As you start seeing the on-line advertisements for Heroes of Kung Fu, the next big web game from http://www.webmmo.com/, you’ll hear a familiar voice behind the beautiful visuals. Yep, it’s yours truly. I’m flattered to be the music behind their most anticipated on-line game. I hope that individuals among their 30 Million Players who aren’t familiar with me, will soon discover my unique sound.
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the crib,
My ipod was playing some ‘Bel-Boe-Deviv.’
I got up to switch it and put on something new,
As I quickly scrolled down to my favorite band Muse.
“Hysteria” thumped as I turned up the speakers,
The bass filled my body – my head to my sneakers.
It rattled my Christmas tree, and rumbled my walls,
Like visions of Stevie Ray Vaughan at Carnegie Hall.
As I rocked like a reindeer, I heard something crumble,
It was Santa who had slipped on the rooftop, he’d stumbled?!?!?
I grabbed me a ladder, and climbed up the side,
I yelled to Kris Kringle, “Are you all right?!?”
“I’ve broken me arm and I’ve injured me head.
I can’t pilot my sleigh! Oh, Christmas is dead.” I replied, “Do not worry, you are now in good hands.”
As I backed up my tour bus and called out to my band.
I dropped gift after present to my drummer below
As my guitar player, Joseph, had Santa in tow.
We loaded the tour bus, and filled it with gas.
I put on some music to help us relax.
Go Ben Folds, Go Bee Gees, Go Jay-Z and U2,
On Weezer, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Who.
We turned up the tunes as we checked on the cargo,
We’d have to save Christmas from L.A. to Key Largo.
We drove off in a flash as we went door to door,
And delivered the presents to the rich and the poor.
As we squeeled all the tires, I screamed out to the block, “Merry Christmas to all – May your holiday rock!!”
For my friends and fans. Thanks so much for all of your support over 2009. Here’s to an amazing 2010!! Love and Best Wishes,
Kevin Burdick www.PianoRockstar.com
As I sat with my chicken dinner tonight next to a couple of college students, I couldn’t help overhear the conversation they were having. They were reading a text message that the boy had received from an apparent ex-girlfriend. The text went on to tell the boy how completely, “shallow and insecure” he was. There was a number of expletives in describing the boy’s mental state and his prowess in the bedroom, all of which were not flattering.
It’s always interesting to me, with all of the means of modern communication available, how often I myself resort to text messages. My busy schedule involving strange hours, sometimes text messages are just the easiest and simplest way to get a message to it’s hopeful destination. Still, in this modern age, it seems that we have traded actual connections with people for the “McDonald’s Happy Meal Form” of talking – we like our dinners fast and our conversations even faster. 160 characters rarely sum up anyone’s feelings and are a poor substitute for, what our ancestors used to do, and that’s actually talk face-to-face. Wow, remember those days?
According to Nokia, nearly 70% of people send at least 1 text message per day. I’m not saying that text messaging doesn’t have it’s value – it does. As the quick form of getting a short important message to a friend or colleague, there’s nothing better. The problem is when people begin substituting “texting” for actually “connecting” – and we wonder why we sometimes feel so isolated.
It’s even worse when you think of how cowardly a text message is for “negative” communication. Remember when Britney Spears informed Kevin Federline she was divorcing him via text. A commitment they made face-to-face was easily dissolved by a simple 160-character message to his cell phone. I believe a face-to-face commitment deserves a face-to-face resolution – we’ve got to get back to the days of looking someone in the eye and really letting them have it: the good, the bad, and the virtually ugly. It’s too easy to hide behind our cell phones and our computers and pretend like we are truly connecting with someone – we aren’t. Case-in-point, my mother discovered text messaging a couple years ago (God Bless Her) and now our preferred method of communication seems to be the text message. The good news is we text way more than we ever called each other - the bad news is, now we have little reason to call. Well, little reason except for the simple process of “connecting.”
I’m writing this rant because I am part of the problem. I’m guilty as hell of wasting my own precious connections on a series of text messages and twitter updates, e-mails and emoticons. That’s why, as I type this, I’m also making a list of things I need to pack. Tomorrow night I load up my car and drive the 8 hours to my parent’s house where I will spend a couple days, for no other reason than just to hang out, visit, and talk face-to-face, just like our ancestors did.
Oh, s#%t – I just remembered I need to text my mom and tell her I’m coming.
The Hierarchy of Modern Communication –
(Listed from “Most to Least” Connected)
Face to Face. Talking, touching, intimate.
Phones. Voice to voice contact.
Mailed Letters – the intimate, thoughtful, written word.
E-mails, Chat Services, Facebook, Myspace – the sterile written word, in real-time.
Text Messages, Twitter Updates – 160 characters of modern connection
One final thought – I’ve started scheduling Sunday nights as my ‘call-people’ night. It was nice. I had my first one on Sunday at caught up with a couple old friends. It felt good.
