Friday, August 27, 2010

The Speakeasy



I am very pleased to say that I host/organize/promote/etc. my own open-mic. It’s called The Speakeasy, and it’s been in existence for over a year now, which is a blessing unto itself.



I am also very pleased to announce that we’ve moved to a new location. This past Monday, we made our debut at The Office (901 Carter St.). The turnout was great, especially when you consider that we’ve been off for a month. The energy was incredible, the staff members were cool, etc. I think we’re going to make a good fit, especially once the rust shakes off and we hit our stride.



You know, I’m a pretty private person, so I’m going to divulge just a little bit here. Last year around this time, I had a lot weighing down on me in my personal life. For a span of months, The Speakeasy was the highlight of my week, my refuge, and my source of inspiration. I, honestly, funneled all of my energy into it, and I sincerely feel that it played a vital role in saving my life.



It is very moving, given all of that, to see what Speakeasy has become, and to witness the opportunities that have come along, and the passions of those who attend. If you are in or around Chattanooga on a Monday night, I strongly encourage you to come pay us a visit. We’re always open for more members of the family.



Blessings

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Loopstock 2



I had a blast last night at Loopstock 2. It was dope, and I was very honored to be a part of it. For those of you who couldn't be there, I've got a few videos that you can see if you so choose.



What was most interesting to me was seeing how each of us who played the show operated with the loop station. The process is fascinating, and I found it really intriguing how each of us constructed our songs.



We had our fair share of difficulties (wiring problems, broken guitar picks, MISSING guitar picks, etc.), but it was tremendously fun. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and not just because I had the opportunity to share the music I've been working on.



I debuted a few new songs last night. I played "Short Eyes" for the first time in front of anyone, and it came out pretty well. It's the 4th song that I've been working on that I'm currently interested in putting on a demo.

Well folks, that's enough from me. Be good to each other out there.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Night & the City: Upcoming Gig & PLANS!



Hey Folks,

First off, I’d like to invite everyone who comes across this to come out to the Market St. Tavern this Saturday. Mr. Butch Ross, Mr. Kevin Klein, and I will be playing in an event called Loopstock. Each of us will be showcasing songs using loop stations. It’ll be a lot of fun, and it’s something that I’m really looking forward to.

I’m very happy that N&TC boasts my good friend Travis Kilgore on bass live. I enjoy playing the material solo, too, and it’s because there’s a different relationship to the songs. When Travis and I are playing, we feed off each other musically. When I’m playing the songs by myself, the dynamic changes, and it’s more about my mood. It certainly keeps things fresh for me, and, hopefully, for people who’ve seen N&TC more than once.



As an aside, I have four songs that I’m interested in recording for a demo. Once I get that knocked out, I’d like to work on fleshing out some things production-wise and then concentrate on new material. I’d like to incorporate vocals on future songs, and the beats will, most likely, be more elaborate (along the lines of the stuff I’ve produced in the past under the Wetworks guise). Also, don’t be surprised if there are synths and other knickknacks that appear.

Well folks, that’s about it for me right now. Hope to see you Saturday. Stay in the loop!