I was talking with my brother Stephan a couple of months ago, and I reminded him I was going to turn 50 this summer. He asked me what I wanted to do, and I didn't even have to think about it. I said, I want to play music. Stephan and I founded a band called Ghost Ranch over ten years ago. The band was gaining some momemtum, playing festivals, earning good money, getting some air play and recognition from the Northern Nevada and Northern California community and a growing following in Las Vegas when I pulled the plug on the project by taking a job in Astoria Oregon. I was sort of delusional when it happened, because I convinced myself that moving to the Pacific Northwest wouldn't change things much and that the band could continue as it was, but of course that didn't happen. Stephan lives in Las Vegas now and we still get together periodically to play, but I've been missing some sort of closure around the Ghost Ranch project. So, getting back to the conversation about me turning 50-- we decided to put it out there and see if we could find a venue to play live. Stephan contacted Mary Bennett from Bruka Theater, and she suggested the band come to Reno and play a closing night party for a play and that we invite the Reno community to party at Bruka with the reunited Ghost Ranch band, so that's what we decided to do.
Shortly after booking the Bruka party (scheduled for next Friday, July 30th) Stephan spoke with recording engineer Bjorn Thorsrud (Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins, Dandy Warhols, etc) a childhood friend of ours about coming to Reno to record the band live. He said he couldn't make it, but invited the band to come to Chicago to spend some time in the studio. So that is what we are going to do. Stephan and I pooled our money, and we are paying for drummer Jon Caggiula (Gunshot Licker) and guitarist David Highsmigh (Ghost Dance, SWINE) to join us in Chicago. We also hired some videographers to shoot some footage in Seatle, Reno and Chicago to document whatever it is that we are doing. The shots I attached are from the Seattle shoot. I'm excited and anxious at the same time. Mostly I am just grateful to be given the opportunity to do what I love with people I care about.
