Monday, November 10, 2008

On Saturday at the Stone Pony, Colie Brice and the New Age Blues Experience won a 2008 Asbury Park Music Award in the Avant-Guarde category. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who voted for us. I'd also like to thank local experimental artists such as Mike Black and Jon Francis for inspiring me to explore and honor my artistic authenticity and of course all the incredible artists involved with AERIA Records who bravely follow their own muse.

The award was a particular honor considering that we were in contention with some incredible bands including Lunar Ensemble - a truly remarkable avant-guarde band comprised of John Lunar Richey (words) Doug Slugger Vizthum (guitar/mandolin) Tom DiEllo (stand-up/electric basses) Greg D (guitar/Q harp) and Chris McKenna (drums/piano).

I'd also like to thank John Pheiffer at the Aquarian for his support of "weird" music, and Scott Stamper at the Saint for providing a creative habitat for these sonic forays. I gotta thank my wife and kids for putting up with a rather eccentric middle aged man and my twin sister Collette and Brother in Law Aldo have earned eternal gratitude for providing an affordable rent which allows me to live near by and helps accomodate the very existence of an artistic life to begin with.

Most importantly I'd like to thank my usual line up of Andy Bova on drums, Matt Lott on sax, Kurt Thum on piano, and Jay Walker on bass. Alan Gowa is an essential reoccuring guest star in this project and we've also cross pollinated on stage with the mighty and fierce Tony Tedesco, Ben Feld, Dark Mark, Keith McCarty, Geena, Rick Barry, Capt. James Peacock, Meagan Brothers, Bootsy, Jamie and all kinds of other musical creatures..

Thanks as well to everyone I've been so fortunate enough to jam with over the past year or so - John Pheiffer, Gorgo, Dragster, Geena and the 45s, Agency, Turtle Soup, Jeremy Korpas, Mike Black, Jon Francis, Joe Harvard, David Spelman, Jimmy Capobianco, and so many others.

Saturday, October 18, 2008


APPEARING DEC. 17 SAINT, ASBURY PARK, NJ

Come celebrate the celestial season with Luna Muse as we guard Avant Advent with our crazily inspired sonic nobility..

No naughty or nice notes will be spared our seething audio wrath!

FREE CDs of my latest release entitled "Season's Greetings From Bradley Beach" will be available to my adoring masses.

In other words, I plan to bring at least two copies, possibly three..

Until then, be merry for Santa is watching, that dirty old creep..

Colie

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Asbury Park Music Award Nomination!
"Sounds like a cross between the E-Street Band and Yanni" - Rick Barry

Top Avant-garde Act:

Colie Brice & New Age Blues Experience

Top Bassist:

Jay Walker (Colie Brice & The New Age Blues Experience)

For nominee list and voting info visit: http://asburymusic.com

Hear here: http://www.archive.org/details/LunaMuseLiveAtTheSaintAugust192008

My Friends,

Thanks to everyone who has supported our performances this past year especially Mike Black, the Saint, the Wave Gathering, Geena, Jon Richie, ASBURY MEDIA, Rick Barry, Lindsey Miller, Moira Horan, Lisa Higley, Joe Savio, Michael Scotto, Tony Tedesco, John Pheiffer, Ben Feld, Dave and Julie, Gary Wein, and most importantly our beautiful wives, girlfriends, parents, and children who endure the trials and tribulations of living with eccentric, experimental, and moody musicians.. Please forgive me if I forgot to mention anyone else who should have been acknowledged personally.

There's always a lot of ego drama surrounding these nominations among Asbury Park musicians, and there's probably a whole lot that could be better about the process, but overall we're pretty damn lucky to even have a scene that warrants such an event. Despite many years in and out of the scene, I've never had my own name on one of these nominations, so frankly, I'm pretty damn excited about it and it means a lot to me.

By the way, in my opinion, Lunar Ensemble and Chemtrail are excellent nominees! I haven't heard all the other bands nominated in the category yet, but I hope we're all encouraged to explore each other's work.

Thanks again,

Colie Brice
The New Age Blues Experience

PS - We're called Luna Muse now..

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Saw the debate tonight.. I'm so fucking sick of hearing about the middle class and those poor souls making up to a mere $250,000 a year.

