"Things" is a mix of vocal and instrumental compositions, 10 tracks in all, leaning heavily towards vocals. I wanted it to feel like a mix tape you might make for yourself, or the ipod on shuffle while you were driving over a long distance; it's diverse, but cohesive. The album was fully funded in 5 days on Kickstarter. The recording took place during windows of free time over the past few years, using three separate RVA studios: Minimum Wage, Millwright Sound, and Montrose Studios. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with good friends and wayward songs that, at the time, had no home...the songs, not the friends.The album was mixed to two inch tape, at Montrose Studios, on a Flickinger console by Adrian Olsen and myself. A Flickinger console is a very rare mixing desk; only 20 made and only 5 working in the world today. It was used by the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Sly & The Family Stone, Johnny Cash, Parlament/ Funkadelic, Ike Turner, Motown Records, & Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, just to name a few. It has a very specific and unique sound, and really adds to the atmosphere of the record. The personnel on "Things", who were kind enough to donate their time when they had it, are close friends who I've had the privilege of sharing many great moments with both on and off the stage. They also happen to be some of the finest musicians and people, that I have ever met. They include: Daniel Clarke- Keys, Drums, Bass, Vocals. (Ryan Adams, KD Lang, Modern Groove Syndicate) Trey Pollard- Guitar. (Mathew E. White, Modern Groove Syndicate) Brian Jones- Drums. (Solo, Agents of Good Roots, Various) Charles Arthur- Lap Steel, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals. (Solo, Various) Reggie Pace- Trombone, Percussion. (Bon Iver, No BS Brass Band) JC Kuhl- Sax. (John D'Earth, Modern Groove Syndicate) Marcus Tenney- Vocals, Sax, Trumpet. (No BS Brass Band) Mark Ingraham- Trumpet. (Bio Ritmo, DJ Williams Projekt, Beast Wellington) Bryan Hooten- Trombone. (No BS Brass Band) Jonathan Meadows- Vocals. (The Congress) Lydia Ooghe- Vocals. (Solo Artist) Frank Jackson- Guitar. (Modern Groove Syndicate, The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown) Brian Mahne- Organ, Piano. (The Rootdowns) Dusty Simmons- Drums. (DJ Williams Projekt, The Rootdowns, The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown) Scott Milstead- Percussion. (Carbon Leaf) Katrice Johnson- Vocals. (Solo, Various) Glorietta Jones- Vocals. (Fifth Street Church) Careatha Lewis- Vocals. (Fifth Street Church) Palmer Wilkins- Engineer. Millwright Sound. Lance Koehler- Engineer. Minimum Wage Studios Adrian Olsen- Mixing. Montrose Studios I played bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion and sang on the album. I also produced it, mixed it with Adrian, and completely obsessed over it night and day (still am). I hope you enjoy the music. -Todd