUGH MY TRANSFORMATION IS STARK
I AM JUST NOT A KENNY
(I’M NOT A BAD PENNY)
I’M GWENNY FROM ST JAMES’S PARK….

I AM KENSINGTON KENNY
BUT ALSO I’M GWENNY
THE MISMATCH FROM ST. JAMES’ PARK
I CHERISH MY MYST’RY
FOR I’VE LEARNED FROM HIST’RY
THAT LIFE NEEDS A BIT OF A SPARK

I COULD FEEL A MISFIT
WHO FAILED MAKING THIS FIT
WHO GREETS EVERY MORNING WITH ONE TRAGIC HISS FIT
BUT THIS WORKS
I’M PROUD OF MY QUIRKS
SO WHERE OTHERS STAY HOME, I EMBARK

THOUGH SOME HAVE MADE FUN OF ME
(He points at people in the audience, as if to say: “You. You. You.”)
GOD NEEDS JUST ONE OF ME
WHEN HE FILLS UP NOAH’S ARK

I’M KENSINGTON KENNY
BUT ALSO I’M GWENNY
LIKE JOSEPH AND JENNY
LIKE BARBARA AND BENNY
LIKE PETER AND PENNY
LIKE LINDA AND LENNY
IN LIFE I AM STRAIGHT ON THE MARK
REGRETS I’VE NOT ANY
I’M KENSINGTON KENNY
AND
GWENNY FROM ST. JAMES’S PARK

Busy season continues! I am blessed with creative work and co-workers, and am keeping you in the loop as best I can. At some point I will get good at scheduling these missives, but grabbing a moment this morning like a thief.

How is the writing coming?

I’ve continued regular songwriting with Dad, which is super-fun and productive. Highly recommend. It’s funny, busy as I am (political work, 8-show week [About TIme here in NYC - come see us!], pickleball organizing…are you laughing? I can hear you!) - I’m somehow fitting in the writing work with Dad - which actually gives me energy.

I think creativity can do that. Nourish. It’s like cooking for me - I know I’m fortunate that way - when I’m tired and just a little run down, cooking actually makes me feel better, more energized. Maybe the meditative quality of it? (Or that I just love food. Yeah, that’s probably it.)

Wait - Randy Newman…?

So, if I had to pick just ONE songwriting hero, it would be Randy. My pal, Joel Hammer thrust the Sail Away album into my hand when I was a teenager, and I never looked back. The lush strings set against his growly, sometimes gentle and ultimately human voice was so stirring - but it was the lyrics - rife with contradictions and surprises and character that pulled me in. These were unreliable narrators telling stories that satirized themselves.

What the hell was going on here? Often a New Orleans shuffle vibe that could not be escaped. And melodies. Gorgeous, complex stuff. Performance, sure, but real authenticity at its heart, too - a struggle with issues our country was dealing with (often bigotry, racism, classism) set to a jaunty or soaring accompaniment. Just wow. Do yourself a favor and move beyond the Disney stuff, yummy as it is, and check out his other albums.

Why the rant about Randy? Well, somehow, by some remarkable miracle, I got to meet him. And WORK with him. (My heart beats a little faster even as I type this!)

In 2002, there was a workshop of something called The Education of Randy Newman - an early “jukebox” show that had no book - just 42 of Randy’s songs, with a narrative spine centered around the semi-autobiographical album Land of Dreams. We took the show to ACT Theatre in Seattle, and gave it a good run. It was imperfect, but perfect for me, as I played the somewhat Randy-like character — and hell, got to sing and play so many of my favorite tunes ever created.

Initially, I was too shy and scared to even look Randy in the eye, but then found him to be, of course, a gem of a human and collaborator. When it closed, I remember listening to his songs on the subway, home in NYC, eyes closed, keening gently, feeling the loss like a love that had left me. Years later, I built another show from his (and Lucinda Williams’s) material with a dear friend, Melissa Van der Schyff. So - a font of inspiration - and indeed a hero of mine!

So…why the rant again?

Ok. So maybe - work with your heroes? I know from hearing from folks who wrote to Stephen Sondheim as kids - that he ALWAYS wrote back. Sometimes the universe wants you to reach up and out.

But it also wants you to reach to those that are right in front of you.

My dad is a #1 hero of mine. And he lives here now (he was in LA for a good while). And I get to see him a lot more. Which makes me very happy. And we’re writing songs together. Which makes me super-happy. Creativity is indeed nourishing.

Deadlines

My pickleball pal and supporter Cindy asked me last year sometime if I ever wanted to do a house concert to let her know. I had no idea what I would do for that, so I said, “thanks.” About a month and a half ago, I took her up on her offer. I still didn’t know what I would be doing - but yes, I accepted her offer. It’s on April 13th and now that I have a deadline, I have to do something! Nothing like a deadline!

