Share Billy the Kid, Get Billy the Kid

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

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

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 ;)

Interview, Blog, Shows

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 :)

Shows

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

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

Home Recording

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!

Question One

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.

A Question

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.