Billy the Kid - The Lost Cause

A New Bio For Billy

2010-05-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post this new bio that Keith Carman wrote for me. If you'd like Keith to write your bio please contact me and I will pass on his contact info. I thought he did a really great job :)

Billy The Kid

Life tends to give us what we want...but never how we expect it.

Witness phenomenal Vancouver, B.C. singer/songwriter Billy The Kid. Culled from the same passionate ambrosia that spawned musical greats such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg and Elvis Costello, this golden throat has been accosting the world of music for years with her refined craftsmanship, bold musical talent, extraordinary songs and overt beauty—aesthetically and aurally—epitomized on latest EP The Lost Cause (Lost Records).

As The Kid will admit however, while initial goals of success were envisioned as a collective, Life had other plans in store. Recognizing her innate abilities, it prodded her towards independence and therefore greatness.

“My parents put me in piano lessons at eight. I hated it,” she notes, admitting that despite a sour introduction to music compounded by her difficult early life as a foster child who left home at 12, creativity quickly took over her life. “I've been playing solo for as long as I can remember. I started learning to play guitar in the corridors of my high school and my first show was around 16 years old. I had a band but any time the band couldn't show up, I'd still take the gig. Any chance to play, I'd take it.”

Grasping those opportunities eventually thrust Billy The Kid into many unexpected spotlights. From punk rocker to pianist, folk crooner and eventually label owner (founding Lost Records in order to support poignant underground music), all of these experiences culminate in the striking and powerful experience that is The Lost Cause, a call-to-arms for individual thinking, personal pride and refusal to relent.

“I've always liked all sorts of music and I've always played all sorts of music,” she notes about her musical diversity. “I grew up in punk but always loved roots and folk. Songs, really. Any song with a story or a life of it's own were always my favourites. I'll still put out rock music and write songs on pianos because at the end of the day, they're all songs, aren't they? That's the thing about The Lost Cause and those whom adhere to it. It's about finding your own way regardless of what others may think.”

Contextually, The Lost Cause is founded on The Kid's desire to stay rooted, natural and sincere. Compelled by her struggles as a genuine artist constantly confronted by masked jackals both personally and professionally, The Kid never finds herself with a lack of inspiration, deeming The Lost Cause to be culled from one particular emotion:

“Honesty,” she declares bluntly. “I write a lot about hard times. There seems to be a lot of inspiration for that these days. There is a lot of music out there that is made to make money. It doesn't really stand up for much. I strive to stand up for what I believe in; don't really care about what musicians are 'supposed to do' in order to succeed.”

“My hope is that this thirst for honesty is what attracts our supporters,” she continues. “People are smart. They know they're being advertised to and music is just the soundtrack to the pop star commodity which takes away all credibility. I'm independent through and through. I believe in throwing out the map and finding my own way.”

Considering that The Lost Cause was produced by Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace, Kelly Clarkson, Hillary Duff, Avril Lavigne) and boasts a vast array of legendary talent including pianist Garth Hudson (The Band, Bob Dylan), drummer Randy Cooke (Ringo Starr/Dave Stewart), guitarist Ben Peeler (Jacob Dylan/The Wallflowers) and harmonica player Stan Behrens (Ruth Brown, The Four Tops) it's safe to say that Billy The Kid was never off course.

In fact, amassing accolades faster than one can keep count, The Lost Cause is becoming a blueprint of its own for heartfelt music: attaining the Number One position on Much Loud's charts, The Kid being hand-picked to perform as a part of the legendary Warped Tour, featured Indie Spotlight/Folk Music Spotlight on iTunes Canada, an MSN Sympatico Indiscover Featured Artist, nominated for XM Radio's The Verge Artist of the Year, holding the top two positions on Earshot's college listings, radio and television support, winner of three Georgia Straight Reader's Choice Awards and more. The Lost Cause has certainly found itself at the top of the musical Mecca.

Still, with The Kid's congenital musicality, professionalism and spirit comes a healthy dose of humility. Gracious, she is thankful for The Lost Cause's distinctions yet refuses to let them throw her off balance. Instead, they prompt her to sets sights even stronger on the ultimate goal: creating the music in whatever fashion Life has in store.

“The main goal always has been and always will be to just keep on keeping on,” she smiles. “I'm here to spread the Gospel of The Lost Cause; make music for whomever will lend their ears to listen.”

Billy on the Hour

2010-05-01T13:43:00.001-07:00

Billy will be performing on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos May 19th.

Tickets are still available at http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/tickets.html

The show will air at a later date.

Live performances in BC and Ontario are being added daily at the shows page and at http://www.myspace.com/billythekid

How To: Vegan

2010-04-30T17:53:00.001-07:00

Got a great question from an old friend, thought I'd post it seeing as it's something that comes up every now and again...

Hey there,
I just wanted to ask you something because I know that you're vegan and I don't know anyone else who is. The forums on the internet aren't very helpful.
Anyway, I'll just explain briefly ... about 10 yrs ago, I became vegetarian for a couple of years. I was obviously doing something wrong because I became really scrawny and people were worried about me. Anyway, I started eating meat regularly again a couple years ago, but there was one day when I just couldn't anymore. About a year ago, I thought it should be all or nothing - I should be part of the solution and not the problem. So, I've been trying to be vegan off an on for the past year, but it never lasts.
I'm a martial artist, and I'm always hungry ... ALL the time - every two hours, I'm starving. Sometimes, I literally double what I eat and this will only sustain me for maybe half an hour longer than usual. I just hate being hungry all the time and I can't eat all of the time because there is no time between the classes I teach or assist, or train in.
So basically, my question is, was there ever a time that you were always starving being vegan, and if so, what did you do to overcome this? Does it just go away eventually? I'm so sorry to bother you ... I will go to a dietitian, but I thought I'd ask you first. I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Hi there! Great to hear from you :) And happy for your questions! I feel like after being vegan for 14 years (and vegetarian for 16), I can help! Hehe. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate.

Much like yourself, I consider myself an "active" person (well, when I'm not stuck in a van on tour lol). My absolute hero is a guy named Brendan Brazier who started the line of Vega supplements, bars and oils. The fact that you're always hungry is a good thing. There have been times when my body literally *is* starving, from a literal lack of sustenance. A couple things I would recommend after being a sickly vegan, an unhealthy vegan, a fat vegan and finally, an aware vegan:

Get some Vega protein powder. I like the berry one...I just throw it in water and shake and it helps with achy muscles/recovery as well as delivers 100-150 per cent of your daily recommended vitamins and minerals AND MORE. Awesome right? It's also great in smoothies with frozen berries, maybe a banana...whatever you like!
Then I'd pick up the vega omega oil (or any comparable brand). It's an oil filled with anti-oxidants, omega 3, 6 and 9s and more. I put it on salad, stir fry, in soup....everything!!! You can even take it by itself. It's not awesome on it's own but basically there is zero places a vegan gets healthy brain skin and hair fat so this stuff is kinda it!

Another thing I do is use coconut oil to cook in. You'll be amazed. Did you know olive oil, which most people use for cooking, actually turns in to a carcinogen when heated??? It also has the lowest burn temperature. Cooking with coconut oil Is a sincere treat.

Other than that I would say just focus on eating some type of protein (nuts, tofu, seitan, fake meat, edamame, leafy greens like spinach) and some type of healthy fat (uncooked olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, avocado) as often as you can and it should help. Protein and fat give you that "full" feeling...otherwise you're just eating fruit and veggies and wasting away lol.

For recipe ideas I follow a lot of Vegans on Twitter and try my best to eat a balance of hearty, healthy food. One good thing about being Vegan is the massive quantity of food we have to eat to equal what a normal person would scarf down in a single burger ;)

I also have a lot of recipe books filled with ideas that I've been relying on for over a decade. How It All Vegan was one of the first I ever got and I still go back to it.
Good luck you little ninja! :D

Super Sweet Show

2010-04-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

Super Sweet Show in L.A.

Friday, May 7th
9pm
Hotel Cafe
http://www.hotelcafe.com
1623 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6201
(323) 461-2040

Billy the Kid performing at the Verge XM udring SXSW in Austin

2010-04-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Live in Toronto On An Old Time-y Piano

2010-04-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

Live at the Verge for SXSW in Austin

2010-03-31T15:36:00.001-07:00

Tuppence

2010-03-25T11:39:00.001-07:00

A Very Jerky Blog

2010-03-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

Hey there.

Haven't written in awhile. I feel as if i have less and less to say haha. I mean, not to sound like a chump, but my life is pretty boring. How is it I can be in a different city every night and it feels routine??? There's something wrong with me...

Every day starts the same: Wake up, get coffee. Then, drive for 1 to ten hours. This is where the boring comes in. I forgot my iPod this leg of the tour so I have been living off the kindness of others...got a mixed CD made for me by Matt Brenner (who also so kindly let me borrow his guitar for the Edge Nu Music Night at the Horseshoe and a radio thing at York University...thank you Matt!) My manager Todd Arkell from Cool Planet Management made me a mixed CD too (what manager does that? Mine! He also bought me Road Crackers, aka Crackers For The Road). Blair, the guitar player in my band for some of the Ontario dates donated, by far, my favourite CD of LIFE.

It's Bob Dylan, at 20 years old, on an hour long radio program. Not only is it amazing to hear this talented young man at the age of 20 years old speaking of his 6 years traveling with a carnival (What!?!?!) and hanging out with Woody Guthrie, among others, but it's also entirely endearing because the host has a huge crush on him! It is hilarious. I've listened to it so many times I have almost burned a hole in it. At one point the interviewer asks: "Are you still going to wear that hat when you're rich and famous?" and Bob Dylan Says "I'm never going to be rich and famous".

Yesterday I had a day off and turned in to a slug. I left my hotel room once, to get coffee. I think my body is programmed to get up, get coffee, and drive, but when there is no where to drive I just slump back in to bed and go: "Oh..."

So ya. I was a waste of a human all day. It gave the snot in my head an opportunity to start leaking out. (ewwwww)

There's a bunch of fun videos that people have been posting on youtube so I've been favouriting them at http://www.youtube.com/billythekidofficial. If you have any of your own please let me know. Also did an interview with http://www.spinner.com yesterday amidst my "No Where To Drive" Depression. It's not up yet but if you want to know when it is I normally post those kinds of things over at http://www.twitter.com/billypettinger (not to mention a surplus of daily silliness).

I'm in Ottawa right now. I'm contemplating drinking way too much coffee for the second day in a row, mainly cause I have a whole day to kill. I'm still not ready to talk to people though lol...glad I have a few more hours haha! Yesterday was a good enough break that I actually was looking forward to seeing another human. Conversation, though....that will have to wait ;)

I realized yesterday that, given the opportunity, I could totally be one of those people who just wastes away in their hotel room. I could never understand that, up until now. You'd try to get ahold of me, I'd just ignore you...until finally someone would have to come and drag me out of bed and throw me in to a shower with all my clothes on, waking me from my stupor and shocking me back to the fold.

8 hours drive tomorrow. Then it's a constant state of doing stuff (whether it be playing, recording or writing sessions) until South By South West. Did I mention I'm playing 5 times? I never even applied for this thing cause I figured I'd never get accepted. And if I did, probably no one would care. But ya...5 times. So weird.

Alright well I think I figured out the key to blogging...if you just don't talk to anyone for like a whole day you actually have quite a bit to say haha. I feel like I do nothing but talk sometimes so the idea of telling the same stories but in writing gets daunting. (Hence, my disappearing for the past few weeks). Oh also I've traveled many a mile in the last month and it is starting to feel routine, and just feeling that makes me feel like a jerk. And I don't want anyone to know I'm a jerk haha. From Vancouver to Winnipeg to Courtenay to L.A. to Ontario and now on to Texas and back then over to Newfoundland. Just another day. Just another jerk-y batch of stories...
Signing off, for now,
Jerky McJerkerton

Billy the Kid at SXSW

2010-02-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Going to South By SouthWest?

Here's Billy's Schedule:

Wednesday, March 17 - Stephen F's - 11PM
Thursday, March 18 - urArtists party Chuggin Monkeyn Time TBD
Friday, March 19 - BMI Lunch 12:45PM
Friday, March 19 - Hyatt Regency - 6pm
Saturday, March 20 - Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake - 7PM

Billy On CBC

2010-02-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Billy-the-Kid

Billy in Toronto

2010-02-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Did you know my show at the Horseshoe February 23rd is the unofficial Canadian Music Week Volunteer Get Together?

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=292127596468&index=1

Kitchener and S.S. Marie Shows Added

2010-02-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

Feb 26th - S.S. Marie - Loplops
March 13 - Kitchener - The Boathouse

For more information visit the Billy the Kid Shows page

We're #68!

2010-02-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/2010/January/top200.cfm

Biggest Fan Reviews Van Show

2010-02-09T18:23:00.001-08:00

Todd says this doesn't count cause my mom wrote it. i say it counts times ten! :P

Well now. For those of you who missed it ...WOAH!

Billy was AWESOME tonight! She mesmerized the ENTIRE crowd from the moment she stepped onto the stage, playing her guitar, keyboard, harmonica (okay...mouth harp!) and singing her little heart out ... until she stepped off ... after the encore!

The club was filled with 'All Fans Billy' .. standing up to see & hear her...as she talked, laughed, told interesting & funny stories & joked with her fans! She had them ALL singing along ... A M A Z I N G!

The entire crowd sang "Happy Birthday" (led by an old friend from high school) to help 'ease the pain' of the rotten birthday she had on the road...(thanks to one very miserable lady "Marnie" at the Communitea Cafe ... that's enought about her ... don't ever go there!) It was a very touching moment...

It was incredibly awe-inspiring to witness Billy's skills & learn that she has mastered the art of taking hold of a crowd, coaxing them into the palm of her hand & keeping them there for the entire ride! Reminded me so much of Bim ... back in the day! (for those of you who don't know who Bim was ... well, ya missed out on that one too!) lol

New song about the love of her life, Randall, is truly a beauty!

So hey ... next time BE THERE .. you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Signed : Billy's #1 Fan ... her Momma! lol

Many thanks to 'Aunty Elizabeth' who made the trip in with me (on Skytrain no less!) and made it fun ... not nearly as scarey as I thought it would be ... hahaha...

New Review

2010-02-08T15:54:00.001-08:00

"This is one rising star you don't want to miss."

http://backstagevancouver.com/?p=3432

Billy the Kid on The Radio

2010-02-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

http://radiofalko.blogspot.com/

I love tour

2010-02-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like I live a week in a day.

