Meet Liah

Left on Red goes from 2 to 7 at Ace of Clubs!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Thank you friends for coming out
on a rainy Wednesday night to see Left on Red at Ace of Clubs!

Here is the re-cap:

-We got to the venue and it smelled a bit like a musty sock so I ran out to buy some Indian nagchampa incense while Kelly set up the sound and got the band situated. I think the incense totally brought up the vibration of the club and set the tone for an awesome night. We will do this at every show where we can from now on.

-It was the first time we played with this full band configuration: Mark Bosch on lead guitar, Ippei Ichimaru on Bass, Nick "Yuki" Miscusi on percussion and uke and Jessica Mease singing harmonies on "Shine" and "I can look at the Sun". The songs translated amazingly with a full band and it was so freeing to play with such amazing musicians!

-Surprise guest drummer, our friend Albert Bouchard (original drummer for Blue Oyster Cult) showed up with some friends and hopped on stage for the whole show and made the songs sound huge and AMAZING! We never even rehearsed with him but he is a long time friend of Kelly's and mine and is the sweetest most down to earth person. We love you Albert!

-The after party was a blast. I am still not sure how we organized 20 people to walk across town to the East Village to Yaffa Cafe. If you haven't been there yet you MUST go!!! I love the artsy, laid back atmosphere and Yaffa has excellent people watching, the food is so yummy and it comes out so super fast that it appears the chef's must have psychic abilities. The Sangria is pretty sneaky so watch out..as Kelly observed after getting buzzed off one glass "It's not juice, but it pretends to be".

Ace of Clubs: Set List

Shine
Left on Red
Jack and Jill
Ma Grand-mere Charmante
Spanish Song (instrumental)
High Heel Blues
Shakira
Joy to the World
I Can Look at the Sun
Gone Long Gone
Crash and Burn
Smile/When your smiling

NEXT LOR SHOW:

Next show is this Monday, June 8th at 9PM at the world famous "Bitter End".
147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia)
New York City, NY 10012
$10.00 door/$5.00 RSVP

Since 1961, many legends have launched their careers in front of The Bitter End's famous brick wall..come see Left on Red's Bitter End debut this Monday!

RSVP @ leftonredmusic@gmail.com

A Happy Sort of Rock Show!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:03:00 +0000

LEFT ON RED @ ACE OF CLUBS

9 Great Jones Street - NYC
btw. Broadway and Lafayette - 6 Train to Bleeker or R to 8th St.
Showtime 7:30 - 8:30 - $7.00 cover

Joining Left on Red will be Special guests Mark Bosch on lead guitar, Ippei Ichimaru on Bass and Nick "Yuki" Miscusi on Percussion and uke!
It will be a happy sort of rock show and we are psyched to share it with you:)

xo, Liah and Kelly

www.leftonredmusic.com
www.aceofclubsnyc.com
www.myspace.com/leftonredtheband

Left on Red on i-tunes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:04:00 +0000

Hello:)

Our album is now available via the Left on Red website and for digital download on i-tunes!!! Kelly and I are so excited to see a years worth of writing and singing and gigging be manifested into something positive and beautiful and professional..I am so please to share it with you:)

(Left on Red Album Cover, Photo by Monte Isom)

I am so thankful to Kelly for being my partner on this uncertain adventure, this musical road of laughter and challenge. We have had an amazing year, playing shows in LA, Nashville, San Diego and NYC and that's just the start:)

Left on Red is taking the album on the road for an East coast tour this Summer.
We are in the process of figuring out how we can make our way across country playing music, by selling our CD and t-shirts and sharing music with new friends.
We also want to learn how to farm somewhere along the way too:)
Thanks so much to my mom, to Steve Emley and Scott Davis for making this album possible and helping Left on Red live our dream of lighting up the world with music!!!

Thanks for being a friend:)
Enjoy the music!
hugs, Liah

www.leftonredmusic.com
www.myspace.com/leftonredtheband

Left on Red Album Gets the Green Light!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Its amazing to think that not even one year ago, Kelly and I were just two girls playing and writing songs in the Subway. We created Left on Red in March 2008 because we wanted to spread love through music and write songs that were fun and relevant. In 9 months we have had the pleasure of traveling across the US playing shows, making friends and working with awesome people who have inspired us and helped us to realize our dream...Left on Red's First EP is finally Mastered and will be ready to roll out at the end of January 09!!!

Stay tuned on www.leftonredmusic.com for record-release info and Spring Tour Schedule.

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:35:00 +0000

The girls of Left on Red invite you
to a special Earth Day celebration at the legendary Café Wha?

Tuesday, April 22nd at 7PM, Greenwich Village, NYC!

After a great month of gigs in Washington D.C., Nashville, TN, San Diego and Los Angeles, CA,
we have happily returned to the big apple with no tans to be seen. We did, however, bring back not one, but THREE new songs
which we will debut at Café Wha on Tuesday! SCORE!

