Nick Edelstein

Archive for the ‘Tour Diary’ Category

Concerts In Your Home

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Concerts In Your Home

It’s officially official now, after years of playing “private events” for my dearest fans and friends I am now advertising House Concerts! If you’re interested in being a host, or what hosting entails, there’s a TON of great free information and tips at http://concertsinyourhome.com. As you can see from the photo here, and their website, Concerts In Your Home is serious fun! :)

BTW, if you think I’m the odd man out here, you’re wrong … Edie Carey, Rebecca Loebe and Jackson County Line are just a few of the many noteworthy Atlanta artists who play house concerts! Join the party!

Tags: Advertising, atlanta, concert, Counties, events, georgia, home, hosting, living room, music, private, United States, Website
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End Game: Tough Choices

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

Those of you who are my fans on Facebook know I enjoy playing chess. When I was a kid my dad schooled me in two games: chess and poker. I believe his goal was teaching me to choose wisely – to plan ahead and weigh the consequences of my actions regardless how small or insignificant they may seem in the present moment.
Chess – like Life – gets tougher as you progress and in a sneaky fashion; that rogue pawn seems harmless until you realize it blocks your only escape route.
In the beginning there are many choices that appear fairly simple; yes/no scenarios such as whether or not to eat, brush teeth, tie shoes, etc. As we grow older we begin to see consequences: weight, cavities, tripping We also make room for bigger decisions: “College? Grad school? Marriage?” We size-up our options and plan our future. We have slightly fewer choices – less pieces on the board – and begin to feel the weight of our opponent’s offense. The impending doom of each mistep can be stifling and so we begin to customize a support system of family and friends, but what happens in the End when we have less to lean on?
Ever since I was a boy, I always struggled with my End Game. I used to find this odd because there are [usually] significantly less chess pieces on the board at the End. Closing the deal is supposed to be the easy part, right? Wrong.
The key to a strong End Game is perspective. It isn’t about the fewer number of pieces onboard, but the greater number of possibilities. Being able to see the space … working dozens of moves ahead to find the safest outcome, avoiding the most hazards …
The more space we have in our lives, the more freedom we have to control our own destiny, the more responsibility each choice carries. When we enter the grown-up world of mortages and marriage, do we invest all our dollars in stocks and bonds, or spend some on entertainment and wardrobe? Don’t have coupons? Suddenly the brands of foods and drinks you cherished as a kid no longer appeal, especially if they’re not on sale. But financial planning is only the tip of the iceberg. The End Game layout is set up during earlier stages of play, which are somewhat unpredictable due to the humanity of our opponent. In fact, we may not even know we’re playing the End Game until they cry “checkmate!”
Such is Life! Nobody can predict the future or plan for the curve balls. So do we play defensively and go for a safe bet? Or do we raise the stakes and follow our dreams? Maybe a little of both? What if Life decides to re-raise, trade queens, and employ a secret weapon? When, if ever, do we recourse and initiate the proverbial “backup plan?” The more “tied down” we become in our responsible adult lives, the less uncertainty we feel but it’s only an illusion. Every choice we make plays a role in our End Game. Winning in Life may involve giving up some seemingly important pieces, but if you’re willing to take that risk, the payoff can be really sweet.

Why chess is a perfect game for fiction (guardian.co.uk)

Tags: Board Games, chess, Chess piece, choices, end, facebook, game, Games, life, metaphor, Pawn, Recreation, tough, Video game
Posted in Tangents, Tour Diary | 5 Comments »

On break reflecting

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

: Image via Wikipedia

The scene: Harrah’s CMT Crossroads backstage. Finished set 1, on break. As I sit here resting, the subwoofers pulsating through the entire building as Daniel (soundman/DJ) energizes the dance floor, I can’t help but pat myself on the back. I’m playing better than A-game. I’m on a whole new level of A-game, partly thanks to the professionalism of Five Star Iris. I’ve always run a tight ship within myself but these guys inspire me to excell beyond. Also fueling this revival is “Year Of The Ox,” which will drop in 2010. Writing has gotten my creative juices flowing.
Hopefully you (readers) will JOIN US and experience this in the near future! 5si plays Smiths Olde Bar on February 12. MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
~Nick

Tags: 5si, arts, break, CMT Crossroads, Dance, Games, music, Organizations, ox, People, ponder, reflecting, smiths olde bar, think, universe, Women, year, YOTO
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Good Times …

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Image via Wikipedia

“Good Times, Bad Times / I know I’ve had my share …”
Yes, to quote Led Zeppelin it’s been a wild roller coaster these past 12 months but the peaks were really Good Times! I got to meet and jam with some great artists, and played a lot of cool shows. The guys in 5si have been really welcoming and the October gigs rocked. They say I’ve done an awesome job of stepping into the role. Fans said we rocked with great stage presence and I signed a few autographs one woman asked for my guitar pick- first time for everything!

Tags: 5si, anniversary, Bad Times, five star iris, Good Times, Good Times Bad Times, led zeppelin, Roller coaster, zoso
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Alanna Fox joins us on WUGA!

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Excited to announce the first radio appearance of Alanna Fox, who will be our “opening act” on WUGA FM & TV simulcast! Originally scheduled for Nov.6, we are now set on Nov. 20 from 4-5 PM on the “classic” Athens station.

Alanna will entertain during the first half, followed by 30 minutes of our new original tunes and interview! The show airs live on 97.9 FM and local cable TV, and will be re-broadcast on Toccoa cable the following week!

