Check out this cool photo of me posing with fans from the July 5th Washington Times by staff photographer Allison Shelley.  Great photo, so I had to share it with you guys.  (for the original, see http://www.washingtontimes.com/photos/2009/jul/05/49833/)

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On another note, tune in on-line to next week’s Bedroom Sessions for another private acoustic concert from the comforts of my own bedroom.

Register For:  The Bedroom Sessions with Kevin Burdick
Next Show:  Episode 3, Tuesday, July 14th @ 6 PM PST

If you missed the Bedroom Sessions this week, you weren’t alone.  At least a billion people missed it, maybe more – LOL.  Luckily there were a good number of fans and friends who saw it LIVE and seemed to really enjoy it.  A big thanks to everyone who attended and for all the real-time shoutouts I got in the chatroom and on my cell phone.  You guys are the best!!

For those who missed it, here’s a little peek at what you missed:

Last week’s Bedroom Sessions was a wild success as we had people from all over the world logging in during and after (on playback) to watch the short 3 song performance from my bedroom.  Personally, I enjoyed it so much that I’ve scheduled another one.  Hopefully you can make it.  This time, I’m even going to brave an improv song based on audience suggestions.

Register For:  The Bedroom Sessions with Kevin Burdick
Next Show:  Episode 2, Tuesday, June 16th @ 6 PM PST

And for those of you that missed it.

With my performance schedule slowing while I write my 5th album, there won’t be very many opportunities to come see me perform this year - Thursday, June 25th in Hollywood is one of those rare exceptions.

The Viper Room, originally started by a group headlined by Johnny Depp, is an icon on the Sunset Strip.  Adding your name to the list of artists that have performed there is a right of passage for any musician.  Hope to see you there before 11 PM on June 25th when I take the stage and add my name to that list!!

Print the flyer below to save money at the door: 

Note:  ….Hollowbody LA presents acoustic Thursdays at the Green Room, the downstairs lounge at the Viper Room. 21+, $8 w/ flyer. Guests will have access to the entire venue. The Green Room bar offers serious drink specials for its guests. Makers Mark, Tanqueray Gin, all flavors of Sky Vodka, Wine and many other premium brands are only $5. Pabst cans are only $4. Free street parking is easy for the early shows. Yellow, loading zones are safe parking after 6pm, as are any green curbs. Otherwise there’s a pay lot on property, which is only $5 after 11pm.  8852 W. Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069

While my performance schedule has slowed for the writing of my 5th album, my love of music has never wained.  Of course, while I love Muse and Ben Folds, classic Elton John and Queen, here are a few of my favorite bands/musicians that you may not have heard of.  Regardless on what type of music you love, you will definitely want to check out these touring bands and send them some love.  Tell ‘em Kevin sent you.

Broke City- It is no secret that producer/musician Joel Pack is one of the reasons that my music has gained traction and popularity since he started working with me in 2005.  I’m a much better singer/songwriter because of my experience with having worked with him as my producer.  What a lot of people may not know is that Joel’s band, Broke City (formerly of Maverick Records), tours and performs constantly.  They have several amazing albums on iTunes and their music is both intense and real.  Joel’s lyrics and voice are beyond comparison.  I would also be remiss if I didn’t take the time to thank Broke City’s drummer, The Rob (who played drums on 3 of my albums) and bass player Brad Verrier (who played bass on 1 of my albums and toured with me for a time).  Great guys, all of them.  Check ‘em out!

Dean Fields – A couple years back when I went out to Nashville to perform at the world famous Blue Bird Cafe, I had the pleasure to meet and perform with singer/songwriter Dean Fields.  Dean, an acoustic guitarist and folk songwriter from the east coast, has a voice like John Mayer and plays the guitar like James Taylor.  Bottom line, he is just one of the real good guys making music out there.  His stories in his songs are beautiful and his song-writing is deep and meaningful.  You’ll love him, especially if you like music that tells a story.

Royal Bliss- I owe Taylor (guitars) and Neal (vocals) from Salt Lake City’s Royal Bliss a lot of gratitude.  While working my way as an up-and-coming musician in Utah, Taylor mentored me and booked me for several opening shows at the popular club Liquid Joe’s – the entired band was a source of inspiration and support for me.  I have the utmost respect for these guys and wish and hope for their huge success now and in the future.  Their new album is available on iTunes and in-stores via Capital Records.  Personally, though I love their new album, I still prefer the comfort and memories of the two older Royal Bliss albums I own.

