February 11, 2003

Hello all and thanks for checking in.

January came and went pretty quickly. The main thing to report here is lots of songwriting and recording in the home studio. Co-writers/ co-conspiritors included Will Kimbrough, Tim Krekel, Steve Allen and Jon Tiven. I've also spent a good bit of time recording some film source music. Jamie Hoover and I also made major strides towards finishing up our duo album, both of us taking what is generally the slowest month of the year and overdubbing like mad in our separate studios and sending each other the results. Now THAT is trust. That's pretty much what this record in progress has been like.. I like what he does so much and vice versa.. so the long-distance recording works.

On January 18, I played a benefit for Alive Hospice at The Bluebird Cafe here in Nashville with an esteemed batch of Nashville hit-songwriting veterans Richard Leigh, Karen Staley and James Dean Hicks. Fun was had and we raised money for a very good cause.

February has already been pretty busy. My work with the First Amendment Center continues as we had a very successful Freedom Sings presentation for the Folk Alliance on February 6th. Our muscial lineup included Jonell Mosser, Don Henry, Greg Trooper, Jason White and Craig Krampf . The hour-long program was the kick-off event for this years Folk Alliance and we all manged to get "the standing o" from a room of 1,400. More Freedom Sings shows are scheduled for March and April at various schools across the country.

I'm playing another Bluebird songwriters in the round on Friday February 21st with Don Henry, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Will Kimbrough. Beth and Will toured together in the UK in December so my guess is that they'll have lots of stuff worked up. I know most of their material pretty well too.. SO.. harmonies 'r'us.

I'll be backing Amy Rigby at her gig this coming weekend at The Basement here in Nashville.. playing guitar and singing harmony. She's got a new album finished up for Signature Sounds. There's one song on there that we co-wrote and I produced the track here at my home studio.The song is called "Shopping Around".

There are two more Bluebird Cafe songwriter in the round dates for March. March 1st has an all-Boston lineup (well .. aside from me..). It's Andy Pratt, Robert Ellis Orrall and Tom Hambridge. I've been a fan of Andy's since his hit "Avenging Annie" in 1972 and especially loved his "Resolution" album that collected critical hosannas in the mid-70's. Robert Ellis Orrall's recording career goes back to the late '70s when he and Carlene Carter dueted on a great pop-hit called "I Couldn't Say No". When Bob moved to Nashville with his family in 1990, and and I co-wrote his first single for the country format, "Boom, It Was Over" which did really well. Tom Hambridge and I have written several songs over the last couple of years and I enjoy his solo work as well as his production for folks like Susan Tedeschi and Andre Williams. March first. Come on down.

The other Bluebird date is March 29th. That in the round includes Rusty Young (Poco), Danny Flowers (writer of "Tulsa Time" and other hits) and good pal, Don Henry (Grammy Award winning songwriter). I've gone on here about all those guys before so if you want more background and undying allegiance to their enduring brilliance.. just scroll down to earlier entires on this page. I've said it before..I love 'em all. Yadda Yadda.. :)

March the 8th, I'm playing in Louisville, Kentucky with Tim Krekel and Duane Jarvis. Look on the Concerts linkpage for more info.

The SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas has been big fun for years. I remember playing it with Foster and Lloyd one of the first years they held it. I also played there doing my pop-rock solo stuff with a band in '94 and '99. On March the 13th, there will be a wonderful evening of music featuring Dwight Twilley, 20/20, The Shazam, Tommy Hohen / Van Duren Band and myself. It's a showcase of acts who have been featured in the magazine Pop Culture Press. The venue is Aussies on Riverside Drive. Really looking forward to that one.

That's about it for now. Thanks for checking in.

Bill

March 11, 2003

Hey now hey now...

Leaving tomorrow to do a television show in Washington DC for The First Amendment Center. Then it's straight on to Austin, Texas for the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference. Really looking forward to playing Thursday night for the Pop Culture Press Showcase along with Dwight Twilley, 20/20, The Shazam and The Golden Apples. Ron Flynt and Steve Allen from 20/20 have been kind enough to offer up their services as a backup band for me. Dana Myzer from Cotton Mather will be on drums. Austin is always a good time and I look forward to lots of music and friends.

