ughhh

I think i got sinus this week,,, no fever, body is feeling fine but my head is stuffed and can't get enough sleep (even after good 7hrs)

oh, and the weather... i woke up today and open the window,, and immediately shut it of course lol There were so many birds out in the yard, probably because there's couple of trees with tons of berries in it.  Those birds looked huge!!! and so many of them. some pics are below~~~

talk about being productive,
i went out for several new open mics this week, all out of Columbus.
found some cool venues, as meeting good friends.
I also went down to several restaurants to see if they can hire me for back ground music.
hope i can get a job over the summer!!

Tomorrow!!! im playing at Java Central Coffee with the Java all stars:
Ryan Rini, To the East, and Luke Mossburg.

come on down for a free show and excellent coffee!!!7pm~

http://www.java-central.com

weekend...

a busy busy weekend!

It's been a while since I had a weekend with no gigs.
thought i would of relaxed but exciting things do come up!!!

I found out that Riverdance is in Columbus for the weekend and I really wanted to see that for a long time so I took the chance.  It was awesome!!!!  Don't know what but Irish music has that something that grabs my heart.  Tap dance was great as well.  made me wanna try it, made it'll brush up my rhythm.  The most exciting part was the two groups of dancers, Traditional Irish vs. American tap.  Same style of dancing, but totally different way of expressing rhythm.

So that was Saturday and I thought i would have a slow Sunday, but guess not.  I was looking thru facebook and my friend Brian Henke in Westlake Ohio was having a open mic/concert.  I haven't seen him for a while and open mic sounded nice on a Sunday afternoon so I decided to go!! 2.5 hr driving.  How random,,, but it was worthwhile trip!! was scared because Cleveland area was just starting to get some freezing rain, but i safely made it and was just in time for my turn to play.  I play about 5 tunes, great feedback, great sound and nice people!! sold some CDs which did pay my gas but most of all, pure fun!!!

I got back around 1pm,,, exhausted of course... but those cups of coffee on the way back did wake me up... lol

great weekend, I truly appreciate these chances that makes my life so fulfilled.  Thank you so so much!!!

set up

I just went to a luthier this morning to set up my guitar.
wanted to make some small adjustments, especially before i go to Japan.
I have a gig 3 weekends in a row from next week, so now's the time to chill and relax.

got my old guitar out, a Martin D-15.
first acoustic guitar i ever got on my 13th birthday. Yes, thats were it all begin!!

anyhow, exactly a month away till japan!!
hope the weather is gonna be nice.  The is getting longer now, still seeing the sun around 6pm.
I love this weather!!! I hope i can see some beautiful cherry blossoms like last year's trip.

Happy V-day and tour dates!!!

Hope everyone had a nice Valentines day.  I didn't nothing special, just teaching, playing and booking but my students did gave me some candy!! thank you all~~~


It finally feels like spring, and I'm lovin it!!
went to the Easton Mall last sunday, filled with people but felt good walking outside and doing some shopping.  Got a nice H&M shirt, will wear this next week at my Java show.

Any how... great news!!! for me at least,,,
I got some dates confirmed for my tour dates in Japan!!!
it looks like im gonna do around 20 shows...(hoping for more!)
but it does feel like a good number, doing 20 shows in 2.5 month.

So I'm going to share my tour schedule right here, just in case anyone is around that area..!



3/22
Live House "TRI" @ Ikebukuro, Tokyo
http://ikebukuro3-tri.com/main.html
opens 6:30pm starts 7pm
ticket: 1000yen with purchase of drink (500yen)
Going to play a 30min set, so will update the time I'm starting

3/24　
Colored Jam@ Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
http://www.coloredjam.com/top.html
opens 7pm, starts at 7:30pm
ticket: 1500yen

3/29
Tous Les Duex @ Kyoto
Guitar music by Shohei Toyoda and Akihiro Tanaka
Afternoon set from 4pm, Evening set from 7pm
charge:2500yen with cake, ice cream and 2 orders of drinks
http://www.touslesdeux2001.com/


3/30
Aunoun Parlor@ Kyoto
http://aunoun.com/
opens 7:30 and starts at 8pm
charge is 3000yen with a drink and snack

4/1
@Kamakura

4/8
Al-Cafe @Ogikubo, Tokyo
Featuring myself, Shinichi Kato and Kaori Sawada
http://alcafe.incoming.jp/
7pm open, 7:30 starts!
ticket: 1500yen

4/10
Sea Garage@Ueno, Tokyo
http://www.seagarage.com/seagarage.html
open 19:00 start 19:30　
charge 3000yen

4/12
Miyauchi-ke@Saitama
http://www.geocities.jp/miyatin5963/kuro.html
open 18:00 strat 19:00
Advanced ticket: 3000yen
On the day: 3500yen

4/16
Primo Piatto@Osaka
http://www.live-primo-piatto.com/
6pm open, 7pm start!
ticket: 3000yen with drink!

