As I sat across from my friend Shelly at the Bayou in Salt Lake City, I began explaining to her how easy it is to reject some or give someone some bad news about themselves.  She was having the most difficult time breaking up with a guy that was so clearly not right for her, because she “didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”  Maybe it’s because I’m jaded or maybe it’s just because I’ve had to explain to too many women in my life ”why they aren’t the one” that this method just developed naturally for me, but after talking with Shelly, I figured I’d share it with all my friends in hopes that it might help others out there needing some help delivering bad news.

The Sandwich Method (a Kevin Burdick original) – This is my method of delivering bad news, breaking up with a girl, or genuinely being an ass without actually being an ass.  It is the perfect delivery for news that is hard to deliver to a boyfriend, co-worker, or family member.  The Sandwich Method includes two nice fluffy pieced of white bread (metaphorically speaking) and a big slab of greasy meat in the middle.  When delivering criticism using the sandwich method, your employer might try this: 

Bread Piece 1 (Positive):  You are a great person Steve.  Well liked by all your co-workers and a really hard worker.

Meat Hunk (Negative):  But to be honest with you, some of your co-workers have started complaining that you smell a little weird, kind of like a dirty baby’s diaper or a monkey’s armpit – I am going to have to ask you to get some cologne and work a little harder on that in these close quarters we’re in.
Bread Piece 2 (Positive):  Don’t take this personally, like I said, everyone here likes you a lot.  You’re the hardest worker on the team, an enormous asset to the company, and the guy here with the biggest heart.  No one will even remember this in a few weeks.

So by starting with positive statements and finishing with positive statements, the meat of the discussion (i.e. criticism) is a lot easier for the employee to swallow.  Now let’s look at this example from a boyfriend/girlfriend situation.  Let’s say you are trying to break up with your girlfriend using the sandwich method: 

Bread Piece 1 (Positive):  Look Jane.  You are a beautiful girl, sexy, intelligent, and funny.  Everyone knows that.
Meat Hunk (Negative):  I have to be honest with you though, you aren’t the girl I’m looking for and I don’t want to sit here and try to change you into someone else.  You deserve to have someone looking for your qualities – I need someone who is less controlling, somewhat mentally and emotionally stable, and someone who allows me more independence.
Bread Piece 2 (Positive):  I know there is someone out there who is going to fit better with you and who will gel with you.  I’m sorry it’s not me, but knowing all of your incredible qualities I am confident that your dream guy is still out there – you just need to go out and find him. 

The Sandwich method of delivering tough news is good for almost anything.  Feel free to adapt it to your own tastes – maybe you like mustard on your sandwich or maybe you like your sandwich with smaller pieces of bread.  Regardless, a sandwich just isn’t a sandwich without a little bread - so soften the blow with a little bit of positive before and after your bad news.  Hope this helps!!

Lunch at the world famous Chateau Marmont yesterday may have included salmon sandwiches, spaghetti bolognese, and a little bit of Kevin Burdick for the hundred or so people eating lunch prior to attending an AIDS awareness event called “FilmAid.”  As I filled the room with delicious background piano music, I gazed around the luncheon area of the world famous hotel located just off of the Sunset Strip.  It didn’t make me nervous that 2 of the members of the band Maroon 5 sat some 15 feet away on a couch listening, or when Christoper “Doc from Back to the Future” Lloyd walked by the piano barefoot.  I also was not intimidated when Winona Ryder stopped to listen before crossing to her table on the other side of the room - I was probably more concerned that she’d steal my sun glasses that lay on piano in front of me (just a joke, Winona).  It was a little ’dream-like’ as I looked over the piano and made eye contact briefly with Leonardo DiCaprio as he talked to a couple friends in the lobby.  But what made the afternoon for me (and also made me a little nervous) was when I noticed Bono and the Edge finish their meal and walk out.  As a musician, performing anything for Bono is nearly like showing your kid’s high school paintings to Picasso.  It is intimidating.