Recent songwriter showcase gigs have all been wonderful. The Louisville show at Barretones with Tim Krekel and Duane Jarvis this last weekend was great fun and I hope to go back soon. All my semi-regular appearances in Nashville at The Bluebird Cafe have been great too. The February 21st show with Beth Nielsen Chapman, Don Henry and Will Kimbrough was especially fun since it had been awhile since I'd done one of those with Beth. She thought it was one of the most fun she had done in a long time and I had to agree. We were in "agreeance" as Limpy says. Tommy Womack sat in a good bit that night too, playing guitar and harp with Will on his tunes and taking the mic for a couple as well.

The Bluebird in the round on March 1st with Andy Pratt, Robert Ellis Orrall and Tom Hambridge was great fun too. Andy is back on the road for the first time in something like twenty years. Enjoyed hearing him do his "seventies FM hit" "Avenging Annie" as well as some of my favorites from his Resolution album. He had newies but goodies too. Robert Ellis Orrall had grown up in Boston so he was also thrilled as a fan watching Andy go through his catalogue. Robert has a new album finished up that has nothing to do with his success in recent years as a country songwriter. This is more of a return to the freedom he had as a popster in the '80's. Great new songs like "Al Gore Lives On My Street". He tells me he'll be using a band name this next time. Monkeybowl I think he said. I should let him speak for himself! Tom Hambridge played tons of new tunes that all sound like "could be/should be" hits. He's already back out on the road with Buddy Guy. I did a few new tunes too that went over well.

Amy Rigby's new album, "Til the Wheels Fall Off" is now out on the Signature Sounds label. Look and listen for our co-written,co-produced track, "Shopping Around". See Amy's website. The link is on my links page.

The rest of March brings a couple more acoustic gigs, more First Amendment / Freedom Sings shows, and a visit to North Carolina to finish up mixing the Jamie Hoover / Bill Lloyd "buddy"album. My finished album, "Back to Even" has been held back awhile but I do believe that a decision on how it will be released is right upon me! Oh.. and thanks for the good response on the monthly free song MP3.

Thanks for the support and more to report soon.

Bill

April 28, 2003

Hello one and all

March was a busy one with lots of travel, April too.. and now April's almost over and it seems like it was just one month.. Marpril. Actually, I think Marpril is a pharmaceutical drug that condenses time. At any rate, here's what's been going on since I last updated.

The Pop Culture Press Showcase SXSW show in Austin was a gas. I had Steve Allen and Ron Flynt from 20/20 along with Dana Myzer from Cotton Mather for a backup band. They rocked like the pro's that they are. We were able to get one quick run-through of the my songlist in an acoustic setting before we plugged in and played the gig. I'm either old enough to know better or experienced enough to know that it will work regardless. They did great and it DOES work well when you're working with pros. We followed The Shazam's blistering set which set the bar really high but we dun good. 20/20 followed with an really great set of their own. I was amazed how some of my favorite tracks of theirs sounded so close to the records. They perfomed live versions of "Jet Lag", "Yellow Pills" and "Remember the Lightning" that were not only sonically impressive but had the live mojo to boot. I guested on Ron's "I See Blue" and Steve's "In and Out of the Light" that night since I had already been featured as a guest on their respective records. Steve and I co-wrote "In and Out of the Light". Dwight Twilley closed the show to a loving crowd and had a great band that included the original Dwight Twilley Band guitarist, Bill Pitcock IV. They sounded good but had the bad luck of an electrical transformer blowing mid-way through their set. At least I got to hear "I'm On Fire" and "T.V.". Oh yes, The Golden Apples did a fine set opening the evening and were a bunch of great guys for letting us use some of their backline. Big thanks to pop-scribe Kent Benjamin for putting that lineup together. Other hightlights of being in Austin was a great set by Minus 5. It was good to see and yak with both Scott McCaughy and Peter Buck who I'd not seen in a good while. They have a cool new record out too.

