I'm back in LA. i've had SUCH a good time running around the southwest this past week. It's been one of those eye-opening experiences, where the people I've met, and the places I've found myself have all been much-needed reminders that this is the life for me.
And suddenly the desert highway turns into downtown LA, and everything changes. The people I get to see here are certainly the highlight. But the silly old business.. not so much. I know that the music business is based here, and a lot of the artists and bands that I admire have grown out of the LA music world. So i'm doing my best to weather the crazy of the biz, and get my CD heard, so that i can get the help i need to get it out there the best way possible, and keep doing what I love. It's daunting, but this past week on the road was the best fuel I could ask for. thank you for that. even if you weren't there, cuz you're reading this now, and it's somewhat novel-like, which means you must be pretty nice, and a friend (when you read my blog, you are giving me a high-five with your mind, fyi).
I'll let you know what all develops, and I"ll be putting a second song off of the new CD up here very soon. For now I'm on a two-pronged mission: smell the ocean, and buy some socks. It works best for me when I can mix the idealism with a little practicality here and there. just a little though.
I'm also playing in LA tomorrow night, if you are in the nearby region, and want to come out, it sure would bring on the happy for me, and hopefully for you also. I'm playing at Room 5 Lounge, starting around 9pm I think... I'm really feeling connected to the songs I'm playing live these days, and would love to share it with anyone. And if you request a song that I have never written (and especially if I've had a beer or two) I will almost definitely improvise it! Which could either be awesome or awful. but worth doing, either way, I think.
bye for now! don't forget to feed the proverbial cat,
Chris
Currently
listening
:
Only By The Night
By
Kings of Leon
Release date: 2008-09-23
NYC Show Wednesday night! Goats & Shenanigans!!
Current mood: animated
Category: Music
I'm playing tomorrow night (Wednesday august 20th) at The Cutting Room in NYC! Would love to see anyone from NY or nearby out, should be a really fun night, and it's my first time back in town in a while.
Wednesday, August 20th - 9:15pm The Cutting Room 19 W 24th St. New York, NY www.thecuttingroomnyc.com ALL AGES
And Goat-wise, I guess there might be more Shenanigans than Goats. But i'm not willing to say there will be no Goats at all. Never say never! Especially to Goats.
i've been hiding away for a few months, getting the new album written and recorded, and it looks like I'll have some songs ready to put up here in the next few weeks. Can't wait for you to hear the songs! Rather than trying to describe them (that never works), here's a picture of me and the band working in the studio in Nashville a couple weeks ago.
Thanks for being patient, I've missed being out playing, but I really think this album will make the next round of shows and musical experiences that much better. Hope you agree!
featured on The Gig Guide, ThePalestra.Com, FoxNews... showsshowsshows
Category: Music
Hey all
My show in Omaha tonight was featured on The Gig Guide video show on ThePalestra.com, and FoxNews.com.. check it out!
thanks to all who’ve been coming out to the shows so far this year.. it’s been a lot of fun making my way through the states and the uk the past few months. and it’s given me a lot of time to work on songs for the new album that i’m going to be recording starting next week! can’t wait to get them recorded and out there, so stay tuned for the newness on the horizon.
SXSW shows on Wednesday, and Austin is awesome.
Current mood: animated
Category: Music
Hey
I'm in Austin now, getting excited for the SXSW events coming up this week. Exciting news that I got yesterday is that I'll be playing two shows on Wednesday (tomorrow). I KNOW it's last minute, but if you're here, or know folks who are going to be in town for sxsw, spread the word!
Wednesday, March 12 1:15pm B.D. Riley's 204 E 6th St. www.bdrileys.com
ALSO Wednesday, March 12 8:40pm BB Rovers 12101 Jollyville Rd. www.bbrovers.com
Hopefully see you there (or there) (or around town),
Chris
Currently
listening
:
The End of History
By
Fionn Regan
Release date: 10 July, 2007
US Tour starts tomorrow, South Carolina, Texas, Colarado, Utah, Montana, & more
Category: Pets and Animals
1: hi!
2: I'm leaving today for 7 weeks of shows, and wanted to drop a note with the informacion.
It starts off tomorrow night in Lexington, SC with good friend John Callaway and Hannah Miller, at the Watershed. From there I'll be winding my way all over the place, through the end of April. We are still sorting out a bunch of additions to the schedule throughout, with a possible show in Nashville, something in Boston at some point, and a trip through the Washington DC area very soon. Check back on my main myspace page for the most up-to-date tour list.
3: I am filling the in between time with whatever I can to keep playing as much as possible, and this is where you come in, I do hope.
