The latest love letter from the Ditchflowers...

Dear flower people -

My apologies for being out of touch for so long. This newsletter is long overdue, so we’ve got a little catching up to do, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. First of all, we’d like to thank you for helping to make 2007 such a great year. We were knocked out by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to our album, Carried Away, a labor of love that seems to have struck a chord (pun intended) among pop music lovers around the world. It was thrilling to see that our humble offering made it onto many critics’ “Best of” lists for the year. Notably, it found its way to the very toppermost of the poppermost of Eric Snider’s Top 10 CDs of 2007. As Creative Loafing–Tampa’s Senior Editor, Eric has many years of journalistic experience under his belt, and with it, a reputation which carries a certain amount of credibility. Plus, he’s kind of sexy. At any rate, I’m particularly proud and honored that Eric would throw the weight of his reputation behind our CD. From years of reading Eric’s work, I know that he writes what he believes and believes what he writes, so for me to open CL and see our name above Feist, et al, on his list of faves was a very special moment for me.

So much for keeping it short and sweet, eh? I was also thrilled to see that Curtis Ross of the Tampa Tribune included our CD in his Top 10, along with another Tampa indie band, Giddy Up Helicopter. We also made it onto Philip Booth’s year-end list, as published on lasvegascitylife.com (that tour stop in sin city paid off after all!). We are grateful to Curtis and Philip for lending their editorial clout (have we mentioned lately that you guys have impeccable taste in music?). Again, the fact that these respected writers have no agenda other than to offer a recap of what perked their ears the most in 2007 makes me particularly proud that Carried Away stood out for them.

Apparently we’re doing well in Spain, too, as Carried Away popped up on a few lists posted on sites such as Power Pop Action and Under The Tangerine Tree. There’s also a recent very positive review posted on an English site here

Thank you to our friend and labelmate, Steve Robinson, for forwarding our disc to this gent.

Speaking of Mr. Robinson, he will soon break his non-performance vows and actually appear in public for a very special show in which The Ditchflowers are also involved. Please consult your calendars, circle February 9, and plan to be at Largo Cultural Center for what will be the final appearance of the legendary Headlights. Although I’ve had the privilege and the pleasure of standing in for Mr. Robinson at a number of latter-day Headlights shows, it is the classic lineup that everyone remembers and loves that will appear at this special concert, namely Steve Connelly, Steve Robinson, Scott Dempster, and Danny DiPietra. These guys were serving up great, original Americana more than a decade before that genre was even born. This is the unit that backed up Byrds’ frontman Roger McGuinn on his Back From Rio tour. I know you’ll want to be there to help these Florida legends turn the final page on their storied career. Steve Robinson will open the night with a solo set in support of his superb recent CD release, Undercurrent, followed by a set from The Ditchflowers, after which the mighty Headlights take the stage for their final performance.

This is long, I know...sorry. If you’re still reading this, I consider you not only a true Ditchflowers fan, but also a close personal friend. Therefore, I have a very special deal for you. For those of you who come out to the Headlights show at Largo Cultural Center on February 9, we will give you a free Ditchflowers’ Carried Away CD and autographed poster. Heck, Brian might even shake your hand and pose for pictures (also free). All you have to do to receive your goodies is mention the codeword “tangerine” at the door. If you’ve already got the CD, pass it along to a friend (they also make nice coasters).

I’ve got more news -- I really do -- but honestly, I’ve got to get back to work, and I’ve driveled on long enough. Please forgive me, but I will probably bombard you with more news tomorrow, particularly regarding another special show that is coming up even sooner than the Headlights concert. Stay tuned, and thanks again for your support!

- Ed

Just a quick and only slightly late Happy New Year wish and note of appreciation for the support/tolerance of our Sunshine Drenchy musical endeavours this past year.

To say that Steve Robinson live performances were a little thin on the ground in 2007, would be overly kind; they were, of course, totally absent from the calendar--something I hope to remedy in the coming year.

Despite this, 2007 was, as the Quiet One might have said, quite a 'gear year'. Reviews of the 'Undercurrent' CD have been very encouraging --Uncut Magazine's four-star assessment and the 5-Star rave from the All Gigs UK site were particularly invigorating, as was inclusion in the Top 20 of Absolute Powerpop's Top 100 releases of the year list. On top of that, a glowing notice --complete with the now requisite and only slightly baffling Peter Noone comparison -- in LMNOP's January Reviews section made for a nice New Year's pressie--have a looksie here

To be honest, playing genre-hopping footsie with the folk radio stations didn't prove quite as fruitful this time around. At the risk of tossing around clunky labels, I suppose this album leaned a little more towards a folky-pop style, rather than the (ahem) poppy-folk of 'Away For The Day', and perhaps it made some of the more hard-line folk dj's and programmers a little skittish. Either way, several of the shows who'd embraced the first CD passed on this one.

No matter--with a few new stations quickly on board, and an Empathy Card from Bob Dylan, all is right with the world. And interestingly enough, sales have been more brisk for this release.They've also been a little more internationally diverse; support from old Commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada and even dear Old Blighty herself have been particularly heartwarming to this old deserter. Perhaps I've has been forgiven?

In other Sunshine Drenchy news, full-throated hurrahs are in order for pop maestro Ed Woltil and the ever-virile Brian Merrill of The Ditchflowers, who continue to pick up well-deserved accolades for their Sunshine Drenchy release, 'Carried Away'. On top of their inclusion in year-end Top Ten lists from both the Tampa Tribune and Las Vegas City Life publications (take that Mr Manilow!), Eric Snider of Creative loafing has picked said release as his CD of the year. (I've also heard murmurings that Brian Wilson is rumoured to have uttered something about it blowing away anything that McCartney ever committed to vinyl, but it's an unsubstantiated rumour so we'll pay it no mind here.)

If you'd like to hear what the fuss is about,though, you can listen to the whole bloody masterpiece on their website . If, after that, you'd like to shake their hands/fall at their feet/have them kiss your babies etc.,you can go and see them perform live at the Largo Cultural Center on Sat. Feb 9th, where they'll be sharing the bill with myself, and the reunited Headlights, who'll be whipping out a few chestnuts of their own, I'm sure (no flash photography please). For further tawdry details, you can call keep an eye on my soon-to-be-updated Confessions Of A Closet Folkie blog, or if you'd prefer you can simply buy tickets at Ticketmaster or the Largo Cultural Center's box office at 727-587-6793 and worry about the guilt in the morning.

Take care of yourselves, and those around you. Here's to a fulfilling new year for us all.

Cheers then,
Steve R.