Goodbye Cruel World Lyrics

As per fan request...

Goodbye Cruel World - Shaa'ir + func

Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to go
Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to know

You're just an illusion

You'll grant my dreams
Let me make my own reality
The powers that be
Directed by my creativity
The peace in me
Is ready to be unleashed and free
The fall has passed
The rise has arrived with the upswing

And I see
This world holding my hand tomorrow
I see us all
Moving on passed the sorrow

Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to go
Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to know
You're just an illusion

YUCK NESTLE

Over 25,000 people like me wrote to Nestle telling them not to sell genetically-contaminated food in India.

Hundreds of phone-calls have been flooding their voicemail.

Hundreds of people have returned their Nestle products to the company.

And 98% of Nestle customers just polled by Greenpeace say they do NOT want to eat genetically-contaminated food.

Nestle's response to all this? It doesn't sell genetically-contaminated food in India because it is prohibited by local authorities.

Indian companies like Ruchi Soya, MTR and Britannia have already committed to selling GE-free food in India, then why can't Nestle? After all, this is the same Nestle that dare not sell genetically-tainted food in Europe, Russia or Brazil.

Are Indian people less human? Are we guinea pigs and lab rats? Are we less deserving of safe food than citizens of other countries?

This has got to change, and it has to change now! That's just why I've told Nestle Chairman Antonio Waszyk to come clean on the products his company sells in my country.

join me in demanding safe and genetically-unadulterated food from Nestle. For now and forever.

COME TOGETHER. BAN NESTLE PRODUCTS AND ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DO SO AS WELL.

fashion

Attended Kunal Rawal's show at Lakme Fashion week in Mumbai yesterday. S+F ties have been made by the GP with Fashion - something we are not opposed to...we like threads...we put effort into it.

Our favorites in the industry right now are Narendra Kumar and Manish Arora. Pioneers - and damn good at what they do.

Kunal Rawal was a very pleasant surprise. His earth color pallet - of beige, cream, pale blue linens - detailed jackets/waste coats/ and nehru kurtas - all very wearable...which I like...and sexy.

Beyond that, I can't really talk much about fashion hoo-ha this that and the other. All in all fun because my friends Sid Coutto, Ankur Tewari, Warren, and Pozy played the outro to the show. Sid is just fantastic fun to watch play...and you know what? I think it's great that the fashion world and the music world are colliding. Cuz us musicians run IT.
Oh and Acquin. I want your t-shirt.

too much to talk about!

Okay, so I've been on the road...and I'm sure many of you are asking "why hasn't monica written a million years?? if she doesn't write...we're gonna stop checking her blog..." and then this whole s+f blog will go kaput before it even begins! but, i know you won't do that because you are too kind.

basically, S+F was in Delhi (we played at Shalom...as the first ever live band to EVER play there...something that we are discovering is an honor...but maybe not the best idea...when a venue isn't meant for live performances...which luckily, Shalom is a positive environment for a chill set to be played)...then we flew to Ladakh to play the Confluence.

The confluence is going to need a whole separate blog. It was an odyssey in many many ways...and deserves more time than i have right now to write about it.

Then we got back and I hosted this months Open Mind night...which I am hoping to pass the torch onto P-Man the khiladi man himself...who is actually a really effing great guy. surprisingly enough.

Open mind wasn't as epic as last month - but there was a decent turnout...and minus the stupid Ad agency guy who thought he knew everything being obnoxious and making an ass out of himself and ruining the vibe of the evening...I was pretty impressed with Retrospect - this extremely young band...that has grown a lot...and performed an original that was actually pretty good! good going guys. so all in all...time spent wisely. not in vain.

THEN - phew - we went to hyderabad and played at this AWESOME (for real) new venue called P-Matka. And why I feel it was awesome is because it doesn't mess around, or try to hard to be anything but a dope little laid back venue with a stage and room to rock out- a pool table on the side...and cheap enough drinks for audiences to get their rocks off. And I think we played a pretty damn good set.

The new material is feeling more and more at home inside my body...and i feel like i can do what i wrote justice.............almost.

so, i will write about the confluence later. have you been to ladakh? it's otherworldly and you must go.

signing out...only to see you soon.

Last Week - open mind, acoustica at bonobo

Last week was insane.

Let's start at the beginning - We've been juggling between our Acoustica set and our full set up (featuring Anand Subaya on bass, and Lindsay D'Mello on drums) - so after playing with the full band at a UV lit Blue Frog last week, Randolph and I started preparing for the Acoustica set.

