two things...

1. you may know I'm a man of many (ok, like 4) talents. One (I hope) is writing. so I'm asking you to do me a huge favor. go to this site: http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/1340 where my essay is ranked 190th of 1500 and read it and vote for me (just click on the FB logo)

2. tomorrow (Friday) night I have this awesome get interviewed/play music thing in Second Life - you should totally check it out and learn everything you wanted to know and more about me! If you aren't on SL, I'll post the link at www.facebook.com/dannrussomusic

peace.

Friday Night @ 303 Cafe, East Boston

what a day.

yesterday, as often happens when you have two kids, was exhausting...I got up early, went into school to tutor, came home to run some errands, make some dinner (which in all honestly was awful, and I never cook anything bad), and headed over to 303 Cafe in eastie.

Growing up in New York, I have never been to East Boston. In fact, I bet half of the people I know in Boston have never been to East Boston, except maybe to go through Logan Airport on their way somewhere. It was cute. And dilapidated. And trendy. And seemingly alive.

It reminded me of downtown Brooklyn a little - the Carroll Gardens area - where gentrification is slowly coming in, but there are enough stalwarts of the old school to keep it legit.

So, I get a spot directly in front of the place (i ALWAYS get a spot in front) and walk up. It's an awesome space, brick walls on either side, art collection hanging on the walls, huge open-air-to-the-street windows. The place had an excellent crowd, which was made even more excellent but friends new and old showing up to listen.


Now, due to a lack of communication (mostly on my part - never make assumptions! you only make an ass out of U and Umption. and poor Umption never did anything, did he?) it was a truly acoustic night, but you know, it was kinda cool that way. The intimateness of the venue allowed for the intimateness of an almost living-room performance, and I wonder if amplified music would have been almost intrusive to people's dinner conversations.

As Always, Casey Sullivan was great. Aaron Gage played a beautiful cello along with her. Casey's music is thoughtful, simple yet intricate, and mature beyond her years. (I feel a little bad saying that because I'm sure she hears that a lot, but she is AWEsome and a much better songwriter than people five or ten years older than she.) The only drawback to the quiet music and dinner-crowd-discussion was that she didn't feel able to play her quieter songs. Next time, we'll remember to bring the mics.

But, the intimateness allowed for a certain low-key casualness. After she played a set, I played a few songs and then Casey (and Aaron) came back up to sing a bunch of tunes with me. "When did you guys practice?" I was asked. Haha Casey is just THAT good. Overall, I tried to play the rockier songs to fill the room, but even the quieter songs were received well. And I think that when you have a bar/cafe in Eastie singing along with originals, you've done at least one thing right.

We had a great time and the food was awesome. Thank You, 303 Cafe. I can't wait to go back.

peace,
Dann

the set list:

Parking Lot Kings
Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms
Dreaming Without You
Waiting For The Dawn
Sigh No More (Mumford & Sons cover w/Casey)
Falling Slowly (The Swell Season cover w/ Casey & Aaron)
Nowhere Man (The Beatles cover w/ Casey & Aaron)
High & Dry (Radiohead cover w/ Casey & Aaron)
No Pain
Ruby Red Hair
Paris
Her Majesty Cry
Year
Don't Say That
It Seems Just Like A Dream (What a Day)

Week Two! (more or less)

ok, so in order to get my act together, here is week two.

It's the pitch week.

Anyone who has ever played wiffleball against me knows that I can hit a ton, but when it comes to pitching I'm just too nice. I like watching other people do well. I don't have the attack mode that a good pitcher needs. So I asked for help.

