big bleu update (nOt the one to skip) (November 4th)
..why hello pretty people...

....1st oFF....i'm playin' at one of the largest venues i've played in a longaSs time..next saturday the 12th...with the fuLL band...this will be the biggest local show i'm gonna do in a good whiLe (and it's aLL agEs..wheee)....so, make it out if you can...

bleu
SATURDAY.NOVEMBER.12TH
at AVALON
with Averi and The Alternate Routes
15 lansdowne st., boston
ALL AGES...doors at 6pm
..i'm on 2nd at 7:30 (shArp!..don't be laTe)
...pLease get tix in advance..it mAy sell out..
http://cc.com/detail.html?eventID=212612 [link]
http://www.avalonboston.com [link]

..we're doing a completely revamped set (no, that doesn't mean there won't be any old songs)...i'm imagining this show as an approximation of where i hope to be going with the
..........***....NeW ReCORD...***

....yup...you heard right...if all goes acording to plan i'm going to "officially" begin recording my nEw rEcord (tentatively titled "a watched pot") before the end of this year...i will once again be working with uber-producer john fields (switchfoot, pink, andrew w.k., backstreet boys, semisonic, puffy amiYumi, the honeydogs, harmar superstar, etc.) and we're trying to get my best-bud ducky carlisle in the mix too...it looks like at least sOme of the tracks i've been working on for the past mAny months will end up on there...and yes, i am indeed stiLL with Aware Records (John Mayer, Train, Five For Fighting, Wheat, etc.)....eeee..

many of you have been asking me for mOnths: "what's going on?" (with more or less specifics of course)..and i haven't really felt comfortable discussing it...but here is the loooOng sordid (mostly boring) tale kiddies (feel free to skip this):

...when my last record (redhead) did not meet label expectations (don't even ask what those are), i was basically told that i would not be able to make another record with them unless i delivered a "hit" (i actually considered myself lucky, most people don't get a second chance at all)...i was asked to make 7 demos...i eventually delivered 15...the powers-that-be were wishy-washy about most of the songs, but they agreed that one of them was indeed a bonafide "hit" (no, i'm not gonna tell you wich one)...so..we made preparations to begin recording the new record...but then, they decided that one "hit" was not enough...fair enough (they are a business after all)...but (and it gets rather complicated here), according to my contract, the label retains partial ownership of all the songs that i give them..even if they don't put out my record (or do anything at all actually)...it's a standard clause (and actually makes some practical sense), but basically, i didn't feel comfortable giving them anOther 15 songs when they weren't really making a commitment to release anything, and, i might not even be able to release the songs anywhere else either...so i got embroiled in convoluted contract re-negotiations to get that clause taken out...while this was going on, my long-time manager and friend of 10 years decided that i was not on his "to-do" list anymore..all of the guys i was playing with left my band because i couldn't afford to pay them anymore (i'm not making judgements here, i would have done the same thing..i'm still good freinds with most of those folks, and there was no dirth of great people to work with)...yah, people stopped returning my calls..etc..boo-friggin'-hoo-cares...i took this opportunity to write and record a crAp-load of stuff...i was broke and depressed, but it was kinda cool, 'cause finally noone was breathin' down my neck (even if it wAs for all the wrong reasons)..my friends ducky carlisle, john schroeder, the hansons (yes hanson), and the new musicians who began working with me, helped out enOrmously with this by letting me use their studios, engineering, donating time, etc..and i had help from mAny other friends and musicians too of course (i lOve-lUv-leuv you all)...eventually all this material revealed itself to be (what i consider) three separate projects (records, eps, whatever)...ELOPE, which is the ELO/JeffLynne inspired power-pop collective i've been whittling away at for a couple years..."the blizzards of '05", which is moody, anthemic, 80's inspired, reverb-rock..and "a watched pot", which is singer-songwriter and neo-soul/gospel inspired songs...with some "radio-friendly" pop-goobers thrown in for good measure....so yeah..eventually (like months and months later) i found a great new manager..finished up the contract renegotiation, and submited songs to the label...they were psyched..actually thought there were twO more "hits" (no, i'm not gonna tell you which songs), really liked the new manager, and...here we are.....i don't know when the new record will be done..i don't know when it will be released..i don't know what songs are gonna be on it (probably stuff from "..pot" and "..blizzards")..i don't know if my other projects (which are all still unfinished by the way) will ever get released..but, it does look like sOMEthing will come out next year (yAy)...i probably won't be doing much (if any) touring until the record's done, but i will likely continue to do shows in the new-england area, and possibly LA ('cause i'm gonna do some recording out there)...thank you all soOo much for your patience...continue to spread the word..it dOes matter...

