dustinedgeblog

THE LACEY ACT

2012-01-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

My old friend Erica Lyman sent me a petition yesterday supporting the Lacey Act against the use of illegal logging in the making of musical instruments. I know that materials such as Brazilian Rosewood make for a wonderful guitar, but not at the expense of, as the Czechs would say, The Nature. If you're interested in supporting this cause you can sign the petition right here. Thanks for being nice to the planet.

THIS AIN'T NO COWTOWN

2012-01-11T13:44:00.000-05:00

So the good folks over at ZetaKaye were kind enough to include one of my songs on their latest compilation of Colorado bands - This Ain't No Cowtown Vol 3.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE ALBUM RIGHT HERE.

It's 27 tracks from 27 different Colorado artists. Plus if you like what you hear, all proceeds are going to help the fabulous Rev Jim with his recent medical expenses. Thanks for supporting independent music from Colorado!

WHAT MAKES MUSIC BORING

2011-11-18T15:32:00.001-05:00

I think that the sentiments put forth in this article are very interesting, especially when combined with the comments that follow them. If you have any thoughts please feel free to email me.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/what-makes-music-boring,65075/

APPROPRIATE ACCOMPANIMENT

2011-11-12T17:42:00.001-05:00

My good friend John Whitaker sent this to me.

DRINKIFY

Hope you enjoy your gin...

EAR-X-TACY

2011-11-02T14:01:00.002-04:00

I received some disturbing news yesterday that Ear-X-Tacy, my local record store in Louisville, has officially closed its doors after 26 years. I spent countless hours there growing up, mostly peering through and purchasing a wide selection of 7'' records and cassettes from tons of great local bands. Ear-X-Tacy was always super supportive of local acts, letting pretty much anyone and everyone sell their music through the store. It was a Louisville institution and will be missed very much by a large number of people, including myself. Technology has certainly given us quite a few advantages over the years; the Internet has made it easier to consume and absorb all types of media than ever before. As technology evolves, there are always casualties along the way of course; this never makes it any easier, however, for those who are the casualties themselves (or directly affected by them). Since music is such an integral part of being alive, I feel confident that things will somehow stabilize in the future to allow artists to be fairly compensated for their efforts. But that time is not, obviously, at hand. So in the meantime, let us keep making and sharing music however we can, paving the road ahead for those who will one day enjoy that world.

Thanks Ear-X-Tacy.

Ear-X-Tacy - Wikipedia

OBLONG BOX

2011-10-20T10:38:00.001-04:00

My friend Victor Jory sent me a link to an album on archive.org of a band named Oblong Box that we used to go see while growing up in Louisville, KY. This album only existed on cassette - I'm very happy it exists online now.

Check it out.

THE HIDEAWAY CAFE, ST. PETERSBURG, FL (9.9.11)

2011-10-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

Photos courtesy of Brooke!

This show was a blast by the way. The owner, John Kelly, has put together an absolutely amazing venue, which I highly recommend visiting if you live in St. Pete or Tampa or just passing through town. They truly care about the artists who play there and do their very best to serve the music above all else. Many thanks to the Hideaway Cafe!

THE GREAT CORPORATION (DEMO)

2011-10-15T12:23:00.000-04:00

GET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALL TOGETHER AND CREATE A PLAN
GONNA BUY THE ELECTIONS SO THE GOVERNMENT’S AT OUR COMMAND
GONNA GROW THE CORPORATION,
WE’LL BE VOTING BY THE DOLLAR NOT THE MAN
GONNA PLUG AND BUILD THE BRAND

IF OUR CANDIDATE’S A WINNER WE’LL BE RICHER THAN WE EVER THOUGHT
ALL THE POLICIES THAT BENEFIT THE COMPANY WILL BE IN THE PLOT
WE’LL EXPLOIT THE MASSES!
DON’T WORRY BECAUSE WE’LL NEVER BE CAUGHT
ALL THE POLITICIANS WILL BE BOUGHT

YEAH WE’LL HAVE A NEW WORLD ORDER
AND WE’LL TELL EVERYONE WHAT TO DO
YEAH WE’RE GONNA GIVE THEM THE BUSINESS
OF A FINANCED GREEDY COUP
YEAH WE’VE GOT THE CASH RIGHT HERE
WE’VE GOT THE WHEELS IN PLACE
WE’RE GONNA BUY THIS TOWN
WE’RE GONNA FEED THEM CAKE
AND THEY’LL SWALLOW IT ALL
UNTIL THEY’RE BURIED IN THE GROUND
YEAH UNLESS THOSE FOOLS WAKE UP
AND FINALLY SEE WHAT’S GOING DOWN

LISTEN.

FAREWELL MALCOLM

2011-10-12T19:21:00.000-04:00

A good friend of mine, Dr. Malcolm Partin, passed away yesterday. When I was a senior in high school, I made the decision to attend Davidson College in North Carolina. During my first semester there, my class schedule included a history course on Early Modern Europe that he taught every year from 1968 until he retired in 2000. As a freshman, my attention was certainly divided between several different avenues, though every time I attended Dr. Partin's classroom I was immediately ushered into a world of scholarship that demonstrated how impressive teaching can be and the thirst for knowledge that permeates those who witness it being done well. During my time at Davidson College I took every course Dr. Partin offered. Not only was he my academic advisor, he was a friend who would always listen. He was the best teacher I've ever had. We'll miss you very much, Malcolm. Thank you for everything.

WONDERLAND BALLROOM (8.24.11)

2011-10-12T17:57:00.000-04:00

I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to capture more audio from the tour. All the details and responsibilities of being on the road and doing everything by myself apparently resulted in a slight failure of documentation. Although the tour was big success, that was definitely a hard lesson learned and something I will certainly rectify in the future. But for now, here's one entire set that I do have for you. It's from the very first set of the tour at the Wonderland Ballroom in Washington DC.

As you'll hear, there's a fair bit of talking in the background (I wouldn't say that the audience was exactly rapt); a pretty good set regardless though. By the way, one of my favorite parts happens about halfway through the last song - if you hear it too let me know. The set list is below in case you're interested. Thanks for listening!

