Sweet guy, stellar talent

This is what my friend Caitlin had to say about me and my show:

"Adam is refreshing and so much fun to see live. After overdosing on way too many lo-fi indie bands, going to an Adam Shenk show is the perfect way to get your polished pop music fix and have an excellent time. I dare you to not sing-along to his 90s R&B covers...his song selection is on point!"


Caitlin Devlin


Check out her blog --> Click here

Holidays

I been off my blog grind for a while...

At home in Virginia spending time with family - MOM, DAD, JEREMY, BRIGET, and the nephews GUS and CAL.

Here's some pics of me and Gus.

I'm excited also to have booked my next show which will be at the Bitter End on January 18.

Been getting some great write-ups on websites such as the Deli. Click here to check it out!

Also got a great write-up in I Heard They Suck Live, complete with great pictures, such as this one, with rapper Heightz:

Churrch

I went and saw Black Swan again last night...

Aaaah I love that movie!!

Tonight I went to my friend's church to hear him sing in the choir. WOOOW it is a Baptist church in Harlem, and damn, that choir could sing!!! Really enjoyed the service.

Ass on the Floor

Loving Diddy Dirty Money's album "Last Train to Paris" especially "Ass on the Floor."

Took a great class yesterday with Neil Schwartz. I went to BDC to take Joanna (hadn't been there in FOREVER) but she was not feeling well so Neil taught.

This is me with him after class, looking a little sweaty lol.

PRINCE

Last night I got to go see Prince in concert at the Izod Center in NJ. My friend had an extra ticket.

WOOOW I felt so lucky....it was amazing! Seeing him perform Purple Rain. Wow...What a musician...His guitar playing...his voice...his moves & command of the audience. I really had no idea about Prince.

I'm going again to see him in January at Madison Square Gardens and I can't wait!!

Gave me goosebumps.

Another Bitter End show

Really had an amazing evening.

Show was awesome. I absolutely love the Bitter End

and I got to talk to Paul Colby, the owner. Really old guy, and so nice.

He said I have something special, I just need to get in front of the right people.

Meant so much to me, he was like "I'm not the easiest guy to impress"

Energy of the crowd was so great. We all had so much fun!

Love being silly and a goofball and just ENJOYING my time with the band and the audience.

I feel very grateful.

Went to get burgers afterwards at Bareburger with Cara, her fiancee Mark, and two of their friends.

Holy shit that place is amazing! They have turkey, beef, ostrich, bison, and more!

Soooo delicious. Their fries and dipping sauces are off the chain. And milkshakes too!!!

GAAAAAHHHH I'm a happy boy....

REHEARSAL

Today was rehearsal day for my Bitter End gig on Wednesday.

Excited for my boy - rapper Heightz - to rock the stage again. We're doing one of his songs where I'm singing on the hook, plus his features on "Saturday" and "If Ya Like This."

I also got my hair cut again by Carlos. He did a nice design, and I'm leaving it long on top. Kinda rockin a mohawk type deal.

United Project

Tonight I got to go see a dance performance from UNITED PROJECT - a group of dancers who have been studying under choreographers Joanna Numata, Dana Foglia, and La Jon Dantzler, three of my favorite teacher/choreographers.

The show was stunning. Mishay Petronelli & Ai Shimatsu, two girls that were heavily featured, were really exquisite, and the whole company really lived in those pieces.

The music was great (lots of Bjork), cool costumes, innovation (one piece was Mishay on a ladder being carried around by four boys and morphed into different positions), and awesome choreography.

Made me happy and proud to be an artist and witness to such amazing artistry.

I'm happy :-)

Black Swan

Went to see Black Swan tonight....

WOWOWOWOWO it was amazing!!

Still trying to figure it out.

Boston College

Had a lovely trip today with The Bloodsugars to Boston College to do a performance.

 crazy knowing that kids in college today were probably born in the 90's

It was a sweet audience of mainly freshmen, and they gave us a standing ovation at the end. They were really into it. It was pretty awesome!

