THE ALICE PROJECT: BLOG

So... Sandy Zio and I with the help of Al Greene (AP's bass player) who joined us for the first time on DRUMS...played at OD's on Saturday night. Al was freaking out because he didn't know how to put together his hi hat so in desperation called Luther Rix (famous drummer on the Bob Dylan "Desire" album) to actually "drum tech" for him. Luther is awesome and came out and helped put the screw in the right place. After this drama we finally started our set and all went pretty well. Of course when Al decided to put a disco beat into "game of love" Sandy cracked up to the point of choking which was a source of much amusement to both myself and the crowd. Into our second set a large man in a suit was shouting at Al "YOU MADE MY NIGHT". Al was so flattered ...it being his first time on drums...and said "thanks". Then a few minutes later the dancing man shouted to Al "YOU MADE MY NIGHT"...to which Al said ...uh "thanks". A little more time passed and the man shouted to AL "YOU MADE MY NIGHT". Al figured this guy was laying it on a bit too thick. When we finished our set the man walked up to Al and asked him if he knew the song "YOU MADE MY NIGHT"....... This really happened....

SO... I drove down to Asbury Park (just after my son's (Eli) first piano recital). I think I was more nervous than him. I held my breath thoughout his performance. Thankfully it wasn't a long number. Anyway... back to Asbury. I had mixed feelings on my way down. Asbury Park for me was from another lifetime entirely. I was playing the Stone Pony each Thursday night and lots of Saturdays as an opener in the mid to late 1980's and although I hardly remember specifics...I remember the butterflies and excitement I used to get. I remember the smell of the beach, the seediness of the town, the overrall energy and excitement about new music. I remember being in the eye of the storm when Bruce Springsteen would show up and take the stage after we'd finish our opening set. Seeing Ian Hunter, Mink DeVille, Gary US Bonds,. We even did a show with Jon Bon Jovi. I remember Glen Burtnik holding court and hanging on his every word after a Bar Anticipation gig. I remember being there yet always still feeling like an outsider. One of the very few girls to front or even be in a band. Felt like the "old boys" club. I was also alot younger than the others. I'm also very myopic (near sighted/legally blind) so my sense of the place was in blurred shapes, sounds and smells. Returning there last night filled me with a mix of emotions. I received an email from an emerging artist Christine Martucci who said "you were the shit back in the day", and it made me reflect a bit. I suppose when you're the "shit" you don't realize it. I feel that this is all one big continuum of one long day. Last night was beautiful...warm, clear and alive with music. Every single venue and shop was filled with music and music lovers. I felt real acceptance for the first time in Asbury Pk...and even comfort being part of such energy. I was alone with my guitar, singing my songs, telling my stories and the audience listened. I couldn't have played in a more beautiful spot. Inside the grand old Paramount Theater overlooking the ocean. I was surprised to see Glen Burtnik had come to say "hi" and hear me. My old/young friend Michelle Leone was with me and has been supportive of my music since the early days and there she was with her big bright smile, filming me and hanging. Some things never change...thankfully...

"THE ALICE PROJECT" "THE GIRL ON THE BOX"

Oh the irony... just when I thought my soul had been sucked right out of me at The Grainhouse, I get this email from someone who told me he'd been "converted" and was now a "fan for life". Then... last night Scott "Strunk" and I did our acoustic/percussion duo and were joined by two fine men singing Margaritaville. Spent today recording with Strunk.. and I mean "LIVE" baby... Oh Yeah. No pro tools, no punching in...no overdubs... NO HEADPHONES.. and wow, like a revelation...this is the way recording should be done. Sounds amazing too. I'll be posting some of the songs in the next week. The plan is to record our next CD just like this. This evening we played at our friend's wedding. Hot as hell...but really fun. Jimmy was wearing black pants and a black long sleeve shirt. He said his hair looked like Florence Henderson's. I don't agree.

SO... a busy week. GIG city. Thursday solo at The Grainhouse. If and when I decide it's my last day there... my amp will be turned up to "11". As it is 1 is too loud. Anyway...I get some reading in between sets. Friday at Coccola's in Hillsborough with Strunk...and then a trio with Strunk and Jimmy at my friend's gay wedding. A first for us. Also got added to "woman of substance" satellite radio. I don't think we'll be seeing NEIL DIAMOND on their radio chart...will we??? Also playing at the Wave gathering and twisted tree cafe and just confirmed another CD RELEASE PARTY in North Jersey. SO excited.

