We’ve reviewed a couple of singles and an album by James Combs over the last two years and this year’s single was a really interesting one. It was a love song with a difference and you can read all about it at the end of this piece. We were pleased that he agreed to share some of his musical highlights of 2023 with us.
Seeing Sierra Ferrell live at the LA Folk Festival at the Ford Theater
I agree with the music critics who call Sierra a “generational artist.” She is like a mountain-music Amy Winehouse, to my mind – a wild-child pure artist with an otherworldly gift. I have been a fan since the moment I heard her debut album but wasn’t able to hear her live until this October. The Milk Carton Kids introduced her by saying “you are about to get your mind blown.” They weren’t wrong.
Playing the Houdini Mansion in Laurel Canyon
I got to play a concert at the Houdini mansion in Laurel Canyon this summer and it is a wild place. Sculptures of levitating women, vintage magic posters, the grand pool where Harry practiced his escape act, and a great lawn that is perfect for music performance. A fun and crazy night. Here’s are a couple photos of me with my harmony singing partner Erin Hawkins from the evening.
Playing Topanga Days with half of I See Hawks in LA as my band
My birthday afternoon music bash then hearing Pixies at the Hollywood Bowl
It’s just a gift to be able to play music for the people you love most and they were all there on our patio for my birthday house concert in September – here are some excerpts:
And if that wasn’t enough, Pixies, Cat Power and Modest Mouse played the Hollywood Bowl around the corner from us that very night and our friends treated us to box seats. I had almost forgotten how much I love Pixies. They knocked everyone’s socks off – a band who has completely invented their own rock n roll language. A grand and perfect day of music.
Releasing my collaborative single with The Well Pennies, “High Pine Steeples”!
This year was mostly about performing live and recording for me, but I did release my single “High Pine Steeples”, made in collaboration with another of my favorite bands, The Well Pennies. I spent a few days visiting them and recording in their Golden Bear Studios in Des Moines and we released this love song to redwood trees in May to lots of airplay here in the US and in the UK. I loved singing harmony with Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool, who are both incredible arrangers and singers. I really just played them my song and let them have at it. And they, being them, brought the magic and turned it into a cavernous, lush, harmony rich affair, worthy of the trees. Hear it here:
