New TV Appearance!

Check out our new live TV appearance on Musical Cafe a few days ago. Includes an entire concert taping and interview!!!

New song available for Free!

Click on the picture to get it!

Glam Santa Barbara bums, Flagstaff kicks ass in both senses of the word, and Hwy 40

On the way back from San Luis Obispo, I stopped by Santa Barbara for lunch. It's a chichi place really - very much a college town - although insanely rich people live/"summer" there too. The funny-strange-not-haha thing I find when I am there (other than random statues they sell there - refer to a previous blog on that) - are the bums . They aren't quite homeless (or at least seem that way) and have this sitcom-entertainment/hippie quality to them. Because I live right along skid row - my viewpoint might be pretty skewed, but I do think it also informs... Seems you have to do a TON to get through to the A.D.D. collegiate population. Santa Barbara bums are a TALENTED lot.

It's hard to see - because I snapped while driving by - but this guy had a RAT balancing on a CAT balancing on a DOG. It was completely awesome. Very circus. Something I haven't seen before - especially from someone collecting money on the street.


This Indian guy above (who looked really happy but more homeless than anyone else too), was playing a homemade wood keyboard (but sounded like a banjo/sitar) whilst shaking a tambourine with his foot for the back beat. It was really really cool and melodic. Sort of bluesy/hillbilly like. I was impressed with the ingenuity and seeming originality. One of those guys you want to record in studio for a song or something.


And this guy had a whole fishing display out, with a cup hanging from his fishing rod. The sign said something about needing money for bait, but was way more witty than that...

There were more people doing various tricks, etc. Also a whole bunch of hair dyed/pierced/grunged out/tattooed kids (15-18) panhandling. They looked more like runaways-for-the-coolness-factor rather than homeless-without-option.

I never know how to feel about their situation - especially because I see people with SERIOUS mental disorders, horribly physically disabled, prostitutes, crack addicts tooting crack babies, very old and lost senile folk roaming around every day at home. Santa Barbara bums are so glam/fashionable in comparison and just a little offensive.

The other side of me sees a bunch of people that live on the beach, hitchhike all over the country, living hand to mouth for the adventure/excitement of it all. Sort of a paean to Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." I love that book, love the "beat" idea of wanderlust... so at the same time, I know it's a cool and liberated way to live. They are definitely NOT the same as the truly homeless in LA however...

And then of course, it took me 2 hours to get home once I got to LA. This is what I see way too much in life - its notorious traffic situation...
Slept a few hours when I got back and then made the 8-9 hour trek to Flagstaff for a solo show. The drive itself was fine. I thought I was all responsible waking up at 8am, so I could get there early and "freshen up." Didn't account for the time zone change and my need for repeated pee/food breaks - so I arrived 10 minutes(!) before my load-in time. Got to immediately cart equipment, "freshen up" in the venue's bathroom, and perform quickly after that. A really great guy - Cory and his roommate Steven - threw a little shindig after the show, so I partied till about 3-4am too. After getting almost kicked out of the hotel at 11a the next day (the maids just keep knocking and calling you on the hotel phone), I had a rushed breakfast and drove back to LA (9 hours) on VERY little sleep over the course of 3 crazy days. BUT - and a huge BUT at that (without the extra t) - the show was AWESOME. Over a 100 kids came to see the show and were so so so respectful and invested in the moment, I couldn't have asked for a better night. Did not expect a turn out like that from Flagstaff. So all in all - it was intense, but EXTREMELY fun and gratifying. Shout out to Luminaria, who were wonderful enough to open for me.


Donald, above, who along with Irene and Dereck (owners of Applesauce), Jessicka, and other delicious and wonderful friends - helped promote the crap out of the show and drummed up a great crowd. Cannot say how much I appreciate their effort. Extra hearts go to Victor, Cory, Jose, Rachele, and all who came. Here is to the next one in April!


The drive back to La WAS beautiful. Took hwy 40 home, and you sort of graze the Grand Canyon, cross the Colorado River, cruise through the Mohave Desert.... it's just one of those amazing drives you only find in America. Very "home on the range," spiritual experience.





The pictures obviously will never do the landscape justice...

