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Showing posts from February, 2008

The Heart of the Matter

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A co-worker of mine suggested to me recently that I look into playing at a coffee shop/cafe that she had visited. She didn't know the name, but she knew the street it was on. I googled around and found out that she was referring to Samuel's Cafe. Which is really funny because I had actually sent their myspace page a friend request. Having never been to Samuel's, I didn't ask for a gig straight away. I like to start out as friends and build the relationship from there. But, hearing a good review of the place from my co-worker prompted me to ask. So, I'm excited to report that I am getting booked for one of two open dates in June. I'll post it on the dates page of my site and the myspace page as soon as I know which day I'm booked for. ---- Last night I attended Lena's. I received an email earlier in the day from a still-sick Kate Blain, who was set to host, asking me or Willie to take over for her (she didn't want to cough a lot into the mic). Thus, I

Of Things That a Singer/Songwriter Does on Weekends

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I just spent the last four hours of my pathetic existence wrapped in a fuzzy -- and shedding -- blanket on my couch watching a Dirty Jobs marathon on the Discovery Channel. I got up about fifteen minutes ago because the episode that was starting was one that I had already seen... thrice. Am I lazy? Do I secretly love the dry wit of Mike Rowe ? Am I addicted to Discovery Channel? The answer to such questions is a resounding "yes, yes, and hell's yes." But, the reality of the current couch dwelling experience is that I am freezing here in my house. We keep the thermostat at 68 degrees, but I'm skinny and freeze easily. Still, I forced myself to get up and do something (thanks in part to the Discovery Channel's policy on repeating its shows incessantly). Of course, I went straight for my guitar. Yesterday, I started working on a killer new cover song. It's going to be soooo cool! I can't wait to get it down, so I can start playing it out. I just need to wor

Concert

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I had a blast at the concert last night. (btw: I spelled 'Morissette' right. English Teacher; mmmm-hmmmm.) I love concerts. Which is mostly why I wanted to play guitar in the first place. I wanted to be one of the people on that stage with the lights and the cheering crowd singing along. Being a local-level folk musician is a lot like being a rock star in absolutely no possible way. I could list all the differences, but I came here to blog about the concert, not my ineptitude at being a rock star. Sooo... Mute Math was the opening band. They are a poppy rockish (I'm terrible at labels) foursome from New Orleans. They rocked out. They have a song called Typical , which I've heard on 102.7 and happens to be pretty good. I might have bought a CD at the concert except for that they were 20 dollars and that is about twice as much as a CD full of music is worth (and is a completely different debate for a completely different time). Here are some pictures: The second is tough

Of Which the Blogger Finds Himself With a Few Minutes and Nothing Better to Do.

I'm leaving to see Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette (not enough time to look up the correct spelling of her name) and Mute Math in Albany. I'm leaving in... oh... five minutes. Stephanie has to get something done first and then we are set to go. We hope to get some quick shopping done first and then have enough time to hang around the Times Union Center with the intent of meeting one or more of the members of the aforementioned bands before the show. It's happened before. We met Rob Thomas. Jewel said "hi guys" to us. I've also met the band Tonic and the two guitarists from Matchbox Twenty a very long time ago. I've met some other lesser known musicans too, but I can't really remember them all. I'm going to sneak a camera in (though, our seats aren't great). Even so, tomorrow, I hope to have a great blogging to do about tonight. Wish me luck.

Blog!

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I haven't blogged in forever! Well, over a week anyway... I've tried to sit down and do this a couple of times, but I just didn't have the energy. Well, I'm energized now (a little). I played at MochaBlend on Saturday (which is the biggest music related news this blog has seen in some time). The crowd was sparse, but for a cafe gig it was appropriate. It was snowy out and the roads were nasty, so the fact that there was a crowd at all was fantastic! Also, they listened! Yay! And I played quite well. Overall, I am very pleased with my performance. I didn't do a set list, but I later jotted down most of the songs that I played in something that is close to the order in which they were played. Here they are: Road to Nowhere Jessie Passenger Until I fall Away Rainbow Connection Sink or Swim Frozen Ring of Fire Behold! The Knight Falling Slowly Endless Walking; Standing Still Red Shift Phila St. Serenade House of the Rising Sun Crayons ... I think I forgot one or two...

Non-Titled

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Erghhh... I hate practicing with my sound system at home. There isn't a room in my house that's big enough to require the use a sound system. Which makes me sound like crap, which makes me hate music. So, that's where I am right now. I'm ready to quit music forever. I probably won't... but I'm ready to. Anyways, I didn't blog about Lena's last Thursday because Saturday, my usual time for journaling, was a busy day and I didn't get to it. Sunday was equally as busy. As was, Monday and Tuesday. So, here is a quick blog about what I can remember happening on Thursday through now. At Lena's I played Walking; Standing Still and What's Up by the Four Non-Blondes. People sang along. It was fun. I sounded like crap. For some reason I had high anxiety and was feeling whatever the opposite of wanting to be around people feels like. I hid in the back room for much of the night. I didn't take any pictures. I don't remember what anyone else play