HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! TWO THOUSAND MUTHERFUCKIN’ NINE. cRAZY. cOOL. A doorway.

And wow, what a year at hand. Red carpets are rolled and agendas are scrolled as we hit the road again and travel the land. We took 2008 out with a band and a bang and a lot of un-retired streamers in the air. It culminated with reflections of all that we conquered and gratitude for every momentous adventure that we came to share.

Last I wrote, I was about to set out on a week long Colorado tour with Turbine and after changing my flight twice and learning how to drive in the snow, It was really one of the funnest weeks ever.

I met up with the guys as they were just arriving into the Colorado from the first long leg of their cross country tour. We had a few days to chill and enjoy the snow and festivities for Christmas and then it was time to get back on the road and set out into the mountains. The first night of music was in Steamboat Springs and I was so amazed that the town looked exactly like one of the model sets of towns that you see in toy store windows next to the train sets, it was so interesting, so cute. With real snow and everything. That night, the show was rockin’ and the dance floor was hot. I got to hear my first live version of Teleport and get down front row with the sound engineer who was blown away. After the show, many of the newly converted fans stayed to thank the band and get the 411 about where they’re from and when what just happened can happen again. It was a joy to share in the night with my friends again. The next night we hightailed it to Vail for a super fun show at The Sandbar where an old school “Team Focker” sticker was spotted. Next night, Boulder and back at The Red Fish, which I love that place and we celebrated Froey’s birthday in style. Night four brought us back into a mellow elevation back in Denver where Turbine played Highland Pacific for the Moboogie.net party and it was a rage. The renouned Colorado artist, Scramble Campbell was in the house that night and immortalized the band in an awesome painting of the live show. Banjo, Stefani and I also made it into the painting and it hangs in the venue as a memory of the great night in all it’s glory.

The next day came upon me to quick and I just barely made it to the airport on the last flight out just in time to get back to California for the first night of a 2 night new years run up in San Francisco with all my friends and Tea Leaf Green, I couldn’t believe I made it…but I did.

The two NYE shows were an absolute blast and I most definitely enjoyed the call I got 5 minutes before midnight. Celebrations and elations were all in high spirits and fine forms. Again, Happy 2009 and let’s rock the hell outta this year!

As I write this now, I am mentally preparing for my next journey. I will be driving the distance across the desert to meet up with my friends and the band again in fabulous Las Vegas. After which then, I am honored to escort Turbine into our fine state of California for their first time and prepare to rock it fron the bottom all the way to the top. Las Vegas>San Diego>Lake Forest>Los Angeles>Long Beach>San Francisco>Big Sur>Santa Cruz!>Lake Tahoe>Sacramento>Berkeley>Laytonville>Humboldt.

See you along the way mi amigos!

-Mgmt.

Filed under: General by phoreal

The month is now December and it’s a good time to remember the greatest year so far and of course all of it’s splendor…

Tea Leaf Green came out with a fantastic new studio record as did Britney Spears and they both relate to a Circus type theme, Turbine finally announces their first west coast tour so as to conquer the dance floor on the left side scene. We started the year off in Amsterdam, and Ireland, Berlin and Spain, Where a huge contingency of the company raged the greatest music festival and danced in the eastern European rain. Yes decided to head out on a tour without an ailing Jon Anderson aboard..WTF*ck!, however, Phish announced they’re getting back together and would prove this time to have better luck. I recently saw that a John Denver tune was featured on a commercial on TV, which was far beyond bizzare but set high the bar of the random things that can occur musically. Hova and B announced unity while the B-Boys played red states around the country. And beautiful songs were written, I adopted a kitten, and sights got set on roads ahead for the labels growing entity. We lost a few great artists yet gained many new friends, Obama’s in the White house and gives hope a residence.

Even in outter space just last week Venus orbited parallel to Jupiter, a sight not seen again until 2052 and I wonder then where will I be on tour?

This Saturday night at San Francisco’s famous venue, Cafe Du Nord, we got a very special musical treat in the form of the line-up and the whole event in itself. Trevor Garrod Band was in and the man himself was joined with Mr. Sean Leahy on guitar, Scotty Rager on drums, Dan Lebowitz on Slide and Steve Adams on Bass. It appeared that almost everyone made it out for this annual show and it was such a sweet night of silliloquies that sugarplums themselves would’ve danced in their own heads. It was great to see everyone in fine festive form and I look forward to our year end company meeting and New Year’s awesomeness of abundant celebrations at The Mezzanine with Tea Leaf motherfuckin’ Green!