Open Mind Night - This night was a great combination of good friends, great musicians both in the audience and in the contributors bracket. Have to mention a new artist by the name of Alisha, whose songwriting and band shows a lot of promise. My friends and fellow musicians Raghu Dixit, Luke Kenny, PMan, Shadaab Khadri (Scribe), and Sidd Coutto came out...and unfortunately there wasn't enough time for all to play because SO many people came out to perform. It must be mentioned that Pman did an S+F cover of the song Love Love Love which was highly emotional and brought myself and quite a few others to tears. We after-partied until 7 AM. rock show!

S+F ACOUSTICA at Bonobo - I had never performed at this venue, but heard quite a bit about it. Must say, it shows when the owner is an ex-event planner/DJ himself. Neville knows what the scene needs and I think Bonobo is a step in the right direction. Our set consisted of mainly tracks from our 1st and 2nd album - rearranged and jammed with lengthy solos - and me on some percussion. I've been practicing :) Bonobo's brunch offers unlimited food and booze to those who come and it was an aussie's birthday party as well - so the scene was fairly rowdy for 1PM on a sunday afternoon.

In other news - Due to the Swine Flu scare, S+F's gig at High Spirits this Friday has been canceled. Please stay safe and healthy everyone.

6th AUGUST GIG

It was mad previewing our new material - some people were totally digging it...I saw some knowing smiles in the crowd with our lavani dance opening - and our dubstep bass lines further into the set with unpreviewed songs like "Shine".

We took further and greater license to experiment.

The nice thing was I felt a sense of community with the people who came out - many faces I recognize as "fans"...more like "MY PEOPLE".

We put a lot into this show as it's our last full on set for quite some time. We're ducking low and still playing the Acoustica set...until our full on launch mid-November.

The plan as of now is to be in Europe Mid-October and get back in time for the album launch. Nerves are already high--we got a lot of work to do.

Shaa'ir and Func on Facebook

Much Love to those who came out and supported. We love you long time.

ALBUM NAME COMPETITION

OK. Thursday August 6th S+F plays at Blue Frog...

We are offering free entry + 1 guest to the best 5 submissions of Album names to INFO@SHAAIRANDFUNC.COM

entries close at 12 AM on Thursday morning :) (wed. night)

please preview the record before you send something in
www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc

PUNE GIG

THIS WEEK BACCHUS in BANGALORE

The rains have been a time for extreme self-contemplation...lots of house arrests which then lends itself to bouts of manic creativity - because some kind of movement is needed. Looking back on it, New Day: The Love Album was written in the monsoon's. And now, our untitled third album, is still in it's creative stages during this beautifully reflective time.

This Thursday, S+F launches it's Acoustica tour - we are using some newly acquired tools, to play an S+F exploratory set with Acoustic sounds. So, it's not fully "unplugged" as such...but instead our version of acoustic/electronic production.

I'm really excited about how it's coming along. For me, it's an opportunity to show off the song aspect of S+F writing. I feel like we've already played quite a few sets that show how we can get a party started, and we can navigate our way through the rock and roll arena - but, stripping them down and improving with the songs that we've written is something we had yet to do...and now's the time.

So, Bangalore, we're coming to you first on the 23rd at a venue called Bacchus. details on myspace.com/shaairandfunc

Hope to see you guys soon.

GIGSINTOWN and NEXT MUMBAI GIG

Woke up today and started to arrange the studio...bought a new desk...set up my line6 toneport bad boy sound-card with really fun vocal preamps...gonna get to know my processor better. Been blowing my nose a lot. Chai, Daal Chawal, blow nose, sit at computer, listen to music, blow nose...

Wrote two new songs yesterday!!! hurray hurray. that always feels nice. treated myself to some parles G's and chai. I'm sick which puts a slight damper on the already damp environment that is Mumbai Monsoon Season. hence the repetitive blow nose reference.

SO, more importantly, gotta write about this wicked new site called GigsInTown - www.gigsintown.com basically you can join right now for free and post all your gigs...get informed about all gigs happening around India.

Sign up for it.

We did.

On another note, our Bombay fam keeps asking WHEN IS THE NEXT BOMBAY GIG!?!?!?! It's the 6th of August people. Do you visit our Myspace page??? Cuz if you don't...You totally SHOULD! We are working every day on beefing up the live set so that you come to Blue Frog at 10 PM on the night of August 6th, 2009, strip down to just your skivvies cuz your clothes won't let you dance as hard as your gonna want to, sweat, and prove that Bombay is probably the coolest city on the planet because the people are freaky, the food rocks, and the music is like sex personified...or um...musicafied.