I put a list on my FB "band" page and asked people what they thought...I had a few ideas. And more questions than ideas. I came up against the "do you want to brand yourself using someone else's brand?" question. and I had the "who cares what you sound like if you can't tell people who you sound like" problem. And of course, the "Hey I sound exactly like Richie Havens." "Who?" problem.

but here are some thoughts that I wanted to share...some are a little more ridiculous than others...some are amazing...and some are "hey, what the hell? why not me?"

some goals I am setting for myself:

1. Play a show (open or headline) with a line outside the venue. before the end of summer 2012.

2. Have Bono or Eddie Vedder sing a verse of No Pain at a concert.

3. Induct someone into the Hall of Fame. (I'm thinking Dave Matthews or maybe Bon Jovi)

4. new CD by Christmas '10

5. open for someone who isn't a personal friend by next summer

6. run the 800 at the 2016 Olympics.

so, the pitch...

it's not wiffleball on 77th street, so I can't lead the league in doubles this time...

I can however, talk about

"All the power and emotion you can get from an acoustic guitar. I play fast and loud, I play quietly, I play with soul."

what do you think?

I'm'a keep myself honest - Week One, Part Deux

so here we go - to make sure I'm doing the right things, I'm going to let the ether of the interwebs know...

1. make a video. I did! it's for "Waiting For The Dawn" and you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoqD-5JqcdI (and it has 125 views already! whooo hooo!) and now before August 1st I want to put another up!

2. post my set lists. I have been consistently posting set lists for the past two or three weeks on http://www.facebook.com/dannrussomusic as my status, and so that you don't have to go searching through weeks of status (stati? states?) to look for them all in one place, I

3. post my list of originals. It's up! as a note on facebook.com/dannrussomusic which leads me to

4. MORE originals! ok ok I'm working on this. I want to have at least two more originals (if not 5) by August 1st.

5. now that CDBaby/iTunes is giving the option, I want to release a two-song "single" of Waiting For The Dawn and another song that follows it thematically or musically (maybe even the other video?)

6. I think I AM going to attend SLCC (the Second Life conference) and see where and when I can play (I AM Dann Numbers, the 200-mile an hour savior of acoustic rock and soul, right?)

oh, and

7. finish writing that entry into Anthony Bourdain's "Why Cook Well" contest

:-)

peace,

Dann

week one...the intro.

ok.

so I downloaded this book, "Music Success in 9 Weeks" by Ariel Hyatt (http://www.arielpublicity.com/ ) and I guess I have to start doing it. It's a workbook of sorts, step by step helping (I hope) with all the stuff I'm not good at...yet.

I mean, I'm pretty sure I can sing. I kinda like the way I beat my acoustic at 200 miles an hour. And a majority of my songs are good.

I'm going to stop saying "hopefully," but my faith in my strengths and weaknesses, and (whenever the kids give me a second) work on the book.

*raises coffee* cheers.

peace,
Dann

New Video!

Two Posts in the same day? damn...all of a sudden someone got productive :-P

I think of it as using "naptime" usefully.

I took my first attempt at using iMovie and setting it up in my basement (aka "Broken Strings Studio") and seeing what happened.

As an actual review, I think I could have placed the computer better and maybe played with the sound a little more...but as a raw first try, I'm impressed with myself!

The song is Waiting For The Dawn.

the video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoqD-5JqcdI

it's kinda cool.

peace.

so I haven't been around

although I've been obsessed with this computer!

espn3.com showed almost every game of the world cup in HD, and since I don't have a tv (well, I HAVE a tv but it's basically a glorified DVD screen cause cable is too expensive and anything that's good is available on line anyway) i've been marginally obsessed.

I watched almost every game, got yelled at by my friends for my constant FB status updates about the Denmark/Japan game and tried to tone it down, but was fanatic.

my mind is reeling with things to talk about...

the amazing Diego Forlan? and how he deserved the MVP award because he could score with either foot from seemingly anywhere on the pitch?

the wonderful Spanish passing game? They basically played keep-away once they scored

the one month that seemed to last a year?

the very disappointing play of the Italians? (were they even in South Africa?)

the very uplifting play of the Americans? (even though they only won one game)

the resurgence of South American futbol - not only Brazil, but everyone?

