Hi all – I hope this note finds you well – it’s been a busy year for us so far and we’re all glad to be back home for a Portland show at Holocene tonight (Friday night)…

We’ve been looking forward to this show from the moment it appeared on the calendar and we hope you can join us for a great night of music. If you are able to make it out, come up and say hi and congrats to Ryan – he and Kelly had a beautiful baby boy a couple of weeks ago and both Mom and baby are happy and healthy.  And speaking of, this show will be Christi’s last show with us for a while as she and I are expecting our first…there most certainly is something in the water around here this winter : )

We’re looking forward to a fun night of music with good friends and a great stage to share it on – the show starts at 9pm and we’re on shortly after that, so come early! Have a great weekend and we hope to see you tonight at Holocene -

Johnny

Hi friends -

We’ll be taking part in a special benefit concert for Haiti this weekend (Sunday evening) at the Kennedy School here in Portland – the show starts at 7pm and was organized by our good friend (and sometimes bandmate) Mattie Kaiser.  I know it’s last minute notice, but if you live in the area we’d love to see you there – there is still tremendous need in Haiti, it’s a free show and 100% of donations from this show will go to Parters in Health.  And every little bit helps.  Here’s the official press release:

On January 24th at 7pm at the Kennedy School, Classical Revolution PDX and friends will perform a free benefit concert to raise funds for relief in Haiti. 100% of donations received will go to Partners in Health. Classical Revolution is delighted to be joined by Matt Sheehy, Opera Theater Oregon, The Dimes, Sophe Lux, Travis Dow, James Faretheewell and many other special guests for a very eclectic and fun night of chamber music.

A silent auction will occur during the performance, with products and services donated by local artists and businesses. Items for auction include event tickets, fine photography, haircuts, massages, and many of the performers are donating private lessons.

Briana Ratterman, a member of Classical Revolution, has been working around the clock to help with the search for her father, Walt Ratterman, who has been missing since the earthquake. Ratterman is CEO and co-founder of SunEnergy Power International. He was in Haiti working on a project to improve the delivery of energy to health care facilities run by Partners in Health. “Our thoughts and love are with Briana and her family,” says Mattie Kaiser, Executive Director of Classical Revolution PDX. “We found it fitting to donate to the incredible work that that Walt and Partners in Health do to contribute to a better life in Haiti.”

It’s hard to believe this year…and this decade…are almost over. For me, this was the decade of my 20s. I was 21 years old when I played a New Year’s Eve show with my college band in 1999. We closed with a cover of REM’s “End of the World As We Know It”.  Funny, looking back on it, that was true in so many ways, at least for me. It was a decade full of music, and this year was certainly no different.  Most of 2009 was consumed with finishing and releasing our new record, The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry, and it’s companion EP William Dawes and Other Forgotten Gems. But there were certainly plenty of other big changes and events this year – new friends, new bandmates, back to schools, back to jobs, marriages and even a couple of babies on the way.  It’s been an incredible year, one I’ll never forget, and I’m looking forward to what the new year…and the new decade…will bring.  We’ll be celebrating the New Year this Thursday night, playing a special New Year’s Eve show with our friends Weinland at the Mission Theater here in Portland.  The show starts at 9pm and we kick things off, so come early and say hi! (Click here for ticket info)

Have a great rest of the week – and if you don’t already have the new record, it’s now available on iTunes and on our website! See you soon and here’s to a safe and happy New Year -

Johnny

We’re excited to say that this month our new record, “The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry“, was officially released nationally.  This month also marks the anniversary of the infamous “Boston Tea Party“, an event which rattled Boston and inspired a (soon to be) nation, and it’s captivated our imaginations ever since.  It was in the spirit of the Sons of Liberty, the group of Bostonian rebels who led the Boston Tea Party, that the song “The King Can Drink the Harbor Dry” came about.  The chorus of the song eventually lent it’s lyrics to the title of the new record.  I wrote the majority of the song over a year ago, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that we finished recording it with the band – while the song was finished a bit late to make the new album, we’ve included it, along with several other favorites from the “King” sessions, on a bonus EP of sorts that’s available free with the purchase of our new record from our online store.  You can find the store by clicking here or the picture below…the EP is called “William Dawes and Other Forgotten Gems“…

To celebrate the release of the new album…and the Boston Tea Party…we’re posting the song “The King Can Drink the Harbor Dry” as a free download. To listen to it, check out the player on the upper right corner of the site. The new song is the second one in the player. To download it, use the Free Song widget below or click the link below to download the mp3…

The Dimes – The King Can Drink the Harbor Dry (single)

Have a great week and hope to see you soon -

Johnny