Diva Series: October 9, McMenamin's Edgefield

Always a breath of fresh air to play this show with Skip. After a summer of outdoor shows I was reminded of why I love the acoustics of this cozy space. Some really great new people came, and I was graced with family as well. Happy Birthday, Dad, by the way!


This show was my first experiment in live recording with some techie-gear I just bought. I have yet to master it (I'm a musician, not a techie, and I generally like to keep it that way, but alas, I must learn to make basic recordings of my own stuff). After I take a listen and sift through I may post some live clips of favorite songs, so check back about that...

Diva Series: April 10, 2006

So I decided to give the audience members "ballots" for all the new songs. Since I don't play as often these days, I also don't get as much feedback about which songs people love (oh, of course, you all love all of them, I know. But I want to know which ones really... shine). I figured, "why not just ask people? Maybe they'd tell me.

So I did. And to be honest, I was surprised at the responses I got. Songs I figured weren't that great were loved and vise verse (shows you what I know). Most people did more than check the little boxes. I got a lot of comments, and they were so good, I decided I'd publish some of them here. So, here's the shake-down on which songs got the most votes, and some of the things people said about them:

• 8 - Reaching Up
• "My fav. You sounded like an angel singing this."
  
• "My favorite. 4 thumbs up. Love this one."
• 5 - Betrothed
• "Very pretty."
• "Every time you hit the first note of every line in the refrain, it was like light." [what a poetic fan this one is!]
  
• "Great. Very emotionally moving song."
• "Madly, deeply in love with this."
• 7 - Prayer
• "Beautiful"
• "Great. Add 1 more verse. Lyrics/Music on point."
• 3 - Angels Could Not Hear Me Cry
• "Good. Made me sad though."
• 8 - Tell Me Baby
• "Love it! Would listen to it in the car all the time!"
• "Great! Add a few more chords and this is a top 10 hit."
  
• 6 - Change My Mind
• "A song for all to hear."
• "We love this song"
• "Wow!... and I am a guy."
• " :) "
  
• 4 - Start Over
• "Fun song"
• "I like how this exposes the circus of logic we play with ourselves."
  
• " I think [this was] my favorite. It really hit home being single."

I also got a lot of other warm fuzzies, like:

• "I love the way you write. The words really speak to my heart! As you sing with the music it flows so well."
• "I always get goosebumps when I hear you sing a.k.a. you're an 11+ in my book!"
• "What a joy it was to listen to you! You are very talented! Thank you for an enjoyable evening."
• "Times I cried: IIIII"

sigh. It doesn't get any better than that. I should do this every time! Of course, I got some suggestions too, but I figure those are just for me. Actually, all of this is just for me, I guess. Is it a violation to post people's comments here? I hope not. I just thought people might be interested to know what others think. It's like American Idol, right? Also, I get to bask in the glory of praise and feel good for a moment. Hopefully a moment long enough to keep me going...

and going...

and going...

Thanks, everyone, for coming and filling the room!

Skye

Iiiiiiiit's Official!

Yep. According to the Portland Children's Museum, I, Skye, am a

musician.

Whew! All this time I thought I was pretending. But now I really am. In fact, my credentials as a musician are sufficient that I was the guest musician of honor on Friday for their special "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood" exhibit (you know, the song from Sesame Street). Apparently they think we have musicians in our neighborhoods. (Isn't there a government registry for that or something? Conscientious parents might want to know.)

I went to talk to the kids about what a musician does and what it's like to be a musician. Answer: mostly I sit at a desk just like every other boring job. Maybe 5-10% of my work time is spent playing music. But that's a boring answer, so it's not what I told the wee ones. In fact, it's a boring topic if you're three years old, so I spent about 60 seconds on it before I moved on to the discussion of "who wants to play an instrument?!" and passed out little shakers and tambourines n' stuff. I did try asking them what they think a musician does. They raised their little hands high and gave me answers like, "They pull rabbits out of hats!" "They do magic tricks!" "I saw a firetruck!" (I gather from these answers that kids a) cannot distinguish between a MAGIcian and a MUSIcian, and b) do not distinguish between what happened earlier today and the topic at hand).

Anyway... I'm pleased to be recognized by the museum for what I truly am. My name badge proves it. And if you think I photoshopped the name badge, YOU'RE WRONG! It's real. I swear! I even have it around here somewhere and I can show you! You gotta believe me, man....

Okay, okay, okay!

I give up! I'm joining the crowd. I'm going with the flow. I'm on the bandwagon. I'm on myspace.

I've been made fun of, cajoled, harassed, and questioned enough. Okay I believe you all! I should be on myspace. And now I am. :)


Are any of you on myspace? I feel kinda lonely there so far.

• If you are on myspace, add me as a friend (lest I look like a hermit to people who visit).
• If you are on myspace, use my tunes on your profile. yeah!
  
• If you are on myspace, listen to music, comment on it, tell friends.
• If you are not on myspace, maybe you'd enjoy checking it out and listening to the audio-stream.
  

myspace.com/skyepixton

Really, thanks, all you who love me, for making me do it.

Edgefield: Skye & Kyrstyn

The Edgefield was such a fun success after such a long break!
Some of the happenings:

Fans eat creme brulee and chocolate-something-awesome (I had a bite) while listening.

Hot girls came.

Lyric sheets were provided for some of the new material, so you could read along. Apparently it sparked magic here. hee hee.

Skye on break.

New Songs.

See the rest of the pictures HERE.

Rescheduled! (sort of in a way)

After weeks of illness, some laryngitis, and having to cancel my first Diva 2006 show (sniff), my voice is back and my fingers are itchin'! I'll get to do the Diva thing with Skip in April, but until then, you may wish to pass the time with this special little solo show that just came up...

Skye & Kyrstyn
Monday, March 6th
McMenamin's Edgefield Hotel Winery
2126 SE Halsey, Troutdale
7-9pm
21+, no cover

Yes, it's the same time/location as the regular Diva series, but we'll be doing it sans Skip this evening. Two crooning and wailing sisters, we'll be!

Friendly faces are always wanted. I hope to see some of you there. :)

Diva Series 2006

Skip VonKuske's Diva Series is changing up this year. He's only working with 6 women (and I'm one of them), and we'll be on a regular rotation. I have every other month, every 2nd Monday.

Other Diva's are: Susie Blue, Ashleigh Flynn, Laurena Marrone, Myshkin, Terra, Lea Kruger.

Too see when and where I'll be playing, visit my website calendar.