Until then, I’m taking off a week from today to go to beautiful Colorado to spend the holidays with Turbine on their winter run out there, hitting quite a few venues up in the mountains. To say i’m very excited for this is an understatement and it will be my first ever actual white christmas ever! L.A. never really could make it happen. So, yeah, well, wow, stoked.

Until NYE…i’m with limited computer access for the next week and I leave town again soon after but before I do; I’d like to thank everyone for a wonderful and successful year of exuberant fun filled musical adventures and with all of my intentions, how they are extreamly honored to bestow the best of wishes to all of you from the bottom of my heart, and then back up to the top of my heart, and also including the aura surrounding my heart. In other words, All of my love to you all! You are f’n fantastic and I will See you soon!

Amor,

-Mgmt

Filed under: General by phoreal

“But where the ink is wet, the cause, effects
What’s meant by it?
The story that is incomplete
The picture’s left unfinished
So I am writing my own ending
I let my pen bleed black or blue
And I will color in the meaning
It will be gold and green and shrewd
And I’ll learn to love my new discovered proof
I’ll be grateful for this day
I will be grateful for each day to come ”

-Bright Eyes

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Mad Love,

-Mgmt.

Filed under: General by phoreal

I mean really… Wow, what an incredible week to week of great music and awesome times that swirled in our world like a storm.  A storm of epic porportions outside and on the dance floor and like lightening catching the wilderness on fire within my soul. The totality of days culminated the celebrations of the many ways that we party it up for our birthdays, half birthdays and all the many other reasons to get together and do what we do. And I speak on the companys behalf…for those who know…aw yeah

It started out on Thursday and I couldn’t agree more, that Thursday is the gateway to all that the weekend has in store. I got the party rollin’ at about 8 o’clock and headed out the door, I was first to arrive to greet the band and jive and then take it to the floor. A band of my good friends from San Francisco (area) was the first to grace the stage, they go by the name of FIVE EYED HAND and man, they are they rage. We danced it up and filled our cups until the night ran out. And that’s exactly how a good night goes and what it’s all about.

The next night was our friend Friday and so I headed up the coast. With a gorgeous sunset drive and feelin’ amazingly alive, ya know that’s when we rock the most. So upon entering the city the plans started coming through, pre-game action satisfaction carried it right on cue.  The show tonight was BLUE TURTLE SEDUCTION at the legendary Connecticut Yankee with many folks coming out, and at midnight it would turn my birthday and so i’d then surrender to the clout. Had sushi before the show at this place I found randomly in the Mission, it was a Live music sushi bar and not too far to walk right over to the venue where I was wishin’. Hahaha, alright, that was fun, but now, I gotsta move on in regular lingo. So, yeah, It was an absolutely super fun festive feast of groovage and we took it to the bridge. The band brought it for an outta hand show and represented for us in the special surroundings and then…  We really did, we brought it to the f’n bridge. After the show when we decided to go with a crew of a few we headed over to bridge to Oakland afterwards where we entertained a dance party til dawn. Thanks for all the hospitality folks!

I was stoked to awaken back home in Santa Cruz the next day to the fine feeling of another year. I took the day just like any other but a little bit slower and sweeter and all along with a smile. As the night neared again it nudged me in the direction of the music once more and it was off to the city for round two…or twenty two but who’s counting? Another beautiful drive and my phone blew up the whole way and I gotta say that all the calls that came in were the absolute accentuation of my day. I couldn’t have felt happier from all the words from my friends and all the songs sung to me by my favorite musicians that serenaded my way back up to the city, simply the best feeling I could explain, thank you, I really do have the best friends ever.

So Saturday night fever was upon us and we gathered here and there, the show that night was GALACTIC and it was ON!…that was clear. After fancy Martinis and the stroll with my bad ass crew through the Jazz District, we headed into one of my favorite venues, The Fillmore, and proceeded to acclimate ourselves accordingly. The show was the second of a two night run and it was a serious funk get down throw down non-stop blast! At one point the lighting guy had the lights going all crazy and lighting up all the grandiose chandaliers above the dance floor and at one really cool point, the very observant OB noticed that the chandaliers were being lit up only at the tops and flickering so they all looked like birthday cakes! It was so awesome and our bellies laughed whole heartidly in the excitement. Good lookin’ out OB! And thanks to everyone who shared in the party on this night, it was definitely my best birthday all around to date. F’n awesome.