Love you lots.
Pace Regazzo

Random but TRUE

So, guess what I just read in this incredible book with facts about the industry...

ABBA was offered a billion dollars to do a 100 concert reunion tour and they refused.

Morrissey and The Smiths were offered $5 million to play 1 show at Coachella - and Morrissey was quoted saying he would rather eat his own testicles! Needless to say, they didn't play the show.

out of control.

We updated our myspace page with all of our upcoming shows.

check it.

http://www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc

PUNE July 10th

WICKED SHOW. full stop.

but, i will say more...

we left mumbai in an innova in the pouring rain. got stuck in a land slide and i thought i had never seen the planet in a more beautiful condition. we are so tiny compared to the powers of this great earth. it's majesty and it's power humbled me.
rain, the giver of life...the destroyer too. hundreds of cars sat parked on the three lane highway...a guy came around selling chikoo...Anand (S+F bassist) was playing Ozric Tentacles on the sound system. We got out of the car and sat on the subdivider...the edge of the mountain...it was beautiful. chaos tends to initiate peace. or so it seems.

so, the clouds hung low, and we reached pune just in time to sound check. we had to be quick because there was a namaaz happening right next door and we aren't exactly the quietest band in universe (break yo face)- so even sound check is quite the raucous. instantly i was infused with that larger than life high i get from making music live with the ingredients present. the chemistry between lindsay d'mello (our drummer), anand subaya (our bassist), and randolph correia (also known as funk)is bloody brilliant - it had been a while...i've been in new york for almost two months and i haven't taken so much time off from the band in over two years. vacation did me good - but i'm well in need of getting back to the grind that keeps me full of fire...life gets dull - and if it's dull than what's the point?

So we played for an hour and a half - and I feel that other cities in India (Delhi, Bangalore, Bombay, I love you - but Pune knows how to jump!) could take a little lesson from Pune folk. Fire-starters I say. It was ablaze.

If I may ask, WHY IS PUNE SO FREAKING GOOD-LOOKING!?! It was a well attended good-lookin' folk fest for god sakes...is it something in the air out there? Share the wealth people.

Also, at least half the room knew all the lyrics to our tracks. That could be the single most gratifying feeling for me.

oh...and we tried out some new stuff from the album. That went down well.

This really sweet girl told me that our music makes her believe in love.

All in all a great homecoming. Got lots of work to do now - get back into fine form for the upcoming events we have going on.

So, next up, we have a gig on the 1st of August in Pune at the new Opus - and the preview is up on myspace of the new album. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT RIGHT NOW.

3rd album inspirational reading

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.

-Thoreau

Michael Jackson

Today the whole world is talking about you. Every club, every channel, every radio station, every man, woman, and child...because you are gone.

You remind us, in your absence of the tremendous power that music has over every soul on the planet. You are immortal. Nothing can touch how you made people FEEL - through sound. I cried over you. Never met you, never had the privilege of seeing you live. But you are branded on my heart by your words, your songs, and what they represented to me in my life. every memory capture by "i'm bad" - every freaky dance move. You are the face that launched a thousand dreams.

Thank you.
We will all miss you.

picasso face twisted

Emotions rival television. They are stuffed with drama - chaos - destruction...all the good things that keep everyone flipping channels for more. Addicts of tragedies.

It's been raining for four days in New York. I always used to think that the sky was crying. I wonder about Bombay. I miss it most moments. I miss the heat. I wonder if the sky is crying there... ?

Music videos are in the works at the moment. Randolph is still at hard work on the acoustica album. I am putting my thoughts to paper and already planning for the 5th baby. I think it's become like breath for me. The blood to this life. I just went to a yoga class taught by an american girl named Linda. Her american accented pronunciations of things like "Shakti" and "kirtan" - make me giggle...but, she knows probably more about yog than the average Indian in India. Makes me think about the planet, and how we are really becoming one people, cross-cultured and mixed breeds - all of us.

Not sure if I mentioned that I played at Hiro Ballroom in New York a few weeks ago. That venue is japanese in it's fair, but the home of some of the greatest gigs to grace the city of New York. People really came through for the show - so many new faces out of the wood work. Many who have seen S+F play in Bombay. T'was a great show. S+F fans, you are the made of solid stuff.

also. The Human Be-In's we staged in Kolkata and Bangalore were amazing. Here's an article about the one in Cal. Think it was really well written for a change.

