Monday, April 26, 2004

Entry #108

 We played at The C Note last night from 7-8pm and it ROCKED!!! We had a new keyboard player named Guido with us and Brent Overcash on the bass, Dave Dawson on the drums, and the rippin Jared Booty on lead guitar and flute! Whew! On the last songs I was retuning my guitar for, Baby Blue and I just put it down because the band knew the song and they had already started rocking! People were hooting and cheering DURING Jared Bootys solos! It was a very good crowd. The C Note seems to attract real original music lovers. Its a very friendly place to play and I really appreciate that. Its actually the very first venue I ever sang at here in NYC. When I first visited before I moved here, I went to an open mike and sang, Firewalk as a solo act. Last night, we played the same song as a five-piece band!!! Life is funny that way huh? Everything is connected&   Today (Sunday) I took the Long Island Rail Road out to Glen Cove to record background vocals for my friend Tom Hopkes project. Hes recording two of his originals and playing lead guitar and singing! I totally had fun singing along with his vocal tracks. Its such a nice studio. I think its called Cove Sound Studios. A lot of big name artists have recorded there including Mariah Carey and Faith Hill and they also recorded the soundtrack for the movie, Chicago out there. I love being in the studio.   Our next show is at The Bitter End on Wednesday, May 12th from 10-11pm!!! Ill have the same band with me as last night and well be doing four new originals! Tomorrow night theres a jam at The Cutting Room hosted by Richie Cannata who is also the owner of Cove Sound Studios. Life is fantastic. Get it while you can. You never know what the future holds so, dont wait too long to go do those things youve always wanted to do (like go to Amsterdam!!!)&   Jessica Star  

Saturday, April 24, 2004

Entry #107

(This was originally written on the night of Saturday, April 17th, 2004)    This is Saturday night post-show banter& Okay, Sunday morning&Ah, fresh from the stage and sounds of my swirling band& We played The Orange Bear tonight to a nice house of people. Thank you Victor for the booking, we had fun! We got some good pictures also from tonight. We played for about an hour, all originals and it was the first show with Brent Overcash. Brent, you rocked! Next time well get you a monitor so you can hear me better! My friend came and worked the merchandise table~ thank you, Anna! I was transported back to Bodega Bay during, The Ocean. When we came to the chorus, I felt like I was one with the surfer who gets pounded by the waves, down to the ocean floor and held down until theyre not sure they can hold their breath for that long and just as they wonder and dont think they can, they relax and let the ocean lift and float them back up (with help from their wetsuit). Yep, then when the instrumental came in it felt like the ocean had brought them back up to the sunny surface of the water.  I was really happy about how tonights show went. I thought we all did well. Someone told me that I should have announced myself because I announced all of the band~ah, thats exactly one more good reason why Dave, the drummer, should have a microphone. Not only does he remember funny things to say, he can announce me after I announce everyone else like he does with his band Aethos. They rock by the way. Check out his band Aethos. I think thats how you spell it.  I gave a shout and a hi to all the people in Iraq. We all know people that are either over there or have people over there. It might surprise you when you find out whos there that you know. What strange times these are. I learned once again tonight that it sure feels much better when youre really doing what youre meant to do here in this life. I remember building up to this place of really living my dream when I actually was dreaming that I was doing this. It feels terrific to actually be living it! If I never said so before, thanks to everyone whos helped me get here. We all teach each other and learn from each other. If I could talk to my younger self and give her a hint about the future, Id tell her to keep doing what she loves to do and do it often!!! I know I'm obsessed but, check out The 70's Show if you haven't already. It is seriously the funniest show on television. Rock on everyone and go get 'em!   Jessica Star    

Friday, April 02, 2004

Entry #105

I just got booked at The Bitter End for Wednesday, May 12th from 10-11pm!!! Im steadily increasing my gigs and rehearsing the new players. We now have Brent Overcash on the bass; WELCOME CASH!!!(Thats what he goes by) and on certain shows (one of which weve played already) well have Roast Beef Joe on the keyboards. Jared Booty (lead guitar, sax, and flute) and Dave Dawson (drums) are the other players.Daves been playing with me for over a year now and Jared joined up a few months ago. Dave holds down the steady beat while Jared opens up new space with his guitar~ you never know what that guys gonna do but it all sounds fantastic!   Sometimes I imagine that I can talk to my former self. Its a concept I got from Richard Bachs book, One. Yesterday I had a great day with getting another show booked and rehearsing with my band, I came home and let my former self (the one who hadnt made the move to New York, the one who is getting her first calluses from learning the guitar, the one who keeps feeling like shes being pulled along by her destiny) know that no matter how scary going forward into the unknown is, its well worth it! I say this to you, the reader because I know were not that different. You may not have the same dreams as I do but, everyone is born with a dream, even if its not the main focus of your life. It seems to me that whenever I take any steps towards fulfilling my dreams I feel the exciting energy of life and feel that Im in the right flow.   With all that said,   Go make it happen!!!                  Jessica