For months, no make that years, I’ve been racking my brain trying to
figure out how so many of my fellow DIY singer/songwriter friends have
maintained the out flow of information demanded by the ever increasing
social networking machine we’ve all been feeding into. Each morning
greeting me with the reality that the days never end and the work is
never done in the land of the tweets and the facebook updates.
Thankfully MySpace has pretty much lost its usefulness and is already
a non-issue.

Nevertheless, maintaining high information flow on a
daily basis is a job in itself, and I quit. From now on all relevant
information will be found here on my very own social networking site.
It’s been thought that by taking myself out of the facebook, myspace,
tweet worlds, I’ll make it hard for myself to be found… to me
that shows very little faith in the web intelligence of the modern
music fan. Yeah, most are used to a more hands-on approach, but there
is still room for the private toiler that goes for a slightly more
mysterious interaction. As music fans we are smarter than they think,
I’m counting, depending on it. Hope to see you here more often, and
definitely more on my part I promise. And now back to creating music.

Love ya,

D

A book by Matthew Nichols

So my friend and fellow busker Matthew Nichols wrote a book about being a subway musician in New York City. It’s called, “Underground – My Life As A New York City Subway Musician. I’m currently reading it and I have to say, it really does give you a glimpse into what it can be like to be a busker in New York City. It’s written as a series of journal entries spanning from 2004 to 2008. I recommend it for anyone who’s interested in getting an idea of what one goes through as a NYC busker.

Once you get into it you really have a hard time putting it down. I find myself wanting to know more each time I have to pull myself away. For me, that’s a sign of a good read.

You can find the book on Amazon.com and if you happen to be making your way through the subway system you may be able to find him and by it directly. I recommend it, it’s a rather interesting read about a world many walk past.


Recently I’ve found myself becoming a huge fan of a Staten Island band called “The Headlocks”. They have just released their debut album, Cuckoo Bird. I’ve listened to the entire album a number of times and it definitely holds up, I’d argue that it gets better with time if not for the fact that I hate cliche’s. I feel it’s an amazing piece of work.

The Headlocks!

You really feel like you’re at a rich and raucous live show listening to a band that is truly having fun. I can tell they are going to do some great stuff with their sound and I think you’ll feel the same. Check them out at The Headlocks myspace page and get a taste.

Cheers!

So here it is, all wrapped up nice and neat. An amazing chapter for me. I’m looking back, and I have a smile on my face that wouldn’t be the same if I couldn’t share it with you; thank you for that.

Name on Marquee

Before The Show At The Beacon
I was stashed in a closet. I say this because of the mere size of the room I was given and the fact that I Peaked into some of the other empty dressing rooms. They had actual chairs and tables and couches and monitors with feeds from the stage, bathrooms and phones and lamps and mini refrigerators. In my dressing room, I had a mirror with lights on either side and a case of bargain spring water.

My sound check call was 4 PM, it started at 5 (not bad). I was given four tickets, really nice, eight rows back in the center… one was for me. “No back-stage pass,” you ask? No pass – I was never there. My quarantine was in full effect. I was kept away from both Chris Isaak and Michelle Branch and was never in a position to explain my presence, no doubt it might have been a bit defeating to explain entirely.

My dreamy dressing room

The Beacon
I played to what seemed to be an almost completely packed house, almost 2,800 folks give or take. I thought I would have felt a little more nervous; I just felt like I was ready. I started with “Early Call” and then rather smoothly went through “New Mexico,” “Changing Grace” and “Against The Odds” all in 15 minutes exactly. Each song seemed to pull a louder response, and by the end, though blinded by the spotlight, I knew I’d done well.

Dorian Spencer @ the Beacon 8/5/09

After The Show
As I walked off stage I received a bottle of overpriced Artesian water, a towel, smiles, and plenty of kudos.

As short as it was, it felt worth fighting for – even if after my triumphant reveal, they kicked me out of my dreamy dressing room, I guess I’m still paying my dues.

(Be sure to check all the photos & video from this show on the Media page!)

Oh my goodness! I just watched Jeff Beck (Live @ Ronnie Scott’s), insane! What an inspiring set. Watching someone who’s been around the musical block a few times and who’s still keeping it as fresh and real Jeff Beck gives me hope for my own melodic potential. Every now and again it’s good to know there’s fresher air to breath.

Peace!