The Fly Kingdom Newsletter

The Songs and Their Meanings...

2009-06-07T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hello once again! I had recently thought of adding the explanations behind the album "Sweet Blue Thornless Rose". As I had explained in my interview with the Animate Tripe Chronicles I wrote the songs about a woman named Rose. What I didn't explain is the journey that the character took to get from Song 1 to Song 11. Yes, this is a story... It's not all in black in white, however this should clear some things up. Well, here it is:

Sweet Blue Thornless Rose (Intro)
He starts out his journey with
One thought in mind,
To get to the Sweet Blue Thornless Rosee,
A priceless find,
The new fountain of youth,
The answer to love and life itself

As he departs with image he knows
The journey will be long
And there will obstacles in the way
To stray him from his prize
But he doesn’t care
He knows that what’s in store
Will grater then all of the
Challenges that lie ahead

Served Kold
So he has arrived in a place,
A place that has all pleasures
And comforts he desires
But is this it?
Or is there more to it?
The mystery of this place
There’s an odd feelings
Something he can’t figure
Or shake off,
But is it all just in his head
Or is there more to it?
But the more he stays
The further he gets away from
His vision and so
He moves on…

Indian Saints Go Marching in
He walks the sands of time
And wonders around
Looking for the diamond,
The diamond in the wrath
The prize of all prizes
But now, for the first time
He questions it’s existence
Is it real or just a myth?
Something that children
Were told just to help
Them ease their pain
And so he keeps going no
Matter what the vision says
It’s all about the journey
The details that will make
The experience memorable
But how long will this
Philosophy remain part of him?
Only time will tell…

Bluez Raga
And now he gets this,
This feeling he’s been here,
Some other lifetime perhaps?
He sees seeing the seascape
He’s never been to,
But yet he can pick things
Out that remind him
Of memories he has yet to
Experience and see
And as he sees a figure moving
It dances to a beat he can’t hear
Yet he can feel every nuance
But why? How can this be possible?
Who wrote that in his mind?
Is this the God that people keep
Talking about?
This entity that supposedly knows
All that there was, is and will be?
And as the figure keeps dancing
It points to him…. The man,
The one that wants to find
What can’t be found
What is but also isn’t
The thing we desire
But can’t have
All the issues that are faced
When we ponder on the concept
The one that just can’t be…

Hope (My Thornless Rose) (Slight Return)
His walls are breaking,
Where they were once strong,
Now its beginning to tear,
But what could save him now?

Along comes the vision,
A Thornless Rose again he sees
But what is it?
Is there a picture?
No, it’s all just in his mind,
But regardless it is there,
The fantasy of making
His dreams come true,
And so he starts the search
For the impossible dream
Of finding his Thornless Rose…

Missing
And as he searches
He longs for what he sees,
All the visions in his mind,
A happiness that
Could be his everyday life,
But what if?
The question that lingers
As he wishes to see
More than a glimpse
Of this dream,

This vision that he wants
To make a reality,
But what if it’s all in his mind?
It doesn’t matter
Because what’s really missing
Is the love in his heart and mind…

Within Reach (Yet Moons Apart)
And as the search continues
He sees that it may all be due to his
Desire to find his truth,
The things that make him keep looking,
The things he is missing,
The things that will make him complete,
Such are the things that he once saw
In his mind but hasn’t actually touched yet,

So what is reality?
Is it everything we see?
Or everything we feel?
None of it makes sense
And yet everything else does,
Why do all the pieces fit together
When it really doesn’t matter?
Simple questions, which answers
Are too far away…
Too deep into the ocean…

Static Silence
As he wonders what she is thinking
What all the silence is about
Is she really there?
Or is it all just gone?
And as he wonders he starts to realize
That his life is all… just about her
But in reality if he really loves her
He must let go and let her find her way
Even if it’s not to him…

The Last Good-Bye
And as he writes his final good-bye,
The end has been written but why?
Why did it end so soon?
Was it me all along?
Or did it all just revolve around
Selfishness, the virus that makes
“Us” human?
Well, whatever the reason,
The reason is done and so is he,
And so he moves on

Sweet Blue Thornless Rose
So in the end
It was all going back to the Blue Rose
The unattainable piece that is not found in nature
The impossible dream that was just that
The effort made to realize this dream
To be able to hold a Sweet Blue Thornless Rose
All just a dream in the end… or was it?
Only you can answer that question now…

It's best to hear the album as you read these passages. In fact I was just listening to the album when I got inspired to write this story... You can check out the album on CD Baby and also on iTunes as well!!

Sweet Blue Thornless Rose now available on Snocap!

2009-05-30T20:47:00.001-04:00

Hello once again... I have had Snocap for a while now but I had it down due to internet issues (mainly from my PC). So now that I have reformatted my PC I went back and was able to upload the entire Sweet Blue Thornless Rose album... Just click on the track that you want and then check out. You can find my Snocap player at either my MySpace profile or on my Website it's simple but if you have any issues you can always e-mail me!

The Idiots Song...

2009-05-27T23:51:00.004-04:00

Today I finished up some things on the song and also got Megan to record the spoken work portion during the solo... So here it is! You can also view this page through the Mp3 section of The Official Fly Kingdom Website online. I will be posting it on my MySpace profile and Twitter tomorrow. But for tonight, this is the exclusive place to hear this song. So please feel free to leave comments about it. Thanks!

An Old New Song...

2009-05-26T13:40:00.000-04:00

I was recently working on a song I wrote almost a year ago... It was written during a period of time when "feelings of love" were in the air. So the theme of the song is about a guy who can't get his feelings out and he ends up alone. Anyways, I wrote this song for a girl that ended up telling me she didn't "like me in that way" so I gave up on the song and put it away...

A few months back I showed it to my friend Megan Lipsky, after she told me how much she loved the song "Static Silence (One Long Pause)" and she said this new song sounded very good. So I decided to resuscitate it... which basically meant that I breathed new life into it by changing it to a different key and making the tempo of the song a little bit faster. I also added a sitar and a piano since the song reminded me of something you would of hear in an old time bar, and thus "The Idiots Song" was reborn. I am still working on some minor things with it. I will also have Megan reciting a poetry-like verse that I made up for the song, in the track during the solo... I will post a rough version soon, so be sure to look for it.

Videos from March's CD Release Party

2009-05-17T15:21:00.001-04:00

Hi, this is Jerry Oviedo, leader and founder of The Fly Kingdom... For those of you that have never heard my music you can go to The Official Fly Kingdom Music Website and listen to samples of the music, see lyrics, get more news and much more...

Recently I have been working with a couple of different backgrounds... in a sense you can say I am kinda like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails since my band is always changing and I collaborate with everybody that wants to make music with me. So that been said, I am currently working with Megan Lipsky and also Alexandra Roffe on some new material (I performed two songs at the Wallflower March 13, 2009... check out some of the sample videos here:

Link to Video URL

Link to Video URL

I will be having another show at the Wallflower on July 18th which will be more electronic and with more guest appearences... more on that later...

Privacy Policy for the Fly Kingdom Newsletter

2009-05-15T13:22:00.001-04:00

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Ho, Ho, Hooah's Holiday Special

2008-12-25T21:57:00.002-05:00

It's been a while and a lot has happened since the last time I posted anything up. The Fly Kingdom's album Sweet Blue Thornless Rose is finally finished and I will be releasing it through CD Baby as well as through some international distributors. Also, I, Jerry Oviedo (A.K.A. The Fly Kingdom) will be appearing at The Hooah Art Space's "Ho, Ho, Hooah's Holiday Special" showcase...

When:
December 26th, 2008 at 6:00PM

Where:
Hooah Art Space
1923 SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho)
Miami, FL 33135
United States

For more info click here.

Below is the official flyer for the event...

The Fly Kingdom will be Featured in Blogswara V!

2008-12-05T13:15:00.000-05:00

I just received word that my song Missing will be part of Blogswara. This is a very prestigious Indian group that makes compilations of the best Indian music around! Or as Joseph Thomas, its founder describes it "Blogswara is an internet music community which acts as a common platform for musicians (a majority of whom are amateurs) to showcase their talent before the world by producing original music and share it over the internet. It is also a free-music movement where visitors/listeners can listen and download the mp3 files free of cost. The songs are released over the Internet and as multi-lingual albums..."

The compilation will be out December 12th so look for it very soon! The link to hear samples (including mine) can be heard at:

http://www.blogswara.in

Thank you!
Jerry

Suicide Live- Repost as Seen on www.myyearbook.com

2008-11-30T12:32:00.000-05:00

I read this headline of the website www.myyearbook.com and I decided that it was something that deserved attention... after all you are reading this because you are on-line...

Suicide Live
Are we desensitized to what we see online?

"Please forgive me all for taking my own life so early. I tried so hard to fight against this strong battle." Those are some of the last words written in a suicide note by 19 year-old Abraham Biggs, who took his own life in front of a live webcam for the entire world to see. The Florida teen was found dead in his father's house on Wednesday afternoon, twelve hours after he made the online declaration that he planned on committing suicide. He died from an overdose of opiates and benzodiazepine, which he was prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder. Throughout his web video, some users egged him on, while others begged him not to do it. In the end, all of Biggs' viewers watched him commit his final act here on earth – but why?

This wouldn't be the first time suicide was broadcast online. Earlier this year, an investigation was launched to determine if the seven young people from Britain who hung themselves did so primarily because they wanted to leave their mark on the social networking sites they belonged to. Last year, a 42 year-old father of two hung himself in front of a live webcam. And then there are the infamous Japanese suicide pacts that openly discuss their intentions in chatrooms. In each of these tragedies, the person planning on committing the act knew full well that they'd be immortalized online, via videos, profiles, forums, and comments from observers. They shared their suicide because they knew they'd have an audience. But isn't it disturbing that we've come to expect shocking events such as these to appear online?

"If it's not recorded or documented then it doesn't even seem worthwhile. For today's generation it might seem, 'What's the point of doing it if everyone isn't going to see it?" said Montana Miller, an assistant professor of popular culture at Bowling Green State University. We've all documented part of our lives online to some extent, whether it's with pictures, blogs, or comments to and from friends. Personally, I'm guilty of brainstorming picture captions well before I upload the contents of my digital camera. You can't deny that it's exciting to show off pictures of your sweet new ride or blog about the awesome party you went to last weekend. But there are certain things in life that do not require an audience, and should be kept private. It just isn't healthy to use the internet to verify our lives off-line.

At the end of Abraham's video when the police entered the room and found his body, some members of his audience wrote "lol" or "hahahah," as if they were watching just another viral video. These people either didn't understand what was happening was real, or were so desensitized by what they saw online that they just didn't care. Suicide is horrible enough in real life, but the fact that complete strangers openly mocked the deceased is a tragedy in its own right. This is the sad result of broadcasting a life event online that should never have happened in the first place. We shouldn't expect the sordid details of someone's personal life to become entertainment for the rest of us, as not everything needs to be posted online. As an audience, we have to take responsibility for all of our actions - both online and off.

Brampton Super Cities Walk for MS

2008-11-18T13:06:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post this because the one that sent me the original E-mail, a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with MS May 2006 after she had her first stroke at the age of 26 while her son was only 6 years old. She sent me a link to make a contribution for the walk on-line if you'd like to pledge online at:

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=922955

Now about the actual event, this is how Rose Monaco (the friend I've been talking about) described it to me:

"On April 15th, I will be taking part in the Brampton Super Cities Walk for MS. I am doing this to raise money for MS research. As many you may, or may not know, Multiple Sclerosis is a complex disease. It is a disease that not many people are aware of, but it is more common than you think. MS attacks may lead to temporary or permanent losses of ability, and this means watching the people we love lose the ability to perform the daily functions that we take for granted (walking, eating, seeing, etc.) As of yet, there is no cure. The Super Cities Walk was organized for people living with MS, friends, family and their communities to raise money to help find a cure. Many people walk for their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. I am walking for myself."

If you would like more information on Multiple Sclerosis, please visit http://www.mssociety.ca/en /information/faq.htm

As for me, I didn't know much about this condition till Rose was diagnosed with it... Since then it has opened my eyes to it... Also, if you want to pledge but not online contact Rose Monaco @ her email address.

Thanks for your support,
Jerry

Hooah's Halloween Show

2008-10-15T21:36:00.000-04:00

This is a re-post of the first official advertisement for the Hooah Art Space happening on Halloween:

Hooah Art Space October 31st!

Hooah Art Space

When: 10-31-2008 @ 6:00 PM

Where: at the American Veteran's Alliance Headquarters
1923 SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho), Miami, Florida 33135
Cost: $1 minimum donation (optional)

Description: Hooah Art Space; the newest venue for artists and musicians on Calle Ocho has been made possible through the combined efforts of the American Veterans Alliance and the Society of Hispanic Veterans. Proceeds from the show go to benefit veterans causes. Come and join the party happening every last Friday of every month. Acts scheduled to appear:

The Fly Kingdom, Scapegoat, & Zealot

And here's the official flyer image for the event...

Hooah Art Space Announcement

2008-10-14T23:35:00.000-04:00

There's been alot going on, actually too much for me to even have time to post...

First off, there's a new venue in town called The Hooah Art Space, which is made possible by The American Veterans' Alliance and The Society of Hispanic Veterans, whose offices are both located at the National Headquarters building at 1923 SW Calle Ocho, which is owned by Waddell McGee.

Mr. McGee formed a group called the American Veterans' Alliance, which is dedicated to supporting veterans and their families' needs. Its focus is to help all veterans in need of anything from shelter to food to any services that most people now take for granted. Mr. McGee is a veteran who also wanted to not only give Miami more art but also more creativity coming from veteran artists. Art and music events are being held there on the last Friday of every month hosted by Rachel Goldberg, with the sole purpose of raising much needed funding to veterans and/or the families of returning war veterans. "Art by Veterans and Artists Directly Supporting Veterans' Causes" is their motto. So all artists are welcome to participate and join in on the fun!

I was there on September 26 (I had the flyer posted on this website) and played my sitar for an hour and a half (in 30 mins sets). Also there was the band Scapegoat. I will be there again on October 31 from 6:00 to 11:00 PM. Now don't quote me on this but on the last event there were free wine and refreshments. So chances are that it will be the same for this event. As soon as I have the new flyer I will post it. In the meantime, you can check out The American Veterans Alliance on MySpace to find out more information on this organization.

