[jimdgoulding]

Thought I'd follow up on the Vienna Teng concert.  More of a gathering than a concert if you can imagine the room.  Most of the audience sat on the floor on blankets that were provided tho there were chairs around the perimeter of the room.  The venue is a new one in Houston.  It's a yoga center by day and they've only been having concerts since March.  Sara Hickman is due in January.

Well, Vienna Teng has talent to burn.  She is the complete package and she knows how to conduct a show.  She is a very skilled and versatile pianist, she can play softly and bang out drama with both hands, and she has written and plays very engaging songs.  And she sings if you didn't know that.  Her partner, her percussionist, also writes and plays guitar.  Together they make all kinds of music.  Much more than you would expect two people are capable of making.  I won't spoil the fun for you by telling you how they do it but I will say that to appreciate this artist she must be seen live and I think you'll be pleased and amazed if you do. 

ps- Three ladies came in late and were recognized by VT as having been at her concert in Austin the night before.  They had driven three hours to see her again.  It won't surprise you, either.  Cheers.

[Danny Richie]

I just saw her again in Dallas Saturday night and they did mention performing the night before in the Yoga studio. That one had to be one of the more unusual stops.

The Dallas show was incredible as usual. Her performance is really polished and consistent from one to the next. She nails every breath of every song on the money every time. It's like listening to the CD being played over and over.

I had a front row seat again too.  I guess it pays to get there early.

I picked up a DVD of one of her performances too. I'll let you guys know how good it is.

If your city is next on the list then don't miss it.

11/17 OMAHA, NE - Waiting Room
11/18 ST. LOUIS, MO  - Off Broadway
11/19 LAWRENCE, KS - The Bottleneck _w/Ari Hest_
11/21 HESSTON, KS - Prairie Window Concert Series
12/2 TARRYTOWN, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall _w/Over The Rhine_

~ LIVE ALBUM RECORDING ! ~
12/3 NEW YORK, NY - Joe's Pub (2 shows)

12/4 BOSTON, MA - Berklee Performance Center _w/Over The Rhine_
12/5 OLD SAYBROOK, CT - Hepburn Cultural Center _w/Over The Rhine_
12/6 ALBANY, NY - The Egg _w/Over The Rhine_
12/8 WASHINGTON, DC - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue _w/Over The Rhine_
12/9 SELLERSVILLE, PA - Sellersville Theater _o/Gregory Douglass_
12/12 PARK CITY, UT - Eccles Center

[TrungT]

Vienna Teng show was awesome.
Hanged out with a bunch of great friends price less.
 aa

[Danny Richie]

Okay, I just watched the DVD that I picked up at the show. This one is a must have DVD. The recording quality is pretty dang good. Video work was really good too. Very professionally done!

I really enjoyed it, even more so than just the CD's.

Get it here: http://www.scarabcart.com/cgi-bin/viennateng/store.cgi?csid=&category=DVD

[satfrat]

Okay, I just watched the DVD that I picked up at the show. This one is a must have DVD. The recording quality is pretty dang good. Video work was really good too. Very professionally done!

I really enjoyed it, even more so than just the CD's.

Got a title to that DVD Danny? Thanks.

[Danny Richie]

Check the link above.

[satfrat]

Check the link above.

 

[Danny Richie]

Don't feel bad. I edited it into the post above about the same time that you posted your response.

[Danny Richie]

Here is a sampling of the DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qpUWX5uO2Q

They did not pick the better songs for the sample. My favorites were Gravity, The Tower, Blue Caravan, and Harbor.

Here is one more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl9FtdUvpjw

[mojave]

I went to the concert in Omaha last night and had a great time. The Waiting Room is a very small venue and there were about 55 people present. Vienna joked that it is always nice to have more people in the audience than on the stage. Her singing is incredible with great control over her dynamics.

Afterward she signed a CD for me and I mentioned I had heard about her here on this forum. She said she had talked to Danny in Dallas. I had the feeling that talking to Danny rated a little higher than being on the Letterman show.  aa

[jtwrace]

Yes, it was...I saw Lyle Lovett and his large band. 

[Danny Richie]

I think she must really like the small venues. She could be selling out much larger venues with a little effort in the promotion and advertising areas.

She is going to be huge one of these days and we will be able to say, I remember when I saw her in a small and intimate performance with only 55 people present. I think there might have only been about 80 or so people the first time that I saw her in Oklahoma City. In Dallas there might have been about 120 to 130 people.

There is really a lot to be said for sitting front row at a small show and have a talent like that get up just a few feet from me in the center of the stage, and without any instrument accompaniment, or a microphone, to lay down the Green Island Serenade, sung in Mandarin Chinese. Wow!