Now I am really rested - thank god - and ready for the new week. Hitting Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson in a few days. Hope to see some of you there!
XO

Sacramento plus ZIMA equals INTENSE Photo Op!

Well things are warm in Los Angeles. Feels just like summer. Jealous? We had a great run in Sacramento recently - a lot of fun after the show. The venue - Marilyn's on K - is always amazing to us, and the place was packed. Can't ask for better than that.

I was up in the mountains again for a tiny bit. Here is what it's literally like at night. I had to hike up the hill to the cabin again in pitch black (whilst snowing). A car came up as I was walking along the path and it freaked me. Total horror film moment...

Then off to Sacramento! Phew! During the sound check we had extra time for shenanigans. Thought to do expressive photos for your enjoyment.

Jennifer hates to let me play guitar... only acts like it's okay...

I never hit all the right notes it seems....

If you screw with Alexa's drum kit, she will END you!!!!

Probably the cutest picture ever in the world.

All of us trying to look happy/frightened. That equals COOL. Yeah.............

JR, one of the coolest people in Sacramento if you ask me. Incredibly supportive top notch guy.

We got taped/interviewed after the show which was a bit wild. After the show you usually have too much energy and if there is alcohol involved... :)

Jennifer at some point somehow coaxed the camera out of their hands and starting to drink Zima. All HELL broke loose.

Alexa and Jenn with Eric (from Marilyn's). Very very cool guy and uber supportive.

They pasted a signed poster of us on the wall. We all decided to write raunchy lascivious stuff on it. Let our minds run wild. You have to go there to read WHAT. :)

And now the wall-o-fame IS Sacha approved...



On the way back, at one of our numerous Subway sandwich stops (I eat the roasted chicken with no jalapenos thank you), we saw a random ad that said Band-Ana and thought Anna needed to somehow be part of the cheesy aggrandized commercial "rocknroll" give-away moment.

Here is a Live Video for you to enjoy!!! woohoo!!!

And now here I am back in LA trying to make sense of all that nonsense. Going to San Luis Obispo and Flagstaff this week which will definitely be fun (and even crazier - especially Flagstaff I think). We played the Doors cover - "People are Strange" at Marilyn's and it was the show stopper of the night - so definitely look out for it at the future band shows. Yeehaw!

Buddhism and Harry Potter Pillowcases

Made the drive up to Sacramento today. I got home from last night's show at about 2-3am-ish and had to wake up at 7. We had a fun show and debuted "Hail" and a Doors cover - "People Are Strange." I am definitely sleepy. zzzzzz

My fantastically talented guitarist, Jennifer, has been quite a character study with what she brought into the van today. One of my favorite things being - this book.

You gotta love that right? :)


Anna bought her a Harry Potter pillow case to take on the road with us, so she debuted it today. To much fanfare. When we first started touring together, she spent most of her time reading the last book of the series. Which then led to my song - "Jennifer + Harry Potter = Love."

Now we finally have the picture to bring all this full circle.I think everyone sort of needs one of these bad boys. Completely Sacha approved and entirely awesome. You have to have balls to sleep on that thing dammit (or just be awesome on electric guitar).


The girls take to jump roping outside the car (to get the blood flowing or whatevs). Here is Alexa just before tripping Jenn up.

I love watching people's faces at various gas stations around the country when we all start jumping rope out of nowhere.

Anna in super-Buddhist-concentration-mode. Check it out... Chapter 6.

Here they are having a jump rope threesome....

So now I am heading off to shower before sound check in Sacramento tonight. Hope to see some of you there!
XOXO

A little randomness never hurt anyone...

Had a fun rehearsal today. Have a new cover song to premier tomorrow and I have to say, it's one of my favorites lately. Love playing that thing... hope to see some of you at the Upland show tomorrow or in Sacramento on Friday.

My lovely bassist, Anna, brought her dogs by to take over the loft. They are really cute, happy, and just a little wild. Even left a nice gift before they ran home with mom. :)

Getting a new haircut tomorrow (it's totally out of control now) and have no clue what to do yet! Any ideas?

