The Winding Road

Room For Cream?

2011-04-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

My train ride was silent this morning. All I could hear was the sound of thoughts trying to make their way into words in my head. Responses to pressures I was feeling. Pressures from many sources and directions. Pressures I didn’t really know were there. Pressure can be a very subtle thing and one can endure a great deal of it without being aware. Expanding and contracting as various aspects of life ebb and flow. This particular day, I hit my internal red zone. Panic began to set in as I became fearful that I could not speak a sentence — perhaps ever again. Tears began to surface... again. They had begun on the train platform a few minutes earlier when I returned a phone call to my sister, Julie. After a brief conversation which ended when she posed the question, “How are you doing?” and I tried to answer “I’m fine” but was rendered speechless. My body wouldn’t let the words out. It wouldn’t allow such deceit. It wouldn’t allow anything to be said. After a long silence I fought to get the words “I’ll call you back” delivered before hanging up. I was overpowered by a breach in the emotional dam designed to protect me. When working properly, it harnesses the powerful force of my emotions and controls the flow. I don’t know if I should call it working “properly” — perhaps “normally” is a better term. Normal for me anyway.

Coffee is my feel good remedy. Aspirin is called the miracle drug. Coffee is simply my miracle. For some unknown reason, which I believe began in college, I have come to think of coffee as some sort of magic potion — an elixir that can transcend my ability to sort things out on my own. Perhaps there’s more to caffein than we realize. Or maybe this is a typical symptom of any addiction. Or maybe coffee is just a superhero for me to believe in — I can always count on it to help me sort things out. Regardless, when we pulled in to Union Station where I transfer from the Gold Line to the Red Line on my daily commute to Hollywood, I decided to stop at the new Starbucks that had gone in days earlier. When I approached the front of the line, I wondered if I could utter my order without losing the words as had happened on the conversation with my sister. When, to my relief, I got my order out (not without a great deal of effort), I was derailed when the cashier asked a follow up question, the answer to which I had not rehearsed in line. The 20 minutes of attempted tear control leading up to this Starbucks visit was clearly evident in my face judging by her reaction. She quickly understood that I was somewhere else at that moment and left the question of whether I wanted room for cream or not to be answered another day. She filled the cup.

Nashville

2009-09-23T04:13:00.000-07:00

Just back from a wonderful trip to Nashville. I played Billy Block's show at 12th & Porter which is always great fun. Billy is immortalized in my song "Nashville" that kicks off the new record. I also played a show at the Tennessee State Fair where I had to compete with a trapeze artist hanging from a helicopter over my head. Talk about being upstaged. All heads, including mine, were looking straight up as I sang "Crazy For Hollywood" which seemed somewhat appropriate.

The Americana Music Association conference kicked off Wednesday night with some great shows and a surprise appearance by the legendary John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, who did a killer set at Mercy Lounge. I was surprised and delighted to see my good friend Oren Waters (who sings on "Sweet Corn") on stage with him. Also caught the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and JD Souther which were highlights for me. As far as newer faces that I saw, hands down my favorite band is the Belleville Outfit. I caught them at the Kerrville Folk Festival in '08 and have been a big fan ever since. Also loved seeing Justin Townes Earle.

Friday I spoke on a panel that focused on placing music in Film, TV and Advertising. Video games were also discussed but there aren't a lot of Americana focused video games in the market just yet. During the panel, Dan Navarro was next door doing a showcase and I could hear him through the wall. Dan's birthday was earlier in the week and we had a chance to tip a glass to his youth. All in all a wonderful conference and visit to Music City -- a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to die there... as the song goes.

Let the blogs begin again

2009-09-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, it's been ages since my last post. Been working on a record (which is now finished and coming out 9/15), learning Facebook and Twitter, and trying to figure out all the stuff I need to do as a folk artist in this wacky new world. Currently I'm up in Capitola, CA (Santa Cruz area) breathing some fresh air and taking refuge from the Southern California wildfires with my family.

