Seth Adam

Glenn Beck is a fucking idiot.

2011-03-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Does it get anymore delusional, paranoia-riddled, fact-neglected, moron-induced, ridiculous than that jag-off?

Yeah, it's been almost a year since I've posted. Mostly because I've minimized my commentary to whatever 140 characters that Twitter allows me. That, plus I've kept my political rants to myself the past year. Lastly, we really haven't played that much in the past year, thus no "tour diaries" to inform you of.

So, this is my intention - and I've no idea if I will actually adhere to it - but my intention is to give y'all a little more to read. I have a feeling it will be a little political, a little musical, a little "gee I'm feeling so freaking happy today and I thought I'd write it in my blog." We'll see. But I need another outlet and I think this will be it. Facebook is just too public for my opinions.

So hey... if you read this... thanks. And one more "Glenn Beck is a fucking idiot" for old time's sake. ;-)

I'll see you soon.

-SA

Where I've been part III

2010-05-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hey again! I'm here, breathing, living, loving...

Last left off talking about getting a band back to being a "band." That was last summer, 2009.

I guess most of where I'm at today relates a lot to the last year.

Last summer, I spent a lot of time playing solo acoustic cover shows. Not exactly my first choice of work, but very happy to be working none-the-less. What can I say? I needed the money! Unfortunately, I think I overdid it. By the end of the summer, I was playing 7, even 8 times a week. These aren't 45 minute sets and out. These are 4 hours, 3 sets, singing 40 plus songs by myself. I'm convinced it took a major toll on my voice.

While working all last summer, I moved to New Haven. I wanted to spend my last year in college close to the university so I didn't have to make a commute. It also served as an incentive to keep working (rent money), thus further damaging my voice.

Between fall and winter, I made several attempts to record vocal tracks in the studio. Nothing spectacular really came out of it. Going to school 6 days a week, playing cover jobs, then trying to squeeze in rehearsals, and recording overwhelmed my vocal cords.

Early this past winter, some things changed. I decided to start taking vocal lessons again with my good friend and vocal savior, Suzanne Vick. For a moment, things got better. Then, out of nowhere things got worse.

At the same time, we moved recording operations from Horizon Music Group to White House Productions. Without any bad blood or hurt feelings, we just needed a change of scenery. I was hoping this "renewal" would make me feel better about singing. Unfortunately, my voice was still giving me trouble.

I started getting really frustrated. Here I was hoping to have "Amplify" out in the fall, and it was winter already with Spring around the corner. I figured I could either let myself be consumed by the frustrations of having my instrument taken away from me, or start relaxing, focusing, and re-building. Fortunately, I chose the latter.

For the past 4-5 months, I've made some changes. Mostly, NOT singing. Yes. Even though, I still have to do the obligatory cover shows to earn grocery/rent money, I've been focusing on exercising, doing my best to remain stress free, and letting the vocal cords heal. After some scrutiny in the studio, my vocal teacher, my friend Scott and I came to the conclusion that the cords were probably swollen and I needed to rest them as much as possible. So, that's really what I've been trying to do.

What all this comes down to is this; for most of the Spring up until now, I've completed college (yay!), been resting and working on my voice, doing my best to remain stress free. I think it's working (knock on wood), and I'm feeling much, much vocally stronger as of late.

It's kind of funny... A friend of mine was telling me about a conversation he was having with some of his friends. Apparently, one of his friends said, "Whatever happened to that Seth Adam guy? He was doing a lot, but then just dropped off the earth." Well, if any of the above can explain where I've been, I hope it can. I've been here all along. Unfortunately, most of the time struggling. But I feel like with the accomplishment of graduating college, focusing on what I need to do to keep my voice strong and healthy, combined with a better, stress-free attitude about things, I'm ready to jump back into music again. Actually, more than ready... I'm hungry!

I'm not going to anticipate anymore release times for the new record. All I'm going to do is focus on playing one or two shows a month with the boys (simply to keep the wheels greased) and doing my best to finish recording "Amplify." I want to get this record out badly - I'm so proud of the work we've done so far, and I'm really excited about the songwriting. However, I never want to go back to the feeling of losing my voice again. I want to put my voice first and put out a great record. When we finish it, you'll know about it. Until then, we'll be working... I'll be working.

As for blogging, I've got a lot to say. Time for me to get back into some entertaining blog entries instead of explanations about "where I've been." I've also got several new projects in the works, including a folk trio with Gerry and my friend John Jackson. I'm also putting together a "Tuesday Night Band" for the open mic that I host on Tuesdays. But again, it's all about keeping the voice healthy first.

After 5 years of college, focusing on fine arts and graphic design, I'm happy to be getting back into music.

Rock & roll...

-Seth

Where I've been - part II

2010-02-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

I last left off at end of summer, 2008.

While the band was changing, my personal life was changing too. Essentially, a relationship of 3+ years had come to an end. Now, I know... big deal - just another break up. But not really. Like many, it was a relationship that I put a lot of faith in. We lived together. Because of that, I sold a lot of my things that we didn't need. I'm talking the simplest things - pots, pans, silverware, towels, etc. As someone in the middle of college, and not a whole lot of funds to draw from to start over again, I moved home, back in with my parents.

At first it was a bit strange. I hadn't lived with my folks in over 10 years. And I know it sounds like nothing more than self pity, but I simply started getting down about it. Here I was in my early 30's nearly obsessing that I should have been farther along in life. But re-runs of Family Guy, American Dad, and Mind of Mencia helped me get through it.

But good things can come out of feeling bad, right? Oh the humor! Seriously though, being down gave me a little motivation to start writing again. Quite therapeutic. And the efforts paid off. I put out an acoustic EP early '09. An acoustic EP was something I always wanted to do. An accomplishment... for me anyway.

Spring came around and the band grew to 5 members again. Anthony's brother Gerard starting filling in on bass duties and Fred moved back to keys only. It was a good thing... Gerry, Anthony and Gerard were in a band together for years. I heard the connection immediately as we started to become a 5 piece band again. We did some warm-up shows in the Spring & Summer in New York City at Arlene's Grocery. But it was then that I started to realize that live music wasn't as important to people. The economy was tanking, people (quite rightly) were more concerned with saving money and staying home. Our turnouts suffered, Fred ended up leaving, and I was kind of lost on what to do. It quickly became time to start writing again...

To be continued...

Where I've been - part I

2010-01-17T05:47:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

I apologize for not posting a blog since July of last year. I used to post something here and at the MySpace page at least every two weeks. I've been doing some work on the website recently, came to the ol' Blogger page and realized: "HOLY SHIT! - I haven't posted anything in six months!" It's time (and I am now able) to rectify that.

Where I've been - a summary... About 2 years ago, we were riding the small, but significant success of a new band with a new record. "Where You Come From" was the culmination of many things: the end of my old band Green Inside, a collection of stories spanning the previous 10 years of my life, and most importantly a new chapter in my musical career. It was essentially released in early 2008 and we (Gerry, Anthony, Lorin, Fred) played many shows throughout the Northeast in support of it. The album also received fair to exceptional reviews from local, regional, and even national press. It was an amazing time.

Behind the scenes, for me, was a different story. A full-time college student trying to juggle school, a relationship, a band, and finding a way to make it all financially work, was taking it's toll on me. Yet, these were all things that I absolutely had to do. I'm not one to throw in the towel on anything. But, I must admit, doing all of this was certainly piling on the stress, and I simply ignored it.

Then in mid '08, there were some changes in the band. Lorin had left. No animosity at all (we've been and continue to be friends for over 10 years). His personal life had more demands on him and he just couldn't make the commitment to the band anymore. I was a bit bummed as he was often the cheerleader and many times the most optimistic. No matter what happened when we were out playing, as long as Lorin was there we'd be smiling.

To fill in bass duties, we employed the talents of Ron Spears (from The Breakfast). Ron is a great bass player and a good guy to know. He shared lots of stories from being out on the road with The Breakfast. He stepped up the the plate as far as bass playing goes, but he too had many outside commitments and could not be a full-time player.

To fill in the bass position, Fred volunteered his left hand. You may be asking yourself - huh? Instead of playing keys with both hands, he played a piano-bass (it's like a small keyboard, but keyed into the bass register) with his left hand, and regular keys with his right. This essentially took away the ability to bring the Hammond organ out. While we lost that part of the instrumentation, we (Gerry, Anthony, Fred & myself) began to grow into a new sounding band, even putting together new material. We continued throughout 2008 supporting "Where You Come From."

Towards the end of the summer in '08, my personal life was rearing it's ugly head again, and essentially changing my life...

...more to come...

-SA

A brief check in...

2009-07-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Where did I leave off now... Ah, Shelburne Falls! Yes, great show with Chris Cubeta and the Liar's Club. Great bunch of guys and great music too! I look forward to crossing paths with those fellas again.

