16 April 2008 - Belated thanks to all who came and listened. Still woodshedding, still travelling. Will keep you updated. In the meantime, here's a swell review of my latest show at Pete's.

Alice Lee was next on the bill, one of the best songwriters in New York before she was priced out of town like so many others. Soul music is her reference point – her 2004 album Lovers and Losers is one of the best in that style to be released in the last several years - but she’s always had a fondness for Brazilian sounds. She’s been living in Guatemala recently, and going deep into all kinds of tropicalia. Despite some technical difficulties (for some reason, it was impossible to get her acoustic guitar in the sound mix), she kept the crowd riveted throughout her hourlong set. Like the duo on the bill before her, Lee also has a devilish sense of humor, but her songwriting is stormy, passionate, frequently exasperated. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Using a variety of guitar tunings and singing in four languages, she played a mix of mostly new material along with covers from Brazil and elsewhere south of the border. The best songs on the bill were an audience request, the absolutely brilliant, Nina Simone-inflected Where Are You My Love, and a slow, pensive new one in 6/8 time. Yet another reminder that we shouldn’t take people like Alice Lee for granted: if you haven’t seen your favorite singer or band in awhile, maybe you should while you still can.

30 December 2007 -Happy Holidays. I will be Antigua, Guatemala this winter, playing weekly at various bar/cafe/restaurants listed on the gigs page.

My songs are still available thru iTunes and CDBaby and make great gifts.

Deseame la suerte. Feliz Nuevo Año.

02 November 2007 - My songs are now available as ringtones from the following site:

http://www.myxertones.com/artist/3227472/

Please download a couple and tell a friend. Continuing the writing kick and figuring out my next move. Peace out.

28 October 2007 - Here's a track cut one evening at the G:

Never.mp3

Enjoy.

04 Oct 2007 - The ad hoc gig went well. 169 Bar was a surreal place, full of all sorts of people, and some jazzy lounge acts with female chanteuses and a cool fiddle player from Boston. Thanks to the crews of Pioneer, Lettie, and Pride for representing and my dear friends old and new who came down. A fun time was had - some jitterbugging, some drinking everytime the word "scabies" was worked into a song. I will learn Wagon Wheel for next time - I have to for a wedding in two weeks...
Perhaps some writing, recording while I'm still in town. We'll see...

11 Mar 2007 - In Norfolk, getting used to the new daylight hours. Played a set at the Boot last-minute with Your Black Star and Demander. Made a track on Reason at the mall (no joke) for your listening pleasure - can you tell I listened to Timbaland pumping out of Forever 21?

Norfolk.mp3

10 Feb 2007 - Muchas Gracias to the folks that braved the frigid wind and the late start to see me at Pete's. Saw some new faces and it's somewhat encouraging to see people other than the ones you've cajoled down. I think the cafe campaign is working...

Have one more gig coming up before i go back out on a boat for five months and investigate the Breton fiddle playing tradition in Nova Scotia. Also working on demoing some new tunes and, technology willing, will post what i can to myspace or here. 'sfunny, i dunno if it's the cold weather or inability to sit thru entire songs (incl. my stuff esp.), but i have not been able to write beyond the two-minute mark. so either the Pixies and Vashti Bunyan are rubbing off on me, or i'm gearing up for a punk rock album. hmmm...

Also, will be writ up in an article soon, and found these postings that I was not aware of until someone tipped me off:

Check it out tonight: Alice Lee at Pete's Candy Store
Alice Lee’s sweet little EP, “The Art of Forgetting,” is totally the cure for burnout-induced cynicism. She has a lovely, airy voice that she layers over mellow beats that somehow never descend into the annoying techno realm. She’s doing the Dido thing, only without all the big slick production, and the results are sweet and sincere. She also has a cute, effusive website that includes a diary she’s been keeping for the past five years, with random musings on music, politics, and life as a Brooklyn artist.
- FreeWilliamsburg.com

Brooklyn-based songwriter Alice Lee returns to Pete's after a year at sea. Her first full-length album, lovers and losers, has been well-received and she is currently at work on a new cd. Come see her play a rare solo set. - Until Monday (Bklyn 'zine)

Sweet. Hope to see you soon.

20 Jan 2007-Thanks to those of you who came down to Pete's - it was a really good time and good to see some familiar faces. There'll be another one of February 7 - come on down to the 'burg and bring friends. Am working on some new material, singing out, demoing and the like while I'm in New York.

Also just to announce that my cd has been released in Japan. If you'd like to get the import, which has bonus tracks (mostly from Quicksand), go here:

http://www.tridentstyle.co.jp/m_lineup/alice.html

4 Dec 2006 - Hello there. Sorry I haven't written in a while. Nothing really musicworthy until now. Am keeping rants on my myspace blog.

Coming out of hibernation for a one-off gig at Pete's Dec. 23 at 10pm. Dusting off my socks and such.

Also, my record Lovers and Losers is slated for release in Japan by Trident Style Records. Stay tuned.

And Happy Christmahanukwanzakah!

