everyone loose. I have a bit of a control thing, so it takes a little bit of effort for me to let go. But that was the intention on "Songs from the Hive" and I think it comes across.
04. Have you had any moments where you felt like you needed to pinch yourself? I do a lot of support tours, which drag you through the highs and lows of touring. But some nights, it's so good, it almost feels like you cheated the system. Like when it's a big theater, and it's sold out, and everyone's seated and silent, and you walk out on stage, you keep thinking “they're definitely going to find out that I'm a fraud or something.” But that never seems to happen, so I keep going.
05. Is there a particular lyric you have written that personally resonates with you the most? I wrote a song called “Slow Train” for the last record about losing your innocence. It's one of the songs I feel strongest about. I think since I wrote it, I haven't done a show without playing it.
06. Do you have any non-musical influences? Absolutely. I think you have to. Obviously writers and poets... I steal lines off Bukowski all the time. I also have a strong fondness for comics Marc Maron, Louis CK, and Mike Birbiglia. I think
there's some sort of thread between comedy and music that has always connected the two.
07. What have been some of your favorite moments of your career thus far? Right now, things feel the most solid they've ever felt. I like to work, and finding consistent work is probably the trickiest thing about a career in the arts. But right now I have a lot of shows lined up, tours with Delbert McClinton and Liz Longley, and lots of spot dates. Every great show is like a dream come true, so this is a favorite moment of mine.
08. Where are some of your favorite places to perform? Well I love playing New York because it's my home. But across the country, Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire, is a wonderful room. Seven Steps Up in Spring Lake, Michigan, is a real champion of up and comers like myself. The Ark in Ann Arbor comes to mind. World Cafe Live in Philly is a classic. Hard to say. Some places have better hospitality than others, sure, but that's not really what I care about. It's all about the audiences.
09. When can we expect new music? Well, I'm just about done writing the next record, so probably within a year or so. 81