Sorry it's been so long.  I have been a busy lady this year.  I went on tour with Noa Babayof and Festival in the summer and went to St. John with my family over the holiday and I recorded a couple songs for a 7" I am releasing on Heron Recordings based out of the UK and preparing myself to release my first official album on Language of Stone.  The release is set for May 26, 2009!!!  
Go to http://languageofstone.com for more information on that.

I also recorded a song with Mike Skinner for a compilation that Cosmos Recordings is putting out.

As for shows I am playing 2 shows with Beirut on April 10th @ the Electric Factory in Philadelphia and April 11th @ the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC... pretty exciting stuff.

Here is a list of bands that I have been listening to:

Glass Ghost
Treasure
This frontier needs Heroes
Hello Lovers
Spider
Skogar
Movie Star Junkies

More news to come!!!

So I just got back from traveling around the east coast with Noa Babayof. 
She is such a lady.  She is very passionate about life and sings sad love songs.
She just moved to Philadelphia from Israel.  She has a 3 year artist visa to explore music in the states.
You will be able to see her around the PA/NY area from here on out!

July 4th
We got to play a bbq house show in Cambridge, MA with Palms, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs' new band.
One of the sweetest people I have ever met in my life.  She is from LA.  She was accompanied by Caroline from Hologram
who she's been touring with.  Really great stuff.

July 5th
We played at Chill Yoga in Lewiston, ME w/ Denise Dill and Arborea - some really beautiful music.
We stayed at Shanti and Buck's house (from Arborea).  Shanti made us buckwheat pancakes as Buck played 'Silly Sisters' and we went on a walk through the bird conservatory with their beautiful daughter Sheila.  Then they gave us a tour of their favorite cemetary which overlooks the water from a cliff-like edge. 

July 6th
We played a house show with Alec K Redfearn, Orion, Dominick, Annikki Dawn, and more i can't remember... :( but it was a great time.
We went to brunch with Dominick the next day at Julian's - which was AMAZING.  I highly recommend.  Especially if you're healthy and into vegetarian/vegan food.  We walked around some local shops, where I found this HILARIOUS card. 
"sorry i took you for granite"

Then we had some ice cream at Cold Stone.  I had a sugar and coffee buzz to drive New Hampshire.  (perfect!)

July 7th
We played at the Red Door with Larkspur.  We met this really sweet guy named Josh who let us stay at is place.  He and his friend Giles brought us to Friendly Toast for brunch.  Very cool. And then we headed to Fort Stark.  Dated from 1777 there are still forts and barracks and ship remnants by and in the water.  Very beautiful.

July 8th
We played at Hooker Dunham Theatre.

July 9th
We played at the Monkey house in Winooski, VT with Birds and Beasts.  Thanks to TickTick who puts on the best shows in VT.  They really went above and beyond.  I got to hang out with my brothers, Pete and Steve, who I rarely get to see, but when I do it's really great.  Those two have hearts of gold.

July 10th
We played at a beautiful Gallery in Albany, NY with Swamp Baby.  There was artwork up by Angelou Guingon who is based in Philadelphia.  Nick (from swamp baby) and his lovely lady Donna Baird let us stay at their new home in Troy, which overlooks a river from his kitchen.

July 11th
We played in Jamestown at Mojo's with Chis Bell who is about to embark on a canoe tour.  That's right.  A tour by water.  We took Noa to her first small town fair ever, where we indulged in deep fried oreos and went on the viking ride.  Never have I seen Noa so happy.

July 12th
We played in Ithaca.  We were lucky enough to play with Jana Hunter and Matteah Baim who - of course - were amazing. 
We played at No Radio, which is a really great record store near downtown.  We stayed with Ryan, who traded delicious cherries for a cd and let us stay at his beautiful home, which had a full garden in his front yard.  Ryan is a beautiful human being who is active in his community and passionate about human rights.  I still have a lot to learn from him.  We went to ABC cafe for brunch (delish) and it started to rain.  Then we were off.  :(

July 13th
We headed to Rochester, NY where Michael and Alaina made a wonderful vegan meal with Jana and Matteah and played us some real good soul music.  We played at Boulder Coffee that night and stayed up talking on the porch.  In the morning we went for hotdogs at Dogtown.  SO good.  Got mine fully dressed up.  It was "an occasion".

July 14th
We played in State College, Pa at Schlow Centre Regional Library with Thingmajigsaw.  A duo from Ireland and Sweden.  Wonderfully creepy, splatter folk...  We stayed with Nat and Catie in the beautiful home with their two dogs. 

July 15th
We played at the First Unitarian church with the lovely Meg Baird (of Espers) and Thingumajigsaw.  We played in the Chapel of the church where it is a bit more intimate.  I can't describe how nervous I was sitting in front of a room full of people sitting in pews as I am supposed to perform where a wedding might normally be performed...  palms = super sweaty.

July 16th
We played under the Brooklyn Bridge (thanks to Zebulon for inviting me) with Colin Stetson, Charles Gayle Trio, and Stuart Bogie/Superhuman Happiness.  As the sun set, the lights of the bridge came on, and if you walked to the water, you could see Olafur's waterfalls in the distance. 

July 17th
We played at the Golden West in Baltimore with 13 Falls, duo based in Baltimore.  We stayed at Lexi's house which is on church property and overlooks a cemetary.  Her dog kept me company all night.