Each day begins with waking up, most of the time well before I'd like to, and squeezing my bag and guitar back in to the '87 VW Golf my friend Aaron lent me for the West Coast portion of the tour.

Some days are the best days of my life. Some are a bit of a struggle. I just realized that what I'm doing, is actually kind of crazy!

I'm Touring, Canada, Alone, In January, In An '87 Golf.

Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way :)

The last few days have been amazing...My man flew in to Nanton, AB and surprised me on my birthday! It has been incredible having him as a co-pilot (and pilot lol). He's so helpful, generous and thoughtful...I can't imagine life without him and it was such a treat to have a big strong good looking man help me carry things in to venues!

I had a ten hour drive and 4 hours of sleep when I arrived to Nanton on my "Birthday Eve". I got up to my room, an adorable old-timey suite at the top of the Auditorium Hotel, and couldn't figure out how to use the hundred year old heater. I slumped on to the bed in exhaustion and pulled the blankets over my head. Randy called. I proceeded to tell him how much I missed him, and how much I wished he were beside me. Then there was a knock on my door.

"hold on, I think there's someone at my door.."

I opened it, and there he was!!! :D

I jumped in to his arms and started bawling my eyes out. What a sweet sweet man. He flew from L.A. to Nanton to surprise me on my birthday. I got him for 3 more days until I had to drop him off at the Calgary airport to fly to Toronto and play with Chantal Kreviazuk. We had an amazing time driving around and going on a super fun road trip that just happened to consist of shows every night! :D

Randy used to play with Edwin from I Mother Earth and he just happened to be in Medicine Hat with ex-Our Lady Peace guitarist Mike Turner on a radio tour for their new band Crash Karma. It was pretty random when they walked in to the Derailed Pub, and even more random when we found out they'd eaten at the same Mucho Burrito we had....and Randy was the one who'd stolen the last of the mole sauce! :O Edwin was pissed lol

Last night I played the Olds Sportplex then raced over to Tracks Pub (where I'm playing tonight) to do a surprise couple of songs. This morning I was up early to do a few tunes at Rock 104.5. I'm really looking forward to the show tonight...the guys at Tracks are really awesome. If you're a band looking to play around Alberta, I'd highly recommend them.

Tomorrow it's a nice 9 hour drive to Kamloops, a radio interview at 6 then I play the Dirty Jersey.

I love tour :)

The Communitea Cafe in Canmore Ruined My Birthday

2010-02-01T23:39:00.000-08:00

I just have to say, before I post this...my boyfriend is the best person ever.

And the people at Communitea Cafe in Canmore, RUINED my birthday.

My man wrote this, and is letting me post it.

If you are a musician, please tell your friends never to play here. It's all we have left as a communi"tea" lol!!

Here's what Randy has to say. Baby I love you :)

The moment we arrived to load in gear this evening we were made to feel like a major inconvenience. (by Marni)

At first i didn't quite understand why we were getting some obvious negativity, but as this story unfolds, it becomes crystal clear.

Our first hurdle, and it was like pulling teeth, was to agree upon where we could set up merch. As you know, on a night like this when the guarantee is minimal, the merch becomes the most important aspect of making this stop financially feasible.

It turns out, they'd not only sold to capacity, which is why they (Marni) outright refused to let us have a table by which to set the merch up for display, but they'd OVER sold there venue. There were audible rumblings in the audience like "why did they sell more tickets than they had seats for?".

We were instructed to set up merch on a part of their counter where they serve their tea... of course, there were people sitting directly in FRONT of that counter so the merch was completely obstructed as well, the area needed for either of us to stand behind the counter to tend to any customers was prioritized by their staff for their tea duties making it impossible to be directly behind the actual product...

So, to sum it up... we had to stand off to the side for most of the time...getting dirty looks from their staff (by Marni) while trying desperately to reach over a counter to tend to audience members who loved billy.

Billy 'was' offered food. The offer was 'before or after'. She chose after.
Wrong choice.
The same woman (Marni) who was blatantly put off by the fact that we were there was so insanely busy selling alcohol that it would've been impossible for her to break away from her beloved cash register. Case in point, when i asked her (Marni) to unlock the office where our cases were stored, she delegated that to one of her friends who was an audience member there to do even that.

The accoms r a mute point. If billy had of been on her own, the 'spare' room would've been fine. Although, before she found out i surprised her and showed up, she was happy about this gig saying "at least i get to play to a full house, get 50 bucks, sell some merch, and i get my own hotel room. All 4 of those points seemed to be things she was sure were part of the deal.

The show.
Billy's banter had the audience laughing out loud, cheering, clapping etc...
They were all singing in unison to the chorus of "just tryin to get by"...

Does this sound anything like an audience's reaction to an artist who's energy wasn't good?

That was a quote from Marni. Directly. Spoken to me in front of the sound guy in the back kitchen.
She actually said, "If i'd thought her energy was good, I would've considered paying her something"...

We were all packed up.
I told Billy to go wait in the car, and i'd settle up.
I approached Miss Negativity (Marni), who I'd i'd been desperately been trying to kill with kindness all night with no success, and asked her if I could get Billy's fee.

She was, of course at the time, at her cash register, and instructed me to "hang on a moment".

Approx 25 mins went by as i watched her have friendly discussions with the only 3 people left in the bar. I sat there. In full view. Remember. Full house. Packed bar from the moment the doors opened until the last note of the main act.

50 dollars.

There i sat patiently.
Chairs were being stacked on tables, no-one from the audience was left in the bar now.

Enter billy to see me sitting there.

She asks, "what's going on?".
I say "I have absolutely no clue, but it's painfully obvious that i'm being blatantly ignored at this point".

Now I actually have to go looking for Marni.
Found her in that back kitchen having a conversation with the sound guy,
I had to actually interrupt them to say, "Hey, it's billy's bday today (which Marni knew), would it be ok to settle up so i can let her celebrate it in some other way other than sitting out in a cold car waiting for 50 dollars?"

It's then that Marni decides to tell me that there was never a 50 dollar figure discussed. It's then, for the 2nd time (1st being when we were trying to set up merch) that she reminds me that she had sold out and didn't need billy and that she was doing a favor for the agent.

Without belaboring the point of my decades in the music business, this was definitely the most rude insulting example of a artist being horribly treated I'd ever encountered.

Dear Marni,
I'm embarrassed for you that you work at an establishment called "communtea".
Plz get a job in the back of a warehouse somewhere, where you don't have to encounter any other humans.
Plz get out of the people business.
You're just not cut out for this sort of thing.
You know.
People.
That thing.

Saskatchetario

2010-01-30T17:21:00.000-08:00

I'm in Grayson, SK.

No offence to the people of Grayson, or rural Saskatchewan, but I didn't know this place existed.

There's so much to small town Canada that I had no idea about. I was pumping gas and a random local from Grenfell smiled and waved at me. I was at a 4 way stop in Regina and even though I was on the left, and had come to a complete stop way after the guy to my right, I was waved through a stop sign by an adorable elderly gentleman. The lineup at the bank moves a little slower, and it takes awhile to get a latte but overall, things are a-okay around these parts ;)

i wish everyone could keep a small town in their heart. this worls would be so much kinder. A little slower, but kinder.

I love being on tour. It is the best thing in the universe ever. I love how every night is so different. And you're so tired but you gotta persevere and get to the next show, and then kill it. Or, at least try.

i guess since we last talked i've played in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Regina. I am just amazed at how much of a difference people and their "moods" play on people's reality. All it takes is one grumpy sound guy, waitress or promoter and my whole day is thrown off haha. Thankfully, Winnipeg had just the right combination of awesome promoter, sound guy and staff. They treated me so great and the Park Theatre is just an amazing venue. Saskatoon was great cause I got to see my ol pal Ryan Drabble, who surprised me when he ended up being the sound guy. Then there's the Canadian touring staple of Regina, Nathan and Crystal. If you're brave enough to tour Canada, there are a few things you're bound to run in to if you become a repeat offender...one of those things is running in to some of the Canadian tour staples such as Drabble and Nathan and Crystal. Pretty much every time I'm in Saskatchetario I end up staying with these amazing people and not only do they put ya up for the night, but they offer to feed ya and send ya off with a care package lol.

K, I think I should hang out with the locals of Grayson and try to make some friends ;)

Billy

Uniter Interview

2010-01-28T09:44:00.001-08:00

http://uniter.ca/view/2940/

Bloggy blog blog blog

2010-01-28T09:25:00.000-08:00

Rob at Kal Tire is a god.

Can I say that?

We went in to fix the tire that was making a weird noise on the highway and ended up finding a pretty serious problem with the coolant. A leak, actually.

Not only did Rob stay until EIGHT PM, two hours after they are supposed to be closed and he’s supposed to be home with his family, but he just so happens to have 15 years experience repairing Volkswagons.

Are we lucky, or are we lucky?

So many things could have gone wrong. I knew as soon as I started seeing the number 32 all the way down the highway in every situation possible that we would be okay. See, I have a rather weird thing that I adopted from a friend years ago. Seeing the number 32 means everything will be ok. I don’t tell a lot of people this, because I will likely get committed to the nearest insane asylum. I also believe wholeheartedly that the appearance of said number could be, entirely, the most amazing, wide-spread coincidence of my life.

At any rate, we made it to Kal Tire safe and sound, and were promptly informed that it’s a good thing the tire was making a noise!

After Kal Tire lent us their truck we got a bargain bin Hotel room and chilled out for a few. Then it was back to pick up The Greatest Car of All Time. Who tours in an ’87 VW Golf in Canada in January??? I do!!! :D

Seriously though…this car is amazing. Much Respect little guy!

The show was not the best attended of the batch but the merch ratio was sure up there…every single person in the crowd bought something! So awesome.

The Slice in Lethbridge is a pretty sweet venue, employees and all. There is something I will always have a profound love for…a venue with a pinball machine. That is truly how I gauge a good venue or a great venue. Also, something to be said for a place that will feed you, water you and put you up for the night. Much love The Slice!
Now I’m in the passenger seat on my way to Saskatoon. It’s a 7 hour drive so I’m happy to get a bit of a break ☺

Really excited for Winnipeg. Then, we start heading West. Oh no! The beginning of the end! ;)

Til we meet again,

Billy

One of my favourite interviews I've ever done

2010-01-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you YouthAreAwesome.com for Interviewing Billy the Kid!

http://www.youthareawesome.com/?p=3803

Them Days

2010-01-26T17:39:00.000-08:00

Wow.

Well, it’s been one of those days.

One of those…”tour” days.

In every other sense, I’ve been incredibly lucky the past few days. After the Edmonton show, we got 4 hours sleep at Dani Jean’s house (well, we were in beds for 4 hours…I’m not sure how much sleep I got though).

6am wakeup call then it was off to Swift Current, SK. Not only was it a crazy snow blizzard, but it was also one of those days where you lose an hour traveling :/

The roads were brutal but we made it in one piece. And the show more than made up for it.

Did you know that Swift Current has an amazing arts community and is filled to the brim with incredibly kind supporters of the arts? Shan, who put on the show, has been putting on shows in her area for years because she “loves music and had to bring the music to her”. Her family is also a big part of it, helping out with merch and organizing. It struck me as incredibly cool to be part of an upbringing where your Mom puts on shows and you’re part of the crew ☺ What an awesome lady.

I really didn’t know what to expect from the show but it was one of THE coolest shows I have ever played…

First of all, it was in an art gallery. After I played, artist extraordinaire David Geary brought all in attendance on a tour of the gallery, and explained in depth his pieces. I was SO fascinated. David is an extremely well spoken artist with a vast knowledge of his field and craft. This particular group of work was inspired by Russian government sponsored War-era ads, applied in the language of Saskatchewan politics!!! He basically put a modern spin on all this cool wartime propaganda. I was so impressed. I’ve always been a little fascinated with communism (more so the working class, actually) and his take on making these pieces applicable to today’s Saskatchewan was just awesome. I also have a soft spot for Saskatchewan (I have several songs written/inspired/mentioning this particular province) so it was that much more interesting to me ☺

I had played my first set then, in the middle of the tour, the power went out!!! Kinda cool, actually. I played my second set and, I will be honest…I felt a little bad…I was so tired (that whole “4 hours sleep, 8 hours drive in a snow storm thing) that by the end I was just out of it. I was even hallucinating! It was all I could do to just keep it together and get through the set. Then it made me really sad that the act of just GETTING to the show was so exhausting that I wasn’t able to perform to my fullest potential. Oh well….Shan said I could come back anytime, hopefully I can do better then…

After the show we headed back to the hotel and I was surprised to see there were TWO security guards in this hotel. I rarely see ONE security guard so I was impressed, and kinda thought it a little unnecessary, until one of the dudes had to chase down a whole PeeWee hockey to tell them to quit horsin’ around! Only in Swift Current ;)

Yesterday was a DAY OFF. Much needed! Normally I’m not a huge fan of DAYS OFF, but well, I haven’t been sleepin so good so this was just what the doctor ordered. I’m not gonna lie, I basically went on a CSI marathon. I’m not proud of it, but sometimes that’s the only thing to do during a snowstorm in Swift Current. Did I mention there was a snow storm?

“Blizzard Conditions”. That is what the weather channel called it. A big red screen and a warning not to drive. On the one hand, we sure picked the perfect day for a day off! On the other hand, it was…well, boring ;) If that’s the worst of your problems though, I guess…

A four hour drive to Lethbridge today and we discover that the wheel is making some kinda funny noise. Long story short, the wheel bearing is hooped. AND, the coolant pump thinger. So we went in to fix one thing and (thankfully) caught a second thing before it was too late (and before two 8 hour drives, one to Saskatoon and another to Winnipeg). That said, Aaron’s car has been AMAZING and for all it’s been through, I’m amazed! Good thing we caught it when we did.

The dudes at KalTire were total bros and let us borrow their truck for the night. AND, the guy is staying late to fix it!!! I knew today was a lucky day. Well, gonna go grab the gear then it’s another show. Hope to see ya out there,

Billy

More Cool Press!

2010-01-24T10:15:00.001-08:00

More neat-o reviews from my Tour

http://www.prairiepost.com/news/sw-sask-news/artslifestyle/556-billy-the-kid-is-a-unique-talent-even-if-shes-a-qlost-causeq.html

Tour - Day one

2010-01-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

TOUR! :D

On our way to Edmonton. Already! I can’t believe it’s already here…tour. I can’t believe it’s already happening, and I’m on the road AS WE SPEAK! Yep, Steve my partner in crime is driving and I’m here trying to process everything that has happen in the last two days.

