Tuesday, March 04, 2003

Entry #10

Late night greetings! Just in at 3a.m. from the jam at Le Bar Bat. Tonight was pretty crowded with alot of good talent. I'm putting together my band at this point and tonight's jam night is a great place to find great musicians! This weekend, I attended a music conference there at Le Bar Bat also. They see me there alot these days! So, today was monday and I spent the entire day at the computer doing music stuff. I met soooo many connections at the conference. I put them all in the computer file.I cannot wait until the no smoking law goes into effect!!! I think I second hand smoked at least three cigarettes tonight! Security is wayyyy up here in Manhattan. Lots of police and the National Guard in the subways...Strange days these. They were even telling me I had to check my coat to come into the club tonight. I found out it's because of some law. The police were there earlier and told the management they'd shut them down (?) if they came in and saw people wearing coats, because you can conceal a gun in a coat. Strange times indeed. Anyhoo! Peace, Jessica Star

Friday, February 28, 2003

Entry #9

Ah, last night I played two gigs here in N.Y.C., one at Mamma Cassie's, a very cool bar/garden shop and one at Mr.Biggs. Mamma Cassie's is a neat place to check out. One half of it is a smoky bar with a grand piano, cushy couches and seats and a nice laid-back atmosphere and the other side of the room is literally a forest! If the smoke gets to be too much, you can do what I did and go sit amongst the trees, shubbery, and foliage! Ah, what a sweet smell it is with all that green! Then, at 10p.m., I cabbed it over to 10th and 43rd for my "weekly" thursday night gig at Mr.Biggs! My friend Jeff Watkins, a sax player (and he also happens to be James Brown's sax player), sat in with me on some songs! You can see him in action with James Brown on a website http://www.digfotos.com .The photos were taken by Chet Helms who, in the 60's was the manager of Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Co. Chet also originally brought Janis back out to San Francisco from Texas where they both grew up. Just a little history for you there! So, today intailed a music seminar at none other than Le Bar Bat! I feel like I live there! I wish you all the clarity of vision and strength to live your dreams!!! Love, Jessica Star

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Entry #8

Greetings! I played last night at the blues jam at Le Bar Bat. It was fun! I sang,"Get it while you can" and "Piece of my heart" from Janis Joplin. The band was hot! I have another show at Mr.Biggs this thursday night, February 27th at 10p.m. and I'm putting out my feelers to drum up a band to play my original tunes! You know how Disneyland is for kids? N.Y.C. is Manhattan for musicians!!! Every day that I'm here I discover new layers and depths of music and people who love and make it! I'm already thinking about Burning Man 2003! If you're reading this and don't know what Burning Man is, check out http://www.burningman.com . This won't even begin to describe what it's like to actually BE THERE but, it can give you a glimpse into a world that 30,000 others and myself call, "Home". Believe me, Manhattan's a great place to spend the rest of the year! But, like Black Rock City, "There's nothing like it and it's not for everyone!!!"-I quote myself there! Rock on people!!!!!! Jessica Star a.k.a. Black Rock's "Sweetpea"

Saturday, February 22, 2003

Entry #7

Hey rockin' people!!! More shows are coming in for me here in the city! I feel like the spirit who is Manhattan wants me here and is making it possible for me to stay by giving me opportunities to do what I love, which is play music and make some money at it! I am grateful! Last thursday night, I played at Mr.Bigg's in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. I started at 10:15p.m. and played two 45 minute sets ending sometime around 12:30a.m..The owner and bartender were very cool. I told them I wanted one of their Mr.Bigg's t-shirts and as I was playing my first set, I saw a black t-shirt being moved to the bar counter and indeed, they gave me one! It's very cool and reminds me of my old Jessica Star t-shirts! They gave me a small black baby-doll style t-shirt with a grey and red small circular logo in the middle that says,"Mr.Biggs New York City Hell's Kitchen" and there's a mean looking bull dog with a spike collar in the center. On my old Jessica Star t's, I had my face in a cartoon style in the center of a star with the words Jessica Star. So, it's really the same idea. Kinda funny! So,they want me to play again next thursday night so,hey,I might have my first regular gig! If you read this and want to reply, sign the Guest Book! It goes to my hotmail account! Pray for peace!!! Jessica Star

