I would love to say that the 30,000 women at the What Women Want Convention Concert gave us an uproarious welcome, but the truth is, tradeshows and conventions are a challenging market for any artist.  In this case, the expo attendees were there primarily to to find cheaper pedicures, home decor items, tanning coupons, and the latest in tooth whitening technology.  So, for the most part, they were not particularly concerned with the music that was going on just outside the front doors.  In spite of challenges, we still sold a decent amount of merchandise and had a number of people come back by for a second listen.  Mostly our crowd was transient as many just stopped by our outdoor stage for a couple songs at a time before shuffling back indoors.  I guess what women really want is air conditioning, and unfortunately that was not something we could provide no matter how cool we were.

For this show, Brad Verrier (Bass), Chris Doucet (Guitars, Back-up Vocals), and Danny Huntsman (Drums) were my on-stage soldiers as we performed eight 30-minute sets over the two days.  We had a blast playing together and when it seemed that the crowd had dwindled, we began to play improv songs that we crafted together on the spot.  A tribute song to the Utah Jazz and a birthday song to Brad Verrier were among our better ones - improv is always a challenge when you have to keep it “family friendly” and so some songs were definitely stunted.  I almost rhymed the words “best and breasts” in one improv tune, but thought better of it considering the audience.

After day 1, we were treated to a steak dinner at Ruby River Steak House.  Our sponsors for the event really did treat us like kings - I couldn’t have asked for better hosts.  Afterwords, I took the crew bowling to help us unwind and relax.  Doucet nursed his sunburns (he apparently didn’t use the right amount of sunscreen), while my superstar business manager, Ken Gray, abused us all on the lanes - he won all three games.  I guess he didn’t get the memo that the business manager is supposed to let the artist win once-in-a-while.  Ha-ha.

We got a little smarter on Day 2 and used the canopy we’d brought.  It made playing a lot easier, especially on the noon and 2 PM shows.  Doucet was especially greatful for the shade, though he did wear pantyhose to cover his lobster red arms.  Later that night we headed off to In-and-Out Burger for our end-of-show dinner and then drove the hour and a half to Las Vegas to celebrate bass phenom and all-around-great guy Brad Verrier’s birthday.

A big thanks to the band for playing and being so patient with me, Ben for selling merch for us, and Jennifer and Tracy for being our awesome local support on the show and for treating us so well during our stay there.

Show Photos:

To see our initial warm-up and sound check at the What Women Want Concert, see the Youtube video below:

Piano prodigy to play women’s expo
JENNIFER WEAVER
jeweaver@thespectrum.com.

Kevin Burdick has been likened to being the love child of Billy Joel, Elton John and Ben Folds but according to his mom, Susan Burdick, he’s a one-of-a-kind, piano-playing prodigy.“He was about 6-months-old and as I’d rock him to sleep before putting him to bed he would hum this song that got longer and longer as he got older,” she said. “It was the same song every night when he was going to bed and sounded like the Russian song, The Volga Boatman, da, da, dah - dah.”

Susan said she knew no one would believe that her infant son was musically inclined at such a young age so she attempted to record him repeatedly.

“I tried to sneak in his bedroom at night and the second he heard me, he’d peak through his crib bumper and go silent,” she said. “I never did get him recorded but the song evolved and became intricate with all sorts of things. To me it was something from heaven.”

Burdick is sharing his innate gift he has mastered as a rock pianist this weekend at the What Women Want Expo as the premier attraction to the outdoor booth of SouthernUtahMoms.com, sponsored by Watch My House owned by Sherry McGhee and Annette Basso.

“The truth of the matter is that I was raised by my mom with four sisters,” said the 34-year-old independent musician. “My dad was never home because he was an attorney so I was heavily influenced by women, and women’s issues are close to my heart, and few things that women have to go through are reflected in my music.”

Songs like “She does her crying alone” and “Firefly” are tributes to single mothers who Burdick says are “real heroes.” A compelling soul-wrencher is Burdick’s song, “Too Good For This World,” which honors his infant daughter, Dempsey Sue Burdick. The newborn died May 3, 2003, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital from complications associated with open-heart surgery to correct a birth defect. She was just 31-days old.

