June 11, 2026 – New Marillion merch/”Protocol” reactions

Finally got my latest order from Marillion’s Racket Records store yesterday. I always smile when I open my mailbox and find a package with a label from Royal Mail. Opening one of those packages feels like Christmas morning next to the fireplace. I got some buttons, and a shirt designed by Mark Kelly. I’d never heard of the vinyl record I got, called A Piss Up in a Brewery. It’s a live recording from November 2000, so I’m eager to hear it. I’m sure it will be great, like always. I also got the dog bandana intending to tie it around Sonny, but realized that it’s meant to have a collar fed through it, so I tied it to his playpen instead. But I did get a quick photo of it on his back! I love the “Or you could love” bangle, and am currently wearing it now as I type!

I’m making plans to come out to Port Zelande next March for the Marillion Weekend there. I like the idea of the three shows being spread out over five days, with a day off in between each show to allow for maybe some sightseeing and spending time with friends. We’ll see…

I’ve let a good amount of friends and family know about my and Rachel’s upcoming song, “Protocol,” but I’ve only actually shared the current audio draft with a handful of people. The reception was overall positive and supportive, but I was surprised to find that the news was met with radio silence by others. This led me to think about the potentially awkward situation artists can find themselves in when they release new work, and it got me wondering how other artists deal with mixed or underwhelming responses from friends or family. I decided to reach out to some other musician friends of mine and ask if they had ever experienced such a thing, and I was stunned to find that it happens more than I may realize. I’m not going to name people, of course, but one friend said that their parents rarely react to their music. Another encouraged me to not be too bothered by people who don’t get what I’m doing. This served as a reminder that the subjectivity of art leads to the inevitability that not everyone will be as enthused about your work as you are. I’ve always known that both as a writer and a musician, but I guess it’s easier to brush off when it’s a stranger compared to when it’s someone you know well. Either way, it’s a good lesson in managing my expectations and continuing to move forward with my passions.