So come enjoy our new west coast hit, “High Heel Blues.” Women, and some men: We will be accepting your most painful pair of high heels in exchange for a new Left on Red CD.

www.leftonredmusic.com
http://www.cafewha.com/

Celebrate Earth Day Concert: Left on Red and Kierstin Gray
Tusday, April 22nd, 2008
7PM: Left on Red
8PM: Kierstin Gray and her band

Café Wha is located at 115 Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village.
between Bleecker and W 3rd, New York, NY

GET YOUR ADVANCE TICKETS ONLINE: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/31175

Other fun facts about the gig:

-We are sharing the night with awesome vocalist and guitarist Kiersten Gray and her band (www.myspace.com/
-This is part of an upcoming series called Original Wha? -Café Wha? Was the starting ground for a number of artists including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Peter, Paul & Mary, Kool and the Gang, as well as comedians, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby

The Hippie-Chickie (Holiday) Shake

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 01:01:00 +0000

Seasons Greetings:)

Wishing you love and tenderness,
Peace and love today and always...
May the new year bring forth creative fulfillment and prosperity!

Liah

In this Happy Holiday Edition of the Hippie-Chicky Shake:

-Winter Soldier: New Song for the Holidays available now!

-New Century’s Women In Music Showcase: Featuring Liah Alonso

-Liah Alonso online and on TV:
NY ROCKS Television and Subway Performances of "Don't Think Twice" and "Winter Soldier"

-Holiday Travel, not so bad
(or) Everything is easy after India

_____________________________________________________

Winter Soldier:
Every war has a protest song…

I co-wrote and produced “Winter Soldier” with Kelly Halloran (violinist), after watching "Operation First Casualty", a film about veterans of war who re-enact, in public places, sniper fire, hostage take-downs and torture. It inspired us to honor these “Winter Soldiers”: brave men and women who testify to the brutality of war amidst the din of patriotism.

“Winter Soldier” has a classic theme: families torn apart by war. A wife misses her deployed husband during Christmas time. We believe the song could find a large audience, considering the holiday joy will contrast against our deepening anti-war sentiment. Our goal is to distribute this song as widely as possible in order to raise awareness and funds for "Iraq veterans Agaist War" and "Veterans for Peace".

You can listen and/or download "Winter Soldier" on myspace or nimbit.
Watch my performance of Winter Soldier on NY Rocks TV: "Winter Soldier"
_____________________________________________

New Century’s Women In Music Showcase
Join Liah and friends for an Acoustic Buzz at Gizzi’s this Saturday Night!!!
December, 29 2007 @ 10PM
16 W 8th Street, New York 10011

We will be doing a live taping of this event so please come ready to sing along:)
______________________________________________

Liah Alonso online and on TV:
NY ROCKS Television and Subway Performances of "Don't Think Twice" and "Winter Soldier"

See the show in its entirety: NY RocksTV Show or watch me sing "Winter Soldier"

I was invited to perform "Winter Soldier" on NY ROCKS TV for their Holiday Special. It was my first TV show promoting my own music and I was really excited about it. I was even interviewed and given the chance to speak about the Veterans and the upcoming album "Will Sing For Smiles". It was an honor to share the stage with some awesome musicians: Suzanne Gorman band and pre-teen rockers Reverse Order as well as Actor Nick Raio. Thank you Lou Lotto for being so awesome and supportive, Phil Fiumano for putting me on the show, Kevin, Ali, and all my new friends at Time Warner and NY Rocks for being so rockin'!

New YouTube Videos:
Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice"
film by Riccardo Elizondo

_______________________________________________

The view from the top: Ladakhi prayer flags and mountains

Lord Shiva (Hindu God of Destruction) in front of Ashrams in Haridwar

Trekking in the Himalayas: Guitar and all...oh how I wished for a pony to carry all my stuff!

___________________________________________________

Holiday Travel, not so bad
(or) Everything is easy after India

I am stuck on a plane on its way to Mexico City. I write these words from a tight little spot where I sit squeezed between two men too big to be allowed to sit in the same row. Their elbows and shoulders extend into my small allotted space and so I’m typing with my arms awkwardly glued to my sides. Each time I doze off, the guy next to me sees it as a good time to chat and asks me an insightful question like “Isn’t this a long flight”? or “Bad weather, huh”?

I nod and smile back at him.

What else is there to do in this uncomfortable situation but smile and laugh about it? It feels much better than getting frustrated about something I cannot change. We are all stuck here on this rainy runway as we have been stuck for two hours already, with no foreseeable signs of flight.

So now is probably a good time to write this edition of the Hippie-Chicky Shake. Now when my pacience is tested by a long wait and the baby in the next row who just started screaming. It’s a good time because being a hippie-chicky (or hippie-chico) means seeing the good in the moment and letting go of everything else.

I am grateful to be on this airplane right now and on my way (sort of) to see family and friends in Mexico! Although we aren’t moving, it is a climate controlled air-plane and (yay!) they are passing out peanuts! (ooh but they have high fructose corn syrup in them so I’ll pass).

I take a mental trip back to India now, back to 20+ hour bus rides on bumpy roads made of dirt and cow-dung. The trip from Manali to Ladakh was the most difficult of these. That trip was so scary that I wondered if I would ever make it back to tell the story.

