4am. East coast time. Not adjusting well at ALL. =P

Tonight was a special night as I was asked to play at a local venue here in Delaware while I was home for the holiday season.

It was special cuz I grew up here, and this was the first time I was able to play a show since the release of the EP. Personally, i had a blast. The energy of the place was really high, and Ihad a lot of fun playing off of the energy of everyone there. I felt SO supported by all the friends and family that came out. That was overwhelming, as I didn't expect everyone to come who came! You guys are great.

We recorded the set, and had a photographer grab some photos, so I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.

Much love to Common Ground Cafe for having me come and play. Everyone there was so hospitable and accommodating. It was a blessing to have met them.

When all is said and done, Delaware rocks. =)

 It's that time of year again where families get together, chugs a few gallons of eggnogg, sing some christmas carols, and ring in the new year in whatever fashion they see appropriately fun, or depending on your state of mind, whatever seems inappropriately fun.  My family, however, is on the opposite coast;  so going to SEE family tends to be slim pickin's throughout the year.  But Christmas is a 'no-excuse' season.  Meaning, my family (mom especially) would except no excuse on earth that would keep me from coming home for the holidays.

Someone heard I was coming back east and offered to book a show while I'm home for the holidays, and let me tell you, when someone offers to book you a show, because they want to hear you, there's no WAY you're turning that down!  So after we ring in the new year, I'll be playing on my home turf in New Castle, Delaware.  Not only will it be great to play in my home state, but it couldn't have come at a better time.  I'm writing a lot of new material that I'm super excited about and will be fun to play it for the first time in front of family and friends.

Everyone, thank you for your continued love, support, and encouragement throughout the past year in journeying with me on this road in music.  It's been quite a ride so far, and it's only getting better!  

Much love,
Kyle

 

I sat down last night at the first moment I had to myself to write a blog about everything that happened, but fell asleep trying. =) It was around 2am

So I'll fill everyone in on today and yesterday, since today was a lot of fun as well hangin out with everyone who performed.

YESTERDAY
The conference was GREAT. I gave 2 workshops on songwriting, one which was recorded on vid cam. They both went superwell! The first one started at 5:30, the second at 6:15. Everyone who came to the workshop seemed to enjoy it. When it came time for the conference to start, the performers came out to do their thing. Here they are in order of appearance:

Kathryn Renee (Fine Artist)
Phillip Attmore (Spoken Word and Tap Dancer) u might have seen him on So You Think You Can Dance
Monkey Butler Improv (David Magiboff and Sean Hancock)

They were all awesome and very influential. Tim Cress spoke during the conference about Creativity and Passion. A great great talk.

So the sets went really well......but not without some technical difficulties. Wasn't a huge deal. I had to switch guitars, but after that, we were good to go.

I think the sets were good. Three Cheers was a LOT of fun. I covered "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, and EVERYONE was singing along. it was awesome. And when my closing song hit, everyone started standing and clapping to the beat. Made the last song, Yahweh, a LOT of fun!! =) Anywho, the vid is being edited as I type, so I'll put something together for the website so all my millions of fans worldwide can see it. haha!

After the show, all the performers headed out to Buffalo Wild Wings to chillax after a successful day.

TODAY
I woke up early this morning to have breakfast with my dad. That was awesome getting to hang with him. Afterwards, Katie, Tim and Danielle Cress, Phillip, Sean, David and I headed out for some Denver adventuring.

First Stop: Columbine Memorial. wow. I didn't expect to be so moved. I was choked up from the first word I read on the plaques. We immersed ourselves in the stories of the children who died, the families who suffered, and the community that rose up out of the ashes of tragedy. I'm now working on a song based off of a diary excerpt from one of the girls who was killed.

Next Stop: Red Rocks Stadium. incredible. I can now saw I have played a live show at Red Rocks. =) I can also say that I played backup for a live Monkey Butler show. haha. We took some fun pics and vids you'll see soon enough

Next next Stop: Denver Art Museum. Now, I'm not super into art, but it was cool checking out some weird modern art. However, it was more amusing just watching David and Sean from Monkey Butler be goofy. Those guys are non-stop, man. I love those dudes.

Next next NEXT stop: here. at the house. We're getting ready to go out again though, so this might be the last HORRAH in Denver, CO.

Overall, an incredible experience. I learned a lot, overcame new challenges, and played a show in Colorado!! =)

Cant wait to get back home though.

Whew...it's 12:30 and my day is just now ending. It's been a long one.

Not long in the sense that I had so much to do, but I'm fighting a cold, so I've been a bit out of it today with sleeping and taking meds. ugh!! This morning all the presenters and performers for BPM 160 went on a hike. I was supposed to go, but opted out due to my health. A bit of a bummer, but I'll live. =)

Tonight was our last big practice before the show. We went through all the songs we're gonna play, and by the end, they sounded pretty solid. Especially only after one other practice. Here's the lineup:

February's Best
Three Cheers
Windows
Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"
She Makes Me Move
Beautiful Morning
Whisper
Jars of Clay "Worlds Apart"
Small Town
Yahweh

I'm excited about the set. We're goin across the board with this show, from real fun jam songs to intimate tear-jerkers. I live to toy with your emotions.....muah ha ha

I have to be up and at the building by 9am. It's going to be a long day. Here's the schedule:

9am practice for 10:45 service
10:45 - church service
3pm - practice with band
4:30 - Conference begins, BBQ is served
5:30 - first workshop
6:15 - second workshop
7:30 Main Event beginning with music, then talk by Tim Cress
8:pm - Monkey Butler Improv performs
8:30- Kyle Megginson =)



HERE WE GO!!!