Be sure to check out the Hooah Art Space photo gallery online for some more photos of the live musical events.

Here's a scan of last month's flyer sent to me by my friend Troy, who's helping to put these musical events together...

Flyer (Front)

Flyer (Back)

Message from the Coffee House Gypsies

2008-08-24T23:58:00.000-04:00

Message from my friends, The Coffee House Gypsies posted today on MySpace:

please forward this to all your friends who came with you to see us last night

THANK YOU!!!!

....to all of you that came out to see us last night at The Atmosphere Lounge in Las Olas/Ft. Lauderdale;

CHG really does have AMAZING fans, no doubt... wow... you all rocked on those sing-a-longs.

You guys requested Tigerlilly... and so we sang Tigerlilly. You guys requested Linger by the Cranberries...and so we Lingered!

The lighters held up during HEY JUDE were awesome. The crowd singing along on Inside My Head, Bittersweet, and Let's Stay rocked.

Having people in the audience know and sing along with our lyrics is still mind blowing to me I still am awestruck every time I see that, haha! Don't think I'll ever get used to it.

And the jam..... oh baby, the jam..... holy $#!T!!! I LOVE jamming with other bands & artists!!

That energy that we created together as a group last night was just intoxicating and engaging and almost like sex... probably even better than sex, hahahaha... no, but for real, it was :)

And I had never rocked out with a sitar before...where did that come from?? Woah!!

Special props to Jerry Oviedo who showed up with his sitar to jam

And those guys on that brass section playing along with us...WTF???
You guys ROCKED!!!

All of us were just having way too much fun together!

I think Amy Winehouse would have been proud of our "Rehab" rendition with the brass section solos and all, hehehe!

I seriously CANNOT Thank you guys enough...we had SO MUCH fun with all of you last night. You have no idea. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you to Jayson & Kelly of The Atmosphere Lounge for hosting us and letting the show go on till so late and for treating us so well.

It is always touching when a venue shows appreciation for their bands & artists.

We will definitely be telling all the local bands and artist about your place.
You guys were awesome!

EVERYONE:
Look up "Atmosphere Lounge" in our friends list. IF YOU ARE A PERFORMER, THIS IS A PLACE TO GO AND GIG AT!!!! GREAT ambiance, GREAT location, VERY friendly staff EXCELLENT sound system, SUPERB acoustics in the room. YOU GET TO MIX & CONTROL YOUR OWN SOUND!!! WOW!!!!

Situated right under the theaters of Las Olas. People cannot get in or out of the theaters or parking lot without walking within earshot of this place, AND LAS OLAS IS BOOMING AT NIGHT BABY!!! I MEAN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO THAT STREET!!! If you play at Atmosphere Lounge and you sound good people walking by outside will be drawn in to hear you!! And best of all... if you promote your show properly these guys DO know how to value a good act that brings a crowd.

THAT ALONE SAYS A LOT.

CHG GIVES THIS VENUE A RATING SCORE OF: 10 OUT OF 10!!!!!

Go and check them out, book your gigs there.

SUPPORT THESE GUYS!!!! THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU IN RETURN!!

AND YES, CHG will DEFINITELY be playing there again VERY soon Count on it!

Thank you to all the musicians that came out to jam with us... all of you are just amazingly talented and I do hope that I get to cross paths with all of you hopefully again soon...you each humble me with your talent. If any of you ever need backup harmonies or cameo vocals on a project, count me in.

We will be posting photos and hopefully video of last night's open CHG jam/acoustic 3 hr concert ASAP so keep an eye out on YouTube & MySpace for them...

If you took your own pics or videos, please let us know when you post them.

Please post your comments about last night's jam/concert to: iTunes, Myspace... or any one of the other CHG sites, we LOVE the feedback!!!

We also hope that all of you will tell all of your friends about us and about the magic that you witnessed happen last night. THAT IS WHAT A CHG JAM IS ALL ABOUT, BABY!!!

Thank you to the PRETTY ON PAPER band for lending us Carmen for the night once again (she is undoubtedly a diva powerhouse and we love her). And as always, she was stellar!

Thank you to both Carole & Jenny who were standing up and dancing...

Thank you to Tony for jamming along on his guitar. Tony: I hope that all your college friends enjoyed the show, thank you bringing them and extend our hugz to them for us!

Mrs. Segovia: it is always a pleasure to have you at a show... And yes, I saw you dancing too, hehehe ;-)

My Doublemint Twins: Valerie & Liz...I am so sorry for all the sweaty hugs last night I was sweating buckets!!! Hehehe... I love ya!

Thank you to the sexy and sultry Margaux Penichet and her "Acoustic Experience" band... YOU ALL ROCKED!!!

And my apologies to Margaux's grandmother (who came up to me during the show and expressed that she was not happy with me because I convinced Margaux to get a tattoo for the concert) Hahahaha!!! ROFL!!! Sorry abuelita!! (she was so ADORABLE!)

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you to all our amazing fans!!!

Jenny, Marissa, my lady from the mountains, Hector, Melissa, Randy, Frank, JC and all of you that support us at every show

WE
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

We shall see you all on October 4th at the COLOSSAL Music Festival in Tobacco Road.

And we are in the process of arranging another acoustic concert/open jam like the one we had last night at The Luna Star Cafe in North Miami with The South FL Folk Club. So stay tuned to our MySpace page for details on that.

'til the next one...

Bear hugz & ass slaps all around

Albert Damian Mata
tHe mAd hAtTeR (with no hat last night)
http://www.myspace.com/CoffeeHouseGypsies

rock a little

-------------------------------------------------

COFFEE HOUSE GYPSIES
play the Miami COLOSSAL Music Festival

at....
Tobacco Road
626 South Miami Avenue

Saturday, October 4th
on the 2nd floor stage of Tobacco Road

Show starts at 9:30 ~ don't be late, if you might miss it, aim for 9:15 because parking will fill up fast!

$10 cover charge at the door
Advanced tickets available for $7 each in 2 weeks
Email: CoffeeHouseGypsies@GMail.com
to reserve your tickets today!!!

5 CHG friends on MySpace will again be winning free tickets to come see us on October 4th, so keep checking our bulletins as we will soon start randomly pulling names out of a hat.

...see you on the 4th!!!

http://www.myspace.com/CoffeeHouseGypsies

The Mechanical Fly Kingdom?

2008-08-07T23:19:00.000-04:00

I have been working on many projects lately, and I finally got around to posting the news about it. I just finished my first Underground Surgeons Studio project. I arranged and recorded a Spanish cover of a Kutless song called "Promesa de la Vida" (Promise of a Lifetime)... I will post that soon under the TAB "Services" which I am still working on...

I have also decided to split the band up into two bands... I recently posted a statement (bulletin) on MySpace. The following message was that statement:

I have thought about this for weeks and it's time I made a public statement in regards to it...

I am splitting the band into two phases: the new The Fly Kingdom will be for the sitar music, which is the step I took... part of the natural evolution of the band's ever changing style... The old, but still good style of The fly Kingdom will be now under the band name "The Mechanical Khrist" I have had much debate over this since I don't want to disappoint the older fans, but I have evolved and left what I now call the "Mechanical Khrist" sound behind.

I am, however, working on some new material for the next "Mechanical Khrist" Album entitled "A Study into the Mind of the Average Human Being." I will be bouncing back and forth between projects but i have most of the material for it done, it's just recording it. So I will announce when I will release the tracks, which will be on Snocap.

--Jerry

There's going to be more changes which I will post soon...

New Set List for the Upcoming Super Summer Jam Event

2008-06-29T22:20:00.000-04:00

I've been working on more material for the set that I will be playing at The Super Summer Jam happening at Tobacco Road, July 11th... I have completed two songs so far and have more on the way. The first track is called "Sweet Blue Thornless Rose," and the second track is called "Served Kold." You check them out at The Fly Kingdom Music profile on MySpace.

You can also get these new tracks and more at Snocap.com.

Sweet Blue Thornless Rose and More...

2008-06-29T11:43:00.000-04:00

Well it's been quite a ride for the past month or so... I've been writing new music that started as just mere "Jams" on the sitar. Although they were good, they just didn't hit the spot. I then went on to writing some new music for the album A Study into the Mind of the Average Human Being. Well, after writing a couple of songs, some of which you can find here and at www.the-fly-kingdom.com, I then went back to my Sitar to try to find new ways to evolve my musical style. A friend had suggested to add other elements to the songs, including chords and make it more structured. So I listened and what came out of those ideas were "Sweet Blue Thornless Rose" and "Served Kold". There are more tunes in the works, including a new version of "Blues Raga" (the original is found on How to Write a Satanic Song, released in 2006), and a new spin on an old Jazz tune called "The Saints go Marching In..." So keep checking my website's MP3 section for those latest new updates... Also, I just uploaded "Sweet Blue Thornless Rose", "Served Kold" and from A Study into the Mind of the Average Human Being I've uploaded a tune called "H.A.T.E." and another track entitled "The Idiots Song" on Snocap...

And don't forget, I'll be playing my Sitar at The Super Summer Jam happening at Tobacco Road July 11th!!!

Current mood: Accomplished
Category: Music

Super Summer Jam Announcement, Part II

2008-06-25T20:13:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are the flyers for the event...

The Official Event Flyer (Front)

The Official Event Flyer (Back)

P.S. Did you notice the extra "E" at the end of my act's name? Pretty crazy, huh?

A Study into the Mind of the Average Human Being

2008-06-20T23:50:00.000-04:00

As I have started to continue work on this new project entitled A Study into the Mind of the Average Human Being I have come up with more material than I thought possible... most of it was created just this week alone! I have two new piano songs, one kinda like Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and the other; the closest I can think of is Cold Play's "Clocks", but that's just in the rhythm itself---well, sorta. I have also experimented with the voice, but unlike as it's been in the past, it's not using "characters" but mere voice types. Again, you'll have to hear it... It's like putting Andrea Bocelli, the singer of Gipsy Kings, Brian Setzer, and more, all in one person...

Yeah, like I said; You just have to hear it...!

Set List for Super Summer Jam '08

2008-06-15T00:45:00.000-04:00

I have started to write the tunes that will officially be part of my set at the Super Summer Jam which will take place on July 11th, 2008 @ Tobacco Road. Any other members which will join me on stage are still TBA...but the first tune "Longing", filled with thoughts of longing and also happiness will be available at http://www.the-fly-kingdom.com. I will post some, if not all of the tunes that I will play very soon.

'Til then the longing for the next tune will begin...

Super Summer Jam Announcement

2008-06-13T22:40:00.000-04:00

The Super Summer Jam is gonna be here soon! I signed up and will be playing my sitar yet again. I will be composing some new tunes, based on some of the older riffs I have used in the past, including the ones I played at the Cultura Fest 2008.

So remember, write it down, THE SUPER SUMMER JAM IS JULY 11TH, 2008 @ TOBACCO ROAD!!! I will post flyers as they become available to me...and I will also post songs as I write them. Oh, did I mention tha I do plan on having a couple of percussionists for this event? Yes, that's right, I wanted to make it a more moving experience, since I was able to plug in the sitar to the wah pedal!

So brace yourself, 'cuz this one's gonna be BIG!

Old Ideas, New Thoughts

2008-06-06T14:05:00.000-04:00

This is part of the thoughts I had for my next big project entitled A Study Into the Mind of the Average Human Being--- I know it's a long title but what can I say? I was inspired! I will post another one soon...

The things that went beyond my understanding
Were the things I never tried to explain
For it was never my place to say why things happened
But don't misunderstand me, I never gave up
I just merely saw things for what they were
To live with what I had
But things don't always pan out the way you want
And I took a left on the fork in the road
But I didn't know it would lead to a dead end
Which is why these words were written to begin with
So don't make me go back, try to explain
For you have All the answers you need
In the palm of your hand
So just keep living and let me be
For you have more than what you say and claim
But as long as you keep going this way
You'll never see that light
And the fork in the road will always
Lead to that dead end
The one you constructed
The one your subconscious wanted
All because you wanted to avoid
The things you always had in mind
And yet you never thought you could afford
So take the time and see exactly what in front
Before you see your time go by...

Mic + Sitar = "Oblivion"

2008-06-02T22:46:00.000-04:00

As I had promised before, I just got a mic for the sitar... and now the shit has really hit the fan! I used it on an experimental recording entitled "Oblivion" which I will post up soon. I used my distortion box and ran it with a wah pedal and then boosted the signal with an additional volume pedal...

Stay tuned for any further developments...

And now...a Special Message from Queen of the Scene & The Fly Kingdom

2008-06-01T20:15:00.000-04:00

This was Bullentin Posted by Queen of the Scene on MySpace.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

I wanted to thank all the bands, artists & vendors that were a part of CULTURA. This was a really beautiful night of art & music from all different cultures. Miami is THE place for cultural diversity and last night was proof. This was more than just a show! The Artists & Vendors make this a unique experience. The bands were all great, despite a little rain and some small technical difficulties, everything still pulled together and it was magnificent!

I would like to thank all the employee's of Tobacco Road, I know it was a hectic night but you kept everyone happy (AKA: drunk!) and provided excellent service! Cris, Danny, Sean, Cosmo, Camillo- Thank you guys SO MUCH.

None of it would have possible without your help!

OSKI & Alejandro, Thank you so much for including me in this event.

It really is an honor to be asked to do this, something I love doing and you know I will be there for anything either of you need me for in the future!

All of you who came out know what an awesome show it was. For those of you who missed it, well, I'm sure you're kicking your own ass right now so i wont rub it in any more.

But you can check out the picture's posted in the Queen Of The Scene Gallery.

Be there next time!

=====================================================================================
Now's my turn!... I'd like to thank Camilo from Bully Pussy, Karolina Salas, and Cindy Roberts for all your efforts to make this a wonderful show both before and after...

It was a great experience and I can't wait 'til the next time... But for those of you that were there, I'll be sure to have a sitar mic next time!

The Matador is Dead!

2008-05-30T15:43:00.002-04:00

Today I came home, logged onto My Space and got some very disturbing news... THE MATADOR IS DEAD!

This is what I read on the post...

Here's a message i got from friends of Matador, audio Mystic Promotions...

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Audio Mystic Promotions
Date: Aug 30, 2008 9:23 AM

ANOTHER venue has been shut down, Matador.

WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! Let's plan something big, something that's gunna get our message through. If all of us promoters work together we can make something big happen.

