Phineas Gage threw down some serious pholk-phunk last night at The Skinny Pancake in Burlington..  Once again, after a few weeks off it felt so good to get back into those songs again.  Always an awesome time at the Skinny - thanks to our Burlington friends and the wonderful staff for a great night!

In the middle of a 5 show 5 night run - a Vermont tour.  Tonight Last October returns to Morrisville for a show at The Bee's Knees..  one of our favorite places to play.  

Tomorrow night is a big show in Bennington - My friend Dan Turcotte (who designed both the Aletheia and Last October album covers) is having Last October play his brand new space called The Nest.  Being an amazing artist, he is decking out the entire space for Last October..  including Last October water bottles.  We are really excited for the show..  and what a way to round out a 5 night run. 

Feeling very grateful - the more, the merrier.  Phill'r up!

Written by Rob Williams - The Valley Reporter
I am fond of saying that you can’t swing a dead catamount in our little Mad River Valley without hitting yet another creative and talented individual. Case in point? Jayson Fulton. Most of us in Waitsfield probably know Jayson as the mild-mannered mailman who delivers the daily PO packages around greater Waitsfield with an “aw shucks” smile and, if you are lucky, a good story. Valley music afficianados know Jayson as the bass player and vocalist for the Valley’s once and future trad bluegrass group “The Scramblers.” And now, after close to four years of work, Jayson launches a new solo CD entitled “Started Arms,” a 17 track package stacked with some fantastic acoustic music. Jayson is what I like to call a musical “triple threat” – he can play, he can sing, and he can write. On “Startled Arms,” capably co-produced by SoundMIND studio engineer James Kinne (who also lends his significant multi-instrumental chops to the CD), Fulton assembles some of central Vermont’s finest musicians (Caleb Elder on fiddle and mando, Hollace Pratt on mando and guitar, Erica Stroem on backing vocals, and Jen Mozdrzier on flute) and ranges widely across the sonic and narrative landscape. Love songs? Got ‘em in spades. My favorite - check out “Holler,” (track #9) about as rousing a newlywed song as I’ve ever heard. Sonic homage to landscape and culture? “Colorado I Pretend” (#4) and “Santiago” (#12) are phenomenally beautiful tracks. What is most surprising to this listener, however, is the range of Fulton’s political commentary, and the way he blends some provocative observations about the contemporary world with his accessible intimate sonic style. Clever and catchy riffs - “Two towers and two airplanes,” “Don’t spoil the oil” abound, and my favorite track, perhaps, “Business Day” (#5) suggests that Fulton has been playing close attention to the 21st century world as it unfolds, and has some thoughtful conclusions to draw. We caught up with Fulton for an interview this past week:

Q. Your new CD took more than 3 years to produce. Talk about that process.

A. Well, it actually took almost four years.  James and I, for many different reasons were only able to meet once a month or so for a while; but whenever we got in the studio, great things happened.  

Q. 17 tracks - that's a HUGE sonic set list. Why so many tunes? (Lucky for us).

A.  I was so enthralled with what was happening in the studio, I wanted to do as many tunes as seemed fit. 

Q. Do you have a favorite song on the new CD?

A.   I've got a favorite five or so.  "Business Day" is one of them.

Q. Talk about your work in the studio with James Kinne.

A.  Working with James in the studio was very smooth.  He has a special talent for bringing out the best in a song.  All I had to do was lay down a guitar track and a vocal track, and next thing you know, James would go on in and take the song to the next level with inventive bass, drums, guitar, and/or vocals.

Q. How does playing solo compare with your performing with "The Scramblers," the famed MRV bluegrass band?

A.  I haven't played a solo gig in five years, but from what I can remember, it's important to try and play off the crowd regardless of if your in a band or flying solo.  I would also say it's more intimidating by yourself 'cause you don't want to be too boring.

Q. Tell us about your upcoming CD release party - any special guests?

A.  It's Thursday March 1st at the Purple Moon Pub (starting about 7:00p.m.).  James Kinne and Caleb Elder (fiddle) will be joining me, and perhaps some others.

It has been SO nice to get back into the groove of playing with Erica.  After an extended hiatus due to a particularly nasty flu bug, we hit the ground running this week with a show last night at Radio Bean, and tonight at The Purple Moon Pub.

Radio Bean is such an amazing room to play - the epitome of a chic coffee shop (and, for purposes of this blog, tea house), and an awesome spot to see live music.  After so much time away, even playing the opening chords brought a calm to my soul that I hadn't even realized had been missing.  And singing together, hitting those harmonies...  just cemented that feeling of coming home further.  Needless to say, it was good to be playing music together again.

The Purple Moon Pub and I go way back.  I can remember playing there back when Between had just come out, even with some of the players that supported me on that album.  11 years, 5 bands, and 9 albums later, I still love claiming the corner under the painted sky, and playing.  Tonight was just another amazing night.

 Thanks to Jeanne and Sarah, who listen to me almost as much as I do...  Thanks to those who braved a rainy February night to be a part of the magic..   and thanks to Erica for standing next to me and singing her heart and soul out.  I am honored to stand next to you and play this music of ours.

Phineas Gage plugs back in tomorrow at The Skinny Pancake in Burlington.

Looking forward to getting phunky again..  

I was asked recently to list the top 10 albums that have influenced me as a musician .  Great question, and it took me awhile to answer it..  but here it goes..

1.  Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water
2.  Boston - Boston
3.   Metallica - Master of Puppets
4.  Toad the Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea
5.  George Winston - December
6.  The Freddy Jones Band - North Avenue Wake Up Call
7.  Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
8.  Jonatha Brooke - Plumb
9.  Yes - 90125
10.  Athenaeum - Radiance
11.  Anthrax -  Among The Living

These go to eleven.

Building the SoundMIND core:  Thanks to the generosity of my friend Hollace, SoundMIND Audio just got a major infusion of gear:  2 DA7 boards.  These are older models, but still offer a huge step in the right direction for the studio.  We haven't hooked them up yet, and these pictures were taken just after moving them into the space..  but the excitement is palpable, and the music will start flowing shortly...

In addition, been jamming with Hollace and Tony recently - creating some awesome stuff.  Below are some pics from last nights jam..

My fourth studio album "Scraps" was released digitally this week, and went live on iTunes a few days ago.  So far the response is very positive, and I can't thank you all enough for listening and downloading!

Scraps is a collection of unreleased songs, instrumentals, and demos taken from my studio, spanning the last 7 years.  These are a bunch of songs I love, but that have never had a home on an album.  It is a showcase of my songwriting and performing, and the styles range from acoustic to trance.

Jayson Fulton's album "Startled Arms" has finally been released as well, with his record release party slated for March 1 @ The Purple Moon Pub.  I have been working with Jayson producing this album for almost 4 years, and we are both so proud and excited to finally have it completed!

Next up in the studio:  The Phineas Gage Project - It's Own Whirlwind.

Finally have my gear up and running in my new recording space at SoundMIND..  it's so great to finally have a space to be able to work and create in again.

Enough space for bands now, and a great acoustic jamming spot.  Really looking forward to spending some musically inspired evenings here..  

Thanks to Rob and Peter at HigherMind Media for including me in your awesome spot!

Had the pleasure of hanging out and tracking some music at Bullfrog Audio with Jared Johnson and Colleen Mari last night.

Got some really solid sounding stuff laid down, and even managed to capture a quick idea for a new song at the end of the night..  

What an amazing place  too..  kudos to Jeremiah for putting together a beautiful and comfortable studio..