As a testament to how much I don't use myspace anymore, I just approved two comments that were about 2 weeks old.  I even get myspace updates on my Crackberry, but I usually just ignore them.  How impolite of me.

Social media-wise, my time nowadays is spent on Facebook and Twitter.  Mostly Twitter.  I'm tweeting right now, and no, that doesn't mean I'm high.  It's ten o'clock in the morning for Pete's sake.  There's time for that later.

Many people have written eloquently on the uses and time-sucking loveliness of this new form of social media, so I won't bother to re-write that here (although, if you're interested, just google "twitter uses" and calmly make your way through the 15,000 articles/blog entries you'll find).  But, I will say this: If you want real time updates on what your favorite artist, actor, political personality, journalist, news organization, or business is up to, at that exact moment, and you want to have a conversation, not just with that favorite person, but with other people who like that favorite person, than you should join twitter. 

If you want to share information about things you like, in real time, with a network of people who also like the things you like, you should join twitter.

Yes, there is a lot of noise on the interwebz, so like anything else you have to filter out the things you don't want to hear.  Even still, I activated my account a few months back.  I never really started consistently using it until last week, and not only is it informative, and useful, but it's fun.

For those of you who still don't quite believe, MC Hammer uses twitter to communicate with what's left of his fan base: www.twitter.com/mchammer

Please Twitter, don't hurt 'em.

Check out what I've been tweeting at: www.twitter.com/AngelaOrtiz.

See you in interspace. 

Banjo Jim's

Tonight (yes, tonight), I will be playing at Banjo Jim's as part of Rick and Wayne's "Off the Wagon Night" - a happening that happens on what I beleive is the third Tuesday of every month.  It's a motley crew of selected singer/songwriters getting up on the Banjo Jim's stage and tearing their hearts out for a very entertaining 20-30 minutes each.  Here is the lineup for this evening:

7 - Eric
7:20 - Honest
7:40 - Lola Johnson
8 - James Krueger
8:20 - Julie Kathryn
8:40 - Greg Buzi
9 - Tracy Shapiro
9:20 - Giftshop
9:40 - Angela Ortiz
10 - Loosiana Larry
10:20 - Lo Jay Dan
10:40 - Wayne Kral

Note that the simply named "Eric" starts us off at 7pm, I go on at 9:40, followed by Loosiana Larry who may or may not be who you think he is, and ending with the delovely Wayne Kral, one of our venerable hosts for the evening.  If you're tired of the cold, make sure to be at Banjo Jims at 7pm sharp, because I believe it will be quite warm inside.  I checked, they do indeed have heating.

http://www.BanjoJims.com

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YouTube

I took some video from the last lil' tour I went on and posted it up on my YouTube page.

There are two new songs "Company" and "The Bomb" song, both of which are recorded and wating to be mastered for sweet inclusion on the upcoming EP that I've been talking about for 40 years.  It's coming, believe me, no one wants it out more than I.  Or is it, more than me?  More than myself?

Anyway, the vids are a little teaser, as well as a short video of us in the studio.

Here's the link again:

www.YouTube.com/AngelaOrtizMusic

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Twitter

If you're a twitterer, or a "twat" as John Cleese says, then check out my Twitter page here.  If you're so inclined, follow me.  I update pretty often with all the odd things I've discovered on the way from here to there, and on my way back from there to here.  Which is always and inevitable where I end up.  Here.

www.twitter.com/AngelaOrtiz

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Flickr

Now that I've got a handy new camera, I've been updating my Flickr Page quite a bit.  The last pics I uploaded are of the very wonderful trip I just took to Puerto Rico, a place that is warm and full of lizards. 

Check it out here:

www.Flickr.com/AngelaOrtizMusic

**First Friday's At Kenny's is Back!**

The second installment of First Friday's at Kenny's comes at us this Friday, February 6th in all its lively, lusty, vigorously vital glory, with one very special guest...

Katy Gunn begins the night at 8pm:

Soulfully fusing jazz, hip hop, pure joy and brain dance, Gunn's unforgettable voice delivers melancholy and humor, disaster and bliss, humanity and truth from the underground of Brooklyn, NY. Check out her new album at CD Baby.

And then...

I'll be following Katy at 9pm with a set of songs from the new, yet-to-be-titled, very-nearly-finished EP, coming to us sometime in the not-so-distant future.  We've polished the songs to their sparkling, ultra-maximum and now all we need is you to come out and take them in.

So, to recap:

First Friday's at Kenny's
THIS Friday, February 6th
8pm sharp
Kenny's Castaways
157 Bleecker St. (btwn. Thompson and Sullivan)
Map
$5

Last month's show was packed, so be sure to get there early and snag a seat!

See you soon...

xo,
Angela

---

www.CDBaby.com <--- Buy the debut album for only $5!
www.AngelaOrtiz.com <--- The Website
The Facebook Page <--- Become a Fan
www.MySpace.com/OrtizAngela <--- The MySpace Page
Random Chance Records <--- The Label

Hi Everybody!

I'm shuttering up the Brooklyn house (only for a bit) and heading upstate this wintry weekend.  Chris Kocher from the Press and Sun-Bulletin was nice enough to take the time to talk to me in advance of show #1 up in Binghamton.  You can read the revelatory article HERE.  

Up and over in Rochester, David Wheeler was also kind enough to give me a call to talk about show #2 in Rochester.  You can read the article from the Messenger-Post HERE.

See you soon!

Happy Holidays! I hope this finds everyone safe and well and not too stressed out by the merry, bustling madness of the holiday season. I have some spectacular shows and a bunch of news to catch you up on, as well as some updates for the penultimate year of the first decade of the 2nd millenium (whew!), otherwise known as 2009...

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Holiday Sale!

