Greetings, earthlings. Today marks the debut of my new instrumental music project, Always Ensemble. The first collection is called “See You In It”, and it’s available everywhere. 🕯️
Instrumental music has always had a hold on me, maybe now more than ever. The transportive, meditative, wildly subjective quality—that strange spiritual current. The intention behind “See You In It” was to get in a room with some friends and try to make something bigger than the sum of our parts—to start with an idea, let it unwind, gain mass, unwind again, and ultimately form into something that hovered just above whatever elements we consciously threw in. A process of letting the music become itself.
The world is mad—maybe this music is a balm? Or maybe it’s a score for a rare day. Either way, see you in it.
Featuring @robinbuyer on bass, @utsavlalpiano on piano, @godfreyyy on strings, @sharshofski on winds and me on guitars. Robin also produced, engineered and mixed. Their talents and kindness are nothing short of mind-boggling, and my gratitude runs long and wide and deep for them.
If you’d like to buy it, it’s available on Bandcamp. 100% of proceeds go to charity. And if you’d like to stream it, you have to promise to share with a friend if you like even one second of it, sorry pal those are the rules. Links in bio.
I had no real business being lucky enough to work with Bobby Weir. I didn’t grow up a Deadhead and I’m not a technical guitar wizard. But as soon as I met him through his interest in D’Angelico, Bobby treated me like an equal. We got into deep conversations effortlessly; he invited me backstage and onto tour buses and into studios without hesitation; we talked about guitar tone in hotel rooms and at the showroom and in long-winded text threads. No one had amassed more hilarious stories and genuine wisdom, all of which he shared freely and humbly.
We got to work on three signature guitar models together. He played private shows at our NAMM booth for absolutely no reason other than that he wanted to show everyone that he was proud of our work. He radiated kindness and was inspirational in how strongly he held to his boundless curiosity and creativity. I’m a better artist and person for having known him. The world is better off for the mark his music and spirit have left on it.
Our friendship is a tiny fragment of Bobby’s story, but he made time and space for people because that was part of his vision for a meaningful life. Onto the next frontier, my friend.
Trying new things is how you find out what you love most, actually. (NYC friends: if you, like me, panic at the sight of a moving truck in Brooklyn, please note that a Real New Yorker allowed me to marry her, so we will still be in the city regularly. Thank you for your attention to this matter.)
Ryan was someone who, immediately after meeting, I thought, holy smokes what a high caliber person and which friend of mine can I set him up with? The kind of person who makes you laugh…non stop. But who is also thoughtful enough to spend a car ride crafting the most perfect poem after spending an afternoon watching Rowan stuff her face with tomatoes (tomingys) from the garden.
We met Zoya on the eve of our wedding as Ryan’s plus one. She immediately lit up the room (barn) as soon as she walked into it (I actually don’t think I’ll forget how she took my breath away). She seemed like someone I have known forever and want to know forever. Salt of the earth while simultaneously a force to be reckoned with….and then I learned that she’s a climate journalist 🙌🏼
They got married this past Saturday at Wild Sugar in an utterly full circle moment. If I had Ryan’s skills, this would be a quirky poem. Or Zoya’s skills, a brilliant piece about two forces of nature coming together. Alas, I do not so I will just leave it at how incredibly thankful I am to have a partner who happens to attract the planet’s most valuable people. WE LOVE YOU R&Z 🤎
#vermontwedding #vermontweddingvenue #vermontcouples #weddingoftheyear #vermontweddingphotographer #vermontohotographer #vermontbyvermonters
Just when you (we) least expected it, we got a dog named Jupiter. He’s roughly twice the size we thought he might be and snores in a way that makes sleep sound like the meaning of life. He’s got a lazy eye, an enormous tongue, and an insatiable desire to be friends. Will you pledge fealty to him?
