David Feder: Peaceful Inspiration

Wow!
Are we having fun?
The answer would have to be SI SI SI !!!!
Zihuatanejo reminds me how the Keys used to be.
The people are great and the music and night life are awsome. The town is filled with some of the best guitarists on the planet!
Everywhere you go there is amazing music. And I'll tell ya all later about Rick's Bar.
Same Rick, different water.
Nyan wowed the crowds at three big shows so far. Our last show is tonight at the Blue Mamou Blues Club on Playa de Ropa.
These venues are the most beautiful I've ever seen.
The La Calla show was great. I played with Jocelyn Celaya, an awsome fingerstyle, radical classical player in the style of Preston Reed. She will be famous soon.
We did a couple of duets, pictures soon. Really great fun.
The venue overlooks a beautiful inlet with waves crashing in over the rocks in time with the breathing of the earth. Heavan. We did not want to leave.
We've been jamming with some fantastic musicians and Nyan has be sponging up lots of new tricks.
Great Mexican food and people.

More later.
We love you all.
Dave Suzi and Nyan

Nyan played his first Pro "Paying" show on Sunday, March 19, at the Marathon Seafood Fest. He thrilled the crowd playing cool blues and Latin grooves with the Saltwater Blues Band on his custom made Strat. He even graced the stage with two hot solos. Not Bad!
The band included Luke Ptomey on Drums and Maurice Santacruz on Bass. It was a real good time. Check out the photo page for the concert PICS.

Life is so full of wonderful moments.
There is so much good energy and love out there in the world that when you take the time to notice it, it's almost overwhelming.
Take for example the songs of young teenage kids, full of angst and brimming with honest emotion, not yet jaded by the world or commercial expectations.
It's soooo cool to be a studio owner and experience new kinds of music on a regular basis.
My little recording studio is a converted Harley Davidson Hot Rod Shop, nestled in the Forest on our property in Islamorada. The Island does not have much of this Hardwood Hammock land, so we left most of the land natural. It's full of native plants and trees, critters and even Peacocks who visit from time to time. You can walk out the door of the studio and step right into the woods, be in nature, get some head space, without ever going back into the real world.
I built the studio a few years back so I would have a serene space to record my music close to home. After years of working in others, I knew what I wanted. Encouraged by my close friend Jesse, the studio became a real comfortable place with a great vibe and killer sound for acoustic instruments. The live room floats in the building and the control room floats within the floating room on a couple hundred rubber engine mounts. Its like being suspended in space when you are in the control room. I do more playing there then I would have imagined I would. You can see the forest out the windows and it's very cozy.
The rooms were designed for optimal sound and there are several sweet spots for almost any type of instrument. They're great for Yoga too.
Sometimes I forget the coolness of the space until a new artist gets in there and really gets comfortable. It's inspiring.
Anyway, can you tell I was in there all day today?
After I was done with the session, I worked on my new CD a little more. Tonight it was the solo version of "The Bun"
I'll have a clip of that up on the site in a few days, after I've had a chance to listen to it and make sure I didn't mess it up too bad.
Thanks to everyone who wrote and/or called about the last song I put up on the site.
Life really is a never ending flow of great energy when we choose to see it that way.
Thanks to all of you for your continued support and friendship.
Dave

Wow.....12 years!
It's time to start planning your Bay Jam weekend again. On April 9, at founder's Park in Islamorada, Bay Jam will rock you with the best music in the Florida Keys . The show will go all day from 11-7. This year, over 150 bands have applied to perform and we have to whittle it down to around 12. Yikes!

Unfortunately I don't think the amphitheater will be done by then. We are shooting for June.
So we are contracting a stage or two and gearing up for the last Bay Jam on the lawn.
But have no fear (except Robyn) this year's show will be the best yet.
I'll be announcing the lineup very soon.
Stay Tuned....
Dave out.