I remember staring out the window of a cramped van as it sped up through the windy Himalayan mountain ranges. The driver was smoking charas (hash) while dancing to loud, distorted Bhangra (Punjabi Dance music) coming from the front side speakers. The vehicle was filled with smoke and budget backpackers wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, we passed a rainbow-colored bus hanging off the hillside by its left rear wheel. “That could have easily been us” I thought growing queezy. “Namasde” I shouted up to the driver in my broken Hindi “mera body naheen achah (translation-my body is not feeling so good).” Luckily he understood and quickly pulled over.

I ran outside to throw up. It started to rain then and breath steamed out from me like a boiling kettle. The van full of strangers watched and waited. I heard steps and a zipper and turned to see the driver peeing right next to me.

It felt like it couldn’t get any worse and that’s when I looked up to see the most amazing views of my life. We were on one of the highest roads in the world, overlooking the Himalayas, riding through crystal lakes and sand dunes, prayer flags fluttering from purple rocks blushing with a blue and pink fluorescent sunrise. It was all worth it for that view. It always is and every trip I have taken since India has been that way: a piece of cake or should I say, a piece of warm nan bread which I hold in my hands and say humbly-Thank you.

Note Worthy Links:

Tired of watching re-runs? no problem! Check out these cool indy-active videos:

www.meerkatmedia.org
and
The Story of Stuff

Help our Veterans:
www.ivaw.org
www.veteransforpeace.org

Phil Fiumano interviews Rock legends like Sid Bernstein and KISS and rising stars:
www.nyrockstv.com

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:53:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/17/07

Every war has a protest song…

I co-wrote and produced “Winter Soldier” with Kelly Halloran (violinist), after watching "Operation First Casualty", a film about veterans who re-enact, in public places, sniper fire, hostage take-downs and torture. It inspired us to honor these “Winter Soldiers”: brave men and women who testify to the brutality of war amidst the din of patriotism.

“Winter Soldier” has a classic theme: families torn apart by war. A wife misses her deployed husband during Christmas time. I believe the song could find a large audience, considering the holiday joy will contrast against our deepening anti-war sentiment. My goal is to distribute this song as widely as possible in order to raise awareness and funds for Veteran's peace groups: www.ivaw.org.

If you are interested in this song being linked to your website or played on your station please contact me. I am available for performances and interviews. I performed “Winter Soldier” on “New York Rock’s TV” (www.nyrockstv.com). My other performances have been in Washington D.C. at the United For Peace and Justice “March For Peace”, CBGB’s in New York, as well as performances in India, Africa and Latin America.

Thank you for your consideration.

Liah Alonso

Hippie-Chicky Records
Phone: 212.344.9562
E mail: liah.Alonso@gmail.com

Links to the performances:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2900759920883381075

Websites:
http://www.meetliah.com/
http://www.myspace.com/liahalonso
http://www.myspace.com/kellyhalloran

Electronic press kit: http://www.sonicbids.com/liahalonso

The Hippie-Chicky Shake: Thanksgiving Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:55:00 +0000

In this special Thanksgiving Edition of The Hippie Chicky-Shake, I want to express my gratitude to you:)

Thank you so much for being a friend and for supporting independent arts.
Because of your encouragement and inspiration,
I have the strength to continue making positive and peaceful music, spreading smiles wherever my feet land.
My prayer for us all is that we all may practice our creative passions, that our hearts may open as we play and laugh like there is no tomorrow.

Here are 5 great ways
we can all spread the love this Thanksgiving:
Donate, support, make peace, spread love, save turkeys.

1. Donate your old gadgets, toys, books and clothing...somebody will love it like its new. New York Donation/recycling ideas. A great place to donate old sheets, pillows and blankets is your local animal shelter. Last week some friends and I took a trip to Bidawee and got to see how our old sheets would be used to help the rescued cats and dogs feel more comfortable. It was a heartwarming experience.

3. Support Independent Media Outlets:
With all of Hollywood and Broadway on strike, it’s a choice between re-runs or venturing a little ways out of the main stream. This seems like the perfect time to turn off the television and set off on a brave cyberspace exploration for some cool new sites.

For your news fix and to maybe even make your own news, check out: indymedia and the real news.
To find your dream job or vounteer opportunity check out: Idealist.org.
Discover new Independent artists: youtube, myspace and Pandora.

Some Personal site reccomendations:

Beautiful photography: the life magical: minwin
the new hip hop consciousness: Regime change
violin that rocks your socks off: Kelly Halloran
sing for fun: singsnap
make a friend: facebook
Your favorite Hippie-Chicky: Liah Alonso

3. Support The Peace Movement: Get involved in creating a brighter future!
Three organitaions working hard to bring about positive changes in our government and in the world:
CodePink, Moveon.org and United for Peace and Justice

4. The Gratitude List:
At Thanksgiving Dinner it is fun to go around the table and share some of the things in our lives that we are grateful for. By telling our loved ones how much we appreciate them we help them feel loved and special. This is great to do not just on Thanksgiving but whenever we can remember how lucky we are to have people that love us enough to put up with our occasional bullshit.

