2am…Twix..KitKat..Indian Man…7/11

So last night I can’t sleep…I go to my cupboards thinking I have something fabulous to munch on, and nothing!  I think this cycle happens about five times before I finally realize I’ve gotta go to 7/11.  So I’m busting out, pajamas and all because I’m trippin’…oatmeal and organic fruit rollups are not quite cutting it these days!   As I roll into 7/11 the Indian man who runs the store is talking shop with the Asian donut shop owner…and here comes the White girl with her chocolate craze at 2am.  It makes me think about the funny labels and stereotypes we often create for each other, and why we do it…I mean why do we as humans feel the urge to label and categorize people?  Another blog theme perhaps…the real important thing is my twix bar…to supersize or not! Nah..we’ll just get a kit kat bar too.  So I take my chocolate to the counter and have some interesting banter with the store owner…about how I just wasn’t right in the head and needed a fix.  He smiles, and then asks me if I want a bag for my chocolate….como?  Seriously “DUH”…I’ll be lucky if I make it to the front door with chocolate still in my hand.  Good thing I only bought small bars and left, because by the time I got home, I had just about eaten both…and I wanted more.  Had I been at the store I would have gone back for…”Fat guy in a little coat!”

AZ

Side bar…our concert is next week…buy your tickets at ashtonzyer.com.  The 7pm is sold out, but I have a few tickets left for the 9pm.

6 tix for the 7pm and 4 for the 9pm

Holy cow…you guys..we are closing in on a sold out house, almost four weeks before the show.  How awesome are all of you! 

Bursting with Excitement!

Now if I can only get those donors to come through I could stop biting my nails, and really start to rehearse! 

Speaking of rehearsal, this weekend will be packed with good hangs and practises.  I will be on the road again Friday…back in LA for a while banging down doors, trying to get all the pieces to come together!  I’ve been really stoked about Outward Bound.  The more I learn about them the more I want to hang out on the trails with their crew.  Zach and Steve totally stepped up and donated some cool stuff to the show this week that will help us make everything come together.  You guys are awesome!   I had my last meeting with Bart and Michael (Show Director and Production Manager) before Bart headed to Japan to put together the holiday parade for Universal Studios.  As an artist, I am overwhelmed when really talented cool people want to help!  I try and pay them back with heart stopping food.  My roommate makes this thing they like to call the Devils Ring..and it kinda is.  You want to stop at  one piece, but inevitably you are up in the middle of the night like a total sugar slut stealing pieces of gooey cinnamon death!  Bart admits he wraps it in bacon, or ham.  Something salty.  This last week it was cake balls…I gain weight just looking at that stuff!  Thanks Bart and Michael..it’s gonna be a great show!

AZ

Please Join Me

I’m back in Vegas working from my office on our upcoming benefit concert.  It’s amazing how much work a little thing like this ends up being…..everything from finding your donors, to rehearsing, to selling tickets, to PR, to ordering tables and chairs, putting together media for the day of, booking flights and hotels….crazy!!  I’m really thankful for the people who show up each day to give, create, and be part of this great thing we call “Giving Back”.  I got an e-mail from our cellist Joel Hales who said he is ready to rock and roll at our next rehearsal in LA on the 17th.  I’m really stoked about his effects pedals on his electric cello.  It will be a cool new layer of sound to add to the mix.

I have 10 tickets left for the 7pm show, and 30 for the 9pm show.  I’m really looking forward to a nice intimate crowd in this theater.  I have always wanted to do a show where I could literally say…”What up yo”..to the person in the front row and maybe get up and sit in their lap! =) 

I finished a new song for an artist i’m working with.  It feels good to move through pieces, and now i’m trying to wrap up the lyrics to one of the pieces I will play in November.   The song is called “You Don’t Know”, and I will probably open the show with it.  Dave and I started this song a few years ago.  He came up with this really cool riff, and we just crafted the song together.  I hope the peeps like it.  If you want to hear it you have to just come to the show, because it’s not recorded….dang!

It’s the end of the day, and chocolate is totally in order!  I gotta hit the sack so I can get rocking and rolling tomorrow.  Oh I almost forgot…Next thursday morning I will be on the radio again at xradio.biz I love the guys over there, and they are super good to me.  Last time I had this random improv session…it was great.  

Thought for the day:

“If all you could change was change itself, what would you change?” 

I’m gonna head down to the clubs and ask the totally boozed up tourists this question and see what they say.  Should be good times!

Ciao Ciao,

Ashton Z.

Pictures as promised

Just wanted to let you all know we had a rocking cool time at rehearsal on Saturday.  Mikey flew in Friday night, and Andy Reiff (percussion) joined us for this session.  It’s amazing what another set of drums will do to an arrangement.  Next rehearsal  is on the 17th of October and I can’t wait to get backgrounds (Shannon Gray), and cello (Joel Hales) into the same room.  Here are a few pics of the boys..in order Dave Rosa, Ron Suffredini, Andy Reiff, and Mickey Clark.

Who took my G-String?

 

You have a g-string?

I could use one of those!

Maybe if I look down Dave won't notice i'm wearing his G-String!