We left Wednesday afternoon. There were some serious delays because I refused to drive without music, and had only recently discovered that the tape deck in out 1987 Volkswagon Golf DOES NOT WORK.

This might not be a catastrophe to some, but to me, it’s a seriously huge deal. You can’t go on tour in Western Canada with NO MUSIC!!!

We tried it all…iPod to cassette convertor, one of those iPod to radio signal convertors. Finally I ended up putting a new stereo system in my friend Aaron’s car.
Did I mention Aaron is letting me use his car to drive to Winnipeg in January? What a guy. Hi Aaron ☺

Everything is all good now. Listening to my friend Heather Waters as we drive on the 2 North. Yesterday was a seriously amazing time. I’m a little worried that I am already this tired and it’s only the second show haha! I had a late night getting ready and an early morning packing and running errands before we left. By the time we got to Calgary at about 1am, I was exhausted. I did get to sleep in a bit (something I haven’t done in months) and spent a large portion of the day practicing in the hotel. Very enjoyable.

When I say “practicing” I should say “Writing New Songs”. For me, one of my favourite things about tour is actually getting time to play music haha. I know, funny thing that. Every time I pick up my guitar to “rehearse” though, I end up writing something new. Hey, if that’s the worst of your problems…

I finished writing an actually happy song for my favourite person ever and then got to play it. That’s just a cool feeling…when something is fresh off the press, to get to try it out right then and there ☺

A couple cool things about this trip: I have an almost unlimited amount of documentation devices! I just got a little sound recorded thing that I’m gonna be singin’ new ideas in to after soundchecks and before show time. I also have a video camera, a still camera, this here laptop and a phone. So I will be in touch ;)

After my fun day of Remember My Songs In A Hotel Room, I met up with Brock from http://www.calgaryisawesome.com

We had such a great time hanging out, I’m so happy he asked me to be part of his video blog cause I think I made a friend for life. I got to try out my song at the Greyhound station after the security guards allowed us to film a video in the photo booth! :D I will post it here soon ☺

This morning before getting in the car I met up with Jessica from http://www.youthareawesome.com/. I don't think it could get any more awesome around here haha. We had an awesome vegan breakfast at The Coup and she asked me some very well thought out questions that will be in an interview on the internet sooon! :D

Calgary was great. Always great to be back there. Did I mention I lived there for two years? Saw some familiar faces but mostly, a lot of new faces! Both just as awesome ☺ Some people mentioned seeing me in Calgary with Raine and I’m very thankful they came out to see me again. Thank you for spending your hard earned dough to get me to the next city, and thanks Raine for taking me on tour with you so I could make all these new friends ☺

K! Talk soon,
Billy!

Coueple Neat-o Interviews

2010-01-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

http://labeat.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=378:billy-the-kid-not-kiddign-around-with-her-career&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=14116

Billy in...Kamloops?!

2010-01-16T22:55:00.000-08:00

Kamloops show added to the Billy the Kid Tour! :D

2010-01-15T14:34:00.001-08:00

2 More Ontario Shows

2010-01-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday, March 6th
BAYFIELD, ON

Bayfield Town Hall
Main Street, Bayfield, ON
http://www.bayfieldtownhall.com/locate.html
Free
8pm
All Ages/18+

Thursday, March 11th
SARNIA, ON

Paddy Flaherty's Irish Pub
130 Seaway Road, Sarnia, ON
http://sarnia.paddyflahertys.com/
All Ages/18+
Free

Keep up to date with the latest Billy the Kid tour info at http://www.facebook.com/BillytheKid

Billy the Kid Tour 2010 Updated 01/16 Kamloops Show Added, Kelowna Date Changed, Medicine Hat and 2 London Shows Added

2010-01-07T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hello friends. Here's the latest in tour dates. notice some start times, ticket info and venue web sites have been changed. Feel free to forward to friends :)

For booking inquiries please contact jdbaskin@gmail.com

Thursday, January 21st
CALGARY, AB

Liberty Lounge
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
Phone: (403) 440-6403
Email: liberty@samru.ca
Website: http://www.samru.ca/libertyLounge/home.htm
$5
8pm

Friday, January 22nd
EDMONTON, AB

The Haven Social Club
15120 Stony Plain Road Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5P 3Y3
(780) 756-6010
9pm
http://www.thehavensocialclub.com/
$8

Saturday, January 23rd
SWIFT CURRENT, SK

Gallery of Swift Current in the R.C. Dahl Centre
411 Herbert Street East, Swift Current, AB S9H 1M5
(306) 778-2736
http://www.artgalleryofswiftcurrent.org
$5
7pm

Monday, January 25th
LETHBRIDGE, AB

The Slice
314 8 Street South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2J6
(403) 320-0117
http://www.theslice.ca/
$5

Tuesday, January 26th
SASKATOON, SK

Amigo’s Cantina
632 10th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0G9
(306) 652-4912
http://www.amigoscantina.com/
$8
9pm

Thursday, January 28th
WINNIPEG, MB

Park Theatre
698 Osborne Street
Winnipeg, MB R3L 2B9
(204) 478-7275
http://www.parktheatervideo.com/cms/
$10/$12
9pm

Friday, January 29th
REGINA, SK

O’Hanlon’s
1947 Scarth Street
Regina, SK S4P 2H1
(306) 566-4094
http://www.myspace.com/ohanlons
$5
9pm

Saturday, January 30th
GRAYSON, SK

Bar G Hotel
Railway Ave
Grayson, Saskatchewan S0A 1E0
(306)794-4706

Sunday, January 31st
NANTON, AB

Auditorium Hotel
2011 20th Avenue, Nanton, AB T0L 1R0
(403) 646-2746
$5

Tuesday, February 2nd
MEDICINE HAT, AB

Derailed Pub
403 North Railway Street Southeast
Medicine Hat, AB
T1A 2Z3
(403) 528-3310

Thursday, February 4th
OLDS, AB

Track's Pub
1-4919 49 Avenue
Olds, AB T4H 1R7
(403) 556-6180

Friday, February 5th
KAMLOOPS, BC

The Dirty Jersey
1200 8th Street
http://www.thedirtyjersey.ca
(250) 376-3786
$8 Ticket
Doors 7:30
Show 8pm

Saturday, February 6th
KELOWNA, BC

UBC Kelowna
3333 University Way
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
(250) 807-8000
FREE

Sunday, February 7th
VANCOUVER, BC

The Railway Club
579 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1Y4
(604) 681-1625
http://www.therailwayclub.com/
$8

Monday, February 8th
DUNCAN, BC

The Garage
#201-330 Duncan Street
Duncan, BC, Canada
V9L 3W4
(250) 748-7246
http://www.duncangarageshowroom.ca/
$10/$12
8pm

Tuesday, February 9th
COURTENAY, BC

Joe's Garage
115 5th Street
Courtenay, BC V9N 1J3
Cost: $10/12
(250) 702-6456
http://joeson5th.piczo.com

Tuesday, February 23rd
TORONTO, ON

Edge 102 Nu Music Night - The Horseshoe Tavern
368 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 2A2
Free
(416) 598-4753
http://www.horseshoetavern.com/

Wednesday, February 24th
LONDON, ON

London Music Club - Front Room
470 Colborne St
London, ON N6B
$8

Monday, March 1st
OTTAWA, ON

Zaphod Beeblebrox
27 York Street
Ottawa, ON K1N
(613) 562-1010
http://www.zaphodbeeblebrox.com
Free

Wednesday, March 3rd
OTTAWA, ON

Agonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Nepean, ON K2G 1V8
(613) 727-0002
Free

Friday, March 5th
LONDON, ON

London Music Club - Front Room
470 Colborne St
London, ON N6B
$7

Saturday, March 6th
BAYFIELD, ON

Bayfield Town Hall
Main Street, Bayfield, ON
http://www.bayfieldtownhall.com/locate.html
Free
8pm
All Ages/18+

Thursday, March 11th
SARNIA, ON

Paddy Flaherty's Irish Pub
130 Seaway Road, Sarnia, ON
http://sarnia.paddyflahertys.com/
All Ages/18+
Free

March 10-14th
TORONTO, ON

Canadian Music Week

March 17-21
AUSTIN, TX

South By South West

(More Ontario dates to follow)

Pretending To Be An Actor In Front Of Cameras

2010-01-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

I'll never forget my first audition.

Well, the first audition where I got the part.

My *actual* first audition, I totally blew it, and immediately erased it from my memory for all time ;)

Let's get something clear: I have no acting experience, no acting education, no long lost actors in my family tree and no uncle that's a director who's been secretly preparing me for my acting debut.

My first successful audition, the audition where I got the role, was actually my second audition ever. In my life. Ever.

With no education, experience or innate inherited talent, I somehow nailed my second audition and got cast "on the spot" (according to the director).

I'll never forget it.

So many things could have gone wrong...I could have stood on the right hand side, for example, and when the director said "Slate" I would have responded with: "Huh?"

But I didn't. I stood on the left. Someone with experience or education or a great grandma who was in the first "talkies" stood on the right and when they said "Slate" she said "My name is (blah blah blah)".

"Okay," I thought to myself... "Slate means 'Say your name'".

My third audition didn't go so well. I stood on the right. When they said "Slate and Profile" I said "Hi, I'm blah blah blah". Then everyone looked at me, waiting. I looked to my left and thought "Doesn't the person on my left know they're supposed to go "Hi I'm blah blah blah"? Jeeeeez!"

But still...silence.

Then I hear "Ok now Profile".

THEN I go "Huh?" and needless to say, I didn't get that part ;)

The part I *did* get, was the role of a 23 year old mother. My TV daughter, Princess Taea, was dressed up in matching glasses, boots, jeans and sports coat. She was like my own mini me!

Here's a video of us going up the escalator one of one million times:

We filmed in Tinseltown (yes, the movie theater) in Vancouver. I was the first scene of the day. The director was so nice, and I loved every second of it. Within a few hours, it was over, and I was slammed back to reality.

I get a kick out of my life sometimes. I am literally learning how to act in front of cameras. My first "acting" experience has been at auditions, music video shoots and commercial shoots. I realize this makes me a total jerk...there are a lot of people who have spent hundreds, thousands, maybe more, to perfect their craft and pursue their dream. Others have toiled away night after night in community theater groups and every play, production, musical or comedy they could squeeze themselves in to. Me? I just jumped in front of a camera and happened to be standing on the left hand side.

I do feel kind of bad. Audition waiting rooms, you can generally cut the tension with a knife. Every one is likely competing for the same part, so it's really hard to make friends. I swore from the get-go I would never be like that, and have tried to make one new friend per audition (of the 3 auditions and 2 callbacks I've had in my life).

My agent told me that the thing I had going for me was the fact I didn't care. I didn't *need* this job like some kids who have been waiting tables for ten years do. They walk in, and casting directors can smell their fear, the "I Need This" look shines through their best rendition of themselves as someone else.

Me? I see every opportunity as just that...a chance to practice. I don't know what I'm doing, so the best I can do is just pretend I know what I'm doing. By the time I walk in to the audition room I'm already in character haha

In that sense, I'm a total jerk. I waltz in without a care in the world on the premise that this, these auditions...they're just a cheaper way to learn how to act than paying for acting classes ;)

New Videos On Youtube

2009-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

Been messin' around with iMovie and have put up a few things over at http://www.youtube.com/billythekidofficial

please let me know what you think!

The Key To Happiness

2009-11-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

I've always thought that the key to happiness was asking yourself "If I were to die tomorrow, what would I do?" and then doing exactly that.

I asked myself that same question, and the first thing that came to mind was "Order a soy caramel machiatto (not vegan) and a lemon poppyseed loaf" (also not vegan).

There have been times in my life when I've fallen off the vegan-y wagon...mostly for old staples like pizza or veggie lasagna. For the better part of a decade, though, I only indulged in those dishes if they were created by me, in the comfort of my own home, with vegan cheezes and other non-dead affair.

Buuuuuuuut there was a time, I cannot lie, when eating half a pizza was one of my favourite things to do. Now, with my future on my mind, the first thing I think of is the way that icing sugar looks in those coffee shop display cases.

Why do I instantly not care about the future of the planet as soon as I start contemplating my own mortality?

Just cause I could be dying, that's an excuse to start consuming anything and everything with no remorse whatsoever?

I care about this lil planet. Ask me why I've been vegetarian for 16 years and that is one thing I sometimes say. I also love little furry guys. And I care for those that inhabit this earth presently, and beyond me.

Why the hell is my dying wish to eat a god damn lemon loaf then?

This could be my last day on earth, I should be out contributing, bettering, inspiring and aiding!!! Loving and sharing and bringing hope to those hopeless. Hey! It is not so bad!!! We are all of us, currently, dying, in some sense or another.
Whether it is tomorrow, the next day or 80 years from now...you don't know how much time YOU will get.

So what will you change?

Share Billy the Kid, Get Billy the Kid

2009-11-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

Share Billy the Kid's music through your Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, blog, website or email and we'll send you a new Billy the Kid song.

Just let us know how you've spread the gospel of the Lost Cause and where you'd like your new song sent.

Love love love,

Billy

Billy the Kid Facebook and Twitter

2009-10-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Are you following Billy the Kid on Twitter? Perhaps you should...

Also, add Billy the Kid to Facebook...she almost has more fans than the REAL Billy the Kid ;)

Extraordinary Year

2009-10-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

A lot of things have beeing goingon behind the scenes that I figured I'd fill you guys in on.

It is starting to occur to me that although 2009 seemed to sometimes move like freakin molasses, I guess technically some pretty super huge things went down.

First and foremost, I got a licensing deal. This is a big deal. A licensing deal means that my music is part of a database of songs and songwriters that get "pitched" to be part of film and/or television shows.

For example, if Grey's Anatomy needs some kind of girl folk singer thing, hey maybe one day they'll use one of my songs. My licensing deal is is with an amazing company that has the rights to such classics as Eye of The Tiger and Low Rider and my "go-to guy" is one of the kindest and most down to earth people working in Beverly hills, I'm sure :) VERY honoured, VERY lucky, and something I've always wanted (more than any record deal or anything that's for sure).