Dustin Edge at The Wonderland Ballroom
Washington DC, October 24, 2011

1. Here's A Few Words
2. Weights & Measures
3. I Let It Lie
4. The Golden Ratio
5. Calm
6. Symmetry Pursuit X
7. Apartment
8. Falls of Rough
9. Nonetheless
10. Easy As Pi
11. Luminosity
12. Intermezzo
13. An Alien Communique
14. The Ideal Citizen
15. Men Who Die Young
16. Should I

RED LINE TAP - CHICAGO, IL (9.25.11)

2011-10-11T14:59:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Young

Photo courtesy of Jarred Sparber

LIVE @ THE MACHINE (CHICAGO, IL)

2011-10-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

Here's a link to a video of a recent performance at The Machine in Chicago. Although the entire interview should be up soon, here's one of the songs I played off the new EP, I Let It Lie. Thanks for watching.

RED LINE TAP - CHICAGO, IL (9.25.11)

2011-10-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

Photos courtesy of the fabulous Jason Rose

SIDE DOOR LOUNGE - OMAHA, NE (9.27.11)

2011-10-04T16:08:00.001-04:00

HOME!!!

2011-09-29T17:58:00.000-04:00

Over 8000 miles, 25 shows, 17 states, 6 weeks total out on the road - I'm going to post some more content over the next couple weeks (audio, video, photos, etc) though for now I need to catch up on some much needed rest - but even before that, I have to say how wonderful it is to be back in Boulder with Brooke - I've missed her so much while I've been on tour - thank you so much my dear for all your endless love and support - you're amazing!

ALMOST HOME

2011-09-27T14:55:00.002-04:00

I'm in Des Moines, Iowa. I'm performing in Omaha tonight at the Side Door Lounge, which is a little more than two hours from here I think. It's the last day of the tour and I'm very anxious to get home, but very excited about playing my first show in Omaha tonight. The past six weeks have been pretty amazing - there have been so many big and small priceless moments that have come and gone so quickly it seems - and aside from all the great venues and shows, the most important and satisfying element has been reconnecting with all of you, talking with you before and after the shows, staying with you at your homes, catching up over a meal - as much as I love performing, seeing all of you while I'm out on the road is what keeps me going - I won't ever forget how awesome my fans are - thanks everyone so very much.

RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY

2011-09-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

I've been in Louisville over the past few days after playing the last gig in a four week stretch of shows that started last month - I only have three more dates left before I get back to Boulder on the 28th - I'm playing an assembly tonight at the school where my friend Ben teaches, which should be a good time (it's my second such show of the trip actually) - and I'm staying with my parents, who still live here near Cherokee Park in the Highlands - it's been nice to see the old neighborhood and see some old friends for sure - on Friday I head up to Chicago for a friend's wedding, then start the last three shows on Sunday in Chicago, Monday in Iowa City, and Tuesday in Omaha before I drive more than several hours back to Colorado on Wednesday. Overall this tour has gone well, but I'm definitely looking forward to getting back home...

THE RUDYARD KIPLING (9.17.11)

2011-09-18T16:12:00.000-04:00

Photos Courtesy of Benjamin Couch Payne

ANOTHER TOUR UPDATE

2011-09-13T10:04:00.003-04:00

Everything's going well here on the road - I'm doing 5 shows in Tennessee and Kentucky over the next few days, after which I'll be able to take a few days off before heading up to Chicago and working my way back out to Colorado. The past couple weeks have included some amazing shows at some great venues - I've had some awesome conversations with people along the way too - plus I've stayed with several close friends, which has been absolutely wonderful - overall it's been an outstanding tour so far and will hopefully continue to be so through the end of the month. I thought about listing some complaints about some small things, but I don't really feel like complaining at the moment. Right now I have a very comfortable bed for the night, plus the first home-cooked meal I've had in quite a while (thanks Nick and Wendy). I'm going to write a post in detail about everything that has happened and everyone who has helped me out over the past few weeks, but for now I want to say thank you so much for being so supportive of a traveling musician...you guys are all amazing...thank you!

HENDERSHOT'S (9.7.11)

2011-09-12T23:08:00.000-04:00

AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING...

2011-09-07T10:04:00.001-04:00

Okay I know this is brief and doesn't have much in terms of content, but I simply haven't had time to post much over the past few days of the tour - turns out that driving takes up a lot of time when I could be doing other things (like sleeping). Rest assured that I shall be posting more as soon as possible - for now, I just want to say thanks to everyone I've seen over the past couple weeks - whether you've given me a place to stay or come to a show to catch up or even met me for the first time, thank you - you're totally super awesome big time.

Okay then, off to Georgia now...more coming soon!

TOUR UPDATE

2011-09-01T11:16:00.000-04:00

So far the tour has been going fairly well - I'm in North Carolina right now getting ready for a week of shows here before heading off to Georgia, Florida, and then Tennessee. It's been really great to see some old friends and meet some new fans along the way - the private parties have been especially nice because I have more time to hang out with everyone before and after, plus play a lot of material from the Cast Iron Filter days that people have enjoyed hearing again.

So far my only complaint is how expensive gas has been - the oil companies have made it extremely hard for people like myself who travel for work to make a living - but I'm not sure what I can do about that at the moment unfortunately. Regardless, everything is going well and will hopefully continue to go well - there are some very exciting shows coming up all throughout the Southeast, so please come out and say hello if you're not too busy.

Hope you're all having an awesome day.

All the best,

Dustin

MOJO 13 PANORAMA

2011-08-31T12:30:00.001-04:00

Here's an image of the inside of Mojo 13 before the doors opened last Thursday - I'm trying to get the hang of this new panoramic camera app on my phone so apologies for the lack of quality - the inside of the club is decked out with lots of circus decorations, which is both eerie and somewhat welcoming at the same time - well worth a stop if you're in the area...

FREELANCE MUSICIAN SHOW REVIEW

2011-08-30T16:27:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone. The DC-based music blog The Freelance Musician posted a review of my show at The Wonderland Ballroom this past Wednesday - you can read the review right here - many thanks to Ben Potok for all the kind words!

THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN

THE WONDERLAND BALLROOM - WASHINGTON DC (8.24.11)

2011-08-28T16:09:00.003-04:00

Photos courtesy of Alicia Gutierrez

SCOTT AND RAVEN

2011-08-22T23:31:00.000-04:00

I've spent the last two days on Capitol Hill in Washington DC waiting for the start of the tour on Wednesday. This past weekend I was very fortunate to attend the wedding of Scott Shupe and Raven Owen-Beyer, two very good friends. Scott was the tour manager for Cast Iron Filter, a band I was in during the early aughts - he kept everything organized and safe, taking care of us on the road and allowing us to concentrate on the music at hand - I've thought a lot about him while arranging this tour, about all the responsibilities he heaped upon himself over and over to help us live our dream one show at a time - if I can muster just a sliver of his ever-present tenacity on this journey, I think I'll be alright. Thanks again for everything Scott - may you and your wonderful wife have many happy days ahead.

SO IT BEGINS...

2011-08-18T13:56:00.002-04:00

I've left Colorado and set out on the road for the tour. The bad news is that Kansas still sucks to drive through. The good news is the 5:30 Kickback at the Drury Inn in Kansas City. Three free drinks, plus snacks? Oh yes of course. Chicken fingers and mac & cheese? Here you go. Hot breakfast with waffles and biscuits & gravy? Ummm ok. But yeah - Kansas - sheesh...

STEVE THE DOG

2011-08-02T11:47:00.003-04:00

So we drove up to Idaho a few weeks ago to visit my sister-in-law Kate and her boyfriend Ross, an awesome trip to say the least. They have a 1-year-old Griffon named Steve who took quite an interest in my guitar playing...

2011-07-28T20:10:00.003-04:00

TWO OLD SONGS @ THE UMS (DENVER, CO) 7.24.11

2011-07-27T15:46:00.001-04:00

So I decided to break out the electric for a few songs during the Underground Music Showcase this past weekend - I thought it went fairly well and gave the whole performance a different dynamic than usual - anyway here's a couple tunes from the show...

GUITARS FOR VETS

2011-07-19T11:29:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

I'd like to tell you a little about an organization I'm supporting called Guitars for Vets - they're a non-profit charity that provides veterans with guitars and musical instruction to help combat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In the words of the organization, "Whether we agree or disagree with the decision to go to war, one thing is for certain: there are men and women who bravely fight for and honorably represent our country. As a consequence of war, many of our soldiers come home with physical and emotional injuries. They need our help."

If you would like to support this important institution, just click on the image below to be taken to their website - they accept donations as well as guitars to give to the veterans participating in the program - thanks for any help you can offer!

UNDERGROUND MUSIC SHOWCASE @ ILLEGAL PETE'S (BOULDER, CO)

2011-07-10T11:49:00.002-04:00

HIKING TRIP

2011-06-30T14:07:00.001-04:00

WYOMING - PHELPS LAKE @ GRAND TETON

IDAHO - CRATERS OF THE MOON

UTAH - DELICATE ARCH

COLORADO - HANGING LAKE

TOUR PLANS

2011-05-31T16:10:00.003-04:00

I’ve been working on putting together a tour for late August through September, researching venues all the way from the far reaches of Washington State to the coasts of Florida.

To be honest, it’s a rather daunting undertaking, finding places to perform that have the semblance of conduciveness to what I do musically – there are countless venues out there, but a precious few that actively support independent artists hailing from far and wide that may not have the highest draw.

But that’s not the point exactly – what I really aim to accomplish is to reconnect with as many friends and fans in as many places as possible before fatigue and budget force me to do otherwise. When it comes down to it, going on the road is really one big plan to repay the kindness that you’ve shown me over the years – it’s you who takes the time to listen to my music, to read these blog posts, to watch the videos of performances, to support my creativity through your donations – I don’t take any of that for granted – not for one millionth of a second.

And since I’m under no pretext that I can do all this by myself, I humbly ask for your help through whatever means you can muster, whether that be a suggestion of a place to play, an idea for an inexpensive place to spend the night, someone who might host a house concert, any advice on how I can bring you a great show and honor your support.

If you have any thoughts, please, by all means, let me know.

Thank you as always,

Dustin

CAST IRON FILTER REUNION IN CLEVELAND

2011-05-30T13:03:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Crick Helfrich

APRIL 2011 NEWSLETTER

2011-04-28T13:35:00.008-04:00

Hey everyone! There’s lots of cool stuff in here that you might not have seen before. In fact I know you haven’t seen it before. First of all, I’m working on some East Coast dates for later this year, some of which will be hosted as private house concerts – the schedule will be filling up quickly over the summer so please email me anytime if you’re interested in hosting a private concert.

Next, here's some fun new content for you:
1) A video I put together for a song I released a few years ago.
2) The entire set of my performance at Independent Records.
3) A transcript of an interview I did with WDCV last month.

And since you’ve been so nice to get this far, please feel free to use the discount code 'edgeforless' at checkout for 15% off anything in the online store. As always, thank you so much for reading this.

Take care and all the best,

Dustin

MUSIC VIDEO MOTION

2011-04-27T14:05:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. So I just finished my first music video yesterday. I know it's absolutely ridiculous but I don't care. Hopefully it's at least somewhat entertaining. Anyway thanks for watching...

RECORD STORE DAY (AUDIO)

2011-04-25T13:41:00.000-04:00

Here's the audio from my set at Independent Records last week. I already posted the video, but the audio from that had too many clips in it, so here's a better version. Thanks for listening.

INDEPENDENT RECORDS (RECORD STORE DAY - 4.16.11)

2011-04-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

RECORD STORE DAY @ INDEPENDENT RECORDS (4.16.11)

2011-04-21T21:44:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. Here's my set from Independent Records in Denver during Record Store Day this past weekend. Endless thanks to Quincy Owens for asking me to perform - wow everyone there is so nice! The audio clips in a few places, but I'll just chalk that up to a bad case of rockin' out - that and the general quality of my below-average camcorder. Thanks for watching...