SuperSoFar- Not too long ago, I had the real pleasure of performing in Utah with James (vocals) and SuperSoFar at Salt Lake City’s Huka Bar.  Not only are these guys great people, they make great music.  James has a unique voice that is unmistakable; and their songs are both accessible and unique.  They have several albums available on iTunes and continue to put out radio ready music all over the web.  See what you think.

Spencer Nielsen- A few years ago, and as a new solo artist, I stumbled onto Spencer in one of my favorite venues in Salt Lake City, the now defunct “Cabana Club.”  He was also a rock pianist, but his style was a little more like Jack Johnson mixed with Eddie Vetter (imagine that).  Soon we began to perform together all around Salt Lake City, sometimes sharing a drummer (thanks Dan Pectol) and often switching back and forth between sets.  My days with Spencer were a golden time for me – back when things were just fun and when the business side of music was the last thing on my mind.  If you haven’t heard his tunes, check him out.  You will enjoy him.

Chris Trapper- I discovered Chris Trapper on a podcast that was featuring both him and I, specifically his 2006 song, “I Wish I Was Cool” which I strangely identified with.  Chris is a product of Boston, and like me, was originally in bands before breaking off as a solo artist back around 2002/2003.  He is an exceptional singer/songwriter who writes songs that are as cool as they are personal.

Opal Hill Drive- One of my last shows out of Utah, before moving to Los Angeles, was a 2 night performance with one of my favorite local Utah bands, Opal Hill Drive.  Jedi, the lead singer, handed me a copy of their album before I hit the road and it has been on my regular play-list ever since.  Gritty, raw, and real – their music is a reminder that life can be a beautiful challenge.  My favorite song of theirs, “I Don’t Wanna Die” is a regular inclusion on mix CDs I make for myself and friends.

Anyway, hope you love the adventures in discovering new music as much as I do.  These groups I listed are all comprised of great people and talented artists.  Enjoy the musical journey.

If you don’t currently own all four of Kevin Burdick’s albums (available on iTunes) there are a number of websites giving away free previews and a free download or two of his 40+ tracks.  Some of these sites offer a cool interface and an easy way to discover tons of brand new bands and artists, besides just enjoying Kevin’s CDs.  Here are Kevin’s 5 favorites that you may want to explore:

Blip.fm
Blip is a cool site where you are able to set yourself up with a free “DJ” account.  Friends can see what music you’re listening too and can choose to follow/listen to your playlist or create their own.  Kevin’s albums are currently all over this site and are in regular rotation by a number of fans and friends.  Feel free to get an account set up and start creating and sharing your own custom play lists with your friends.  It is currently Kevin’s favorite of the music sharing sites and is linked with his Twitter account.

Last.fm
Last.fm can actually be set up to connect to your current iTunes library and will make recommendations of other artists you might like based on your current album collection.  This site also features a large number of Kevin’s songs.  It operates in a similar fashion to Blip.fm, but isn’t quite as user friendly.  Still, it is a great way to find, share, and listen to new music based on your current musical tastes.

TheSixtyOne.com
TheSixtyOne is filled with independent artists of all types and is a perfect site for someone wanting to discover new and unsigned artists.  The website is currently offering Kevin’s song, Mercy, from his 2006 Album “In Your Cocoon” as a free download.  It’s a great site for exploring new music and for networking with like-minded people who prefer NOT to listen to Top 40 radio, but would rather find their own unique sound.

Soundcloud.com
Soundcloud features one of the coolest music player interfaces on the web – it looks and sounds awesome.  There are several of Kevin’s song’s available for your listening pleasures and these tracks can be interfaced easily with your facebook page or myspace page for easy playing or to share with your friends. 

PureVolume.com
PureVolume features thousands of large and small unsigned acts, with a few well-known bands thrown in that you are no doubt familiar with (i.e. Fall Out Boy, etc).  PureVolume is currently showcasing all 4 of Kevin’s songs from his 2006 EP, “In Your Cocoon.”  It features a clean, easy-to-browse profile for each of the bands and allows users to pick and choose their favorites from a wide selection.

One last site you may want to check out it is iLike.com – we’re not really sure how it works, but Kevin’s music has found it’s way on there and he has a small established fan base there.  We do know that the site interfaces with Facebook and allows you to share your favorite music with your Facebook friends, but other than that – well, you’re on your own.  You can get there by going to:  http://www.ilike.com/artist/Kevin+Burdick 

It can be difficult for an artist in today’s climate to make ends meet.  A recession, labels taking more and more of the profits, piracy via file sharing services, venues struggling to keep their doors open - there are a lot of things set against artists in general.  As always, however, Kevin remains optimistic about his future, especially after realizing a simple truth:  All an artist needs in order to thrive is 1000 true fans.

