Burning Nopal Returns!
by Eric Morris
Burning Nopal's two-year hiatus is finally over! After a job brought Eric and Steve north to Dallas from San Antonio in 2012, Tony and Mike finally follow suit in 2014 for the same reason, thus reuniting the band.
As most of you know, I'm a lifelong musician and since 2009 I've been in a San Antonio-based band called Burning Nopal. The band consists of myself, Eric Morris (Keyboards/Vocals/Drum Programming), Tony Castanon (Lead Vocals/Bass) and his life partner Michael Newman (Guitars/Vocals). Between 2009 and 2011 we wrote, recorded and released four (count 'em, 4) CD's and played dozens of live shows.
My partner Steve and I moved to the Dallas area in February 2012 due to his employment situation. Mike, Tony and I pledged that we would keep the band together and they would get moved up to Dallas as well, once Tony got a transfer with the company he works for. We thought it might take a year. It took two.
After the hectic schedule I mentioned above, I was ready for a break and decided to take a year off from music. After one year came and went, I still didn't start playing with any regularity. I've never been a great solo songwriter. I do much better working with one or two other people. The truth is I was pining away for my musical soul mates. Okay, I was also being lazy. During those two years Mike and Tony made numerous trips to visit us for a few days. But the band could never get back into the groove or achieve any momentum given that ad hoc schedule. I admit I was beginning to despair that their move north would never happen.
Fast forward back to now. Tony's transfer became official today! By this time next month, Mike and Tony will be moved to Dallas and Burning Nopal will be in rehearsal. It will take some time to knock the cobwebs off and get our chops back; polish up some of our old material and then start working on the new stuff. I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it. As if a sign that good things were coming for the band, in December Burning Nopal inexplicably showed up at #40 on the Reverbnation.com charts for Dallas. I say inexplicably because there's been no promotion, no new music, no gigs, nothing! In recent weeks, we jumped to #35, then last week to #17 and this week to #13. Wow! People are listening to our music or this wouldn't happen. So it seems to be good karma that the visibility and popularity of Burning Nopal are increasing just as the band resumes working
When we were based in San Antonio the band's studio was located in my home. I called it Serenity Park Studio. The name was a holdover from my studio at our Lake Palestine, Texas home (where Burning Nopal recorded our eponymous CD). When Steve and I got settled in Dallas on our 3.5 acre spread with a huge ranch-style home, I dubbed it Breezy Point Manor. So the new studio of Burning Nopal will be Breezy Point Manor Studio. Mike and Tony will live with Steve and I while they get acclimated to the area and Tony adjusts to his new workplace.
I've been in many bands over the years. They were all unique and special. But Mike and Tony are so much more than mere band mates or even friends to me. They are my best friends in the world; they are my brothers; they are family. And there's nothing better than making music with people you love. LONG LIVE BURNING NOPAL!
More updates as they are warranted. In the meantime, please follow us individually and collectively here on Facebook. On Twitter the band is @burningnopal Tony is @tcastanon1969 and Eric is @synthsational (Mike doesn't do Twitter). And of course, the main web sites www.burningnopal.com and www.ericmorrismusic.com.
Peace,
~Eric Morris
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Eric Morris / Blog
Back on the Stage
The unlikely reunion of my band Burning Nopal (see previous post called "Burning Nopal Return!") was made even sweeter by the events of the last two weekends. On Saturday, April 26 we participated in an Open Mic Night, and shared the stage with each other for the first time in over two years. The next Saturday night (May 3) we had our first official gig since Christmas week 2011.
Earlier this year when I learned Mike & Tony, my band mates and best friends, were moving from San Antonio to Dallas I was of course delighted and excited. Then they got here and we jammed for the first time in so long. Another awesome milestone. But there's just something special that happens when the three of us get on stage together and I had sure missed that feeling.
