Gigs, Albums, Changes.

It's been a crazy week and a new one is starting with me driving down to Miami to play a few songs at the Van Dyke Cafe.  That's if someone cancels.  It's a long drive to make to see if I'm going to play or not but music itself is a journey.  Even if I don't play tonight, I look forward to meeting those who are as I find musicians and performers entertaining...well most!  Regardless of cancellation, I will be playing an hour or so long show at the Capris Lounge in Boynton Beach, Fl...my hometown, on Thursday February 2nd! I get to play all of my own tunes and I'm gearing up for that, perhaps doing a web concert last minute on Tuesday or Wednesday or both.  This has been a long time coming with many false hopes and sinking efforts but I'm not a quitter and all I really want to do is play for people and for it to sound great.  The Beginning of The Endless Search For Oblivion will be completed in the next few months as Tony's other band is really taking off and his time is limited. I'm lucky to have been able to work with him this long and get this thing done...actually both this and Guitar For Money. Tony has been solid in the studio in both the capacity of engineer and bass and keyboard playing.  I'm not sure even he knew how fast his band would take off and to what heights and I'm really happy for him and time permitting, he'll be on recordings and stuff.  For now, it is impossible to have him in the live act as his committments to many are growing.  I'm really excited for him as he's such a great guy and has shared this journey with me up to this point.  If I thought we were writing wacky tunes, Tony didn't say so!  Anyway, us South Florida musicians need to stick together and when you meet selfless, artistic and talented people....you need to take note and respect their goals as well.  We all want our projects to get done the way we want, when we want, but today's musical climate can be barren so opportunities must be seizes and chances must be taken.   With that, I pick up my abbreviated setlist and get practicing and see if I can pound out some nice notes tonight.  As my schedule is getting sorted with solo acoustic shows, I will be slowly putting a live band together with the best local players I can find to play the music.  There will be more and more exposure as people are just starting to really grasp what I'm trying to do and when there are gigs, there is promotion done, beyond the word of mouth and my own interweb efforts.  I'm excited to see how I do with all this but I can't imagine backing down to any of it after 18 years or so of trying to make a spark!  Show me the way to the stage!

Best As Always,

Leibowitz

Happy 2012, Now Where's Oblivion?

I don't feel like a rock star anymore...not like I ever was, but it felt that way in 2011 at some times.  We finished and released Guitar For Money, which has been an experience.  I have a stack of albums to send out this week as I type this.  It has been entirely a web and word of mouth thing.  As far as results, I've done zilch on Bandcamp thus far but just by understanding a bit more of how sites like that and ReverbNation, SoundCloud, etc. work none of the effort has been in vain.  It's simply a starting point or a mile marker if you're in the Florida Keys!  There has been TONS of encouragement by other artists that I admire as well as from my friends, who can be the toughest critics of all---which I do appreciate.  The music is out there and not for everyone but it takes guts to say that to me face to face but people do have their favorites.  I think until I completely satisfy my musical urges I'll continue.  There are new instruments I am considering really digging into. I've been practicing like crazy as Tony and I have taken a holiday intermission and then some before tying a lasso around the rest of the new album.  I'm extremely excited about it and can't wait until it is done to our satisfaction.  Tony will be in Los Angeles for the next month focused on his band Brass Knuckles, who are really doing great. He's one of the most natural musicians I've ever been around so I'm lucky he's in my band in the first place and has become a great pal as well. As for the concept of The Beginning of the Endless Search For Oblivion, this is the most structured and thought out work I have ever produced.  We even have "guest stars" on it from another country on 1 track so far.  Great ones at that! During this time now, I've been practicing electric guitar and its relationship within my rig, syncing up with numerous effects and the like.  I'm preparing to play live when I get the right gig so this is quite important but just as important for studio time in terms of practicality.  It sure helps to become a good techinician and electrician if you play any instrument....It's also been month after month of getting my drumming up to snuff as well which has me so sore and hopefully a better player!!! I've been exercising and strengthening my voice too so when we do final versions I'm handing it out like I should.  If this was a football game it's the 3rd quarter with 1:56 on the clock and I don't plan on this going into overtime since the story is set, as is the music.  The 4th quarter looms and since I write the script, keep the beat and so forth, I've saved the most exiting and radical stuff for last.  Hey, I put up stuff on ReverbNation but those are teasers....I have lots of extras in the vaults too.  Oh, we need reviews for Guitar For Money as we only had one done..a great one at that.  We even were featured on the Rocktologist in August so we know people are listening and some even love it.  Please blog up if you have the slightest interest in doing so, no matter how negative your comments are. Haven't been blasted yet and it would make me laugh and I'd like to get the 1st bad one out of the way as well! Well anyway, enough about me, I wish you and yours an amazing 2012...a safe, healthy and prosperous one at that.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic
www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com

\m/ \m/

Josh