Z-Blumenthal

Performing in Charlotte is a blast. Basic Training has not played in the US as much as it has played in the rest of the world so I am always surprised by how much people like to get involved and really enjoy the show. Hopefully this will lead to the show coming to more cities in the US. NY and LA are important but they ain't America. It's such a huge country and every state and city has it's own flavor. Charlotte is no different. My stage manager extraordinaire Tony Lepore and I went to Flemings after the show last night (there's one in L.A. and I highly recommend it) and not only was the food amazing the atmosphere was great. The night before that Tom Gabbard, the big chief at the Blumenthal and one of the most respected and kind people I've ever met and his lovely wife Vicky took us all out to dinner at a place called Zink. I almost forgot my manners and started licking the plate. Rick Hayden (TIB 1994) and his wife Dana came up from Charleston SC to see the show for the first time and they joined us for dinner as well. So great to have some TIB family around.
Speaking of family it's really hard being away from my wife and baby boy. I hear a lot about guys who think that 'bringing home the bacon is for men and women do the rearing' but having a job isn't something to brag about. Being gainfully employed although a struggle in these times is no different than what moms have done for hundreds of years wipin our nasty butts. It takes a real man to change diapers and take over a few middle of the night bottle feeds so your wife can get some extra winks. Maybe my perspective is different because of my childhood but I want Zion to know that he is loved by both of us not just by HSBC Bank. Lydia is such a great mom and having her parents around is such a blessing but I intend to be there as much as humanly possible. It's a team thang!
Just a few more shows here in Charlotte and then its off to Australia and my wife and son are coming along! If you want the definition of bizarre try getting passport photos for your three week old child. The lady actually asked us if we could sit him on a stool and hold him up. As if my arm in the passport picture won't look suspicious. And then once we got the pics done the lady at the passport office was like well...I'll let you off with a warning this time. His cheeks are a little shiny.

I feel another show coming on.

And congratulations to Tops In Blue 2008, the newest members of the TIB family. They just finished their grueling 11 month tour and now have their rings. Welcome to the family, it starts now.

Nawth Caro-lina

Now boarding the flight to Charlotte North Carolina. Never been there but definitely looking forward to it. Anybody recommend some seafood restaurants? Six shows, stick and move. Time to pay some more dues.

Zion is growing so fast. He no longer looks like a newborn. Four weeks old yesterday and he's 11 pounds 14 ounces. He definitely has his dad's appetite.

More to come, I sincerely can't wait to receive my tiny package of pretzels.

WOW! Baby boy!

Unbelievable. On Feb 8 2009 our son Zion was born and it has been a whirlwind ever since. I'm on graveyard baby duty, just finished performing two shows today to finish up the run of Basic Training at the Vancouver East Cultural Center. It's all about trading hours so we can tag team the diaper duties. Why do people make a newborn baby in your life and lack of sleep sound like such a death sentence? It's really not that bad-if you want lack of sleep try touring with Tops In Blue, it gives a whole new meaning to the word 'tired'. I have had much less sleep many times before. It's all about the attitude.

I am so proud of Lydia I could burst. It was a water birth and she used no epidural or anything just some gas and air. She was in labour for about eight hours and gave birth at 11:32am. Thanks so much for your prayers because we definitely felt favored. Our room was lovely and the nurses who attended to us as well as Cora and Joan from the South Community Birth Program were amazing. So professional but also very caring. Our doula Jean was spot on as well. We spent the night in the hospital and the food reminded me of eating leftovers at a military chow hall. Oh well...all part of the experience.

The performances in Vancouver were very challenging but it was well worth it and for a short run not bad at all. Great audiences, great theater, great staff. Didn't get a chance to do my usual handshaking after the show with the audience but I'm sure they understood. It's not every day you get to go home and cuddle your newborn son.

Next stop Charlotte, NC at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The Vancouver dates sold out one month in advance which makes me wonder why people wait until the last minute to buy tickets. For tickets to the North Carolina shows go to www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Again thank you for your well wishes and I hope to see you in the audience somewhere on the road!

Babybabybaby?

Today is my wife's due date but we are still waiting for the little one to make an appearance. Had a false alarm on the 28th and it was pretty intense - but as our doula puts it we are well prepared. Or as prepared as anyone can be for parenthood. If this little tike doesn't show up soon I think I may start having labor pains. We have family flying in a few weeks after the due date so we get some breathing room and some time to enjoy the horrid smells that come out of our child. Ah yes. Fatherhood.

