January 14th, 2011

What's up, 2011?

So 2010 has ended, how we looking, 2011? If the way 2010 ended is a sign of the way 2011 is going to be, I'm pumped!  Let's have a look back at the year-end highlights ...

1. Todd Wright's Clausterf&$# shows on 12/22 and 12/23: By far the best way to get in the holiday spirit is to hang with the top sixty DC area musicians for two nights in a row and sing christmas songs to 400+ people. This was the 8th annual Clausterf... Todd knows how to throw a party and he's a sneaky-good decorator, too!  So happy to be a part of this event every year.

2. Pat McGee's Down The Hatch New Year's Party on 12/30 and 12/31: I got to join Pat McGee and Michael Tolcher at the beautiful Loews Hotel in Annapolis, MD for two nights of music.  Pat puts on amazing events and the music is like a non-stop dessert buffet for all! Pat and Michael continue to be amazing musical forces and it was a huge honor to sing alongside these greats.

3. The Rock Boat: Okay, technically this was 2011, but I was still hungover from New Year's, so we'll call it 2010. Hosted by Sixthman and Sister Hazel, this music festival on a boat is not to be missed! Highlights for me were The Alternate Routes, "The Goose's Guilty Pleasures" (featuring Kit from Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers) and last but certainly not least, NEEDTOBREATHE.  I don't remember the last time I was so inspired. NEEDTOBREATHE have tapped into their musical souls and it flows like a broken down dam.  If you have a chance to see them live, do it.  They're on the road with Taylor Swift in 2011 -- have you heard of her?

Onto the news -- 

Best, Taylor

"A Modern-Day Masterpiece"

Defending The Name met the world on September 14 and hit #84 on the iTunes Pop Album Chart! It gained critical praise from some of our favorite fellow musicians like Stephen Kellogg, Pat McGee and Megan Burtt and press like Billboard, WERS radio and THISisMODERN.net. We are thrilled to keep the good vibes coming with three new press pieces including one from yesterday calling this record a Top 10 of 2010 and a "modern-day masterpiece!" 

• * Inner Ear Media: "songs that breathe life!"
• * Krushtown Blog: Music Monday Feature!
• * Twangville Blog: Top 10 of 2010!

A New Music Video: Die Happy

•Created With You!•

We want to make a music video for "Die Happy" and we want to feature YOU!  Please watch this short video invitation to join the fun and we will look forward to releasing a new video featuring your photos in early February!

Click here to check it out!

Shows With Friends (and downloads)

THIS SATURDAY in NEW YORK CITY I am playing at the Mercury Lounge with my good friends the Adam Ezra Group! We've got some tricks up our sleeves so you shouldn't miss this one!  Don't know them? Click this link for 3 free downloads: Free AEG!

In April we will be doing some shows with new supergroup Hotels & Highways including a hometown show at IOTA!  Don't know them?  They just raised $10,000 from their fans to make their new record (coming out in March) -- it is Syd, Lisa Piccirillo and Patrick Thomas!  Check them out HERE!

Final Thoughts

So -- 2011 -- what's in store?  We can't tell you EVERYTHING that we're cooking up but you can count on a bunch of videos this year, some new partnerships, lots of new music -- solo, band and from The Dance Cards -- some more unique events ({cough} Down The Hatch {cough}) and hopefully lots of house shows, too! Please participate in the Die Happy video (click here), come out and see the show tomorrow in NYC and keep listening loud!  Also, as a thank you for reading AAAALLLLLLLLLLL the way through the newsletter -- here is a video of Taylor performing The Killers' amazing tune, "Read My Mind" -- Click Here.

Wishing you a healthy 2011,
Taylor, and Team TAC