Here is my working gratitude list:
I am grateful for: my loving and supportive family, my good health and working senses, honest friends to say it like it is, YOU, an amazing band and team of music professionals to create and play with, the ability to communicate through music, art and words, jelly the cat, my soft bed with the hanging Chanukah lights over it, money for what I need, work to make the money, the amazing travel experiences in India I had this Summer, a cool gym membership to stay strong, Mark for naming my new cookie recipe and for giving me the newletter name "Hippie-Chicky Shake rather than Hippie-Chicky Harold, this computer that erased my first draft of this newsletter, thereby forcing me to re-write it all over again and think of some more cool ideas:)

5. Save the Turkeys, eat tofurky or better yet, make a friend and adopt a turkey at the Vermont Farm sanctuary!

You have heard of "Save the Children" but what about "Save The Turkeys"? Last year I adopted a sweet little turkey named Pumpkin outside of my local health-food store. I put her picture on my fridge and every time I look at it I smile to know that Pumpkin is running and clucking around free in a Vermont Farm. Anytime I want too, I can go visit her and the other friendly animal rescues and say hello. For this years Turkey adoption list please click here. Thank you for being compassionate to our animal friends:)

Now if this is the point in the newsletter where you find yourself searching for the unsubscribe button as you ask yourself "how did I ever subrcribe to this no good, free lovin', veggie eatin', tree huggin hippie-chicky lunatic's newsletter anyway"? You can do yourself a big favor and go stick your head in the microwave because that is essentially what you are doing to your mind and body as you consume dead, rotting, chemically cultivated flesh:) For more facts about the harmful physical, psychological, environmental, and sexual side-effects of meat, please click here.

If these are not good enough reasons for you to stop eating meat and you happen to determine your life's decisions from what you learn on Oprah..then please take a look at this list of famous vegetarians. You may be suprised at what you learn.

BONUS: Liah's Vegan Cookie Recipe: Chiquitas
Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean that Thanksgiving has to be lame and un-delicious!

I made these cookies for the band to munch on at our second big recording session last Sunday. They loved them and couldn't believe that they were Vegan. Oh yeah! My secret plan to conquer the world with vegetables is turning out just the way I planned! HA HA HA, Snicker HA HA!!!

Ingredients:

DRY Stuff:
1 c. bran
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c ground flax
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
1/2 c. raisins
1.tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutm eg
1/2 c. organic cane sugar
optional: vegan chocolate chips or carob chips

WET Stuff:
3 bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg replacer eggy
1/2 cup canola oil or earths balance soy spread

INSTRUCTIONS:
Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix the dry stuff together. Blend the wet stuff together. Combine the two in a bowl and stir. Place on slightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool and enjoy with friends.

This concludes the Hippie-Chicky Shake Thanksgiving Edition:)
I hope this information was useful and interesting to you.
Thank you for reading and have a very Happy day:)

Peace, Love and inspiration,
Liah

Hippie-Chickie Herald: First Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Two Shows Next week:

Wednesday 7.7.2007: at 7pm

169 Bar in Chinatown

Cover: $8 dollars

Cross Streets: Rutgers St and East Broadway (Essex & Canal st)

Directions: Take the F train to East Broadway exit.

Tel: 212-473-8866

Liah Alonso: Vox, Guitar and kazoo

Kelly Halloran: Vox, Violin and kazoo

Saturday 7.10.07:at 10pm

Gizzi's Coffee Bar

free all ages show at a cozy coffee shop

16 W 8th Street, New York, NY
NY, New York 10011

Wonderful West Coast Wandering:

October was a really exciting month for me! I had the opportunity to perform in venues throughout California and Oregon with so much love from the people there. I performed at my first comedy club venue; A sweet little night spot in San Francisco called "Brainwash". I was really nervous to do a musical act in front of a comedy audience but figured I had nothing to lose except maybe perhaps an eye if I got pegged by a tomato...I sang "We Used to be friends aka. pack your fuckin' bags" and "Tequilanated" and to my delight, the crowd went wild and sang along. Alter the show the host of the evening, Tony Sparks, asked me to perform in his weekly variety show happening just a few days later.

The evening continued with a bus ride up Mission street with my new friend and San Francisco guide "Chi: a rapper/skater/all around zen kinda guy". He inspired a new song which we sang on the bus ride to Haight Street. We walked up to an eclectic outdoor music/slam scene consisting of over 100 punks, hippies, business dudes and college kids. This weekly event is called "The Anarchist's Open Mic" and as its name implies, has no real order or operator; just people gathered together in the most surveillance spot in San Francisco * see civil liberties controversy on this. .

I stepped in the center of the performance circle with a percussionist I saw standing in the crowd and we performed "Crash and Burn". The people really dug it and invited me back up later in the evening to close out the event. I was honored to be part of such a cool collective of people making music for the love of it. I shared the story of my 2004 arrest (writing "freedom of speech" in chalk on concrete during a peace march) and ongoing civil liberties trial and then we all sang "The Peace Song" together.

After that it was on to Eugene, Oregon to see my sister and meet my niece for the first time. That was really amazing! She is only 2 years old and she loves to sing and talk on the phone. We also played some guitar together and she rocked it. I bonded and sang alot with my sister too: you.tube.short and we are collaborating over the Internet now which is really neat.

