FYS #18: “Song Of The Century/21st Century Breakdown” by Green Day
May 22, 2009
“Song Of The Century/21st Century Breakdown” by Green Day
Performed by David Baron
Mixed by Scott Effman
I’ve been doing a bunch of Dave Matthews covers as of late (check out my YouTube channel to see those: http://www.youtube.com/DBaron84), and while those have been really fun, I thought I’d try something a little different this week. I loved Green Day’s last album, “American Idiot,” and this new one’s been growing on me a lot since it came out last week. Just bought tix to see them in San Jose, and while the verdict’s still out on whether “21st Century Breakdown” is better than their last rock opera, I highly recommend getting the new album.
I learned the music by ear and I’m reading the lyrics off the hardcover book that came with the deluxe edition CD (yes, I’m still a sucker for buying actual CDs…there’s nothing like going to Best Buy and tearing the plastic wrap off something you’ve been waiting to listen to for weeks…it’s like an early Christmas present!) The chords are pretty easy but the melodies are high and the words are lightning fast…turns out playing punk rock on the piano was harder than I thought!
You can thank my buddy Scott Effman, New York producer-extraordinaire for the killer mix. We both came out of South Florida and are pursuing our music dreams on opposite ends of the U.S….hopefully you’ll hear a lot more of his mixes in videos to come!
Thanks for listening as always, and I’ll see you all in Malibu next weekend when I take the stage with Lifehouse, Meiko, Reel Big Fish, and Eve6 at the BuFest Music Festival on Saturday, May 30. See you then!
Peace,
David
Friday YouTube Series #18
- A new David Baron video every Friday!
Follow David on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/DavidBaronMusic
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/DavidBaron
ASCAP Recommends: David Baron @ Hotel Cafe
May 18, 2009
A passionate singer, gifted pianist, and insightful songwriter, David Baron has caught the ear of audiences across the globe with his soaring vocals, confessional lyrics and powerful piano pop/rock sound.
Now for the first time since he SOLD OUT his last 4 shows in a row in California, David and his band return to LA to play this “ASCAP Recommends:…” show at Hotel Cafe.
Don’t miss:
ASCAP Recommends: David Baron
Hotel Cafe
Saturday, June 13
10PM, $10, 21+
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles
FYS #17: “Lie In Our Graves” by Dave Matthews Band
May 16, 2009
Dave Matthews Band - Lie In Our Graves (David Baron Piano Cover)
Friday YouTube Series #17
- A new David Baron video every Friday!
Follow David on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/DavidBaronMusic
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/DavidBaron
German Music Site Posts Glowing Review of David Baron EP
May 12, 2009
Since David Baron released his self-titled debut in Fall 2008, his songs have been reaching international audiences on TV, radio, in stadiums at sports events, and in stores across the globe.
Now, David has begun receiving international critical acclaim, as the German music site Roland’s World of Prog Music (prog-rock.info) makes an exception to its usual genre to post a glowing review of David’s self-titled EP.
In the review, Roland Leicht, editor of Roland’s World of Prog Music writes,
“Though it’s not Prog Rock, here is a CD that I just had to write about. I got the tip to listen to David Baron from a girlfriend who met the California singer-songwriter during her holidays in the States and talked to him. The self-titled EP “David Baron” contains 6 songs in 24 minutes and the all the songs have won me over. If there would be any song to launch David Baron to the masses it would be the opener, “Love Is Just A Lie”. I am absolutely sure that this first single will be played again and again on the radio. Great, catchy melodies and Baron’s voice is beautiful. Goodbye to James Blunt and those other boys! The second song “Standing Still” also has potential to become a great hit. “Kids” and “Shadows On The Inside” are absolutely beautiful ballads. “Nothing To Fear” is the most rocking song on the album. And finally we hear “Say You”, again a song with a lot of feeling. It is amazing to me what talents are hidden in the music business just waiting to be discovered. I hope David Baron will make his breakthrough soon because it’s a shame to hear so much bullshit on the radio when there are great, undiscovered musicians out there. You can hear David Baron’s music on his website at www.DavidBaronMusic.com and on his Myspace page at www.myspace.com/DavidBaron. You have to listen to his music!”
To read the full review in its original German, visit http://prog-rock.info/neuerhauptframe.htm.
Fun Night at Over-Capacity Red Devil Lounge
May 10, 2009
“Mistakes” by David Baron, Live @ Red Devil Lounge (Friday YouTube Series #16)
It was a fun night last Saturday in San Francisco, as Bay Area concertgoers packed into the Red Devil Lounge to join Jesse Brewster, Cally Scullin, Jes Hudak and myself at a concert to benefit the PKD foundation.
The over-capacity crowd partied, sang, and danced their way to raise over $1700 for research in polycystic kidney disease.
