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!

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 :)

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.

Dustin harts my package. Do you?

Dustin made a video response to "New Day".



If you got the CD, feel free to do the same! :) I'd like to know what you think about the CD. :)

Till then, I'll be fixing computers.

Gig Reviews: Empire Books and Capitol Roasters Cafe

It's 2am and I think it's time for me to go bed... but my face hurts from all these amazing gigs. :)

Empire Books and News, Huntington, West Virginia, 3/19 -
This gig was special - not only because this is where I started out, but I also got this KILLER article in the paper by Entertainment Writer Dave Lavender from the Huntington Herald-Dispatch. What a privilege to have such an awesome reporter write something so uplifting... :) If you're reading this, thanks Dave! To start off, I had about 4 hours of sleep the night before because I was working on the recently uploaded "New Day" video. With that, some things went wrong:

1) My battery in my guitar ran out of juice in the middle of the first song.
2) Jonathan broke a string.
3) I broke a string.
4) Jimmy canceled, so I told Timmy to not show.

What a night. :) But I'll tell you what, it all came together. Mark ended up bringing a djembe and Bob brought an electric cello! It was all amazing. :) Wonderful work, everyone!
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Capitol Roaster's Cafe, Charleston, West Virginia, 3/21:
Never played here before in my life and we absolutely had an amazing crowd! My family came up to Charleston and brought my father up there! It blew me away. :) I don't wanna ever forget feeling what I did at this gig.

This was hands down the best gig I've ever played. Ryan Kennedy, Tim Courts, and Jimmy Lykens on one stage with me was like being able to play with the 1995 Chicago Bulls - the dream team was definitely there! Eric Pyles ran the sound and it was such an amazing mix - super awesome job Eric!

Simply put - Two hours worth of some of the best musicating I'd heard/done in a LOOONG time.. :) I feel bad for the people that missed it, but man, that is their fault. As soon as I heard "Candy Red" startup, I knew it was going down. :)

I felt like I sold a lot of CDs, but I came up with only about 12 CDs worth of money. I should have just trusted the money with someone I knew... I'll be checking up on this.

But nonetheless, they guys were amazing and I couldn't have played with a better crew. :) So fun!

Did anyone catch the BlogTV broadcast, btw?

What's the deal with the CD?

The CD FAQ:
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Q: I preordered, so when am I going to get the CD?
A: Soon after I get the CD. :) The CD is still in transit to my place and is about 60 miles away on a UPS truck. It takes about a month to get them done, so I think we're on track. I, also, still have to sign them, package them, and send them off.

Q: Where are you releasing the CD?
A: Huntington, West Virginia @ Empire Books and News. March 19th, 6-8pm. :)

EDIT-
Q: What about the rest of us who live like a bajillion miles away?
A: Go to the website, click the link "CD RELEASE SPECIAL", and there you go! :)

EDIT-
Q: How much will the physical CDs go for regularly?
A: Shipping is $5.00 USD for US, and $7.00 for international.
- Waiting is going to be $15 USD plus shipping.
- Guarding Joey will be $10 USD plus shipping.
- If you decide to get both, it will be $25 USD plus one shipping charge.


Q: How do I pay for the physical CD?
A: Two ways -
- Website - Go to "Works" and click "Buy Now"
- Check/Money Order - send payment to Chris Cendana Music, PO BOX 704, Morgantown, WV 26507.

Q: Why do you keep saying "physical CD" - Is your CD going to be on iTunes?
A: Yes, Waiting will be available no later than March 31st, 2009. Guarding Joey will be available no later than April 3rd, 2009.

Q: How much will it be there?
A: I don't know yet, but odds are it will be cheaper than the physical CD.

Q: What is the deal with Guarding Joey?
A: It is the bonus CD that everyone who preordered is getting for FREE. Everyone else will have to pay a nominal amount. If you buy the physical EP, there will be two bonus tracks included at the end, which is NOT available on iTunes.

Q: Why should I buy the CDs?
A: Because I put nearly 2 months of paychecks into this album... because I made an oath to my family that my sister would recieve 10% of my CD sales every month. ...and because you love me. :)

Q: What are your favorite songs on the CDs, Chris?
A: That's an awkward question, but if you ask me... (Not in order) The whole Waiting album, Only You, We Will Fly, and the two bonus tracks on the EP. :)
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If you have anymore questions, please let me know! :)
-C

Oriental Pecan Salmon - an original recipe

I totally am proud of what I came up with last night for dinner. :) Hear that? It's the sound of me tooting my own horn.

If you're Catholic, most chances are you are abstaining from meat on Friday. I tried to get creative in the kitchen and it actually turned out good! So here's something I think I'm going to add to my repertoire (and guys, if I can do it... you know the rest - do it for the girls!):

4 pieces of fresh salmon
2 cups crushed pecans
1 bottle of teriyaki marinade
1 lemon
1/2 stick of butter, melted
3 tablespoons of brown sugar

1) Marinate Salmon for 60 minutes in 1/2 of the bottle of teriyaki and fresh lemon juice in a ziplock bag in the fridge.

2) After marination, preheat oven to 450 degrees.

3) Place salmon in a baking pan and pour marinade on top of the salmon to coat.

4) Coat salmon with chopped pecans.

5) Pour butter over pecans and sift brown sugar over that soon after.

6) Bake at 450 for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.

I also added rice with broccoli and some stir-fry veggies to mix it up. Enjoy!