I experienced my first Bluegrass jam over at Sam Bond's. It was really awesome to play with such great players. I also got to meet and play with Jeremy Wegner, sitar/mandolinist for Oregon jam band: The SugarBeets. There was an amazing banjo player, upright bassist, 3 guitarists and a harmonica player. We played late into the night and we made plans to make some music when I come through on my West Coast tour.

The biggest news of all is that on my last night in Oregon I entered PSA's (Portland Songwriting Association) semi final songwriting competition and won! Now I get to return to Oregon in February 2008 for the final performance and award for Portland's best singer-songwriter. Below, for further interest is a list of the places and links for the places I performed last week. Brainwash, Diablo's, Sam Bond's Garage , Mississippi Pizza Pub, PSA.

STUDIO ALBUM IN THE WORKS!

Next Sunday is the first recording session for my upcoming album entitled "Get Your Heart On", "Liberty's Latte" or "Shine". Cast in your album title vote today by responding to this e-mail and letting your voice be heard.

Thanks for reading The Hippie Chicky Harold!

Stay tuned for more news and advance album and video previews.

I look forward to seeing you soon and send peace and inspiration your way:)

namasde,

Liah

Trying the YouTube thing and loving it! Share your comments on these new shorts: youtube.

Liah and Alba up on Spencer's Butte. Here is a little song we made together:)

Nine Speeken zee Doitch (layover in Frankfurt)

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 10:37:00 +0000

I'm writing you from Frankfurt Germany where I am in transit to New Delhi. It has been a whirlwind of a trip thus far and all the family except mom and I is passed out throughout the leather chairs in the Lufthansa business lounge. Ive spent the morning walking up and down the terminal, scouring the duty free shops for a zit cream that isn't tested on animals and is in the right price range. Its the only sort of manageable mindless activity that will keep me occupied and awake for now. I'm on zero hours of sleep yet the anticipation of the journey to India has me suspended high in the sky on the exiting energy of adventures to come.

Mom and I left New York on Thursday evening. I could barely sleep the night before, inspired by an awesome full band rehearsal on Wednesday where we went over almost all the songs for the album. I was surprised and encouraged by how quickly the songs are coming together and pleased that the musicians whom I admire and respect, seem to seriously dig the music. We went over arrangements for Olive Greed (Veruca), The peace song, Crash and Burn, Duele Menos, Momma Momma, Goodbye, Suspicious Package, Tequilanated, A Broken heart is such shame, and America. All together we played 11 songs in a few hours! It was so exciting to hear the songs that I wrote and co-wrote with KK come alive with a full band of experienced and amazing musicians. Everyone laughed when I pointed this out in a little impromptu song called "Everyone in my band in more famouse than me", and its true and i couldnt be more delightful to be humbled and inspired to keep being challenged in situations where I feel outleagued, out-rocked and out of this freakin' world!!!

The rehearsal was followed by a fabulous homemade farewell dinner with my the band and other good Friends down at the Treehouse (the affectionate pet name for our loft. We call our house the tree house because of all my plants everywhere, and not to mention the big tree in the living room:) We dined on creamy asparagus risotto and spicy vegetable pasta-less minestrone soup. For dessert there was bitter chocolate and strawberries, wine and laughter, goodbyes and promises to get make music and memories soon, soon, soon.

Anyways, theres so much more to write but now our 5 hour layover in Goolasholandia is almost over. Ill have to write more later, from the almost 8 hour flight to India. I still havent even told you about our 36 hours in Madrid! What an adventure and culture shock that was. We arived at the Ritz Carleton around 3 in the afternoon to meet the family and then it was off to ultra modern Reina Sophia Museum in the colonial center of town. Im not sure if you could realy call any part of Madrid "the colonial center" because its all beautiful and impressive. The architecture is so impressive everywhere you go and huge arches stand in the center of all major intersections, elegantly framing the huge boulevards as if in a painting planned perfectly. My eyes were happy and my heart delighted by the sights and sounds of the city of Madrid.

We went to see Picasso's anti-war epic masterpiece "Guernica" and all the Dali's, Miro's as well as some delightfully random peaces famed Dada master Man Ray's Spain inspired collection. After that we went to the square where there was live music and people singing and a guy playing the saxophone and people feeding pigeons. It was 10PM but it felt like 5 in the afternoon. The sun didn't show and signs of wanting to rest and lucky for us, neither did we. We got back to the hotel 11PM, just in time to get ready for our dinner at 12AM at the famouse family owned Lucio's in the other old section of Madrid's city center. Old is a relative term here though so I can't tell the difference really. Its all beautiful, quaint and spectacularly Spanish to me.

