April: Not for nothing

For the longest time, I've wanted to use the phrase "not for nothing" in a song, because it always tickled my ears for some odd reason.

I used to hear it a lot when we were living in Connecticut, not so much here in Nashville.

So that's where it started.

The melody and the words for the chorus came kind of simultaneously, and without me knowing why I was saying what I was saying at first, which happens a lot for me.

Songwriting is kind of like therapy in that it draws up things I'm feeling below the surface. In this case, it was pretty obviously about how I feel like I have to hide parts of myself from people (colleagues, new friends, etc.) when I'm unclear where they stand. Don't we all these days?

And lately I've been just exhausted from having to mask and "keep sweet" pretty much everywhere I go.

So, here is the song of the month for April 2025!

We've not had a chance to take this one into the studio, but here is a live demo recording

Click here to watch Not For Nothing

-

PS - that photo is from a trip to an old abandoned mental hospital in CT "Mansfield Training Depot" that we kinda snuck in to years ago. And years before that Mike and I went there on a date =)

March: Renegade

Renegade is loosely based on an actual relationship I had years ago

But it’s also a tribute to badass women, in general - the cool outlaw types who are unpredictable and can’t be tied down. Always mysterious. Always just out of reach.

We met at a place called Xando. It was a random night out with my friends and I was definitely not looking to meet anyone.

She was out with friends too, and they were being very loud and annoying.

I yelled over my shoulder something half joking, half angry and she fired it right back at me. Next thing you know we’re walking around the city together, and yes - it was raining. We spent hours talking and finally fell asleep in her car in a gas station parking lot.

A few days later we got together again.

I was already falling.

Then she disappeared.

Two months later, she resurfaced.

This went on and on. Every time I thought, “Ok, she’s just not into me” and I’d try to move on.

Then she would call out of the blue from Florida.

It was the thrill of the chase I think that kept me hanging on. It seemed like she was always on a mission, like we were in some spy movie.

And most of all, it was the outstretched hope that she might somehow complete me.

Looking back now, I’m so grateful that things went another way, and I met my true soulmate and even more badass chick (Heather!!) who conveniently wrote herself into the song (the pre-chorus is all Heather).

So when I play this song now, I don’t really think about that girl as much as I just like to go back to those endless possibilities of youth, and to Savin Rock Beach in West Haven, CT - where I would always go when I didn’t know what else to do.

So, here is the song of the month for March 2025!

Check out the amazing slide solo - that's Dan Dugmore of Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor fame (to name a few!)

download the MP3 (you'll need the code from the text we sent you)

Real With You on bandcamp

Real With You on Spotify

Real With You on Apple

Please help get the word out and share this as a post!

-Mike

February: Real With You

Real with you is the opening track on our latest album "Common Ground".

I remember a couple years ago when we wrote this and started playing it out, just the two of us acoustically. One night we were at The Bowery Vault in Nashville and I remember thinking, we've got a good one here.

That night, Heather was getting a little "janis-ey" which always produces some hootin' and hollerin' from the audience. I think we got a bit of that in the studio take as well!

This song was primarily written by Heather, about the seductive pull to post on social media only what we think will impress others - but, with "you", I can "be real".

I particularly like the line in the 2nd verse, "You only show the world a surface glance. You won't let anybody see you dance." I'm pretty sure Heather is talking about me, and it's so true. I've always been afraid to really let loose, because - what if you don't like me?

I wish it wasn't true, but I still care too much about what people think.

Another really cool moment is in the bridge. Listen for the heavy reverb, washed-out backup vocals. Very cool production - thanks to our engineer / co-producer David Paulin

So, here is the song of the month for February 2025!

download the MP3 (you'll need the code from the text we sent you)

Real With You on bandcamp

Real With You on Spotify

Real With You on Apple

Please help get the word out and share this as a post!

-Mike