I have been working on a new band for some time now. The website should be up eventually at thenovelists.com, but for now I will be using myspace.com/thenovelists. We've been recording for the last week and will have some new demos up on MySpace in the next week.

The band will be themed around story songs. I have always preferred this style of writing, but lately I've been focusing on it almost exclusively. We are working to make the live show interactive and unforgettable.

I'll see you at a show

I've been featured on the Pure Songwriters website. There is a nice interview and a few photos. Check it out before this weekend when the SXSW feature replaces it. Go to puresongwriters.com.

So, for some of you, that name means nothing. For others, he was the singer for the '90s alt rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. For others still, you recognize his name from the top of my all time heroes list and probably know that I've been wanting nothing more than to open for him since I was 12 years old. That's 16 years folks. Well, it's finally happening on April 1st in Orcutt, CA (Santa Maria) and there may still be a chance for you to come be a part of it with us. I just got the update from the Kossuth's (who are hosting the concert) and they are near capacity. If you'd like tickets, email me at booking@joelackerson.com ASAP and I will try to make it happen.

Ah, life is good.

J

You wanted an update...

"Happy Songs for the Broken Hearted" is ready!!! Check the store page (click on the neon "OPEN" link) for three great reasons to pre-order. You will find they are quite the incentives. The first ten bonus discs were gone within hours of the posting. Don't miss your chance to be in the top 100 and get one of the Intellective Records - Volume One - Upbeat Pop, limited edition cds, featuring Morris & Estelle and 9 other "Unbelievably Unsigned" independent releases.

After four long years, "Happy Songs for the Broken Hearted" is finally going to be released. That's right, book your plane ticket now, and bring your skis. The first cd release party will be in Reno on Thursday, the 26th of January. The album will be available online on the 24th.

So I've finally taken the plunge and started a real MySpace page (as opposed to my last attempt of loading only a picture and a name). Yes, the old page will be canceled and the new address is myspace.com/joelackerson. Also, look for a page for the new band with Seth Horan coming soon. He is finally in Reno and we are ready to rock. Drummer auditions will commence the last week of this month, and we should have some news by early June. We are always welcoming band name ideas. I've been toying with "The New Low" myself. Seth seems impartial at this point. Anyway, send suggestions to friends@joelackerson.com. Also, Seth is much better at this "live in front of a computer" lifestyle, so their might actually be up-to-date info on this band all the time. You guys won't know what to do with yourselves. I'm in the Studio tomorrow and then it's off to Carson on Saturday to play the Maytan Music Grand Opening. I can't wait until next month when I get to open for LAPDOG!!! Those of you who've known me for any length of time know that this is a big gig for me. Two of the members from Toad The Wet Sprocket (my favorite band) started Lapdog after the demise of Toad, and I get to open for them on June 4th. This will be a sold out show in Santa Maria, so if any of you would like to attend, send me an email. Anyway, check out http://www.myspace.com/joelackerson. Next time you see me it will probably be in front of a full band with an electric guitar strapped on. Rock, Joel

Wow!  It's been a while since I've done this....

Let me start by saying that everytime I go for a long spell without letting you all know what's going on, I am impressed by the steady flow of emails inquiring as to my howabouts and whereabouts. It's almost enough to encourage the disappearing act to begin with. (Let's pray that I never become that vain - or needy). However, I would like to state that I am indeed in good health and as happy as a guy with lots of great friends and a steady sense of purpose can be. Alas, the cause for my absence is as simple as a very full agenda. What is said agenda?.... I thought you'd never ask. I have been spending my days writing songs, arranging songs for others, learning guitars parts, teaching myself the drums (yahoo!!!) and building the studio that Happy Songs will allegedly be finished in. I must add that building a studio from the ground up certainly gives new meaning to the phrase "making an album". I love the work though, and it has brought me closer to my Reno mentor, producer, and best friend Trebor Gilmer. It has also sparked a new friendship with an old aquaintance in fellow grunt laborer (and the best trumpeter I know) Tony Cataldo. Aside from commiserating about our women troubles, the three of us have been finding solace in great cheeseburgers, billiards, and of course music. I have played several shows, including what I would consider one of the best solo performances of my life a few weeks back at my new favorite venue, Comma Coffee. I played to about eight people, including the barista, but I was booked for two full sets, so I took the opportunity to play through all of Happy Songs For The Broken Hearted, and then follow it with all of The Affirmation Sessions. For me it was a lifesaving dose of reminder that I love this life, I love my songs, and I really am excited to put out these next two albums. It was the first time that I had put the whole story together, almost chronologically, following the emotional (mental/spiritual) progression through my experiences of leaning to love. And it finally made sense. Anyway, for those of you back east, look for a tour in late March through April. If you're on the west coast, it could possibly be sooner than that. To my fellow Renoites, thank you for continuing to validate my decision to move here. Keep coming to shows and I will try to keep making them better. I am as heart-broken as ever, but am finding myself smiling lately nonetheless. Here's to lessons in learning to live. Goodnight, Joel

and thank you to all the friends in NY who came out to support us at Keuka and in Syracuse last night.  It's SOOOOOO nice to play in a smoke free environment!!!  I will be back in mid to late winter, but for now, it's "the biggest little city in the world" here I come.

Be well,

Joel