We worked on a cool arrangment today for the Song “Since Then”…really looking forward to playing that live.  If you haven’t gotten tickets to the show, you will miss hearing that song.  It’s not recorded yet, so in person will be your only opportunity.  Just log onto www.ashtonzyer.com to buy tickets.   Can’t wait to hang with the rad peeps who already bought tickets…no pressure! =)

Much love..Ash

Plane Dating

Today I boarded a flight out of Las Vegas.  I think flying is like the perfect blind date.  You sit down, then someone decides at random to join you, and then it’s on!  Sooner than you realize, you are laying it all out on the line, laughing and sharing things you would probably never say to someone you were seriously dating..or at least not on a first date…it’s awesome, real…raw.  Then if you care, you can exchange info, and if not…no worries…its just a plane date!   Now i’m not saying all plane dates are awesome.  Just like bad blind dates, you need to be prepared for the loosing seat.  I think more people have had bad experiences than good, because more and more people seem to be ready with their ipod and book, along with their don’t disturb sign.  I am friends with this fabulous older gent from Kenya.  He’s a millionaire and can afford to take a first class seat across the ocean, but this guy rides coach.  He loves the human experience…he loves the plane date! Ha…. Not saying the plane date has to be totally based on this fantasy of hooking up with someone…no, the plane dates can be totally plutonic as well.  My plane dating has sat me next to some really interesting people.  I crossed paths with a gorgeous surgeon from Cedar Sinai, a sassy and very fun District Manager for Vons, the owner and founder of this fantastic online clothing company Closet Couture www.closetcouture.com, an owner of an NBA team, a black belt in Mechanical Engineering ( I know..I know…you had no idea there was such a thing, that makes two of us), and my personal favorite, a CEO of a textiles company.  Each experience led to something random and unexpected…a make-out session, a new friend, a ride to a parked car, a growing network, and a love.  Each so interested in my music, and the process.  I started the Naked Public Series just for that reason.  I wanted to share with more people , not just the people I “plane dated” , this incredible process I go through every time I have to write a song.  If you haven’t signed up for the series, take some time to just go to the main page and join www.ashtonzyer.com

So side note…I’m still plugging away at this November show.  This picture below perfectly describes how I am feeling right now.  I need more donors, and want everyone to get how cool this organization is for children and teens who don’t have the opportunity to enjoy what God naturally gave us….things like clean air, sage, dirt, a random swim in some lake 11,000 feet up, and most important, the opportunity to get in the mix with people who actually care about you.  If you know anyone interested in donating email me at ashtonzyer@yahoo.com

Stress

I’m looking forward to rehearsing with my peeps this weekend.  Hopefully I’ll have photos this time.   Until then..much luv!  Ash

Rehearsal

Today I am totally stoked!  Today we officially started rehearsals on our November show, and Wednesday I officially launched the start of the Naked Public Series.  I plan on launching  a new song from the series in about a couple of weeks, and hopefully you will dig it. 

Today’s rehearsal started a bit early.  I picked up Mikey (our killer drummer) from the airport last night, we hung in Santa Monica and then cruised to Ventura County for a snooze, up a few hours later to rehearse in LA.  I love when you reunite with friends and you know time has passed, but then again it feels like it hasn’t.  I’m really pumped about the lineup of musicians we have for our November show.  I haven’t seen or worked with Dave Rosa for a couple of years now.  That in itself is a tragedy….he will be playing guitar, and Ron Suffredini will be playing bass.  Ron is one of those guys who is a master at his craft.  He has this really interesting way of moving his mouth to keep time and sit in the pocket.  I dig it.  He always has this really diplomatic way of showing me that I’m playing the wrong crap…how can you not like a guy like that! =)  Our next rehearsal on the 26th will add Andy Reif on percussion, and Shannon Gray will be returning with her killer background vocals.  We are just missing our Cellist “Joel”…he will join us a couple days before the show.  He’s got a brand new electric cello he will be busting out for the show.  All I got to say is…if there is distortion I say “SI!”

Oh man…I stumbled upon these old photos of rehearsals 6 years ago, the other day…hilariou…

I forgot my camera for this session, so i’ll have to grab it for the next!

Night y’all!

Ash

Benefit for Outward Bound Los Angeles

Ashton Zyer Benefit

So we are planning a benefit show for Outward Bound Los Angeles in Santa Monica on November 7th.  This little black box is super rad, very intimate and ready for some serious rocking!  The line up for musicians is pretty sweet….Mikey Clark (drums), Dave (guitars), Ron (bass), Shannon (background vocals), Joel (cello), Andreas Reiff (percussion).  Bart Doefler is directing the show www.bartdoerfler.com …tickets should be available by the end of the week fo sho!  I’m really looking forward to this show…it has been a long time since we have all been together to play…it will be a really cool time.  I’ve attached the info for all y’all.  Stay tuned for more details…

AZ

The Naked Public welcomes Kelsey, and our new song “Memory of us”

Hey everyone….a couple of months ago I was chillin out with Kelsey and we had this random sit down session.  She knew she wanted something that was simple, more along the lines of a piano &  vocal.  When I get that type of request I’m like…”YES”! We cut the demo in the studio just a bit ago, and here are some cool shots of our demo session. 

Knockin' this one outYou talkin' to me?

More reverrrrrb

There were so many cool things about working with Kelsey.  Not only was she no drama, which is super cool…she came to the table with her heart all over it.  I usually have to really poke around to get some good info on a client, but she was totally cool to let her guard down and just be herself.  I think it made for a better song.  So listen below, and let me know what you think. Feel free to forward this link to a friend and see what they think…  The more the merry! =)  So here you have it…The Memory of Us”….  www.myspace.com/ashtonzyer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashton Zyer @ Hard Rock, Las Vegas

Ashton Zyer @ Hard Rock, Las Vegas

A special “Thanks” to everyone who supported our Fundraising Event for the Arthritis Foundation at the Hard Rock, Las Vegas.  It was a blast having you! 

Our weekly show with Resodence (www.resodence.com) will be moving to the Beauty Bar July 16th, 2009, and will run every Thursday night starting at 8:30 pm.  For more info log onto www.resodence.com

Special “Thanks” as well to Andy, Dave, Shannon, and Zandra for playing such a cool set after only 3 rehearsals, where none of us were ever in the room at the same time.  In addition to that, battling the sound and no monitors at the Hard Rock.  You guys rule!  -AZ

Ashton Zyer @ Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas