a lot of netflix. and hotels with slow or internet. but you find a place. being on the road provides a lot of time for that.
So… if you haven’t heard of Hifana, you should check them out. a electronic duo from Japan. They’re on the W+K Tokyo Lab label. (an advertising agency’s label! Yeah, I know right?) I became aware of them when they released Fatbros. (yes, i listen to all kinds of music. and this song caught my attention because of the samples, but that’s another story. So they did this commercial (see, ad agency ref. above) for nike which just blew my mind. I love the mix of technology and music and this just added an entire other element. and if you don’t believe this is real, check out the making of video [techies will love, you can see some screens]. awesome.
There’s not too much to report at the moment… I’ve been practicing practicing practicing since the Country Throwdown Tour in preparation for June. Getting ready for Eddie’s Attic on June 5 and then Rockitcon later in the month! X-Files is coming a long very well, although that progress has been slowed because of the music priorities.
well, ladies and gentlemen, if there is one thing i do very well, and i mean so well that I could be a professional, is procrastinate. The first few months of the year have flown by and wow, we’re already in the first week of may. these last two weeks I’ve found myself… recuperating… yeah, we’ll go with that… and all this down time is really getting me down. It’s cyclical of course.
I start to think of all these things i want to do, make lists, then ‘poof!’ the time is gone. Where the fuck did it go? I have no idea, but i would imagine the first 24 episodes of the X-files followed by the next 24 of season 2 had something to do with that. of course, during this time, Moulder has taught me that in reported cases of abductions, abductees have reported ‘lost’ time. where time has actually stopped for them. I’ll go with that excuse. where was I? yes… cyclical…
so yeah, I make all these lists to do things and they don’t get done… then I feel bad because they don’t get done, then I start to feel like I’ve been unproductive, so I make more lists aaaannnnddddd…. repeat. I think I’m just looking for some inspiration here… I did manage to read one book over the last two weeks. And I have a small mountain of them that “i will eventually get to.” I think that’s what I’m going to try to do… let’s read a few books and find some inspiration because lately, I haven’t found any good music ideas to steal… i mean borrow… i mean attribute to as an influence.
So at some point, I’m going to ween myself off the X-Files (I’m in the middle of the 3rd season!) and try to read at least one book a week. I’m just finishing Shakespeare Wrote For Money at the moment. I am almost finished with it. It’s the third (and last) book of published book reviews written by Nick Hornby for the Believer Magazine. I’ve got one chapter (month?) left and I’ll be done. But it’s relatively short read. I started yesterday and I’m just about done. But it still counts dammit!
So I’ll add this to the list. ‘read a book, find inspiration.’ We’ll see. Looking at the pile of ‘here, you read this’ on my desk I’ve got one book in the ‘read’ pile and 7 in the ‘i’ll get to it.’ well then… time to get to it… GOOO!!!
Ok, not so fast. I should let you know what’s really going to happen. I’m going to finish the Hornby book now. Seriously what’s 20 minutes? Then I’ll pack the car and head out to play some music with some really good friends, head back home around 4am and start another episode of the X-Files. I’ll wake up in the morning wondering where the time went and feeling like I need to get everything done.
Shit. Another confession. More realistically, I’ll probably be waking up late in the afternoon and feel like crap for wasting most of the day. Go ME!
I have spent the day going over hours and hours of video. Just from January. Trying to put something together for this crazy idea I had. Seriously I don’t know how video editing people can do this. But I push through it. I”m trying to condense all these hours into digestible chunks. So about 12 hours of video for Jan is now condensed into 5 minutes. Cause… seriously, who wants to sit through all that? (this?) Anyway, a lot of quicks cuts, but I think it’s coming out nicely. As a reminder, you’ll see some of the clips below and more…
Tonight at Fat Cat’s I’ll be playing with Jeff D as part of his “Jeff D’s awesome band.” A bunch of us from different bands are getting together to entertain and have some fun! Good Times!
Maybe simple is better. I don’t know. I’m sort of digging this little layout. Something bad happened which caused my old site to go poo poo. I think it had something to do with Aliens and a government conspiracy. I’ve got agents Mulder and Scully working the case to see what has happened. But, no need to fret, I am safe. Thanks for your concerns. The abduction was only for my website. phew!
