Year Two Day 11 - March 20th 2010
6AM
Brian: Andre
Me (Groggy): Yeah
Brian: You hear that?
Me (Groggy): Yeah who's taking a shower
Brian opens the window
Brian: God is taking a shower.
Me: Damnit!
What I saw on the other end of the window were torrential downpours my mind immediately went to concerns about the show...who would come if anyone at all etc. etc.
Me: What time is it?
Brian: 6AM
Me: Screw it, I'll deal with this when I wake up.
I woke up, showered and we were on our way out when Aunt Martha asked if we had time fro breakfast. We said yes and then she whipped up some bomb ass french toast. It was nice to sit around a table and eat together. These guys are probably sick of me and each other but I'm pretty much in heaven right now...I love the road.
We cleaned everything up and proceeded to the venue, where the fleeting ends were waiting on us. They were playing in place of Gang who had to pull out last minute. We helped them set up their gear and quickly went to do some last minute flyering. Did I mention it's cold as a polar bear balls here right now, I mean geeze.
We started the show at noon and the Fleeting Ends started to play. Great sound, Good look, girls will like them, like the girls from Austrailia who came in to have a beer for breakfast. One of the few bands of it's kind that I actually like. They've got a bright future in the Philly Scence and a bright future in general.
Brady and The Bear would hit the stage next, well just Joe Brady cause they wouldn't let him bring the bear on the plane. His down home sound and energetic performance played well to the Austin crowd. Joe's a guy that I've been working with for less than a year, I often kick myself for not finding him sooner. Great musician and an even better person.
We were a little worried about the crowd until the sounds of good music, good food, and free beer started to resonate onto the street.
Dani Mari got there just as Da Rezarekt was about to hit the stage. It was nice to see someone from yesterday's show show up to support.
One of the first events I'd ever MCed was headlined by Da Rezarekt's frontman Supreeme (Well his old band), so it was awesome to bring him out again. Da Rezarekt freaking killed it. A high energy blend of hip hop, rock, funk, and jazz combined with Supreeme's stage presence make for a really good show. One of only two bands to get an encore today.
Katherine Mundy would bring the room to a simmer with her well crafted songs and sultry voice. I stood in on bass for her and wish I would have done a better job, but I love the way her voice sounds. She is going to be huge one of these days.
Then came my moment. I've had a lot of them the past 10 days. If one wishes to be anything more than just good it's about rising to the occassion when the opportunity arises. I wondered if we could conjure up some more of that New Orleans Magic, or some of that Magic we had yesterday. So the show starts and we reach for it...
Set list
Superhero
How Can This Be Love
Walking on The Moon
(Oh) I Wish I Loved You
Wasn't Supposed To Be This Way
Wasted
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Leavin
Encore
Body
...and it was there! It was there in spades My guys gave me everything they had and I felt like I could fly again. I messed up one chord as Sean and Alex walked into the room, I was sort of surpised to see them (even though Alex was playing later). We seemed to have found another gear and the crowd loved us
I sold some CD's and singed some autographs and handed out a few hugs to some really pretty girls...lol one even said she was gonna tell all of her friends about the band which would be awesome.
Township rocked it like beasts. It was cool to see Alex play guitar. I don't really know how long Camaro's gonna be on hiatus but Township seems to be a perfect fit for him. He was shredding like a manaic. We're gonna be doing quite a bit together in the future I hope.
After the show we said our final goodbyes and left like theives in the night. Most of the time we cracked jokes and slept. for fun and giggles I searched Boy Wonder SXSW on google on my phone and low and behold the pic that Jake and I were in appeared in several music blogs pertaining to SXSW all over the country.
By this time tomorrow We'll be home. I'll get a good night's sleep and then it's back to the grind for me. I have a shoot for a TV Pilot on Monday and possibly a show with Wyldlyfe Wed night that I'm not really prepared for.
Alright guys it's my turn to sleep so I'll holla at y'all tomorrow.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 253
Year Two Day 10 - March 19th 2010
Now Today is REALLY The Big Day...one of two in fact
Today would be the first of two Philadelphia Invasion Shows at 219 West in Austin Texas coinciding with the South By Southwest Music Festival and Conference.
I've been planning this since November of Last Year. I had my ups and downs, there were times where I wasn't sure how I was going to do this if it happened at all. What buisness has some kid from 60th and Osage got putting together an event in Austin Texas and saying this is the best Philadelphia has to offer. What do I know about anything?
What I do know is that we had something good, something unique, something that nobody else in Austin had this week, sure there were a smattering of Philadelphia acts involved in the festival but not to this degree. Just like Chicago Atlanta Finland and Sweeden (among others) Philadelphia had a show you could go to where you could see its vast array of talent.
I woke up early and made sure we were out of the house by 10, 10:30. We got there at 11 and started setting up. 219 West is a really nice place...upscale liek Sauceor Upstairs at World Cafe Live, the kind of rooms we're used to playing in. Mike set up the PA and by 12:10 we were ready to go. I wanted to start on time but this stuff happens and I was glad I had half an hour already built into the schedule.
