Bloggetry

Farewell, Jane

2009-11-04T21:34:00.009-05:00

Today, I said goodbye to a very old friend. We wrote songs together, played together, recorded together, toured together, laughed together, cried together.

Today, I said goodbye to my Larrivee D-03 Acoustic Electric, who I fondly called "Jane".

Jane was purchased over 10 years ago. I was told then that Larrivee's were considered the Canadian Martin's. I couldn't afford a Martin back then, and since I was born in Vancouver, I thought it was a perfect fit. I named her Jane when I found out that guitarists for the Barenaked Ladies used Larrivee's. (For those that need the extra clue, one of my favorite BNL songs is "Jane".)

Her standard dreadnought shape offered a nice, big, warm tone and I had a Fishman Matrix pickup installed so I could take her to the stage. Later, I opted for the smaller folk-size guitars for live shows (Martin OM's and 000's), but Jane was still around for recording sessions. With custom light .11 D'Addario's, Jane was always a big part of my early singer-songwriting career.

There were many sleepless nights spent up with Jane. We played, laughed, wondered, agonized, vented ... it was like having a shrink with six strings listening to all you had to say while singing back notes of encouragement.

Some of the first songs I wrote were written with Jane. Among them, "Stare (Yeah, Yeah)," "1000000 Miles," "Back Where We Belong," "Better to Forget Her," "Every Day Ain't Enough" and "Forever Starts Today".

My first three records - the Uncertain Air EP, Everything's OK and Acoustic Boogaloo - were all recorded with Jane. Every acoustic chord and note was played on that Larrivee.

My first shows were played with Jane by my side. Those early shows at the Cellar Bar on Richmond Ave. in Houston, the Sidecar Pub, Dean's Credit Clothing, Diedrich's Coffeehouse on Westheimer, the Borders Books Showcases in the Houston area ... memorable gigs and memorable times with Jane. She always sounded great and she never let me down.

The reasons for deciding to sell Jane once and for all were few: lack of space in my New York City apartment, extra cash for bills, making press kits, buying recording software, a PlayStation 3, whatever ...

Also, I'm now playing a Gibson J-45 (Ramona), a Martin 000-16 (Allison), my trusty Yamaha LS-400 Paul Simon copy (Kathy), and a Guild GAD-F212 12-string (Jan). They're prettier, sexier, more trustworthy, and much better lovers, but Jane will always be my first, and for that, will always hold a special place in my heart.

In a bittersweet, and somewhat surreal moment, the guy that bought Jane from me came to my apartment tonight and had apparently Google'd me and looked up my music. He was really impressed with my work and kind of talked to me like he was a fan.

When he handed me the cash and I said my final goodbye to Jane, the guy asked me to autograph the guitar. I couldn't believe it. I thought it was really sweet of him and I was honestly touched by the gesture. Reluctantly, I grabbed a Sharpie and signed the back of Jane. The guy was so appreciative. I was just in disbelief the whole time, I forgot to take a pic of the sig. Shoulda done that!

Then suddenly, she was gone.

Jane, I'll miss you. It was fun while it lasted. Thanks for the memories, for the songs, and for the inspiration. I wish you the best.

~j

Happy Birthday to me

2009-08-26T09:19:00.001-04:00

Golden State of Mind

2009-07-02T12:36:00.002-04:00

Good morning from the Venice Pier. I've tweeted that I'm dangerously falling in love with Southern California. The weather is awesome, my two best friends live here, the music scene is hot, (most of) the people here are great ... ugh. I don't know. New York is still my first love, but L.A. is tempting.

Played my first West Coast gig here on Tuesday night. Awesome show. AWESOME. And thanks to all of you that made it out. The venue was Genghis Cohen Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant with a connecting venue set up for acoustic performances. The room is really cool, too. It's set up like a small chapel - benches lined up in two rows on either side, all facing the stage. Very cool, intimate place to play.

The gig itself went really well. I don't think there were many uncomfortable moments onstage for me. I felt really good vocally and for some reason, everything just seemed to flow naturally. This isn't that unusual for me, but paired with the fact that I was kind of nervous to play my first L.A. crowd made that feat a bit more impressive.

I managed to pay tribute to MJ by playing my cover of "The Way You Make Me Feel," which I recorded on my 2005 album Acoustic Boogaloo, as well as ending the show with a Paul Simon-esque arrangement of "I'll Be There". I thought it went OK. I was really nervous about the vocal on the J5 song. Don't think it was terrible. I actually got kind of emotional singing it. RIP, MJ.

OK, the best part about Genghis Cohen is the restaurant itself. Such a great ambience and the food was ridiculously incredible. I strongly recommend a visit if you're ever around. I'm definitely going back just for the food.

I'm driving up to San Francisco tomorrow to visit some family and mix in some open mics. I've always loved it in the Bay Area and I'm really looking forward to that drive up the coast. Should be great.

OK. Hope you're all well. Here's my set list from the other night. Take care ...

Now
Untitled (The Man That I Am)
Not Guilty
The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson cover)
Supposed to Be
Rely on Fate/The Crime
Bundle of You
Wondering If I Belong
I'll Be There (Jackson 5 cover)

The King of Pop (1958-2009)

2009-06-27T17:55:00.008-04:00

I'm in L.A. to hang with my friends and play some shows, but despite the Pacific breeze and the bright rays of the sun, it was a very, very dark day on Thursday, June 25, 2009.

While shopping on the Third Street Promenade, around 2:30pm PST, I received an abundance of phone calls and texts about rumors involving Michael Jackson - my childhood hero, my everlasting musical influence, my King of Pop. Shortly thereafter, my iPhone battery dwindled down in juice due to constant Google News refreshing, I heard the confirmation:

Michael Jackson was dead.

In 1984, the Vancouver Sun Newspaper was holding a contest: Draw "Michael Jackson in Action" to enter in a chance to win two tickets to The Jacksons' Victory Tour concert at B.C. Place. I was 6. I gathered my pencils and crayons and drew what I thought was my Mona Lisa. My Mona Michael, if you will (cuz I will). It was the greatest creation I'd ever concocted in my six years of life.

