When good things happen to brooding people...

So much has happened so quickly, that I barely have time to blog about it. Friday the 13th was a lucky day for me...the Joe Williams feature story was printed in the Post-Dispatch about my saga, and I finally received my check from Paramount. I can start to dig myself out of debt and become the musician/songwriter I always wanted to be. An era has come to an end, with a better one starting. November 14 marked the exact one-year anniversary of my final day at Momentum North America, and it was coincidentally the day of the UP IN THE AIR premiere at the St. Louis International Film Festival. What a night! I was interviewed on the "red carpet" by several reporters about my story, and I was acknowledged by Jason Reitman when I thanked him from the stage about what he's done for my life. Despite a few sound problems, my trio did a short set of original songs, and I unexpectedly had to do "Close to Something Beautiful" when the proceedings were delayed. Reporters filmed some of this. And I sang "Up in the Air" and received warm and enthusiastic applause. Though short, this was the biggest gig of my life, and I was told I did well. I enjoyed it and the vocal sound was good. Attended two fantastic parties, at which numerous people told me they liked my song. So this is what celebrity feels like? I could almost get used to it, after the hellish year I've been through. The movie is so great...I really love it, after seeing it twice. Karen, Melinda and Sue were in attendance to cheer me on...God bless my friends! There was no time for excessive reflection the next day...I had booked some crucial studio time with Mike Martin to take advantage of Ted being here. The session went really well...we got good takes of four full-band songs. I was so happy to get a decent take of "Call It, Friend-o," one of my newer songs which is a frenetic, blistering rocker. And we nailed "Don't Go," for which we did about as fine an imitation of Neil Young and Crazy Horse as I'm likely to do for awhile. This session was critical for making me feel the goal of having a full CD release was attainable, and all of us were pleased with the results. I'm liking this new phase of my life, and I am not slowing down, creatively. Full speed ahead!