Happy 2021 folks. Not a lot to report. Live music is on hold in Massachusetts due to the virus. Currently, I have no gigs lined up until life becomes a little more normal-ish. I've been hard at work in the studio however and am really excited about the new stuff that I'm recording. Just about done and will be getting it mastered soon. More to come on that.
Below is a video of a song I did a few months ago, outdoors in the summer sun.
A lot less shows due to winter setting in and, in case you hadn't heard, the pandemic. I'm doing two socially distant shows on Friday, December 11th and 18th from 5:30 - 8:30 at my friend Lori Cook's Somewhere Else Tavern in Pembroke, MA.
I've also been in the studio recording a new album. A good chunk of it was done before COVID and, in recent months, I've continued working on it. Really excited with how it's coming out. Hopefully will have it out in the universe in early to mid 2021. Below is a link to me doing "Blue Christmas"
Not much to report. I'm pecking away at some new stuff in the studio. That's coming along nicely. The Connecticut show that was scheduled for later this month is being rescheduled. Currently, I don't have any gigs for the remainder of 2020, but that'll likely change. Below is a link to a video of a song by the great Texas songwriter Billy Joe Shaver. He was one of my very favorite songwriters and he passed away a couple of weeks ago. The song is called "Live Forever" and his music will definitely do just that.
Had a relatively busy September, all things considered. October is likely going be a slower month. Currently, I've only got October 10th at The Porch in Medford booked. I'm sure there will be shows added for October though. Still working that through.
I recently had an opportunity to perform for an hour on WATD 95.9 FM's Almost Famous Radio Show. During that, I talked about pandemic life and also played six songs that I've written during the end of times. You can listen to that at https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pn79v-ed9d6d
A few gigs on the horizon including my first two trips down to Rhode Island since the pandemic. I'll also be kicking off the night at The Porch in Medford before Josh Morningstar's performance on September 26th. For more info, check out my shows page at https://mattyorkmusic.com/shows.
Obviously life continues to be in limbo worldwide, so any gigs in the coming months could change due to COVID. I won't be doing any traveling outside of New England to perform anytime soon.
Many of us that do the type of music I do are kinda sons and daughters of the great Steve Earle He's a songwriting hero to us. One of his actual sons, Justin Townes Earle was also a songwriting hero to many, including me. He passed away at the young age of 38 earlier recently in Nashville, leaving behind a wife and three-year old daughter. I saw him three times over the years and, the last time I saw him at the Narrows Center for the Arts, he was terrific and seemingly on top of his game. This is one of my favorite songs of his called "Harlem River Blues".
Not much to report. I've been playing a few outdoor gigs this summer. Have a couple more scheduled for August/September. All of that is obviously subject to change. If you are on Facebook, be sure to follow my page at www.facebook.com/mattyorkboston.
The video below is of an old Tom T. Hall song called "That's How I Got to Memphis". Hope you like it.
Obviously, not much to report seeing that we remain in the midst of pandemic. However, nearly five years ago, I went into the studio and recorded the Boston, Texas album with my friend Mark Chen Bryant. Mark is doing a podcast with some acts that he’s produced over the years. He had me on recently to talk about the making of the album. It was a lot of fun to go back and listen to the record and chat about it. You can listen at the link below. Hopefully, I'll be adding some gigs soon. Currently still just in a holding pattern. Stay safe everyone!
Since we're in the midst of a pandemic, I'm obviously not playing any gigs for the foreseeable future. I miss being out there and playing shows obviously. In the interim, I'm releasing a new single called "Scent of Sin".It's obviously a weird time to release a new song....but that's what I'm doing. I finished recording the tracks for this song two nights before life changed for everyone in March. At the time, I was preparing to head to Austin, TX to play some shows at SXSW and then make my way across Texas for some shows in Louisiana. Obviously, life comes at you fast.
Anyways, I hope you'll take a listen.It's up on all streaming services now. You can click below to listen.
I've also recorded a new song called "I'm Leaving" as part of the Lakehouse Music and Stories Series. Click the link below to listen.
Below is my NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry. Obviously, all the shows are currently canceled/postponed. It's pretty unclear when that will change, so I'll be doing some online concerts. If you are on Facebook, be sure to follow me at www.facebook.com/mattyorkboston
The links below are to a couple of recent articles. One is a write-up of the Bruisable Heart album from Oklahoma Reviews and the other talks about life as a socially distant musician. Be safe everyone!