"This Is It" - The 3rd Single from the PIKE PROJECT Album

"This is it!" The third single from PIKE PROJECT, my music collaboration with Christian James Hand, is now streaming on all the usual streaming platforms!

Again, all these videos were mostly spontaneous ideas all shot on the iPhone 12. For this one, I was just looking to play in front of a white wall, but popped by Wolfpack Studios and saw that this set was already built, so I did 3 quick takes with the help of my bud Rob Lucas. So, this is it! ✌🏻 Song is available on all streaming platforms, along with the first 2 singles "Hope For Us To Shine" and "For Life."



Lyrics -

This Is It:

This is it, and I’m not sorry
Don’t want to hear your side
This is it, this is the last time
No chance to make it right
And I will choose to stand here silent
Watching all your bullshit smiles
I know the truth, I know what happened
When he walks you down the aisle

"No one’s ever loved me quite like you"
Is all it takes to make the man your fool...

This is it, and I’m not sorry
I don’t care about your life
This was it, that was the last time
I don’t care to sympathize
Newsflash, you’re not happy
Do you ever wonder why?
Your choice, you can’t take back now
No matter how you lie

Sitting here I know what he can’t see
I remember when that guy was me...

This is it, and I’m not sorry...
This is it, and I’m not sorry...
(I don’t care about your life)
This is it
And I’m not sorry...










And hey, the album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp! Link RIGHT HERE, and be sure to follow the page!

 

"For Life," The 2nd Single & Video from the Upcoming PIKE PROJECT Album!

"For Life," the 2nd single from the upcoming PIKE PROJECT album (my collaboration with Christian James Hand) is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and all the usual streaming platforms!

It’s my pandemic love song. And every one of the songs on this album were designed so that you’d immediately want to listen to them again. (The way the classic oldies used to do it!)

The full album, "To Auld Acquaintances… Vol.1" drops on July 26th! Don’t forget to check out last week’s single "Hope For Us To Shine!"

RE: the new music video: We shot this video on my last day in Paris last year, September 5th, 2021. 3 takes on my iPhone 12, and I love it because it’s a beautiful genuine moment captured. No matter where Alisa and I are in our lives, the video showcases the true love and admiration between us. And it’s the message of the song too. No one can ever take that away. Last summer in Paris was the best time of my post-pandemic life, and this is the proof!



Lyrics -

For Life:

Well I knew right from the start
If it all just fell apart
I could always count on you
and everything could feel like new
It all suddenly made sense
Nothing ever really ends
As you walked into my world
I knew that you would be my girl
If it all just blew away
And left us separate for days
Or weeks or months or even years
I’ll find my way to you, my dear
If you fall, just take my hand
Stand beside me where I am
You are mine, you are my one
So let’s prove them all wrong

Now I know it’s been so long, and we both believe in maybes
You know it’s true, I’m stuck on you for life

If the walls come tumbling down
All the pressures make us drown
One thing that I know is true
I can make it through with you
If a struggle comes our way
Cause the world will have its say
It won’t matter what they do
As long as I still have you

Now I know it’s been so long, and we both believe in maybes
You know it’s true, I’m stuck on you for life
When it all just fell apart, you were always there to save me
You know that I’ll be stuck on you for life

And now for the streaming links to this single, "For Life!"











 

New band: PIKE PROJECT! New Single: Hope For Us To Shine!

I made a new album! With my dear friend Christian James Hand of The Session. The band is called "Pike Project." And the first single, "Hope For Us To Shine," is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube, and all the usual streaming platforms. The full album, titled "To Auld Acquaintances... Vol. 1" will be released on July 26th!

We started this in late 2020 as a way to turn a lot of grief & negatives into positives, and I couldn't be more proud of the final product, as you'll hear over the course of the next few weeks!

I made a music video for every track on the PIKE PROJECT album, and all of them were spontaneous ideas, shot primarily in one-take, on the iPhone 12. This was a fun, sunny day at the beach in San Diego with my dear friend Rob Ikegami.



Lyrics -

Hope For Us To Shine:

We’ve lost sight of our horizons
We’ve lost sight of all we’ve known
There’s no way for us to just let go
There’s still time to start all over
There’s time to begin again
There’s still time to forgive and forget

Just think what we can do if we try
There’s still time to make it all alright

There’s so many out there hurting
We each have a cross to bear
At times it will just feel so unfair
But we will all rise above it
And put our love to the test
Together, we all can be our best

Just think what we can do if we try
There’s still time to make it all alright
Embrace what you know is deep inside
There is always hope for us to shine…

(Carry on…. And let go…)

Whenever you stumble and you fall
You have to get up and carry on
Whenever you stumble and you fall
You have to let go and carry on…

And now for streaming links to the single "Hope For Us To Shine."











 

The Givers Will Outlive Us All - A Mixtape by Charlie Kassay

 

A few weeks back, I was pleasantly surprised to come home and find this care package in the mail from my friend Charlie Kassay. I knew Charlie back in my band days when we both lived on Long Island, and he was one of the only people to book my band Pretty Polly and give us a fair chance. (You can find the Pretty Polly EP's "Now Or Never," "Getting Over It," and "Farewell To The Promised Ones" on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon or wherever you stream music these days!)

His kindness then is only matched by his kindness now. 

And after watching Analog Love, he was inspired to make me a mixtape. Not a playlist or CD, a legit old school mixtape. And having recently acquired a Walkman, I took the tape with me on my long neighborhood afternoon walks and felt a little of that 90s nostalgic magic. 

