Artichoke Music Showcase, May 24 2013, Part 2

Third song of the night was "Country Road." I wrote this song out at Helvetia Studios while I was living there (2011-2012), made a demo with Ryan Ferris, and made a demo at home, one of the first instances where I actually thought of a real piano part, taught myself to play it, and recorded it with great care. Daniel Work was a natural choice to perform this role, and I showed him my idea and we worked it up over several months. Our work and prep was mostly for fun and to develop, but ultimately, it led to this inclusion in The Showcase, and that was a fantastic culmination. The lyrics are about my childhood road, which was only a half-mile long, but to a child walking to a bus stop at 6am in freezing rain, and then back again in the dark in freezing rain, after a 12 hour day at school, sports, and music lessons, it seemed quite lengthy indeed. As an adult tho, I fully appreciated just how NOT LONG this road was, and where as a child I felt so far outside the city and my social life, I realized that Eugene is actually a very small city. And that is a beautiful thing. When I sing this song, I get twinges of emotion thinking about the late Will Downing, and the country highway where he passed his remaining days deep in the heart of south Texas, near McAllen and the Mexican border. Thank You to Daniel for working this song up with me, and most of all for taking the piano line that I had written and OWNING it completely, skipping nothing and making it bigger and better than I ever could have imagined.

Next, we played "Real Love." I wrote this song after seeing Jack White in concert (August 2012 in Portland), on his solo tour, alongside Megan Cronin (Tummybuckles) and my bandmates Joe & Jesse Tomaino from A Crab's Life, and taking some inspiration from his style and presence and voice. The other part of this tune was from hearing the Outkast double-album from 2000 for the first time, on a road trip down to Sacramento, CA with Megan and her sister about a week after the Jack White show. Sitting by the pool and the man-made waterfall, it occurred to me quite clearly that "real Love is a waterfall, there's only one direction to flow, and that's on…" Woody and I worked out a 2-guitar arrangement over the next few months, complete with vocal harmonies.

Closing the night was a newer cover song I'd been working on with The Tummybuckles, and then with this group, "The Promise", originally recorded and arranged by When In Rome.

Finally, the encore, demanded by the audience even though we were 20 minutes over our time (10:20p). Can't say no to a packed house, and when a fan called out Oregon Song! we had to oblige. Woody and Daniel stepped off to an ovation, and Leo and Dors and I tenderly ripped through "Oregon Song." We missed Megan Cronin on the violin, but we made it work somehow!

No place I've ever been loves and supports musical development like Artichoke Music, and I am proud to be involved in such a fine community.

Thank you Richard Columbo and all your crew that you inspire to lead on, even in your absence...

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Oakshire Brewing

Thanks so much to Oakshire Brewing in Eugene, for their continued support of live music. Megan and I had a Great time performing for you, and by the next time I see you, I will have a copy of the Pour Me Oakshire song ready. Dors Ward, my co-writer for that tune, is planning to come down and perform it with me.

Here's hoping for the best!

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Storytellers, with Karma & Chris

Live @ Spinella's. The high ceilings, the great sound, and the restaurant atmosphere make this a real comfortable place. Karma and I had a blast last night telling you all about the time we drove from Florida to San Fransisco, with a 4-year layover in Mexico, a plane ride "with somebody we did not know", and a 22-hour drive in the trunk of a car singing a song over 700 times to each other. That's a lot of La-la's.

I ordered lots of potatoes, and don't regret a single minute of it.

Everyone was really kind, and the audience (you know who you are!) was attentive at all the right spots, and really, we couldn't ask for more. Special thanks to Michael for running sound, Deanna for requesting an encore song from Karma ('Monster' is STILL stuck in my head), Theodore for running the door, and Chef Ron for sheer unabashed enthusiasm for life.

See you all again on May 11th!

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Austin TX, 2013

Well, here we are in Austin TX. Every time I think that a Huge Sally show will likely be the last one ever, I find myself down the road singing and playing guitar with the great Jake Riggs once again.

Its been a topsy-turvy ride...mistakes were made over the years, opportunities blown, people irrevocably insulted; all the while songwriter showcases were being dominated, fans won, and incredible sights seen on tour. I have seen a few artists, live and loud, over the years maybe one or two times only in total...and these few I am thinking of were impactful enough that I Knew I would never forget those moments. It was always my hope and effort that Huge Sally would have that effect; I strove for it in every public appearance. Based on the feedback we have gotten, we were not too far off from this achievement, which of course is cerebral at best.

