i like mike

Celebrated Guthrie's 23rd birthday with the whole family down at the Iron Horse on Monday night! It was a real treat to hear Mike Gordon playing in his sparkely shirt, sleeves rolled up and all. The room sounded great and was full of radiant energy. One of those nights when you're just so damn glad to be alive. Magic. The music just felt so good washing over me. Mike is a man of few words (on stage anyhow) but during one break he spoke of his recent experiences of pure jubilation, like the feeling of falling in love. It was contagious.

Mike has been working hard all year on his new record which is due out on August 5th. It's called The Green Sparrow. He's even pressing a special batch out on 180g Green Vinyl, and boy oh boy, am I ever excited to peel the shrink wrap off that baby when it arrives in my mailbox! Preorder'd!

His five-piece band includes longtime collaborator Scott Murawski on guitar, Vermonters Craig Myers on percussion and Tom Cleary on keyboards (sick!), and Brooklyn drummer Todd Isler. They have a laid-back, easy stage presence and it's lucky to hear them find their sound, which I'm sure will layer in complexity over time like a nice maroon wine. Shiraz, probably.

Monday was the kick-off night of their 20+ show summer tour to celebrate the new record, so naturally they played a bunch of Green Sparrow tunes. They also treated us to a few very tasteful and special covers. I almost peed my pants when they busted out the JJ Cale tune "Ain't Love Funny". Guthrie re-turned me onto it last spring, and it's been in my heart a whole lot lately. They also played the Beatles' She Said, She Said and Phish's "Meat" for the encore.

Check out this insightful article about Mike in Rolling Stone yesterday.

And here's She Said from the Iron Horse, thanks to sweetjonny for taping this, and thanks a million to the band and to my family for one amazing night of music and love!