Oh, H o l l y w o o d . The land of dreams.
When I came to california, I can't honestly say I had a "plan" . I knew I was in the right place, and I knew I had a great circle of friends, but I suppose it is like anything else new you do in life, you sort of just close your eyes and jump, and hope that you end up in the right place... and I did.
Very soon after unpacking my boxes, My friend Jessie Payo gave my name to the board of the Hear NoHo festival, for the november 4th date. There it was my first Hollywood gig... crazy.
But even before that, I was also introduced to Scott Cassidy. He had booked a show October 30th at the Room 5 Lounge, and asked me to come on board. We started practicing on the weekends and even began writing together.
I was also asked last minute to play at St.Nicks Pub. Which is an amazing Writers Workshop here in LA. It was started by the Naked Angels in 1986 in NYC and has locations all over the globe. An audience of 80-100 people cram into a theatre space above a bar and listen to cold readings of a few scripts and half way through a singer songwiter of the night tries out new material to spice things up!
So let's start with Show 1: Room 5 Lounge. (Oct.30th)
Well, first of all, it was Halloween Saturday so that alone made it fabulous. I suppose it's a good thing we didn't do any sad songs because everytime i looked up from the stage I saw a drunk marilyn Monroe, a Reno 911 cop, and the bartender dressed in S&M handcuffs.
It felt good to be on stage with Scott. I am not the best guitarist and i feel like we compliment each other beautifully. I am finally singing the type of music that I not only want to sing, but also, that i would love to listen to myself and that has always been a goal of mine. It was a great first show, as good as it could have gone I imagine.
And then there was Show 2: St.Nicks. (nov. 2nd)
What i love about this spot is that everyone there is an actor, or a writer, a director, a musician, etc. so they really care about the material. Scott and I suited in a retro look ( him in a bow tie and chucks, me in a vintage country dress) shared with them some of the new songs we've been working on. Afterwards, there is a cocktail hour, and the feedback was so wonderful. Not just because it was positive ( although it felt great to know we were on the right track) but because it was specific.
And the final show of the week: Hear NoHo Festival (Nov.4th)
There are countless things I could say about how wonderful Hear NoHo is. First of all, they have PR down to a T! Fliers and radio annoucements, even driving into North Hollywood a giant banner spanned the street announcing the music. Secondly, everyone who is involved does it for the love of music and art. and they are some of the kindest people I have ever met. And finally, everyone who I shared the stage with that night were so remarkably talented. Jessie Payo and Parker Ainsworth and Scott Cassidy are gems, so if you are still reading this blog, take a break ( its a long one) and check them out... This was Scott and I's longest set together. It was so beautiful to look out and see friends of ours watching. And again, o getting feedback from other artists that I love and trust means the world to me.
So that's it. That's what I ( we) have been doing. and its been going so well- I appreciate all of the support from the East Coast, and of course, every new person I meet on the West Coast.
Also Check us out November 18th or December 9th at Genghis Cohen!