1 Jul 2006 - Yep it's been awhile. Been on hiatus, living life, following my bliss, yadda.

Just a reminder that my stuff is readily available on iTunes, as well as on CDBaby (if you want the disc and cool photographs).

Alice Lee: The Quicksand EP
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=5008524

Alice Lee: The Art of Forgetting
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=5008544

Alice Lee: Lovers and Losers
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=65459849

Otherwise, I have been updating my Myspace page. Feel free to drop me a line. Peace out.

18 Mar 2006 - Here you go:      Love is a thief       You haven't done nothin' (funny how Stevie wrote this about Nixon - it still works)

Occasional updates on myspace. Hope to see you at Pete's, otherwise, keep listening and checking for updates. Thanks for your support.

10 Feb 2006- Hi folks - Sorry it's been awhile since last update. Been working the coccyx off at the j-o-b and then realising that maybe I want to keep my tailbone after all. So am going on hiatus away from civilization as I know it. Have been putting up rants and randomness on myspace in the interim, so I hope you've had a chance to check that out.

Working on a track for a Stevie Wonder compilation, so that'll hopefully be my swansong before I leave. Am in talks to have Lovers and Losers distributed in Japan (just so I can say "i'm big in Jap-ON" with my Sean Connery voice) but not to worry - once I build up a nice arsenal of tunes and figure out funding, I'll be starting on the followup. In the meantime, please keep buying my records, as proceeds go directly into the next one.

But yes, that means, no shows for a while. So the farewell (ahem) gig will be at Pete's Candy Store on March 23. If you've been meaning to come down and just haven't, now's your chance. If you have been coming down to support my quest, big ups to ya. Anyhow, hope to see you soon.

1 November 2005 - Thanks to all who came to Pete's to see us play. Was a great time had by all.

I am now up on Weedfiles: http://weedtracks.com/weed/artist/Alice+Lee. You can now sample my tracks prior to purchase.

As the holidays are approaching, am just mentioning that CDs make a great holiday gift.

Feel free to purchase my CDs and give the gift of music here: http://cdbaby.com/all/alicelee. I'm just sayin'....

13 Oct 2005 - Heya - figured it's been too damn long since I wrote anything here. Thanks to everyone who came down to the Knit - was a lotta fun and hope you enjoyed yourselves too.

Got a couple of gigs in October - a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll. Tonite, am playing solo, a tad off-the-cuff and sharing a bill with the Annabel Chongs and elvisbeatlesgod. On Oct. 27, sharing a bill with Perfesser Zeke, formerly of the Brooklyn Jugs, and rocking it on accordion, probably.

This Myspace thing is doing wonders, but is also a tad disconcerting. Prob indicative of the virtual vs. real world at large. You can have friends that you chat with but will never meet, you can text people whereever they are, etc. but what about the people you see and talk to everyday, but aren't officially your "friends"? Currently it's tangible friends vs. intangible friends....or something like that.

"...the more connections, the more chaos, and the harder it is to cull any meaning from the seas of signal." (David Foster Wallace)

It's like we're all being encouraged to simultaneously reach out and yet distance ourselves behind the refuge of our computers. You can introduce yourself to people in Turkey but have the opportunity to be anyone, including yourself. How on earth can one have 1423 friends without leaving the house? It's hard enough to maintain like five...call me old-fashioned or a skeptic, but i am mostly concerned with things i can see and feel. In this age, nothing says it more than pen-and-paper (I got verklempt when I got a birthday card). But if this thing can help me spead my music around, so be it. Long live the internets...

1 Sept 2005 - Just a shoutout to you and a heads up about some things. Have been recovering from cd release and summer itself. Dealing with some stuff and trying to figure out next steps.

In light of natural disasters and personal crises and the overall instability of the world at large, am thinking art is superfluous and yet necessary. What good is art if we are trying to make it from one day to the next? But what good is life if we can't interpret it through art??

For those of you who have come to the shows/bought the record/etc., I really value your support. It is a sustaining force to what is sometimes an uphill battle. To those of you who ask me about playing out more often, I hope you understand that your participation is somewhat needed in order for me to do that. Quite a Catch-22 to play out less but have the people who don't come down ask for more as gigs here are all boiling down to a numbers game.

I guess all I'm saying is that time flies and shit happens. And those who have the courage to take the hard path and create beauty out of chaos need support. It's easy to get stuck in a rut and just do the minimum to get by, but try saving one of your friends' emails and go to their opening or gig or play - or doing something new and scary, reconnecting with lost friends, or picking up that dusty instrument/camera/pen you haven't touched in a spell.

Am dealing with the broken english of words and actions that don't always meet. Sometimes it's harder to mean what we say rather than to say what others want to hear and then beg off. It's easy enough to want and want and want from others, but when do you put that aside to be there for someone else? On the other end, do you prepare yourself for perennial disappointment, or cut the strings and sail away? I am hoping someday to not need the rosetta stone and break free of the expectation stumbling block.

Going from micro to macro, consumerism vs. altruism, how much will we pain ourselves for the greater good? Can we be good to ourselves, those next to us, and the world and still get a good night's sleep?