I was the youngest contestant to enter and I not only won two tickets, but the local news came to my house to see me dress and dance like MJ, and I was invited, along with the other winners of the contest, to come and meet Michael and his brothers.

So my father brought me to B.C. Place. I wore a "Beat It" jacket, one sequenced glove and oversized aviator sunglasses. I remember going to the stadium and meeting the other winners, all of whom were at least twice my age. And I remember getting up to go backstage to meet the Jacksons. Unfortunately, I don't remember the rest. My father claims we met Michael Jackson, but I must've blacked out because I don't remember a second of it.

Then I saw my first live concert and, at 6, was already convinced that Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer on the planet. He could sing. He could dance. He could make a stadium full of tens of thousands of people go crazy just by moving a finger. There was no one like him. And there never will be again.

In eighth grade at Kingwood Middle School in a suburb of Houston, my choir conductor convinced me to perform "Remember the Time" for the Pop Show. I wanted to play my guitar and sing "Homeward Bound" with a friend of mine. But instead, I put on a black fedora, wore high-watered black slacks, bright white socks and choreographed a "Billie Jean"-esque dance postlude to "Remember the Time".

The assistant principal of the school called me to his office the next day, not because I grabbed my crotch in front of teachers, parents and other middle school kids, but because he wanted me to teach him "some of those dance moves."

In 2004, I was playing a gig at Clarks in Downtown Houston. I had attracted some new fans by playing unexpected cover versions of R&B classics by the likes of Bobby Brown, Bell Biv Devoe, Mariah Carey, etc. I had just arranged an acoustic blues version of "The Way You Make Me Feel". I began to play, and a guy who had played before me walked up with his tenor sax, asking if it'd be OK if he played the song with me.

The collaboration was so good, I decided to replicate it on my 2005 album Acoustic Boogaloo, featuring Mr. Kelly Dean on sax. Just guitar, vocals and saxophone. Such a simple, stripped down version of a dance classic, and my tribute to Michael Jackson.

A lot of people that I've known for years said they thought of me when they first heard the news. He had his troubles, eccentricities, and was probably one of the most misunderstood human beings on the planet, but my connection with MJ was one on a musical and emotional level.

I'm an aspiring rock star because of the following: Michael Jackson made me want to be an entertainer. Elvis made me want to be a singer. Paul Simon & The Beatles made me want to be a songwriter. But it all started with Michael.

His performance of "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25 Celebration will remain legendary, as it was the first time we saw the moonwalk and probably the moment in his career when he really stepped out of the shadow of his Motown years with the Jackson 5. But my favorite Michael Jackson moment was during the 1995 MTV Video Awards when he took the stage for a 15-minute performance of truly epic proportions.

Starting with a medley of hits that ended with one of the most soulful guitar solos that guest guitarist Slash has ever played, Michael then performed a rendition of "Dangerous" that features choreography that was pretty much a shiny new textbook for every student of dance. I'm not a dancer by any means, but I've heard from many that that performance was genius on so many levels. Even those that don't know much about dance can appreciate how great that choreography was.

He ended his MTV performance with "You Are Not Alone," singing to his then-wife Lisa Marie Presley. It was both touching and cheezy, but it was the climax to an unprecedented awards show performance that featured every aspect of Michael Jackson's talents. His singing. His dancing. And his ability to just floor an audience already expecting greatness and getting even more in return.

It's still surreal that he's gone. It's still numbing to think about. It's still shocking that it happened. But Michael's gone. His comeback tour will never be. His new album won't be finished (at least, not to the level of perfection he would have desired). And he'll never walk on the moon again.

But thank god that the greatest thing about him will remain in our lives for as long as we live. We can listen to his music whenever we please, and like the entertainer himself, it will never disappoint.

In the infamous interview with journalist Martin Bashir, Bashir was kind of poking fun at Michael's obsession with all things Peter Pan. "Why, Michael?" Bashir asked. "Do you want to be Peter Pan?"

"I am Peter Pan," Michael said. "I'm never gonna grow up. I'm gonna live forever."

He was right.

Blog Blog Blah

2009-06-14T16:34:00.002-04:00

Happy Sunday, friends. Not much to blog about today. Just wanted to say "hi".

Working on a West Coast trip. Shows are iffy ... may just turn out to be a bunch of open mics. I'll keep you posted. Definitely going to LA, but would love to make the trip up to the Bay Area as I have family up there, and it's probably the only city in America that I'd give up New York for.

Went to Elizabeth & the Catapult's CD Release Party at Joe's Pub the other night. What a great show. Props to Elizabeth - she's such a talent. And Pete was in top form as usual, but special kudos to my boys Alan Hampton and Danny Molad, both of whom have played on Jason Consolacion records. Gotta support the Citizens!

Finally, conundrum: I've got a great seat here at Starbucks, but I really have to pee. I don't wanna get up and leave my MacBook Pro here, nor do I wanna get up and possibly lose my seat. WHAT TO DO?!?! I think I'm gonna have told hold it. Wish me luck!

Song of the Day: "The Hang Up" - Elizabeth & the Catapult

Later.

Summer Tour(s)

2009-06-03T15:30:00.001-04:00

So it looks like a good possibility that I'll be playing on the West Coast and back in Texas over the summer.

A few things have to fall into place before plans can be finalized, but Houston is a strong possibility, as is Southern California and hopefully the Bay Area, as well. And while I'm down in Texas, I'd like to throw in an Austin gig if possible.

More details to come. Hangin' out in the East Village right now. It always rains when I'm here ... hmmm.

The new plan, Stan

2009-06-01T15:24:00.002-04:00

OK, so it's June 1, 2009. Time is fucking flying.

I've decided on a plan for the summer. First and foremost, I gotta get some exercise. I'm at Jack Black status right now and I'd like to get to the new and improved Seth Rogen by summer's end. So running starts NOW ... or, well ... tomorrow.

Gotta start eating better, too. The wife makes healthy, hearty foods every week, but I keep succumbing to my vices ... fast food, sweets, midnight snacks ... OK, midnight MEALS, etc. Gotta start eating better, dammit.

