For those of you that have been following me for a little while you know that I have often times been a big “love” vibe guy.  I try to maintain a positive attitude and energy in and around my facebook responses and posts and essentially not be a jaded douche.  Although it is hard as hell at times to remain in that “love” space.  Someone recently said I was too nice?  That it could appear “soft” or “weak” to people.  I say fuck that…  I don’t respond well to negative energy or darkness.  I know, I’m human like you, I can go there very easily too.  In fact I’ve been in that place for a little while lately.  Sometimes I need a little help to “get out of” that place or space…  like an inspiring movie or song or painting, or , um, ART!.  Something that can take me back to that warm and fuzzy place of saying “it feels fucking great to be alive”!!.  I’ve been through some personal (family) loss lately and that mixed with the holidays is always a special concoction for bummage for me.  BUT!, I tell you my friends in the most uncool way, I’m feeling very grateful and I wanted to share that with you .  Isn’t it sad that it’s considered “uncool” to say positive loving shit?!  What’s up with that?  Well, I’ll tell you what’s up with it… we are evolving as a species here on good ol’ earth and realizing everyday that we need to wake up and start being positive and “loving” one another in order to survive.  I suggest watching the movie “I AM”.  It inspired me to get back on the beam and write this post.  Yeah, it seems a bit “Utopian” I know, and ultimately not feasible.  But I fear that if we don’t come together and connect and treat eachother with kindness and rise above this bullshit stigma of being cool and aloof, competitive, angry and distant then it’s gonna ultimately kill us.  I’m just one tiny voice in the choas doing my part.  I definitely try and carry that message through my music and art.  I’ve always written about it and try to “live” it but often times it feels like it falls on deaf ears.  I know I’m not the only one on this trip and lord knows it’s tough to stay here…   Interested in joining me?

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream.  A dream you dream together is reality.” – John Lennon

fyi- i know some of you were inquiring about my shows in haverhill, and unfortunately over the holidays “The Little River Ale House” was sold and there’s entirely new mgmt there now.  My buddy Brian who got me the residency was a bartender there and he got let go also.  It all happened over night.  Kind of a bummer.  I think the place is called “Archie’s” now…   anyway, so yeah no more Sunday night solo shows there…   much more coming with gigs in the area though so no worries y’all…

peace and love,

BB

As some of you may know Brad’s new album “Mental Photograph” is currently nominated for album of the year (2011) on Melodic.net.  The music website has been around since the late 90′s and is quite popular in Europe.  Check out this interview with Sweden’s own Johan Wippsson from Melodic.net about Brad and his new album and looking back at his first record.  It’s all in here!  http://www.melodic.net/?page=interview&id=388

Hey folks, tune in and/or (tape) tonight’s episode of ABC’s “Happy Endings” and hopefully you’ll catch “Zero to the 101″.  The song is playing in the background (at a bar) towards the very end of the episode.  ”Hourglass” is going to be used on the show in 2 weeks!

Brad’s sophomore album “Mental Photograph” is currently nominated as “best singer/songwriter album of the year” at www.melodic.net.  Check it out!

Honored to be nominated for “best singer/songwriter album of the year” alongside some heavyweights http://www.melodic.net/?page=bestOfYear&id=12 Thank you www.melodic.net (your vote would be so kind). Thanks!! xo, b

Welcome To Melodic.net

Little River Ale House, set list 12/11/11

(Set #1)

Sunset Girl
The Byrds
1982
American Fool
Lovers In A Dangerous Time (Bruce Cockburn)
Broken Down
The Ever Changing Picture
Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Beg & Borrow
Black Lexus (Joseph Arthur)
Livewire

(Set #2)
Under the Milkyway (The Church)
Colors (In My Way Again)
Lies
Zero to the 101
Come Pick Me Up (Ryan Adams)
As I Wonder
Lost Cause (Beck)
Headlights
Just For Today
Coming Up Close (Til Tuesday)
It’s  A Shame About Ray (Lemonheads)
Train Tracks

*Thank you to the lovely couple that purchased 2! paintings last night…  sorry folks, no more “Hidden Cat” and “State Lines”…  sold to the highest bidder.*

As I type this I look at the week ahead and wonder if I’m gonna make it through.  The year end holiday pressure, shows, presents and trying to pay bills… it’s all causing me to really dig deep this week.  Channeling the HP.  You know how we do.  Anyway, i’m tired…  I wish you all a great week and Happy Holidays!

