I see all good people.....

The Playbacks, my thrown together project for funk, played at a private party at the 'Salon SOHO' in downtown SLO.

At first we all thought it would suck, cause they kept telling us to turn it down. It was a pretty live room. No one was even looking at us at first. But as with all events like this, once the alcohol starts flowing the people got loose. By the end of the night we had the dance floor bumpin and they were begging for more.

Jon Anderson, from the band Yes, was in the house. He was dancing and enjoying himself. At the end of the night he came up to us and expressed his interest in the group, he said I was 'a good player, real funky'! I gave him my card and he said he was interested in doing something with us when we finish our demo, which we will be recording next week.

The band played good, best we ever have, and everyone had a good time. I love it when a plan comes together....

How many beers can you drink and still play?

So there I am, chillin out at the Frog & Peach Pub, in downtown San Luis Obispo, on the back patio with 7 or so friends. According to my calendar I have the night off, and I was looking foreword to not playing for a change. I got to hang out and take it easy.

As it happened, I was 4 beers deep with a full pint in front of me when I received the call;

'Hey Forrestt, do you remember that I switched the dates on you, you're supposed to be here tonight'

Fortunately, I was a block away from the gig with my gear in the car. All my friends laughing at me, 'Forrestt's got a gig!', and looking at the full beer in front of me, chanting, 'pound, pound, pound, pound'

So I did what any red blooded male would do, I pounded the whole beer and went to my jazz gig.

I showed up with a posse of friends to help me load my equipment in, which made it look good to show up late.

And it turned out to be an incredible night. The place was solid packed, and everyone was paying attention and digging.

Some of the regular jazz heads that always show up at Grappolos told me that I played the best that they've ever seen.

But I was drunk!

Go figure.

Don't Lock Your Bike Up In West Hollywood

We 'Showcased' at the Swing House Mon night. It was pretty interesting. We had one guy show up to the first from EMI and two guys show up to the second slot from Epic. The guys from Epic were literally blown away. The older, experienced guy said 'It's the kind of music I could take bong rips to and listen to all night'. Kind of shows where the music industry's head is at. He singled everyone out for compliments and said he like my 'Energy', proving my point that you don't need to be a good musician, but if you have a lot of energy, boy watch out!

They basically told us what I've believed all along. That the Lead Birds need to be playing live and developing a following. It's as if we are this kick ass band who records a little self produced EP and expects to instantly make it. I think he's right, we need to show our strong-point, our live show.

Basically though it was a night of sucking off record execs and having nothing to show for it. Typical L.A. B.S.

Like the Bike that was locked up out back and stripped completely.

Happening spot tonight

Thursday night at Grappolo's has to be, hands down, the premier jazz gig on the central coast. All the serious cats around here will agree.
Even though it's a frat style college hang, it is the most happening spot for three reasons;

1) It's a small joint, tiny. People pack in there like sardines, and it's loud. This makes it so people HAVE to listen. It's too loud to ignore. Intimate.

2) People clap and applaud after solos and songs. Amazing, people pay attention here. After playing so many crappy 'dinner sets' where you are essentially background music that no one pays attention to, it's quite refreshing. There's a about a dozen or so people that show up every thursday specifically for the music as well. That really makes it worth it.

3) The amount of incredibly hot women that wear next to nothing that hang out there. The type of women that would have nothing to do with a guy like me, cause I don't have a lot of money or belong to a fraternity, but they hang out there and they enjoy the music. Not that I would have anything to do with them either, they are the typically shallow type. But they dance, and they look good doing it. And that always helps.

It's a little surreal. People that you wouldn't think would be into jazz get down and dig it. The funny part is when we're done playing and the bartenders immediately throw on the hip hop club music and everyone starts REALLY partying. It turns into a 'club' scene. But whatever, we rocked the place tonight.

Turn this mother out.