PHOTOS - MEADOWLARK (4.6.11)

2011-04-14T08:02:00.000-04:00

CALM @ THE MEADOWLARK (4.6.11)

2011-04-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

I captured the audio from the show at the Meadowlark last Wednesday with a new digital recorder I recently purchased so I can share said audio with wonderful people like you. Unfortunately I'm still in the process of learning how to use this confounded device properly, which resulted in me setting input volume way too high, ultimately leading to 90% of the set sounding distorted and unpleasant. However, I did manage to get a good recording for Calm, which is available right here. I promise I'll figure this out for future shows so I can post entire sets and not just one measly tune. In the meantime, you can view most of the set through a series of videos I posted on my YouTube Channel - I think there's 13 songs total amongst the four videos...Thanks for listening/watching/reading.

A FEW WORDS @ THE MEADOWLARK (4.6.11)

2011-04-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

Here's a new song I wrote a while back that I'd never performed live until last week at the Meadowlark in Denver. At one point it was in the running for inclusion on Calm - but then I decided against it since it wasn't exactly playing nice with the other tunes at that point in time. Anyway, here it is...

WDCV INTERVIEW

2011-04-11T11:01:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone. Here's an interview that the nice folks over at WDCV conducted with me last week in case you're interested:

WDCV: What is your sign?
D: Sagittarius

WDCV: Who is your favorite Beatle?
D: John Lennon

WDCV: What’s the last thing you listened to in the car?
D: Panorama by Birds & Batteries

WDCV: How did you first get into playing music?
D: When I was in middle school in Louisville, KY I started going to lots of local underground punk rock shows, which is where I first felt the desire to create my own songs and perform them. So many amazing bands came out of that scene in the early 90s that I count myself very fortunate to have seen: Slint, Endpoint, Crain, Sunspring, the list goes on and on and on. It was a special time in Louisville music history to be sure…

WDCV: What is the songwriting process like for you? What are you most inspired to write about?
D: I usually find a chord structure and then choose words that seem appropriate. As far as what inspires me, it obviously depends on what has recently transpired in my life, how I’m feeling at that particular point in time, and what I feel called to expound upon – lately it’s been the search for truth and asking questions about the meaning of life.

WDCV: Who are your greatest musical influences?
D: There have been so many over the years, but a very short list would include Talking Heads, Neutral Milk Hotel, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Fugazi, The Magnetic Fields, Cole Porter, Uncle Tupelo, John Lennon, Brian Eno, King Crimson, Richard Buckner, Slint, Nina Simone, Modest Mouse, Steve Earle, Little Richard, Oingo Boingo, Vic Chesnutt, Freddie King, Sunspring, The Gourds, Dan Bern, Minor Threat, Sam Cooke, The Cure, Howlin’ Wolf, and George Gershwin.

WDCV: Here at WDCV we are famous for our bluegrass show (no, really), and we heard a rumor you have some bluegrass in your past. Is that rumor true? Is that something that still influences your music?
D: Oh absolutely – I love bluegrass music. In my opinion it has a lot of rhythmic similarities to punk rock, so perhaps the bands from my early Louisville days paved the way. I’d love to make a bluegrass album someday actually.

WDCV: Where is your favorite place to play live?
D: Anywhere people come to see me…

WDCV: Calm seems like it has a very different sound from your previous releases. Is there a story behind this change? How do you think your sound will evolve in the future?
D: The songs on my previous EP, By The Numbers, were primarily written on a computer – they were very rigidly structured and laden with effects. The opposite was true on Calm, which was written mostly late at night in the tiny confines of my basement apartment in New York – I guess it was a way of bringing myself into balance with the multitudinous activity of the city that surrounded me.

WDCV: Along those lines, you also have a release called “By the Numbers” with songs called “The Golden Ratio” and “Easy as Pi.” Are you, sir, a not-so-secret math nerd?
D: Well it’s true that the study of mathematics is something I’ve always been fascinated with since I was very young – I believe most musicians possess some basic connection to numeric qualities, although it must vary from person to person. Aside from the meaning we attach to emotion, I believe that there is definitely truth in numbers too…

WDCV: Do you have any big future plans for the world of music?
D: I’m going to rob all the major labels and distribute their assets evenly to every independent musician in the world.

WDCV: State your life philosophy in seven words or less.
D: Be nice. Keep learning. Don’t panic.

WDCV: Okay, Bonus Question: If you had to choose between being a deciduous tree and a coniferous tree, which would you choose and why?
D: That’s an amazing question. It would depend on many factors, but if I absolutely had to choose, I’d be deciduous. I’d be ugly in the winter, but who’s beautiful all the time, right?

THE TOBOLOWSKY FILES

2011-04-10T11:07:00.002-04:00

We’ve been re-watching Deadwood over the past few weeks, which has been excellent following going through the entire series of The Wire again through the winter. There’s an actor named Stephen Tobolowsky who appears in Deadwood who I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in a myriad of films over the years, from Spaceballs to Groundhog Day to Memento and many others. My wife, a far more reliable source of all things media, turned me on to the Tobolowsky Files (www.tobolowskyfiles.com), a series of stories read by the actor. Here’s a link to one of the most recent, “The Time Machine Deconstructed” – many thanks to Stephen for telling these wonderful tales.

THANKS FROM HIGHER GROUND

2011-03-31T12:15:00.004-04:00

You guys are awesome.
HIGHER GROUND

WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?!

2011-03-11T18:45:00.004-05:00

So I know most of you don't live in Colorado - but if you do, I wanted to make you aware of the Colorado Public Radio Instrument Drive that's happening now through the end of March. If you have an instrument that you don't play please consider donating it - all the instruments go to classrooms around the state for kids to learn and appreciate the craft of music. You can find a donation center close to you right here. If you donate a theremin you receive one billion extra cool points.

THE LAUGHING GOAT - 3.4.11

2011-03-06T14:42:00.006-05:00

MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER

2011-03-01T12:50:00.005-05:00

HIGHER GROUND VETERANS ASSISTANCE
Hey everyone - I just wanted to make you aware of a very important organization called Higher Ground - a veterans rehabilitation program that combines sports, family, and coping therapy to restore and rehabilitate men and women of the armed forces who have been severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the following week, 100% of sales at dustinedge.com will go to support Higher Ground. Or if you'd prefer to contribute to them directly you can do so through their website.

