| When |
Sunday, September 12, 2010
TBD
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21+
|
| Where |
575 South Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, California, USA 90036 A classic place for a pint and good song. |
Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
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Los Angeles, California – 09/12/10
2010
09.12
09.12
Naked Photos And My New Record: California Kid
2010
07.03
07.03
I don’t listen to my own music.
Once it’s done, I don’t fondly go over old songs like worn pictures in a vintage scrapbook. Honestly, I’m more interested in creating something new than reliving the past. That coupled with my overly active creativity makes me a rather prolific songwriter. Hence my sixth full length studio release titled “California Kid”.
On this record I tried, for the love of baby jesus, to stick with one style, call it Roots Rock or Americana if you will. I used to call my style “Cowboy Jazz” and that worked when I had an upright bass player and a Bettie Page pencil skirt, but now it’s anyone’s guess.
I’m not sure if any of you out there agree, but my genre hopping may have limited my “marketability” so I have been told by some industry wigs. Alas, I have yet to come up with a catchy sound bite moniker for the new sound, but rest assured it keeps me up at night…..
The tones, style and approach for this record were along the lines of The Band, Tom Petty, and Derek Trucks and a little Sheryl Crow. Throw my vocal into the mix with some lovely harmonies and hear the results for yourself. Additionally, this record introduces my reformatted band now called ‘Circe Link and The Discount Candy Family Band‘ and includes the stellar bass playing of Jason Chesney from the Los Angeles local buzz band Old Californio, backing vocals by session singer Laura Drew and singer songwriter Debra Tala.
The band name came from conversational scraps that stuck in my flypaper mind, my love of 1970′s cheesy family bands, and the lack of pretension a name like that suggests. We “play” music after all right?
And the name fits pretty darn well if I do say so myself as folks feel a family atmosphere at both our rehearsals and shows.
Fun facts on this record include:
Christian Nesmith on the left speaker and Bart Ryan on the right in all mixes except California Kid so one can hear the wonderful character of each player. Just like on a Judas Priest record. (Yes, I love them still)
Laura Drew’s riotous squeak going into the bridge of Gettin’ High.
Deb Tala’s lilting Texan accent peeking through on Tiger Swami.
Michael Sherwood pondering about 1970′s Legend Barry Gibb.
Christopher “Peanut-butter” Allis and “Chocolate” Jason Chesney’s killing rhythm on every bleeding track.
Oh, and I’m naked on the inside artwork.
The record release will be at The Grand Ole Echo at The Echo on July 25th.
The show will be all ages and FREE!
Please come down and join us for some down home family style fun in a wild west of a town we like to call Los Angeles.
1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 in downtown Echo Park. Enter through the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90026
Los Angeles, California – 06/24/10
2010
06.24
06.24
| Who | No Rainbows No Demons |
| When |
Thursday, June 24, 2010
8:00pm
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$5 Valet No Cover
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21+
|
| Where |
710 W 1st Street
Los Angeles, California 90012 A Downtown Supper Club with the finest in LA Music. |
| Other Info | Every Last Thursday at First & Hope An evening of songwriting snobbery at on one LA finest restaurants. Valet $5 No Cover 21+ |
Los Angeles, CA – 05/01/10
2010
05.01
05.01
| Who | Genghis Cohen |
| When |
Saturday, May 1, 2010
8:30pm
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All Ages
|
| Where |
740 N Fairfax
Los Angeles, California, USA 90046 Get cozy in the red lantern cabaret and have some killer Chinese while you see some of the finest acts in Los Angeles. |
| Other Info | Kick off you hair and let your shoes down with us. |
We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
2010
05.01
05.01
Tonight will be the last night of the residency I have held at Genghis Cohen for over a year now on the first Saturday of every month.
It’s hard to explain to those of you who are not in Los Angeles, or are not musicians, the incredible challenges there are to gigging in this dark and beautiful city.
The traffic, the parking, the weather, the parades, the protests, and the all around torpor of “I could do that” upon the faces of a crossed armed audience so many bands face. Given all that hullabaloo, we’re pretty to lucky to have had such a good run at Genghis and had pretty much none of that, thanks to the baby cheesus.
But we have outgrown our old digs and like Roy said, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Our wonderful First Saturday’s with me at 8:30pm, Danny Peck at the 9:30 slot and Fren Askin & Frens holding down the 10:30 has allowed us to build up our following and finely hone the band.
