KR Music Blog
June 6th, 2026
Been a crazy busy winter and spring! Happy to check back in with ya’ll. It’s been too long!
So, what the heck have I been doing anyway?
This fall I connected with a great publisher out in L.A., and signed on with them doing music for commercial use. To say I’ve learned a lot in the last 6-8 months would be an understatement! It’s kept me extremely busy, and pushed me past limits production wise that I didn’t know I had. Very grateful for the opportunity and patience they’ve had with me.
Ryan Halliburton and I, along with Craig Sala, have been working with an artist from New Jersey, Drew Eckmann. Drew, Ryan and I have been co-producing Drew’s new album since late last year and I’m almost finished mixing it. I believe it’s going to be called “Drew Romance”. You may know Drew from his famous house concert series, Live at Drew’s House. His album is “Crooner Rock n’ Roll”, as we like to say. Think if Mose Allison drank too much coffee. Or tea in Drew’s case, as he hasn’t drank coffee in like 30 years. Anway, be on the lookout later this year!
Had some great shows this winter with Everybody Knows: A Neil Young Tribute. We played to an awesome crowd up at Oxbow Brewing in Portland, as well as Moose Alley up in Rangely, ME. To cap it off we did a headline set down at City Winery in Boston. They had a great Yamaha grand piano that sounded EPIC. If I’m playing a real piano I usually have a fantastic night. Can’t speak for the playing, but I have a blast. I think there’s video of this show on Facebook somewhere. There is live video of our show last summer opening for Cheap Trick on Youtube as well! — We also played the newest venue in Portland, Live at Madrid’s. I’m a big fan of Madrid, Spain so I liked this place before I even stepped inside. Really cool venue. Huge. But cool. It’ll be exciting to see the things to come at Madrid’s.
Recorded a new album with Thanks to Gravity. It’s being released in small EP’s over the last and next few months. Many of you may know I joined Thanks to Gravity back in late 2023(I think). It started off really only being a few shows a year but now we’re really productive and it’s been a blast being along for the ride. For anyone that doesn’t know, I know I didn’t know at first, Thanks to Gravity is a Maine/sort of NH based band that started in the early 90’s and was signed *I think* to Capitol Records. Their first EP came out in 1991. I was in 1st grade so if you’re my age you may be a little less familiar with them. After learning a lot of the catalog I can confidently say it’s an incredibly deep blend of so many different musical styles. It’s awesome to play in and with the band. The newest stuff is some of the most musically satisfying material I’ve been a part of. The way the band records pretty much everything live, or in full takes, has changed my way of thinking in the studio BACK to the way I thought of it when I was younger. It’s been a wonderful journey getting back to that place of wonder. It’s tough to describe but I think my friends who are musicians will understand the convenient yet limited way we record music these days.
The same band, also plays as Los Galacticos, an acoustic latin quartet. We also recorded a small EP at Acadia Recording Co. this winter. Again, an incredible experience! The video incorporates some of the studio session. We did it all live, no headphones. I’ve never ever recorded with a band without headphones. It forced me to dig in a little more on their fabulous grand piano. Some of the best playing I’ve ever laid down on wax is on this session. Magical.
I recorded and released some new music under the name Michael C. Cheesery as well this winter. It’s mostly things I’ve written that fit outside the box of what is acceptable to release with the Dirty Gems. Pop/Hip Hop/whatever I want! It’s not available on Spotify, sorry. But this is my plea to you to switch platforms. Specially if you’re a musician. The audio quality is the worst in the streaming industry, and they pay the people you’re listening to the least. What are you waiting for? Hahaha on that note check out Michael C. Cheesery on ALMOST all streaming platforms!
This past May I got a call in the evening from Will Mallett of The Mallett Brothers band. Their fiddle player Andrew was sick with the flu and they needed someone to fill in for a weekend of dates in Burlington, VT and Plymouth, MA. Unfortunately I already had a gig that weekend so it was going to make it tough, but in the 11th hour, my gig was cancelled due to weather. 30 minutes later I was in the van on my way to Higher Ground in Burlington, VT. I’ve known the Mallett Brothers guys for year, and have played with them a couple of times. Great guys. In 2009/2010 I actually used to rent them vans from Hertz rental cars. Seems like a lifetime ago. Anyway- the shows were a ton of fun. I had to listen to the songs in the van and use my ears to figure them out but we made it through! When it’s an emergency fill in you don’t always get time for a setlist beforehand. It sounds crazy but with a supportive cast it can work out really well. Of course right when I start to feel comfortable with the set, the weekend was over. Hope to do it again sometime but check out The Mallett Brothers if they’re in your area. Tell em I sent ya!
Photo by Chris Bremer