Something I've been manifesting this year is to do more ticketed shows. What I mean is, playing shows at dedicated music venues, not venues that have music. Part of that goal is to open for bigger name acts - something I used to do more of. Eventually, I want to do more ticketed shows at dedicated music venues and less of the three-hour, three-set shows I've been doing for years.

The universe must have heard me and I'm grateful it did. I was offered an opening/support slot for Eric Hutchinson at the Space Ballroom in Hamden CT. I vaguely remembered his name from years ago, but was never into his music. It was a good fit though, and I accepted the offer.

First off, let me tell you what a relief and huge difference it is to not have to load up a van with a PA, to not have to set up a PA at the venue, to not have to play three sets over the course of three hours, to not have to break down and load up a PA at the end of the night, and to not have to unload it again when I get home. Playing a true “music venue” with sound, an engineer, a stage, and lights is a real luxury of sorts!

Second, it's great to perform in front of a somewhat captive audience. The people in attendance bought tickets to watch performers play their songs. Sure, they mostly bought tickets for the headliner, and I as an opener, run the risk of not being what the audience is interested in. However, I have found almost every time I've opened for a bigger name act - from Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) to Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), and many more - that the audience is appreciative of my songs. In turn, I am just so grateful to be there, happy to entertain.

I was excited about performing at this show. My allotted time was 30 minutes, so I crammed six songs into my set. Truth be told, I wish I had done five songs and spoke with the audience a little more. Lesson learned. Otherwise, it was great! The audience was fantastic, the atmosphere enthusiastic and welcoming. Eric's fans were some of the kindest people. I was truly fortunate to be part of that bill.

Eric was cool, too. We got to chat some about music, fatherhood, travel, etc. He was very kind and made me feel at home. It's nice to relate with a fellow traveler.

This was certainly a highlight of my summer!

Preston Ridge Vineyard in Preston CT is another beautiful, peaceful, laid-back venue that I enjoy performing at. This date was the last of five on a string of dates throughout the Northeast for the week, and I welcomed the serene, calming views and easygoing atmosphere.

The date was not without its hiccups, though. There was a power situation that we just couldn't figure out. After I investigated, the manager investigated, who called the general manager and her husband (who is an electrician), and after I ran literally 20 times up and down a flight of stairs, I ended up weaving a 50-foot extension cord through the deck fencing to a nearby outlet that I knew worked. It was a waste of about 45 minutes, cutting into my performance time, but we all had a nice laugh about it!

Something consistent about performing at Preston Ridge Vineyard is that the audience is always enthusiastic and appreciative. Considering the “show” I had the night before, it was welcoming to make people feel better through the power of music. I met some really cool folks, the applause (welcome, but not necessary) after every song was valued, and the conversation throughout the afternoon made the audience and myself feel like it was a bunch of friends just hanging out.

I'll be honest - sometimes I just abhor doing these types of dates because it's a slog setting up my PA, playing for so long, breaking down the PA, loading it all back up by myself, and often times feeling unappreciated.  So many of my performances in this season of my life are 3 hours, 3 sets, containing 50% original songs and 50% covers, and it's my niche that doesn't always get respect. The 3 sets takes a toll on my voice, too. But these dates at Preston Ridge Vineyard are worth it because of the appreciative audiences.

And no matter what, I am GRATEFUL for every single opportunity I get.

Life is a series of ups and downs. The music industry is no different. If anything exemplifies these philosophies, it was the 24 hours in and between July 3rd and July 4th. Coming from the high of July 3rd at Flounder Brewing in New Jersey to the low of Fairways in West Dover VT on July 4th was quite a trip.

Generally speaking, I enjoy playing at Fairways. I've met some really cool people there over the past few years, staff and patrons included. The view is beautiful - not quite on the trails of Mount Snow, but nearby, so you get these incredible views of the mountain. The air is fresh, the aura carefree, and there's an inviting feeling of peace in the mountains of Vermont.

When this date was offered to me, I was a bit weary of accepting it because it was on the 4th of July. Holidays are often tough - people usually have plans that involve family and friends at picnics and gatherings, not at venues. But, in the interest of filling my coffers and optimism that something might be happening that day, I accepted.

There was no one there.

Well… I take that back. I think there was one, maybe two people inside, a handful of golfers outside. For the most part, I played to the bartender and the cook.

Luckily, I was able to leave a tad earlier than I usually do.