I already can't wait for 2014.

and even better, I may just get obsessed with La Liga in August, now that I have some favorite players by the names of Forlan, Messi, Villa and Ianesta to root for.

peace.

Dann Russo | Part Time Rockers.com

Dann Russo | Part Time Rockers.com

Yay it's ME! share with your friends :-)

step two

step two: just uploaded two "fan" videos (my friend took them on his phone) from the CANE conference -

1. "etc" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqJIPEBq7pc

2. "black sails" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9IfQSaI-oc

(pretty good quality for a phone! thank you Emil!)

check them out! let me know what you think

:-P

peace, Dann

so today went as follows...

ok, so today went as follows... 1. re-discovered the lawn, 2. started chemical warfare on poison ivy, 3. drove around Boston waiting for Lily to wake up to 4. have ice cream at the cow and 5. go to the park for a few hours and then 6. drop off Megan in time for her to go to a party without me :-( but then 7. hit The Gate in just enough time to watch the Derby and order food because had just started serving again and 8. I should have looked in the bag cause there was no formula but the people at the Gate are amazing and 9. they held our food and table till we got back from CVS and 10. just got home to play Good Samaritan to our neighbor so she doesn't drink poison water and 11. oh, yeah, the water is poison. Did I miss anything?

an open letter to the NStar representative that I talked to yesterday

Hello, nameless, faceless voice on the other side of the phone.

I owe you an apology.

Yes, it was me who called at 1pm to get my heat fixed. And it was me who called again around 6 to get an update on the progress of the process. And it was me again getting so upset at 9pm last night that I was shaking while trying to stay calm talking with you on the other side of the phone.

I know it's not your fault. In fact, a portion (at least) of the blame belongs with me. But for some reason I chose you to be rude with and on whom to take out my frustrations. I don't know your situation. I don't know if this is a job where you are (also) struggling to make ends meet. I don't know if you were just bored at home and are looking for something to do. I don't know if this job pays the majority of your bills, if it's merely a placeholder as you interview during the day for a job you are more qualified for, or if it pays for your books this semester.

I don't know what your life is like at home. Do you have someone to go home to? From the slight crack in your voice as you made a suggestion on how to bundle my kids if it gets too cold, was it something you have done before? Was I so horrible either with my tone or with my words that you needed a moment after our conversation?

I know you were trying to be helpful as much as you could. I know that it was after hours and that other people have families to get home to, make dinner for, spend time with, keep warm, but I still wish there was something you could have done.

I took a cold shower this morning, but at 9am (maybe even due to your help) we once again had hot water and heat.

Was I a baby for complaining too much? Did I complain enough?

Either way, I wanted to say I'm sorry if I ruined your night. And if you never think of me again or never get a chance to read this, I still owe it to you to say that.

peace,
Dann

so it really DOES matter what mood you're in

so, for a bunch of reasons, most having to do with stress and what a not-so-pleasant week it's been so far, I finally cracked and played a whole bunch of cranky songs. but I couldn't do it. I don't know whether it's my propensity to allow my ADD to kick in or it's that I couldn't stay that sad and cranky for that long, but I eventually hit an E Major chord, talked about how awesome it would be if just going from a major to minor chord or letting something just resolve would make the whole world better... but here's the list: Ruby red hair Dice (the song about a woman who is getting old with her kids and isn't sure her life is what she wants anymore...the chorus "It would have been nice if they had told her they were playing with loaded dice") Lockstep (the politically charged song about how certain veins of tv entertainment are not being truthful and causing problems) Lessons learned (the "I wonder if you still think of me" song. once you break up with someone it goes from spending every minute with them at least in spirit and then POOF nothing) I’m on fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) Release (Pearl Jam cover - this is where it starts to get un-cranky) Dreaming without you (ah, the Theo Christmas song about keeping your love secret) It seems just like a dream (a song about a lovely trip I took to Positano) Parking lot kings (ok, not totally happy, but reflective, on how cool things are going to be because you pushed yourself and weren't satisfied with just mediocre) Greensleeves (wait, this is a song from the Middle Ages. Rock.) Mona (the best song ever about a rug, written by Roberto Conte.) see you next week. peace, Dann

