Some songs take hours, days or years to write and call “done.”

This song was a challenge for me to compose and record a tune in the last three hours (9pm-midnight) of the last day of July, honoring the month with all its beauty of flowers, sun, vegetables, warmth, fireworks and barbecues.

Not that August isn’t a great month, too, but as we move along through it and look ahead towards school (for some) and the end of vacation it’s just not the same as those awe-inspiring thirty one days of July.

As this song has been available for over a year now on Colorway’s second album, The Black Sky Sequined, I thought it was a good time to go back and give the demo a spin. I remember recording it in a delirious rush, recording whatever felt right to get to the next chord progression as the timer ticked away.

I’m extremely proud of the album it is on and am happy it seems to be a fan favorite when we play it live. But the demo has an immediacy on it that I can hear as I listen to it roll on.

Just as a note: I played guitar and bass on this and sang all the parts. The drum track is courtesy of Logic Pro and faithfully (and humbly) recreated by the one-and-only J.J. O’Connell. 🙂

Enjoy, and check out the studio version of this track at https://soundcloud.com/colorway-1/02-come-back-july-44k16b

Check out the whole album over at
http://www.colorwaymusic.com

Hi gang,

Wanted to update you on the next couple of weeks of shows.

Saturday night there is a free show in Easthampton at one of our favorite places to play: Luthier’s Co-op. 

Where else but there could you watch three bands for free while surrounded by guitars, basses, mandolins, and banjos and have not only the country’s best water but some of the finest beers and libations around?

You should come out tomorrow and see for yourself. This all ages night of music starts at 7pm and Colorway plays 8-9:30. 

Next up: Wednesday, 7/27 at Hartford’s best kept secret: The Half Door. This Sisson Ave stronghold is a favorite spot of ours to play. Old school Irish pub with amazing food, a huge and storied whiskey selection along with beer and wine and all that good stuff. We play two sets starting at 10:00. This show is only $2 to get in. Crazy!

Saturday, 7/30 we head further south into the mystical lands of Connecticut its newest addition to the live music scene in Willimantic: The Eclectic. 

This new arts/music performance space is a listening room for sure. It’s also BYOB which is mighty cool so make sure to load up the cooler, flask or Thermos© and get the car in gear. This night is going to be very special as we are playing as support for an amazing blues rock trio from Providence called The Silks. Their latest record was produced by The Replacements very own Paul Westerberg and it sounds so, so good. Check out their latest video for the song “Live and Learn” here. We want to make our first trip to Willimantic a memorable one and a place we can come back to. So if you have any friends in the area and feel like sharing this email or this Facebook event that would be super.

Finally, on the last day of July (Sunday, 7/31) I will be performing a solo show at one of the best (of many) new breweries in the Pioneer Valley: Fort Hill Brewery.  

I’m playing two sets starting at 3pm and wrapping up around 6pm. Not sure if I’ll be inside or outside but it’s sure to be a good time. Also that day is National Mutt Day (who knew?) and the brewery is having a special event that is a benefit for the Dakin Humane Society called “Barks and Brews” that runs from 12-4pm. You can read all about it here. There will be music, food and doggie activities throughout the day. Though that portion of the day is ticketed and costs $10 my show will be absolutely free. And you know I’m gonna be feeling the end of July like you read about. I may even play a song about it. 🙂

Well that’s about it for now, gang. Plenty of shows in August (like Thursday, 8/4 at The Beachcomber in Wellfleet with the outrageously talented and dangerous Mammal Dap). But I’ll go in depth about those shows next week or so. 

Thanks to all who came out to our shows in NYC and at the Green River Festival. You can see live clips from each of those appearances on our video page here. 

Hope to see you at the shows!!

Stay cool, live well and rock on,

~FAJ

Deetz on the gigz:

Saturday, July 23, Colorway Performs at Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, MA

Come join us as we play one of the best rooms for live music in the valley.  Early and free!

When: Saturday, 7/23
Where: Luthier’s Co-op
108 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA
Directions.                                                           
What  time: 8-9:30
Phone: (413) 527-6627
Email: info@luthiers-coop.com
How Much: Free (tips appreciated)

Wednesday, July 27, Colorway Returns to The Half Door in Hartford, CT!

Come check out the band as they make a return to Hartford, CT!

The Half Door has been doing great things lately, bringing some serious talent from the 413 down their way on Wednesday nights. Wishbone Zoe, Fancy Trash, and The Sun Parade have all gathered together in the intimate space that is The Half Door. Come check it out for yourself.

