Happy 54 to Me

MY BIRTHDAY POST.....

Lexi-Fest with Brandi Hart (Dixie Beeliners)

I need to get the pics in line, but it was a great celebration. Started the Friday before at Taziki's for the WBVX monthly gig with my buddy Max Corona jamming with me (here in Lexington), then Sunday in the unlikely place of Georgetown at the new MOKY Foam, where we held my annual birthday jam (with birthday brother Greg Rhodus handling bass guitar duties) and it got better as the week went on.

Taziki's with the amazing Tiffaney Nesbeth

Probably my best birthday in years. YEARS. Literally.

And yes, in addition to enjoying the pleasure of teaching guitar all day, I hit the gym for an epic workout in the morning, followed by a lots of raw veggies and steak tataki.

Matthew Florez fundraiser with Eric Hutchens

If you're interested, I've made birthday posts the past few years. Last year and several before that...complete with ODIS photos, party photos, and lots of info, video, links....

54 years old, y'all...ODIS!

My matra-quote for the remainder of the year:

"Live like you are going to die tomorrow; learn like you are going to live forever."

And maybe also "Train like your life depended on it".

October 2018

A lot has been happening....from Lexi-Fest 2018 to area gigs to a regular gig at Taziki's for WBVX radio to ramping up for the 2019 Lexington Music Awards to national TV backing 8 year old Phoebe White to playing at an actual castle supporting the opening act (same 8 year old! See video below) for a Grammy winning act (Riders in the Sky) to more amazing "Guitar Gods" interviews....and more!

My birthday post will be up soon (including ODIS photos) and closing in on our year-end up-date.

Stay tuned!

May-June

SAW MY STUDENT Eliza Sayer at her Red Barn Radio performance last night, and a few weeks ago another student, Aisley Stuebs, had her national TV debut on Woodsongs!

NOW....looking to step up the festival and awards gigs, so we're looking for larger corporate presenting sponsors. Media partners include WLEX-TV and the Lex Herald-Leader.

Details for our new gigs (student showcase June 10, Sit In with Dave jam on June 17, songwriting wqorkshops, and more) coming soon, as well as our SDML Academy student field trips to TV stations, radio stations, recording studios, and more.

Played last weekend with student Rhyan Sinclair as she opened for new country star India Ramey, and have a private party to play this weekend.

New guitar lesson session coming up the first week of June, and a couple of compositions to do that were commissioned by some cool businesses!

Trying to decide if my next album should be part 2 of the last EP (old folk and blues songs) or a new collection of original music. Hmmmm?????

Above photo is a few days ago hanging with my buddy Greg and his new girlfriend, who stopped by on their way back home in Vegas. I need to get a gig out there for a week...!!!

NEW at SDML Academy of Guitar

LOTS OF NEW opportunities coming from SDML Academy of Guitar! In short....

1) New 8-week session of group classes starts next week (March 19)....with private lessons on-going on monthly basis.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2074009552881728

2) About to announce location and date of next recital, which will be at a public venue! Set aside some time in MAY.....

3) NEW....."sit in with the band" program! JD, Paulie, and I will have about 15 songs we'll be playing live (monthly or quarterly) in a nice venue and you can learn any of them and jump on stage to play (guitar or bass or drums) or sing (lead or backup), and get the experience of playing in a band without the full commitment of learning the entire set. Nothing like it!

4) NEW....the acoustic version of the above! Akin to an open mic, but I'll be on stage to take the lead OR back you up. Been doing this sort of "jam" for my birthday the past coupla years and the format is definitely a great experience for all!

5) BRINGING back the STUDENT SHOWCASE gigs! From songwriter circle acoustic setting to full on rock bands, we'll have multi-artist shows exclusively featuring students' projects!

6) SD BOOKING is now handling WS preshow and some Troubadour preshow slots. Let me know if you're interested in opening for national acts!

7) I'm working on a new album now....but feel free to check out my last release (which came out last year) titled "...Public Domain..." that features old folk/blues songs with an uber-modern twists!

https://skinnydevilmusic.bandcamp.com/album/public-domain

8) THE SDML website is cranking...full of information as well as the student resource page with handouts and videos of everything you need....and more coming soon!

Visit http://www.sdmlguitar.com

Spring Lifestyle Challenge

Ssooo....It was brought to my attention we haven't done a lifestyle challenge in a while, sooo....

2018 Music

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

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4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?