Hi Everyone,
Today is the release of the new album Ain’t Done Yet!
This seems like a good time to catch up with you with what has happened during the year. I was in the U.K. for a tour in January which went very well. I particularly like playing the 100 club, a London venue I used to play when I first started with the band. What a night it was. Keith Boyce my drummer back when Ralph Mormon was singing in the band in the 1980s jammed on a couple of songs. Great fun.
Harp player John O’Leary came to a gig and we had a nice talk about the first days of the band and I’m hoping to visit the old London haunts with him perhaps next year.
In February I took the band into Showplace Studios in New Jersey to record the new album Ain’t Done Yet. Owner / Engineer Ben Elliott was very sick but he managed to put his heart and soul into the recording. Helping me produce as well. Unfortunately, shortly after, he succumbed to his illness and I’m still getting over it. The new album is dedicated to Ben and I’m at a loss as to where to record next.
Also in February, I took the band to Texas and then to Canada. In Arlington Texas, guitarist Rocky Athas jammed on a few songs and that was quite a highlight of the tour for me.
Then the virus struck in March. That month and April I had intended as a break from touring so the two month lockdown couldn’t have come at a better time for me but that couldn’t be said for so many people including members of my own family. May went by in similar fashion and in June there was thought to be light ahead. Here we now are in August and still no return to normalcy.
I’m glad to say that the early reviews coming in from the UK and the reaction to the album has been stellar. It’s getting tons of radio play in the U.K. Now the same is happening here in the USA. On blues radio play, the single All Gone Wrong is number one and on Amazon the album is number three in all blues sales. All that and interviews are keeping me happy and involved in my music career.
On top of that, with all the time on my hands, I’ve made progress on a new album for 2022 (?) I’m hoping for a long future with Quarto Valley Records. It really feels like a home to me.
Up here in northern New York State one can feel the heralding of the fall. The garden is almost over though there are tomatoes and peppers still to be picked. Temperatures are leveling off after a steamy past couple of months.
Soon it’ll be winter and I’m hoping in January I can start up with the band playing live gigs once again. It’ll be fun to make up a new set including songs from the current release.
Time continues on relentlessly doesn’t it? Let’s all make 2021 a comeback year for us all. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again with smiles on our faces (even if it’s behind a mask)!
All the best,
Kim