Here’s an incomplete list of checklist of stuff I’d like to accomplish in the next few months (in no particular order):

• Nationwide tour
• Skydiving
• Bungee jumping (COMPLETE)
• Start recording full-band album
• Learn to speak Chinese (Mandarin)
• Become a better cook (COMPLETE/On-going)
• Take up new athletic activities like soccer, surfing, etc. (COMPLETE/On-going)
• Go on more outdoor trips per year (COMPLETE/Going backpacking again in July)
• Visit New York, Boston and Washington DC separately from a music tour
• Travel overseas somewhere
• Write one really great song
• Collaborate with more people that I respect (COMPLETE/On-going)

They may not seem like much, but they are big things for me. Hopefully, I can check off more of these as the year progresses. If you’d like to partake or help with any of these activities, the more the merrier!

I love the idea of a guitar solo enhancing a songs emotional weight. There’s just so much more I can do on an electric guitar than I can on an acoustic. Like throw it through a Marshall full-stack. Well, I suppose I could do that with an acoustic but it brings up too many questions. For example, “If you’re playing acoustic guitar, why do you have a Marshall full-stack on the stage with you?” And frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever know the answer to that.

So, I’m not sure if you’ve seen me play electric guitar before. You might have if you’ve seen me perform with my good friend John Hull in his band (happy birthday, John!) If not, this is what it looks like:

Yep, you guessed it. I actually require all pictures of me playing electric guitar be taken when my hair is in my face and I’m looking downward at the stage (at the exact same angle, mind you).

Back to what I was saying… Playing acoustic for the last three years has given my solo, acoustic singer/songwriter nature a lot of time to develop and be all “sensitive”. But now with my awesome backing band, the Rock God side of me is ready to show off and be “sexy”. That’s right. I said it. Look up “Darling Nikki” by Prince. I’m going to cover it. Take that Tipper Gore!

The hardest part is to figure out what the best guitar tone for my sound is. I want it to be like the ocean. Kinda dirty, kinda salty. It can be tumultuous and dangerous but it can also calming and serene when it needs to be. Plus, it’s filled with all sorts of creatures and was probably where the Earth’s first organisms came from. Yes, that’s exactly what my guitar tone should be. Have I taken this analogy too far? All signs point to, “obviously”.

Be sure to check out a band show soon and prepare to be moved by my ocean of sound!

In this time of introspection, I’ve come to conclusion that it’s time to enjoy myself. I’m planning on making my 25th year of life one of the best years. This year, I’ve already been very fortunate to perform with people that I’ve admired for years including Jason Mraz, Tony Lucca, Ernie Halter and Bushwalla.

I’ve really come a long way since the days of playing the two or three original songs I had written in the CoHo of the UC Davis MU. But at the same time, I feel like I’m still right where I was 3 years ago in a good way!

One of the things I’ve only just come to recognize is that I have met so many wonderful people who enjoy what I do. I’ve been too proud in the past to ask for anything but it’s really silly of me to think that I should be doing this all on my own. Now, I feel like it’s time to tap into all the support that people have shown me. I know this sounds contrived but I would really love it if you shared my music with people you love.

I want to share everything I’ve experienced from 1985-2010 and beyond. I want to show the world what this kid from Alameda, CA is capable of but I need as much help as I can. I want opinions, advice and suggestions. I’m on the computer all day anyway. If you have feedback, let’s talk! If you are interested in contributing something, let’s collaborate! It all sounds selfish but we can call it an extended birthday present.

I’ll be playing a bunch of shows this month (and from now on) with my newly formed backing band. Let me just say that it is an amazing experience for me to be able to play with such talented musicians and it has really upped my game and my perspective on the whole idea of playing music for people. I would love it if there were new faces to share in that experience with us.

I hope to see you at one of these shows. And as always (but now, more than ever), thank you for everything you have given me. I’ll do everything I can to give it back.

See you when I’m 25!

Kenny

Anyways, I was perusing the internet and I Stumble Upon‘d this website. Much to my surprise, they actually included me in their infographic about influential Twitter users*! I’m in the top right hand corner!

*FastCompany.com didn’t actually include me. I just thought it would be funny to doctor their picture to show how ridiculous this is and how little influence I actually have.

Happy Mother’s Day! I love you mom!

Kenny