BOULDER SHOW
I'm playing a FREE show this Friday in Boulder at the Laughing Goat at 8pm - plus it's National Hug a G.I. day, so please please let all your friends in the military know how much you love them.
The Laughing Goat
Boulder, CO, 1709 Pearl St. MAP
3.4.11 @ 8:00pm

Thanks as always for reading - hope to see you soon!

Dustin

EDUCATION

2011-02-22T18:13:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to a lecture on the history of the Denver music scene from the mid 80s through the mid 90s - I learned quite a bit and now have tons of music I need to listen to in order to get caught up on that era. For some reason, I feel as if knowing what was before provides a greater appreciation of what is current or what might be yet to come - the whole past is prologue thing I reckon.

THE MEADOWLARK (2.9.11)

2011-02-20T19:18:00.007-05:00

Courtesy of Jimmy Iles

THE CALM EP ON ITUNES

2011-02-12T17:45:00.007-05:00

Yes it's true - plus you can download it for the special price of only $3.99! Just click here or any of the images to access the iTunes page.

HOT CONGRESS FEST 2011

2011-01-21T14:55:00.010-05:00

2011-01-20T00:18:00.004-05:00

Hey guys - just wanted to share a link to a new song from my very good friend John Whitaker that he played live on WFPK in Louisville, KY. Just follow this to get to the broadcast.

JANUARY 2011 NEWSLETTER

2011-01-04T12:34:00.010-05:00

FREE STREAM / ALBUM ART
In an attempt to show my appreciation for the select few of you who subscribe to this newsletter, I want to provide an opportunity to listen to the new EP I'm releasing later this month. As always, thank you so much for being interested in anything I create.

HERE IS THE MUSIC.

FREE CDS & PRE-ORDERS
Pre-orders will be available very soon, complete with deals on merch and more free music. However, right now I'm giving away free CDs of the new EP to the first 5 people who forward this newsletter to 10 friends who you think would enjoy my music - just attach me@dustinedge.com to your forwarded email and get a free CD!!

CALM SESSIONS VIDEO
A few months ago I posted a video of various takes from the Calm sessions at The Gallery in Brooklyn. Since it might give everyone a little more perspective on the final result, I thought I would link to it again in case you're interested. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

Thanks as always for reading. Much more coming soon...

THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP...

2010-12-11T18:57:00.013-05:00

Yesterday, I went to the Denver Music Summit, an event designed to facilitate interaction between different people in the music industry in order to help them find new methods of enhancing the Denver music scene and assist them with their own independent careers. Governor-elect Hickenlooper made a speech during the luncheon, which I had no idea was going to happen. Listening to him speak, I felt invigorated that the arts and creativity seemed so important to the man who will be in charge of our state over the next few years. Regardless, the entire day was an inspiring piece of work. I met person after person who was not only helpful and nice, but genuinely invested in supporting the music scene here. When I was young and living in Louisville, Kentucky, I exhibited a considerable amount of verve for my hometown (and still do), even with the constant supply of teenage angst that is present within the majority of youthful minds. But until now, through all my travels, I haven't felt anything close to that previous passion for any of my newly adopted surroundings. Nevertheless, for the first time in a long time, I feel moved to participate, to help this city become something even better than it already is and support those who share that same vision. Even though I've only been here for a short time, I already feel like a part of it. And I feel welcomed to become a part bigger part of it. I think this is where I am supposed to be. So let's get to work...

ARTIFACTS

2010-12-05T23:48:00.002-05:00

Do any other musicians out there have ideas in their heads that appear right as they’re doing something that prohibits them from being able to record them? Sometimes this happens to me when I’m doing something else that takes precedence or when I’m unable to muster the ability to divorce myself from my surroundings and capture that idea so I can work on it later or even right then for hours on end. Where do those ideas come from and where do they go afterward? Do they reappear someday in the future and make me think hey I feel like I’ve heard this before? Or are they gone forever, a promising notion that simply evaporates back into my psyche? I prefer to believe the former, since the idea emanated from my brain in the first place – if it surfaces again, it will only be from a different version of me, somewhere down the road, hopefully, wiser.

UNRELEASED NUMBERS

2010-11-17T13:10:00.008-05:00

Below are five tracks that were recorded at the Gallery in Brooklyn back in late 2009 during the sessions that would ultimately lead to By The Numbers. I'll go into a short explanation for each of them so you can get a better idea of where they came from and why they didn't make it onto the final product. None of them have any vocals because we never got that far, but all the instruments are pretty much in place. Anyway, here we go...

PRAGUE 39
I originally wrote this idea on the computer in Prague. It's in a strange time signature (13/4) and never had any lyrics, which made it a contender for an instrument track. This was the only song (other than NYC 05 below) to be recorded by a full band tracking together instead of a series of overdubs. Everyone happened to be there at the studio that night, so we decided to give it a shot together and find out if we could capture anything worthwhile. There's some very cool stuff here, especially Brian Forbes' guitar solo near the end. Ultimately it didn't fit alongside the other songs that were leading the pack - but it was a fun exercise. It was also the first time I had played with a band in almost four and half years, so that definitely counts for something.

PRAGUE 44
I had high hopes for this tune. I liked its energy and thought it could be very accessible. Unfortunately, it never coalesced with the other ideas enough to make sense to include on the EP. I'm certainly going to re-record this song (as well as numerous others) into something more cohesive. Even though you can't hear them, the lyrics are story-based and have a lot of dark humor to them. And good gracious, Aaron Steel played some amazing drums on this track...

NYC 09
This song was written in New York sometime either in late 2008 or early 2009 (I can't remember exactly when). As you'll hear, it's fairly harmless in its current state, nothing of much consequence in my opinion. The words to this song also contain a liberal smattering of dark humor, which I thought was necessary at the time to offset the politeness of the chord structure. A few other story/character-based songs also came out of this period, all of which were fun to write, but didn't quite fit into the overall scheme of the EP. There's definitely a complete project in my head where all these types of ideas exist - it just hasn't make it to print yet.