Had a fun "last full band show for a while" show at Daniel Street in Milford back on June 18th. We shared the night with The Mercury Seed boys. It's always a pleasure to play with them. They're finishing up their record right now and they played a bunch of new songs that night. I really can't wait for the record. Our night was a bit slow, as the rain acted as some kind of deterrent that night (c'mon people... it's just rain), but we had a good time anyway. Our friend Robyn came with a few friends, my friend Paul with a bunch of folks, and my other musician friend Sean Ryan also came out to support the night. We had a grand time. Gerard is really fitting in nicely on the bass and if definitely showed that night. Good times.

Two days later (June 20th) I pulled double duty. In the morning I played a solo acoustic show at the Branford Festival. Lots of cool folks, even at 9:30am! I also had the pleasure of finally meeting and listening to Mr. Brian Dolzani (songwriter extraordinaire). Really happy to share the stage with him. He's a stand up guy and a true talent. When you get a chance, check him out.

Later that night, Gerry and I played a very cool show put on by our friends Brad & Dave (aka The Golden Microphone). These guys are awesome, interested in nothing more than helping musicians get out there. They rent a space in New Haven at Neverending Books and simply put on a show. Great night, great audience. I know a particular venue in New Haven that could take a lesson from Brad & Dave. But I suppose that's another rant. We also got to see and listen to Shellye Valauskas & Dean Falcone. I thoroughly enjoyed her tunes. They really took me back to a good place. Thank you Shellye, and thank you Dave & Brad.

Sunday June 28th was a fun day too. My friend Gerald Goode, who is an out artist, had a slot at the NYC Pridefest. I played guitar for him. Really good time, even though the sound guy was a complete fucking dick. I hope you read this Mr. Soundman. Sir, you need a lesson in manners, patience, and how to deal with people in general. Besides that, Gerald went over very, very well and was extremely appreciated by those in attendance. Yay Gerald!

This past Sunday, July 5th, Gerry and I played an acoustic show at Arlene's Grocery. This is a fun place to play and one of the kindest staffs we've ever encountered in NYC. We appreciate the Long Island crew for sticking around and watching the show. I'm hoping we can do our NYC CD release show there in October/November.

Thursday, July 9th Gerry and I will be at the historic Infinity Music Hall, opening for critically acclaimed artist Vienna Teng. It will sure feel good to be getting out of the bar circuit and into a true listening room. We're looking forward to the show and trying out some new stuff.

Well, we'll be heading to the studio these next couple of weeks. I'll report back when we're done with the next round of studio sessions.

Thanks for the support, always!

-SA

Greetings from Shelburne Falls MA!

2009-06-13T18:33:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Shelburne Falls MA!

Gerry and I just finished an acoustic set at our favorite place in "The Falls," Mocha Maya's. I've said it once and I'll say it again - this is how a live music venue should be run. They treat the artists with respect and actually do this thing called "promoting." Where as some venues just book the band and leave it to chance, the fine people at Mocha Maya's actually work to make the night a success. Kind of an anomaly in this business, but a welcome one nonetheless.

Anywho... Watching Chris Cubeta & The Liars Club. Cool band. Never saw them before. Really enjoying them. I think they fit well with us. Kinda alternative, kinda inspired by Wilco, perhaps Son Volt, maybe even Counting Crows. Anyway, I'm enjoying them. Check them out if you can. They're from Brooklyn NY.

I meant to write a blog yesterday, as I'm shooting for every Friday now. I'm gonna do my damnedest to make that work.

Got a little further with the record last week. Gerry came in and did some smashing guitar work. Emphasize "smashing" in British accent because it was "SMASHING!" I'm really psyched to get this new record out. It's been really inspiring times this past year. Big changes with friends, family, love, band... I think it's all going to be in there. Even more, once again the boys in the band have proved to be the fine musicians they are, as I had a clear vision for some of the songs that we already laid down and have completely stepped up to the plate and tore them up. Spending time in the studio with Gerry last week was a pleasure. I think it's some of the finest guitar work I've heard him lay down since we started playing together 5 years ago... or however long it's been.

As a testament to making music with some of the finest people ever... G-man, a.k.a. Dicky Burns, a.k.a. Gerry - and myself finished up three songs last night. Untitled as of yet, but I'm proud to say that they're gonna rock a bit more than before. Be prepared. I warned you. :-)

Playing a couple more full band shows for the summer then we're curling up with a nice book in the studio. Really going to concentrate on making a killer record for the fall. Let's just call it an obsession. But back to the upcoming shows, one tomorrow at a benefit, then one more on Thursday at Daniel Street in Milford CT. If you can make it out... no, you BETTER make it out Thursday to Daniel Street! It's our last full-band show for the next 4-5 months. And as an added benefit, we're playing with our friends The Mercury Seed. They rock. It's gonna be a night of rock & roll bliss.

Well that's all for now. Gonna run back to the show.

Gerry says hello!

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-SA

2009-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! I'm back from... well... I never really went anywhere. I've always been here, but not here. I don't know if that makes any sense necessarily, so I'll just leave it up to your interpretation.

Mostly, I've been focused on school and trying to make some money these past few months. I'm happy to report that paying attention to my collegiate career has paid off, as I once again scored a series of straight A's this past Spring semester, and am proudly upholding a 3.96 GPA. Only one more year to go and then out into the world of the worst economic condition in years. But alas... I've always been one to turn lemons into lemonade, and am already devising a most awesome plan to navigate these rough economic waters, even already implementing them.

On the money front (and this is where the blog title of 'Making some changes' comes in), I've just been trying to be smart, make good moves, using good judgment. Running a band is an expensive venture. I'm not complaining, but it's just not always easy. We put out a CD (Where You Come From) right on the verge of an economic meltdown and at a time when CDs just are not selling like they used to (some believe that music should be free - I disagree). But specifically on the topic of this blog, I decided to pull down my music off of MySpace. Perhaps MySpace will kick me off for saying the following (and quite frankly, don't care if they do), but I believe that MySpace makes a lot of money off of people providing content. Whether it's a band, a comedian, a movie maker, or even a regular user, all provide content making MySpace a destination for many. If you'll notice, YOU are bombarded with ads when you get here. My logic is this: You provide content. MySpace sells ads. MySpace makes a ton of money off of these ad sales, because MySpace is a destination due to uploaded content. Artists like myself don't receive any money for our content, even though it's used as a catalyst to slap an ad over. I think that's wrong.

In todays music industry, the old business model is DEAD. It's so dead it's turned into oil. Understand, music artists today have a difficult time just breaking even. One wonderful invention to help artists maintain a viable business has been the internet. Nowadays, there are websites dedicated to delivering great content that share their ad revenues with those that provide the content. I think that's the right thing to do. While I use a site that does such a thing, I'm certainly not getting rich off it. Hell, I couldn't even buy gas with that money. But the principle is something I greatly admire. It's something MySpace has never even attempted to do.

Therefore, I've removed my songs from MySpace. Now, there is a widget from ReverbNation (I encourage you to go there) that has replaced the MySpace music player. So, yes, there is still music on MySpace, but it's coming from ReverbNation. It may sound confusing, I know. It's like selling my own gourmet pizza in a Domino's pizza store, if that analogy helps.

In other news...

I'd like to give a great big welcome to Antonio's brother Gerard as the new bass player for the band. Gerard, like his brother, brings a lot of experience, professionalism, and talent to the group. He's a welcome addition to the family and we're all glad to have him aboard. That means that Fred is now free to use both hands and work his magic on the Rhodes. Sometimes 2 are better than 1!

We began recording in April and are intermittently returning to the studio, slowly finishing up the next record to release it in the fall. I don't really have too much info, other than we've finish basic tracking for "I Can't Wait To Let You Down," "Seventy Letters," "The Last One," "Not Sad To See You Leave," and "Vermont." You might recognize these titles from the Everything Is Something Else acoustic EP, and you'd be right. I brought these to the band and they just knocked 'em out of the park as full band renditions, that I just had to include them on the next record. Other working titles for songs we're working on are "Good Christian Woman," "June on a Spoon," "Because I Let You," "Stealing From Ourselves," and "Sunday Morning Got You Down." I still have a lot of writing to finish up, but I am working on it! Fear not! We're also gonna have some special guests on this record too, but more on that later.

Well, I'd love to keep writing, but I think it's time I put my stinky self in the shower. Besides, I'll save some stuff for the next blog.

Hope you're doing fine. Peace & love to you...

-SA

The de-valuization of art...

2009-02-18T04:48:00.000-08:00

Greetings y'all! I know it's been quite a long time, but I didn't have too much to write about other than my recent bout of depression. But that's boring and who wants to read about that anyway? Just wait for the next record... ;-)

So I'm perusing the job listings at Craigslist, and I came across an ad for an establishment looking for original artwork: photography, painting, etc. They were quite descriptive in what they wanted... something chic, sophisticated, yet "night-life" like. While I was reading, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... 1) They didn't want to pay for it. 2) Because the art will be displayed in a high traffic area of bar, they made the disclaimer that they wouldn't be responsible for any damage done to the art. 3) They said the art would be available for sale, so the potential to make money was there.

I'm sorry, am I missing something? You want people to display their original pieces of art which costs money to create, time and effort to produce, not pay for it, and then add the extra quagmire that it could potentially be damaged and you'll assume no liability for that? Who in their right mind would submit their art?

