Tin/Bag recently played a couple of shows on the East Coast to celebrate the release of our new CD Bridges. The first was at the Montague Book Mill, a tranquil little spot in the middle of the woods in Western Massachusetts, a former saw mill now filled with the smell of coffee and used books and the constant lull of a waterfall outside. Sounds about perfect, and it was. Singer/songwriter H. Nathan Hobbs played an opening set that really knocked me out – spinning brilliant lyrics and melodies like little delicate jewels. Mike and I played the second set, introducing a couple of new compositions as well as arrangements of music by Hank Williams, Joe Cunningham (of Blue Cranes) and Willie Nelson. Hartford music critic Richard Kamins wrote this glowing review of the show, and it was also featured in a preview on masslive.com.

The next day we were back in New York, and I spent the afternoon wandering through Queens to visit the Louis Armstrong House Museum, something I’ve always wanted to do. The lush Japanese-inspired garden and the A/C inside were a welcome reprieve from the god-awful heat wave that inundated most of the city that weekend.

Our show with Trio Caveat at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music that evening was a Critics’ Pick in Time Out New York, and also featured on Village Voice writer Jim Macnie’s blog Lament for a Straight Line. Was great to see our NY friends who turned out despite the heat… big thanks to James Ilgenfritz for organizing this one.

Bridges continues to gather enthusiastic reviews and Mike and I are planning a series of concerts on the West Coast in October. Check my events page for details.