The Riz 2006 Experience...in review.
If you were to ask me a year ago if I wanted to come back home to New York City, and I would've told you "no," despite not being employed, being broke and struggling to pay rent for a spacious studio in suburban DC. Ask me now if I ever wanted to return to DC, my answer to you is...NO!
I did find some work in early January, but the commute was a reverse commute, almost taking me two hours by way of two crowded buses full of day-laborers and people that were more worse off than I was. But I had to do anything to keep up with rent payments, which I couldn't even do by March, and I ended up evicted. Just like that.
Though in between that time, I did catch a few Honor By August shows to start up the concert year, including one on the night before my birthday. Michael Tolcher came by the 9:30 Club to open up for The Clarks, and for a final hurrah before I left DC, Claire took me to see Coldplay at the newly named Verizon Center (floor seats!), and I finally discovered Will Hoge on the night before I left the District.
I came home, sent out my crappy resume to many employers looking for an administrative, and tried to readjust to life in NYC, which included readjusting to people at church. I will say this about church life: I pick and choose what I will do, because what I will do I'll have fun with; everything else will bore me to death. So there.
Anyhoo, I landed a temp job in a fashion company that was like "The Devil Wears Prada." It was hell, but it was a steady paycheck.
In the interim, I was welcomed back to the Northeast music scene by taking a trip down to South Jersey to see Aslyn for the first time in as many months. And that show was uber intimate, and probably one of my favorite shows ever. I also saw Honor By August drop their limited edition version of Drowning Out The Television and took in one kickass CD release party in the city. Toby Lightman came to my neighborhood and filled a small venue on Stanton Street. Awesome show.
April had me discovering Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, and I got to hang out with Aslyn, discovering the joys of deli lunch meat backstage at Irving Plaza (oh yeah, thanks Aslyn for letting me have the "fitness water" haha). Michael Tolcher went all organic that month with an acoustic tour.
May had me discovering Tara Lea, Curtis Peoples and Akiva. And I saw Gavin DeGraw for the one time this year. I'm still 1 short of reaching Show Number 30.
Before May ended, I quit the temp thing in fashion. The boss was Satan, just more stylish. I couldn't take her crap, so back I went to sending out my crappy resume until I had another temp assignment. And I ended up in corporate finance...
And I celebrated with a kickass Toby Lightman set at Joe's Pub. She was good stuff at that intimate venue.
And while I was just getting my feet wet in a new industry, the concerts were heating up going into the summer...
I went three days going to shows, from Josh Hoge and Natasha Bedingfield to KT Tunstall to Honor By August and Sugar Ray, and the HBA one I traveled for! I took in even more Will Hoge and saw Marc Broussard for the first time in about two years.
Curtis Peoples and Tara Lea struck up The Bitter End again in July, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers opened for Toad the Wet Sprocket at Irving Plaza, and Tristan Prettyman brought along Michael Tolcher in Hoboken. Tristan Prettyman then fell into the Gap, while Jason Mraz did two awesome shows in Joe's Pub and at Irivng Plaza, acoustically. HBA and Toby Lightman rounded out the month in style. Oh yeah, Toby Lightman's show was a CD Release show.
All the while, I was getting good in my corporate finance job. Oh yeah, did I mention I was bringing a new and exciting brand of worship at church? That's right, my time to be a worship leader came in July as I jumped up and down the stage, almost causing a bit of controversy between the New Wave and the Old-Time Religion folks. But hey, it was fun.
August had me seeing Josh Kelley twice, doing a karaoke session with my concert whores, and seeing the usual suspects, Will Hoge and Honor By August (two people in the audience in Philly!). Curtis Peoples came back to the East Coast to open for Joe Firstman, while The Trews gave me my one and only chance to see CBGBs before it shut its doors for good.
September was a rather light month, but I did see even more Will Hoge and I was at the CD Release show for John Mayer (oh, the many guitar faces). Matt Wertz and Toby Lightman rounded out the month with a co-headliner.
October experienced baseball fever as the Mets went to the NLCS. But couldn't beat those damn Cards. Anyways, there were still shows to be at! Josh Kelley opened for the Gin Blossoms, The Bitter End saw a triple threat in Dave Yaden, Lauren Hunt and Curtis Peoples, Ernie Halter hit up The Cutting Room, and Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers sold out The Knitting Factory. Of course, Honor By August changed up bassists and rocked it in the Village.
November was one incredible month. I became a full-time employee in corporate finance with benefits and a kickass starting salary. Will Hoge helped me celebrate this joyous occasion the night before I became officially employed. And I brought back that exciting New Wave of Worship in church.
This month, things were slowing down, but Honor By August, Tristan Prettyman and Stephen Kellogg wanted to make sure the music was still going on! Even I contributed with my New Wave of Worship. WHOOOOOOO!
