Today, there's a little retrospective from this website in 2006. But before all that, I'm gonna start off the year with a forward looking, positive episode of "I Love the Company".

I mean, we're gonna have a lot of fun this year. I've got some cool ideas about stuff to do on the podcast and how to get "I Love the Video" to be a really exciting next thing. And, I wanna hear from all of you so that you can be a part of the show and all that goes on around here the year.

But, right now... listen to the first show of the new year. Then, start off the year by calling with your comments, ideas for the show, thoughts about 2006 and 2007, questions, requests.... or just to say "hey".

Here are the phone numbers to call right now. Just leave a message, okay?

Anywhere in North America

646-224-8162

In Europe:

+44 845 280 6622

Here's the show. Click on the logo!

No extra musical guests on today's show. But, have no fear! I'm gonna be playing music you can only find on the PMN, and around New York City, and from friends of mine. And well, I guess music that is sent to me from all around the country and around the world... just, man! I'm gonna spend the coming year discovering and playing music from all kindsa wonderful artists.

Count on it.

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Okay...

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2006 was quite a year.

The single most wonderful thing that happened in my life was, of course....

Lisa

The first big event for me was in JANUARY... the VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT we held in New York City to help the innocent Iraqi civilians that are being hurt and killed in this ongoing immoral and unAmerican war.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a huge fan of backward looking. (I'm a big proponent of responsibility and accountability. But, not looking back just for it's own sake.)

But at this time of year, I guess it's kinda cool to glance back and look at some of the things that went down.

Here are the artists who joined me in this effort.

(Click on each photo to visit their websites.)

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They are... Christine Lavin, Karlus Trapp, Modern Man, Roger Bartlett, Sam Leopold. It was a night of fun, smiles, Love, purpose, laughter, some tears.... but mostly an evening of music. And, we raised a lot of money to get direct help to these lovely people and people like them.

Then, in FEBRUARY I got to be a part of a great show at The Cutting Room to honor my good friend, Sid Bernstein. (Shared a stage with James Taylor's sister Kate and others.)

That gig also happened to fall on a day when we got the first really significant snow of the year.... remember?

Yeah, snowman right in Times Square

In a really cool turn of events, a coyote showed up mysteriously in New York's backyard (My second home - Central Park) in MARCH.

I guess it's "news" when a coyote visits "The Hill". I mean, all kinds of celebrities stop by every year. If you've ever hung out there, you know what I'm talkin' about. It was as big a thrill in the summer when this guy stopped by.

It was then in APRIL of 2006 that we launched "I Love the Company". When we started, we thought, "Okay, let's do between 10 and 12 shows and see what happens." Well, we did a new show nearly every day Monday through Friday and finished the year with a contract with Adam Curry and the cool people at Podshow.com... and over 180 shows.

Here.... this was the very first episode. (We've come a long way.)

Then in MAY I began my 15th year in Central Park as "That Guitar Man". It was an amazing summer of music and laughs. And, I had some great guest artists from all over the country and all over the Podsafe Music Network. (Yeah, the internet has made the music world a very small campus and the very first guest artist was Lisa's friend, a fine songwriter and nice guy out of Nashville named Alan Bennett.

Also in MAY, one of the hundreds of impromtu, spontaneous, amazing New York moments that happen every year occurred in the form of a beautiful "first dance".

Click on the image to see the video.

By JUNE, it's enitrely possible many people in this country were finally starting to wake up to what's been going on in Washington with the Bush administration.

And, Dick Cheney made a surprise appearance on "I Love the Company" when he did a quick comedy set for us at the "ILTC Comedy Club".

Click on the image to listen.

JULY rolled around, and on the fourth of July weekend, we took care of another tradition that happens every year... HOT DOG DAY! (Yeah, it's a day when this particular singer/songwriter gives free hot dogs to everyone who stays in town and comes out to "The Hill".) It's very cool. (Photo by the Lovely Lisa.)

AUGUST was another kickin' month! Guest artists kept comin' out to "The Hill". The New York Yankees were about to make their run at the soon-to-be-crumbling Boston Red Sox... and so, songwriter and friend David Abbinanti came out to introduce the crowd to his tune "The Red Sox Suck". (Started a wave of phone calls on the podcast "I Love the Company".)

David Abbinanti

With SEPTEMBER , OCTOBER, and the arrival of Fall, a couple of noteable moments for me. (My life is constantly filled with so many significant and wonderful moments, it's hard to keep track of 'em all.) But, Septmeber 11th is, of course, always a significant day here in New York. But, September 16th is a day I will remember as the a day on which the most powerful experience I've ever had with a guitar on my shoulder took place in Central Park.

Also in SEPTEMBER... I wound up talking to Bernadette Peters about my song from this summer, "Tom Cruise Scares Me". (Yeah, no shit. Oh... paparrazzi!) Just kidding. I was asked to attend a dinner for the Central Park Mounted Auxillery by a really great guy from "The Hill", Mark Elkins. It was a cool affair. I spoke at great length with the man who has been running Central Park since 1998, Doug Blonsky. And, Bernadette is a doll.

Cool. I lead a very strange life.

Also in the Fall of 2006, people from all over the world, especially in the UK for some reason, began to get in touch through that weird and mostly bizarre phenomenon called...

And, James Marino set up the direct phone numbers for all of you to call and leave messages for me on "I Love the Company". (If you're reading this right now, why don't you pick up the phone and say "Hey"!)

In the U.S.

646-224-8162

From Europe:

+44 845 280 6622

NOVEMBER rolled around, and on "I Love the Company", we waitied to see if this country was about to catch up with the things that we've all been saying on the podcast, particularly on the "Weekly Wake-Up Call". (Wednesday's episodes.) I kept speaking Truth to Power and doing shows about truly American principle and Reason. And once in a while, I had some fun with an old song from 2003.

Click for video of live track at The Red Lion

Did my part in some small way, I hope...

(We all know what happened in the election.)

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whew! Maybe... maybe it's a start.

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Then, the year essentially wrapped up in DECEMBER with the big "YEAR-END CONCERT" at Merkin Concert Hall.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR TO HEAR THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR'S SHOW!!!

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Well, listen... thanks for a great year!

I hope I will see you all year in 2007.

I hope you guys all see a healthy, prosperous and happy trip around the Sun, on which all or most of your dreams come true.

Check back here everyday, and be sure to visit our sister website at Podshow.com then tell us what you think about it.

See you soon.

Thanks again.

(Okay, 2007... here we come!)