News Update April 2009
April 29, 2009 – 11:29 pmI left Richmond on February 27th for tour. The trees were bare and the ground cold. It’s the end of April now and I just got home. There’s nothing but miles and miles of green. It’s 90 degree’s out. Everything is in full bloom. The garden is showing signs of life. I’ve been at the river for the last couple
hours swimming with my dog Emma. I feel like I got home just in time.
There is something to be said about changing seasons. Each season affords you the opportunity to assimilate into it. I always say that “the summer is for raising hell and the winter is for
documenting it.” I feel an urgent need to switch up with the season. To switch my routine. For the last couple months it’s been “play, sleep, drive, play, sleep, drive.”
I’ve played over 100 shows since October. So now I need to do something else until the urge to play again comes back. I need to get on the rails, to spend time outside. To see from different perspectives. To take a break and look in different directions. To live in different moments.
For the time being, musically, I will do some random “one off” shows this summer. And I will also begin the slow process of making a new album beginning on May 15. I will not record in the traditional sense. Meaning I’m not blocking out X amount of time in the studio and stressing myself out with a deadline on the creative process. I will simply record off and on, a couple days at a time, until I have recorded the right amount of songs that FEEL RIGHT to put together as a full length.
The tour I just finished blew my mind. It blew my mind because it was challenging some nights and easy others. It blew my mind because we played festivals and basement shows and everything in between. Because music is to be played in every kind of setting and environment. And should never become
redundant. It blew my mind because it’s all coming together. I have people who help me now. People who do a ton of work behind the scene to keep me vertical and moving: Tim Shaw my tour manager.
Matt Gere who sells my merch. Margie Alban who books my shows. Virgil at Suburban Home Records who who puts out my songs. Vanessa Burt at Mutiny who does my publicity. Logan Kornhauser who prints my shirts and takes care of my website, because I don’t have the patience to learn it on my own. Josh Small, my right hand man, who shares the stage with me during my set each night, after playing his own. And of course Austin Lucas who shared the road with all of us. And this list doesn’t even come close to including all the local promoters and friends who bust their asses to put on shows in their towns and cities. OR all the people who go out of their way to make it to the shows so we can all have a blast.
I don’t know what’s going on, but this is all beginning to make much more sense. And it FEELS RIGHT. So I’m
gonna keep on doing what ever it is I’m doing.
In a long winded way, I’m saying thank you.
There will be many more tours and songs coming.
Tim Barry
April 27, 2009
Richmond, Va
2 Responses to “News Update April 2009”
hey there just sitting here in korea i had a friend burned me your cds befor i left FORT IRWIN so i had something jam to on the 12 hr plain ride over here but i got ride of them when i got here and got you tunes off itunes when i got my computer. i just want to say thank you for all the songs about the troops and the just kick ass songs can’t wait for the new CDs to come. Can’t wait for when i get out to come see alive show i have missed out on so many shows being in the army. Hey it was worth the six years i have done so far. i guess i just was righting to say thank you. and keep it up you do so much by just making kick ass songs.
By Timothy O'Cnnell on May 27, 2009
It’s almost August and I just now read this. It’s Monica, Joey’s little sister. In reading this I once again was moved by the humility and grace with which you greet the world wherever you go. Thank you for all you do. And thank you for your words to me at the Hollywood show. It was profoundly moving to hear that from you and share that space. I am excited to read that things are feeling right. I feel that way these days too! I’m looking forward to the next way in which you will move all of us. For the next way in which you will impact our world. You are beautiful. Be good to yourself. In love and gratitude, Monica
By Monica Romero on Jul 31, 2009