27 August 2019
27 August 2019
Hello my friends! Wow! Where has this summer gone? Hell, where has this year gone? It's almost September, Labor Day Weekend, and my head is spinning.
I finished my new album-Walkin' Through This World in June in Nashville after spending the better part of the late winter and Spring in the studio recording. What an awesome experience! I'm sure I stated in my last blog that Ray Kennedy, my co-producer, is the mad (not really, I mean brilliant) genius at the board. He and I have been friends for so long, and with this being our third album together, our sensibilities and ideas meld almost seamlessly. He's a joy to work with! By the way, he's just been in the studio with Lucinda Williams recording her new album. He recorded and co-produced "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road". Just sayin... Lucinda as some may remember, sang on my Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth album ("The End of Wishful Thinking") and has been a dear friend for over 30 years. Speaking of album guests--WTTW appearances include Rodney Crowell, Mary Gauthier, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and other fantastic artists, musicians and friends. (FULL credits will be posted on my website soon.)
So I just ordered a promotional pressing of my album for obvious reasons--before the official release (January?)--and I got to thinking--what if I offered my friends, fans, and supporters the opportunity to a signed copy of the advance CD? (You all who donated to the Indiegogo campaign can ask for one of these or wait for the official release--just email me!). If you order this one, I will sign it for you.
To order, To order, go to cidnybullens.com HOME page and click on the DONATE button after the blog. Donate $20 (will cover disc and shipping-U.S. ONLY) and ADD A NOTE WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
Also, make sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I will be posting stories and mini-videos of me and the band in the studio starting soon. I am in the middle of quite an adventure right at this moment and I do not know how it will all play out. So take the trip with me and let's see what happens!
Speaking of adventures, the documentary short "The Gender Line", a beautifully filmed and directed glimpse into my not-so-ordinary life--is gathering steam as well. It's been accepted into six film festivals now--three of which I can publicly name: Melbourne, AUS (World Premier in July), Edmonton International Film Festival on September 28 (North American Premier and Oscar qualifier), Atlanta OUT Film Festival Sept 29, and then three others that across the country, quickly follow, two of which are also Oscar qualifiers. My gratitude to director TJ Parsell and producer Bill Brimm for making this happen. I will be going to Edmonton first and I can't wait! (Ironically, Elton John (who is featured greatly in the film) is playing in Edmonton the same weekend of the premier! Maybe we'll catch a peak of each other,) I will attend at least one more and maybe others. We are still waiting for more acceptances, we hope through out the fall.
Tanya and I are still planning to move to Nashville--we're just not quite sure when. Her business has expanded and exploded (www.tanyataylorrubinstein.com memoir, solo show, business coaching for entrepreneurs, and more) so we are sifting through both our hectic schedules for TIME to move! But as much as I love Santa Fe as a place, I really want to live among my peers at this time in my life. And Tanya has her own people their plus we have friends together--and she's ready for some new city energy.
We did manage to spend over five weeks on "my" little island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. We kayaked, I did my usual rambo biking every day on the hills of the island (not one iota of flat road)--we walked and read and had fun with my grandkids (all four now) when they came up from Cumberland, Maine.
I did a concert there--which was great. It had been a few years. I used to do them on island every single summer for decades. I played almost all of the new songs, on mic, for the first time ever. It's funny how different it is to play new songs at a couple of sporadic house concerts, then play them in a real theater! Suddenly, it's like, "OH! That's right! I have to sing INTO the mic!" Didn't take me long. 😊
Speaking of house concerts--now that I have new songs and a record coming out--I am going to start booking house concerts for November though the winter. I did this after the release of Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth--a concerted effort to tour doing house concerts. Now "house" could mean church, grange, Columbus Hall, private club, any room that can hold over 25 people and has decent acoustics. And yes living rooms and basements count! I bring the sound system, my guitars, and me, you get the people there. My preference would be to start booking them within an eight hour parameter of Nashville. That's a lot of the country. However, if I can get at least three within five hours of each other in the same region in a weekend. I can do that too. YOU don't have to worry about that right now, if you are interested. I gotta start somewhere!
It's very important to me to start playing and telling my story through these songs now. Eventually, the doc short may be a part of my performances. But for now, it's the music. And I am really excited about the new songs! You might know of an existed house concert in your area, or you might want to try it yourself. There is a page on my website that has more explanation of what goes into it. Email me if you have any ideas or questions.
OK folks! That's it for now. Don't forget to let me know ASAP about ordering a promo copy of the album--there are a limited amount.
Take care and be safe this Labor Day weekend!
Much love and gratitude,
Cid
MY ONE PERSON SHOW PRODUCTION SOMEWHERE BETWEEN: Not an ordinary life has had successful runs in LOS ANGELES (twice), NASHVILLE (twice), ALBUQUERQUE, NM, SANTA FE, NM (twice), MELBOURNE, FL, and PORTLAND, ME (three times). I also did a special performance of the show in NYC.
IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO BRING THE SHOW TO YOUR CITY OR TOWN, OR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW and I'll give you the details.
You have to see this! It is an extraordinary story of an exceptional human being. What a story! What a life! What a fantastic show! "
Sir Elton John
IN OCTOBER, 2016 SOMEWHERE BETWEEN: Not an ordinary life. RECEIVED THE NASHVILLE SCENE'S 2016 BEST SOLO SHOW AWARD.
CLICK ON "SOMEWHERE BETWEEN:Not an ordinary life" TO READ ABOUT IT AND WATCH THE TRAILER.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An4TquJ7wJc
CLICK HERE for an interview/ad for Alexander Watches that was filmed in June 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eW7Uzgnbww
Here is an interview I did about my show on WCSH Portland 207 show featuring my song "Gravity and Grace".
Here is a story on me on WGME TV Portland in 2016 before I premiered my one person show:
https://wgme.com/news/local/making-a-difference-something-between