House of Blues - Friday 2010, October 22.

Hello dare,

Been a bit since I've had a gig, so I was looking forward to play again to work out the kinks and knock the dust off some of my fine china. The following is a mix-match between my dirt and my divinity. Looking at the list, I think that a good share of my songs are b-sides. Here they are:

1. Blue Sun
2. Hamlet
3. Ink
4. Damn Romantics
5. Cassie
6. Pseudo-Sleep
7. Second-Hand Smoke
8. Going Down
9. Shh!
10. Fools

Halfway into the shindig, Patsy and her party petitioners showed up in the front row. Despite the clamor and fanfare that was cranked up 117 % I rocked it out. There were loyal new fans in the front row and onlookers probably pressed to foresee what the hell I was going to do. Surprised to hear that I am not Lenny Kravitz or some average joe doing an R&B standard, they trained their attentions to mua. Very reassuring since none of you ninnies showed up.

Soon we will be walking in the strength we have built. Until then......
Avery Dena

An insight offered

At the beginning of my musical trek, I had one very distinct ideal in mind: If I was to play guitar, I would play like myself. Abandoning any notion of influence, while allowing the inflection of other artists that articulated what I am musically, which is classical's dissonance and the tempered optimism of autumn. A collision of the divine and the dirty, etc.

Note: This may sound like pretentious-fluff, but people, I looked it up online and cross-referenced it with David Bowie. So there.

My self-inflicted promise means to play with different personalities and different instruments through the same medium. When played well and even not so well, I adore pianos and violins and bass. This infatuation bleeds through. For piano, I am reminded of "Science-Fiction." For bass, I instantly think of "Right of Way." "Grow Young" is violin.

Many of my songs epitomize this identity crisis of guitar, and I pray that none of them die in my hands. Like that will ever happen :/

There is only one volume for the music in you,
Avery Dena

Euphoria and Serendip Tea

I planned on transferring from my Los Angeles Whole Foods to the New York Whole Foods of my choice.
I also planned on moving even closer to my nearest and vocation(my music) with more of a pioneering spirit.

As these are cross ambitions, only one would survive. As the universe is very indulgent, it will offer up the opprotunity for what you most think about and what you ask for.

When I ended my three-week long phone-tag with these potential employers with a no....I was relieved. I was so at peace that from the outside, it looked like depression. there were no thoughts, no emotions, just a calm that could not be replicated by anything other than an animal doing something that is both evolving and inherent.

I say this in the face of "risk" and "failure" with a profound joy that has taken over my body and decided to stay. I welcome this new-found-me and shed the skin while paying the price for coming into my own.....gratefully. Humbled and exalted.

July 2 House of Blues Sunset strip

I have the faintest clue as to what I'll be playing, but I have a feeling its gonna look something like this:

My Guitar
My Songs
Maybe a cover song
for 30 minutes starting at 8:40pm

grace and poise,
Avery Dena

P.S
I think Tom Jones is my father.

The Gays are Straight with me

Long time, no type. It has been some odd months since I last posted, and I pop in to add this to the pot.

When "women," if i dare call them that, show interest, they are much more passive than I would like. Giving me the googly eye does nothing for me. Being afraid of talking to me does much for the screening process from would-be suitor, to would-be interested if you just had some balls. Bringing me to my next observation.

The gays are straight with me. Period point blank. They don't fondle me or make comments about my love below...with their hands, just their eyes. Perhaps its their gender, or the technicolor flag that inspires them to let their intentions be known with pride and not the least bit of "feminine repose"?

All it takes is for you to follow up on "the look" with light conversation, and then proceed with interest and caution, for I can be quite the handful. I recommend listening to the song "Wishing and Hoping," a true call to those who think that life and its splendors will come to you, simply and sweetly because you are wearing the right dress or swinging the hip like Derek Jeter at home plate.

In other news....Silverlake Lounge was an experience both intimate and social. Sunday was brief yet humble enough for me to come back.

The songs performed were:
Speak Easy
Ink

Oil of Ole!
Avery Dena

Homer said Duh

Well...I completed the website but left you good-folks without a link to follow.
So silly of me :)

www.averydena.com

Time to go surfing for pictures of animals in clothes. This has been your digital ghost, signing off.

.....and a voice from the sky said : It's Rashaan.

I was called to fill in an 8:30 spot. Of course I dropped all my tickle-me-elmos and got ready. Running around the westside via public transit(Go Metro)and arrived. Sure as the sun-sets on sunset I sassed the crowd ; too bad I could only alert a few of my beloved freaks and geeks. But here is what cha missed.

February 19, 2010 House of Blues Set List

-Love Poems by Bilal
-Standing Room Only
-So Damn Far Away
-Second Hand Smoke
-Snake Skin
-Shoegazer

P.S I should warn you of the million other songs I have that start with or hold an obnoxious amount of "S's"
If you are into astrology and or numerology, I can explain this best. If not, consider it a mere coinkadink.

Set Lists as of Jan 9

House of Blues - Nov 6, 2009

Sweat in the eyes. A sea of pleasantly surprised people and attentive eyes as I managed to remember the words.

The Nihilist
Cassie
Fools
Damn Romantics
The Piano Room
Shoegazer
Red Queen
Science Fiction

Red Carpet Event(I got interviewed.....wah?)
Met some interesting people - stayed from 9pm to 4am cracking jokes and easy conversation with the belly-dancer's Folk Group. Good times.

Damn Romantics
Going Down
The Piano Room

The Pig and Whistle - Jan 9
My favorite gig to date. Though I spent the House of Blues on a tare(circling and mingling, feeling up on my date)
the intimacy that this venue provides is unparalleled. My jokes and VH1 story-teller style fit like a glove(not OJ's). It would appear that with each live performance, I resist the temptation to vomit from sheer nerve more and more.


Taxi Cab
Gasoline
Pico de Gallo
So Damn Far Away
Snake Skin
Fools
To the Quick
Second Hand Smoke
Christmas for the Pessimist

For the other gigs and their set lists, I was just a bad barry. Forgive me and rest assured that I will be a lot more anal with such concerns, for I know how much you kooky-kids like that stuff anyhow ;)

Set Lists and Giggers

I have played venues that are well-known, like The House of Blues, to the lesser known Pig 'n' Whistle and Universal Bar and Grill. Then there are the the ones that are totally off the radar, such as the Vintage store that closed a few months back off of Sunset/Highland(I played their last night of business) and a frat house-roof that will remain nameless for the time being. In the near future, aka when I get the gall and laptop-time to post the set lists and details to these adventures, I shall. Until then, it was great to enjoy your digital company until you can come out to one of these ho-downs yourself.

Mighty appreciated,
Avery Dena :/

Hello World. How are you?

Welcome to the documentation of my self-assertive adventures into this ripe world of ours. My name is Avery Dena and following the completion of this post will be the completion of my website. My music can be heard at reverbnation.com/averydena for those of you who wandered here while surfing or using stumbleupon. Nevertheless, I have set lists, lyrics, songs, poems, opinions, and obessions for the whole world to enjoy.

But for now, we'll always have Paris :)

Sincerely,
Your shoegazer, Avery Dena

P.S.
I am a male....just exceedingly right-brained.