January 2014
Happy New Year!
Hey everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I know I did. And now, here we are - it's 2014. Wow. So what's happening in 2014? Good question. First, a quick recap of 2013. I played over 50 gigs, hosted another 50 or so Open Mic nights and was busking like crazy at ArtPrize this year for a total of more than 130 performances. I sang songs in 3 different states and in 23 different cities. I moved the Xmas show to the Mitten Brewing Co where we were able to raise over $1000 for Kids Food Basket. I was on the radio a handful of times and on local television 4 or 5 times too. I also found the time to sit down and write another 14 songs. When you add that to the 12 I wrote the year before and all the ones that didn't make it onto the Saturday Night album, well, I'd say it's probably about time to make a new album.
Good news! I've been in the recording studio with producer Justin VanHaven since early Fall. We've been working slowly on a 5 song EP that may, or may not see the light of day in 2014. There is no need to rush. I'd prefer to make the music I want to make and take my time, rather than hurrying to rush out another CD. Speaking of putting out a new CD, I'm hoping the Bandwagon will release a new album this Summer. We start rehearsals next week for the new album and do not have any gigs scheduled until March. I'm coming at them with a fresh set of songs that most of them haven't even heard yet. I can already see Pete with his eyes closed, grinning, trying to hear his unwritten parts in his head. I know Joe is gonna like this song and Greg is gonna like that song. And I've got big plans for our new drummer who is also a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. It's fun to be in a band. In the mean time, while we're in the studio working on these new songs, we'll be releasing a DVD of our performance at Frederik Meijer Gardens last July. It was one of the best nights of my life and I'm glad we captured it in such a beautiful way and I'm proud to share this video with you. At the bottom of this email there is a link to a video of one song from the Meijer Gardens show. Enjoy!
No gigs this month. If you'd like me to come to your house and sing to you - I will*. Put on a pot of coffee and I'll be there as soon as I can get out of my driveway. Off to do some shoveling now!
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikthomasma
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikthomasma
Watch Nicholas James and the Bandwagon - She's Gone - Live at Frederik Meijer Gardens here: http://vimeo.com/82028762
Thanks for all the love and support. It means the world to me. Your pal,
nik
*maybe ;)