Taboot and some fun musical collaborations
I had the chance this year to work on a fun group saluting the music of Phish called “Taboot”. This was an amazing musical experience trying to decode the music of phish and the bass wizardry of mike gordon. we also had a chance to cover some music of the police in a group collaboration of the bands honker and mike davis and the laughing buddha episodes. it’s so great to do these kinds of musical collaborations with your friends.
Can you believe it’s been five years bullthistle?
I was so happy to get the call to play in two of the groups celebrating the five year anniversary of the bullthistle brewery. Charlie and his crew do an amazing job and cheers to many, many more!
The Greek Peak adaptive Ski benefit is Back!
This is an event my friends and I have happily supported for years and I am so glad it’s back. Thank you to Tim Parsons for putting this great event together to support an amazing cause. Love you tim!
you gotta love great gear
Great gear works well consistently, sounds great and gets rid of the barriers between what you are thinking and comes out musically. I love my Mtd’s, Aguilar amps and pickups and tsunami cables. I don’t have to think about them when I use them. The music comes out naturally. Thank you to these amazing companies.
Jamming for a Cause…the 1st and hopefully not the last
Musicians are pretty caring people. I asked a bunch of my closest musical friends to get together for two nights to benefit the norwich youth bureau and what came of it was magical. a huge thanks to all of my friends that played and came out. We’ll do this one again real soon.
Blues is Dead
This show’s development and performance really proved that if you take the expansive catalog of the grateful Dead and make blues arrangements for nine piece band it can work and be successful. It was really fun to play bass and act as the musical director for this one. Working with Nate Gross was and the crew was a blast and hopefully we’ll get to do it again real soon.
Introducing: Randy McStine and the Fabulous Mayo Brothers
We had been talking about the idea of playing some of our favorite blues rock classics live together for a little while, and now it’s had happening. My first band was a power trio and I am so in love with this kind of group and repertoire. Playing with this trio is pure joy and I look forward to any opportunity we have to play together.
Blues on the Bridge 2021
Always a fantastic community event and one that I enjoybeing at and performing at as well. I had the opportunity to appear with Pasty White, as well as Randy McStine and the Fabulous Mayo Brothers. Congrats to Donnie Wilkens for putting on another great show!
West Fest X
West Fest was really hard one. Saying good bye to friends is hard and this past year we lost a few. This day was really hard my friendships with Taze Yanick and Jeff Kahn. Through out the day we had an opportunity to offer up musical salutes and dedications to our friends who are no longer with us. Filling in for Taze in the Skirts was difficult and amazing at the same time. This will be a day I don’t forget for quite some time.
Man…the Yard is the place to be for some summer fun! As a member of Mike Davis and the Laughing Buddha Episodes I have had the fortune to enjoy the yard Amphitheater as a performer and a guest just enjoying the show. Our friends at Ray Brothers BBQ know how to do it. I would highly advise getting up there for any of their shows, or just to enjoy their amazing food.
I always appreciate getting an opportunity to perform at the many festivals and events the binghamton area has to offer. The Rec park music fest is a special one for sure and I have had the opportunity to play and appreciate this one for years. Thank you Jim Reyen and the city of binghamton for putting on another great party!
The Badweather Blues Band…what a run
It was bittersweet, fun and emotional for sure to close a musical and personal chapter in my life recently. This june we were able to say goodbye to the badweather Blues band. We got to send it off right with a weekend of shows where we got to play the music at two of our favorite venus and see some of our favorite fans.
I could write on this for days, but I will leave it here with a note of gratitude and thanks. Here are the posters and a great picture of the group. There will be video coming soon as well.
Some Good News for 2021
I am happy to announce that I am official a member of the Tsunami Cables family as an artist. This is something that actually took place at the end of 2020, but my profile just hit their website. Not only are their cables the best in the industry with the capability to be artistically designed, but they have a tube bass preamp getting ready to launch that will change the game, which is called the V-15.