If you are interested in throwing a party or house concert and having me play, now is the time! Basically if you'd be interested in having me come through to play, and can help with a little bit of planning or coordinating the thing, it would be a lot of fun I bet. And seems like the perfect thing to be doing, while I'm in 'wannabe beatnik wandering America in my invincible sedan' mode. Email me at chris@chrisayer.net and let me know! Even if it's just the seedling of an inkling of a idea. I'm all for it.
4: Thanks for everyone who came out to the UK shows! Great times on the road with John Siddle and company (that's you, Ste), hope to see you all again next time. Thanks for making the tour a great one, and only making fun of my accent a medium amount.
I'll be flying across the pond for some UK shows this month. First show is monday Feb 12th in London, and two weeks of dates following that... check the list below to see where we're coming near you! John Siddle is going to be playing all the shows, and I'm really excited to be on the road with him and his folks. Hope to see you there! Definitely spread the word to your friends in England and Scotland, too; it's my first time playing a solo tour in the UK, so I want to make these shows a great time for you all. K, here's the line-up:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Feb 2008, 19:00 - Green Note w/Chris Ayer 106 Parkway, London Camden, London, London and South East NW1 7AN UK Cost:£6 Description:www.greennote.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Feb 2008, 20:00 - Joseph's Well w/ Chris Ayer Hanover Walk, Leeds, LS3 1AB Leeds, Northeast LS3 1AB UK Cost:£4 Description:With Jonny B, and What I Say Goes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Feb 2008, 18:30 - CANCELLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Feb 2008, 19:30 - Whistlebinkies w/Chris Ayer 4-6 South Bridge Edinburgh, Scotland EH11LL UK Cost:FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Feb 2008, 20:00 - Acoustic Slice Showcase w/Chris Ayer 3345 Parr Street, off Seel Street. Liverpool, Northwest UK Cost:FREE Description:Chris Ayer showcase
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Feb 2008, 19:30 - Purple Turtle w/Chris Ayer & 100 Resolutions Frewin Court (opp. Virgin), Cornmarket Street Oxford, South UK Cost:£2 Description:with 100 resolutions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Feb 2008, 20:00 - Carlton Club w/Chris Ayer 113 Carlton Rd Manchester, Northwest M16 8BE UK Cost:Free Description:With John Herring.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Feb 2008, 20:00 - Cavern w/Chris Ayer The Cavern, 10 Matthew St Liverpool, Northwest L2 6RE UK Cost:£3.50adv £4.50door Description:Brice Woodall and the Positrons The GTs Amnesia Chris Ayer John Siddle Tickets £ 4.50 (£3.50 with flyer) Doors 20:00 Stage - Back Room
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Feb 2008, 20:00 - Portland Hall w/Chris Ayer 17 Portland Street, Southport, Northwest PR8 3BT UK Cost:FREE
Center Ring EP out now, Rochester, NYC dates, winter US/UK tour dates announced
Current mood: creative
Category: Music
hey there,
How've you been? Hope your primed for some December joys. Been a while since the last entry -- I've been hanging around New York, writing a whole bunch of new songs, playing occasionally around the northeast, and booking the winter and spring tour. Thrilled to say that my tour dates starting in January will be booked through my new agent, Alyssa, at Lyric Entertainment. The schedule is taking shape already, and it's going to be a fun string of shows in 08. If you'd like me to come through your town or school, and don't see it on the list, email booking@chrisayer.net or request on eventful.com, and we'll try to make it happen!
The Center Ring EP is now available on iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, and all the various online music stores. We'll have CD versions available by January, but go have a listen to the samples, and grab the mp3s now if you like what you hear. I'm very happy to be getting these songs out there, thanks to everyone involved on the project.
Last friday's show in rochester was a blast. Chase Caillouette started out the night: he honestly has one of the best voices around, and he makes it sound effortless. Check him out at www.myspace.com/brewerandchase
This Monday December 17th I've just added a show in New York City at the Bitter End, set is at 9:15pm. It's my last show of the year, and I'll be bringing some guest players up for part of the set... Many new songs and old, and requests are welcome. Hope to see you out!
Many new songs and exciting things are on the way, thanks so much for your support. Looking forward to seeing everyone out on the road - there are dates being added throughout the US and UK. Enjoy the time, see you around the way.
peace Chris
Stuff we're planning now: January - SF/Bay Area date February - more UK dates (Scotland, Yeovil, London...) March - many US dates (Southeast/Texas/Midwest/Northeast)
Currently
listening
:
Raising Sand
By
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Release date: 23 October, 2007
northbound trains, and songs on the subway
Current mood: calm
I got back to new york today after playing in falls church virginia last night.
i got to open for corey smith.. everyone on his tour, including the opener ('truckstop coffee' was their name.. from Florida- good people) were wonderful and down to earth, and i had a blast doing it. hope to do it again sometime!
