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I've been playing regularly at Tanner's, and it's a good feeling to play at a place where I don't have to wait my turn and try to one-up or at least be on the same level with other musicians. As much as I understand and appreciate open mikes, I find most of them unbearable, from getting there early enough to sign up to waiting for one's turn and then finding the right time to leave since I'd like to hang out until closing time but certain other parts of life make that hard to happen.

I'm finally getting a chance to record CHOICES over this winter break and really promote/release Fir ST E.P. and THANK GOD FOR YOUR MOTHER. There's also OCTAGON and the second album, REALIA.

Some things I'm excited about, at random ... the bass guitar, Pro Tools (my recording equipment of choice for some time in '08) ... Bruce's MAGIC album ... homemade smoothies, NIP/TUCK, my business (FUNdamentals of Music and Movement) ... the LA Marathon in 08, which I want to start training for ... I AM LEGEND and SWEENEY TODD, both of which I must see ... and always, the music, which I must record and promote!!!

A Wednesday night. Yes, the album is done. The EP's been done and the B-sides collection is done, and actually, the second album is done and I'm currently working on album 2.5, which is called CHOICES and a sort of sister to the first album, THANK GOD FOR YOUR MOTHER, only in that they are about intense personal experiences. So much has happened since the last entry ... saw a great show last Tuesday - Bat for Lashes at the Troubadour, oh Natasha Khan is so lovely and the music so pretty, please check it out ... and I'm still looking for ways of promoting the music as I put together the new album. I'm playing Tanner's in Culver City on a regular basis, and though the turnout is not monumental, it affords me an opportunity to really practice and get better at playing live and get out and about. I believe in putting things out there in the universe, so if anyone is reading this and needs an opening act or knows of a great venue with a no-pressure attitude towards attendance, I'm open to hearing about it. In the meantime, let the music play!

Friday night ... so much to do, and with this yarn, so little twine ... the album is done, and my "band" debuted it back in May. Shortly after that, the drummer and I parted ways, mostly due to his incredulous thinking that he should be paid for free shows ... but I'm not here to denigrate anyone; it's just sad that certain things never come to light until it's too late ... so I'm back on my own, looking for a new drummer, or maybe not ... hoping to book shows on my own as a solo artist to promote Fir ST E.P. and THANK GOD FOR YOUR MOTHER, and actually playing a house party tomorrow to continue the "tour" ... and if anyone out there in the universe has ideas on how to garner a fanbase for a completely unknown artist such as myself, I'm welcome to the suggestions ...

Now that the EP is finished, it's time to package it up and work on the full-length CD this month ... some re-tooling I hope to do on the 10 songs, including "Find Me," "Mistake," "Slow Down" and "Deep Inside." In the meantime, I came across what I might take as my first-ever review from a show I did at the beginning of 2005 ... here it is, from a Grant Wheeler at papertigersmusic.com ...

Gilbert, Ben, Morgan and I all went down to the talking stick, a coffee house in Santa Monica to check it out, as Ben and I plan on playing there in the near future. Striking Ghosts, a former co-worker of Gilby's, was the act and it was a spectacle.

Davis, er... Striking Ghosts, rocked us out with both acoustic and electronic originals. The highlight of the set was "She'll Never Come" a tune about waiting for a girl on a blind date who hasn't shown up, but the song (as you might have guessed) is rife with overt sexual metaphors. I believe both "release the sweet flow of love" and "I want to lick something tight" were my two favorite lines in this tune.

Mr. Striking Ghosts put it out there for the people last night, and is to be commended accordingly. Morgan is thinking about flying back out for the February show. I hope she can find a cheap hotel.

It's an exciting year for music ... many of my favorite artists are releasing CD's in the near future ... Smashing Pumpkins, Guns n' Roses (we can only hope), Duran Duran ... and I'm looking forward to finally getting my music out in the world this year -- and also being the keyboardist in Gypsy's band, which I happened upon a few months ago. Definitely one of the best experiences of my life, to be playing with a top-notch live band with great songs ... please check her music out at faeryprincess.com. I'm hoping your new year is off to a great start and you'll be able to catch Striking Ghosts this year live or online and hear what I have to offer!