Are you a true fan of Kevin Burdick?  Before you answer that, renowned blogger Kevin Kelly explains what a True Fan is on his website:  “A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans (kk.com).”

We’re looking for Kevin’s 1000 True Fans.  We are sending out the call.  Declare your allegiance:  Are you a true Kevin Burdick fan?  If so, proudly post the banner below on your Myspace or Facebook page and help us find the remaining 999.

Note:  Periodically we will send unreleased songs, remixes, and live recordings to Kevin’s True Fans.  To stand up and be counted as one of the 1000, send an e-mail to truefans@kevinburdick.com.

Leave People Better Than You Found Them (L.P.B.T.Y.F.T.) – This is a philosophy, or maybe even a creed, that has developed inside me over the years that I thought I’d share with you.  It has brought me peace in times of struggle and has helped me with the difficult decisions of how to react in times of conflict and misunderstanding in my relationships – friends, family, or otherwise.  They say that people enter your life for “a reason, a season, or a lifetime,” but by striving to leave people better then we found them, everyone can enter our lives for one very specific reason – to be positively changed.

If a love affair isn’t going to last, if a friendship is going to end, or if someone leaves this earth tomorrow, I want them to be able to say that they were “left better than I found them” – that for dating me or knowing me they are more loved, more cherished, more educated, more inspired, and more, well… better.  I am sure that not everyone who has ever loved me or known me can say that, but I have really tried to follow this path in all my relationships.

I’m guessing my first wife doubted that she was better off for knowing me – back then I wasn’t very skilled at loving people – but I guarantee that some of the reasons why her 2nd marriage has been so successful was because of lessons that she learned by loving me.  In a lot of ways I know I prepared her for something better.

My 2nd wife was heart-broken and financially upended when I met her in Las Vegas.  When we finally parted, she was a wealthy escrow-officer for one of the fastest growing title companies in Utah and Colorado.  She had been loved, as hard as I could love, for 4 ½ years.  In spite of the painful ending, I wouldn’t change a thing about marrying her.  I would do it all again knowing how it ended, and I know she’d tell you that she was better off for loving me. 

Leaving people better than you’ve found them can be tricky.  It means that you have to gain some thick skin and attempt to be unselfish and altruistic.  It is an idea that is easier said than done.  When someone attempts to hurt you in a relationship, you could retaliate, humiliate, or hurt them back, but what would be the point?  Revenge?  Being able to take pain, without returning pain is difficult, but it is a part of leaving people better.  It’s not always easy.

When one girlfriend I was ending things with started sending me mean text messages telling me how much she was mad at me and how I was an “asshole.”  I didn’t take it personally – I simply apologized.  She was mad and was trying to bait me into a fight.  What would fighting with her accomplish?  How would it leave her better?  Would it simply fill my pride – would I teach her a lesson?  Hopefully she and all of the others will look back on their time with me and feel like it had some meaning, that there were lessons learned that made them better people, better lovers, better communicators, and better friends.

Going to be near Washington DC this Independence Day?  If so, come out to the National Parade and meet Kevin Burdick.  He’ll be one of the celebrities for the event as he rides along the parade route singing several of your favorite Kevin Burdick songs including:  Never Let Go, Camelot, At the Fisher House, and New Job.  “I am very proud to be a part of one of the most incredible celebrations of America – the National Independence Day Parade.  It’s a huge honor to have been asked to perform for the thousands of spectators along the parade route and share with them my voice.”

America’s National Independence Day Parade takes place annually on July 4th at 11:45 am in Washington, D.C., on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street before a street audience of hundreds of thousands of spectators. The Parade consists of invited bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military and specialty units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams, VIP’s, national dignitaries, and celebrity participants. The Parade is a major national event which seeks to draw the attention of Americans to the real meaning for the holiday. It is a patriotic, flag-waving, red white and blue celebration of America’s birthday!