Lets plan a BIG/HUGE event, some sort of fund raiser with a specific goal. A huge all day event at a BIG place, we can advertise like crazy and get EVERYONE to help out to make the live music scene a better place.

Anyone that's willing to do this can put in their two cents to help come up with this big idea, I'm sure there are PLENTY OF US in favor of this.

PLEASE REPLY IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

Enough DJs! There's plenty of that! We need a scene!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll post more news as I get it...

Tickets to Cultura Fest are now Available, Part II

2008-05-28T02:00:00.000-04:00

I just finished my latest CD Dose M RX. It will contain a collection of sitar pieces, once again... Although, this time there are no guest appearances, and other than the style, there are no apparent differences. At least to the Western listener, anyways! Now, where can you get copies? Well, I will be selling both Dose M RX as well as My Medz (RAW Version) this Friday May 30th at my show...

Place: Tobacco Road (Downstairs Stage)

As I mentioned before, I will be selling tickets to the festival. They are priced at $10 and each CD goes for $5 a piece.

Tickets to Cultura Fest are now Available, Part I

2008-05-28T01:38:00.001-04:00

Want to go to Cultura Fest and see bands like The Fly Kingdom, Karolina Salas, Bully Pussy and more?

Get your tickets now! E-mail The Fly Kingdom at:

http://www.myspace.com/theflykingdom

or at this email address.

Also, be sure check out the full interview posted earlier by clicking here.

"Unofficial" Interview

2008-05-27T01:23:00.001-04:00

The following was an interview where Jerry A.K.A. The Fly Kingdom, discusses what led him to start playing the sitar and how it has influenced his music…

So Jerry, why the sitar?

Jerry: I took interest in the sitar a few years back (i.e. 2000) when I purchased a CD of a sitarist by the name of Ravi Shankar… Little did I know that I what I was purchasing was gold in the form of music… Years later I decided that I had heard enough and wanted to purchase a sitar… I really didn’t care about the fact that I wasn’t studying the classical way… I had just one teacher, Ravi Shankar… His music was enough to inspire me to teach myself.

I have heard the CD’s you released under the name of The Fly Kingdom but none sound like “My Medz”… Why did you decide to make a CD of only sitar pieces?

Jerry: Actually every Fly Kingdom CD is different… the first, The Mechanikal Khrist was my view of Christianity as I saw the religion at the time. The music was pretty explicit and to the point in every aspect as could be said about my second CD How to write a Satanic Song. But style-wise, those were two very different CD’s...and the same could be said about my third CD A Small Lesson in Karma. All of the CD’s I’ve released had the intension on being a direct reflection of me, including the musical style. My Medz was recorded in like about a week. I would get home from work and just turn the recorder and start to play, none of it was edited...it was completely live and "Raw" which is why the full title is My Medz (RAW Version). So I didn’t really think about releasing it 'til I had heard the whole CD. And that’s how I make music. I care about what I like---whether it makes anything passed that is none of my concern…

So you don’t really care for making it big by getting signed and touring all over the world?

Jerry: I would like to tour and play all over. However, I don’t believe that my personal taste should matter. There’s a flavor for everyone out there. Not only that but also, with how the world is right now, connected via the internet, so long as you can upload your music to the internet and have a page to advertise where you will be playing, you really don’t need a middle man. The thought of having a record deal to make it out there is old thinking. Anyone with enough potential can make it...all they need is drive.

You sound like you really have researched this… any references to back this up?

Jerry: Well, I’ll start with the old timers first... when Prince was forced to become a symbol due to the legal battles he had with his label, Prince sold his music through the internet. As far I know he was the first to do it, but despite that he returned to the old fashioned way of selling music... then Trent Reznor A.K.A. NIN broke ties with Nothing records and he too, started selling his music on the internet. However before that happened, a new band, the Artic Monkeys did something I had never seen or heard of before---they recorded their album, made enough copies and sold it individually, without the use of a record label! They were even on Comcast On Demand! The fact that they did that really inspired me. But really, it’s a different time...it’s come to the point that people need to wake up before more musicians get taken advantage of by Record labels and managers.

Going back on something, you didn’t mention any musicians when talking about any of the albums... did you record everything yourself?

Jerry: I think my MySpace profile says it all under the band members section...

(i.e. Jerry Oviedo --- Everything but drums, which are samples edited by me.)

So you play guitar, bass, piano, sitar, and you sing?

Jerry: That is correct… I also play the banjo and soon to come the mandolin, the Tres, the Cuatro and Charrango… And when my financial situation allows, the vichitra veena (the eastern version of the lap steel guitar) as well as a lap steel guitar (the one that looks like a table)…

So how did you find the time to have so many lessons?

Jerry: I didn’t... I taught all these instruments to myself (well, except the ones I mentioned as “soon to come”) The only one that I actually learned with a professional was singing. Yeah, it sounds weird, especially if you have heard my CD’s, but I have a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance and my instrument is the Voice...Classical style to be exact! I didn’t pursue it further because it was too fake for my taste! [laughs] I had to do exactly as I was told...[sarcastically] I am too creative and stubborn to do something like that! [laughs] So I quit but not before taking from a vast source of knowledge that I passed on to my students… Did I mention I teach too?

Ok, so let me get this straight, you say you teach but only have formal training in one instrument, the voice... How’s that possible?

Jerry: Well, I teach at the Kendall Conservatory of Music, not at a middle or high school… I teach guitar, bass, piano, voice and banjo there. All that my boss cares about is that I teach the correct technique, which is something I researched thoroughly in every case (instrument). In fact, this is something I’ve never really mentioned before, but my grandfather was a gypsy and he was an excellent guitarist… From that side of the family my uncle is too. But neither one decided to pursue music other than to coarse the ladies! [laughs]. So in reality I just use what I have learned in the past in terms of technique, which, believe it or not has to do a lot with the body just as Karate and Yoga do! People don’t realize that so long as you know where to turn the wrist and bend the fingers, you too can teach yourself pretty much any instrument! [sarcastically] Cuz you know what they say: Practice makes perfect!!! [laughs].

So, one last question… When will be playing next?

Jerry: Well, I’ll be playing this Friday at 11:00 in the Tobacco Road Down Stairs Stage… I will be playing my sitar, possibly my guitar too… I don’t know, I’ll take it as it comes… this will be a very improv. show.

So Rememeber, check out Jerry Oviedo A.K.A. The Fly Kingdom at 11:00 in the Tobacco Road Downstairs Stage.

Cultura Festival Announcement

2008-05-03T22:24:00.001-04:00

I was informed last week that I will be performing at The Cultura Fest @ Tobacco Road on May 30th. I still don't know what I will play but I will be bringing my Sitar, and my acoustic. The rest is up for grabs. So if you like Jaming to eastern music then come enjoy my set and maybe you could get up and play a tune or two with me...

Shows @ the Grape are No More...

2008-04-04T23:53:00.000-04:00

A lot has happened since my last post... I am no longer playing at The Grape since the open mic nights are no more! I know, I only did two shows before it died but oh well, 'tis the life of the musician! Anyways, I've been working with Megan and it looks like Live Suicide is picking up speed again, even if it's mainly just a duo. We're right in the middle of working on our latest "Selfish Soul" which by the standard of just about everything I have done with it; has the potential to become a classic. I will post more as it becomes available...

Upcoming Show @ the Grape on 2/18/08

2008-02-16T22:57:00.000-05:00

I will be performing again @ The Grape this Monday (the 18th of February, 2008) @ about 10 P.M., playing my Sitar, answering questions about the instrument, its technique and also Eastern Theory. I will also be playing Flamenco with my acoustic. There will also be other performers out doing their thing I don't know who exactly since this is supposed to be just an Open Mic Night and all, but either way, I welcome anyone interested in coming out to hear me or to jam...especially percussionists that can jam along with my Sitar, so come out and enjoy playing and hearing music @ The Grape!

Open Mic Nights @ the Grape!

2008-02-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

The Fly Kingdom has decided to come out of it's shell for an acoustic performance... This will be an improvised performance of the latest CD "My Medz (RAW Version)" so come out and support! What's that you say? You haven't heard this yet? Well, then simply go to the official My Medz (RAW Version) page and hear some samples! Anyways, the following is the original announcement for this event:

Open Mic Night Mondays at the Grape! Acoustic musicians/singers/spoken word artists welcome. Every Monday night at the grape at: Performers receive free glass of wine! Over 120 to choose from!

The Grape at Village of Merrick Park
360 San Lorenzo Avenue, Suite 1500
Coral Gables, Florida 33146
305.444.WINE (9463)
merrickpark@yourgrape.com

I will be doing this for a couple of weeks ('til I feel I want to stop!), each time
trying to out do myself...

Live Suicide is Back!

2008-02-03T22:10:00.000-05:00

There's A LOT of shit happening lately so I'll start from the beginning... First of all, just in case you've been hiding under a rock (or just haven't checked out my blogs on My Space or news on this website) LIVE SUICIDE IS BACK! However, due to differences in musical direction (and the fact that her musical independence from the group was LOOOOONG overdue). Angie Wong will not be part of the group---instead I will be accompanied by singer/pianist Megan Lipsky (check out her band We Might As Well and soon to come Nabedi, formerly of A.K.A. and Celow from The Kut. I have talked with a couple of other musicians but they have yet to confirm. So, with this rather unexpected comeback I have established some new rulez, which are as follows:

1- This is now going to be (with your support of course!) the MOTHER OF ALL SIDE BANDS! So members are allowed to come and go as they please, so long as Live Suicide can keep performing the songs that were written as a band (NO EGOS PLEASE!). And that would include any song that we (Live Suicide) LEARN AS WELL AS PERFORM AS A BAND. So if you don't want anyone but you to play the song, DON'T BRING IT UP... AND DON'T EVEN MENTION THE SONG! This does not mean that the ownership of the song is Live Suicide's, it's simply just the right to perform it live. Of course, if the member brings in a song they want to play "solo" (by themselves) then once they leave the band, the same goes for the song...

2- In regards to being in the band, if the band member feels he is not meshing with the rest of the group then they can just say "Hey look, this isn't working" and walk away Scott free! Believe me, the last thing I want is drama... IN FACT THE MOMENT I SEE THAT THE MEMBERS ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT RAGGING ON ONE ANOTHER THAN ACTUALLY PLAYING, THIS PROJECT IS DONE! I started the band to play music, not to play a character in a soap opera, thank you...

3- The songs written by the band are to have fun and get out there and play so I don't wanna rehearse for forever. As soon as we have 6 or 7 songs we will be looking for a venue to play at!

4- The amount of members that the band will have will come and go so, provided everything goes as planned, then you; the fans will see gigs with 3 members as well 17 members (that is, provided we can all fit on a small stage! LOL!!!). What this means for the members is that I want musicians that can easily adapt, you know? We'll have, at times, a drummer, sometimes 2 percussionists or more, and yet at other times we'll work with beats and laptops to provide the backing rhythm. The same will go for guitarists, bassists, etc... So yes, there will even be different versions of the same song. For the musicians this will keep things interesting (that is; it will keep them on their feet!) and the fans as well, in order to give them a taste of these live "Re-mixes."

I think that keeping the band together with these rules will keep things more creative and less dramatic. Trust me, I don't wanna be a legal asshole, but I WANNA BE UPFRONT AND HONEST SO THERE ARE NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS AT THE END... And if you agree with everything I said and have no problems with "the rulez" then feel free to contact me @ Live Suicide's MySpace page A.S.A.P.---for I wanna get this going!

Super-Side Live Suicide Band? Anyone...?

2007-12-06T00:15:00.001-05:00

Today as I was walking to work an idea hit me---I think that Live Suicide should come back as a "Super Side-Band." Okay, for all of you that are probably thinking "What The Fuck????" here's what I mean... A super-side band is a band made up of different artists/musicians from other bands. It's nothing serious, so if someone were to leave, they won't get stoned to death (believe me, I've felt like that in some of the bands I've been in!) And on the basic rule here is that "you are in this kind of band 'til you feel that it's not working anymore"... Which means that a song later you are gone, or it could mean that 30 albums later (on down the musical road and all) you'll be gone. There is no limit to how many people can join me in this type of project, just as long as they can all work together and have fun making music. So, the question here is...are there really people out there who think like me? Or should I commit myself to a mental institution while I am still ahead? Well, I would think that the latter is not the correct answer either, but I need musicians. I talked to Megan Lipsky (who is also performing at Femme Fest on December 15th at Tobacco Road, by the way...) and she agreed, so I have one person, at least! Anyone else? Message me here if you are interested...

Femme Fest Lineup, Part XV

2007-11-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

Femme Fest Lineup, Part XIV

2007-11-23T23:30:00.000-05:00

Art By Eva Rodriguez

*Art By Sheri Friedman

DJ Lady Anime spinning the best in
Classic & Modern Chick Music!

Live Tattooing by *LuLu*

Poi Fire Spinning By *LuLu*

Freshly Squeezed Massage Therapy

Yoga & AcroYoga Performance by SYNERGY

*Christmas TOY & FOOD Drive*

There will be 2 boxes at the entrance
of FEMME FEST to drop off
Toy & Food Donations
for those that are
less fortunate.

*Activists & Guest Speakers*

*OPEN JAM DRUM CIRCLE- MidNight!*

Led by members of the band "SHE SAID"

(B.Y.O.D. and/or B.Y.O.P.)
Bring your Drums & other Percussion
Instruments and Join In!

STILL MORE TO COME...!

Femme Fest Lineup, Part XIII

2007-11-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

The Witches Garden

Bringing You A Wide Variety Of Tools For Spirituality And
Specializing In Traditionally Hand Rolled Incense From India,
Custom Amulets, Magikal Herbs, Psychic Readings,
Imported Crystals Tapestries & Altar Cloths, Deity Prints,
Handmade Dream Catchers By Zelies Creations
And Many More...

