Last night, I did one of the coolest/weirdest things in my musical career: I had a rehearsal in the back of a van, parked on the street in Jamaica Plain. I was there with Brad Smith on piano, and Anna Fan on drums. And we had a pretty kick-ass time making music.
This all came to be because of Brad. This dude is one of the most creative and craftiest people I know. He's built an all-inclusive carrying case for his keyboards that packs up and travels, but also doubles as a keyboard and music stand. The thing just rolls in and out of gigs - it's pretty amazing.
Brad is also a piano technician and tuner, so he needs a van to get around to all his different sites of business, and he needs to be able to move pianos. He also realized that he had downtime in between gigs, and that he could use that time to practice and play. So he hooked up his van with some serious electrical power, speakers, the whole kit and caboodle. This allows him to play pretty much anywhere he goes. Uh, AWESOME.
So we had the rehearsal - complete with Anna's drum kit - in the back of the van. My passenger seat swiveled around, I sat next to Anna, and Brad has his whole keyboard setup in there. We parked on the street, kept the doors closed, and made music. It was a really fun time, and just made me realize how freakin' happy I am to be making music - ANYWHERE. (BTW - the three of us will be performing at The Stork Club in Boston this Saturday, March 27th from 9:30pm-1:00am. Stop by and see us if you're in the area!)
From this rehearsal was born an idea that I'm hoping will turn into something really great: "The Diva Taunia Traveling Show." We're going to play lunchtime concerts at local businesses during the spring and summer months, and also play evening and weekend gigs in town - ON THE STREET AND IN PARKING LOTS. I mean, how fun is that gonna be?!? We're still looking into permits/restrictions/etc, but we're really excited to be setting up a summer tour of van concerts. Man, I just love life with music, I really do.
So hey, if you're in the New England area and want to book us for a lunchtime concert, drop me a line at booking@divataunia.com. If this van's a rockin', you should DEFINITELY come 'a knockin!
One of my all-time
favorite singer-songwriters is Jonatha
Brooke. She blends folk, pop, and
rock in a way that’s accessible for everyone to listen to. I
first heard her a few years ago when a friend of mine let me borrow her “Steady
Pull” album, and I was completely hooked.
After listening to her song for the fifth time in a row, I sang along
with her and was completely entranced in the song. She’s right up there with Paula Cole for me
in the “musicians I wish I could be” category – with some of the strongest
songwriting skills that a girl could envy.
Her voice is meticulous – she has
an instantly recognizeable sound, very
different and unique, and I want to be
her.
Jonatha’s music has
been featured in movie soundtracks like Disney’s” Return to Neverland “and TV
shows like “The Hills,” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” The first song I played on the radio program was the very first song I ever heard from her, “Linger,” and you can hear it on
her website at www.jonathabrooke.com.
In 2006, after being completely obsessed with her music, I saw Jonatha live for the
first time with my brother at Tupelo Music
Hall in Londonderry, NH. My brother Derek has always been a huge music fan, and very open-minded about music. Still, he’s also always been more partial to a
heavier rock sound, so I wasn’t quite sure how he would react to Jonatha’s
music. His reaction? He LOVED her, and to this day is a big
fan. In fact, at his wedding this past
fall, he played one of Jonatha’s songs “Everything
I Wanted” (from “Back
in the Circus”)as part of his wedding music.
And now Jonatha has
that shared connection with us: I’m
also going to request permission to use one of her songs at my wedding next
year. I fell in love with her latest
album, “The Works,”
and in particular, “King of My Love.” It’s a lovely piano-focused song that prompts
Alice-in-Wonderland-visions of characters dancing. My fiancée Rob and I are huge poker players,
and the card metaphors in this song couldn’t be more perfect for us as a couple
starting a new life together.
I could go on and
on about my love of “The
Works.” I think it’s a masterpiece
for Jonatha. The lyrics of Woodie
Guthrie set to Jonatha’s music with an impressive list of music’s finest
musicians (Keb Mo, Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, and Christian McBride). Every song has magic in it, and it touched
me in a way that not many other pieces of music have. There’s
one lyric penned by Woodie Guthrie and delivered musically by Jonatha that
particularly comforts me:
“I’ll will never fear the day I will die, because my sunset is somebody’s
morning sky.”Those lyrics are from the song “My Battle.”
In that moment –
when she sings this – if it doesn’t prove that there’s magic, peace, comfort
and beauty from music, then I don’t know what ever will. Jonatha is a musical treasure, so I encourage
you to stop by her website and purchase
many of her CDs. Buy the works, the
whole works.
