The Reason

Here is a new video for my song The Reason which was written in 2011 for my daughter. The video was recorded on my phone during one of our many sessions at the piano. The audio was recorded straight onto the laptop as a demo for my upcoming full-length record. It's great to see the excitement and possibility in the eyes of someone discovering the piano. I hope you enjoy this even half as much as I do.

Death Head

I spent a week this March co-producing the latest Daniel and the Lion full-length with Daniel James McMahon at The Midwest Sound.  We got off to a great start with the basic tracking completed for 10 songs.  There is a lot more happening sonically on the forthcoming Death Head than on 2012's Sweet Teeth and I look forward to sharing this music in due time.

There are a couple other releases that you should keep a watch out for.  I took part in the upcoming records from Sarah Pray (Minneapolis) and Todd Kessler (Chicago) which are both due out in 2012.  More on all of this soon.

Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts

It was a long road becoming a Rusted Heart.  Over the last 5 years I've toured and recorded with Miles, Dan, Micky, Adam, and Andy in various incarnations.  And when it was time for Miles to record his second album I was invited along for the ride.  Miles Nielsen Presents the Rusted Hearts was released along with our Daytrotter session in Feb 2012.  Concurrently, Miles Nielsen and Daniel James McMahon found the time to score music for the Oscar Award winning documentary Undefeated.  It's been a wild ride sharing in all of these experiences.

Upcoming Solo Performances

I'll be playing a handful of solo shows around town this winter.  Trying out some new material...hope you can make it out.

Dec 11, 2011 - Uncommon Ground on Devon - opening for Daniel and the Lion
Dec 17, 2011 - The Ace Bar - opening for Halfway Jane
Dec 23, 2011 - Tonic Room - opening for Ode
Feb 7, 2012 - Uncommon Ground on Clark - opening for Noah Harris

Undefeated at the Academy Awards

I'm proud to say that Undefeated has been nominated for Documentary Feature of the Year.  My good friends Miles Nielsen and Daniel James McMahon wrote and recorded much of the music for the film and had me in on percussion.  Good luck to directors Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin and congratulations on an amazing film!

Francis Goes Solo

It wasn't meant to be a new project, but when you leave Daniel James McMahon and myself in the studio with a case of beer, anything can happen.  Check out Francis Goes Solo.

2011 Releases

It was a very productive year in the studio...some exciting things already set for release in 2012.  I took part in the following recordings that were all released in 2011:

Cameron McGill & What Army - Is A Beast
Daniel and the Lion - Sweet Teeth
Francesca Esme - Three Days That Come Too Slow
Francis Goes Solo - EP
John Londay - Too Young To Die
L'Altra - Telepathic
L'Altra - Favorite Flavor
Luke Schmitt - This Should Have Been Released Ten Years Ago EP
Miles Nielsen - Presents the Rusted Hearts
Undefeated - documentary soundtrack