Day 3 of the Colorado trip. For those who are just tuning in, I'm in Denver, CO, to give a songwriting workshop and be the headlining artist at a creative arts conference called BPM 160.

I was 'allowed' to sleep in today for the first time (thanks Tim!). Woke up around 10:30 and started putting things together for the first band practice we were to have tonight. I took a break and watched "UP", and sadly....i must say......i shed a tear or two. That is a SAD movie, people. If you don't cry during it, you're not human.

Just sayin.

Tonight I met and practiced with all the dudes who are going to play with me on Saturday. We spent just over 2 hours banging through 2 sets, and by the end, I must say, we were feeling pretty good about it. So far, my favorite song to play w/ them is Three Cheers. It was AWESOME with a full band. My second fav was a new one called "Windows". So chill. And i like chill.

Unfortunately, I got into it a little too much tonight and wore out my voice a bit, so I'll be taking it easy tomorrow; HOWEVER, we're supposed to go on a hike at 7am. Why, Tim, why. 7am?? You're killing me.


=)

Goodnight all!!!

P.S. Just found out that the whole show will be videotaped w/ professional equipment. We'll see how it all comes out.

Day 2 of the Colorado Experience:

I was woken up early this morning to be taken to the nearby Aquarium where Tim volunteers. He gets to dive in the huge tanks with all the fish. =) I was able to feed the sting rays....and of course, I waited for the biggest one to come to me...it bit my hand!!! I have pics to prove, people.

After the aquarium, we headed home where i spent a few hours working on the workshop.

I headed over to the venue tonight to meet some of the band. I got pulled into singing and playing with the opening band on Saturday. So basically I'll be supporting in the opening act, then there's a couple other performances, then I'm finishing off the night. =)

I met the guitarist and bassist. THEY ARE AWESOME. Not only that, they're super cool dudes, too.

Tomorrow at 7 we have our first practice.

Thanks everyone for all the continued support while i'm out here. I read EVERYTHING!!!

=)

BPM 160 blog

Tim, my good friend and the head-honcho of the BPM160 conference picked me up tonight in a snow-spackled Denver, CO. It's not so frigid, about 35 right now.

We ordered Pad Thai....yummie, brought it back to his place, and now we're watching "V" on ABC. I'm diggin this show....been following it since the beginning. I'll spend some of the rest of the night working on the song-writing workshop.

Tomorrow I'm being taken to an Aquarium where Tim volunteers and he'll be diving with river otters. Tomorrow night I will meet some of the musicians that will be playing with me on Saturday.

4 days and counting....

 In getting ready for the Colorado conference, I haven't taken much time to write.  Tonight I knew I needed some of that time.

I finished one of my jobs tonight at 9:30, and this particular job lies right next to Colorado Blvd, a street great for walking, browsing, and shopping.  I took my music journal to work, and afterwards grabbed a Mocha Java Frap at Starbucks.  Normally I wouldn't go to starbucks, but the place I like was closed, and of course, a starbucks wasn't 2 shops down, so I didn't have much choice.  =P

Anywho, I grabbed my over-priced frap and settled outside in a chair, and started writing.  At first, just random nothings and broken thoughts poured out, but sometimes it's through the nothingness that something emerges.   If you're a writer, you're always told to just keep writing.  This is why.

What came out hit me like a ton of bricks, even though 100lbs of bricks would probably still do the trick.  The first few words that went on paper drew out of me a flood of emotions, enough where I had to get up and leave  to try to get myself together.  I was walking to my car and the thought pattern continued pouring out, and I stopped numerous times to write it down, wiping back tears as I walked.    It's funny because when I sat down to write, this was the last thing I expected.

I guess it's been a while since writing did that to me.  

I was honored to be asked to open for this years CCV Fall Festival in San Dimas.  It was a great time and the loads of people added to the excitement of everything.  It was a Benefit Concert with an added Rummage Sale, Farmers Market, and BBQ.  After I played, I had to check out the Farmers Market to see what was fresh.....and left with a bunch of plums.  So good.....
Thanks for coming out to the Festival and hanging out.  Next year?

I'm excited about some recent material that's sprung up out of a concentrated time of writing.  I've been playing some new tunes at recent shows, including "One Smile".  I've really taken to playing that song.  Means a lot to me right now.

Some sweeeet news just came out of the woodworks.  I was recently asked to be the headlining artist for the BPM160 Conference in Denver, CO.  It all goes down on November 21st.  Along with playing, I will be giving a songwriting workshop during the conference.  
If I have time while up in the Rockies, I'm hoping to get some good snowboarding in.    

Here's to hopin.  =)

 I just arrived back today from a week-long hiatus.  Ah, the relaxation of the East Coast beaches.

As soon as I touched down in the Burbank airport, I turned on my phone and received a voicemail.  I was given a 45 minute spot in this huge Fall Festival being held in San Dimas.  I will be opening for the Festival, which is said to host about 1,000 people this Friday and Saturday.  

The Festival will have live music, arts, crafts, rummage sale, and childrens activities, as well as a farmers market arena.  It sounds like some good fun, and i'm stoked to be invited to open for it.

If you're lookin to find some good buys and shop around w/ friends. . . . . .or show me around a farmers market, come out by 4pm.  That's when I go on!

go to my shows listing to get the address, or
www.ccvnow.com for complete details about the Festival!

Hope to see you there!