Looking Forward to Winter.

You heard me. I know, this is completely out of character. But this time feels different. Our house is all battened down for the cold weather, we had the heating system serviced a couple of months ago, and we've taken the winter clothing and boots out of seasonal storage. We've still got a handful of things to do, but we're basically ready. And I'm ready mentally, for a change.

I'd planned to have more work done on the next album by now, but I don't, and I don't care. There's no deadline, so there's no hurry. In the meantime, I've written a few more songs, and am feeling no pressure to lay down tracks in any kind of order. Perhaps the next record will have the songs on it I'd originally planned, but who knows? I take comfort knowing that nothing needs to be decided anytime soon.

I suppose this is the best way to approach the cold part of the year: to know that even though everything we'd planned for this past year might not have gotten done, it's okay. It'll wait. It's time right now for us to prepare not only ourselves and our shelters, but to also prepare a welcome for the time itself. To understand that the pace of life should slow, like a slumbering heartbeat, until the sun awakens us again.

Gig Poster.

Gig Poster.

20th Anniversary Gig Poster.

Gig Poster.

Artist photo by Jason Mazzotta

Gig Poster.

Gig Poster.

Transperformance 29: Lookstock. Again.

Poster Art by Arnold Skolnick - Courtesy of the Northampton Arts Council

Pop Poster.

Prestons Pothole Pictures Poster.

Gigs.

Arts at the Armory • Somerville MA • photos by Sarah Palmer

• The Prestons play a half hour set on June 22nd at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls.

• The annual Pop on the Lawn show returns to Angel Park in Williamsburg on July 31st. I'll be joining my former Group DeVille bandmates Nick and Fred for a set of GDV songs in honor of the 20th anniversary (see post below).

• Transperformance returns to the Pines Theater in Northampton's Look Park on August 20th. I will once again be transperforming with the Zip Cody Band.

• I'm featured performer at The 413 in Easthampton on August 26th.

• I'm playing a full evening at The Common Table in Chester on September 13th.

Twenty Years After.

If Group DeVille had stayed together, 2019 would have marked our 20th year. We played a 10th anniversary show in 2009, but called it quits two years later. Following the split, I began showcasing my solo stuff. At times this was as the Rick Murnane Band, along with players such as Sturgis Cunningham, Dave Hayes, and J.J. O'Connell. Quite often it was Nick Dines and Fred Goodhue from the GDV days up there with me.

A couple of years ago, Nick and Fred and I renamed ourselves The Town Council (a little in-joke for the neighbors) and reworked the repertoire a bit. Unfortunately, various external issues that same year led us to once again step away from the public stage. We still get together every month (well, most months) for an evening of music and a cuppa tea, but we don't play out.

Until now, that is. A full, original lineup GDV reunion isn't in the cards, but the three of us decided it would be fitting to celebrate two decades of the music itself. So heads up, everyone. We're gonna dust off some songs and play a couple of gigs this year. The first one will be in July (the "Pop on the Lawn" show, details to follow once confirmed), and we're ironing out plans for one more sometime in the Fall.

Now all we have to do is come up with another new band name.

Prestons Poster.

Gig Poster.

Heads Up For Summer.

Here's your advance notice that The Prestons will be performing at the Pothole Pictures series in Shelburne Falls on Saturday, June 22nd. We'll be belting out a half-hour set of our delightfully harmonious compositions starting at 7pm, as patrons are arriving for that evening's film: Finding Vivian Maier.

Gig Poster.

Gig Poster.

I usually design my event posters, but it's always gratifying when a promoter or venue does this great a job on their own, and so far in advance. I'm really looking forward to playing this show.

Poster by Victor Saviatto

Gig Photos.

Here are two photos by Julian Parker-Burns, taken during the show I played with Marc Delgado and Wounded Knee this past December at Luthier's Co-Op. Julian has a great eye for light, composition, and for capturing the interaction between the players within each performance.

New Year, New Gigs.

THE PRESTONS are confirmed for two shows in early 2019:
We're playing Luthiers Co-Op in Easthampton on Saturday, February 16th, and on Monday, March 11th, we'll be the featured act at Matt Silberstein's weekly open mic at The 413, also in Easthampton.

Two SOLO GIGS have been booked as well:
I'll be at Luthiers Co-Op on Saturday, March 2nd, and I'll be out in Somerville on Saturday, April 27th, for an Arts at the Armory show.

As usual, details will be forthcoming as these dates get closer.