Are you an Elite member of Yelp? If so, be sure to RSVP for the first East Bay Elite Event of 2010 because we’ll be performing that night! Not only will it be our first performance in Oakland, but it’ll be the first in a series of belated CD release shows. Because, while our album has been out for awhile, we haven’t properly celebrated its launch.

(Get the album here: CD Baby | iTunes | Amazon)

Better late than never…

Jan 21 – Yelp Goes Gaga!

8 – 11pm

The New Parish
Categories: Music Venues
579 18th Street at San Pablo
Oakland, CA 94612
http://www.thenewparish.com

Those hip to the scene have no doubt heard about Uptown Oakland’s newest hotspot, The New Parish. Created by one of the fellas behind The Independent in SF, uniquely designed and rigged up with a killer sound system, hopes are high for this venue. We’ve just heard that they’ll be granted their liquor license mid-month, and you know what that means right? Elite party on January 21st from 8-11pm!

Oh yes, they’re so eager to get yelpers in the house, the ten day countdown is on for a blow out! To ease into the night, guests are invited to enjoy spirit tastings courtesy of Drink Me Mag and Caribbean nibbles from neighboring restaurant, Hibiscus for the first hour. Then the party will really get kicking when Stunna starts flowing, and yelpers Ryan S and Keane L‘s band Festizio rock the stage! Combining ambient sounds and driving rhythms in a landscape of intertwined harmonies, this will be an outstanding performance. To keep that groove going, we’ll have a special guest DJ come in with an arsenal of banging beats!

So bust out your hottest Lady Gaga-esque outfit and stunna shades, the first East Bay bash of 2010 is going to be blinding!

http://www.performermag.com
http://www.myspace.com/westcoastperformer

Two mentions and listed on the front cover! Not too shabby for our debut in a nationally distributed magazine. Even better, our album appears next to our good friend, Mikie Lee Prasad, a great local musician who we both know and love. The amp review below even features Dangermaker, a band we’ve performed twice with already. The mentioned show was our most recent at San Francisco’s Grant & Green Saloon in North Beach. And yes, that’s a picture of me next to the amp :)

Download a digital copy of the magazine.

Disclaimer: Although I write for Performer Magazine, I had no influence over our album review and our inclusion in the gear review was by request of the National Editor to test the practical usability of the amps.

www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

“I hear jazz, people talking. The sound of cars”

I took this photo one night while staying late in the office. After uploading it to Radar, a commenting friend suggested the caption sounded like “the beginning of some amazing lyrics.” So, using the photo and a beautiful night as inspiration, I wrote a simple song and recorded it this morning with GarageBand (please pardon the internal mic buzz).

♫ CLICK HERE TO LISTEN, HOLMES ♫

I hear jazz, people walking and the sound of cars
Through the windows while I’m talking with a coworker
It’s almost Friday and she’s packing for the country tonight

And I don’t know what I’m doing here twenty to nine
I guess I’m trying to find a way to bide my time
Cause life moves fast and I just need a chance to breathe

Oh my God, it becomes two o’clock
And I’ve had too much to drink
We’ll sit outside the bar and we’ll talk for hours, I won’t need anything
Except to hear you speak and a chance to hear you sing

The stars they shine so brightly lit
The street lights can’t contest with this
And if it’s real I hope it never stops

I happen to find me beside myself
here rushing and thinking about someone else
And I can’t help but feel our time is up

Oh my God, it’s past four o’clock
And I’ve had too much time to think
We’ll sit in my car and we’ll talk for hours, I won’t need anything
Except to hear you speak and a chance to hear you sing…

www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

After months of recording, mixing and production, our first full-length record is out! It took a lot of hard work (and many painful hours in the studio), but we’re more than ecstatic with our results. Also, we’re happy to announce that we’ll be playing our next show at Slim’s on May 30 (TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!, and please join our Facebook Page to stay updated)!

Check out our new album on CD Baby or get a digital copy on iTunes or Amazon! ☺

San Francisco alt-rock band Festizio combines ambient sounds and driving rhythms in a landscape of intertwined harmonies. Listeners often associate its sound with bands like Radiohead and Muse, though the eclectic variation of genres that Festizio employs clearly distinguishes it as unique. With a diverse musical background, the band also collectively draws from a variety of influences ranging from dance rock to soul. Already garnering positive reviews from industry critics and Bay Area venues, Festizio’s popularity is spreading well beyond its local roots. With the release of its long-awaited self-titled album, Festizio solidifies its reputation by providing a fresh new sound to rock music.

Festizio is Keane Li, Ryan Scott, Gerald Pan and Nicholas Mitrousis.

www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

I consider it a form of maturity that I’m capable of writing decent happy songs now, even if some people still find them sad (emotionally, I mean). Here, I took an idea given via a Christmas gift note from a really close friend and expanded it into a song. I recorded it using the internal mic in my MacBook and mixed it down with GarageBand. Hope you like it…

Home

Though you’re far away tonight
I can see your face when I close my eyes
Tell me everything you want this time
When I breathe this moment into life

But don’t shoot the messenger, when I tell you I love you
Don’t you know it’s been a long, cold winter without you by my side

You, you’ll never be alone
I’ll always take you on
You’ll never be alone
Thanks for making me feel home

I’m hearing sirens pass, there must be an accident ahead
Do you think it was something I did?
Do you think it was something I said?

And when I sleep I can see you smile
All the while I’m worried wondering what you’re thinking about
Now why the hell have I been so impressed?

But don’t shoot the messenger, when I tell you I love you
Don’t you know it’s been a long, cold winter without you by my side

You, you’ll never be alone
I’ll always take you on
You’ll never be alone
Thanks for making me feel home…

That’s a photo of my backyard in Hawaii. :-)