In addition to getting healthier, I really need to finish these two albums I'm working on. I'd like to have November Sessions done by month's end. After that, I'm going to work on an EP called More Sessions, which are tracks that I wrote while writing November Sessions that won't quite make it on the record, but I want to share them with you all anyway, hence the upcoming EP More Sessions. I hope to finish that by mid- to late-July.

My next album 12, made up of the 12 songs I wrote in 12 days in January, will hopefully be finished by the fall ... September or October, methinks.

All these albums will be released on the newly-founded Family Tree Records, a record company my friends at Family Tree Collective and I are starting up. Should be fun fun fun.

And all this while I work on another project: a series of demos that will comprised of songs I'm writing for other people. I'm gonna try and sell out ... I mean, sell some songs to record producers for performers that don't write their own songs. I've been told that I should do it and that I'd be really good at it. So I'm gonna go for it ... and I'm kinda scared/excited/something ... stay tuned.

Just thinking out loud here.

Also, two albums I've been listening to non-stop for the past couple of weeks ... I really think you should give them a try if you haven't already:

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Taller Children

And I've been throwing in some Bell Biv DeVoe in between that. Try it out! You won't be sorry!

That's all I got. Happy June!

Incidentally

2009-05-20T17:35:00.002-04:00

OK ... I wanna talk about LOST's Season 5 finale, aka "The Incident".

WOW. One of the best finales this amazing show has had ... maybe second- or third-best to Season 3's finale that flash-forwarded to Jack & Kate off the island.

First and foremost, JACOB. A face to the name, a story to the myth. What a reward that was to us viewers that have been watching since the beginning (or since the middle of Season 2), wondering, pondering, speculating, theorizing on who - or what - Jacob is. And even after a 2-hour season finale devoted to his story via flashbacks, we still don't know who - or what - exactly he is, but we have a much better idea, don't we?

I love, love, love the story about him and his "nemesis" - obviously the war that Widmore and Bram refer to, that's been going on for a "very long time". There are so many biblical and literary references that can be pulled from this plot line and I'm very anxious to see what the sixth and final season will reveal about this thousand-year feud.

LOCKE IS REALLY DEAD. Wow. What an incredible reveal. He had us all fooled, didn't he? Not just the viewers, but he fooled Sun, Ben and even Richard! And to think - he's probably been in and around the island since Season 1 (Christian appearing to Jack in Episode 5, "White Rabbit")!! I really do hope he keeps the appearance of John Locke, though, because Terry O'Quinn is such a great actor.

JULIET DIED! A very, very sad moment. Whether or not Sawyer really was settled down to a one-woman guy, this was a very tough scene to watch. As the actual incident was pulling Juliet down to her death, Sawyer held onto her with all he had, trying his damnedest not to let her go, with the help of Kate, no less (talk about a literary list of symbolism and irony in that scene alone). And as she finally fell to the bottom of the pit, she had enough life in her to finally set that bomb off, presumably helping her friends get to where they "needed" to be. I gotta be honest with you, I preferred Juliet over Kate - for either Sawyer or Jack. I just don't think Kate is a good person. Cute as hell, but not a good person. And yeah, I kinda think Juliet was hotter.

CUT TO WHITE (instead of black)!!! I thought I was watching Arrested Development for a second! A perfect ending to this time-skipping, plot-twisting juggernaut of a season. And now we get to wait nine months until the final season of this amazing, amazing show. We can only hope it'll be worth it, but I'm sure we all know it will ...

Later.

Ketchup

2009-05-14T14:40:00.006-04:00

So my reason for not blogging for over a month was that I was really, really busy during the month of April. I'd like to tell you what I was up to ...

When we got back from Texas, my bass player Zack Foley and I decided to put a band together here in New York (since most of the players I played with consistently were based in Texas). So we batted around ideas for a few days and decided on the additions of Jesse Elder on piano and Sam Knight on drums.

We started rehearsing in late March and since have put a really fresh, new sound to all my songs - old and new. Our debut gig was scheduled for May 9 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Also during April, I was working on my buddy Mike Swift's new play The Sinner, which opened on April 23rd at the Nuyorican for a two-week Thursday-Friday run. Zack and I composed the music for it and I was there every night running sound.

The play is about a priest who begins to realize that he's far too disconnected from society and he finds it hard to help the people who seek guidance from him when he has never experienced the troubles that these people go through. So he decides to go out and get lost in the nightlife of New York City to "experience" the good, the bad and mostly the ugly that today's society has to offer.

Zack and I opted to go for a concoction of church/choral/organ music, as well as some funky jazz, alla Miles Davis' In a Silent Way. I think it worked out beautifully.

The week after The Sinner was through with its run was the week I played twice at the Nuyorican. On Thursday May 7, I played a couple of acoustic sets - the first set was me alone, playing my songs. The second set featured duets with my sister, Lisa Vidas, and my buddy Zack. The show was great, we had a good turnout for a Thursday, and I felt pretty good about the way the sets turned out. Here's a set list:

JASON'S SOLO SET

Now
Rely on Fate/The Crime
Not Guilty
Untitled
Rich with Red
Take the Helm
Alone Again
Sad Infatuation
Wondering If I Belong

FEATURING LISA VIDAS

Avalanche
Tonight You Belong To Me
Come Home
Valerie

ZACK & JC

Punky's Dilemma
The Dangling Conversation
Homeward Bound
Two of Us
America
The Boxer
The Only Living Boy in New York
Old Friends/Bookends

Then on Saturday, May 9, I debuted my new Citizens for Boysenberry Jam Band. The set was intense, funky, mesmerizing, and surreal ... and that was just for me. I have no idea how everyone else felt about it. Zack did his vocal bass thing, which in and of itself is both amazing to watch and very cool to hear; Sam was ridiculous on the drums, playing with and "easy intensity" if that's even possible; and Jesse is such an incredible talent, it was an honor having him play my songs.

Here's a set list:

Deeper
Not Guilty
On the Cusp
Untitled (The Man That I Am)
Bittersweet
My Song
Heckle & Hide
1000000 Miles

OK kids. That's all I got for now. Again, I promise to blog more often from now on. Or until I get busy again. Perhaps a LOST season finale review?!?!?! Umm, yeah ... I think so.

Bye.

All Apologies

2009-05-08T17:41:00.003-04:00

So I didn't blog the whole month of April. Terribly sorry. I know all 0 of you are disappointed.