As for the "potential" to make money, that's just poppy-cock talk for "we want your stuff for free."

Let's look at the bigger picture, shall we?

Our culture as a whole defies a lot of "what we say we're about." We say we value and reward hard work, but in many cases (not all) we're not willing to pay for it. We say you can be anything you want to be - just as long as you know or blow the right people. We say we are free - but often times, because of a socioeconomic standing (poor vs. wealthy) our liberties are denied. We say we have justice - but when someone serves a sentence and paid their debt to society, they are marked with an "X" for the rest of their life and often cast away from reintegration into society.

In this case of the art, how come we're all willing to pay for gas at ExxonMobil that we all know is going towards another year of record profits, fueling (no pun intended) our dependence on foreign oil, perpetuating unneeded, unjustified wars, polluting the planet, but we're not willing to give to an artist for creating his art?

The above is just one of many analogies that could be made.

Regarding the art scenario specifically, why not offer something of value in exchange for the art? The "potential" is not of real value, and seriously... who's looking to buy art while drinking Bud Light on a Friday night?

I don't have the answers, nor do I claim to. Just thought I'd stir up some discussion. And think about how this translates into music and the ires of illegal downloading. Should music be free? How is an artist to be compensated? Art/Music costs money to create.

Thoughts?

In music news...

We're planning on heading into the studio in the Spring (hopefully) to record the follow up to "Where You Come From." Those are the tentative plans anyway.

We've been performing and subsequently ironing out the songs off of the latest EP "Everything Is Something Else" as a full band. Speaking of which, recording the EP was cathartic for me... I've been dying to do an acoustic record. However, these songs have taken on a fantastic new life with the full band, and I can only credit Fred, Anthony and Gerry for that. They fucking rule. (Ha! Didn't think I'd get through an entire blog post without swearing at least once, did ya?). Again, they fucking rule. My favorites, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this because I love them all, are "Seventy Letters" and "The Last One." Exciting stuff. You'll be sure to hear them on Friday 2.20.09 at The Warehouse in Hartford.

I've got more news to tell ya, but I'll save it for another post. I'll try to post more often now that I'm feeling a bit better.

Hope you're all having a wonderful recession! See, tax cuts work! Just like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny!

Seriously, I hope you're doing alright. We'll all pray that times will get better.

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-Seth

The tribulations of anything unseen

2008-11-22T23:18:00.000-08:00

In my former life, I was criticized for being open... for being honest. Can you imagine that? In a world devoid of truth... of anything reminiscent of face value... that one could actually, willfully, knowingly disregard someone for being honest? I think it would be the other way around... that I would've been loved and respected for being truthful. It makes me think that sometimes... simply... other people just don't appreciate who you are and what you do. Would you agree?

Ah... So... I've been working all day in my "new" life. One that feels at times lifeless... like the town I grew up in. But it breeds a hunger and an opportunity to once again drive myself to someone I've never been, or something I've never done before. Anyway, it was time to take a break tonight. I took my buddy for a walk (Chico) and ended up at a party down the street. Free alcohol is a good thing. Well, as long as one can handle it. I suppose it's a bit of a medicine for me lately. Numbs the pain as they say. And it brings out the laughter that hides away during the waking hours. At least for me anyway.

So I'll try not to go off on a tangent on this paragraph. Been working... layout, graphic design stuff. Still trying to find my stride in it. There's a lot to know and there's a lot of beautiful work out there. Which is why I bring it up at all... Because visual art, like music, is vast and objective. It takes it's own twists and turns in the brightest of sunny days to the darkest and loneliest of nights. Visual art helps to tell the story... helps to sell the product... helps to bring the message across. It's a new ocean for me to swim in. Unlike music, which I feel confident I've found my proverbial "stride" in, but always want to push beyond my personal boundaries. Yes... I'm lucky enough to find two modes of expression. Anyone should be so lucky with just one. I guess I won the lotto.

I've been missing music lately. I've been missing my band too. Last week I got to pacify myself and my desire to perform. Another successful show at New Haven's own flagship for musical creativity... Cafe Nine... left me blissful and hopeful. It was kinda like sex without the guilt and without any risk of pregnancies. That was quite a stretch for an analogy, eh? So we really hit our stride as a four-piece last week. It was inspirational for me. Makes me want to play even more. Fred and I, and Gerry and Anthony for that matter, were all in agreement that we were firing on all cylinders (that's an old automotive expression, in case you didn't get it). What's more? It was honest. Yes, as I was discussing in the first paragraph, it all comes back to honesty. Got to share the bill with a truly wonderful band, Pete and J. They're from Brooklyn and I am certainly looking forward to sharing another bill with them. It was a truly great pairing. Thanks to all that came out!

By now I'm wondering if you're wondering why I titled this here blog "The tribulations of anything unseen." Well, honestly, I don't know it sounded good. Doesn't it sound like a bestselling book or something? No? Seriously, it's about not knowing what someone else is going through. You may think you know, but you'll never really know. You know? Which brings me to my next point... relating to the whole honesty theme kicking around these words tonight. No one is that completely honest. I'm not. I sure do open up a lot and tell a lot of stories about my life (see Where You Come From - available now at iTunes), but there's quite a bit that I will never reveal. Some of it is to save face, some to protect the innocent. But I digress because once again, I'm going off on a tangent... "The tribulations of anything unseen." You'll never completely know what someone else is going through. So you know what? Just have a heart. Just lend an ear and hear what the other person has to say and project no expectations on what you want to hear. There are things unseen that remain that way for a reason. It's that simple.

Heading to the studio the first week of December. I hope to have the free acoustic EP out for Christmas. Here are some song titles for you to formulate ideas about:

I Can't Wait To Let You Down
The Last One
Vermont
70 Letters
Not Sad To See You Leave

Is Seth heartbroken again? Possibly. Is he pissed off? Definitely. Is he happy that Obama won the presidency? Abso-fucking-lutely!

Thank you for listening. Thank you for spreading the word. Please continue to do so. It's greatly appreciated.

Oh... before you go... short story. I used to submit songs to this website called TAXI. Basically, they steal your money and dangle a hope of shopping your song for licensing to TV shows and movies. Basically, the whole thing is a scam... kinda like Sonicbids, but that's another story. A few times through TAXI, the so-called "experts" had the opinion that I needed to be more resolute in my storytelling... that they couldn't understand what I was singing about...that I needed to be more direct. Well, I just got this email from Derek Sivers and it had this great quote from Keith Richards:

“Lyrics are best when they're mysterious - like listening in to someone else's phone conversation when the telephone wires have crossed. You don't know the history or context. You don't understand the references. So it draws you in even deeper, trying to understand.

If you're too obvious and explain everything in your lyrics, you don't get that mystery. So what I do is this:

Write out everything I'm thinking, everything I want to say, but then cross out every other line, and write the song using only what's left, even though it doesn't make total sense.”

Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones... bitches. Suck it TAXI.

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-Seth

Well now... it’s been a while hasn’t it...

2008-11-12T20:43:00.001-08:00

I know I've been somewhat political as of late. It's because my future and the future of the country I love is important to me. But I promise, I'll leave politics out of this one.

Ever feel like you're watching life go by? Like you're standing on the edge of the platform, waiting for the subway line to stop, and it either stops right in front of you and you don't get on, or it just flies by whipping your hair, making a lot of noise that you try your best to ignore. As of late it feels like the latter for me.

To be more succinct, I think a more accurate description of life these days would be that of treading water. Yes. That's a far more realistic description. It's good because I'm not sinking, but not so good because I'm not exactly going anywhere. But it does mean I'm working, keeping myself afloat... not sinking. But it does leave me tired.

I guess I draw that conclusion because I've been juggling a lot lately... a new home environment... a busy graphic design business... school... writing songs... playing shows... Some people call me crazy. And there's probably some truth to that. I don't know anyone that would take on so much and not have it any other way. But I've come to a conclusion... it helps me stay skinny. Ha! Yes... 4 hours of sleep a night and 3-4 cups of coffee per day keeps the body in shape. Don't worry... I eat well. Tofu, salad, mild amounts of fish & chicken, lots of other fruits and veggies... There you go. See? I take care of myself. No need to worry.

Okay... enough rambling. Here's what's happening...

Don't know if I made it abundantly clear on earlier posts, but I will now. FRED is officially the new bass player. No, not playing a guitar style bass, but a Fender Piano Bass. It's given a unique voicing to the bass section of the band. We're still working on the arrangements, as well as getting used to the indigenous frequency of the instrument. But it's all cool. It's like The Doors... except Gerry's a better guitar player. Oh... sorry Doors fans... Ah... a little humor... Back to Fred... The kid works hard and I am SO proud and flattered that he is part of this project, putting in the effort that he does. Thank you Fred.

On the recording front... Yes... yes... yes... I've been saying it forever now. Well, not forever but for a few months... There will be an ACOUSTIC EP released before the end of 2008. It is going to be exclusively distributed (available for download) through ReverbNation.com. If you'd like to get a head start on it, just click on that link and sign up as a fan. You'll be privy to the soon-to-be exclusive download. We're just finishing a couple of fine tweaks on pre-production before we go for the proverbial "gusto." Think of it as an early Holiday present.