Catherine Prewitt and the temperature were up first. The newest of us but just as good. Their music is a reflection of the people I'm getting to know, understated but beautiful. The harmonies are awesome and the attention to detail is impeccable. She's someone that will be involved with the HYPE! as soon as we get home. I throughly enjoyed their performance. They brought a nice crowd as well.
We kept the ball rolling with Dani Mari. Probably the person on the bill I know best, she's really found another gear these past few months, her performance was sensational. The only person of the afternoon performing completely by themselves. She also had a few friends that came out to the show.
Seth Glier came in as a last minute fill in. Seth although from Boston has become quite prominent back home, playing show after show with some amazing artists, not to mention he's flat out good, his soulful voice and immaculate songwriting fit in with the rest of the evening perfectly. He elevates the event because of the quality of his work and makes us all look better because he graced us with his presence.
I started to notice all of the people that were there at the show, some I recognized, some I didn't. Turns out we had quite a few thigns workign in our favor.
1) People were getting kicked out of nearby parties and our street team was there to bring them inside.
2) According to Mayte...Jake and I were in The Austin American Statesman ( A Local Newspaper) this morning. Funniest thing abotu that is I can't get arrested at home and here I'm in the paper
3) People heard the public radio interview I did yesterday while busking
Then the big moment, the one i'd been waiting for since I played int he streets of Austin One Year Ago. It's was time for me and the boys to go to work. I wondered if we could recapture the magic that we found in New Orleans or if that was just a one time thing. We set up, we plugged in and BOOM...Hello Austin Texas
Superhero
(Oh) I Wish I Loved You
The Way You make Me Feel
How Can This Be Love
Wasn't Supposed to be This Way
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Michelle
Leavin
The Set Was amazing. Jake and Rob were really really doing it. The nut on My Guitar needs to be replaced post haste, the strings kept moving. I was in fine voice though, soaring over the groove created by the bass drums and my guitar. I felt like I could fly. I know it sounds stupid but this whole experience was a big deal for me, I wanted us to play well and we did. It exceeded any expectations that I had.
I got a lot if positive feedback from the locals for the overall show as well as the performance itself. Which I was happy about. The owners/managers of the club said it was the best day show they'd ever had. I sold some CDs and some T-Shirts signed some autographs. People telling me I should move here. Truly Amazing.
The Vanguard would close the show, and they did a great job.
We spent the rest of the day going to shows (I caught Township last night and Big Bro (Alex) was on Fire) busking trying to promote for tommorrow's show, and just hanging out and having a good time. We met up withthe rest of Philly Invasion Crew and gave them flyers and I handed out the rest, my boys have done mroe than their fair share.
It's been a truly amazing experience and we still got one more day to go.
Now Today is REALLY The Big Day...one of two in fact
Today would be the first of two Philadelphia Invasion Shows at 219 West in Austin Texas coinciding with the South By Southwest Music Festival and Conference.
I've been planning this since November of Last Year. I had my ups and downs, there were times where I wasn't sure how I was going to do this if it happened at all. What buisness has some kid from 60th and Osage got putting together an event in Austin Texas and saying this is the best Philadelphia has to offer. What do I know about anything?
What I do know is that we had something good, something unique, something that nobody else in Austin had this week, sure there were a smattering of Philadelphia acts involved in the festival but not to this degree. Just like Chicago Atlanta Finland and Sweeden (among others) Philadelphia had a show you could go to where you could see its vast array of talent.
I woke up early and made sure we were out of the house by 10, 10:30. We got there at 11 and started setting up. 219 West is a really nice place...upscale liek Sauceor Upstairs at World Cafe Live, the kind of rooms we're used to playing in. Mike set up the PA and by 12:10 we were ready to go. I wanted to start on time but this stuff happens and I was glad I had half an hour already built into the schedule.
Catherine Prewitt and the temperature were up first. The newest of us but just as good. Their music is a reflection of the people I'm getting to know, understated but beautiful. The harmonies are awesome and the attention to detail is impeccable. She's someone that will be involved with the HYPE! as soon as we get home. I throughly enjoyed their performance. They brought a nice crowd as well.
We kept the ball rolling with Dani Mari. Probably the person on the bill I know best, she's really found another gear these past few months, her performance was sensational. The only person of the afternoon performing completely by themselves. She also had a few friends that came out to the show.
Seth Glier came in as a last minute fill in. Seth although from Boston has become quite prominent back home, playing show after show with some amazing artists, not to mention he's flat out good, his soulful voice and immaculate songwriting fit in with the rest of the evening perfectly. He elevates the event because of the quality of his work and makes us all look better because he graced us with his presence.
I started to notice all of the people that were there at the show, some I recognized, some I didn't. Turns out we had quite a few thigns workign in our favor.
1) People were getting kicked out of nearby parties and our street team was there to bring them inside.
2) According to Mayte...Jake and I were in The Austin American Statesman ( A Local Newspaper) this morning. Funniest thing abotu that is I can't get arrested at home and here I'm in the paper
3) People heard the public radio interview I did yesterday while busking
Then the big moment, the one i'd been waiting for since I played int he streets of Austin One Year Ago. It's was time for me and the boys to go to work. I wondered if we could recapture the magic that we found in New Orleans or if that was just a one time thing. We set up, we plugged in and BOOM...Hello Austin Texas
Superhero
(Oh) I Wish I Loved You
The Way You make Me Feel
How Can This Be Love
Wasn't Supposed to be This Way
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Michelle
Leavin
The Set Was amazing. Jake and Rob were really really doing it. The nut on My Guitar needs to be replaced post haste, the strings kept moving. I was in fine voice though, soaring over the groove created by the bass drums and my guitar. I felt like I could fly. I know it sounds stupid but this whole experience was a big deal for me, I wanted us to play well and we did. It exceeded any expectations that I had.