--------------------------------------------
THE HAPPENING

The idea and the name is borrowed from an event which reinvented American counterculture — in January 14, 1967, the hippie culture came into being in San Fancisco’s Golden Gate Park thanks to an event called Human Be-in, which aimed for personal empowerment, cultural and political decentralization— but Monica Dogra can still be considered a trailblazer. By providing an open platform to all kinds of art forms to aspiring musicians of the city, Dogra who is a part of the Mumbai-based electronica band Shaair and Func, is doing something that has possibly never been attempted in the country before. “I hope this allows talented performers to engage, explore and ultimately collaborate with other artists. The idea is to nurture these talents, give them the opportunity to explore their forms and possibly to even be discovered,” she says. In Someplace Else this Friday, Kolkata’s first Open Mic night , the Be-In was launched. “It is open to all people who love to perform. Be it musical performers or stand up comedians. As an artiste with political concern and reasonable means, this is the least I could do,” says Dogra. The Friday launch of Be-in was just the beginning of what Dogra hopes is a “revolution”. “I hope this platform encourages pluralistic expression. We would like to provide and open and equal platform to share ideas and thoughts,” she says.

The Be-in will be a monthly event at Someplace Else

SUPERMAN

I'm in New York right now. It's tripping me out. Even though this is where I am from - I have a whole new perspective on the planet and am seeing my home through "bombay eyes". I couldn't believe it. I went to duane reade and found a 30 foot aisle of JUST shampoo. SO MANY COLORS! trippy. right?

S+F fans have been writing asking about the 3rd album. when will it be released. is the version that is up on our myspace page (we put a preview up on www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc) the final version?

well basically, we are still in the polishing stages - simultaneously working on an acoustic "best of" album as well. We are aiming to release officially in Sept/October of this year. Meanwhile, there are some serious talks of summer tour schedules - i'm still taking my human be-in open mic shindig on the road. meeting lots of you personally which is tremendous fun. And, I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to know that travel and other such things actually ends up seeping into the music...and what everything ends up feeling like at the end.

I suppose we are all time sensitive.

SO - back to the loca vida. may a pillow of truth cradle your head.

INDIAN UNDERGROUND PODCAST

http://cache.mypodcast.com/cached/iup_20090429_1249-423853-203609-2-25.mp3

recommend you support and download and listen.

No, S+F isn't featured on this one - but, i'm sure we will be soon.

In any case. PROPS chuddy buddy ashish. you done good.

love and light.

ps- S+F at hardrock this thursday. sharing the space with them clones.


! see ya.

reminiscing.

It's Probably This video of a live performance we did on the Dance Tent at the Legendary Big Chill Festival.

I sometimes hate the sound of my speaking voice. So feel free to ignore that rubbish...however true it is.

Politics of Humanity

It's an extremely fragmented world of politics within this complex and beautiful country. The more knowledge we try to obtain, the more lack of cohesion and obstruction of information is faced. What's more are the layers and layers of corruption that one must sift through in order to uncover some semblance of truth.

All that being said, what's happening politically world over is this exciting feeling of an uprising. The battle is near, or are we in it? Who is real? Who is not? What is fictional - what is just a marketing campaign? Who are the old politicians flexing their tattered muscles, paan stained teeth, basking in the glory of a sea of manipulated innocent minds. Too innocent to think, perhaps? Too innocent to confront? Or is it too afraid? We've all witnessed innocents getting beaten by laathis for wearing the wrong cap, or maybe they had features of a UP'ite? Who knows? But I know that I felt pretty powerless. I know I felt scared. And who is responsible? In such a fragmented democracy such chaos is inevitable...and within such chaos is opportunity...a smell...a different kind of "V for Vendetta" freedom. You can always throw your shoe at someone who pisses you off?

Today, the rallies look different. At least to me they do. More T-shirts and jeans. More notebooks and DV cameras. More college education and correct syntax. More questions. More thought. More action.

I recommend this website for really interesting and informative blogs about what's happening politically right now in India.
www.IndiPepal.com

Also, an FYI, video interviews of the candidates are said to be posted on the site...
www.mumbaivotes.com
Although it looks like a lot of videos so far are missing or haven't been posted yet.

I just want to feel informed...and my tendency is to ignore mass media - which is what the news feels like. What turns me off the most is how I've noticed people watching/discussing news as if it's gossip - with the same fervor and removal from reality as Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

And I feel like throwing up.