When: Wed. 7/27
Where: The Half Door
270 Sisson Ave,
Hartford, CT 06105
Directions
Phone: (860) 232-7827
What time: 10pm-12:30am
How much: $2
Age: 21+

Fully stocked bar and great food available.

Saturday, July 20, Colorway Performs at The Eclectic, Willimantic, CT (opening for The Silks)

This is going to be a very special show. We will be opening for an amazing rock trio from Providence (Alex’s old stomping ground) called The Silks. The do the Southern Rock thing with a Yankee flair and their debut album was produced by The Replacement’s Paul Westerberg. We’re excited to be performing with them at their Willimantic album release. 

When: Saturday, July 30
Where: The Eclectic
25 Meadow St
Willimantic, CT
06226
Directions
What time: 8pm
Cost: $10
Phone: 860 771-0820
Email: willimanticeclectic@gmail.com

This show is All Ages and BYOB. Hooray!

Join the Facebook event for this show here. 

Sunday, July 31, Alex Performs Solo at Fort Hill Brewery, Easthampton, MA (early show 3-6)

On this last day of July come check out a couple of sets of tunes from Alex’s 25 years of making music in the Pioneer Valley. I’m sure “Come Back July” will get a seat of honor at the proverbial musical table for this show. 

When: Sunday, July 31
Where: Fort Hill Brewery
30 Fort Hill Rd, Easthampton, MA
Directions here
Phone: (413) 203-5754
What time: 3-6pm
Cost: FREE!! (tips appreciated)
This event is all ages!

Fort Hill Brewery is one of the areas best new places for fresh, craft beer made on premises. 

From their website: Our goal is to provide the Pioneer Valley with the best traditional German-style lager for a clean, refreshing taste you’ll always come back to. All of our beers follow the German purity law of Reinheitsgebot, meaning that our beers contain only four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. 

Not to mention they are the #2 thing to do in Easthampton according to Trip Advisor. 

PS:

Remember, the new album is available at www.colorwaymusic.com on CD and 180gram vinyl, as well as at www.colorway.bandcamp.com for the digital download. And to celebrate a year of The Black Sky Sequined, through the month of May everything in the store is 20% off. But you can also pick it up an any one of these great Valley establishments. Support your local musician and support you local music store.

Turn it Up
5 Pleasant St
Northampton, MA

Platterpus Records
28 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA

Cup and Top Cafe (CD only)
1 North Maple St
Florence, MA

Electric Eye Records
52 Main St Suite 6
Florence, MA

Mystery Train Records
178A North Pleasant St
Amherst, MA

“No music, no life.”

“Music is the only thing holding this planet together.” –Jaco Pastorious

Hey all,

If the above quote isn’t apropos for the times we live in I don’t know what is. Thanks to Riley for bringing it to my attention, too. 

I just wanted to touch base and let you know that we are extremely excited to play two pretty high profile shows over the next ten days. July is a busy month for us and I don’t want to bog you down with details on all the dates. You can always go to our shows pageto find out where else we’ll be. But for now here’s our next two performances.

Saturday, 7/9 we will be making our debut at the Green River Festival. Our set runs from 5:30-6:15 and we’ll be playing on the Parlor Room Stage. Just so you know, this performance area is covered and safe from the elements. We are so happy to have been invited as ambassadors to the Pioneer Valley’s vibrant music scene. Don’t miss up-and-coming valley music maker Mikey Sweet on Sunday with our own, Riley Godleski on drums. 

Next up, on Thursday, July 14 we will be at New York City’s longest running rock club, The Bitter End. The club is in the heart of Greenwich Village and has had some of music’s most lauded legends perform on its stage. Our set starts at 11pm and the cover is only $5.00. If you have any friends in the NYC area and felt like either inviting them or sharing this Facebook Event Page we would be forever grateful. 

And finally, I had the great pleasure of hand delivering our CD, The Black Sky Sequined, to one of rock’s most influential (and one of my favorite) guitarists: Phish’s Trey Anastasio. That’s right, after the encore of their last show at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, NY this past weekend I was at the rail in the front of the stage and caught Trey’s eye. He motioned to me to toss him the CD and my aim, apparently, was good enough for him to catch it. 

Here’s a pic of him holding it below (you can easily make out the “Y” in Colorway on the right). 

Pretty cool stuff. These are the moments that make life interesting and I’m so happy to be here to experience them.

And I’m happy you all are, too. 

That’s pretty much it, gang. We have a ton of shows this summer and I’m excited for each one of them. But I’ll stop here and let you get back to what you were doing.

I’ll send another email after NYC and we can catch up.

Take care out there and try to love one another as best you can.

We’ll keep making music and moving through this crazy world.

With love and respect,

~FAJ