That gig I mentioned was at Cafe Bohemia in Plano, a cool and funky coffee shop I learned about through friends. Our two sets were well received by the regulars, friends and family who came out as well as the owner, Evie. She asked us to come back again. So we're looking forward to returning to Cafe Bohemia on June 14!
Mike and Tony are getting settled into their new place near Tony's work in Fort Worth. We're kind of getting back into a routine as a band and looking forward to writing new material together.
The band web site www.burningnopal.com has gotten a major overhaul. The old platform I was using dates from the 90's so the site didn't even fill up these newer wide computer screens. The site is still under construction, but check it out when you have time.
Summer concert season is upon us and I've got tickets to a number of epic shows. Check back here for updates and set lists on those. Love and Hugs! :-) ~Eric
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BURNING NOPAL RETURNS!
Burning Nopal Returns! by Eric Morris
Burning Nopal's two-year hiatus is finally over! After a job brought Eric and Steve north to Dallas from San Antonio in 2012, Tony and Mike finally follow suit in 2014 for the same reason, thus reuniting the band.
As most of you know, I'm a lifelong musician and since 2009 I've been in a San Antonio-based band called Burning Nopal. The band consists of myself, Eric Morris (Keyboards/Vocals/Drum Programming), Tony Castanon (Lead Vocals/Bass) and his life partner Michael Newman (Guitars/Vocals). Between 2009 and 2011 we wrote, recorded and released four (count 'em, 4) CD's and played dozens of live shows. My partner Steve and I moved to the Dallas area in February 2012 due to his employment situation. Mike, Tony and I pledged that we would keep the band together and they would get moved up to Dallas as well, once Tony got a transfer with the company he works for. We thought it might take a year. It took two.
After the hectic schedule I mentioned above, I was ready for a break and decided to take a year off from music. After one year came and went, I still didn't start playing with any regularity. I've never been a great solo songwriter. I do much better working with one or two other people. The truth is I was pining away for my musical soul mates. Okay, I was also being lazy. During those two years Mike and Tony made numerous trips to visit us for a few days. But the band could never get back into the groove or achieve any momentum given that ad hoc schedule. I admit I was beginning to despair that their move north would never happen.
Fast forward back to now. Tony's transfer became official today! By this time next month, Mike and Tony will be moved to Dallas and Burning Nopal will be in rehearsal. It will take some time to knock the cobwebs off and get our chops back; polish up some of our old material and then start working on the new stuff. I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it. As if a sign that good things were coming for the band, in December Burning Nopal inexplicably showed up at #40 on the Reverbnation.com charts for Dallas. I say inexplicably because there's been no promotion, no new music, no gigs, nothing! In recent weeks, we jumped to #35, then last week to #17 and this week to #13. Wow! People are listening to our music or this wouldn't happen. So it seems to be good karma that the visibility and popularity of Burning Nopal are increasing just as the band resumes working
When we were based in San Antonio the band's studio was located in my home. I called it Serenity Park Studio. The name was a holdover from my studio at our Lake Palestine, Texas home (where Burning Nopal recorded our eponymous CD). When Steve and I got settled in Dallas on our 3.5 acre spread with a huge ranch-style home, I dubbed it Breezy Point Manor. So the new studio of Burning Nopal will be Breezy Point Manor Studio. Mike and Tony will live with Steve and I while they get acclimated to the area and Tony adjusts to his new workplace.
I've been in many bands over the years. They were all unique and special. But Mike and Tony are so much more than mere band mates or even friends to me. They are my best friends in the world; they are my brothers; they are family. And there's nothing better than making music with people you love. LONG LIVE BURNING NOPAL!
More updates as they are warranted. In the meantime, please follow us individually and collectively here on Facebook. On Twitter the band is @burningnopal Tony is @tcastanon1969 and Eric is @synthsational (Mike doesn't do Twitter). And of course, the main web sites www.burningnopal.com and www.ericmorrismusic.com.
Peace, ~Eric Morris
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