Whose talking about the working poor? Those making up to a mere $25,000!

What about us? Families making way, way, way less than $250k a year?

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

A Layman’s Perspective..

" And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.."

Do I understand this right? The disciples of Adam Smith's "invisible hand" now want the biggest handout in history?

The filth that say we can't afford social security, yet now state that it is imperative to bail out the hideous, greedy, speculative thieves that brought upon this economic crisis?

Do I understand this right? That my American dream is shattered by the nightmare brought upon by the reckless, predatory lending practices of these white collar criminals?

Do I understand this right? That I'll possibly spend the rest of my life paying off debt that I never agreed to incur?

I drive a 1987 car, go without health insurance, and rent a modest home that my sister owns. I've worked hard my whole life. I went from middle class, to working class, to working poor. Now in mid life, where I should be harvesting some material success, I'm scrambling for survival - and now I gotta pay off some rich bastard's gambling debt? Are you kidding me?

There is another war America is fighting - it is rooted within the tremendous gap between those few top percent who have nearly all the wealth and those of us struggling to survive. As the middle class erodes further and further, more and more people will join the ranks of the under employed, exploited, cheated, and oppressed. How much does our government think we'll take? How much can we take? The back bone of Amerika is broken..
A Layman’s Perspective..

" And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.."

Do I understand this right? The disciples of Adam Smith's "invisible hand" now want the biggest handout in history?

The filth that say we can't afford social security, yet now state that it is imperative to bail out the hideous, greedy, speculative thieves that brought upon this economic crisis?

Do I understand this right? That my American dream is shattered by the nightmare brought upon by the reckless, predatory lending practices of these white collar criminals?

Do I understand this right? That I'll possibly spend the rest of my life paying off debt that I never agreed to incur?

I drive a 1987 car, go without health insurance, and rent a modest home that my sister owns. I've worked hard my whole life. I went from middle class, to working class, to working poor. Now in mid life, where I should be harvesting some material success, I'm scrambling for survival - and now I gotta pay off some rich bastard's gambling debt? Are you kidding me?

There is another war America is fighting - it is rooted within the tremendous gap between those few top percent who have nearly all the wealth and those of us struggling to survive. As the middle class erodes further and further, more and more people will join the ranks of the under employed, exploited, cheated, and oppressed. How much does our government think we'll take? How much can we take? The back bone of Amerika is broken..

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Why do I keep hearing these stupid arguments against intellectual elitism?


Humanity's capacity for intelligence and reason is the most important distinction between us and God's other creations.


Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, humans are supposed to think.


Is the dumbing down of our collective median level of intelligence really cultivating a superior society? A sustainable on?


The ring masters and ring leaders prey upon our ignorance and fear. Their divisiveness is the root of our societal dysfunction.


We are distracted and dulled by modern day bread and circuses - tabloid journalism, sensationalism in all forms, the cult of celebrity, etc..


In the mean time class warfare, environmental destruction, social injustice, genocide, a decaying infrastructure, declining public education, and all other manner of additional atrocities rage on..

It doesn't seem that our lower, primal nature is gonna save the world. Maybe we should give our intelligence and capacity for reason a chance..

Saturday, July 12, 2008

"Give It Away Now"

Well in the era of the new media music revolution, it's pretty damn tough to compete with free.. So I'm not! For a limited time, Amie St is giving away nearly all of my music for free. FREE.. Try it, you might like it :)

http://amiestreet.com/search?query=colie+brice&type=ALL&search-go=Search


If you really enjoy a particular track, please consider supporting my work by actually purchasing a download at iTunes or something like Karma Fan.

Thanks!

Colie

Thursday, June 12, 2008

It is absolutely reprehensible that Congress is failing to act upon the 35 articles of impeachment Dennis Kucinich introduced. These are serious allegations and Pelosi’s arrogant, dismissive attitude is disgusting! Where’s her spine? No one is above the law, especially the President of the United States of America. What does this teach our children? We have become a corrupt, apathetic, ignorant, indifferent herd of cattle and it is no small wonder that our society is falling apart. People need to stand up for common decency and the rule of the law. The situation in this country is heart breaking. More and more people are losing their jobs and homes over greed and unscrupulous business practices, yet the beat of the war machine goes on..