2006 has been a great year. All the moves I made have been for the better. So really, it's all about going forward!
I did find some work in early January, but the commute was a reverse commute, almost taking me two hours by way of two crowded buses full of day-laborers and people that were more worse off than I was. But I had to do anything to keep up with rent payments, which I couldn't even do by March, and I ended up evicted. Just like that.
Though in between that time, I did catch a few Honor By August shows to start up the concert year, including one on the night before my birthday. Michael Tolcher came by the 9:30 Club to open up for The Clarks, and for a final hurrah before I left DC, Claire took me to see Coldplay at the newly named Verizon Center (floor seats!), and I finally discovered Will Hoge on the night before I left the District.
I came home, sent out my crappy resume to many employers looking for an administrative, and tried to readjust to life in NYC, which included readjusting to people at church. I will say this about church life: I pick and choose what I will do, because what I will do I'll have fun with; everything else will bore me to death. So there.
Anyhoo, I landed a temp job in a fashion company that was like "The Devil Wears Prada." It was hell, but it was a steady paycheck.
In the interim, I was welcomed back to the Northeast music scene by taking a trip down to South Jersey to see Aslyn for the first time in as many months. And that show was uber intimate, and probably one of my favorite shows ever. I also saw Honor By August drop their limited edition version of Drowning Out The Television and took in one kickass CD release party in the city. Toby Lightman came to my neighborhood and filled a small venue on Stanton Street. Awesome show.
April had me discovering Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, and I got to hang out with Aslyn, discovering the joys of deli lunch meat backstage at Irving Plaza (oh yeah, thanks Aslyn for letting me have the "fitness water" haha). Michael Tolcher went all organic that month with an acoustic tour.
May had me discovering Tara Lea, Curtis Peoples and Akiva. And I saw Gavin DeGraw for the one time this year. I'm still 1 short of reaching Show Number 30.
Before May ended, I quit the temp thing in fashion. The boss was Satan, just more stylish. I couldn't take her crap, so back I went to sending out my crappy resume until I had another temp assignment. And I ended up in corporate finance...
And I celebrated with a kickass Toby Lightman set at Joe's Pub. She was good stuff at that intimate venue.
And while I was just getting my feet wet in a new industry, the concerts were heating up going into the summer...
I went three days going to shows, from Josh Hoge and Natasha Bedingfield to KT Tunstall to Honor By August and Sugar Ray, and the HBA one I traveled for! I took in even more Will Hoge and saw Marc Broussard for the first time in about two years.
Curtis Peoples and Tara Lea struck up The Bitter End again in July, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers opened for Toad the Wet Sprocket at Irving Plaza, and Tristan Prettyman brought along Michael Tolcher in Hoboken. Tristan Prettyman then fell into the Gap, while Jason Mraz did two awesome shows in Joe's Pub and at Irivng Plaza, acoustically. HBA and Toby Lightman rounded out the month in style. Oh yeah, Toby Lightman's show was a CD Release show.
All the while, I was getting good in my corporate finance job. Oh yeah, did I mention I was bringing a new and exciting brand of worship at church? That's right, my time to be a worship leader came in July as I jumped up and down the stage, almost causing a bit of controversy between the New Wave and the Old-Time Religion folks. But hey, it was fun.
August had me seeing Josh Kelley twice, doing a karaoke session with my concert whores, and seeing the usual suspects, Will Hoge and Honor By August (two people in the audience in Philly!). Curtis Peoples came back to the East Coast to open for Joe Firstman, while The Trews gave me my one and only chance to see CBGBs before it shut its doors for good.
September was a rather light month, but I did see even more Will Hoge and I was at the CD Release show for John Mayer (oh, the many guitar faces). Matt Wertz and Toby Lightman rounded out the month with a co-headliner.
October experienced baseball fever as the Mets went to the NLCS. But couldn't beat those damn Cards. Anyways, there were still shows to be at! Josh Kelley opened for the Gin Blossoms, The Bitter End saw a triple threat in Dave Yaden, Lauren Hunt and Curtis Peoples, Ernie Halter hit up The Cutting Room, and Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers sold out The Knitting Factory. Of course, Honor By August changed up bassists and rocked it in the Village.
November was one incredible month. I became a full-time employee in corporate finance with benefits and a kickass starting salary. Will Hoge helped me celebrate this joyous occasion the night before I became officially employed. And I brought back that exciting New Wave of Worship in church.
This month, things were slowing down, but Honor By August, Tristan Prettyman and Stephen Kellogg wanted to make sure the music was still going on! Even I contributed with my New Wave of Worship. WHOOOOOOO!
2006 has been a great year. All the moves I made have been for the better. So really, it's all about going forward!