While I was in Austin, I got to spend a little time with an old musical compadre, Monte Warden, who has made a great bunch of Texas roots-pop records both on his own and with The Wagoneers. He and I managed to write a new song while I was down there! He's been kind enough to put several of our co-written songs on his records.

In late March, I drove over to Charlotte, North Carolina to spend a couple of days with Jamie Hoover to mix our "buddy" record. We managed to finish it up while I was there. Now I've got TWO projects I'm shopping around. To quote my recent song with Amy Rigby, "I can't stop shopping around...".

There was another fine songwriters in the round lineup at The Bluebird Cafe on March 29. Rusty Young (Poco), Danny Flowers, Don Henry and I all had a big time. Rusty had plenty of Poco nuts in attendence to help him sing his hits. He had the croak from allergies but did great regardless. It helps when the audience knows all the words. It was another good night.

Most of my travelling this last month or so has been related to my work with The First Amendment Center. We take a show called "Freedom Sings" around to colleges, corporate-media events and anywhere else we can perform. Ken Paulson who is the executive director of the FAC and the host of tv's "Speaking Freely" has put together a show that mixes entertainment with information that is a non-partisan look at the state of free speech told through music. The touring band (The First Amendment Orchestra) this last month has included Jonell Mosser, Will Kimbrough, Don Henry, Jason White, Craig Krampf and Shonka Dukureh. While some of the college shows are open to the public, many of the more corporate shows are restricted to the events so I don't list them on this site. We don't do our own music for the most part, but songs through history that illustrate how popular music and free speech go hand in hand. In the last month, I've been to New York, New Orleans and a bus trip through the "I" states.. Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. While it's not MY music, it's gratifying work.

I got to sit in with one of my favorite bands on April 11 here in Nashville. Poco played at 12th and Porter with another buddy of mine, Michael Kelsh, opening the show. I sat in playing guitar and singing harmony on Michael's set (as did Joy Lynn White) and I REALLY enjoyed getting to sit in with Poco on a song that Rusty, Radney Foster and I wrote called "Rough Edges". That one dates back to their "Legacy" album from 1990. Both Michael and I got up again at the end for an encore of The Beatles 'If I Needed Someone".

I just played as a sideman to Amy Rigby in St. Louis this last weekend at a club called "Off Broadway". I'd like to go back to St. Louis and play there on my own and am looking into that. Maybe later this summer.

There are a couple of Bluebird Songwriters in the Round shows booked for this summer. Please check the Conerts page for details.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bill

May 23, 2003

Hello..howaya?

"So what's new?" you may ask. May is nearly done and June approaches. Still no Back to Even cd available. "What gives?"... Just alot of business that remains elusive and the longer I go with this new release unreleased, the stronger the notion to just put it out myself. There have been some offers and my lawyer and I have gone round and through the details and the pros and the cons. You don't want the details. Please be patient and something will give soon. I want you to hear this new record. I think it's my best one (don't they all say that..).

Other than that, it's mostly been more songwriting and working in the home studio. Notable co-writers this last month include Giles Martin (son of George.. yes.. The Beatles producer) and his lovely and talented sigificant-other Charity. They came to Nashville to write songs with some people and I was most happy to be on the short list. And the three of us did indeed write a song, had a blast and maybe it will be on her record when that project is ready. As an uber-Beatles fan, I kept it pretty much in check. But here I am on the website yakkin' away about it.

I also started new songs with Diamond Rio guitarist, Jimmy Olander and onetime Tommy Tutone-member Jono Vranna. One was country and one was pop and I'll bet you can guess which was which. Joy Lynn White and I have also contined our writing streak as she's about ready to record another new album.

The other finished project that is still on deck is the duo record I recorded with Jamie Hoover of The Spongetones. I'm really proud of that one too so I'll be sure and let you know when a release is imminent.

Robbie Fulks came back to Nashville this month to record and produce a Johnny Paycheck tribute record. While I wasn't one of the principal participants, I was asked to crash the session by Robbie and Marshall Crenshaw who was singing one of the tunes. A night of drinking and catching up was followed the next day by being asked to play guitar on a couple of the tracks. So I played acoustic on the Paycheck song that Jim Lauderdale sang (sorry I don't remember the title.. no wonder I wasn't asked to participate..) as well as a version of "Take This Job and Shove It" which was being sent to Buck Owens for him to put a vocal on. Al Kooper got to play organ on "Like a Rolling Stone" by being just as pushy. So there! Al's on tour this summer by the way. Go see him.

