I keep saying I’m going to get better about regularly blogging and then I don’t – or I do, but in fits and starts. In my defense, we have been BUSY planning and promoting the CD release party. Mike and I are the street team, the publicists, the promoters, etc. :) More on that in the next blog. First I’ll catch you up on my recent musical activities:
1. Guitar lessons. I’m taking lessons from Tim Young when I can squeeze them in. He’s teaching me how to improvise and solo more. Lots of blues and pentatonic scales and other scales in different places on the guitar. I’m playing electric, which is really fun (and easier on my fingers, frankly). Who knew I could bend notes? I’m trying to get out of my ruts and expand my skills and songwriting – and ultimately, be a girl who can wail on the guitar. There are definitely some but far too few out there. Hopefully I’ll be shredding in no time…
2. Our show at Cafe Cordiale on the 23rd. Lots of fun, friendly people, and we made some new fans! One of them even pre-ordered a CD. One of my favorite parts might have been when this woman actually leapt up from her dinner to applaud me after I sang “Careful.” But she also full-out danced in her seat when we played “Comfort,” so that was a close second. Perhaps I’ll be a dance-pop star yet…ha ha ha
3. Rehearsing for the show on the 6th – and more on that in the next blog, as I said. But playing with Tim, Mike, and Aaron this last week was so fantastic. I’m always suprised by how gratifying it is to hear what other people do with my songs – they always become something different and better than I can even imagine.
4. Hearing Aimee Mann at Largo again – along with Paul Bryan, her bassist and, these days, producer. You should check him out on MySpace and go listen to his song “Houdini and Celia” and cry like I do. :) Jay Bellerose and Jen Condos played with him – it was the first time I’d seen Jen play, and it’s very inspiring (see my above comment about girls and guitars…). She’s the sweetest, as is Jay. And we even saw Ryan Freeland, our album engineer/mixer, too. It was a fun reunion and I got a little emotional, especially watching Jay play with Aimee Mann. I still sort of can’t believe that he’s on MY album. I am a very lucky girl. :)