so it really DOES matter what mood you're in

so, for a bunch of reasons, most having to do with stress and what a not-so-pleasant week it's been so far, I finally cracked and played a whole bunch of cranky songs. but I couldn't do it. I don't know whether it's my propensity to allow my ADD to kick in or it's that I couldn't stay that sad and cranky for that long, but I eventually hit an E Major chord, talked about how awesome it would be if just going from a major to minor chord or letting something just resolve would make the whole world better... but here's the list: Ruby red hair Dice (the song about a woman who is getting old with her kids and isn't sure her life is what she wants anymore...the chorus "It would have been nice if they had told her they were playing with loaded dice") Lockstep (the politically charged song about how certain veins of tv entertainment are not being truthful and causing problems) Lessons learned (the "I wonder if you still think of me" song. once you break up with someone it goes from spending every minute with them at least in spirit and then POOF nothing) I’m on fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) Release (Pearl Jam cover - this is where it starts to get un-cranky) Dreaming without you (ah, the Theo Christmas song about keeping your love secret) It seems just like a dream (a song about a lovely trip I took to Positano) Parking lot kings (ok, not totally happy, but reflective, on how cool things are going to be because you pushed yourself and weren't satisfied with just mediocre) Greensleeves (wait, this is a song from the Middle Ages. Rock.) Mona (the best song ever about a rug, written by Roberto Conte.) see you next week. peace, Dann

set list questions and set lists...

so...I find myself not actually making set lists beforehand, which is both awesome and scary...I always want to make sure to give people listening a good show, but I want to include songs YOU want to hear, songs that are good songs, and maybe even a few covers...

I need to know a few things.

1. What songs should I play less?

2. What songs should I play more?

3. What song is YOUR favorite?

Set Lists for the week:

4/2 (SL) 1. RockStar 2. Dreaming Without You 3. Whispering Amen 4. Don't Say That 5. Paris 6. Parking Lot Kings 7. Means Justify The Ends 8. Waiting For The Dawn 9. Someday 10. Changes 11. No Pain 12. Year

4/6 (SL - live on treet.tv ) 1. RockStar 2. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms 3. Parking Lot Kings 4. Black Sails 5. Her Majesty Cry 6. Cafe en San Juan 7. No Pain

4/9 (SL) 1. Dreaming Without You 2. Mona (Antonio's Crush cover...wait...does that count as a cover?) 3. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms 4. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard cover) 5. Lessons Learned 6. You May Be Right (Billy Joel cover) 7. Good Morning, Chelsea 8. Fantasy 9. Don't Say That 10. Ash Wednesday 11. Did You Ever Have 12. Footsteps

4/10 (SL) 1. Did You Ever Have 2. RockStar 3. Black Sails 4. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard cover) 5. Parking Lot Kings 6. Cafe en San Juan 7. Bittersweet Love 8. Gone 9. Dreaming Without You 10. Bobby Jean (Bruce Springsteen cover) 11. No Pain 12. Bad Medicine (Bon Jovi cover) 13. EAB 14. Fantasy.

whew.

peace, Dann

fan art?

consider this a challenge - email me YOUR entry at dannrussomusic@aol.com

peace,
Dann

classic rock? CANE conference 2010

First off I apologize for not writing more about my project - a group of songs based in ancient myth and history - and I had way too many songs for the actual presentation itself. I ended up recording four songs for an EP titled "Her Majesty Cry" that I gave out at the conference and played a bunch more.