NYC 05
This song was written in New York in early 2009. The original demo was on acoustic guitar and was also part of the series of dark humor story-based songs that I was apparently into creating at the time (this one has some unfinished lyrics about zombies I believe). We recorded this on the same evening as PRAGUE 39 - much like that track, this one has some weird time signature changes here and there. Overall I really like the structure of this song - if I can finish the words I think it will come together.

PRAGUE 55
The demo for this idea came near the end of my time in Prague (55 out of 57). I'd been writing a lot of electronic compositions and just needed to rock a bit I reckon. And, as with most of the Prague ideas, I wanted to keep it short and succinct. Again, Aaron played magnificiently, as did Dan Asher on bass guitar. We'd recorded everything except the vocals when I came to the conclusion that this was a perfectly acceptable song that just didn't fit with the others. Once again, the lyrics were story-based and not overtly connected with the numeric theme of the album. I'm sure this will be reworked at some point because, well, it rocks.

Anyway, that's it for these ideas. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

AH WHAT YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE

2010-11-16T15:27:00.002-05:00

http://tinyurl.com/3ycrx3v

MOVING INTO THE NEW REHEARSAL SPACE

2010-11-15T20:00:00.003-05:00

BAD LUCK CITY @ THE DENVER FILM FESTIVAL

2010-11-13T15:40:00.005-05:00

HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN

2010-11-01T16:19:00.006-04:00

We were finally allowed back into our apartment on Saturday evening after a fairly tense 24 hours at a friends house, mostly spent wondering if we'd return to anything at all. It was definitely strange to see large plumes of smoke coming from the nearest ridge across the street from us - thankfully the firefighters were able to contain the fire overnight and prevent it from spreading much further. Thanks firefighters - you guys are kind of awesome.

EVACUATION

2010-10-29T19:52:00.011-04:00

I was ordered to evacuate my home this morning after a fire broke out in the hills near our apartment. Deciding what to take and what to leave was quite the process. Although I'm fairly optimistic that our home is going to be survive the flames, I'm certainly a little wary of what the next few days might bring. Thankfully, I had time to grab a few important things before we left - a couple guitars, clothes, my toothbrush, and hard drives (always the hard drives). I'll try to post some updates they come along, even though I may be a bit busy with this in the near future. More soon...
Photo by Paul Aiken

TESTING THE WATERS

2010-10-12T10:11:00.003-04:00

I've been going to a lot of shows in Denver over the past few weeks. Before we moved to Colorado, I'd heard some good things about the music scene, but wasn't exactly sure what it was about all because I couldn't experience it firsthand - I guess I'm an empiricist.

Regardless, I'm very impressed with the extent and caliber of what I've witnessed so far, as well as the enthusiasm of those in attendance. Live music (performing and supporting it) is undoubtedly ingrained in the culture here. There are tons of clubs and a myriad of local, regional, and national bands in town on any given evening. It's all very invigorating - and I'm excited to become a part of it.

THE NEW YOGA

2010-09-15T20:42:00.007-04:00

I'm taking this opportunity to make you aware of a new album called Life Out East from my friend Joe Yoga, an extraordinary songwriter out of New York City. I recommend that you check out these songs and tell your friends about them.
HERE THEY ARE.

REEXAMINATION

2010-09-14T10:12:00.002-04:00

A few days ago I finally listened to the songs I was working on back in July. It was interesting to hear them again after a couple months away from the project, which actually feels very beneficial in retrospect. My life is completely different than it was two months ago. And my assessment was fairly different as well. I reckon it’s another lesson of the advantages of stepping away from something, then coming back to it in a new light. Hopefully I’ll remember that…

FROM THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD

2010-09-12T15:09:00.001-04:00

THOUGHTS ON A PREVIOUS POST

2010-09-11T09:39:00.000-04:00

I’ve been thinking about a post I put up a few days ago concerning the song “That’s Life”. I included a link to a streaming version of the song, the audio file of which I uploaded previously. I thought a lot about how the writers of the song might feel if they knew that there was a free version of their song out there, waiting for people to come along and listen to it without paying a cent. I also thought about my own motivations for posting it, which were basically to explain why I like and respect the song so much, as well as to share and hopefully expose you to something new in case you hadn’t heard it before (much like myself until recently). If it were my music, I would certainly want people to share it with as many others as they saw fit. But it’s not my music. So if the writers of this particular song (or anyone representing them) comes to me and demands that I remove it, I’ll obviously comply - but until then, I hope you enjoy it.

NEED BALLAST

2010-09-10T10:34:00.001-04:00

FIRE NEAR HOME

2010-09-06T19:37:00.007-04:00

A large forest fire started this morning a few miles west of Boulder. So far it's consumed around 3000 acres, including a number of houses. Hopefully all the people close to the flames have been evacuated and the firefighters are keeping safe. Here's a photo...

THAT'S LIFE

2010-09-05T13:58:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I heard, for the first time ever, the song 'That's Life', written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon and sung by Frank Sinatra on his 1966 album of the same name. I'm slightly embarrassed that I hadn't heard this song before, but oh well; there's so much music that's been written over the years that it's fairly unreasonable to expect a person to know it all. Still though, it seems like I should have been aware of this one in particular. All around, from its lyrics to its form and arrangement, this song has rapidly become one of my favorite pop songs from beginning to end.
LISTEN

INSTRUCTIONS

2010-08-18T08:24:00.002-04:00

SEA LEGS

2010-08-17T12:01:00.010-04:00

Everyone rides a bike in Boulder. And since I now live in Boulder too, I suppose that I should ride one as well. It's been ten years since I've ridden a bicycle, ever since mine was stolen in college, probably because I'd adopted the intelligent practice of not locking it up at night. I guess I had other priorities that were more pressing.

Anyway, I went bike shopping a couple days ago and found one that looked like it might work for me. No sooner did I get it outside and step up onto it than I subsequently fell to the ground in what must have been at least moderately humorous for pretty much everyone within viewing distance. Looking back, I'm not really sure how it happened. But it happened. Regardless, I go forth undeterred and will, one way or another, respectfully join these local legions of velocipedes.

