Today everything has come to a head. All 11 tracks from the Locals Covering Locals project have been released and are out there for the world to listen to, to download for absolutely no cost, and to share and enjoy as much as they wish to do so. It’s a 1/2 sigh of relief for me. All the work that so many people have put into this is finally out there to experience. All those emails, the wrangling of folks, counting the minutes on the clock in the studio, the smiles and the laughs we had while listening back to the perfect  take. It is now really behind us and we are hanging it all out.

I say it’s only a half a sigh of relief because we still have the release show. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous for it. I want this project to be worth everyone’s time, energy and love that they sunk into it. I guess I am using a tough holiday weekend night to draw as our measure of success…if we draw well that is. Which I probably shouldn’t. If nothing else, 21 amazing (yes, a total of 21!) musicians came together to create something beautiful. Even if we all weren’t in the room at the same time together, this thing has been bound together by the intense emotion that folks poured into it. All of those folks did something great here. The folks who donated their wonderful songs to be trusted in their hands of their friends and musical colleagues also did something pretty amazing. All 11 songs on this project are absolutely amazing songs on their own merit and in their original state. I think that the versions on this project do them all justice and are an incredible display of the respect and love that our community shares for each other’s work. I highly encourage you all to listen to these songs side by side and see. So to all of you, thank you so much. You all giving your art and your talents to this project mean the world to me and I hope to all of the folks who this project will reach to.

I’d be pretty shitty if I didn’t again say thank you to the folks who were behind all the wonderful sounds being capture and churned out. Sam and Andrew at Riverview went far, far above their job descriptions as sound and mixing engineers for this project. They opened the doors to their home, made everyone who entered feel comfortable and were able to capture the magic that happened as a result unlike anyone I could really imagine. You guys are absolutely incredible. Everything was perfect about this, the vibe, the professional attitude while being laid back enough to let things happen, and of course, the location was pretty key to…

Which brings us to my family (I feel I can openly use that term with these guys now, because I feel that strongly about them) at Dirt Floor Recording Studio in CT. They may be a little ways away…and if we do a Connecticut version, I know where we are recording because everything that I said about Riverview could apply here too. Eric Lichter is like a brother to me now. His generosity, his excitement, the friggin as bright as the sun glow that this man projects is inspiring. Steve Wytas, for your incredible ear and patience with us. Man, you are just insanely talented and open hearted my friend.

Lastly, all the folks who didn’t have to, got essentially nothing in return, but gave what they could so we could get this project over the hump and get hardcopies released at the show at Passim on July 5^th. You inspire me. You are wonderful.

I ask that anyone who reads this, anyone who listens to the project, please share it. Even if its just with one person and that person shares it with another. These songs were recorded in the tradition of sharing and perpetuating the musical community that we have here in the North East. I hope these songs continue to grow and be shared with people long after I am gone and that we have left some kind of a mark and ripple in the musical world.

Much love,

B