Sunday, May 31, 2009

Performing in Israel - Nothing Compares


I am blown away!!! My heart is wide open!!!! There is love in every moment in this beloved land. Ask me 1 year ago, I would have told you that Israel was going to be the last place that I would venture to in this world. Ask me now, I would have to say that it is becoming my favorite place on this globe, just behind California....Believe it or not! You have to come to know. And, truthfully, up to this day, it is my favorite place to perform, or share really. Tonight, may 31st, was complete magic, musical venturing at it's finest.

Over the past week I have spent my days in and out of Open Mics, Coffee Shops, Beaches and festivals mingling with the local people and enjoying the vibrations of love that resonate in the air here. In that short week I managed to put together a 4 piece band, that turned into a 12 piece orchestra of Divine Creation, which turned into a 60-70 piece offering when you include the crowd, singing in harmony with half the songs. I just love Playing music here!! I scream it to the universe!!. The crowds are as receptive as ever, awaiting musical offerings like exquisite cuisine. The response is filled with rhythmic clapping, singing, dancing and ear to ear smiles. Now, I know as a person I have changed in many ways, but this is an all out celebration of life every time that I take the stage. I played 4 shows last week in Tel Aviv and, to be honest, they would all be placed in the top 10 shows that I have ever played in my life, and definitely hold the top slot in Open mics. Such a deep love for artistic creation, a profound connection to the rhythms of life, Israel is sinking deep into my soul. THis band of greats that I played with tonight, how do you walk away from something like this? Only time will tell, but, I must admit, the music that poured out of each and every one of us tonight has the power to move oceans of beings into the loving space of pure joy!!!! To all that were guided and arrived in the space, you know what I am speaking of and for all those that felt it glow from a far, I love you all and look forward to the day when this music that is coming through takes its place in your heart and soul.

Come Together right now!!

Yes We can!!

I am in love with this high vibrational culture, but, please, STOP SMOKING, it really messes with the Vocals you know!! LOVE and GRATITUDE!

WE ARE THE CHANGE - shay anakhnu ha shi nuiy (heb)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE STORIES!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Sending Purity to Walk About Love


On the 2 and a half hour journey out to meet with the Loving minds of the "Walk about Love" Peace March, My mind did it's best to create the mask of Egoic Fear. How much will I be judged? With they accept me and my songs??? But, most of all, I could on imagine what it was going to be like to set up a sound system and microphone at a Enormous Campfire!! Why?? The more and more I am traveling on this path of music, the more an more I am being treated and respected as a Professional Musician. Getting paid huge sums, getting honored and place on pedestals by Club Owners, Musicians and Organizers, and, the only one whom is not accepting it is ME!!! I am constantly striving to connect and be one of the people as I always will be. But, the greatest thing about music is that it does connect and it does allow people to learn and grow though there own experience inside the music. All of these stages being set for me is setting up a great place for the Artist that is me to be respected enough to do my thing, and create the space of purity and love, naturally. The universe is working magically and allowing things to happen, creating this platform for me to get paid, honored and respected as an Artist, and, after last night, I accept.

So back to the Walk About Love. So, imagine 100 loving individuals sharing collective space sitting around a campfire enjoying. Here I come, from the US, the one place which has a bad rap for thinking they are greater then everyone else, and I am set up to play and sing for the whole group!! Whatever walls and judgements existed inside myself and those around me were quickly absorbed in the vibration of LOVE!! I honestly thought I was coming to jam with the people making the walk, and then, I am set up with a sound-system, what??!!! Yes, it was weird, for the 6 seconds that I sang on the system, and then, I just decided to make the evening, simply, what the evening was supposed to be, A fireside Jam Session. So, for hours on end we played endless jams of high vibrational rifts that eventually brought the stand-offish audience into an all out collective dancing unity tribe, the way it was intended to be from the beginning. And, even though they spent the first 30 minutes or so accepting the fact that I was not going to showcase a bunch of music but rather become a part of the tribe of love, by the end, it was an all out festival of light and love.