*Earth Spore - Mushrooms & Beads*

*75Rabbit -Handmade Clothing For Your Unique Style*

*Lavazzon Gallery and Design - Wearable Art*

*TAGUA - Environmentally Sustainable, Fair Trade Jewelry*

Paintings, Photography &
Painted Boxes by Emily

The Lady Of The Monkey Village
Fine Art, Photography, Digital Works,
plus Monkey Village Merchandise

Live Painting by Arleen M. Davila

Live Painting & Silent Auction
(For Charity) by Lady Zairee

Femme Fest Lineup, Part XII

2007-11-23T22:30:00.000-05:00

VENDORS, ARTISTS & OTHER PERFORMANCES:

Purses, Buttons & Pins

LUBCZANSKA - PORCELAIN
UNDERGROUND - ACCESSORIES

Wild Apothecary - Natural Skin Care

Local & Original Hand Printed T-Shirts

- Tote Bags, Notebooks, Stuffed Beings, and Stuff for your Head -

- Atena Komar of MysticalFlorida.com-
Fairy Arts, Crafts, Jewelry and Intuitive Readings

Idia - Bags, Slings and Other Things
Handmade at Home with Love

Handmade Women & Children's Clothing & Accessories

Eye Candy Cosmetics

Femme Fest Lineup, Part XI

2007-11-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Addax

http://www.myspace.com/addax

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 3:00 P.M.

What can you say about a local band from Miami, FL? Apparently, quite a bit – in an age where most up-and-coming bands choose to relegate their musical fate solely to internet sites, the band Addax will do no such thing. Beginning in 2003, Addax, comprised of vocalist Laura Schweitzer, bassist Eddy Davis, guitarists Omar Williams and Josh Rohe, and drummer Louis Gonzales, decided early on that passivity was not an option. Blending elements of hard rock, impassioned and expansive singer / songwriter vocals, and a lock-step groove rhythm section, Addax has taken their message to the people. With relatively few options in South Florida specifically, the band has made it their mission to become something of local "road dogs" - playing every venue, every time, every way possible, making them a fan favorite and distinguishing the group among the masses. Addax boasts an impressive resume of venues including Churchill's Hideaway – an infamous downtown Miami venue known for giving early breaks to such acts as Marilyn Manson, Iron and Wine, and Nonpoint. Addax has also taken the stage at South Beach hot spots like Señor Frogs and the Purdy Lounge, and in Downtown Miami venues like Tobacco Road and The Wallflower Gallery. Much like a prize fighter, Addax has the blood, bruises, and belts to prove their mettle.

The band ranked 1st in a 2006 battle of the bands at the South Florida venue Studio A, ranked 2nd place in the 2005 Emergenza competition, and earned an honorable mention in the 2006 Billboard Magazine World Songwriting contest for their song "Puzzle". Not to be relegated to the live stage and award circuit alone, their exposure allowed them significant rotation with local college radio. University of Miami, Florida International University and Nova Southeastern have all featured the band during prime hours. These outlets provided a source to the general public beyond the bar and club scene for their initial three song demo, and later, a 2005 EP titled Missoutonme. Despite the demands of college, work, and personal relationships, of which, like all great singers, Schweitzer draws from frequently, Addax makes frequent attempts to branch out beyond the realm of South Florida. Most recently, the band played dates in downtown New York and Greenwich Village hot spots such as Acme Underground and The Lion's Den.

In 2006 the band started recording their full length debut album with then guitarist Jesse Fishman. Rohe, who replaced Fishman in early 2006, took over the additional production duties. The album, entitled Be The Victim, shrieks of the strong rock hooks, powerful pop ballads, and drum and bass oriented grooves Addax has made a name with. Songs like "Take This and Remember" blare with bombastic notions of angst and personal empowerment led over grooves and rhythms only a tight-knit band such as Addax could execute without being coy. Much like their live events, Addax has kept it "all in the family" with Be The Victim, recording it partially with Matt LaPlant whose credits include Nonpoint, SikTH, and reggae-punk-metal outfit Skindred at Bieler Brothers recording studio in Pompano Beach, Florida. Mixing work was executed by Patrick Mcgee, noted for his work with Timbaland, Missy Elliot, and LL Cool J among others. Of the recording, which is to be released independently in the fall of 2007, Schweitzer commented "it's a culmination of the beginnings of Addax...a lot of emotion and love by many, many people went into the making of the album and I just know that it will shine through."

=====================================================================================
Menchu

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 3:00 P.M.

Carmenchu Kroepil, (Menchu-for short), has always called Miami home. Wanting to satisfy a need for adventure from the familiarity of the tropics, she left in 1999 for several years following her graduation from UM. Some of her travels have taken her to New York for three years living in Brooklyn while working in midtown, Arizona for a year at the Conservatory of Recording, and yet another in the city of Chicago where she could assist in a studio while exploring the local music, comedy, and theater scenes. Returning to the south earlier this year has both allowed her to regroup with cherished musical ties from the past, create new ones, and take the time to develop her writing. During the day she teaches as a substitute educator for grades 7-12th. In the evening she designs tee shirts for her own company, while finding time to work on tunes. Musical influences include classical, electronic ambient groups, jazz guitarists, blues singers, funk drummers, piano, vox, guitar, and all experimentalists.

=====================================================================================
MuteVox

http://www.myspace.com/MuteVox

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 2 A.M.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part X

2007-11-23T21:35:00.000-05:00

Rayko/KRB

http://www.RaykoKRB.com

http://www.myspace.com/RaykoKRB

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 4:00 P.M.

After the triumphant releases of the Six EP and the Up Chuk Skat Digital Single, Rayko/KRB has launched The RockStar Poor LP. This new album promises to go for the throat of mainstream radio, while retaining the hybrid hip-hop-pop-rock sound that garnered Rayko the "Readers' Choice/Best Hip-Hop Vocalist" Award in the New Times. The guitar licks will still fly, but this time the beats are heavier, relying more on retro drum machines, fat bass lines, and soaring guest vocalists.

The RockStar Poor LP features a wide range of sonic moods, all intertwined in an album-wide story arc. The story evolves through the record, and re-invents the timeless tale of making a pact with the devil Herself. The varied chapters include the emotive ballad "Simple Love Song", which delivers a heartfelt and very personal three and half minutes of Rayko. "Simple Love Song" has already placed 2 on The PMC Top Ten, with an audience of over 200,000 listeners. Album stand-out "Identity" best explains the many voices living in disharmony inside Rayko's head, and features a Pink Floyd-style children's choir over a sizzling hip-hop track. Rayko hits the clubs with "RockStar Poor", a song that deals with the realities of being an independent musician, and "Take It Easy", an anthem to end all anthems. The story culminates with "Better Daze", a track that speaks of a whimsical past, and hopes for a better tomorrow.

C.C. Chapman of Accident Hash, has played nearly all of Rayko/KRB's songs on Sirius Satellite Radio. After listening to the new album C.C. concluded, "Rayko has taken the concept of hip-hop, kicked it down the alley, beat it to a pulp, gave it a drink and let it back into the club with brand new respect." Colin Meeks from IndieLaunchPad.com wrapped up his review with the following: "Eminently funky, with beats that you'd be hard pushed not to move to, this is an album that has all the Rayko hallmarks, but here there is a stronger sense of bravado. Actually, maybe bravado isn't the right term, I think maybe he's just grown a bigger set of balls. God help us if they get any bigger." Those balls are on full display every time Rayko takes the stage with the new KRB. In the past year he has headlined SunFest in West Palm Beach, and has opened for Fiona Apple, Omarion, and yes...Michael Bolton.

Fans around the world can connect with Rayko by watching The Chronic-Ills, Rayko's own vidblog at http://www.myspace.com/raykokrb, and they can hit him up on http://www.raykokrb.com All of Rayko's music is now available for download on iTunes.

The RockStar Poor LP brings together all of Rayko's personal influences, fusing the worlds of hip-hop, and pop rock effortlessly. Rayko and the KRB dishes out hook after soaring hook, ultra catchy tunes, and lyrics that are at once witty and introspective. The last track on the album is the last chapter in the story, and invites the fans to decide for themselves Rayko's fate.

=====================================================================================
Takis

http://www.TakisMusic.com

http://www.Myspace.com/TakisDotCom

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 4:00 P.M.

Take one look at Takis, and you'll swear you've seen her before. Take one listen, and you'll never forget her.

If her striking figure seems familiar it might be because Takis has been a performing artist since early childhood. In both New York, and Miami, Takis has excelled in musical theater, dance, acting, and the visual arts. All her early training culminated in a scholarship to Miami's New World College of Fine Arts, and award winning performances in New York's Harlem Theater.

Based on the success of her musical theater projects, Takis became a talk show host for WPLG's By Kids For Kids, where she added "on-air-personality" to her ever-growing list of accomplishments. Her on-screen presence matched with her transcendent voice was unstoppable as Takis crooned her way to win Miami's Star Search competition.

South Florida record producers immediately took notice, and Takis began working on projects for Sony, Sony Latin, and MP Records. Her voice was featured on projects for Azul Azul, Jon B, T'Nice, Caribbean Funk, and Maverick recording artist Jorge Moreno. She became a fixture on AT Molina's productions, and her work ethic and talent continued to develop.

Following her tenure as a professional studio singer, Takis felt it was time to focus all her skills on her own project. She first reached out to long time friends PM Dawn for guidance and support, and in 2007 she was signed as an artist to BinaryStar Music. Takis is currently in the studio developing songs for her upcoming EP. Her first single from that EP, "I Am Woman", was leaked to local clubs, where it is already on heavy rotation.

If asked, an unassuming Takis will tell you that her love of music mainly comes from her grandmother. An aspiring Afro-Cuban singer, her grandmother introduced her to the likes of Latin legends Beny Moré, and La Lupe. Perhaps you may still hear the echoes of their amazing voices in Takis' own instrument. But her singing was also influenced by Billie Holiday, PM Dawn, and The Roots. In today's music scene Takis enjoys the artistry of Mary J. Blidge, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Kelly Clarkson, Joss Stone, James Taylor, and Amy Winehouse.

Takis' exceptional joy ride in the music industry is about to be re-launched. Though it may seem that you've known her for years, get ready to get to know Takis all over again. Let her voice take you in, let her music turn you out, and her talent turn you on.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part IX

2007-11-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

Three In One

http://www.myspace.com/threeinoneband

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 5:30 P.M.

Reyna - Vocals

Iggy - Guitars

David - Drums

Rigo - Bass

Three In One is a emerging female fronted Hard Rock band based out of Miami, FL. Three In One is known for engaging the crowd with their take on hard rock, giving nothing less than a raw, passionate, unforgettable, energetic performance at every one of their shows. they have had the chance at venues across South Florida. Together Three In One is formed. WELCOME TO THE ROCK SHOW!

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Vessel

http://www.myspace.com/vesselofficial

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 1:00 A.M.

Marilyn - Vocals

Andrew - Drums

Chris - Guitar

Vessel is an experimental rock band based in Miami, Florida. We have opened up for national acts, such as Look What I Did from Combat Records and Aghora from Season of Mist Records. We have also been featured in Outburn Magazine (Spring 2006). Our Ontology E.P. has a variety of songs for listeners to connect with; from ambient to metal, from spiritual to political. Our influences include, but are not limited to: Bjork, A Perfect Circle, Sikth, Pantera, Jeff Buckley, Rush, and Porcupine Tree. We seek to open the minds of listeners worldwide.

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Zombies! Organize!!

http://www.myspace.com/zombiesorganize

http://www.zombiesorganize.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 9:00 P.M.

Mary Magdalen

Lil' Bobby Deadie

Laura Licious

Z!O!! has been playing shows for just over a year now. we love zombies, fake blood, and politics. We play pop music driven by laptop beats, guitar, rap, and keytar.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part VIII

2007-11-23T21:20:00.000-05:00

Rythmic Moon

http://www.myspace.com/fiomusic

music@fiorellapodesta.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 8:00 P.M.

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Steph Taylor

http://www.stephtaylor.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 5:30 P.M.

Steph Taylor- Piano/Vocals

Nabedi Osorio- Drums

Steph Taylor has been described as a musical poet, creating a complete sensory experience through sound. There is no real way to pigeonhole this multi-instrumental artist, with a uniquely percussive approach to piano complimented by a flirtatious guitar style. Her smoky soulful voice lends itself to the emotional quality of her music. And while her presence is undeniably striking, her humility tends to match her humanity when she is on a stage. Born in North Miami Beach, this 24-year-old Florida native has been playing to a dedicated fan base since she was 16, selling out shows from Miami to Los Angeles. After spending two years studying English at the University of Florida, Steph packed her bags and moved to Boston, MA to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She spent most of her time honing her songwriting skills while playing numerous venues throughout Boston.

Her 2003 debut album For Me has been hailed by The Independent Florida Alligator as "...a roller coaster of keyboard and guitar that engages the mind and the heart. She causes the keyboard to come alive..." Taylor’s new album Between Ground and Sky exhibits a more comprehensive understanding of herself as an artist. Creating music that is not confined by the boundaries of any specific genre, this new record pulls influences ranging anywhere from contemporary indie rock to alternative folk. Currently, Steph is touring the country in support of her new album. To see if
she’s playing near you, check out the tour schedule section at: http://www.stephtaylor.com.

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Percussionists From The SHE SAID Ensemble

http://www.myspace.com/we06

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 12:30 A.M. leading the FEMME FEST DRUM CIRCLE JAM

"She Said" represents a multi-cultural collection of female artists, featuring some of Miami’s finest unrealized talent. The 16+ members of She Said hail from all parts of the globe, ranging from master to novice, classical training to self-taught, showcasing an eclectic mix of genres as they unify through their love of music and culture. Most ladies of She Said are currently pursuing individual projects and all are based in Miami, FL. Each musician is celebrated through the collaborative process that is comprised of orchestral and individual elements. Their coming together is an unprecedented gathering that both encourages and promotes bridging a musical gap between cultures without boundaries or prejudice. Truly, an evening in attendance at a She Said performance will leave you awed at what represents the beauty and strength of a woman.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part VII

2007-11-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Pretty On Paper

http://myspace.com/weareprettyonpaper

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 11:00 P.M.

Carmen Tauler [vocals]

Alex Norris [acoustic guitar/vocals]

Frances Gronlier [vocals]

Fred Napolitano [sax & flute]

Mike Wollman [percussion]

Luis Cavallo [bass]

Pretty on Paper a local Miami Band featuring a unique line up and sound. Three female lead singers, one playing acoustic guitar, a percussionist on congas and bongos, a shiny new bass player, and the godfather of sax and flute. Our originals full of 3 part harmonies makes for full and different sound. Our covers include songs by; Sheryl Crow, Sara McClahlin, Gavin Degraw, Marcy Playground, Paolo Nutini, Brandi Carlile.

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Pretty Please

http://www.myspace.com/prettyprettyplease

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 2:30 A.M.

