Finally got around to wrapping up TWO new albums. The first spans ten years or so recording a group of cover songs I’ve always wanted to do. It’s entitled Songs That Struck A Chord and I’ll be releasing 5 songs weekly in February leading up to a new Originals record on March 6th.

The new originals have been in the works for the last two years since my last, but some of these songs have been sitting around for ten and twenty years patiently waiting for release. The new originals record is titled These Times Take Things and is 11 songs. I am proud of this one I can’t wait to get it out.

Look for the first cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Who’ll Stop The Rain.”

This cover will release on January 30th on all the streamers. Here’s the pre-save page from my distribution platform Distrokid.

Working on a few new things at the end of last year and into the start of ’25. First, an album of my favorite cover songs is completed, mixed, and mastered. Working on album art and then it’s off into the universe.

Second, working on my next originals record which I’m nearing completion and hope to put out before the end of the year.

Interestingly, I’ve become increasingly unhappy with (and therefore very uncomfortable) with my voice. So… I’ve started (after singing on 4 records over 25 years) voice lessons for the first time. In addition to that, I’ve never liked being on video. So perhaps for personal growth and trying to break down fears and insecurities, I’m offering a new song I’m working on. Sung. On. Video.

It’s called Weather The Storm.

Hope you enjoy. Back to recording.

Got a chance to fill a very large bucket in my list. Dusted off the cobwebs and played a live show with my two boys Otto and Nelson and one of their School of Rock band mates Simon and his dad Dave. They very graciously asked us to play with them after they won a Battle of the Bands last year and secured a 40min set on one of the stages at the Festival.

Two weeks to practice and learn 10 songs, 4-5 practices, and here we are. A ton of fun. Always wanted to play some of these songs.

Very pleased to be sharing my third solo album as Mission From Dog titled Minor Third. In reading one of my last posts before I wrote this one, I’m deeply gratified to be able to still write and record music as I approach 50, and this time with a faster turnaround than my last release which took ten years. Even more so, it’s been an incredible time to write and record music with my oldest son Otto who played drums throughout. He’s been writing and sending me back drum recordings for each song over the last three years as he aged from 14 to 17. So proud of him, his brother Nelson too, for deciding (as if they had a choice) to pursue music as a hobby and passion. And – to record music together is such a gift.

So, Minor Third. What in store for you? Once again I “turned my own insides out” as one of my heroes Elliott Smith once wrote. This is an album that continues to contemplate major themes in my life. From thinking about hanging up the music dream or writing songs for other people, to a more outward expression of my love for animals and disdain for animal cruelty, to remnants from past emotions that still hate the living shit out of cancer — it’s another very personal exploration. There’s some work around the fragility of the mind, mine in particular, and a couple songs that share my love for my new bride, my late bride, and all feelings of happiness, sadness, love, and loss all at once.

This time around conceptually I tried writing more tunes while standing up. While that may seem a bit odd, it was a very different feeling to search for those creative moments, and do so in a way that finds more energy and movement, that could ultimately be channeled into these songs. So perhaps it’s a bit more upbeat and rocking than my last record, and I’d wager I have a lot more to say as I settle into my mediocrity that I mentioned in my last records release post. By that I mean I’m getting more comfortable as a singer, going outside my comfort zone on a few tracks and taking a few chances with range, melody, etc. Or said more bluntly, less giving of fucks.

Finally, once again a list of thank yous for a few folks. A special thanks to Blaise Barton for mixing, mastering, and helpful production ideas. To Sarah Zimmer and Karl Jahnke for their artistic work on the album cover, artwork and merch. To an old friend and colleague, the very talented photographer Barry Brecheisen (who is very busy shooting real rock stars!) reminded me that drinking many IPAs on an empty stomach is a very bad idea. To my good friend Pete Karr for his production and writing feedback, and most of all to my family Michele, Otto, and Nelson for their support. And lastly, thank you to anyone taking the time to read this, listen to the songs, or spend even a moment with me in your thoughts.

Last but not least, here’s the links to the music and the merch.

Spotify | Apple | Amazon | YouTube | Pandora

Next album is already underway.

Check out the new Mission From Dog threadless merch store!

Nice review of Red and Blue Flashing Heads by A&R Factory from Major Second.

Review is here, reposted here:

Taken off the incredibly real ten-track ‘Major Second‘ release, Mission From Dog are back with the superb single called ‘Red and Blue Flashing Heads‘.

Casey Hess aka Mission From Dog is a Chicago, Illinois-based solo artist who previously toiled the ground with various bands in his local area as well as Detroit, to now find his home making music that truly keeps his soul alive, with that fire burning brightly in his eyes.

This is the story of making sure that they don’t forget your name, as you go through life and wish that they could keep you in their mind forever, so that it may be lodged into their soul for eternity.

With so many lathers of soothing indie rock that is such a sumptuous listen, you feel lifted by the deep lyrics has you so captivated, the solos are tremendous and his vocals ease into your blood flow with that rarefied air, that not a lot of artists have in their locker.

He sings with such vehement gusto and purposeful enthusiasm, as we hear a man on a mission to reach his dreams no matter what is thrown his way.

‘Red and Blue Flashing Heads‘ from Chicago’s Mission From Dog, is a terrific single that has your mind in an elevated place, as you daydream and get lost into this wonderfully soulful creation to escape into.

Hear this quality single on Spotify and check out the IG for more info.

Putting the finishing touches on my next album entitled, Minor Third. Until then, please enjoy a cover of Bryan Adam’s “Cuts Like A Knife.”

Two years later after I submitted a song to Night Vale they reached out and said Hall of Fame is getting a run during their weather segment. Airs on 3/15 show here. Hall of Fame is a song about an old band mate and good friend that beat addiction and then unfortunately lost his life shortly after. He was the bass player in my old band and one of the best natural musicians and creatives I’ve had the pleasure to meet and play with. Hope you enjoy the podcast, and the song!

Wanted to share what’s become at best a once a decade event. I can’t seem to let go of a childhood passion for making music. And it’s taking longer to find time to make it. As an occasional perfectionist with mediocre obsessive compulsivity, I’ve found the exercise of searching for balance in my life completely at odds with my desire to dive head first into the creative vortex and live, breath, sleep, and eat music.

To hit the record button after skipping days and weeks of picking up a guitar has gone against every part of my being that would prefer a rather unhealthy tendency to be completely immersive — be better, do better, sound better, write better and so on while forgoing things like eating, exercise, friendship, and generally healthy alternatives. Since my last recording in 2006, I’ve explored and experienced much of what this world has to offer — life and death, new beginnings, new and broken friendships, love, loss, anger, remorse, guilt, crippling grief, incredible joy, marriage, funerals… being called a husband, father, widow, and everything in between. Through it all, I’ve learned how to explore and protect this very small area of my life, my world that no one can tell me what to do or how to do it. I’ve learned to exercise my own mediocrity and just enjoy whatever creative and cathartic process results in music.

So, thirteen years after my first release, today Major Second officially timeboxes a decade or so. And it’s out under the Mission From Dog moniker on Spotify, iTunes/Apple Music, Tidal (for however long it lasts), Amazon, YouTube, etc. It’s a collection of songs at best, but as I worked with the extremely talented Sarah Zimmer on the cover design, she reiterated to me that it’s about life, love, loss and a little surrealism. A special thanks to Blaise Barton for mixes and masters, Paul Gonzalez and Eric Powers on drums, Pete Karr for production and insecurity/reassurance, and anyone that takes the time to listen.

So there it is. Get listening.