Damien Riley Tunes

I Play the Grind 5-26-12

Damien Riley — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:46:38 +0000

I’m looking forward to playing at the Grind, my son Brandon will be joining me on the bass. We’ve been practicing and he really adds a lot to the sound. It should be a really fun night on the patio.

Where? The Grind at:
12111 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley, California 92308
(760) 961-8600
When? Saturday May 26, 2012. 6p-7:30
Notes: It’s at the intersection of Bear Valley and Apple Valley Road. They have delectable desserts and creative coffee drinks hot or cold. I am playing on the patio where plenty of seating is available. Come hear me play classic and modern rock covers along with original tunes.

Map and Directions:

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Memory of Running – My Original Song (Video)

Damien Riley — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:25:44 +0000

I just recorded this one and am real happy with how it came out. I put a little “running” theme slide show together on youtube. Hope you’ll have a listen. Enjoy.

Street Musician Story

Damien Riley — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:26:14 +0000

This is so awesome. I copied it from a post on Facebook. Please take a moment to read:
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

(The above is a viral story copied from an anonymous post on Facebook. Please share!)

Funny Cartoon About Rockin On, Always

Damien Riley — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:06:09 +0000

Kenny Rogers Special on GAC: The First 50 Years

Damien Riley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:03:28 +0000

I’m watching a Kenny Rogers special on GAC and it is awesome. I’m hearing everyone from Allison Krauss to Chris Issac perform Kenny songs. I always perform Coward of the County and the Gambler when I perform in public. They are always received well. Kenny Rogers music is timeless. It taught me that the musician is only a messenger. When we take ourselves too seriously when interpreting a song, we can lose the real purpose of what we’re there for. Thanks goes out to Kenny Rogers for teaching me that and so many other things. If you get a chance to TIVO the special, here’s the info: http://www.gactv.com/gac/shows_spl/episode/0,3038,GAC_26200_74335,00.html

Photos and a Video from the Grind 2-4-12

Damien Riley — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:40:50 +0000

I’m so glad I had another opportunity to play my music for people. It was a lively night at the Grind. I got $2 in tips and really enjoyed “most” of my set. My arm was aching after my 5th song because the action on the Legend is too high (and I am out of practice). But I learned to keep my playing less complicated and I was able to work with the beast. I felt good about the rest of the set and I am so glad I had this opportunity to play another night. Below is a video and some photos courtesy of my son Brandon, the star photographer. I enjoy it so much when he accompanies me to these things. I am not sure when my next gig will be but when I know I will post it here. Thanks for listening.

Thoughts on Why I (still) Play Music

Damien Riley — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:45:56 +0000

Tonight I will tape a song list on my Martin guitar, haul my small set of PA stuff in the back of my Jeep, and set up at the Grind in Apple Valley. It will be my second opportunity there in the last 2 months. Prior to that I played there 3 or 4 times with a year in between the last time and those times. That was poorly worded. I keep track of my opportunities here. At any rate, I’ve done a good amount of practicing since the last “gig” which is good. I put it in quotation marks because it’s more of a background music opportunity. I make background music for the coffee sipping patrons. I use the word opportunity instead of performance because so one watches me. Once in a while I get applause or a tip. That is so very gratifying. More than anything, I do it because I feel a primal need to play guitar and sing. I feel the need to keep my repertoire of songs both originals and covers in my memory. I have sat down sometimes in the past ten years and found I couldn’t remember the chords and words to my very own songs. That’s seemingly unacceptable. I am afraid of the shell I’d become without having performing opportunities. At the same time, I am drawn to the idea of just not caring about it anymore. You could say these types of opportunities are more for me than them. By them I mean you, the audience. Why are YOU important to me? I love people but … people also can really suck. I like the big and little musical movements in my songs as I play them. It’s indescribably cool when someone is brave enough to tell me they like it too, but I don’t do it for that, primarily. I do it to stay loose, free, bohemian, hippie, selfish.Not for long though I fear. Who will I be then? Perhaps I needn’t be afraid since most people don’t strain to find a place to play, the way I do. I’m probably in less than 1% of the High Desert population that way.

Brandon will be coming with me to take a few photos, help me carry stuff, etc. For his effort I’ll get him Del Taco and a coffee drink. My hope is to put up a song or two on this blog tonight to sort of “flesh out” the songs I have written and that make me “me.” I hope the message he gets is to do what makes you happy, even if it isn’t popular. If anybody comments they enjoyed them, that would be cool but I don’t sit and wait for that like I used to in my teens and twenties. Music more me these days is an exercise. It’s what I said above and also a way to feel alive. My career definition as a teacher keeps me in a certain box … which I enjoy and treasure as my occupation. I’m no longer trying to “make it” in the music business. I was never anywhere near “famous.” In a way I am very happy about that. I probably would have done every drug I could buy and by now I would have been a has been like Vanilla Ice. I was never good at presenting an image. On the other hand, I feel like I have made it when I bring a kid up one level on my rubric (which is posted on my wall). In other words, I thrive on measurable growth in the human product and increasing the value of people’s education. It is not always easy defining what that value should be but I work at it and my philosophy is malleable. I keep all things positive and aimed toward the growth of my students. I am a teacher, I am not a professional musician. My music, however, is for me. It keeps me centered and real. I think every teacher, doctor, lawyer, Pizza Hut employee, … etc. should have something like that. I’ll be up to it tonight at the Grind. No opportunities are currently scheduled beyond that. I imagine they will though. Playing publicly has been a pattern for me now for several decades. I have worked hard for years as well as recently on these songs. I’m ready to deliver them tonight. You’ll read of future opportunities here on this blog as they manifest themselves. Please check back. Keep smiling as you are true to yourself. Maybe I’ll see you tonight? All are welcome. Give the Grind some coffee business and hear a few of my songs. info

11th hour update: Due to a technical breakdown with the Martin’s pickup I will be playing the good old Legend tonight. Short story is I tried to replace the 9v and the assembly sort f crumbled. Have no fear, the Legend is here.

Played The Martin a Little Tonight

Damien Riley — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:07:26 +0000

Of all the guitars I’ve been fortunate enough to play, the Martin is the beast I reach for the most. It is a medium to small sized body and it’s quite damaged from events along the road of life. I played the Stand on it and did all the Dave Sharp solo parts exactly, felt great. Played some Beatles and REM, what a great guitar the Martin is. It has lowered action I got done years ago at the Guitar Shoppe in Laguna Beach. It is so easy to play and My arm seems to never fatigue no matter how hard or intricately I play. I love that guitar and I’m so happy I got it back from my dad last week. I’m playing in at my next Grind Show.

What’s up with Damien Riley Tunes

Damien Riley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:24:15 +0000

It has always been a desire of mine o have a dedicated and comprehensive website for my “tunes” or rather, my music. As of today, the dream is still in the works. I hope to one day soon have all my music and commentary about my music right here. Until that happens, you can find music and updates at Riley Central. I hope you’ll check back in a few weeks for what I hope will be the best presence an unsigned singer/songwriter can have. Thank you for your interest in my tunes. More to come.

Update 1-19-2012: My music website, Damie Riley Tunes, is officially moved-in at this url: http://www.damienrileytunes.com/ (You are here)

Faith in the Road Ahead – a Set of my Songs

Damien Riley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:47:38 +0000

My music recorded through the years is now available to download. Release date was: Jan 11, 2010. You can hear and download the songs to your computer (free). Find this album and others on my music archive page.