Secondly, I got a manager. Yes, Ms. DIY herself is now, currently, "being managed". This is a huge deal for me as well, for several reasons, one being that it's the first time in my life I'm actually *letting* someone manage my life!!! It takes a huge amount of trust when you come from a world where you do everything yourself, to suddenly just hand it over to someone and hope for the best. I have to say though, I actually genuinely trust my manager. I believe he is a good person, with morals and a solid sense of what is right not only in life, but specifically in my life, and I believe that in any "bizness" dealing, that should come first. I'm so excited to (for once) have some decent help around here, especially cause lately things have been very very hectic. My brand new manager not only has his heart in the right place but he's also (as I'm learning) an exceptional talent when it comes to new innovative perspectives on how to spread the gospel of the Lost Cause. It's been really cool to have someone to bounce ideas off of, another brain behind Lost Records working on the game plan for the coming months. Exciting :)

Third, I got an acting agent! Kind of on a whim (and at the suggestion of several friends and family members) I decided I wanted to get (back in) to acting. Let me be clear, my "experience" consists of: a play I wrote and starred in when I was 12 called "The Avon Lady Goes to The Moon" (in French Immersion, no less), a non-smoking commercial when I was 7, a few Christmas plays and some home videos where my dad would set up the camera and I would act out all the characters of The Little Mermaid, song, dance, and all (I know, you wish you had a copy of that haha).

Of other exciting news, I just got approved for an O-1 work visa. This means I can legally work in the United States and cross the border to play shows, no hassle. Kind of a huge freakin deal, and something that you stress out about a lot when you're in a band. As a side note, the technical name of the visa is "Alien of Extraordinary Ability", which is just hilarious ;)

So that's my year! Coming up, there's talk of playing a charity event in India, the Vancouver Olympics, a new album, some Canadian tour dates and maybe even opening for a few heavy weights. And that's only the beginning...

Random Fact of the Day: My favourite vegan restaurant in Calgary is Buddha's Veggie House and I wish I could Fedex myself some of their veggie ginger beef right...now...

Freedom

2009-10-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

You don't need anyone to make you happy
Just know who you are and what you will always do
If you spent your life alone, following this meandering path, wouldn't that be enough?
Wouldn't it be enough to find your own way?
This world is too big
This life too short
To spend one moment unhappy or one moment regretting anything
I see the triumphs and downfalls in the people around me
Some shackled to the life they've created
Some freed by it
I can't tell you how inspiring it was to have met you

Moving Day

2009-10-19T21:49:00.001-07:00

I'm moving. Again! I think this is the 7th time in 17 months. It's very easy when you own mainly only merch. That said...please buy some, I am tired of lifting it ;)

Billy the Kid Shirt in Black

Billy the Kid Shirt in White

Billy the Kid album

Billy and the Lost Boys EP

Tea

2009-10-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you something quickly that just made me cry...

All week I've been getting messages on my Yogi tea bags that are just so fitting. For example, at one point I thought to myself "that's it...I can never love anyone again..." And just as I thought it, I opened a tea and it read: "Life is a flow of love. Your participation is requested." It made me laugh :)

Some other teas I got this week include: "Life is a chance. Love is infinity. Grace is reality", "let things come to you" (got this on the day Raine approved licensing deal right as I was gonna email him) and "compassion has no limit. Kindness has no enemy."

It's at the point where I get all excited about the tea, and know it's gonna be perfect for the moment.

Just boiled some water and actually thought out loud "bet ya this will be a good one today..."

Know what it says?

"Live for each other."

I love tea. :)

Random Fact of the Now: I have recently become obsessed with Improv Comedy and I highly recommend you do the same.

New Billy and the Lost Boys Tunes

2009-10-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Extra extra read all about it.

New Billy and the Lost Boys stuff is now up on iTunes.

For those that don't know, Billy and the Lost Boys were the rock band I fronted for many moons that took me all over the country playing my arse off. It was my years with the Lost Boys that started my love for touring, playing live, throwing out the map and finding our own way/staying up all night trying to figure out this crazy world/making fun number one/living like our lives were a long weekend/getting lost just to wind up someplace new AKA THE LOST CAUSE!!! :)

I decided to do an online only release this time around. That said, if you'd like a physical copy or want me to email you the songs, I will set it up so that you can do so on our online store. For now though, check out

http://www.itunes.com/billyandthelostboys and pick up your copy of Off The Map :)

Try

2009-09-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

“Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” - Albert Einstein

A Quote

2009-09-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day: A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life - Darwin

Time.

Where does it go.

Where has it gone.

I remember being a kid. A teenager even. Every day was a chance to grab life by the horns and go do something, anything. Something spontaneous, interactive. Nothing could stop us. I never hesitated, or questioned why I did anything. I just DID it.

I'd find myself in the middle of a snow filled Saskatchewan highway, feet away from our vehicle yet barely within eyesight of the muffler. I'd spin around that same highway uncontrollably and laugh at how many times we could have died. We'd quit our jobs, do our best to book a batch of shows and never stopped smiling for a month straight, even when the show was canceled, no one showed up or we didn't even get gas money. It didn't matter. We were the kids, and nothing could touch us.

They say that at a certain age, your brain, once it is fully developed, changes. You desire less the things that were once essential. Your dreams, passions and perspectives... are altered. You are literally no longer naive. You are technically and physically fully developed.

A friend of mine has been telling me for years that "Music Keeps Us Young". I like the sound of this. To me it explains why all us kids in bands never seem to age...you all look the exact same as you did when we were 16 and playing our first shows together. Our lives haven't changed much either. Maybe you toured a bunch more, finally made it to Australia...I hear so-and-so got engaged...what ever happened to Sarah?...man you look EXACTLY the same...the more things change, the more they stay the same...

Do you look back on your life and feel regret? I feel like my childhood, if anything, I was so petrified of wasting a moment, that I did everything I could to do anything unconventional. Staying up all night, driving all over for any reason at all, quitting any job at the drop of a hat and never looking back...I did everything I could so that I wouldn't wake up one morning and think "Where did my life go?"

From 12 to 22 I spent more time living out of a backpack than carrying out the stability that is conventional in our culture. But after too much of that, you just want to stay in one place for awhile. Even though I've been back and forth from L.A. to Vancouver for the last year and half, I do feel my roots starting to sink in to the soil. Does this mean I am wasting precious time?

Please let me know if you see any typos. I have been typing fairly fast.

Random fact about me: My first 3 tattoos were birthday presents.

Music Video?

2009-09-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

In case ya didn't know it, awhile back I shot a music vid with some pals.

I spent the first day covered in real and fake dirt, the first part of the second day in a dress with my hair and makeup all done up, and then the last part of the second day in real and fake dirt again.

Although I wasn't in full wardrobe, I had mixed feelings while on the skytrain home after the shoot. I still had real and fake dirt in my hair, on my face and on my hands and under my nails.

It had been about 15 years since I was covered in only real dirt, riding the skytrain trying to kill some time cause it was cold and I didn't know where to sleep. Although I didn't spend too many nights like this (I tried to have a tentative "plan" more often than not...a friend, a neighbour, a relative...anything), there were a couple times I slept under a slide, in a park or in an unlocked car (it was raining). I remember being so pissed at Avril Lavigne when I saw that video where she's in the pouring rain trying to get into a car. I remember thinking "You bitch! I've actually done that!" Anyway...I digress...

Whilst on said skytrain, you'd be surprised how different people act around you when you're covered in makeup that's supposed to make you look like a transient vagabond. Youre no longer an invisible commuter on the skytrain. Suddenly, everyone is AFRAID. They're afraid of you, and whether they say or do anything to suggest it, you can just FEEL it. I could have tried to tell anyone I was homeless, "Listen, don't worry! I'm actually a perfectly nice person PRETENDING to be homeless! You'll never believe it...I actually shot a music video today and this dirt on my face and under my nails isn't even real!!!"

Do you think they'd believe me?

There have been some mixed feelings about whether or not the "concept" of the vid suits the song...I leave that for you to judge. Feel free to leave a comment as well as check out my blog on the subject.

Well, here it be:

A Lil Sumthin About My Lil Ol Video

2009-09-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine checked out the new video for These City Lights and said

The video looks fantastic, I just feel lost on the concept. (which is all me, I'm sure of it) haha It's like I'm singing all the wrong words again. I still love it and I'm showing it to all my friends ♥

Fist of all, very nice way to ask a question. Oh why can't we all be so kind!

The video is not really a "concept" video. There is no plot, time line, story to follow or script. Once again we began with an idea of what we were not/what we did not want to do, and ended with what we are.

The purpose of the contrasting characters is to portray just that...the contrast in society, sobriety, reality, dreamscapes and city scapes. At the end of the day it's just me, and I'm just me, but I'm living in two different worlds. If these two characters were not me, would you perceive them differently? Would you, perchance, judge them?

Although they live in separate universes, they have some similarities. Sure, they're both me. More importantly though, there is some heartbreak in there in both of them. And at the end of the day, isn't there a little bit of heartbreak in all of us?

From islands apart we see the debutante and transient are actually very similar. Perhaps they are identical. And in our struggles and times of triumph alike, perhaps we all are.

A Lil Music Video

2009-09-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

Some friends and I made a lil video for the song These City Lights. Please view and let us know what you thought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uODJ18BQlMc

Made A Music Video

2009-09-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jason, Jon, Todd, Ari, Lauren and Tamar.

What I'm Not

2009-09-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I have known what I am not.

In fact, I've know exactly what I'm not.

I'm not this, that, or the other thing.

I'm not like them, one of those or part of that.

I'm not up for grabs, paying attention or looking around.

My head has been down, gaze hardly shifting, my pupils a pinpoint at a point right in front

Why?

I'm not easily distracted, or buying just because there is a sale

I'm not connected to the mainland

I wasn't built to be bought, made to be sold and I don't make songs that should be played on the radio

I'm not popular or the life of any party

I do not entertain

I'm not the class clown or the prom queen

I'm not the guitar player, drummer, pianist, bass player OR lead singer

And although I have known for this long

All the things that I am not

I just recently started to see

What I am

Time

2009-09-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

Oh mah gaaaaaad.

Soooo busy.

New music video. Coming out this week. Woohoo!

Mixing new Billy and the Lost Boys songs. Woohoo!

Learning to read MUSIC. I know, right ;)

Show plans: up coming. Just getting out the map and remembering how to drive.

Couple gigs in Vancouver, one with the singer of the Loved Ones doing an acoustic set. Check out the show page for deets.

Time.

Where does it go?

I do not know.

In HOLLYWOOD

2009-08-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

In Hollywood, there are about a dozen people who write every song you hear on the radio.

Most of them know the songs they write are terrible. Most of them hate what they do. But, they know how it's done, and they do it well.

There's a reason they call it "selling out". There is a big paycheck to this formula.

This is not to say that there are not beacons of light who shine through this mess. YES, there are still people who write their own songs. They're out there, somewhere. You just don't hear them on the radio all that often.

If you do hear them on the radio, chances are it's because they gave a song they wrote to someone else. Maybe they planned to release it themselves, maybe they thought it didn't sound enough like "them" (even though they wrote it). So, you give it away, cause if the person with the biggest machine behind them if singing the song you wrote, you'll be richer than if you sing it yourself.

Why is the radio such a big deal? Why do you even listen to it? It's like watching a spreadsheet on T.V. or a listening to a sonic math equation. It's all so...calculated.

All over, every where, there are kids in bands, like me, complaining about the radio. It's been this way since the beginning. Maybe you think the radio is awesome. Maybe you listen to it every day. Maybe you love American Idol and Hannah Montana and every Disney Brat and Pop Tart the machine can spew out. I know there are people like you out there, there has to be.

The thing for me is, even if I can admit the song is good (I loved "Since You Been Gone"...it's a truly well written song) I just can't get past the fact that the person singing it didn't write it, produce it, chose the album cover, write the melody, pick the arrangement...nothing. They had nothing to do with it. Sometimes, they'll have something to do with it, like the spelling of the title. but it's too dangerous to mess with the formula. There are millions of dollars on the line...

If you want to make a million bucks in a week, you gotta have a radio "single".

I, for one, can't WAIT until people stop using the word "single".

See, my favourite songs, will never be played on the radio. My favourite songs do not sound like "Singles". If you want a song on your album to be played on the radio, it has to be the "Single" and the "Single" has to sound like all the other "Singles" out there on the radio, even if it sounds nothing like anything else on your album.

And this is the formula. And this is the way it has been going for years. And I just hope it ends one day.

That is all.

2009-08-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

Every night a monologue plays in my mind of all the words I would have said if I thought you were listening

Every night I stay up trying to fall asleep to did he get my emails did he read my emails did he see my emails did he delete my emails did he get my emails does he ignore my emails does he read my emails does he see my emails does he delete my emails

Every day I sink in to my reality…this mediocrity…all the things I wish I could be, wish I could be doing…and I think of the things I have done in order to do them…and I think of how many times the path of trying to get to where I wish I was has broken me. Broken me to bits. Bits hanging out the window of the 29th floor looking down, hanging on with one hand to…

Change everything. Changing everything. Phone calls. Flights. Packing packing packing packing packing Get the fuck out. Anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere but

Here we are again.

It’s a means to an end, right? Every body does this. Right? Every body hates every minute of their existence, every second like a small stab in the throat killing killing killing god just make it end I can’t talk to these people anymore I can’t stay here I can’t do this I can’t

Change everything.

Like a slide show. The flash of a camera. Move home, move out, move back, move on, move in, get dropped get bent out of shape cause the nightmares are a run on sentence that’s spilling in to daylight and the dark doesn’t stop anymore and I don’t remember why I do this why do I do this why do I do this why do I

Change everything?

I can’t stand it in my own skin. And I’m running out of places to go. And I can’t write it on my walls, because I don’t have any. I can’t drive somewhere new, anywhere, anywhere, anywhere but here is where we are. And I start over. And over. And over. Again.

Every night

A monologue

Plays in my mind

But this is

The first time

I have written anything down

In a year

Billy the Kid Nominated for Best Artist

2009-07-28T11:20:00.001-07:00

Please help Billy the Kid to win XM Satellite Radio's The Verge Music Awards. She has been nominated for Best Artist and could win $25,000 with your help.

Vote for Billy the Kid here.

Shows

2009-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Some shows coming up, more will be posted soon.

Tuesday, July 28 2009
8:00 PM

The Troubadour
Los Angeles, CA, US

With Our Lady Peace
Age Limit: 21+
Details: VIP ticket includes and autographed copy of the new Our Lady Peace CD Burn Burn.

