Two years ago today Colorway’s second, full-length album, The Black Sky Sequined was released. You can see some pictures from the recording of it right here.
The two week process began in the middle of October of 2014 at Sonelab in Easthampton, Mass with Mark Alan Miller at the controls and me and J.J. O’Connell and Dave Hayes behind the drums and bass respectively.
The ten song album will always remind me of a special time in my life–gaining a better understanding of what this band means to me and what I hope it will mean to anyone who cares to let us in to their world, even for a few minutes. It’s different from the first album because before we went in to record the debut we had never really played out as a group. This second effort showcased how far we had come as a collective unit. I hear it in every note in every song.
I managed to recruit the bafflingly talented David Trenholm to score a horn section for the closer, “Telephone” and arranged for Tom Mahnken, Nick Borges, Terry Nagel and, of course, Dave T to play the parts.
I was lucky enough to have some amazing artists grace the cover, namely Laura Nugent (for the front), Pietro Spica (for the back) and the incomparable Jodi Nicholas for the gatefold. And, of course, the ever present logo work of Tom Pappalardo who also did the layout of the album.
“The Black Sky Sequined” album cover (2015)
When it was ready to get pressed I got to check a big box off the list and was able to work with the legendary audio engineer, Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering in Portland, ME (I was sandwiched between sessions by Death Cab For Cutie and Mark Knopfler–wild world, eh?). This certainly fulfilled a lifelong goal of having his memorable name on one of my albums (check five albums in your collection. I’m willing to be he mastered three of them).
The vinyl was sent to Bernie Grundman Mastering Studios in Hollywood on Bob’s recommendation and was lovingly prepared for replication by another audio legend, Chris Bellman. To see his “CB” on the dead wax always makes me smile.
The album sold well and got some pretty stellar reviews which was nice to see. WRSI – 93.9 The River put “Come Back July” into its regular rotation and became a sort of theme song for those who pine for the heat here in New England through six months of cool, chill, cold, freeze and thaw. They still play it here and there and we’re all so lucky to have a AAA radio station that cares about its local heroes from their start all the way through their careers.
The great videographer Tom Adams at Reelife Productions produced a fantastic video that was shot right here in the valley and was fun to make and still fun to watch (it helps that July is only two months away). You can see it here.
Dave, JJ, and I went on the road for a bit in support of it and had some fun shows and met and reconnected with some great people from here to Raleigh, NC and back again.
The band evolved over that same time period for natural and understandable reasons.
And now–and for almost two years–I have had the pleasure of getting to know two amazing musicians Matthew Clegg (bass) and Riley Godleski (drums/vocals) who help bring my creations to life. We work well together and–though it’s a busy year for everyone–we’re planning to get back to work and put some of the new music down on record to share with the world sometime soon.
But this album will always remind me of one person who will forever hold the highest office–my mom, Judy. Because it was on the notebook page of the letters she wrote to all the people in her life that she wanted to leave a message to before she passed on that the words were written:
Then it began. Rockets. Stars. Flowers blooming. The Black Sky Sequined. Reds, yellows, blues, greens. Silver and gold. Fireworks and the cheers of spectators.
And while she never expressly told me that this was a reference to my bursting onto the scene on May 9, 1970 I’m gonna go with that theory until another one comes along. 🙂
So thanks for all of you who have hopped on the Colorway train over the past five years. It’s been a thrill to play this music for you. Thanks for supporting our efforts, for buying our albums, for sharing our links, for coming to the shows and for just being you.
And Happy Birthday and Sto Lat to The Black Sky Sequined. May the music roll on and on and on . . .
~FAJ
PS: If you’ve made it this far I should probably tell you that in honor of the two year anniversary everything is on sale at the Colorway store. Check it out right here.
Big thanks to legendary German DJ, Lord Litter for keeping our music spinning around the globe. This was broadcast on KWTF Sonoma County radio in Santa Rosa, CA. There’s a ton of great stuff on this broadcast but it makes me smile to hear (at the 28 minute mark) Colorway’s “Everybody Wants Me To Love You” right into our esteemed godfather of valley rock, pop and roll, Ray Mason’s “I Own The Ending.”
You can listen to the whole show right here. Or skip to 28:00 to hear the Colorway/Ray Mason sandwich.
Happy Snow Day to those of you who are in the part of the country that is currently getting walloped (as my grandfather would say) by the storm the Weather Channel™ is calling “Stella.”
Enjoy the above video from our good friends, The Fawns. It’s their tune, “Snow Day” and it’s a tradition that Jodi started a while back to play on days just like today.
Keeping with a local theme, if you are in the Pioneer Valley and want a take on the weather that is intuitive, informative and refreshing make sure to check out Dave Hayes The Weather Nut.Dave, as many of you know, was Colorway’s original bassist and appears on both of our albums. He’s carved out quite a niche for himself (even being voted #1 in the Valley Advocate reader’s poll for best local meteorologist). Myself and tens of thousands (that’s right) of other valley residents count on him for up-to-the-minute takes on Mother Nature’s plans. And even if you aren’t a local I think you’d enjoy his fervor for weather.