Now it’s time to call upon some help from friends who know some things about ‘computers’ and see if they can fix this for me. In the mean time, so that we’re all in “the know” here’s the happenings:
1. Fat Cat’s (Ft Lauderdale, FL): Tonight with Jeff Durham. 9:00pm
It has been a long time since we last spoke. Hasn’t it? It sure feels like it. Things have been really busy on this side, and much in a good way, with a lot of playing and traveling. Most recently I was up in New Jersey playing the Cape May Songwriters Festival which was simply amazing. Before that it was just about two weeks prior that I was in Georgia. The two weeks leading up to the New Jersey show were a killer. It was nice to be out again. Coming up these next few months I have few shows here in the area:
APR 13th – FULL BAND at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek for the Sunfest Shootout. Yes, ladies & gentlemen, they are pitting friend against friend. I have learned that the line up that night will be with several other bands with people with whom I am close with. I say we all get up and do a rendition of “I’d like to buy the world a Coke.”
APR 16th – Relay for Life benefiting the Cancer Society. This is in Richardson Park in Wilton Manors. My first outside gig in warm weather this year!
APR 27th – Me and my friend Jeff Durham will be performing at Fat Cat’s. He’ll play, then I’ll play, then he’ll play then hugs all around!
If you’re reading this and you’re not in town, well, then none of those places makes sense to you. If you would like for this message so that when you read the places I’m going to play be familiar, send me over those names and I’ll see what I can do!
In the mean time, there is this voting thing. Yeah yeah. voting blah! But if you could head on over and give a vote for me that would be wonderful! Here’s the link: http://wflx.cityvoter.com/alex-nelson/biz/536989
As usual, you guys are all awesome. Every time I have the helicopter take me to the grocery store or the limo to take me down the property to my pool, I think how wonderful you guys have made my life.
Seriously, thanks to all of you. It’s hard, but you make it a ton of fun. Hope to see you out at a show sometime!
-Alex (read the PS)
PS!!!!:
My friend Carmel Mikol has her new album ‘IN MY BONES’ available now in all the fancy online shopping strip malls. Head over to http://carmelmikol.com/buy/ to check it out and show some support.
What is it? The Relay for Life Benefits the American Cancer Society. It’s a special event that celebrates the lives of people who battle cancer, remembers loved ones lost and supports an integral organization in the fight against cancer. The event begins at approcimately 6PM and goes through until the next morning. Local business and community members are invited to set up tents and camp for the night. A path is set up for “teams” to walk laps as they wish. People who simply drop by the event are welcome to walk the path in support. The goal of the overnight event is to keep someone continually walking the path or participating in activities lasting through the night. The idea is “cancer doesn’t sleep…so neither will we”.
The event will center on wellness, creativity and a celebration of life.
We’re involving local artists, performers, yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. We’ll section off space for vendors, as well as 3 spaces for activities, music and entertainment which will include a “Queen of the Relay Pageant” at 10PM Friday night!
When is it?
Friday April 16 through Saturday the 17th
Opening Ceremonies begin at 6pm
The Luminaria Ceremony is held at 9PM *After dark, we honor people have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease. Candles are lit inside bags, filled with sand, each one bearing the name of the person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.
Here’s a sampling of some of the electric songs we’ve been working on…
So, as some of you know, I do play electric sometimes. And I’ve been trying to see a way that we can get that same energy from the live shows into a recording. here are some attempts. Honestly, to me, they are not perfect and need some work (yeah, I SAID it). But a lot of you have been asking for some recordings of the electric stuff and I wanted to give you what I have. Mistake and She Said were recorded way back in October of 09 in Orlando. Not My Life was recording at Soundbox Studios in Ft. Lauderdale. We also did a recording of End Up Next but I just wasn’t feeling that one. Let me know what you think. Maybe one day when I have a little more time, I’ll critique each one. :) I’m sure that if you ask any musician if they are 100% satisfied with any of their recordings they will probably say ‘No.’ Is nothing ever good enough? Did I just shoot myself in the foot? Damn!