I knew I had to "digitize" it and share it with all of you, because this mix is great. 

So, below, on Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube, I'd like to present to you arguably the most thoughtful gift anyone's given me all year...

The Givers Will Outlive Us All

1. Let's. Get. Dangerous by Iron Chic
2. My Life Is Over and I Couldn't Be Happier by PUP
3. Fill In The Blank by Car Seat Headrest
4. Epic Problem by Fugazi
5. Alone & Easy Target by Foo Fighters
6. Get My Mind Right by Fiddlehead
7. Living Well Is The Best Revenge by R.E.M. 
8. Teenage Wristband by The Twilight Singers
9. The Fixer by Pearl Jam
10. Hope the High Road by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
11. Walls (Circus) by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
12. Getting Better by The Beatles
13. Lights Out by Angel Olsen
14. Pennyroyal Tea (Live Acoustic) by Nirvana from Nirvana Unplugged
15. Sisters of Mercy (Live) by Leonard Cohen from Cohen Live
16. Boundless Love by John Prine
17. All I Really Want To Do by Bob Dylan
18. Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers
19. 3:59 AM by John Moreland
20. Wasted and Rollin' by Amanda Shires
21. Dylan Thomas by Better Oblivion Community Center, Conor Oberst, Phoebe Bridgers
22. A Lot To Say by Imaginary Baseball League
23. Are You Wearing A Wire? by Satellite Lost
24. Closing Credits by With Every Idle Hour

2022 Vol 2 - Karmic Spring

Before the summer arrives, have to get my second mix of the year out there! Here are a handful of songs, both new and old, that I am absolutely deeply in love with and that have provided the soundtrack to the last few months. Enjoy!

2022 Vol 2 - Karmic Spring

1. Faded by Alan Walker
2. Wake Up Dead by Lamb Of God featuring Dave Mustaine
3. Unconditional I (Lookout Kid) by Arcade Fire
4. Talk To Me, Talk To Me by Belle and Sebastian
5. The Getaway by The Afghan Whigs
6. Every Shade Of Blue by The Head and The Heart
7. Free In The Knowledge by The Smile
8. Too Good For Giving Up by Liam Gallagher
9. Teardrop by The Naked and Famous
10. Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
11. Being In Love by Wet Leg
12. Strangest Faces by Bayside
13. This Is Water by onelinedrawing
14. Something In The Way by Nirvana
15. Leather On The Seat by The New Pornographers
16. Sorry by Alan Walker & ISAK 

So far, so good... A 2022 Sampler

Only a few months into 2022 and a LOT of great music has already come out. Rather than the traditional curated mix, I'm calling this a "sampler" because for a lot of these albums (some already out, some upcoming) I liked the idea of sharing 2 songs from each to get a flavor for what's to come. So you'll see a lot of 2-fers, back to back, on here. ENJOY! 

So far, so good... A 2022 Sampler

1. Opiate2 by TOOL
2. I'll Make You See God by The Afghan Whigs
3. Do Ya Wanna Taste It by Wig Wam
4. A Little Bit Of Love by Weezer
5. Loved You A Little by The Maine, Taking Back Sunday, and Charlotte Sands
6. Imagine Nation by Pinkston featuring Jeremy Enigk
7. You Will Never Work In Television Again by The Smile
8. The Smoke by The Smile
9. In & Out by Sonic Youth
10. Initiation by Crosses
11. Protection by Crosses
12. Compliance by Muse
13. Won't Stand Down by Muse
14. The Lightning I by Arcade Fire
15. The Lightning II by Arcade Fire
16. Wild Child by The Black Keys
17. Honeybrains by Royal Blood
18. Hurtless by Dean Lewis
19. Tenderwild by OneLineDrawing
20. Heaven Is Here by Florence + The Machine
21. My Love by Florence + The Machine
22. Poster Child by Red Hot Chili Peppers
23. Traps by Bloc Party
24. The Girls Are Fighting by Bloc Party
25. Everything's Electric by Liam Gallagher
26. Long, Long, Long Time by Tears For Fears
27. I Am Nothing by Stabbing Westward
28. Worst Is On Its Way by Korn
29. Pretty Waste by Bones UK
30. I'm Afraid Of Americans by Bones UK
31. Lost by Zola Jesus 

2021 in review... (The Master Playlist!)

In 2021, I discovered a lot of great music. I made 4 playlists, one for each season. Now here's a master playlist with all 4 combined, plus 15 bonus tracks! (Which easily could've been mix #5.) Perfect for background listening. 

I'm just going to list the new 15 tracks below, since the previous blogs cover Vol 1-4. Embeds below! Enjoy! 

59. Get Back (2021 Mix) by The Beatles
60. traitor by Olivia Rodrigo
61. Young Blood by The Naked and Famous
62. Colossus by Quicksand
63. Enough by SONOIO
64. I Don't Live Here Anymore by The War On Drugs
65. Times Have Changed by Cold War Kids
66. ABSURD by Guns N' Roses
67. Big Bang Baby (2021 Remaster) by Stone Temple Pilots
68. Take Back Everything by Schuyler Fisk
69. All For Nothing (Acoustic) by Face To Face
70. Long Way by Eddie Vedder
71. We Are Between by Modest Mouse
72. Teardrop by The Naked and Famous
73. Let It Be (2021 Mix) by The Beatles