Thoughts from Jesse Malin on New Years Eve

A Few Words from An Old Friend
Someone You Should Know


Jesse Malin is a favorite

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE - Amidst all the new music we share with you; the energy and excitement for hot new artists generated on this website, we always end up returning to a handful of old favorites. One of these is certainly the brilliant Jesse Malin, a man who we admire as much for his mind as his music.

Our paths having passed a half-dozen times the last half-decade, I am lucky to have cultivated a passing friendship with Malin. Last year we sat down for an interview before another of his Boston performances. Engaging Malin in conversation is an enlightening experience. He's young in spirit but has a very old heart. No matter whether he's talking music (favorites from his collection and about his own craft), favorite artists or classic movies (one of Jesse's passions,) the results are honest, heartfelt and thought provoking. [editor's note: check out the interview. It's an excellent read!]

Such was the case this week when Jesse published an open later to fans. Like many of his entries, the New Years letter gave us a great feel for the man. Further, Malin dished a little on his forthcoming album in 2010. We will be there!


Hello Friends, Lovers, Comrades, Mobsters, Messengers, and Misanthropes

I'm sitting on a rainy Christmas in New York, watching the gray snow turn to water, and looking back on a year which has certainly been a tough one. As I've learned, most real good things don't come easy and looking out onto a new year, a new DECADE, with a new record in the chamber, I still find the optimism and thunder to shake my ass in these dirty old Red Wing boots. (I'm even going to see Danzig play tonight in the motherland of New Jersey).

Jesse's Highlights of 2009:

Working on the soundtrack for Mandy Stein's documentary "Burning Down the House: the Story of CBGBs"; seeing Wax open for Weezer at the Hollywood Palladium after 100 years; having one of my best friends, Ryan Adams, marry the most wonderful Mandy Moore and seeing him not smoking, not drinking, and driving merrily with a ring on his finger through the canyons of California; recording "Depression Times" at 7 AM at Stratosphere Studios with Green Day as Bob Gruen tried to keep his eyes open to shoot some photos to document the recording of a song which will hopefully soon be released; signing a new record deal with Side One Dummy Records; meeting producer Ted Hutt and engineer Ryan Mall and recording a new record with them in Brooklyn, New Jersey, and LA; reuniting with best friend Danny Sage (Heart Attack, Hope, D Generation) and having him sing on many of the new songs; having Howie Pyro guest bass on a song I wrote returning home from the Gogol Bordello tour of Russia, "All the Way from Moscow;" interviewing Ric Ocasek from the Cars, Al Anderson of Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Jerry Williams (Jay Dublee, hardcore producer and mentor) and many others for the Bad Brains documentary still in progress with Mandy Stein and Benjamin Logan ; touring the northeast with The Gaslight Anthem and getting to know the super inspired and inspiring Brian Fallon as well as his band and crew (who treated me and my folks like kings from Queens); opening 'The Cabin Down Below" a speakeasy private style playhouse with Matt Ramano (Strokes, Little Joy) and Johnny T (my partner at Niagara, The Bowery Electric, ATM and The Finger) and starting to like a few Steely Dan songs that were played on rotation in this rec room; working with the fine folks at Villam Artists; watching "Drinking from Cups" on YouTube; hearing Diane Gentile's recordings of her new songs "Happy" and 'Winter Girl" at Don DiLego's magical Velvet Elk Studios in the Poconos; dancing in a disco ghetto at Jack Wall's and Johnny T's ArtFag party at Bowery Electric; writing songs for a yet to be titled record that will be released in March 2010; writing with Don DiLego in my sister's Upper East Side apartment; writing again with Holly Ramos a new song called "Black Boom Box," coast to coast over the telephone; my father getting married for the third time in Fla to a wonderful woman named Arlene (third time's a charm!); my cousin Matt and his wonderful wife Cathy giving birth to the beautiful William Ross, my new cousin; seeing Bruce play "The River" in full at MSG with Danny Sage and John Rizzo; seeing Murphy's Law on a boat packed with hardcore skinheads going around Manhattan in the middle of August (Doc Martens overboard skinass); hearing Willie Nile's amazing new song, "One Guitar" every night on the European Light of Day Tour with Marah and Joe D'Urso in 14 countries in 14 days, 3 hours sleep a night, great Italian food, airport Tourettes, and a few bunk rubs with my red hummingbird guitar and many kind folks that I can't wait to see next year with the full band and new stage show; recording the ATM record (Adams Tastemaker Malin--the supergroup) in New York; auctioning off Ryan Adams paintings at the Morrisson Gallery with super schtick to raise money for the homeless through Housing Works NYC; sadly, the last slice at The Pizza Shop; meeting and playing with Randy Schrager; and much more I can't remember right now because they're blasting Jethro Tull and The Eagles in this hipster coffee internet spot called The Bean on 1st Avenue. One more vegan cake please....

With much love, peace, and gratitude to you all!! Happy New Year!
P.M.A.! (positive mental attitude) - Jesse Malin

P.S.
New record out March 2010 on Side One Dummy Records.
See you out on the road.


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