Everything old...

...is still pretty old.

Figured I’d crash in here at the 11th hour with an EOY update and 2026 forecast for anyone who has their ears on.

Here’s a few highlights:

Kev and I celebrated our 20th anniversary - well, we were too broke to really “celebrate” as much as I would have liked, but we both agreed that we made the right decision back in ‘05, and that’s a lot more than nothing. Hopefully we’ll have the scratch to do something crazy for the big 2-5, but as long as we’re together, every day is a cause for celebration.

I played a lot of gigs, with friends and fellow travelers old and new - I am especially pleased to have made the acquaintance of Declan Dachowski, a phenomenal powerhouse of a drummer who has kicked my old ass into some interesting new directions with his energy and imagination. I am also honored to have been adopted into the Green Levels family, if only as an estranged weird cousin - Stephen Jenkins and Elliott Genther are tremendous talents and really great people, and I look forward to more music and good vibes in the coming year.

I was lucky enough to share the stage with some major heavy hitters for a celebration of the music of Bob Dylan in August curated by Paul Joliet, and let me tell you folks, it was something else. In addition to old friends like Jeff Caldwell, Dan Lotti, Campbell Brown, Jeff Kozelski, Nolan Tecklenberg, Tom Leonczyk, John Heinsohn, and Wes Powers, I got to perform for the first time with Macelyn Batten, Dallas Baker, Tom Crowley, Anna Crosby, Joel Timmons, Ben Whitney, and Layton Meacham. We had such a good time that we’re gonna do it again - so stayed tuned for details.

Lily and Buck turned 17 and 13, respectively, and they are some of the funniest, quirkiest, most loving people I know. I count myself extremely fortunate to have kids that I like every bit as much as love - they are great hangs and I remain very proud of them as they grow and evolve.

In sadder news, we lost Kevin’s dad, Buzz Ingle, on January 23, and I don’t think any of those who knew and loved him will ever get over it - he had a huge heart and a massive impact on so many lives, and his loss is profound. We gathered at his beloved Beau Place in March to celebrate his life, and while it was definitely sad, it was also great to connect and re-connect with so many friends and family members. Kevin’s mom, Gwen, has been a source of inspiration to us all as she navigates life without him - she and their sweet Golden Retriever, Winston, have been working with Hand in Paw, a non-profit providing animal-assisted therapy to people of all ages who struggle with emotional and physical challenges. We are so proud of them as they carry on Buzz’s legacy of kindness and generosity.

New year’s resolutions are, in my experience, a fool’s game, so instead I’m setting myself some goals, which I realize is probably just a semantic shell game, but the distinction is useful in my mind. The older I get, the more I realize that time is not an unlimited commodity, quite the opposite - and so I’m trying to be intentional and deliberate about how I use it. This year, I’m focusing on health - my weight has gotten to a point that it demands some attention, so I’m taking steps to get it under control through diet and exercise. A couple of years ago I was running regularly, and even got a couple of 5Ks under my belt - it’s the only form of physical activity I’ve ever sustained for any length of time, so I’m getting back in the saddle, basically starting from scratch to avoid injury and burnout. I’ve already gotten in two runs this week, and am determined to see it through - I’d love to complete a marathon at some point, just to prove to myself that I can do it, but just maintaining a regular regimen is enough of a challenge to keep me busy for now.

There’s an old story I heard about three people standing in front of a painting. One says, “It’s a canvas.” Another says, “It’s paint.” The third says, “No - it’s a frame.” I think the last guy got it right: art (and life, for that matter) is all about limitations - facing them honestly, establishing them wisely, and working within them effectively. It’s our limitations that truly define our voices. With this in mind, I’m making some hard choices about how to maximize the limited bandwidth I have for artistic endeavors. A few months back I started the process of writing a novel, and while it has been interesting and exciting, I’m facing the reality that music will always take precedence - maybe I’ll return to the story one day, but for now, it just makes sense to give all my creative attention to expanding and refining the musical skills that I’ve spent the last 30+ years developing.

Over the last few years, with the support and encouragement of some of my favorite musicians (especially Alan Schmitt, Cory Jarrett, Buz Buzby, Dennis Ware, Wallace Mullinax, Jonathan Peace, Corey Stephens, Jim Rubush, Stratton Moore, Jeff Caldwell, and Josh Roberts), I’ve found the confidence to step out as a soloist and even carry a band as the sole guitarist - something I would have never considered possible previously. It’s been extremely gratifying to have received positive reviews from audiences and fellow musicians, and it has inspired me to push myself harder and dig deeper as a player.

I’m also going to be moving away from the more aggressive, histrionic approach that has been my default for so many years, and making an effort to align the music I make with the music I listen to and love. The album we released in 2024 (Suffering, available on a streaming platform near you) was a move in that direction, and that’s the path I want to follow, searching for the place where folk and jazz and soul meet and merge. I’m preparing for the next record now, which will probably be largely instrumental, and I’m very excited to see how it will turn out.

That’s more than enough for now. If you made it this far, thanks as always for your interest and support, and here’s wishing you and yours peace and joy in 2026.