One year ago today I started a website I decided to call “This Is Somewhere”. I struggled over the name for quite some time, eventually settling on it after reading an interview with Grace that talked about destinations, process and thoughts behind the recording of “This Is Somewehre”. I found the name fitting and beside, the domain was available.
As of today the site contains 490 posts and 2,083 comments, more than one post a day for the entire year. If you choose, you can browse through all of them via the archives. On this anniversary I thought I’d take look back at my view of the defining moments of the last twelve months in more or less chronological order. If I missed your favorite, please feel free to add it in the comments.
Workplay Videos
For those who had rarely had the chance to see the band live, a series of videos that appeared after a show at Workplay in Birmingham, AL helped us visualize the band. They served as a well filmed, up close YouTube resource for anyone thinking about going to a show capturing almost the entire performance.
First set of videos
Next set of videos
Lincoln Center American Songwriter Series
The booking at the Allen Room helped solidify the bands reputation in circles well outside the jam band, americana rock fans. A stellar review in the New York Times is something that the band can carry with them forever. Grace’s solo performance of Apologies on the Steinway piano is a thing of beauty.
Jambase Interview
This interview shows the fun filled side of GPN. It doesn’t hurt to put on a good show off the stage either.
Sun Studio Sessions
This remarkable series was the brainchild of the folks at Earvolution, long time fans and supporters of GPN. They tell me they are working on a new distribution deal that might bring out one more video from the series. “Mystery Train”, one of the original videos, was pulled due to copyright restrictions. These videos are probably my own personal favorite of the year.
Outta My Tree
Night Rolls On
Sugar
Gov’t Mule Tour
A classic booking. Fans of the Mule were very receptive to the GPN groove. As the tour progressed you could hear the roar of the crowd when Grace of Scott stepped up on the stage. “Nutbush City Limits” and “Gold Dust Woman” became classics.
Nasty
Take Me To The River
More Covers
Jammy Awards, Gold Dust Woman w/ Warren
Grace demonstrates her appeal as a host, we’re hoping there is no talk show in her future. While we would have liked to see the full band onstage the exposure generated from this performance helps everyone.
Lebanon, NH – Band at Salt Hill Pub – Go Down Low with Jen Crowell
The Potterville Posse worked hard to setup this combination Meet and Greet / Q&A session with the band and it was a stellar event. The bands personality and openness shined through in every way. Jen Crowell’s performance as an opener and subsequent sit in on “Go Down Low” were another highlight of the night.
Grace Solo, Maine TV and Tamarack Grille
Grace breaks out with a solo performance on a local television station that serves as a prelude to a quickly sold out, intimate show later in the year.
Something That I Want – One Tree Hill Appearance
Grace’s appearance on this teen drama was the subject of much discussion. Congratulations, hopefulness – all the way to outright skepticism were expressed. Traffic on the website post broadcast was more than 7x normal, much of that traffic seems to have stayed around. From where I sit it was a big win garnering Grace and the band many new fans. Notice the proliferation of sing alongers at more recent shows? I attribute it to this appearance.
One Tree Hill Discussion
Video Clip of Performance
Northampton, This one is for K. Cortez
What can I say? A booking at my local venue on my birthday and a humbling dedication topped off with a staggering performance. Couldn’t ask for much more.
Blues and Lasers Break Out
Blues and Lasers hit the stage with a minimum of practice time but a maximum of synergy. They served up their own brand of rock and got people noticing from the get go. Look for some more amazing music from these guys in the upcoming year.
Revolution Rock
A day in the life.
Royal Tenenbaum
New Years Eve with the Nocturnals is always fun. Add to this the spot on costuming of the Tenenbaum theme and you’ve got something really special. Yes, my predictions came true.
New Years Eve
Speculation
Live Show
The year has been something special, who knows what’s next. I’ve been struggling with my own thoughts about all this, strike it up to needing a recharge and a break to sort it all out. Thanks to everyone I’ve met on the way, fans, photographers and videographers whose own efforts help make the site possible. Special thanks to Nate, Justin, John, Sparky, Jen, Aya, Adrien, Benny, Steve, Matt, Scott, Bryan and Grace.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
AND MANY MANY MANY THANKS TO MOJO!!! GREATEST FAN SITE ON THE WWW!!!