Sunday morning came too soon and once we all came out of our nooks and crannies of the city and called a rally to this really cool place i’d never been before right on Ocean Beach called The Beach Chalet. Several of us met up to enjoy the spectacularly gleaming ocean view and indulge in debonair coctails on what would appear to be the most beautiful November day that San Francisco has ever seen. I had an interesting sandwich that i’d never heard of before and the best Mojito ever. It was so hot outside that I got a fall tan just by walking down the street, crazy I tell ya. Overall, it was a fantastic way to wrap up a stellar weekend in the city with friends, fun, freedom and funk. Fuck yeah!

Til next rhyme mi amigos… Mad love to ya all!

Next up…BYRON SPACE CIRCUS at The Crow’s Nest TONIGHT!

And for all you East Coasters; TURBINE plays their last NYC show of 2008 @ The Knitting Factory this Friday!

It really doesn’t ever stop…

See ya there!

-Mgmt

Filed under: General by phoreal

Thursday 11/13: Five Eyed Hand rocks it @ Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz

Friday 11/14: Blue Turtle Seduction @ The Connecticut Yankee, San Francisco

Saturday 11/15: Galactic @ The Fillmore, San Francisco

See you on the left side!

Cheers!

-B

Filed under: General by phoreal

It’s 2 am and i’m freezing, soaking wet and laughing.

I just pulled my little row boat out of the water and the oceans water is still stinging my eyes as I wring out my hair. I’m still laughing.

I’m laughing at the whole thing and my friends can hear me from miles out into the sea as my voice echos in the distance.

I didn’t do it for anybody else except for the pure thrill of being alive. And for music. And to see my friends off and maybe catch one show. It’s not like I didn’t have the money, or the time, it was just like I said, for the thrill of fun. This was evident.

It was dark and cold and I didn’t really have a plan and I didn’t even want to stay long. I can’t even remember where it all even began, like a dream, no end and no beginning. I didn’t even want to go to the islands, I think that’s why I brought my own boat and attached it to the side of the ship when I got there. I knew I wanted to jump ship before we got to Cuba or sooner I presume. How far is Cuba? This whole task for sure was an ardent dedication and I was determined. It felt like fierce passion at the time and I was laughing on the inside.

When I actually caught up to the ship and tied off my little boat, I climbed up to the side and heard the music kick it. Heady was the first person that I saw and he quickly concealed me and brought me to RJ and Stacey and then Chris showed up too and we started dancing, I think that it was JFJo that was on stage because I definitely remember the smile on Reed Mathis’ face.

I heard the staff of boat crew scurring around asking why there was a row boat attached to the side of the ship and that someone must have stowed away. I knew they’d just follow the water trail so I said my piece and danced my last desire and after a quick bon voyage to my friends I hurried back to to my boat to head out. That apparently was good enough for me, that was all I came to do. We were only about 20 miles out to sea and off the coast of Florida and I could still see land so I hopped in my little boat just in time to say “Sayonara!” to the staff as they screamed their obsenities at me. I was still laughing.

When I returned to the dock and the chilly waters of the Atlantic, the crew guys at the dock looked at me in amazement and one of them handed me a sandwich. My hair dripped cold waters onto the bread and made it all soggy but I ate it anyway, it had been an exhausing adventure. Worth it, that’s how I felt and I couldn’t explain why.

It was an awesome dream. Really it was about sneaking onto Jam Cruise! I have no idea why but it was hilarious and so real, I had to wake up and write it down. I have plans in January already and that’s what’s so funny, it truely felt like it was just a quest in the name of music and fun. Good night. Sweet dreams.

-B

Filed under: General by phoreal

Last night on November 4th we all partook in the most historical election that our country has ever witnessed. With the world’s eyes on our country’s hopes, we proved our victory in promise with change and reconstruction towards the things that have bruised our reputation and slaughtered our integrity to the entire planet.  And now with our recent election that has been viewed at like an anxious cat awaiting to pounce on the mouse when he exits his cavern, we have the good word and we move forward with much excitement and pride. We can possibly even be accounted for having some ethics and compassion too.

