This collection of street lamps by Chris Burden was the backdrop to our show. Rad!

Yesterday I played a show at LACMA for the Docent Council’s 50th anniversary dinner. It’s fun to just jam out with some great musicians and not worry about performing my own material. We played jazz, which is not really my strongest point on the piano, but I can tell that I’m becoming a better pianist by taking these shows and getting more studio time on the piano. I’m saying yes to most music gigs these days. As long as I can make it happen, I’ll be there and I’ve found that showing up has been the most important part about this entire adventure.

This past week I have had so many opportunities to show what I’m made of, and the more I pursue them, the more opportunities I find are coming through the door. Last week I pulled an all-nighter with Scott and Ryan, working on a song to pitch for a commercial. It was good for us to work together on a quick project like that. We’ve spent so much time in the studio working on my stuff, or outside of the studio getting funding. The three of us haven’t really had a chance to sit and collaborate together. We worked from 4PM last Tuesday until 6AM Wednesday morning before then recording the live strings for my record a few hours later. Exhausting, yes. Fun? Definitely! My attitude lately has been one of gratitude. I’m really pumped. I think I’m at the beginning of a very exciting time.

Toby Karlin and Seth Murphy, pre-show silliness.

And of course, the inevitable planking.

RSVP Here!!

Tune in tonight at 7PM PST!

Tune in TONIGHT at 7PM PST!

For anyone who has ever been saved by a song, a book, a film, a photograph.

For anyone who has ever crafted a sculpture, told a joke, composed a painting, choreographed a dance.

For anyone who has ever believed in the dreams of someone else.

For anyone who has ever had big dreams for themselves.

I’m posting more videos and goodies throughout this week, including pictures, videos, and songs on my Facebook Page daily! That’s right, daily! So head over and see what you missed!!

7 Backers already?! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

Recording Album with Scott Nickoley (Release Date scheduled for Spring 2012)

So many fun shows! (Here some pictures from a few)

I moved out of the 1 bedroom I was sharing with 4 other people into my own apartment!

My old "room" - the dining room transformed with shelves, blinds, and a curtain for a door.

Still Managed to Squeeze in some Ultra-Marathon Fun!

Crewing out at AC100

Pacing a runner through the night leg of Nanny Goat's 24-hour Run

Feet post-Leona Divide 50. No blisters!

My 3rd niece, Marley Skye Benton, born!

Denali Sol Benton meeting her baby sister Marley Skye for the first time.

Photoshoot with Me in my Place! (Yowza!!)

Click for the whole shoot! (nsfw)

Max Goldberg and I launch our Social Media business, SHMEDIA, and have somehow managed to scrape by with it!

Click to check out our site! Still under construction, but coming along!

Thanks to everyone who played a part in this fantastic year!

Enjoy

It’s November now and this is what will be going on from now until the new year:

Working my record! Still! Scott and I took a break for about 3 months while he worked on the score to the upcoming film “Mama I Want to Sing”. We’ll be back recording later this week and will be doing everything we can to have a finished product out ASAP! Thanks to everyone who has been donating money to the project and coming out to support me at live shows. If you’ve been coming to live shows lately, then you’ve been able to hear a lot of new material. There will be more shows to come and more previews of songs via my new Live From My Living Room online video series!

I’d like to run an ultra in the next 6-8 weeks and the only thing keeping my from racing is cash flow. Ridgecrest 50k is one of my favorite winter time fun runs. I’m hoping I can at least wrangle together enough cash for that so I can set a new 50k PR (current PR is 5:15), though it all depends on how my new business is doing (more on that below!!).

Although I haven’t been putting in the longer miles as often these days, my runs have been much stronger and faster which I think is the result of my new vegan diet. I’ve had a long frustrating relationship with food and cooking up until the beginning of September, which is when I started doing all my shopping at our Co-Op and farmer’s market in addition to getting fresh organic produce delivered to the apartment. The results have been a skinnier, faster, healthier version of me and being subjected to lots and lots of compliments on my skin and body. Right on. I’m not really a vegan, but the only food I’ve bought for groceries have been plant based and I haven’t felt deprived. Actually, to be honest, I feel like a superhero. I enjoy cooking, everything is delicious and filling, and I feel good about everything I eat at home. I came to this decision after a lot of research and a personal interest (concern) in what I was putting in my body, links between animal proteins and diseases, the amount of corn/corn syrup in food, and the general anxiety I feel every time I walk into a grocery store and can’t find actual food. The difference has been drastic. I’m not about to go on a vegan campaign, making everyone around me feel alienated or guilty. It seems to work well for me and that’s all I’ll say about that. However, I’ll post an occasional vegan recipe if there’s an interest. My vegan mac n’ cheese is pretty awesome. Just saying

Aside from music and running, I’ve also started a Social Media Marketing company with fellow performer/artist/entrepreneur, Max Goldberg. He’s been totally nerding out about website buidling and S.E.O. while I’ve been creating social content like a maniac for the businesses we work for. One of these days I’ll get to my OWN website and give myself a social makeover before my record comes out. So if you’ve been wondering where I’ve been lately, I’ve been right here, just posting on behalf of other people! I’m not sure where our little company will go, but we’ve been working our butts off and have successfully LIVED off of revenue from our company for the past 2 months. Just the fact that I don’t have to actually go work for someone else makes me want to kiss my new company on the face. Turns out I don’t like having bosses.

Speaking of, it’s time I get back to work More news and updates are on the way, so stay close!

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