Last week I found out that I was nominated for Best Acoustic in the San Diego Music Awards. What an honor. What can you do to help? VOTE! Just click here and vote vote vote! Once per computer…maybe try your iPhone…Blackberry? Each one helps.
Thanks and see you soon,
-Z

Tomorrow morning (Fri, 02July) sometime between 9 and 9:30 am, we’ll be playing a pair of songs on channel 6 supporting their San Diego Living segment.  This is all part of the shows we’re doing to promote the Staring at the Sun compilation CD.  See the flier below.  I hope you can tune in.

Then, on the 11th we’re at Lestat’s and the 21st we’ll be at U31

Thanks to everyone who made it out to see the show at The Casbah on Sunday.  It was a tremendous success with several segments on live radio.  We’ll have some terrific photos to show soon from that one, as the esteemed Martin Haeusler was on hand to take photos of the show.

Best,
-Z

A video from our recording session.  This is the first of three.  If you like it, please go to youTube and leave a comment/rating.  Thanks!

Here are a few pics from the studio:

These guys are incredibly energetic, and played tons of songs I remembered well…but no Gold’s Gym Guy…c’mon Steve, I know you could hear me yelling that out!

Here’s a pic from the songwriting panel, featuring: Jack Tempchin (The Eagles, Tom Waits, etc), Steve Poltz, Scott Russo (Unwritten Law) and Quino (Big Mountain). These guys spoke candidly about what it’s been like writing songs for a living and the ups and downs of the writing cycle. Each played a song or two, mostly new material, and talked about how they found inspiration. Amazing.

Jack Tempchin talked about his penchant for three- or four-chord songs. He reminded me of other songwriters I’ve seen who approach the guitar as not much more than a vehicle for getting the song out, rather than something that needs to be practiced for all hours of the day.

Steve Poltz showed us his mastery of finger-style playing for a couple songs and more than established his ranking among the best in the business. He says he gets up early nearly every day and plays/writes. He called his songs gifts that he’s happy to receive. I get a feeling that beneath his humbleness, he’s an incredibly hard worker.

Scott Russo (Unwritten Law) was late for another engagement, and so played a new song and left early, but before he did, he talked a bit about growing up playing Green Day on the guitar and played a few riffs from them.  He said, something like, good artists borrow, GREAT artists steal.  He makes a good point about using your influences to your benefit.

Quino (Big Mountain) played his classical guitar and talked about the success of their song, Baby I Love Your Way.  He spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii and told stories about the scene there and how it influenced his music.

Here are a few pics from some of the acts I caught along the way:

The place is just south of Chinatown and everywhere we looked we saw Chinese writing.  Great spot.  Here’s a pic of me and Allen from the street and a couple from inside the show.

From the 169, it was on to the Doublecross Lounge, a private spot somewhere closer to mid-town. Here are a few pics from the after-show show

Here’s a link to their site for the video:
http://www.kusi.com/news/goodmorning/51138842.html?video=YHI&t=a

Check it out and let me know what you think

Here are a few pics from the morning

Here’s the flier for our NYC show.

It’s DEEEEP on the lower east side…like WAY lower Get down there and check this place out. It’s really cool. They filmed a Flight of the Concords episode there. Sweet! We’re getting excited about a trip east. Stay tuned for a possible surprise show later that same night.
Thanks to Michelle M for the awesome flier design.

thanks for listening,
-Z