Davey G’s Experiment in sales of single copy analog cassette tapes (OR…would anyone actually want that?)

Davey G’s Experiment in sales of single copy analog cassette tapes (OR…would anyone actually want that?)


I am trying something radically different for this next show…at least, I am offering something I have never offered before: a very unique look into my practice regimen. You see, for this show only, I am making recordings of my practices which will be available for sale at my show on Saturday. Only one copy of each practice will exist, making it one of a kind. Oh yeah--it’s cassette tape only. Analog. And there will only by 5: one for each practice this week. So you need to jump on it, if you want a copy.
Each tape is 15 songs long--my set, warts and all, and will be available for 3 bucks.

Saturday’s (probable) Set:

Handshake
Drinking Beer at Grandma’s House
Sandwich
Bed
Office Supply Store
Irritating
Chairman of the Keyboard
Fantasy World
I am a Champion
Wash the Dish
Atari Generation
Be My Friend
Lotion
Man-Friend
Breaking the Law.

Come out to the Collector’s Corner this weekend for free Comic Book Day!
8108 A Harford Road
Baltimore, MD
21234
With Davey G and the Keyboard, the Mandroids, Pablonious Bill, and Person Parcel!



Come around noon to catch the bands--I’ll try to update you on times as soon as I can!
www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

They Call Me Chairman of the Keyboard.

I completed the third day of Davey G and the Keyboard: Chairman of the Keyboard recording, so now I’m up to 11 songs (10 for the album, 1 for the e.p). It’s very exciting to have this new album taking shape--I just did “Be My Friend” (which I’ve played out at 2 different shows), plus “Chairman of the Keyboard” : the theme song for the new album. A minimal, minor chord using rag with low notes and very few words (unusual for me, I know) and “You Triumph When You Quit.” I swear, I never thought this song would be so much trouble--it’s an idea I’ve had for so long--the anti-inspirational song--but I could never settle on lyrics, or a tune, or anything about it. I just had a few lines that I knew I wanted to use:
“the last time I failed I heard someone say
‘it’s a good thing that you failed ‘cause your dreams were stupid anyway.’ ”
And until a few days ago, I had nothing that made me happy. But now I do, and it will appear on the CD.
So I’m 11 songs in. I’m sorry if sometimes my blog is just a big wet promotion for this new CD, but it’s going to be really good. I’m hitting a stride with this whole “Davey G” thing and I think by the time I finish I will have something I’m very proud of.

A few more things: a few more blog posts and I will have done 100 (give or take). I may do a “clip show” gimmick for number 100, but I thank everyone who reads and hope you keep doing so!
The next show is coming up in about 2 weeks. I will start another 2 week training period but not subject you to the pain of reading about it…at least not like the last show! At any rate, I’m still fresh from the last performance, so it might not be as intense.


www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

The Sidebar Show: The Culmination of my Training

(photo courtesy of Mike R)

The Sidebar show with Lebanon and Mr. Moccasin, the one I’ve been writing about for weeks now, was a big success, and after I finished, I got the weirdest compliment (?) yet, from one of the guys from Lebanon (from Israel) : “If you’re not a Jew, you should be.” Thanks.
Turnout was good, new songs went off well, I made a few new fans, the lotion was somewhat clumpy.

I took a one day break from blogging and doing anything remotely productive, but I still had to send this e-mail to my supporters:

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to send a big "thank you" for all who attended the Davey G and the Keyboard show at the Sidebar Tuesday night. Turnout was great, especially for a Tuesday, and as always, I am so grateful when people come to see me play.
I am not-so-secretly hoping that this good showing on a non-weekend night will be a good sign for future shows at this club. So I truly thank anyone who supports all things Davey G, and hope that you will continue to do so in the future. If you didn't make it out this week, maybe I'll see you at the next one. Stay tuned.
And one big favor, maybe? If anyone can send me pictures from this show, I will post them to my site/blog and give you picture credit and a good firm handshake.
Thanks!
Davey G and the Keyboard

As far as the effect of the 2 weeks of Davey G training beforehand: I still was just a bit sloppy at times, forgetting things or losing track but managing to cover well. I think it is really hard to ever simulate the conditions of a live performance while I am practicing in my basement: for one thing, I don’t drink at home when I’m practicing, I don’t have people watching me (as far as I know) and the adrenaline doesn’t ever reach show level when I’m by myself.
But…I can say that the fact that I put a lot into practicing this time helped a lot with smoothing over rough spots--I felt comfortable, even after a 4 month break. I would say that the possibility for a few more shows this year (before the big CD release in November) is very good.


www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Davey G Training, Final Day and Stuff I’m Reading

Not much more to say other than if you’re going to the Sidebar tomorrow to see me, come early. Show starts at 9:30.
www.sidebartavern.com
*
Stuff I’m Reading:
Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor by Russell S. Bonds

The story of a group of 22 Union men who went into the South during the Civil War in 1862 and stole a Confederate locomotive right out from under its engineers. Wildly entertaining, at least for most of it, when it focuses on the actual theft and their subsequent chase, capture, and then some of their escapes from captivity. However, in the book’s attempt to do a thorough history of the Great Locomotive Chase, it does get bogged down in details I didn’t find myself caring about--the thoroughness is its main weakness. It winds up with a whole section about the Medal of Honor, which rounds out the story, but doesn’t really make it more interesting.
But all of this is a quibble, really, as otherwise this is a really great book. It didn’t focus on politics or morality of the war--just told of a good old-fashioned chase that ultimately could have greatly affected the outcome of the Civil War.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

And The Studio Went Dark: Day 11, Davey G Training.