Thanks for mentioning me and the Audio Circle. I know she appreciates the activity of this thread as she did thank me for it. I may have only driven a couple of dozen people (who knows) to her shows but has to have been good publicity. And it's good for AC that it can show some outreach power. Maybe we can host an AC sponsored show for her one of these days at an audio show. She has dropped in on this thread too BTW. Hey, over 5,400 views of this thread so far.

I had her and Alex sign her latest CD for me when I saw her in OK City, and this time I had her and Alex sign my DVD. Maybe one day I can autograph a pair of speakers for her. 

[dvenardos]

Hugh and I saw her in LA based on Danny's recommendation and it was really a lot of fun, definitely appreciate the recommendation.

[jimdgoulding]

I went to the concert in Omaha last night and had a great time. The Waiting Room is a very small venue and there were about 55 people present. Vienna joked that it is always nice to have more people in the audience than on the stage. Her singing is incredible with great control over her dynamics.

Afterward she signed a CD for me and I mentioned I had heard about her here on this forum. She said she had talked to Danny in Dallas. I had the feeling that talking to Danny rated a little higher than being on the Letterman show.  aa

Nice post, Mo.  I may have seen her in the littlest venue of all of you.  But it was sold out.  Girl can write a song about anything it seems.  "One BD, One bath" (on the video from Danny) is about her apartment hunting in SF.  Did she say there was parking?  One of us is mistaken.  Poetic license, I suppose.  See her LIVE, yo's, if she comes your way.

[Danny Richie]

New update from Vienna.....


_INLAND TERRITORY_ NOMINATED FOR IMA AWARD

As a nice holiday present, Alex and I came offstage at Joe's Pub to learn that _Inland Territory _is nominated for BEST FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUM OF 2009 in the INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS!

The IMAs are well-known for recognizing great music made by both established and emerging artists, and we're thrilled to be among the nominees for 2009. And I have to say, it feels good to be right there in their press release headline too:

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/9thimanominees/

There's a separate VOX POPULI award in each category, determined by votes from music fans like yourself. You can register to vote in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album category here:

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/Default.aspx?maincat=6&yr=2010&scat=6#tp

I definitely recommend checking out music in all the other categories as well. So much talent out there right now...

-------------------------

CONFIRMED DATES 2010

As we sift through the recordings and prepare to mix the live album, we'll still be playing shows--in the Southeast with one of my favorite songwriters, Glen Phillips, a giddy return to Cayamo (with Ward Williams! and Amy Cox! and maybe the whole Wong family!), plus further adventures in the land of bratwurst and spätzle. 

We'll surely add more, but here are the ticket-ready shows so far:

1/9 NEW YORK, NY - City Winery (APAP showcase w/Jeff Daniels, Grant-Lee Phillips & W.P.A.)

2/16 NASHVILLE, TN - 12th & Porter w/Glen Phillips
2/17 ATLANTA, GA - Variety Playhouse w/Glen Phillips
2/18 BIRMINGHAM, AL - The WorkPlay Theatre w/Glen Phillips
2/19 COVINGTON, LA - The Greater Covington Center w/Glen Phillips

2/21 - 2/26 ** CAYAMO 2010! ** w/Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Darrell Scott, Shawn Mullins, Katie Herzig, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Allison Moorer, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Rachael Yamagata, W.P.A. and more... For more information visit http://cayamo.com/

2/27 ORLANDO, FL - Plaza Theatre w/Glen Phillips

3/14 KAMUELA (Waimea on the Big Island), HI - Kahilu Theatre

4/16 ORIENTAL, NC - The Old Theater
4/17 NORFOLK, VA - Attucks Theatre

4/20 ZÃœRICH, SWITZERLAND - Moods
4/21 FREIBURG, GERMANY - Jazzhaus
4/22 KOBLENZ, GERMANY - Cafe Hahn
4/23 KíLN, GERMANY - Altes Pfandhaus
4/24 STUTTGART, GERMANY - Bix Jazzclub
4/25 MAINZ, GERMANY - Frankfurter Hof
4/27 HAMBURG, GERMANY - Fabrik
4/29 HALLE, GERMANY - Objekt 5
4/30 DRESDEN, GERMANY - Alter Schlachthof
5/1 BERNAU BEI BERLIN, GERMANY - Schloss Börnicke
5/2 NEUHARDENBERG, GERMANY - Schinkel-Kirche

Detailed tour calendar is always here:
http://viennateng.com/tour/

-------------------------

Happy New Year 2010! May you grow, stay grounded, get carried away. Be good to yourself, and see you soon.