A huge thank you to Internationally Renowned photographer Jared Platt (www.plattphotography.com) for assembing this incredible photo montage from our various photo shoots over the years. Jared has always been a friend and a supporter, as I am of his work also. Big luck and big thanks to him for everything he does to support me in my efforts.
Well, if you missed the short performance LIVE from my bedroom, I recorded for you. In it, I uncover my top-secret songwriting processes and give some tips to young songwriters (hope they help), plus I performed Basket Case, Never Let Go / Jump, and Camelot. It’s about 17 minutes long, I’m fully clothed, and you can fast forward any of the boring parts… Hope to see you at the next one.
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
“Happy Birthday America!! How are ya doing DC?!?!” So the national parade was even better than I imagined. Early estimates were that over 1/2 a million people attended – looking forward to hearing what the actual numbers were. Intentionally, I wore an outfit that would give homage to the King himself, Elvis Presley, which I knew would get me noticed. What I didn’t realized is just HOW MUCH it would get me noticed. I had screaming fans, people who I’m sure had no idea who I was, putting their lives in harms way to try to get a photo with me on a moving float. Security, several times, had to get people to move back from the float. It was a surreal experience to be driving between all of the historic buildings in downtown DC, with Ben Franklin by my side, singing almost the entire way.
My personal highlights include moving the microphone to Ben Franklin who sang the “Never Let Go” hook with me – by the end, I’m sure, he had all of the words memorized. Also, at the judges station, they handed me a wireless microphone which enabled me to get off of the float for a minute and go give a number of kids high fives. One little girl with down-syndrome I particularly remember; She was so cute and seemed genuinely excited to be high-fiving a quasi-celebrity. Throughout the afternoon, I also had some fun, lyrically – I guess I got a little bored, but I ended up changing a verse or two, once to honor a cop I saw on a Segway (replace “Never Let Go” with “Cop on a Segway” – it works and it’s funny) and I often inserted Ben Franklin’s name in parts of the song. This often got some good laughs from the crowd.
Many said Obama was in attendance today, but I never saw him or knew if he was. I did see a number of high ranking military people and so forth. All and all, it was an honor to be involved and hopefully I created a little more awareness on who I am and what my music is about. Big thanks to my driver (whom I’ve forgotten his name – hope he’ll forgive me), Amy Walp for putting up with me and making all of the arrangements, also John Best and Kimberly Johnson for their involvement and support on this one… Now, off to nurse my sunburn and get something to eat. I’m exhausted.
If you were one of the many people packed into the downstairs of the Viper Room, you witnessed what I like to call, “Music History.” I was so happy to see a great turn out and hopefully my energy and appreciation came across from the tiny corner that Aaron and I crammed into for the performance.
Those who attended witnessed the improv (and tribute) songs “Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett at the Lake House” and “A Great White from the Land Down Under.” Extremely silly, but fun songs guest performer Dale Spollett and I made up on the spot based on audience suggestions. I also played many of the usual suspects – Robbie’s Song, Firefly, She Does Her Crying Alone. You could have a heard a pin drop when I performed “Too Good For this World” (I added a portion of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” to the ending) which finished to absolute cheers – definitely caught a few moist eyes in the crowd and I appreciate the support for my late daughter.
After the show, I was so wasted that I absolutely crashed – one of my friends took this hilarious picture. Woke up this morning still wearing my boots and clothes. Big thanks to everyone who attended and supported, Donovan Lyman and Hollow Body for booking the show, Dale Spollett for his comedy and voice, Kevin and Sal for getting me home safely, Aaron Chavez for his incredible percussion, Hep for flying in for the show from Salt Lake City, and the Viper Room for the hospitality and love!! Seacrest out!
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
As you start seeing the on-line advertisements for Heroes of Kung Fu, the next big web game from http://www.webmmo.com/, you’ll hear a familiar voice behind the beautiful visuals. Yep, it’s yours truly. I’m flattered to be the music behind their most anticipated on-line game. I hope that individuals among their 30 Million Players who aren’t familiar with me, will soon discover my unique sound.
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the crib,
I dropped gift after present to my drummer below
It’s even worse when you think of how cowardly a text message is for “negative” communication. Remember when Britney Spears informed Kevin Federline she was divorcing him via text. A commitment they made face-to-face was easily dissolved by a simple 160-character message to his cell phone. I believe a face-to-face commitment deserves a face-to-face resolution – we’ve got to get back to the days of looking someone in the eye and really letting them have it: the good, the bad, and the virtually ugly. It’s too easy to hide behind our cell phones and our computers and pretend like we are truly connecting with someone – we aren’t. Case-in-point, my mother discovered text messaging a couple years ago (God Bless Her) and now our preferred method of communication seems to be the text message. The good news is we text way more than we ever called each other - the bad news is, now we have little reason to call. Well, little reason except for the simple process of “connecting.”
One final thought – I’ve started scheduling Sunday nights as my ‘call-people’ night. It was nice. I had my first one on Sunday at caught up with a couple old friends. It felt good.