Hi Guys,
Here is some Free Music for you!
It's a little taste of what I've been doing late at night in the studio, between sessions of recording other people's music.
This is one of the more mellow solo guitar pieces called "Saranade"
I recorded it last night. It's the song I play for my wife Suzi-Sara while she's drifting off to sleep. Hope you like it. This may not be the final version, but you'll get the Idea. It will be on the new CD, coming soon, promise!
I have made this MP3 available for you to download Free on this website. You can copy and paste this link to get right to the song. http://www.davidfeder.com/audio/DAVID_FEDER-Saranade.mp3 Or you can go to the link "Listen and Hear" Guitar TAB for the whole CD will be available soon!
Peace and love,
Dave

Pigeon Key Art Festival Cold

OK I didn't get it. Some of you have emailed me about the upcoming video. I was just offering a performance video from a recent show, not an instructional video. I am planning on doing an instructional video soon, but this one is not it.
I have however, at the request of some of my students, started transcribing some of my more popular tunes into TAB. I will be offering some of them free on the site soon as pdf downloads. My handwritten notation needs some work though. I’ll focus now on the TABs for the music from this current video so you can get a head start!

The Pigeon Key Art Festival was great this year. We froze out there on the island but the music was hot.
Andy Russell played his custom made (by Andy) drum kit and percussion toys. John Dadurka played Bass. (First time with the DF Band!) The trio was really tight and fun fun fun! Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the weather. We saw lots of old friends from the cold climates too.

Also played a show this week with drummer, Luke Ptomey.
Luke is a fine young musician with a great attitude and lots of potential! I look forward to big things from Luke. The Bassist was Mo Santacruz. He is a great composer and fun guy onstage. The show was rockin and the people loved the music. Sometimes I miss the band thing……


Upcoming Dave Highlight Shows: (more on Website)

Feb, 16 is the "Voices of the Children" Benefit Show in Duck Key

March 5 Habitat For Humanity! Key Largo

Don’t forget to get those tickets for the Ixtapa International Guitar festival. I expect to see you all in Mexico this March.
Hee Hee!
I’ll understand if some of you don’t make this show, but if you live in Zihuatanejo, there’s no excuse!

We are now actively planning our “Hillbilly Flamenco Goodwill World Tour” So if you would like to help out with venue suggestions, promotions, or Good vibes, drop us a line.

Special Announcement:

Over the past few years we have all supported some great causes and put on many fantastic events. Thanks for all your help!
As a musician and event organizer, my role has been to bring people together to raise money, consciousness, and support for those in need. I have always gladly been involved in helping the local South Florida and Keys community, and hope to continue doing so for years to come.
Because I believe that all these events are important endeavors, I have given the majority of my adult life and time to them, sometimes at the cost of my work as a musician, educator and performer.
For the next few years, I have decided to reestablish and energize one of my original goals: To bring healing music and peaceful energy to a more global community.
This is the reason you don’t see me performing as often, locally.
I have been focusing on reaching out to the wider world audiences, and accepting festival and concert work out of town.
For example, this year I have accepted an offer to headline the International Acoustic Guitar Festival in Ixtapa, Mexico. I’m also working on logistics for several other festivals all over the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Those of you who know me well, know that my “raison d’etre”
Has always been to communicate and share positive energy in a loving, peaceful, and healing way through music and humor.
My Family and I are planning an extensive touring season, and possibly home/road schooling Nyan so he can travel and accompany me onstage.
Touring a musical show is a huge financial investment, with very little income. However, we believe that the payoff in goodwill and consciousness raising for all involved is well worth the cost. There is so much negativity and angst out there and I just need to do my extremely small part in steering that energy in a positive direction.
I do believe it all helps.

Thanks for helping with this project by spreading the word, forwarding the emails, and buying CDs or downloading from I-Tunes, etc., online when you want music.

Thanks again for all the Love, letters, and suggestions.
Peace
Dave

OK...Some of you have been asking to get the full length copy of the Concert Video that I used for my little Promo Clip.
The Audio is not great but I have a DVD available for you including my appearance on NBC Morning Show (Hmmm....I wonder if that's Legal...I'll get back to you on that) and The Celebration of the Sea Concert in Key Largo.
Just let me know If you want one. You can email me directly. It'll cost about $10.00 plus shipping.
I'll send one to you Mom, for free!

