I first started writing the album “Through the Night” in the summer of 2006. I had a series of music themes and melodies, most of which had come to me in dreams. After I experienced a series of dark and dramatic turn of events in my life, I became very inspired to write words for these songs, finishing them at the pace of one a day. I’ve noticed over the years that when songwriters write about traumatic events in their lives, they tend to focus on the negative elements, writing maudlin music that can be very cathartic for the songwriter, but very difficult music for the listener to enjoy. I set about writing songs that spoke honestly about my experiences, but rather than dwelling on the more negative aspects solely, I wanted to make an album where the songs when taken together would give a more complete picture showing the highs and lows of an emotional journey. The songs would be extremely varied stylistically, taking elements of power pop, New Orleans swamp rock, early country, multi-sectional rock suites alongside with quiet confessional piano songs with full string arrangements. Once I had the full arrangements for the songs fleshed out in my head, I set about recording them in March of 2008. I started by laying down the drums first, one piece at a time to a metronome. Then came the piano, playing live to the drum track. After that, I followed with bass, multiple acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, ukulele, banjo, xylophone, bodhran drums and percussion. Finally, I laid down the vocals live against these backing tracks. The lovely and talented Dori Turner Gutman laid down harmony vocals with me, singing duets on four of the songs. She also played all of the lush interlocking violin parts and solos throughout the album. The recording was finished in the fall of 2009. After a series of intensive mixing sessions, the album was ready for release in the spring of 2010. I set about to make an album that we be an honest reflection of my experience, one that would take the listener on an emotional journey featuring all of the elation, joy and deep despair that that entails. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy this album.