I am excited and greatful to Ketih and Tony for bringing me onboard. There will me more to come on my social media platforms. Stay tuned!
Welcome 2021!
Well, there are a few ways to look at things…
As I sit here in my living room on December 19, 2020 there are a lot of things going through my head in reflection. It would be easy for me to look at all of the challenges of 2020 and focus on the negative. I am an optimist by nature, so even with the negative of the year being overwhelming, I can’t help but be excited for the upcoming year.
I can reflect on 2020 from a place of perceived privilege. My family and I were able to maintain our health and I am grateful for that. I was able to use my time without gigs and performances productively. 2021 will breed new music by Mike Davis and Ultra Vibe, which I am very excited about. I was able to do some other recording projects in 2020, which I am anxious to hear. I used time without playing live to reconnect with my family. As a person who has done as many as 180 gigs in a year and hold a full time job this was very important to me. I also love to practice music and bass. 2020 was a great year to “shed”.
Reading my reflections on 2019 here on this blog still leaves me feeling the same; I am looking forward to the New Year and what musical adventures will present themselves. Looking forward…
Welcome 2020
Man…that was a great 2019. I have so many things to be thankful for. I was able to record some cool music with my friends Brian Golden and Devinne Meyers, played some great shows and also started to work more on practicing and getting better at Bass. I can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store…let’s go!
Summer 2019
Summer is in full swing and summer means getting the opportunity to play some great music with wonderful people. I am reporting from the month of August with recording and performing with old friend Brian Golden, including an appearance at the Chenango County Blues Festival main stage. I will be supporting Devinne Meyers at the Great New York State Fair later this month, which I am excited about. …and of course performances with Mike Davis and Ultra Vibe. Let’s do this!
Well…It’s been a while :_)
Life is short…tell the people that mean something to you that you love them. Period.
At the time I am writing this one of my family members is in the hospital, one of my best friend’s mother pasted away and a musician friend of many passed away. I say this not for pity, but as a reminder to live each day as it means something and enjoy everything that you can.
Thankful at thanksgiving!
I am very honored to be joining some talented musicians for a night of music in Ithaca this November. Jesse Collins is a tremendous musician and human being and I am so pleased to be a part of this night and live recording.
Fall 2018
Some exciting things happening as the leaves fall and the colors of the season change. First, the new Mike Davis and the Laughing Buddha Episodes album dropped!!!! I can’t express how excited and proud I am for this moment to share this music.
I was also able to share an incredible night of music with some great friends, outstanding musicians and music lovers at the Ransom Steele to celebrate the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. What a night!
Well…that was a summer!
As I reflect on a really busy summer I am beyond blessed to be in the position I am in to play with outstanding musicians making incredible music. A special thanks to all of my musician friends and the music lovers for coming out and supporting live music!
May/ June 2018
Murali Coryell will be coming back to upstate new York in may and I will have the pleasure of performing with him during this stretch of dates, as well as some dates in the Catskills area:
5/17- CNY Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY, 7:30pM
5/18- The Blarney Stone Pub, 26 S Broad St., Norwich, Ny, 9:30pm
5/19- Mcgirks, 1 Kattelville Rd., Binghamton, NY, 9pm
5/20- Mcgirks, 1 Kattelville rd., Binghamton, NY, 2pm
6/14- Resorts World Catskills, 888 Resorts World Drive, Monticello, NY, 5pm
6/22- "Blues on Broadway", The Ritz Theater, 107 Broadway, Newburgh, NY, 7pm
6/23- The Shelter, 47 E. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY, 9:30pm
April 2018
It was an honor to join some of our area's best musicians for a night of music and fun. To say it was a blast would be an understatement. There's some video of this event...just click the "video" link above.
March 2018
It's album release time...
November 2017
It's always great to record music...but it's even greater to record music with your friends. Ultra Vibe and mike davis had the opportunity to head into Newclear studios for a day of recording. in just a few hours we were able to cut 13 tracks with some friends along for the process.