My first thought on all this was for the world. We had so much riding on all of this and we needed to show who we really are, and to be heard through all of the violence and silence to show that our nation is filled with so much greatness beyond how we were previously portrayed as a whole. I remember walking down the street in Ireland this past March and OB and I were approached by two 80 year old Irish chaps who felt compelled to question what we thought about our American politics and they were angered with the residual effect that the United States has on the world. It was to my assurance that many of us felt the same with them and that what we sought was change too. Though feeling as though you are culprit just by being an American, we could only wish that any change for the good would come in a manner more rapid than we could forsee, but it was a equation that we had to construct in a time will tell sort of fashion. The really cool thing though is that by the gathering of so many opinions, frustrations and ideas, it generated the energy of everyone and gave hope to the greater good which filled the entire nation with purpose.

My second thought was selfish. I understand that fingers were being pointed all around us as residents of the US, but there are so many of us and a lot of us that travel and share with the world and others our views and how much we were against the current administration and that we really are a nation of more good people than bad. Well, to me, as a solo traveller, a blond hair, blue eyed, clearly american solo traveler, this means a lot to me personally because it reinstates my safety and my associations. I always have had to be on gaurd of myself when putting myself in unknown countries and situations but I would never, never, never, ever let that interfere with my profound sense of freedom while traveling. However, there was always a stance I had to take and of course still will have to take and that is awareness of others judgments. But I feel that this may have lessened the strain on particular opinions of US citizens and that to me is an awesome feat to be recognized.

Not only is this such a historical accomplishment to turn the tables on what we have done but it is so much an act of excitement to show where we are going and it really rounds the course as to what America stands for and was built upon. To watch both canidates speaches last night was very powerful. The nation divided as it would appear by the close numbers and it was like a cowboy and indians movie. As we watched on both CNN and Democracy Now, with my two compadres Brian and Chris, we noted the intensity and directness of both sides, though only one side we thouroughly resonated with. Watching Obama speak in every instance is like watching an art gallery curator tend to a work of fine art. …..

-

I didn’t get to make it up to CA and Joe’s election party due to still recovering from the weekend of running amuck through the rain and ingesting my bodyweight in cocktails, however, it was a radical thing to open my front door and be able to hear the sound of champagne bottles pop off up and down the streets to miles away and cars honking and people celebrating in every direction. Even as I drove to work today, everyone was smiling. I also enjoyed watching the footage from Times Square to Kenya and experiancing what an impact this all is on the entire world. Wow, what an awesome time to live in for sure. It really pulls us all together and sends a lot of positivity out in to the world at a time that needs it the most. Makes me wish I could always be with the ones that I love to share in times like this. Let’s rock it onward bound!

-B

Filed under: General by phoreal

The time has arrived and we’re fully supplied for the last music fest of the year. My fun meter is dialed and my vehicle is styled with my friends and strange costumes and beer.

Las Tortugas music festival has proved to be unlike any other and the festivities are in ample abundance. We got friends flying out from all over the country and the whole west coast chapter in full swing and although I am arriving a day late, I know i’ll be right on time.

The festival itself is in the most beautiful location in the forested splendor of Yosemite and we all stay in decorated cabins and make a short walk to the stages that host our favorite west coast bands. Tea Leaf Green is the headliner again this year and we also got ALO, Blue Turtle Seduction, Cornmeal, Sean Leahy Band, HBR, The Mother Hips, Guitarmegeddon, and tons more.

Last night, 3-one and I went down to Moe’s Alley for the Blue Turtle Seduction show and it was a great warm-up for the weekend. The guys were really excited and it showed all the way. It is however, their festival that they’ve put on for 3 years now and it keeps growing each year. Last year was my first year as well as many of us and the hype we brought back boosted enough to double the size of the festival and increased the amount of bands booked and I think they also added one more stage. Kick…ass.

I actually met a gal at the concert last night whose middle name is ironically “Bethany” and I spoke about the festival and now her and her boy will be joining us in the party and riding with us up there! After a few more hours of work, I pick up P Stone from the aeropuerta this evening and then we roll. I’d also like to take this moment to wish my uber lovely Bublita a very extraordinary birthday today, I love you!

And off we go…

See you all there!

-Mgmt

Filed under: General by phoreal

Like an eagle that flies over its chosen landscape and glides among the winds with poise and ease, my journey of the places i’ve been resembles the overview shared with the eagle, and it’s where I land that I can call home. I like to land in New York just as much as California. Where do I begin? Where have I been? Where do I go next? Where is my pen?

