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| 19.10.04-Hello again. Yes, it's been too long. How have you been? I'm trying to finish unpacking my stuff after moving flats. It's amazing how many things you can compile if you're not careful. I'm kind of bummed because I once found this unicycle on the street and walked it home as it had a flat tire. I never got around to fixing it and when the time came to load up the taxi with our stuff there was no room for it. My less-than- genius plan was to hide it in the yard and come back for it later. Well, some carny wannabe beat me to the punch. When I returned later, it was gone. So much for the circus. Anyway, let's get back to music. I've been in survival mode for a while, which means busking a lot and not playing gigs. The gigs are coming back though. I can't really say I haven't been playing live since I've been busking about 6 days a week for 2 to 4 hours a day. It's kind of cool performing in front of thousands of people everynight even if they just see me for part of a song. I've even been busking a few of my own songs and have sold a few cds to people from a bunch of different countries. My "west-coast western" band is coming along. We're playing a gig in November and still looking for a decent bandname. Why is that the hardest part about having a band? It's so easy to think of stupid band names but good ones are far and few. Grace's band is playing a week from Sunday and we're getting closer to doing some studio recording. We've met a few producers and are negotiating a production deal with a studio. I'm trying to get together a gig or two in December to play with Malky and Toby from Scotland. Maybe something at 12 Bar. Hope you're all doing well. 19.08.04-Hi everybody. It was great to finally play a gig a few weeks ago with Lilly. Along with our own songs, we did a few Gillian Welch tunes. I've been doing some home recording and working on composing the score to the Howdy Hank documentary. I really like the first cut of the documentary. Way to go, Shar! I stopped through New York coming back to London and got to play a gig at CB's 313 Gallery, next to CBGB with my sister Renee harmonizing on a couple songs. It was our first public appearance together since we played at the Whisky a long time ago. It was nice to get the chance to play True Love one last time before they close. And as a bonus, we stopped at El Verduzco in Dixon on the way up for some tacos deliciosos! I've been busking a lot recently and making some decent cash. I'm gonna get this looping pedal where you can record guitar tracks and then play lead lines over them or whatever you want. Should be cool. I just hope my songs played this way will earn me as much as songs from Green Day, Outkast, Everly Brothers, etc. 15.06.04-Howdy Hank is back along Route 66! We (well, Joe) painted him and his burro on the original Howdy Hank trading post and it's just about the brightest thing on the old road. We shot scenes for the video and I can't wait to see how it comes out. Special thanks to Wayne, Jan, Gene and Larry for their incredible hospitality. It was quite an unconventional and incredible experience. Take a look at the mural. I have a gig in Sacramento this Friday with Tom and Rich at the True Love. It'll be a lot of fun to play up there again and maybe see some familiar faces. 27.05.04-Off to Joseph City, AZ this morning to shoot the Howdy Hank video. I had my first burrito since January last night. 06.05.04-The record release party at 12 Bar last week was a lot of fun. The band really came together for the big gig. Jeremy Mendonca played some mean slide guitar and definitely has his country licks down. Bruce and Oscar rocked it on bass and drums and Grace sang some great harmonies. The gig was filmed for a documentary about country music in London so I put on my best fake southern accent to make it more authentic. Ok not really, but I did wear my H-Bar-C cowboy shirt. I also got my legal underground busking license a couple days ago and have my first session today at Euston, so look out all you commuters. We play the Garage next Friday and we're gearing up for that since it'll be our last gig before I head back to California for a while. 17.04.04-I saw Jonathan Richman the other night. Sure he writes great songs but man, what a dancer. I like to see just a guitarist/singer and drummer entertain a big room. I'm looking forward to the 12 Bar gig next Monday, and also to a couple other gigs with Grace Solero. I've been busking some but am still waiting to get my official and legal tube busking license. It's a slow process to say the least. I also wrote my first bossanova. No name yet but it fits well into my latin surf lounge jazz genre of songs. I still want to play a gig at the bar at the El Rancho Inn where the swimming pool is up against the back wall of the bar. I hope it's still there. 31.03.04-Had a few gigs this past week. Played Bull & Gate on Wednesday while the Who played next door at the Forum. Only in London. We played on Sunday as part of the Jam By the Lock Festival and then I headed straight down to Fulham to play the Larrik for the post-boat race festivities. Today we finished an edited down version of "Troops" that we're all happy with. The sun is finally out and man it feels good. past log entries |
