I had a great time and was surrounded by some of my favorite folks.  Lots of family and friends came out for the show.  I met a fine fellow who does some promoting in the LA area and we are working on some more shows for me down there.

The next one I have lined up will be on March 18th in Studio City, CA and  titled “Frame” I will be sharing the bill with the talented Liela Avila She is the daughter of John Avila the bassist for Oingo Boingo. He is supposed to share the stage with her as well.    More details on this show coming soon.  Thanks to all who came out to the Beverly Hills Gig. I hope to see you and ALL of your friends on the 18th.

I recently had a radio interview and 4 song in studio set with Pepper Daniels and the Krush 92.5

You can take a listen at their website… click on the “On Demand Player“  at the top right of the screen.  A big thanks goes out to Pepper Daniels for writing such a cool article, conducting an interesting interview and most of all for playing local acts on the radio.  Check the article below

Joe Koenig is as solid as Concrete

As many Cal Poly students do as well as the rest of us transplants, we come here and we fall in love with the Central Coast. During one of the first conversations I had on the phone with our receptionist at the radio station here, she told me I’d fall in love because everyone did. I just thought she was proud of her town and was being nice. But it was true as it is for Cal Poly students and alums like singer/songwriter and Graphic Design business owner Joe Koenig.

Pronounced “KAY-nig,” Joe is our featured guest on this week’s Krush Lounge. Born and raised in the tiny town of Concrete, Texas. Concrete is 90 miles from San Antonio and 90 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Joe arrived at Cal Poly on a Track and Field scholarship. He was the #3 Pole Vaulter at the time from Texas.

As a Graphics and Web Designer, Joe works locally in San Luis Obispo and creates and designs presentation materials for branding, marketing, web design and more. This is a skill that is obvious when you see Joe’s debut CD “Something Concrete.” The packaging and look is on par with any major record label release you’ll find. This is a distinct advantage in the music business as sometimes style is rewarded over substance. However, with Joe, you get both.

“Something Concrete” was finished and released in 2008 and features 8 great cuts including “Long Time Coming,” “Outta My Head,” and “Look For Me.” Joe plays them for us in studio this week on the Krush Lounge as well as “Feel Me.”

“Look For Me” was the first song I chose to play on Krush as I found it to be a great heartfelt song about loss. It also conveys a universal feeling we all have for those who have passed on before us. We know they are still looking out for us and we take solace in feeling they are our guardian angel. Dedicated to his mother Diane, “Look For Me” is a conversation with her. This song best showcases his potential as an emotional and soulful songwriter. Honest. Original. Moving.

Joe recently toured Europe and hopes to return soon. He has just a few Central Coast dates this month and next before embarking on what he hopes will be more of a national tour. He’s working on tour dates that will lead him from California south to Texas and then back north to Colorado possibly before heading back home. Between now and then, you can catch him live at the following shows.

February 18th 8:30pm Otter Rock Cafe 885 Embarcadero Morro Bay

February 21st 5pm-830pm SLO Down Pub, 1200 Grande Ave, Arroyo Grande, this is a special multi-artist songwriter circle or “guitar pull”

March 5th 8pm Downtown Brew, 1119 Garden St, San Luis Obispo

March 9th 7:45pm The Clubhouse at This Old House, 740 West Foothill Blvd, San Luis Obispo

Check out Joe Koenig live. He’s as solid as Concrete.

Don’t forget if you miss the show you can hear it On Demand at krush925.com. Click on the On Demand player at the top right of the home page and look for this episode. Connect with Joe on line at www.texas-soul.com.

Radio:
KFCF – http://www.kfcf.us/
WCWP – http://www.mywcwp.com/
WAER – http://www.waer.org/
KBUT – http://www.kbut.org/

Mellow can often mean bland, but it can also be deceiving. The heartfelt sincerity of Somethin’ Concrete by Joe Koenig (Official / Myspace) comes through in a mellow flow that is soulful, not shallow. The Californian considers his folk-rock/country/gospel hybrid to be a Texan form of soul. Such a description is appropriate, as Koenig spent many formative years singing in the churches of Texas as a youngster, before trekking to the sun-soaked west and venturing into the world of rock and roll with some buddies from college.

The steady diet of gospel from his youth is evident in many spots on the album. “Colors” even employs a backing gospel choir, which enhances the robust vocal performance even more at that point. The subject matter that is covered here – love, life, changes, etc… – is rather typical, but the authenticity that is given to these topics by Koenig drawing from his own experiences makes each song avoid the doldrums of mellow-for-mellow’s sake. It’s that hearty vocal tone and delivery that really shines on this collection, as it elevates the entire product and provides something fresh by simply being vulnerable and real.

You can see the review on the Twangville site here: http://twangville.com/2451/joe-koenig-somethin-concrete/

I also had a local show last week at the SLO Down Pub in Arroyo Grande, CA.  It went off without a hitch and we had a blast.   Nice little venue with a great beer selection.   I have a video below of Chi Chi and I doing “16 Days”  an old Whiskeytown tune. I still can’t believe how young Ryan Adams was when he wrote that tune..     I was barely playing guitar and had just started my music adventure 17 years old..     Ryan Adams had already written a tune like that by 17..   still blows my mind. Some folks were just meant to do this stuff.