4/17
Gen @ Nagoya
http://live-gen.musical.to/
opens 5:30pm, starts at 6pm
Advanced ticket: 3000yen
on that day: 3500yen

4/20
Tous Les Duex @ Kyoto
Guitar music by Shohei Toyoda and Akihiro Tanaka
Afternoon set from 4pm, Evening set from 7pm
charge:2500yen with cake, ice cream and 2 orders of drinks
http://www.touslesdeux2001.com/
4/22
cafe ibaraki yu@Osaka
http://saholive.web.fc2.com/index.html
7pm open, 8pm starts!
2500yen

4/23
HEAVEN'S CAFE@Osaka
http://blog.livedoor.jp/heaven_s_cafe_hp/
6pm open, 6:30starts
1000yen charge

4/27
Aunoun Parlor@Kyoto
 http://aunoun.com/
7:30 opens, 8pm start!
3000yen with drink and snack

5/8
cafe atta@Shiga
http://coffee.shiga-saku.net/c14469.html
opens 12:30pm starts 2pm
2500yen with drink and cake

JSO event

Yesterday, I had the chance to do a event for JSO, Japanese Student Organization at OSU.  I haven't really been involved in JSO, but I knew the organization from a long time,, since back in high school.  I was hanging out with college kids then (ha, lucky me lol) but after I went to Boston, the connection was lost.

It was probably last December when i got back in touch with the JSO.  Since then, they have given me great opportunities to share my music.  OSU had a event called "Taste of OSU", gathering of 33 different cultural groups sharing there native food and cultural performances.  I was asked to represent JSO for the performance, (hell yeah playing finger-style guitar is traditional Japanese act lol) and guess what,,,, I performed in front of  thousand people at the event!!  That was probably the max number of ppl i performed for.  yes, i was greatly nervous and my "Classical Gas" (i know, it's so representing Japan) was shakier then ever but it was great experience and great exposure!!!
 

so yesterday, i did a event which I talked about contemporary Japanese lyrics and the language.  There are lots of spoken phrases going in those lyrics and thought i would share some of them to the students.  Yes, I try to make it educational as possible, not just showing of my music lol

it was first time i actually did a session of talking/explaining and performing.  I got some feedback, and i do hope they got something out of it...

it is the most joyful thing to get a chance to share some of your passion and love to people.
Thank you JSO and hope we can work together again!!!

A new Friend!!!

yes, i got a GOAT!!!!

looks like this...

it's a Djembe!!! a perfect match with my guitar right?

I always wanted a djembe for a long time and I finally got it.  it took me almost an hour to choose this guy... it should have looked weird at Guitar Center, when I was just playing 2 djembes over and over again... but hey, i got the right one.  good wood, good skin, organically made. 

I was really inspired yesterday, talking with Adam Rafferty for couple of hours, jamming, getting advices and talking about music.  He really focused on rhythm and how important it is for every musician, not just the drummer.  He also taught me some tricks and ways to focus on a certain pattern, so I'm really excited to practice those things,, and yes, see some improvement on the guitar too!!!!

Tomorrow, I got an event going on at OSU with the Japanese Student Organization.  Gonna pick up couple of Japanese tunes from the 70s, and try to explain the language thru lyrics.  first attempt to do this... hope it works out!!!

Full day of playin my guitar

Just got back from a wonderful gig tonite.

so looking back today...

11am~1pm playing at Zencha Tea Salon Brunch
2pm~4pm playing at the Chinese New Year Festival in Dublin Rec Center
8pm~ Adam Rafferty's Show at the McConnel Art Center, and playing a few songs

So basically,,, I've playing all day and it's the happiest thing in my life!!

It was pure luck that these two big events (new years and Adam) came along.
I got a call from Palmer (manager of Adam) like around 6pm, telling me that the guy he asked to play with Adam tonite can't come so bring your guitar and play like you did past couple of days.  I was filled with joy!!!

Playing with Adam is just pure enjoyment.
A guy today that opened for him talked about snow flakes and they all appear to be different, because of temperatures and humidity and other factors. They get bumped into these things, make different effect to each flakes and that's what makes their individual "art".  This is same with music.  Music is that bump you get, and it sure does effect us very differently.  Sometime it feels so good that you want it more and more but other times you feel bit hurting.  But in the end,  you get to be your own original "art" with getting those bumps ,, that's what makes originality.

these past 3 days were a sure a bump, but a very good one.  Adam gave me a real heavy bump, which i know for sure that it will add greatly to my art.  what i gotta do now is bump them back lol i gotta get my art going so i can bump more people and influence them and make their art something special.

i will try to get some photos and videos up asap.

Good nite~~~