Always love hanging/traveling/playing with Jason, Kenneth and Brendan. Great guys :-)

Benefit

Had a great time performing at another benefit - this was in NJ at Rutgers University for some nursing students raising money to go to Costa Rice during spring break to do some service.

It was organized by Chris Byrd, a dance friend, who is also in the nursing program - there were a bunch of us dancers / artists there performing and I had so much fun seeing everybody!

I sang a bit of Ooh-La-La & then Warning Shot - and it was a nice audience. .. I really enjoy the connection with the audience no matter where I go - it's all about attitude and having fun.

I love dancers and missed alot of my dance friends. I haven't been going to Broadway Dance Center as much anymore, so it was great to see everybody!

Lucius

Caught a great set tonight from the talented Lucius -  Berklee colleagues Holly Laessig and Jessica Wolfe. They are so very talented and the band and sound they have built is incredible.

Songs & artists

I worked more on a song with Ryan James .... we are kinda crazy together LOL!!! The phrase of the night was "That just doesn't sing right"

& then I went to see the beautiful Erin Christine at Bitter End... IT was a good set! She did a new song called "Naked" which was HOT!!!

Crash Mansion

Really enjoyed being a part of "Change Gonna Come 2010" - a benefit for children of South Africa -

Did a great set at Crash Mansion - with Iakov Kremenskiy on BASS (yes, usually my guitar player, he whipped out the bass for this one) and Jeffrey Villanueva on drums.

They both killed, and we were also joined for a couple features by the rapper Heightz.

Chilled with a few friends, and stayed for Pauline Pisano's set - she was awesome!

Pitmen Painters

Went to a great play tonight on Broadway - The Pitmen Painters - knew one of the understudies in the cast. Wow it was great!

Afterwards went out with one of the cast members and her friend. They are from England and they wanted to go to Shrine (where I've played a few shows) - We went and caught the end of this Reggae band, and then there was a DJ playing some awesome throw back stuff. It was great!!

Aabaraki

Went to meet Lily O'Brien (who's doing PR for me) at Bar Four tonight in Brooklyn to see:

Aabaraki - an R&B band, who was awesome! Very neo-soul - reminded me at times of N.E.R.D. songs. They did a cover of "Everybody wants to Rule the World" !!

The Art of Singing

               It was a wonderful day...

1. I bought my nephews presents!!

2. And I got a new awesome coat from H&M

3. I went and got my haircut.... new design shaved...

     This Japanese girl was looking for hair models for designs, so of course I wanted to do it!

    She kinda gave me a mohawk and then shaved a dollar sign into my head and then wanted to shave the word Rich. I don't know why.

Well I wasn't into the idea...don't want people thinking that's my name or that I am rich.

So maybe those vibes were rubbing off....because she misspelled the word by accident. She spelled it R-I-T-H. Hmm.....LOL.....but I still like the design and you can't really tell that it's supposed to be letters.

4. I went and played for a lesson for a voice teacher I've been talking with, Jennifer Hamady. WHOOOOOOAAA I got awesome vibes from her, and had no idea, but she's the freakin bomb singer!!! She has worked with Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, American Idol.....WOW WOW WOW, and she has such passion and positive energy!!

She started crying as she was working with her student - shows how emotionally invested she is.

Can't wait to work with her more, and read her book "The Art of Singing."

5. Then tonight I went to play for "Baby Wants Candy," a musical improv group. They have classes/workshops, so I played for that for a few hours. Good stuff!!

Feeling Good

I love show days....

    I had an awesome time at Caffe Vivaldi...

Held it down with Iakov Kremenskiy, my guitar player...What a guy.

Had fun with the audience, and loved the space... (Caffe Vivaldi)

Kinda in love with doing shows... I feel like they get better and better - mainly in my capacity to enjoy them!