News

(July 2026)

BLOCK OUT THE SUN + VINYL EDITION

My 12th studio album, Block Out The Sun, came out on January 2nd of this year — and it's now available as made-to-order vinyl at Elastic Stage, on CD at Bandcamp, and right here on this website. Vinyl runs are limited and pressed to order, so if you've been meaning to grab a copy, now's the time.

You can read a great review of Block Out The Sun here.

THE THIRD MIND: SPELLBINDER!

The Third Mind has released a companion piece to our most recent album, Right Now!. Titled Spellbinder, it features a new cover of the Gabor Szabo track "Spellbinder" mixed by the masterful Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Los Lobos, Latin Playboys, Counting Crows), the first-ever vinyl release of "Reap What You Sow," and alternate versions of two other tracks. It's a great companion to Right Now! and a great entry point if you haven't picked that one up yet — grab both on Bandcamp.

The video for "Reap What You Sow," which I directed and edited, is here.

We'll be announcing Autumn 2026 appearances later this summer.

UPDATE ON PROJECTS FOR 2026!

I have several recording projects in the works this year.

Casey Neill and Victor Krummenacher:

Casey and I are in the final stages of recording an album of acoustic songs. Come see it take shape live:

• The Make Out Room, San Francisco, CA — 8/6/26

• The Music Millennium Customer Appreciation BBQ, Portland, OR — 8/8/26

• Turn, Turn, Turn, Portland, OR — 8/29/26 (tickets)

• House Concert, Olympia, WA — 8/30/26 (tickets)

A Kiss, and a Lie, and a Curse:

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of my album The Cock Crows At Sunrise. Last December, I gathered most of The Third Mind — Michael Jerome, David Immerglück, Willie Aron, and Dave Alvin — to record a half dozen songs from that era, built from stories my father told me about his family. Rewritten and re-recorded, these versions are weightier, darker, and edgier than the 2006 originals. We cut it fast, and it'll be finished by spring for release later this year under the title A Kiss, and a Lie, and a Curse.

This is where I need your help: Recording is done, but finishing and releasing an album — mixing, mastering, manufacturing — costs real money, and I'd rather put it into the work than take on debt. If this project speaks to you, a contribution of any size goes directly toward getting A Kiss, and a Lie, and a Curse out into the world, and you'll receive a copy of the finished album as my thanks.

Iain Matthews

Michael Jerome, David Immerglück, Willie Aron, and I have also been in the studio with Iain Matthews (Matthews Southern Comfort, Fairport Convention), recording 15 songs of new material with assitance from music imrpesarrio Pat Thomas. We had and extraordinary, creative and inspiring recording session in April.

We're mixing now, with a 2027 release planned.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Fund new work.

If you'd like to help fund any of my solo projects, you can contribute here. Contributions currently go toward finishing A Kiss, And A Lie, And A Curse, and every supporter gets a copy of the album when it's released. Every contribution, big or small, gets this record made — thank you for considering it.

Video and design work, bass playing, house concerts.

Need design or video work? See my portfolio here. I'm also always up for recording bass for other artists. And if you'd like to host me — or Casey Neill and me together — for a house concert, get in touch here.

As always, thank you for supporting my work.

VK, July 2026