If you can do anything else besides music....

I am trying to better myself. I have taken up (again) saxophone lessons with the amazing Austin Guitarist, composer, sax player Shawn Jones. (The Lovely Sparrows) With the focus of (well, everything) but mainly site reading.

As a sax player in the big band Minor Mishap my band leader Datri Bean always has music for the Bari Sax to play. At first I would just ear everything like I do in all my other bands, and learn my part via one of the other 3 or so woodwinds. But, I quickly realized that Bari is always on harmony, rarely on melody. So ear-playing other people's parts did a disservice to MM. I wasn't playing what she wrote. And her parts are amazing, so full of harmonies. I ended up relying on my bandmates to use their spare time to walk me through my part. It was frustrating for me-- though they're SO NICE about it.

Anyways, I've done another article about my fear of site reading when I was sitting in with Hungry March in NYC. I desperately didn't want to look like a fool - they were presenting a new song that rehearsal. So I digress....

The point of this musing is that my teacher and I were discussing his other students who are seniors in high school - they are working on most difficult material for their honors - or all state or whatever it's called! They are studying some really hard stuff.

At any rate, he told me that most of them look to him for guidance about what to study in college. They have been working on this for 4 years! And this is the pinnacle.

What does he say to them?

"If you can be happy doing AnYTHING else besides playing music you should do it."

I totally agree. Because like Shawn I'm driving the same car I have driven for 10 years, I hustle gigs every week, and I often go without so that I can have my days free to create.

This relates to me because fortunately or unfortunately (and I've tried) I don't think I can be happy doing a 9-5, not being free to create. I've tried it. If had the best jobs- they coolest bosses, and some ideal situations.

Just a thought I constantly process. Can I be happy doing anything else?

...Show tonight super awesome band - props, dance and all - at Firehouse Lounge 10 - 12. I'm pretending we're in France - circa Toulouse Lautrec.
DD Dagger photo below: Isaac Soloman: Marfa, TX

NYC (Chelsea) Studio Shoot with savvy photog Ed Verosky // and instructional video on You Tube

Fun, talented, and ambitious NYC based photog Ed Verosky took some time with lil old DD Dagger in his Chelsea photography studio last week.

I met Ed about 4 years ago right before he and his wife made the move to NYC to pursue a full time creative life in the Big Apple.

I could definitely tell a difference in both of us when we reunited for the first time since our last Austin, Texas shoot -- in 2010! We've both improved in style and taste. Ed for his skill and direction -- for me it was precise and very helpful. Lead with your eyes. I needed to hear it! For me: I had more fun, felt more confident, and was more loose and free.

I had a ton of fun. He has a passion for music and musicians (just my luck!) and it is obvious he still, after 20+ years of shooting, likes to have fun and goof around.

See the instructional video he made here: and subscribe to his YouTube Channel! See all the shots Here:

http://www.edverosky.com/previews/allyson-previews/

Royalties from Sound Exchange // performance rights // web streams

I did need a boost and I got it! Things are slowing down here for me in the Big Apple! We've written the songs- we're recording them on Sunday. I've met with *most of my peeps and I've visited some art. I've watched dance, been all around town, learned better the subway (I'll forget again...)

But today I needed a boost, as I didn't feel like visiting the museums or walking around a bit aimlessly with no money!

A few good things happened! A collector called me and wants to buy some art when I get get back to Austin...how often does that happen??

I got $ in the mail from a client and...drumroll....$370 coming from Sound Exchange in streaming Royalties!!

Wooooohoooo! In case you're wondering those are not DD Dagger royalties-- they're from my garage rock band called The Easies. I only did one record with them before I decided to go solo and never "break up" a band again.

The song that gets the most guys is Peach of a Gal. It struck a chord! Thank god for that!

If you listen to Pandora Radio please make a station with DD Dagger or The Easies. It's my mailbox money!! 

I've been praying for rain for years. 

Xoxo Dags

Http://www.pandora.com 

Ghetto jewelry in Brooklyn | crown heights | A train | DD Dagger

!'m Excited I finally got a second to head down (again) to Fulton Street and Nostrand Av. My new Brooklyn gal pal Allison Tray from #tresbelle #salon #beautyonbond has me blogging. But, she also sent me a glowing review of me and #Raindoggs new video #brooklyn #girls. (See attached photo). In it, a girl asked where did she get those handlebars? #Raindogg and I were confused thinking she was talking about my boobs, but no! She was talking about my ghetto earrings! Where DO I get them? I have quite a collection.

