Wednesday, February 11, 2009

 

Now on Facebook! So many social networking sights, so little time!

 

Well, all the other kids are doing it... I got on Facebook under my name Kelly John Blanchard I put up 5 more songs there from the forthcoming album, which are on there through Reverb Nation. http://www. reverbnation. com/bluestarcreeper (I'm still dragging heels on the graphic design and still kinda hung up on how many copies to press in this day and age of digital downloads. I'll keep working on that.) So if you are in to the whole Facebook phenomenon, add me as a friend. From my take, Myspace still seems like a good resource for bands to network and book shows, and it'll still be the main band web page I maintain. But Facebook seems to be the better place for actually connecting with other individuals and "social networking." Whatever may be the case. I just want to connect with people! But I think I just saw a tumbleweed blow through this place...

 

Cheers, Kelly

Monday, November 24, 2008

 

Contact Kelly for booking either through this page or at Kellyjblanchard@comcast.net.

Blue Star Creeper is available to play shows in multiple configurations, as a fully amplified 4 piece, or as a duo with Kelly (guitar / vocals) and Matteus Vaga (cello / vocals). Kelly is also available for solo acoustic gigs as well.

We are suited for and have played all manner of venues: Rock clubs, festivals, cafes, pubs, coffee houses, all ages venues, house concerts, parties, art galleries, benefits, radio / studio shows, indoors, outdoors, on the grid or off the grid (we have battery powered amplification if needed). We have even provided atmospheric live music for a "punk rock yoga" class. We can go as big or small, quiet or loud as needed. Our music has found broad appeal among a wide range of audiences. Our style can mesh with a wide variety of bands in the rock, folk, indie rock, psychedlic, alt country, jam band, Brit Pop, garage rock, prog rock style or anything inbetween.

As far as draw, we do best in opening slots on weeknights, and do pretty well with any slot on a weekend. We are happy to assemble a bill to present to a venue or to jump on a prearranged bill. We are also able to travel regionally for weekend dates. We will always do our best to get the word out and promote shows through all the available channels. We also make an effort not to over book or book gigs too close together.

Thank you,

Kelly Blanchard

P.S. We are not interested in any "battle of the bands," pre-sale ticket type shows, or anything that resembles a "pay to play" scenario. But I doubt that will stop you! Cheers!

~KB

Friday, August 22, 2008

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm heading out for Burning Man today, riding down in a 1980 35' long Bluebird school bus named "Lucinda" with six other people from Camp ...In Bed! It'll be slow but it should be pretty fun ala Ken Kesey and "Further." I'll be camping with my neighbors across the street Chuck and Sherry at the Flamingo Lounge. Look for the large pink shade structure between about 7:15 and 7:30 and Edsel. Matteus (cello) and Lelah will be arriving at the playa on next Wednesday. 

Equipped with battery powered amplifiers transported on our bikes, we will be performing where ever the mood takes on the playa. Most likely out in the deep playa and around our camp. On Sunday 8/31 Matteus and I will be performing on the stage at Center Camp from 2-3 PM. Look for us if you are at the event!

http://www.burningman.com

The weekend after we get back, Saturday 9/6 we are headlining at the Skylark Club in west Seattle as a full band with Stacey on bass and Jeffrey on drums. So we will try and bring back some of that playa magic and imbue it into our set. We start at 11 PM. So put that on your calendar! After a week of jamming non stop in the desert it should be interesting!

Thanks!

Kelly

Monday, August 11, 2008

 

Hey Everyone, 

Our next gig is in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada at the Burning Man Festival. Matteus Vaga (electric cello) and I will be performing as a duo on the stage at Center Camp on Sunday, Aug 31 from 2 PM to 3 PM. Needless to say, we are psyched. I first attended The event in 1999 with my friend Hoyt and this will be my sixth trip to the playa in nine years and will be Matteus' first! Maybe next year we'll get the whole band down there. 

Each year I go I bring a battery powered amp (Fender Amp Can) and my beater green guitar (a Les Paul copy called a Hohner Voyager underneath a thickly coated home made paint job, probably early '80s). I bring a mike and pedal board encased in a clear plastic zippered bag to protect from the brutal dust. I load it all on my bike and head out into the deep playa away from the large techno sound camps and as luck would have it I tend to happen on some sort of art oasis in no man's land that is perfect for playing. In 2006 I brought drums, amps, PA, and solar panels (thanks, Jan!) to power the system at our camp. It was a lot of work but it was great.

The response and interactions I've had with people are amazing. It's a beautiful experience to the point of absurdity. The gist usually being "We love you! We like what you do! Keep doing it! Come hang out with us!" And more in depth stuff and creative gifts too. All I can do is smile and laugh each year because it just keeps snowballing. This year That snowball has landed me on the Center Camp stage and I am humbled and excited to be playing in the center of the city at what my friend Jan calls "the Olympics for the imagination." 

Matteus and I will be wandering the deep playa through out the week and playing around camp with our battery powered mobile music rigs. I'll most likely be in an orange jump suit and a cowboy hat playing a green guitar! Bringing the rock to the Black Rock!

~Kelly