....my myspace profile is now being updated by the lovely miss-kiku on a regular basis...she will attempt to make sure that all the info is up-to-date, and will rotate new songs on a regular basis (these are all just demos, so don't get too attached) ...so, check back often...
http://www.myspace.com/bleutopia [link]
..and we really are nearing completion on the new website...it's slow-going, but, shan't be tOo long now (i know i keep saying that)...

..............DONATE DONATE DONATE!!!!!!!!...there's even mOre f-ed up shiz going on than the last time i wrote to you (which seems almost imposible..what the heck is going on?)....people are sufering maSsively in pakistan and are gonna be completely fu-cocked as winter sets in (we're talking massive death tolls here people) -->
http://www.directrelief.org/
sections/our_work/southasia_earthquake.html [link]
..and yeah, there's plenty of needy peeps right here at home --->
https://give.redcross.org/donation-form.asp?HomePagemasthead092105 [link]
.......don't be greedy...most of us are doin' ok right?...
....'n stuff..





bleu N.E. TOOoUR..... (September 29th, 2005)
....yeS!..by the skin of our teeth (what does that mean anyway?), we were able to pull together a string of shows (eeeee)..
..we're still tryin' to add a couple dates, and we need places to crash, so if you can heLp...let us knooOow (see below)..(poet, know it, blow it)..

Northeast TOUR with The Everyday Visuals and The Animators
BOSTON, NYC, DC, PHILLY, MANCHESTER, NEWMARKET, MONTREAL (lookin' 4 more!)
...please come support us so's we can come around again soon...wheeee..
The Everyday Visuals [link]
The Animators [link]
...NEW TUNES UP AT MYSPACE [link]

TUESDAY.OCT.4th
The Lizard Lounge [link]
1667 Mass. Ave, CAMBRIDGE, MA
animators - 8pm
bleu - 9:30pm
t.e.v. - 10:30pm
21+ ...the show is frEE 'til 9pm..
..so pLease COME EARLY to see the incredible animators!

THURSDAY.OCT.6th
The Stone Church [link]
5 Granite St, NEWMARKET, NH
WFNX New England Product Showcase!
doors at 9pm
$5 - 18+

FRIDAY.OCT.7th
Milly's Tavern [link]
500 Comercial St, MANCHESTER, NH
the luxury - 8pm
animators - 9pm
bleu - 10pm
t.e.v. - 11pm
ALL AGES

SUNDAY.OCT.9th
CLYDE'S [link]
286 Lakeshore Rd, Pointe Claire (MONTREAL), QC
with Kidnapped heiress [link], t.e.v. and animators

WEDNESDAY.OCT.12th
World Cafe Live (upstairs) [link]
3025 Walnut St, PHILADELPHIA, PA
with t.e.v. and animators
...i don't have much info on this show so please check back at the wesite
..or CALL, 215-222-1400
....i think it's gonna be pretty early tho'..

THURSDAY.OCT.13th
The Velvet Lounge [link]
915 U St. N.W., WASHINGTON, DC
w/ t.e.v. and animators
again...i don't have enough info...(aCk)
..please CALL - 202-462-3213

SATURDAY.OCT.15th
Sin-e [link]
150 Attorney St, NEW YORK, NY
the ios [link] - 9pm
t.e.v. - 10pm
animators - 11pm
bleu - 12am
....this is the first saturday i've played in nyc since i can remember....come one out...'s gonna be fuuuuuuun..

