(Don't Ever) Stop the violins

Had a cover story in the paper today, on a local violinist/repairman named John Hsu: http://www.northjersey.com/entertainment/violinrepairman022309.html.

This was one of the most fun stories to write (tomorrow's will be another fun one - I went rock climbing!), and it gave me a chance to go back to my violin-playing days a little bit. I might have my next chance with my old orchestra at their summer concert in Carnegie Hall. We'll see - depends if I get the sheet music and/or find time to practice!

In the meantime, this weekend is a show at Wuzz Up Cafe in my hometown of Bergenfield, NJ. I will open for two Fil-Am bands, Chapter 2 Band and Primo. Please come and check it out! It's on Sunday, Mar. 1 and starts at 7 p.m. (8 Bedford Ave., Bergenfield, NJ)

I've also just booked my first gig in Los Angeles! Okay, so I've played out there before (with the Rembrandts, back in '07), but that was technically just outside of L.A., so this is really going to be exciting for me. It's also a challenge - I've got to somehow get a good crowd out on a Wednesday night...

have any friends out West? :) Help a sister out.

New shows!

Please be sure to keep checking on the website: www.alfa-music.com, and the MySpace: www.myspace.com/alfa because there's a slew of exciting new shows on the lineup!

Coming Up! 

Bergenfield (7 p.m. March 1, Wuzz Up Cafe, 8 Bedford Ave. - with the Chapter 2 Band!)

 Two shows in New York

  Virginia

    Los Angeles... keep checking back for more! 

:)

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Among the Bloomy fields of Bloomfield

My sister and I ventured to Bloomfield for an open mic at a place called Piano's. It was raining depressingly and I didn't want to go, but I'd made a semi-pact with her to play at least once every week, whether it was a gig or some place where nobody really knew me. Tonight was the latter, and there's something really liberating about playing for a crowd that's never heard you before. You feel like an underdog, free from the chains of how songs are typically played. Your nervous ticks are quirks and a nervous smile prompts someone from across the bar to declare, "That's the biggest damn smile I've seen all day!"

You're on your toes but floating, relaxed all the same. 

Kind of like last week, when Emily and I were driving back up

 from Philly, high from coffee and music and trying not to get lost. But tranquil, letting our playlist of "Catchy" songs fill the air around us. Cat Stevens, Don Henley, The Beatles, Sondre Lerche, KT Tunstall, Sara B. It had been a while since I'd gotten to see all those stars, even while driving up the Turnpike. 

It was the easy calm after a gig, but the gripping anticipation of the next one... in that case, playing at Five Points in just 15 hours, after juggling sleep, work and travel time.  

Oh life. . . 

Here are some vids from Philly, courtesy of Emily Tan:

Foot Out the Door

Home to Me

<3>

Let them eat cheesesteak...

I went down to Drexel U. in Philadelphia yesterday for a coffeehouse there, sponsored by FISDU. My good friend Emily Tan came with and, as it always seems to go, we were in for some fun adventures.

A couple important questions ran through our minds as we departed for the 2.5 hour trip: Would we make it early enough to get to Pat's/Gino's for some cheesesteak? Would we have time after the show to grab cheesesteak? Would there be any cheesesteak remotely close to the aforementioned show?

We hit a bit of traffic, but after a slight GPS mishap we got to the venue in time for soundcheck. No sign of cheesesteak, but there were fried oreos and donuts. I know I know, not a good enough substitute - we had to make do. After lugging my keyboard, guitar and other equipment out of the car, I had the fantastic surprise of some Philly-based family members turning up to catch the gig, including my ADORABLE 7-year-old cousin, Trish... who was SO excited to be in college. She's kind of like a Doogie Howser. Forreal.

I ended up playing two different shows, as an open mic was underway just outside the venue... luckily I had 2 sets at the FISDU coffeehouse, so the night went something like this: play first set, run outside, play open mic, run back in and play second set, do a little victory dance! I think I'd hit my stride by that final set - some folks were waltzing to "Isabelle" in the back of the room. :)

My final song was an impromptu version of a song called "Nothing Ever Lasts" that probably no one knows, but what the hey! It was a fun night all around, and there was some good music to be had, not to mention I sold some CD's to two different crowds. I also got asked out by a random person at the open mic - and that's never really a bad thing, right?

Emily and I wanted SO much to have cheesesteak at around midnight, when we finally got out of there, but alas - we knew it would be a long trek home (and I had work in the morning, drats!)
So we wandered around Philly for a while, not sure how to get back. After a few false starts, Emily got her GPS going and we made way for the Turnpike. We ended up missing the entrance to TP - but that was SO ok because guess what we ran into just down the street???

No, not cheesesteak. But Denny's! And only a few moments prior to that, I think Emily had voiced cravings for this glorious fast-food chain (what kismet!) ... so we turned over to the parking lot, sat ourselves down, demanded our coffees and enjoyed our greasy, pre-frozen food (Emily had an egg/steak sandwhich and I had a "hoobarrito" - courtesy of Hoobastank). It was probably 1 by the time we got out of there, but it didn't matter. Our bellies were full, and we thought, cheesesteak? What cheesesteak? Denny's... no better substitute.

Hula dancers and an itinerary of adventures

It's ridiculously cold outside, so I'm not surprised if you might think I was a little crazy for going out for a show. I played a benefit dinner for the American Cancer Society's Asian Initiatives Unit tonight. It was a fun time! Any situation where my set is preceded by a bunch of hula dancers is fine by me. :) My sister and friend Joyce came out to join in, and take advantage of the open bar - which I couldn't really take advantage of until after the set. Nor could I take advantage of the delicious food. :( Oh well... the set was pretty fun, and the crowd demanded a 6th song so I managed to get through "Meaningless Conversation", which I haven't played in a while.

Anyway, I've acquired four business cards and a name on my mailing list. I guess people load up on business card-ammo for these things... they were busting them out like crazy. I gave out a couple of my own too. Oh networking... what a funny game you are.

I've added a few more shows on my lineup. You can check them out here: www.myspace.com/alfa.

I'm playing Drexel U. in Philly come Thursday, and next Friday I'll be at the Five Points in Chinatown, NYC. Come down at 8 p.m. - I'll be featured in their special Valentine's Show! :) They might auction me off for a date, so who knows! hahaha...


That's all for now... cizzaoooo...


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