Happy New Year!!

2012

Here it is.  What do the planets have in store for us?  Something between the end of days and more of the same.  Paul Simon said, “I know what I know…we come and we go”.  I agree.  With that in mind, this year I resolve live more fully (and consistently) in the knowledge and awareness that each moment is a gift.  Each person a treasure.  And in everything that lives and moves and has it’s being, the divine is waiting to be discovered.

Now, let’s get on with it.

eliot

This is a last minute add that I wanted to make you all aware of…

Monday, Dec 12th, I will be doing an acoustic show at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL.  There will be very limited seating…probably around 50 or so.  Kenny Hutson joins me.  Can’t wait for what I am sure will be a very special evening.

Hope to see you there.

eliot

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

I just wanted you to know that I have posted a few new painting up that I am really excited about.  You can find them in the “paintings” section.  Also, the show  at Workplay (Birmingham, AL) that was scheduled for 12/10 has been moved to 12/11.  I am hoping to have a Christmas EP there for sale.  Stay tuned.

Thanks

eliot

Nine months ago

and now again, tonight,

two very different but divinely connected things happened in my sweet life…

“and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

Number five is a healthy baby girl.

eliot

Folks,

Just wanted to put out a few words about the Folk Alliance International Conference that’s happening next week here in Memphis.  This will be my first experience and I am really excited to be a part of what seems like a wonderfully unique conference.  The Downtown Marriott has been entirely blocked out for the conference and hundreds of artists, producers, managers, etc will fill the rooms with music and chatter from Thursday to Sunday.  Imagine walking down a hallway in a hotel with all doors open and music spilling out until all hours of the night/morning.  That’s my expectation.  I am playing a couple shows on Wednesday and several “showcases” on Thursday.  The Wednesday shows are the ones that I wanted specifically mention, though.

First starting at 1 pm, I will playing a 30 minute storyteller set at the famous Ardent Recording Studio.  Should be an amazing atmosphere for a wonderful afternoon of music.  And it’s free!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178367685538560

Then, later that evening, at 9:30, I will be among a number of artists including Over The Rhine, Paul Thorn, Bo Keys, Amy Lavere, Deering & Down, Ruthie Foster, and more playing for the FAI Public night.  All for $15 dollars and all at the Marriott.  Tickets available at Java Cabana, Bluff City Coffee.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144193862307224

I hope to see some of you on Wed!

eliot

Saturday evening, over dinner in Newtown, CT, it occurred to me that it was on this night, 15 years ago, that I met my wife, Lee.  I thought for a minute about all the time that had passed and all the memories we’ve shared.  All the cities we’ve lived in and all of the friends that we’ve made.  And all our amazing children.  Somewhat moved at the life we’ve shared I sent the following text:

“Just remembered that I met you this very night in 1996.  So grateful.  Love you more than you’ll ever know.”

To which she replied:

“You brought years to my eyes.”

years…huh.

I’ll blame it on the iPhone.

I’m not sure why, but I tend to place Mint Juleps firmly in the warm weather of May…most likely because of the Derby.  But I was thinking – in the south, whiskey is a year round  libation, and mint is a staple in the Christmas season.  So it stands that Mint Juleps should have a place in Christmas…and so they shall…at least in my house.  I spent majority of this evening to that end, and now I am enjoying the fruit of my labor.

Soon.

eliot

Happy Thanksgiving

I am in Mobile at the moment and overwhelmed by all that I have to be thankful for…For my wife and children.  For my family in Mobile and their example of faith, love and simplicity.  For my family in Memphis and their wonderful generosity.  For my friends, far and near.  For meaningful work and all of you who support me in it.  For this great country and our freedom.  For the food we share today and the shelter we so often take for granted.  For the world we wake up to and the moment we have together.  For the trinity and it’s revelation at every turn…

I hope that all of you can find reason to be thankful on this and every day.

Hey, I just wanted to welcome you all to my new home on the internet. Please take some time, listen to some music, and peruse at your leisure around my new humble abode.

Starting in September, I will be doing a retreat with Matthew Kelly (NY Times best selling author and speaker) once a month at various Catholic Churches across the country.

I met Matthew a little over a year ago, and he has had an enormous impact on my life. He was speaking in Mobile at McGill-Toolen (my old high school) and my father and others were encouraging me to reach out to him and see if I might play a few songs before he spoke. I hesitated at first and was uncertain that I had anything to add to the evening. However, after some persistence from my father, I got in touch with Matthew. Turns out that he had seen me with Counting Crows in Chicago and knew my music. It felt like the hand of providence was at work. When we met I think he believed in my music more than I did. Our time together helped me realize my purpose with an unshakable conviction. I don’t want to discount the timing of everything, cause, indeed, timing is everything, but he was there, right on time, and for that I thank God.

So it is truly my pleasure to join him on these retreats. I thought it would be unusual for me to be playing in churches but it feels quite natural.

These retreats are geared primarily to a Catholic audience but all of you are welcome, and I believe that all who attend will be inspired.

The price includes a day of some wonderful music and teaching, food, a copy of my new album, one of Matthew Kelly’s bestselling books, a DVD, lots of other merchandise.

I hope that some of you will join us for this unique opportunity to learn how to start living with more passion and purpose.

Peace.
eliot