WE ARE TRYING TO FILL IN DATES (especially wed.oct.5th, sat.oct.8th and fri.oct.14th,) SO, IF YOU HAVE ANY (CREDIBLE) IDEAS..contact me through myspace [link] ...
please DONATE again (yes AGAIN) to: Red Cross [link]
...the people of this country STILL need your help (especially the poor people who don't have homes 'n shit now)
..every little bit helps....if everyone on my list pitched in 5 measly bux we'd make well over $10,000 for these folks....
....thanxathousand...





bleuboopeedoop (August 16th)
...yeahhh...*whew*...this summer's been crAzy coOkoo....but enough small talk...on to the b.s.:

i'm playin' with the full band FRiDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd at TT the BEAR's PLACE in CAMBRIDGE (..now and forever known as "teats") the other bands are simply stupendous (don't get to use that word much)...they really are..
THE EVERYDAY VISUALS [link]
THE RUDDS [link]
...the last shows with these guys were re-heally fun...so...well, i'm lookin' forward to it (dernit)..and chris from T.E.V. is playin' keys with us..and..uh..he's freegin' awesOme…..yes..
http://www.ttthebears.com [link]

...and hey...i'm gonna be on the radio...my buddy (hair-metal-legend) Pat Badger and i are visiting 99.9 THE EAGLE next MONDAY AUGUST 22nd around 7pm with some of his wacky alpacas...
...and, yeah, it looks like we're gonna play a song or two...neat...(978) 632-1332 is the heckle line..

....i've got some other NE shows brewin' in the near future...and i'm actually trying to plan a little north-east mini-tour in october with the Everday Visuals and some other friend's bands...more soOn..

...and it shouldn't be tooo long 'til the new website's up...aAaaA...kiku's hard at work as we speak...in the meantime, there's plenty goin' on at:
http://www.myspace.com/bleutopia [link] & http://www.bleumusic.jp [link]
...and yeSs.i aM hard at work on my recordSs...crappy music takes time ya know...i am always working the oodles of new material into my shows tho'..so..for now: come see me live eh?..
,,,seriously: for those of you who are still hangin' in there...i thank you immensley for your patience..





new info for NYC show thu!..ack..(boston saturday too) (June 29th)
..hey...i just found out a couple bits of important info about the Knitting Factory show this thursday in NYC...(i've reposted the saturday BOSTON show info below tooo..)

........1) it's even earlier than i thought:
6:30 - doors
7pm - http://www.yaelmeyer.com/ [link]
7:45pm - http://www.theanimators.com/ [link]
8:45pm - Bleu
...and they're bootin' us aLL by 9:30pm for some fancy dancey junk (i think we can hang out upstairs tho')...so don't bee laaate eh?..

..and 2) suposedly this thing's ALL-AGES!...wheee...i can't remember the last time i got to play one of those...bring the stroller! (don't really, it's gonna be loud)..

..full band show at:
Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street, NYC
10013
212-219-3132
http://www.knittingfactory.com/calendar/
event_descrip.cfm?event_num=53494&room=4&location=1 [link]

....and don't forget about the hometown show this saturday...
..ya might think about purchasing tix in advance -->
http://virtuous.com/events/v/332304336/2005-07.html [link]

sat.jul.2nd
playing with the full band at the lizard ('s been a while)...two great bands on the bill:
the everday visuals - 8:30
the plain janes - 9:30
bleu - 10:30
(617) 547-0759
..should be swelllll.....
http://www.theeverydayvisuals.com/ [link]
http://www.myspace.com/theeverydayvisuals [link]
http://www.myspace.com/theplainjanes [link]

.....more shows coming soon, new site, new tunes, new news...stay tuned....thaaaanx for your patience (really)...





bleu in nyc and boston sooooon.. (June 22nd)
..aaAaAaaa...yeah..i know i knOw, i've been wAaay out of touch...i sincerely apologize...many of you have writen to ask when i'll be playing again and when i'll be releasing a new record..thank you so very much for all your kind words...i am indeed playing a few shows in nyc and boston in the coming months, so, keep an eye out (two are listed below)..and as far as a new record: well..i cAn say that i hAve been working very hard on several different projects for mAny months now...i can't really say when any of it will be released yet, but, i dO hope veRy much that it's sooner than later...wish me loads of luck in this endeavor...and in the meantime..come see me live if you can..we'll be playing several brand spankin' new tunes...(there's more news below)..

