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May 2007
BUT FIRST, SOME EXCITING TIDBITS
Before the fantastic tale of my tour, I just wanted to share some exciting news:
First: our song Control from our album Touch will be appearing on the upcoming Boxed DVD Set Collection of Will
Ferrell's movies!
Second: my interview with 90:00 Soccer Magazine (called 90 Minute Soccer Magazine), the biggest soccer magazine in the
United States will be appearing in the next issue! What, you may ask, does soccer have to do with Kiss the Girl or vice
versa? Well, 90:00 Soccer Magazine also has a radio station, 90:00 Soccer Radio, which along with soccer news, also plays
music. They've been featuring our song Alive for some time. So, they decided to do an interview with me, and only after
the fact, found out that I was amongst other things, captain of my soccer team in high school (my two brothers also played
and my father played semi-pro in Hungary and is a well-known soccer coach in Southern Illinois). When I was young, I
dreamed of being in a soccer magazine – and in an odd way, it came true!
Third: When you have a spare hour or two, download my interview on UCLA's Radio Free Moskow on May 22nd. My second
time on the show with the collegiate Marx Brothers. A lot of fun, and some of it is genuinely hilarious. Radio doesn't
get more real than this. Ignore the distortion!
http://www.kissthegirlmusic.com/RadioFreeMoskow2.mp3
LONG DRIVES AND LOTS OF LOVE
My mini Solo Acoustic Tour was a wondrous thing. The value of leaving familiar, comfortable surroundings hit me on my
drive up to San Francisco as I passed the windmills that lie just southeast of the Bay Area. Seeing different vistas in a
different light can ironically evoke feelings of nostalgic joy. I became more aware of the beauty of each moment as I was
taken out of my familiar patterns and surroundings.
I spent time visualizing the tour going well, but what I experienced was far more than I had imagined…
SAN FRANCISCO: Beyond Expectations
In San Francisco I stayed with my good friend and fellow singer/songwriter and also jazz pianist extraordinaire, Steve
Snelling. I would be sharing the bill with him for the show in SF. The day before the show was spent in Hyde Street
Studios with my KTG partner Jaimeson Durr as we cut drums for two new upcoming tracks with the super-talented drummer Andy
Korn, which went swimmingly.
The next day - the day of the show, I was told some negative things about the venue Steve
and I were playing. I already had thoughts that the venue might be less than ideal, and this talk produced further doubts
in my mind. I began to think of possible solutions to the problems, which only made them grow in my mind. I realized
that I was giving my energy to the wrong thing, so I shifted my thoughts to picturing only the ideal, giving no thought to
any problem or obstacle.
Upon arrival at the venue, I saw that it was small, noisy and the vibe seemed wrong. The
employees seemed unaware of our show and even asked that the volume be kept down since last time they had trouble hearing
drink orders (ah, the glory of being a rock star!). Despite the less-than-ideal environment, I simply remained calm and
focused my energy on my upcoming performance and talking with people.
By the time I went onstage, the environment had
improved a bit, but was still not the best. I went up onstage and began my first song. The café, now almost full
of people, seemed to go completely still. As I ended the first song, the place erupted in enthusiastic calls and
applause. The venue had completely transformed. The audience was completely rapt in attention as I played my set. There
was a generous flow of energy between the audience and me.
I talked and joked spontaneously and was able to turn
everything that happened – even mistakes or ambient noise – to my advantage. I played well, with passion,
almost overwhelmed with emotion at times from the positive energy, the love and support I felt in the room. Steve
Snelling and I finished off the night with a set of jazz standards that were very well received. It was, unexpectedly,
one of the most satisfying shows I've ever played.
Afterward, I got to party with my KTG partner Jaimeson, his fiancé Danielle, and some old friends, including my
friend Reese, and my close friend Steffon from the Seattle area whom just happened to be in San Francisco and came to my
show. I would see him again a few days later to play a House Concert in his home. We simply had a blast that night. San
Francisco was great, but Humboldt County a few days later was simply extraordinary, a trip that will change my life
forever…
HUMBOLDT COUNTY: A Trip That Changed My Life
Humboldt County – the Arcata/Eureka area – is a beautiful part of northern California. I had played with
the band and solo there several times at a club and at large house parties held at my friend Scott's parents' place. I
always have a great time in Humboldt. The surroundings are beautiful and the people are friendly and generous. I stayed
with my lovely friend Jennifer and also hung out with an awesome cowpunk band called The Rubberneckers who were sharing
the bill with me at the Pearl Lounge in Eureka. I got to rehearse with The Rubberneckers as we had planned a tribute to
the band Old 97s where I would join them onstage at the show during their set.