My heart goes out to those New Orleanians that couldn't make it out of the mire simply because they were unable to. Our socioeconomic system and not our tax dollars at work in an area so rich with tradition & culture now 8 ft+ underwater because the funding for levee projects went to Iraq... Our new Atlantis, aka "Lake George".

End of rant. I will be donating the proceeds of my records thru CDBaby to the American Red Cross for the month of September, so feel free to go there and give your support. Also got a show coming up.

That's all. Thanks for reading this, and I hope to see you soon.

23 Jun 2005 - New reviews have come in. Please check the discos page... Wow... the CD is out and the release is done. Thanks to all who came down to support me in this significant event. Pics to be posted soon. The question now is: what next?

For now, I am taking a short break, regrouping, and hopefully playing some more shows closer to the fall. Also, pre-production and planning are in the cards for the next (jazz-oriented) album. Will keep you posted as this progresses.

Thanks again for buying the record and showing your support. And the new tracks should now be available thru iTunes. Tell a friend, and have a happy summer!

9 Jun 2005 - The day of the release is fast approaching, and summer's officially here. I'm getting featured on the following site and am very excited. This site is like a nexus between art, music and fashion with a bent for the underground.

And more airplay:

WUIS (University of Illinois)
KSER (Washington)
DOSE (Canada)
Babes in Boyland (France)
eoradio (Colorado)
ISON Live Radio (Australia)

Am psyched that some stations are adding ALL of the tracks. Sweet.

21 Apr 2005 - look who's playing traxx off my new rekkid: (early adopters. internet radio, of course)

XM Satellite Radio (DC)
Relax Radio (Australia)
Whole Wheat Radio (Alaska)
Radio Crystal Blue (New York)
No Pigeonholes Radio (SF)

Please go online and request my songs!

13 Apr 2005 - The first write-up is in. Thanks Alan! Listen to and buy cd here!

Her breakout album, a deep, rich collection of pop gems. Oxymoron? No way. This is my favorite cd of the year so far. On her third release, the Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist whips up a pitcher of intoxicatingly catchy, radio-ready hits without sacrificing any of her underground cred.

It's been interesting watching her evolve: her first cd, the Quicksand ep was a fiery, fearless multi-stylistic effort that established her as a force to be reckoned with. Her second cd, The Art of Forgetting was a surprisingly lush affair, all sultry downtempo beats and swirling atmospherics. Lovers & Losers combines the bite and snarl of the first album with the polish of the second. It reveals its treasures like an artichoke, slowly, as the layers peel back. But this one's marinated, and there are spines everywhere. Be careful. This cd could make you bleed. It's unabashedly pop and musically upbeat, but a darkess pervades, grounding the songs in reality.

While virtually every recording session has its own horror stories, this cd sounds like it was a blast to make. Lee's vocals may often be stark, wounded and battlescarred, but the music is playful, witty, sometimes even joyful. You can almost see the grins on the faces of the musicians as they nudge each other into raising the art of the surprise to new levels. The cd opens with New Bruise, Lee's sensuous, soul-inflected voice floating over a recurrent hook which she plays on the harmonium. This is the album's paradigmatic what-the-fuck moment (there are many). Take the big hit with the big hook and stick a harmonium in there. That's Alice Lee for you. Predictability factor: zero.

The next song, How Will I Be Now bounces along on a tasty acoustic guitar hook over hip-hop beats, masking the song's sad undercurrent. The following track, Perfect Girl is the cd's most overtly pop moment, an irresistibly catchy song appropriate for both urban and CHR radio formats. Of course, its blissful sunniness eventually gives way to clouds, and with them redemption. It wouldn't be real otherwise. Friendly Fire, driven by ex Pere Ubu bassist Tony Maimone's swooping bass and Lee's tinkling piano, is perhaps the album's artiest moment: "I can't see your scars but I can feel them," she muses ruefully.

Other standout tracks include I Breathe, featuring tastefully layered harmonies over funky, fluid bass and a memorable chorus: The live concert staple Retrograde Heart (from the Quicksand ep) is reprised here as a downtempo piano-driven hit. The quietly deadpan Last Night perfectly captures the weariness of the wee hours, the endorphins kicking in as the clock runs down on the apocalypse. Lest all the catchiness start to get to you, guitar maestro Joel Hamilton's completely over-the-top, faux-Hendrix noise on the pseudo-metal Heroin will wake you up.The cd concludes with an above-average musical joke, one that works surprisingly well for what it is, probably a studio accident that Lee or one of her accomplices stumbled on and decided to keep.

This is a shockingly accessible album. Virtually without exception, every song on this cd could be a radio hit. The album is as likely to be a repeat selection on the cheerleading squad's boombox as it undoubtedly will be over the sound system at funky-chic Bedford Avenue bars and clubs. After it's out, Alice Lee should be opening for Avril Levine at Madison Square Garden. She should tour with Norah Jones. But it's too bad that Nina Simone left us before she could cover an Alice Lee song or two, because that's where Lee's heart is really at. More than anything else, she's a soul sister, the closest thing to Nina Simone we have these days. With a well-honed sense of outrage, a knack for the lyrical bon mot, a powerful set of pipes that swoop effortlessly from her usual alto to the upper ranges of the vocal stratosphere and fingers that light up the fretboard, the keys of the piano and accordion with equal ferocity and finesse, she defies description. She's just very, very good.

