NDV- Nick D'Virgilio

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NEWS ARCHIVE 2005

December 29, 2005

Hello One and all.

It has been a long time since I have written an update here and I thought this would be a great time to get back into it.

This has been quite a year for me and this is the last week left in it. I got to travel to Eastern Europe with Fates Warning and got to play some really great shows. If you don't know this yet we filmed the show we played in Athens Greece and Fates has released a DVD of the show on the Inside Out Label. I think it turned out really great. It was fun to watch because it was a really fun expirience for me and it is a style of music I don't get a chance to play that often. Jim and the guys did a great job with it. Go to www.fateswarning.com for info on the band how to purchase the DVD.

Spock's Beard released our 8th studio cd "Octane" and a live cd "Gluttons For Punishment". We toured Europe twice and even got to do a gig at the House of Blues here in Hollywood back in April.

I toured with Tears for Fears in the UK and Ireland. We also did a tour of the west coast of the US. Some really fantastic gigs at a few different wineries. A scene I will never forget was at the Robert Mondavi winery and we went on stage just as the sun was going down. The stage was over looking all of the vineyards and the people were there with their picnic baskets having a great time. So was I. I was very fortunate to be able to bring Tiffany and the kids to those gigs. They came on the tour bus with us and had a blast.

NDV and his giant cock

I actually got to record with TFF. We recorded a track for an upcoming anthology CD that is supposed to get released early next year. If you came to any of the shows later in the tour you heard the song. It is called "Floating Down The River". There will also be a live version of "Mad World" on there that we recorded on the UK tour. I think the rest will be the hits. But it will nice to see my name on a TFF cd.

I got to go and record with the amazing SB live sound engineer Rob Auberey (Rob also mixed Gluttons for Punishment) at his studio in Southampton England. I got to play on a wide array of music and with some really fine artists. Like:

Jerusalem with Lynden Williams and Bob Cooke (originally produced by Ian Gillan {Deep Purple} back in the 70's) I recorded on 2 songs, 1 a cover of THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND a song called The Faith Healer which now has Dave Meros on Bass and the other an original track epic with Pete Trewavas (marillion) on Bass.

Steve Thorne, after the success of Emotional Creatures Part 1 he is busy in the studio recording EMO part 2 I has provided the drums in sessions recorded in August and also in Oct.

Martin Orford from IQ has just started his second solo album and I was the first guest musician to be recorded. Very Nice :)

Finally I recorded a track for Big Big Train, a 15 minute PROGTASTIC epic!! WHOO HOO!!!

I have had some great sessions with some more great artists working for my friend Josquin Dupree. Like...

Singer songwriter Marlena Randall. She has released her first CD called "At Any Hour" go to her website for more info

Singer songwriter Brett Michael Wiesman. Brett hasn't put out his CD yet but is well on his way. Keep an ear out for him I think he will be making a big splash soon.

Josquin is the owner of Track Star Studios in San Diego California. Josquin is also a very acomplished bass player and has played on many recordings. Also he has a whole bunch of bass instruction books he has released. Josquin is a great guy and always great to work for.

Unfortunately I only did one Mike Keneally gig his year. I was so busy and mostly gone that I just wasn't able to do it. The gig at the Baked Potato we did back in October was awesome though. Mike always has a tone of stuff going on.

I started building a studio for me here at my home. I finally started putting up the dry-wall the day after Christmas and then it will only need a little paint, a little floor, a lot of gear, and I will be able to rock all night long. whoo hoooooooo!!!!!!!!!

So that was my musical year. 5 tours, a number of CD's, and lots of flying. I flew to Europe 6 times this year along with numerous domestic flights. Just a crazy amount of travel.

Last but not least, I am now working for Sonic Reality. SR is a company that makes Sample CDs, Drum loop libraries, and works right along side with IK, the company that makes the amazing music plug-ins Amplitube, T-Racks, Sonic Synth, Sampletank and others. My job right now is working on drum loops and REX files, but I have also recorded drums for a new library that should be released some time next year. It is an exciting new side to my career and I am very happy to be involved. If you make music using a computer, which is how almost all music is made these days, you should really check out the products form both companies. The sounds are just amazing and the plug ins are equally amazing.

On top of all of that I have had a fantastic year with my family. Tiffany took a job at the kids school as a teachers aide and loves it. Sophia had her first piano recital this year and is now in 2nd grade. Anthony is in kindergarten and is taking Karate lessons. It is so amazing how fast time goes. My kids are getting so big so fast. I am so blessed with such a great family life.

