Snot Rocket

Just a random, attention-getting title -- but I did feel like blowing a snot rocket earlier tonight while standing on the 7 train platform in Queens. If no one was there, I totally would have. When your nose is runny and you don't have a tissue (and there's no one around or you just don't care) ---> a snot rocket totally does the trick.

So ---> (i'm into the arrows tonight) <----

Last week I went to Boston to play a set at Middle East - it was a slot that the wonderful Rebecca Muir also played.

It was awesome because halfway through my set the fire alarm started going off for a good 3-4 minutes. I started playing in rhythm and key with the fire alarm --> meanwhile downstairs at the Middle East there was a big show going on, and people were coming up from downstairs while the alarm was going off. All of a sudden there were a bunch of teens watching my solo set, and like really cheering and yelling for me haha!!! Clearly, they were just trying to have a good time, but they also could've been hating on me and they weren't. They were getting into the songs, and I did a TLC Waterfalls sing along with them. HAHAHA it was kindamazing!

Here's a random pic of me from earlier this morning. I was at a VERY early morning show with Story Pirates in NJ, and bored, I put on these glasses.

Till next time!

Story Pirates piano musical improv land

I've been in Story Pirates land - I've been doing a lot of gigs with this awesome kids writing program through sketch comedy & improv - playing piano in their shows and teaching at their after-school writing programs for elementary schools.

I love the amazing improv actors that work with them - really enjoy spending time with positive, funny people.

Tonight I drove to Scranton, PA with Baby Wants Candy - arguably NY's best musical improv group. They do traveling shows to colleges - again, very funny awesome people, and they did a great show!

Also, I finally saw The Fighter!

Bowling, rehearsals, and training...

The last few days have consisted of:

Training for Story Pirates teacher training programs ---- excited to go into schools and do some of these writing workshops through such a great organization.

Lessons - I love teaching lessons and hope to increase my student roster!

Rehearsal for a piece I'm performing in with Wobble Dance Co., choreographed by Victoria Benzinger and my boy Todd Henry. We are performing it this weekend in Brooklyn.

Went bowling with a bunch of friends the other night at Bowlmor Lanes in Midtown. So much fun, this place has awesome food & a bunch of themed rooms, each with bowling alleys. We were in the Chinatown room....

Kick me down

Early morning with The Story Pirates, performing stories by and for kids at an elementary school in

                 Jamaica, Queens




A kids party at a sick apartment on Park Avenue on the upper east side. Kids seemed a little spoiled, but the parents were nice, and we got a little tip. Always nice and appreciated.

And actually, I talked with a co-worker about rich kids, and really, there are pros and cons to growing up in any economic circumstance. You can't help where/how you were born. I heard once that happiness is measured by your capacity for delight.....or something like that...I like that.

    Had a session tonight with Ryan James, and we started working on a song. We are inspired by bullying and teen suicides. As a gay male, I remember being depressed, and feeling alone in high school. It can be really hard. And I was picked on ALOT in middle school...

Hopefully we can write a good song that's relevant. I look forward to working more with this crazy guy.

Loooooong day

Wow, what a long day...

After work, I did a coaching with the lovely Kalynn Dodge.

Then lunch with Jennifer Hirsh and Emily Greene at Yuca Bar on Avenue A.

Half price tapas and great conversation with these lovely ladies, who are amazing singers and artists themselves.

Had a great meeting with Rich Overton, someone I would love to work with,

hopefully we can get started sooner than later. He does PR campaigns for artists, specializing in the LGBT community.

Then rehearsal with Story Pirates,

followed by another rehearsal,

with The Bloodsugars (for a gig at Bellhouse on Thursday)

Wow, looooong day but full of great things.

Now for sleep....

Longest day ever

Woke up a little before 6 am today to do a Story Pirates show....It was in this beautiful school in Connecticut, and the weather was so ideal.....SO nice to be around trees!

I love hanging out with the people in Story Pirates, and I had actually gotten in bed last night before 11pm. GASP!!!! LOL.....

Had kids music classes, and then Bikram....today I was dying in Bikram....kind of a struggle to stay in the room. I really took it easy for the last part of class, as I was feeling weak and overheated. Felt pretty good afterwards though.

Had a short rehearsal for another Story Pirates show, and then headed down to Crash Mansion to see Amy Crawford play. She was a Berklee student who I am just getting to know, and she sounded great! Full band, including Iakov Kremenskiy, who plays guitar for me. She is really talented, and super hot, tall girl.

I was also able to scope out the venue which was nice, since I just booked a show there for Monday, June 14 @ 10:45 pm. It's a great space, and I'm psyched for it!

Posting in the evening

What? I'm posting a blog in the evening?

Yes, my friends, because I'm hoping to go to bed REALLY REALLY early.

WHY?

Because I HAVE TO BE UP AT 5:45 AM!

AAAAHHHH.....

for a Story Pirates performance in Connecticut.

Other thoughts:

-Trying to book a gig in June (have a couple coming up in July)

-Thinking of moving to Nashville?!?! Maybe?

Album is here!!!

Forgot to write in my blog yesterday......what was I thinking??

CD's have arrived!!!!

I have about 1,080 CD's in my apartment in boxes.....That's right, "Suitcases" has landed!