And now I will humbly ask for your help... It's really simple. Tell a friend. Send an email to a friend or two with a link to the website, MySpace page, Facebook page, ReverbNation page... etc. Contrary to what may be perceived as the laid back, you-must-get-a-ton-of-chicks, "American Idol" lifestyle, we actually work for what we do, and it's only possible with YOUR help. That's right. YOU are a huge part of this. So help out... On the website, you can download & print out fliers for upcoming shows. You can copy & past web-fliers to your MySpace page. And again, send a link to any of the many web presences to a friend or two. If you need help, just drop ME (Seth) a line. No robots... no interns... I do it myself. So, I need your help! Also, on this here MySpace page and on the official website, there's a list of radio stations. Call 'em up. Request something off of Where You Come From. Just spread the word!

I've had 3 Dogfish Head I.P.A.'s, at this point, so I hope that this is all coherent rambling, versus incoherent rambling. (play that laugh track!) Seriously, this beer is good. No really... seriously... I know I'm making sense. I'm not THAT silly... yet...

This week... I'll be with my good, good friends Gerry & Brian for an acoustic show at The Acoustic Cafe (Bridgeport CT) tomorrow night (Thursday 11.13.08). It's an early, 8pm show. Actually, I can't wait. I love this place and I'm on the bill with some very, very cool folks... Sean Ryan, Lisa Heile & Gerald Goode, and The Mercury Seed. And then on Saturday, I'll be back with the whole band (Anthony, Fred, Gerry) at Cafe Nine (New Haven) - 11.15.08 - 9:00pm. We'll be opening for Pete and J. - Umm... that's MySpace.com/peteandj. Got it? Good. You rule!

Okay... sandwich time. I love late night sandwiches. Yummy!

Did I really just say "yummy?"

So, drop me a line. Tell me how you're doing.

Oh... some video coming soon too! Stay tuned...

Peace, love, rock & rolll...

-Seth Adam

p.s. Remind me to tell you the Montclair NJ, Counting Crows concert story next time.

The $300.00 cheeseburger...

2008-11-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

ORIGNIALLY POSTED OCTOBER 12TH

Hello all! Hope you're doing fine, surviving the weather of the financial markets, loving the ones you love, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

Ah... Sunday morning in the fall. It's absolutely gorgeous outside, and I think I'm going to go get some of it. I could use it.

So I'm playing many more acoustic shows with my friend Brian (hand drums, vocals). Gerry has been off on a performance excursion with Marykate O'Neil the past few weeks, and Brian has stepped in. I'd say more than stepping in and more like we're reconnecting, as the last times we played together were some 15 odd years ago. But now I can say the last time we played together was last night, and it's been a real pleasure playing music with him again. We've got some stuff in the works for the coming weeks... months... And when Gerry comes back from the MK tour, we'll have even more fun creating.

My apologies for the first-time-ever "No, you're not playing tonight" in Boston last week. Yup. Fred, Gerry, Brian and myself trekked up to Boston only to find out that we weren't on the bill (insert an Austin Powers line, "Swear to God baby! That never happens!") Well, the important thing is that we got to see, and hang out with Kelly, Anne & crew... And that was worth the two hour drive. Hope to be back up & playing in Boston soon.

This past Wednesday was New York City. I've a sincere affinity for the town, now more than ever. Fun show... first time acoustic combination with Fred, Brian and myself. We'll be doing more of these in the future, possibly as a "power trio," i.e., "plugged in." Met some good folks from the M.E.A.N.Y. Fest and had ourselves a good time. Fred really wanted a cheeseburger after the show (actually we were all hungry), so we headed up to our pal Maureen's neighborhood. Jen, Maureen, Fred, Brian and I had ourselves a nice midnight snack, including gravy fries, gravy pickles, and gravy cole slaw. Paid the bill and came back out to find my car gone. After nearly soiling myself because of the amount of gear in the car, I found out it was towed. A little better than theft, but nonetheless still a bummer. After a 10 block walk, a $185.00 release fee, and a "salt-in-the-wound" parking ticket for $95.00, and the generous charity of my friends for helping me pay for it, we were on our way. It wouldn't have hurt so much except that my car was actually broken into three weeks ago, causing $700.00 worth of damage. But that's another story. The bottom line is that I've got great friends and we had really expensive cheeseburgers.

Had a great show last night at Club Helsinki in Great Barrington MA. It was truly redeeming, considering the $300.00 cheeseburger story. It's a really great listening room. The folks in the audience were an absolute pleasure to perform in front of. A heartfelt thanks goes out to the fellas in TOTEMIC for having us there with them. Just listened back to the board mix CD from last night, and I'm once again happy that Brian and I are playing together again. It's going to be a great season this fall. Hope to make it back up to Helsinki soon... I highly recommend it.

One last story... Found a review online yesterday from a show in Boston this past February. I'll just say the reviewer wasn't too kind. Now, I don't like to harp on reviewers saying bad things about me, as I know I'm a target for it. It's just part of the gig. And I certainly can't make a public rebuttal of every negative thing written about me. But I will say this: Ed... When you're referring to "pealing" apples, it's spelled "peeling." "Pealing" refers to bells and chimes... but I bet you knew that 'cause you're so smart.

Dick.

Thanks folks. Sorry you had to see that.

Today marks 100 days left in the White House for Monkey Nuts and his team of clowns. I'm not a religious man, but thank God.

Yes, you and I are paying taxes to save the collective pathetic asses on Wall Street. Where was the government when the homeowner needed a bailout?

John... John... John... "That one?" What is wrong with you?

Go see "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." Fun, cute movie.

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-SA

Can't sleep...

2008-09-21T22:53:00.001-07:00

On the eve of a Monday, where the financial markets are in crisis, we'll be six weeks away from a presidential election, the Yankees will have played their last game at Yankee Stadium, and I have a Zoology exam.

I need some sleep.

Had a great week this past week. Despite the minor turmoil I've endured the past few months (some of you know, and some of you don't know), I'm in really good shape. I've got a smile on my face, a new outlook on life, and most importantly, writing is coming along. Shall I do the ol' recap? I think so, because the last blog was all about my deep affection for "Recovering the Satellites" (Counting Crows), and made no mention of our/my recent shows.

9.6.08 - Mocha Maya's, Shelburne Falls MA - (Hurricane Hanna, you're a bitch). I like this place a lot. I'm pretty sure I've devoted many words, on several occasions, to my belief that if all music venues were run like this, my world would be a better place. However, that ain't gonna happen... as they say... and well, this will have to be my one little saving grace as far as venues go. For some reason, I feel like the shows here are robust with personal gratification, enthusiasm for experimentation, and the intimacy of storytelling. Even though the hurricane that weekend may have literally rained on my proverbial parade (oxymoron, anyone?), I had a fun time performing for the small crowd in the room that braved the stormy weather. And like almost always, my good friend Gerry was by my side making it even more enjoyable.

9.9.08 - Open Mic with UltraRadio.com at Viva Zapata, New Haven CT - Truth be told, this isn't really a show... but I just thought I'd mention it here... kind of sneaking it in... The next one is October 7th. Bring your guitar, your voice, and your preferably original songs. It's been a good time for me meeting my fellow players. I'm looking forward to the next one.

9.10.08 - Main Pub, Manchester CT - "Holy reunion, Batman!" This show was a true delight for me. I grew up playing music with a drummer friend of mine named Brian Konopka ("Duke" for those in the know). Together we shared an affection for Led Zeppelin, Cream, Motley Crue, and the dream of becoming rock stars. He and I haven't played a note together in about 15 years, but it was like we never missed a day in between. I literally sent him the songs about 4 days before the show. He assembled some parts on the hand drums, learned the harmony vocals, and we kicked it like we've never kicked it before. Sometimes life comes full circle... It certainly did that Wednesday... I think we'll be doing some stuff again in the future.

9.11.08 - Kenny's Castaways, New York City NY - I find it interesting that some people refer to Bleecker Street as some sort of death knell for music... that it's just not as hip as other parts of Manhattan. Personally, I don't give a fuck. I've seen and had the pleasure to play with some great bands on Bleecker Street. I love it there. We usually do The Bitter End, and we'll return there soon, but we decided to give a different room a go. The show was great... people there were great... and umm... yeah... it was good to break out some new songs. Check out Kenny's the next time you're in Manhattan... I think you'll like it. Anyway, topped off the night with a fantastic Spanish dinner with the boys and our friends Maureen, Karen and Jen. Good times.

9.14.08 - Border's in-store, Wareham MA - Not too much to say... folks there were nice and I had the fortune of influencing somebody to do something musical. Other than that, I got lost, drove a lot, and ended up being late for...