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:31:00 +0000

Hungry dragons swallowed the sun
They scared the birds away

girl plight

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:25:00 +0000

Take care pretty girl
Take care
Don’t push to hard
Be scared
Let me baby you
Let me make you feel protected
You look like you need
rescuing
Don’t you girl?
Don’t you?
Don’t take too long
Or I’ll leave you
Helpless
Heaping puddle on the floor
Puddle of girl that once was
Because she didn’t
Take care
Take care

Be wise little girl
Be wise
Don’t think too hard
Compromise
Take everything that you can get
Take everything you can
You look live you need
Saving (changing)
Don’t you girl?
Don’t you?
Don’t talk to loud
Or ill hurt you
Defenseless
Bleating bloody on the floor
Bleeding girl that once was
Because she wasn’t
A wise girl
wise girl.

te amo de nuevo

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 02:58:00 +0000

.Dejame
sonarte
Como quiero
que estes
Quero
que seas parte
De mi antes
y despues
Tal ves
nos toparemos
En
un
extrano
loco
lugar
Reconocere
tu
rostro
Nunca te deje
de amar
Ese dia
Esperaria
Que pudieramos
tal vez
llegar
a desacernos
una y otra vez.

Make Fuzz Not War: Liah along and friends live @ CB's 313 Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:45:00 +0000

the next chapter in the evolution of sound and self...What will this next show bring? Last show featured a full rock band and some funky, punky new material..This show promises to continue to surprise, explore and hopefully impress you. Mark Bosch is back with his amazing guitar licks, the beautiful Chaya B will strum along and sing beautiful harmonies, and Kirsten the mysterious last-nameless woman will bang her lil heart out on the Djembe...Hot!

Come down, show your love and be a part of the action. We will be recording the show as well as broadcasting it live over the web for those of you out of towners. Tickets available now at www.ticketweb.com. Donations can be made here as well by purchasing tickets and supporting by watching via live webstream.

Much love and thanks,

Liah

Rock+Roll Friday At The Roadhouse!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:04:00 +0000

Liah Alonso Live with Shredded Poets this Friday, July 14th.
It will be the wildest and craziest show yet!

Next Friday night (7/14/06) come on down to the A & M Roadhouse in Tribeca.

Its a southern sexy spot where the ribs are just as juicy as your hostess
and dancing on the table tops
is not only tolerated
but highly encouraged.

Come straight from work and enjoy 3 dollar well drinks and 2 dollar coors light and MGD draft from 5pm - 7pm.

Free Buffet from 5:30 to 6:30!

Drink Specials All night!

Show Starts @ 9pm and is FREE!

The songs are in a constant state of evolution and this will be the first time I perform them with a full band, (Shredded Poets, so please come show your support of this crazy rock + roll journey.
Spread the love, check out my website, myspace profile and please bring your friends to the show!
Thank you:)

Liah Alonso

meetliah.com (songs + event info)
myspace.com/cantala

A & M ROADHOUSE - Home of Barbecued Blues & The $2 Pint Eat Mo' Bettah, Drink Mo' Good!

57 Murry Street Church and West Broadway || Tribeca, NYC

Somebody Needs a Spanking

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:11:00 +0000

Are those shorts or panties?

There is a strange and cheecky phenominon
hitting the New York streets.
Shorts and underwear are being used interchangeably
stopping traffic and
giving wedgies all over town.
Perhaps it emerged from the sexy summer sweat,
or the sizzle of sun on concrete;
whatever the reason
its making good girls
feel light-headed and hookerish.

When will shorts be too short?

When will my ass
stop
sticking
to those sticky
subway seats
evertime i wear a short skirt?

These are mysteries only time will reveal.
Untill then girls lets agree
to keep our panties on (underneath our shorts;)

Id like to be loved for more than my ass...
although a good spanking is nice
now and again.

(Interested aplicants can visit www.meetliah.com for contest form, info and regulations. Restrictions apply, Void where prohibited, batteries not included, there is no gaurantee spanking will be returned or responded in any way shape or form, and if your still reading your as sick as me;).

notice how the woman in the top image and the wierdo tourist in the bottom image-are standing the very same way! Hypothesis: Wearing short shorts makes you stand funny. Experiment to be carried out later.

The Worm Montage (or) Better than Frenchfries

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:28:00 +0000

Snail Spit: The Newest Beauty Craze

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Sat, 06 May 2006 17:54:00 +0000

This is not a joke...But still pretty damn funny.

As seen on a Spanish Infomercial (loosely translated...Very loosely, and some of it just outright imagined).

Rigorous scientific studies have demonstrated that snail spit contains extraordinary curative properties because it is produced by the snail to heal its own tissue and to repair its shell when it breaks. These regenerative properties have been concentrated in lichen, snail spit extract and can cure acne, eliminate wrinkles, make scars vanish and rejuvenate the skin...blah, blah blah, snail spit, snail spit, blah blah blah.

And how was this amazing discovery made?

The amazing healing properties of snail spit were discovered by a desperate housewife in some snail infested place in South Somewhere, USA:

"My life was miserable before I found snail spit. I tried everything; harsh scrubs, medication, I even tried pro-active cuz Diddy told me it would work...but it didn't and my marriage was in serious trouble. My husband was about to leave me, he told me I was too ugly to take out to dinner or let out of the house. He was so ashamed that he locked me in the seller and lowered down fresh gruel about twice a day. It got pretty lonely down there but sure saved me time in the kitchen.

Then one day after a big storm had passed and all them little snails were squirming around by the window and me being hungry and all, I cracked one open and ate it. Then the next day I found that all the acne around my mouth had miraculously disappeared. I realized then that it must have been the snail spit! Now my relationship with my husband has never been better and people ask me what my secret is. Now you too can let snail spit help you...Call today"!