Alright -- enough excuses. How about a little strange bit of trivia I stumbled upon recently. Perez Hilton, the famous blogger and television personality known for covering celebrity gossip, is my former publicist's assistant. I knew him as Mario Lavandeira when he worked for my company, DeepMix, back in 2002. I reconnected with Mario recently and he has agreed to be our "Guest DJ" for the upcoming DeepMix Bandwidth -- an eNewsletter that goes out to advertising and entertainment industry folks. Regardless of what you might think of Perez's journalistic tendencies, he does have good musical taste. Should be interesting. If you want to get on the Bandwidth bandwagon, just send an email to bandwidth@deepmix.com with "subscribe" in the subject.

Looking forward to the Americana Music Conference in Nashville which begins on September 17. I'll be speaking on a Film, TV, and Advertising panel on Friday the 18th at 4pm. Come say hello if you're attending the conference.

Kicking off the CD Release with a show in Lincoln, Nebr. at CGS Music on Saturday, September 12. Steve Hanson will be joining me and it'll be big fun -- come on down if you're in the area. I promise to blog again before Sugar Larsen's birthday on Sept. 23!

New Single "There" (for Michael & Cora)

2008-07-19T23:34:00.000-07:00

I have a new song written to honor two wonderful kids, Michael and Cora Betts, who were lost in a tragic car accident in January. Proceeds from the song will benefit the Michael and Cora Betts Legacy Fund. I hope you'll buy the CD Single and pass the word around for others to do the same. The song will also be available through iTunes but not until September 8 so I encourage you to order now from the "Buy Now" link on my home page. The artwork is by a wonderful young artist by the name of Megan Stringfellow. You can find more of her work at stringfellowart.net

The Birchmere

2007-12-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

On a rainy night in Alexandria, Virginia, I got my introduction to the legendary Birchmere club. I was opening a show for my friend Suzy Bogguss who nearly sold out the 500 seat dinner theatre. I had heard so much about this great venue, just outside of Washington D.C., and it surpassed all of my expectations.

The minute I walked in I felt as if I had entered the Ritz Carlton of Honky Tonks. Not by décor but by the incredibly well-oiled machine that it is. The staff was so welcoming and helpful and yet seemed almost transparent because everyone was going about doing what they do so well.

Prior to my soundcheck, I walked through the hallway outside the theatre and gazed at the pictures of so many of my favorite artists – like a family tree of my musical influences. When I took the stage at 7:30 sharp, everyone was well-fed and ready to listen.

Suzy was kind enough to come out and sing “Ring of Fire” with me midway through my set. When we recorded the song for my CD, we cut our parts at different times, in different cities. So doing it live together and hearing that blend of our voices was a gas.

What a memorable experience! I hope to make it back to the Birchmere real soon. If you ever get a chance to attend a show there, jump at it – you won’t be disappointed. –BC

Lines In The Dirt update

2007-10-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a crazy summer around here since the official release of Lines In The Dirt on July 10. I’ve been a little out of touch, but family vacations, work at my company, DeepMix, as well as the CD promotion, have kept me hopping.

I christened the album with a couple of CD release shows back in Nebraska, which were a blast. In late July, I had the great pleasure to make my headlining debut at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley – one of the finest folk clubs in the country. Also heard from a few friends from as far away as Florida who caught me on West Coast Live -- a syndicated radio show out of San Francisco hosted by Sedge Thomson. An Associated Press writer, Steve Wine, did me a great favor by reviewing the album which appeared in papers all over the country including the San Francisco Chronicle . The CD has fared well on a couple of radio charts – #7 on the US Folk chart and #5 at Euro-Americana. And a few songs from Lines are currently in rotation on XM Radio’s “X Country” channel 12.