Mostly it was just one of those magical and surreal Hollywood Sunday afternoon’s where a musician from Salt Lake City got to bring his original music and charm and spread it across the ears of the rich and famous like musical peanut butter.  Perhaps they didn’t give a second thought to the piano man bringing them their afternoon dinner music before their charity event, but just for a moment they all stopped and heard me - even if just for a moment.

The five shows that I performed over the last 10 days here in the greater Los Angeles area were some of the most entertaining shows I’ve had to date.  From the packed house at the Cat Club, to the rediculous drunken heckler at Club TRiP, to the small group at Palladino’s who were treated to the epic improv song lovingly entitled “Boats and Ho’s and a Game called Trouble” - this was a great 10 day stretch!

Big thanks to all the guys who helped with these shows musically - we had a great team down here:  Keith Hubbard (Bass), Joe Mott (Guitars), Dylan Halacy (Drums), and Aaron Chavez (Percussion, Backup Vocals).  Ken Gray who did a great job getting these shows in a good pocket and handling all the arrangements.  Virtually all of the shows had good little crowds that came out to support and so a big ‘thanks a bunch’ to old fans and new fans who came to support.

For friends/fans who don’t live in Southern California, luckily my lifelong friend and world photographer Jared Platt happened to be in town lecturing at a photo conference, so you get to see some of the coolest photos from the Santa Monica O’Brien’s show.  Enjoy.

There are those that say “it can’t be done in this current market…”, there are those who throw words like “success”, “drive” and ”fame” around like common buffalo nickles.  As Kevin Burdick’s business manager it is my pleasure to address you loyal and loving fans at this time, although the circumstances of this blog are not the most favorable. 

Kevin has diligently spent this recent year in hardcore dedication to finding a happy medium of the above mentioned beliefs.  We both feels that it can indeed be done… success, drive and fame… that is.  In fact we believe even a greater potential for his music as well as his very name and reputation. 

The search for this has come at a great “cost” and it is my responsibility to deliver the “bill”.  I regret to inform all of you that Kevin Burdick will be canceling his October shows at Hotel Utah in San Francisco and The Quarter Note in San Jose.  The mental, physical and spiritual strain on Kevin and the sheer time it involves has pushed Kevin into an emotional hibernation.  His Filling Station shows in Magna this past week were essentially the tail end of a one year road tour across the western states.  Living in a tour bus and traveling daily is just a fraction of what had Kevin virtually collapse from the wear and tear last week.  It’s a culmination of all things; financial expenses with touring, dealing with untrustworthy people in the industry, releasing his new album and the loss of friends. 

Sitting in mental, emotional and physical pain, and after a moment by himself last Saturday, August 23rd, he sought the advice of a close friend as well as his Medicine Man and Shaman.  The desire for a break turned into a “need”. 

The great news is that if most of you know Kevin as I do, he will soon awaken and the musical juggernaut will emerge from its slumber to again perform and bring you the music, passion, and entertainment you all love. 

A special thanks to Overtone Records and Media in Hollywood, CA.  Christian Ashton, CEO, is a blessing.  He is a huge support for Kevin in his time of rest, stating “Kevin is the next big thing…”.  Mr. Ashton’s professionalism and grace are unmatched, as he has gone out of his way to accommodate Kevin in a beautiful home in Hollywood, 3 blocks off Sunset Strip… The perfect place for a Rock Star to recollect and relax.  With that kind of support from industry greats as well as incredible fans I believe Kevin’s hiatus to last only a short while.

Kevin will still be playing his Los Angeles shows at The Cat Club on the 5th and 12th of September, The Nocturnal (Club TRiP) on the 11th of September as well as a special show on September 9th at O’Brien’s Pub in Santa Monica.  Please stay tuned for news on his recovery.  Again, we love and care for you all and hope to feel your support, prayers, and best wishes.

