billy boy and sinner girl

in what didn’t strike me as unusual at the time, the boy/girl song couplet of billy boy and sinner girl came pretty much back-to-back as a package this late winter/early spring. as i was mulling over the latest material for our new record today, the boy/girl billy boy and sinner girl parity hit me. these two writings represent a bit of a turn toward “dark folk,” or “modern blues.” as is often the case, the songs came calling- they weren’t invited. my friend abed wrote about billy boy this morning from Palestine, “It’s absolutely brilliant! And I LOVE the darkness of it, did not expect that! Sooo good.” but please judge for yourself here!

the darkness is part social commentary, part reflection of my immersing in the New Orleans’ black magic, which so far has unearthed a never-been-played 1980 D-25 Guild sunburst acoustic guitar (found in the back of a pawn shop), which will serve as my main writing instrument in the crescent city. the city brought the overtones of both billy boy and sinner girl, and i’m looking forward to more. as some of you know, my return to NoLa began in the Hotel Saint Vincent (pictured above), which couldn’t have been more appropriate, given our namesake and our lifetime residency at Vincent’s Worcester.

we exit april with an early 7-9 show at magical moon farm on saturday the 29th, here, and begin may with a return to vincent’s worcester on saturday may 13th. our spring shows are heating up after a solid winter of performing and recording. we’d love to see you before school gets out!

i’m slowly getting re-acclimated to the jet set life, and not letting the grass grow under my feet too long. i’ll be in New Orleans for jazz fest between the farm and vincent’s, and am scheming an LA return before too long. England/Scotland and Palestine also loom… hopefully before xmas.

see you around school!

love,

jc