I do have a New Years resolution. Mine is to get better at responding to your e-mails. Right now I completely suck at it :) I get to busy to get that part done or I am just to unorganized. I get the feeling it is the latter. So I am going to try and do something about it. I love hearing from everyone who writes and I really do appreciate the support for both me and Spock's Beard. So keep 'em coming.

I wish all of you out the a great 2006 and a safe New Years Eve. I hope you all had a great Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/ (If I missed anything I hope you had a great one of those.)

NDV

November 5, 2005

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you a quick update about the Benefit gig this Sunday. I got together with Alan and our fellow songwriting partner Stan Ausmus.We rehearsed some songs for Sunday and it turned out really nice. I hope you can make out to donate what you can for hurricane relief and also see some great music from a lot of great musicians. It should be a fun night. Oh yeah, we are celebrating our friend Rick and my birthdays. Just because :) So don't forget to come out and tell all of your friends. Here is all the official info:

The Rick'n'Nick Birthday bash/Benefit.

Thanks to all who have helped put this together , it's gonna be a special night to be among friends and loved ones.

Molly Malones
this Sunday, Nov, 6th from 8pm -12pm
12$ admission, all proceeds go to Hurricane Victims
Molly's is on fairfax in LA , between 1st and Wilshire Blvd.

the address is:

575 S Fairfax Ave
LA, CA 90036
Ph: 323 935-1577

the bands and artists that are performing :
Janet Robin
Ferrante and Shamoon
Colin Keenan and Touched
SMUG
The Bryan Beller Band
NDV+Alan Morse+Stan Ausmus
The Mike Keneally Band

We're also gonna have guests sitting in and a big jam @the end. If you have an instrument, bring it and if we're left with some time, we can play.

Oh and another thing , John Ferrante is setting up a giveaway for some music or musical or instrument related things from Daddario, LR Baggs and others. There will be a drawing at the end of the night for a chance to win some cool things.

See you there!!!! Nick

October 28, 2005

Hi everybody!

Well, since I have been home from the road I've been in my garage building my little studio and man is it kicking my butt. I'm at the point where I'm putting the walls together (insulation, soundproofing, drywall) and I've done a little of all of that stuff before, but not everyday. I guess that is why I'm a musician :) But it's coming along nicely, and soon I will have my own space and will not have to work on my music in the living room with the family running all around. My wife is waiting anxiously to get her house back and not have to look at a mixing desk and other gear taking up the house. Anybody like putting up drywall ? :)

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who have sent such great pictures from the EU tour. I am going to send a lot of them to Mr. web master and have him put them up.

Next thing: I have a couple of gigs here in LA coming up that all who can should come out for. the first one is this Saturday (sorry for the short notice) with The Mike Keneally band at The Baked Potato. The first set starts at 9:00. It has been over a year since I have had the chance to play with Mike, Bryan and Rick. We had a rehearsal last night and it was great fun. Go check www.keneally.com for more info on what Mike had been up to. here is the info for the gig:

Saturday, October 29, 2005
Mike Keneally Band
featuring Bryan Beller, Rick Musallam and Nick D'Virgilio
The Baked Potato
3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-1615
Open at 7:00 p.m.
Shows: 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

The next gig is a very special one I hope many of you can come out to. Here is the official info:

Sunday, November 6
SPECIAL CHARITY EVENT AND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Rick 'n' Nick Birthday Bash & Benefit
(door proceeds to benefit disaster victims)
Molly Malone's
575 S. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 935-1577
8:00 PM - 12 midnight
Acts include:
Janet Robin
Mike Keneally Band
SMUG (power trio featuring Rick Musallam on guitar)
NDV (Nick D'Virgilio) + Alan Morse
Bryan Beller Band
Colin Keenan
John Ferrante and Shamoon

Look good? I think so. It is going to be a special night of great music to raise money for hurricane relief. It happens to be me and ricks b-day's so we though we would make that an even better excuse to get together and party. Alan and I are going to do an acoustic set featuring songs we did on this most recent SB tour. I will be playing with Janet Robin (an excellent guitarist/singer/songwriter) along with the MKB boys. So come on out and donate what you can for a lot of people who could really use the help.

All the best y'all. I hope to see many of you at the gigs. - NDV

March 31, 2005

Hello - How is it going? I hope all is well with everyone. I have been running like crazy. I just got back not too long ago from the very short Spock's Beard tour of EU. I have 2 SB shows coming up here in California next week. Then I go right into rehearsals for the next run of TFF gigs. Oh yeah, and in between all of that I have to go to court to fight a traffic ticket. YEAH!! I didn't do it I tell ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I was on the tour with Spock's I put my band through me doing something for my daughter Sophia. They were very patient. All the kids in her 1st grade class are doing a project called Flat Stanley. They colored this little drawing and gave it to their moms and dads to take around and take pictures. Then the kids take the pictures back to class and tell what their parents did with Flat Stanley. Well, he came with me on tour and I got some great pictures. All the crowds at the shows really helped by getting into the pictures. Sophia is going to have a fun presentation to give to her class. Thanks to my band and to all of you.