April was incredibly busy. Plus, Twitter and Facebook statuses took up most of my thoughts. But May is on. I will try to blog as often as possible.

First of all, I promised you a blog about my Austin gig. So here you go ...

Austin was awesome. Not only did I play with Richard Cholakian (drums) for the first time in years, but I got to play my first gig with Zack Foley (vocal bass) and my best friends came in from L.A. to come and support me. Awesome time.

The gig itself was great. It was a bit early (12pm), which made getting high and driving in from Houston in the middle of the night a poor decision, but as soon as we hit the stage, tightness ensued. Richard's such a great pop drummer. He really feels what the songwriter feels and I love playing with him. For those of you that haven't heard or seen Zack play yet, I'm gonna leave the explanation of "vocal bass" as just that ... you have to come see for yourself.

Lots of people came out as Saturday South by Southwest festivities unravelled. I sold quite a few CDs, even signed a couple of autographs. Great experience. Here's my set list:

Now
Heckle & Hide
On the Cusp
Untitled (The Man That I Am)
Mary
Stare (Yeah, Yeah)

Short set, but it was awesome. Then we went off to Salt Lick for the best barbecue on the planet. I love Austin, man. Can't wait to go back.

Cheers.

Texas Texas Texas (Part 1 of 2)

2009-03-27T19:17:00.003-04:00

Hey kids. Been back from my Texas mini-Tour for a few days now. Sorry I didn't blog much while I was down there, but my my my, did I have a good time.

My first gig on March 14 was pretty good. I played this (fairly) new pub called Firkin & Phoenix, opening for local staple Petesimple. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous since it was my first gig back in H-Town, but I got over that pretty quick. My good friend Abby Seible (who helped me write "Everything's OK") came up and sang BGVs on some tunes and we played another song we wrote together.

The crowd was pretty good - a lot of familiar faces there. It's a nice place. However, I wasn't sure if they were watching me or the Rockets game being projected on the large screen behind me. ;)

Here's my set list:

Now
Light of Day
Alone Again
Untitled (The Man That I Am)
May I
Avalanche
Rely On Fate/The Crime
Sad Infatuation
Not Guilty
All That Is Beautiful
Rich With Red
The Way You Make Me Feel

My next gig was on March 16 at another new joint called The Corkscrew. AMAZING place. It's a wine bar on Washington Street (between Studemont and Downtown) that has a room draped off on the right, mildy lit with couches all around, for live music. Such an AWESOME place to play. I was invited by the Julian Samuel, one of the hosts for that night, to play. I was honored. I'd love to play there again.

On the drive up there, a song came on my iPod that actually got me a little choked up. I've only lived in New York for a little over three years, but it's been long enough for me to adjust to the inevitable changes that go along with moving from a city like Houston to a city like New York. And being back in Houston made me realize how much I've actually changed - not in my personality, but just how I go about my day-to-day. The way I "deal" with people, the way I get from one place to another ... the pace is so different in the City and coming back to Houston, doing things the way I used to ... I got very, you know ...

So when Elton John's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" started playing on the drive up there, I got really emotional - at a level I haven't really experienced before. For the first time, I began to really appreciate different things about the way I live my life now and the way I used to live my life. It sounds kind of silly, but I was so inspired to add the song to my set list. I've always loved the song and Elton's recording is so beautiful, but I had never played it before. So on the way to the gig, I started working out the changes in my head and when I got to the end of my set list, I went for it. Turned out pretty good ... I think. I was afraid I'd get choked up again while singing it, but not so much. I guess I was too worried about getting the changes right.

Here's my set list:

Now
Avalanche
Rely On Fate/The Crime
On the Cusp
Alone Again/Wildwood Flower
All That Is Beautiful
Not Guilty
Untitled (The Man That I Am)
Stare (Yeah, Yeah)
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

Austin was just fucking incredible. I'm gonna have to blog about it later. I've got some exciting news too! Stay tuned ...

Live in Texas

2009-03-14T11:01:00.002-04:00

Howdy. So I'm in Houston seeing old friends, booking shows and rehearsing. It's a lot of fun. I miss the wife and the cat, and I miss New York a lot, but it's always nice to come back "home".

Have a last-minute booking for a show tonight at Firkin & Phoenix, opening for local band Petesimple. I used to play with Pete a lot while I was living here and it was nice of him to invite me to open for his band. Should be fun.

I have another show in Houston on Monday - playing at The Corkscrew, opening for Austin singer-songwriter Bob Barney. I may have some surprise guests at that show, too.

And finally, I'm playing in Austin during South By Southwest at Guero's annual "South By South Congress" festival. I'm going to have the full band (mostly full, anyway) for that one. I rehearsed with my old drummer Richard yesterday. I haven't played with him in years, but even after showing him some new tunes, it was like we haven't spent a day apart. So good to play with him again.

My bassist Zack will be coming down from New York to play with us in Austin. SHOULD. BE. AWESOME.

In a way, I feel like I haven't left NY. It's been COLD here in Houston. Not "NY cold" but it feels like it because it's not usually this cold down here. So in a way it's been nice, but dammit - I didn't pack for this. I brought two hoodies, so I'm alternating between the two. It's supposed to warm up by Monday!

OK kids. I'll blog about the gigs later. Take care.

Homeward Bound

2009-03-11T02:23:00.001-04:00

Leaving for Houston on Wednesday afternoon. I'll be in Texas for two weeks, splitting time between Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Can't wait to see old faces and play old places.

Take care!

Interesting week ...

2009-02-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

Good evening. It's been an interesting week. Well, actually it's been a monotonous week as I've still been moving the last batch of crap from the old place. We're finally moved in now, totally out of the other place, keys turned in, etc. ... just a lot of unpacking to do.

But a few things of interest happened. I'll go in chronological order ...

First off, Steven Page has left Barenaked Ladies. This is sad. I love this band. And while I do think Ed Robertson has such a great voice and his songwriting is fresh and clever, I believe that Page is better. It remains to be seen whether BNL will be as good or better without Page (and I'm sure that reasons for the mutual split were in everyone's favor), but one thing's for sure: they'll be different.

