Brian's Journal

This past week I was privileged enough to perform in the Semi-Finals of the Songwriter’s Showcase at the Britannia Arms in Aptos, California, just down the road from my home in Capitola. Besides the fact I was stoked to share my music with an enthusiastic crowd, I was excited to be apart of such a gathering of musicians.  Seriously, I have never been to an open mic where each performance was so full of talent and thought.  I loved the story telling and creativity I witnessed.

The not so fun news was I did not make it to the final round, but I was given some great critiques of my compositions.  I am so excited I  tried this gig out.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.   I look forward to next year if I am around.  This experience has left me with many things to think about as I write future songs. I already feel I have a pattern of pieces for a couple new ones I hope to share soon.

For now, enjoy the video I have posted and let me know what you think.  I know I put my absolute best forward with this showcase. The feeling of rejection is not so nice, but I am so happy I stuck my neck out there to try.

Brian Boyce: Semi-Finals Songwriter’s Showcase

Okay, so if I were to say after the new year I decided to pack up my car and move to the central coast of my home state California, would you be surprised?  And if I were to tell you that not only was I able to find some fabulous new housemates via Craigslist to move in with mid week, late the night before I started a new job the next morning, would I cause you to spray your overly caffeinated beverage all over your computer screen as you read this?

I’m sure you have your opinions and variations of your reaction described above, but for me this decision is just the next leg of my journey.  Just as I would find myself at a crossroads in one of the many regions of the world I’ve found myself in while on the road, this opportunity presented itself just as similarly as nearly every path I have come across in my travels in the past few years.  And what an opportunity this path continues to offer!

Not only do I find myself planting my roots in a new community, but I have managed to find consistent work since the day I moved down. No I’m not standing out front of the local market with my hat out and guitar strumming, I am back in the public classroom as an educator!  What a joy it is to be working with young people again!

I have found, in my journey through life, the Universe has a funny way of helping out when you really commit your mind to something. This path has been no exception.  Now don’t get me wrong, there have been some inner challenges with the direction I have recently chosen, but these issues have been silently shadowed by the overwhelmingly fantastic and positive series of events that have come to light in the recent choices I’ve made.

This has truly been yet another example of how when one door closes in life, another opens.  After stopping to look around I noticed how many doors of opportunity were open in front of me.  I moved to this area not knowing anyone, yet I somehow found myself in a warm and welcoming home with two fantastic human beings and two lovable canines.  Together we are developing a great relationship based around education and similar interests.  I feel so privileged to have landed in a living environment with Julia, Tanner, Andy and Gilligan.

I also have reconnected with my friend Sara who I haven’t seen in years, from the Central Valley who I discovered now lives in the area. She has been so kind inviting me out to meet her group of friends and include me in many super fun evenings full of music, dancing and pick up volleyball games!  What a welcoming to an area I couldn’t have anticipated to be my new home just a few months ago.  I appreciate good friends.

I have high hopes for the next few months and look forward to seeing how this new equilibrium settles into a weekly norm and possibly builds into a new direction in life.  For now I have family and friends close enough I can actually take a short drive and give them a big o’ hug if I want to.  I also find myself venturing further and further down the beaches and forests…wow deja vu…(seriously)… that are now my playground waiting to be discovered.  It is almost feeling like this is where I am suppose to be in my life at this moment.  It feels pretty good too.

For me, life will always be full of opportunities, I just have to keep an open to mind see them.  Allowing ourselves such a optimistic perspective leaves us with a matter of choosing one of the many paths before us and committing to it knowing that regardless of where we might find ourselves on this path, this too will being a unique learning experience that will develop a little more of our being.

I personally look forward to the interactions and exchanges I will experience along the way.  Not all paths are about our own personal gain.  Here’s to facing the unknown with a little more optimism.

During my first week here on the central coast I found myself at a low key open mic-like venue for musicians to perform original compositions.  I’ve done many gigs similar to this vibe before, but I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into as I signed up to play. As I read more into the gig, I learned how this showcase is an annual event that have taken place for many years at the same local pub, the Britannia Arms in Aptos, CA. Local musicians come from out of the woodwork to share their talents and their hearts to compete for a prize I never believed could be offered!