In Espanol:
Rigurosos estudios cientÃficos han demostrado que la baba de caracol tiene propiedades curativas extraordinarias ya que es producida por el caracol para sanar sus tejidos y reparar su caparazÃ³n cuando este se rompe. Esas propiedades regenerativas han sido concentradas en Licina, el extracto de baba de caracol que cura el acnÃ©, elimina las arrugas, desvanece las cicatrices y rejuvenece la piel.

El secreto de baba de caracol estÃ¡ en la Alantoina, un componente generado por el organismo del caracol para lograr la reparaciÃ³n y regeneraciÃ³n de sus tejidos. AdemÃ¡s tiene Ã¡cido glicÃ³lico que tiene un efecto de peeling natural lo cual rejuvenece la piel y elimina las arrugas.

AdemÃ¡s la baba de caracol tiene un antibiÃ³tico natural que destruye a las bacterias de la piel causantes del acnÃ©.

Modo de uso: Dos o tres veces al dÃa en la piel lavada y libre de maquillaje.

Contenido: 45 gramos

Making a Mexican Music Career

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Fri, 05 May 2006 21:21:00 +0000

(or)
Fuck like music
A brief summary of this past weeks events...

Monday: I return from a pleasant weekend in Queretaro via private jet. Find myself to be a rather indulgent bohemian...or perhaps, a starving artist on a nice vacation. I lunch with one of the editors of a popular womyns magazine. She asks me to play for her so I pick up my guitar and sing "Dreaming" and "Chronica De Un Adios". She really likes the songs and asks me for a demo, which I dont have. blast! I tell her Ill get one to her before i leave the country. How I will do this is unclear at this juncture.

Tuesday: Went to a lovely, vegetarian lunch at Josie's house. Josie is a beautiful, eternally young spirit as well as an accomplished artist. She has been friends with Nona forever and has been like a Jewish Godmother* to me. *note: there is no such thing as a 'Jewish Godmother' for all the non-jews joining us from out there in cyberspace. Anyway, It is th first time Nona has gone out to anykind of social event in months. I am happy we went; not only for Nona's sake but for mine as well. I have subsisted on salads for the past 2 weeks because i have yet to find a vegetarian restaurant in Mexico City. Josie went to great lengths to make delicious food, as always.

For dessert, along with a delicious 'tart a taut' (not sure that im spelling that correctly. Its this yummy, crusty apple-y goodness) I performed several songs for Josie and her daughter's family. This resulted in an invitation to a "Bohemian Evening" of music and gypsy food (whatever that is) at Josie's daughter's house, sounds like fun!

News: have defined own style as "gypsy sheek". Commencing in-depth research on gypsy style, music and culture... Solidify plan to become the world's first famouse Kosher Burrito.

Wednesday: totally unrelated, Ophelia, my grandparent's new maid manifests a dreadfall affliction of what I have carefully defined as "reverse midas touch syndrome". Everything this girl touches seems to break or fall apart. In two days, she has managed to break a lock by shoving the wrong key into it, knock down my Nona's shower curtain, and coinscidentaly the intercom of the front door has stopped working and the wall in the kitchen miraculously fell down. Yes it has been an eventful day here, and a rough first week for little Ophelia.

"Never a dull moment" says Nona.

Thursday: My Nono's health declines as he only ate 4 oysters today and some Bovril. Nona and I go to two diferent supermarkets to buy everything on her list. She loves making lists. While she was in 'Superama' I went across the street and bought some 'nardos' for the living room, nobody knows how to say this in english-"anyone, anyone"? They are long-stemmed, white flowers that smell absolutely delicious.

We also had tea and a sweet fig salad with Ingrid. I have now finalized the order for the beautiful handmade t-shirts that i will be selling in NYC at my little Mexican market booth. More to come on that.

Friday: I got hired to sing on this jingle for an insurance company and the people working on it were fucking idiots. I met with them last night for the third and final time. They were supposed to have recorded the instrumental tracks and have everything ready for me to come in and sing. When I got there, after driving over an hour in Mexico City traffic, they hadn't done anything. As they fiddled with nobs and buttons, it became painfully obvious that they couldn't work their own equipment. To make matters worse they wouldn't shut up while i was recording the guitar track, making it difficult to concentrate and keep time. When it finally came time to record the vocals, they wanted me to sing without headphones...After explaining to them that the vocal track would be leaky, they gave me headphones without a vocal monitor. I couldn't hear myself at all and didn't feel like trying after all the bullshit. In the end I grabbed my guitar, wished them luck and left.

This is the second time in Mexico that Ive had to take a stand for myself like this. The first time was when I went to sing with this rock band. I was really excited to do so and when I got to the studio it was so smokey and stank that I was afraid that i might get herpes from the microphone (I'm taking my mic on the road from now on). So, standing at a reasonable, praying for Lysol, i started to sing one of my songs. The instruments were so loud that at first I had to shout over the band. When I asked them to turn down, or simply just listen and feel the dynamics of the song, they would turn down for a minute and then come back louder and raunchier than before.

