All The Latest from Tin Pan Folk
​& Americana Artist Breadfoot 

August 2026 Edition
Yup. It’s the 1st. Rough week. Haven’t slept well and have been battling with this back issue and because I had all the regular end of the month bills I hadn’t the funds to book a chiropractic appointment. So, stretching and icing and maybe today I’ll allow myself an Epsom Salts soak.
 
But yeah, in addition I’ve been struggling with wanting to get out and do my side work. Really want to just be writing. But hey I have my early mornings. And sometimes the weekends. Trying to rock out this update. And then gonna get back to the 3rd rough.
 
Currently on scene #6, ‘Tuning Is Not A Town in China – Part 1.’  The gang has made it to Dickie’s open mic and Dickie as host is kicking it off with a song. When I wrote this, I had three different open mic hosts in mind. Two of em ran open mics in NYC that I used to go to in the early 2000’s. The other was an open mic run by a super amazing songwriter and all-around great guy that we lost a couple years ago to MS. Miss him a lot and the character of Dickie is like his complete opposite but there is one line in there that is totally my late buds.
 
Hoping to finish this scene today. Uhm, have one bit I’m digging into and messing around with more. When I had that first session with Alex the music director wow, back in May? Hmpf, time flies. Uhm, regarding this number he suggested upping the tempo and maybe taking the second refrain somewhere else. So, question is what Dickie would say that moves us towards that “tuning is…” line that also moves the song along. My thought is being close to the end of the song it wants to be something about listening for when your number to be called and what might happen or how Dickie will react, if you don’t jump to it.
 
So yeah, fishing for the right words. And don’t quite have it yet. But it’ll come. Might do to watch the archival vid. See what I pick up from Buck’s performance. Then set with the guitar a bit and hum and close my eyes. And sometimes as it does it doesn’t come to me when I’m actually “writing.” Nope, comes to me when I take a break. And I’ll decide to stretch my legs and take Shiloh for a walk and shazam! It’ll hit me and I have to keep repeating it to myself as we finish the walk, ‘cause ya know ya can’t rush it. So many things to sniff.
 
That’s something interesting. Not like we’re the same. Hardly even. But just yesterday I finished S.A. Cosby’s ‘King Of Ashes’ and after I caught my breath I dug thru the pile to find something new to read. Came up with ‘Monsters in the Archives, My Year of Fear with Stephen King.’ Just one chapter in and really digging it. And the something interesting I’m referring to was how King will write in the mornings and then go for a walk in the afternoon to solve problems. It’s that act of doing something simple that opens things up.
 
Driving does it too. And when a line comes to me, I try to catch it on the voice memo. Course if the traffic is heavy I gotta wait a sec. Can’t presume that capturing that perfect idea in the moment is worth ruining someone else’s day or dying for. Or maybe it is? And sometimes there is no break in the traffic, and I keep repeating it but then I get to the side job and get right into it and then it’s gone. Poof. So yeah, if I can I like to record it. Dig it. Again, I’m not Stephen King. But it’s kind of cool when ya find out there is something ya have in common as far as approach or technique with your heroes.
 
Anyways uhm, what else?
 
Oh well, maybe I mentioned s fella who I met back in February who has been the Artistic Director for several opera houses around the country? Name is David O’Dell and he gave the demos a listen and then introduced me to another opera guy named, Micheal Ching. Micheal beyond being an Artistic Director is also a composer of original works, His best known is ‘Speed Dating Tonight.’ And yeah, it’s an opera. It’s fun and hey I’ll put a link in the side bar if ya wanna check it out.
 
Welp Micheal listened to the demos thought they were good but well, as far as vocal style, not opera enough. Now turns out Micheal is a grad from Duke and during his time there became good buddies with Jim Wann of the Red Clay Ramblers and ‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’ fame. So, Micheal thought maybe Jim should hear what I’m working on and made an email introduction. Welp Jim and I have had an exchange or two now and am looking forward to what thoughts he might have as far as how I can move development along.

Okaythen.  New here?  Welcome. Check out the links as ever follow along on Instagram and Facebook for more irregular updates and stuff, related and not. 

Til next month, cheers!
XOBF
Okay so check it out. This is a staging of Micheal Ching's 'Speed Dating Tonight.' Thought it was fun. More contemporary topic. Mostly we think of opera and it's in Italian or some other langauge and big, big voices and yeah so never been my thing. But hey I enjoyed this. 
Okay hey check this out. On occasion as we do, we search for our own name or our old bands wondering if there is anything new. Never saw this on YouTube before. May have been the last song I recorded with Liqour Bike back in the day. Think the photo was taken at the old 9:30 in DC. I'm the blur on the far left.
Okay yeah. this one took awhile. On back end of the February 2025 reading I knew I needed three new numbers. This was the last one 
​I got to. RoughAF but think it's a cool arrangement, And most of the bits are there. 
Okay so here are the demos that got recorded after our staged reading back in February 2025. Recorded at Good Luck Studios they feature several of the actors who participated in the reading. Not perfect but it'll give you a better idea of what I'm shooting for sonically. 
Wanna do a deeper dive musically?
Here's the SoundCloud Playlist where I
​have parked all of early sketches for SUNNYLAND. From 'Rory's Vamp' thru to the show closing sing-a-long 'Sun In A Cup.'
Okaythen and here ya go if ya wanna help keep the lights on. Subcriptions and pens and paper all gotta get paid for somehow. Anything you spare is appreicated. Thanks for helping to keep SUNNYLAND singing.