Lift for Life Charity Event in Chesterfield, MO

Wow, what an amazing week it’s been hanging out with the Lynch’s! Going to their house has become like a second home for me, filled up with a revolving door of  some of my favorite people. I can’t say thank you enough for your friendship and warm hospitality all these years, MadLuv!

The event itself was truly Epic, thank you Micaela Malmi from epicphotojournalism.com for capturing this weekend with such clarity.

Lift for Life Charity included four musical acts from across the US. this year, and I was lucky enough to be a part of it again.

Representing St Louis were the Reserve, featuring internationally known artists Javier Mendoza and Jim Peters, as well as longtime local phenom Sean Coray. (pictured here)

I was lucky enough to have my old bandmates and longtime friends from PC, Utah Matt Gordon and Mike Rogers on drums and piano, as well as my good buddy Ben Pezzner on Cello and new friend and Cardiff native Charles Ruby on bass.

It was truly exciting to feature a new song that I had

been working on with Stepchylde the Phoenix.

In addition to rocking out my own set with my band, I was able to back up my amazingly talented friend Lee Coulter who just finished a six month tour supporting his new album “Mr Positivity” AND the release of his wife Sharisse’s new novel “Rock My World”! What a couple!!!

Guest speaker Grant Korgan brought an amazing presence to this event with all of his love and zest for life. If you haven’t gotten to hear Grant speak about the power of positivity, do your self a favor and read his book “Two Feet Back” which chronicles his comeback from a spinal chord injury. This man has the power to move you, I am changed by his presence.

Another Amazing Event at The Barn

I had the opportunity to make it to a couple of private shows this April featuring one of my favorite performers…

Martin Sexton at one of my favorite venues, The Barn.

It was an intimate couple of nights with good friends, fine food, and great music.

I even got to jam a bit with Martin, sitting in on the baby Grand Piano while Jim Peters and I took the stage for a set.

Darden Smith at The Barn

Late night jam at The Barn

I’m not a touring musician, but I often find myself traveling and playing my music.  Many of my stops include St. Louis.  Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to develop a fan base through some Josh Bonas “super-fans” and good friends of mine in St. Louis – The Lynches.

The Lynches turn their house into a live music venue affectionately called “The Barn” a few times a year.  They invite me along with other musicians from around the country to perform at these very intimate house concerts.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of playing in front of Darden Smith.

What a talent.  His song craftsmanship and delivery are impeccable. He has had a career spanning several decades and for good reason.  It was not the few hits he has had, past record deals or the regular play he gets on SiriusXM that was most impressive.

Darden is an artist that thinks outside the box.  He has developed two unique and creative programs with his music to help others.  I was able to spend some time with Darden after the weekend concerts and watch his Be An Artist program in action at an elementary school in St. Louis.

The other program is called Songwriting with Soldiers. Darden and a few of his friends do retreats with soldiers suffering from PTSD. You can’t helped but be moved by this:

There is no better gift in this world than to be of service to others.

Sean Coray, Marshal Crenshaw, and I

A big thank you to the Lynch family that put together yet another amazing weekend filled with music and food. Had a great time playing with Sean Coray and Marshall Crenshaw!

Magical Week of Music with some GREAT Folks!

What a week! I am so happy we ended summer in such a grand fashion. Many thanks to John and Cindy Lynch for making this all happen! What a joy it has been to create, perform, and bond with such a talented and inspiring crew, MadLuv!

Love playing at The RiverHorse Park City, UT

Great to be back here playing. Seth and Casey, you guys have done such a fabulous job with the place!

Sautéed Mushrooms Reunion- Deer Valley Outdoor Amphitheater

So stoked to be back in Utah playing with all my friends!

Playing at beautiful Ca’s Xorc- Mallorca, Spain

Lift For Life Event at the Sheldon in St Louis, MO

I had the most amazing time…AGAIN, at John and Cindy Lynch’s house this year! Just as the memorial weekend events of yesteryear were topped by each successive year, so does this event keep up with outdoing the past in both grandeur, artistry, and magic.

We raised 10% of Lift For Life’s annual budget! Special thanks to ALL the people involved with making a positive difference in their community.

The evening featured four talented song writers from all over the world.  It was amazing playing for such an attentive audience. We each got to give a little background information on our songs and talk about some of the things that inspire us creatively.

A very special thank you to Micaela Malmi at Epic Photojournalism for shooting some truly amazing shots that really captured the spirit of the evening.