One Mouth Band at The Sleeping Lady Tuesday night November 30, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, One Mouth Band , add a commentPlease come to my last Marin performance of 2008. It’ll be my the last one here for at least 3-months too, as I’ll be heading Down Under for January and February. This will be a mostly live-looping show for me, with plenty of brand-new material and spontaneous musical creations.
I will be one of the four musicians performing that night as part of my friend Jack Irving’s Singer-Songwriter Showcase at the new Sleeping Lady. As you may know, The Sleeping Lady is located at 25 Broadway in Fairfax at the sight formerly occupied by Cafe Amsterdam. It opened its doors for the first time about 2 weeks ago, and with it’s unique mixture of good food and great music it has already become the favorite destination for dining and entertainment in Fairfax.
Joining me will be Teja Gerken, a virtuoso acoustic guitarist who has toured throughout Europe and the United States; new-comer Sam Rogers, whose stunning a cappella vocal performances have garnered him gigs at Yoshi’s and comparisons to Jazz great Bobby McFerrin; and Jon Keigwin, whose unique voice and incomparable skills as a songwriter combined to make him a crowd favorite at my show last week.
The show starts at 9:00, but please come early to have dinner and then stick around for what is sure to be a wonderful evening.
TEJA GERKEN -
SAM ROGERS
JON KEIGWIN
JACK IRVING
TaKeTiNa tomorrow November 29, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, Recommendations, TaKeTiNa , add a comment
Okay, I’ve been plugging this TaKeTiNa thing pretty hard in the last 2-months, but that’s not just because I just graduated from my 3-year training. It’s also due to the fact that it is a really valuable, but hard-to-describe activity that I honestly believe a lot of people can benefit from. Tomorrow in Fairfax I’ll be co-leading an afternoon Taste of TaKeTiNa at The Natural Space in School Street Plaza. It will be a great way to work off some of that Thanksgiving that’s making your clothes fit differently today.
This afternoon introduction to TaKeTiNa will include one or two deceptively simple, polyrhythmic adventures in stepping, clapping, and singing. Surprisingly deep yet accessible to all levels, this participatory music healing modality fosters a sense of peace/stillness and can enable profound connections to other areas of life. No musical experience is necessary, just curiosity (though extra bonus points will be awarded if you bring a sense of humor!).
Please come enjoy the musical and meditative group rhythm process called TaKeTiNa, as led by Zorina Wolf (the premiere TaKeTiNa Trainer in the US) and Sam Rogers (One Mouth Band and recently-certified TaKeTiNa graduate). Donation $10-20 sliding scale.
Done Waiting: The Irrationals CD Release Party November 28, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, The Irrationals , add a comment
It just occurred to me that although I’ve been posting this event everywhere, I somehow managed to skip my own blog. I have a lot of performances and stuff going on, but this is the most important to me. Come either the 8PM or 10PM show and you’ll see me with The Irrationals, me (solo), and me with The Rat Trio. It was going to be me with Acapplaya as well, but we couldn’t pull everyone together for it. It’s still gonna be frickin’ awesome though. Please come!
The Irrationals are a soulful and eclectic a cappella group that’s been a mainstay in the East Bay for nearly 20-years. Come help celebrate the release of our new bouncing baby CD! To commemorate the occasion, for this night only: just buy one CD for $15 and pay no cover charge. Best of all, we promise there will be NO Christmas music (we all need a break every now and then, right?).
There will be two full shows (8PM and 10PM) by The Irrationals, with additional performances by poetry-slamstress Aya De Leone, and other special guests to be announced. For more on The Irrationals, visit http://www.casa.org/acapedia/profile/508 or http://www.the-irrationals.com/
For those yet to become hip, Anna’s is in the Gaia building, just east of Shattuck Avenue & downtown Berkeley BART. This is an all ages venue (they serve food) with a 1-drink minimum. For more info, visit http://annasjazzisland.com/
Since you heard from me last November 19, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Inspiries, Notes to Self, Travels , add a commentMy life looks very different now than it used to. After a very turbulent year or so, the current instability doesn’t seem to be phasing me much. I’m doing pretty well now, thanks. Here’s some of what’s different:
- Last Year: Left my corporate job of 6+ years as an eLearning Developer for GreenPoint Mortgage. Within three months, the whole company folded anyway. Began consulting as an Instructional Designer, part-time and almost fully remotely. This kind of independence works great for my increasingly mobile and musical lifestyle.
- February: Separated from my partner of nearly 10-years, Mary Keydash. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Still suffering a bit on this one.
- March: Turned 32, started writing loads of new music.
- April-May: First Grand Solo Road trip, visiting folks all over from San Francisco to Portland to Colorado to LA and plenty of places in between. Along the way I rekindled connections with family and close friends that had gone untended for far too long.
- June: Incorporated as Snap Synapse, a media content production company shell for my consulting and music work.
- July-August: Taught at kids music camp, attended California-Brazil Camp, had a blast performing all over Burning Man.
- September: Decided Couchsurfing lifestyle (AKA no fixed residence) was working out so well that I would continue through at least June of next year.
- October: Graduated from my 3-year international rhythm training program, becoming a Certified TaKeTiNa Rhythm Teacher.
- November: finished new CD with The Irrationals, revamping One Mouth Band / Organic Human Music web presence.
Through all of the above I’ve been traveling all over both coasts and performing a lot. I plan to continue, but take it international. I’m currently planning trips/performances in Australia/New Zealand (January-February 2009) and Europe (May-June 2009).
If you’e like to get in touch, now is a great time to do so. My phone is the same as it has been for about 8-years now, and you’re welcome to email anytime! I look forward to hearing from you!
More bailouts? Because the last one went so well… November 18, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Randomnimity , add a comment
Another exercise in futility, this time against the US Automakers. Care to join me?
Here’s the letter I just sent to Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and our old friend who is still in office, President George W. Bush.
I oppose the $25 billion in emergency loans to the auto industry because they have done nothing to earn additional assistance. The market is holding them accountable for decades of poor decisions, and it is not the place of the US government to reward such flagrant stupidity.
I feel for those who will likely loose their jobs as a result, but no one has proposed a $25 billion dollar job retraining program and relocation fund (which would be a more permanent solution to the problem, rather than just a temporary one). Such a thing would be laughed out of every office of government. This proves that joblessness is not the issue here. Therefore I oppose ANY bailout of “The Auto Industry”. It is not an industry that is getting a free handout, it is a failing structure filled with failing decision makers who are using the hard-working little guy as human shields.
It is understandable that automakers should ask for a bailout, it is their job to ask for a bailout on behalf of their shareholders. But it is the duty of the US government to determine if that is in the best interests of the rest of the nation. It clearly is not.
Busy Friday November 9, 2008
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, One Mouth Band, TaKeTiNa, Travels , add a comment
This Friday I’ll be co-leading TaKeTiNa with Zorina Wolf at Stanford University, an Organic Human Music solo set at the San Francisco Green Festival, and a bit of beatboxing with The Vowel Movement at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. If you’re interested, check out my calendar for more details.
