So the reviews are pouring in from the new album “Hope”. Fans love it. Everyone else seems to have a jab or two about it being “too long” or “all love songs” or whatever. That’s fine. Music is good if it makes people argue over it. (As I learned from my good buddy Seth Combs. The truth is, that you’ll never be able to make everyone happy, and I’d rather have people “debate and discuss” than “like and dismiss.” So PLEASE, KEEP POSTING, KEEP TALKING, KEEP HATING… I don’t care! 
(And if you haven’t gotten a copy- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hope/id547400507)
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Portland-
This song was written the night I played Portland for the first time. Here is what it sounded like when I first got off tour:
And this is what it sounds like on the album:
Aaaaaaaand just cause I really like this song, here’s what it sounds like live:
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The story of this song is pretty standard. The same girl that most of this album was written about texted me out of the blue when I was on tour. If you don’t know the backstory, she broke up with me the day I got to LA, and I pretty much stood around “hoping” she would come back. We went to coffee one night in LA, but other than that, I lived there for 9 months hoping she’d come back to me.
In October 2011, I had moved back to San Diego a month before, and was touring through Portland. Like all good musicians, I was blogging and talking up the shows like they were “Wicked Huge” and alot of people thought I was killlllling it… and she was one of them… (I’m guessing.) Because out of nowhere and out of 3 months of darkness, she decided to text me.
Little did she know, I was sitting at the venue, waiting for the show to start… with my guitar in hand… waiting to be inspired to write a song. Her name in my phone was “Do Not Answer” (great trick to getting over people….) and the text said, “What are you doing??? 
” My jaw dropped…. How the hell did she know I was sitting there, missing her??? AND that’s where the song came from. Rather than text her back, I did the only responsible thing, and that was to passive aggresively (That’s probably not how you say it) write a sad song in her direction. The original lyrics were “Sitting here in Portland missing you…” but that didn’t sound right to me.
When we recorded the song, we did a live take of my vocals and guitar, and added the strings later. We had a full 24 tracks of strings, and I asked Jeff to break it out to 4 lines, so that it would feel super intimate/in your face. I LOVE how this one turned out, and think it’s one of my best written songs melodically and honestly/from the heart.
Welp… that’s that one… we’re just about halfway done with the album and the stories behind the songs! Hope you’re digging them. Roll the credits… and TELL SOMEONE about the album!!!!
-j
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Portland
© 2011
Written by Josh Damigo
Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Jeff Berkley
Mastered By Gavin Lurssen and Rueben Cohen
Portland
Vocal & Guitar – Josh Damigo
Violin – Marta Zaludova
Cello – Erdis Maxhelaku
You can go ahead and leave
You don’t have to worry about me
Go ahead and chase your dreams, I hope they all come true
I’ll be sitting here in Portland loving you
Go and find a new boyfriend
Who’s got green eyes, and a sun kissed tan
Go ahead and spread your wings, And may all your skies be blue
I’ll be sitting here in Portland loving you
And I’ll keep on loving you
Like the first time that I saw you smile at me
No matter what you do
You will always be the girl of all my dreams
So go and make the world
Spin how you want it to
realign all of the stars
in whatever way you choose
Pull the universe’s strings
Be someone else’s muse
and I’ll be sitting here in Portland loving you
Dance with whomever you’d like
Then invite them to spend the night
Go ahead and give your heart, to whoever you want to
I’ll be sitting here in Portland, loving you
Go make a house a home
Raise a couple kids on your own
Go ahead and live your life, however you may chose
I’ll be sitting here in Portland loving you
And I’ll keep on loving you
Like the first time that I held you while you sleeped
No matter what you do
You will always be the girl just right for me
So go and make the world
Spin how you want it to
realign all of the stars
In whatever way you choose
Pull the universes strings
And be someone else’s muse
I’ll be sitting here in Portland loving you