My favorite BNL songs are "Some Fantastic," "Conventioneers," "Jane," "Box Set" and "Brian Wilson," all of which are sung by Page (except "Some Fantastic," where the vocals are split between Page and Ed-Ro). So, like I said ... they'll be different. I wish both parties the best of luck.

Secondly, my weekly LOST bit. "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" looked like it was going to be an amazing episode. In fact, most people I've talked to about the ep feel it was the best one so far this season. I disagree. While it was great, I just kind of felt underwhelmed. I feel like Locke's visits to the O6 were too brief. In fact, a lot of what was reported to be said between Locke and the O6 (as alluded to in earlier episodes) wasn't said at all. So unless there were more visits that weren't televised, the writers definitely made some goofs there.

I DO think that the scene when Ben murders Locke was incredible. I mean, it was predictable, but even when it happened, I was a bit surprised. Also, all of Locke's scenes with Abaddon were great. It was nice to finally shed some light on that character. It's interesting that everyone on the plane (other than the O6) landed on the OTHER island (home of the Hydra station). But I wonder if they're in the same "time" as the O6. I don't think they are since the new guy, Caesar, claimed to have seen Hurley "disappear," meaning the O6 time traveled, but Locke, Ben and the other 316 survivors did not.

Next week looks good.

Finally, I'm really upset right now because someone stole my wife's iPod. Just grabbed it out of her hand and ran off like a little bitch. Human nature is sinking me to this level of barely controlable anger. I've got a lot of hate flowing through my veins right now because I just can't tolerate this kind of mess. You just don't fuck with my wife. Had I been with her, there's no telling what I would've done. I probably would've risked being killed, but let's face it ... anyone that would do a thing like probably doesn't have the balls to kill anyway, so if I had hunted the fucker down, I probably would've broken his face.

OK, so sorry ... I just had to get that out. I'm glad the wife is OK, it was a free iPod anyway, so you know ... no biggie. Just a pain in the ass and enough for me to get really really angry at life and people in general. But I'll get over it. Plus, the wife's birthday is next week, so ...

Moved in ... mostly

2009-02-22T04:38:00.000-05:00

Good morning. I'm blogging at 4-ish in the morning because I can't sleep ... more on that later.

Anyway, we're just about moved in. The movers came on Friday to haul the big stuff (bed, sofas, telly, desk, piano, futon). And can you believe I got the cable guy to come on the same day?!?! So we didn't miss any of our DVR stuff! Holler!

We're still moving stuff. There are a few things left in the old place, which we have keys to until the end of the month. As reported earlier, it's only an 8-block move, but I have Sciatica, which happens to come and go. It's been "dormant" for months, but guess who decided to creep up just as we started moving?!?!

Anyway, that's why I can't sleep ... Discomfort City. I'll probably see a doctor once the move is entirely finished. Again, just a few things left - some clothes, curtain rods, picture frames, etc.

The new place is great, but a few hiccups so far. Our buzzer to the front door isn't working, so whenever someone buzzes in, I have to go downstairs to let them in. The first morning we were here, we had an electrical issue in the kitchen, so I had to brew the wife's coffee in the hallway. It wasn't a blown fuse - I'm not that much of a moron to where I couldn't figure that one out. There was a loose wire and one of the super's lackeys came in to fix the issue. And finally, our toilet leaks when it's flushed. Probably getting that fixed today.

Lots of unpacking left to do ... my wife has gotten a great start on this. I was busy setting up the computer, telly, internet, Apple TV, etc. And I have a bunch of "little things" that need putting away (music stuff), so my unpacking will take awhile. Our new place is bigger, but we had a bit more storage in the other place, so we'll be looking to get some more storage at IKEA soon. I must admit - I love shopping there.

OK, so some of my friends didn't like the O6 return to the island ... or, the episode at least. I don't know ... I loved it. The beginning that mirrored the first scene of the series, Mrs. Hawking's "lecture", seeing everyone on the plane (including Lapidus!!!) ...

... sorry, my cat just jumped on the piano and scared the fucking bejeezus out of me (it's only nearly 5a right now) ...

... anyway, I thought the episode was great. So many unanswered questions, which people just don't understand - THAT'S WHY WE WATCH LOST!!! WE LOVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS!!! Seriously, though, what's the point in watching something if you already know what's gonna happen?

My favorite "unanswereds" from this episode:

Did Ben go to kill Penny?
What happened to Aaron?
How did Hurley know about Flight 316?
Why is Sayid being escorted to Guam by a policewoman?
Who was that other guy in First Class with the O6 (O5 + Ben)?
Are the rest of the left-behinds working for Dharma too?

Anyway, looks like we get "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" this week (which was originally supposed to air before "316", I've read). Looks good.

Take care all.

Moving, moving, gig, moving, moving ...

2009-02-17T23:37:00.000-05:00

I hate moving. I mean, I love moving into a new apartment and having everything all shiny and new, but the actual process of prepping, packing, moving, unpacking, etc., just does not appeal to me in any way whatsoever. And in this current move, it's the most I've done.

We decided to do a lot ourselves since the move is only seven blocks down and one over. We've already painted and cleaned (most of) the apartment, and we've pretty much moved about 35 percent of our stuff to the new place (with a lot of help from my sister, thank you). The movers are coming Friday to move about 50 percent of everything else, and we'll be doing the rest here and there. So, it's almost done ... I just wish it'd be over with. NOW.

I have a gig on Wednesday (today, depending on when you're reading this) at Caffe Vivaldi in the West Village. I'm just playing a couple of songs in this showcase put on by Ten O'Clock Classics, a non-prof that likes to promote classical music to a "late-night" crowd. In their showcase, they tend to have some folk and jazz artists come out as well. So I'll be playing a few songs and as a special treat, my sister Lisa Vidas will be singing with me. Should be lots of fun if you can come out.

Here are details on the gig (click on the image for more info):

Take care everybody. Hope to see you at the show!

PAINting

2009-02-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

I'm exhausted and sore all over ... I've had the lovely help of my sister and some from the wife (she has a real job, I don't), but painting four rooms, two hallways, a kitchen and a bathroom is taking its toll on my body, man. I've had about enough of it, but we're close to being done. One more coat on half of the kitchen, then all the main painting is finished. Just have to do touch-ups after that.

