James Phillips

The algos seem to be more interested in personality than creativity. I enjoy entertaining people, but what I really love is making stuff. In this streaming age, every new single needs it’s own piece of cover art, but sometimes it feels like checking a box. Where are the appreciators of online album art? Anybody? I just finished submitting my album-art for CDs and vinyl and making digital cover-art for all 14 songs on my next album IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, TELL THEM. I thought I’d share them, along with the audio for the next single “All the Protest Songs Are About You.” A lot of this art was illustrated by @pagurobt in Italy and used in the animated music video for “The Village.” If you wanna hold his beautiful designs in your hands in a few months, please go to pinkertonraid.com and preorder the CD or vinyl LP ahead of their Oct 2 release. Production by @davidwimbishandthecollection + @sumnerphi , mastering by @justinlongerbeam #indiefolk #hopecore #protestsong #americana #violin

Hieeeeeeeeeeeee -- I'm back on here, naming my intention to discontinue using what was feeling like a big bad weapon of mass distraction and reclaim use of this thing as a tool for communicating what I wanna share about my life. 💛 Much has happened over the last year or so, a fraction on display for your thoughtful engagement. I have loved and learned and lost... Far from perfect, I continue to welcome everyday people of peace to join me on this particular liberation journey. We ground in love over here, and we do more and do better together. 💜 Much is happening now too -- I'm feeling lots of feelings as I transition from my work at Duke Community Affairs (last day is Mar 31) to working full time with @lgbtqdurham (first day is Apr 1) as the team's Director of Development & Community Engagement -- let's get freer and freer, beloveds! Wish me well, and join me as you're able! 💚 I'm still committed to minding my business though and cannot promise to follow everybody on here -- I keep all notifications off, as it REALLY gets to be too much! And I very much prefer to connect with folks apart from IG... If you see me in real life, please speak kindly -- you can trust I will match your energy earnestly. ❤️ Love Love Love.

It’s part 2 of getting ready for Friday’s show at @rubiesonfivepoints by showing off the superstars who made the True Stories of Time Travel EP with me. I got to put together a great country band for the song Stupid by combining 60% of @chickenranchroadshow — @notthatfox @patsysibley and @isabeloharawalsh — with @pacopanhandle and @sumnerphi . And me. Even more superstars tomorrow! Get tickets to Friday’s show at link in bio

New EP is out and it’s #bandcampfriday. New video for Time Traveler’s Blues at youtube.com/@kinteenmusic or in Linktree. Yay! With musical contributions by (big breath) @mimi.kramer of @supermuttband @jimmierayswagger and Pumpkin Spice, @flyincrazydave and @pacopanhandle from @the.rattletraps , @patsysibley @isabeloharawalsh and @notthatfox from @chickenranchroadshow , @sumnerphi @lonnierott @dannygrewen @lrodrigu75 @realericsommer #thekingteen #newmusic #truestoriesoftimetravel

The protest songs have been flowing fast & furious the past few years. If you want to know what fascism looks like, it’s ICE murdering peaceful protester Renee Nicole Good while she tried to flee their violence. People of good will, stand up to the bullies. Don’t let her martyrdom go in vain. A free nation needs free dissent of violent, out-of-touch policies like Trump’s immigration enforcement. If we can’t protest without government violence, we’re not a free people. @sumnerphi and I listened through final mixes for my seventh full-length album last night. “We tremble with the Noise” will be on it. He alerted me that @thisisaaronkeck at @wchlchapelboro had it in his top 25 local songs of 2025. Aaron’s been a great advocate for my music, and I’m grateful. James co-produced the new album w/ @davidwimbishandthecollection at Mangum Street Grocery here in Durham. David and I will play together in Nashville and Memphis later this month. Come out and feel the feels. @pisgahbrewing 1/21 #blackmountainnc @theeastroom 1/22 w/ David Wimbish + @jackmckeonmusic #eastnashville @folk_alliance 1/23-1/24 @lamplighterloungememphis 1/25 w/ David Wimbish @smithsoldebar 1/26 w/ @delroscoeband + @blackfoot_daisy #atlantaga @uncle.ckvl 1/27 w/ @nathan.evans.fox @warrengently @alan_lueth @pilotlightknox 1/28 w @reddandthepaperflowers + @redshoesandrosin #knoxvilletn

Without a doubt the best year EVER

They’re hard to record but load-in is so easy. @flyincrazydave is a virtuoso. #thekingteen #truestoriesoftimetravel #timetravelersblues #musicrecording #recordingdrums #drums #ncmusic #trianglemusic

Cool.

It’s @mimi.kramer sprinkling a little @supermuttband magic on my new record. And a tired King, Mimi and @sumnerphi calling it a night. #thekingteen #truestoriesoftimetravel #theballadofpnutandsalty #ncmusic #trianglemusic #idontknowwhatgenretocallitmusic #indiemusic #maybe

Putting it together for The Ballad of Pnut & Salty 1 - @lonnierott on the 88s. Boy it really sounds good without my voice! 2 - Red light is on and Lonnie has strapped in. Hoodies up. Fingers down. 3 - Here comes the horn section: @lrodrigu75 and @dannygrewen 4 - @sumnerphi on the 0s and 1s. You know it’s going to work out when you’ve got the @durhambulls on your side. @realericsommer was under the weather and will add 6-string later and @mimi.kramer ’s on deck for some some real singing. #thekingteen #theballadofpnutandsalty #truestoriesoftimetravel #durham #ncmusic #trianglemusic #musicrecording #trumpet #trombone #piano #mangumstreetgrocery

Drums through and into the Cosmos! /album/live-grooves-through-the-cosmos

Volume 2 of our winter-songs album will hit the streaming services on Black Friday, Nov 28. Our “Blue Christmas” cover is one of two remaining unreleased tracks. Hear it now at follow.thepinkertonraid.com/bluechristmaselvis, and order your copy on vinyl or CD at 20% off with code JAGGED2025 on @bandcamp or pinkertonraid.com/merch Come celebrate the new album with us and sing along @boxyardrtp on December 13 I’ll work a few of these cold-weather covers into my solo sets next week! @jamminjava Sunday, 11/9 w/ @willvarleymusic #viennava #dmvmusic @zephyrpub Tuesday, 11/11 #kentohio #clevelandohio #akronohio @rumbacafeoh Wednesday, 11/12 #columbusohio w/ WILL VARLEY @blockhousebloom Thursday 11/13 w/ @nicholasgrahamhall69 #bloomingtonindiana #indianapolisindiana #cincinnatiohio #houseconcert Friday, 11/14 @pghwinery Saturday, 11/15 5pm #elvisaaronpresley #bluechristmas #christmasmusic

Great day recording hours of improvised drums with master percussionist @mosheshken and gracious host/engineer @sumnerphi - new grooves coming soon...