Want to get new piercings as well - totally know what I want to do and everything. The pain is giving me a little pause though - it's nice wearing headphones without a sharp stabbing shooting sensation :) Especially when I am recording and all...


It rained in LA today! :)

Cow Hoof Canteens!!!

I had a very frustrating day today. Came back to Los Angeles to do a bit of bizness, work in studio, and rehearse the live show with the girls. The drive itself was blah but when I got to the city, it was just one of those days where your schedule isn't going to happen, people aren't necessarily looking out for your best interests, and you end up feeling a little like used toilet paper... Basically, too much drama.

So I decided to take off and go to Olvera street. I've lived in downtown LA for 2 years now and haven't been. It's somewhat of a tourist trap, but I think it's quite quaint and worth the visit. Much better than Hollywood Blvd and all that nonsense. They had some dancers with dramatic headdresses on (Aztec?) as I entered the area.


My new favorite thing were these cow hoof canteens they had on sale. How incredibly awesome/gross are these puppies! I kinda want to carry one around with me and offend/bewilder people whenever I get thirsty.



Found a restaurant that looked the most authentic and decided to have a meal. Got seated RIGHT next to a fireplace of all things. It was very very cool. After fajitas and a margarita - I almost felt human again. Now I need sleep. When I work on music I rarely get it.

But..... I am still too riled and wild, so I am going out to Edison Bar with friends tonight. Need society after my sojourn.... then some rest before rehearsals tomorrow!

How I Almost Froze on Valentine's Day

Well it snowed like crazy on Valentine's Day. Out of nowhere, we got hit with over 6 inches of snow. No weather forecasted, I was in a t-shirt the day before. Almost got my car snowed in too. A very close call :) I had to buy chains because of the last blizzard - it's no fun having to put chains on in the middle of a snow storm. Especially when you are a gimpy Los Angelene like myself. So I count myself lucky for that.

The next day everything melted into this giant slush pot. You have to take a dirt path to find me these days. It's very cool - being tucked away. I can blast new songs at 2am - no problem. The only thing to keep me company are the coyotes: declaring a fresh kill; a careful moon gliding through constellation and pine; and the invisible night owls.

I park at the bottom of the hill and traverse the path up to this new little abode. Between that and the soot from the iron stove - I am one dirty boy.

I guess nothing has changed that much

Sending love from afar...

Wood Burning Stove

New horizons again.
Never know where these things lead and that is as it should be of course. I know, I know.

It snowed 6 inches overnight.
I have one stove to keep me warm.
There is little room to kid. Very little room up here in my little bitty hole.

Amazing how one thing can keep me alive, can keep me going.
One little stove can heat a whole house...






I am reading a lot of Sherlock Holmes of late. Playing with a bit of detective work lately.

Sweating to uncover truth on the tiniest clues ever.

Sometimes that is how life comes... not always, but sometimes.
How much we all play the fool sometimes.
Too many times.
Two times more than not.
And that is okay
and then sometimes it is not...

So
here I go
with only a stove

down my
tiny
rabbit
hole.

Rocks tied in Trees and other such Devilry.

The cool part of my neighborhood (or one of many), is all the art/imagery/posters that get pasted all over the place. Completely illegally of course. Obey stuff is all over the place as one would expect - but that only scratches the surface. There are tons of kids putting random statements all over the place. And they bring the city to life for me.

Once, about a year ago, someone decided to put 1000s of pinwheels up and down my street. On all the street signs, cars, trees, etc... It was insane. Flashes of color and movement everywhere you went. Suddenly everything was so different. Obviously because now there are pinwheels everywhere... :) ... but there was something more than that to me. It made you look at your day differently, see yourself in some strange perspective. Life had more hope that day.

Another kid would tie up random rocks (some quite large) with these elaborate and beautiful knots and then tie them up in trees. So when you are walking down the street and happen to look up, you see this strange rock suspended in a complex lattice looking thing... there was something marvelous about it. All for free, all completely anonymous... Sort of a signal of life in the industrial-futuristic nightmare that is downtown LA.

The human condition can't be bought and sold dammit. It can't be hedged in by our manic desire for logical progress.

Here are some of my new favs. They change every 2 weeks or so...