We'll be spending most of the three-day weekend cleaning the apartment, then hopefully the latter part of the weekend moving some stuff. We may also go to IKEA in Paramus as they're having a President's Day sale. We're so busy with the move, I don't even know if the wife and I will be doing anything for Valentine's Day. We'll see ...

The demos are ready for sharing, but I want to get some feedback from a few more people before I post them anywhere. Patience!

LOST was OK this week. It was clearly a set-up episode. Next week looks good. Glad to see Jin reunited with the "left-behinds" ... I was afraid they were going to drag that out for too long. I guess Charlotte's dead ... too bad. But John going into the well, breaking his leg, seeing Christian, turning the wheel ... that was heavy stuff. Very Dante's Inferno.

Also, on the mainland, when Jack and Sun are in the van with Ben, I thought it was really cool to see Ben actually lose his ... umm, cool. He rarely does and when he stopped the van and told Jack and Sun that they should be kissing his ass, I just thought it was an interesting moment. It's funny because if what he's saying is true, why does he have to be all secretive and manipulative all the time? Maybe because he's full of shit?

OK. That's all I got for today kids. See ya.

Demos done, painting begun

2009-02-08T01:35:00.000-05:00

How do you do?

I've finished the demos for the 12 songs. I'm going to have a few people listen to them first, then I'll most likely post some on Facebook and MySpace. Can't wait for you to hear them.

The wife and I, with the help of my little sister, began painting the new apartment today. Four rooms, two hallways, a kitchen, a bathroom, seven different colors, 16 cans of paint. A daunting task for three amateur painters, but we got a lot done today. We painted the hallways and laid a first coat down in the master bed. Looking to finish the kitchen and master bed tomorrow, maybe even start some of the other rooms. Either way, it's coming together!

I saw the new flick Fanboys today. For those of you that don't know what it is, basically it takes place in 1998 and four Star Wars fanatics go on a road trip from Ohio to Northern California to break into Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy of Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace before it hits theaters. Star Wars references everywhere, appearances by the likes of Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes, Seth Rogen and William Shatner, a very cool van that comes complete with R2D2 in the droid compartment, as well as a button for light speed, and Kristen Bell in the Leia gold bikini ... not a bad flick, but not the greatest comedy of all time.

It was better than The Phantom Menace, though.

Quick word on LOST: glad to see Jin is alive, well and time-shifting with the other "left-behinds". Lots of rumors/theories going around - like the canoes actually belong to the O6 and that they were shooting at the left-behinds in that scene - but the fact that the name on the carpet van that Ben and Sayid are driving ("Canton-Rainer") is an anagraym for "reincarnation" (the same van that transported Locke's body from the funeral home) is all but confirmation that Locke is just "dead for now".

Later kids.

LOTS going on ... LOST going on!

2009-01-30T18:28:00.000-05:00

The demos for the 12 songs are just about done. I think I'll have them finished by Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I may post some on Facebook/MySpace. I'll let you know.

Now, some news ... the wife and I are moving. Eight blocks down. Silly, but we're gaining an extra bedroom and we're moving into the same building as my sister, so lots of plusses there. And we're not paying that much more for it (although initial moving costs are always a pain in the ass). So we're very much looking forward to it. We're deciding on paint colors now, we have a month of overlap at our current place, so we'll be painting and moving in over the next few weeks - which is why I want to finish these demos ASAP.

This probably also means I'll be delaying November Sessions to late-February at the earliest - most likely March. SORRY!

OK, now for LOST. HOLY CRAP!!! Charles Widmore is on the island as a young man. CRAZY. I did NOT see that coming. I love it, though. I wonder what Locke was thinking at that very moment ...

"Huh ... Charles Widmore's here. He was here before Ben was here. So who does this island belong to?"
"Huh ... Charles Widmore's here. Can I kill him? No ... wait ... I can't change the past. Or can I? Since I'm special!"
"Huh ... Charles Widmore's here. He's English."

And c'mon ... my thoughts about Ms. Hawking being Daniel Faraday's mother were all but confirmed, but now I'm thinking Ellie - the girl that was escorting him to the JUGHEAD with a gun pointed at him - IS Ms. Hawking. "Ellie" is short for Eloise, which, according to published reports (but impossible to find out by watching past episodes), is Ms. Hawking's first name. Eloise was also the name of Faraday's mouse in his lab.

Furthermore, did Ellie and young Charles get it on? Do they have a love child? Is that love child PENNY?!?! Jesus ... it's too much. BUT I LOVE IT.

Desmond naming his son Charlie - after the man who kept him and Penny apart AND after the man that sacrificed himself to bring them back together - was sweet as hell. And as a Filipino-Canadian-Texan-New Yorker, I'm glad to see that little Charlie Hume was born in the Philippines. REPRESENT! I just can't believe he went to see Widmore. Not good. NOT GOOD. Oh, and with Widmore telling Des that Faraday's mother is in Los Angeles (or as Des says it, "Los Angelees"), that pretty much all but confirms who Faraday's "next of kin" is, RIGHT?

No O6 footage this week, but I'm sure we'll get to see more of Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun & Ben on the next episode. Judging from the upcoming scenes, looks like Kate's gonna do "what she must do" in order to protect Aaron. !!!

OK, kids. I'll keep you posted on the new demos. Peace.

Throwing Hot Pockets

2009-01-24T02:48:00.000-05:00

Greetings. I've been working on the demos for the 12 songs ... hope to have them ready for you special people out there that I so dearly trust with sneak peaks of my music. I hope to finish them by this weekend.

OK. What a week! President Obama. That was something. But this week was also significant because it marked the return of LOST, which is, to me, the best scripted show on television right now. Season 5's season premiere - an airing of two hour-long episodes - was AWESOME.

The first scene - a flashback of Dr. Chang filming a Dharma Orientation Video - was FILLED with so much allegory, I would've been fine had the first episode ended with that close-up of Faraday's face. The time on the clock, the playing of a record, Willie Nelson's "Shotgun Willie", a BABY!!, the record skipping, the Barracks, the filming of the Orientation Video, the Orchid being built (looking all "incomplete-Death Star"-like), the drill bits melting, the construction worker bloody-nosed and passed out, the sonogram of the donkey wheel, Dr. Chang talking about manipulating time, Faraday's cameo ... AHH! What an opening!