Tuesday, August 11 2009
6:00 PM

New Brighton Park "Rock T...
Vancouver, BC, CA

With Pancho and Sal
Age Limit: All Ages Tickets: Free
Details: Enjoy FREE musical performances at New Brighton Park. Bring your picnic basket, the family and walk down for Rockin ‘ the Port! North West Corner or New Brighton Park, N Windermere St, Vancouver, BC

Friday, September 25 2009
8:00 PM

St Augustine's Pub
2360 Commercial Dr
Vancouver, BC, CA

Age Limit: All Ages

Long time listener, first time caller

2009-07-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

Everytime I feel like giving up and like I have nothing good to say, I get a nice encouraging message inspiring to carry on.

Soooo Yeah It is 3 in the morning and I frequently spend my nights into the early morning thinking, reading, writing and whatever trying to sort out the millions of thoughts that go through my head in these quiet hours; that is when my work schedual allows :D...I started reading your blog and just realized what a genuine, humble and honest person you are. I had to say how much I admire your dedication and hard work, it's truly inspirational :) I am an extremely shy person as well, although at times it doesn't seem that way due to the fact that when I am comfortable I talk way too much and can be very loud lol. My point being that listening to your music and reading your blog put the rare smile on my face that only emerges when I discover that another person in this lovely superficial city of LA is an actual human with a soul ha ha!

Thank you for making my evening/morning :P

How could I give up after hearing somethin like that?

Thank you, anonymous listener...

Interview

2009-07-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine named Shane Cook is taking some music biz classes and asked for my opinion on a few things. Bet he regrets that decision! ;)

As someone who has been both on a record label, and produced records independently, what are some misconceptions aspiring artists may have about signing with a label?

That it's a good idea. It is not.

The only time/reason/situation people start thinking it is a good idea to sign with a label is AFTER the label has made enough money off of them that the artists feels like they're starting to make some money too. If you've got a couple million in the bank because you've got yourself a hit, you probably aren't scouring your label's accounting records trying to find the millions they've squandered on your behalf. Now, you could argue, without those millions spent, you wouldn't have that hit single! You may have a point there, however, most acts on a label these days DON'T get that "hit" and thus, are left in legal battles trying to figure out where all the money went (why are we eating dirt and they're driving Bentleys?)

What advice might you give a talented musician struggling to get discovered?

Stop playing the music industry game and start caring about your fans like they are your family. They are. Or at least they will be, hopefully! Give them prizes, freebies, contests, advance listens, rare demos, free shirts...anything you got to show 'em how much you love 'em. They will only love you more and, everyone wins.

What are a few of the bigger financial and promotional challenges you’ve encountered while during your independence that you may not have encountered on a label?

Tour support is a big one. That said, many labels now expect a portion of performance fee and merch sales in exchange for tour support. I'd love to see what would happen if I spent a million dollars on marketing but I know that free internet work and word of mouth will achieve the same result (perhaps in more time, perhaps in less time, depending on the artist!).

What is the best part about having a record contract?

Other people who are not you doing stuff for you.

The worst?

Other people who are not you wrecking your life with their bad ideas because they'll never be as invested in your life as you are.

What is the best part about being an independent musician?

Complete, utter honesty. Nothing is contrived, fake or pre-fabricated. You control your own destiny.

The hardest?

Finding the time. Most split the musical and promotional sides unevenly. In my case, I don't create nearly as much as I used to.

Do you agree that record labels are becoming a thing of the past with all of the new production technology and networking tools?

I sure hope so! It's a silly platform and a dying era. The sooner you realize that no one is going to save you, the more likely you are to have a team of people who actually LOVE you (and aren't just getting paid to) helping you to fulfill your dreams.

Hate Is A Strong Word

2009-07-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so pissed.

Not drunk, just uber angry. haha is that even english. What the hell did I just say.

I hate the music industry.

I fucking HAAAATE it.

There, I said it.

I LUCKILY, as luck would have it, have been fortunate enough to live the majority of my life off the map, out of the claws of these people. I don't want you to make money off me. Stop coming to my shows. There, I said it.

:P <--- ptttt!

One of those days

2009-07-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those really, really cool days.

After last night's show at Room 5, we decided to take it easy and sleep in. And I mean SLEEEEEEP INNNN. We were on our second round of getting up for water/bathroom break and then going back to bed when our producer friend Phil X gave us a call and said "Come swim in my pool!"

OK!!! :D

For the first time in my sun-phobic life, I actually went in the sun without sunscreen on most of my body. I still rocked 50spf on my face and lower arms (which have been getting lots of sun and, as a result, sun has been sneaking through my regular daily application of 15spf) but I let the rest of me feel the hot hot heat sans screen. I LOVE the sun. I am not one of those people who "works on my tan" even though I LOVE sitting in the sun. The hotter, the better. That's actually one of my favourite things about California...the heat. But, I'm actually very afraid of the sun (even though I love it), and worry constantly about my chances of getting cancer (there is a lot of it in the family). Anyway, it felt great and I was only out in hotness for about 10 minutes (I know, that's long enough).

While we were hanging out in the pool/sun, Phil's wife and her crew started rehearsing. It's the coolest thing you've ever seen...that total Cirque De Soleil hanging dangly biz, spinnin around and whatnot from great heights. Very cool to look over and see while you're swimmin around!!!

Then we headed home so I could get ready for band practice with Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo. When I was much younger, Letters to Cleo were on a few movie compilations I happened to own and thus, became a fan. Kay and her husband Michael are also responsible for most of the music in the Josie and the Pussycats movie. I learned my little vocal harmonies and casio keyboard part, threw on some make up and it was off to rehearse!

A psychic once told me I would work with people I only dreamed of working with but I consistently work with people I NEVER dreamed of working with (as in, I couldn't even imagine some of this shit). Anyway, it was super cool to sit in on a band practice and sing with Kay Hanley, the voice of Letters to Cleo and Josie and the Pussycats for a tune :)

Now, we're off to the Viper Room!

Why can't all days be like this.

Random Me Fact of the Day: Although some may not perceive me as particularly girly, I constantly wrestle between having nails or, playing guitar ;)

Shy

2009-07-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

A lil something about myself for the day:

I am incredibly shy.

I have always been incredibly shy.

I remember being hungry at my little brother's hockey game once, and my mom said I could have anything I wanted, if I just went up and paid for it myself.

I stayed hungry until we got home.

Oh ya, I played a show tonight. How am I able to sing/perform in front of people, and yet I can barely speak to a crowd of more than 2? Even if at a house party, or in my living room, it is far more uncomfortable for me to play in what some might deem a way more comfortable setting (such as in my own home), then it is to play a random stage somewhere. I love small intimate shows but I HATE being at a party or something and someone handing me a guitar and saying "Hey play a song!" Normally I just flat our refuse. Too shy!!!

Bee For A Day

2009-07-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I was a bee.

This is not a joke, and I have pictures (and video) to prove it.

Some friends of mine started this thing called ClickBee and if you've ever bought anything online, you have got to check them out. If you've never bought anything online, it's time you started...it reduces emissions by 35%, saves you time and now, you get cash back every time you buy something.

Basically, anytime you buy anything online, you save money and get it back in the form of cash. So, every time you buy anything at all, from clothes to diapers to movies to books to guitar string to songs on iTunes, they send you a check in the mail.

It works on the same principle as Amazon except for that in Amazon's case, they keep all the money. With these guys, you get it all back.

Some of the stores give you up to 25% back (some as much as 40%) and if you start switching to shopping online more and more, it's crazy how much money you save. Also, it feels pretty good to get a check in the mail instead of a bill.

The best part, though, is all the stores you can save money at. They have over 2,000, everything from Best Buy, Target, Macy's, iTunes, Guitar Center...the list just goes on and on. Imagine if everytime you went to buy a DVD, toilet paper, socks, music...anything at all, imagine getting up to 25% cash back.

Anyways, I really believe in these guys and not only did they build a great site that's been saving us a ton of cash but they're also great people too, with a tiny adorable daughter that I adore to bits. And, they let me be a bee for a day :)

Visit them at http://www.ClickBee.net and enter this code to join for free:

bpcb25

The ClickBeeMobile!

Look! I'm a bee! :D

View more photos from this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostcause/3687931515/

Epic News! New Billy the Kid Facebook!!! :D

2009-07-02T16:50:00.001-07:00

Epic Epic News!!! :D

I complained to Facebook and they let me have http://www.facebook.com/billythekid !!

I'm in shock!!! I really didn't think it would work, but it did! The squeaky wheel gets the grease hey ;)

hiking

2009-07-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

Finally!

I got to go hiking!!!

Runyon Canyon...it only takes a few hours but it's beautiful. You can see all of L.A. and it's minutes away from Hollywood (another great tourist-y type adventure is the Best View In the City horseback trails...check em out if you're ever in the area!!!)

After hiking we went to Real Food Daily, a place which is fast becoming on of my favourite vegan joints in the area. They have every dessert ever...but vegan!!! :D

I drank 2 extremely dark and extremely tasty beers then strolled around Venice for the remainder of the eve. It's fun to be a tourist :)

More Photos Here

Evolution

2009-07-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a soggy snot rag again.
What is it with me and illness.
This re-re-occuring ailment is ruining my life! Can't sing, write, play, run, taste, breath...ugh.
Before I had this sore throat thing, thought it was strep. Then I got totally better. Now I have like, a head cold, or some junk.
Anyway. Enough about my sick, gross-ness.
Yesterday, amidst my snottiness, I went on my first California hike at Runyon Canyon. Being in the heat actually made me feel better. By the time I got home, I was barely snotty and actually thought: "Hey! I think I'm on the mend! :D"
Hiking was followed by food which was followed by a walk at Venice beach which was followed by a trip to the salt water hot tub in the backyard. After that, more food and a couple movies, one being Baraka, which I hadn't seen since high school. It's one of those movies that doesn't say anything, but says SO much. I have been thinking all day because of it. There is no plot, no movie stars...just shots of this planet and the people on it. The theme seemed to be religion, or at least how people find/worship/speak to God. Intensely interesting. Amidst the global look at culture and worship, glorious panoramic views of the Earth and all it has to offer were dispersed amongst shots of crowded subways, traffic, assembly lines and even factory farming. It made me think of humans as somewhat of a plague...just ruining all that is around us and getting so far away from any natural beauty that we at one point possessed (in my opinion the Buddhists and Indian cultures seem to know what is up the most). Then you see these primitive tribes, existing naturally and living happy and healthy lives. Where did we go wrong? Are we really evolving?
Sometimes I can't tell.

Random Me Fact of the Day: I was the last peron in my neighbourhood to learn how to ride a bike. True story.

Interview, Blog, Shows

2009-06-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

New Billy the Kid Interview c/o our friends over at Animal Nation Doesn't Know Anything.

Don't forget to check out Billy's upcoming shows, July 8th at Room 5 in Los Angeles and July 28th at The Troubadour with Our Lady Peace. If you're in Vancouver there will be an August 11th show as well, we'll keep ya posted as details arrive.

Lots of blogs, photos and updates over at BillyTheKidBlog.com. If you're a Blogger user, sign up as a friend and feel free to leave any comments and questions :)

The Truth

2009-06-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

Was thinking that maybe you come here to find out a little something about me every so often. Found this and figured, why not. I've never done one of these things. This one seems to cover all the basis. Enjoy, if you care :)

001. Real name → Billy the Kid (duh)
002. Nickname(s) → Billabong, William, Bill, Billster, Billamina, BTK, Billiard
003. Status → Severly taken
004. Zodiac sign → Aquarius
005. Male or female → Girl
006. Elementary → Hjorth Road then Riverdale
007. Middle School → Len Shepherd
008. High School → Tamanawis, Elgin, Langley Fine Arts
009. Eye Color → Change-y. Green-y gray.
010. Hair Color → Brown
011. Tall or Short → Short
012. Loud or Quiet→ Sometimes very quiet, sometimes very loud
013. Sweats or Jeans → Sweats :)
014. Phone or Camera → Phone
015. Health freak → Kind of...vegan :)
016. Clothing Style → Ex-punk folk gurl
017. Do you have a crush on someone? → Randall Cooke
018. Eat or Drink → both! lots :P
019. Piercings → 7 ear
020. Tattoos → My body is one huge tattoo in progress
021. Water or Fire? → Water!!!
022. Love of your life or 4 Billion Dollars → love of my life

FIRSTS:
023. First fear → Slow motion zombie nightmare
024. First best friend → Scott Sproxton
025. First award → T-shirt that said "I read over 700 books" (it was actually more like 900 but whatever)
026. First crush → Darren something-or-other...grade one
027. First pet → Cats, Jack and Jill (creative, I know)
028. First big vacation → Disneyland
029. First big birthday → The first birthday I remember was at Chuckie Cheese
030. First kiss → Grade one. See: First Crush ;)

FAVORITES:
031. Food → Today it's vegan beet tartare at Madeleine's in L.A. (all vegan gourmet...amazing)
032. Person → Randall Cooke
033. Color → Black
034. Sport/Team → Lost Causers
035. Country → Canada
036. Actor/Actress → I like them all equally.
037. Music → Ryan Adams
038. Movie → Today it's Up
039. Scent → Randall Cooke

ABSOLUTELY HATE:
040. Food → all things dead
041. Person → no comment
042. Color → I am the least fond of orange, but I certainly don't hate it.
043. Sport/Team → None.
044. Country → no comment (for fear of being bombed)
045. Actor/Actress → paris hilton
046. Music → paris hilton
047. Movie → There are many truly bad movies but I'd still rather watch one of those than most things on television
048. Scent → New tar roof

CURRENTLY:
049. Eating → nothing
050. Drinking → tea
051. Talking to → no one
052. Thinking about → never you mind!
053. Listening to → new five for fighting leaking through Randy's headphones as he charts for a session tomorrow. Other sounds include: The sound of a pencil scribbling on paper, his tapping and funny sounds that come out of him when he is concentrating/counting.
054. Plans for today → Watch a couple Robot Chicken on the ol' DVR then pass out!
055. Waiting for → Randy to be done and come over here so we can get our Robot Chicken on!