AWARDS! - what do they even mean?

Been thinking a lot about this in recent months. Interestingly enough, I'm on the favorable side of "awards" - something I always wanted, always dreamed to have-and i am very grateful for what i have received...and don't get me wrong, I still dream the grammy dream (ex through the impossible word-that shit belongs in cheesy broadway numbers...)so it's not as if the dream is over, but every time another award label comes my way "most blah blah blah band...top 10 emerging artist...India's favorite so and so" I just wonder what it actually means.

It feels good. Most definitely. And it's nice to be acknowledged. Because sometimes ego rubbing feels like chocolate on a sugar deprived tongue. You get me?

Like recently, for the AVIMA awards, Shaa'ir + func won the title of "Most mind-boggling, genre-bending track" - and I have to give these guys props for coming up with a category called "most mind-boggling". What fun. But I'm biased, I love the word boggle. Just say it. Felt good, didn't it? Don't lie. Boggleboggleboggle.

I really want to know what you think.

What do awards even mean. Do you give a second glance to artists just because they are "award-winning"...do you think I should start my own awards? Shall I write a list of superlatives right now...
1. Band/Artist most likely to break shit on stage
2. Band/Artist most likely to get the audience naked
3. Band/Artist most likely to have Mallika Sherawat guest on the flute for their next tour
4. Most under-produced but still effing awesome TRACK
5. Band/Artist most likely to succeed in Antarctica
6. Most Prolific Band/Artist
7. Best song that mimics the human condition
8. Band/Artist most likely to give up music and become a Jew for Jesus uniting the ongoing disparity between catholics and jesuits in India.
what? i know. i don't get it either.

okay, done for now. anxiously awaiting your response.

MEDUSA

I went to one of their first ever legitimate gigs, and I was really really happy to see how many people came out for these guys. I felt, as I often do, a sense of community and responsibility bouncing from body to body in the room. It always feels nice when I can feel that way.

I need to write about these guys and give them major big ups for sticking to what they love and believe in...the maturity of their sound which I know for a fact they have worked very hard on. It's also nice to hear beautiful songs, plain and simple. You can hear the echoes of some John Leckie on a couple of the tracks.......that nice, clean, sound of Indie. I've always taken a liking towards that. Raxit has a purity about him that cannot be taught...it cannot even be learned - you either have it or you don't.

After the gig, I went up to the guitarist to give him some love - congratulate him - he thought i was going to offer some tips or criticism.

A. I don't think it's my place to criticize.
B. I think the priority here is first to develop a living breathing scene with healthy audiences before we go trying to compartmentalize and minimize the people who are actually doing something
C. I sound like a broken record, but I won't stop saying this until I actually see a change
D. My only complaint are the audiences. Loosen up. Have a drink. Do what you gotta do...Dancing feels good...so does letting loose. And it's one FREE way you can repay the artists you watch, since you probably just download their music for free off the internet anyway!

p.s. - i love you.

RAINED OUT and going to MARS

This passed weekend we were scheduled to play the Sula fest. We were actually really excited about it, as we played the festival last year and it was beautiful-although under-attended.

More people came out to support it this year, though it was still a pretty weak turnout. Problem was, there was a HUGE STORM! So, only one band got the opportunity to play....and I was actually so happy I got to see them live. Shridhar & Thayil are an absolutely superb band! Definitely one to watch out for.

The rest of the live sets were canceled. Bummer.

Jalebee Cartell still played an indoor set and the wine and food overflowed. Ouch in the morning. All well worth it. WE MUST SUPPORT FESTIVALS AND LIVE MUSIC.

Happy Holi by the way. Big love and big ups to Jeet Zitar for his effort with the ELEKTROHOLI FEST. Which was also pretty awesome although underattended. Bombay!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!?!?!?

This weekend, S+F opens for the band MOUSE ON MARS. We're excited. We like them.

Signing out.

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Mid February - Show dates and Special Happenings

Spent three days in Goa. Where I met myself. A combination of an earlier version, and a me I'd like to be. It felt great knowing I was coming back to madness - a job I love so much. And recently, have been under-appreciating.

Shaa'ir + func has been nominated by the Jack Daniel Rock Awards for

Band of The Year
Song of The Year
Album of The Year
Female Vocalist of The Year

Because the awards ceremony is tonight - I (Monica) will not be able to host Open Mind Night. I was trying to get them to push the date so I could host...but, it just wasn't working out. So regretfully, I will miss Open Mind. I am very grateful for the nominations and feel pretty damn special about the female vocalist thing. Never really won an award before as such. I never liked competitions - or encouraged them. I think art is supposed to be varied and it's difficult to compare.