Today I did a show with "The Story Pirates" at the Drama Bookshop in midtown, including some songs such as "I Like to go alot to school" and "Killer Pineapples of Hawaii." HAHA.

Then I did a gig with "The Bloodsugars" in West Babylon (Long Island) at Looney Tunes record store, for Record Store Day. It was an acoustic set. There were a bunch of high school kids really into it which was cute.

I went to my friend's play tonight in Queens, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom," a Charles Busch play. So funny!! I was "tee-hee"-ing a whole lot! Afterwards, we went to the diner and I got down with some pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Yeeeee-ah!!!!

Man in the Mirror

Going over material for a "Bloodsugars" show tomorrow at Bowery Electric (8 pm)

Auditioning tomorrow for a Michael Jackson show

Singing "My Cherie Amour" and maybe "Man in the Mirror"

LONG DAY TODAY aaaagh

Woke up at 6:15 am!!!  What????

Went to Long Island with "The Story Pirates" to do a school show...

Rode the LIRR for the first time

Played for rehearsals for a motown show that my friend Melvin Bell is directing

These girls are pretty fierce....with their shoo-wop's

Songs like "Please Mr. Postman," "Baby Love," "Be My Baby" etc.....

So great!! I love Motown!

Someone scammed me today....I was carrying a keyboard back from the Story Pirates gig

Someone offered to help me through the security gate in the subway station

I assumed he was an MTA employee

He held the door, and took my card to run through the turnstyle

He gave it back to me through the gate

I had NO idea till later that he switched my unlimited monthly card for a bogus card

AAHHH, guess I learned my lesson

So be careful! Don't trust everyone.

I'm no dummy, he was pretty slick.

Long days / early mornings

Long day today

Early mornings

Singing for babies

Rehearsing with the Story Pirates

Feeling like I'm getting a little sick

Tangerine Emergen-C

I have to get up around 6 am tomorrow. AAAHH!!!

Time to sleeeeep....

Waterfalls & streams

Listening to the sounds of waterfalls and streams

Trying to relax before falling asleep

Amazing Bikram class today with Cara

Lots better than yesterday

It was Cara's first time and she did great!

Rehearsal with Story Pirates

Chicken & mushroom stir-fry

Large iced coffees

Vitamin Water

These are a few of my favorite things

Did some work tonight on my computer and now ready to crash

Haha, came across this picture of a piano house.....

Show on Saturday!

I am up sooooo late....aaaaah...but it's ok because I took a nap earlier.

Today I spent a lot of time at the Drama Bookshop in midtown doing shows with the Story Pirates. Those crazy wackjobs, I love them!

I caught up with my friend Bryan Jarrett, and we got some coffee. Hadn't seen him in almost a year! He was doing a Disney cruise and is now back in NY. Sooo good to catch up with him!

So excited to perform again this Saturday at Pianos. Click here to see the facebook event invite, and comment on this blog if you plan on coming.

Can't wait!

Get Me Outta Here

I'm posting this Esmee Denters song "Get Me Outta Here" at the end of this blog entry. I've been diggin this song for a minute, though the video's a little lame. I love the hook and the feel of the song, and it's so dang catchy.

Here's a pic of my new design:

I had a Story Pirates rehearsal today...always a good time.

Still trying to book the dang date for the CD release party.

Ran into a little problem with the volume on some of the tracks on the master, so printing is being delayed a little bit....

STAY TUNED.....

SUITCASES

Been listening to the masters for my new album, "Suitcases," and checking the CD for errors before it gets duplicated.

The whole process was pretty up & down, but I'm liking the way the album sounds!

Took a great bikram class earlier today at Yoga to the People. Love that place! Only $8 dollars per class, and great teachers!

Did a show in Brooklyn with Story Pirates, and spent a little time with Heather Robb of The Spring Standards, an AWESOME indie/folk band. I had the fortune of seeing them at "Joe's Pub" a couple months ago.

Watching American Idol now. So far my favorite guy is Alex Lambert. He has such a cool voice...This week he sang "Everybody Knows" by John Legend.

Brooklyn Bowl

Another LONG day today, starting with a call in midtown at 6:45!

Story Pirates gig....met at the Drama Bookshop and drove in a rental van out to Long Island to do 3 shows at an elementary school out there.

Stayed in town for the rest of the day, as the Bloodsugars had a gig at The Brooklyn Bowl. That place is f*&$ -ing awesome! It's a bowling alley connected to a restaurant, connected to a music venue, but it is all open. I.E. you can bowl and listen to music at the same time. It's like in a huge warehouse type space, but totally plush and cool architecture, lots of wood and brick. Nice greenroom, great hospitality & food, AWESOME sound system. The monitors on stage were great, and the sound woman totally knew what she was doing AND was really nice.

I can't wait to go back to that venue and hang out!

Designs

Had a really long day today.

Work --> gym --> therapy --> haircut --> rehearsal with Story Pirates

Highlight of the day was probably getting designs done! I've been going to this guy Carlos who does dope designs. He works at "Heights Finest" barber shop in Washington Heights, which is also where I met the rapper Heightz, who has collaborated with me at a live show and on the track "Saturday" off my upcoming album, "Suitcases."

I had been growing out my beard, so Carlos had that to work with too. Check out this video to see his work! I love the process. He is very skilled at what he does.