Ken is the event organizer, who owns Mars Studio an local recording studio, has offered is expertise in awarding the winner of the showcase recording session time in his studio! Now that is exciting stuff!!  He has invited multiple judges who critique every musicians work looking specifically at lyrics, rhythm and chord progressions.  I’ve never had anyone really pick apart my music and give feedback before.  It turns out these judges are also producers who might be looking to sign an artist. I found the whole evening very interesting to say the least!

I was privileged enough having a few groupies (the only people I knew in the area after a week of living here) come out to support me in this new experience.  My new housemates Julia and Tanner, their friend Jamie, and my friend Sara who I have not seen in years.  It  felt so great to have a group of people coming to hear me play, but also to chat with as we enjoyed some live music on a Tuesday night.

I was a treat to hear what people brought up to the mic with them.  Most played folky songs that told a story.  Oh and did I mention it was Valentine’s Day?  There were many love songs played as one would expect on this lovely day.  I enjoyed many of the artists who played yet really had no gauge as to knowing what the judges liked so it was any one’s game as the judges tallied their votes.

Out of countless performers that night I was one of three to move on to the Semi-finals which will be held on the 3rd of April.  Every week, for a couple months now, another round of musicians perform and a few more are chosen for the next round.  I am very excited and anxious to see what happens next.  If anything this is a great opportunity to hear people constructively criticize my music.  I’ll definitely be recording the next show too to share with you all, but I would love to see any of you out there attend and hang with us on the 3rd.

Click on the link below to see my live performance at the Mars Studio Songwriters Showcase at the Britannia Arms in Aptos, California.

Brian Boyce: Live at the Songwriters Showcase!

I have moved on to the Semi-finals of the showcase and will perform live on the 3rd of April in hopes of continuing on to the Finals.  Send me a postcard if you are interested in coming.  I’d love to see you out in the crowd.  It is a super friendly environment and family oriented too.

The opportunities in life that come and go are up to us to pursue or ignore.  I have many thoughts to share with you all in regards to the paths that lay before me this new year, but I was interrupted by one such opportunity.  My good buddy TJ Winkelmann, who I worked with at camp in NY, called me saying he and a few people from camp were getting together for a bit of a reunion this weekend.  I couldn’t believe the chance to see all these wonderful people in one room SO I jumped on a flight that would get me to Kansas City, Missouri to meet up with everyone.

the first (annual?) western Camp Walden Reunion 2012

What a treat to see Ange, Tom, Emma, Katelyn, CJ, Mary, TJ and Darren (whose birthday was yesterday!)  The Sullivan family hosted us to a fabulous home made meal and some great conversations.  I loved that we were able to see each other outside the camp setting.  Thank you Sullivans! Look at the camp family we have developed! I hope we can do this again

Another treat today was going to see movie Hugo with TJ’s fifth grade class from English Landing Elementary.  He and another teacher organized the event for the weekend.  The rented out the entire theater which was nearly full of students and their families when we arrived.  It was a treat to see the community that he is apart of.

I am getting used to the seasonal change here in the Great Plains.  When I arrived it was 15 degrees and snowing!  I couldn’t wait for my luggage to come out of the carousel so I could get all the warm layers I brought out to wrap myself in.  Yesterday woke up to a frigid -3 degree icy wind.  Cold to say the least compared to the mild (and lacking snow) winter going on in California, but this is life here and we luckily have heaters!

I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to share this weekend with friends.

To all my friends and family,

As we continue past the winter solstice here in the northern hemisphere, marking the shortest day of the year welcoming the beginning of longer days and warmer sunshine, and step into the new year and the new chapter of our lives, I am reminded of my experiences at this time of last year while traveling in New Zealand.
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Living out of a van sleeping next to two other salt encrusted surfers while camped outside a small coastal town on the north island of New Zealand was not the most comfortable way to travel, but is was there we found ourselves for the holidays.  For us, waking up to sunrise and surfing until noon was just another day at the office. With the afternoons of exploring the beach and reading the good books we’d picked up from a recent book exchange, our months of travel had become well entertained.