9.14.08 - Kennedy's, Boston MA - I was supposed to play at Kennedy's at six. I rolled up in front of the building at 6:01, figuring that I'd be a couple of minutes late. The next 40 minutes of my life were a complete and utter waste of life. There was NO parking anywhere. I finally ended up underneath Boston Common (a parking lot under a park... actually pretty cool). I asked the Harvard graduate security guard at the top of the stairs, "Which way to Tremont Street?" After studying her Boston Parking Authority issued map, which apparently was used as a prize at the bottom of Cracker-Jack boxes at one time in history, she points "That way." Thanks but no thanks as she sent me walking completely in the opposite direction. After circling around the park, and finally getting along my way, I see that the Orpheum Theater was hosting The Mars Volta that night. No wonder there was no parking. I chuckled a bit as I saw a guy outside the theater holding a sign that read "No Jesus, No Salvation." C'mon dude... it's 2008, and The Mars Volta isn't exactly Marilyn Manson. Anyway, I get to Kennedy's where I'm greeted with a sarcastic "Nice of you to show up." Right. I get on stage, play my balls off for four songs... "The Last One," "Everything Is Wrong," "Promise," and "I Think I Like It Better." Shortest set EVAHHHHH! For some reason, it also felt like the most redeeming. Even through all the non-sensical doo-doo of the prior 40 minutes, I still was glad to be there. Sold some CDs, talked to a few folks, had myself a very lovely Smithwick's, and headed home.

9.16.08 - Farmer's Market @ Spring's Glen Church, Hamden CT - Well... these are interesting to do... In all honesty, it's not really my "audience," but the folks at these things are always very cool, especially the vendors. Plus, I firmly believe in supporting local growers, as their produce is usually better than what's at "the stores." There's something about the spirit on independence in the face of so much conglomerated, homogenized way of getting our food.

9.18.08 - New York City NY - Didn't play a show, but had a fantastic time! Woo-hoo!

9.20.08 - Starbucks, New Haven CT - It's great to be an independent musician in the face of a behemoth coffee company. The irony is great and I love that sort of twisted mentality. Yes, some may call it "not-so-rock-and-roll," but when the city of New Haven, a city I love, only offers 2 and 1/2 places to play, well... you make do with what you got. And personally, I like playing here. Always have. People come in, they listen, they buy CDs... What's not to like? There are several other positive attributes to playing here, but I will remain a gentleman.

So there you have it...

I'm heading off to Dewey Beach DE this weekend for 2 shows at the "Unplugged @ The Beach" series. It's part of the Dewey Beach Festival. I'm heading down with my producer, Vic, and we're gonna eat funnel cake like it's going out of style. I think I'm gonna write some songs about how much I loved a night in Little Italy...

As always, thank you for listening, supporting, and spreading the word. It's all deeply appreciated.

Cheers y'all!

-Seth

Recovering the memories...

2008-09-07T12:19:00.001-07:00

When I turned 21, the world opened up a little more for me and the possibilities came pouring in. No longer did I have to sneak alcohol, wait for certain nights when I knew I could get into places because I somehow had a connection to the person working the door, or try to act "cool" to get the attention of a female that was a year or two older than me. Nope. Now I could go out and experience all of the thrills of alcohol consumption and meeting a lot of girls.

So around 10 summers ago, I did meet a girl. Her name was Heather. She was a waitress at a restaurant on the shoreline in CT. I remember the day... I was hanging out with my "recently turned 21" friends, trying to act cool and impress the socialites gathering around the tables, lying to some girl and actually trying to be a dick because I thought it would impress her (hey I was 21... what the fuck did I know?).

At the end of the night I noticed a girl cleaning tables and getting ready to mop the floor. I coyly introduced myself as to not come across like the person I was pretending to be with some other girl earlier. She had a great smile and I'll never forget making her laugh. I found myself compelled to ask her to go for a hike sometime with me, and she agreed, much to my surprise. After all, I was half in the bag from what I remember, and I guess I didn't say anything too stupid to make her reluctant to talk with me.

That was at the beginning of the summer, some 10 odd years ago.

By the end of the summer, Heather and I were going along pretty strong. Remember, I was 21, and I think when you're that age, the world is pretty much huge... everything is a big deal. This relationship that I found myself in was a big deal and I was most certainly in love.

One morning Heather and I woke up to go out to breakfast, much like we always did on the weekend mornings. We stopped for coffee before heading out for the day and that was when she crushed me like I had never been crushed before. She told me she was moving to Arizona and not coming back. I was not welcome to come.

Remember... everything is HUGE at the tender age of 21... at least it was for me...

I spent the remaining days of that summer, into the latter part of September listening to a lot of "Recovering The Satellites" from the Counting Crows. Never before had a record spoken so much truth to me. I could recite all the lines and tell you what they meant to me, but that would take up a lot of time. There was a beautiful comfort in my tragedy, and these words sung by Adam Duritz absolutely cradled me in my sadness. Listening, crying, singing along to this record was cathartic, depressing, joyous, and enlightening. I learned a lot about myself, my purpose and my life during that time.

So, why do I bring this up today? Well, lots of reasons. Today was like one of late summer/early fall days back then, spending time with Heather before she left for good, before I'd see her ever again. The air was still warm, but there was the most gentle, cool breeze, hinting that fall was only a few weeks away. But it was beautiful outside, just like today. The leaves were just beginning to transform from lush green to a hint of a golden amber. The sadness and optimism were lingering in the air, just like for me today. And while I'm never, ever truly alone in this world, as I've got some great people in my life, I still felt alone today... a lot like I did back then.

"Gonna get back to basics
I guess I'll start it up again
I'm falling from the ceiling
I'm falling from the sky every now and then"

Interesting how history truly does repeat itself...

Well, here's a toast: To great records... to great songs that transcend the times... to great friends by your side...

See ya soon...

-SA

Thank you Cafe Nine...

2008-08-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

My fellow Americans...

Sorry... been watching a lot of the Democratic National Convention this week. Anyone see Hillary's speech? I thought it was amazing...

Anyway, how've you been? I'm alright, thanks for asking. Been going through some changes which are welcome and unwelcome at the same time. Sometimes life throws something out at you that you just can't avoid. My philosophy is to either deal with it and fight back, or just crawl under a rock and wither away. I always choose the former. If any of what I just said seems veiled, you're right... it is. For the sake of protecting innocent parties, I'm leaving it open for interpretation. Conspire amongst yourselves (insert evil laugh).

So Tuesday was fun. Gerry and I opened up for one Lukas Rossi, the winner of Rockstar Supernova. I have to admit, I didn't watch the show. Those who know me know that I loathe those kind of shows; the ones that leave the viewer with a false impression of what the music business is really like. But I can sense that I'm already going off on a tangent, so let me kick my ass back to the subject: Tuesday. Tuesday was fun. Lukas is a really cool guy. A lot nicer than what I was anticipating, I guess because I was expecting some L.A. guy... Truth be told, he's a fellow Canadian (well, I'm French Canadian American... I was born here). But enough about him. The audience was really great. Met a LOT of cool people that were super receptive to us. Plus, yanno... we WERE at home at Cafe Nine... but a lot of new faces and I think we made a bunch of new friends. Thank you all for being so kind.

And my fellow collegiate students... We're back in school next week. Year #4 for me (in a row - that's a first!) and 7th semester. Wish me luck as I try to balance music, work, school and my buddy Chico (my doggie). Should be fun. I hope to be doing more acoustic touring this fall too. There's a lot of people I'd like to meet and places to see.

Lastly for this one folks... I've been doing some working out and recently discovered steroids. They did something bad to my chin and shoulders. I also had a perm go terribly wrong. I guess this whole make over thing isn't going the way I wanted... Well... tell me what you think...

Just scroll down....

Yeah... I was bored...

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-SA

Yeah! Two Boots...

2008-08-22T14:31:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody!

I want to thank everyone for coming out to Two Boots in Bridgeport last night. Lots of fun. Didn't know what to expect from a "sit-down" type place that slings pizza. But it was all very good. A stage, a sound system, lights, a dressing room, a friendly staff... What else could a struggling musician ask for? Kudos to the fellas for playing a great show. My friend Mr. Sean Ryan opened up the show and man he sounded good. You can check out music from his "on-hiatus" band right here.

It seems that Lorin won't be coming back to join us after the summer. Maybe sometime in the future, but right now, family is coming first - as it should. He's a great friend, and we all truly appreciate his effort over the past couple of years. I wish I could of made us all rich rockstars by now, but alas... wishing gets you nowhere.

So that leaves the need for a bass player. Auditions are currently ongoing. But, act fast because I'm really leaning towards Fred playing bass. I might just decide, with his permission of course, to have him fill that position. Not to go on and on about it, but he really came through the other night. Besides being talented, he's a team player. I like that. It may be my name on this project, but we are a band a lot of the time, and there's nothing like camaraderie. Fred knows about teamwork.

Well, you may or may not have heard... one of my personal faves, Will Hoge, is in the hospital after sustaining injuries after a motor-scooter accident. Just want to wish him well, and my thoughts are prayers are with him and his family.