- Alan Young, Trifecta Music

8 Apr 2005 - Guess what: the CD is online! You can get it through CDBaby. Other outlets and avenues to follow soon...

Just figured for those who can't wait two months. Also, it's better if people get it now and then have something to sing along with for the release party. ha...

Spring is here!

29 Mar 2005 - Update on the new CD: My first full-length, Lovers and Losers, is slated for release just as summer comes around. You'll be able to get it online through CDBaby first, but they will be readily available at the release party and future gigs.

You can hear a couple songs off the new record on Myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/justalice

There will be a pre-release warmup party with Gachupin and Phonograph at Union Pool on May 14.

Then the official CD release party will be on June 18 at Black Betty in Williamsburg. Please come on down and help us celebrate. Am very proud of this cycle of songs and excited to be able to share them with you.

See you soon...

9 Mar 2005 - The plight of the artist has been eternal. For us, doing what others see as luxury is necessity. Back in the day, creatives would have patrons who would sponsor their art in exchange for works-for-hire. Nowadays, we whore ourselves out to ad agencies, radio stations, buyers of various ilk to keep going. It's all about marketing segments, 30 second pitches and how many bodies we can pack into a room so that we can eventually ditch the dayjob.

In New York, especially, it's come down to the almighty dollar. CBGB's, Fez, Tonic, Luna Lounge, all endangered or closing, making way for luxury housing. Small establishments getting the boot due to skyrocketing rents. Clubs upfront demanding the bottomline numbers they need to break even on a random night.

Sadly, many artists and musicians have had to pay the price by spending more time making rent and shilling their wares and devoting less time to actually making art/music. If this keeps up, it's gonna go back underground...

Granted it's good to be savvy. It's good to know whom to approach about where you may fit. But it's also good to just friggin' play a guitar...

System is stacked against independent(-thinking) artists, but somehow good music still gets through. Kudos to the people who just like music and that's all, folks. It ain't easy to be out there, fellow artists, and I know that. Keep on keepin' on.

Mixtape for March:
new ones from Hem and M.
"You pray for rain/I pray for blindness.."
Baffling cuteness
Baffling cartoon
Awesome how-tos
Escalators will eat you up
You oughta know...

14 Feb 2005 - This is me on a Sunday morning:

Yeah, thought that would amuse you.

4 Feb 2005 - An open letter re: email forwards for political panic

Felt like I had to say something when I received like five forwards about the "not a damn dime" thing last month.  After the onslaught of emails about the anti-abortion doctor in the FDA.  OK, folks...

1)      If it's not referring you to a bona fide website to sign a petition, it's probably not legit.  Email fwds aren't technically acceptable, well-intentioned as they may be.
2)      Check snopes.com.  They're non-partisan and have debunked much hokum, from the "John Edwards is behind the flu shot shortage" to the dime thing.
3)      If it's not requiring a specific action, e.g., public march (where), or call/write (whom), it's not really gonna do anything.

I know people are feeling angry and disenfranchised, but mass forwarding of non-effective disinformation is not gonna further the cause, and anything encouraging you to NOT do something is usually not effective. United for Peace and Democracy Now are good reference points for mobilization and political action. My two bits.

FYI - the Red Cross is no longer accepting donations for Tsunami Relief (though you can just give a general donation) but you can check here for other organizations that may still accept your tuppins.

Mixtape for February 2005:
M.I.A. - Sri Lankan MC smokes them boys
Soulwax - Godfathers of the mashup can do live music
Fresh - devastating each time I see it
Neil Rabinowitz - My desk calendar for '05
Reg Mombassa - still bemoaning the loss of my Mambo shirt
The Brick Testament- kinda like Lord of the Mallow Peeps
The Ocean Conservancy - doing good things
the beach in winter

5 Jan 2005 - And the juggernaut continues... will be doing an on-air show this Sunday, January 9, 6pm ET at the University of Maryland. It's called Third Rail, and for those in the DC/Bawlmer area, I believe it's WMUC 88.1 FM or you can tune in here.

Also have a troubadour show in the DC area on MLK Jr. weekend. Details here...

Happy New Year. I resolve to be more resolute.... or something like that.

23 Nov 2004 - Gig at Pete's Dec. 22. Please come if you're able. Also, new song demo'd at home with headcold - here. You know, one of these days, I'll start writing a tome of songs about socks... am contemplative and winding down into the cold cold months ahead...

3 Nov 2004 - Well, it looks like four more years of the Bushmaster - love him or hate him, you have to admit it's gonna be an interesting ride to the far right. Somehow, this election has restored my faith in the process and in people becoming concerned about their country and their future enough to stand in line in the rain for 4 hours just to punch a card and have a say. It's just too bad that I don't agree with most of them... but not gonna join the free-thinker exodus just yet. I think there are still some things here worth fighting for, and on the upside, he can't run in 2008.

