From 2003 to 2016 (or so), I led Seattle-based pop group Red Jacket Mine. We made a bunch of records and played hundreds of shows around the western US, starting as a lo-fi solo recording project and evolving into a formidable rock & soul combo over the course of those 13 years.

There’s so much more to say, but the music is widely available if you’re interested. Our Bandcamp page is a great place to “try & buy,” and I’ve put together a Spotify playlist with a sampling of some of my favorite recordings. I’m proud of the music we made, and immensely grateful to the folks who helped me bring my vision to life and showed up to support us over the years.

A FEW HIGH POINTS

• Drummer Andrew Salzman anchored the RJM lineup from the moment I moved to Seattle on New Year’s Eve, 2004 (and he even played drums on my second four-track opus, The Daylight Moon, in 2003), and I’ll never be able to repay him for his loyalty and belief (though I don’t intend to stop trying). Patrick R. Porter held down guitar and pedal steel duties from 2006-2010, and remains a close friend, as does Daniel Walker, who joined us in 2012 and transformed the band’s sound with his world-class keyboard skills. Eric Bryson assumed the bass chair for our 2013-2016 victory lap, providing much-needed groove, muscle, and astonishing good humor. Earlier lineups featured Matthew Cunningham (2010-2013) and Ryan Chapman (2006-2009) on bass.

• We had the good fortune to work with great producers in great studios at every turn: Johnny Sangster (all recordings, 2012-2016), Ken Stringfellow (2009’s Lovers Lookout), and Shawn Simmons (2008’s Hello, Old Cloud).

• Fin Records (RIP) granted us the opportunity to release several slabs of beautiful colored vinyl - 2013’s Someone Else’s Cake LP (our commercial high-water mark), plus a couple of 7” singles, a handful of which are still available. They also helped us make a handful of silly videos, which you can view below. We remain grateful.

• We shared stages with Chuck Prophet, Alejandro Escovedo, Steve Forbert, Garland Jeffreys, The Minus 5, Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), Rebecca Gates (The Spinanes), Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers), Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols/The Faces), Bahamas, Loney Dear, Liam Finn, Jason Falkner, Richmond Fontaine, the 88, Apex Manor, Langhorne Slim, Everest, Retribution Gospel Choir, Glossary, Ian Moore, The Luyas, Jackie Greene, Reckless Kelly, Downpilot, The Devil Whale, Octoberman, and many, many more great artists, at some of the Northwest’s best venues (The Triple Door, the Crocodile, the Showbox, Tractor Tavern, Doug Fir Lounge, etc.) and a few of its worst, too.

• We got the chance to perform live in-studio at Seattle’s KEXP 90.3FM a couple of times, in 2012 and 2013. Both appear to be missing from the archives, so you’ll have to take our word for it. An exhilarating experience.

A SMATTERING OF FLATTERING (PRESS)

"Red Jacket Mine have funneled a lifetime’s worth of spring afternoons listening to records into 11 cleanly polished and highly varied slices of pop music magic.”
- Fred Thomas of AllMusic on 2013’s Someone Else’s Cake

"This Seattle outfit’s smart blend of power pop and old-school soul shows a reverence for the ’70s without resorting to slavish homage…the foursome’s musical world reveals itself as fully founded in a timeless place."
- iTunes Editor’s Notes on 2014’s Pure Delight

"…bursting at the seams with pristine pop and luminous blue-eyed soul, with hints of psychedelia and Americana…these guys have the kind of songs and chops that will weather any level of scrutiny."
- Fred Mills of Blurt Magazine on 2009’s Lovers Lookout

VIDEOS

We had fun, didn’t we?