And viola - new hair. well not really new - I've had it for a while, but I finally took a picture for the world to see...


Hope you are all being good boys and girls...

Why I am MIA and my nasty fall in the snow

Things have been quite nice this holiday season. Went to Big Bear and decided to try snowboarding after a 7+ year hiatus. Shockingly enough, I picked it right up the second I locked my boots into the board. Just like riding a bike - who knew :) The slopes are pretty much empty on Xmas eve - which was entirely shocking to me. I expected the opposite. So if you are thinking of traveling here for holiday skiing - I highly recommend it. Very few people on the 24th-26th. At Big Bear, CA at least :)

Had one nasty fall though. I landed flat on my face at the top of a steep hill and LITERALLY ate snow for the entire length of the mountain. It was so steep - there was no stopping myself. I did a few 360s too. Completely ridiculous. By the time I got to the bottom, I was a living snowman. Snow covering my person, in every pocket, entirely up my nose, down my pants... It hurt, but was more funny than anything. My dad got a good kick out of it. :)

Have more family to see tomorrow for a few days in Idyllwild, California and then I drive to the Bay Area to help friends prepare a New Year's party. This whole holiday season has been very jet set-ish for me. Rare for me. I tend to be a homebody near the holidays. Been hard to get to internet and email.

Hope you all got good gifts this year and families are all in line :)

I'll be back soon enough! Can't wait to catch up!

PS - Playing lots of board games and am kicking booty at Clue!

Cormac McCarthy is pissing me off

I am almost finished with this thing called a book - The Road - by Cormac McCarthy. It has been making rounds among friends and I was gifted it twice over. It is a quick read.

The thing is just PISSING me off. I have rarely reacted so negatively to a book before. I honestly can't remember the last art piece that got such an angry reaction out of me.

Every time I open it I get so depressed, I start mumbling under my breath, pondering the gray lackluster experience we call Life.

I have no idea why people adore this thing. I have no idea why it grates me so much. I love it for making me so itchy and hateful, I abhor it for pushing me to such lows. There is no coming up for air. No chapters. Just a string of words that keep getting worse and worse. No hope from beginning to end. And yet with all of this .... I am still reading.

I have to finish it, just so I can have a cohesive argument for or against it. His writing style is wonderful and original. He has a way with phrasing things... yes. But the story itself is haunting me to the point of direness.

Those of you that have read it already... what do you think of it?

Dr. Lust, Vocal Condoms, and it's SACHA not SASHA!

Well I have been missing in action from the blogosphere for so long it's ridiculous. Funny how that happens. What's even worse is that I have been collecting pictures for so long now. Thought that I would at least post them rather then let it fade into oblivion. :)

This is what recording looks like at times for me... I will record vocals and piano at my own place most of the time. It gives me time to think about the parts longer and really work on the record in a private way. I prefer to keep everyone else for studio time and my own parts to be on my clock.


My old school pro tools set up at home... just got a new set up actually which I am very excited for.

So I had a show SO freaking long ago in Iowa at Wartburg. They are always so great to me there...

I was even an honorary guest to their dinner before the show. nametags and all :) name spelled right no less... It does tend to win me over when people get my first name spelled right, I get a lot of sasha :) and it's not like it pisses me off - but there is sort of a... pause.

Had a lovely show at Longwood University ages ago. They were really wonderful... tried to get me to do karaoke but I slipped out of it. karaoke is a big no no for me! It just doesn't work for some reason :) I've completely embarrassed myself on those stages in the past. some really bad memories... Notably my version of "Slave for You" still has me in shivers...
how awesome is this and how much would you pay for a voice lesson?
Before a Santa Barbara show at Rocks, we got pizza! See how excited Jenn was?

My sisters dog is rather adorable. I pinned flowers to him on our walk. :) His name is Oliver.
Corey, a friend from LA, sent us a HUGE basket of chocolate and candy to send us off on our tour. It just arrived at the venue (Lestats) in San Diego. That thing lasted us about 2 weeks and probably added a few pounds to each of us (me definitely). It had the GOOD stuff too - snickers, mounds bars - my fav, cheetos, milky ways, musketeers, etc.... Thanks Corey! It was one of the sweetest things to do (sorry - couldn't help the dorky pun).