Happy New Year Friends,
I hope you are all off to a great start.
I decided not to do any New Years Eve show this year and spend a quiet night with the family.

Here’s what actually happened:

Our year started with a bang when the girls at Suzi’s Salon decided, the night before, to have a party at Chez Feder.
We thought thirty, maybe forty folks would show. We were wrong!
The evening started at 8 PM with a great live pickup band, made up of performers from 4 or 5 local groups. The rock and roll ended around 2:30 AM. But the unplugged tunes went until 4:30. Yikes.
One hundred sixty or so people showed up, some whose names I knew, the party was really rolling. I cleaned until 6:30 then collapsed until noon.
I’d like to thank everyone who brought food and champagne etc.
The kids had the most fun, I think. They were roasting weenies in the fire out front and playing hide and seek in the magic forest out back. And of coarse going nuts with the sparklers. Conner O’neil completely changed skin color.

Now for the news: This March I’ll be a featured performer at the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival in Ixtapa, Mexico. Stay tuned for details.

Still working on the rest of the schedule for the Spring. Let me know if you have any requests.
Happy New year!
dave

Utah was great. But I'm glad to be back in the Keys and feeling my extremities again. The mountains are beautiful and the snow is white.
But I’ll take the sun and the ocean most of the time. Thanks to Ilana and the family for inspiring new songs and hosting a great party.
Happy 50th anniversary to Mom and Dad. Guess we’ll have to open up a musical summer camp so all the nieces and nephews will come down and visit. Hmmm. We could have diving, swimming, singing, dancing, cooking, and of coarse Suzi’s fashion coolness class. (not that anyone really needs it)
Really working on finishing the solo CD before the holidays.
Dave signing off.
ZZZZZZZZZZZ…………

Nyan made another huge step forward musically last week, at the Marc House benefit. He performed with dad and renown Jazz guitarist, Franc Carmelitano.
The Trio was in great form and Nyan Kept us both in check rhythmically. It was reminiscent of the famous Paco DeLucia, John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola.
group but with notable exceptions.
For instance, Nyan refused to be caught up in the frenzy of increasing tempos. He was a rock. Also, we are all much cooler than those guys, and way better looking!
Aren’t we? Suzi says the best part was the finale with the triple bow to the audience, with precision choreography.
But then, she is the Mom.
Franc’s after show comments included, “how old is he again?”
It was a fun night for all and I hope we get some more shows with Franc very soon.

Well, most of the downed trees are gone from the yard. The town is getting back to normal. But I mean Island Normal. I’ve lived here well over twenty years and here can still surprise me sometimes. I think it has something to do with living so close to the edge of the Bermuda Triangle. There’s this weird psychic energy that pervades everything, making life very surreal. Mind you, I’m not complaining at all, just observing and basking.
When I arrived here in the very early eighties, my aim was to blend into the scenery, hide and sail the sea with my dog, using the Islands as kind of a home base of operations for my travels. I never intended to actually work, (play music) here. But over the years my love for the Keys and her people drew me to share everything I am with them. And it has certainly not been a one way street!
The keys are home to some of the most wonderful, loving, spiritual, and intelligent people on the planet. Even our bad apples all have their endearing qualities.
So when I shake my head in disbelief at the silly things that happen all around here, I’m not hurt or angry, but rather disappointed in myself for not being able to see it coming.
Like I said, I never intended to work here but I did fall into the local music scene with the Salt water Blues Band and my solo show. Those local shows were always fun and it ‘s great to see the folks out and about. Now, due to economics, and fair play, it’s not always feasible to play at local venues very often.
Most of my shows now are either out of town venues, festivals, private shows, or benefit concerts. Once in a blue moon I’ll due a local club for fun or for a CD Release Party. (Coming soon)
One other reason I don’t work at playing locally so much is that I don’t want to be in that competitive situation with my musician friends. There are only so many venues and loads of really good entertainers. When someone comes to my studio to record, for music lessons or instrument repair, they know I’m not secretly trying to snake their gigs. (There’s a lot of that going around)
So I guess what I’m saying is that I always aim to be a musician’s advocate. Everyone who knows me knows that.
Any contact or resource to which I have access is freely available to anyone who asks. This includes lists of clubs and managers, record companies, promoters, booking agents, etc. within reason. (There are some courtesy dos and don’ts regarding booking and trading gigs)
This also carries over to my role as concert promoter. Many, and I mean Many people and organizations ask me each year to help them with worthy causes, usually in the form of lining up entertainment, staging, sound, consulting, etc. Sometimes they ask for my help at the ground floor, in the organizational stages. Whatever it may be, it adds up to over twenty big events each year. And I work very hard to include many different performers at every skill level and style where appropriate. All shows are different and sometimes it’s the usual cast of characters. Sometimes it’s all new musicians to the area. Sometimes it’s all kid bands, Country bands, original bands, instrumentalists, etc. And very often it’s not totally up to me to make the decisions. I just recommend to a committee and they decide who will perform.

