I will freely admit that this wasn’t my idea. I’m usually the central organizer and promotions guy for WesFest, even if I’m playing here and there. But everyone else on the team felt really strongly about it, so I’ll just say that, on behalf of Marco and Guthrie, we’re all proud to be a part of this amazing event.
Our goal for the WesFest 7 fundraising drive is to raiser another $20K for the fund. We’ve done it each of the past two years, and with your help, we’ll do it again. You don’t even have to go to the show to help out – you can just donate. Please visit The Wes Wehmiller Website to learn more about Wes himself, why we do WesFest every year, and what the cause is all about.
Some sponsors really stepped up to support this year’s event, and I want to thank each and everyone of them right now:
There’s a ton of info about WesFest 7 over at the official WesFest 7 webpage. Please check it out, and know that you’ll be hearing more from me about this amazing event over the next couple of months. Thanks in advance (heh) for your indulgence. In the meantime, please enjoy this awesome WesFest 7 poster graphic.
Kira Small/Bryan Beller Southern Tour Starts This Week! AR, OK, TX, LA, MS, TN…
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
That’s right. I’ve been home for way too long. 10 whole days. Time to get back out there, Southern-style.
Kira and I are hitting Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and even our hometown in support of our just-released album Live At The White House. (Thanks SO much to all who pre-ordered that, by the way!) It all starts this week.
Details can be found on the Calendar page, as well as in the latest and greatest BellerBytes. There’s also some brand new 2012 dates, freshly posted for your perusal. And the BellerBytes has some insider info about my instructional DVD, coming out in early 2012.
Time to rehearse. Gotta remember how to play fewer notes for a while.
Only 4 Days Left In Presale For Kira/Bryan Live Duo CD “Live At The White House”
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Hey all you procrastinators and fencesitters out there who’ve been thinking about getting a signed and numbered copy of the Kira Small & Bryan Beller live duo CD “Live At The White House” and haven’t done it yet because, well, it’s not the very last minute yet…the very last minute is approaching.
Seriously, it’s a fine CD and filled to the brim with soul/R&B goodness. Lots of bass grooving and soloing, and Kira kicking ass all over the place on vocals and keys. Just click here to pre-order.
And while you’re at it with all that clicking, here’s the latest BellerBytes, which has a summary of the November/December tour dates as well.
The Keneally/Beller tour was a blur and a blast. So was The Aristocrats tour. A million thanks to all who came out and supported both ventures. Now, please pardon me while I catch my breath for 10 days.
Keneally/Beller West Coast Tour Starts, Like, Really Soon (10/12)
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
I have just a few seconds to write this because it’s hotel checkout time…but I pretty much said it in the subject line above.
By now, hopefully you know that my band’s west coast (outside of L.A.) touring debut starts on October 12, and that we’re doing it “same band” style opening up for The Mike Keneally Band.
Lazy? Here’s a list of dates:
Wednesday 10/12 – Don Quixote’s, Felton (Santa Cruz), CA
Thursday 10/13 – Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco, CA
Friday 10/14 – Music Max, Palo Cedro (Redding), CA
Saturday 10/15 – Humbrew’s, Arcata, CA
Monday 10/17 – Mt. Tabor Pub, Portland, OR
Tuesday 10/18 – The Rendezvous, Seattle, WA
Friday 10/21 – Winston’s, San Diego, CA
Saturday 10/22 – The Baked Potato, Studio City, CA
Sunday 10/23 – The Lark Barn, Anaheim, CA
Or you can go to the calendar page and see for yourself. There’s no easy out on this. You will be informed whether you like it or not.
OK, seriously, pleeeeze come out to these shows if you’re on the west coast. It will be quite some time before this happens again in this area.
So, I just want to tell you all, good luck. We’re all counting on you. (Points to those who get the reference.)
Out the hotel door,
BB
P.S. Toronto! Chicago! Don’t forget to come to The Aristocrats shows these next few days!
The Tale Of 3 Tours: The Aristocrats (now!), Keneally/Beller Bands (October), Kira Small w/Bryan Beller (November/December)
Monday, September 19th, 2011
I write this humble missive on not just the eve of The Aristocrats East Coast/Canada/Chicago tour, but also on the eve’s eve of the Mike Keneally/Bryan Beller bands’ October West Coast tour, and on the eve’s eve’s eve of two tours with Kira Small later in the year. does that equal a fortnight? I’ve always wondered what that was.