Set for release this month is a tribute cd to an old acquaintance and true source of inspiration.. one Mitch Easter from North Carolina. Mitch made his name in the '80's as one of REM's early producers and leader of Let's Active. I recorded a version of their "shoulda'beenhuge" single. " Every Word Means No" in my home studio. I had help on the track from former Let's Active bassist, Faye Hunter and former dB's drummer, Will Rigby. Will suggested we should name the band, "Let's Retire". Arghh...

There have also been a couple of young bands in the Nashville area I've been working on and off with in the home studio. George and Dave Daeger from the band, The Early Evening, have cut a few acoustic tracks at the home studio. I'm a big fan of their band. They're hard to describe but suffice to say it's amazingly musical and electic in the best sense. I've also been working with Newton Dominey from the band, The Standards. Think shades of Wilco, Big Star and Evan Dando for Newtons trip.

There were a couple of First Amendment Center shows in May as well. Mobile, Alabama was beautiful! Scroll down to previous entries to find about more about this wonderful organization.

Well, that's about all for now. Thanks for checkin' in.

Bill

July 15, 2003

And it's boiling hot down here in Twangtown in the middle of the summer. Somehow that doesn't keep one indoors 24/7. And somehow you adapt once you step outside the controlled climate and into the sauna. Wearing black may look cool but it'll kill 'ya. There you've been warned.

Hey now ! Thanks for stopping by!

Okay.. start over. Since I last updated this page I played a really fun songwriters in-the-round on June 14th at The Bluebird Cafe with Walter Egan, Joy Lynn White and Amy Rigby. I've got more Blubird shows on the way. July 22 with Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey and Swandive. Very much looking forward to that one. Also, August 1 at The Bluebird with Fred Knobloch, Danny Flowers and Marshall Chapman. Another guaranteed good time. These are all posted on my concert page as well.

Also way-back in June, I taped a radio show called The Songwriter Sessions recorded here in Nashville at the public radio station WPLN. I did this show once before a couple of years back with Cindy Bullens and Catie Curtis. This time, the show was with a couple of Nashville based pals, Greg Trooper and Richard Ferrera. It wll broadcast sometime in the Fall.

In July, I've already done one more Freedom Sings show for the First Amendment Center, this one in Arlington, VA. See previous posts for my rants on how much I enjoy working with them and all the other musicians involved. Freedom Sings has a good amount of dates booked for the Fall as well and I plan on being on board for those.

This coming weekend, I'm going out with Amy Rigby as her sideman guitarist/vocalist for shows in Louisville, KY., Indianapolis, IN., Dayton and Columbus, OH. That's July 18-20. Amy's great and her new album "'Til The Wheels Fall Off" is one of my favorites of the year (despite that I have a track co-written and co-produced on there!).

It's been awhile since I've played The Swallow in the Hollow in Roswell, GA. but I am booked to play there with Eric Silver and Monty Powell on August 8th and 9th. Hope to see some of you from the greater Atlanta area on that trip. (woops.. for dates see post above.. I didn't mean to lie)

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend for Independence Day. I don't know if you saw the special on the A & E channel, but there was a live broadcast from here in Nashville featuring Brian Wilson, Al Green and Lee Ann Womack. While I had nothing to do with anything going on there as a musician, the fan in me really enjoyed hanging out with Brian Wilson and band while they were in town. I seldom get to see old pal, Jeffery Foskett who is Brian's bandleader and it's always a treat to get to see some Beach Boys classics brought to life again by such a great bunch of players and singers. I got to witnesse first-hand how much they all admire and care for Brian. I was also happy to see old pals like bassist Byron House, who has played on all of my records, get to play with Al Green.

Two records in the can still. What will eventually come out as "Back To Even" and another record I've recorded with Jamie Hoover are STILL in the pre-release stages. Still... working.. towards .. it. Meanwhile, how do you feel about CD-Rs?