I got a lot if positive feedback from the locals for the overall show as well as the performance itself. Which I was happy about. The owners/managers of the club said it was the best day show they'd ever had. I sold some CDs and some T-Shirts signed some autographs. People telling me I should move here. Truly Amazing.
The Vanguard would close the show, and they did a great job.
We spent the rest of the day going to shows (I caught Township last night and Big Bro (Alex) was on Fire) busking trying to promote for tommorrow's show, and just hanging out and having a good time. We met up withthe rest of Philly Invasion Crew and gave them flyers and I handed out the rest, my boys have done mroe than their fair share.
It's been a truly amazing experience and we still got one more day to go.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 252
Year Two Day 9 - March 18th 2010
Today's the big day.
We'll there's a bigger day looming but today was significant. Today would be the first promo day for The Philadelphia Invasion Showcases. Most of the acts would be flying in today to help out.
From Philadelphia To Austin to Timbuktu promotion is important for any sort of entertainment event. People won't show if they don't know so you have to make sure you find a way to make yourself visible and appealing. Everybody and their mother has a day show at SXSW so we need to be bale to stand out. Walking up and down the street handing out flyers wasn't going to do the trick, not the way we needed it done so the solution was...busking. I didn it last year and made quite a bit of money, today we'd use it to grab attention for ourselves and pass out these flyers. We found a spot and started playing while rob handed out our flyers.
There are a few things you hope for doing something like this. One that people stop, Two that they take the flyer, three that they don;t throw them on the ground. I've got 2500 flyers I'd like ot get rid of, Joe Brady of Brady and The Bear fame met up with us, and we got to work. Trading off songs as people walked by. People stopping to talk to us, snapping pictures, I even got interviewed for Public Radio. Joe and I got got interviewed for a documentary about street musicians. People even threw money in the case. We ran into Catherine Prewitt's mom, for some reason I thought she was Katherine Mundy's mom. I was pretty psyched she had come ti support her daughter. I was even more psyched to see Catherine. I gave her some flyers and she faded off into the crowd.
Jake got word about a show featuring a bunch of New England Bands that ahd free pizza and beer. Two opportunites, one to eat free pizza and drink free beer, two an opportunity to really talk to some musicians and music lovers that live close to us followed by handing them a flyer. Nothign beats a conversation, my enthusiasm has a chance to rub off on people. We ended up staying for most of the show, the bands were awesome and we passed out a lot of flyers (fingers crossed) Dani Mari met us there, again good to see her.
I ended up seeing Sean who was running around reviewing bands for his blog, it was good to see him.There are certains points where I miss the Camaro guys, Sean lives in Philly and I don't see him nearly enough. Dani and I went to pee in a piano bar and ran into a guy with an accent, I recognized it as Doz's accent and figured he was from new Zealand. So amped up that I knew he bought me a drink...which sent me hurdling over a line I didn't want to cross tonight.
We met up with everyone else and headed over to Jakalope where Alex was. I see Alex as sort of a big brother. Growing up in a house under the protection of older siblings, I tend to seek that out when I'm in strange situations, he and I got really close, from the first gigs with Camaro, to the time I broke the house in Austin tothe time I broke the toilet in Kansas City. I learned a lot from him and Bryn last year. I say it often, but probably not often enough. Our conversation went a lot smoother than usual, we sort of always speak in spirts with silence in between, tonight it was flowin like the nile. He told me how proud he was of me, that meant a lot.
We were meeting Mayte but my phone was dead and Rob and I went to the van so that I could charge it enough to call her.We walked from 6th to 11th and I did just that. I close the door
Rob: Did you lock the door
Me: I didn't
I Lock the door
Rob: Arm the alarm
I search for the keys
Me: Shit!
Rob: What?
Me: I don't have them
Rob: Are you serious?
Me: Unfortunately yes.
Rob: Not again.
The not again referrs to an incident in Detroit where I locked the keys in the van. I'm absent minded and I do stuff like that. It's a high pressure situation, I've been drinking, and sometimes for no reason I do stuff that's stupid. I call home
Me: Mom
Mom (Groggy): Yes.
Me: Dad up?
Mom: What's wrong?
Me: Looks like I locked the keys in the car.
Mom (snickering) What? Again?
Me: Don't need this right now, can you call Allstate?
Mom (Laughing): Sure.
She calls back and says they'll be there in 30 minutes. Rob and I have a chance to bond. 28 minutes go by I look up and look towards the corner for the All State Agent I hear an all to familiar Woop Woop Sound
Rob: Andre
I turn around and there Rob is holding the keys. Apparently I had given them to him while still the car (cause hey I have a history) and he put them in his pocket, and somehow int he middle of all the excitement. I forgot I gave him the keys, and he forgot I gave them to him. We walked to the bar lamenting at how simple we both are. We met the crew and walked back to the van and went home and hit the bed.