Most of the local and not so local entertainers know that it’s good to keep in contact with me to be in the know about upcoming performance opportunities. Some are on my mailing list. Others just call or stop by to say hello from time to time. It’s a pretty small world here. But I’d just like to say that If for some reason, you are not getting called to perform enough, it may not be a slight. It’s most likely the squeaky wheel syndrome in reverse. There are opportunities for public performance for everyone.
By the way, I occasionally catch some doo doo from the management for booking to many of the regulars for all these local events. So I’m getting it from both sides. You have to understand, as a local performer, some people who have already been overexposed to you, may not want to see you five times in one week.
So join the mailing lists on my site and everyone else’s. Read the papers. Stay aware of local, upcoming events, call people, smile a lot and get involved in some of these very rewarding experiences.
Dave Out!

Sniffle Sniffle,
Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later.
The grapefruit seed extract and echinacea worked for a couple months while everyone around me had colds. But after this last wild weekend, the bug caught me. Nothing like a cold to knock you off you feet and slow you down.
And on that note (Eb) here are the latest headlines:
We are getting very close to restarting the Islamorada Town amphitheater project. After Hurricane Wilma, it was one of the only structures in the park to survive with absolutely no damage.
The Maynard Ferguson show was really great, he shows no signs of slowing down and his band played their asses off. I played the after show party at the Old Tavernier Restaurant and the guys were all very cool cats. Maynard himself is a very sweet guy with an unassuming grace that only comes after sixty or so years of performing. It was truly an honor to perform for him.

The Island Jubilee went off smoothly although the attendance could have been better. In reality though it’s hard to expect people to come out and play so soon after a huge storm turns your life upside down. The sound and stage were provided by Billy- Bob MacKenzie. He did a fine job dealing with lots of very different types of acts. The talent included Yours Truly, Micah Gardner, A1A, Mike and Frank Papy, Baga-Trix, and The Jesse Kelsa Project.
Special thanks to Jane Van Fleet and the Key Large Chamber for their amazing energy.


All I can say about Halloween is that I got to tell my Little Red Riding Hood
Joke a couple of times to new people. It’s kinda dirty and cute.
This Saturday is the MARC fundraiser where I’ll be performing with Franc Carmelitano, Mike and Drein, Micah, Billy Davidson, Steve Webb and Dana Collins.

We will be back in the studio next week recording my new CD and completing Micah’s Backside of Sunrise. Let’s hope for no more storms. It’s a real pain packing up that studio. Hey, have you seen the reverse phase cables?