But when I do, for the first few days, you know, watch out.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

2010-08-12T14:26:00.010-04:00

We arrived in Boulder last Friday after the long drive out west. Things have been fairly busy since we arrived, opening box after box, putting everything in its place and so on. We found a place to live near a mountain with several trails leading up into the wilderness that we hope to start exploring soon as well. Good gracious this is a different environment than New York City, but altogether very pleasant and extremely welcoming. And though I'm sure it will undoubtedly take time to learn exactly how we fit into this little burg, the future appears to be very promising indeed...

THE MASTERING TRIP

2010-07-25T15:08:00.002-04:00

Here are some photos from a recent journey to Asbury Park, New Jersey to master a new album I've been working on lately.

THE PORT AUTHORITY

THE WAITING AREA DOWN BELOW

THE BUS

THE INSIDE OF THE BUS

LEAVING NEW YORK IN THE RAIN

THE BUILDING IN ASBURY PARK WHERE THE STUDIO IS

THE STUDIO

A CELEBRATORY BEVERAGE AFTER THE SESSION

WALKING TO THE BEACH

THE BEACH

THE BOARDWALK

THE GARDEN OF JOY

WAITING AT THE TRAIN STATION

THE TRAIN ARRIVES

TRANSFERRING IN LONG BRANCH

INSIDE THE TRAIN

CLIMBING FROM THE DEPTHS OF PENN STATION

PENN STATION

AND I'M BACK...

BOXES BOXES BOXES

2010-07-24T00:15:00.000-04:00

OF AN IMMIMENT ENSEMBLE

2010-07-23T08:55:00.001-04:00

Over the past two years, I've been playing solo acoustic shows here in New York. It's been a wonderful experience to be able to gather up my guitar and take the subway or walk to every show. Since the end of 2004, I haven't played with a group of other musicians except on very rare occasions, all of which I've appreciated immensely. I'm really looking forward to getting out to Colorado and having the ability to put together a band in earnest again, learning new things from other musicians, sharing the energy that exists when a group of people play the same song together - you know, 'rockin out', as they say. I know it will take some time to meet people, find a place to practice, and all the other logistics that accompany such an endeavor - but I'm optimistic that it will all come together eventually.

PHOTOS FROM THE BRIDGE

2010-07-05T11:54:00.001-04:00

GHOSTS OF HALLELUJAH

2010-07-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday night, I listened to an album that I hadn't heard in a few years - Ghosts of Hallelujah by The Gourds. Although I know that other bands are more readily identified as alt-country legends, this album stands for me as one of the finest examples of the genre ever created. I'm certainly not a music writer, so I'm not going to expound on the reasons why I hold this opinion. But I invite you to investigate.

THE MCKIBBIN LOFTS

2010-06-24T10:18:00.000-04:00

I have one or two more mixing sessions over at The Gallery before I finish this new project and move to Colorado. I've been recording there on and off for the last year or so, an interesting and informative experience to say the least. Yesterday, I found an article in the New York Times from a couple years ago about the McKibbin Lofts, where The Gallery is located.

When I first visited the lofts and the surrounding area, I certainly wasn't struck by an overwhelming sense of charm. I came to view the studio, meet Brian Forbes, and talk about what would eventually become By The Numbers. What did impress me was Brian's amiable disposition, his vast knowledge of the technology and eagerness to serve the music to its highest capabilities, all of which were more important to me than the snazzyness of the environment in which I'd be working.

Regardless, if you would like to get a better picture of where I've been recording over the past year, here's the article.

FIGMENT FESTIVAL

2010-06-18T13:43:00.000-04:00

So I played at 11AM this past Saturday out on Governor’s Island during the Figment Festival, which is almost certainly in the running for top 3 earliest show times in my life. There were a few early birds there, though not many. I did make at least one new fan though…

GRUDGE MATCH - 6.16.10

2010-06-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

Here's my set from Grudge Match this week - Comedy Vs. Music to the Death! Sadly, music was vanquished by comedy this round, but I shall do my best to change that next time. Thanks so much again to Joe Yoga for having me back!

RED GIANT

2010-06-11T14:49:00.000-04:00

A BIT OF JAZZ AT A LOCAL FESTIVAL

2010-06-01T13:38:00.000-04:00

I took this short video at a festival in my neighborhood last month. If you're ever in the West Village in mid-May, I highly suggest checking out the annual Bedford Commerce Barrow Festival - it's a full day of outdoor activities including music, food, street vendors, and much more.

MUSIC @ SOUTHPORT

2010-05-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

When I was in Florida briefly last week, I went to my favorite dive, Southport Raw Bar, for some conch fritters and a pitcher of beer. There was a band playing that afternoon, consisting of two guys playing 'island' music, one with a guitar, one with a bass, plus a drum machine between the two. Simple, but effective for the surroundings. Good times. Here's a photo:

VIDEOS FROM THE GALLERY

2010-05-26T15:04:00.001-04:00

Below is a collection of videos from sessions recorded at the Gallery Recording Studios in May 2010. Segments include Aaron Steele on drums, Dan Asher on bass guitar, Brian Forbes on electric guitar, Thomas Bryan Eaton on pedal steel guitar, Raphael McGregor on lap steel guitar, and me. I also apologize for the fairly sloppy editing on this. I'm obviously not an expert at putting videos together - but I wanted to share.

Thanks for listening.

BY THE NUMBERS DEMOS

2010-05-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Below are links to three different demos from By The Numbers. I thought that some people might be interested in hearing these original ideas in comparison to the finished versions that were on the EP. I'll explain a bit about each one, followed by the link to the audio file.