My thoughts and prayers are also with the family members of Mr. Leroi Moore. The music world recently lost a great one as the saxophone player for Dave Matthews Band recently passed due to injuries and complications sustained from an ATV accident. I hope he's blowing his horn with Miles Davis and John Coltrane in that great big jam session in the sky.

On to happier news... Gerry and I will be opening for Lukas Rossi, the winner of the CBS television show, Rockstar Supernova. He's on a solo acoustic tour (something I desperately need to do) and coming through our hometown of New Haven. It's kind of a last minute thing for us, so I do hope you can make it.

Lastly, just want to thank everyone again for your continued support. Please spread the word, post the music on your MySpace & Facebook pages, hand out fliers for the shows (available at www.SethAdam.com), and keep on coming out to see us. And don't be shy... we like to talk to everyone!

Cheers y'all! Have a great weekend!

Peace, love, rock & rolll...

-SA

Fred gets a gold star...

2008-08-17T22:24:00.001-07:00

Hello boys and girls! The bad blogger here! Not bad blogging necessarily, more like bad at keeping consistent at it. So let me hop back up on the horse and give you some personal insights, anecdotes, and updates on the musical endeavor that is my life.

First, an insight: Magic Hat is good!

Next, an anecdote: Saturday I woke up in the morning, after a lovely 4 hours of sleep, to a beautiful day. I took the dog for a walk, had some coffee, and got myself on my way. The goal before 12 noon was to get a money order made and in the mail. I head to the post office. I need to get a money order for an amount that my debit card wouldn't authorize, meaning I had to go get cash. So I go back out to my car, roll up the windows, leave the envelope that's already stamped and addressed in the car, and walk over to the bank. As I'm walking over, I notice that I forgot something... my keys in the locked car.

After I finished my business at the bank, I start looking around for something to break into my car with... not something I really want to do. I find a stick and pry open a window, which completely falls off. Yup. I managed to take a window completely out because that's what I like to do (insert sarcasm).

After finishing my business at the post office, I head over to the car parts store so I could get something to fix my window with. On the way there, I get a voicemail from Ron informing me that he's not going to be able to make the show later on. Shit. I call him back, and reassure him that it's all good, we'll take care of it. Family comes first, especially when it comes to his little guy.

So at this point, I'm kinda feeling like maybe I should've stayed in bed.

I give Fred a call, because he rules, he's talented, and any girl that's with him should consider herself a very lucky girl. Recently he's been playing with a band called The Spins (do check them out), and instead of a bass player, he's got this little Fender-Rhodes piano bass. I ask him, "How fast can you learn the bass parts?"

A little after 2pm, Fred and I rehearsed through 2 sets worth of tunes in about 40 minutes time. We packed up our gear and headed out to the show.

Since I've been doing a lot of acoustic shows this summer, I was looking forward to playing some electric at this one. However, upon unloading the van, we realized that Gerry's amp was missing. So I forgo the electric, Gerry uses my amp, and I plug away on the acoustic.

We begin the first set and Fred, pulling double duty on both keys and bass, pulls it off without any problems. The kid's fucking great. That's all. We take a break, get some wine and hit the second set. Again, Fred does it again. And so, this is why FRED GETS A GOLD STAR!

I think this show will go down as one of the most memorable for me. I think everyone was on top of their game. We could've complained, we could've been intimated and frustrated because of some of the adversities of the situation, but we pulled it together and honestly, Fred saved the day. And it sounded fucking great. Not to proverbially "toot my own horn," but damn I was proud and I am a tough critic.

Interesting day, for sure.

And now, for some updates: There are some new shows added to the schedule... I added some background/band information to the band page on the website... Gerry and I are still working on a bunch of new tunes, and now Fred and I have embarked on some writing too... We've been getting some additions to all those radio stations, so please keep up those request calls...

That's all for now... I'll put some past show reviews up next time. Looking forward to Two Boots in Bridgeport on Thursday. In the meantime y'all stay well. I hope life is treating you kind.

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-SA

The Knuckleheads...

2008-06-12T16:44:00.001-07:00

Today I woke up to the voices of the morning show DJs on 99.1 WPLR (that's in CT) and CT state senator, Joe LIE-berman. Accompanied with him was another politician I believe, but I'm not sure who, because I just didn't catch it.

This unnamed fellow stated something along the lines of, "Ya know... Barack Obama wants change, but if you vote for him, that's all your going to have left in your pocket."

As if to insinuate that a President Barack Obama is somehow going to tax us all to death and we'll be left with just a few coins in our Levi jeans.

Well hey there brother, let me tell you something: That's all I've got now. That's all a lot of people have right now. Unless of course you're on the board of directors for ExxonMobil, BlueCross, Aetna, and dozens of other companies that are scamming from my fellow middle class brethren. You're dubious theory of "trickle down economics" ergo, tax breaks to wealthy Americans, have not trickled down to me. I'm willing to bet my next year's pay that those tax cuts haven't trickled down to a lot of Americans.

We are told from Day One in this country that we can do anything, that we can be the next President of the United States when we grow up. And we believe it. Our parents work their tails off to put us into school and give us the best opportunities we can get. And somewhere along the way, for many of us, our dreams die. Fear crushes our hopes and we worry how we're going to pay for our cars, groceries, insurance, medicine and more. So we work 60 hours a week, to make sure that we can have a sliver of health insurance and money for groceries. And maybe if there's enough left over, we can take our kids to a ball game.

But wait... Gas is getting expensive and people aren't buying our products anymore, so we're going to have to cut your job. Sorry. You're out of luck. But don't worry. You can work 70 hours a week schlepping destructive fast food down people's throats just to make a portion of what you made at your prior job.

Seriously... Aren't you angry? I am. 8 years of Reagan-omics, a Bush Sr. presidency, a mediocre centrist democrat, and a destructive Bush Jr. presidency, have lead us to where we are today.

And where are we today? Oil companies flaunt their record profits, yet gas prices are brutalizing our economy (that's what happens when you have an entire economy based on oil... that's what I've always said... but that's another blog). Astounding figures of Americans are without healthcare. Unemployment is up. The cost of food is becoming dangerously high.

But hey, we're capitalists and we're told from Day One that we can be anything and do anything we set our minds to.

A friend of mine has a family of four. He pays a ridiculous amount of money each month for healthcare, to the tune of over $1,000 per month. Doesn't that seem wrong to you?

I've been around a while, and I know that prior to King George's reign, gas wasn't this expensive. Neither was food. Healthcare wasn't cheap, but it wasn't as bad as it is now.

So when Barack Obama talks about change, I've got to put my faith in that. When I listen to the other guy talk about how he wants to extend the Bush tax cuts (which only affect the wealthy... not middle class or poor Americans), remain in a war that never should've started anyway, and then then top it all off with how his policies will benefit all Americans, I just don't believe it. That's not change.

I hope the WPLR morning show offers up some equivalent coverage of the Democratic side of things. And just so you know Joe LIE-berman doesn't count.

And to the knucklehead that said all I'm going to have is change in my pocket when Barack Obama is elected, well, that's all I've had in my pocket since the coup of 2001.

Respectfully yours,

-Seth

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

2008-05-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Greetings y'all! I hope ya don't mind the email list sign-up above... I'm making a switch to a different email service. The price of gas, and subsequent touring, have forced me to switch to a less expensive, but actually better service. If you haven't done so, please feel free to add yourself. And rest assured, your information will not be shared with or by anyone. And, I'll only send information when it's pertinent - mostly showdates, news, etc. Okay, so now that the business portion of this blog is over...

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Let's all remember what this upcoming holiday is about: Our fellow Americans that dedicated their lives to the success of this great nation of ours. I'll put aside my tree-hugging, semi-vegetarian, granola eating, progressive, liberal pride for a moment, and just say hey... we all live here, and these are our United States. Many of our families gave much of themselves to be where we, the descendants are today. I hope we can all come to a consensus about this, no matter what our divisions are.

And again... Happy Memorial Day Weekend, in terms of sharing time with friends & family and the like. Let the summer begin, eh? I get psyched around this time. I love summer. It's always held a special place in my heart. Some of my fondest memories are from summertime with my family when I was younger. I miss those days! But every summer creates new fond memories, and I'm sure this coming summer will be no different.

Alternative Addiction - Well, we made it to Round 2, but not on to Round 3. I want to thank everyone that voted for us. Honestly, I've never been one for "competition" with music. Seems like an oxymoron to me. Art is art, and not a competition. It would've been nice to win, but the games not over. I still get to play... I still get to make my art. I'm getting way too deep on this... Thanks for voting!

Did an in-store at Borders in Concord NH last weekend. Nice folks up there. The ride wasn't too kind. Imagine pouring rain while driving on the interstate. Now imagine that the rubber portion of the wiper blade is slowly coming out with each pass of the arm. Now imagine having to get out of the car and trying to fix that damn blade twice, getting poured on each time. Well, that was my trip. That and other drivers traveling at 40 mph. Ah... it always makes for good stories. Showed up an entire hour late. But all was good because, as I said, nice folks up there!