I decided that I wouldn't shout anymore. I didn't think it was worth risking my voice just to jam with a bunch of dirty stoner, rock-star wannabes. So I sat down and watched, drinking my ginormous bottle of water and trying to regain some semblance of zen. "Happy place, happy place, I wanna go to my happy place".

"What's wrong" asked the lead guitarist, riffing away beneath the moonlight.

"Why so upset" said the drummer, twirling his sticks in the air expectantly.

"Well" i said calmly, trying to collect my thoughts, "im not going to scream over you". I have asked you to turn down several times and you don't listen. Music should be dynamic, a collective of sounds and styles played in harmony with each other". They looked at me blankly. a joint was passed, a cigarette lit, a spider squished somewhere far away perhaps...

"Let me try again...when you play your instrument it should be like... making love to a woman".

still nothing.

"you are playing like you haven't fucked in a long time".
now were paying attention.

"you are pounding the shit out of your instrument, like you haven't had sex in a while, and you finally find a girl desperate enough to let you do it and you do and just go wild on her".

"so whats wrong with that"? guitar junky answered, puzzled.

Some laughter, accompanied by an eye roll. I sit down, look down at my guitar. It looks pretty and purple and a little bit streaky from never being polished in the two short years that Ive had it. Two years since Ive been playing guitar, two years since I left the band and decided to not take shit anymore from chauvinist male musicians...two years and now I can stand on my own.

"Come on Liah",they whined, "please sing for us. We've been waiting for you to come from New York and practicing your songs".I got up to play with them, one more time and tried "dreaming" a song that is melodic, and pretty. A song that I thought could definitely not be messed up by these loud,unlaid rocker boys. I was wrong though, because once again they proceeded be loud, each instrument transformed into a phullus competing in a messy auditorial pissing match.

After the song was finished they were all smiles and one of them said enthusiastically, "pues, sono' chido, no" (translation)"so, that sounded cool, right"!
"it was a little bit loud", i responded, now ready to go home.

Then grimy, the guitar player said "so now play something so we can rock out on" and that made me laugh.

"You guys just made my sweetest song sound like Sepultura and now you want to 'rock out'?

"Yeah, sing some Avril Levigne",he said casually, clearly not predicting the torturous and painful death that this would invoke...Avril fuckin Levigne!

"nope". i answered after a long pause.

"why"

"Because i don't know any of her songs,
because
i don't feel like it
because
you
suck
because I'm not Avril Levigne,
I'm Liah Alonso
and if you can't take advantage of that
then i feel sorry for you.
because
im leaving now.
goodbye, good luck and thanks for your time".

and i left smiling, feeling stronger and happier than ever before. Looking back now upon these experiences i realize that none of them were wastes of time, but opportunities to grow for which I am truly grateful. With that I am going downstairs now to practice my guitar amidst the chirping birds and warm Mexican sunshine.

De Problems/On Problems...

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Fri, 05 May 2006 20:07:00 +0000

"Las problemas se deben resolver, no contar"

"Problems should be resolved, not counted"

Emerich Salzberger,(Nono)

Deep Thoughts and Simple Pleasures...

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 01:15:00 +0000

Today i bought new
sneakers...
they smell like happiness,
before it happens

Liah's first fan...brace yourself;)

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:22:00 +0000

Get Sprung: A photographic Interlude

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 02:08:00 +0000

When Min asked me if I would help do publicity for the upcoming "Dance Like Forever" party I was really happy. His request gave me the opportunity to use my camera again, which I had not used since dropping it in a Oaxacan flea market. Min fixed it though, miraculously by shoving a piece of toothpick into the little hole where the plastic had broken off. That was such a happy day. It was like loosing a something that you really love and then finding it again. I smiled and thanked him...even did a happy dance too;)

This month's DLF party is called "Get Sprung".
In the spirit of Springtime, I was to walk around New York City and take pictures of people posing with the flower. Here are some of my favorite shots...some of which wont appear on the DLF site because they are of older individuals...and DLF is for the younge bucks. Still, I couldnt resist taking pictures of these friendly faces-whatever the age...

hold the flower and show me how you bloom.

Dusty Roads, On Second Ave

The Street Artist

Rainy day fruit man

Jump Roper in Washington Square

City Picnic in Spring

hurt haiku

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 03:25:00 +0000

when promises made
fall fading without action...
leaving you hurts less

Jack's Acoustic Tuesday 4/4

noreply@blogger.com (Liah Alonso) — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:24:00 +0000

Photo By Sandy Hechtman, 3-3-06

Jack's Coffee Shop
Performances from 8pm-11pm
It's Free!!
138 W 10th St (btwn Greenwich Ave & Waverly Place)
Jack's Coffee Shop in the West Village.

APRIL 4th
Great Coffee every day.
Uplifting music every other Tuesday.

including...
RIOT FOLK
ROLAND SATTERWHITE
ERIC & THE TRUTHSEEKERS
LIAH ALONSO
POSTMIDNIGHT

I love this place. The music is great and people in the audience become part of the show as they sing along. Please come on down:) I will be singing with some special suprise guests and I promise an evening to remember.

Much love, Liah
Hosted by: Lucas Papaelias and Eric DeArmon
Allow the change.