YOUR FUTURE:
056. House → I hope!
057. Car → Dream car is '57 Belair
058. Want kids? → no
059. Want to get married? → no
060. how many kids do you want → 0
061. any name on the mind → Dylan
062. what did you want to be when you were little → veterinarian
063. what did you think you’ll be doing in 5 years → hopefully on tour. Realistically probably working some shit job though :S
064. mellow future or wild → totally wild to begin with and then extremely mellow
066. something you would never try → cheating on Randall
067. when do you wanna die → Before Randall does

WHICH IS BETTER FOR A BOY:
068. Lips or eyes → both.
069. Shorter or taller? → Taller
070. Long or short hair → short (!!!!)
071. Romantic or spontaneous → BOTH
072. Nice stomach or nice arms → Arms
073. Sensitive or loud → sensitive
074. Hook-up or relationship → relationship
075. Trouble maker or hesitant → trouble maker

EMBARRASSING:
076. Had your pants rip in public → I was hopping a fence with Matt Dander on tour once does that count?
077. Peed your pants in public → nope
078. Talked to someone you thought you recognized but it wasn't them → My life story
079. Tripped and fallen on stairs/escalator/hallways/etc.. in public → always

HAVE YOU EVER:
080. Lost glasses/contacts → YES. Once out a moving vehicle on tour. Spent hours trying to find on side of highway. No dice.
081. Ran away from home → Many times.
082. Hold a gun/knife for self defense → no
083. Killed somebody → no
084. Been heartbroken → yes
085. Been arrested → no
086. Been drunk/high → yes
087. Cried when someone died → yeah
088. Kissed on the first date → yeah

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
089. Yourself → sometimes
090. Miracles → sometimes
091. Love at first sight → sometimes
092. Heaven → no
093. Santa Claus → no
094. Sex on the first date → no
095. Kiss on the first date → yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
096. Is there something you wish you could change about yourself → my metabolism
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now → I'm with him
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life → no
099. Do you believe in God → sometimes

To Bowl

2009-06-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

Today I will attempt bowling for the third time.

I will also attempt to be not completely bummed out when I score very low and most of my turns ending up in the gutter.

Maybe You Didn't Know... After baseball, gymnastics, piano lessons, guitar lessons, tae kwon do, figure skating and swimming, I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up nor do I have any skills relevant to any sort of job whatsoever.

Cakes n Coasters

2009-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a fun day. The funnest day in a while.

Tamar's in town. I met Tamar for the first time while shooting the (upcoming, soon to be released) music video for These City Lights. Tamar is down here for a cool make-up conference and after spending the weekend learning about prosthetics, latex and all kinds of crazy special effects makeups things, we spent the day in Santa Monica and Venice.

For all the times I have walked around the Santa Monica pier today was the first day I went on the roller coaster. It wasn't all that good but, ya gotta do it once in your life yknow? My photographer buddy Aaron Schwartz (who was also at the These City Lights shoot) is supposed to come down next month to coaster hop with me for a few days so I wasn't too worried about it. I did, however, have a fantastic time on the Scrambler. Every time the ride went around, a "Weeee!" escaped from my lungs, like the sound you make when you're five and on a swing. After awhie we weren't sure if we were laughing from the ride of the "weeeee!" Either way, there was giggling the whole ride through.

Then we walked to Venice (which I had no idea was that close to Santa Monica). It was a beautiful day and a ton of interesting people watching went down. Oh! I almost forget the most important part...before these adventures we lunched at Real Food Daily and split Salisbury Seitan (with vegan gravy and mashed potatoes oh boy) and a Mexican Enchilada type dish followed by (vegan, of course) coconut cream pie and peanut butter chocolate pie. And then a cookie. To go.

Random Fact: I have not done anything productive for about a week now.

Sick

2009-06-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Oh to be ill.

The moping, the coughing, sneezing, snot, no energy. sore throat.

Not singing. Not doing much of anything, really.

So far I have seen Into the Wild, JFK, W., Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Idiocracy and about a million episodes of Robot Chicken. Healing. More on this later.

Thing you maybe didn't know about me: Sometimes I fall asleep with my arms over my head and I wake up in the middle of the night thinking that my arms have been stolen in my sleep.

Shows

2009-06-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today's Question:

"how many songs have you written for acoustic guitar that you perform?

do you usually play by yourself, just with a guitar & singing? how often are you play with a back-up band, with drums & bass etc.?"

I just looked at my iPod and apparently I have 101 demos. Some of these are probably duplicates and some are likely songs that ended up being Billy and the Lost Boys songs but at any rate, I really only play about 10 of them live!

I've been playing shows with a band lately but it really all depends on the show. Last Thursday at the Hotel Cafe I did the first half of the set by myself (which allows me to play songs that are new or that I don't have recordings of) then the band came and joined in for the rest. I've been super fortunate to play with some uber talented musicians lately...it sure adds a lot to the live sound to have a great backup band. I like the idea of playing a bit alone and then adding musicians. Sonically it changes things up and if people aren't really in to one, hopefully they will be in to the other.

On Thursday, Randy (who has payed with the likes of Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart, Chantal Kreviazuk, Kelly Clarkson, Five For Fighting and Raine Maida's solo project) played a cajone (this cool box thing you sit on) and a bunch of percussion stuff...he has a tambourine hooked up to a kick pedal so he can be playing a beat on the cajone, shaking a shaker, and then on the backbeat hit the tambo. It's super cool! Andrew Doolittle played some ambient guitar stuff (what I like to call Whale Sounds) and Joe Karnes from Pedestrian was on bass this time around. My last show at Hotel Cafe we had Ben Peeler from the Wallflower/Jakob Dylan on guitar and Eric Holden from Five For Fighting and Josh Groban on bass. When in Vancouver, I try to steal Sarah Mclachlan's band. If they're not around to do it I just play by myself ;)

Random Fact of the Day: I feel as if my best songs were the result of not writing anything down or picking up an instrument. I would just have something stuck in my head and make up words as the day passed. By the time I picked up a guitar, I already knew how the song went and just had to figure out how to play it.

Bowling at Pinz:

Ask Billy + New Videos

2009-06-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

I've been answering reader questions every day on the blog...head on over and feel free to leave a question or comment.

Also, got a new YouTube page. Just posted some shorts videos of recording with Raine Maida and Steve Mazur from Our Lady Peace, as well as my All Time Favourite Recording Moment with Stan Behrens. Head on over to http://www.youtube.com/billythekidofficial and don't forget to become a Subscriber so you can be up to date on the latest vids as they are posted.

Thanks for your comments,

Billy the Kid

My All Time Favourite Recording Moment Ever

2009-06-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

Love the look on Raine's face. You can tell we're freaking out, internally.

Home Recording

2009-06-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

This from Zimmy:

what kind of computer & programs do you think are good for self-recording? i listened to 'catastrophe' just now (the version you put back up). it sounds really good!! it always did. what did you use to record it? can you easily self-produce stuff with drums/electric guitar/bass as well? or is that too difficult for getting a proper sound? (sorry that the question is so technical!)

I use Protools and an MBox Mini to do all my demos. It only has a few inputs, which is all I need for laying down an idea. There are lots of similar programs, I know Mac computers come with Garageband and lots of people use software such as Reason etc.

When I'm doing stuff with a full band (like the new Billy and the Lost Boys album) I have access to a studio with a great live room that has drums and amps and stuff when I'm in L.A. but I know from experience (and 4 albums) that not everyone has this luxury. There are lots of ways to build your track with or without studio access.

Stuff like guitar and bass you can do "in the box", meaning that if you live in an apartment or place where you can't make a ton of noise, you just plug your instrument into your MBox/Digi002 etc and that goes in to your computer. Easy. There are a lot of programs to make beats with (or, just borrow beats until you can get yourself a real drummer) and I see a lot of people doing it this way when they're in the demo stage. It's great for playing along to, getting ideas and doing pre-production. Then you can email the track to a drummer who has access to a studio or book yourself a room for a few days.

If you're doing the home recording thing (a lot of bands book studio time for drums and bass and then do things like guitars and vocals in the comfort of their home in order to save money and be able to take their time) then I would recommend one thing: invest in a good condensor mic. When I was researching what to buy I found a great used mic that was the same cost of a new one and I think that's helped me get half decent vocal and acoustic guitar sounds in my crappy little concrete apartment.

Does that help at all?

Random Billy Fact of the Day Number 19: Two years ago I had never recorded anything on my own in my life. Now I'm working on an album where I'm producing, engineering and playing everything on my own except drums. How did this happen? I bought a couple books and spent hours trying to figure out how!

Fun In The Sun

2009-06-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

This from Desi:

I really like reading your blogs, Billy.

I also have some questions for you! My little brother is in school at OIART right now, and in September us two Saskatchewan kids are getting in my car and driving to California! Do you have any tips on the most fun things ever to do there.... or also things for a dude who wants to work in the sound/music industry there someday to check out?

Why thank you Desi :) It likes you too.

That is so exciting! California is my favourite place in the world right now. How long are you in town? You gotta do all the "tourist-y" stuff, especially if you never been here. There's Disneyland, California Adventure (still Disney, but more roller coaster type things), The Santa Monica Pier, The Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Sign and the Sunset Strip to name just a few. If you're in to shopping there's Melrose Ave, 4th Street Promanade, The Grove and so much more.

There will likely be a ton of concerts going on (if you're in to that) and a million fantastical places to dine...my all time favourite (vegan) restaurants are all in California. My advice would be to go to some shows, check out some bands and just start meeting and talking to people. There are a few recording schools here that may have some guest speakers or performances too. So much to do, I'm sure there are a million things I am forgetting :)

Something About Me You Maybe Didn't Know Day 18: In preschool I wanted to be a cat when I grew up. In elementary school I wanted to be a vet. In high school I wanted to be a music teacher. In University I wanted to be an English teacher. Now, I don't want to grow up.

Playing To A Crowd of No One

2009-06-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Zimmy asks:

- i have a question: have you ever played to a crowd of people & just thought, 'wow ... nobody really listened to that' - how do you keep going when you get a bland reaction like that -- after you've poured out your heart & soul? what keeps you going & makes you feel excited about it?

Haha. Why yes indeed!!!

This type of situation is inevitable when you're an average sized person in a big-ish sized room armed with only a guitar. Things like venue, sound system, sound dude, other bands on the bill/crowd in attendance can make or break the show. That is, if you let it get to you.

Somewhere along the line I realized that any opportunity I get to play in front of anyone, I should be grateful for. Whether there are two of you or two thousand, you will see the same show. This happens (in my case, at least) because I have this theory: I would be at home, alone, doing pretty much the same thing anyway, so the fact that I'm here, and we're in this together, is a total bonus.

I have been lucky enough to play shows where not a single person in the audience uttered one word for the whole set. I have also played shows where it seemed like just about everyone talked the whole way through. To quote a wise prophet and paraphrase just a bit, Performing Live Is Like A Box Of Chocolates...You Never Know What You're Going to Get.

I always make it my mission, manifesto and code of conduct to battle my way through any tough audience. It is my goal to get at least one talk-y person to lend me their ears for a half hour or so. Sometimes, the results of this are astonishing, and somehow, everyone in the room starts acting like they're enjoying themselves or something! Sometimes you just fight and fight the whole way through, but then someone comes up and tells you they were impressed by how you handled everyone talking and it makes it all worthwhile. This is why I sometimes play with a band...then I'm not as quiet ;)

Random Fact 17: I have lived in 3 group homes, 3 foster homes and with many, many kind friends and relatives.

Question Two

2009-06-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

This from Chris Kettleson:

"I am kinda of a folky, acoustic, alt pop kinda person... I play my own music and stuff but I was just wondering how did you manage to get your first break?"

Hmmm...first break huh. I guess that depends on what one would consider a "first break"...

Was my first break the all ages show I played with my punk rock bank The Blue Collar Bullets? Was it the time that Billy Bones from Teenage Rampage Records (and now, Sparrow Guitars) offered to put out my first album? Or did the "lucky breaks" only start when I started flying around places and working with people I looked up to?

Perspective.

That is what I am naming my new album, by the way.

They say it takes ten years to make an overnight success.

I am by no means an overnight success but if you talk to anyone on the other side of Living Off Music they will most likely agree with this concept. In the ten years that I've been playing all ages punk rock shows, learning how to manage a band and record company and driving all over the damn places cause I love music, it's been a series of small breaks. You never know where the next one is going to lead you, and sometimes even the not-so-lucky breaks turn out to the be the best thing that could have happened.

I find it incredibly cheesy when someone asks for advice and all they're given is "Just Keep Up the Good Work!" or "Follow Your Dreams Kid!", "Never Give Up!" Sure, this is good advice if you're already on the other side, but it doesn't TELL you a damn thing. I'm not on the "other side" but I swore if anyone asked me for advice I would be truthful. In my opinion, the best thing you can do for your music is WORK.

Work.

1. Get a good paying job, or find a skill that sets you up every time you come back from tour unemployed (fork lift driver, cook, construction...anything, regardless of whether you like it or an interested in it at all.) If you can hack it, get two jobs...you're going to need the money.

2. Put all your money in to your band. Merch, tour, a van, posters, gear...you're going to need stuff that will stand the test of time cause Lord knows when you'll be able to afford it again! Look at your life and analyze where you spend your money and see what you can/are willing to live without.

3. Build up as much credit as you can. Get as many credit cards as you can. Take out a loan. This could potentially be the worst advice anyone could ever give you but the fact of the matter is this: You never know when your "Big Break" might come, and wouldn't it be a shame to miss it because you don't have any money to do that big tour, fly to that cool studio to record or do a new run of merch cause you just got added to Warped Tour?

4. Learn everything. Everything. If you think you know half of anything, you're wrong. Learn how to book a tour, settle a show, run a publicity campaign, follow up with radio, build a mailing list, market online, record yourself, write songs...any thing Music OR Music BUSINESS related...You Need To Know It.

5. Start working. Yep, as if you didn't think you ere working enough cause you're exhausted from your two jobs, trying to book a tour and make it to band practice without falling asleep on the bus, now it's time to really work. Every second you are awake, there is something you could be doing for your music. Whether it's writing, recording demos or getting better at your instrument, there is always, ALWAYS something that you could/should be doing for your music if you're serious about it. Every time you sit down in front of the T.V., pick up your guitar. On your lunch break, read music industry books and write lyrics. In the car while driving plan your new album artwork. See? It never ends.

Did that help at all?

Random Fact 16: I've been keeping a scrap book of every article, interview or review that has ever been done about me since I was 16. I also keep every piece of mail I've ever been sent. Once for my birthday Dana gave me a $20 bill with a thank you note written on it and I still have it. It reminds me that no matter what, the sentiment was more valuable than the money. Always.

Question One

2009-06-10T19:19:00.001-07:00

This question hot off the press courtesy of THE BEEZE:

I've got a question, or two...

What is your favorite song of all time?

Who are your biggest musical influences?

