News
DW Minneapolis Benefit Concert for The Sheridan Story
Here’s an online poster I made to let everyone know that there are still tickets available for my Minneapolis concert on November 9th, which benefits The Sheridan Story, a great charity that sends meals home with hungry Twin Cities schoolkids on the weekends. I really believe in this group and its mission. Tickets come in various prices according to how many meals your ticket will provide: a $35 ticket provides 30 meals for hungry children, a $75 ticket provides 65 meals, etc.
“Your Brighter Days”
This week’s “Song From The Ballroom” is a video of a live version of a song of mine, “Your Brighter Days,” which will be on my upcoming album. The video was recorded at one of my “Words & Music by Dan Wilson” shows at Room 5 in LA. These shows give me the opportunity to play songs, talk about songwriting, and to tell stories about what motivates me as an artist, what inspires me, and what keeps me going.
You’ll get two versions of the video. For those of you who want to jump straight to the music with no spoken introduction, there’s the version on the left side of the video page. Those who want to hear the story of how I was inspired to write the song can watch the “Words & Music” version on the right.
Anyone can watch this video for free by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
This week’s free “Song From The Ballroom” is “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”. This song by Hank Williams is one of my very favorites ever, and righteous proof of Hank Williams’ front-row seat in the songwriters’ pantheon. When I recorded it, I was playing the piano every day, mostly jazz standards from the 50s and 60s, trying to immerse myself in that classic songbook vibe. Thus the dissonances and explorations that go further afield with every verse. I’ve often thought it would be interesting to get really good at the piano and do a tour of songs like this – country meets jazz, or whatever it is. Maybe it still can happen.
Anyone can receive this track for free for the next couple of weeks by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.
Lyric Video for Birdy’s “All You Never Say”
British singer/pianist (and now guitarist) Birdy and I wrote a batch of songs together for her upcoming album, including this one, “All You Never Say.” I love her voice and her ideas and you’ll see why when you listen to this track. The album is jam-packed with great songs, by the way.
“Annie’s Song”
This week’s free “Song From The Ballroom” is “Annie’s Song” by John Denver. I’ve always loved his music, “Country Roads” and “Rocky Mountain High” being especially burned into my memory. One day a while back I got an e-mail from Rick Rubin which said something like, “How about covering a John Denver song, that one where the title isn’t part of the lyrics?” Took me a minute to figure out what song he was talking about. This is it.
Anyone can receive this track for free for the next couple of weeks by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.
Announcing Another DW Stage-It Online “Living Room” Concert
Everyone, I’m doing another Stage-It concert from my music room, on Wednesday, July 24th at 7:00 PM PDT. You buy a ticket for what seems like the right price to you, then watch from your laptop in your home. Or wherever you happen to be. Yes, I’ll try to figure out how to turn on the fireplace this time but no guarantees. We’re going to hold the tickets to 100 total so the question-and-answer interactive element is doable while I play.
I’m going to do it as a “Words and Music by Dan Wilson” show – that is, I’ll be telling stories about the songs and talking about how they came about and also how I do what I do. Stage-It concerts are 30 minutes with 20 minutes additional for encores. Let’s just assume I’ll play the encore
To purchase tickets, click here.
All proceeds from the show are going to the Sheridan Story, which is a North-Minneapolis-based charity focussed on sending hungry kids home on Fridays with food for the weekend.
Nice Star Tribune mention of Matt & my live album…
Nice mention of Matt & my live album in the Minneapolis StarTribune – “pristine, living-room warm,” “Matt’s unsung classics ‘Dreams’ and ‘Hello Caller'”… the description I would have dreamed of! Thank you!
Dan and Matt Album is done, ready for downloading!
Finally! My brother Matt & I have completed our new live album, and it’s ready for purchase. Dan and Matt Wilson: Minneapolis 2013. The album includes all 22 songs that we played at our two shows earlier this year, January 31st at the Bryant-Lake Bowl and February 1st at The Pantages Theatre.
Minneapolis 2013 is a download-only album, and there are two versions: Click to learn more.
“Coolest Thing”
This week’s free “Song From the Ballroom” is “The Coolest Thing,” and it rocks! Okay, that’s what I hope it does. It’s me playing all the instruments and letting my Beatles roots show in a big way. The only things I didn’t play on the track are the horns, which are by Probyn Gregory. I met Probyn in February at the Wild Honey Benefit for the Autism Think Tank. Probyn was playing trumpet, sitar and various other instruments for this amazing Beatles tribute. Singing “Penny Lane” with them was one of the high points of my year.
Halfway through “The Coolest Thing” that’s Probyn letting fly on the trumpet, flugelhorn and tuba.
“Free Life” by Dan and Matt Wilson! That’s the new SFTB song.
My how the time flies. It’s time for another “Song From the Ballroom,” and this one is the surprise I was talking about. It’s a live version of “Free Life” from my brother Matt and my show earlier this year at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis.
I love how it eventually turns into a duet between my voice and Matt’s guitar. We’re just putting the finishing touches on a deluxe live album download of the concert, but more on that later! Meanwhile, sign up on my mailing list (at bottom left you’ll find a link,) and receive this track and all the tracks to come, gratis, pro bono, free, just because I love you.