Monday, April 20, 2009

Gig Reviews: Stuckey-Dolan Wedding

There have been times in my DJing career where I thought to myself during shows, "I need to practice my chops" or "This is getting old..." or even "Maybe I should give this up...

Not this crowd. This wedding only made me want to go back to being a professional club DJ.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to quit what I'm doing (i.e. singing, playing guitar, and fixing computers), but the way the reception went just kinda rekindled my love as a turntablist. I don't think I've had as much fun with any group. I think what made the difference was that Bo (the groom) asked for strictly club music from 9:30 until close. My first reaction was "Are you sure?" and Bo said, "Definitely."

He was right - everyone there was gittin' down to biggie, t-pain, flo-rida, lil' jon... and of course, the adrenaline from the club set put me in my element and made me think, "Why did this ever stop?"

Anywho, it was a fun night and a big congratulations to Drs. Bo and Lindsey Dolan! Thank you for letting me be a part of your post-ceremony festivities. :)
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GIG UPDATES --
THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd @ 12 Noon-2pm
Live w/ Domenick DeGeorge and Andrew Bottini
The Mountain Lair, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 24th @ 7pm-8pm
Solo gig @ Hot Topic
Morgantown Mall, Morgantown, WV

See you there!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Heading North.

So, I'm moving to Pittsburgh.

I'm super excited! I just don't know anything about the city, except:
- there is a couple Guitar Centers and one awesome Ikea.
- there is a large airport.
- traffic is horribly bad around the tunnels.
- it is on the wrong side of the backyard brawl.
- they have really amazing microbreweries.
- the food rocks.
- crime is kicking up a bit.

Nonetheless, it is probably one of the more convenient places to live on the East Coast. :) And if I get home sick from West Virginia or California, home is just 1-4 hours away... well, for a price.

The house I got is a nice two-story with a basement and a backyard for Kobie. I learned quickly that living in a townhouse with a orally-fixated 90-pound means "no room for anything." She's actually sitting right beside me, staring and armed with her slobbery USC-colored tug-o-war rope. Although obnoxious, she's still really really cute.

If any of you know anything about Pittsburgh, I'd like to get some insight on a few things:
- good coffee
- open mic nights
- dog parks
- a good, youthful Catholic church
- good gyms (a buddy of mine is opening one up, but it won't be for a while)
- city shortcuts around traffic

And of course, if you wanna meet up and hang, I'm all about it. :)

Dear Morgantown,
It was fun while it lasted, but it's time to bite the bullet.
I'm sorry for leaving, but I promise I'll come back again.
Love,
Chris

.... and Happy Easter everyone! He is risen! Alleluia!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

I <3 WVU Dance Minors

Yup, I said it. "Minors".

No, not the kinds that are like underage, the dancers who take time out of their busy major, whether it's Spanish, Art, or Medicine, to do what they absolutely love.

I played at the WVU Spring Dance Recital with Rachel Romero, a dance minor who also just got into the WVU Medical School, and it had to have been the most appreciated I'd felt for a long time. I played John Mayer's "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room" and she did a solo dance to it. The crowd loved it and so did the other dancers in the program.

I thought Rachel kicked butt.

Leslie (a dancer/choreographer in LA) and Maribelle (a graphic designer in Ft. Lauderdale) who are both amazing dancers would have been blown away and so proud of her. I was going to cry at some points. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every minute of it.... Not only the part where I got to perform, but watching all of the other dance minors do their thing - ALL of them were spectacular.

So thank you all so much for letting me be a part of your performance and definitely for the amazing creativity you all show. I loved it!

If you haven't seen a show live, here is a clip that was taken by my cousin, EJ, in Charleston, West Virginia.



Tim Courts (Drums), Jimmy Lykens (Bass), Ryan Kennedy (Electric), Eric Pyles (Sound). Thanks to EJ and the girls for the upload. :)

Enjoy :)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Gig Reviews: So.Zo and Bocktown

So.Zo -- Morgantown, West Virginia
What a great place to play! I love this place. They've always got really friendly staff and a great sound guy. Played this gig with Dom DeGeorge, Andrew Bottini, and Tami Alexander. It was one of the first shows I played with a setlist, but hey it turned out pretty good.

Awesome people from Columbus came to listen to the show. Big shout to Jenny Wang :) Thank you to ALL the people who showed up to listen and participate - meaning the "WOOOOHAAAHHH!" on Only You. Loved it.

Dom and I played a middle set with just the acoustics and I was very pleased with the sound. The band did an excellent job, as well!

You absolutely must try their Vanilla Chai. :) Hands down, a solid time at the show.

Venue Rating: 8 of 10 Lydias. (New rating system, teehee - feel free to leave your own comments below!)
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Bocktown -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
If there is one place can I say I look forward to playing at every year, it is here. Food is amazing, beer is amazing, staff is amazing. Sold. :)

Dom and I played here together. The first 1/3 of the set sounded funny, only because of EQing issues (got spoiled from having a sound guy). When Dom went on to do his set (and with some feedback from Dom's sister's boyfriend), I EQ'ed it correctly, and from then on it was a blast. Andrew and Tara were there to support us. Tara is awesome, Andrew - good choice! :)

We met a couple of people there, Jack and Tom who do a lot of Irish tunes, and I'll tell ya... I love these guys. They supported us as if they knew us since childhood, holding out the tip jar for us, almost getting into a fight about it (hahaha, amazing story from Jack)... can't get better first-time fans than that. Reminded me of the gig I played down in Beckley, WV @ Foster's :).

I had an angry set where I dropped the F-bomb in Steamroller and I think I felt some aftershock from the "f". I don't condone doing it, but it is in the song. :P

Great night, just got home at 3am... but that doesn't matter cause we got the house in Pittsburgh yesterday! :)

Loved it.

Venue Rating: 8 of 10 Lydias.