Metal and Medleys

Hi everyone! It's Gary from the Crushed Velvets. Thanks for singing along in such a beautiful way at the Renaldo show this weekend. If you liked that I know you will like singing along with the Crushed Velvets at our shows coming up. Our crowd participation is even better than the Renaldo show. It's a lot smoother.

We've been playing a lot of Middle Schools in South Jersey this summer. It's a lot of fun, but it turns out there aren't any kids at the schools because it's summer. They told us there was summer school at these schools but I guess there isn't. There is a lot of construction workers at the Middle School outside of Asbury Park (they're remodeling) and they've been getting into our medleys especially. They've been playing along on their metal pipes really loudly when we're playing so I know they are into it. Someone I went to high school with became a construction worker.

I think they really like the new Wilson Phillips Medley we have where we blend "Hold On" and "Release Me" me with Amy Grant's "Every Heartbeat." We've also been working on a Roxette Tribute with some of my Jazz Chords. It's a more smooth arrangement of Joyride I call the SmoothRide. We're going to play that for them next week and I know they will like it.

Also, I think some of the kids that used to be in the schools are at the County Fair for the summer. I know a lot of bands play at county fairs, so I was thinking definitely that we could play at county fairs too. If you are putting on a fair, remember the Crushed Velvets. We will play and your fair will be more than fair!!! :)

Frustrated Velvets

It's been a tough week for the Crushed Velvets. Darius (the lead guitarist who is an awesome player) and I had a little fight and I'm upset. I thought he had booked a huge show for the 4th but he apparently didn't ever do it. I thought he said "We are playing Times Square for the 4th" but I asked him yesterday at rehearsal when we need to "load-in" ("Load-in" is an industry term for unloading)("Industry" means whatever industry you are in, we're in the MUSIC industry) on the 4th and he said "what?" I said, "You know, the 4th. For our Big gig." "We don't have a gig on the 4th." "Yeah we do, TIMES SQUARE?!?!?" "No no... I said Let's Go to times square for the 4th... to watch the fireworks." Then Darius started laughing. A lot. That was the hardest part because I just want the Velvets to do so well and I thought we were really making progress. He laughed way too much I think. I just got this booked called "Emotions Revealed" by Paul Eckman. It shows you how to read people's facial expressions to better tell what their true emotions are. I'm only on the introduction but something seemed strange about Darius' face when he was laughing. Like he wasn't just happy. It was weird. I am going to keep reading the book. Anyway, I'm going to Times Square for the fireworks if anyone wants to come. I guess it will be fun.