Monday, June 02, 2008

I met Bo Diddley at a GRAMMY party in 1997. We were seated together. I have no idea why. I had just been invited to join a NARAS committee and had just gotten my debut solo album New Age Blues on to the Nomination Entry List in 15 different categories for the 40th Annual GRAMMY Awards. It really wasn't such a big deal, I had just figured out how to enter the album, earned my voting rights, and had the sheer audacity to send copies to the biggest names in the music business who comprised the nominating committee. Through some ridiculous miracle, I got on the nomination entry list and had my name in the voting book along side the biggest music stars in the world at the time. The album is/was a weird indie/D.I.Y. album I did myself in my home studio - though I did get some help and coaching from my friend and neighbor at the time Steve Evetts.

So anyway I get invited to a fancy GRAMMY party at the MOMA in New York. I felt like a total outsider. Bo asked me who I was and why I was here. I mumbled meekly about my debut album. He asked me about the music on New Age Blues and I felt like I shouldn't be taking up his time so I was like "oh its no big deal, etc." and I tried to shy away.

Bo then grabbed me by the shoulder and informed me that you don't walk away from Bo Diddley when Bo Diddley was talking to you. He said "you got to believe in yourself" - that it was the most important thing. He gave me about 15-20 minutes of free life counseling. Half of which I can't remember because I was thinking to myself, "WOW, holy fuck Bo Diddley's talkin to me!"

What I do clearly remember is that I was emotionally struck that this living legend at a VIP Grammy Party in NYC took the time to encourage and advise a young musician like me that he really didn't need to give a damn about.

Anyway, that's my Bo Diddley story.. Wherever you are Bo - thank you for your kindness and generosity of spirit. Your beat goes on..

Saturday, May 31, 2008


This is personal music culled from and inspired by life experiences within the unique community and creative culture of Asbury Park, NJ.

Late Bloomer is my 10th solo "album" a.k.a. my latest compilation of quirky musical weirdness. The cover illustration was hand drawn by my wonderful daughter and emerging recording artist in her own right Brianna (www.briannabrice.com) and was digitally effected by me.

One June 3, 2008 I will turn 40 years old! Ouch, I'm officially middle aged. Wow.

In all honesty, I really can't complain. Thus far I've enjoyed a truly fortunate life and have had so many incredible dreams come true and have enjoyed such an incredible and wide variety of life experiences. Sadly I've often been too self absorbed and consumed with anxiety and fear to fully experience the depth and magnitude of it all. Oops..

Yet, despite whatever I may have endured from others or inflicted upon myself, I remain youthful in spirit and hopeful for the future and in the inherent positive potential of all humanity - sometimes anyway :)

Slowly and stubbornly, I'm learning to be present in the here and now. Though I'm still perplexed how we humans can have such profound intellectual understanding of our personal issues yet remain so stuck in the quagmire of our addictions and ego patterns. Or is that just me?

I've also come to realize and accept that I'm more of a personal musician than a professional one. I'm genuinely proud of that. My music is an honest reflection of me - the warts and bruises as well as the good stuff. It is my sincere hope that discerning listeners can appreciate that distinction.

I feel that too often audio technology is used to hide or gloss over an artist's technical imperfections. We're often sacrificing too much of our authenticity in our reckless haste to satisfy some perceived market formula or subjective standard of sound production. When the truth is that the record machine is broken and its anybody's game. Why don't we try something radical and just be ourselves?

At any rate here are my personal track descriptions for my latest batch of tunes. I'm calling the collection the aptly entitled Late Bloomer. I hope you digg it!

Thank you for listening,

Colie Brice

Track Descriptions for Late Bloomer:

Hang Ten - Growing up at the Jersey Shore, I can fondly recall the Fender reverb twang of surf guitar sounds leaking out on to the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights. Later as a teen living in Sayreville I had a Ventures record I used to play along to. "Hang Ten" is a sentimental tribute to long boards, endless summers, and girls in their summer clothes..

Stone Pony Blues - Featuring references to real life, contemporary Asbury Park Rockers such as Rick Barry, Gordon Brown, Jimmy Capobianco, Days Awake, Geena, Joe Harvard, Last Perfect Thing, April Smith, Status Green, Tony Tedesco, Turtle Soup, and Jay Walker the song addresses the classic plight of a struggling musician trying to get a gig at "the cool club". In this case, one of the most legendary clubs in rock and roll history. Around here, bands kind of come and go as the top dogs that can fill the joint.