On the mainland (and three years later ... well, after they left the island, anyway), the Oceanic 6 are all in Southern California, enjoying shelter, air conditioning, transportation, microwaves, hospitals, dishwashers, etc. But it's clear that they're all unhappy ... or, dare I say, LOST. I know Ben still has something up his sleeve, but I can't tell if he really wants the Oceanic 6 to return with him to the island, or if he's just trying to get back to the island and he knows that this is his only chance. And his meeting with Ms. Hawking at the end of the second hour ... WTF?!?! She has to be Faraday's mom, right?

I wasn't a fan of Ana Lucia, but it was cool to see her little cameo ... here's to hoping that they do that more and more before the series' end. We need more Libby and Mr. Eko, please. BRING THEM BACK.

On the island, time travel. It was a bit much going back and forth, but I trust it won't be that sporadic in the upcoming episodes. They'll still be going back and forth, just not as constantly as they were in the premiere ... like, every five minutes? That's going to get annoying ... FAST. I trust the writers agree with me ("trust" meaning "hope"). However, what a COOL way to portray the island's time-traveling capabilities. Too bad there aren't any time circuits around to tell you where you are, where you're going, and where you were. Doc Brown, please report to the Pearl Station immediately.

Locke's scenes were great. Seeing Yemi's plane crash was cool, and his brief conversation with Richard about how he will have to die to save the island ... they've anointed Locke Messiah already. I'm pretty sure he will die only to rise again - on the island. Brilliant. And the other Others ... the Anothers? ... too early to tell what's going on there. Are they Dharma? Are they from the past? The future? Do they have four toes? WE WANT TO KNOW.

Finally, Desmond. I love the role they've given him; his role in saving the island. It will be interesting to see if Faraday ever gets to plant anymore "reminders" with Des. Also, what will become of Penny? Will Ben get to her or will Des try to bring her to the island? SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.

There still one more season after this, but I'd like for the following mysteries to be solved sooner than later:

The four-toed statue

Who is Richard Alpert?

Why was Libby in the mental institution with Hurley?

Who are Adam & Eve?

Is Jin really dead?

Is Locke really dead?

Will Cheech find Chong?

'Til next week ...

Happy MLK Day

2009-01-19T12:34:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone's enjoying their holiday. You know, I think Martin Luther King Day is truly one of those holidays that actually means something. I know a lot of us just think of it as another Monday off, but with the events surrounding us this week, particularly the inauguration of the first African-American president, it's safe to say that this year, Martin Luther King Day bares more significance than President's Day, Labor Day, maybe even Columbus Day (sorry, Chris). So, you know ... enjoy your MLK Day.

I've been sick the past few days, so very little work has been invested on making the demos for the 12 new songs. But I hope to perhaps finish them this week ... I won't put too much work into them. They are demos, after all.

I'm thinking about making these 12 songs into another album. I still have to finish November Sessions and release that this century, but I like the way these new songs fit together. So, I told you what they're about ... album title suggestions are welcome!

Finally saw Frost/Nixon last night. Frank Langella is a rock star. I'm not old enough to remember Richard Nixon in the news, but from all the footage I've seen of him, I think Langella really nailed it. Portraying Nixon in a proud, pompous, and even sympathetic way ... that's pretty hard to pull off. To be able to go from completely despising a character, then kind of liking him, to finally feeling sorry for him is a pretty amazing feat - for the actor, the writers and the director. Everyone was great in this film and I strongly recommend it.

Later kids.

DONE!

2009-01-14T16:55:00.000-05:00

So, I did it. I wrote 12 songs in 12 days. What an amazing exercise. I'm so glad I did it. It was crunch time at the end, too, as I didn't write anything over the weekend and I had to write five in the last three days to meet my deadline. Well, I finished the 12th one a few minutes ago and I thought I'd post about the experience now.

When my old record producer presented this challenge to me, I was immediately intrigued and began brainstorming right away. Since I wanted to wait 'til after the holidays to start, I was forced not to put anything on paper just yet because I wanted the process to be as natural as possible. But with 12 songs, I wanted to have a theme and the wife suggested the months - 12 songs, 12 months, write about the months. Beautiful.

I then thought back to a Paul Simon interview where he said that when he's writing songs to construct an album, he likes to write songs in corresponding keys to the Circle of Fifths (musical terminology for you non-musicians). For instance, if he's just finished a song in E, he'll want to write the next one in B or G# minor, and so on and so forth, because through the course of an album (for those of us that still listen to ALBUMS), it's harmonically pleasing to the ear. So since there are 12 key signatures, I thought I'd do the same thing. Wonderful.

For the third element of these 12 songs, I wanted to lyrically tie them together. I was going to make it sort of one long storyline, but because I hadn't written anything down or outlined any sort of story, I abandoned that idea. Instead, all the songs are, in one way or another, about New York City - my adopted home of the past 3-plus years. And New York has so many things to write about. Perfect.

And now I'm done. Here are the (working) titles to the songs I wrote ... can't wait to share them with you:

(In the order of the months, January through December):

Cruise Control
Avalanche
On the Cusp of Something Great
Dear Aphrodite
May I
Father's Day
Hot Outside
No One's Gonna Save You with the World in Your Hands
Barely Contemporary
Halloween
Newfound Fears
Grateful

Almost there ...

2009-01-12T15:55:00.001-05:00

So this excercise turned out to be a bit harder than I thought. My deadline is Wednesday and I haven't finished a song since Friday. I've got ideas for a few tunes, but nothing's finished. So, seven songs done, a few ideas in the works, a total of 12 need to be done by end of day Wednesday.

AND, I've got a ton of things I need to do (non-related) between now and Wednesday.

OK, now I'm feeling the pressure a bit.

I'll get back to you.

Enjoy your week.

Halfway there

2009-01-09T00:20:00.000-05:00

Yo. Six days in, six songs written. I'm loving this challenge. I can't wait to tell you all the concept(s) I've chosen for this exercise. I think I may have an entirely new album by the time I'm done with this ... but I won't promise anything yet. I may come up with six final pieces of shit come next week. But if the first six are any indication, then it looks promising.

