It's been awhile, I know, but I am coming out of the woodwork for a little while to play a show at the Nomad Cafe in about two weeks. Meanwhile, if you haven't had the chance to check in personally, here's what's going on:

1) I'm into the home stretch of my Ph.D! Next May, I'll be done here, and onto the next stage. Plans are for me to stay in the Bay Area and continue my musical projects while getting my first professional teaching job.

2) The Grace Woods Trio released Metaphoreality in January and we are already nearly finished tracking a follow-up to that. Other details to come shortly.

3) Jacob Wolkenhauer and I have taken over the Songwriters' Symposium, and I am now installed as its permanent host. We are preparing to move the open mic upstairs to the 2nd floor of Blakes on Telegraph, but the official date is still not determined.

4) Also in Symposium news, a whole host of new recordings from our Monday night party were posted on The Open Mic Documentary website by Slim Critchlow, and also broadcast on Berkeley Channel 28!

5) Shedsongs by A Paler Shade of Valentino (Tim Corrigan's project to which I contributed bass) was completed in July. If you're interested in hearing it, drop me a line. Despite all the difficulty we had in organizing its completion, it really turned out beautifully.

6) Jacob Wolkenhauer's new CD is still in the works, but I've done my recording for it. I won't say anything more here, but if you go to the Songwriters' Symposium regularly, you probably know what songs I'm guesting on already...

7) After months of playing together and guesting on each others' songs, Vanessa Van Spall and Ian Hisert's duo is starting to merge with the Grace Woods Trio. New songs are pouring out (three of which we debuted last Saturday at the Starry Plough) and a new name is forthcoming. For now, we're taking some time off from performing (after this weekend in Monterey) to finish up the new recording and workshop new stuff with the unnamed five-piece ensemble.

Busy busy busy...


Happy New Year!
December 31, 2007

Here's wishing the best to you and yours for the coming year! Tell me your New Year's Resolutions, if you have them, and I'll tell you mine... nothing like having good friends to hold you to them!

It's been a truly amazing year for me! While some facets of life haven't quite gone as planned, music has been a constant source of cheer, affirmation and excitement! When one cylinder of your life is firing like this one has... well, you just don't need much else to be happy. Thanks for sharing the ride with me, and party tonight like it's 1999... again... yeah!

On a slightly less celebratory note, I will probably not be gigging solo until at least this coming summer. With my current workload in graduate school (research and teaching), it will be all I can do to make it to all the Trio shows in support of Metaphoreality and remember to eat and bathe, so that's on hold until at least late May. Maybe a celebratory show right as I finish up the semester? We'll see... At any rate, keep your eyes trained here and to GraceWoodsTrio.com for information on the GWT, and maybe send me the occasional words of encouragement... it's gonna be a rough five months.

Peace, love and harmony,
Joe

SURPRISE! We're rocking the City!
December 27, 2007

The Grace Woods Trio will be appearing at The Make-Out Room this Sunday, December 30 at a female-fronted band showcase featuring fellow Bay area talents, Vanessa Van Spall and Brittany Shane. Festivities start at 8pm, the Trio goes on at 9, and it'll take $6 to get you in the door for 3 hours of fantastic music! Spend the penultimate day of 2007 with us... you won't regret it!

Metaphoreality and a Trio Holiday Hiatus
December 10, 2007

In the news right now:

1) Metaphoreality, the first full-length album from the Grace Woods Trio awaits only printing. Also, the East Bay CD Release party is scheduled for Sunday, January 27 (8:00pm) at Anna's Jazz Island. Further info about that is on the GIGS page, and possible opening acts and other promotions will be made available as they are clarified.

2) The Trio will be taking a well-deserved month of rest from performing in the meantime. Next show is a benefit at Acalanes HS on 1/9/08, before hitting Hayward that Friday, the 11th.

3) For all my friends and fans in Baltimore, I'll be appearing on this year's Deformative Records compilation, Deformography 07-08. I'm contributing "Life, Replaced by Mineral" from last year's release Salvaging Monday to sit alongside a dozen and a half other great Baltimore artists!

4) Oh yeah, I'll be in Baltimore from the 19th to the 29th. If I haven't seen you in awhile (or even if I have), give me a buzz so we can hook up!

News Update
October 8, 2007

In the news right now:

1) The Grace Woods Trio's full-length album is tracked and is now in the hands of the mixers. We're thinking a January or February release, but don't hold us to it. More info (including title, track list, etc.) as it becomes available...

2) A Paler Shade of Valentino is currently in stasis, but will kick back into gear once we're all done working our fine, talented asses off in our non-musical pursuits.

3) I haven't had a solo show in over two months... WTF, mate? I'll get on that, I promise.

4) I just returned from a trip to Italy that got the creative juices flowing again... and I'm writing! Get ready for a spate of new songs in the next few months. If you'd like to hear them as I figure them out, come see me EVERY MONDAY NIGHT at Blakes on Telegraph for the Songwriters' Symposium Open Mic. Sign-up at 8:30pm, Show at 9:15!

Website Artwork ©2006 Sarah Pine.
This site maintained by Joe Hickey. Last updated 12/31/07.