The night started out with the debut of vocalist Cally Scullin, who really delivered in her first-ever live performance with her 8-piece band. Jesse Brewster came on the stage next, and armed with his moving Americana/pop/country tunes, sang his heart out and really pumped the crowd up. The anticipation in the audience for my set became palpable towards the end of Jesse’s set, when the crowd started chanting “DA-VID BA-RON!…DA-VID BA-RON!”–check out the end of the video of “Mistakes” above to hear what I mean–so much so that when a volunteer from PKD came on stage after Jesse’s set to talk about the foundation, I actually had to stop the crowd from chanting my name so she could be heard!
I finally took the stage a little after 11PM, and the band and I started off with “Nothing To Fear” to get the crowd amped up right outta the gate. Jes Hudak sang background vocals on the song just like she did on my EP (you can hear her on the chorus of “Nothing To Fear”), and it was a treat to have her sing with us live on that one. After that we went straight into the old Spins staple “Tell Her Something”, and that one-two punch was the perfect way to get the already pumped-up audience going nuts. By the time “Kids” rolled around, the volume of the audience singing along eclipsed even my own amplified voice.
In the middle of the show we had a mini-set featuring yours truly on electric guitar (my first time live! And God, how I loved it…). As a pianist, it’s so liberating to be able to stand up and jump around during a rock show while playing guitar. Plus, my red Fender Strat looked so good with my red Converse Chucks. 
“Say You” was the emotional apex of the night, followed by a rousing version of “Standing Still”, one of my favorites to play live. “Don’t Stop Believin’” was of course an epic singalong, and by the first chorus of “Love Is Just A Lie”, the crowdsurfing (see pic below) sufficiently established this concert as our wildest one yet.
We raised lots of money and awareness for PKD, which was just awesome. Huge props to Jesse Brewser for organizing the event. We toured together a bit when I was in The Spins, and it’s always a pleasure to share the stage with him. Really enjoyed Cally Scullin’s set too, here’s hoping we share a bill again sometime soon. Special thanks to Jes Hudak for flying in the day of from New York for her set. We recently played together at Cafe Muse in LA too, and I’m sure we’ll be doing more concerts together in the future.
Great to see so many new faces out at the show. The buzz has been building steadily since we sold out the the Viper Room in LA in Fall 2008, and with so many fans wearing the “Love Is Just A Lie” Tshirts and knowing all the lyrics to the songs off my EP, it’s clear that the buzz is catching on.
So cool that this marks my third over-capacity Bay Area show in a row, as the last two shows SOLD OUT Cafe du Nord, once in December 2008, and once in April 2009 in pre-sale tickets alone.
If anyone forgot to the sign the email list, click here and we’ll keep you posted on the next show: http://davidbaronmusic.com/mailinglist/?p=subscribe. Thank you to everyone who came and rocked out for such a good cause. We’ll see you at the next one!
Peace,
David
Setlist:
1. Nothing To Fear (w/ Jes Hudak)
2. Tell Her Something
3. Shadows On The Inside
4. Kids
5. Mistakes
6. Starting Now
7. Thick Skin
8. Mary Jane’s Last Dance
9. Say You
10. Standing Still
11. Don’t Stop Believin’
12. Love Is Just A Lie
Over $1700 Raised at PKD Benefit Concert
May 8, 2009
Last Saturday, May 2, David Baron performed at a benefit concert for polycystic kidney disease with fellow San Francisco artists Jesse Brewster (jessbrew.com) and Cally Scullin, as well as LA pop-songstress Jes Hudak (jeshudak.com).
The concert, which took place at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco, managed to raise over $1700 for the PKD Foundation (pkdcure.org).
The PKD Foundation is the only organization, worldwide, dedicated to fighting polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The mission of the PKD Foundation is to: “Promote programs of research, advocacy, education, support and awareness in order to discover treatments and a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease and improve the lives of all it affects.”
Like David’s last two sold out concerts in San Francisco, the crowd at Red Devil was over-capacity, with more than 220 people coming out in support of the cause.
FYS #15: “Thick Skin” by David Baron
May 2, 2009
To Download “Thick Skin”: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=251832596&s=143441
Lyrics:
Thick Skin
I’m trying to develop a thick skin
Everybody seems to make it out okay
But not me baby
I’m trying to develop a thick skin
You got a noose where my confidence it hangs
But baby I’m changing
Cause I found myself a girl I’m dying to see
She’s beautiful and she wants to see me
So hit my face and cut my skin
Call me every bad name you been thinking
My friends they let me down today
And as sure as you can hurt my pride
I got a girl and she makes me come alive
My guilt and fear, success and shame
Well I’m throwin’ em all away
(Repeat)
Cause I’m a winner
Cause I’m a winner
So let your hair down
And look around, around, around
Cause you’re a winner
I’m trying to develop a thick skin
Everybody seems to make it out okay
But not me baby
Words and music by David Baron
From the EP: The Spins - Passages
Friday YouTube Series #15
- A new David Baron video every Friday!