I was disheartened, but realistic. How could I, some no-name from New Haven CT, without a label, manager, publicist, booking agent, or other team members, possibly expect people to come see me play at a golf course on a holiday?

Still, I played my damnedest because that's what professionals do.

Maybe next year?

I was excited for this show at Flounder Brewing Company. Since the previous two nights on this five-date northeast run were plagued by interruptions from FIFA World Cup soccer, I was hoping for a clean slate, a night of smooth operations, where the focus was strictly on the music. When I booked the date, I was informed that it would be part of their singer-songwriter series, and I was highly encouraged to play my original compositions. Suffice to say, I was feeling optimistic about this show.

As my travel brought me into New Jersey and closer to Hillsborough, I noticed my surroundings were beginning to look a little sparse. The highways and buildings gave way to narrow roads and wooded meadows, and I was wondering exactly where I was headed. When I arrived at my destination, the driveway was a gravel road adjacent to a farm, with no other buildings around. As can often be, looks can be deceiving. As I pulled around into my “artist parking” spot (yes, I got my own spot - woo-hoo!), I saw more signs of human life in the parking lot. When I walked in, it was packed with people, and I was so happy to see so many supporting the local, independent business!

Walking down the hallway for load in, I noticed a wall dedicated to show posters for previous performers. There were some heavy hitters on that wall, artists like Willie Nile, James Maddock, Jeffery Gaines, Brian Vander Ark from The Verve Pipe, Lucy Kaplansky, Chris Barron from The Spin Doctors and too many more to mention. It was cool to see a bunch of artists on that wall that I've opened up for through the years, and getting the sensation that I was in the right place.

Billy is one of the owners at Flounder Brewing and a super cool guy. He was very helpful setting up and running the sound, great to converse with before, during, and after the show, and he made everyone in the room - including me - feel at home. That's a great vibe to have... something other venues should take note of and learn from.

The crowd thinned out as I began my first set, and I have to admit that it got to me a little. It's tough enough playing in new markets where I don't know anyone, where I don't always bring people out. I started wondering if it was me that was causing them to leave. Though I'm not Catholic, I've somehow absorbed the so-called "Catholic Guilt," and as such, thought their departures were my doing.

They were not.

By the end of the first set, a new group of people came in and they were great! It was someone's birthday and we all celebrated together. They were a kind audience, listening to the songs and extending their gratitude with welcome applause and kind words. And that's the idea when playing in front of new audiences... simply trying to win them over. I say "simply" like it's an easy thing to do. It isn't. On this night, I was just happy it worked out so well.

I look forward to coming back to Flounder Brewing Company next year. If you should find yourself in or near Hillsborough NJ, make sure you visit!

On this particular day at Cisco Brewers Fenway, it was hot as Hell outside. When I arrived, the managers weren't there yet, so one of the employees suggested that I set up inside instead of on the outdoor stage. She told me that the band that played the night before had also played inside because there was air conditioning, and attendees were staying in to remain cool. I had never played inside, so I was curious about what it would be like.

While setting up, one of the assistant managers, who I had never met before, came over to introduce himself and tell me to wait to start until the FIFA World Cup game that was on the TVs was over. Again, the fucking FIFA soccer interrupting my gig as it had done so the night before in New Haven. Honestly, I didn't really care that much. But waiting to start makes me lose steam while I'm sitting around twiddling my thumbs, or even worse - doom scrolling. I'm the type of person that likes to get to a gig, get set up, take 5-10 minutes to decompress before starting to play, then give my all. But waiting an hour to start makes me lethargic. At least I was in the air conditioning.

Wrong.

Right before I started playing, the assistant manager opened up the garage door to circulate the air. He said the air conditioning was broken. And while it was hot as fuck outside earlier, with no one out in the outdoor space, the mist lines were turned on as people starting coming in. It was then I realized, regretfully, that I should have set up on the outdoor stage.

As the fan over my head kept blowing on the back of my head, throwing my hair around as I played, while simultaneously making an awful, rattling racket, I felt the feeling of regret overwhelm me. That was bad. I started losing focus, as the inside emptied to the outside and the crowd kept getting bigger outside. While this was happening, I noticed a giant TV outside showing the FIFA World Cup game, another punch to the gut while virtually everyone's focus was on soccer.