The only hint of the holidays approaching were seen when my travel buddies and I would head into town for food supplies and a change of scenery.  The small town of Raglan would be our stop for the holidays as a large swell was due to arrive on the 25th (What a gift!).  Having been on the road for a couple months I didn’t really see much of a winter decorated home of holiday cheer in my future so I focused on being with friends on the gorgeous coastline before us.  Entering the hustle and bustle of town, we found the warmth of the southern hemisphere summer through images of a surfboard toting Santa in swim trunks greeting us as we walked down the produce isle of the market.

On the 24th we went into town to see if any festivities were on. To our surprise a large parade was about to lining up for a stroll down the main street.  The whole town had come out of the woodwork to take part in this seasonal tradition.  With an hour to burn I had been playing my guitar out front of the small grocery store on the main street. Having accumulated a small mountain of change I decided to use my earning to take everyone in our small camp out for Christmas dinner at our favorite burger joint in town.  What a treat is was to have a hand-made hearty meal made by the fabulous couple who owned “Organic Burger”. And to think our meals had been provided after playing music for only a short time for the local shoppers.  We were bursting at the seams with smiles ear to ear as we found a spot on the street for the parade.

This grand social gathering was a real treat for us travelers who were feeling a bit empty in holiday spirit knowing we would only hear our families on the other end of the phone line this season.  Santa, cruising in on a giant water-spouting firetruck, even made an appearance handing out candy to everyone to celebrate the eve of his grand journey around the globe.  Even Santa, it seemed, wouldn’t be home for the holidays this year.  We all couldn’t help but feel the warmth of the holiday season in this very special moment at this particular place we found ourselves in the world.

The real treat that made this day unforgettable was when I was invited onto the porch of the small pub overlooking the main street to join a handful of local musicians who were gathered to sing Christmas Carols.  They had seen me busking out front of the market by myself earlier and welcomed me to join their gathering that evening. How did they know of my love for singing Christmas Carols?!

Offered a seat in the circle, I found myself surrounded by a handful of older Maori women singing accompanied by a few guys playing guitars and ukuleles.  All were singing the classics out to the street in gorgeous three and four part harmony as many walkers-by gathered to listen.  It was a treat to hear them sing many of the songs in their native Maori and even changed some of the lyrics to fit more of the local island lifestyle.  The whole time I was adopted by an elderly woman seated in a rocking chair who linked arms with me and encouraged me to sing and helped translate the songs sung in their native language.  I was so thankful and appreciative of their warm welcoming.  It truly made my day.
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Two years have gone by since I have been home, here in northern California, to enjoy the holidays with my friends and family.  It took missing out on these once thought “cheesy” and over-the-top traditions my family has continued throughout the decades for me to realize how good I have it and how much I missed being surrounded and supported by so much love at this time of year.  Whether it be decorating cookies with my dad, singing with my mom or decorating the tree with my sister, I have missed all of these traditions so much while on the road.  I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to be with my entire family this Christmas. The gift of being under the same roof with them is all I ever hoped for this season.

As I consider my options for the new year, after returning from a couple months in Central America with my sister, I hope YOU, my friends and family, and I find the time to share the recent paths you are on in your lifelong journey.  I look forward to sharing the stories of my time in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Central America if you are curious of the experiences I found myself in.

Most of all, I hope each of you find yourself surrounded by friends and loved ones this holiday season wherever you are in the world. No matter how good or bad it seems, we always have each other this season.

To those of you traveling away from home this season, I miss you and wish you safe travels.
To my friends I haven’t seen since when? I hope our paths cross in the very near future.
To the people of Christchurch, NZ, my thoughts are with you as you continue your struggle of rebuilding your lives as the Earth continues to shake under your feet.
And to my unconditionally loving family.  I feel so privileged to be with you all this holiday.  I have so much singing and hugs to share with each one of you.

Happy New Year!
Love, love, love,

-Brian