My web store has been down for a little while, but it is now back up and running and you can get my solo CD's Karma, Live and Acoustic (DVD and CD) There is a price drop also.

Take care everyone!! - NDV

February 24, 2005

Hello all!!

I just go back the other day from the short but sweet Fates Warning tour of Eastern Europe. Greece is a long way away from LA and if you didn't already know how I feel about flying, well then let me tell you that it is not my favorite past time. We put in some serious flight miles. Up and down and up and down. Customs here, passport control there. Crazy, but that's what's needed sometimes to ROCK!!!!!!!!! And rock we did.

We started off in Athens rehearsing at a local rehearsal studio called Fragile Studios. Everybody in Greece who helped us out and took care of us were so great. So warm and giving.

After a couple days of rehearsing we headed off to go to Budapest. Let the adventure begin! We had to fly through Rome togetthere.When we did arrive, my cymbals did not. Alitalia airlines decided I didn't need them I guess, and so we had to scramble to borrow cymbals there. We did get some and gig went on. It was at a cool venue called WIGWAM. It was strange to see all this American Indian stuff in a club in Hungary. The gig went off well and the crowd was very enthusiastic.

The next morning it was off to Sofia, Bulgaria. We got to the Budapest airport and check to see if my cymbals came in. They said "yes they just arrived from MILAN. They will be coming off the plane in a moment" Well I waited with the local promoter at the luggage belt until all the baggage came off and as you can probably guess my cymbals were not there. So we go to the desk and the nice lady who told us they were coming out said "oops! my mistake, they are coming in on the next flight." Well we couldn't wait so we left.

We got to Sofia and went to the venue. It was a basketball arena. This gig was very fun. I was playing different drums at every gig. this one I had a black kick drum, white toms, and a maroon snare. We borrowed cymbals again and rocked on! This was a pretty big gig and the crowd was amazing.

After the show we went to shower up and the got in a bus for a 9 hour ride to Istanbul, Turkey. Getting though the border was interesting, but we made it after a little money was exchanged, if you know what I mean :) This gig wasn't as together as the others but it was still fun. It was a small rock club in the center of town. The crowd seem to like it. Istanbul was the only city we got to go and site-see on the tour. We were moving around so much that we didn't have any time, but there, me and the guys went and saw a couple of the old mosques and the grand bizarre. We even got ripped off by a cab driver. It took us 7 dollars to get to where we were going (that's something like 500000000000000 turkish Lira) and the ride back to the hotel cost us about 50 dollars. The guy was a magician. We didn't even realize what was happening until he sped off up the street. Oh well, live and learn.

The next morning was off to get back to Greece for the last two shows. My cymbals ended up at the Istanbul airport after our tour promoter Harris jumped through hoops with Alitalia. We had to fly through Athens to get to Thessoloniki. I'll keep this short but let me tell you that we spent 7 hours in the Athens airport. The plane taking us there had a mechanical problem that needed to be fixed. None of us minded waiting for that. We like planes that work:) But some of the locals started to get a bit irate at the staff for Olympic airlines and after a 4 or 5 hours tempers flared out of control and there was a fight and screaming and yelling. It was all pretty funny actually. We finally made it up there and went straight to the gig. My cymbals made it to this gig. I had to play on an old Sonar kit that had the deepest toms I have ever seen. These were beyond power toms. Kind of felt like playing on wet towels. the gig went off pretty well and the crowd again was fantastic.

The next morning we headed back to the airport to go to Athens. No problems today. We go there and made our way to a very nice club. This was the gig that was filmed for a DVD the Fates will release sometime this summer I think. The crowd was insane!! A total blast to play for. Fates definitely has a lot of great fans all over Eastern Europe and especially in Greece. The new every song. Sang along at the top of there lungs and made it a lot of fun to play.

photo by Chris Kissadjekian
(LiveAlive Pictures/Kissadjekian)

photo by Chris Kissadjekian (LiveAlive Pictures/Kissadjekian)

The guys in the band are great. We had a good time hanging out together. There was a few really good laugh sessions and a lot of good eating and drinking. Even though I averaged about 3 hours of sleep per night and was tired the tour was a blast and I want to thank Fates Warning very much for having me along. Please go to their web site www.fateswarning.com I am sure you will be able to find out more about the tour there and what is going to happen in the future with the band.

Now I am off to Spock's Beard land. Never a dull moment.

All the best, NDV

News Archive - 2004

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