Not more than ten hours ago I was at the airport in Syracuse, New York and as I sat waiting for the schedule of flights to be announced I felt as if I could go either way; get on the plane or stay.

My gratitude guided me in the direction to travel back west and the reflections of the beautiful insanity that was my adventures in New York and all points in between took me home with a  heartbeat like a wild drum, and I felt fulfilled and I feel satisfied with where I had to leave off for the time being.

It all started in Boston. The first week that I arrived in Boston it was all work and chosen play. I was in town for work and when we represent for a company, we are professionals. And true to that, when we play, we are professionals. The whole work aspect was a success and at the same time it catered to evenings of networking and industry hosted musical activity so we were pleased. The days were set to be busy and locked into business but the nights, well, they were all fair game. The first night out we hit the town with an old friend Kevin. First he brought us to a great Italian restaurant where I couldn’t pronounce anything on the menu so I ordered a salad and a bottle of wine. The waiter was authentic and so were the mafia guys in the corner who ended up inviting us out for cigars. After what led into a raucous chocolate cake incident, we closed the place and headed out into the old cobblestone streets for drinks. Deep in the heart of the city, we got to experience the nightlife of Boston in its many different quadrants and the folks were friendly and the music scene was just right. Fun folks in Boston, yeah, they like to dance.

The second night there, the event coordinators threw an industry party at a really cool old, old ballroom called The Roxy Ballroom, in downtown Boston and Galactic was the band at hire. We took an exciting train ride from our hotel and got to the venue right on time. I hadn’t seen Galactic in years and they were better than ever and I was thoroughly impressed with their progression. They are no longer just a NOLA band, they have spanned dimensions and have dove into including a three piece brass section who are also hip hop freestyle lyricists and everyone in the band is now at the top of their game. It was such a great show that the Red Socks won and after the concert was over, the packed dance floor turned into a dance party that played actually choice picks to get down to. At one point in the night the music stopped and the playoffs game came on a TV screen that lowered in the middle of the floor and showed a home run hit that made the whole place go crazy and then the screen raised up and the dancing resumed even harder, it was awesome and i’d never seen anything like it. Boston has mad spirit. And that translates into mad fun!

So after five days of work and play with my trusty cohort, Katie, she turned in her conservative badge and raged it to the nine with me and by the last day of our event, she was in awe of the fun that she never bargained for and she was caked. Perfectly timed, my good friend Topaz from Maine came down by train to hang with us and carry on with me on our last night in town. Now, It just may be appropriate to give an award to the people who can hang with me whilst I am traveling. After spending a week in Boston where we lived each day to the fullest amount of capacity on the fun meter, my friends were taking those 5 hour energy shots just to be able to go out again. On our last night in town, Topaz and I hit up the Railroad Earth show at the Paradise Lounge. We called ahead and tickets were still on sale so we rolled up to the venue with bells on only to discover the disappointing sign that denied us tickets. Sold out. What? Sold out my foot. Without hesitation, I walked straight up to the cheif in charge and pulled out my California ID and my very last remaining Phoreal Records sticker (Viva!), and I told him that I wanted to get into this show and I would write a review of the band and the venue. He asked who I wrote for and I said with pride, “Phoreal Records of course”. Next thing ya know, we’re handed two tickets and on our way in right as the band takes the stage. So, we stroll to the left side and stationed ourselves with a good view, dancing room and bar access. The venue had great sound all around and a nice balcony that wrapped around above the stage as well as tier levels that staggered on each side which accomodated to the packed audience and gave ample room for comfort. I’m not too familiar with many RRE tunes but what they played was rockin’ and the energy in the club was bumpin’. It was actually the first time I had seen Tim Carbone shred it on guitar in addition to the fiddle and an accordian, he’s such an incredible musician and an overall bad ass. We raged the show and then on our way out, I ran into Tim and he recognized me from the radio show last year that Dgold and I did with him and  Tea Leaf Green. We chatted for a minute and then we bounced off into the night. Huge thanks to Chris Russell, the venue manager and Jesse, the bouncer, you guys rock!