Pretty Please is a Pop Trio whose members are no strangers to the Miami music scene. This band is not a hobby nor a project that can be measured in any traditional sense. To it’s members, this band is a something a lot more valuable, it’s a well knit friendship. Their music is a product of their love for each other. Their chemistry together strays into all sorts of extremes. First a little bit about the band members:

Bianca Pupo: Vox, Keys, Guitars

Bianca has been in countless bands since she was a teenager. Over the years she’s crafted her abilities as a songwriter and a versatile musician playing just about every instrument known to rock and roll. She currently also fronts Outre Violette and used to play keys and rhythm guitar for The Brand.

Farina Mackliff: Vox, Bass

Farina has been playing bass for only 5 years. What she lacks in experience she makes up with feeling. Her natural ability to pour emotion into her playing really makes her stand out. She also plays in Outre Violette and has played in many bands before including Fuselage.

Juan Oña: Drums

Like Farina, Juan has been playing his respective instrument for about 5 years. Very far from being a technical drummer, he has the ability to drive an audience by simply having a good time on stage. He too used to play in The Brand alongside Bianca.

Touring and composing together in The Brand, Bianca and Juan really built up a great working chemistry together. The Brand moved to New York in the Summer of 2006 at which point Bianca had to leave The Brand because she could not leave Miami. Around this time, Farina joined Outre Violette and a wonderful friendship began. In the middle of all this, Bianca had slowly been working on songs for her solo project, Ghost Milk.

In early 2007, fate would bring Juan back to Miami where he immediately touched base with Bianca. Like two lovers driven apart by circumstance, they were just itching to play together again. It was at this time that they first started to toy with the idea of taking some of the Ghost Milk songs and turning it into a new band. They got together a couple of times and realized they had something special on their hands but the lineup wasn’t complete, they needed a bass player. It did not take long at all before Farina would join them and complete what was to become Pretty Please.

In their previous bands, each member has accomplished some admirable feats from showcasing in London, to having videos and music on TV and radio, to being named "best rock band" by The Miami New Times. Pretty Please is still in it’s infancy stage, currently working on their first EP which is expected to come out at the end of 2007. With that release and some good ol’ guerilla marketing, you can expect this D.I.Y. band to make a serious impact starting with South Florida. In the meantime you can follow them in their adventures through videos and pictures they have posted on their MySpace.

Pretty Please has also picked up the Plaid torch. Plaid is a monthly music showcase that was started back in 2002. It’s one of the most respected events in South Florida hosting up to 20 bands on three stages. Plaid was started by The Brand (Juan, Bianca, Omar, and Leo) and was temporarily out of commission when The Brand moved to New York. Now with half of it’s founding members in Miami and rocking a band together, Plaid is back!

Pretty Please has played a handful of shows and have received excellent feedback. You can expect their upcoming EP to be an homage to love and a reflection of their intense and sometimes debaucherous tendencies. In the meantime, come to their shows where you can count on not just spectating but being a part of something amazing. They tickle fancies, they rock faces, the float on clouds, and they will fall in love with you.

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Prostitots

http://www.myspace.com/prostitots

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 7:00 P.M.

Chelly [vocals]

Rictor [drums]

Cesar [keys]

In December of 2006 Prostitots was formed. They all met at the workplace, and are still co-workers. Chelly (also an artist under the alias Mission From Göd) is self-taught and sings in the band. Rictor (also a guitarist/singer/songwriter from Space Station 5) debuts his drumming with Prostitots. Finally, Cesar (also a solo producer/songwriter under C Zar; and Yenkenes) plays the organs/keyboards. Influenced by everything from Slick Rick to The Ramones, to Bjork, to Beethoven, this trio eliminates the necessity of a guitarist and bassist. Dancy, simple, and full of expression, this band gives a new genre a following. Rock N' Run!

Femme Fest Lineup, Part VI

2007-11-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

Lina Marquez

http://www.myspace.com/linamarquez1

http://www.linamusic.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ TBA

Born in Barranquilla, Columbia, where the streets are used as soccer fields and voracious December winds run by, Lina was talented from an early age. Her older brother, sister, twin brother and she were submerged into the music’s hemisphere since before their birth. Her father was a frustrated musician who loved the guitar. He would only play when he thought no one was listening. But Lina was listening. Breathing the first gasp of Columbia ’s government collapse her mother decided to leave the country and take her and her twin brother with her. With a supermarket bag of belongings they embraced crowded living rooms and bulb-less bedrooms. They shared what they had. Once when she was thirsty and waiting with her mother outside a supermarket a man with a yellow tie gave her a can of coke. She saved it and used it as a bank to buy her first guitar. After she said we would encounter many ’yellow-tie’ people in this country.

Dreams danced behind her head when she would listen to music. When inspired Lina would quote Eddie Vedder’s "Oceans" by saying her dreams were fifty percent tangible now. The can of coke was replaced with a red guitar. Where there was one green pear for dinner there were now more. A flinty rug was replaced with a bed. Her orange notebook and blue pencil helped her write autobiographical stories, flavored with the influence of Pablo Neruda’s vivid romanticism and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s honest irony and concrete singular verbal depictions. Her essence remains the same. She writes songs that, like her influences, amplify the hope and zoom in the dreams of many people.

When Lina takes the stage the crowd is mesmerized. They know she is the real deal. Her passion is very inspiring. Her beautiful voice and moves will captivate you. Her words will make you think.

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Hilary McRae

http://www.myspace.com/hilarymcrae

http://www.HilaryMcRae.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 1:00 A.M.

Hilary McRae - Keyboards/Vocals

Fernando Perdomo - Bass

Derek Cintron - Drums

Jacin Nagao - Guitar/Vocals

Every once in a while, an artist emerges and changes everything - bucking common trends by offering the extraordinary. Hilary McRae is that artist. This native of Boca Raton, Florida, combines 70's and modern pop, soul and R&B to create hip swaying, heartbreaking and smile making songs about love, angst, and the trials of life. Her sensual and soulful style has been compared to 70s icon Carole King, Joss Stone, and Alicia Keys.

This 21 year old classical-and-contemporary-trained pianist is already a very accomplished songwriter having composed numerous original pop/rock songs as well as original music for musical theater. Hilary studied at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston thanks in part to a substantial scholarship award she received from the school as a result of her audition for their 2003-2004 World Scholarship Tour.

In June, 2006, Hilary was invited to join a Central and South American tour with Latin pop superstar Christian Castro to play keyboards and sing background vocals as a member of his band. The young artist has recorded a full length album of her original material with GRAMMY award winning producer/engineer Zach Ziskin and arranger Charlie Calello, which will be released in Spring 2008 on Hear Music - an innovative record label and partnership between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group.

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Megan Lipsky

http://www.myspace.com/meganmusic84

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 5:00 P.M.

Megan Lipsky is a pianist and vocalist. She has performed at clubs such as Jazid and Churchill's. Her songs are reminiscent of early shoegaze artists such as PJ Harvey. Megan has also performed at The Broward Center of Performing Arts, and at Fat Cat's Jazz Club in New York City.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part V

2007-11-23T21:05:00.001-05:00

Cynthia Kivlan

http://www.myspace.com/40ozcorona

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 3:30 P.M.

Cynthia Kivlan

Fernando Perdomo (guitar)

Roger Houdaille (bass)

Cynthia Kivlan is a classically trained flutist currently residing in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. She has played in Orchestra Pits & Chamber Ensembles to Rock-N-Roll bands. Her current project focuses on all these styles and transforms them into a beautiful duo with the guitar. You can catch her along side with Singer/Songwriter/Producer Fernando Perdomo (Hilary McRae) and Roger Houdaille (Father Bloopy).

Today, Cynthia is a freelance flutist and a member of the Walenstein Symphony Orchestra. To hear her music, visit her on myspace.com (myspace.com/40ozcorona) and be sure to keep an eye out for her first solo album which will be released on Decemeber 26, 2007.

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Lianne Ojito "Little Eye"

http://www.myspace.com/lianeojito

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 8:00 P.M.

Lianne Ojito

Everett Ramey

Liane Ojito was sitting on the roof of the North Hollywood, California apartment where she was couch surfing in 2003 when she wrote her first song, throwing together a jangling, folksy blast of sunshine-- "Butterfly Garden" -- that remains a fan favorite. Four years later the Miami native singer/songwriter is a musical force to be reckoned with. Drawing pure raw emotion inspired by her cross-country travels and mundanely sublime human encounters, she gingerly wraps them up into lyrical treasures. Liane’s songs are at once catchy and soulful with a natural rhythm, conveyed by her stylized vocals and percussive guitar playing. Liane began recording in 2004 using the on-board mic of her laptop, which lent her songs an intimate, lo-fi sound reminiscent of early Bright Eyes and Iron & Wine. She played gigs in bars and coffee shops all over Los Angeles before taking off for New York in October of 2006, collaborating with a number of musicians, and performing everywhere from bars to street corners. In June of that same year, she headed back to Miami where she played a number of gigs with the group Liane & The Mystery Band, until the band parted ways in May of 2007. It was at this time that Liane forged a creative partnership with Everett "The Golden Child" Ramey, a musician and producer based out of Lake Worth, Florida. His years as a professional musician, stellar guitar work and exceptional production skills were everything Liane was seeking to take her talent to the next level. Together they have worked tirelessly and put their heart and souls into honing their respective arts to their full potential.

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Papa Muse

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 10:00 P.M.

http://www.PapaMuse.com

http://www.myspace.com/papamuse

Papa Muse is a dynamic rock band with catchy hooks and funky dance able grooves, led by "Way", guitarist, or bassist, vocalist and songwriter for the band. Recently relocated to the Fort Lauderdale area, Way is still playing with guitarist Maco, a vibrant powerhouse who lights up the stage, as well as playing solo acoustic showcases in southern Florida. A charismatic, inspirational and wacky character, Way has been the principal organizer for the Musefest, an annual music festival based in Ithaca, N.Y. for nearly a decade. He also ran a unique musician's hotel called the Band and Breakfast, and has built relationships with thousands of musicians, agents and fans.

Way plays a distinctive soulful style, an enthusiastic and expansive sound. His lyrics are positive and insightful, sculpting beautiful vocal melodies that will stay with you long after you hear them.

Maco Rodriguez adds a raw vibe on stage while she layers the songs with rock electric guitar, precise and emotive. A professional artist and designer, Maco is earning a name for herself in the graphic world, but her musical talent and ability are about to explode upon an unsuspecting Florida music scene.

The band Papa Muse is strongly influenced by bands like Rush, Tool, Primus, Dave Mathews, Radiohead, Moby, Stone Temple Pilots, The Who, Progressive Rock, Grunge, African music, Electronica, and anything powerful! They play songs that captivate and exhilarate their audience, leaving a long lasting impression.

Papa Muse is looking to rebuild the full electric band line up in south Florida. Meanwhile the songwriter is busy working on the upcoming full length release Meaning Makers.

Simply put, the band is complex, dynamic and full of catchy hooks to keep you humming for days. With meaningful lyrics, and a spirited humor and wit, a Papa Muse performance is loads of fun.

Achievements for Papa Muse include: countless bar gigs, festival showcase gigs, support of national acts as diverse as Fishbone, The Pharcyde, The Pietasters and many others, as well as several television appearances.

The music speaks for itself. Please give Papa Muse a listen. Samples can be found online at: http://www.papamuse.com or http://www.myspace.com/papamuse

Femme Fest Lineup, Part IV

2007-11-23T21:00:00.002-05:00

Jill Hartman

http://www.myspace.com/jillhartmann

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 2:00 A.M.

Heavily influenced by folk musicians such as Ani Difranco and Inara George as well as jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, Jill Hartmann mingles modern melodies with a classic romanticism that is both haunting and identifiable.

Born to two musicians, Jill Hartmann began her love of performance while still a child singing for minor audiences. She studied literature in college and found exhilaration in reading poetry aloud before an audience. It wasn’t long after that she began to look to other avenues of expressing herself in a more harmonious and better-received medium by learning how to play the guitar.

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JOCE

http://www.myspace.com/joce

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 9:00 P.M.

A girl and her guitar feeling life every waking moment.

Toured with Duran Duran and recorded with Deborah Harry of Blondie!

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Samantha Natalie

http://www.myspace.com/samanthanatalie

http://www.purevolume.com/SamanthaNatalie

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 9:30 P.M.

Samantha Natalie: Vocals/Keyboard

David Sanchez: Guitar

Louis Gonzalez: Drums

Michael Balarezo: Bass

A native of Miami Beach, FL, Samantha Natalie's musical career began at age four, studying classical piano at conservatories throughout the Greater Miami area. She began to explore her talent as a singer at age six, starting out at St. Patrick's Children's Choir. Since then, she has been involved with many musical groups throughout her gradeschool and college career, including Miami Beach Senior High School's Rock Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Clark Doug Burris. A recent graduate of the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, Samantha Natalie studied in the Studio Music and Jazz Vocal Performance Department and had the wonderful opportunity to perform with many prestigious jazz/pop artists including Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Elling, and Jon Secada.

It's been close to 20 years since Samantha Natalie first began playing the piano and singing, and now she brings her original music to the table. She has been performing her original music in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area for almost four years now and had her self-titled EP released on June 2, 2007, at the Pawn Shop Lounge in Miami Beach FL, where she had the chance to rock out in front of close to 175 of her fans. "I've been writing original music for almost seven years, and every song says something different about my journey to where I am now. These songs are my release, my therapy, and my one true love." - Samantha Natalie

Her influences include most female singer/songwriters such as Carol King, Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, Fiona Apple, and Tori Amos. Yet she also shares a bit of her rocker side by looking up to classic rock musicians like Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Billy Joel. Her sound is unique, soulful, and classic.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part III

2007-11-23T20:50:00.000-05:00

Angie Day

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 6:00 P.M.

http://www.myspace.com/angiedaymusic

I was born here in Miami, FL. I’m 23 years old, and have been playing piano since I was three. Classically trained, but in high school discovered jazz and started adjusting my sound and technique to accommodate a different audience. Major influences include Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, Tori Amos, Imogen Heap, and Fiona Apple. Currently working at the Kendall Conservatory teaching music and assisting in running the store.

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DIAGONAL

http://www.myspace.com/diagonalism

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 4:00 P.M.