Upcoming shows in the next few months take me to California, Texas, Tennessee (Bluebird cafe debut), Colorado, Washington, and finally Virginia where I’ll be opening for Suzy Bogguss at the legendary Birchmere. Hope you can make it out to say hello. Show details can be found on my website .

If you haven’t picked up the CD or if you have some friends who might enjoy it, you can order Lines just about anywhere CDs are sold. If you order through my website , I make a few extra bucks and shipping is free on orders of 2 or more. You can also purchase the downloads at iTunes or MySpace. I appreciate the support and any help you can provide spreading the word about the record! Cheers. –BC

Kate Wolf Festival

2007-07-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Despite growing up in the same city and being the same age (although she's aged better than I), it wasn't until yesterday at the Kate Wolf Festival in northern California that I met singer/songwriter Laura Love. I had finished my set and was hanging around to hear Richie Havens who I worked with about 15 years ago. From the stage I heard Laura mention her Nebraska roots. I caught about half of her very entertaining set and we chatted afterward. Very strange that our paths had never crossed until now. She was playing with a banjo player named Danny Barnes who I've been a fan of for some time. Danny is a wonderful artist who has been in a number of bands that I like. Also performing at the festival were my friends, Lowen & Navarro, who sang background vocals for me on the new CD (on "Paperboy"), and Kenny Edwards, who I hope to do some shows with in the near future. It was a great experience with thousands of people all having a wonderful time camping, celebrating life and enjoying music in a beautiful setting. Hope to make it back next year! -BC

CDs In The Mail

2007-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Those of you who paid exorbitant sums of money on my website for a pre-release copy of Lines In The Dirt should have them in your mailbox shortly. A big thank you to everyone who ordered in advance and helped me finance it. My nephew Reed broke the bad news that there was a printing error in the song order. As a result, I've fired myself from my job as proofreader. Other than that, I'm thrilled with the way it all looks and sounds. The digital release date for iTunes, etc. is June 18 and the physical street date at retail is July 10.

I had a couple of great gigs last week. Made my first appearance at a wonderful club called Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA and played the Western Beat show in Nashville at a club called 12th & Porter. Suzy Bogguss came down and sat in on a couple of songs at the Nashville show after playing the Grand Old Opry earlier in the evening. She does a duet with me on the new CD and it was a thrill to have her at the show. Next stop for me is Portland, Oregon for a show on the 24th at Mississippi Studios. -BC

Laptop In The Graveyard

2007-05-20T01:54:00.000-07:00

Alright, I had no idea how dependent I had become on my computer. Until about a six weeks ago when it stopped cold and couldn't be revived. I had backed up most of the data but lost all of my email correspondence which has become my life blood. Anyway, life goes on, although not all that smoothly. If you're wondering why I haven't blogged or responded to an email, this is as good of an excuse as I could come up with, try me again. -BC

New CD Almost Finished

2007-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm in the studio this morning with my producer, Ed Tree, and we're mixing the final 3 songs for my new CD, Lines In The Dirt. Hallelujah! This has been a great project for me and I can really feel my growth as a songwriter and performer since making Cottonwood. Tomorrow we're shooting a video of "Let Her Fall In Love" at a studio in North Hollywood. It will probably be posted on my web site sometime in May so keep an eye out for that. Can't wait to share this with you all. Cheers. -BC

Freight and Salvage & A Lesson On Annunciation

2007-02-21T15:48:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful opportunity to play at the legendary folk club, Freight & Salvage, last week up in Berkeley, CA. I opened for Livingston Taylor with whom I had worked years earlier and had been a fan since I first heard him back in college. Livingston was in fine form -- he's a wonderful entertainer. If you ever get the chance, go see him in concert and make him play "Railroad Bill," it's a riot!

My publicist, Lance Cowan, also works with Livingston's nephew Ben Taylor (son of James Taylor & Carly Simon). The other day I phoned Lance to let him know about the progress on the new CD and he didn't hear me clearly when I said "It's Brad." He proceeded to tell me that the Boston Globe wanted to do a story on me and that I needed to contact them in the next 24hrs. I said "That's fantastic, Lance, I'm shocked that they want to do something on Cottonwood this long after the release," to which he replied "Brad? oh sorry, thought you were Ben."

