the velvet rut

a place where we're all almost famous. any locale, especially a smaller city that wraps itself around its inhabitants with its laid-back lifestyle. the title of Paul Curreri's most recent album. charlottesville, virginia.

the first time i ever heard the term 'velvet rut' i was in austin, texas back in the summer of 1998 when it was used to describe the life of those who chose to live in the 'live music capital of the world'. i believe i laughed. i'm sure i smiled. i know it made me love austin that much more. almost eight years later, in the summer of 2006, the term popped up again, this time in reference to the town i had just decided to call my new hometown: charlottesville, va.

based in that new hometown that isn't quite so new anymore, the velvet rut began as my continuing outlet to talk about music after spending ten short but sweet months as the music editor of the soon-to-be defunct music/arts site cvilleMUSE.com. i guess you could say i'm not quite ready to give this little creative addiction of mine up just quite yet so it is now here that the news, articles, mp3s, interviews, and my general thoughts on music will continue. i hope to keep a great deal of the focus squarely centered on what's happening musically here in charlottesville while at the same time following whatever flights of musical fancy that may fall freely into the path of my velvet-lined rut.

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UPDATE: From September of 2009 through January 2010, I had to step back. Measure distances. Take to listen. Hibernate. The Rut, as I now affectionately called it, had to become something more...or less...depending on how you want to look at it. Music will always be my first creative love. But it is never alone. Photographs. Words. Places. Telling stories. Celebrations. It feels more organic...more my own. It will continue to be a work-in-progress as all things are.

To daily readers. I should have said something sooner. To occasional readers. I hope you continue to drop-in from time-to-time. To new visitors. Welcome.

Shaun
February 2010

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Want to send me me your tunes, a bundle of love letters, or streams of well-crafted, witty, and grammatically correct hate mail? Pay the postman and ship it here:
Shaun Harvey
PO Box 5858
Charlottesville, VA 22905

And if you have any questions, comments, or if you want to send along promotional materials and/or MP3s via electronic communication drop me a line at:

thisvelvetlinedrut@gmail.com

Happy reading and listening. thanks for checking out the velvet rut.