To see more about the National Independence Day Parade Event, go to:  www.july4thparade.com

Entertainer Kevin Burdick living riches to rags tale 
By Mike Henle
          Entertainer Kevin Burdick may be the storybook example of an entertainer whose trials and tribulations are best illustrated in his music.
        Those who perform on stage tend to be ideal motivators considering their ability to transform victories and setbacks into music with storylines that others can identify with.
        And for the piano playing 36-year-old native of St John’s, Ariz., sitting down behind a keyboard is tantamount to a therapy session without the charge.
        Burdick’s own story entails what might be considered riches to rags series of chapters that tells of a career that has seen him combine a career in medical software with that of a musical career with an endless series of ups and downs.
        A graduate of Brigham Young University, Burdick is thankful for his victories and philosophical about his defeats. He has been playing the piano since he was six learning that music calms him while also offering great joy.
        “My parents forced me to take lessons and I didn’t like the piano much when I was a kid,” Burdick relates now. “It was a struggle to practice.
        “Then I learned Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and that got me hooked. I was in about the seventh grade and I then realized that I could also write music. It was in my genes.”
        By the time he became a senior in high school, Burdick excelled in playing the piano. He was riding a wave and capitalized on the talent while working his way through BYU in Provo, Utah.
        In 2005, Burdick wrote “Robbie’s Song” which told of an uncle who spent seven years in prison for drug trafficking. The song combined with his day job in the medical software business created a good income.
        “I was making six figures and had no debt,” Burdick explained. “It was awesome.”
        But as quickly as the bank account ballooned, the bottom fell out when Burdick invested $100,000 in a hard money loan operation that had been presented as a no-lose proposition. Compounding the financial decline was another $25,000 loan to a friend who also hasn’t paid back the debt.
         “It can all be gone in a heartbeat,” says the personable Burdick. “Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a safe investment nowadays.”
        Burdick’s lifestyle suddenly went from living in an expensive house and driving a Lexus to living with buddies and hanging out in a tour bus. To say the past few years have humbled is an understatement especially considering things were compounded by the fact that his infant daughter died six years ago of a heart ailment.
        However, through it all, Burdick is still playing at establishments throughout the country at a time when Americans are searching for an outlet during troubling times. Live entertainment along with movie theaters have seemed to enjoy good results as people search for an escape from reality.
        “I should be booked up throughout the year especially in Southern California,” said Burdick. “I’m now working in a lot of small venues where people seem to enjoy solo artists.
        “I am a story teller and people seem to appreciate that.”
        While venue owners can also present their share of issues, Club Trip in Santa Monica has remained one of Burdick’s favorite spots to play.
        “The owner there has really treated me well,” Burdick said. “He seems to appreciate the music and the storylines behind each song. Sometimes you’ll find people both crying and laughing during the songs depending on the music.
        “As an entertainer, you know how well you’re doing by the reaction from the audience. But only a handful of entertainers get rich in this business, that’s for sure.”
        Other performances have been in Las Vegas and Nashville.
        In the meantime, Burdick wants to start writing for other entertainers knowing he can continue to perform. He also has a touching charity called The Dempsey Burdick Memorial Foundation which offers to help purchase headstones for infants who have passed away.
        Twice divorced and struggling with psoriasis, Burdick is convinced not to give up.
        “This can definitely be a rat trap,” he says. “There have been such massive changes in the music industry and companies are not going to spend a lot of money marketing an entertainer. The industry has struggled to adapt to the MP3s and digital music, so the ability to make a living is somewhat limited nowadays.
        “There is definitely a lot of talk and very little delivery.”
        Friend and business manager Ken Gray praises Burdick.
        “Kevin is a very close personal friend,” says Gray. “His biggest strength is his ability to bring a real life tragedy into a song and make it into melodious music. He has songs that are very deep and very passionate. You can’t help but feel the passion. He is nothing short of genius.”
        Gray said he will often receive emails from fans lauding Burdick’s performances.
        “I have actually received emails from people saying Kevin’s music has saved their lives,” he said. “We have members of the audience who are suffering and they appreciate Kevin’s work. Very few entertainers can identify with his fans like Kevin. He’s not the least bit phony and there is no doubt in my mind that he will one day be a household name.”
        Burdick has signed with goDigital.com, so his CDs are being distributed throughout the world through the Internet. He is also working with several event planners to be included in large national shows including the 2009 national Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C.
        “Kevin tears the place up every time he’s here,” said John DeCoster, owner of Club TRiP in Santa Monica. “He is an incredibly talented performer. Each and every time he has performed at Trip, he somehow manages to bring light hearted and absolutely hysterical improvisation balanced with music that shows his true artistic depth.”
          Further information regarding Burdick’s career and his foundation can be found at www.kevinburdick.com or www.dempseyburdick.com.  

Mike Henle is a Nationally Recognized Las Vegas based freelance writer and the author of “Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” He can be contacted at mhenle@aol.com or through his web site www.mikehenle.com.