Chris Robley is one of our favorite new acts that we had the chance to play live with. They tore it up that night.... we are hoping to do more shows together. Check him out and say hi here! See how my name gets misspelled? :)Got dragged to Fatburger for the first time... We have a running joke that I always make them got to Subway on the road. It's usually the only somewhat healthy option when you are traveling. Hardest thing to do is to eat right when you are on tour.

Sometimes when I really have to go to the bathroom - I WILL just break into the girls room - if the boys has been locked for way too long. Jennifer caught me...
I serenaded the girls in the car. I tend to make up songs around people. Not serious ones, like most hear... but completely insane ridiculous ones - just to get a rise out of people. Some of my classics include "Tropical Fish," "Alexa Sexa," Jennifer + Harry Potter = Love," and "Please Wear a Vocal Condom When You Make Sweet Harmony Love To My Voice."

I drag us to way too many Starbucks... see how much Anna and Jennifer love that?


At our Phoenix show we ended up at the most random bar ever. I love stuff like that... Jared, John-Michael (who I've known for years now and has the most amazing place!), me, and Samuel from Allalom.com!

I didn't know what Cheese Crisps were... there was whole convo about them for some reason and then we saw them on the menu. Just love how passionate people got about those things and then freaked out when I didn't know about em. The menu is even insecure :)
It says: "Cheese Crisp - if you need a description for this one, the short bus comes by around 8pm."


I wanted to steal Eric's haircut so I took this picture of him... but it never really worked out. I got a hybrid of my old one with his. It still works, but I think he beat me on haircuts for this month dammit.

Venues always tend to give us free beer you see...

Alexa ran dry and got sad... thank god for her drumming obsession...
Anna's personal beer mug.


We went to this awesome Greek restaurant and started groping the random statues. Yes... I like to grope things... :)

Alexa was having way too much fun over there -so I got invovled myself...Definitely go to the Mad Greek just outside of Vegas. It is hugely popular and there were so many characters in the place - it felt straight out of Hollywood. The food is awesome as well :) just a great experience all around...


In Vegas we played with a lovely band called Pan de Sal. They even had a video display of fireworks behind them. The band is a ton of fun :) call their style ghettotech
They passed out noise makers before the show - so you could play along. :)

Sacramento shows are in a bit of a rough neighborhood - downtown. Both times we played there we end up loading and unloading our equipment amidst homeless people... there is a definite crack problem there. almost an epidemic downtown.
A beautiful sunset. you tend to catch most of them on the road :)


Me celebrating fall and scary enormous pumpkins.Just after the Hayward, CA show. Nick got all the coins to stand upright. It was way more impressive in person :) He and his fiance Ruby are pretty much the most amazingly supportive people. They help so much with our shows up north.


Jennifer finished up the Harry Potter series in the car when we were on the road. It was funny trying to bother her while she was trying to read. I'm pure innocent joy in the car.

Anna all bright and bushy tailed.
the always lovely Alexa.
We ate at a diner and saw this at the front podium. How awesomely random is that. A place called Peters in San Bruno, CA I believe.

I love random signage. We went to a restaurant called "Splash Cafe" in San Luis Obispo. Loved the Clam illustrations... Sorta scary and unappetizing - but oh well :)

I have no idea what this guy is. A dolphin?? It was just disturbing :)
Adam was lovely enough to hang out with us after the show. We ended up at a restaurant next door to the venue where everyone was dressed as vampires (it was NOT halloween inspired). Completely random and freaky. They had a dance floor underneath full of them and no, it wasn't goth. it was just random people in costume having a night of it.


So now what! For those of you that actually read this far... we are working on a bunch of new live material at the moment and I am still writing new songs. Have a ton so far but still feel there is something more to find - so I am trying my best to keep writing and keep focused.

The shows are truly become great experiences - we are really connecting on the stage in a way I didn't imagine. I love that. I've seen all of us grow in some incredible ways. It's definitely affecting the new songs too...

Anyway - I really do want to keep this thing updated more often. So stay tuned!