Currently, local favorites like Status Green and Last Perfect Thing are holding court in this rock and roll kingdom, but you never know when the scene is gonna change and some new kid will rule the stage. Recently Live Nation took over the place, so I desperately hope they keep an open door for and provide performance opportunities to Asbury Park's indigenous musician population - since it collectively comprises the very soul of the city they are seeking to capitalize upon..

Planetary Lapse of Reason - a pretentious title for yet another one of my utterly self indulgent space jams. Though the title does reflect a true sentiment.

Dolphin Love - one day during an idle discussion at work, one of my co workers expressed a sincere interest in shall we say a little cetacean sensation? Needless to say we were all a little taken back by this scandalous remark, but we were also laughing until we were turning blue. "Dolphin Love" is just a goofy narrative spoof about one man's strange desire..

Smooth Am Prog Jam - this was improvised while messing about with Logic Studio.

Playing Cat and Mouse - yet another instrumental blues jam in Am. I know, I know.. I need help!

Prakasha - this one is dedicated for my beautiful, Yoga Dea wife Manuela. An extremely dedicated and accomplished student for several years, recently she decided to become certified and start working as a Yoga Teacher. I deeply respect her for that accomplishment. She works at Yoga Bliss in Ocean, NJ. Go take a class!

Dolphin Serenade (Je t'aime Eriq) - the follow up to my soon to be smash hit "Dolphin Love". The Dolphin strikes back and respond's to Erik's longing. Ah yes, but what is she actually saying?

All Hail Geena Queen of Cookman Ave. - Geena is an Asbury Park icon and a great singer and songwriter. I spent the past year of my life playing lead guitar in her band Geena and Dragster and/or the 45s and had the opportunity to meet and play with tons of incredible local musicians. Though I ended up leaving the band to spend more time on my own music, I remain deeply grateful for the experience and the opportunity to start playing out again. This tune features a loop of Dragster with Geena on guitar, me on guitar, Jay walker on Bass, and Marcus Croan on drums up in Geena's Cookman Ave. loft - scene of many late night rock & roll crimes. I over dubbed the backwards guitar, vocal screams, and reinforced the main riff wile trying to summon a sense of the shamanic vibe that often visit's Geena's home/portal.

Loose Change - another lazy, space jam noodling around in my home studio/man cave.

Flamingo Lounge - is a silly but tight instrumental vamp poking fun of myself and other "never were" musicians. "Flamingo Lounge" has been an imaginary venue in my mind somewhere in the out skirts of old school Las Vegas for many years. Its a final resting place for rockasauruses like myself :)

Radiant Perception - I love nothing more than syncing up cool delay effects to the BPM of weird musical sequences I concoct and giving them utterly pretentious track titles that imply these improvisations have more substance than they actually do. Hey, at least I can admit it..

Cosmos (for Mike Black) - Mike Black is one of the NJ shore area's most interesting musical specimens via his ambient explorations with Go No Go. He's also a science teacher and radio personality that was hugely inspired by the work of Carl Sagan. This strange piece reminded me of outer space exploration and alien contact - kind of like jamming with Mike, so I thought it would constitute a fitting tribute! Brice Black shall rise again..

Every Guitarist's Dream - yet another self indulgent head jam over three chords and the fundamental truth that lead guitarists really like to hear themselves fit in every possible riff they can in one solo. Actual songs just get in the way man..

The Power of Now - kind of a folk rant with my six year old son Elijah bashing away on his starter drum kit..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Its not a matter of Obama toughening up, it a fundamental question of basic decency. Hillary is a chronic liar. The latest example is her miracle math for the popular vote that includes a state that Obama didn't even appear in the ballot on because he complied with the party rules ALL the candidates agreed to - including Hillary. Her miracle math, coming from the person who supposedly feels "passionately that all votes should be counted" also politely ignores votes derived from caucuses.

It goes on and on. She's a shameless liar that has been caught over and over again. Don't any of you people still supporting her care?

Is that really what you want in a President?

Sunday, March 16, 2008

For Immediate Release:

ATTENTION ALL MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS!