I feel so much love and gratitude for my abilities to connect and to send a pure vibration of energetic upliftment into the hearts and souls of these fine people. It was a magical night, the energy just kept increasing and blossoming with each moment and carried on long after I left the musicians circle!! As for the habits and ways of marchers, well, I know that drug indulgence and usage has become a way of life for the Free, but, really, the most freedom I experienced in this life comes when I can celebrate and drop all the illusions of the world and wake up joyfully. The usage of Drugs and Alcohol gave me the first part, temporarily, but always made the next day of illusions even harder to bear. The most amazing thing about the celebrations of this sort that were happening in Los Angeles was the simple fact that we were reaching extreme levels of joy and bliss without the limiting, emotional disruption of Toxic consumption. I did my 10 year Toxic sentence on this planet and know that we can rise and evolve through the breath and meditation, reaching far beyond the expanded levels of Drug Related highs, but, I know we will continue to do both, and, I feel there is nothing wrong with it, I just have experienced a different way.....OK, NOW I AM RAMBLING!!! Must move on.........LOVE!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Landing in the home of LOVE - Israel!!!!


Israel is a pure symbol of how much the media is FULL OF SH*T!!!!!

After hearing all the stories, reading all the bad rap on this country, spreading fear and terror all over the world about this sacred land being full of bombs blasting and fighting civilians, I found myself laughing and walking with open-heart bliss as I stepped off the plane!! I could not believe for one moment that anything bad has ever happened in this place. I felt the pure vibration of love as I moved through the city, I saw nothing but beautiful people interacting, well-paved roads and expensive shops. I see beaches that are pure white sand, full of sea-side cafes and half nude people. I sit in open air cafe's during the day, sipping on fine tea, eating some of the best food I have had in years. I am home, I am free and there is clean air to breath!!!! I could have never imagined such an incredible feeling stepping into a country that has such a bad media Air - Globally! Stop reading the papers and start listening to the people in whom you trust. All the answers to our questions are known by that person sitting next to you that you are so afraid to speak with. Interact more and become one in society. THE TIME IS NOW. We must Stop letting media control our thoughts!!!!

Down the Konkan Coast - Sureal Emptiness!!


After Four hard-Working months in Mumbai, I couldn't think of anything better then to get on the Love Machine and go for a journey down the coast with an Dear Friend!! So, that is exactly what I did. Dave Matthews "Some Devil" album became the soundtrack as The Angels of Love and Bliss carried us up and down some of the most serene coastline I have ever seen in my life. For the first time in India, the roads actually lined the coastline, giving us a cliff top views of Forts and the brilliance of the Indian Ocean!! When the road did take it's turn inward, we were were gratefully met with a forest of Shade covered road to protect us from the summer heat. We stayed in a Quaint little beach bungalow for a few nights and even ventured to sleep on the sand on a deserted beach down about 200 KM south of Mumbai. Our time constraint did not allow us to venture al the way down the coast, as I heard the beached get even more serene the further you go, but we did get to scratch the surface.

This land was completely empty, actually justifying the many times that we were told that it was. In India, it is hard to believe it when people tell you that there are no people around, because, to most indians, a family of 7 surrounding you is like being on a deserted Island. But, really!! This place was completely empty.....and....it was a Holiday Weekend!!! So, they actually told us this was the high season. We would drive sometimes for 20 minutes and not see another vehicle. It was almost scary at times!! We ate amazing food, slept a whole lot, did a lot of reading, and fell in love with each and every moment . We were awoken by the Mosques every morning, a sound that was coupled by the howling of the local dogs, almost in harmony!!! We Got a flat tire that led to a full scale dance off in the Village of Rajpuri. We ate tons of good food, spent a lot of time with the locals, rode almost 500 KM of Beach side and Forest Roads and fell more deeply in love with the simplicity of life, love and travel. No phones, no computers, just deep connections with every moment. What a blessed life we have chosen!!! Thank god for all the instant manifestations!!!!

For photos click here

Enjoy the videos below!!