September 2017
Here we go again...another bruce tribute Show!!! I am excited to get to play this music again with a cast of very talented musicians.
Summer 2017
Another great summer has come and gone and I am very thankful to work with the musicians I do. There were so many highlights with Ultra Vibe, Mike Davis, Murali Coryell, Brian Golden, Glenda Davenport and so last minute summer fun with Skelton Crew. Great times!
JULY 2017
One of the highlights of this summer so far was a couple of dates with Murali Coryell. He's a phenomenal guitarist, singer, Song writer and was a blast to perform and hang with. Hopefully we'll get to do this again real soon.
June 2017
Some great show coming in June that I am super excited for. I will let the posters speak for themselves:
April 2017
Wow...that was a great way to start April. Congratulations to friend and musical counterpart Brian Golden on his upcoming wedding in May. To celebrate his upcoming event Brian brought some of his original music and musical friends to the Lakehouse recording studio in Asbury park, NJ. we also were honored to welcomed blues icon Michael hill to the session. Now...that's a bachelors Party!
(L-R: Dan Matlack, Mike Davis, Michael Hill, Brian Golden, Thomas Westcott, Matt Wade, Byron Cage)
March 2017
I love these types of shows...where you get to share the stage and night with some amazing musicians. It always enhances the experience when you can share your music with an receptive audience and watch a great upcoming band from our area. Thank you Raibred, Chris and the Cyber (Jeff) for making this happen!
February 2017
February was bass month for sure! I got an opportunity to see some bass greatness up close. This was a month of experiences I hope to remember my whole life! It was incredibly inspiring.
Winter 16/17
It's truly an honor to be asked to contribute to someone's musical vision. I had another opportunity to go into the studio with Mike davis and lay down some bass to his fantastic compositions. Mike and I were friends well before we ever played together musically, which made this process even sweeter. These are opportunities I never take for granted. Thank you Mr. Davis!!!
Steve simmons, Mike Melnyk and I are looking forward to RELEASING our first ORIGINAL album as Ultra Vibe. this has been an amazing process of writting, developing and recording our material. We are looking forward to sharing this material.
Fall 2016
I was honored to join some of syracuse's best muscians to celebrate bruce springsteen's 67th birthday. I can't really put to words how fun, worthwhile and rewardng this project was for me. A huge thanks to jamie Notarthomas for having me for this event.
Summer 2016
On July 30th I had one of the most amazing experiences of my musical existence. My bass buddy, Michael Wu, and I set off for Kingston, NY to pick up a bass that Michael and Daniel Tobias made for me. It was an incredible opportunity to have one of the best bass builders in the universe take my ideas on what I wanted for a four string bass and make it a reality. It was a surreal day...I don't think I touched the ground :)
I owe huge thanks to Michael wu, Michael and Daniel Tobias. I am incredibly grateful!
It was a blast to use this bass backing up blues legend Michael Hill this summer. Michael is an incredible musician and person and it was our honor and pleasure to have him up for Chenango County Blues Fest weekend.
Spring 2016
I really enjoy not only playing music live, but creating music in the studio. over the past year I have had the chance to get back into a few studios to not only work on my own music with Ultra Vibe, but to support other artists. This Spring I have had the opportunity to get into the studio with a person that I have been a fan of for a long time, and that person is Tim Ruffo. Not only is Tim an impressive song writer and storyteller, but he's a great guy. His son, Nick Ruffo is also an talented hip hop artist and engineer who I have also had a chance to record with recently. That's quite a talented family.
I have been spending some time this spring at ATS studio in norwich, NY adding some bottom end on electric and double bass to Mike davis's new studio project (www.laughingbuddhaepisodes.com). Rumor has it...this one's going to be a double album.
Life is good!
(pictured: Chad Dean, Thomas Westcott, Tim Ruffo, Nick Ruffo)
(Thomas Westcott, Michael Sepello, Mike Davis)