Best thing to do is stay alert and concerned and active in the political process. As far as I know, we still have rights to express our agreement or dissent on the administration's policies. Don't go to sleep... and we are still citizens of the world. Travel, have respect and learn from other countries and cultures. We need to start bridging the gap ourselves especially if our government maintains an isolationist policy.

But bottom line is, if we vote Bush in with a decisive margin in the highest turnout since '68, then fuck it, Bush is our leader, for better or worse, and the people have spoken. God bless America/heaven help America.

All hail the Daily Show and Wonkette, because, sometimes you just need to laugh at the absurdity of it all (you know, as opposed to crying). As the rest of the world says, "only in America..."

Oh, and I have a gig Monday with new lineup. Please come down if you're able...

++Please vote if you can. To find your local polling place, go here. Call toll free 1-866-OUR-VOTE if you have any questions or encounter any problems voting.

UPDATE: The email signup form above and the email form on the contacts page should be working now. Thanks to those that notified me of the glitches.++

2 Sept 2004 - Summer's going going gone...

New things to share with you. The record (working title: Lovers and Losers) has been finished and is now looking for a home. Soundclips and other candy to be posted soon. The Joe Jackson record is now slated for release on September 28. Check out this record, have a listen, and preorder it before it goes public.

Got another gig coming up, solo stylee, as part of the Skylark Series, hosted by Kiersten Gray. It's on September 25, and I hope you can come down.

I have recently become a Curt Mangan Sponsored Artist. You should check out their strings at your local record shop or online here.Got pages up on Indie911 and Sonicbids you can check out as well.

11 June 2004 - Just when I thought it was safe to stay home...

More soapbox posturing: after the recent events coming to light in Abu Ghraib and the death of Reagan, we may be in for a sea change. Let's make this upcoming election a fair and representative one: please make sure you are registered to vote and make your voice heard, even if you think we don't have much of a choice (subliminal hint: Bush is a crook... Bush... crook... Bushcrook! - suddenly having a vision of Sesame Street doing this).

Also, stay tuned for Michael Moore's upcoming Farenheit 9/11, which Disney tried to scuttle. Fearless dissident documentarian or self-serving polemicist, you've gotta hand it to him for his cojones and sheer will to start a dialogue...

Got a gig in the East Village with Peg Simone and Curtis Eller on June 19. Do come on down and say hi...

Rest in peace, Ray. I think we should have national day of mourning for you....

12 May 2004 - Wow... time flies and crawls. I am slowly coming out of hibernation just as the frost recedes and the hot haze rolls in.

Work on the full-length record progresses. My "great American novel" (title TBA) is approaching completion at the G; will keep you posted. If you're not already on the mailing list, please feel free to add your electric hancock up above as I may be coming to a coffeehaus near you.

I am also excited to be contributing a track to a tribute album to Joe Jackson that's in development. More details soon...

Sales of my EP are brisk on CDBaby, and my early demos are about to go out of print. Thanks! My songs are also available for preview and download at the iTunes music store if you wanted to check that out.

8 December 2003 - OK, so I broke my gigfast, when I got the chance to pay tribute to Elliott Smith, dearly departed fellow-bicoastal Brooklynite. Learning his songs only bolstered my appreciation for the gifts that he had. An amazing, amazing songwriter...

Tracking on full-length continues in bits and pieces. Thought I'd give you a taste. "Where Are You My Love" is probably one of my favorite things that I've written so far. Could it be a one-off or a new direction for a new album? Stay tuned for updates. Check the discos and lyrics pages for new material.

Got featured on eoradio's launch playlist and Song and Film's front page.

Recommends: Jhumpa Lahiri, Hem's Rabbit Songs, m.ward, Mbox, Cocina portugues, the Brick Testament, Daniel Lee, Chinatown bus, Borsao

Happy Hollydays.

11 Oct 2003 - Just an update that I'll be playing the CMJ festival in New York, and it's possibly the last gig I'll have in a while. Advance copies of my new CD "the art of forgetting" will be available then.

Otherwise CDs will be available:
- directly from me
- online thru cdbaby (itunes coming soon)
- at your local indie record store, thru carrot top distribution

9 Sept 2003 - Update - the art of forgetting has been picked up by Carrot Top for distribution, so you should be able to purchase a copy at your nearest non-chain record store in October. Tracks will also be available separately through the iTunes Music Store. You can preview tracks from the new album here.

The "Bridge to Music: Indie Sounds from Brooklyn's Underground" compilation is being slated for release on September 15. Proceeds from the CD will go to benefit the UN World Food Programme Africa Hunger Alert. You can check out information on the Harris Radio page.

Also, one of the songs has been selected for use in MTV's Real World show. More details as I get them...

4 August 2003 - More news....

The EP has been completed. It should be available soon at CDBaby and most online retailers. You can preview clips from the tracks here.

As the new one is being distributed, the Quicksand EP is getting picked up for airplay at college stations across the country. You can go to the links page to see where it is getting airplay.