Mojo, you beat me to it, and better then I could ever hope to do.
Thanks for the fantastic work you do!
Happy Anniversary TIS! Thanks so much Mojo for all you do.
I’ve said in private, I’ve said in public, let me say it again. Thank you so much, with out you, it’s entirely possible I would not have found this great band and all the other music that has come with them. I also wouldn’t have met so many fun people and made some special friends. Thank you my friend, you have given me a gift beyond measure.
PS. Don’t expect this schmaltz very often. ;p
Thanks Mojo! Your site is my daily read. Happy Anniversary! PQ
Great year for an amazing band with awesome fans! I know we all look forward to many more…and yes, there will be more GPN from the Sun Studio Sessions. We’ve re-edited some of the first videos that will be sent to PBS stations across the country starting at the end of this month. We have another 3 songs, including that never before released song “Jesus Was a Runaway” the band wrote right on the spot. A DVD to be released of the whole thing will include some great footage of Grace writing the song for the very first time on a break, the band joining her to learn/shape it and then putting it all together. I’m hoping for sometime in Feb or March for that depending on some forces outside our control.
Thanks TIS for all this cool stuff!
Thank you mojo for a great year and a great recap. You provided us with some cool chatroom/webcasts – I particularly loved the allgood chat/iclips web session and would love to see that happen again.
Jeff – your breaking news about the Sun Sessions on PBS AND a DVD – that is music to my ears – can’t wait to hear more!!!
I just want to say Thank You! for all your effort in bringing the best of GPN to all us fans and to all the people who just happen by. I have been lucky enough to attend 3 GPN shows this year and even got to see Blues and Lasers. Anyone reading this that has not already been to a live performance …please, please…go to a show, see them live. You will not forget it. Here’s to an even better 2009!
What a special treat. Finding this site a mere six months ago gave me so much pleasure and insight. I wish you much inspiration and look forward to what we get to see in 2009!
Ditto everyone else’s thanks to kc for a great year on this site. I’ve been gone two months – plenty of time to think about: 1) how it would feel to come back and find it was gone, and 2) how it will feel when it is gone, which seems to be inevitable for most sites here in the ether. Is this the “music of goodbye again” ?
mojo -
thanks so much for your efforts to put this site together, and for sharing all the cool clips and bits that you have collected this past year and before that.
this is one of 2 personal “favorites” I have allowed myself to save on my re-built work computer, and it gets visited frequently.
thank you again – hope to meet you (and lots of other kind folks) at the Waterfront this August….
thank you for all the love and support that you have giving our musical family. We love you K Cortez! Thank you , B&L & GPN
Schmaltz away kired! Mojo you are doing great work here. Think I can speak for everyone (don’t get THAT opportunity too often!) … When I say you take helping our favorite band to a new level. You sir make us all better. Don’t stop any time soon. You make the music … Easier to hear.
Thank you forever and always,
T
I know it’s already been said half a dozen times, but thanks for this great site mojo, you’ve put a lot of work into this page and it’s always great to hop on and know I will see (more or less) up to the minute news about the band.
Occurred to me when I came over just now to burn your bandwidth listening to the B-sides player that I hadn’t commented in this thread. I did my usual click-happy link hopping – ended up somewhere out there on the web – and didn’t make my way back.
Love the list – both of my 2008 favorites are included.
Workplay’s Pain In My Heart will always be on my short list because it made me decide to go to my first show last February . . which led to 7 more shows and a new addiction. All my 8 shows had special moments but Northampton is my “best of 2008″ – great show – but seeing your reaction to Cortez ? – priceless ! – and worth every minute of the long drive.
Wouldn’t want to upstage Kired in the schmaltz arena and think I’d just be repeating myself anyway . . . so will go with . .
Congratulations on a great first year of this excellent site . .
very grateful you do what you do for us and for the band . .
truly hope doing TIS also makes you happy going forward . .
and as always – Thank you for the music.
Here’s to a fun and fabulous 2009 !!!!