Monday, February 27, 2006

Spinning Wheel Got to Round

Yow. My world is spinning in so many different directions, I don't know what the hell is up! Upheavel at work. Upheavel with a friend in CA. The whirlwind speed that the Red Room is moving at. Trying to plot who I can and can't go see while SXSW (read: south by so what here in San Antonio...heehee!) s going on. Just trying to keep my sanity enough to feed the cats and myself,and the fish, with some regularity.

Well, never let it be said that my life is boring. I have had boring before, and it's no fun.

My beloved Del Castillo is West Coast bound tomorrow AM, to play several gigs with Styx at four different House of Blues locations. Then home for awhile before the CD is out and all heck breaks loose for them again.

Lanky is apparently getting by with upbroken strings out there in the southish area he's driving around in.

Billy is being quiet, but Buttercup, Los Mescaleros, and whole bunches of other folks aren't!

Brotherhood is playing several gigs over the next month with national acts like Bleed The Sky, (hope that means something to somone out there, 'cos I am really not a big metal person.) We married off the bass player Saturday, and the first gig, down in Corpus Christi, is part of the honeymoon. Talk about a tolerant wife.....
Hey, Tracy fell for Brent while he was in Brotherhood; she had to know the score coming into this.

My bro's band Machine Head is back in the studio, to follow up the absolute monster "Through the Ashes of Empires." This means hopefully a new tour by year's end. I may have to go to Europe to see one of these 100,000 person crowds they play for there. Gotta be mind blowing.

I am so exhausted and yet unable to rest right now. Too much going on, and no one to help me get rid of the energy!!! ah well. Another weekend of music looms before me. Just have to get through this week.

that's it for now. this reporter is signing out.
Catch you on the rebound!

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Finally

I feel I have been remiss, but it has been a slow time since the holidays. I finally have new pictures up on the Webshots site. There is a new folder of some one-off shots of Lanky, not my best work, but neat venues, and then the Valentine's Grackle done earlier this month at the infamous Wiggle Room. Ms Hilary York opened for the Cup, who sat in with her, and then she sat in with them. It was a delightful evening all the way round. Still to come are pictures from New Year's Eve, spent with my friends in Jelly Jar at a private home in South Austin. A very very nice way to bring in the New Year, and a great start to what is more and more promising to be a very interesting year!
Things are about to start picking up, with SXSW coming, the new listening space The Red Room here in San Antonio, and the new Del Castillo CD, Brotherhood, due out.
Oh yes, and the delightful new release from Buttercup, Hot Love, still avaiable by phone to listen to. Details available on their website, www.buttercult.com. Lanky's been recording supposedly, and Billy too, though mostly for Steve Poltz. Jelly Jar has been back at Smilin' Castle Studios with producer of the year, Rick Del Castillo at the board. Like I said, 2006 looks to be an interesting year!

I personally could not be happier! After all, music is everything.


http://communtiy.webshots.com/user/jazzpjd


hope you enjoy- join the 24,000 other hits that have graced my lil site in the last year and a half! :)

Saturday, February 18, 2006

The Red Room

I may be taking a chance talking about this over a month before it sees the light of night (no daytime shows for now.) A friend here in SA and I have lamented for many months the lack of sucha place in SA, so we are endeavoured to start a listening room. It is a place for music nuts like ourselves to come hear people like Billy Harvey, Lanky, or other such bands play their quieter types of music without excessive talking, or other such normal bar -related interference. My friend Delphine is so gungho at the moment, it is almost scary, but there is light at the end of the tunnel I think. We have much work to do, to satisfy the needs of both artist and audience, but there are so many people out there we would like to see get better exposure in San antonio, we feel the chance is worth it. After all the miles I have put on my car to hear such performances in other Texas cities, I think it is about time to find a way to get the artists here, and give other people a chance to hear why I travel so much.

Being the eternal pessimist, I see all the potential pitfalls, but I am trying really hard to keep my chin up, and see the possibilites instead. I am hoping for success. I really want to make this city a haven for music, unlike Austin, which is more a haven for out-of-work musicians and dreams that often don't get realised. Yeah, I know, that sounds unfair, but SA has a crowd starved for good sounds. Our own beloved bands like Buttercup and the Swindles, Los Mescaleros and Pseudo Buddha have so much talent and so little exposure. The Red Room will hopefully become a place to gather a small (50-60) crowd of devoted listeners, who can then take word of what they find to further places within the city, opening doors that otherwise seem disinclined to give such stuff a chance.

Maybe I am getting older, but nothing moves me quite like getting to sit and be a part of someone else's music so completely that I feel I know that person by the end of the night. The array of talented writers, players and singers that have come into my life in the last couple of years is mindboggling, and almost none have I intially found HERE. It sucks, because I know they could do well with the right venue. I hope we become that venue. San Antonio may be lame (and we like it that way!) but we do not take our talent for granted.

We are aimming to open in April. If you think you'll be down this way, musician or listener, look up the Red Room, and come find out how music should be heard.



More as things progress. It feels right. I truly believe this will be a boon to the city's music scene.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Lanky's Curse

(from myspace blog...to be continued here shortly!)

Yes, That's what I am. I have a new title: the Stringbreaker. No kidding, I have seen this guy four times in the last few weeks and he has broken strings at every gig- tonight- TWO!

I really wanted to just fade into the woodwork when he turned and looked at me. " It's you." was all he said and I just tried to find a way to hide! and laugh. Poor guy! and me too! I feel like I shouldn't go out to see him anymore!

That really won't be a problem for me, since he will be out of state for awhile. Damn. I just want to know if he keeps having trouble when I am not there.......I mean, maybe it's the full moon, not me!



Lanky, or pardon me, Lancaster, was playing out in Bellville, a village east of Houston. I am going to have to do a write up about the place on my music blog after getting some sleep. It was quite a neat night all the way round, and I guarantee I will go back. I will also be making reservations, as it seemed to be really a popular place. I didn't eat, but could tell the food was world class, and well, the music I have written about before. Despite fussing about with voodoo-ed strings, the Lankster put on a good show.

More about that after I have some time to get passed the road drag. I miss the traveling for the bands- everyone is kind of on hiatus, or playing out of state- but I feel a little out of practice too. The yawns are starting to hurt!



more later!

(safe journey, Lanky. Come home in one piece- you will be missed in the interim. )

Monday, February 06, 2006

OHYEAHOHYEAHOHYEAH!!!!!

Current mood: Ecstatic!


Wow! I have had a rough day or two ( I hate mondays!) but I am bustin' open a bottle of Tito's (Texas born vodka for you novices) to toast two pieces of WONDERFUL news!!!!!!

got word this AM that my Billy-bear, Billy Harvey, is working on signing with an indie label. I am so happy for him! His talent deserves to be heard out there, and this is such a great step for him!



And now......

the big news.....

my "son-in-law's" band, BROTHERHOOD, is being courted by a metal label attached to Warner Bros.! They blew Austin on its ear Saturday night, and are being recognised in the streets. I had stopped by Planet K on Lamar early in the evening and upon hearing old worn out Ozzy playing in the store, recommended the metalheads there slip down to Red Eyed Fly to catch my Boys. They did, and then knew Dave when he walked into the store the next day. Rock the hell on!!

They are the Band of the Year in the Edge Magazine, booked for three national act opening slots, and well on their way!! I am so proud I cannot sit still at the moment!! Go listen to the guys. Come out and hear metal dne the way it should be. Come see the next big thing before you have to pay $35 a head to get in!!

BROTHERHOOD RULES!



(and no I won't tone it down! I am so happy for The Hood and Billy. It is about time! now gotta work on a few other folks!)

www.myspace.com/brotherhood

www.myspace.com/txedgemagazine

www.myspace.com/billyharvey

www.billyharveymusic.com

and pictures of all my bands and songwriters @ http://community.webshots.com/jazzpjd