I realized that including Dad was an obvious win, so we will be doing it together. And we’ll be joined by our wonderful musician friend Kenny Kosek. And it will be a potluck. Of course. I love a potluck! What will we be doing? Hmmm. Working on it! (You can hop on the waiting list for house concert if you’re interested.)

The latest….

But still, we’re just focusing on writing songs. We’re jamming on lyrics - rough concept, verse and chorus, then moving on. Then circling back to flesh out the ones we like, folding in a musical idea. Polishing to come - just getting out drafts.

Here’s a draft of one of this week’s tunes, That’s What My Shoulder’s For. With apologies to - and deep affection - for Randy Newman.

That’s What My Shoulder’s For
				
Coming home to my fifth-floor walk-up, hear a fight
‘Tween two skinny movers and a piano that won’t agree
They’re stuck on the stairs, won’t be getting ‘round
Anytime soon, that much is plain to see

The upright starts to roll a little backwards
Seems like it’s gonna break free
No time to wait, gotta jump right in
And heave on one two, three

That’s what my shoulder’s for
Don’t have to do it alone	
If there’s a weight that you’re bearing
Burdens are for sharing 
Then the troubles you are carrying get gone
You may be strong and capable
It’s not weakness to hold a helping hand
When you’ve had it up to here and can’t take it anymore
That’s what my shoulder’s for

Lady steps up on the crosstown bus
With babies, and groceries and cursing the weather
Hands me an infant while she finds her fare
The kid loses his lunch on my sweater

Sit next to a fella who decides to unload
Wife left him, didn’t even leave a letter
He’s waiting for the day when the pain’s gonna stop
Guess telling me makes it better

That’s what my shoulder’s for
Don’t have to do it alone
If there’s a weight that you’re bearing 
Burdens are for sharing 
Then the troubles you are carrying gets gone
You may be strong and capable
It’s not weakness to hold a helping hand
When you’ve had it up to here and can’t take it anymore
That’s what my shoulder’s for
That’s what my shoulder’s for
Lean on me
That’s what my shoulder’s for

It also has made me think about storytelling in general and how music relates to that - in different ways.

I had a lovely dinner with nephew Webb and his fiancée Natalie the other night. I love their origin story - they got together over music - without meeting each other. Turns out they were going to the same raves that featured electronic music - and when they actually met later, they put together those pieces - and the nights they shared before they were together. I think that’s so cool!

Webb asked us for our top 5 albums at dinner. A fun exercise, and his ranged from Dylan to EDM. My wife and I were curious to hear a track that he admired in the genre that we knew little of and he sent us this:

(Double-click if you wanna hear)

I could just see Webb on the dance floor exorcising his demons to this.

And weirdly, it got me thinking about storytelling. This track is doing that. No words, but introducing elements, designed to get you to move, but brilliantly keeping your interest, removing elements, building - there’s a kind of internal journey that I think it can inspire a dancer or listener to take. What is going to get you to that next level…? I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.

I come from a far more traditional form of storytelling - American roots music. Blues, bluegrass, folk - where the lyrics are leading the story, and often the music. Matching the authentic story to the music is where the magic can really bubble up for me. I’m writing tunes with my dad these days that are more along those lines.

Then there’s musical theatre songs. You could argue that the best parts of a musical’s book are often stolen to create a song. But sometimes it’s actually a personal story that can lead to a tune. In the revue show I’m doing now, About TIme, there are a couple of those - and the show’s writers, Richard Maltby and David Shire have always sought those out.

Richard actually overheard the story that turned into the song “Done”. Lynne was recounting a very relatable audition story to a fellow cast mate as this show was in development. During the process, Richard asked her out to lunch. Part of her was wondering if it was a gentle “pink slip” date (not likely, as she is so perfect in the show - and was in their very successful revue Closer Than Ever), but Richard said,

“I cannot get your Wicked audition story out of my head. I want your permission to be able to write about it and I want to mention specifics, etc. It’s your personal story, and I’ll respect your answer either way - but I think it’s a universal story. And it’s perfect for About Time. We’ve all hit that wall where we’ve wanted to give up, and we feel like ‘what’s the point?’ Also, I haven’t actually written it, so it may or may not happen. I jotted down ideas, but I wanted your permission out of respect.”

Well, it did happen, and it’s hilarious, touching and defiant. I even get to play a tiny part in it - one of my favorite things I get to do in the show.

It’s a good story. And the music weaves and bobs and torches in just the right way to support it. And Lynne, well, she gets to sing a song based on a story - that is hers. I find that so touching and satisfying! The album isn’t out yet, but I’ll drop the lyrics below! Here’s the fabulous Lynne in action:

DONE

LYNNE:
I’M SINGING MY USUAL AUDITION SONG – AND I’M VEXED
THE CASTING GUY’S THERE AND I SWEAR HE IS SENDING A TEXT!
I FINISH, HE DOESN’T LOOK UP, HE JUST SAYS “THANK YOU –NEXT”
AND I THINK – “REALLY???"