So after the very great show we decided to make a short trek to check out the legendary Fenway Park which was recommended to me as the place I must see in Boston by all my friends who use to live there. And it turned out to be an unforgettable evening. I park right next to the field and we got out and started to walk around it to check it out. I called my Bostonian friends, Sean Leahy and OB and to share the experience with them and they were stoked. Topes is a huge Red Sox fan too and she gave me an indepth and detailed historical tour as we strolled around. At one point we got to a chain link fence and Topes told me to look through and we could see a tiny bit of the field. Just then, we were approached by the night security. Topes and him start chatting it up for a minute and we expressed our excitement to be there. About a minute later, in mid sentence, the security guard starts to unlock the gate and says “I’m not suppose to do this but…” and he swings open the door and invites us in to the park! I don’t think i’ve ever seen Topes light up so bright and we just looked at eachother and proceed in. We were treated to a few great stories and a tour of park and at 3am, we were elated. The security guy said that he had played on the field when he was 16 years old and with one of his idols. He was 56 now and you could still see the gleam in his eye as he spoke. I just listened to the two of them share tales of the park and I took in all the history while the two people next to me were smiling like the sun. After many thanks and shared gratitude we headed out of the park and on our way. We rolled on down the street like giddy teenagers, laughing and giving each other numerous high fives. I decided that I would call OB again to tell him and in the most classic phone pick up ever, OB answers and instead of saying “Hello”, he says “Don’t tell me that you were just inside Fenway Park”.Fucking classic! And that’s how well one is known by their friends.

I can’t say enough about how much the town of Boston showed us an incredible time. I mean really, Oh my Cod. We were there for 6 days and even though I had to work long days, the nights were unstoppable! Oh My Cod. Really, I think we adequately conquered Boston.

Up next it was the long awaited time to pack up and travel on to my beloved second home, New York City. I got in at about 6pm and Heady and Macky were meeting up with me at an old pub in central Manhattan. Safety Consultant joined us within the hour and we took the party to Revival and raged it there, plugged in our ipods, learned new dance moves and cheersed the night until we were ready to take it elsewhere. After a few hours and while in mid dance routine, Jeremy walked through the door and joined in the party to complete my excitement for the night. Now that my welcoming committee had solidified, it hit me that I was exactly where I wanted to be more than anywhere else in the world. I was so stoked to finally be in NYC. We decided at the witching hour that it was high time to have a jam session over at Headys so we high tailed it into Brooklyn. The next morning, Jaymes met up with me in Greenwich Village to check out this incredible art gallery that was over the top and by far the coolest art exhibit we’ve ever seen, ever. It was set up by the artist Banksy and it was a mock pet shop that was an engineering feat of genius created from an artistic mind. It’s hard to explain but do be sure to check out anything from the mastermind artist of Banksy, and New York City is his canvas so watch out. The photograph above is a shot I took of his art but is to no degree an example of the extent of what his work entails.

After the next few hours of parading around the village, and a stop at a killer Belgian beer bar, we jumped on the subway and headed back into Brooklyn for one of the main attractions of my trip, a special show by Turbine at The Lucky Cat Lounge and a gathering of many friends in the name of celebration. Turbine decided to put together this show and we put a party together to celebrate the birthday of Muleman and everyone came out and made this such a fun night. The band played a awesome set and the dance dial was cranked to 11. It was so great to see everyone and be back together with my favorite east coast crew and all together in one rock’n place!

I think I had crazy dreams that night of long winded music conversations on jazz and hardwood floors.

The next morning I caught a train heading north to Bridgeport Connecticut just in time for Muleman and I to hop in the car and drive up to Rhode Island to see Trey Anastasio at this amazing and super small club called Lupo’s in Providence. Fantastic show too and a wonderful time raging it again with Muleman. Trey was on top of the world and he also brought out special guests, Scott Muraski, Oteil Burbridge and Bill Kreutzman towards the end of the show for Get Back on the Train and First Tube. Well, I too eventually had to get back on the train and head back in to Manhattan to catch the next leg of the adventure which was to meet up with the Turbine boys and get back on the road. Destination, north.

Turbine tour Rocktober edition, awww yeah. We rolled out of the city at noon and were bound for glory upstate, Syracuse to be exact. The venue that night was appropriately called, The Westcott Theatre and was situated in a small town with a college crowd feel. The venue was large inside and had a grandiose stage. The entire theatre was scented with the age of 1920 and I loved it. The curtains were as ancient as the last movie that was played here back when it was an actual movie theatre with projection room and everything. The staff here was super cool to us and we got to hang out for two bands who played first and then Turbine was the headlining act of the night. Once geared up and good to go on stage, Turbine came at the night like a bat outta hell and threw down a monsterous concoction of rock and groove and this would prove to be the infamous night that the Syracutioner was born. The Syracutioner may now and forever be known as; the song, the jam, the drink, the dance. All of which are so evil and visciously fun that your head will roll…in the best way and in the kitchen whenever possible.