Since I last posted, I've written two more songs: "May I" and "Father's Day." The first one is really nice. The second one's OK. But I cannot WAIT to let you judge for yourself. MAN, this is exciting.

Thursday was Elvis' birthday. I celebrated by going piano shopping, running some errands, and updating to Logic Pro for my home recording setup, all the while listening to my Elvis playlist. I barely had time for any Elvis movie watching, but I did watch the first bit of Blue Hawaii and caught a special on Biography.

For your reading pleasure, and in honor of the King, here are the songs that compile my Elvis playlist. Suggestions are welcome if you determine a gem that's missing:

(In particular order)
That's All Right
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Baby, Let's Play House
Heartbreak Hotel
Money Honey
Blue Suede Shoes
One-Sided Love Affair
Shake, Rattle And Roll
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
Hound Dog
Don't Be Cruel
Love Me Tender
Love Me
Too Much
All Shook Up
Mean Woman Blues
Peace In The Valley
That's When Your Heartaches Begin
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
One Night
Loving You
Jailhouse Rock
Don't
A Big Hunk O' Love
Stuck On You
It's Now or Never
Such a Night
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Surrender
Blue Hawaii
Can't Help Falling in Love
Rock-A-Hula Baby
How Great Thou Art
I Believe
In The Garden
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
It Is No Secret What God Can Do
The Lady Loves Me
C'mon Everybody
You'll Never Walk Alone
Little Sister
Suspicion
(You're the) Devil In Disguise
Too Much Monkey Business
In the Ghetto
Rubberneckin'
Suspicious Minds
A Little Less Conversation
If I Can Dream
An American Trilogy

Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.

Call me "Butter"

2009-01-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

Hi. So, I'm on a bit of a roll with this 12 songs in 12 days challenge that my old producer presented with me (see my last blog on the matter). I'm four days in and have four songs done. Of the four, I think I've written one really good one, a couple of nice ones and one OK one. Not bad, methinks.

I've already told you about "Cruise Control" and "Avalanche," but I've since completed a couple of other ditties called "On the Cusp of Something Great" and "Dear Aphrodite." CanNOT wait to share all of these with you.

Was glad to see Scrubs back on the air - and on a new network, no less. It premiered with two episodes back-to-back. The first one was ehh ... OK. The second one, however, was CLASSIC SCRUBS. It was really well done. They recycled a familiar plot, but it's one that works REALLY well with this show. I was very happy about it.

Now, just 15 days until the premiere of LOST!!! But before that, we have the premieres of Flight of the Conchords, Big Love, and a new president to inaugurate. So much TV, so little room on the DVR.

Take care kids.

Challenge!

2009-01-04T16:21:00.000-05:00

Hello people! So a few days before Christmas, my old record producer MD was in town from Houston. We haven't done any work together since we recorded The Pool Table Matter EP in late 2005, but we still keep in touch. I met him and his wife Amy at Cafe Lalo on 83rd and Amsterdam for lunch.

Anyway, we got to talking about what I'm doing and the new songs I have slated to concoct what will eventually be my fifth album, November Sessions. I hadn't played him anything from the collection of new songs since he's a busy guy, so we just talked about where my songwriting's gone since the first song we recorded together. I hope you'll agree with me on the notion that it's matured a bit, mostly lyrically, and somewhat musically. One of my buddies says the songs are a lot more diverse - something done intentionally unintentionally (or vice versa) ... if you know what I mean.

So MD presented me with a challenge. He wants me to write 12 songs in 12 days. Doesn't matter what comes out - just write 12 songs in 12 days and see what happens. This challenge excited the hell out of me and I immediately starting thinking of ideas, trying really hard not to put anything on paper just yet. I have a really cool conceptual idea which was suggested by the wife, and I think I'm going to follow through with it. I started yesterday and wrote a song called "Cruise Control." I'm about halfway done with a second song today, tentatively titled "Avalanche."

Sorry, that's all I'm divulging at the moment. Who knows? We may ALL be in for a surprise!

Anyway, this may produce a whole new album right away (don't worry - I'll still release November Sessions, as it's an album I've been working on for three years now), but it may produce 12 songs of crap. Hopefully at least a handful of gems. We'll see ...

By the way, saw Yes Man with the wife yesterday. Was supposed to see Frost/Nixon, but unfortunately it was sold out. Yes Man's OK. Not the best Jim Carrey flick. Was great to see Rhys Darby in action, though. And Zooey Deschanel is adorable as always. But in all honesty, you can wait 'til TBS inevitably airs it on a weekly basis.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T22:55:00.000-05:00

Greetings. I've blogged before, but one of my New Year's Resolutions is to do it more often and to keep them short and sweet. I'm also doing this for my music site, so you'll read a lot about what I'm doing with my career and what I'm working on musically, etc., but I'll also drop in the occassional random thought(s).

Anyway, as 2009 begins, I'm trying to finish November Sessions, an album three years in the making. I'll take this opportunity to tell the story of November Sessions:

When I moved to New York in January of 2006, I had just completed my last EP, The Pool Table Matter (available here on iTunes). I moved to New York to boost my career and to get things going with my music, but life got in the way. The reality of surviving financially in this city forced me to work a 9 to 5. Being a newlywed and a new New Yorker took a lot of adjusting as well, leaving very little time for sitting in a room and jotting down ideas.

Having started working and immediately overcome with the staleness of an office job, I became inspired (living in New York didn't hurt either), and in November of 2006, I wrote about a dozen songs in a matter of weeks, maybe even days (I can't remember), all dealing with the strains of feeling locked down and knowing that all it takes is for me to quit whining, get off my ass and JUST START CREATING.

A couple of years and a few more songs later, I've since tracked about 18 songs and I'm in the process of mixing, re-editing and deciding which ones will eventually end up on November Sessions. I hope to be finished with the album by this month. For now, you can still get all my music on iTunes and check out some great videos of past performances on YouTube and Facebook.

I'll keep you guys posted on the progess of Sessions. Until then, Happy New Year and here's to a GREAT 2009. Let's make it happen!