Ultimately, the live recordings we have been lucky enough to procure over the years, mostly thanks to the hard work and style of Russ Rochambeau and Bad!Austin Studios, will speak for themselves in the brief underground legacy we will have left.

As I take off back for Portland, OR tomorrow night from San Antonio, my best memories of the whole 6-year HS experience was the driving. The gigs at SXSW over the years, 2007-2013. The small clubs and wineries we performed at on the way to and from. SX was usually the target, and has had its special events, but the spectacle is mostly a spectacle, and the truest juice was drunk in the spaces between.

I hold Jake Riggs in the highest regard, and the same with the future Mrs. Brooke Riggs. We had a heck of a time, a heck of a ride, and the recordings will call your name forever.

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Magic Castle

Its real.

They talk about dreams. Following them. Believing the impossible.

Are they talking about "magical powers"?

Deft illusions and killer showmanship steeped in centuries-old tradition?

Or simply an unwavering commitment to what is deepest in your passionate heart, regardless of how silly it seems in the Grande American Scheme of things?

Either way, I saw a 17-year-old boy do an "up close" show, a master of ceremonies geared towards children that showcased some glittery fun-lovin' jokes and puns, and a true world-class master showman who even incorporated skillful swing dancing into his routine.

The place is Magic Castle, situated in the Hollywood of sunny southern California.

This is a private magicians club which rotates performers, pays the magicians to entertain a random smattering of audiences throughout the week, and maintains a vibe that is both mystical, classy and comfortable, and deeply rooted in uncompromising tradition.

It was all started by a nerdy visionary named Milt Larson. His story, and the origins of the building itself, are best told here: www.magiccastle.com/about/index.cfm

Magicians can become members, and ply their trade and build their name here. Citizens can pay for an annual membership fee, which allows you access (with an RSVP) to fancy brunches and dinners and cocktail hours, and exclusive shows that feature invited acts from around the world.

The Saturday brunch served bacon, steamed salmon and spinach, mimosas on the house, fresh-whipped omelets, and tickets to the Main Show, which on this day was at 1:45pm.

There is even valet parking.

Going there for the afternoon with my dear friends Kris and Beth Farm was the best decision I've made all week!

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Off to SXSW 2013...

Well, its that special Huge Sally time of year again. I miss my buddy Jake Riggs (as we all do, who don't get the pleasure of his biting company in Austin in weekly doses). But, after a short stop in southern California to take care of some cool business, its Texas-bound, with our good friend Dors Ward (The Baron Ward lives again!).

I'll tell you about it, so you can tell my dramatic story when plans go awry and I probably end up making contact with aliens and traveling the Universe, living forever, or at least assuming near-immortality thanks to relativistic lightspeed space-travel, never to return or see anyone I've ever loved again, you whom will live and die a natural life on Earth, eventually forgetting me only to dig up this blog potentially decades into the future.

Don't think about that for now.

Tomorrow, I will be visiting the Farms in Los Angeles...and by some stroke of luck my great friend Kris Kraus as well, who happens to be down there before his 8-month trip to Cambodia and Laos to backpack, research, find his mind, forget time, and blast the notion of daily schedules and pressure. Boo America!. Yay Asian Travel!

Anyway, Kris and Beth and I will hang out; I will attempt to procure an important piece of hardware for my home studio; and I will visit the famed Magic Castle in the Hollywood Hills. Sushi is on the menu for dinner, I've heard.

On Sunday early morning, Dors and I will travel a bit north, up the coast, to play a songwriter showcase in Paso Robles, CA. This is in one of the hearts of California wine country (its a multi-hearte organism), along the coast, in San Luis Obispo County. Thanks to Aireene for putting The Baron Ward in contact with Steve Keys.

On Monday, I wil head down to Temecula, CA to visit my dear Grandmother on my Mom's side. Hopefully I will get to see some cousins and uncles too. No show this time around, but I will be working to set it up for later down the road.

Tuesday morning, bright and early, we jet to Austin, TX. Straight shot, few breaks, hoping to get there by Wednesday evening.