All for now. Thanks

Bill

August 1, 2003

Only two weeks since my last update! It must be a new record. There are a few items I'd like to mention. First off, I wanted to thank all those who responded to my query about cdrs. While I'm not thinking about releasing the new album in that fashion, I do have loads of music old and new that I'd like to share with those who care (awwww..) and I actually get asked about some of it. So please check back soon and I hope to have a cdr page with at least three different compilations of tracks to be made available for those who don't have an aversion to that.

The songwriters showcase at Swallow in the Hollow in Roswell, GA. is NOT on the 8th and 9th as I previously listed. It's the following weekend, August 15 and 16. That's with Eric Silver and Monty Powell.

Recently (okay.. this last week) I co-wrote with the famed and talented James Griffin, former member of Bread, Black Tie and The Remingtons. Great guy, great singer and I look forward to finishing up the tune we started.

Tonight is my gig at The Bluebird with Fred Knobloch, Danny Flowers and Marshall Chapman. Yes, that will be fun.

The main reason I'm updating so soon, is that I'm moving this next week and I'm certain that my internet will be down for at least a few days. That's one of those FYI thangs.

Okay then!

Bill

October 15, 2003

Hello and thanks for stopping by.

It's been over a month since this site has had an updated and I'm sorry for the delay. But here's what's been going on. Besides my huge household move in August, I did manage to play those live shows. Those were the ones I plugged in the last update. I think there were two and both were both alot of fun.

I also played more than a few Freedom Sings shows that month. Right at the end of the month I sat in on guitar with my pal who used to be in the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Supe Granda. His band opened for NRBQ on August 28th. As a longtime fan of both the Q and the Supe, it was good to be around for that one. Supe's band that night also included former Derailers drummer, Mark Horn and Dash Riprock guitarist / founding member (and still keepin' it goin'), Bill Davis. Chris James played keys and we had a blast.both playing and watching the Q do their thing.

Also during late August, Glenn Tilbrook, former Squeeze lead singer/guitarist, came to town to work with Bill Davis and his drummer from Dash Riprock Kyle Melancon. Glenn came to town to play a gig and in the four days prior to said gig, record tracks with Dash. Mike Webb (keyboards for Pinkmonkey) and myself got called in to fill out the band. I was designated bass player.

Lee Warren came and played some steel guitar on a few tracks and Bill Davis's wife Kim, sang harmony. We rehearsed for two days and recorded for two during the week of August 18-21. The basic tracks for eight songs were recorded and everyone laughed alot. Fun was had. Here's a picture that captures the vibe.

September was full of Freedom Sings dates and songwriting. A couple of live dates to mention (that don't do us any good now but were fun..). There was a songwriters show with Walter Egan and Joy Lynn White and another with Dave Olney, Don Henry and Bill Bourne.

October continues with lots of First Amendment Center Freedom Sings shows and more writing and recording.

The record that Jamie Hoover and I made together is coming out in November on the Paisley Pop label. It will be called "Paparazzi" and here's what the cover looks like.

You fans of Jamie / The Spongetones or my pop stuff will absolutely NEED this record for your collection! That's my sales pitch. Dennis Diken from The Smithereens played drums. Jamie and I co-wrote all the songs and played and sang all the other bits. I'll post here when it's available.

"Back to Even" will be following shortly with a deal finally in place. It was recorded BEFORE the other one but that's the way it goes.

Looking at doing some dates in January in a band situation with Don Dixon on bass and vocals, Jamie Hoover on guitar and vocals and Robert Crenshaw on drums. More on that later.

Much thanks for checking in.

Bill

December 18, 2003

Hello good peoples and thanks for checking in.

Sorry for the delay in getting all of my new info up on this page. It keeps changing but here's the latest.

The Jamie Hoover / Bill Lloyd album, "Paparazzi" is now out and you can buy a cd directly from me if you'd like. I'd like! Look for the order form under my "Bill For Sale" link and you'll find it there with lots of other music. I'm also hitting the road for the first time in awhile with a stellar group of pop-musical co-horts in January 2004. This nameless band features Don Dixon, Robert Crenshaw, Jamie Hoover and myself. We're playing in Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington D.C.. Ohio and Illionois. Please find details on my "Concerts" link. Please come and see us if we're in you're neighborhood.