THURSDAY.JUNE.30TH
----The Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street, NYC
http://www.knittingfactory.com [link]
212-219-3132
doors at 7pm (this is an early show)
with http://www.yaelmeyer.com/ [link] at 7:15pm
and http://www.theanimators.com/ [link] at 8pm
me at 9pm with the full band
we gotta finish by 10pm (so don't be late eh?)
oh, and it's 18+!...tix in advance -->
http://www.knittingfactory.com/calendar/
event_descrip.cfm?event_num=53494&room=4&location=1 [link]

SATURDAY.JULY.2ND
----The Lizard Lounge
1667 Massachusetts Ave, CAMBRIDGE, MA
(617) 547-0759
with http://www.theeverydayvisuals.com/ [link] at 9:30pm
and http://www.myspace.com/theplainjanes [link] at 10:30pm
me at 11:30pm..again with the full band (wheee..)
..this is 21+ (sniff)...
tix will be available in advance for $8 at:
http://virtuous.com/events/v/332304336/2005-06.html [link]

..in other news:
...the lovely miss kiku has been hard at work on a new bleu website...hopefully we'll be able to unveil it in the next couple weeks...in the meantime, you'll notice a "coming soon" note at www.bleutopia.com [link] ..but you can still access my old site from there, or my myspace profile, etc...many thanx to her and the debonaire mr. yamil suarez for their help with the transition.......and for those Puffy AmiYumi and/or Japan fans..: a song that i co-wrote with the amazing andy sturmer (of jellyfish fame) is indeed the japanese single for the next Puffy AmiYumi record...it's very cheap-trick-ish i think..anyway, i'm fairly certain it will also end up on the record when it's released in the states....neat.....

....thanx for stickin' with me folks.... ..i think this is pretty freegin' cool ---> http://www.one.org/ [link]

..mOre soOn!..





cancer benefit thursday!..aAaAaa... (March 8th)
..the nyc show was sssuper (really fun playin' and hangin' with john again)..i'm goin' back sooon....and yes..i saw The Gates..in a word.."neat".....
sooooo...i'm playin' this BIG BREAST cancer benefit (you know what i mean) on THURSDAY at the middle east downstairs (yeah like two days from now)...so..get yer ass out or yer goin' to hell...

Rock N' Run is a benefit for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their marathon team. Andy Milk of New Blood will be running the Boston Marathon in honor and support of his mother, a five-year breast cancer survivor. 100% of proceeds raised will go directly to basic cancer research.

Thursday, March 10th, 2005
Rock N' Run: A Benefit for Cancer Research

Featuring:
Rubikon, Adam & Steve Not Adam & Eve (of Cave In), New Blood, Bleu, and Adrenokrome (...i'm on in the middle at 10:30)

Middle East downstairs
472 Mass Ave in Cambridge
www.mideastclub.com [link]

THEY'LL BE RAFFLING OFF AT THE SHOW:

Walden Classical Guitar (w/ hardshell case) from Rock City Guitar ($400 value)
2...1-hour tattoo sessions at Pino Bros Ink ($250 value)
A Jagermeister Skateboard
Gift certificate to JamSpot rehearsal spaces
Gift basket of homemade bath products from Dirty Little Secrets Soap Company
South Boston Harborlights Gift Basket
Dinner at Tavern on the Water
Oil painting from Caroline A. O'Keefe
$100 gift basket from local businesses

Other sponsors:
Boston Phoenix, Kennedy Rink Snack Bar, Transportation by Boston Coach, The Noise, Neogonzo Designs, Motionblur Photography, Boston Swim Across America, Animalville Records

http://www.rocknrun.org [link]