Much love,
VT

[Danny Richie]

New update from Vienna:

NEW YORK SINGS FOR HAITI

We played not one but two nights at City Winery in January, the second night as part of a marathon benefit concert for Haiti relief. It was an incredible lineup with a lot of collaborative spirit: imagine Ari Hest, The Paper Raincoat, The Spring Standards and dozens of other fabulous New York musicians playing and singing together...

Actually, you don't have to imagine it. The concert streamed live and you can still watch it here:
http://www.livestream.com/nysingsforhaiti#

And if you feel so moved, please make a donation to Doctors Without Borders' relief efforts in Haiti.
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1?ref=main-menu

Many thanks to Alex Berger and photographer Ric Agudelo for organizing an amazing evening!

-------------------------
SUBMIT ARTWORK FOR LIVE ALBUM SPECIAL EDITION

Calling all visual artists: if you've created artwork based on one of our live performances, we'd love to see it—and put it in the special ediition of the live album!

We've gotten to see some beautiful pencil sketches, watercolors, pastel portraits after shows (and some pretty great pen-and-napkin cartoons too). We'd love to showcase your talents when we release the live recordings this spring!

Send a preview JPG to vienna@viennateng.com and we'll arrange to get a high-resolution image from you.

Please submit images by TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16.

-------------------------
NEW VIDEOS: CAYAMO '09, MAKING OF INLAND TERRITORY

Somehow in the midst of touring and producing records, Alex has also taken on documentarian duties. He's been releasing videos from tour as well as the Inland Territory sessions—check 'em out!
You can watch these videos on Alex's new website, www.highceilingsmusic.com, or on YouTube:

The Making of "Antebellum":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyQJIPAChas

The Making of "In Another Life":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWmBpwIGuks

The 11:11 Blog (Spring Tour 2009)
Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2TXPiwAqxk
Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbhSL9sJTio
Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_zCJvTCNQ0
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9HSC0DfaZI
Episode 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgPR81DxHa0
Episode 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDpLBupTfJA
Episode 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4pI_EnYpOo

Cayamo 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W3GLqkk7sk

-------------------------
TOUR DATES - SPRING 2010

A recap of upcoming shows.  We'll be adding more May dates on the West Coast and in the Great Lakes area...

% Vienna & Alex duo
# Vienna, Alex & Ward trio
@ Vienna solo
others TBD

http://viennateng.com/tour

% 2/16 NASHVILLE, TN - 12th & Porter w/Glen Phillips
% 2/17 ATLANTA, GA - Variety Playhouse w/Glen Phillips
% 2/18 BIRMINGHAM, AL - The WorkPlay Theatre w/Glen Phillips
% 2/19 COVINGTON, LA - The Greater Covington Center w/Glen Phillips

# 2/21 - 2/26 CAYAMO! http://cayamo.com
w/Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Darrell Scott, Shawn Mullins, Katie Herzig, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Allison Moorer, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Rachael Yamagata, W.P.A. and more...

% 2/27 ORLANDO, FL - Plaza Theatre w/Glen Phillips
@ 2/28 ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Hideaway Cafe (2 shows) w/Glen Phillips

# 3/14 KAMUELA (Waimea on the Big Island), HI - Kahilu Theatre

4/16 ROCK HILL, SC - Winthrop University
4/16 ORIENTAL, NC - The Old Theater
4/17 NORFOLK, VA - Attucks Theatre

# 4/20 ZÃœRICH, SWITZERLAND - Moods
# 4/21 FREIBURG, GERMANY - Jazzhaus
# 4/22 KOBLENZ, GERMANY - Cafe Hahn
# 4/23 KíLN, GERMANY - Altes Pfandhaus
# 4/24 STUTTGART, GERMANY - Bix Jazzclub
# 4/25 MAINZ, GERMANY - Frankfurter Hof
# 4/27 HAMBURG, GERMANY - Fabrik
# 4/29 HALLE, GERMANY - Objekt 5
# 4/30 DRESDEN, GERMANY - Alter Schlachthof
# 5/1 BERNAU BEI BERLIN, GERMANY - Schloss Börnicke
# 5/2 NEUHARDENBERG, GERMANY - Schinkel-Kirche

http://viennateng.com/tour/

See you soon, we hope!

Love,
VT, AW et al

[Danny Richie]

New update:

If her tour takes her near you then DON'T miss her show.


To: info@gr-research.com
Subject: May & June tour dates! LIVE ALBUM ready for order!

Feliz Seis de Mayo, mis amigos. Hope your hangovers, if any, are slight.

Based on FanBridge statistics and anecdotal evidence, I should have titled the last newsletter "I'm going back to school...but first WE'RE TOURING a lot!" If you took the announcement to mean The End, it most definitely isn't. (Maybe taking a marketing class in b-school will have multiple benefits.)

