Seattle songwriter Joy Mills brings forth a new solo album, Trick of the Eye, released in June 2012. Balladeering and soulful country songs about the ethos and modern myth. The line-up includes Mills’ partner of eleven years, Tom Parker, on bass, Lucien La Motte on pedal steel and electric guitar, and Paul Culala on drums and percussion.
After 5 years of recording & touring with her bandmates in The Starlings, Mills comes forth with her most contemplative round of songs yet. Maintaining her urban country style, Trick of the Eye is steeped with verdant melodies and layers of pedal steel and electric guitar set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest. It’s a sound reminiscent of artists like Justin Townes Earle, Doug Paisley, and Neko Case. Big ideas like time, motion and the mind are delivered through the lyrical imagery she is known for and sink a little deeper into the psyche of life in the modern world. Walking photographs and still lifes of commotion.
Smalltime String Band is a family playing oldtimey, folk, and original tunes and songs. Oliver is 13, plays a mean fiddle and is the main vocalist. Eli's 9, a redhot clawhammer banjo player. Danny (Pops) is a fiddler, but these days he's keeping time on the bass, Terrie (Mom, Extraordinaire) plays rhythm guitar and does all the band Mom stuff... 