A previously unreleased track of mine has been included in a compilation called "Bridge to Music: Indie Sounds from Brooklyn's Best". It's being released by HarrisRadio, and all proceeds go to to the Ethiopia appeal of the UN World Food Program. Other artists include Chris Brown, Kate Fenner, Mudville, Tony Scherr, Warren Zanes, and Emily Zuzik. For more information, check out the HarrisRadio page.

21 June 2003 - EP update:

Hope the summer has been kind to you. Right now every day is like sunday....

The new EP, entitled "the art of forgetting", will be available later this summer. Will keep you posted regarding the release date.

Completed at Studio G Brooklyn, it features the talents of Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants), Yuval Gabay (Soul Coughing, Roni Size), and is a collaborative effort with Joel Hamilton (Shiner, JJParadise Players Club).

More details on the discos page.

29 April 2003 - More news....

I'm being featured on XM Satellite Radio's R>A>D>A>R report airing Friday, May 2 at 9pm on Channel 52. XM Satellite Radio is a subscription-based service that provides 100 different channels and is now getting built into cars, i hear.

Also found out I'm getting a write-up in Performing Songwriter Magazine. More details soon...

Just completed some work on a cool new audio guide to Williamsburg. It's called Soundwalk, and they've already done areas like Chinatown, DUMBO, and the Lower East Side. I'm really excited, as I got to work with my favorite guys at the G and wrote a new song in the process. This should be out this summer, and I'll keep you posted.

Lastly, will provide news soon on a forthcoming ep. In the meantime, added two new demos for your listening pleasure.

17 April 2003 - Looks like there's an end in sight.... The sun came out and stayed for the first time in a long while. A good sign.

Progress on the long-awaited album continues. Couple of upcoming gigs. Been demoing more in Live and Reason.

Site updated with new pics in the gallery page and a list of links to sites that have mentioned my stuff. Props all around. Hope to see ya soon...

20 February 2003 - Just an update from under snowdrifts -

My next Manhattan gig will be on March 13, and I'll be returning to Pete's Candy Store April 22. Details here.

Pictures and impressions from the D.C. and N.Y. protests will be posted soon in the gallery space.

A couple new reviews have come in. You can read them here.

2 January 2003 - As we fall into another year....

Am bugging on the fact that we are on the verge of escalating this "new kind of war". I'm going to do a rare thing and hold my tongue when it comes to chicken-and-egg causation on the current situation. No sense in pointing fingers, just in preventing further bloodshed.

We have the freedom and responsibility to have a dialogue about the future of our country. While we are placated and diverted with junkfood reality shows, a select few are calling the shots. Please let your representatives know where you stand as their constituent. Citizens need not only apply.

I got this info from a friend. For if you can't make the DC protest on Saturday January 18:

The Bush White House has an "opinion" line for you to call. So call and give your opinion of the proposed war in Iraq. The line only accepts calls from 9-5 EST, Monday thru Friday.

A machine will detain you for only a moment and then a pleasant live operator will thank you for saying "I oppose" or "I approve." It will only take minutes. Note that the weekends are closed for calls. The president has said that he wants to know what the American people are thinking. Let him know. Time is running out.

Find your representatives here. Your senator(s) here. Finally, Dubya and crew can be contacted here.

Please consider contacting them individually. While most petitions are well-intentioned, some are frauds and some get trashed as spam and never reach their destination because they're forwards. More direct letters and emails make more of an impact...

Well, that's it. Best wishes to you. Hope you're well. Maybe I'll see you at either of the gigs.

9 December 2002 - Happy Holidays/Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa, etc.

Chilling out (literally) in snowy Brooklyn, waiting for the feeling to come back into my toes. Holing up, writing, regrouping for the next year.

Two things coming up:

One is I'm going to be a featured artist on internet radio station ArtistFirst.com on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 8pm EST. They regularly spotlight up-and-coming artists. All you have to do is tune into their website at the designated time (me, I'm phoning in).

The other is that my first gig of the year is going to be at Artland on January 12 (See gigs page). It's an intimate space where you can hear artists read/sing/spin, and a nice hang. Oh, and they have kick-ass heating....

Stay warm.

5 November 2002 - veni vidi omnia vinci...

Naw, really, we had a blast at Bowery. Was a great experience and fun for all. Congrats to the three finalists. Thanks to those who showed their support as we worked our dance steps and handstands for the judges. Kidding...about the handstands.

Got a new writeup to add - see discos page. Jane CDs are going fast... but thankfully are available for download at their site for a limited time.

Am dealing with unemployment at the moment. The Brooklynites are on (hopefully) short hiatus and working on a cd. Time to write that novel...

- Made it to semifinalist status (yay), thanks to Dick Clark and Bobby Haber. We will be competing with nine other bands at the New Music Award smackdown to take place at Bowery Ballroom during CMJ. Details here. Story here. Please vote for us, as it's a new round and could become a tiebreaker. Echoes of Idol... am contemplating platinum streaks, natch.