Sharlyn Evertsz::Singer::Songwriter

Born in Santo Domingo and raised mostly in Miami, FL, she started writing songs at the age of 17 with her guitar, but her passion for music has been present since a very early age. Emotionalism and rawness are perhaps the most prominent qualities that can be attributed to her vocal style. She is currently expressing her songwriting through her solo work and also by means of -diagonal- a trip-hop/experimental/electro project with friend Jorge Read. Please feel free to enjoy the sounds exhibited at www.myspace.com/diagonalism

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Father Bloopy

http://www.myspace.com/fatherbloopy

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 7:00 P.M.

Father Bloopy is an art-rock group from Miami Beach. Their simple, infectious brand of music is a refreshing mix of edge and pop sensibility. Their album "Ginger, Baby" has just been released and is gathering favorable reviews, college radio plays as well as loyal listeners. Fans of the classic sounds of Roxy Music, Talking Heads, David Bowie will be pleased to hear what’s going on with Father Bloopy.

Live, the Bloopies keep it fresh with an extensive repertoire and different line-ups. Currently the band features songwriter/default guitarist Roger Houdaille who is complemented by Angelica Losada on lead violin. The drum ’n’ bass is provided in parts by Eric Hernandez (subject to availability) and Carolina Souto, respectively. Plus or minus special guests, this show is guaranteed to keep one drawn into their songs which are rich in character and style with a healthy sense of the absurd. For more information, please visit fatherbloopy.com.

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Sujo

http://www.myspace.com/sujo111

Sujo_mge@live.com

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 6:30 P.M.

Sujo is a soloist with occasional collaborations with artists from Music Group Ent.(MGE) including: Producer Fermin C Syrus, Q-Raz, and J-Craz.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part II

2007-11-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

Teri Catlin: Soldier Of Light

http://www.tericatlin.com

http://www.myspace.com/tericatlin

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 6:00 P.M.

Some artists have such a personal vision, that their work takes on a universal character. Some songwriters have such an insight into the joys and frustrations of everyday life, that they somehow express what the rest of us are feeling too. And some singers have such heart and soul, that the sound of their voice brings a story to life right before our eyes. Teri Catlin is one of these rare artists, a singer/songwriter in the rock/R&B tradition whose music is original and authentic--and a live performer whose stage presence is captivating and charismatic.

As Teri says of her work: "If I had to choose one word to describe what I do, I’ve always seen myself as a storyteller. No matter what kind of songs I write, from love ballads to political, social and/or environmental issues, I’m always telling a story, painting pictures with words, melodies, and the sound of my voice. And I’ve always preferred live performance in front of an audience. That’s where the songs take on a life of their own, night after night."

Born in Flint, Michigan, Teri began playing piano and drums at five. At the age of seven, she shifted to violin, quickly becoming known as a child prodigy on the instrument, performing for luminaries such as Itzhak Perlman, who was mesmerized by Teri’s talent. By age twelve, Teri became a soloist with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, receiving rave reviews in the regional music press, then studied for three years with the Wisconsin Symphony School of America, winning a Silver Medal in the Worldwide Orchestra Competition in Ottawa, Canada.

But due to a traumatic home environment, at the tender age of fourteen, Teri felt an urgent need to break free, becoming a homeless runaway, making money playing piano and singing Top 40 music in bars, hotels, and restaurants. Eventually drifting from Michigan to the friendlier winter climate of South Florida, Teri planted her roots and took up guitar and bass guitar, adding these to her arsenal of piano, violin, and drums. Teri also began honing her skills as a songwriter and vocalist with a style and personality all her own. Teri is a rare artist who writes all the parts for/to her music. So, Teri held auditions and carefully selected the drum, bass and keyboardist that make up the four piece Teri Catlin Band. They’ve been playing shows on the S.Florida circuit for six years and are known for their electrifying performances. She quickly built a huge loyal following which continues to grow with every show.

Teri produced her self-titled debut CD, featuring ten of her most compelling songs, from the love ballads "Baby" and "I Am" to the hard-hitting urban realism of "Castles" and "Cry" to the sexy blues-drenched rocker "Get Off" to the triumphant personal anthems "Alive" "Stand Your Ground" and "Who I Am." Each performance has its own unique power and flavor, with the vivid imagery of Teri’s lyrics combined with her unconventional approach to melody and arrangement.

Although her songs cover a wide range of topics and emotions, Teri says: "All of my music basically comes down to one thing--the experience of being alive, with all of the joy and pain that goes with it. We have one life to live, and one planet to live it on. We owe it to ourselves and to the world around us to give it everything we’ve got. Whether I’m singing about love or war, it’s all about the same thing--keeping it real. My heroes are those same great artists that we all revere: Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Dylan, Janis, Bono, Prince, people who stand up for what they believe in and speak straight from the heart. You might call them Soldiers of Light. That’s where I’m coming from."

CONCERTS THAT STAND OUT

Opened for Omarion at 2006 SunFest

Performed at Lenny Kravitz-hosted fundraiser for abused children

Vocalist for Richard Marley Band 2002

Opened for blues legend John Hammond at the Hollywood Playhouse

Opened the Pre-Grammy Awards show at Hard Rock Miami with Nestor Torres and Dana Paul

Calliope Fest with Lisa Loeb 2002, Ani DiFranco 2003, Sophie B. Hawkins 2004

Soundtrack contribution for major motion picture Booty Call

Top 5 finalist in VH1’s Save the Music songwriting competition for "Baby"

Winner of John Lennon Songwriting Contest for "Who I Am"

Winner of 94.9 Zeta FM singer/songwriter competition, nominated to open for Staind

Headliner for Greenpeace International Day of Action on Global Warming 2006

Headliner for Mayan Calendar Fund benefit concert, Tobacco Road, Miami

Annual Earth Day concerts 196-2002, Ft. Lauderdale

Opened for Donna the Buffalo at Harvest Moon Festival

Opened on tour for Snake Oil Medicine Show

Opened for Deep Banana Blackout, New Years Eve 2001, Carefree Theatre, West Palm Beach

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The Fantastic Five

http://www.myspace.com/thefantastic5band

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 1:00 A.M.

THE FANTASTIC 5 (F5) is a 4 piece Indie/Alternative rock band originating from the South Florida area that has been together since 2001. Their distinctive progressive-melodic sound seems to produce the ideal atmosphere for hosting the imagery inspired by their somber lyrical content. Dead By Easter is the group's second full length CD. The light-hearted grooves such as Running Down the Highway, from their first full length CD, Saves the Universe; Part One, give way to songs with more intense and sophisticated character – evocative of the heavier tracks from their first release. Etched within this release are plenty of examples of how these 4 individuals have learned to bring their independent creative influences together. Although dark, the nature of the songs sustains a sound that is immediately accessible to audiences of all types – and the memorable hooks fuel melodies that the listener finds themselves humming again and again. Fans of The Strokes, The Pixies, The Hives, Jet, The Killers, and The Velvet Underground will truly enjoy THE FANTASTIC 5.

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Melodik

http://www.myspace.com/somelodik

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 6:30 P.M.

Raised in Broward County, Florida. This female rapper is an outgoing individual that takes music very seriously. She been writing ever since the age of ten. Being a female emcee, Melodik already got that lack of respect, so that makes her grind even harder. When asked, "how do you come up with your lyrics?", Melodik says, "Just life in general. I write from the heart. Just life experiences." Being a dancer as well, has made Melodik an amazing performer. She has performed many places all over Florida and New York. So make sure to look out for when Melodik comes to perform in your area. DON'T SLEEP ON MELODIK RHYMEZ!!! - DOWNLOAD THE NEW ALBUM entitled ...so Melodik right now at www.supportrealmusic.com

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Omine

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 11:30 P.M.

Femme Fest Lineup, Part I

2007-11-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

I had a nice stack of news to report, of which I haven't been able to get to, but I decided that this was more important... This is the FULL LINE-UP FOR FEMME FEST:

Adrianne

http://WWW.ADRIMUSIC.COM

http://www.myspace.com/adriannemusic

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 4:30 P.M.

Adrianne has a voice and songs that will fill your heart and break your heart at the same time. From the moment she steps onto the stage until the last note, the room is silent, as she has a way of creating a world within a world. She has supported such acts as Jeff Buckley, Jonatha Brooke, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Tegan and Sara, and Colin Hay. She’s shared the stage with The Weepies, and Tracy Bonham just to name a few, and is soon to be playing with Lyle Lovett, Shawn Mullins, Patty Griffin and Emmy Lou Harris.

===================================================================
A.K.A.

http://www.myspace.com/aka

Performing at the OUTDOOR PARKING LOT STAGE @ 10:00 P.M.

Lori (singer/guitarist)

Nat (bassist)

Nabedi (drummer)

Usually when you tell someone he hits like a girl, it’s meant as an insult. But the punch the all-girl trio A.K.A. packs is anything but weak. The up-and-coming local group has been making a name for itself since 2004. Now with a different drummer and frequent shows at PS 14, Churchill’s, Felt, and other venues, A.K.A. puts on knockout performances that have bred a loyal following on the estrogen-lacking 305 rock scene. The group’s music is telltale of its influences with an attitude that can only match Alanis Morissette's, a catchy sensibility comparable to No Doubt, and heavy guitar riffs reminiscent of Green Day. The trio’s alternative feel is an appealing pop sound tinged with a bit of edgy punk flavor. Most notable are the lead singer’s powerful vocals, energetic yet haunting and fueled by the group’s signature fast beat. Fans can expect a full-length release in the upcoming months.

By Alexandra Quiñones

Originally published by Miami New Times 2006-07-13 ©2005 New Times, Inc. All
rights reserved.

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Ana Kanpa: Spirits of The Earth

http://www.AnaKanpa.com

http://www.MySpace.com/AnaKanpa

Performing at the UPSTAIRS STAGE IN THE CABARET @ 11:00 P.M..

Valkyrie: Lead Vocals and Djembe

Mike Matthews: Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals

Robert Barcelo: Drums and Percussion

Pedro "Piort" Ramos: Bass Guitar

Ana Kanpa is not the name of a person or individual, it is the name of our band. We are an indie rock band from South Florida that specializes in hypnotic jams, haunted melodies, poetry and otherworldly songs of spirit and earth. Our name means "spirits of the earth", and comes from an ancient Sumerian prayer: "Zi dinger ana kanpa" or, "Spirits of the Earth, remember". None of us is "Ana", yet we are all "Ana"--including you.

As artists, we are passionate about creating and connecting with each other, as well as the audience. We experiment with sound, especially in our jams, bringing together different flavors from middle eastern to funk and blues. Ana Kanpa is always evolving. Our shows are a journey through different moods and eclectic sounds inspiring thoughtful reflection and the desire to dance.

==============================================================================
Bitchfire

http://www.myspace.com/bitchfire

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 10:30 P.M.

Sharyn Peach - Vocals

Eddie D - Drums

Donny S. Brown - Guitar

Robbie Plast - Bass

BitchFire was formed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November of 2006. Comprised of four veterans of Metal and Classic 80’s Rock and Roll, BitchFire composes and plays all original music. With a current repertoire of twelve original songs, BitchFire is now ready for live shows. The demo CD contains three (3) originals all recorded & mixed at Tone Zone Recording Studio in Miami, Florida. Lead singer, Sharyn Peach, is originally from Revere, Massachusetts and played in popular Boston bands including She’s So Loud, Indecent Xposure, Scuba Steve, The Brat Pack and See Spot Run. Her influences include Lita Ford & Geoff Tate from Queensryche. Drummer Eddie D is from Albany New York (he’s Bad Ass) and recently played in the heavy metal band Sea of Black. Eddie has been a drummer for over 25 years and played everything from rock to jazz to blues. His influences include John Bonham and Carmine Apice. Lead guitarist, Donny Sutton-Brown is from Jamaica (Ya Mon!) and also formerly of Sea of Black. He was sent to English boarding school age 10 (no accent, he sounds like every white, blue eyed, blonde haired rasta). He heard Judas Priest’s "Unleashed in the East", soon after and was floored. Donny has been a Metal Head ever since. His first real band, "Turbulence", was formed in Bermuda, in 1984. After many incarnations, the final lineup included Paul Crosby (of Saliva). Donny’s main influences included George Lynch, Akira Takasaki, Tony McAlpine, Randy Rhodes and most of the heavy bands from the 80’s and 90’s. Bassist Robbie Plast is from Westchester, New York and has been playing in various bands including Genius and Stratovarious for over 25 years. He shaves his head purposely (makes him more aerodynamic). He was heavily influenced by John Entwhistle. BitchFire is yet unsigned and has demo CD’s available. While local to South Florida, BitchFire is willing to travel to play venues throughout the United States.

=============================================================================
Kristin Cappiello

http://www.myspace.com/cappiellorecords

Performing at the OUTDOOR PATIO STAGE @ 7:30 P.M.

Kristin Cappiello

(and perhaps)

Courtney Yates

Dennis Kain

Born in New Jersey, and moving to South Florida with her retiring parents at the age of 13, Kristin Margaret Cappiello is a baffling and inimitable singer. She controls a subtle quality that makes you want to know more. The eighth of nine children of Irish and Italian parents who habitually woke the family up to Broadway show tunes and vintage opera, it was no surprise that Kristin grew a love for song. As a Catholic school girl, she was an avid member of the choir at church singing songs like "Let there be Peace on Earth", and in high school she was extremely involved with the choir, enjoying traveling ensemble and solo competitions, always returning with a hand full of superior medals. She started writing in her teens, when her mother bought her an acoustic guitar for Christmas with hopes to hear her daughter sing Joan Baez, and John Denver. Totally self-taught, her style grew over time, allowing her to share with her mother and many others song’s such as "Diamonds and Rust" as well as originals. She was introduced to Joni Mitchell when a friend of the family heard her sing and they immediately brought her to the local mall and bought her Blue. An obsession to Michael Stipe led Kristin to 10,000 Maniacs and it wasn’t long before she was wailing out her favorite covers like "Dust Bowl Day’s", Mitchells "Conversation’s" and a slew of originals in local Coffee houses and open mics. After high school, in and out of the garage band scene she frivolously pursued her music, having dipped her toes in the dark waters of the music business only to be turned off and turned down a record contract for credible reason. During her early 20’s, good friends like Jerry Leeman introduced Kristin to the act of paying gigs, setting her up with little choice but to play show’s which he couldn’t make himself. The bar and restaurant gigs wore her down, and eventually a once passionate thing became a clouded and distorted life style and soon enough, music and songwriting was only made alone in a small place she referred to as her "music room". With the exception of benefit concerts and demo recordings with other local talents, Kristin was on a 6-year hiatus, shying away from performing her music until 2005. While making an intrepid inventory of herself, she became aware that singing/songwriting is what she was supposed to do. This was a gift that would be a shame to be exhausted. With the help of inspirational friends such as Courtney Yates, and Dennis Kain, Kristin now has a solo project in the works as well as her side project collaboration "Consider The Violet", which she regularly gigs locally with her cellist, violinist comrade Courtney. Kristin is in a much brighter place now, after dusting off the guitar collection and unfinished notebook’s, she is now back in touch with her spiritual outlet, and hopes to inspire other relinquished artist to do the same.

