BEL AIR IS DJING

God, it gets old hearing about where people are DJing. And yet... here I am. Telling you where I'm DJing. But, this is no ordinary DJing event. Oh no! TOTALLY DIFFERENT. This Saturday Jeff and I will be spinning classic country, alt country, Americana, and basically everything from Roy Acuff to Calexico to Handsome Family. I might even throw in the Paul McCartney song that I'm currently obsessed with. And, maybe some Allman Brothers if the mood is right.

These tunes will accompany a dignified and civilized cocktail hour(s) at K+M. There will be fancy cocktails on special and awesome bartenders. It's early (5-9) so stop by and have a nice cocktail with your girlfriend before going out to dinner. Or, have an early dinner and stop by afterward. The choice is yours. There really is no end to the possibilities.

Where: K+M, N. 8th and Roebling
When: 5pm - 9pm, Saturday March 1st
What: Bel Air dj's your favorite country songs
Why: Because K+M is a nice place to have a drink.

NEW FEATURE - MYSPACE DEMO #1

I thought it would be kind of cool to use our shiny new myspace page to post some demos and song ideas so I'll be posting a new one every couple weeks.

The first installment is a song called Count the Meds. I recorded it using my Creative Zen Vision M, a device I've taken to calling my iRiver because when I first got it everyone asked me if it was an iRiver and saying "Yes" was much easier than saying "No, it's a Creative Zen Vision M". I've been known to secretly pull it out while drunk and in the company of loud drunk people (Jeff) and record stupid conversations. It's fun. The last time I remember doing this is when Jeff and I went to the Abbey Pub with Ben Krieger. I think I captured about 20 minutes straight of Ben and Jeff geeking out on music. They had no idea they were being recorded. It's priceless.

Back to business - I recorded this demo about a year ago sitting on my bed using the iRiver's internal mic. Needless to say, the quality is not good. I just wanted to get the song down. The quality probably won't be good on any of these demo things but that's kind of the point. The song itself is a collaborative effort from me and my dad. He wrote the lyrics, I wrote the music. It bears saying that the lyrics were written after many listens to A Ghost is Born.

Our myspace link is on the right. Or, stream it here:

FOUND ON THE SIDEWALK

YAY!

I'm happy to say that Jason Castro has made it into the top 20 on American Idol - despite the fact that my friend Tom called him a "class A toolbox". I was a little sad to see that Ellen Degeneres guy go. God, I'm pathetic.

Here's something interesting (to someone other than me) - the company who is going to replicate our CD shares a space with the Woody Guthrie Archives! Wyatt and I went there for a meeting with our account rep and were greeted by pictures of Woody on the wall and a package for Nora Guthrie on the reception desk. Billy Bragg visits this archive in the documentary "Man in the Sand". If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth netflixing. It's the story of how the album Mermaid Avenue came to be. It's a tribute to Woody and a history of his strange life but it's also a look at how difficult collaborations can be. Apparently Jeff Tweedy can be difficult to work with! Who knew??

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

Over the weekend Bel Air hung out with Jamie MacKenzie and Erich Sturm, our friends and artistic power couple. Jamie took some pics of us and Erich has been working on the cover art for our CD. We were all anxious to see what he had come up with. Turns out he had come up with was Wilco's Sky Blue Sky cover, only way better.



Just to clarify - Erich had never seen this cover. He doesn't even listen to Wilco. Like, ever. It's just totally bizarre. I really liked it, too. We all did. It would have been perfect! But it was SO similar. Uncannily similar. Stupid Wilco. Jeez. They should hire Erich for their next album cover. He's better than their guy.

In otherhoozer newzers - Allie is smitten with this American Idol hottie:

LAST NIGHT

Last night was the first Bel Air practice with the full band: Jeff, Wyatt, Matt Hyams, Drew Kilpatrick and myself. To say it went well would be an understatement. Matt and Drew are total pros. We all had a ton of fun. I really can't wait for our first show!

Happy Valentine's Day, my babies!

AS IF WE NEED ANOTHER REASON...

...to think that Roger Clemens is a jackass.

Read this article from the New York Times

His willingness to let his wife take the fall for him is so gross and narcissistic. I guess it's to be expected from a guy who gave all of his children names beginning with "K" to honor his strike outs. Apparently, years with the Yankees have not rid him of what lies beneath: Red Sox blood.

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AT THE GRAMMYS??

Put Beyonce's "dress" together with Tina's rad silver lamé pants and you have exactly one outfit. Separately, between Tina's boobs and Beyonce's butt, it's way too much exposure. I mean, if I had to look at someone's butt like that, Beyonce's would probably be up on my list but this is the Grammys! It is a classy event! Wait, it's not? OK never mind.

BEAR CLAW... IF THAT IS YOUR REAL NAME

Tonight Bear Claw is playing at Sound Fix. Bear Claw has also been known as Holy Moly so there's a little confusion about what their name actually is. According to the flier, a permanent name will be revealed tonight. No matter what they go by, there is no question that they are all very talented musicians. The band is made up of Jared Friedman, Daniella Chiminelli and Jeremy Joseph. I have a vested interest in seeing this band as Jared and Daniella are both voice students of mine and it always makes me glow with pride when I see my students on stage singing their hearts out. I have no doubt there will be some beautiful harmonies coming from them.

Sound Fix is a super-duper place to see a show. I am currently in an ongoing quest to get a show there for Bel Air. I'm not having much luck on that front, though.

Anyhoozers! Have you seen these yet?

WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT?

Ok, FINE. I googled myself. Is that like a crime or something? Jeez. Aren't we all allowed a little self-indulgence here and there? Get off my back already.

Anyhoozers! I found a couple of interesting things in my search!

#1 - Another Allison Langerak! Could this be real or has someone stolen my identity? She's super cute (duh) and I like her quote "What Everr". She sounds like a chip off the old block. Check her out:
http://www.flixster.com/user/alangerak

#2 - Someone in South Carolina is selling my Keyboard Magazine Article on eBay! $3.50 plus $2 shipping. That's a steal if you ask me.

Buy it now right here!