Best regards,
Kenneth Gray

With this Northern California leg of our tour being complete, I took my attention from touring to relaxing.  Jaime, a close friend of mine, flew in from Salt Lake City and Ken, Jaime and I hit the fields of grapes in Napa Valley in search of the perfect wine.  It is beautiful countryside filled with incredible foods, beautiful scenery, and wonderful people.  More importantly, it was a perfect and relaxing break from weeks of hard work, especially with the big CD release party in Salt Lake City just around the corner.

Not coincidentally, my great-grandpa’s 100th birthday party was Saturday in Yuba City, CA - so we finished our Napa Valley tour just in time to pull in and spend Saturday with Burdick relatives from all over the country.  Women should be forwarned that we Burdick men live an extremely long time, so if you’re dating me for my money (ha-ha), I’m gonna out-live you!!  Check out this photo of me, my nephew, my father, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather - 5 generations of stubborn Burdick men.  Gotta love it!!  I performed “Like a Star” off of my 2002 album for all my relatives and then spent a few minutes signing autographs and getting photos taken with my younger cousins in front of the tour bus before we hit the road for Salt Lake City.  It was a great day and I’m definitely proud to be a Burdick.

Only one more week to pick up the Walking Wounded CD Pre-Sale on the website: http://www.kevinburdick.com/buy.html

Quirky Kevin Burdick interview in the Napa Valley: 

More photos:

Being on-tour isn’t always just shows and partying.  There is plenty of downtime and this week, while waiting for my big “Wharf to Wharf Festival” show in Santa Cruz, we have had our share of it.  I’ve written two more songs in the tour bus (with business manager Ken Gray even chipping in with some lyrics), we’ve tried a myriad of local California restaurants, we’ve been kicked out of two parking lots (it’s tough to find parking for this 31-foot monstrosity sometimes and FYI the Santa Cruz Safeway guys are total dicks), we’ve played a ridiculous amount of video games, spent countless hours at the 24-hour fitness, and have made some great strides with booking for September and October.

So yesterday, when decided to finally get out of the tour bus and wander the streets of Santa Cruz randomly (labelling it ‘Adventure Day’) we decided to film the momentous occasion and share it with all of you - see below.  Consequently, we did find a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ restaurant in Santa Cruz called the Peach Garden which was some of the best Chinese food I’ve had in a long time.

PS  A quick reminder, only 2 more weeks to order the new CD “We Are The Walking Wounded” at the discounted pre-sale rate:   http://www.kevinburdick.com/buy.html

A walk in Santa Cruz with Kevin Burdick:

Two night’s ago the beautiful Kevin Burdick Tourbus decided it would take a break from touring - only 15,000 miles on it - gotta love those Ford engines.  Apparently the transmission blew a hole in it’s case and leaked out all of it’s transmission fluid.  So, as they say in Tijuana, “The show must go on, Jefe’!”  So we got our sweet mini-van loaner from the Ford dealership and are moving forward. 

Word is that it could take nearly a week to get a new trannie here from the manufacturer (again, gotta love Ford).  Luckily, we’re resourceful - big thanks to our friends the Lineweavers for letting us crash at their house in the meantime and also our great Toyota Tour Mini-Van for allowing us to continue the tour.  What are the chances that the Toyota Transmission takes a dump on us on our way to Hollywood?  My guesses are, very unlikely.

Upcoming Shows:
Jun 12 2008 9:30P  Starry Plough - Berkeley, CA
Jun 18 2008 9:30P The Joint - Beverly Hills, CA
Jun 22 2008 9:30P The Cat Club - West Hollywood, CA

Photos from the road:

Our 1st San Francisco leg of the tour was a great experiment: 4 stinky guys, crammed into the tour bus, with all the gear we could handle.  I wanted to know how the tour bus would hold up, as well as how we would do at not killing each other.  The tour bus beds are more comfortable than you might think, but are no 4-seasons hotel.  As we pulled back into Salt Lake City at 4 AM on Tuesday morning, I can safely say that the trip was a huge success and a lot fun.  San Francisco meet Kevin Burdick.  Kevin Burdick meet San Francisco.