The real big day is tommorrow
Today's the big day.
We'll there's a bigger day looming but today was significant. Today would be the first promo day for The Philadelphia Invasion Showcases. Most of the acts would be flying in today to help out.
From Philadelphia To Austin to Timbuktu promotion is important for any sort of entertainment event. People won't show if they don't know so you have to make sure you find a way to make yourself visible and appealing. Everybody and their mother has a day show at SXSW so we need to be bale to stand out. Walking up and down the street handing out flyers wasn't going to do the trick, not the way we needed it done so the solution was...busking. I didn it last year and made quite a bit of money, today we'd use it to grab attention for ourselves and pass out these flyers. We found a spot and started playing while rob handed out our flyers.
There are a few things you hope for doing something like this. One that people stop, Two that they take the flyer, three that they don;t throw them on the ground. I've got 2500 flyers I'd like ot get rid of, Joe Brady of Brady and The Bear fame met up with us, and we got to work. Trading off songs as people walked by. People stopping to talk to us, snapping pictures, I even got interviewed for Public Radio. Joe and I got got interviewed for a documentary about street musicians. People even threw money in the case. We ran into Catherine Prewitt's mom, for some reason I thought she was Katherine Mundy's mom. I was pretty psyched she had come ti support her daughter. I was even more psyched to see Catherine. I gave her some flyers and she faded off into the crowd.
Jake got word about a show featuring a bunch of New England Bands that ahd free pizza and beer. Two opportunites, one to eat free pizza and drink free beer, two an opportunity to really talk to some musicians and music lovers that live close to us followed by handing them a flyer. Nothign beats a conversation, my enthusiasm has a chance to rub off on people. We ended up staying for most of the show, the bands were awesome and we passed out a lot of flyers (fingers crossed) Dani Mari met us there, again good to see her.
I ended up seeing Sean who was running around reviewing bands for his blog, it was good to see him.There are certains points where I miss the Camaro guys, Sean lives in Philly and I don't see him nearly enough. Dani and I went to pee in a piano bar and ran into a guy with an accent, I recognized it as Doz's accent and figured he was from new Zealand. So amped up that I knew he bought me a drink...which sent me hurdling over a line I didn't want to cross tonight.
We met up with everyone else and headed over to Jakalope where Alex was. I see Alex as sort of a big brother. Growing up in a house under the protection of older siblings, I tend to seek that out when I'm in strange situations, he and I got really close, from the first gigs with Camaro, to the time I broke the house in Austin tothe time I broke the toilet in Kansas City. I learned a lot from him and Bryn last year. I say it often, but probably not often enough. Our conversation went a lot smoother than usual, we sort of always speak in spirts with silence in between, tonight it was flowin like the nile. He told me how proud he was of me, that meant a lot.
We were meeting Mayte but my phone was dead and Rob and I went to the van so that I could charge it enough to call her.We walked from 6th to 11th and I did just that. I close the door
Rob: Did you lock the door
Me: I didn't
I Lock the door
Rob: Arm the alarm
I search for the keys
Me: Shit!
Rob: What?
Me: I don't have them
Rob: Are you serious?
Me: Unfortunately yes.
Rob: Not again.
The not again referrs to an incident in Detroit where I locked the keys in the van. I'm absent minded and I do stuff like that. It's a high pressure situation, I've been drinking, and sometimes for no reason I do stuff that's stupid. I call home
Me: Mom
Mom (Groggy): Yes.
Me: Dad up?
Mom: What's wrong?
Me: Looks like I locked the keys in the car.
Mom (snickering) What? Again?
Me: Don't need this right now, can you call Allstate?
Mom (Laughing): Sure.
She calls back and says they'll be there in 30 minutes. Rob and I have a chance to bond. 28 minutes go by I look up and look towards the corner for the All State Agent I hear an all to familiar Woop Woop Sound
Rob: Andre
I turn around and there Rob is holding the keys. Apparently I had given them to him while still the car (cause hey I have a history) and he put them in his pocket, and somehow int he middle of all the excitement. I forgot I gave him the keys, and he forgot I gave them to him. We walked to the bar lamenting at how simple we both are. We met the crew and walked back to the van and went home and hit the bed.
The real big day is tommorrow
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 251
Year Two Day 8 - March 17th 2010
I don't know how people ever manage to leave New Orleans
Even though the hurricane caused them to lose a bit of it's luster it's spirit is one that pulls you in close and tells you it loves you. We played there and we played well and we were aksed back. So we'll see you again sometime soon, hopefully after the new record comes out.
We would begin the drive to Austin, Brian, Jake, Rob, and I have been out here for almost a week now, the longest we've ever been together Brian's as much a part of this now as any of us, he's developing into quite the solid tour manager which is great because I need the help, as soon as I show him some other stuff it will be a HUGE weight off of my shoulders as I'll only need to focus on my playing and singing.
I get a text to call her Mother Martha (as we'll be staying with her in Austin) when we're about an hour out, so I do that and make sure she knows when we're getting there and she said dinner would be waiting for us when we get there....awesome.