Then, Huge Sally: Thursday in Austin, Nomad Bar. Friday in Cedar Creek, Autocycle Icehouse. Saturday in Austin, Nettie's Place. Saturday in Cedar Creek, Autocycle Icehouse again! Sunday in San Antonio, House Patty!

Details on the calendar.

Thanks to Russ Rochambeau and Bad!Austin Studios, I will have a few Chris Baron Music promo discs to pass out. I am planning to bring my camera along (if possible to fit) so I can make a few YouTube videos of Huge Sally, Baron Ward's first tour in 3 years, and perhaps even a solo performance or two from another State.

Thanks for following and for all the support and well-wishes. See you soon, unless I'm in space and you can't come, Chris

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Secret Society, Ash Street Saloon

Well, last night, I went on an adventure.

First, I met up with my friend Woody Moran at Secret Society, a ballroom/lounge in NE Portland, right next door to Wonder Ballroom, and White Eagle. The old open mic setup from White Eagle, which was discontinued, was set up for this place a few months back. Its a cool system with the same host and the same mailing list as before. Everyone draws a number at the beginning to determine the order, everyone gets one song, and no electronics are allowed (well, limited). So its very fair. And, change-over does not take long.

Anyway, I saw some folks there that I recognized, met a few folks I hadn't met before, saw some very sloppy performances, saw some wrenching performances, teared up once, laughed out loud quite a few times. I performed "The Beacon", with acappella verses, and it went well. Woody played his newish song "Jimmy G."

At 9p, I snuck out the back door so I could make it to Ash Street Saloon for their songwriter showcase, arranged this weekend by one Tim Call. I don't think Tim was there that night. At least, I didn't meet him.

But, I did see something interesting...a young man named Evan Bond. Look him up. I haven't yet, BUT I will say this: live and solo, he has a great sense of melody and is a KILLER guitarist. His amp was in pretty poor shape, but it didn't sound bad, it created this weird and cool reverby vibe that put a stamp on Evan's nylon-electric guitar riffs. I am not entirely sure, but I bet he has a punk band that backs him normally.

Perhaps I will be seeing more of him.

I played about 7 songs, each one from a different project, and shouted out to all my bandmates. I did Huge Sally, Searchlights, Idiot Science, A Crab's Life, Baron Ward, and Searchlights in Mexico. A Crab's Life got the most lovin from the crowd (I did "The Chain")...but "Terrible Mind" (Huge Sally) was my favorite one. Looking forward to seeing my friend Jake Riggs in just two weeks!!

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Spinella's...Off The Wall

Whulp, its official, I have a new favorite local music venue. Its called Spinella's, its an old church, it has very noticable acoustics, and I was lucky enough to bring my brand of chaos to them just last Saturday night. I just blogged about it for The Tummybuckles (check out our ReverbNation.com/thetummybuckles page), and that blog is really not that interesting or informative, but at least its something, and I'm not going to come up with something new by typing more. Although, this explanation/redirection is probably going to end up being longer. If you happen upon Spinella's in your spare time, ask if Chef Ron made a soup of the day that day...if he has, and its called Tomato Basil, then order it immediately.

The bathrooms are clean too. That was nice. Cheers!

Oh wait, in other secret news...My album is still being worked on! And, its sounding Great! Finalizing some mixes (again) after the computer crash, so please stay tuned. See you at the next live show. -Chris

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Adrift Hotel, Long Beach, WA

I really like Adrift Hotel. These people are the best kind of people. Tiffany and Brady own the place. Brady has apparently been friends with Tummybuckle drummer Leo for many years! Tiffany and I met through Heidie Johnson, an Astoria promoter who runs a nifty li'l operation called "Astoria Hideouts." Google it. Heidie is keeping the pulse of art and entertainment alive on the pacific coast! I am very grateful to know her.

We were treated so very well by Tiffany and her staff. Thank you all very much for having us! Sorry we didn't trash the room and throw all the TVs into the pool. We also neglected to harass and heckle guests and throw Their belongings into pools. We also ran up a very modest tab...TOO modest. Our bad.

Next time, less Rock and more Devastation of The Buckles.

Can't wait to see you all again!

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A Crabs Life, Live Video

Do you like A Crabs Life? Well if you don't, you should! We played a festival this past summer down in Burnt Woods, Oregon, and this is the video footage of that. Thanks to Norman and Barry for putting this together. Check it out! http://wowisms.org/videos/

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