New

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

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

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!??!

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

"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

CONTACT

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/

PRESS

“Precociously gifted.” The Georgia Straight

“One of Canada’s rising stars.” - See Magazine

"Prolific and incredibly talented." - The Leader-Post

“Billy is a DIY poster girl.” - Vue Weekly

'Lost – a phenomenon, not a trend." - The Cambridge Voice

"It's not enough to say that Billy The Kid is a talented artist. It isn't enough to say she's successful. It isn't even enough to say that Billy and her band of Lost Boys have a stage–presence worth seeing over and over again. Billy the Kid exemplifies the essence of the independent spirit, charisma and inspiration for artists on the rise or for those hoping for the chance to make it that far. " - Echo Weekly

"Always stood apart from the pack with true street-level integrity, an almost Mennonitish indie-rock work ethic and outstanding musicianship." - Nerve Magazine

"With her popularity spreading and in no sign of waning, her many musical endeavours are beginning to pay off and no one deserves it more. After a chat with this winsome pixie, it would be difficult to dislike her." - The Gauntlet Magazine

"I bought her independently produced CD on the spot and have been trying to find out as much as I can about her because I know she is going to be huge one day soon." Canoe Live

"One of the best female guitarists I've ever met." - The Daily Nar

"(Billy)'s the kind of thorough, do-it-yourself poster girl that will go to hell and back in order to put out a good record." - Beatroute Magazine

"Bespectacled singer/songwriter and D.I.Y. poster girl Billy the Kid possesses an impressive arsenal, including an enchanting voice, strong musicianship, and well-crafted tunes. Expect Billy to wear her heart on her (tattooed) sleeves." - A Lawyer

“If you need any inspiration to keep your New Year’s Resolution “I shall cast off the shackles of procrastination and actually do something with myself...” look no further than a young lady who goes by the name of Billy the Kid.” – Chartattack

FRIENDS

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


Email Billy
billy@billythekidonline.com

Billy and The Lost Boys - http://www.billyandthelostboys.com

Billy the Kid MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/billythekid

Billy the Kid Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/BillyTheKid

Billy Pettinger Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/billypettinger

Billy the Kid YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/billythekidofficial

Lost Records - http://www.lostrecords.ca

Lost Records Online Store - http://www.lost.bigcartel.com

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ABOUT

If we've met, you'll know that I have the words “GIVE BACK” and “LOST!” tattooed on me.

Anyone that doesn’t know me is prone to ask the meaning of these words, forever inscribed into my body. “GIVE BACK” speaks for itself, but “LOST!”… well, that’s another story…

When I was 14 I started playing in bands. I picked up guitar at 12, 4 years after my parents put me in piano lessons and I instantly began creating my own music. Eventually I’d end up behind a drum set because no I knew could play them and even further down the road I’d teach myself harmonica while driving around in my 15 passenger van (The “Lost” Bus).

Music. I was in it for the long haul before I even knew it. How was I to know it would become my life? It’s nothing you can prepare yourself for. All I ever felt like I knew was that at 12, 18 and even 24 years old it was the binding force that got me out of bed, carried me through my days and got me through those tough nights.

At 18 I got together with a group of friends and we started calling ourselves Billy the Kid and the Lost Boys. It was a name that seemed to convey the spirit of the project and our manifesto; at the time we were living under a credo of quotes and mantras that read like a time line and became the soundtrack of our lives. It was our way of surviving amidst the mishaps of independence, by throwing out the maps that resulted in a conventional lifestyle and embracing a fierce determination to find our way (even if others deemed it to be a “Lost” Cause).

Little did I know that the term “Lost” would consume not only my vocabulary but my adopted way of life: There’s Lost Records, the label I started to put out our second album that now houses 9 acts and 12 releases and operates as a collective of friends running under the motto “Kids in Bands Helping Kids in Bands”. There’s the Lostice, or Lost Office, where I’ve spent years booking not only my own projects but any friend who needed a helping hand, as well as promoting new musical endeavors and preaching the gospel of the Lost Cause. There’s the Lost Bus, which has taken me a great number of miles beyond what I expected it would and now, there’s the Lost Youth Music Society.

Once I began embracing the path that I had chosen, as random and sometimes meandering as it may seem, it dawned on me that perhaps to be a so-called “Lost Cause” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I began meeting kids across the country who felt the same way I did…they believed that we could find our own way and change the definition of “Lost”. Now, if you’re down with the Cause, you’re LOST! and it’s a darn good thing.

It was with the help of these exceptional people, the crew who are down with the Lost Cause and my amazing family, that I began to realize it was now my turn to give back. I’ve been so fortunate during my time on this planet that I’ve always felt as if there’s got to be something MORE that I can do. So, we’ve started a charity that is going to GIVE BACK, using the power of music to inspire and enhance the lives of kids who might not be as fortunate as we are right now. With the help of donations, music lessons, instruments and a scholarship program we’ll find the Lost Causes out there and help them to find their own way. Remember, it’s a good thing.

Forever LOST!

Billy Pettinger

---

The Lost Cause is a way of life that started with "Fun Is Number One" and ended with "Give Back".

The Lost Cause reads like a timeline of how we found our own way and, in doing so, realized it is now OUR TURN to GIVE BACK.

By donating to the Lost Cause you're helping us to create a scholarship for foster kids who seek post-secondary education as a means of "Finding Their Own Way", give guitars to schools in low rent areas and donate to programs helping street kids and drug affected youth.

1. Fun Is Number One
2. We're the Kids and Nothing Can Touch Us
3. Our Lives Are An Endless Summer
4. Go Team
5. Hanging Out, Being Sweet and Getting Stoked
6. Throw Out Your Map and You Will Find A Way
7. D.I.Y Pimpin
8. If That's The Worst Of Your Problems...
9. Sometimes You've Got to Get Lost Just to Wind Up Someplace New
10. If You Follow All Your Dreams, You Might Get Lost
11. You've Got Nothing to Lose When You're Already Lost
12. Don't Ever Forget Where You Came From
13. Give Back
14. Forgive Everyone, Including Yourself
15. Believe