I had to come back to the city because I am trying to demo all my songs so i can get to recording the album, so I couldn't hang around in virginia, which was too bad, since I grew up right there and missed out on visiting much with the family/friends/old haunts. still great to be there, and the train rides are always inspiring. especially when it's a warm fall day and everyone is a little bit more relaxed since it's a Saturday.
On the subway just now i wrote a song! or started. i just got something in my head, and it wouldn't go away, so i started paying attention. by the end of the ride there were too many new lyrics to remember, so i basically ran home with all my bags and guitar, singing it back to myself like a crazy person. now it's written down, and there are chords, so i can walk for the rest of the day. Which is good, because I don't want to have to change my shirt again.
It's amazing to come back to New York and feel like it's a different city depending on the attitude I have. sometimes it can feel like a kind of frustrating place, but bringing the positive spin to it, and getting excited about all these people and the expressiveness and interactions going on, it's like a different place. I think that's existentialism. Or that's the positive version of it :)
I'm going to go see my sister and some great friends now. Excited!
Ok, the haiku like assortment of thoughts now comes to a close. Happy Saturday. Go high-five someone! Or whatever your preferred method of greeting. (do I high-five?) Hugs are cool too, but some strangers can be weirded out. Eh, still worth it, I think.
preview the songs, nyc acoustic throwdowns, new lyrics
Current mood: geeky
hey there folkses
hope my blog finds you having happy times. It's Friday now, but maybe you're reading this in a week or two. Which means I'm speaking to you in the FUTURE. Is it cool? Are robots in charge? can people fly? Word.
We have finished mixing and mastering a bunch of new songs, so there will be an EP coming out in a month or so.. it's called the Center Ring EP, and it's only going to be on iTunes and the other digital music stores. The snazzy phrase for that is "Exclusive Digital Release". I also want to say that I'm excited for this record to drop, cuz I think it sounds fly when artists talk about CDs "dropping". It's like it dropped out of the sky, like, WOAH a CD! It dropped; I guess I better pick it up and LISTEN. And I hope you do! double Word.
If you happen to live around New York City, and you aren't reading this from the future, I'm playing a show I'm really excited about tomorrow night at Mo Pitkins. Reason 1 why it's exciting: I'm playing it with two other bands that are friends, and great musicians. Steve Hefter's band at 7pm, and Laura Hughes at 8pm. Laura's in my top friends, and she sang the backing vocals and harmonies on my last CD, so come hear her stuff! I'm at 9, and she'll be singing some songs with me as well. Reason 2: I'm going to be playing a whole lot of the new songs that are going to be on the new full-length record that i've been working on the past few months. Not dropping til spring, so come preview the songs, pre-droppage. Reason 3: Mo Pitkins is an awesome venue that sadly will be closing in a week, so we're one of the last shows on the stage.
Gosh, this is a disjointed little entry. Chalk it up to the nervous excitement of sharing new songs with you, coupled with a definite surplus of caffeine. (Diet Coke Plus is healthy cuz it has vitamins, right?...) Thanks for weathering the weird. here are the lyrics to a new song of mine called ROYGBIV:
"ROYGBIV" Today I wrote a song about looking to belong in an altogether isolating age I used words like "skin" and "bone" and "microchips" and "silicon" and got a little meta, singing 'bout singing in a cage I recorded in ProTools then I snail-mailed it, old-school to the business types at the labels and magazines and by the bloggers' grace and by limewire and myspace I'm gonna sell it off to the hipsters and preteens
All of this is just a punchline oh, and the bully's getting bullied in the lunchline you get what you put in like spittin in the wind so come on, give a little love this time
We go to bars at night and insist they dim the lights then we try to see each other in the dark "We're all so different!", so we claim but the parts that are the same mean more than all the differences by far
All of this is just a punchline oh, and the bully's getting bullied in the lunchline it's like tonic in your gin bitter is bitter's only friend so come on, give a little love this time
Someone tell the preacher that we do not fear the reaper and it started out with a cowbell and a dream but we've come here to play nice armed with hormones and Old-Spice to show the futures so much brighter than it all too often seems
All of this is just a punchline oh, and the bully's getting bullied in the lunchline the way's just what you give the light of day's just ROYGBIV so come on, give a little love this time drop and give a little love this time give a little love this time
----
k, happy friday / happy future. adios for now
peace Chris
Currently
listening
:
All Hail West Texas
By
The Mountain Goats
Release date: 19 February, 2002
determined
animated
creative
calm
geeky