OK... I get it... I'm not really so famous...BUT...really I do have a shred of ego left and when I'm told to turn my amp below 1 it's definitely a wake up call to rethinking the sorts of gigs I should be accepting. Of course.. don't get me wrong..It IS about the money when appearing at a restaurant, but perhaps donning fishnets and a mini skirts is about the money too... SO, on to another "private party" where I will be asked to play "sheryl crow" songs and "oldies". Oh yay.. Hope I get paid in cash! The good news in a sea of crap is that I just procured a few "listening room" gigs coming up in July. YAY.

OK..so I drove to Long Valley to play a solo at a very cute pub/restaurant on Saturday night. The first set went fairly well with a smattering of claps at the end of the songs. Then...a dreadful set 2. The place had seemed to empty out and those remaining were less than enthusiastic. I felt as though I was drowning. So..in usual fashion I mention over the PA that I intend to go outside and perform a "primal scream" after the set outside. What I didn't realize was that the camera fixed on the stage was broadcasting my every move via a 42" flatscreen to the people in the back room. Oops. So... a number of people gathered outside after the set waiting for the bizarre side show of a soul sucked solo singer screaming her lungs out. Well..needless to say set 3 was a success.
Oh...and I'm still bigger than Neil Diamond.

SO... I decided to "crash" a radio event in this Georgian mansion an hour and a half away dressed in a fabulous pearlescent green/purple gown. My footwear was fabulous too...multi colored cowboy rainboots. I showed up to this event and had my old matrix with 126,000 miles on it Valet parked. Then I strode in toward the vodka/caviar bar where I stared at the caviar and listened to overfed people complaining that there weren't any crackers. Anyway..on to the big ballroom where I sat at a table in the back where mixed salads with fruit on them were being served...waiting for my moment to gather my nerve and go up to the producer of the show hoping to meet this excellent radio host. I wrote a song for a segment of the show (my second)...mind you...they didn't ask for one...I just wrote it anyway. Well..it went great! She was thrilled with the first one I had done... and seemed genuinely happy to receive a new one from me. I even got a picture with her. They happily took the new song and I gave them a copy of our new CD. Then it was off to my next stop. 90.5 the night FM. A great radio station. Ran around the area in the rain til I found where the studio was. Knocked unannounced and they were kind enough to let me in. Spoke to the big man himself.... Jeff Raspe and reconnected after nearly 6 years when we had released our last CD. To my surprise, he remembered me and we had a groovy chat about the latest CD. Could've stayed home and watched a movie on my day off...but no....gotta do this thing. Again...watch out NEIL DIAMOND...

Well... Neil doesn't know it yet... but it's comes down to him and me. It's true.. We sold more CD's at Princeton's Barnes and Noble last week than NEIL DIAMOND. Now we are 11 on WVIA's top 40 and Neil is 29. All I've got to say is "GAME ON MY FRIEND". Our CD release at B and N went amazingly well. Big turnout and lots of fun. Al and Strunk were on their game and the sound was really good. Now I'm headed down to WBGB... watch out NEIL!!!

What a great event! We were really worried at 6:50 when the only people assembled in the performance space (which sat 100), were Dan, Anita,their kids... Gavin and Saige, my 90 year old friend Bunny and my son Eli.
Then at around 7:06 loads of people suddenly appeared or as my son said "apparated"... Anyway.. it was just awesome. We performed as an acoustic trio. Me Al and Strunk. Played Invisible Man, October Sky, This is It, Movin' on with you, I see Mary and lots more from all the CD's to date. Old friends and fans came out ...like... Jake..who hadn't seen me since my "Secret Lovers" days. And ED... everyone's aged but me... kidding. Eli gave away Alice Project mugs which he filled with chocolates for all the folks who had their CD's autographed. Jersey Todd was there, Pammy, Sandy, Ed and so many more friends than I can mention...you know who you are...came. I was so appreciative of the turnout. Joe DeLong the music manager told me it was his best event to date and he thought it sounded amazing. Sold more than 30 CD's! Hope to do more of these.