As I was winding down my 2nd set, I was informed that trivia was starting at 7:30pm and that I could end earlier because of it. Then I was told I could end even earlier than 7:30pm because there was another FIFA World Cup game that was winding down and well… I couldn't interfere with that.

Now, let it be known that it was just a weird night. Cisco Brewers Fenway has historically been good, and I certainly don't want the one night of soccer and heat to characterize the place because of the unusual circumstances. It was just an odd night… for me, anyway. Some shows I have some amazing moments, where there is magic in the air, everything is flowing, I can do no wrong. But this one, I didn't feel like myself. I know I'm not supposed to let things get to me, but the soccer… the heat… the lack of enthusiasm… I guess the stars didn't align for me on this one.

The one saving grace was when someone from the waitstaff paid me a compliment before I left. She said, “You were so good! I can't wait for you to come back!”

Maybe I just got too inside my own head?

I was really excited when I was offered this show. Carlos (the booker and bartender at The Cannon) has been a stalwart supporter of music in New Haven for a long time, even going so far as to open a really great venue called The State House (which is now closed, sadly). This show was a virtual home run for me… hometown show, free admission, early in the evening, not a lot of pressure.

I was also stoked to find out that I'd be sharing the night with my friend, songwriter, and one-time Seth Adam Podcast guest, Sarah Dunn. I knew I was in good company.

When booking the show, I asked about the PA situation. ‘Los told me there was "a speaker." Fair enough. I am very wary about PA systems I don’t know about, so unless I know it's good, I bring my own system. When I arrived, Carlos asked me just to use the one speaker that was already set up. There was no monitor, no soundboard, no EQ, just a speaker. I was bummed, but I wanted to respect his concern about volume, if I had set my system up, so I begrudgingly did my best to make it work.

While setting up, placing the speaker in a way that I could hear it (as a monitor) and so the patrons could also hear it, Carlos informed me that a big FIFA World Cup game was going to be on that evening. I really didn't think anything of it, especially since he reassured me he'd have the game playing on the TVs, but the volume off.

When Sarah arrived, I helped her get sound checked. The now infamous speaker had two inputs and two gain knobs, and one master volume knob. I tried to get it as loud as I could without feeding back, but when Sarah started the night and the patrons were in (it was packed), it was obvious the speaker wasn't really cutting it.

Then, in the middle of Sarah's set, a huge burst of feedback from the microphone channel let out like a bomb going off. I quickly rushed over to correct it, only to discover that the input jack on the speaker was wobbly and not making a full connection with the cable. I tried a different cable, but the problem persisted. While Sarah finished out her set, I stayed close by to make sure it didn't happen again. And while the battle with feedback was quite interrupting, it was pale in comparison to the loud “OHs,” “AHs,” and “YAYs” from the soccer loving crowd that made their presence known a few times throughout Sarah's set.

I gotta admit, I was getting bummed about it all.

But, I am a professional. Plus, there were people there that came out to see me. So, when my set came up, I quickly broke down the bad speaker, set up a really quick version of my PA (I brought it inside - I didn't wan to leave it out in the van), and got to work. I didn't set up a monitor, even though I had one, because time was getting crunchy.

I played the best I could, given the circumstances. I wasn't truly “feeling it” throughout the performance, which bummed me out, because this was a bit of a “hometown show,” and I really wanted to come across strong. Instead, I was fighting the “bummy” feelings in my head, trying not to worry while worrying about how it all sounded. I played through my set to some pleasant applause and a few outbursts of loud cheers from the FIFA World Cup game.

When I finished, Bill (a New Haven celebrity) had some kind words for me about my guitar playing, which made me feel better.

In the end, I realized some things:

1. Insist on the importance of good sound. Take time to make sure it's right, not just “it works.”
2. Even in not-so-ideal conditions, one must do the best job they can and push forward.
3. FIFA World Cup Soccer was the bane of my performing existence this summer, with this being the first of a few interruptions this year.

Big thanks to Carlos for having me. I am grateful. 

Pictured above: Sarah Dunn

I have beliefs regarding how I go about booking shows, promoting, performing, and all things related to bring my songs to more people. As far as booking shows and performing, I orbit around the belief to take nearly all opportunities that make sense. That can mean booking a show to break into a new market, to be part of a large, diverse bill, to make money, and/or to get back to a market that I haven't been to in a while. Every booking decision has to make sense.

