Richard Medek

I had an incredible amount of fun in February with the Alternate Routes. Here’s a vid from our Feb 12th show at Daniel St. in Milford, CT. (about one second into the song my ride cymbal stand imploded, making 2:12 pretty fun)

Forrest chills backstage at Sunset Sessions.

I am so amazingly proud of this record. Carl’s a great guy and a fantastic musician.

• Question: What is up with the teddy bear in all the photos? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  That’s Forrest, my drum tech and assistant…he started life as a sweet gift for my friend’s daughter; after he retired he was looking for a job in the music industry and was in the right place at the right time.

  I’ve been bringing him to most of my sessions over the past few years…he’s turned into quite the good-luck charm and he also happens to be a great sounding bass drum pillow.

The Backyard Committee

I’ve been enjoying this album by my new friend via the Alternate Routes, Mike Sembos. Visiting the Bandcamp link above allows you download the record for free, yet somehow no one goes to prison and Mike actually encourages it. So, you know, go get a free record.

I spent the night before the new year in a friendly forest (our nickname for the Creative Workshop studio in Nashville, TN). I’m in my old hometown once again, this time gearing up for a short run with the Connecticut-based Alternate Routes. We’re headed into the ocean to play a four-day cruise-type-thing called the Rock Boat, which should be a ton of fun and a much better way to spend the first weeks of January than back home in the arctic tundra of Minnesota. While I’ve been here some friends and I have been putting down finishing touches on Dave’s record, which will hopefully be ready to mix this spring.

if there are any lessons I can carry into 2011 with me, it’s that I’m lucky to know, and be friends with, such talented and kindhearted people. It’s pretty damn inspiring.