Over and Out,
Love
“Chainsaw” Dave and the Stumps

Hi Kids,
We are still here.
Got power back today and lost DSL.
So I'm online with the old G-4, the only machine in the studio that still has a dial-up modem. It's very weird because I only use the Mac for Protools and Audio stuff. It usually never goes online. A virgin so to speak.
Anyway we lost lots of trees and are trying to replant the Key Lime that we also replanted after hurricane Georges.
It's a tough little bugger.
The street near the Bay was under water and the power lines were all over the place but the neighborhood pulled together as usual and we are pretty cleaned up now.
It was an interesting night at the house waiting for the storm. We had quite a party. Some were there to hang out and eat, (wife #2 made lots of great food) and some were staying the night.
Our place is at around 13 feet and tucked in the woods. It's pretty solid little concrete house with a Dade County pine roof, hard as rock.
There were about 25 people and seven dogs. Lots of butt sniffing going on to be sure.
Around 2 am almost everyone had left except our refugee guests.
Micah learned to play the blues and Jean & Christina went to bed early. I went to bed at 4 am, just when the big wind started. Trees were going down all around and also the old antenna tower in back. Lots of big scary noises.
By daylight there were still lots of things blowing around but folks were already clearing away the streets and checking on each other.
Thanks for all the calls and mail. We are fine and all the shows are still on as far as I know. But we'll keep you informed.
Ya know, the old Mac does pretty well in a pinch. No, I'm not converting just yet.
Love,
Dave

Here comes Wilma!
Yup, It's another hurricane.
Time to put up the shutters, clean the yard, gas up the vehicles, pull the boat, pack up the studio, go shopping for food and H2O, and plan the party.
It's what we do every time this happens. Work is lost, schedules are upset, bills are late, but somehow it becomes the time people get closer. The humanity shines through, whether or not the storm actually hits us.
Here in the Florida Keys we are a pretty close knit family. Today you can see the young helping the older board up and get ready for the impending storm. In the Keys, when one is in need, someone always organizes a barn raising kind of benefit event to help. And when mother nature is getting ready to sneeze, folks that live on higher ground invite their low lying friends to come and spend a few nights.
. The kids, off from school are wild with anticipation. They don't have snow days after all.
But most people are not as nervous and thrown off as one might think. They just carry on doing what needs to be done when you live on a dot in the middle of the ocean.
It's a pain but it's biz as usual in the Islands Mon.

Hurricane parties are very cool. It's a time of forced "relaxation" and camaraderie.
We always have a house full of people, dogs, cats and lots of music, not to mention musicians. Suzi cooks up a storm, so to speak, and we eat....and eat.
The hurricane jams are always very spontaneous and inspired.
Music sounds different with 100mph plus winds howling outside.

So ... here we go again.
I'll let you all know when the studio is back up and running and the shows are rebooked.
Don't believe the TV.
Dave

Hey guys and gals.
Whew! Looks like another Katrina benefit.
Come on down to Founder's Park in Islamorada, Fl for a big concert featuring Bo Diddley and yours Truly.
Show date is October 23. Check the website for details.
See you there.
Love,
Dave

This Thursday we'll be doing a show in Key West at the Tropic Cenima. There will be some great local and national performers all dedicated to raising money for Aids Help.
Check the calendar for details.

Thanks to everyone who drove for miles north, south and west to come to the coolest music venue on the East coast!
I just LOVE it when I'm playing to a room full of old and new friends.
The house was packed and the vibe...very loving.
You all made it a great night!
Highlights of the night included a duet with famed rocker Nyan Maxx Feder and Dobro magic with Dana Keller.
Kisses to Laurie Oudin, the princess of Main Street Cafe, for having me again and providing great food and service.

Stay tuned for the CD release tour, of "Dream Painted Room" Coming soon.
Love,
Dave

Don't Forget.
Friday, September 16 at the Main Street Cafe, in Homestead, I'll be doing a very special solo show.
This will be an up close and personal concert just for you. Now this venue does not hold thousands of people. It seats around one hundred twenty, squished. But it's a really great vibe with amazing food and drink. This will be intimate surroundings with some great people, my friends. And you are all invited.
The thing is, you must reserve seats early because the venue is small. Last time I played this club the show was great but many people were turned down at the door.
You can reserve seats for this show by calling Main Street Café, 305 -245 –7575.
Or visit the Main St. Café online at http://www.mainstreetcafe.net.
They are located in the heart of beautiful downtown Homestead, Fl. At 128 N. Krome Ave.
See you there!
Seven weeks and counting sober from Coffee! Yippee!