- The JANE CDs are in. Anyone purchasing a Quicksand EP will receive one gratis*. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, let me know.
- The newly-redubbed Brooklynites are bouncing the Betty every Monday night in Williamsburg. Details below.

- The site has been tweaked (for better I hope). Take a look here and here.

* while supplies last. offer only limited to purchases that I am notified of (amazon/cdbaby etc.) or handle. does not apply to cracks burns street vendor racks canal st. flea markets etc.

More news:
- The Jane Magazine CD will be released October 14. Will provide more details soon.
- Am confirmed for CMJ - date and time to be announced shortly.
- Also became a qualifier for the AMA/CMJ/DCC/Coca-Cola New Music Award. Hopefully, we'll hear from Dick Clark soon...

Also, come by Black Betty Monday nights as Brooklyn Nights continues into October.

Mondays at 10:30pm
Black Betty
366 Metropolitan (at Havemeyer)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
718-599-0243

Also, if you get a moment, check out Matthew's website. It started as a songwriter site and morphed into a forum for information and opinions you won't find through the media. With elections round the corner, it's a good time to write your congressman about your views on Iraq, energy vs. the environment, and housing laws. A democracy ain't a democracy unless you say something...

8 August 2002 - I'll be doing a couple of showcase gigs in the Los Angeles area this month. if you or anyone you know may be around, please come down and show your support. Both are free of charge and in the thick of things - details here.

Some news:
- got confirmed for Ladyfest East, which happens in September. Stay tuned and check http://www.ladyfesteast.org/ for details.
- also will be featured in Jane Magazine's upcoming compilation cd, due out in October. "Could This Be Love" will be track #2 on this CD (yay) sponsored by Maybelline.
- finally, the return of the almighty Brooklyn Nights is imminent. Check for future updates - we will hit Black Betty Monday nights in September.

Hope your summer's swell.

17 June 2002 - Still truckin'. Still trackin'. New soundclips posted here. Next gig is at Pete's on Sunday July 14 - info here.

Since summer is usually lull, I'll leave you with stuff I'm listening to/reading/etc. For those lazy days in the park or on the docks...

Zero 7 Telepopmusik Dismemberment Plan Norah Jones Blackalicious Federico Garcia Lorca Roland Barthes the Smoking Gun
the Onion Funyuns Lamb Pleasure Club David Foster Wallace 2 Many DJ's Boards of Canada N.E.R.D. Trail of Dead Joi Project Gutenberg

It's amazing how flash is taking over cyberspace...

20 April 2002 - Thanks to those who braved the severe weather alert to catch us at Pete's. We had a lot of fun and hope to play again soon. In the meantime, there's a new track added for your listening pleasure and posted some lyrics here. They can also be found in the navigation bar.

Cool quote: "Sometimes hell is a good place - if it proves to one that because it exists, so must its opposite, heaven, exist. And what was heaven? Poetry."
- Gregory Corso

The Summer West Coast tour is slowly taking shape. Am confirmed for the Knit/LA; other dates pending. Will keep you updated.

1 March 2002 - I will be playing at Pete's Candy Store on April 19. Details here. Also crashing the Winter Music Conference and getting some much-needed suntime. I am writing and demoing songs for hopeful future realization. Some new soundclips soon.

Also, updated the links page, added a gallery where you can see my handiwork and also pictures from the Galapagos gig, courtesy of Alex Huddleston.

More to come...

1 February 2002 - After several go-rounds with my server, I finally had to put my email list down. The beast is dead. Long live the beast...ding ding. So, I'm switching to Yahoo for my updates until further notice.

So, if you see an invite to join a Yahoo! group, before you think a roguelist has sprung up, be assured that mailouts of the extremely-late-and-recurring variety hopefully won't happen again. If they do, don't hesitate to let me know. The only spam that should exist comes out of a can.

You can send an email here to subscribe directly. If you sign up using the thingy above, you'll get an invite.

Whew. That being said, come see us at Galapagos on Feb. 21. Happy Feb.

6 January 2002 - Looks like the band will be going one on the pre-reunion circus at Galapagos on February 21 (mark your calendars!).  It's been (gasp!) six months since our last one, so come by and catch us! More info soon...

New hype excerpt:
"This fearless firestarter armed with guitar and full-throttle imagination brings inventive guitar chops and soulful, sensual vocals to an eclectic, addictive mix of songs. Alice never met a weird tuning she didn't like or a note she couldn't hit, and that adventurous sensibility fuels the five excursions to the outer limits of accessibility on The Quicksand EP."...(more here)
[courtesy of Alan Young/Trifecta Records]

19 December 2001 - Just an update and a holiday greeting....Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Ramadan/peace on earth and not pieces...a time for reflection and fresh starts. It's been one hell of a year (and that can be taken semi-literally), as we've all dealt with issues stemming from economic slowdown and wartime crisis to personal tragedy. Here's to 2002 on the upswing and better times ahead...

Got a show at CB's Gallery day after New Year's. Will be heading back to DC for a gig, too. The BlackBettygig has been hiatused for the time being. Look for us to reconvene when it's warmer... In the meantime, I will be posting pics soon.