Anyway, here’s the headlines, in order of actual happening:
1) THE ARISTOCRATS – U.S. EAST COAST, CANADA, CHICAGO
2) MIKE KENEALLY BAND/BRYAN BELLER BAND – U.S. WEST COAST
3) KIRA SMALL w/BRYAN BELLER – AR, OK, TX, LA, MS, AL, FL
BB & Kira Small Hitting North Carolina This Coming Weekend
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
I know it’s all-Aristocrats-and-Keneally/Beller-tour all the time here lately, but superbad R&B/soul singer/songwriter Kira Small (aka wife) and I are hitting nearby North Carolina this coming weekend for a few shows that should not be overlooked, in my humble opinion. Here’s a brief itinerary, featuring a 3-night stand in Charlotte (finally, our first time playing there!):
The Aristocrats Debut CD Available For Pre-Sale NOW!
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
This is a copy of an e-mail that went out to the Aristocrats e-mail list, as well as BellerBytes just moments after. But it’s big news, so what the heck…here goes nothing! – BB
****************
Bryan Beller from the Aristocrats here. On behalf of Guthrie, Marco, and the whole Aristo-Team, we are very proud to announce:
Guthrie, Marco and I have been working on this CD since March. We each wrote three songs for it, and we worked like crazy to get it all just right. That said, it was great fun for all of us really getting to know each other musically, a process that’s continuing to this day.
It’s also been a pretty incredible journey, as Marco and I just met Guthrie this year, and suddenly we’re a band with a record about to come out that lots of people seem to care about.
We’re really grateful for that. Thanks to everyone who supported us with comments of encouragement (and in many cases, much more than that) along the way. Hopefully you’ll have as much fun listening to it as we did making it.
Bryan Beller Band To Tour West Coast With Mike Keneally Band In October
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
The headlines are coming fast and furious these days. Normally the “Beller Band Tours The West Coast For First Time Ever” would be a non-stop conversation ’round these parts. But there’s this Aristocrats thing that’s happening at the same time. Plus touring with Kira. So I’m making individual posts for each morsel of promo goodness.
This one’s simple and quite important: Mike Keneally/Bryan Beller bands: Keneally/Beller/Travers/Musallam/Peters.
October. West Coast. First time ever.
Nine dates:
Wednesday 10/12
Don Quixote’s, Felton (Santa Cruz), CA
(with special guest Steve Uccello)
Thursday 10/13
Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco, CA
(with special guest Travis Larson Band)
Friday 10/14
Music Max, Palo Cedro (Redding), CA
(with special guest Travis Larson Band)
Saturday 10/15
Humbrew’s, Arcata, CA
Monday 10/17
Mt. Tabor Pub, Portland, OR
Tuesday 10/18
The Rendezvous, Seattle, WA
(with special guest Buttafuko)
We plan to rock mightily in places we haven’t been a band in six years. It took over a year to put this one together, so please, for the love of God, don’t miss it.
Free Download Of Complete Aristocrats Song “Sweaty Knockers” – Available Now!
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
That got your attention, didn’t it?
It’s true. We, The Aristocrats, are giving away a complete song download from our debut album. The song is called “Sweaty Knockers”. I wrote it. And named it. So it’s all my fault. Fortunately Guthrie and Marco are playing their asses off the whole time so it’s not just a boob joke (though I like boob jokes).
Latest BellerBytes: Fall Tours With Kira (NC), The Aristocrats (East Coast/Canada/Chicago), Keneally/Beller Bands’ Double Bill (West Coast), Then Kira Again (TX and more)…
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
I’d better enjoy my August at home, because come September, it’s another two-month road extravaganza. A summary:
1) Early/Mid September: Kira Small w/Bryan Beller Tour North Carolina
2) Late September/Early October: The Aristocrats‘ DEBUT ALBUM Drops On 9/13; U.S. East Coast, Canada & Chicago Tour Follows
3) Mid-October: Mike Keneally Band/Bryan Beller Band Tour The West Coast
4) November & December: Kira Small w/Bryan Beller Now Booking November (TX, AR, OK, MS, LA) & December (FL, AL, GA)
Oh, and did you know there’s a preview of the upcoming debut album from The Aristocrats now online? You didn’t, did you. Now you do:
How will I promote tours with Kira, Keneally/Beller and The Aristocrats in rapid succession? Dunno yet. The promo whoring factor will need to be unusually high. Fortunately, the right guy is on the job.