Secondly, thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to play, to all the attendees, and to the long-ago writers of myth who put together some amazing material with which to write music.
For those of you who are wondering, the set list was:
1. Run Run Run (the story of Apollo and Daphne)
2. Paris (the story of Paris and the Trojan War)
3. Ulysses (the story of the Odyssey)
4. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (yes, the U2 song - it's a pretty good adaptation of Catullus 8)
5. Her Majesty Cry (the story of Orpheus and Euridice)
6. Fire ("Hephaestus's Lament")
7. Black Sails ("Ariadne's Lament")
8. Etc. (one of my songs not about myth, the last verse of which is in Latin)

the lyrics to the songs (and some of the recordings) can be found at http://www.dannrusso.com/cane_conference_2010.html

peace,
Dann

mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

so it occurred to me that I promised set lists of all my shows and I have been sorely forgetful of putting them up, so as a St. Patrick's Day resolution (I know, a week early) I vow to post set lists as soon as I can remember them :-P

Tuesday March 9th - RL Show @ McGann's (Boston)
1. Dreaming Without You
2. Good Morning, Chelsea
3. Parking Lot Kings
4. It Seemed Just Like a Dream (What a Day)
5. Wanted Dead or Alive (yes, the Bon Jovi song)
6. No Pain

Wednesday March 10th - SL Show @ Bay Vista (SL)
1. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms
2. Good Morning, Chelsea
3. The Scientist (Coldplay cover)
4. Dreaming Without You
5. Waiting For The Dawn
6. Para Que No Tengas Sed
7. Parking Lot Kings
8. Greensleeves
9. Desire (U2 cover)
10. Year
11. Plain Jane
12. Did You Ever Have
13. Capture My Heart.

thank you all for listening

peace,Dann

things I can learn from my 9 month old son...

...besides the ability to go for hours and days on almost no sleep (yes, I'm writing this at 5am my time after having been awake for the past two hours - his big sister slept a lot more when she was this age)

and there are plenty of things I can teach him but there are a few things I can learn from him, I think -

1. ask for help when you need it.

He's 9 months old, so can't do a heck of a lot by himself, yet. But he can try. He can pull himself to a kneeling position in front of a chair and with his big gray eyes and a huge smile look your way so you can sit him on the chair or just pick him up.

Here are my big brownish/hazelly eyes and huge smile :-D (see, a huge smile!) I can't do everything myself, although sometimes I try.

But what I can do is ask if you know anyone who would like to play guitar or bass with me at a show in April - let me know!

I also need some with a video camera to film me playing some songs - my YouTube page is sadly empty - just let me know!

and if anyone has a "catchphrase" idea - "acoustic rock and soul" (what I use now) is almost, but not quite right

2. remember people

He's 9 months old. He has some sort of facial recognition and lights UP when he sees someone he recognizes.

You may see me lighting up, but when I see you at a show, when I see your comments on www.facebook.com/dannrussomusic or when I know you are listening to an on-line show, I light UP.

Let me show you how - pick a song you want me to play, let me give you a shout-out on the computer, let me send you a personal recording for your birthday :-P

and let me say thank you for everything you have helped me with so far, even if it's just forwarding my messages/blogs or having me playing in the car when you drive your sister/friend/dad/kids somewhere.

3. every so often remind people what you're up to

Just in case I get distracted by an article, the radio, papers to grade, I often hear a DADADADADADA coming from this little dude. (whether he is actually calling to me or just knows how to make the DA sound and likes it is yet to be determined), so here is my version of DADADADADADA.

I am writing a WHOLE bunch of songs right now - I'm taking part in 2 February writing challenges, and at the end of the month will have a CD of songs entitled "The Locksmith." I've decided to have at least one reference to gate/key/lock n every song and I welcome your challenges to add to the album. If I use your idea, you get a free CD.

I'm giving a talk at a conference. The Classical Association of New England's annual conference is in Providence in March and I'm giving a talk on music and how Greek and Roman poetry/myths were just the pop music of the time. To hammer my point home, I'm bringing my guitar and playing a bunch of songs I wrote based on the classics. I think it's a pretty cool idea and I'm really psyched and a little nervous about it.