Just in time for the holiday season we're having an "All About You" sale at CDBaby.com! From now until January 2nd, my debut album is now available for the special, low price of $5 via CDBaby! This is the perfect time to share "All About You" with friends, family and co-workers who might've missed out the first time around, or gift yourself (you deserve it!) and pick up a copy of your very own!


Click here for the special rate!

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First Fridays at Kenny's Castaways!
Come out and see the band and I the first Friday of every month at the venerable Kenny's Castaways! Each excellent Friday will feature a different, wildly-talented guest opener, that I promise you, will make you extrememly grateful for all five of your senses (particularly touch and smell). We are aiming to make each show as unique and mind-blowing as possible, so mark your calendars, invite your friends, turn off the Wii, and head down to Kenny's. The first show is Janurary 2nd at 8pm!

Kenny's Castaways is at:
157 Bleecker Street (between Sullivan & Thompson Street)
A,C,E,F,B,D,Q to West 4th Street or 6 to Bleecker Street
Map

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The Empire Weekend Tour!

I'll be doing a string of intimate, solo shows in upstate New York from January 16th to the 18th. It's where I come from, and on this particular weekend, where I'm going to. Stop by if you're in or near:

*Binghamton, NY
January 16th at 8pm
Cyber Cafe West
176 Main St.
Map

*Rochester, NY
January 17th at 8pm
Boulder Coffee
100 Alexander St.
Map

*Ithaca, NY
January 18th at 8pm
Felicia's Atomic Lounge
508 West State Street
Map

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New Album Update!

After the above dates, I'll be heading back into the studio to finish up the remaining tracks for the new album. The new album will be an EP - 5 songs, and has a tenative release of mid to late March. It's been a long time coming, and I'm ridiculously excited to have it so close to fruition. I'll keep you posted as I know more!

xo,
Angela

Hi all-

First things first: this weekend I'm going to be up in Boston playing at Kennedy's Midtown Lounge, opening for Erica Stenquist. If you or anyone you know is in the Bean Town area, please stop on by!

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Next up:
On Tuesday, October 21st I'm going to be taking part in an Obama/Biden Benefit Show with some great NYC singer/songwriters and bands. So far the lineup includes:
Kris Kelly (www.kriskellymusic.com)
John-Flor Sisante (www.myspace.com/johnflor)
Freedom Haters (www.myspace.com/freedomhaters)
Caitlin Krisko (www.caitlinkrisko.com)

We're asking for a $15 minimum donation for a full four hours of music, but of course, you're always welcome to donate more! The Obama campaign will need funds right up until election day, so here's your chance to show your support and listen to some excellent new music at the same time...

Here are the details:
Tuesday, Oct. 21st
7pm
Obama/Biden Benefit Show
R-Bar
218 Bowery (btwn Prince and Spring Street)
Take the J, M, Z to Bowery; 6 to Spring St

To get on the RSVP list and donate online, visit: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs5dbk

See you soon!!

NEXT SHOW!


We're back after our super summer tour (check out the tour blog here) and we're psyched to be playing back in our cozy little adopted hometown of NYC. Come out and support us at our very first show in NYC in 3 months! We missed you oh so terribly...


Angela Ortiz w/ the Full Band

The Homecoming Show!

at Kenny's Castaways

Friday, September 19th

at 9pm

157 Bleecker Street (between Sullivan & Thompson Street)

A,C,E,F,B,D,Q to West 4th Street or 6 to Bleecker Street

$5 cover



See you soon!

xo,
Angela

Radio Crystal Blue:

A few months back I participated in Radio Crystal Blue's Airplay Vote 2008 and thanks to all you wonderful people your fervent e-votes, I came in fourth in a formidable class of over 100 spectacular artists. This means my music will be highlighted in a feature segment on this Sunday's Radio Crystal Blue broadcast. Tune in here at 7pm this Sunday night to hear the program. Or, if you're busy, you can listen after the fact here. And thanks again to everyone who voted!



Rockwood This Sunday at 6pm:

Speaking of being busy on Sunday, if you are in NYC this weekend I'll be playing with the fabulous singer/songwriter Mandi LeBlanc at Rockwood Music Hall. She's been given what she calls the "Kiss of Death" time slot - 6pm. But I prefer to think of it as more of a "Whet Your Appetite Before It Turns Night" time slot. Either way, it's her last show in NYC before she moves back to Austin, so come check it out!



Tour 2008:

Well, the midwest tour has come and gone, and I've just made my last entry (for now) in the Tour 2008 Blog. I've also posted almost 200 pictures from our travels on my Flickr.com page. Feel free to browse, download, and leave comments! And thanks a million to everyone who came to the shows in Columbia, Terra Haute, St. Louis, and Tulsa - I hope to see you all again real soon!



xo,

Angela

The tour kicked off last Saturday, and I've been keeping track of our manifold journies on our TOUR BLOG 2008. So far, we've witnessed car fires (not ours), rowdy locals, spoken to eccentric millionaires with meticulous scultpture gardens, experienced ankle injuries, and had the pleasure of browsing the many fine gun shops in West Virginia and Ohio.



Today we are on route to St. Louis for our show at Pop's Blue Moon. I talked to Matt Fernandes of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the show a few days back. You can read the interview here.

After St. Louis, we're heading out to Diversafest in Tulsa, OK, so keep tuning into the TOUR BLOG 2008 page to stay up to date.


And if you have any friends in St. Louis or Tulsa, tell them to stop by the show!



xo,

Angela

http://angelaortiz.com/wordpress/2008/07/14/tour-b...

I'll be keeping a tour blog on my upcoming tour that starts this Saturday - so keep an eye on http://www.angelaortiz.com/blog for daily updates starting on 7/19!