A short 8 hour drive later and there she was, the Austin Skyline. There aren't many sites more beautiful to me these days. Austin might as well be heaven, a place where music is not only tolerated, but appreciated, celebrated and once a year they roll out the red carpet for bands and artists from all over the world. It's a true Mecca, where all musicians shoud make a pilgrmaage.
We arrive at Martha's house, we talk for a minute and she says dinners ready. Truth be told it didn't really compute on the phone an hour earlier but we all sat and ate together. The Food was amazing, from the salad to the main course to the desert. You eat so bad on the road sometimes (I may have to resume my relationship with subway) it's nice to get a home cooked meal. I ate until the itis set in. Which was counterproductive because we were going to hit downtown later. We piled into the car and headed downtown, flyers in hand cause I'm ready to get to work.
Our first stop would be 219 West, the venue we're playing Friday and Saturday. I wanted to see it and get a feel for it. Really nice upscale place, this far away fromt he action I do have some concerns about whether or not we can get people to come out. But we wanted to come down and get a feel for the flow and see if there were some people who might be interested.
After 219 West we arrive on 6th Street. It was like I never left. The street bustling with musicians music lovers and really hot girls. People wearing badges and wristbands passing out flyers for shows, and just simply trying to get noticed. It's real now, the vision I had a year ago when I first arrived has materialized. I'm here, I'm here because I'm playing this week, and I'm playing my music.
We pass out some flyers rolling up and down. We've got quite a few asshole out here, mainly the St Patricks Day Crowd who are mixed in with people who actually care about music. Flyers are wasted on these fools. In their durnken state they envision having power over you by saying they're not coming to your show or taking the flyer and throwing it on the ground...are you kidding? I've got 2500 of these things.
We would end up at the blind pig pub for the Red Gorilla Shows. We caught The Elevators from LA, a really awesome Funk/Hip Hop band. We ran into some guys from Da Rezarekt and gave them some promo materials for the shows. We danced the night away and came home and got some rest. Tomorrow would be the first day of going hard and really promoting these shows. Learning to do this will be exciting because if there's a way to get people in Austin to come to an Unofficial showcase on 4th street featuring Philly bands I'm going to find it.
The Day is drawing nigh.
I don't know how people ever manage to leave New Orleans
Even though the hurricane caused them to lose a bit of it's luster it's spirit is one that pulls you in close and tells you it loves you. We played there and we played well and we were aksed back. So we'll see you again sometime soon, hopefully after the new record comes out.
We would begin the drive to Austin, Brian, Jake, Rob, and I have been out here for almost a week now, the longest we've ever been together Brian's as much a part of this now as any of us, he's developing into quite the solid tour manager which is great because I need the help, as soon as I show him some other stuff it will be a HUGE weight off of my shoulders as I'll only need to focus on my playing and singing.
I get a text to call her Mother Martha (as we'll be staying with her in Austin) when we're about an hour out, so I do that and make sure she knows when we're getting there and she said dinner would be waiting for us when we get there....awesome.
A short 8 hour drive later and there she was, the Austin Skyline. There aren't many sites more beautiful to me these days. Austin might as well be heaven, a place where music is not only tolerated, but appreciated, celebrated and once a year they roll out the red carpet for bands and artists from all over the world. It's a true Mecca, where all musicians shoud make a pilgrmaage.
We arrive at Martha's house, we talk for a minute and she says dinners ready. Truth be told it didn't really compute on the phone an hour earlier but we all sat and ate together. The Food was amazing, from the salad to the main course to the desert. You eat so bad on the road sometimes (I may have to resume my relationship with subway) it's nice to get a home cooked meal. I ate until the itis set in. Which was counterproductive because we were going to hit downtown later. We piled into the car and headed downtown, flyers in hand cause I'm ready to get to work.
Our first stop would be 219 West, the venue we're playing Friday and Saturday. I wanted to see it and get a feel for it. Really nice upscale place, this far away fromt he action I do have some concerns about whether or not we can get people to come out. But we wanted to come down and get a feel for the flow and see if there were some people who might be interested.
After 219 West we arrive on 6th Street. It was like I never left. The street bustling with musicians music lovers and really hot girls. People wearing badges and wristbands passing out flyers for shows, and just simply trying to get noticed. It's real now, the vision I had a year ago when I first arrived has materialized. I'm here, I'm here because I'm playing this week, and I'm playing my music.
We pass out some flyers rolling up and down. We've got quite a few asshole out here, mainly the St Patricks Day Crowd who are mixed in with people who actually care about music. Flyers are wasted on these fools. In their durnken state they envision having power over you by saying they're not coming to your show or taking the flyer and throwing it on the ground...are you kidding? I've got 2500 of these things.
We would end up at the blind pig pub for the Red Gorilla Shows. We caught The Elevators from LA, a really awesome Funk/Hip Hop band. We ran into some guys from Da Rezarekt and gave them some promo materials for the shows. We danced the night away and came home and got some rest. Tomorrow would be the first day of going hard and really promoting these shows. Learning to do this will be exciting because if there's a way to get people in Austin to come to an Unofficial showcase on 4th street featuring Philly bands I'm going to find it.