...kiku is workin' on a new site....and..lots of other crap brewin'...yeah really....oK....





bleu back in boston and nyc...wheeee... (February 17th)
...aaagh...well...thanx to everyone who came to The Cars tribute ( http://www.notlame.com/thecars.htm [link] )...it was great to see The Cautions fellas and The Argument guys (jeez..west virgiNy!)..they'll be back soon...and Spiraling wuz freakin' amazing..we're gonna play with them again fer sher...oh jeez, and Greg Hawkes (original Cars keyboard player) was there...he is wAy niCe (like wAaay)...ok...on to some shows...there are a couple kinda last minute adds here...so pAy aTTention fer chrisake...

------ FRI. FEB. 18 - 8:15pm
Tsunami Relief: An Evening of Hope
at the Berklee Performance Center
In a concert to benefit survivors this evening will also feature personal stories and images of the destruction caused by the tsunami.
136 Massachusetts Ave. - Boston, MA
http://www.berkleebpc.com/default.html [link]
...i'm doin' three songs with the band at the end..


------ THU. FEB. 24 - 9pm
Middle East Downstairs
Brett Rosenberg Problem CD release with Emergency Music and Everyday Visuals
480 Massachusetts Ave. - Cambridge, MA
...mosty eBand stuff..i'm on 2nd (SECOND) of four..great bill eh?..love that rosenberg..
http://www.mideastclub.com/ [link]
http://www.brettrosenberg.com/ [link]
http://www.emergencymusic.com/ [link]
http://www.theeverydayvisuals.com/ [link]


------ FRI. FEB. 25 - 10pm
The Living Room
154 Ludlow Street (between Stanton and Rivington) - NYC
...this is an eBand show with john cutler (the greek embassy) sitting in (and probably mike viola too..whee)..and the animators are great..
7pm - Timothy Daniel
8pm - Mariana Bell
9pm - Katy Pfaff
10pm - The Animators
11pm - Bleu
http://www.livingroomny.com/ [link]
212.533.7235

...plenty more coming sooon..loTs in the weRx..stay tuned..
http://www.bleumusic.jp/ [link]





bleu cars (February 8th)
..hEyyy...well..sorry i've been a bit m.i.a...and sorry for the late notice on this one...the blizzard of aught '3 seems to have thrown me for a loop that i haven't quite spun out of yet...but i think perhaps The Pats win on sunday was just the thing to get me back on track..you know..dynasty and all...aNd speaking of great things about bostonnn..the fabulous tribute to The Cars has finally come out (nice segue right?)..and the CD release is this thursday..aAaAAa..i'm friends with all of the other three bands that are playing and they're all great power-poppers...The Cautions are comin' from Providence, Spiraling from NYC and The Argument is headin' up all the way from West-bygod-Virginia...i'm doin' a Cars number with both the Arguboys and The Cautions..(and i heard the man himself may show?)...anywayhayz..it should be fun...and then i'm doin' a couple songs at a Tsunami victims benefit being held at the Berklee Performance Center on Friday the 18th...i got some other stuff brewin' in Boston and NYC in the near future..and well..lots of other junk..so..keep an eye peeled..or something...i still gotta sift through those dern japan pix and get them up (amongst other things)..eee....thanx to all the get-uppers who came out to the first anual pot-luck!..although, it seems like people mostly just brought beverages...hhmm..? ...err..good times...

CD Release for "Substitution Mass Confusion"
a TRIBUTE to THE CARS which you can purchase here (and check all the bands out) --->
http://www.notlame.com/index.htm?action=product&sku=NLCARSTRIBUTE [link]
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10th - 9pm
TT The Bear's Place - cambridge, ma
http://www.ttthebears.com/ [link]

Tsunami Victims Benefit
friday february 18th - 8:15pm
Berklee Performance Center
136 Massachusetts Avenue - boston, ma
http://www.berkleebpc.com/default.html [link]





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