OK, first things first. I have to get my posts back to Brooklyn where they belong. Sorry about the last one. I just get amped up when I am right.

So without further I would like to write about something very Brooklyn! Today we bring you a hidden gem that lies in the very core of all things Brooklyn. DIY!

- While I was stuck at home at the local community college still listening to The Smiths, The Cure and becoming obsessed with Nirvana. My brother Neil was away at college in Baltimore. I’ll never forget the day he came back for winter break. He had long shaggy hair and long sideburns. More importantly he brought back his new records. It was he who introduced me to Pavement, Modest Mouse, Palace Brothers, Smog and all the bands that would change me forever. It was because of this that I starting playing guitar and eventually began writing songs in my parents garage. I would send Neil songs or make him listen to melodies over the phone. His encouragement is what kept me going all those years. After we graduated college I started a band (Snob Hill) and made him play keys even though he couldn’t. I was so determined to try to make us the next big thing that I was not the greatest teacher. In fact, I was downright rude and obnoxious at times. Our two good friends were in the band as well and we did really well for while. Getting drunk and playing music with friends and a brother is a must do experience. We played CBGB’s, Mercury Lounge, Luna Lounge and the rest of the better venues in NYC during this time. Eventually life took hold and we stopped. I went on and continued to play music and Neil went on into the corporate world. His love for music continued to grow during this time. So much, that he eventually walked away from his well-paying day job to intern at Sear Sound, where he contributed to releases from The Killers, Richie Havens and Lykka Li & Bjorn Yttling (Peter, Bjorn and John). He also began to study audio engineering at a downtown music school.  However, unbeknownst to me he was also writing music during this time. I remember him being very quiet and tight-lipped about it. For a long time he wouldn’t play me a thing, but I could tell something was happening for him. If he was over he would walk over to the piano and play something quiet or nonchalantly strum a pretty melody on the guitar. At some point I started to write songs under the moniker The Exeter Popes. Since I never stopped I had tons of material. Then on Christmas Day 2006, Neil announced that he was starting his own record label. He insisted on putting out my first release. I was excited, stoked and grateful. This began White Shoe Records and looking back this became the beginning of what I call his “own” legacy or his “own” path to music.

White Shoe has put out so many good records in its first three years (Water Fai, The City and Horses, Twice As Bright, etc.), but his own with Scaresthedaylights may be the best thus far.

This past November while the rest of us freaked out about Thanksgiving and the impending Holiday season, Burn the Bed was released. It’s not long, but not quite short either. I have watched  Neil grow tremendously in the last 3 years. From self teaching himself guitar, piano, drums to eventually mastering the art of song writing. Although as any songwriter will tell you, one never masters song writing, but master what is their own sound. It doesn’t always happen to everyone, but trust me Burn the Bed is Neil’s own sound. You will hear a man’s heart and soul in this record. You will hear someone being honest and truthful. You will also hear moments of greatness. I can’t tell you how proud I am of Neil and this record. I hope it’s the beginning of many more. So without further I bring you Scaresthedaylights, Burn the Bed, my brother’s first record.

White Shoe Records

I made this video of one of my favorites Confetti a couple of months ago. Hope you enjoy it.

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