Free State Serenade is a collection of short story/songs based on things that happened in my home state of Kansas. Only slightly conceptual, it doesn't tell one big story but lots of little ones that make up my dreamlike visions of my childhood, formative years and legends that I grew up with. Most of them are true – at least my version of the truth.

Recorded in six days in September 2013 at Middletree Studio in Nashville, we co-produced the record with the massively talented Joe Pisapia (Guster, k.d. lang, Ben Folds Five) and he took us to sonic places we never imagined. My aim was not only to tell stories from Kansas but to capture my band, the Grassy Knoll Boys, at the top of their game. Mark Andrew Miller has been singing and playing with me for about ten years. We have a musical chemistry together that is very rare indeed. Martin Lynds is really my favorite drummer. His musical understanding and grooves lead the songs where they need to go – every time. Carco Clave is one of the greatest musicians I have ever known. His stellar playing on this record takes the listener to that dream state that helps add emotion and intensity to the stories.