July 18th
We played our last show on the tour at 611 Florida in DC.  An incredible man named Scott has been throwing shows there for years and there is only one show left before he moves to Philadelphia.  We played with Kuschty Rye Ergo and Sun Tornado.  We stayed up all night listening to records.  Schooled on psych folk by Scott and Noa I have taken these names down:  Mellow Candle, Carol Bui, Dayle Stanley - which I understand their best records are impossible to find, so I guess I am just out of luck for now...

--------------------more to come, i promise.  Photos are being developed as I write---------------------

So I have heard some pretty amazing music lately and thought I should keep better track of the bands I've seen and met. I know how my memory gets... So Wednesday night I got to play with
Delta Spirit
Port O'Brien, and Butchers and Bakers

This is a live song performed by The Delta Spirit. It blew my mind.

So it's been a while since I've written and I am sorry.
I just got back from England after opening up for Meg Baird (of Espers) on her solo UK tour.
We played in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, and London.
What a whirlwind!
Milena Silvano (an amazing designer - http://at-the-treehouse.com)
Cat Stevens (an incredible photographer - http://www.catstevensphotography.co.uk)
Ben Wileman (of Wichita Records http://www.wichita-recordings.com)
were all in the car with us on this amazing trip.
A TV sitcom, really...

Bands to definitely check out:
Birdengine -- http://www.myspace.com/birdengine
Lucie Wren -- http://www.myspace.com/luciewren
Dean McPhee -- http://www.myspace.com/deanmcphee
David Jaycock -- http://www.myspace.com/davidajaycockmusic
Mariee Sioux -- http://www.myspace.com/marieesioux
Greg Weeks  --  http://www.myspace.com/gregweeks
Morvern Callar  --  http://www.myspace.com/hazyjane

I got to meet each of them, and they are lovely. all of them.

I have a new favorite visual artist I would like to share with everyone.
His name is Esao Andrews.  He is based in Brooklyn, NY.  To me, he captures the perfect balance of dark and lightheartedness.
Here is one of my favorite pieces entitled Last Hour.



For More Information you can find more HERE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meg, Matt Bauer, and I will be playing at Zebulon in
Brooklyn, NY, February 27th @ 9pm.
The show is free and should be an amazing night.
Come and celebrate my 27th birthday with me!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So here goes, my first entry.

So these last few months living in brooklyn has had it's ups and downs, but let me tell you...
I LOVE New York. I have a huge window that covers an entire wall that I wake up to every day,
laughing to myself, still in a bit of disbelief I have finally taken this plunge.

Forest Fire is one of my favorite bands in New York right now. Mark Thresher, writer singer guitar, Myisha Battle, percussion singer, Adam Spittler, samples keys bells, Jeremiah, sax sings...
Dirty raw scarce country grunge (in my opinion. they might wince at that. sorry guys. I mean well...)
myspace.com/fuckforestfire

Leah Hayes (aka Scary Mansion) Is a lady. She is from Massachusetts but also lives in brooklyn right now. My favorite show has been with her and forest fire. She doesn't even know her, but Sibylle Baier could've been her mother. Like lullabies she may not remember having being sung to her... her voice is a sad ghost. Her songs are dark and airy. She plays a thunderstick which sounds like a banjo almost. I am going to stop before I embarass myself... And by the way, she's an amazing artist.
myspace.com/scarymansion

She Keeps Bees is also from Brooklyn. Jessica Larrabee sings and plays guitar (among many other instruments) and Andy LaPlant is the drummer. A country vibe, but with a nice kind of slow drone to it. Her vocals can go from sweet and reminiscent to fucking pained (in a good way) and I feel it. I feel it so bad I run to the store to by my whiskey asap.
myspace.com/shekeepsbees

Wild Yaks!!!!!! from Brooklyn! Played a house show them at Forest Fire's house with the Finches, the Shaky Hands. Minimal percussion guitars everyone sings in unison. Punkabilly - kind of.
Fucking hard and fun. That's all I will say for now, but CHECK THEM OUT!
myspace.com/boyhoodforever

--------------those are my new york bands, but now for others---------------------------

The Finches from California. (Used to reside in San Francisco, but in LA) Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs is the sweetest!!! she gives me cavities just listening to her. Not only does she write endearing songs about her family friends and everywhere she goes, but she makes baby clothes. So cute! She's so sweet, that when she makes a hip hop reference, heads pop up. I love when I can say about folk... "rock". sentimental. Love her.
myspace.com/thefinches

The Shaky Hands, from Portland, OR. pop - but great pop! jangles and cracking voices. not foot tapping... foot stomping! perfectly minimal. sentimental lyrics. sweet guys to boot! gentlemen's rock. I'm not gonna say too much more now, but please listen to them.
myspace.com/shakyhands

John White from New Zealand. I got to play with him at the Cake Shop in the city. The nicest guy. He was wearing a small boat hat. So timid and polite. He played guitar (quite intricately. classical style) and sang his songs that took me to a different time and place. His voice, almost being a whisper, his songs like he's tucking his friends in, telling them bedtime stories. soft and soothing. real and dream-like. Thank you, john. I needed that.
myspace.com/balloonadventure

That's all for now.

heart,
sharon