So come out to these shows, my friends. Bring *your* friends. Share the love. Let's celebrate everything we've created together.

http://viennateng.com/tour/

And whether you can make it to these shows or not, you can order the LIVE ALBUM now, too!

http://viennateng.portmerch.com/

-------------------------
MAY & JUNE TOUR DATES

Despite the mighty Eyjafjallajokull, the VT Trio did make it to two-thirds of our Europe gigs—with sold-out shows in most cities, including pllaces we were visiting for the first time! Deutschland, Vielen Dank. You never cease to amaze. We'll be back in August, including a rescheduled date of the cancelled show in Köln.

http://viennateng.com/tour/

Next week Alex & I headline some of our favorite spots on the West Coast, supported by Sara Watkins and Paul Freeman. Then in June, we're thrilled to be opening for the one & only BRANDI CARLILE! (If you have not seen this woman with her band, you must. And not just because I get to play Elton John's piano part on one of her tunes.)

***** VIENNA TENG & ALEX WONG *****

5/10 PORTLAND, OR - Mississippi Studios s/Sara Watkins
5/11 SEATTLE, WA - Triple Door (2 shows) s/Sara Watkins
5/14 WINTERS, CA - Palms Playhouse s/Paul Freeman
5/15 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Yoshi's (2 shows) s/Paul Freeman
5/16 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Yoshi's (2 shows) s/Paul Freeman
5/17 SANTA CRUZ, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz Center s/Paul Freeman
5/18 SANTA BARBARA, CA - SOhO s/Sara Watkins
5/20 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA* - Coach House s/Sara Watkins
5/21 SANTA MONICA, CA - McCabe's s/Sara Watkins
5/22 SAN DIEGO, CA - Anthology s/Sara Watkins

* special deal: $5 off advance tickets! call 949.496.8930 and mention "Vanishing Moment"

***** OPENING FOR BRANDI CARLILE (VT&AW) *****
http://www.brandicarlile.com/

6/3 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - House of Blues
6/4 CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Jefferson Theater
6/5 NORFOLK, VA - The NorVa
6/6 RICHMOND, VA - The National
6/8 JACKSONVILLE, FL - Florida Theater
6/9 CHARLESTON, SC - The Music Farm
6/11 GREENVILLE, SC - The Handlebar
6/13 MEMPHIS, TN - Minglewood Hall

Detailed tour calendar is always here:

http://viennateng.com/tour/

-------------------------
LIVE ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR ORDER

It's here, ladies and gents! THE MOMENT ALWAYS VANISHING is fresh off the presses and just about ready to make its way to you.

Here's what we've made:

A CD of 14 songs with intros, in a sleeve with artwork designed by Diana Ho ($10)
http://www.viennateng.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17392

A beautiful HARDBOUND BOOK of Tim Wong's photos from Joe's Pub, short essays, and select fan artwork; includes CD ($30)
http://www.viennateng.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17393

A custom, eco-friendly USB FLASH DRIVE with all the audio from the CD (full-quality and MP3), plus an "encore set" of songs & intros, video from the Joe's Pub show by Ehud Lazin, and other goodies ($20)
http://viennateng.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17394

For now, it's all available exclusively at the viennateng.com store, shipping May 17, and at live shows starting May 10. (Look for a digital release at iTunes, Amazon, etc. over the summer.)

Buy the live album here:
http://viennateng.portmerch.com

Hope it's as fun to listen to as it was to make.

Love,
Vienna (& Alex)

[satfrat]

A CD of 14 songs with intros, in a sleeve with artwork designed by Diana Ho ($10)
http://www.viennateng.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17392

Looks like this is Vienna's latest album, The Moment Always Vanishing ,of which I haven't gotten ~yet~.    I do have her other 4 albums tho, thanks Danny for the notice on her latest offerings. 
 

 
Cheers,
Robin

[tasar]

Strange.......this gal doesn't play up North it seems.....so who's going to keep us warmed up ? Oh yah, we have Patricia Barber for that.....her recording studio has flat out, got to be one of the very best !

[jopagi]

I had the privilege of seeing Vienna and Alex last night in Portland at Mississippi Studios - the finest venue that I've ever heard for listening to a performer like her.   She was exactly as you have described -- warm, engaging, and involving.   It was a real treat.

A warning, though -- this is her farewell tour!   She's not calling it that, but she's headed to grad school in Ann Arbor for a few years to study sustainable enterprise.  As good as she is musically, she's always maintained that she doesn't define herself by her musical success, so who knows what will happen after grad school.   Don't wait... if she comes your way, see her.