Blessings to you all ... an exciting month as I am playing two shows!
JULY 10 - Talking Stick 7p-9p - The lovely Ellen will be opening with a magic set of songs.

JULY 16 - Welcome Cafe - time TBA - I'll be doing a set celebrating the finishing and mixing of the two albums and EP! Yay!
Please, please come!

It's hard to believe I haven't written in two months ... been doing a lot of writing, some recording, and massive amounts of thinking. I'm coming to the realization that I'm scared. I know the music's good, but I guess I'm frightened of being criticized and maimed by people's opinions of what I've created. I guess it's what anyone in an artistic medium goes through - is my work good enough? Are people going to care? Should they care? Is it worth all this time and effort, or should I be doing something else? I'm proud of the work I've done, but it's such an uphill battle. It's so hard to get people to come to shows, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like to sell CD's or try to get a real record label to sign me.

I guess it's just a moment of doubt that has to find its way out. But after my divorce, I can honestly say, I didn't want to keep this hidden anymore, these musical urges ... it's the direction I needed my life to go in, so I'll keep going ...

An auspicious Saturday morning ... been going to artists' networking conferences and learning a lot about where other performers are at, about the process, about the whole thing in general ... and getting ready for my next Talking Stick show on May 7, Saturday. Yes, I know I should branch out to other places, but (1) the owner is really cool; (2) it's small enough to get packed way easily; and (3) it's nice and local - a 15-minute drive (if that) from my house, so how can I turn it down? And I'm working on the EP as well as THANK GOD FOR YOUR MOTHER and also REALIA, the second album which is pure electronica and mostly instrumental. Now I just need to learn how to put a press kit together ...

Did a gig the other night, Monday actually, and it's a great thrill to perform; it's just hard to get people out. I guess I'll need to work on expanding the fanbase. Plus, I need to record a new demo, tentatively titled "Sample Her". I'm also looking into how to get my music into films and TV through music supervisors -- I think that's the best way to get my foot in the door.

Recording is coming along. The album is almost - finally!- finished. There's a gig coming up this Sunday, but I don't know how well it will be attended due to the Oscars. But if you're reading this, it's at the Talking Stick in Santa Monica this Sunday at 7:30.

I have been sick for the past two weeks, which has made me cancel going to the open-mike nights I'd like to around town, but it has made me sit down and really get the album done, which I am committing myself to. After the album is done, I'll be recording a number of B-sides, and after that I'll be putting out the word to get the Iraqi Strip Club project going in full effect. I admit it's hard doing this on my own, and it would be nice to have a band, or a circle of support, or more networking opportunities, but like I said, being sick with this flu/illness has made it really rough the past couple of weeks.

Happy holidays to anyone reading. The toy-drive show went really well, but I have to say, I wish there was a bigger turn-out, but the people who did show up brought presents for the kids and it was a really great time. I had the opportunity to play the uke for the first time in public, and that was thrilling. I also did "I Never Meant to" a capella, a song dealing with suicide that I must've written about twelve years ago. Another exciting moment was in performing two songs by Dreamer Du Pre, one of my really good friends who is an excellent songwriter. I'm hoping to play the Talking Stick regularly in '05. Actually, I'm hoping to do a lot of activities for Striking Ghosts in '05 ... and also Iraqi Strip Club, now that S.U.T.A., the album, is finished.

What's been going on? Finishing the side project, Iraqi Strip Club, before embarking on finishing the Striking Ghosts' full-length CD, THANK GOD FOR YOUR MOTHER. It's actually finished, but some things need to be redone. With Iraqi Strip Club finally completed, I hope to find a drummer, then some pedals for my electric guitar, then maybe a turban to dress up as an Iraqi and rock out and play some noisy garage electronica in the new year.

Also, a show is coming up next Sunday, a benefit toy drive to provide toys for the children at McBride Special Education Center, where I work as a music therapist/teacher. It will be an all-acoustic set, with songs I have never performed before, especially a "ukulele trilogy"; a song about suicide that I will peform a cappella and was written many years ago; and a couple by one of my very best friends, Dreamer Du Pre. I am excited about the event but a little nervous about who will show up, but I'm trying to not let that affect me as much as it used to.

So the next show: DECEMBER 12, Talking Stick, 1630 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, 8:30 pm.