So, once again, thanks.

And I'm going to see if I can get this little boy back to sleep.

peace,

Dann

to honor the Holy Day

to celebrate (can you "celebrate" Ash Wednesday?) I was inspired by the TS Eliot poem Ash Wednesday and this is what I can up with (borrowing the first verse from Mr Eliot, natch)

Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among the rocks
Our peace in His will
And even among the rocks
Sister Mother Spirit of the River
Spirit of the Sea
Let my cry come to Thee

Won’t you hear me Won’t you listen to me Won’t you hear me now
Won’t you meet me And open up the gate Won’t you show me how

Teach me to know and not to know
Teach me to be found
Everywhere I get to go
Every road and every town
Let me be the outward sign
Of whatever grace I own
Let me never be resigned
Far away or here at home

Won’t you hear me Won’t you listen to me Won’t you hear me now
Won’t you meet me And open up the gate Won’t you show me how

It was snowy and the same time not
As I walked the aisle
100 people in front of me
Heads bowed just like mine
And the kids brushed it away
Like they’re trying to hide
Everything the preacher says
Played back within my mind

Won’t you hear me Won’t you listen to me Won’t you hear me now
Won’t you meet me And open up the gate Won’t you show me how
Won’t you lead me Won’t you pray for me Even though I’m down
Won’t you meet me And open up the gate And then show me around

i feel obscenely productive

I feel obscenely productive. Last year I wrote 4 songs on Feb 28th, and this year, two days into February and I have two songs completed for the RPM 2010...

"Vulnerabilities" a song about not having to lock away and hide your true self - sounds very Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz-y, which is a totally different vibe then I'm used to writing.

"Lessons Learned" one of the saddest songs I have ever heard. It's about breaking up with someone and you go from knowing every single thing about them to knowing nothing.

I'm trying to stay within my self-imposed "lock" topic. The first line in the chorus if "Vulnerabilities" is "You don't have to lock away your vulnerabilities" and the second verse of "Lessons Learned" has the line "doors were locked and opened slow."

I'm psyched. Are you? :-)

peace,

Dann

my take on the GOP retreat

1. it's really nice to see that people in government can actually treat each other civilly like human beings and discuss things in a polite manner...there was no yelling or screaming or "talking points" or "you lie!" it started to revive (just a little, I promise) my faith in government...which leads me to

2. Again and again, it seemed like the President actually did want to talk to people, to discuss things, and went on with well-thought-out eloquent answers that could never (and this is a sad state of our society that this is the case) be minimized into concise, 7 second sound bites. Without demeaning anyone the President explained the reasons he has done some things, express how he would like things to be done in the future and "corrected" those in accuracies brought up. He even got some applause from the GOP members there. And, he seemed annoyed with the way that politics works. He said "but that's the way our politics work now" more than a few times and mentioned that it was merely rhetoric but we have to bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality and "we've got to be careful what we say about each other sometimes...a tone of civility instead of slash and burn would be helpful. The problem we have is a media that only responds to slash and burn" - there were very few 7-second sound bites and even fewer really polarizing statements where someone can turn it into "he hates America." There was thought and eloquence very rarely seen on TV nowadays. THIS is the person I voted for, who wants to have honest discussion to fix things, not just yell until someone else fixes it or people just give up on some very worthy causes.

peace,
Dann

it's not a Total Tragedy at all

So, King Henry the 8th wrote Greensleeves for one of his many wives - you may know the melody as "What Child is This." This is a slightly different take on the song, released in honor of Erin Dionne's book release party for her new book "The TOTAL Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet" which you can purchase here: www.thebookrack.com/store or any bookstore near you.

And don't forget you can now request a 15th century rock song at shows! :-P

peace, Dann

http://www.dannrusso.com/free_download_of_the_month.html