ALL TIME!?!?!?

I ONLY GET ONE!?!?!?

gosh.

Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen. I have listened to it about a million times.
Other tunes on the all time top listening list include:
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
Joleen - Ray Lamontagne
Oh My God, Whatever, Etc - Ryan Adams (actually, everything by Ryan Adams)

Biggest musical influences? Hmmm. Much the same of the all time favourite song list... The Band, Neil Young, Dylan, Springsteen, Kathleen Edwards, Ray Lamontagne and Ryan Adams for sure. Musically, that is ;)

Random Fact 15: I hate listening to my own music. In fact, I can't even be in the same room with someone if my music is playing. This includes recording. I'm incredibly shy.

PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS

2009-06-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Resolution Promotional photos.
"Save Link As..."

A Question

2009-06-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Anything you want to ask me?

Got a question, problem or concern?

Ask away! :)

Random Billy Fact 14: I love sending you mail

Win A Prize, Get A Thing, See A Show

2009-06-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang.

Couple things...playing some shows, including Tomorrow at the Hotel Cafe and July 28th with Our Lady Peace at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Details attached, please let me know if you're able to make it.

So, I got this new website, and I had an idea (stop me if you've heard this): If you put a link to the new site http://www.BillytheKidOnline.com on your Facebook, Myspace, Blog, Website etc., I will send you a signed promo photo and/or thank thank you letter. Just let me know where you've put the link and where to send you your mail.

Lots of new merch including hats, bags, aprons, key chains, mugs, beer steins and dog shirts at http://www.zazzle.com/billythekidlost

I'm in the studio working on some new Billy and the Lost Boys tunes as well as some new Billy the Kid material. If you want to keep up to date on the struggles of producing, engineering, writing and recording your own album (a first for me!) follow my blog at http://www.BillytheKidBlog.com

Last but not least: I'm thinking of starting a Video Blog. Anything you'd like to know or any questions you might have for me?

Thank you so much for your support...love you to bits.

-Billy the Kid
http://www.reverbnation.com/bilythekid
http://www.twitter.com/billypettinger
http://www.myspace.com/billythekid

Happy Tears

2009-06-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty overwhelmed today.

Not in a bad way. No, not at all.

I put up this thing... a thing that says "if you put a link to my new site www.billythekidonline.com on your blog, forums, facebook, myspace, website, etc I will mail you either a hand written thank you letter or a signed promo photo."

I honestly expected about 2 people to sing up for this endeavor. But now, I'm really overwhelmed.

Everything from car blogs to toy blogs, you guys are out there spreading the word. It makes a little happy tear go to the corner of my eye and try to bust out, but I say "No! You Will Not Escape The Confines of My Eye! Stay In The Eye, Happy Tear!"

I know awhile back I said I was going to try and blog every day. Some days though, I feel like I have nothing decent to say. Sure I could think of something, but why drag (the two) people reading this in to how my brain works some days.

Most of the time, I'm as happy as I could possibly be. The fact of the matter is, though, I'm still just trying to get by and this music thing is just struggle after struggle. I mean, I got some good things going, some new plans in the works, and my future is looking like it just might turn out ok. But right now we're in the trenches people. Contracts, meetings and trying to spread the word about my music takes up my day so that I rarely have time to do my fav. thing which is create.

In case you wanted to know my day-to-day these days, it mainly consists of planning and executing ways to inform new potential fans that I exist. I know this sounds ridiculous, but this is really the only way I live. And, I am the only person I have helping me. Sure, I have a producer, my family and the love of my life are extremely supportive, but when it comes down to "marketing", it's just me and this MacBook that I am now writing on. Whereas some people who have been playing music, touring, recording and creating for as long as I have likely have some type of management, booking agent, record label, publicist or internet marketing help, I have: Me.

Don't get me wrong, I am certainly not complaining. This is the path I chose, and most of the time, I prefer it this way. I guess I'm kind of a "lone wolf". "Doesn't play well with others" heh heh. The bottom lines is that my life, my music and the portrayal thereof is extremely important to me and I can't stand people screwing that up and/or trying to capitalize on it. I'm just a kid who really liked making music, and most of the time I have my head on straight enough to realize that everything else is just a bonus. But in the trenches, it's hard to know when the fighting will end.

That is, until I get an email, a comment, a facebook message...any little sign of life from someone out there that I either know or don't know, telling me that they're out there, they exist, and they're listening. Most of the time I live a pretty solitary existence. You stare at a computer, a console or a highway and see the same couple of people most every day. I don't mind this because I try to surround myself with the best caliber of people imaginable, making it very easy to tolerate them for extended periods of time ;)

But it does get lonely. Every time you guys reach out to me, or show your support, or I get an email saying "You Have A New Order", you don't know how happy it makes me. I actually smile every single time. And it doesn't have anything to do with money. It doesn't have anything to do with "success" (which is a perspective driven definition, in my opinion) or "fame" (which I don't believe in anyway). It's just the feeling that there is someone else out there, like me, and we're in this together. Lost.

Forever,
Billy the Kid

Random Fact 13: My first car was a 1965 Valiant that my foster dad gave me. It was the car that got be to band practice and shows for years. It was also the car that got my foster dad to his band practices and shows for years.

Contest

2009-06-06T11:41:00.001-07:00

CONTEST:

If you put a link to my website (http://www.billythekidoneline.com or http://www.billythekidblog.com) on your blog, facebook, myspace or website, I will mail you a handwritten thank you letter OR a signed promo photo (your choice). Just send me where you've posted the link and you're address and keep an eye on yr mail! :)

Thanks,

Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid - New Merch

2009-06-05T11:52:00.001-07:00

Hey guys!

Just wanted to let you know I have some cool new merch items for sale...if you head on over to the Billy the Kid Zazzle page you will find Billy the Kid Mugs, Lost Records mugs and Trucker hats.

I'm just wondering...are there any other merch items you guys would like to see? If so, please add a comment to this post. I'd love to know your ideas!

I have two shows coming up in L.A. posted in the shows section, let me know if you can make it out and I'll keep an eye out for ya :)

All the best,

Billy the Kid
http://www.twitter.com/billypettinger
http://www.myspace.com/billythekid

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Stan, Anvil, Tofu Scramble

2009-06-02T15:16:00.001-07:00

The other day I went to Venice Beach for the first time.

I went to Venice to hang out with a living legend by the name of Stan "The Baron" Behrens. I met Stan (like many of my favourite people on this planet) because of a certain producer named Raine Maida. Raine had already called Randy Cooke and Joe Karnes in to do the session and while recording, we started talking about getting a harmonica player for a couple tracks. Joe recommended Stan, and the rest is history.

Stan grew up in New York and has played with the likes of Willie Dixon, Canned Heat, Ruth Brown...he's even on a Four Tops record! You can also hear him in the T.V. show "My Name Is Earl" (among others). Stan is a supremely talented multi-instrumentalist and we had a blast walking around (and over) the canals of Venice while catching up (the guy has a million amazing stories...and such a sweet man).

Yesterday I wrapped up the last of the electric guitars for the firs batch of Billy and the Lost Boys tunes. I finally owned up to the fact that, left to my own devices, I will take all day to get ONE guitar sound. So, we asked a friend to come in and help for a few hours. Being on the clock and having a little input turned out to be exactly what I needed. I finished everything in about 6 hours and then it was off to see Anvil: The Movie followed by a very special performance by Anvil: The Band! (followed by Tofu Scramble at Swinger's Restaurant. Yum.)

Little Known Fact Day 12: I have been listening to nothing but Ryan Adams records for two months straight

New

2009-05-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

What is creation?

What does it mean to create something?

For that matter, what's a song? What is your art? How do you know when it's done and what makes you decide it's good enough?

I've had some "technical difficulties" in the midst of creating. I realize this is a necessary evil... a part of the equation when it comes to creation. As humans we strive for fluidity, some sort of cohesiveness to our existence, but the nature of life is the complete opposite. Chaos, unrest, ever-changing and doomed to collapse.

This is the way buddhists see it, at any rate. Don't they seem to have something figured out? Their take on this whole mess of life is that it is the nature of our reality to fall apart. The sooner we accept that, the closer we will be to Nirvana (not the band. ok maybe...eventually).

It's thinking in circles like this that brings me a standstill. I once read that Kerouac and his gang of N'er Do Wells would talk each other in and out of this Stand Still. You start thinking of every thing as equal, fluid, transitional, ever changing and never the same, in the grand scheme of things (technically), inconsequential. Eventually, you cannot help but ask: What is the point?

Creating.

Or is it?

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one hears your damn album, was it really worth cutting it down so you could feel better about your life for 19 minutes?

more on this later.

Little known fact day 11: I keep less than 5% of what I write/create

Blog blog blog blog blog blog blog blog blog blooooog

2009-05-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know I have been blogging every day for over a week? Head on over to the blog section or http://www.billythekidblog.com and check out my life heh heh.

Love,

Billy the Kid

Gearing Up

2009-05-25T14:36:00.001-07:00

Guy from Five For Fighting is recording in the studio right now. He just came out and said hi...nice guy.

I'm sitting in the backyard contemplating arrangements and lyrics for upcoming tunes. These upcoming tunes are actually old tunes that I've put on hold for the last year as I focused on creating and releasing my first solo album The Lost Cause. I'll always have rock in my blood...and I'll always have those folk-y slow songs comin' out of me too. I like doing both things. Actually, I like doing lots of things. My mind wanders easily and the more I have on my plate the less time I have to be distracted.

Tomorrow I start finishing the new Billy and the Lost Boys album. Don't get me wrong, it's a long way away for even being CLOSE to done, but at least I'll begin the last of the vocals and guitar of the first batch of tunes. Then we'll start drums etc. for the next batch. I'm planning to spend most of my summer doing this (or at least whenever the studio is free) and I'm hoping that by the time I go back to Canada I'll have something to consider releasing.

I also have to start working on an exclusive track for the Swim Drink Fish Music people who so kindly asked to include me in their next compilation CD (past/present contributors include Broken Social Scene, Bruce Cockburn, Gord Downie, Pete Seeger, Stars, Sarah Harmer, Great Lake Swimmers and Wintersleep).

Then it's off to Raine's to finish mixing the rest of the songs on his had drive from the last time I was in town. I cannot begin to express how much I am looking forward to doing something, ANYThing even closely related to music. After I got back from that tour in March I've barely played a single note let alone a show. Anyway...here's to the future :)

It Is Highly Unlikely That Anyone Knows The Following Day 10: When I was a kid I was in Tae Kwon Do and was the only person to ever "skip" a whole belt. I went from green right to red. Did that make me any more of a superb ninja? No.

I Like...Bowling!??!

2009-05-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today started out with my regular ol' jaunt to the gym. Did I mention I'm learning how to box???

Randy was tracking all day so I sat out in the sun and felt like a degenerate for a bit before joining him in the studio. Take your Girlfriend to Work Day is FUN! Here are some shots from Behind the Scenes:

After Take Your Girlfriend to Work Day we went bowling at Jerry's Diner with producer Phil X, his wife and their two friends.

I will not lie...it started out disastrous. The last time I had been bowling I was likely in grade school and I had no concept of how in the world to do this crazy bowling thing.

I got 6 gutter balls in a row.

But, with everyone's support, encouragement and tips, by the next game I got 2 strikes and a couple Whatever That Thing Is Called That's Not A Strike But It's Still Pretty Good.

Check this little guy out...does he look like he hates his job or what!?!?

Here's one of Randy being So Good At Bowling. Not fair!!!

Little Known Fact Day 9: Sometimes I have writer's block for a year at a time. This is one of those years.

Topanga Days and Crazy Cactus Park

2009-05-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the beach, came home and got fold out chairs to sit in the sun on, had thai in our beautiful backyard and drank wine to my favorite movie (not telling...too terribly cheesy to admit to hehe)

Today Randy played Topanga Days in beautiful Topanga. Right before he went on, Blood Sweat and Tears played all their classic tunes... we watched a bit of their set from backstage then went on a bit of an adventure. It was great to see a band from so close that I remember listening to all the time in my '65 Valiant that only had AM Radio and one mom speaker on the dash (and thus, only blasted oldies radio).

In the band was Joe Karnes who played bass on my album The Lost Cause. Joe's such a great guy to have in a band...you can tell he really understands music and not only is he a great player but he's a great guy too. Him and Randy make for a wicked rhythm section.

Right after they played we zipped down the mountain and made a stop in Crazy Cactus Park. Ok so that's not what it is actually called but it should be! :)

**For way more pictures like this tune in to my Flickr Account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostcause/**

Little Known Fact Day 8: I'm growing my hair for http://www.lockoflove.org and after having short hair for most of my life, it turns out that my hair is curly!!! I had no idea.

Papers

2009-05-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened.

Today a little something arrived in my inbox that I have been hoping and praying for my whole life.

A Licensing Deal!!! :D

I'm so excited about working with this company...they've placed songs in movies like Milk, An Inconvenient Truth, Boogie Nights, Underworld and shows like Californication and Dexter.

Another great something arrived today...the rough draft of my support letters to get my O-1 Visa!!!

Not to be all depress-io but for the last couple months for me have not been so awesome. I won't lie. It's been a lot of Not Sunshine, Not Palm Trees, and Not Randy...and I didn't like it one bit. See, because I'm not an Amurcan (pronounce as spelled), I cannot legally reside in the Amurca (southern spin on pronouncing "American"). I cannot work, play or reside here for any extended amount of time. I love Canada and it will always be my home but I fell in love with California years ago and most importantly, my favourite person in the world lives here and I just can't live so far from him.

So, we collect support letters and a fun time line of everything I've ever done that is music related (boy has that been fun) and before long, I should have my visa! The name of it is "Alien of Extraordinary Ability". HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :P

Daily Something Day 7: After 15 years of dying my hair, I recently discovered that I really like my natural hair color.

A Deal

2009-05-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

The guy from Matchbox 20 is in the studio right now. Randy's tracking drums in the room beside our bed. I can hear everything they're talking about haha.

Last night we had a celebration dinner. It started with beet tartare (beets on a soft crumbly cashew "goat" cheese), was followed by vegan mac and cheese, vegan chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and then vegan bananas foster. Oh and an amazing bottle of Pinot Noir. It was a celebration.