Tags: alanna fox, band, Blues, cable, FM, GA, guitar, live, nick edelstein, piano, radio, rock, toccoa, tv, WUGA
Posted in Press, Tour Diary | 1 Comment »

Park Bench starts weekly open Blues jam with host Nick Edelstein

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

One of Atlanta’s oldest bars, the Park Bench, is opening its doors to the Blues community with a weekly Wednesday night “open Blues jam” hosted by Nick Edelstein. Nick, whose band has opened for legendary Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck and Francine Reed, has many accolades under his belt including endorsements from Holland Guitars and Kampgrounds Of America. Previously Nick was endorsed by First Act Guitars, but he dropped them in favor of Holland’s ”superior tone, 100% customization, and attention to detail – like hand-wound pickups made to pre-CBS Fender specs!”

Nick is extremely excited about hosting the jam. “I used to attend all the jams around Atlanta when I was growing up – it was a type of coming-of-age. Honing chops, networking with local pros, amateurs and fans alike – everyone benefits at a jam. Plus more stage time equals better performer. Sometimes entire bands will show up to try their new songs out on a live audience.”

Park Bench, one of the last remnants of the original Buckhead bar scene, is the perfect place for a Blues jam: The stage is roomy yet not excessively large – it has a warm, cozy feel. There’s a smaller room adjacent to the main area, for fans who need a slightly quieter place to network and mingle. It’s easy to find, on a well-lit street at a major intersection. And perhaps the most important aspect – it has “vibe” thanks to its long history in the Atlanta music scene. THOUSANDS of notable artists – from Angie Aparo to Zac Brown – have graced the Park Bench stage. Now it’s your turn.

Posted in Press, Tour Diary | 2 Comments »

New concert audio online!

Monday, May 11th, 2009

I finished loading the audio from our Friday concert at Atlanta History Center! If you’re reading this blog post on my website, chances are you’re listening to it right now. It’s in the Flash widget atop my website!

Tags: atlanta history center, concert, flash, home, live, new, online, posted, recording
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Recap: Atl. History Center

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Wow! What an awesome pair of shows. Big thanks to the adoring crowd who attended Thursday and Friday’s “Southern Music: Straight Up Blues” concert series at Atlanta History Center.
We truly enjoyed ourselves. Photos and audio recording will be posted soon!
Although the room was large, the vibe felt very intimate as if we were gathered around the hearth in a friend’s living room. The roomy stage allowed us – a quintet – to move and breathe freely. Improvisations were at a peak and the energy flowed all night. We hope to return next season!
Opening for Mudcat and Francine Reed was a great bonus to these already wonderful concerts. After a killer set, we got to kick back and relax to 2 of our most highly regarded local influences (and probably the 2 best-known Blues artists currently representing GA). What a pleasure it was chatting with Danny Dudeck and Marvin Taylor (Francine and Java Monkey’s guitarist) backstage.

Tags: atlanta, Blues, francine reed, history, java monkey, little joe, marvin taylor, mudcat, music, nick, series, southern
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Cool concerts

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

As y’all know, I’m a professional musician. So when I get to play big shows, or reach certain levels of professionalism, it is particularly exciting to me! Well this week I’m playing three shows with Kevin Kinney and Drivin’ N’ Cryin’. It’s all a part of the band Connor Christian & Southern Gothic, of which I’ve been a member since September ‘08.
We did our first show with Kevin in January, where he sat-in with us on stage. He broke a string and ended up playing one of my guitars on three songs. It was cool to actually play with him on stage. This Friday @ Cowboys in Kennesaw, GA, we’ll be opening up for the entire band Drivin’N’Cryin’ – they’ll play after us at one of the most famous venues in GA. Pretty cool eh?

Tags: atlanta, band, Concerts, drivin' n' cryin', kevin kinney, live, music, shows
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Newnan: our first time

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

… at the Alamo! Well, except for John. He had played there once before with Chick Willis. But for me and Andy, it was a new town and a new venue. I was VERY excited. Built in the 1920s, The Alamo has a lot of history including original curtains and amazing natural acoustics. Even after our audience filed in, you could still hear the pitter-patter of John’s drums and we only used mics for our vocals! I had a small 15-watt tube amp and never raised it’s volume past “4.”
(more…)

Tags: 1920, acoustics, adam, alamo, chick willis, clinton, curtains, dave, etowah, historic, jason, kirby, little joe, newnan, pizza, utah, yamacraw
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Suprise show w/Shufflejunkies!

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Did ya like that alliteration? I indeed have the great pleasure of being friends with not one, not two, but all three Shufflejunkies! Y’all who attended my Feb. 16 gig in Dahlonega (@ Crimson Moon) know that Shufflejunkies opened up. They did me a favor that night, and thanks to fate I was able to return that favor not long afterwards – and at the same venue!

Shufflejunkies, Georgia’s newest Blues-Rock trio, played Crimson Moon on May 2. I grabbed my acoustic, rode shotgun in Andy’s truck, and did a riveting 45-min. opening set! I got to see my friend Greer, and Dana’s staff was friendlier than ever. Thanks to Bob’s awesome engineering our sound was rockin’ all night. My next Crimson Moon show is Saturday, May 31!!!

www.thecrimsonmoon.com

Tags: acoustic, Blues, cafe, crimson, dahlonega, favor, moon, rock, show, shufflejunkies
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