What I'm about to say here is going to sound negative, but just follow me. When it comes to performing at The Flour Girl, it doesn't really hit any of my booking guidelines. It's not a new market, it's not part of a larger bill, it doesn't really pay much, the “performance area” is in an odd location, it's early in the day for me, and I have yet to see them promote music on their socials or their website. I've played there a few times over the past couple years, and each time I ask myself, “Why am I playing here?” And the reason I do play there, quite honestly, is simply to fill a hole on my calendar. That's it.

This date here on June 28th was okay, though still not ideal. I was in a new section of their compound, which includes a bakery, a gift shop/book store, cafe, and outdoor patio. They do an incredible business. I'm quite happy for them! They recently constructed and opened a new building on the premises, so I ended up playing on the new patio. It's still an odd location, as I am literally in between the entrance and parking lot, so people are walking by (often awkwardly), obstructing my view and the view of anyone that might be watching and listening.

What made this date special and memorable was the attendance of two incredible people - two folks that have become amazing supporters, who are always a pleasure to converse with, who are HUGE fans of music, and who are incredibly generous. Shelley and Don are such kind, awesome people, they made all the undesirable components of this booking worthwhile. I was so happy to see them when they showed up! I played two sets of all originals, with the exception of closing out with ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ from The Beatles, and they were so enthusiastic about it. It makes a HUGE difference when original compositions make people happy. It is a true gift!

Though some of my thoughts about this booking seem negative, I AM truly grateful for the opportunity. I am grateful for all opportunities - it's just my M.O. I am ultimately grateful for Shelley and Don, and I hope I added the same goodness to their day that their attendance added to mine.

There are many venues I enjoy performing at. One of those has been The Bullwheel at Mount Snow in West Dover Vermont. As cumbersome as it can be at times (the load-in requires unloading the van at the ski lift, parking the van, walking back to the ski lift, loading the ski lift, getting to the top and unloading the ski lift, loading into the venue), I enjoy the views and the ambience. The audience has always been feel-good and appreciative. I've been playing there for nearly ten years! Over the past few years, I've started playing different venues at Mount Snow, including the Tap Room, The Iron Loft, Fairways, Harriman's, and most recently, The Grand Summit Hotel Summer Patio Series.

I played at The Grand Summit Hotel Summer Patio Series last year, though it was late in the season. I remember being quite cold last September. When the opportunity to play there this summer came up, I was ecstatic! There's a big patio, a fire pit, activities for the kids, lots of seating, and a feeling of exhilaration in the air. People are feeling good, which helps me feel good. I was really looking forward to this date, the first of two for the summer.

The show started out well. I was feeling good, playing well, the sound was spot on, people having fun, plenty of kind words. I took my first break after the first set and headed downstairs to the Harriman's bar to see my friend Alan and have myself a nice N/A beer. I got talking with some folks at the bar when someone said, “Is it raining outside?” To which I replied, “OH SHIT!” and ran back upstairs to the patio. It wasn't raining too bad, so I slid my stuff further under the canopy I was under. Then, all of sudden, it started raining HARD… sideways, upside-down, inside-out (is that possible?). And because the canopy had no gutter attached, all the rainwater was rolling down the roof and into my area, on my gear, beginning to submerge my wires, plugs, etc. After yelling “FUCK!” quite a few times, I started to unplug everything like a maniac and brought my gear into the nearby vestibule. Some very kind folks were helping me bring things in, and any serious damage was avoided by the helping hands.

While bringing things in, someone said to me, “Hey, did you just play at EAQ Landscaping?” I said, “Yes.” Turns out the guy was at the private event I played at and remembered me. Pretty cool! He was very kind, helping me bring my stuff in from the rain. We had a little laugh together, as we were both reminded that it rained at the private event I did, too. It's the bane of outdoor, summer performances!

After drying everything off, I checked in with the powers that be at the hotel, and was told I could set up inside at Harriman's or go home. Being the man of honor that I am, I brought all my gear down to the restaurant, and set up for a second time, so I could finish out my obligatory three-hour engagement. That ended up being a good thing, because I met some friends of my wife's family, engaging yet again in more conversation. Sometimes it's a small world after all!

Though I wish the performance was a little simpler, obviously not interrupted by rain, I had to employ my M.O. and make the most of it.

