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finally!

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:49:20 -0600

Seriously, I can hardly believe it myself, but the video for Criminal is finally done. We started this project a full two years ago. (Don’t ask.) And to be honest, it might have been more helpful when the record was actually released. :-) But what the heck. It’s done now, and cooler than snot!

In the meantime, over in my business life, I’ve written a new book of my own, Don’t Just Talk, Be Heard! which I’d love to have you come check out. I’ve also co-written a new book with John Miller, Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional. That comes out next month and should be really great too.

So I’ve been busy. Not really playing, but looking to pick that back up here before too long. Just shot a segment for a documentary yesterday on singer-songwriters and their process. Probably came off like a dufus, but hey, what are you going to do.

Oh, we had a new baby too! Frances Joyce Annabelle Levin. She’s 13 months old now. That’s about how long it’s been since I updated this blog. Wow.

So anyway, hope you’re well. Check out the new book if you get a chance. And enjoy the video!

Thanks!

D.

Music?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:47:51 -0500

Okay, here’s the deal. I’m working on a book. Nothing to do with music. You may or may not know that I’m the co-author of a best-selling business book called QBQ! The Question Behind the Question. My day job is doing keynotes and workshops on that material. It also gets me to many different towns across the country where I can pick up a show. Nice deal. Until the economy fell apart. When times are tight, big meetings are the first thing to go. So the keynote business pretty much dried up, at least for the time being. No keynotes, no shows.

I had already started a book of my own last Summer - “Don’t Just Talk, Be Heard: Closing the gap between what you mean to say and what people hear.” And I naively thought it would come together quickly. The first draft did - but rewrites are a killer! Anyway, with the extra time, I’ve been cranking on my new book. Hoping to have it out late Spring. The new web site - DontJustTalkBeHeard.com is in process too and I hope to have that up and start blogging there in the next month.

But obviously, all this has taken all the music energy. I haven’t done a thing for months. Not even picked up the guitar. I’m starting to feel the pull, which is not a good time, really. So I know it’ll pick up again before too long. But for now, I’m in book/speaker mode.

Oh, and I forgot to mention we had a new baby girl last October. Frances. That has something to do with my energy focus too, I imagine.

Anyway, check in over at the new site now and then. I think it’ll be interesting. And hopefully I’ll have some musical activity to report before too long.

STL and beyond!

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 09:35:24 -0500

My my. Been a while since my last post. Sorry about that. So anyway, been working on the acoustic thing and it’s feeling pretty good. Did the Play:STL festival two weeks ago. (Drove down 10 hours each way to play 45 mins for free! How’s that for the glamourous life?) But it was good. Met some nice folks. Got 45 mpg in the Prius!

Steve - my drummer - is now going to be joining me on percussion and harmonies for the acoustic sets when he can, and what a great addition that is! We have our first show - so far - coming up in Duluth, Saturday, December 13th at Beaner’s Central. Excited about that. And I’m going to be looking for lots more acoustic sets in the area too. I think you’ll dig ‘em.

Have not been writing. Been nesting. New baby is due two weeks from yesterday. Oh my. And Peter started pre-school a few weeks ago. So lots of adjustments and more to come.

writing, sort of

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:47:43 -0500

Not sure if it’s fair to call it writing. But Stan gave me a chunk he’s working on that’s sort of stuck in my head. Good thing or not? Let’s say mixed. But it is kind of fun to be working on something. Not that I’m sitting around. Maybe I should say good to be working on something creative. No, that’s not right. I’m working on a book too. Okay, good to be writing music - sort of.

fun!

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:08:36 -0500

Well, St Louis was a lot of fun. The Border’s show was weird. Game Night. When I got there the tables were already full of people playing board games. Not looking for musical entertainment. Polite enough, but I was background music. And really quiet. The guy working the coffee counter around the corner - literally 20 feet away - said afterward he couldn’t hear what I was doing. Perfect!

But then I went across town to a real club. Cicero’s. People actually faced me when I played. Took a little getting used to. And I was loud, which I like better than quiet. It was a 16+ show so most of the people looked REALLY young. But they still seemed to enjoy it. They paid attention. Clapped. No one said, “Yuck, Grandpa! Go home!” So that seemed like a success to me.

inspiration

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 09:12:13 -0500

Haven’t really been writing lately. That’s pretty common after finishing a record, though it is starting to feel like it’s been a while. Anyway, it’ll come. Always does. Something sparks something else and suddenly the dam opens.

Speaking of which, Peter said something last night I thought was especially interesting. (Pretty much everything he says lately makes me smile. But this one stood out.)

We were talking about the thunder storm going on outside. We could hear the thunder but weren’t seeing any lightning. He said, “Maybe the lightning is somewhere else getting food for the thunder.”

Maybe so.

meet me in St louis!

Fri, 30 May 2008 10:15:12 -0500

Well, since Omaha went so well, I’m going to try a similar thing in St Louis. Actually even more. Two shows in St Louis, Tuesday June 10th. Borders at 7 and Cicero’s at around 9.45. Both shows solo acoustic. (I guess that’s my new thing now.) Going to be a long night for my old self. :-)

Borders
11745 Olive Blvd.
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Phone: 314.432.3575

Cicero’s
6691 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, Mo. 63130
Phone: 314.862.0009

Hey, borders was fun!

Wed, 7 May 2008 10:28:04 -0500

Just back from my Borders show in Omaha - and my QBQ talk in Norfolk, NE. Fun! Both went well. It was a little funny wedging my way in between the poor folks who were already in the cafe enjoying their conversations in peace. But they were polite enough. Didn’t seem to mind too much. So I played, they sort of listened, clapped politely. Could have been a lot worse. Many shows HAVE been a lot worse. :-) So I’m guessing I’ll do more of those. Too late to pull one together for Charlotte next week, but hopefully St Louis in June.

Also, good news - Evil Genius won an award at the Great American Song Contest. Nice deal. More on that later ...

D.

Nashville

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:49:11 -0500

Just back from a great trip to Nashville last week. Following up on some people I met at SXSW. I was really impressed with how nice people were. Open, generous. Weather was perfect too. Might not be too bad to go back now and then. :-)

Now I just need to find some shows!

I’m going to be doing some in-stores at Borders stores as I travel around doing the QBQ talks. Should be interesting. First one is at the end of the month in Omaha. These will be solo acoustic, which is kind of fun. But I really want more full band shows too. So I guess I better go call some people ...

D.

cd party stuff

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:50:51 -0500

This isn’t actually from the party, just the run-up. Nice clip of the new band playing “Jet Boy” on KARE11. Sort of fun.

More to come ...

D.