vincent + van gogh brothers
happy christmas, hanukkah, kwanzaa and new year from 30,000 feet! the van Gogh Brothers come in for a landing in 2020 with a 5-month residency at Vincent’s beginning saturday, january 11th, back where it all began in earnest for our long-standing lineup of Paul, Clayton, Steve, Andy and me. as the page turns on another decade, i am filled with gratitude for a life well lived and the continued work of this spectacular band, who enable the realization of the songs that get delivered through me.
2020 and our future endeavors are as clear as a bell now as i continue to create at a breakneck pace in my current carriage house residence in newton, massachusetts, “the center of the universe.” we have over 150 new songs since JUNE, and enough material for at least one new full-length release, and possibly two (electric + acoustic). we began the electric album in december at Woolly Mammoth with David Minehan again co-producing. first tracks include “Down to the River,” a swaggering redemption song that we’ve started performing live, and “Power of Love,” a Sly Stone-infused pop song written for my daughter. these tracks mark the start of our 15th album. simultaneously, we continue to work the release of Love Letters at radio and press, and, most importantly, at our Vincent’s residency from now through 2020.
a word about Vincent’s and Worcester, Massachusetts— the state’s second largest city… while we have played boston fairly consistently since 1995, worcester is the city that embraced us most fervently, with strong venue (Vincent!), audience and radio (WCUW!) support. after 25 years of spreading ourselves between east and west coasts and a career that vacillated between live performances and tv licensing, we have decided to play exclusively in worcester for most or all of 2020 while we work to re-entrench ourselves on the east coast and track our next record. we feel like we owe it to the city that never abandoned us, which has come to totally feel like our home. and of course Vincent + van Gogh Brothers is a perfect formula in and of itself. i always tell others to “go where you’re loved,” and this time i thought we should take the same advice.
having put that stake in the ground, i continue my gypsy life with stakes in malibu, new york, nasville + memphis and back to london in 2020. i will visit israel and palestine in september of 2020 for the palestine music expo (pmx) founded by old friend martin goldschmidt of cooking vinyl records, and new pal, artist, composer and music supervisor, abed hathot. i am very excited to be part of this incredibly creative and socially positive endeavor.
i had the pleasure of seeing boston native and music designers alum, joe chiccarelli, in la in december for the first time in 40 years— joe has gone on to great professional success with frank zappa, the strokes, cage the elephant and many others including one of my personal (and tom petty) favs, the shelters, with multiple grammy awards in recognition of his talent. the best part is that joe is the same great guy he was in the ‘70’s. what a treat. thanks to pal and ex-bandmate michael levine for reconnecting us. of course no visit to la would be complete for me now without seeing the deductions at the write off room in woodland hills. don’t miss these guys if you’re in the valley on a friday night. top studio folk play covers in the spirit of the wrecking crew. wow. naturally i also joined our composers breakfast club of malibu on the monday i was in town and had the pleasure of seeing many of my la pals. i definitely still have a stake in the ground in la and malibu. the shot above is of santa monica as i flew out a week ago.
i hope all of you are enjoying some down time with family and / or friends. i’ve been lucky this year to see my son and daughter’s families and to travel to tucson again for what has become a tradition with a dear friend. i am filled with gratitude and joy this holiday season for a wonderful life filled with love and music. i look forward to 2020 with inspiration and hope. happy holidays to all!
xo
jc