On another tip, I am moonlighting as a web/graphic designer as the jobmarket skids to a screeching halt. If you know of any small businesses/artists/bands that need a simple website or cd cover or anything else that involves graphics, let me know. You can find a list of my URLs here. I am also available for database administration/troubleshooting/instruction.

16 November 2001 - The first two tracks of the new album are done. You can preview these tracks on the discos page.

Also, got a sologig on Thxgvg friday, so if you happen to be in the area, come on by. It'll be a rare chance to see Alice-on-keys...

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nights juggernaut at Black Betty keeps gaining momentum. Come see what the fuss is about and how jumpin' a Monday night can get.

Lastly, the Studio G Brooklyn site is up. Check out the site and see what these guys have to offer.

25 October 2001 - Well, we are witnesses to history in the making. The question is, what does it all mean?

Facts are, post-traumatic stress is becoming a nationwide issue, anthrax is no longer just a thrash metal band, and though we haven't issued a formal declaration of war, somehow we are in the midst of one. For me, staying informed keeps the heebies down. Sorta. Some links:

• Laugh, dammit!
• Site that debunks all those crazy emails going around about Nostradamus, shopping malls, etc.
• Background from the Chomster
• And finally, since thinktanks aren't making the policy decisions around here...
  

Back to music. Progress is being made - two tracks have been completed at the G, and should be available for your listening pleasure soon - watch this space.

22 September 2001 - This WTC event has brought out the best and worst in people. I have encountered people telling me to "go back to where you came from" if I didn't fully support US retaliation against Afghanistan/Taliban/entire nation of Islam.  I have had dazed people come up to me on the street looking for spare change, some words of comfort or maybe an ear and witnessed that mankind is still capable of random acts of kindness.  I have received hugs and consolation from people I have only just met. Here's to hoping that we do include introspection among the list of things to do in response to a situation like this.

If you support peace over military involvement, please go to this site: http://thepetitionsite.com and add your hancock to the lineup.

Also, information that probably won't be trumpeted through the media. inter arma silent leges...

Lastly, all proceeds from the sales of my CD at CDBaby.com will be donated to Red Cross efforts. Click here to purchase/make a contribution towards this necessary cause.

Take care.

12 September 2001 - Just dropping you a line to let you know, no, i did not take that temp assignment at World Trade Center and am thus able to post this...

Tuesday was crazy. Trapped in the subway for over an hour. Felt a shift and thought it was an earthquake or sth. like that. Cars discharging passengers, no explanations other than "incident at World Trade Center".

Above ground, word got around fast - everyone on their mobiles, and a huge pillar of smoke down at one end. At work, people freaking out about what'd happened and trying to find a crash pad in manhattan as word was out that the island was closed.

Buses/taxis/subways/cars not an option. Walked from 53rd & madison down to the Williamsburg Bridge, only to have cops tell me that the bridge is closed. Rerouted with the masses to Manhattan Bridge and getting ever so closer to the smoke and destruction. Sky darkening, people either dazed or relatively calm. Espied navy frigates congregating around the harbor and redwings sweeping overhead. Made the trek into Fort Greene and had to walk back to Williamsburg in a serious series of detours. Feet swollen but me determined to get home. Thru Navy Yard and hasidic neighborhood and back. My sister in hysterics as a few of her friends may have been in the building. Now watching telly for continual updates. The city is shut down probably for a good week at least. New York and the USA forever changed.

Hope that DC is coping best it can....my prayers and donated blood go out to everyone involved.

25 July 2001 - New happenings. Got a gig in LA...well, actually, SM, but if you're on the left coast, drop on by.

The next band gig will be on August 24 at that new place next to Galapagos. LeadBetty will be on the bill, so you can be sure that this will be a show not to be missed.

Also, starting in August, I'll be playing every other Sunday at the BQE Lounge in Williamsburg. More details on the gigs page.

9 July 2001 - Just a shout-out and greetings. Hope you're enjoying the sub-summer happening. The CD is now available online and at gigs, etc. you can also drop me a line if you're interested in obtaining one. Details here.

New material is underway at the G. Will post soundclips for easy listening soon on the website. A couple of ghetto home demos will also be available for ears. I will be in Beantown this Saturday, playing after the Blue Man Group at the Charles Playhouse and also doing a set in New York before heading to Cali. Details here.

26 May 2001 - Thanks to all of you who came out to catch us at Galapagos. The night was a success, and we hope to play there again soon. In the meantime, our next gig will be at CB's Gallery on June 12. The CD is now available at gigs and will soon be available online. Been demoing lots of new material for the next one. More to come...

Also, the Perils of Pauline....trying to squash another worm/bug from the embattled mailing list....never a dull moment. Thanks for your patience - will get the hang of this thing soon...

20 Apr 2001 - Coming out of hibernation...new gigs posted here. May be pulling a sneak attack solo stylee to try out some new material. Also, if you're in the hood, check out the LeadBettynights Mondays at 10pm at Black Betty, 366 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg. It's a great night of booty shaking bumps, freestyling, and tunes.

Bring on the sunshine...