Got to head back up to Boston last night. Always a good time. Got to see a couple of friends that I hadn't seen in a while... Which is always nice. My friend Chris, whom I've known since the Green Inside days - dating back to the original Radio 104 - was there. I hadn't seen him in about 2 1/2 years. Dude, I'm sorry... I owe you a "Madison." Unfortunately, our set was cut a little short. My other friend Mike was there too... we kinda grew up together. I get to see him every now and then, but he's busy with his band Damone and writing songs like a MoFo. He's really talented. Of course my pal Kelly was there and I'm always happy to see her. It's always nice to travel to different cities and see my friends. Thanks y'all! The show was very cool. And as a matter of fact, a really good band from Toronto called The Free Press played after us. They were also gracious enough to let us use their gear. Thanks fellas! Check them out. I think you'll dig 'em.

Gerry and I head up to our favorite Northeast Coffeehouse, Mocha Maya's, tonight. These guys are just absolutely, stand-up guys, who are staunch supporters of music. It's always a pleasure to play there. If you feel like a FREE acoustic show, then do stop by!

Busy week next week. We'll FINALLY be back in NYC. Can't wait. It's early too, so we can go celebrate our pal Maureen's birthday. Woo-hoo! And then there's the big hometown Toad's Place show. I hope to see y'all there!

As always, thanks for your support. Keep on spreading the word. Cheers!

-Seth

Round 1 is done! On to Round 2!

2008-05-17T14:22:00.001-07:00

Thanks to you, we made it to Round 2!

The next cut will be made on 5/21/08. Please keep the voting strong for us at AlternativeAddiction.com. Winning this contest will help to expose us to a wider audience, something we are always striving for. Thank you for being a part of this!

Click on the image above to cast your vote. You can vote once per day, per each email address. In other words, if you have 5 email addresses, you can vote 5 times per day!

You guys are awesome!

Peace, love, rock & roll...

-S

So I'm on my way to Asbury Park NJ...

2008-05-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

So, I'm on my way to Asbury Park NJ about a week ago. The previous days' rain storms have passed, it's sunny outside, and I'm reflecting on where I am in my life. A 3 hour trip to from New Haven CT to Asbury Park NJ may be a hassle to some, while others may see playing a show in another state as a really cool thing. I fall somewhere in the middle. I'm ecstatic to be proactive with my music, which often requires me to trek from town to town, often far from the comfort of my familiar surroundings. I know that many people don't have that opportunity. On the flip side, the cost of gas is well, you know, outrageous. Traveling/touring almost always incurs a monetary loss. And if I'm playing a free show and I don't sell CDs, it gets expensive.

So I have these two diametrically opposite feelings to contend with... luck and loss... on levels that aren't even mentioned above. I'm pacing back & forth, over & over again in my head. Meanwhile, the drive is simply fulfilling the luck... or the loss.

I'm driving over the Tappan Zee, crossing into New Jersey and what comes on the radio?

"The screen door slams
Marys dress sways
Like a vision she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy orbison singing for the lonely
Hey thats me and I want you only
Dont turn me home again
I just cant face myself alone again"

And I am alone on I-87, but Bruce is on the radio keeping my company. A pioneer, perhaps, of the Asbury Park music scene, his song is on the radio and I think to myself "It's going to be a good day on the Jersey Shore."

And I can't stop. I can't ever stop. Music is my Mary. She is dancing in front of me, appealing to me... teasing me... I am always working for her, wanting to be closer to her. If were to stop, I wouldn't be able to face myself. Through all the "what ifs," "are you ever going to settle downs," "you're not making any money, why are you doing this," and other indications of disapproval, I can't stop staring at her... desiring her. She gives me purpose.

I continue driving. Bruce made 3 albums on a major label before he had any "big" success. He kept driving too.

I arrive at my destination. Guitar in hand, the weight of cables, a microphone, a notebook, pens and other items in my bag weighing on my back, I walk into the cafe with the hope of affecting somebody with my art today. It's completely egocentric. I yearn for approval. I'm kind of a shy person, and music is my initiation to conversation. I set up my things, and begin to play.

It's a far cry from a sold-out show, as there are only 4 people in the cafe on this particular Saturday afternoon. It's too late for lunch and too early for dinner, and to "middle of the day" for coffee I guess. But I meet the approval of the folks there, including the guys that are playing after me. It relieves the tension of performing in front of a small audience.

I hang out for a while, listening to the sounds of Sean Cox. He's got some great songs, and we share the same work ethic. That is, to travel far from home for a chance of sharing our art for 30 minutes is completely worth it.

I'm driving back home, surrounded by some tranquil spots on the Garden State Parkway. Once again, I'm alone with my thoughts, wondering if what I just did will have any impact on my career. I think in some way it will, even if I can't see it now.

This whole trip is indeed, a Thunder Road.

"Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my cars out back
If youre ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The doors open but the ride it aint free"

So come with me Mary... Music... I'm ready to go, even if the journey isn't free. It's already cost me more than money... friends, relationships, family... But I still have to do it.

"On the wind, so mary climb in
Its a town full of losers
And Im pulling out of here to win."

And that's a big reason why I have to do what I do. I grew up in a town that was reclusive and yielded to the safeties of the status quo. I never wanted a part of that. I've always wanted to be something bigger than where I came from. In some ways, I feel I've succeeded because I left. But I still feel like I'm in the process of leaving.

Still driving on the Garden State Parkway, almost at the I-87 exit. And you won't believe what comes onto the radio again: "Thunder Road."

And I'm still driving...

-Seth

I done it...

2008-04-15T20:01:00.001-07:00

Time is so scarce, and I've got quite a bit to do, but I FINALLY started working on a new website. Hey, I needed the past 2 years for content anyway! There's nothing really up yet, only a splash page change when you visit SethAdam.com.

So I came off of Spring Break from school into a handful of acoustic shows. One was with our friends from UltraRadio.com in New Haven CT a couple of weeks back, and then 2 days later in Fairfield CT at Chef's Table. A good show of friends at both shows. Thanks a bunch for coming!

Finally got back into ROCK mode with the whole band this past Wednesday at Daniel Street in Milford. I like that place. My friend Arnie Cuozzo joined us on the drums for the night as Anthony was on a much needed vacation. Only two rehearsals and years of experience and it felt like home. Thanks a bunch Arnie! I think he'll most likely be joining us for future shows when Anthony can't make it. Plus, as a quote/unquote "solo" artist, I need to have a rolodex of musician's. My friend Tim told me that when I started this project a little over two years ago, and I wasn't too hip on that idea, but it seems to be necessary at this point. But I digress... Daniel Street was fun. Although not packed, I was happy with the turnout, especially for a Wednesday night. Thank you all for coming out and supporting original music! It's important because when these songs get popular, then all the cover bands will have new material to steal. I mean, who wants to hear "Sweet Caroline" for the billionth time? Oh wait... sorry... I forgot... this is Connecticut...

Which leads me to my next point and FANTASTIC news! The national staff of management at Borders has decided to carry the new record at their stores nationally! Not just online, but on the shelves! That means we'll be hitting the road for some Borders tours this summer. It ain't the mid-size club circuit, nor is it opening for a big band on good size tour, but it gets me out of Connecticut for a little while (please note, that when I'm knocking CT, it's only a small percentage of it, essentially those that would rather listen to "Wanted Dead or Alive" for the 999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999th time instead of taking a chance on something new). So yeah, I'm going to gas up the car at $4.00 a gallon this summer (thanks a bunch there Georgie!) and see a bit more of the country and play music. Who could ask for anything more?

Speaking of shows... If you would be so kind... Fliers are now available to print off of the website. Print 'em out, pass 'em out, hang 'em up, and help spread the word! I only ask that you please respect the laws in your community. Chances are that if you're reading this, then you are very cool and already knew that.

AND in show news... oh... I can't say yet... coming soon!

In the world of radio, the "A Taste Of Triple A" sampler is officially being distributed to over 224 radio, satellite, cable and online stations and syndicated shows. You can see the list by clicking here. If you see a radio station close to you, please take a second, give them a call, and request "Century." We'd be really, really happy.

And just because I'm feeling random, silly and under immense pressure to do something meaningful...

I think that's all for now. I'll have more at the end of the week after I pull all of my hair out 'cause it's gonna be CRAZY! Mwha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

-Seth

If I was stuck in a corner...

2008-03-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

...the interview might go something like this:

New Haven Advocate.

More stuff later this week. I’m doing Spanish homework right now. Or should I say...

Yo soy hacer la tarea por Español.

Cheers y’all!

sa

p.s. Go get the new Counting Crows record. Once again, fucking amazing! But uh... yeah... buy my record first! ;-)

9:40 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit -

Where You Come From - CD Release 2.0

2008-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello y'all! Figured I'd give you some updates on the record and what's coming up for the next few months.

"Where You Come From" retail release - April 8th

We are two weeks away from the full-on, retail release of "Where You Come From." I know that may sound a little confusing, since the record has been available for about 2 months now. However, it's only been available off of the label website, HorizonMusicGroup.com, and at shows. But now it will be available at select record stores throughout the east coast and nationwide at several fine online retail outlets. Other stores in other regions will be announced as they come along. Below is a partial list of the online stores that are carrying "Where You Come From."

