Music that does strange things to you

My First Review

2011-11-10T00:29:00.000-08:00

Hello moto,

I introduce my first interview by one of my first friends who was also one of my first fans. I chose him to do so because he disagrees with my music tastes in general, so he would be best in proffering objective analysis.

Kickass Pitchfork Style Review
I've been a close friend of Avery's for years, and, I'll assure you, it's not because of our musical tastes. Although we're generally divergent on that issue, there are those rare instances that we'll agree on a particular sound, and Avery's work is one of them.

I remember being indifferent when he first took a guitar to his poetry, thinking it was just some playful new hobby. But as I began to pay attention, I was hooked. My first favorite was "Punch-line Freud," with its elegantly simple riff and vividly descriptive lyrics: "As if the autumn wind and eastern gold had done some good/She burns, and freezes and breaks just like a window would."

Within a few weeks, I was humming the tunes of his songs, and within a few months I knew the lyrics to many of them by heart. I was convinced (and still am) that "Shoegazer," an irresistibly bouncy and catchy song, was destined to be a hit.

When Avery decided to record his debut EP, "Smug Disco," he asked for my input on what to include from his formidable library. After spending a day hashing it out, I gained an even greater respect for his songs. I was determined that "Science Fiction" should be the last track. The riff is rich, building up several beautifully haunting tones that become accompanied by lyrics such as "When I saw pain, he was a tattoo on a mosaic body/Guess it was a habit of his to be lost, and never found." To open the EP, I suggested "The Nihilist," a song that gently eases you through the showcase of one of Avery's finest singing performances.

The writing and composing never slowed down for "Smug Disco EP." His next work that stood out most prominently for me was "The Piano Room." This song was undoubtedly a masterpiece, with the speed and strength of the chords reflecting the emotional path of the song itself, from sadness to grief and anger to resolve, to finally crescendo in a release of feelings: "Those sad eyes take their time/Pull me out of perfection/Kill my discontent/Using love as a weapon/Bleed it all."

Avery continues to make music, and with his musical and lyrical creativity, coupled with his wit and unusual insights into the human psyche, that's a good thing. The songs I've described are a mere sampling of my favorites, and do little to convey the spectrum of music he has to offer. One of the beautiful things about his music is that different people I know have different favorites, because just as people have distinct personalities, so do his songs. My own favorites have shifted over the years as his music spoke to me.

This promising artist shows no signs of slowing down, and indeed, the world will be lucky to hear him.

-Brandon Thorson

Oct 30th 2011 Deets

2011-10-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

Kuwaii!

It would seem as though all of my Monday antics at the youth hostel pay off. The reward of course is feeling at home on stage. Having a 40 minute set with interrogation lights and a bunch of people who could give a flying duck about what you are playing or saying....priceless. Regardless of the circumstances, I wooed whoever I could. Playing two songs first, and then introducing myself and the fact that I am well aware that little to no one is paying attention. But that is the allure. The fact that I'm doing what I love and getting better and gathering people around the hearth and doin' little numbers from my arsenal. Which ones you ask? Why here they are:

1. How I Breathe
2.Second Hand Smoke.
3. Blue Sun
4. Ink
5. Damn Romantics
6. Sweet On the Girl
7. Discipline
8. Snake Skin
9. The Piano Room
10. So Damn Far Away

To whom it may concern, you live and you learn...
Avery Dena

Humbled

2011-10-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

Michael Genet
"My sound track to Vegas was Dio, Iron Maiden, and Avery Dena."

Hearing this and that people want another one of my Cds; not because they have a friend to give it to, but that they listened to it so much that it warped....priceless.

Its not so much of and ego booster as it is humbling. To be reminded that music is so vital to our lives, and that I can make a contribution that positively affects others, is a pleasant surprise to say the least.

Thank you,
Avery Dena

House of Blues(Sunset blvd): Sunday Oct 30, 2011`

2011-10-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Yes yall,

Its me again. Avery Dena. The House of Blues Voodoo Lounge on Sunday Oct 30, 2011. $10 cover. A 40min set that will include new songs and classics, from 7:45pm - 8:25pm. I am convinced that cover songs can be used, but I might say "no" and cover myself.

Either way, come on out.

