I am proud to announce that I compiled the latest volume of the Imaginational Anthem series for Tompkins Square Records, and it is out today! After contributing to the fourth volume, I was asked to put together the fifth. You can buy it on CD here and stream for a very limited time here. From Tompkins Square:

Since 2005, Tompkins Square label’s ‘Imaginational Anthem’ compilations have featured some of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world, with recordings spanning five decades. More than mere samplers, these albums have served as state-of-the-art dispatches from the front lines of the art form. The first three volumes, available as a low-priced box set, intermingled generations of American Primitive players – lost, forgotten masters next to contemporary players. Volume 4 saw a departure from that formula, featuring only new jack players. Volume 5 also features the current crop of younger players, but with a twist. This is the first volume not compiled by Tompkins Square’s Josh Rosenthal. Instead, he recruited guitarist Sam Moss.

The result is a gorgeous panoramic view of contemporary guitar, full of agile finger-style, and a few jagged detours.

There are several ways to buy the series : Each volume individually ; the first three in a low priced box set ; or all five as part of the 6-CD box set, ‘Imaginational Anthem vols. 1-5′. The limited edition 6CD box (only 999 units) features all five volumes in their original packaging, plus an exclusive live disc from William Tyler (Lambchop), entitled ‘Elvis Was A Capricorn.’ All five IA volumes are also available digitally. Enjoy !

BUY HERE

A few days ago Jackson and I (The Howling Kettles) began a tour in support of our brand new album, The Parlor Is Pleasant On Sunday Night (have a preview here)! We are very excited to be traveling the northeast making music this month and hope to see you along the way. Please see the “live” page for details. We will have copies of the CD (which will not be available otherwise until Nov 20th) with us at the shows. After this tour Jackson will be heading out to Colorado for awhile, so if you would like to see us play anytime soon, now’s the time! An update of other projects will come soon, but until then, maybe we’ll meet on the road.

You can also download the track for free via soundcloud:

“There’s an admirable restraint in these tracks, a willingness to set off strong emotional content against the simplest, sparsest arrangements. Notes reverberate for a bit after they’re finished, so that you hear the note itself, and also its ghost and also the silence behind that ghost, in a powerful evocation of longing, loss and memory. Neighbors is the best kind of home-made music, intensely personal, deeply felt and well-played without being fussed over.”

Neighbors is the inaugural release from Not Nothing Records, a label I co-founded with Jordan Fuller. The name is inspired by our mutual favorite artist, the criminally underrated Ray Johnson.

In addition to many, many shows with STRING BAND, I have a few solo dates (more to be added), and will be playing fiddle live with the Rear Defrosters and the Jug-Tonk Stompers. Please see the live page for details. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

That’s all for now! Thanks for reading and listening.