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Entry #5

Greetings! Tonight was another night at Le Bar Bat and the blues jam. Rockin'! I got to play with the house band which was awesome! We played Aretha Franklin's,"Baby,I love you" and my original,"Baby Blue". So fun! There are soooo many great musicians here. Amazing! And...last thursday morning at 7a.m. in Central Park, in the freshly fallen snow, me and 29 other women posed naked spelling out the words,"NO BUSH" and "WAR"!!! There were pro photographers up on the bridge taking the photos and two of the major news companies were there to spread the pictures and story all over the world in a matter of hours!!! Yes, I am definately against the proposed war. It felt REALLY GOOD to be able to do something to have a voice so that not everyone thinks all Americans follow the current government. I dearly love America. I love it more and more when I get to travel and actually see the geography. It is such a rich and beautiful country. Liberty, Freedom, and Justice will prevail but, we all must take responsibility to have our say and have our voices heard. Art is always a great and non-threatening way to do that. Anyway, on my next journal entry I'll give you the website to go to if you want to see our NO BUSH and WAR pictures! Rock on and keep the faith! Jessica Star

Entry #6

Alright! The website to see the NO BUSH and WAR pictures and a whole lot more is http://wendypolyploidy.com .It is definately still winter here as it snowed all day today! Cheers! Jessica Star

Tuesday, February 04, 2003

Entry #4

Last night, monday, we went down to a club called Le Bar Bat where there was a rhythm and blues jam going on. Great musicians! This club used to be a church, way back and then it was a recording studio. There are framed albumns on the walls. Jimi Hendrix recorded there as well as Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, and many other artists. Now it's a dance club and live music venue. So, I got to get up with some fine musicians and play Me and Bobby McGee and Piece of my Heart by Janis Joplin! It was really fun! Great sound in that place! It feels like spring is starting here in New York but, I think we still have another cold spell to go through! Anything warmer than freezing feels like spring! I wish you all greatness! Love, Jessica Star

Friday, January 31, 2003

Entry #3

Greetings from the Big Apple! It's the last day of January and there's still snow on the ground in places. I played in the east village on the night of the 28th which was a tuesday. The venue was the Sidewalk Cafe'. I've been attending their open mic's on monday night and that's how I got booked for my own show. It was a great time! There were about 60 people there in the audience and it's a fairly small house, so it felt warm and full. I had a fifty minute set that included my songs The Ocean, Firewalk, To Laugh, Everlasting Life, and more. Thanks for reading! I've always been a big journal-writer and it's really nice to be able to share with y'all! Over and out!!! Love, Jessica Star

Saturday, January 18, 2003

Entry #2

Hidee-ho readers!It's still freezing in Manhattan and the snow is gorgeous in the lights of Broadway.I played at an open mic in the east village last monday night at the Sidewalk Cafe' and scored myself a real live show!So,I play tuesday night,January 28th at 11p.m.,get there at 10:30 to get a good seat!It's located at 94 avenue A at the corner of 6th and A.I rock the house solo for 45 minutes! We went to a Broadway show a few nights ago called,"Goodnight,Gracie"~Delightful!A one-man show about George Burns and Gracie Allen.This place is chalk-full of possibilies!Again,I wish you all the best!Go for it!Rock the world! Love,Jessica Star

Tuesday, January 07, 2003

the beginning

Welcome to my blog! I moved to NYC on October 15th, 2002. I'm a Pacific Northwest/Northern California girl and I felt the pull of NYC so strongly over the previous two years out in the west that I had to follow my dreams and heart and make the move. This blog chronicles my life in NYC as an artist/songwriter/evolving human being! I hope my experiences bring you inspiration.

 

Enjoy,

 

Jessica Star