I Play the Grind 2-4-12

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Damien Riley

Damien Riley at the Grind

I Play the Grind 2-4-12 Saturday night! The place has a great vibe. Get a mocha etc. and hear a few of my songs: originals/covers/folk/modern rock.
Where: The Grind Coffee House
12111 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley, California 92308
(760) 961-8600
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 7p-8:30
Notes: It’s at the intersection of Bear Valley and Apple Valley Road. They have great desserts and coffee drinks hot or cold. Sound good? Come on down and say hello. Visit my music website at: rileycentral.net/music

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Update: Reflection, photos, and a video from the night …
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.

The Grind 1-7-12

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Damien Riley

I enjoyed providing background music for the Grind coffee house in Apple Valley tonight. One family stayed through several songs and tipped me 6 bucks. That was so great! Stuff like that keeps me rockin’ in the free world. Amber and Chris were the baristas and they were so hospitable and cool. My son tagged along and got some photos of the night. It was a small traffic night but the few who stopped in really made the night great. The drummer early in the set (I forget his name) was so great, listening and apparently appreciate the Pink Floyd and REM stuff I do, as well as my originals.

It was a great room. I hope to play there again maybe next month if all goes well. It’s more a “walk by and get a coffee” audience rather than a captive audience which is kind of different and nice for me these days. I don’t feel compelled to say something before songs and banter etc. I just play the music/provide the background for their coffee house experience. I played for 90 minutes pretty much non stop. I like playing this place, it’s minimal format is actually teaching me helpful new things about performing.

I Play the Grind 1-7-12

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Damien Riley

music announcement Announcing Damien Riley playing a coffee house
Where: The Grind in Apple Valley
When: Saturday, January 7, 2012 7pm-8:30 Notes: at the intersection of Bear Valley and Apple Valley Road. It’s very small. I am background music for the patrons. Originals/covers/folk/modern rock They have great desserts and coffee drinks hot or cold. If you feel like a coffee drink, come on down. rileycentral.net/music

The Resolution Band from San Clemente has reunion after 22 years

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Damien Riley

22 years ago, 4 guys from South Orange County started a band called the Resolution: Brad Wadsworth, Lance Lyons, Mike Lochmiller and myself, Damien Riley. At age 16, it was my first time playing lead guitar so I had a lot to learn. The other guys were really good musicians and so it was in this band I started to find my own way as a musician and songwriter. We recorded about 20 original songs up to 1990. We played frat houses, parties, restaurants, and “band competitions.” In short, we made some great moments happen in our few years together. Last night we had a reunion and it was both fun and surreal. We’re all a lot more mature it would seem and we’ve each had our own musical adventures apart from the band. For me it was like meeting up with classmates at a high school reunion and feeling as if no time had passed. We’ve talked about making new music but the distance and normal challenges of being guys in their early 40′s can make it difficult. Still, I hope to record at least one new song with these guys, the talent and chemistry is there. Time will tell. You can hear a lot of our music here at my Resolution Band song library. A few photos of the reunion are below:

Playing Guitar for the Birds

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Damien Riley

For the next few weeks I am practicing for my classic and modern rock show at the Grind. I’ve been working on my acoustic guitar tunes. This involves finding a secluded place in or around my house to strum away. Today’s place was my backyard on the diving board. I was careful to aim the sound away from any direct backyards, I mean, not everybody wants to hear me practice on an acoustic guitar right? Well, I found a direction that seemed to be the concert of least resistance when I saw them.

Atop the 2 story house behind us, on wavy clay shingles were a flock of crows. Funny because when I came out later to take photos, they were completely flown the coop. Hence, you see no photos of birds, only shingles. They weren’t moving in the slightest while I was playing. It was about 52 degrees outside and they seemed shocked that a barefoot 42 year old in a Beatles t-shirt reading “Let it Be” would be out there at all, much less out there to perform. That’s where it got even more Twilight Zone. As I started into the opening strum of Black Balloon by the Goo Goo Dolls, they seemed transfixed on my movements. They didn’t fly away. When do you not see crows fly away? They were hangin’ out enjoying Black Balloon. It was great because I had my imaginary audience right there. I didn’t need a P.A. system or an SM58 microphone. They seemed receptive to the message of my song. The Grind where I’ll play is much closer quarters but are people’s attention spans are longer than birds, and I had these birds.

When I segued into the High Desert classic rock acoustic sounds of Rocket Man, by Elton John, I was lost in the song. “It’s lonely out in space … I’m not the man they think I am at home … I’m a rocket man.” Birds would understand that song. I thought about what the song meant to me and how I hoped someone might enjoy it when I play it at my show. I know when I hear someone playing live out in public, when they play a song I know, I get into it. I don’t get into it because they are great or if they suck, it’s because I dig the song. That’s a good mantra for me I think. I do still get nervous after over 20 years of playing live in public venues. I think a song that gets played with the respect it deserves is all it takes to make that wonder.

Going out to hear a guy play is like hopping on a roof, listening awhile, and then flying away with all the wonder of birds, hopefully with an experience or an emotion old or new. I’ll be that guy in a couple weeks. I’ll probably feel ignored, in a people way. At the same time, people are like birds and birds don’t have to do a fist pump to show me they hear the music. It’s been almost a year since I played out, I think I’ll be ready. Until then, I’ll keep practicing my chord patterns and lyrics. I think some great moments are going to happen.