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Billboard.com

Borders

CD Universe

f.y.e.

Horizon Music Group

iTunes

LaRhythms

MSN Music

mTraks

The Electric Fetus

A Taste Of Triple A CD Sampler

In conjunction with an essentially nationwide release, we've also included 'Century' on the "A Taste Of Triple A" CD sampler. The CD features music from major and indie labels, as well as unsigned artists, and is sent to internet, satellite, and terrestrial radio stations across the U.S. In recent years, the sampler has featured artists such as John Mayer, Josh Ritter, The Killers, Norah Jones, Joss Stone, Gnarls Barkley, Dave Matthews Band, and KT Tunstall to name a few. The "A Taste Of Triple A" (#41) CD sampler will be sent to the following shows/stations in April '08:

Acoustic Café - Nationwide/syndicated
DMX - Nationwide/cable
Echoes - Nationwide/syndicated
eTown - Nationwide/syndicated
Hear Music - Nationwide/in stores
Homegrownradionj.com - Internet
Indie101-5.com - Internet
Music Choice - Nationwide/cable
NPR - Nationwide/syndicated
PlayNetwork. Inc. - Nationwide/in stores
RadioFreeTruckee.com - Internet
Radioio.com - Internet
RadioParadise.com - Internet
ReallyMusicRadio - Internet
Reg's Coffeehouse - Nationwide/syndicated
Robinhood Radio - Internet
Sirius Satellite Radio - Nationwide/satellite
World Café - Nationwide/syndicated
XM Radio - Nationwide/satellite
Yahoo Music - Internet

AK KNBA Anchorage
AL WALW Moulton
AL WERH Hamilton
AL WQNR Auburn
AL WZEW Mobile
AZ KWMT Tucson
AZ KXCI Tucson
CA KCRW Santa Monica/Los Angeles
CA KCSN Northridge/Los Angeles
CA KEGR Concord (Cable/Online)
CA KFOG San Francisco
CA KHUM Ferndale
CA KMUD Redway
CA KNTI Lakeport/Ukiah
CA KOZT Fort Bragg
CA KPIG Watsonville
CA KPRI San Diego
CA KRLT South Lake Tahoe
CA KRSH Santa Rosa
CA KTKE Truckee
CA KVMR Nevada City
CA KVYN Napa
CO KBCO Boulder/Denver
CO KBUT Crested Butte
CO K-CMV Colorado Mountain region
CO KCUV Denver
CO KDNK Carbondale
CO KFMU Steamboat Springs
CO KGNU Boulder/Denver
CO KIDN Steamboat Springs
CO KOTO Telluride
CO KRCC Colorado Springs
CO KRFC Fort Collins
CO KRKY Fort Collins
CO KSMT Breckenridge
CO KSNO Aspen
CO KSPN Aspen
CO KSUT Ignacio
CO KTNI Aurora/Denver
CO KUNC Greeley
CO KVNF Paonia
CO KYSL Dillon
CO KZYR Vail
CT WACC Enfield
FL WFIT Melbourne
FL WIKX Fort Myers
FL WMNF Tampa
FL WXYB Tampa
FL WPBZ West Palm Beach
GA WZGC Atlanta
HI KEAO Lahaina
HI KKCR Princeville
IA KDEC Decorah
IA KIWR Council Bluffs
IA KPTL Des Moines
IA KUNI Cedar Falls
ID KPND Sandpoint
ID KRVB Boise
IL WWCT Peoria
IL WXRT Chicago
IN WEEM Pendleton
IN WFHB Bloomington
IN WGCS Goshen
IN WJAA Seymour
IN WJHS Columbia City
IN WTTS Bloomington
KY WFPK Louisville
KY WKWC Owensboro
KY WMKY Morehead
KY WNKU Highland Heights
KY WUKY Lexington
LA KROK Leesville
LA KRVS Lafayette
LA KSLU Hammond
MA WERS Boston
MA WMFO Medford
MA WMVY Vineyard Haven
MA WRNX Holyoke
MA WRSI Northampton
MA WUMB Boston
MA WXRV Haverhill
MD WCTG Salisbury/Ocean City
MD WOCM Ocean City
MD WRNR Annapolis
MD WTGB Silver Spring/Washington, DC
MD WTMD Towson
ME Maine Public Broadcasting Lewiston
ME WCLZ Portland
ME WERU East Orland
MI CIDR Windsor/Detroit
MI WDET Detroit
MI WQKL Ann Arbor
MI WYCE Grand Rapids
MN KAXE Grand Rapids
MN KCMP St. Paul/Minneapolis
MN KFAI Minneapolis
MN KKRM Montevideo
MN KSRQ Thief River Falls
MN KTCZ Minneapolis
MN WELY Ely
MN WTIP Grand Marais
MO KBLV Mission/Kansas City
MO KBXR Columbia
MO KCLC Labadie
MO KDBB Park Hills
MO KDHX St. Louis
MO KTBG Warrensburg/Kansas City
MO KKFI Kansas City
MS WMSV Starkville
MS WUSM Hattiesburg
MT KDTR Missoula
MT KGLT Bozeman
MT KMMS Bozeman
MT KRVO Kalispell
NC WGWG Boiling Springs
NC WNCW Spindale
NC WSGE Dallas
NC WUIN Wilmington
NC WVOD Wanchese
ND KFJM Grand Forks
NH WMWV Conway
NJ WBJB Lincroft
NJ WBZC Pemberton
NJ WNTI Hackettstown
NM KBAC Santa Fe
NM KBOM Santa Fe
NM KTAO Taos
NM KUNM Albuquerque
NM KVSF Santa Fe
NV KTHX Reno
NV KUNV Las Vegas
NY WBAI New York
NY WDST Woodstock
NY WEHM Amagansett
NY WEXT Albany
NY WFUV The Bronx/New York
NY WKZE Red Hook
NY WLIU Southampton
NY WMIR Long Island
NY WRXP New York
NY WXPK White Plains
NY WXXI/WRUR Rochester
OH WAPS Akron
OH WBWC Berea
OH WCBE Columbus
OH WJCU University Heights
OH WOUB Athens
OH WYSO Yellow Springs
OR KCBZ Seaside
OR KINK Portland
OR KLCC Eugene
OR KLRR Bend
OR KRVM Eugene
OR KSMF Ashland
OR KZEL Eugene
PA WDIY Bethlehem
PA WRCT Monroeville
PA WRFF Philadelphia
PA WSYC Shippensburg
PA WVIA Pittston
PA WXCS Cambridge Springs
PA WXPN Philadelphia
PA WYEP Pittsburgh
SC WALC Mt. Pleasant
SC WCOO Charleston
SC WXRY Columbia
TN WEVL Memphis
TN WFIV Knoxville
TN WMPS-AM Memphis
TN WRLT Nashville
TN WUTC Chattanooga
TX KFAN Fredericksburg
TX KGSR Austin
TX KPFT Houston
TX KTXN Victoria
TX KUT Austin
TX KZRC Bay City
UT KPCW Park City
UT KRCL Salt Lake City
UT KZMU Moab
VA WCNR Charlottesville
VA WHRV Norfolk
VA WNRN Charlottesville
VA WPYA Norfolk
VA WRRW Virginia Beach
VA WTYD Norfolk
VI WVGN St. Thomas
VT WNCS Montpelier
WA KBCS Bellevue
WA KEXP Seattle
WA KMTT Seattle
WA KOHO Leavenworth
WA KXLY Spokane
WI WBSD Burlington
WI WMMM Madison
WI WUSP Wisconsin Rapids
WI WUWM Milwaukee
WI WYMS Milwaukee
WY KMTN Jackson
WY KUWR Laramie

To find out more about the "A Taste Of Triple A" sampler, visit the Taste Of Triple A website.

"Where You Come From" radio promotion

In addition to the above radio promotion, we'll be on our own radio promotional endeavor beginning in April, or somewhere around about. I don't have a list of stations yet, but when I do I'll post it up here. If you'd be so kind to give the folks at those stations a friendly call and request a song or two off of the new CD, it would be greatly appreciated.

Help us promote the shows!

I'm starting up a new thing here... I've been making fliers available to download & print for upcoming shows. Download, print, cut, and handout to friends, business associates & your aunt Fannie. Well, maybe not aunt Fannie. Fliers are available for the upcoming April 9th show at Daniel Street, and will be made available for all upcoming shows. Go to SethAdam.com and click on the picture. The flier will download as a PDF file. Most importantly, thank you for helping and being a big part of this whole rock & roll band thing.

Blog! Blog! Blog!

Like the music? Have a blog? Put 'em together! A big help to this project, a way to stay involved, and help spread the word is to post about it in your blog. MySpace, Blogger, Squarespace and I'm sure many others, are great ways to talk about the band. Once again, we'd sure appreciate the help!

Thanks a bunch for reading. My apologies that there aren't any road stories, personal ramblings, or funny anecdotes on this one. I promise to have something for ya next time. For now, just spread the peace, love, and rock & roll.

Cheers!

-Seth