Hi Everyone, im back from Japan and Hawaii. All i can say is i had a very good time. The people in Japan are so nice i might just someday move there. I played with Los Lobos at this Asagiri Jam Festival. Right in front of Mt. Fuji but it was cloudy and raining so we couldn't see it. This band opened up for us called Soil Pimp Sessions. A band from Tokyo that got down. They play modern jazz with a twist of rock/latin. Its hard to explain, if you can find the music on the web. I recommend you check it out.
Although it was raining on and off, the crowd was into it. They loved the music and Los Lobos got a great reception. Heres the thing that amazed me. The people were sober and really going crazy with excitement after solos and the high energy we put out. It made me proud to be a musician which can sometime alter every once in a while living in the USA. But i still love it. What else can i do?
So Japan was amazing and we played a few more shows that had the same response, i was sadden to leave.
Next stop Hawaii...Wow...Its been seven years since Los Lobos had played there. Im so glad i am playing with Lobos to have gone to Hawaii. It was a paid vacation. We played shows in Oahu, Maui, and Hilo.
The water is clean, still and blue. Tony Zamora (Tremolocos) and I went running on the beach and dove into the waters of Maui. It was relaxing and refreshing. I live here in Ventura County and the waters here (California) you cant compare. I had no idea the ocean is supposed to look that clean. I ended up going longboard surfing with Tony in Waikiki Beach the last morning there. First time ever...I actually stood up my first time. We only surfed for and hour but i was very tired. Surfing is a good work out. It was a good experience. Finally some relaxation.
All right...thats enough of my vacation.
Im still in the studio CO-producing the next Spencer The Gardener CD. Now we are at David Vought studio in Thousand Oaks, CA. Each time we get closer and closer to getting done but we are still 70% shy of finishing.
Still trying to get The Estrada Brothers CD i produced signed on a label. I think we are close. Keep your fingers crossed.
What else? Next cool thing is LATV (www.latv.com) on Oct. 18. Live performance with Los Lobos. We start at 9pm. We are promoting for a show at The Universal Amphitheater on Oct. 22.
Also, Im playing with Los Lobos at the Cleveland Rock n Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 7. Inducting blues artist "Leadbelly." Robert Plant is going to sing. Im excited about that. So..i went out and bought brand new Led Zeppelin CDs, cause mine are scratched. We are going to cover "Gallows Pole" so i'd like to get close to pay tribute to Jon Bonham (drummer for Led Zeppelin). We'll see...There was only one Jon Bonham.
Sexy Latin Lounge Returns (double CD in the works, Canciones Para Delia Volume 1 & 2) will be done by the end of November. I promise.
Thats it for now. I'll be back sometime in November, hopefully by then i'll have good news on The Estrada Brothers CD. Have a Happy Halloween.
Peace, Cougar
July 28, 2004
Hi Everyone, I just thought I'd keep you informed on what im up to. So far im still Touring with Los Lobos promoting the new CD 2004 "The Ride" and the follow up EP called "Ride This." Touring has been great and all the TV stuff we did. We did The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, LATV (KJLA), The Dave Letterman Show, and Conan O'Brien Show. It looks like we will be having sushi and heading to Japan in October 2004. I cant wait...
I just finished producing 15 tracks of The Estrada Brothers which we finished mixing on June 3-7, 2004 and im shopping it right now to see if I can get it signed. Keep your finger crossed. I'll keep you posted on its progress.
Remember my Canciones Para Delia CD i did for my Mom? Volumes 1 & 2? Well, I decided to make a double CD and package them both together. Im working on it with my partner Kevin Vazquez who is doing the art work. This time around its going to be called "Sexy Latin Lounge Returns." Its should be done by the middle of August. Please check back for updates. I will have it for sale on this website.
Thats pretty much it for right now..im heading out to San Francisco to do a taping for Los Lobos DVD that will be out in Winter 2004. Im excited about this. Lobos Rock..
Oh..i'd like to thank Dave Katzman (Buddy Guy Legends) for hooking me up with Bobby Boose, who gave me my Sabian Endorsment. Thanks guys for believing in me. The cymbals are awesome.
Alright got to catch a plane..Check out my calendar and come on bye and say hi if you're in there area. I'll buy you a drink, stolis on the rocks. Peace, Cougar