Peace,
Avery Femur

International Youth Hostel

2011-10-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hey,

I will be at this venue every Monday until I notify yall otherwise. The time is still 8:30pm-10pm. The same youth hostel listed in the prior post.

See ya soon.

Grace and Compassion,
Avery Dena

Open Mic Night Monday September 19, 2011

2011-09-17T00:20:00.000-07:00

Hello you,

The Place: Hosteling International Santa Monica
1436 2nd Street, Santa Monica (California), CA

The Time: 8:30 - 10:30pm

I enjoy this venue more and more. I know that you'll be enamored with it at first sight.

Love and Happiness,
Avery Dena

El Cid and The Kid

2011-08-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

El Cid is my new Stone Bar. The next step in a long, arduous, and auspicious road. I can feel it when I approach. It swallows my senses and has enough character to make MLK look like a good-intentioned tranny. Respect.

I've been searching for such warm and fertile soil to perform on, and that stage in Silverlake is what I need. Now that I have a place to call "home," I know that I must gather the guests so that I may enjoy their company and be merry. Hopefully that smirk of mine will be taken for the simple mirth that it is, and not a set-up to a one night stand.

Since my sally to the NYC is delayed, it gives me plenty of time to work on the bevy of songs that I've been crafting and test them out on a critical and well-versed crowd of good comedians and enthralling musicians. All found once the steps are descended, the red lights have washed over you, and the tacit tranquility that is El Cid has become you.

Thank you Micheal for placing your curiousity and faith in my talents.

Thank you El Cid for being you,

Thank you all.
Avery Dena

Like a Feather

2011-08-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Greetings crickets,

For the past two weeks, songs like feathers have fallen into my garden and buddy, business is booming. Taking on my more universal tones of romanticism and a intrepid and loving view of death, I say with confidence and experience that as I grow and age, so do my songs mature.

In a few years, I envision myself on stage confessing these songs only if to say "I'm no different than you, and I am just as inspired and in awe of you, perhaps more so than you,at what can be done when someone has faith in self and does things out of love, and denies fears crippling affects on the aspiring soul."

But until I get my feet on the ground, see ya around,
Avery Dena

Update

2011-07-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Well well well,

Fancy seeing you here. All two of you. Anyhow, I've been busy and somewhat neglectful with my "blog-responsibilities." However, I have been frequenting Kulak's Woodshed on Mondays @ 7:30pm and it has been fruitful. If you are not familiar with the place, it is run like a singer-songwriter commune, except that its been open for some time with no signs of halting its progress. For a 20-dollar bill, you are given a top spot in the queue and a DVD of your one-song performance is available the following week. Did I mention I am a horrible speller?

At any rate, The website is : www.kulakswoodshed.com Managing to get "Going Down" and "Ink" recorded here while working with Woodall on his Mac to record "Don't Look Back in Anger(Oasis Cover)" and one of my new babies "How I Breathe," which I assure you is not as corny as the title of the song; an anthem for free-spirits around the everywhere.

"How I Breathe" is available gratis @ www.reverbnation.com/averydena

Eating chocolate like its a mandate,
Avery Dena

Open Mic at the 212 Pier Cafe

2011-03-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday March 24, 2011, I played "Going Down" without an amp at this 2 story cafe that decidedly caters to comedians. An odd yet entertaining mix of comedy/music from Peter Prince and a very good David Moriorarty on acoustic guitar, the night was short and sweet. Short and sweet just like Baby-Doll in the 12am showing of "Sycker-Punch." People are still unaccustomed to seeing a "black-dude" with an acoustic guitar. Lol.

All fun till 4am,
Avery Dena

Show this Saturday March 12, 2011 8:30-8:45

2011-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Neon Venus Art Theater
7023 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, Ca

Set list will be:

1. Shout @ the Moon
2. Ink
3. Snake Skin
4. Shh!

Uber-late post, being a baddy,
Avery Dena

House of Blues 3/4/2011 @ 9pm

2011-03-03T00:46:00.000-08:00

Come down to the Voodoo Lounge at the house of blues. Late post, last minute, all apologies.

House of Blues - Friday 2010, October 22.

2010-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

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.

2010-02-23T01:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-18T00:42:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-02-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

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.