"Paparazzi" is on the Paisley Pop label. While you're at it, go visit my pal Jamie Hoover at his new site.

My long-delayed solo album, "Back to Even" is also coming out around January 2004. It's on a small label run by my lawyer and pal, Trip Aldredge, called New Boss Sounds. Of course, The Who sang meet the new boss same as the old boss. The radio format in the '60's when I was growing up was called Boss Radio. We amuse ourselves for days with stuff like that. Anyway.. it's finally coming out. I HOPE to have some copies of it in hand for the road dates in January. It will be available on this site as well as distributed through Redeye Distribution and available in many retail stores.

SO .. what else has been going on except these two releases finally being made available? My last update was in October. Yikes. Fresh off a recording session with Glenn Tilbrook and Dash Riprock. Since then...

There were a bunch of Freedom Sings dates in October and November. We were in Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky and Illinois. If you're curious what that's about, please scroll down to earlier updates where I explain my work with the First Amendment Center and our Freedom Sings program. I also spent some time in the last couple of months taking part in a program called Kid Pan Alley where professional songwriters go to schools, write songs with the kids and, eventually, record them for a cd. I worked with both second and third grade classes. It's a really rewarding process in every way. Thanks to my friend, Paul Reisler, who heads up that program.

There is also another charity cd that I recorded a couple of songs for in the last month or so. Back in my old hometown of Bowling Green, KY., The Son Rhea organization was put together by some old friends of mine to help the arts maintain a presence in the school system. They organize concerts and other events to raise money to donate musical instruments to the schools and keep music and arts programs alive. On the cd I mentioned, I co-wrote a song with my old bandamte from Sgt. Arms (early '80's.. man, am I aging myself..) about my hometown called "Beech Bend Road". For awhile, this track will only be available on this charity cd. I also produced a track for David for this same charity record called "Running In the Dark". Kim Richey, who is an old pal and band mate from our days as Southern Star ( circa 1977.. aging myself even more here.. ) sang on this track so it was a reuion of all our voices on tape. Hand me a hankie. I'm getting all sappy. Here's a link to information about getting this cd. : http://www.sonrhea.org/html/cd_info.html

What else? There have been some amazing gigs here in Nashville. The annual Imagine No Handguns-John Lennon Tribute show happened on December 5th. Another great year where I feel damn glad to be in the house band. That house band included John Sieger (ex-Semi-Twang-ster) who heads this event, Steve Allen (20/20), Garry Tallent (some band called the E.Street Band), John Deaderick (Dixie Chicks) and Steve Ebe (ex-Human Radio). The proceeds go to the Brady Organization. The Nashville music community always flocks in droves to this gig and it's a good thing because we've got an amazing talent pool here. I can't list everyone who played this year but I will say that I quite enjoyed ME doing Strawberry Fields Forever. Deaderick had the mellotron flutes in his right hand and the cellos in his left. Something good about digital technology there. Great fun.

I also appeared on December 12th at a benefit show for the family of my friend, Jack Emerson, who suddenly passed away a few weeks back. It was a terrible shock to everyone and his list of friends, clients and musical pals showed up and rocked the joint last Friday night. The lineup included acts that he had managed (Jason and the Scorchers, John Hiatt, Steve Forbert, Webb Wilder, Sonny Landreth, Billy Joe Shaver...) and worked with in other capacities (Steve Earle was his partner in E Squared Records) all payed homage to a guy who helped create a whole 'nother music biz within Nashville. I counted Jack as a friend but only chanced to work with him sporadically. His label, Praxis, put out the Ray Davies Tribute I took part in a couple of years back and I sang "This Is Where I Belong" at both his memorial service and the concert. Like many of these kind of events, the music made it all feel a little better.

That's all I can report for now. Will try and do better with the timing of these updates! Thanks and best of the holiday season to you and yours.

Bill