A Few Good Songs Needed!!!

2007-11-17T03:31:00.001-05:00

ATTENTION BANDS!!!

I have been updating my website www.the-fly-kingdom.com with more pictures from events around town but I am running out of songs to post for the pages...

SO IF YOU WANT ME TO POST YOUR SONGS ON MY WEBSITE HERE'S WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO:

1- Gather your best songs

2- Send them to this email address.

3- Include the Song's A)Name, B)Album, C)Year, D)Any other vital information you want me to post...

And of course, tell me your band's name and MySpace address (if applicable)...

This way I have good music for the website's Picture Gallery and you will get more exposure!

Thanks,
Jerry

Current mood: Artistic
Category: Music

Femme Fest

2007-10-27T00:56:00.000-04:00

This is the poster for Femme Fest, hosted by my good friend, the Queen of the Scene. If you'd like more information, please be sure to visit the Femme Fest profile on MySpace.

I also met and became good friends with the singer of the Peruvian band Viajeros. Click here to link to their MySpace profile. He also told me about some projects that he wanted to work on with him; projects which yours truly, The Fly Kingdom will be a part of. More on that later. For now, just enjoy the tracks that we made while jamming last Wednesday...

Just as I Promised

2007-10-14T07:14:00.000-04:00

I said in my last blog entry that as soon as I had recordings of my new work that I would post it. Well, I edited and put together my new CD entitled My Medz (RAW Version) today. You can hear a few tracks from it on www.the-fly-kingdom.com... and as the disclaimer states at the bottom of the page, if you like what you hear contact me and I will send you a copy for a small donation (anything will do--- at least to cover the shpping and blank CD, that is!)

Current Mood: Accomplished
Category: Music

Live Suicide is No More!

2007-10-12T21:23:00.000-04:00

I thought I would never have to write this. Yes, I am talking about a breakup. Well, since this will probably be the last Live Suicide blog let me tell you how it all began. When we started back in the 2005, I never thought it would get as far as it did. I formed the first version of the band with an ex-student of mine, and it was her vision, not mine that started all this. I can't disclose her name for legal reasons (No, I didn't do anything; I'm just protecting her identity!) but she took lessons for years and we got to be friends before she told me about starting a band.

Anyway, as you might have expected when we started, I had a thing for her and so I said: "Why not?" But with school and other factors, her life just got too complicated and she had to quit. And shortly after starting the project, the bassist (now ex-bassist of our group) Andy Arrazola, who was also another ex-student of mine, joined the group. At first we worked at the same place, and our day would end by going to the Chicken Kitchen and then going back to my place to generate some beats for what would become our set list.

A bit after that got started Andy suggested adding a pianist. This is something that I thought would be nice if we could find a musician that was suitable enough for the job. In comes Angie Aguirre-Wong. We met and it was a musical match that brought a whole different vibe to the group. She also added songs of her own which made the group sound less Industrial and Heavy and made it more Jazzy. So then the band was near complete. We tried a few drummers but none of them stuck around, for a whole mess of different reasons. It was either because they saw this as a hobby, or just because they weren't focused enough. But the trio of Jerry, Angie and Andy was like a dysfunctional version of the three musketters.

As (bad) luck would have it, Andy had to quit due to his hectic life. He was going to school and working which allowed no time for practice or rehearsal. After that, Angie and I kept the vision going by doing a performance at the Wallflower on June 2nd, which was purely magical. It was at this time that another ex-student of mine joined the group, after witnessing this performance of ours, which literally left him stunned. So in comes Jose Flores, AKA: Pepe. I rehearsed with him twice and he was determined to stay until the end. And this was just in the nick of time since we had a gig at Churchill's on July 22nd.

However, as (more bad) luck would have it, I was struck with a series of events that needed my attention and we had to cancel the gig at Churchill's. That right there was the beginning of the end. Well, actually it started going bad a bit before tha, since there was a time when we were all rehearsing with no gigs to play... but the defining moment came sometime in mid July. Angie kept writing, doing her thing, and after a while I picked up the sitar, which made me take a complete 180 degree turn in my musical approach and so I took up Eastern music almost exclusively. That move wasn't planned but I guess on some level, it was meant to be. So shortly after my "unwanted vacation" (AKA: hospital trip) from the band I tried contacting Pepe but after several unsuccessful tries I took the hint and gave up; which meant that the band was actually now just Angie and myself.

Last night I attended a solo gig that Angie did at Jazid. I just sat there and realized that it was over and the only thing left to do was to say it. As she played her set I saw a solo artist who needed support to achieve her goal. So today we talked and I told her that it was okay, despite the feelings I had for this band. I knew it was dead. I knew it was dead long ago, but I tried to keep riding the horse until it could no longer take another stride. As for me, I will keep playing my sitar which has now become my main instrument. In a sense I found my god and it is in the form of sound; which comes out of my sitar. I had also thought of making beats and doing a solo, instrumental thing later on, but only time will tell...

So to all of you who supported this band I say thank you and just remember; this is not a bitter goodbye; it's more like a mutual "I'll see ya laters...!"

The Fly Kingdom (TFK) will now remain as it was; my one man band. Clips of my sitar work will be posted online at the official Fly Kingdom music website as they become available (that is, whenever I can get a chance to sort them out...)

R.I.P. for now...
Jerry

Status: Hiatus

2007-10-09T01:46:00.000-04:00

This is just inform the readers of The Fly Kingdom News, that The Fly Kingdom and Live Suicide are both officially taking a break. There hasn't been much activity in either band, and with my growing interest in Eastern music, I have decided to step down for the time being. I will record and post new tracks on my website, however since the recordings are just ways to notate the music, (for those of you that do not know, Eastern---more specifically Indian music; is not notated...only memorized) that will take some time. So in the meantime, check out the Fly Kingdom on MySpace for some of my latest releases.

The Queen is Back

2007-08-21T00:36:00.000-04:00

This is an announcement, reminder, or a wake up call (depending on who you are, and all). That's right, the Queen; her highness is back! Still don't know what I mean? Well, then...let me introduce you to Queen of the Scene. This is your way of keeping track on what's going on in THE SOUTH FLORIDA LOCAL MUSIC SCENE. Well, now that you know, go and check it out...

And don't forget to BOW DOWN BITCH!!!

Back from the Emergency Room and Still Recuperating...

2007-08-12T20:45:00.000-04:00

Well, for those of you that have been following this blog, the room I was renting was finally taken by the person that originally wanted the room. You can see him by going to my Links section of my Fly Kingdom website and scrolling through the page; his link should be towards the bottom. He is the bassist of Anakim. Look for further updates since he knows a drummer that wants to meet, hang, and chill with Angie and me. They want to see if we can all do a project together. More on that, soon to come...

Also, in between all that happened since the last time you heard from me, there is much to report. I had to cancel my scheduled battle of the bands appearance from an emergency room due to a seizure that made my right arm pop out of place. I was able to get in contact with Gorilla Productions and was informed that another battle of the bands would take place, at which point I could take part in it. That's all I know so far...

But since the incident I've been managing to recuperate. At first I felt as though it was going to take forever, especially since I was told that I had a hairline fracture, and since I haven't even gotten a straight answer about how long I had to keep it in sling before I can start exercising it again, it's hard to know what to do next. But I've been getting by just how I feel and I can't complain. I've even had to turn down chances to play at the Wallflower, Churchill's Pub, as well as many other local venues. But, just wait a bit...and keep your fingers crossed, cuz I'll be back in order pretty soon!!!

God Hates...?

2007-07-02T00:15:00.000-04:00

Well, there's several things to comment on and talk about---so let's start with the most recent... Yesterday I clicked on a bulletin that says GOD HATES FAGS and I thought to myself: "This should be interesting..." Basically it's about a church which claims that if you're not in with the crowd that they belong to, then you are a Fag and you are going to hell. So your sexual orientation doesn't really matter. All that matters is whether or not you are a follower of that church. Here's a link to their websitet. Yeah, I know that this is free advertising, in a sense, but hell...the world needs to see how fucked up and how overly-fanatical religion can be. So, in other news and other path of Negative V.S. Positive energy I also visited a profile on MySpace that totally rocked!!! And here's the link to it. I won't tell you much about cuz you have to see it for yourself and then get what you will out of it. Anyways, get a load of the documentaries on this Christian Cult below...

For Everyone who thought they'd seen everything---Watch this:

Live Suicide's Battle of the Bands Tickets

2007-06-19T21:00:00.001-04:00

I have some good news... I was contacted by Alan from Gorilla Productions and he was asking (or should I say "Calling") all local bands to submit a contact number to be called in reference to a "Battle of the Bands" happening on July 22nd at the Churchill's Pub in Miami... So I said: "What's the worst that can happen?" and emailed him back thinking I wasn't gonna get a call. Well, like about an hour or so later I get a call from Alan, and so it began. He told me all the basic rules and said he'd send tickets that I could then sell in advance. Well they have arrived! The tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, so hurry because I only have a limited amount left!!!

If you want tickets you can contact me by clicking here or visit Live Suicide's profile on MySpace and drop us a message!

SEE YA THERE!!!

Last Night's Show at the Wallflower

2007-06-03T22:17:00.000-04:00

Well, last night we had the show at the Wallflower Gallery. It ended up being a show just for friends, but if you missed it you missed one hell of a show...

Angie, as always, was her talented and beautiful self (as you will see in the pictures that I will be posting up very soon!) playing her piano and singing her heart out! I ended up playing Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and Bass (due to the fact that we don't hav a bassist or a drummer for the time being...) Although I believe that the whole bassist issue was resolved as of last night.

The show was opened by a very talented man, which, I am sorry to say, due to so many technical difficulties and a variety of other things, his name was never listed in the on-line calendar of events. But he played very well and hopefully we will see him in future shows...

Now, I unfortunately, have some sad news to report; I have a friend and co-worker whom, I'm sad to say, is no longer with us... He was an excellent guitarist, a great teacher, and a good guy. And we will miss him. So, this one's for you Donald Keenan...rest in peace, my friend. (1965-2007)

And in his name, I will be posting a memorial page, so look for that soon...

Bassless Acquisitions...

2007-04-14T22:13:00.001-04:00

Some news has come my way which I'm sad to say that I'm the first to report. Andy Arrazola, the bassist of Live Suicide, has announced today that he will no longer be playing for the band. He's had several pending things to deal with, including school as well as other personal issues, so... for the time being, Live Suicide will carry on as a two-piece, featuring the likes of Angie Wong and myself...

Andy will be on stand-by, just in case more shows appear before we are able to find a suitable replacement. So if you think you have what it takes, email me. We will also continue with a laptop as a drummer, seeing as our last attempt at finding a secure drummer resulted in failure...but nonetheless we will keep playing, so look out for more shows coming soon!

Attention Musicians...

2007-04-08T21:21:00.002-04:00

Well, I don't have much news to report, just an ad; if you will---for anyone out there that reads what I type...

I'm trying to see who out there has the same or similar vision as I do, who wants to take a stab at joining the Fly Kingdom. I have always regarded this band as a one man project, but without other musicians it's impossible to perform live.

So I am curious and will post this ad to other places including MySpace and hi5...

And well, let the games begin, I suppose! If you are interested, you can reach me at this email address.

Current mood: Apathetic

A Small Lesson in Karma

2007-04-07T02:26:00.000-04:00

Well, being that apparently I haven't screwed over enough people to get an interview by Rolling Stone Magazine for this Album's release (although they really should... LOL!!!), I'd like to disclose the list of songs in their order and also explain the reasons behind the album as well as the number of songs.

1- Preface
2- Human Born Child
3- No Questions Asked
4- Addict's Regret (One Savior's Birth)
5- It Has Taken Over (Into One)
6- Sadist God
7- Man as One
8- It's Not Easy Being God
9- I've Pondered
10- So Far Removed
11- Hope (My Thornless Rose)

I began this project last year between getting Live Suicide (for those of you that don't know, that's my band---the one besides this; my one man band) up on their feet. I had some ideas and the name A Small Lesson in Karma but nothing else. Okay, I may have had some lyrics, which, at the time seemed pretty decent, but I quickly started realizing that all I was doing was simply repeating what I had already said in The Mechanical Khrist and How to Write a Satanic Song. If you're unfamiliar with either album, you can hear them and/or view the lyrics at the official Fly Kingdom music website.

So about a month ago I had a personal issue that put my musical life in order. It's funny how as a musician you can use all your negative experiences and turn them into beautiful music, isn't it? So anyways, I ended up burning the midnight oil and coming up with what became known as A Small Lesson in Karma. I even discarded most of the music and lyrics that I thought were just not right for this album---so the name eventually started to make sense to me. For instance, there was this title that just says "when the worshiper becomes the worshiped". This can be explained in a million ways, but it basically is about being your own person; your own God; in other words, it's about cutting out the middle man...

A few days ago I was thinking about the number of songs and wanted to add a few more. I must have had 'til about eleven of them, and that's when the number 11 was explained to me by my own consciousness. It's basically two "ones" being put together. To the vain and empty that would mean a perfect relationship where two people become one. But I went a step further. When man becomes human and god; Man is One...

Well, I hope this explains a couple of things and if you think I'm crazy I would like to thank you in advance.

Jerry

PS: you can listen to most of the album on this MySpace profile as well as purchase it through Snocap.

Current mood: Accomplished

A Small Lesson in Karma is now on Snocap

2007-04-02T22:09:00.000-04:00

I recently uploaded the new album A Small Lesson in Karma on snocap.com

I will also have the album here but in the meantime you can check it out online at either the Fly Kingdom's MySpace profile, or my own MySpace profile.

New Drummer

2007-03-26T01:15:00.000-04:00

I don't have any Live Suicide news to report except that we have a drummer working with us. He's a great guy and he's still adjusting to playing with us, so we'll see how things go...