Looking into the future..    I have a show tonight (Friday Dec 11 2009) that The Ranch in San Miguel.  I will be opening for “Cashed Out”   They are a very popular Jonny Cash tribute band.     Good times ahead.

Chi Chi and I doing “16 Days”

Some shots from Texas.

It has been quite some time since I posted here.  My life became a very busy scene shortly after the Europe Tour. I came home and went right to work with the Konig Media stuff as well as something new and exciting. Cal Poly (The University in San Luis Obispo – my alma mater)  asked me to teach their web design course this Fall.  It was a huge honor and something I could not pass on so I decided to sack up and take on the challenge. I am pretty strung out between work, teaching, writing curriculum, and grading assignments but it has all been worth it.  I have met some brilliant students and creative minds in the process. I have also learned plenty about myself.

As my class at the University winds down..  I am writing all this on my music blog rather than some other place because music is what I am missing now.  I realize that it has been 2 months since I have even picked up my guitar.  That is pretty crazy since the last 2 years of my life I had a guitar in my hand daily and a gig every other day.  It was a much needed break and now I am ready to rock.  The second album is heavy on my mind and I look forward to starting the process.  My next set of shows are in Texas over the Turkey Day holidays.  I am looking forward to those as well as some time with my family.

I included a new picture of my recording studio at the house. I just added a  1960’s hammond organ to the mix.  I am anxious to start tracking with that beast.  A big thanks goes out to my mother-in-law for scoring that thing at a thrift store for me. Best mom ever!

much love people!

Thanks to Still Time and Chad Land for having me out.

It has certainly been an interesting transition getting back into the swing of things here.  I was jet lagged for a solid week upon my return which SUCKED.  I always though jet lag just made you tired, but it actually makes you feel like you are in the freaking twilight zone. I could not concentrate on anything work wise but oddly enough I was able to concentrate on writing music just fine during that period.  Now that I am back into my work rhythm I am finding that I can’t get in the mood of writing music.  I have come to the realization as of late..  that trying to balance a career in a creative business like graphic design with my music is going to be a lifelong struggle for me in my writing process.  When I get home I feel like I don’t have an ounce of creative juice left.  I don’t even have the urge to write.    This troubles me..   so I suppose I will be a weekend warrior for now..

Next show is at the Frog and Peach in SLO this Sunday Sept 6th..  I am playing the Twang N’ Bang fest with a bunch of local country and bluegrass acts..      Should be fun!   I go on at about 4:30pm  if you want to come grab a beer.

Video from the DTB Show!

Lineup for the Twang N’ Bang

I met up with my good buddy Andrew in Germany.  He had spent  some time there over this last year.  I was lucky enough to meet all his friends.  They were kind people and let me crash on the couch. We had several dinners etc and just hung out.    I was able to get a little work done between shows which was great.

I wanted to see the town of Heidelberg so Andrew and I set off on an adventure. It was epic.  Check the pics below.

The show at the E-Club on the base was a hit. I met some awesome people there.   Big ups to Clay for laying down some solid jams.   I unfortunately had a few too many beers and sang backup on EVERY song he played.   whoops.  Must be the Filipino karaoke influence from my wife.

Much love to my Germany Folks  and their families.

Europe Kicked Ass!   what a great trip!      Back to the old grindstone for a spell I suppose.

See ya’ll at the Ryan Bingham show at DTB on August 28th!

cheers,

Joe

I woke up the next day and decided to walk down to the Van Gogh museum.  Turned out it was a 2 hour walk..  mostly because my sense of direction is not A+.  I was tired when I got there but it was worth it.   Once I got done with the tour I did some more walking around,  got tired so I decided to hop on a boat. The rest of the day was mellow, cruising on the boat and doing touristy stuff.    I jumped on a train to Germany the next morning.      Enjoy the photos..

I had a show in Austria  that was great!   It was a private show for some friends from the US that are over there playing softball on an international team.   They invited lots of their local friends. We all had a great time.  It was an unplugged show outdoors.   I sold many CD’s and signed autographs..   which always trips me out.   In my mind I ain’t there yet..       I need to work on my autograph skillz as well..    I signed one to “Sushi” instead of Susie.   Oh well..  We all got a good laugh out of it.

So fast forward to the next morning. Ralph shows up in a Dodge Viper.. ha..   and we take off for the town. I drove around Appenzell with Ralph during the day to do some touristy stuff.    Then we came home and got geared up for another late night. This time Ralph picks me up in a 1960’s porsch, and trust me dude knows how to drive these cars.  I was scared at times but I did not show it.  I could’t have Ralph busting my balls for being a pussy.  So here comes the big night!  Boy was it a humdinger..   Somehow a guitar showed up and I ended up doing an impromptu show for all the folks there.  Didn’t have a capo so this dude did the human capo trick for me with a lighter.  The night was off to a great start.. ha.    We continued to party at various other pubs etc..       Did not go to bed until 7am.   Yikes..     Watch the video if you dare..  (I was of course intoxicated  doh)    its long..    but it will give you a good idea of how a night can go down in Appenzell.

I am writing now from the Zurich Airport. I am on my way to Amsterdam for a few days to tour around.   Then off to Germany for some shows..

Austria Show

The Drunken Night in Appenzell & some Yodeling as well!