How can you not cover the Winter Soldier conference? How can you ignore real soldiers revealing the truth about our occupation of Iraq and the hideous atrocities happening over there?

You call yourselves a new organization? You are complicit in evil by not bringing this to light.

Wrong is wrong. There is no nobility in a mission that maintains such callous regard for human life and suffering. All innocent life is precious. Are we human beings or not?

http://ivaw.org/

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Winter solider tells the truth, winter soldier is the proof.

Led to battle for a lie, no longer can he deny.

Only death, no victory, creating endless misery.

Innocent life has been shed, grieving Mother mourns her dead..

Winter Soldier stop your violence.

Winter Soldier end your silence..

IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST WAR

http://ivaw.org/

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Is a "win" derived through manipulation of ignorance and fear really a win? Or is it a tragic loss for intelligence and reason?

Is four more years of fear mongering really the leadership America needs right now?

If my wife comes to and observes my gig, it does not make her a guitar player, so how does being First Lady give Hillary "Presidential" experience?

Wake up America, avoid candidates that galvanize their support by manipulating your worst fears and anxieties, support candidates that speak the truth, appeal to your sense of reason, and offer legitimate hope for real change.

Its 3 AM, your children are asleep, hopefully the courage of your convictions are not..

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

(This originally appeared in The Rag, a monthly A&E publication that serves the Jersey Shore region)


We are extremely fortunate to live in an area with a rich and diverse cultural community. (Believe me, I know.. At one point I drove from coast to coast six times within a span of four years and observed many places in America where Walmart, a truck stop and Cracker Barrel were the only games in town. Homogenized is far too kind a term.)

Fortunately, here at the Jersey Shore, we actually have abundant, original, live music every night of the week! How many parts of this country can actually claim that? We have art galleries, independent publications, great public radio, hip boutiques, eclectic eateries, etc.. We in fact live within a vivid kaleidoscope of creative expression. This is a fragile and precious gift, yet how do we support each other in thought, word, and deed?

Its tough. Many of us adhering to our creative calling suffer for our art. We rarely make as much money as "normal" folks do and its financially challenging to patronize all the deserving and wonderful things around us. Conversely, and perhaps perversely, too many of those so called "normal" folks are more preoccupied and interested in taking their kids to see Miley Cyrus lip sync than thinking globally and acting locally by seeing an amazing local talent like Rick Barry at the Saint.

Simultaneously we are enduring an era (or error as the case may be) where we live in a world that values style over substance and where art is to often regarded as cheap, disposable, and free. So how does an authentic aspiring artist compete with free? How does a struggling news paper compete with a free web site covering the same ground? How does a musician inspire someone to pay for a download when there are a hundred thousand or more available for nothing?

In other words, how do artists inspire conscious compassion from consumers? It can be ironic. As a guitar player, if I'm playing in a club and someone digs my playing, its not uncommon to be offered a free round worth at least 3-5 bucks, yet if someone hears and enjoys one of my tunes online via an internet radio station or a podcast, it rarely compels someone to make a purchase at iTunes. Itruly believe that the only way the music business will survive is by individual artists cultivating meaningful, personal connections with their audience through live performance, an exceptional, constantly updated new media presence, and oh yeah talent!

But what do I know? Apparently nothing because the music business has collapsed as I knew it. Over 20 years in a career and now nothing I know seems to have economic value anymore. Ah the sweet sound of progress! Alas, I'm calling upon Rag Readers to inform me as to what it takes to inspire patronage for recording artists in 2008. Send me an email at: colie.brice@aeriarecords.com and let me know what you think. Tell me what takes to persuade you that the local talent of this region is genuinely worth supporting..

(Colie Brice is the Creative Entertainment Organizer (CEO) of AERIA Records in Asbury Park. AERIA Records has released recordings by popular local legends such as Agency, Brian Amsterdam, Rick Barry, James Dalton, Joe Harvard, Juggling Suns, Phantom's Opera, Mark Prescott, Brian Saint and the Sinners, and St. Christopher among others. Colie is also an active recording artist himself with over 200 tracks available at iTunes and other leading digital distribution retailers. For additional information please visit: coliebrice.com or www.aeriarecords.com

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Still Got theNew Age Blues?

Testing a cool facebook affiliated application..

Alleluia




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