I often tell the story about my first time performing at GHCC. I was nervous because the golf crowd (and I don't mean that or any of this in a derogatory way) tends to be on the wealthier side. I get nervous around people with a lot more money than I - I feel like they look down on me, like I'm just some peasant draining their riches by just breathing. I've been around enough rich kids on the Yale campus, holding a door open for them and never receiving a “thank you," like I'm the fucking help or something. But I digress…

So yeah, that first time at GHCC two years ago, I was uncomfortable… for the first set, anyway. I kept it cool and calm - very reserved. Then the owner, Charlie, came over to say hello on my break. I didn't know who he was at first because he wasn't the one that booked me. After he introduced himself, told me how he had seen me a number of times at Hop Culture Farms & Brew Co., and asked if I needed a beer, I felt a little more relaxed. I told him how I was shy and nervous being around wealthier people and he told me (not verbatim), “Don't worry about that. We're not like that here. I wanted you to play because I liked what I saw at Hop Culture. Put on your show!” So that's what I proceeded to do. I had a few beers, relaxed, and let loose. People enjoyed it!

For this show - June 26th 2026 - it was a bit of a last minute thing. There was a men's golf tournament happening and they wanted some live music for the after party. I take most opportunities because an opportunity is an opportunity, and I am grateful for it! I actually hung out with the event booker from another place that I play at - Hops on the HIll - as she was there promoting the brewery. It was fun to have someone next to me to talk to!

I will admit, playing the after party of a men's golf tournament was not a life goal, but it was fun nonetheless. The dudes were appreciative. As their families showed up to have dinner with them, the crowd became more then just dudes, and they too were very appreciative. I may not be selling gold and platinum records, but I'm still playing my original songs and earning a paycheck. Every little step adds up. And I'm not bullshitting when I say, the positive reaction to my songs were often more enthusiastic than the reaction to the covers I play. That tells me that this crowd could've been at a legitimate, ticketed music venue enjoying my show… someday soon!

Some of the earliest advice I ever received in the world of music, is to always give your best because you never know who is watching. So that's what I do… even at an after party for a men's golf tournament!

I LOVES me some performing at Stone Cow Brewery! Always have! The audience there is always so kind, one of the co-owners - Sean - has become what I would consider to be a friend. I love the scenic drive up through the back roads and picturesque Massachusetts countryside. I've never had a bad show there.

Though this one wasn't bad, it was definitely off. I should make mention that this was not an "official" Stone Cow Brewery show. The Massachusetts Cheese Guild was holding their 2026 Massachusetts Cheese Festival at Stone Cow and they asked Sean if he could recommend some good live music to perform during the Cheese Festival. Thankfully, he recommended me. I'm always appreciative of an opportunity. But because it was the Cheese Festival, I didn't play in either of the normal locations on site. I ended up playing in a field, next to the parking lot, on a windy day, under a pop-up tent. And while there were some casual listeners, most people in the field area were there to get cheese, not necessarily to sit down and listen to music.

Now, I'm not an attention whore, but it does suck when I'm putting out energy and it's not coming back from the audience. Usually I rise to the occasion, with an “Oh yeah? Not paying attention to that? Well try THIS on for size!” attitude. But I was kind of barely holding on. I was on a tilted, lumpy surface, playing on a hill, and the wind kept blowing the dirt and dust from the parking lot into my space. So often when I took a breath, dust would get into my air, drying out my throat. I couldn't get enough water. I felt physically unsettled, and didn't have the energy to reach deep down to get people's attention. Because I felt uncomfortable, I got into my own head and didn't sing that well. I REALLY wanted a beer to calm myself down, but I stopped drinking in February of this year, I was 17 weeks dry at that point, and didn't want to ruin my streak. Even though I started out fine, I eventually felt like I wasn't giving what I should be giving, and certainly barely getting anything back from the Cheese-goers.

Sometimes, I'm just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or is it wrong place, right time? Or right place, wrong time? I don't know…

Whatever it was - the tiredness, the overpowering wind (which blew my merch out of my display case a few times before I finally gave up and shut the case), the lack of interest from passers-by, playing on an uneven surface… It just didn't feel right and I slogged through it. That's not the way I like to perform. I'm not a primadonna, but I like to be comfortable so I can give my best. I ALWAYS want to give my best. Sometimes, I guess the universe has other plans. Again, this show was not a reflection of Stone Cow Brewery, or even the Cheese Guild. I think I was a bit of a shoehorn in an otherwise successful event.

I feel like I let people down and let myself down for this one. Just being honest. But, that was just one day in a long summer.

-SA 7.22.26