I like the earrings BIG especially for live performances I started my collection 2 yrs ago in #neworleans. They were big--- but über heavy too! Today I look for huge yet light earrings. 

...so my best finds? Dollar stores! I make it a point to go in and I have found the best ones ~ wild ones .. One random Dollar store in Portland #pdx made me go nuts!

But back to Brooklyn::: I was on my way to #Bushwick heading toward Nostrand and Fulton to get out there...

And I came across a small Mecca of cheap ass jewelry. Big! Light! Cheap! All the best qualities. ...don't pay more than $5...I stopped first in Danice- http:www.danicestores.com -- I also bought a $3 pain of leggings:-)

Here they are ladies! What I bought anyway...

Good luck on your search!

Sitting In // rehearsals // jamming // cutting through fear

I'm missing my big band terribly! Last night (I'm midway through my NYC artistic/musical songwriting adventure)  I crashed a Hungry March Band's rehearsal. I was terrified! Maybe even more so than my first Minor Mishap Marching Band rehearsal almost 2 years ago. I met Hungry March during last years Honk! Boston. They are a 20 piece brass band with dancers and a very cool NYC vibe. The tunes are more circus-y than Minor Mishap's, but the skill level is about on par with one another. Minor Mishap songs are not easy to play, even though the band makes them sound like it.

The thing about me is I'm an ear saxophone player! I'm pretty quick, but have big gaps in my knowledge about theory and am a horrible site reader. It gives me terrible anxiety to step into a room with a new song that's charted.

Which is what Hungry March was working on last night! I was so intimidated and insecure that I kinda ruined the fun for myself.

But, 1/2 way through the rehearsal they were playing a New Orleans style tune and one of the trumpet players came over and whispered to me- you take t next solo....

Oh God!! No! 

IOVE soloing and I thrive on it. But sometimes I fall really short and bomb it.

This time I didn't...it was ok. Passable but far from brilliant! I made it through without a bomb so I felt better.

Up until then I was full of fear but that solo dispelled it a bit. I could relax, I had proven myself to myself in a small way.

I really feel this way/// almost everytime I step into a rehearsal room with new people. It's like I have something to prove - prove to myself first and then them. ...Or maybe just them....

Last night I just HAD to go to the Hungry March rehearsal, even though I didn't want to, even though I was going to torture myself, even though I can't site read.

It's no coincidence that I have my Bari Sax out now, and by my side is the Rubank Elementary Method for Sax. 

One step at a time I'll beat this ignorance! 

Here we go...

DD Dagger in Brrrrroooklyn! Tres Belle!!

So my friends' friends owns this salon and I headed out to Brookie to get a nice facial. (She offered a discount!) 

Unfortunately I found myself on Bond street in Manhatten instead of Brooklyn. But, 30 mins later I found my way and had an amazing facial!! And za gals darkened my brows too:-)

Thanks Tres Belle! 

From Deep Sombreros to Morphine

After all these years some of the sax work I did with the Deep Sombreros still holds up. I had a favorite song that neither me or Peter (the other contributor) wrote that I adore. It's called Ay Chingo-go-go! 

Our drummer Joel had a roomie Matt Giles. He was a guitar player that also played trumpet in high school. Maybe inspired by our garage rehearsals, He wrote this beautiful Mexican- Herb Albert-y song that captured the heart of what the Deep Sombreros were about. Of course Peter added his touch by shouting, at Chingo-go, go! During the song. Hilarious.

A take a solo in the middle, I feel like a queen! I felt like the real deal every time we started that tune. It was solid. 

Wait, I am the real deal! I just didn't know it back then. 

In the car today I played it once, I played it twice. A true summer jam.

Then Morphine came on. How appropriate! 

I reflected on his short poppy sax licks. Charlie Parker is my favorite player, but the sax player for Morphine is next. 

It's the perfect mix of rock and diminished minor notes that bring in the blues. Genius.

Lets say a prayer that long time pal Mark Shuman finishes his documentary on Morphine soon. 

He knew them, and brought me to the one and only concert I saw of theirs at Liberty Lunch in the late 90's in Austin.

That documentary is long overdue!