To answer many questions as well, yes, the Hyundai ad is my voice but NO it is not an S+F track. :o)

"Reviewers have every right to knock an album if they don’t connect with it. But the fact that they use a tone of voice that is supposed to be the GREAT TRUTH is utterly useless in a time when we need art more than we need non-artists to tell us what art is good and what is not. Reviewers tend to think they are the “end all be all” of opinion and this makes most artists (and readers ) sick.
You can’t use phrases like “splitting headache”, and “falls flat on its face”, and then find some solid parts of the record to praise…..it doesn’t make sense to pan and praise within the same paragraph. This review is proof there are too many online reviewers out there and not enough artists taking the risks to stick their art and their necks out there." - Written by a lad named Todd in response to a pretty cruel review we got about our 2nd record Light Tribe.

But, it looks like a lot of people seemed to like it eh? I have never met an artist who hasn't met with resentment, hate, and disapproval...the important thing is to just dust yourself off and keep going.

I wanted to post what Todd wrote because I think it was intelligently written and bang on. Yes, we need art more than we need non-artists to tell us what art is good and what is not! I love that. So, Jack Daniel Rock Awards are awesome for bringing us all together...and in my mind, any musician who is waking up every day and doing their thing...pushing forward...writing their music...and laying themselves on the line...i think we're all fucking winners.

All that being said...WE ARE PLAYING THE FOLLOWING SHOWS

13th - Opus, Bangalore
14th - Chrome, Kolkata
21st - SAARC Festival, World Music, NEW DELHI Connaught place
24th - Lakme Fashion Week, MUMBAI

ok
bye


:)

RESPONSE

to...the tragedy. some people wake up every day...and they are who they want to be...or at least shaping themselves to be so. i watched a lot of people try and capitalize on the tragedy...turning it into their marketing machine to launch some sort of artistic purpose.

to those...
i wrote this...

S+F Naked

That's how we were introduced. Didn't make it so easy for us. But, he was correct in saying so. Indeed. We all remember the first time we are seen naked...how scary it is. Funny, when you are a child, it is easy. Your mom gives you a bath, your aunt, your uncle, you don't have a swim suit...no problem! - take your clothes off and jump right in! Then something changes, and the world becomes uncomfortable with YOU. So you protect yourself in lycra and color - until that fateful day comes when you show yourself to some lucky witness.

I feel lucky that so many people arrived at our gig, despite the hefty cover charge, which we were unaware of (so sorry for that). And those who did come, actually listened. I felt connection. A bright pink light blinded my sight - but this was different because I could FEEL people.

We decided to play with just guitar and vocals, instead of adding colors like djembe, or even electric guitar, pedals, etc. We made that choice for a very specific reason. We wanted to see if we could take out all viable "entertainment" elements, and still play an hour and a half long set like ancient story tellers would. And engage! Most importantly.

I know that we are a fast food nation (in all areas of culture-lights disco drumnbass) And I am not ANTI! But I do feel that 2009 is a time for solid grounding - so as to achieve the higher consciousness that we so desperately seek.

So, without saying too much...it actually went down perfectly. I shocked myself at the things I so openly spoke about. Catharsis. Yeah, it happened.

We will do this again. I know it.

STRIPPED DOWN. soul spill.

So, I promise that from here on out, I will write more on this blog. If you promise, that you will let me know that you are actually reading.

It's been a trying and difficult year, you know...2008. Was hard. We toured more than ever before...We worked our butts off every day. And most days, we barely had a moment to even consider how we felt...or what we wanted. Obviously, the greater goal has been to spread the message across borders. Connect the world through music. Play slamming shows. Be inspired. Try to make people feel things...connect...burn a fire.

Burn.

I don't know. I still need a moment to think about what the hell transpired over the last year. So, more on that to come.

But, tonight, we are playing our first ever unplugged set. I'll be sharing my poems...my thoughts...we'll be opening ourselves up in the most raw and vulnerable way.

Tonight at DEL ITALIA - IL TERRAZO (top floor) 9:30 pm. in Juhu. BOMBAY.

In the midst of all this happening go go go stuff...I'm eager. For a spare moment to consider what it all means.

I wonder if tonight will offer some clarity.

Love and light. still... 'cause even now we need it.