What day of the week is this?
Dear Friends,
Well now. I look back at my first post of 2019 and I said that the new year was kind of kicking my ass. Little did I know. Little did we know. So here we all are in the eye of the storm. Some of us literally, and all of us in one way or another. It's hard to know what to say, and so many are saying so much regardless, so I won't. But I will say that I miss you. Whether I know you or not, I miss you.
We had a big shake up in our little band world. Our dear Rick decided to retire from the glamorous life of folk music. We took a couple of months off to be sad and regroup and then we somehow, miraculously —wait for it—found the only normal person on Craigslist! We welcome Brad Pope to The Scatterlings as our new guitarist. We love him. I think he loves us. We're pretty fun so it would be hard not to.
Here's a little bio about him:
Brad was born and raised in Asheville, NC. A lifelong immersion in the music from the mountains and a rich family history rooted in hillbilly music led him to hearing a Dwight Yoakam acoustic album along about 2000, and he was hooked and had to have a guitar. He learned every song, and his journey began. Brad is also a painter/artist running his PopeArt biz in his spare time, whenever he can find some of that.
A little while ago we were busy getting up to speed with our new lineup, booking some shows, and looking forward to all of it. Now, we haven't seen each other for a month. I am missing these guys a lot and hoping that in one way or another, the music comes back.
I hope that you, and those you love, and those you don't even know, are well and remain so.
Love,
Elfy
p.s. Here is our song, Being Human, for you. Cause we're all feeling pretty human. Here are links to youtube and spotify. You can find it other places as well.
New album "Being Human" released
Our new album “Being Human” is officially released! We are proud of this album and would so much like you to hear what we have created. It’s available for preview, download or streaming on all the major platforms, and if CDs are your preference those are available too. Special thanks to Keith Thomas at Ivy River Studio for the superb recording, mixing and mastering and to Alicia Armstrong for use of her beautiful painting for our cover art.
Download from iTunes, Apple Music or Amazon
Download or buy a CD at cdbaby
Download, stream or buy a CD at Bandcamp (CD purchase includes download and unlimited streaming)
We’re also on Spotify and YouTube
cdbaby Bandcamp Amazon iTunes Apple Music Spotify YouTube
Making Things and Breaking Things
Hello Friends,
A couple of weeks ago we spent an afternoon recording with Keith Thomas at Ivy River Studio. So far we've done all our recording in Rick's basement, learning and cursing as we go. It's been difficult and fun and we've learned a lot. All that being said, I can't say enough about what an incredible experience it is to record on excellent equipment with someone who has already done the learning and the cursing. Now it's just pure fun. And happily it means that we will finish our long in the works second album in far less time.
This Saturday, March 23rd we are playing at The Native Kitchen in Swannanoa from 6:30 to 8:30. If you're looking for some music and really great food this weekend, come check it out. It's a gem in Swannanoa, lacking only in tourists and downtown parking. Win/win.
Hello 2019 and Goodbye Mary Oliver
Dear Friends,
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and New Year. I think that I did, although it’s hard to remember at this point. Everything moves so fast and each day leaves the recent past a blur. All I know is that so far 2019 is kind of kicking my ass. I’m not sure yet if it’s in a good way or a bad way. Or both. I haven’t written a thing in several months and that always feels precarious. However, I have been learning lots of new fiddle tunes and that is joyful to be sure. I have laughed a lot and cried quite a bit. I’ve had a lot of good food and wine, and also a stomach ache for a month. It’s a mixed bag, as everything always is. And I feel like this year has barely even woken up yet. Oh lord.
In happy news, we are playing The Drive at Five, and hanging out with the Chillbillies on 92.9 FM WAME Radio in Statesville this Friday, January, 25th from 4-6pm. You can listen live by clicking the button on the WAME website or you can even watch the show on the ChillBillies Facebook page
Take a look at our website for other upcoming dates. But not to worry—I will send out reminders. We are also working on our new album with Keith Thomas of Ivy River Studios. So far we’ve always done everything ourselves, so it’s a departure, a relief, and a delight to be working with him.