I've been working on new tracks for the new Album/demo A Small Lesson in
Karma due out pretty soon. Until then, you can check out several exclusive tracks from that upcoming album on my MySpace profile in the meantime...

Last Night's Live Suicide Performance

2007-02-25T20:01:00.000-05:00

Last night's show went very well and I will be posting the pics that were taken by Jake AKA Abaddon Belial up shortly. So be sure to check out the pictures section of my website. There was also a short video clip that he took with his camera. I also emailed Flash from the Wallflower Gallery and if he taped the show (which I'm still waiting to find out if he did or not) I will post clips of it up on the videos section of the Fly Kingdom's website. So keep your eyes open for that one!!!

Last Calls and Kick Outs at 4 A.M.

2007-02-16T22:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a fun couple of days... It all started last Thursday (02-08-07) when my roommate Jake and his girlfriend Krissy, along with his Jake's brother Alex, his sister Blanca, and another friend, as well as an old friend of mine (which I later found out) named Loc, and myself all went to the Churchill's Pub to see a band named Seven Severed. Now we either got there too fucking late or the band never played at all, but we still played pool and had fun 'til we got kicked out at 4 A.M.

Then on Valentines day we (yeah, the same group!) went to Soho where we hung out and chilled 'til we got kicked out (again at 4 A.M. Do you see the pattern here, yet?)

And last night my friend Mike Mocerino and I went to see my other friend Francis and her band Pretty on Paper...

There's one more thing I wanna go to at the Wallflower Gallery on Saturday, February 17, 2007 beginning at 8:00 PM... The address 10 NE 3rd Street, Miami and the cost is $10... For the MySpace event ad check out this link.

Hope to see you there!!!

The Latest on Live Suicide

2007-02-09T00:34:00.000-05:00

Today I come to report the latest on Live Suicide. As of now we are officially "drummerless"...or better yet, I should say we are officially "without a backbeat." Yes, my friends, the band has once again became the "three musketeers!"

Why? Well, it all started last Tuesday night when we were supposed to have a rehearsal and everything was set for us to go to my crib, pick up the
equipment and then go to the drummers house.

The problem was that the one that was gonna aid us in getting the equipment to the place where we were gonna rehearse at never showed up or even called me back! So that same night as we were wondering what to do, my friend Eric Falcon suggested a couple of drummers that he jams with. Needless to say I contacted Albert Bade and thus we were able to get a live drummer for the February 24th gig. But that still leaves the band as a trio for the time being...

Live Suicide on Sonicbids

2007-02-02T23:43:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been another productive couple of days for Live Suicide... On one side we've moved up in the musical business ladder... We are now on sonicbids. Click here to check out our profile.

What's that you say? You don't know what Sonicbids is? Well, Sonibids is a site that enables bands as well as promoters to network. But I'll just quote the site by saying that "Sonicbids was launched in 2001 on a simple idea: that it should be super-easy for artists and music promoters to find each other online, without sending bulky press kits through the postal mail." Thus they provided a way to send EPK's (Electronic Press Kit) through emails as well as give bands a chance to post their Biography, Music, Lyrics, Reviews, etc. So check it out and let me know what you think. You can e-mail me (the band) at this email address.

In other news, and friend and I have a started a studio together, which has been baptized as the Aries Music Studio. In case you feel like you just did a double take and saw a different name (of the studio) about 2 seconds ago you're not going crazy. We had to change the official name. But everything else stayed the same (including the email address and the MySpace profile) so you can now go back to your regularly scheduled program. We will be offering the normal studio services (where a band can come in and record their music) as well as provide the chance for songwriters and artists who might not know musicians or know how to play multiple instruments to record their songs just as it was meant to be done...

And how would we do that? Well, aside from my ability to play various instruments (as you may have seen in the Mp3 section of this website) with the use of programs such as Reason and Acid, the task of making the song come to life will be as easy as turning on a PC.

Look for future Mp3 samples on the studio's MySpace profile here.

You can also e-mail me to schedule an appointment at this email.

Live Suicide on Battle of the Bands & an Upcoming Gig at the Wallflower

2007-01-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

Well, It's been a productive couple of days for Live Suicide....

As far as the Sunday rehearsal is concerned, I have to say that it was a success and although Angie was not able to attend, Andy, Luis, and I all clicked and we realized that the line-up is finally complete!

Luis told me about this guitar player whom he has jammed with and we discussed how we also wanted to bring him in but we'll have to talk about it a little more on how to go about it. Maybe for future songs, or maybe if he can add some kick ass guitar parts to the songs we have already...that's all still left to be decided.

In the meantime, we are just concentrating on our future gig, which by the way, is already past being the works (AKA: more confirmed than confirmed). So mark it on your calendars, folks... February 24, 2007 @ 10:30 PM at the Wallflower Gallery. Here's the address for that venue:

10 N. E. 3rd Street
Downtown Miami, FL 33132
Tel: 305-579-0069

The other bit of news to report is that we (that is, the Live Suicide band) is now on the battle of the bands website. So please do me a favor and place your vote for us today!!! Now enjoy the visuals...

Happy New Year '07

2007-01-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

Let me begin by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Yeah I know it's a bit late but I had an excuse...as I was indisposed at the time (i.e. in the hospital). So I guess I'm really racking up them frequent flyer miles! LOL! Anyway, I do have some exciting news to report...and to believe that all this happened in one day...is just mind blowing, really. It all happened, shortly after I got back from the hospital. I had an email waiting for me from a drummer that was interested in playing with us (for the Live Suicide outfit, that is), so I emailed him back and gave him my number, but I never thought for a minute that he would respond so soon.

Hours later I wasn't even expecting a call, and wouldn't you know it? Luis calls me! So we started talking and decided to meet this Sunday. He even has a rehearsal space. Well, I was happy with that and thought that the highlight of my day had just happened. And then at about 7-ish, I get a call from a guy that recognized me as Jerry from Live Suicide. As soon as I heard that I was all ears...

The man was C. D. Flash from the Wallflower Gallery... So we started talking and after some discussions back and forth between him, the rest of the band members (which now includes Luis), and myself, we decided that February 24 @ 10:30 PM would be a good date. So there it is, people... Mark your calendars! It's gonna be a wild one!!! And not just cuz I'll be playing!

Live Suicide/Fly Kingdom Update

2006-12-13T22:45:00.000-05:00

I have a bit Live Suicide and and The Fly Kingdom news to report...

On the Live Suicide side of things; although we have no gigs or drummer as of yet to speak of, but we do have a manager. A friend and fan of the band volunteered to take on the task of looking for gigs. And I started posting "Want Ads" for a drummer. The rest is up to my dear friend; Fate...to decide.

On the Fly Kingdom side of the news, I have updated the site (after something had messed up with the fonts). But that's not the news...the news is that soon you, the interested fan, will be able to support local music (although the Fly Kingdom will probably never perform live unless a miracle happens---but then again if Jesus can walk on water, fuck! Then maybe so can I!). Through MySpace and future links on the main website you'll be able to purchase tracks so you won't have to depend on the Internet to hear your favorite The Fly Kingdom's tracks. More on that later...

The Karma of Suicide

2006-11-05T00:24:00.000-05:00

There's a lot that has happened so here it goes... We have finished the Live Suicide demo and the songs can be heard at the bands' official MySpace profile. The full demo with 8 songs will be available at shows all over town.

Now for some news on The Fly Kingdom... I am still working on the demo entitled "A Small Lesson in Karma" and the first two songs, "Phase I" is finished while "The Little Girl's Song" is almost complete...

There were a few setbacks along the way, such as landing in the hospital due to seizures, which kept me away from both bands for some weeks... And then there was a "small" complication with Yahoo! and the inability to post anything on the site, which also kept me away from the "master plan." But as they say; "he who laughs last laughs best!" We'll soon see if that becomes a reality...

Latest Developments

2006-08-25T00:46:00.000-04:00

There's not much to report per se, except that all that is stopping us from gigging right now are simply a few "legal matters," just some copyrights to take care of...no worries, no one is getting sued as of yet or anything! It's quite the contrary, really. We're all just making sure that the right people get recognized when the time comes and all.

'Til then we will not release any material on the net (just as I have done with The Fly Kingdom songs). But once that's done our material will be made available on this website as well as many others. More on that later...

Suicide n' Torniquets

2006-08-09T20:17:00.000-04:00

A lot has happened since the last news update... Since that time we (that is, the collective Live Suicide) have worked and have almost completed a demo with the tentative title of “America's Disclaimer"

This demo features the very talented and classically inspired Angie Wong singing her first song to be recorded and released on the net. Also featured are the talents of Andy Arrazola (not only playing bass but also writing some very controversial and inspiring lyrics), and yours truly, of course...playing guitar, singing, and writing about the twisted thoughts that lie buried deep within my mind. Aside from the original numbers, we have also worked on some covers; done in our style of course...and those covers are Metallica’s “Fade to Black” and soon to be released Marilyn Manson’s “Tourniquet" More on that later...

Torn Between Two Bands (AKA: The Fly Kingdom Lives!)

2006-06-25T19:33:00.000-04:00

I had some debate as to whether or not The Fly Kingdom would continue to come up with new material since now I would now have to balance my time between two bands (The Fly Kingdom and Live Suicide), but as I examined the issue further I realized that only through The Fly Kingdom would I be able to fulfill the purpose that I had in mind when I started the group in the first place; which was to speak out against all the bullshit that the church says and does to steal the money as well as the lives from the people that go to their respective establishments...

And Live Suicide has more than one mind working on not only the music but also the lyrics; which makes The Fly Kingdom a vehicle for my own individual ideas and thoughts. The next Fly Kingdom demo which is already in the works will be out some time next year, with the tentative title being "A Small Lesson in Karma" for now, at least. More on that later...

Current mood: Determined

Minor Setbacks on the Road to Recovery... (AKA: The Blues Demo is Finished!!!)

2006-05-26T00:57:00.000-04:00

Despite some financial and physical drawbacks (i.e. being in the hospital) I have finally released the first version of my blues demo entitled: "How to Write a Satanic Song"

I will later release a second version on "I Was Only Kidding" with a cleaner rhythm guitar part as well as a re-mix of "The Minister's Blues"

Also, be sure to stay tuned for the up and coming release of some Live Suicide tracks that have been in the works for the past couple of weeks. More on that later...

Current mood: accomplished

The Name's Suicide...Live Suicide

2006-04-23T22:20:00.000-04:00

An update on the band... We now have a total of 11 songs written by the band as well as 3 songs written by me. The line up has also changed. Robert Willems will not be playing guitar since he will be playing for another band, more on that later...

Also, thanks to Andy we will have a pianist/keyboardist! Her name is Angie Wong, and she's been playing piano for 20 years (and counting). Her keyboarding skills and haunting vocals will add some of the elements that were missing in the band. And as far as the name is concerned, we finally agreed on it--- Live Suicide. Stay tuned for further developments...

New Recruits (AKA: The Mind Control is Working!)

2006-03-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

When I first started this one man group I just said whatever the fuck I wanted, I wrote what I wanted and could have cared less what the hell people thought. Then when I realized that people were actually into what I was doing, I decided to form a group... and that's pretty much where the fucking shit hit the fan! I realized that the THC lovers could not keep up with my demands cuz apparently I can write and perform more styles than the normal THC so-called "musician" listens too.

Anyways, after talking to several of my students (yeah I teach, so beware!) I realized that I could recruit the students that could play what I could write. And after talking to a couple of my students, I recruited (don't worry you don't have to know any of these names...not yet at least!) Robert Willems (Guitar), and Andy Arrazola (Bass).

So far, we have done some its and bits here and there... new songs will eventually be coming soon. As for the official name of the band itself, I don't know if it will be the Fly Kingdom or something else. I still haven't decided yet...I don't really give a shit, to be honest. I just wanna write music and play places. The rest of the other bullshit people think about is really none of my concern right now. More on that later...

Current Mood: Amused

My Music Update

2006-01-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it's now been a while since my last blog... I still haven't been able to get a full band as of yet, just pieces really. So I am officially a one man band now. It's not all bad, you know... for being a solo artist does have it's rewards, like for instance; I haven't gotten into a creative argument with myself yet, at least!

But with The Mechanical Khrist's and all, which has been a real success for me as well as for all the individuals that have heard it, I am now working on a new demo of blues songs. Of course it won't sound like your mother's blues! So, when I am done I will post it up on my website. For the moment you'll just have to settle for the name of the demo, which is: How to Write a Satanic Song.

Catchy title, don't you think...?

Current mood: Accomplished

The Demo's Finished for the Moment...

2005-06-10T18:57:00.001-04:00

The only news to report at the moment is that I finished most of the demo (I still need to finish the secret song, but I need more money to get a digital piano before I can do that). Now the only problem is the following... I DON'T HAVE A FUCKING BAND... NO ONE IS MAN ENOUGH TO READ THE LYRICS AND SAY "YEAH, THAT'S ALL TRUE!" They always give me shit about how "controversial" the lyrics are... You know what? Fuck that! Do you think that Ray Charles, Marilyn Manson, or Metallica made it by sucking everyone's dick? No, they took chances and believed in their work and didn't care for what people would say... So, hey if this speech moved you and you wanna chat maybe get together to play and see if this goes anywhere send me an email at info@the_fly_kingdom.com

Demo, but still...no Band!

2005-06-08T02:16:00.001-04:00

Well, momma said there'd be days like this... I am Jerry the founder and only member of The Fly Kingdom. I have a demo finished and ready to go, but a have a small problem, which is basically this... NO ONE HAS THE BALLS TO PLAY MY MUSIC!!! They say it's "too controversial" that "they don't wanna get themselves into a mess later on where they have to explain their position on the issues addressed in my songs, and yada, yada, yada,etc." Well, you know what? I say it's better to live than to regret and I really do feel like these songs are a true reflection of what I am all about... YES I HATE THE CHURCH! IT'S FULL OF HYPOCRITES THAT ARE AFTER YOUR MONEY! And I think that if you truly have a God in your heart, then there is no need for an institution for you to verify your belief in an all powerful being with. They tell you it's all inside... BULLSHIT! I mean if they really meant it, they wouldn't fuck with you and tell you how to live, would they? I'm sure you've heard this fucking ramble a million times, but maybe what you have never heard is that someone believes in God 1000% but hates the church and their members for the scum that they are! Anyway, If you feel the same way feel free to email me, we can have chat while we sip some tea...

Current mood: Talkative