THE GOLDEN RATIO DEMO
This was the second overall idea that I created when I was living in Prague a few years ago. At this point, I didn't really know what I was doing with the software I was using - I just knew how to create a beat and layer some things on top of it. The strange noise at the beginning and end made it through to the finish, but most of everything else was replaced by actual instruments.
THE GOLDEN RATIO DEMO

WEIGHTS & MEASURES DEMO
This demo was the sixteenth idea I created in Prague. Again, I wasn't very confident in my ability to compose using the software, but that didn't seem to stop me from creating ideas like this. As you'll hear, there really wasn't much at this point - just a beat, a bass line, and a rhythmic pad hovering above everything. There's also a solo melody that appears in the middle that just makes me laugh after I listen to it now. The version on the EP was trimmed down a few bars, although I'm not sure now why that decision came to pass. Regardless, I was very interested in making these types of beats for some reason during this phase, some of which turned into actual songs, most of which didn't.
WEIGHTS & MEASURES DEMO

HUMAN OR MACHINE DEMO
This demo was actually recorded early last year in New York City. The original idea was conceived in Louisville about a week after we moved back from Prague. So technically it wasn't written while I lived in Prague, but it's safe to say it was inspired by being there. After months and months or writing mostly within the scope of computer programs, I finally started to move slowly back toward using the guitar as my primary instrument again, which has actually led directly to the new project I'm working on right now.
HUMAN OR MACHINE DEMO

Anyway, thanks for listening. If you have any questions about any of these ideas feel free to ask me.

STATE OF FLUX

2010-05-09T12:11:00.000-04:00

I found a video about record stores and wanted to share it - even though many of you are most likely aware of the thoughts expressed within, it's still an excellent description of the current state of the music industry and will hopefully facilitate further discussions about it's future. Thanks so much to Jay Smooth for such an eloquent explanation: WATCH

THE GALLERY SESSIONS - VOCALS - 5.7.10

2010-05-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

WAGONS WEST

2010-05-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

We’ve spent almost two years here in New York, which has been undoubtedly amazing. However, come this August we’ll be moving again, this time to Colorado, Boulder specifically, about 25 miles northwest of Denver. We’ve always wanted to live out west, and now it’s actually going to happen. The next couple months will be filled with the logistics of a long-distance move, but I doubt it will be that bad - we’ve done it before. I’ll miss New York a lot, mostly my friends, but also the convenience of the city. Every move causes me to assess where I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m going, which is never a bad thing. And so far, I feel pretty good about this one.

DUSTIN EDGE + STREET SOCCER USA

2010-04-26T15:24:00.000-04:00

Over the next week, 50% of all online sales will go to support an organization that I greatly admire - Street Soccer USA. Aside from being an ardent supporter, it's been a privilege to work side-by-side with Street Soccer USA in the past as a guest performer at the Homeless World Cup in Washington DC.

With a mission of using soccer for social change, SSUSA uses team sports to help adults and youths overcome homelessness through a national sports league in 20 cities across the country. Players within the organization commit to change their lives by setting 3, 6, and 12 month personal goals. Then, with the assistance of coaches and volunteers, each player is held accountable to meet – and even exceed – their vision for a better self. Since its inception, Street Soccer USA has helped over 75% of their players get off the streets within a year of joining the program.

If you're interesting in acquiring my music and would also like to donate to this worthwhile cause, just click here or any the images below to visit the online store.

Hope all is well wherever you are.

All the best,

DUSTIN

WWW.STREETSOCCERUSA.ORG

NOSTALGIA

2010-04-14T11:32:00.000-04:00

Here's an old image I found that was taken of me during a show I played in Virginia earlier this year. The picture is grainy because it was very dark in the small tavern where I was performing. It reminds me of good times spent with old friends. I guess I've just been so busy lately that I haven't had much time for that. But I miss it...

...IN WITH THE NEW

2010-04-08T11:24:00.000-04:00

I'm headed back into the studio later this month to start recording another EP. This one will be much more acoustic and lo-fi in nature, less rock-oriented. I've been writing a lot on a new classical guitar and will most likely use it on all the new songs we'll be tracking. And I'll be recording once again with Brian Forbes at The Gallery in Williamsburg. He's shared some great thoughts on these ideas and has definitely helped push me into fresh songwriting territory. I'm also planning to make this a much more interactive experience from the studio by posting videos and pictures of our progress, so stay tuned for all that. I'll be back with more as soon as possible...

CD RELEASE PARTY @ OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD - 4.3.10

2010-04-05T10:06:00.000-04:00

THANK YOU

2010-04-04T14:48:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the CD Release Party last night! I had such a wonderful time performing for all of you. And I'm so grateful that I have so many amazing people in my life that continue to support my musical endeavors. So thank you thank you thank you for everything.

All the best,

DUSTIN

BY THE NUMBERS - AVAILABLE NOW!

2010-03-30T10:02:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

I'm happy to announce that my new album, By The Numbers, is now available! You can obtain your own personal copy right here. Thank you so much for all your support as I finished this project over the past few months.

As I mentioned, I'm having a CD Release Party this coming Saturday at 8:00 PM at Otto's Shrunken Head in the East Village of Manhattan. I'll be giving away 10 free CDs before playing an acoustic set of songs from the album plus many other fan favorites. Directions and more information is available right here.

Thanks again for all your support!

All the best,

DUSTIN

'BY THE NUMBERS' CD RELEASE PARTY

2010-03-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

I'm having a CD release party next month on Saturday, April 3rd @ 8:00pm at Otto's Shrunken Head in the East Village of Manhattan, so please spread the word and bring your friends. You can find directions and more information right here. I'll be giving away free CDs to the first 10 people who arrive, so be sure to come early!

Although we had a couple glitches in the pre-ordering process, everything is now up and running at full speed. The release is just a few short days away, but you can still pre-order your copy of 'By The Numbers' now for speedy delivery - just click here or the image below to learn more.

Endless thanks for all your support.

Take care and see you soon,

DUSTIN

THE BEEZY DOUGLAS CARNIVALE - 3.20.10

2010-03-21T17:56:00.000-04:00

Photos courtesy of Brooke

NEW DESIGN

2010-03-18T10:55:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if you can tell, but we changed a few things last week regarding the layout of this site. The left-side menu is gone and has been replaced with the menu at the bottom, which now includes links to the store, social networking sites, free music, and a place to sign up for the fan club. All these options were available before (except for the networks page), but we wanted to make them more accessible for you. As always, the credit for these operations goes to the one and only schmakt, whose technical expertise will knock your socks off and set them aflame as they fly across the room. And although we hope you enjoy the new design, we're always open to suggestions.

ALPHABET CITY SOUP - 3.15.10

2010-03-16T10:40:00.000-04:00

Photos courtesy of Brooke