OK... here's the week so far... A great article/interview with Susan VanDongan from the Princeton Packet. A crazy radio interview with Garyinthemorning.com, and a meeting wth my old friend at Universal Records. Oh yeah... and my wallet was stolen at Target??? So crazy. Jimmy is off on tour with Anna something and Al is doing the big room at La Borgata. I'm at Tball practice and mailing CD's to everyone. Excited to see the usual and unusual suspects at Barnes and Noble on Saturday... in gowns I hope.

Finally ... after 5 years. Our CD "THE GIRL ON THE BOX" is here. The guys...Strunk, Jimmy and AL worked really hard to bring it all together. It's really a masterpiece. YAY!

On Friday I (Alice) got the chance to participate in the singer/songwriter series at Riverspace Theater in Nyack,NY. The audience was amazing. I played the grand piano and introduced a song I haven't played "live" before. The best part of the gig was meeting Kat Goldman... possibly the most talented singer/songwriters I've come across in a very long time. We really hit it off and she crashed at my house after the gig. She's from Toronto and I encourage everyone to check her stuff out. I'm probably going to do some gigs with her in Toronto this summer. Can't wait.

Saturday was a cool solo gig as well up in Long Valley. Another great crowd and I reconnected with some old fans that made the gig a huge party. "BOB" resurfaced as a smash hit once again.

Can't believe it after 5 years of writing and recording....it's DONE!!! We'll be presenting it at BARNES and NOBLE in the Market Fair in Princeton, NJ. And it will be available at CD Baby and all shows. Dan Komoda did an amazing job on the artwork and my size 4 gown that I wore as a maid of honor at my girlfriends wedding came in handy!!!

Lots going on at the moment. Just received the artwork for our upcoming CD from Dan Komoda and are sending it out this week for printing. Recorded a new song "Having a great day" and are really psyched about it. It's on our Myspace page. Just got our first CD release party scheduled for May 17th at Barnes and Noble in Princeton along with some new shows and venues. Always something cool going on to keep us in the game.

Great game on Sunday. So much fun watching men shout at the TV. So, my great friend and artistic genius Dan Komoda finished the artwork to our new CD and it's fantastic. We'll be sending it out for printing this week. Can't wait for you all to see it. Just recorded a really big number I wrote with Jimmy Leahey...."Having a great Day" at his studio today. Just makes me smile. I think it's a big one. Always an amazing feeling to finish a new song. ahhhhh

If anyone is reading this... I just want to wish you a very happy new year filled with love and wonderful adventures. I once heard a saying.."live each day as if it were your last... one day you're bound to be right" I try to do this and am deeply aware of my mortality. I try to make sure I let my close friends and family know how much I love them. I never take my or my family's good health for granted. I strive to be a better and more empathetic person each day. I am still working to write my best song yet. I try to lead by example. I guess that's it for now. Peace

Jimmy, Strunk and I had a really great gig as the ALICE PROJECT trio last night. Thanks to so many of our friends for coming out and making it awesome... Pammy and Robert, Rich and Sandra and kids, Wayne and Lisa, the Lovely misses and friends, Saaaaaaaaandy, Bill, Don and lovely misses, the old After Alice crew, Kat and uh oh I'm forgetting... but didn't forget "knight". Alot of cracking up... very cool. We did miss AL...

SO... I only do about 50 "live" shows a year now and out of those I can say for sure THIS WEEKEND was a highlight. It was so cool to see so many friends and fans who really appreciated our work and songwriting. It was all about the music and it felt effortless. My voice was right on, the band was relaxed and on fire all at the same time. If you ask me why I still do it.... you gotta see it live.

Our new CD "THE GIRL ON THE BOX" is finally finished...after 5 years... and man are my arms tired... but I digress.. OK, and we just shot 2 cool videos (you tube) that now appear on our website (front page)

One features a huge glass head and me in a lovely gown, and the other features my little boy "IT"... and let's not forget Jimmy eating Al's head at the very end!

OK... A new SOLO gig in Hillsborough NJ. Turned out to be really great. No shortage of partying people, booty dancing in dress slacks and a rousing version of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" to light the place on fire. Couldn't believe how supportive everyone was and felt that they honestly were having a great time. I really hope to play there again soon! Sold 10 CD's...whoohoo...