It was a celebration because yesterday I had this really awesome meeting that I'm pretty sure is going to amount to my stuff being in more T.V. shows and movies. I'm supposed to get a contract in my inbox today and then...we wait :)

If you're a songwriter this kind of thing is a huge huge deal and I'll tell you why...getting a song you wrote in a hit T.V. show is a major opportunity, especially in this silly world where labels don't exist and no one is helping anyone anymore. I been perfectly happy with remaining independent but this sort of licensing deal truly is a dream come true, and something that I have wanted for my whole life.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled folks...you may just hear some of my songs in your fav. show one day ;)

Taken while driving to the meeting that could change my life:

Little Known Billy Fact Day 6: In grade two I read over 900 books in less than a year. I got a shirt that says "I read over 700 books" cause they had no idea what number I would be at by the time they printed the shirts. To this day I feel ripped off ;)

Hoping...

2009-05-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

Woke up, went to gym. Ran in one spot for 40 minutes.

Came home, ate food. drove to Beverly Hills to have a meeting with a music licensing dude...here's hoping I can get some tunes in some shows!!! :D

Tonight: Dinner at the World's Greatest Restaurant in the Entire Universe Madeleine Bistro (gourmet all vegan fare in Tarzana).

Signed up for that Fox Vancouver Seeds thing... ranking horribly. I suppose that's an indication that I likely won't win ;)

Little Known Fact About Me Day 5: I have been vegetarian for 15 years and vegan for about 13.

Swan Viper

2009-05-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Tonight we went to the Viper Room! I had never been so I was pretty excited :)

Sierra Swan is a superbly talented songstress who plays guitar, piano and has an AMAZING voice. She's also Billy Swan's daughter and one of Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics) backup singers (that's how I met her).

I really liked the Viper Room! And Sierra played great.

Last night I spent way too long drinking wine in a hot tub and I don't recommend this the night before your first day back at boxing in about a month. That's right, I'm learning how to box. I love it!!! It's a great rush, sooo good for you and just about the best way to stay nice and relaxed throughout your day :) After boxing we did a bit of running around before a fabulous dinner with producer/writer team the Wizardz of Oz at the Cheesecake Factory.

Little Known Fact About Me Day Four: This one time, at band camp...haha just kidding. Kind of...

Did you know that I was a camp counselor for a whole 2 months one summer? I did everything from food prep, "dishing" and camp restoration to looking after a 2 year old and 6 year old (moms and kids camp) and several cabins of kids ages 7-13. It was on beautiful Gambier Island and I'll never forget what a difference being surrounded by water for 2 months made on the ol' psyche.

Sometimes

2009-05-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, life is great.

Isn't it? Isn't life the most unbelievable concept?

Sometimes it seems like life is a sham. On those days it's best to remind yourself that just when it seems like it couldn't get any worse, it always can. And chances are, if you're reading this from a computer (whether it's yours or not), your life is waaaayyyy better than about 89% of the population. This statistic is fact and I did not make it up.

Lately, life is doing just fine over here. See, I'm back in California, and there's just nothing that can bring me down when it is this terribly sunny! Please do not hate me if you are reading this from Canada. I grew up there and it will always be my home but jeeeeeezus enough with the cold already!

Here are a few pics of where I live when I am here:

Here's the studio we live in the back of:

Today we took the Big Black Beast to Johnny Mead's and I watched Randy track some drums for a new artist he's producing. I really like "Take Your Girlfriend to Work Day" :) I nerded out and took a ton of pictures and video. I love watching Randy play drums it's about the best thing in the world as far as I'm concerned. I loved it before we were together and I'll love it for the rest of my days for sure.

Little Known Fact About Me Day Three:

I completed 2 years of University at UCFV in Abbotsford, British Columbia with the intention of becoming a high school teacher and changing people's lives on a daily basis. I stopped going because I got a job at Long and McQuade, was interning at Sudden Death Records (D.O.A.'s label) and playing tons with my political punk band The Blue Collar Bullets. There are still days when I wonder if this was the best decision ;)

Paradise Lost

2009-05-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I fell in love with California.

It was literally within 5 minutes of driving away from LAX Airport in a rental car.

It was January, the sun was shining, the palm trees glistening, and I proclaimed with fierce determination:

"I'm moving here."

In the shuttle from the airport to the rental car place someone had asked me "Are you from Canada?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "How did you know!"

Then I realized I was wearing a parka.

My trips to and from L.A. began with a certain Raine Maida, singer for the band Our Lady Peace... somewhere amidst years of making solo demo recordings, he heard something he liked and asked me if I could get myself to L.A. to record. I lied and said yes.

It turned out to be the greatest lie I could have ever told. You see, the best thing about working with Raine Maida, was being introduced to Randy Cooke.

Randy was a sought-after session drummer who Raine liked to use when he was producing... you can find him on Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, Natasha Beddingfield, Five for Fighting and Chantal Kreviazuk albums (to name a few) as well as onstage with the likes of Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics), Leonard Cohen and Raine's solo project.

Before Randy arrived at the studio for a day of tracking for my upcoming release, Raine made him a "Reserved For R. Cooke" sign to place in his parking spot. Randy had just done a bout of television shows like Larry King Live, Late Night with Craig Gilmore etc with Ringo Starr, and I guess this was Raine's way of ensuring his ego hadn't gotten too big. Having known the guy for about 2 years now, I can say with confidence that this could never happen. He is the sweetest, most down to earth man you will EVER meet.

Awhile ago I stopped coming to L.A. just to record. In fact, after I fell madly in love with Randy Cooke and he became my favourite person on the planet, I could care less about recording! I just wanted to spend time with him and finally, as of a couple days ago, I'm back in his arms surrounding by sunshine, the ocean, and glistening palms.

Flight consisted of World's Smallest Plane and a layover in Utah. This is going to sound terrible but, although I haven't been gone for long, I had forgotten how overweight Americans are becoming... The percentage of morbidly obese travelers in this one airport was MIND SHATTERING. Maybe the people with the money to travel in today's economy are consuming more than their fair share in multiple categories...

My guilty pleasure when traveling is to pick up one of those terrible entertainment magazines, you know, the copies that are only worth about $2 and as soon as you carry out the embarrassing sin or purchasing one you instantly regret it? Within seconds I found myself on a page which highlighted to cost of several celebrity's wardrobe's. $1200 for a purse. $950 shoes. $2500 dress. The list went on and on.

$1200 for a frickin purse in a gad-damn recession on a planet where half the population is hungry or living far below any decent standard???

Sudden I began to feel very guilty. Why was I holding this magazine? Why do I do this? All over the place we're a nation of guilty, guilty people justifying our good and bad deeds. And here I was, obese with frivolity.

Lesson learned.

One more plane. So excited. It's been far too long since I got to spend time with my favourite person on the planet and when you live lives of traveling, distance, web cams and long distance phone calls, you truly savour every tiny moment together.

After a couple hours of disbelief and ecstatic happiness, we ended up at one of my favourite restaurants in L.A.: Pure Luck.
Pure Luck is an all vegan restaurant which somehow makes a curious invention of Mother Nautre's called "jackfruit" taste like bar-b-q pulled pork. Maybe you're the kind of vegan who thinks that's ridiculous, hell, maybe you're a carnivore who thinks the same...either way, I've been vegan for about 13 years and LOVE to discover new and exciting ways to make fruit, vegetable, soy products, nuts...WHATEVER, taste like carnivorous bi-products! Haha. I ordered the fiesta plate and Randy had the beet salad and jackfruit carnita wrap (all vegan).

The other great thing about Pure Luck is the fantastic beer menu. They have all sorts of great micro-brew and mini-brewery/indie type beers that you won't find in most places. I had a heavenly Hefe and Rnady had a "Blue Dot" made by Hair of the Dog (the one and only beer I like more thank Granville Island Winter Ale. True Story.) Oh, and it's across the street from Scoops, a great vegan ice cream joint ;)

So here I am, back in paradise, with the man of my dreams... and I couldn't be happier.

Little Known Fact About Me Day Two: The two major injuries of my whole life resulted from a bass in the head at Call the Office in London (5 stitches) and a teeter-toter at my elementary school in grade 2 (6 stitches). What can we determine about me from this fact?? ;)

On A Mission

2009-05-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm on a mission.

And so help me, I'm gonna do it.

For sometime, I've made plans to "blog".

"Blogging" is something I used to do, mainly on the ol' Billy and the Lost Boys site (see: Tour Diaries) more recently, on the Billy the Kid Myspace page.

Finally, the combination of having an actual website and and actual real live space to write and create, here we are... on a mission.

My mandate for this mission will be twofold, for the time being: First, pulling inspiration from one of my favourite people Adam PW Smith, I will hereby post something, anything, at least once per day.

See, I was hanging out with Adam PW Smith the other day and we got talking about a remarkable thing he does. Adam has a photoblog in which he posts one new photo per day. Yep, one per day.

He was telling me that this process has been very helpful in keeping him motivated as well as inspiring him to go out, see new bands and experience things he might otherwise not have experienced (gotta get that new photo up).

I thought this was an incredible idea and immediately saw how so many unpredictable benefits could come from this.

So, I'm stealing his idea.

Every day I'm going to write something, anything, in hopes that I can get over this surprisingly long bout of writer's block that I've been experiencing. Yep, that's right... I haven't written anything in far too long. The other thing I'm hoping will happen due to this new game plan is to create a dialogue between myself and you reading this. As you will see at the bottom of this post, there is a Comments section. I sincerely hope you will post your comments and, if you have any, questions as well. Anything. I'm making it a priority to respond to everything and everything that you the reader has to say/contribute. Let's all start creating and contributing and remind ourselves, while we sit at these computers, that there are other people in the world that we can converse with about anything and everything, and in the process, perhaps become better, more thoughtful people.

The second goal of all this will be to post something new about myself once per day...something that most people don't know about me. This is for both you and I, to hopefully learn something about me/you and in the process, become better at this "life" thing.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you :)

Billy

Daily Something That (Most) People Don't Know About Me:

I skipped grade 5 and to this day believe it was part of some sort of experiment to see what would happen to a totally average kid if you told him/her that he/she was exceptional in some way or another.

OLP Hearts Lost Records

2009-05-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

Check out Steve Mazur from Our Lady Peace sportin' a Lost Records shirt while recording their new album:

http://ourladypeace.net/

Billy on the Radio

2009-05-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Breaking news: Tamara Stanners from the Peak 100.5 will be playing Billy's song "Just Trying To Get By" at 12:45 TODAY and there is rumour of a phone conversation as well.

Listen/call/facebook/comment/email in and give us some feedback! http://www.thepeak.fm to stream live.

Make sure to tune in tomorrow at 7pm PST as well as Billy will be co-hosting and performing live.

Billy the Kid Live on the PEAK 100.5

2009-05-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Billy the Kid will be performing live and appearing as a Guest DJ on The Peak 100.5 Friday, May 8th between 7 and 8pm PST. Make sure to email the Peak and thank James, Laurie and Tamara for supporting Canadian Independent Music!

Listen live at http://www.thepeak.fm/ Friday between 7 and 8pm.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST COMMENTS TO ANY AND ALL BLOGS :)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Toronto...

2009-05-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Toronto".

A collective sigh of relief as the Air Canada 747 comes to a slow stop. The tension, hovering in the Economy cab since take off...Releasing.

I reach for my phone. Before I can even scroll through the list of contacts, organized by city in case I happen to be in your town, I realize:

"Shiiiiiit..."

The adorable elderly woman sitting beside me jerks her gaze in my direction. I instantly feel embarrassed. If she had ever owned a cell phone in her life, I might be able to explain, perhaps garner some sympathy. Not this Grandma...

It troubles me to think about how many phone numbers I've had in the last year. It scares me to try and explain why. Even the amount of PHONES I have owned is ridiculous, to say the least.

The repercussions of this devastating fact were soon to be felt, as I scrolled in vain to find my ride from the airport's name.

I guess it was in my American phone. Nope, must be in the old Blackberry. Gosh has it really been THAT long...

There's a saying that has stayed close to me in the past few years and I couldn't help but smirk as it ran through my mind:

"Well, if that's the worst of your problems..."

I collect my small backpack and, guitar in hand, walk past all the shmucks who insist on checking luggage. A two week tour with ten shows? No Problem! I can fit all I could possibly need in one backpack! Besides, I had a show to play!

Onward and outward.

Through the airport. Double glass doors open automatically. Insert every swear word you could possibly imagine.

See, in Toronto, it's cold. Cold is an understatement. If you grew up in BC and had just spent about half a year in California riding your bike around in January in nothing more than a t-shirt, it's the kind of cold that slaps you in the face and makes you want to walk RIGHT back on the plane. In that moment, I was glad I'd booked myself a show in Cambridge that was set to start in about 2 hours. Sense of purpose, I guess.

There's really no interesting way I can describe how brutal the next hour was. I did it though, I stood outside, hoping that my friend John would drive by and see me shivering like Paris Hilton's Chihuahua.

I called everyone I could think of. I went against my better judgment and hopped on Facebook, in hopes that someone there would be able to help me (fast forward: $500 in data roaming charges in two weeks. Oops). Finally, after the YVR Security Guard's third attempt at "humour" ('Gee you've almost been here as long as I have!") I bailed. Inside I went.

Double glass doors. Heat wave. Warmth smacking you in the face and wrapping all around you like a blanket. Tingly wollen mittens of Toronto Airport heating system. Feeling...in hands...slowly...returning...

More phones. More expensive internet with no data plan. Long distance calls to boyfriend in L.A. to see if he can track anyone down.

"John!"

"Billy!"

Glass window. Nose basically pressed up against it. John walking by. Victory.

We get to the venue in Cambridge, an hour away. I can say it was the first time I've ever walked in to a venue while the headlining band was onstage setting up and heard "Oh, Billy...we thought you'd be here earlier..."

I set up. Tuner in guitar case. Harmonica in the backpack. Try not to pull all my underwear and t-shirts out on to the stage while I try and squeeze the harmonica free from in between scores of CDs, cables and clothes. Try to take my guitar out of the case without people seeing all the socks I have stuffed in to the case all around it.

While onstage my friend Sean Ashby goes: "Billy the Kid has clothes in her guitar case. Tell THAT story at the Junos."

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST COMMENTS TO ANY AND ALL BLOGS :)

VIDEO

2009-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

CONTACT

2009-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Booking Inquiries
Joel Baskin - The Pilot Agency
joelbaskin@thepilotagency.com
http://www.thepilotagency.com

Email Billy
billy@billythekidonline.com

Label:
LOST RECORDS
6447 133 A Street
Surrey, BC
V3W 9Y2
http://lostrecords.ca/

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