The Day is drawing nigh.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 250
Year Two Day 7 - March 16th 2010
A night on Burbon Street's gonna wear anybody out. We hada gig today so I wanted ot take it as easy as possible, knowing that from tomorrow on out it's gonna be about working and making sure that we have a really awesome couple of shows in Austin. I even looked into the possibility of playing somewhere Thursday as well, trying to do as much as we can while down there.
We finally got moving and went to Port of Call, a place a friend of Jake's recommedned that we hit for some really good burgers.
We hit up Burbon Street one more time to see it during the day and stop in some gift shops for nick nacks and things it was weird seeing it during the day. It was still pretty busy in terms of people being there but without the debauchery.
We rolled by the club to check it out. Looked pretty sketchy from the outside and it was closed, so we went in serch for gumbo and came back.
Tonight we would be the featured performers at the Hi Ho Lounge Tuesday Night open Jam hosted by Fat Sweat. Kind of strange being on the other side of something like this in another city no less. It's in it's infancy so the crowd wasn't quite where I would have liked it to be. But the point tonight was to play in front of people, and there are people here. Whether it's 5 or 500 you play a good show and you give them all you've got.
They played a set and then we were on. After the Dallas show I was a tad discouraged, I wasn't at my best, playing or singing. But tonight was more focused, we were going to be playing a set closer to the one's we'd be playing at SXSW.
Set List
Superhero
(Oh) I wish I Loved You
Walking on the Moon
How Can This Be Love
Wasn't Supposed to Be This Way
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Leavin
Sometimes you reach for it and it's not there. Other times there's waaay more there than you ever could have imagined. Rob's Powerhouse Drumming and Jakes Swooping Melodic Bass Lines laid in perfect with my guitar, as a singer you feel like you can do anything when the band sounds that good. We were rolling like a well oiled machine, which allowed me to soar over the music vocally, which is about all you can really ever hope for. We were tight, we were right, I didn't mess up lyrics, I even took a few risks vocally that I won't be taking Friday and Saturday. I'm probably gonna need a new guitar cable though.
We stuck around and enjoyed some of the music before getting out of dodge. We have an early drive tomorrow and we gotta make sure we get to Austin at a reasonable time.
A night on Burbon Street's gonna wear anybody out. We hada gig today so I wanted ot take it as easy as possible, knowing that from tomorrow on out it's gonna be about working and making sure that we have a really awesome couple of shows in Austin. I even looked into the possibility of playing somewhere Thursday as well, trying to do as much as we can while down there.
We finally got moving and went to Port of Call, a place a friend of Jake's recommedned that we hit for some really good burgers.
We hit up Burbon Street one more time to see it during the day and stop in some gift shops for nick nacks and things it was weird seeing it during the day. It was still pretty busy in terms of people being there but without the debauchery.
We rolled by the club to check it out. Looked pretty sketchy from the outside and it was closed, so we went in serch for gumbo and came back.
Tonight we would be the featured performers at the Hi Ho Lounge Tuesday Night open Jam hosted by Fat Sweat. Kind of strange being on the other side of something like this in another city no less. It's in it's infancy so the crowd wasn't quite where I would have liked it to be. But the point tonight was to play in front of people, and there are people here. Whether it's 5 or 500 you play a good show and you give them all you've got.
They played a set and then we were on. After the Dallas show I was a tad discouraged, I wasn't at my best, playing or singing. But tonight was more focused, we were going to be playing a set closer to the one's we'd be playing at SXSW.
Set List
Superhero
(Oh) I wish I Loved You
Walking on the Moon
How Can This Be Love
Wasn't Supposed to Be This Way
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Leavin
Sometimes you reach for it and it's not there. Other times there's waaay more there than you ever could have imagined. Rob's Powerhouse Drumming and Jakes Swooping Melodic Bass Lines laid in perfect with my guitar, as a singer you feel like you can do anything when the band sounds that good. We were rolling like a well oiled machine, which allowed me to soar over the music vocally, which is about all you can really ever hope for. We were tight, we were right, I didn't mess up lyrics, I even took a few risks vocally that I won't be taking Friday and Saturday. I'm probably gonna need a new guitar cable though.
We stuck around and enjoyed some of the music before getting out of dodge. We have an early drive tomorrow and we gotta make sure we get to Austin at a reasonable time.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 249
Year Two Day 6 - March 15th 2010
Dallas
Well rested and ready to roll
We'd be headed to New Orleans today...a city that I've heard so much about and have never been. We had some thigns to take care of like picking up the laptop, mailing some stuff off and finding some new DVDs for the van rides. We picked up the stuff and headed to Downtown Dallas.
I've never been that big a fan of seeing the sites, There's just never been that much time to do so before. My previous experience has been getting to the gig playing the gig and getting to the next one, but good thing for me I have these guys with me because I'm enjoying all this more. Actually seeing some of these places is a novel concept for me.
This was the easiest drive, the shortest by far. I spent most of it working on some lyrics for new songs. Wiritng has been a frustrating process because I have so many things to express and I don't know how to express them. I feel less self assured than I have in the past. I thought I knew a bunch of stuff about myself and the world in general but the more I learn the more I realize that I don't know squat.