Unfortunately, the stage was never big enough to house all our players and often we had to choose between having Bart Ryan, or Michael Sherwood join us. Leaving me with that “Mom, can’t we keep them all?” feeling.
So, we are on to larger rooms and new venues to share this gift, hokey I know, with as many folks as possible.
And while making money with this music doesn’t suck it was never what this project was about.
So we will be trying to do as many free shows as possible and hope that you will all continue to join us for the love and for some love.
So far our next show is the record release party for California Kid at the Grand Ole Echo on July 25th 2010 at 5:30pm Free and all ages!
We hope to see you there!
California Kid and Octopi Rock Stars
2010
04.09
04.09
As per the last post, we did exactly what I said we would.
Eleven songs in two days, some bagels, tea and sandwiches and many many chocolate chip cookies, made by yours truly.
The new record will be called California Kid.
And I could tell you more about how Christopher Allis would’a made Levon Helm proud, Michael Sherwood was channeling Leon Russell, Jason Chesney was just his amazing self with no comparison, Bart Ryan was greasy and dirty just like we knew he would be, and how Christian Nesmith not only produced but played like Wiley Coyote if he were a rock n roll octopus, but I think you just gotta listen to this one.
Notes about the wet and wild background overdubs with Debra Tala and Laura Drew to come…..
The folks at Stagg Street Studios were lovely to work with. And the homey atmosphere, pooches and all, only enhanced the great sounding room and gear.
Feel free to show them some love by visiting them here:
http://www.staggstreetstudio.com
Join us for the FREE record release show on
Sunday July 25th at
The Grand Ole Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
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- Circe in the blue booth laying down vocals…
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- Bart Ryan is getting greasy!
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- Christopher Allis feeling rootsy….
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- Jason Chesney with the low down hold down!
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- Michael Sherwood in the fish bowl…
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- Christian Nesmith preparing to shred….
Absurdist Cookies and Another New Album
2010
03.18
03.18
Not one to let the cookies cool ….
Next week I am headed to the studio for a pre production rehearsal with my wonderful band.
That’s right kiddies yet another album from the mind of this odd and prolific, if nothing else, artist.
We are hoping to track eleven songs in two days. Heck The Beatles did “Please Please Me” in a day, so all I need is two right?
Now, as many of you know who have seen me over the last year, I have been unveiling these new songs at shows and doing the cooking live.
Trying out different parts, arrangements and soloists just to see what works and what doesn’t. And I thank you all for your patience….an occasional ear plug was needed.
All of my previous albums were thrown right into the deep end of the pool by recording them almost as soon as the songs had been written. And subsequently there are a few things I would have done differently to be sure.
Sometimes like a great recipe a song often needs a few tries to find that perfect blend between what is possible and what is good.
Between what is obvious, once you put it in your mouth and chew on it, and what is the unexpected delight of context and execution, aka getting out of the way and letting go. Sorry if that’s too absurdist Jazz talk for you, but I think you get the point.
Stay tuned as I plan to keep the process of this madcap endeavor at your disposal with videos, song clips and the like…..
Vonnegut’s Wife: Released!
2010
02.14
02.14
Happy Valentine’s Day lovely people!
Once upon a time I made a record that for me was very unusual in many ways. First I had no deadline. Being the typically overachieving goal oriented kind of person this was a challenge for me. I wanted the record to unfold, allow it to come into the world on it’s own time. I hired some amazing musicians, and changed my line up, changed my approach to the sonics of the session and dove into the morass.
I wrote the songs, did a co-write or two, did a few pre production meetings, took a few days to make the record…and then things got strange.
As some of you may have heard, artists are a mercurial bunch of people, and I include myself in that description. So, when the drama hit the fan I shelved the record. I needed the dust to settle and the final curing, melding, maturing process to happen while it did so in it’s digital womb for what seems like many years.
So finally here it is in all it’s odd artistic style. The songwriting is dark and sarcastic, angry and sad, and looking back I guess I just needed to get a few things off my chest. The sounds are dark and ugly, cryptic and lovely, and this will not be the record for those of you looking for another Bluebird Tattoo. I hope you enjoy it anyway.
As my gift to you when you leave a comment on this post I will send you a link to download the record for free, for some arbitrary time until I decide otherwise. Mercurial see?
And so I release my sixth record Vonnegut’s Wife on Valentine’s Day wishing you all love.
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