Happy 2024! Against all odds and expectations I've just finished my most accessible record - filled with 80's keyboard sounds, blissed out electric guitars, layers of harmonies and super catchy tunes. Jeff Hill played bass and mixed, and Bill Dobrow added beats and drums. The band name is Peter Salett's Blue Palace and the record title is together under the sun. You can watch the video for the first single "Sending Love" on YouTube, Apple Music, or listen to the track on Spotify.
As many of you know, back in 2017 I founded a political organization called The Hometown Project , which comes from a simple idea, what if we got people of recognition involved in local elections in their hometowns, small races that are decided by only a few hundred votes. We have now supported candidates over 7 election cycles, creating hundreds of videos across 18 states. Hometown Energizers include Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Hamm, Molly Shannon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Mraz, Wanda Sykes and many (many) more. For those inclined - Check out our new org video here which explains what we do the eifficacy of our work.
I appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe along with Hometown Advisory Board member Piper Perabo, to talk about upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
Check it out here!
I appeared on Pix11's morning show to talk about the "Sending Love", the first single and video off of my Peter Salett's Blue Palace record. Check it out here.
Selected Archived News
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I love to capture the images of a subway car underground, on the next track over and heading in the same direction. In the crazy housebound times of the spring of 2020 I cut a video together for "Wishing Well" using this footage, which in a way captures a NYC that doesn't exist anymore, crowding into subway cars and stations mask free. Check it out here.
I posted a very timely video called "The Liar Mr. Clicks" which the first song from my three song release called "Chameleon XP" - check out the video on youtube here. And here's a link to buy and preview the songs on cdbaby. Produced with Don Piper, these three very different songs are meant to be swimming out in the world, and I'm hoping you can give them a listen.
I scored my friend Chris Eigeman's movie "7 in Heaven" for Blumhouse / Universal. The film is a psychological thriller with a bit of scare thrown in. A ton of fun to work on. Blumhouse produced the brilliant "Get Out" among many other horror films. This film is up now on Netflix! Check it out here.
I created a new website dedicated to Suite for the Summer Rain / Dance of the Yellow Leaf - it's got lots of video and pictures from the live shows with Michael Arthur at Mass MOCA and National Sawdust, a couple of the recorded tracks, and more. Check out the website here.
At long last, this is the definitive Wet Hot American Summer book fans have been clamoring for! Screenwriters David Wain and Michael Showalter take pen to page and create a hilarious, behind-the-scenes annotated version of the original screenplay - there are a few quotes from me as well as some pictures of yours truly (aka Guitar Dude). Get your copy of the book here
I recently produced a great EP for the band Lost Dog Constellation. Their music is a very unique blend of eastern maqam tunings and scales with blues and folk - the great Texas singer Trevor Vaughn and guitarist / oud player Mike Hassan wrote some beautiful, mystical songs. Engineered and mixed by my friend Don Piper. Check out the first single here
I had a great time scoring the Nat Geo show "Breakthough ; More Than Human" - episode was directed by Paul Giamatti and produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. I got to work with my friend David Jacobson as well on a "ukulele / spacey sci fi keyboards" themed score. You buy the episode here
Out Now! For the first time the Wet Hot American Summer soundtrack has been released! It's also the first time that my original version of the end title track "Wet Hot American Dream" will be available. It's coming out on vinyl - order it now here
I composed music and sound design for a new play at the beautiful Cherry Lane Theater, Laugh It Up, Stare It Down, written by Alan Hruska and directed by Chris Eigeman. The New York Times gave it a positive review
Vanessa Walters and dance/performance art piece "Ripening" had a presentation at Lincoln Center as a part of Lincoln Center Originals, it was so great to hear and see the film work the in the Atrium space, which included some of the music I've created for the piece. You can check out more about that work on the collaboration page.
I filmed a funny bit for the second season of the Comedy Central show "Inside Amy Schumer" - playing some comical flamenco guitar and singing in Spanish. Very nice group of folks.
Ira Glass chose a couple of my instrumental pieces to use on "This American Life".
I scored David Jacobson's film "Tomorrow You're Gone" starring Stephen Dorff, Michelle Monaghan and Willem Dafoe and it's now available on iTunes
I performed with much of the original cast of the comedy show SEX at SketchFest in San Francisco. Check out a report from David Wain