This was it. A short and bittersweet practice at my old studio, then I packed up and the studio went dark.

Goodbye, Southwest Baltimore.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 10, Davey G training

Tomorrow will be my last practice at my old studio--I have been clearing all my possessions out of my old house and then practicing and now I’m done. It’s been a good spot for me the last 2 years I’ve been back playing as Davey G and the Keyboard. But now it’s time to go.

When I practice, I’m having a fucking hell of a time with “Childhood Pain,” one of my songs from my new album. It’s not hard, it’s just I fuck up the lyrics and wind up playing this damn angry depressing song over and over again. Word.

By the way, had an idea for a future album title: “It’s not Awkward, it’s Heavy,” and the cover would be some fat guy carrying a box and falling over.


www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 9, Davey g Training

Feeling stronger now, like, like, I almost could do this show. 5 new songs from the new album in a set of 15. It’s been a grind, trying to move all my stuff out of one place, then practicing, then packing up a carload of more stuff. I’m still playing out of the old studio, just to keep up the continuity. But after the show, hopefully my new studio will come together.
Have suddenly remembered what my old acting teacher said about “blocking,” or those actions you perform while you’re giving your lines that make you remember the lines. I realize that songs that are more “complicated” are easier to remember because of this blocking phenomenon.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 6, 7 and 8, Davey G Training.

Busy busy, no time, at a public library and late for work.
1. I moved.
2. no internet yet
3. myspace account compromised
4. had radio play last week
5. Have the rough mix of my new songs for new album.
6. My show at the Sidebar will rock.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 5, Davey G Training. (I should be asleep)

I have to admit, I’m a little stressed out this week, with the moving to a new studio and the forcing myself to practice thing. And then today, at work for 14 hours, I find out that my myspace account has been hacked, and I can't do anything about it for like 8 more hours…well, it’s a bit much. I shouldn’t be up blogging right now.
But I will say that it seems like most people know that I would never spam them with some stupid shit about an I-phone (or whatever it is.) But I did lose 3 myspace friends over it. I won’t miss them, ‘cause as I once read on a sugar packet at the bagel store back home “Never explain--your friends don’t need it, and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.”

I don’t even know what the thing that they’re selling is.

Day 4, Davey G Training (of 14 days)

I give and give but what does the keyboard want of me? It gives out after 10 minutes into set practice, I curse myself, it curses me--the batteries are dead. I need to buy more…
Again, the soreness, the tightness, and the despair…can I make a comeback after 4 months offstage? Can I make it another year? Another year of grueling basement practice, playing with a Kawai X20 that hates me, hates me because of my new mistress, the Casiotone…is it possible to love two keyboards without hating yourself?

I’m losing my mind.
*

Hey, everybody, check out my show at the Sidebar!

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 3, Davey G Training

Raw. Sore. In pain. Hours in the basement, banging out a tune that’s been stuck in my head for days. I’m tortured by my own songs stuck in my head. How do others bear it?

Um…an old friend of mine was biking in the heat once, going uphill, tired, exhausted, overheated, and felt like there was no way that she could ever make it up the hill she was climbing. And then, out of nowhere, she heard the opening horns to the “Rocky” theme, and suddenly she got pumped up and was inspired to get over that hill.

Hearing the “Rocky” theme while I’m trying to rehearse really fucks up my timing.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Day 2 of Davey G Training.

Gotta get in shape. So very old and weak…

Um, yeah. Day 2, rocking out. My set is sexy and compact, 14-16 songs, depending on whether or not I throw in 2 more of my new ones. I may play as many as 6 from the new album. And all within a half hour.
Like I always say, if you hate one of my songs, at least it’ll be short.

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Davey G Training

One of my goals for this year was to devote 2 full weeks of practice for every show, to avoid the sloppiness of some of my past performances. The two week period before the Sidebar show begins today. And then somewhere in there my lady and I are moving uptown, the whole Davey G Studio and all.
Last week I recorded 3 more songs for the new album, upping the total to 8. The highlight for me so far? An absolutely retarded closing song of self-affirmation, called simply “I am a Champion.”

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com
*

Tuesday, March 27.
Doors at 9, show at 9:30.

http://www.sidebartavern.com/shows.html