Honestly, this 12/21 "More Gifts of Christmas" show is going to ROCK! Be sure to keep the number handy, because you'll want to call-in to win some of this awesomeness! (347) 857-2052. Tune in on Monday, 12/21 between 6:00-7:30pm and all you have to do is be the right number caller to win any of these fabulous prizes:
(Updated 12/17 - more prizes to come!)
Last week's show was so insanely popular (yay!) that people were literally getting blocked out of the phone lines. The phone lines were JAMMED UP with people trying to call-in and win prizes! Yee-haw (although I'm sorry for those of you who could not get through!)
Things went so well that I'm going to do one more show full of "Gifts of Christmas" with even MORE prize giveaways and pretty awesome loot - all donated from generous companies looking to celebrate the holidays with YOU. :) (Full prize list coming soon!)
So be sure to tune-in next Monday, 12/21 at 6:00pm EST. I'm also going to be featuring the AMAZING broadway, TV, and general-superstar SAM HARRIS on the show as our music feature. You do NOT want to miss this, my lovelies.
But don't worry, you know I'll remind you ten gazillion times before then. You know how I roll....booyah!
Tonight's show is a mish-mash of talent, and would love for to listen in, join the chat, and just be a part of our general antics! Here's the program for tonight:
NEW MUSIC FEATURE: Wes Carroll
WLS LOVELY: Shannon / JustSlcinoz (formerly slcinoz)
COMEDY FEATURE: Brian Agosta
DEDICATIONS: I'll be doing all of the dedications that I missed for last week's show. Feel free to also phone in with your dedication: (347) 857-2052.
HOLIDAY START: featuring new music from singer-songwriter submitted holiday music!
NEW URL: www.backstagepassradio.com
I admit it: I tend to want to feature jazz and pop music on the 11/16/09 Backstage Pass Radio Program, and so I work pretty diligently to make sure I’m open-minded about other genres. I’m glad that I am, because that’s how I came to showcase this week’s “New Music Feature,” White Owl from Russia.
I had a little fun at their expense with their English version of the band bio. The translation didn’t read well in English (“On the one hand, a bird of about 2.5 kg weight, on the other hand, a result of brutal musical experiences directed on creating a monster which will destroy the world.) The bio was good for a laugh, but the music spoke for itself.
“Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest,” plays on the old folk tale, but has some seriously edgy instrumentation. A mix of both folk/celtic feel and hard rock, the focus is clearly on the violin. In fact, most of their songs blend genres and do it quite well, which makes for really interesting listening.
These are clearly some very strong musicians, and they are really tight. Strong and dynamic, their music started some interesting conversations in the radio show chat room. I think that’s when music really IS strong: when it sparks interest and discussion. White Owl’s music may not appeal to everyone, but I think most people will appreciate the change in sound and find themselves drawn in.
White Owl is
fronted by face-painted leader Hagnir, and also
includes Artem Ryabov on bass,
Vova Korzhev on guitar and backing vocals, Natasha Scherbakova on drums (chick
drummers ROCK!), and Anatoly Velichkin on violin. Velichkin deserves much praise for the sound
White Owl has created with soaring violin string lines throughout.
White Owl offers free downloads of their album “Pepper” on the following website:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/4329
Go check out this band from Russia. No passport required!
DIVA TAUNIA STORE: www.divatauniastore.com
DIVA TAUNIA HOLIDAY IDOL INFO ON WEBSITE: www.divataunia.com
PAWS NEW ENGLAND: www.pawsnewengland.com
"BIG MEDICINE" - BIG MEDICINE ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL
WHITE OWL WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/whiteowlru
FREE WHITE OWL "PEPPER" ALBUM DOWNLOADS: http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/4329
YVONNE ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/justyvonne
YVONNE ON OBESITY HELP: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/silverkatt/
YVONNE'S BLOG: www.bariatricgirl.blogspot.com
SUSAN POWTER ONLINE: http://www.susanpowteronline.com/
YALE'S RUDD CENTER : http://www.yaleruddcenter.org
SIZE DIVERSITY AND HEALTH: http://www.sizediversityandhealth.org
BODY POSITIVE: www.bodypositive.com
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE FAT ACCEPTANCE: http://www.naafaonline.com
HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE / LINDA BACON: http://www.lindabacon.org/
BODY POSITIVE: www.bodypositive.com
INTERNATIONAL SIZE ACCEPTANCE ASSOCIATION: http://www.size-acceptance.org/
BODY POSITIVE: www.bodypositive.com
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AGAINST OBESITY: http://www.actionagainstobesity.com
THE OBESITY SOCIETY: http://www.obesity.org
WLS & Music Diva! Professional Vocalist and Burlesque Performer, VP of PR for the WLSFA, Radio Host
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