You Should See The Other Guy

2007-01-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

I got a black eye at my show Saturday night. OK, I figured this might happen one fine day. But I always thought it would be as a result of some unruly patron. Instead, it was a self-inflicted wound. I was about to play my last song of the night at a show in Los Angeles and decided to do a song for which I needed a special capo (tucked conveniently in my bag just off stage). When I went to quickly take the guitar off over my head I clipped myself just above the right eyebrow. It stung, but I didn't think much of it until I woke up to my wife's gasp as she saw my battle wound. This is a dangerous line of work I'm in. I'm just happy I didn't knock myself out -- though I'm sure that would have been a crowd pleaser! -BC

Get Your Rear In Gear

2007-01-17T21:42:00.000-08:00

I received an email today from a woman named Angie in West Bend, Wisconsin. She used my song "Fire On The River" in a montage about a fundraiser her family put together in honor of her brother Dean who died from colon cancer at age 29. Here's the link, http://gyrig.blogspot.com/. Read the back story, it's very touching. And to quote my new friends in Wisconsin "Get your rear in gear" and get a check up! Good advice -- I'm calling my doc tomorrow (not Doc Zeller). -BC

"Time Away" video to run on GAC

2006-12-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to announce that my "Time Away" video will run nationally on the Great American Country channel on January 10. Shot in scenic southern Kentucky by Australian director, Ross Wood, it features Nashville actress, Ivey Baird, and her grandfather.

Please tune in to The Edge of Country on January 10. The show will air 3 times: 1:00 pm, 11:30 pm and 3:30 am (morning of the 11th). All times are eastern.

Peace.

2006-12-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is settling in for a great holiday break. I think we all need to pray for wisdom among world leaders and peace on this planet of ours.

Been tracking away at the new CD which is really starting to take shape. Can't wait to share it with you. Highlights so far are "Let Her Fall In Love" (shooting a video on this soon), the title track, "Lines In The Dirt", and "Remember Me" which is being used in an ad campaign for Etch-A-Sketch. The Etch spots were recently picked by Adweek magazine in their Best Spots section for November.

Just got word today that former Eagles and Poco member, Randy Meisner, is going to contribute some talent to the CD. Really looking forward to that session in the coming weeks. I'm playing a show on March 2 in Randy's hometown of Scottsbluff, Nebraska at the Midwest Theater.

For those of you who signed up for future email announcements, thank you. If you want a copy of my new Christmas song (featured recently on a compilation CD put out by Hudson Harding Music) go to the sign up link on the home page. After you sign up you'll receive an email with download instructions. Best wishes for the holidays and a wonderful new year. -BC

Lines In The Dirt underway

2006-12-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Ed Tree and I dove into making my next CD which is tentatively titled Lines In The Dirt. We cut basic tracks on a few songs including a cover version of "Ring Of Fire". I recently was asked to play at Folsom Prison so it seems appropriate for me to be doing a Johnny Cash song right now (actually written by the late June Carter Cash). More on the prison gig later. We also did some work on the title track and a new one called "My Ex-wife" -- a funny song about a guy who is convinced that in a past life, his ex-wife was crazy and wanted to kill him. I have a lot of musician friends who are far outnumbered by their ex-wives, so I had a lot to pull from in writing this one. No first hand experience however -- thank you Celeste. -BC

New site, new blog, new me

2006-11-21T11:16:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for paying me a visit. We've just revamped the web site and added a few nifty features like this blog. (when I say we I mean Beena Ramaswami and my sister Julie Larsen who create all the magic behind this web curtain) I'll post some news here and there and share a few things about my life and my terrifying high-wire decision to be an artist again after all these years. Here's to not looking down or back. -BC