I plan to release the new record by the New Year but in the meantime I wanted to release a new tune I wrote and recorded called “Nothing”.  I am very proud of the way this tune turned out. It was recorded and mastered at Sutton Sound in Atascadero, CA.. featuring Phoebe Parros on Violin and Viola.  You can listen and purchase the track at all of the below digital music stores for around a buck..   (Note the Bandcamp gives me the full amount so purchase there if ya can)read the lyrics here and view the artwork here

PURCHASE AT:

Bandcamp
iTunes
Amazon MP3
Rhapsody
Zune
GreatIndieMusic
Last.fm

Contest for a FREE MP3 of  the new single “Nothing”

I know some folks are so cheap they won’t even drop a buck on a song..  so I will email a free download code to the first 20 people to email me 5 legit email addresses to add to my email list (people you think would be interested in my tunes of course). Please send an email to joe@texas-soul.com with “Free Track” in the subject and the 5 email addresses with in the below format:

John Doe – john@johndoe.com
SusieQ – susieq@susieswebsite.com

etc…  It’s a Win Win..   I get 5 new people to try to market to..  and you get a new tune to add to your music library.

Shows Sept/Oct

Check out the upcoming shows for SEPT/OCT. I will be sharing the stage with Joe Pug in Oct who is one of my favorite songwriters of our time.

A few photos below of my show opening for Leon recently.  My good friend Phoebe Parros joined me on violin.  She has been a wonderful part of my musical journey lately.  I hope she sticks around.

photo credit April Wise

The tour was just over 2 weeks long and felt like it went on for months.. (in a good way).  We experienced so many things in such a short amount of time. It definitely does my heart good to know that there are some many good people left in this world. Everyone was so kind.  I feel like the luckiest man on earth to be able to jump in my old 1984  Shasta RV with my beautiful wife Chi Chi (now 8 moths pregnant) and head south picking up friends and family along the way….   just to play these songs I have been writing..  a true honor.. if you ask me..

My wife’s childhood friend Phoebe jumped on for the tour to play some fiddle in socal and stuck it out the entire trip.  She is an amazing musician and I sure was glad to have her. Chi Chi stayed on till the end of the Texas routing… doing sound, accounting, merch sales, viola playing, backup vocals, baby carrying, and then hopped on a plane back to SLO (One Incredible Woman).  From there my little brother Nate and my good buddy Todd jumped in and helped Phoebe and I finish out the trip up to OK , CO back into CA.

Please take a little time to flip through the below pictures and videos we shot.   They are in no particular order but sure do tell the story of that trip.  I would like to thank all of the folks that hosted shows, helped me book shows, helped me load gear, helped me drive, helped me with artwork,  helped me with sound etc..  you know who you are…   I definitely could not have done it without you.  I would also like to thank Ernie Ball and LR. Baggs for their support in my musical efforts.

Various Video Clips…

We had a day off on tour today, so we headed out White Sands, NM.  What a BEAUTIFUL Sight!   We were so inspired by this landscape we decided to shoot a little one take video..     It was a great time and turned out great..    enjoy..

Next Stop. TEXAS!!!!

also Peep these other  Tour Videos on The Look Machine

http://thelookmachine.tumblr.com/

We have been having a blast on the road so far.  All the shows have been great! Even snuck in some horseback riding today… Good times!  We are leaving Arizona tomorrow morning heading to Truth or Consequences NM.   Harvey the RV has been running great so far..   (knock on wood paneling) and the tour routing and drive times are working perfectly thus far.   My good friend and excellent violin/fiddle player Phoebe Parros is on this tour and is doing a wonderful job. She adds a layer to the sound that is much needed. Thanks P!

Of course Chi Chi (my 7.5 month prego wifey) is doing an excellent job as well…  selling the merch, doing sound, and sneaking in a viola solo and backup vocals at each show as well..   Heck of a crew I have here..

We have been shooting some video as well as lots of pictures…  I only have a few mobile uploads to work with for this post but will try to get something more comprehensive up as time permits.  Tired Tired Tired….   off to snooze before the long drive to NM tomorrow..      adios…

My good friend Jimmy apRoberts helped me out with my tour poster design..  These are limited edition, collectable, screen-printed posters, so get them while they last. There are only 100 of each color option. Jimmy will be hand-numbering and signing each poster. I also got a new shipment of Texas Soul Koozies. Pleather Ya’ll.. heh.. All of these goods are for sale at the shows so come on out and support.

You can see more of Jimmy’s artwork at the below websites:
http://www.aprobertsarts.com/
http://www.jabcstudio.com/

Also a big thanks goes out to Inhouse Stickers for doing a beautiful job printing these posters..  you can see more of their work here: http://www.inhousestickers.com

I am including a video of the performance below. I think you will see what I mean when you watch it. I do have to thank Phoebe Parros on violin for pulling that emotion out of me with her beautiful instrument and musicianship.  I also included a clip of Phoebe playing some awesome country fiddle on John Prines “Paradise”.

The performance even inspired a blog post from my friend Andrew Spearman Blake who also shot the video and was a great help throughout the night.   You can read his post here: http://www.116thavenue.com If you enjoy Andrews Music and writing, come on out to see us play this Saturday at the Clubhouse in San Luis Obispo..  It is going to be a great night.  Doors at 7:30pm , $5 cover and all the money goes to the artists..

Detials here:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111587935521927 and http://www.clubhousereport.com/EventDetail.php?id=558

First of all, it does NOT have to specifically be a living room or even in a house.  Just needs to be a comfortable space that fits 30-75 people or more and can host a concert.

Below is a list of dates and areas Joe will be in.  Please contact us if you fit the requirements, are interested in hosting an event and are available in the area on the dates listed. It does not have to be the exact city, but the closer the better.

Contact booking@texas-soul.com

• Must list Full Name
• Contact email and phone
• Age (only if you’re under 18)
• Location (City, State)
• Date interested in

The dates and City’s below are Still open and flexible so just let us know if you want to book Joe

May 25th – 26th
Durango, CO?

May 27th
St George, UT, North AZ?

May 28th
Los Angeles CA, or North AZ?

May 29th – 30th
Los Angeles, CA

These are the Confirmed Dates so far:

No shows booked at the moment.

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.

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.