My mind wandered back home Kelvin was hosting Philly Rising in my absence, aside from the Bang Camaro tour last year I've never missed a Philly Rising (I got off the plane from LA and went there immediately upon my return home) I felt at ease knowing that Kelvin was handling buisness in my place. He's talented, charismatic, and a little looser than me. So I wasn't surprised when i heard that everyone had a great time. Wyldlyfe was also playing a show that night downstairs, a lot of big names and what have you I'm sure they did a great job as well. Mind you I'm extremely happy where I am right now and these thoughts lasted all of 15 seconds.
We arrived around 9 and checked into the hotel, sketchy neighborhood (they lock the doors after 11 and you need a room key to get in) but they had a gym and a pool, not that into the pool but I've been craving a workout.
The mission was simple...go to Burbon Street and have as much fun as humanly possible. For me this would have to be the last night to cut loose a little. Tommorrow we play and then we hit Austin and I'll have ot be 100% focused on that.
This is where the story will stop...Cause I'm not gonna get into details. I will say I had a couple drinks, danced a little and had a good time.
Show's tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, should be a blast.
Dallas
Well rested and ready to roll
We'd be headed to New Orleans today...a city that I've heard so much about and have never been. We had some thigns to take care of like picking up the laptop, mailing some stuff off and finding some new DVDs for the van rides. We picked up the stuff and headed to Downtown Dallas.
I've never been that big a fan of seeing the sites, There's just never been that much time to do so before. My previous experience has been getting to the gig playing the gig and getting to the next one, but good thing for me I have these guys with me because I'm enjoying all this more. Actually seeing some of these places is a novel concept for me.
This was the easiest drive, the shortest by far. I spent most of it working on some lyrics for new songs. Wiritng has been a frustrating process because I have so many things to express and I don't know how to express them. I feel less self assured than I have in the past. I thought I knew a bunch of stuff about myself and the world in general but the more I learn the more I realize that I don't know squat.
My mind wandered back home Kelvin was hosting Philly Rising in my absence, aside from the Bang Camaro tour last year I've never missed a Philly Rising (I got off the plane from LA and went there immediately upon my return home) I felt at ease knowing that Kelvin was handling buisness in my place. He's talented, charismatic, and a little looser than me. So I wasn't surprised when i heard that everyone had a great time. Wyldlyfe was also playing a show that night downstairs, a lot of big names and what have you I'm sure they did a great job as well. Mind you I'm extremely happy where I am right now and these thoughts lasted all of 15 seconds.
We arrived around 9 and checked into the hotel, sketchy neighborhood (they lock the doors after 11 and you need a room key to get in) but they had a gym and a pool, not that into the pool but I've been craving a workout.
The mission was simple...go to Burbon Street and have as much fun as humanly possible. For me this would have to be the last night to cut loose a little. Tommorrow we play and then we hit Austin and I'll have ot be 100% focused on that.
This is where the story will stop...Cause I'm not gonna get into details. I will say I had a couple drinks, danced a little and had a good time.
Show's tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, should be a blast.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 248
Year Two Day 5 - Marh 14th 2009
Long drives
Hopefully when we're more well known we canplay more citites and the drives won't be as long. I don't do any of the driving that's left to Brian but sitting in a cramped vehicle for hours on end can be rough on anyone.
We pulled into the parking lot by the stage for the Rock and Roll Marathon in Dallas around 3 in the morning. We've played races for the same company in Philadelphia for years so when I was sure that we were gonna play in Austin i contacted them about doing their race in Dallas. We play in front of 14,000 people (I mean they're runnign by but they still hear us) and it pays so it's a win win. We slept in the van and waited for people to get there to set up. This would be the inagural run here in Dallas so we probably have more experience with these types of events than anyone else playing. Even though the sound people
We set up the gear and the first band played, your general bar band, some cool covers cooler than the Bon Jovi heavy cover bands that play back at home. A lot of blues and classic rock. We hit the stage around 10:30
Playing the marathons require a different approach, it's not about stringing a bunch of tunes togeher for maximum emotional effect, it's about keeping the runners motivated and with a lot of our songs being mid tempo and slow I didn't have much of a game plan going intot his gig. It's not like me, but I've been distracted.
Bad gigs are funny, because generally you know it at the outset. Something major will happen and everything will begin to unravel. Today it was my guitar's inability to stay in tune, I'd put new strings on before I left and hadn't really had the time to stretch them and what not. I used my backup strat but I couldn't get the sounds that I wanted out of it so it was a bit strange. I was I made way too many mistakes. We played for about two hours and didn't snap back into step until about the last 30 minutes.
I'll qualify this by saying that the term bad gig is relative at this point. I don't think we've played an actual bad gig in a while, I just know how good this band isand when we don't play as good as we normally do I'm dissapointed. The people around us thought it was great which is alwys a relief. We haven't really gotten a bad reaction anywhere we've played around the country. Often I feel like my music is taken for granted at home overshadowed by skill as a promoter and my position in the scene as a personality, when I felt that the quality of music that I make was key in being able to establish all these other things, I don't think any of my peers would have played shows with me if my music sucked.
I spent most of the afternoon frustrated mainly because I've been burning the candle at both ends for the past few days. I didn't feel like I was focused enough on the task at hand.