Figured today is as good a time as any to update you on the rest of this lovely month of Smarch. 😉
On Friday (St Patrick’s Day, even) we will be heading back down to NYC again. This time we’ll be stopping in a new place in a new part of town. Shrine World Music Venue is the name of this amazing Harlem club. Our buddies in Shokazobaplay there on a regular basis and we’ve heard nothing but great reviews of how they treat their bands and just the general vibe of the place and the area. We play at 9pm and the show is absolutely free!. Details and directions on all the shows mentioned below (or jump to our shows page here). You can join our Facebook Event Page here. If you can’t make it but know somebody who would enjoy what we do please pass it along or invite them yourself.
Two days later, on Sunday, 3/19 I’ll be playing a solo show at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton. I’ve played there a bunch of times now and it’s always fun. They brew amazing beer on the premises and are a great addition to Easthampton’s vibrant business community. I play from 3-6pm. It’s absolutely free (again) and all ages! Here’s the Facebook Event Page for that.
Next Friday, March 24 is a big show for us. We will be competing in the second annual Valley Music Showcaseat New City Brewery in Easthampton.We will be among five bands in this bi-monthly showcase who get to give it their all on stage in hopes for fame and glory. 1st & 2nd place finishers of each showcase will receive gift certificates and cash prizes. The winners are invited back as the headline band for the next month’s showcase. If we win this round we will move on to the “Crème de la Creme Playoffs” to be held at the end of the 2016-2017 season. The playoff winner earns $500 cash, a gig at the BIG E, & two full days free recording time at Northfire Studios in Amherst, MA. The 2nd place overall finisher will earn one free recording day. You can join our official Facebook Event Page here.
Part of the judging is based on audience reaction so we could really use your support for this one. It’s only $5 to get in and see six bands!!
I haven’t competed in a battle of the bands in a while. That said, I’ll never forget that time in 1985 when my band, Atria came in second only to Tina and Toni Allard (or the “T-N-T Sisters”) at the Fall River Police Athletic League’s annual talent show.
See, you can tell I’m the guitar player because I’m holding my guitar. And you can tell I love my hair because I am presenting it to the public with a sly cock of my head. Oh, and yes, I still have that trophy and that sleeveless shirt (and I might wear it on 3/24). 🙂
Moving on to the end of the month, on Thursday, 3/30 we will be closing out March with another FREE show at Whetstone Station Brewery and Restaurant in beautiful Brattleboro, VT.This is yet another all ages show and we’re really looking forward to coming back to Whetstone to play . . . and to enjoy some amazing food. We will play for a couple of hours starting at 8:30pm so come on down, have some grub and hang out with me and Matt and Riley for a couple of hours.
Well, that’s it for now, gang. I hope you all fare well in the snow if you are in that part of the country (or world) where it’s coming down like crazy. It’ll be spring before you know it and the flowers will be blooming. We have a lot of great shows coming up this year. You can see more about all of them right here and check out vids, pics and more anytime, anywhere.
And when you do see us next we promise to kick out some of the new material we’ve been working on. We’re really proud of it and can’t wait to share it with you.
Hope to see you at the shows!
Rock on,
~FAJ
All the deets:
Friday, March 17, Colorway Performs at Shrine World Music Venue, New York City
Happy to bring our music to a new part of The City. Come on out (on St Patrick’s Day even) to this great venue for all types of music from here, there and everywhere.
Subway directions:
Shrine is located on the east side of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (7th Avenue), just below 134th Street.
It is easily accessible from two subway lines. From the B & C train, exit at the 135th Street station and walk east,
away from the park, one short block across Frederick Douglas Boulevard and one normal block to Adam Clayton
Powell Boulevard. From the 2 or 3 train, exit at the 135th Street station and walk west, away from the hospital,
one block to Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Various buses also run along St Nicholas Avenue and Malcolm X
Boulevard (Lenox Avenue). The M2 bus runs from the East Village and stops right in front of Shrine’s door.
Sunday, March 19, Alex Performs At Fort Hill Brewery, Easthampton, MA (solo show)
Independent Music Award winner and Colorway guitarist, F Alex Johnson is back at one of the most unique places to see live music in the area: Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton, Mass. On Sunday, March 19 at 3pm come see Alex perform two sets of songs from his twenty five years of making music in the valley from atop Fort Hill’s intimate corner stage.
Since it’s inception in 2014 Fort Hill has carved out a niche for themselves hosting local legends like Ray Mason, Bruce Korona and Wildcat O’Halloran on a regular basis early and free (and all ages) every week. Alex has become a bit of a staple at the brewery over the past two years where he is fond of imbibing some of the nation’s top rated tap water while playing to both beer aficionados and the under 21 crowd alike.
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.
Come on out and cheer on Colorway as they take part in the bi-monthly Valley Music Showcase. 1st & 2nd place finishers of each showcase will receive gift certificates and cash prizes. The winners are invited back as the headline band for the next month’s showcase. If we win this round we will move on to the “Crème de la Creme Playoffs” to be held at the end of the 2016-2017 season. The playoff winner earns $500 cash, a gig at the BIG E, & two full days free recording time at Northfire Studios in Amherst, MA. The 2nd place overall finisher will earn one free recording day.
Part of the judging is based on audience reaction so come on out and root for Colorway!
Thursday, March 30, Colorway returns to Whetstone Station, Brattleboro, VT
Colorway is excited to return to one of Brattleboro’s best places to see live music, Whetstone Station. The venue is located right off of downtown and right on the banks of the Connecticut River. Don’t miss this very special performance. Whetstone Station has amazing food, craft beers, a full bar and so much more.
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.