Thanks to everyone who loaded trucks this week and to the drivers and the sponsors. You all are great!
The coast guard is still collecting and shipping necessities to New Orleans and ground Zero. Thanks to all of you who rented the big 18 wheelers.
The love is amazing.
It's good to know we can still rally to help neighbors in need.
We are still donating 100% of all proceeds from online sales of the Black Emerald CD to the Red Cross. So that helps a little too.
Keep doing what you are doing.
Love Dave

Hi guys,
OK, you've all been asking for a Dave Feder concert in South Florida.
Here it is:
Friday, September 16 at the Main Street Cafe, in Homestead, I'll be doing a very special solo show.
This will be an up close and personal concert just for you. Now this venue does not hold thousands of people. It seats around one hundred twenty, squished. But it's a really great vibe with amazing food and drink. This will be intimate surroundings with some great people, my friends. And you are all invited.
The thing is, you must reserve seats early because the venue is small. Last time I played this club the show was great but many people were turned down at the door.
You can reserve seats for this show by calling Main Street Café, 305 -245 –7575.
Or visit the Main St. Café online at http://www.mainstreetcafe.net.
They are located in the heart of beautiful downtown Homestead, Fl. At 128 N. Krome Ave.
See you there!
Five weeks and counting sober from Coffee! Yippee!

This Saturday was the Celebration of the Sea festival in Key Largo, and it was a great show.
Lots of amazing people put their hearts and sweat into making it happen and I would love to express my humble gratitude to you all. It’s amazing to see folks from very diverse backgrounds and economic situations working together for a common worthy cause.
I’m not going to name all the people who helped because it would take all day to type. But you know who you are. My special thanks go to the people behind the scenes doing all the grunt work for the rehearsals, rigging and sound. And many hats off to the musicians from near and far. I’ll be posting all their web sites and info in the near future.
There were so many highlights for me but I think the most memorable was when Nyan got up and Jammed with Sabrina, DMC and Steven Tyler, and the All Star Band!
I’m not sure if he realizes yet just how cool that was.
Stay tuned,
Must sleep now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Those of you who know me well, know that I have a reputation for making the best espresso in the Islands. But sometimes I have to suspend my addictive habit and chill from the caffeine for a few weeks or months.
So here I go.....stand back. It's usually like a rocket launch of headaches and detoxorama for the first couple of days. But I'm into two days now and it's not too bad this time. Lots of groovy no caf teas and hot water & lemon drinks. Yup, giving the old liver a well deserved rest.
But I must say it's a strange sort of mellow for me, who is usually so annoyingly up.
And I should do it more often because it's great for the pipes.
Wow kinda personal.
I think stimulants (and also depressants) somehow (somewhen) take one out of the now. And now is the best place to be if you can handle it. It certainly is where music lives.
Rock on Babies!
Catch you on the flip.
Love,
Dave

Ok guys,
It's just ten days away.
The Celebration of the Sea Music and Film Festival in Key Largo Florida. July 30th
I'll be performing there along with Chuck Berry, Steven Tyler, Sabrina Barnett, Skunk Baxter and many more.. Check out www.celebrationofthesea.com for tickets and info. See you there.

We are spiritual beings in temporary physical bodies.

Whew! This one just missed us.
We had some high winds and rain though. And we lost some trees and plants. But all in all it was a lucky pass. Hurricane Dennis, a cat 4 storm, just missed Key West but crashed into Cuba.
They'll have tons of rebuilding to do. Send them some love and duck tape.
We spent all day Friday packing up the studio again and cleaning the yard etc. Today we are hauling trees to the side of the road. Ahh, Island Life in Paradise! Only four more months of hurricane season!
Thanks to everyone who called offering places to crash, especially Auntie Tina. We love you.
We are back to recording the new solo CD this week if all goes well. So much to do....
Love Dave