I was treated with such appreciation and
respect by everyone in Humboldt, starting with John Matthews and Jen Savage at the commercial rock station KSLG. I had
appeared on John's show before and it was a vibrant, lively discussion, and this time we continued where we left off.
Check the shows or news section on our site or click at the bottom of this paragraph for a link to the interview. Jen's
show was also great (but I know she didn't record it!), and they and the station were really supportive in having me on
and talking about the show at the Pearl Lounge. KSLG is one of the best commercial rock stations left in the country, and
I'm really honored that Kiss the Girl is on there.
http://www.kissthegirlmusic.com/JMatthewsKSLG2.mp3
They also sent me over to KHUM where DJ Mike was broadcasting live from the opening of a huge organic food store. Clay
from The Rubberneckers met me there as he had just heard me on KSLG that morning and they had mentioned that I was on my
way to the KHUM show. What ensued was a pretty hilarious interview that would have had Spinal Tap overtones if not for
the fact that we were too busy laughing at ourselves, talking about the experience and about Clay's joyful rediscovery of
alcohol after five months sober. I played percussion as Clay borrowed my guitar to sing one song, which he then handed
back to me, refusing to play more as it was way too early for him. I then played a few songs. During the gentle, moving
song Alien Skin, we all laughed as we could hear an employee calling out a price check. Mike from KHUM was great and we
had an awesome time. I would love a recording of that as well, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist. Infinitely sad.
The Pearl Lounge show was fantastic. Pearl Lounge is a New York (or LA) style cosmopolitan club in Eureka run by a
young woman named Jasmin, who's trying to add an extra touch of sophistication to the town. Coming from living in San
Francisco and LA, it was totally my kind of place. The Rubberneckers brought in a sound system that sounded really nice.
The place filled up with people, including many familiar faces, including my friend Scott and his family, the KSLG crew,
and my close friend Jennifer, her lovely sister Heather and Jenn's friend Virginia who was gracious enough to let me stay
with her and Jennifer while I was in town. The place filled up with people and I gave a really strong performance. The
vibe was great. I went up with The Rubberneckers during their set and we kicked ass and brought down the house during the
two Old 97s songs. So fun! The Rubberneckers finished out the night to a dancing crowd.
At the Pearl Lounge show, I lost some t-shirts, a guitar stand and a camera case.
But I found the girl of my dreams.
For months I've been trying to manifest the perfect mate by visualizing and other techniques, imagining strongly that I
was already with her and being thankful for that, picturing in my mind and with emotion the kind of woman I hoped to be
with. Afterward, I met a lovely woman who had come up to the front during my set – I had noticed her immediately
and was strongly attracted. I went straight up to her after I left the stage. We talked briefly, then again at the end
of the evening. I watched her throughout the night, thinking she was the woman of my dreams, but not knowing if she was
available. I was stunned and delighted when she called me the next day out of the blue (after tracking down my number
somehow on the internet) and left a message for me while I was in Seattle on the next leg of the tour. After a great time
with my friend Steffon in the Seattle area and a fun house concert there, I passed back through Humboldt and spent a
couple days with her. We realized how strongly we felt about each other, and that's the beginning of the story. She had
been there that night to see the Rubberneckers – thanks guys! Needless to say, Humboldt County has been very, very
good to me!!
Being on the road for a couple weeks made me realize a couple things. One is that I feel at home in LA, San Francisco
or Humboldt County, or at my friend's in Seattle. Once you understand who you are and are doing what you're supposed to
be doing, home becomes something that's inside you wherever you go. The second thing probably helps me feel at home in
these different places, and that is, there is a lot of love out there if you're open to it, and if you project it first.
I went on the tour to pour myself out, to play my heart out and give my time and talent, thoughts and inspiration,
anything I had to the people and places I encountered. What you send out comes back to you. The universe is a mirror.
We attract what we think about.
Our thoughts become things.
My purpose was to give love, and the amount of love I got back in return was far greater. Some people see hostility or
suspicion or at least apathy when they venture forth. They expect that, and they project that and that's what they get.
Give no thought to the problems or obstacles. Give no energy to the negative thoughts and events. Dwell upon what you
are grateful for and what you want, and give everything you have with as much joy as you can, and that will be your life
experience. I have troubles and doubts and fears in my life, but they are no longer my focus. I focus upon the good,
upon the desired, upon the love and joy I want in my life and in the world, and that has become my reality and grows
stronger each day. Each of us, individually, by creating our own reality, will transform the world. We have the power to
do it through our thoughts. That's how it's done: one person at a time. And the only person you need to change is
you.
Wishing love and joy to you in your life,
Robert
KTG
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