AFTER MY WHOLE CAREER TO BE TREATED THIS WAY,
IT’S DEPLORABLE
I’VE AUDITIONED FOR WICKED TEN TIMES,
I’M STILL NOT MADAME MORRIBLE
WHICH IS BARELY A PART! THIRTEEN MINUTES ON STAGE!
AND WHAT’S HORRIBLE
IS I THINK: “REALLY?”

I WALK OUT THE DOOR, FEELING WORSE THAN I’VE FELT IN YEARS
AND WALK INTO A POLE
Ow!
'CUZ MY EYES ARE BLURRED UP WITH TEARS
AND I THINK

DONE
I’M DONE
IT’S OVER
I’M STOPPING
I’M DONE
I’M DONE! DONE! DONE! DONE! DONE!

I AM…DONE WITH DOING READINGS OF SHOWS
WITH PLOTS SHOT FULL OF HOLES
LEARNING TEN NEW SONGS IN FIVE DAYS, PLAYING SIX REDUNDANT ROLES.
KNOWING WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IS JUST A YOUNG BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
I’M DONE, I’M DONE, I’M DONE

I CAN’T RECALL THE LAST TIME I WAS SENT A SCRIPT WITH WEIGHT
MY AGENT SAID HE HAD AN OFFER FOR ME, I SAID “GREAT!”
THE PART WAS “GRANDMA” AND THE SCRIPT SAID I WAS EIGHTY-EIGHT

KISSED “INGENUE” GOODBYE WITH MY THIRD SHOW
I’M CLUTCHING LEADING LADY --- GUESS IT’S TIME THAT I LET GO
I SAID I’D QUIT WHEN IT STOPPED BEING FUN
IT’S THE ONLY THING I DO
AND I’M DONE

DIDN’T WANT TO GO HOME, AND LET ANYONE SEE ME THIS WAY
“FUN HOME!” -- NEVER SAW IT! -- I CAN JUST MAKE TODAYS MATINEE.
SINGING LESBIANS! -- THAT’D CHEER ANYONE UP -- OKAY!
SO I SAY “YEAH, REALLY”

I RACE TO THE THEATRE – OH, THE IRONY’S STUNNING!
CUZ “FUN HOME”’S IN THE SAME BUILDING WHERE “WICKED” IS RUNNING!
AND I SAY “REALLY!”
WICKED? REALLY?
REALLY? REALLY?
WICKED? WICKED WICKED WICKED WICKED
I’M DONE DONE DONE

DONE WITH --
THE INFANT DANCE CAPTAIN WHO SAYS “CAN YOU DO A SPLIT?”
DO A SPLIT? LOOK AT ME! I’M A SINGER, YOU LITTLE SHIT
BUT I DON’T SPEAK, CAUSE, HEY, I WANT THE PART
AND HUMILATION, LADIES, IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR ART
I’LL STOP BEFORE THE FINAL SLIDE’S BEGUN
IT’S THE ONLY THING I DO
AND I’M DONE

Wait. There’s more.

I GO UP TO THE BOX OFFICE, FIND THERE IS BARELY A LINE
THE GUY HAS ONE STANDING ROOM LEFT – I JUST SAY TO HIM “FINE”
HE PRINTS OUT THE TICKET AND GIVES ME THE VOUCHER TO SIGN
THEN HE SAYS:

DAN
“I saw your name on the credit card. Just want to say what an incredible actress /singer you are. I saw the show you did down in the Village years ago. It was one of the most exciting performances I’ve ever seen, ever. I will never forget it. All I can say is: Thank You.”

LYNNE
(Long pause)
AND I THINK: REALLY?
REALLY?
ON THIS DAY – REALLY?
REALLY!
REALLY!!!!

I cried for the next hour.
People thought I was REALLY into “FUN HOME!”

WHY DO WE DO THIS THING WE DO?
IT’S TO COMMUNICATE, TO SHARE!
BUT WHEN THE CONTACT HAPPENS, WHO WOULD KNOW?
WE’RE NEVER THERE
IT WAS JUST ANOTHER JOB FOR ME,
THE DAY THAT THAT GUY CAME
I WENT OUT, DID THE SHOW –
ONE GUY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

BUT THAT IS WHAT WE DO
IN THIS MIRACLE WE PURSUE
THIS STORY’S TRUE
I SHARED WITH YOU

AND NOW, WHAT’S NEXT
I’M SENDING WICKED A TEXT!
HEY SON GUESS WHAT
YOU’RE DONE I’M NOT
I’M DONE BEING DONE
I’M DONE
OH….
AH AAHHHHHHH