“Any charity that deals with neo-natal issues has a place in my heart and peaks my interest because of my experience losing my only child,” he said.

Burdick will not only share his rhythmic and contagious melodies but will donate 10 percent of the proceeds of his CD sales at the Expo to the Foundation of Dixie Regional Medical Center to help the hospital’s youngest patients.

“We are honored and grateful to be the recipients of Kevin’s generosity. His desire to remember his infant daughter with a gift to ease the path of other parents with fragile newborns will mean a great deal to Dixie Regional,” said Kerry Kastler-Hepworth, Foundation of DRMC director. “While most mothers experience a joyful birth experience, 10 to 15 percent of all newborns require some specialized care.

“It is comforting to know there are partners in our community and beyond, like Kevin, helping us strengthen our newborn intensive care and maternal fetal medicine programs,” Hepworth added.

From infancy, Burdick has been a musical joy, Susan Burdick said.

“He comes up with songs that are clever, fun and inspiring,” she said. “I’m really glad I got him piano lessons when he was in the second grade and proud that he is sharing his talent that I’ve always known he possessed since the time he was born.”

Burdick will perform four concerts each day at the Expo. Expo attendees are invited to bring their blankets for the performances, register for free as users of SouthernUtahMom.com and purchase Burdick’s music.

The following article, written by Jennifer Weaver, aired in this month’s St. George Magazine in Southern Utah in anticipation of the What Women Want performances over May 2nd and 3rd.

Miraculous Music
by Jennifer Weaver

What woman does not want to be serenaded by a tall, dark and handsome man? It’s a fantasy derived by fairy tales such as Snow White who makes a wish to find her true love through song. In response is the sweet, melodic tenor whose pure masculine voice melts the heart of the princess longing to be united with the crooning knight in shining armor. Minus the armor — but with princely appeal — Salt Lake City rock pianist Kevin Burdick is a woman’s dream come true. His story telling lyrics based on his personal experiences, and masterful song writing on the ivory and ebony keys, rolls Billy Joel, Elton John and Ben Folds into this one-of-a-kind Utah independent artist. The infectious piano-driven-rock musician is sure to stake claim to national fame with his albums that have included collaboration with Joel Pack, who is affiliated with Maverick Records and Warner Brother Records. On his way to the top, Burdick is making a stop in St. George as a special guest of the SouthernUtahMoms.com outdoor booth at the What Women Want Expo, May 2 and 3.

“The truth of the matter is that I was raised by my mom with four sisters,” said the 34-year-old bachelor. “My dad was never home because he was an attorney so I was heavily influenced by women, and women’s issues are close to my heart, and a few things that women have to go through are reflected in my music.”

Songs like “She Does Her Crying Alone” and “Firefly” are tributes to single mothers who Burdick says are “real heroes.” A compelling soul-wrencher is Burdick’s song, “Too Good For This World,” which honors his infant daughter, Dempsey Sue Burdick. The newborn died May 3, 2003, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital from complications associated with open-heart surgery to correct a birth defect. She was just 31 days old.
Burdick now has a charity, named after his daughter, that helps families purchase headstones for their deceased babies. “Any charity that deals with neo-natal issues has a place in my heart and peaks my interest because of my experience losing my only child.” Burdick said.

Burdick will not only share his rhythmic and contagious melodies, he will donate 10 percent of the proceeds of his CD sales at the Expo to the Foundation of Dixie Regional Medical Center to help the hospital’s youngest patients.

“We are honored and grateful to be the recipients of Kevin’s generosity. His desire to remember his infant daughter with a gift to ease the path of other parents with fragile newborns will mean a great deal to Dixie Regional,” said Kerry Kastler-Hepworth, Foundation of DRMC director. “While most mothers experience a joyful birth experience, 10 to 15 percent of all newborns require some specialized care.

“It is comforting to know there are partners in our community and beyond, like Kevin, helping us strengthen our newborn intensive care and maternal fetal medicine programs,” Hepworth added.

To learn more about Burdick, visit www.kevinburdick.com or SouthernUtahMoms.com. To donate to the Dempsey Burdick Memorial Fund visit www.dempseyburdick.com. sgm