BB

Hey folks,

If some of you were wondering, the “Word from the Byrd blog” has been MIA since September as there was a glitch in setting up the new website and well…

Ahem..  so yeah, there’s so much to say i’ve forgotten most of it but the jist is…  well, that, the past few months have been pretty nuts.. as I’ve done more shows this past fall than I have in years.  From solo acoustic coffee shop gigs in the middle of nowhere (which were super special mind you) to full band rock shows in the heart of Manhattan (equally exciting)..  basically it’s all been happening.  I just wanted to take a second to thank those of you who have come out to a show this fall and who’ve supported the release of my new album “Mental Photograph”.  I’ve seen many familiar faces and friends and it’s been a blast.  This fall marked the “digital/online only” release of my 2nd official album…   the spring/summer of 2012 will be more of an official release with the “physical cd”.   Of course we were just too excited to wait and decided to put the record out online first.  Wait till you see how amazing the album design/layout is shaping up to be!  You’ll be stoked, i think.

Anyway, it’s another warm Monday in December?..   and i felt like saying hey…   I hope all of you are doing well and still fighting the good fight.  I know it’s a depression/recession out there (as 60 minutes said) and it’s been tough going for many of you.  I wanted to extend my thoughts and good will to you and your families.  May you find shelter in the storm.  May the music inspire you to stay the course.  Dig deep.  Look inside.  Turn it over to that higher power.  Ask for help.  Try and stay positive.  Believe.   Ok, that’s enough of a pep talk from me..   onto some rock news..  I’ll be doing a solo residency in Haverhill, MA this month on Sunday’s at a place called the “Little River Ale House”  from 7-10p (27 Lafayette Square).  Tell a friend, more soon….

Last night’s set list at TLRAH (solo)…

Lucky Now (Ryan Adams)
Headlights
Vampires
Let Go
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Zero To The 101
Earth & Feathers
Black Lexus (Joseph Arthur)
Weird Enough
Hard Road Ahead
Square One (Tom Petty)
Factory Burn
Lost Cause (Beck)
Just For Today
Hey Hey, My My (Neil Young)
Under the Milkyway (The Church)
The Times They Are A Changin (Bob Dylan)
It’s A Shame About Ray (Lemonheads)
Train Tracks

On July 2nd of this year i began playing shows in support of my new album “Mental Photograph” which hit stores (online) September 13th.  I had been laying low for a couple years trying to finish up the record and planning it’s release.  That show on 7/2 was at a place called the “Radio Bean” in Burlington, VT and fittingly I will end my “fall 2011 year end run” with a show at “Radio Bean” this Sat night 12/17 @ 9pm.  Start solo, end solo?  All in all i’ve done upwards of 50 live appearances since July.  Friday night, 12/16,  i’ll be putting the big bad band together again for a set of indie-alt-country-rock at “The Plough & Stars” in Cambridge, MA @10pm with Steve Scully (drums), Joe Klompus (bass), and Peter Parcek on guitar.  Both nights will also feature the talented “Bandit Kings” on the bill.  They’ll be bringing their own blend of high energy indie/country/rock flavorings to the stage.  Always a fun hang.  It’s been a lot of fun sharing some bills with them this fall.  If you haven’t seem them live yet you should!  Seriously, thanks for coming out again to the shows this year…  It’s been a busy one.  2012 is shaping up to be the busiest year yet.  Stay tuned….

btw, I wanted to take a sec to thank those of you who bought a painting at a live show this year!  2011 marked the first time I decided to bring some of my artwork out to shows with me as a “new merch addition”.   You certainly helped me cover some travel expenses on the road as I sold 7 paintings since August so i’m pretty blown away and excited about it.  Thanks again…  I’ll keep making them!

Elusive Tiger – So, lastly, wanted to chime in about E.T.  Releasing music on my own for the first time has been an exciting an interesting endeavor.  After talking with many “industry folk” prior to the release of my 2nd official full length album about “how” to put out a record in this chaotic marketplace, well, it kept leading me back to one conclusion.  Put it out on your own.  I decided to use “Tunecore” as my online distributer and it’s been a great experience thus far.  They’ve been totally cool and have got my new record into all of the necessary online stores such as iTunes, Spotify, etc.  I actually got my first distribution check from them recently sent to my own label/company and it felt pretty amazing.  Thanks for buying some songs!!  As some of you know my first record was released on an indie label out of Los Angeles, CA in 2005.  Some great things came of it such as national in store “physical” distribution (end caps,etc), some radio play, some tv/film exposure, however the big thing is that i’ve never seen any $ on the backend from digital sales.  Nor probably will I.  So when everyone buys a tune off “The Ever Changing Picture” album it goes in someone else’s pocket.  Oh well, no biggie.  Not that I was expecting to see that much $ but I’ve always wondered about it.  But seeing my first distribution check from Tunecore made me realize that there is indeed some people buying my music out there.  Long story short – It feels great to know and SEE the $ coming in for my hardwork!  Finally.  It’s been a long time.  I’m hoping you keep buying the songs so I can keep making them.  Thanks.  btw, (side-bar) Elusive Tiger Records (ETR) is looking for potential investors.  If you or someone you know might be interested in talking contact us at bradbyrdmgmt@gmail.com

ok,

need to go create now.

buy.

BB