The aim? I have one year to get The Dark City Kings to open for Lucinda Williams. And how do we get there? Write good songs. Record good songs. Play good shows. Get played on the radio. Get a few write-ups in the music press. But… also…. find a way to be friends with Lucinda Williams booking agency!

There’s a mythology to the album “Porch.” We played on this porch and looked out over this small mountain town to the woods and wild hills around us - and we dreamed up a story of an outlaw mountain town, where the law hasn’t been seen in a generation, where we are always gambling and always losing, where the girl is always leaving, and we just can’t get on that train out of here…

We lost two members and gained two members. Now we’re creating a new song book. One of the best parts of starting a band is those first weeks and months when songs are created and covers are tried and everyone figures out the sound. I thought we’d be just the same as our first version - but we’re in the creative phase and we’re creating a new song book. One of my favorite parts.

Dark City Kings day 1: hi - this is JP. I’m in the Dark City Kings. In the real world I’m an activist, writer, director of short documentaries. I always wanted to film a band, follow them closely for a year, document them as they write music, record music, play shows, interact with the music scene, get played on radio, book at bigger venues, get written up, get onto a label… So this is day 1 of the actual story of Dark City Kings this year. We’re finishing recording our first album and we’re about to release it - this is our story.