Friday - My show at Bean Scene Cafe in Sunnyvale wasn’t super-well attended, maybe 50 people through out the evening.  However, the people that were there tipped well and bought CDs, plus I know that the employees of Bean Scene really liked what I was throwing down.  It was a chill, early show, that left plenty of time to explore the greater San Francisco area.  We ended the night at a birthday party at a tiny bar in Walnut Creek.

Saturday - We spent much of the day watching the NFL draft, before getting ready for my benefit show at Studio 333.  The proceeds from this show would specifically benefit art programs for inner-city and high-risk youth, giving them a healthy outlet to express themselves (as opposed to drugs and gangs).  It was a very worthwhile show and the several hundred people that attended seemed to really appreciate my performance.  The highlight for the show was the improv song I did for Chance who was one of the young artists there.  I sang about how he was the next Picasso and also auctioned him off to the highest bidding ladies during the tune.  It was pretty funny and a priceless moment to make the 12-year-old painter squirm and blush a bit.

Sunday - Just a chill day.  My allergies were killing me and I had very little energy after the two shows.  Mostly I napped and we spent some time on the beach near the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was a super relaxing day and I’ve included some photos below.

Big thanks to the Lineweavers for letting us use their shower and TV, for Courtney for her huge fan-ness and donation of In-and-Out Burger to the band, the hot older lady at Studio 333 who was undressing me with her eyes (very flattering), to Jennifer the best booking agent in the land, Steven a great drummer and photographer, for Paris for letting us borrow Steven, to Eric for filming much of the weekend, and for Ken for doing such a kick-ass job at being my business manager and personal tour bus driver for much of the weekend!!

Here are some random photos from the weekend courtesy of Steven Hansen!

The Kevin Burdick Tour is in full swing and hitting the road in a number of places/cities you may want to check out.  We will be in San Francisco on the 25th/26th of this month and will be in St. George, Utah on the 2nd and 3rd of May.  We’ll be back in Salt Lake City for a big show at Liquid Joe’s on the 16th of May (e-mail me at kevin@kevinburdick.com for tickets and I’ll have them at the door for you).  You can see the full list of upcoming shows on the right side of the blog.  We hope to see you out at one or more of the shows and are looking forward to touring throughout 2008 and deep into 2009.  Don’t be shy about coming up and introducing yourself as a fan/friend, especially if I haven’t met you.  I don’t bite much and am really approachable.

Tour bus life can be both a blast and exhausting, but luckily the musicians I hang out with and my best friend/business manager, Ken, are awesome guys to travel with.  See you on the road soon!!

CONTACT:Kenneth Gray
Racelden Records
801-602-7949
kennethagray@gmail.com
www.kevinburdick.com   

PRESS RELEASE * PRESS RELEASE * PRESS RELEASE * PRESS RELEASE 

MUSICIAN LEAVES SIX-FIGURE INCOME TO LIVE IN HIS TOUR BUS AS HE HEADS FOR THE BAY AREA—AND HIS RECORD LABEL IS FOLLOWING HIM! 

To call piano rocker Kevin Burdick “up-and-coming” is a bit of a stretch; he’s already here and taking the music world by storm. So really, it’s just a matter of time before everyone knows his name and his special brand of music. What might be appropriate, however, is to call him just a little bit crazy. In the past several months, Burdick has quit his six-figure-a-year job, traded in his two luxury cars, sold his condo and his 6 bedroom house in the Salt Lake City mountains, liquidated all his stocks and emptied his 401k.

Saturday, April 26, 6-10pm
Benefit for “Art of Transformation” and the Lincoln Child Center
At Studio 333
333-A Caledonia St.
Sausalito, CA
~ Suggested Donation: $20-50 at the Door ~