All is well on the show front, Vancouver shows Feb 10-14 are completely sold out and the Charlotte North Carolina dates go on sale on Feb 6th. The Charlotte shows will be at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center from March 10-15.

Reading this book called the Four Hour Work Week. Damn good book! I'm also reading a book about Pixar - very inspirational.

Check out the new downloads for iPod and iPhone at www.kahlilashanti.com and click on Media!

Vancouver and more.

SOLD OUT! Two words I like to hear. I'm excited about doing the shows at The Cultch (Vancouver East Cultural Center) and it sounds like the public is too. 99% of my touring thus far (Scotland, Canada, Australia, UAE) has been a result of me making it happen with no help so I'm really excited about Tim Fox and Columbia Artist Management coming on board to make some things happen for the U.S. and beyond.

Our baby is due in a few weeks so our place is full of little tiny baby clothes, blankets, bottles, and other things. It really sunk in when I put the cot together. Now it's just sitting in our room and for some reason the whole thing seems more real now. We're gonna have a baby! My wife is in great health and she still looks fresh and young.

There will be some downloads for iPod/iPhone on the website soon so keep checking back for updates. Hope to see you on the road.

See it to believe it!

We are now represented by Tim Fox at Columbia Artists Management, which is a really exciting development in the Basic Training journey. I am finally able to look back at the run in New York and it feels good to come out on the other end with some positive feelings. Still some things that need to be figured out but for now I can say that it's all good. I am also working with a wonderful attorney in Los Angeles and things are definitely looking up. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop as things develop.

Speaking of developing, the baby is growing like mad. My wife is still all baby which makes me happy because when you marry a girl you kind of wonder how she's going to look pregnant and I'm proud to say she shines. Got me a good one yall.

Here in Vancouver the snow has taken everyone by surprise. Two huge dumps of snow in the last week and believe it or not there's more on the way! I haven't been this cold since spending my teen years in Davenport, Iowa. The Midwestern US and the Canadian prairies AIN'T NO JOKE when it comes to cold weather. At least the air temp here is reasonable and we don't have that cutting wind to deal with. This snowstorm caught Vancouver by surprise - so surprised that the city didn't even plow the streets for four days and the side streets are still not done.

Anybody got an extra shovel? I love some hard work.

The Vancouver performances are selling really well, as a matter of fact the Feb 14 8pm show is sold out and the others are filling nicely. Check out www.thecultch.com if you'd like to join in the fun.

For anybody on the east coast we have some dates in Charlotte, North Carolina coming up in March so keep an eye out for it. Just gotta make sure the dots are connected before the tickets hit the streets.

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and if Christmas ain't your thang then be safe and eat up. Tis the season to get chubby!

TONYTONETONI

It has come to my attention that several fans of Basic Training have come to my defense in an online argument regarding an unfavorable review of Basic Training in TimeOut New York. On the TimeOut NY website these fans have posted comments defending the show and my talent against some reviewer who remains among the 1% of people who didn't like the show despite the fact that he was laughing and applauding throughout. (one of the fans sat behind him on the night he saw Basic Training). He has a right to his opinion, I just think these people want him to make up his mind.

The editor of the TimeOut New York theater section expressed that he didn't appreciate these fans calling his reviewer a jerk and he accused me of 'standing in the doorway and creating an awkward exit' as if I don't allow people to leave the theater when the show is over. This is New York. When New Yorkers are ready to go, they go. And I stand to the side after the show. I was raised to say thank you. It never ceases to amaze me how someone who didn't even see the show can make assumptions about things they know nothing about.

Maybe he needs to stand there 'in the doorway' with me and listen to the stories of hope audience members share with me as they exit about how they don't normally go to the theater and my show makes them feel like they might want to consider going again- for a few reasons:

a. Basic Training ain't a musical and it actually speaks to issues that are on people's hearts and minds every day

b. The American Fear Machine wants everyone to think we'll all be living in hostels and eating at soup kitchens by 2010 so hearing a story of hope and redemption is never a bad thing.

To the fans I thank you, because you are the reason I get out of bed every day. Much like the 2008 election, the people have spoken. It's good to see democracy at work.

Not everyone who sees this show likes it and I fully accept that. I think that's the same for every show, movie, restaurant, whatever. Choice is a good thing. But when you get 10 awesome reviews and one bad one, it ain't the show that needs to change.

Keep it comin.