After Syracuse and a wonderful stay at the Bojack ranch, we boarded the trusty van and headed a bit more upstate to Sterling, Ny for the Halloween Hoedown festival which was right outside of ye ol’ Oswego. I go, you go, we all go, OSWEGO!  Ah, yeah, and it felt really nice to be back there again only with a different agenda but just as awesome. I was stoked that I switched my flight if only to stay one more day and true to that, what I considered to be the $300 show for the 6 million dollar woman, it was everything and more and just as epic as it could’ve ever have played out. It was raining and we got stuck in the mud and I recall wondering where the hell we were, and it was perfect. Upon arriving it was pouring and the promoter requested Turbine to start on stage as soon as they could load in and since there were no other bands that made it there yet, they were granted an open ended slot.

The whole show ended up being 2 sets and about 4 or 5 hours long, and I still didn’t want it to stop. The song selection and the way the guys threw down warmed my soul like hot cider and rum. There was hay on the ground which eased the dance floor but I still had to donate my shoes and socks to the Gods of the mud in the name of rage that was the music on such the rainy day turned rockin night. As far as the second set, I remember consecutively thinking that it was my perfect song setlist and at some point in the night, Jeremy brought the Syracutioner back out of its cage and we introduced the dance that we created to the rest of the audience. Awesome.

In lieu of even wanting to think back to mention the sad act of me having to leave the next day to go home, stoked, yes, but compelled to go back, no…  I’ll just say that…

Lastly, the Kalamatta olive is the best olive in its species. No contest.

tHANKS!

Thanks again Turbine and I can’t wait to have you out here in January and thanks so much to New York. Mwah!

-B

Filed under: General by phoreal

“I’ll be right there, I’m on my way…”

Hey y’all, Happy Columbus Day and with it what a better way, to start into with what I have to say, regarding such this holiday. And I’m not going to get into all the actuality of the day by depicting its distant historical means, even though those thoughts reign true too but because it is a day of elation and celebration that is felt closer to home. For this day is a day of my friends and family as just like every year, we celebrate 4 beautiful Birthdays today. My super awesome brother Chris, My best friend Brian, My New Jersey Sugaree and My San Francisco Mistress, Miss Hug n’ Kiss! I love you all like the wind loves fire and it was good to connect this weekend wherever you were while doing much of the fanciful things that you do. Hats off to you! And also so true is a great song to go along with this day, Columbus Day, a tune by Turbine, I listen to it in the meantime, while I get ready to rock it on the east coast. Is it ready?

I head out to Boston tomorrow and will be there for about a week. After that I will hop a train to NYC for the festivities that follow thereafter. Then Connecitcut, Rhode Island, and a last train to Maine and maybe somewhere in mid New York but more on that later…

I’ve taken the bandages off my hands and my knee should heal back in a few days after my awesomely questionable Eddie Van Halen stage jump, so I’m prepared in all aspects for a change of scenery. I am however putting myself in precarious situations at all times, more so as of late, because it is my choices that intrigue me and may my pen be the only vice that sustains them all.

Ok, so it’s starting to get colder in this coastal town and that makes the parties that happen inside get a lot warmer. Concerts gather the crowds like blankets and the unspoken lullabies of the season bring entertainment in obscure ways. Music is the silk robe that I wear throughout the year and venues are the slippers that keep my dancing feet warm when skies are gray.

We had a few performances that went down this weekend that were engaged in by a few members of the company. Our Artist in Vegas stepped up to the mic with Moksha as ToofaR.J. sang “The Gambler” with all his glory and he literally embodied Kenny Rogers while up on the stage and as soon as I get the go ahead to release the youtube video, you will be able to see how fabulous this performance was! Way to go R.J.!!!

I got on stage with Naomi and the Courteous Rudeboys for a dance performance on Friday night that was quite a hilarious sight, and for your viewing delight, you can check it here:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxTndM2UWYg

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrChPe58SKU

Next up…I must rest and awaken too early to catch a flight into other timezones. I’ll bring a jacket.

Be well.

-B

Filed under: General by phoreal