We pull into the best western, the owner of the place says the rooms would be ready in half an hour so we go get Mexican and return ot the hotel. As I run to use the bathroom I noticed that the top sheet wasn't on the bed straight but I thought nothing of it till Rob entered.
Rob: The bed isn't made, I don't think they changed the sheets
Me: I'm sure they did, they were just rushing to get the room cleaned on time.
Rob: Clean my ass! There's a condom wrapper ont he floor.
Me: What?!
Rob: Yeah.
I walk outside of the can and there it is...The Trogan Magnum wrapper standing stright up by the bed the sun's rays made it shine as if to say..."How the hell did you miss me standing here?!"
I immediately walk to the front desk
Me: Yeah um I'm gonna need a new room
Clerk: What is wrong my friend?
Me: Yeah uh the sheets weren't clean and there was a condom wrapper on the floor
Clerk: We will clean immediately
Me: I'd feel better if I had another room
Clerk: Right away sir.
We move into the new room and I turn on my laptop to find that the screen had been cracked, fortunately we found a guy that fixes them in town. His store was closed so we had to find him at the Traveler's Village a huge open air Bazarr outside of town. Not much there but a whole lot of Rim and Grille places, Sound System stores, DVD stands and Mexican people, took a while to find the guy but we did and would be ok to have the laptop back by tommorrow.
Upon our return we went to Arbees, watched South Park and I went to bead early. There's free in the hotel lobby tommorow morning so I'm gonna mke sure I'm up early. We've got to pick up the lap top then head to New Orleans tommorrow.
Long drives
Hopefully when we're more well known we canplay more citites and the drives won't be as long. I don't do any of the driving that's left to Brian but sitting in a cramped vehicle for hours on end can be rough on anyone.
We pulled into the parking lot by the stage for the Rock and Roll Marathon in Dallas around 3 in the morning. We've played races for the same company in Philadelphia for years so when I was sure that we were gonna play in Austin i contacted them about doing their race in Dallas. We play in front of 14,000 people (I mean they're runnign by but they still hear us) and it pays so it's a win win. We slept in the van and waited for people to get there to set up. This would be the inagural run here in Dallas so we probably have more experience with these types of events than anyone else playing. Even though the sound people
We set up the gear and the first band played, your general bar band, some cool covers cooler than the Bon Jovi heavy cover bands that play back at home. A lot of blues and classic rock. We hit the stage around 10:30
Playing the marathons require a different approach, it's not about stringing a bunch of tunes togeher for maximum emotional effect, it's about keeping the runners motivated and with a lot of our songs being mid tempo and slow I didn't have much of a game plan going intot his gig. It's not like me, but I've been distracted.
Bad gigs are funny, because generally you know it at the outset. Something major will happen and everything will begin to unravel. Today it was my guitar's inability to stay in tune, I'd put new strings on before I left and hadn't really had the time to stretch them and what not. I used my backup strat but I couldn't get the sounds that I wanted out of it so it was a bit strange. I was I made way too many mistakes. We played for about two hours and didn't snap back into step until about the last 30 minutes.
I'll qualify this by saying that the term bad gig is relative at this point. I don't think we've played an actual bad gig in a while, I just know how good this band isand when we don't play as good as we normally do I'm dissapointed. The people around us thought it was great which is alwys a relief. We haven't really gotten a bad reaction anywhere we've played around the country. Often I feel like my music is taken for granted at home overshadowed by skill as a promoter and my position in the scene as a personality, when I felt that the quality of music that I make was key in being able to establish all these other things, I don't think any of my peers would have played shows with me if my music sucked.
I spent most of the afternoon frustrated mainly because I've been burning the candle at both ends for the past few days. I didn't feel like I was focused enough on the task at hand.
We pull into the best western, the owner of the place says the rooms would be ready in half an hour so we go get Mexican and return ot the hotel. As I run to use the bathroom I noticed that the top sheet wasn't on the bed straight but I thought nothing of it till Rob entered.
Rob: The bed isn't made, I don't think they changed the sheets
Me: I'm sure they did, they were just rushing to get the room cleaned on time.
Rob: Clean my ass! There's a condom wrapper ont he floor.
Me: What?!
Rob: Yeah.
I walk outside of the can and there it is...The Trogan Magnum wrapper standing stright up by the bed the sun's rays made it shine as if to say..."How the hell did you miss me standing here?!"
I immediately walk to the front desk
Me: Yeah um I'm gonna need a new room
Clerk: What is wrong my friend?
Me: Yeah uh the sheets weren't clean and there was a condom wrapper on the floor
Clerk: We will clean immediately
Me: I'd feel better if I had another room
Clerk: Right away sir.
We move into the new room and I turn on my laptop to find that the screen had been cracked, fortunately we found a guy that fixes them in town. His store was closed so we had to find him at the Traveler's Village a huge open air Bazarr outside of town. Not much there but a whole lot of Rim and Grille places, Sound System stores, DVD stands and Mexican people, took a while to find the guy but we did and would be ok to have the laptop back by tommorrow.
Upon our return we went to Arbees, watched South Park and I went to bead early. There's free in the hotel lobby tommorow morning so I'm gonna mke sure I'm up early. We've got to pick up the lap top then head to New Orleans tommorrow.
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