Japan is ....

One of the most beautiful places in the world.
I spent way too much money, walked for hours each day, ate way too much food and amazingly enough, didn't really have any Sushi!
A piece of Sashimi every so often but no proper Sushi meal. Tons of Korean Barbecue though.
I had a great time. Met some new friends and one day in Osaka, while leaving a store called Tokyu Hands (they have everything in this store from Jewelry to Belt Sanders) I ran into a close buddy from New York. Alan Childs was over doing a musical. Amazing that in a city of 14 million people I can run into a buddy from NYC.
I think the highlight of the trip - besides playing 10 shows in 5 days - was the party that the fans gave us on the second night in Tokyo.
The Fans always do the sweetest things for us each time we come here. They always present us with gifts, cookies with our pictures on them, letters of support ... but I don't think we were prepared for the event.
There must have been 100 people packed like sardines into a small club in the Akasaka district.
We arrived around 12:30am to applause and camera flashes.
I had gotten a letter a few days before from Yoshino the Woman who arranged everything and I was asked if I might join the band on a few songs. I wound up singing for about an hour with them. The best was their version of 'Communion With The Sun'. What a hoot!
All in all it was the best time I've had in Japan since 1976.
Can't wait to go back.

Another Round for the History Books

Just finished playing the last gig on this round of solo shows tonight at The Bitter End in NYC.
Once again, I'm really glad I decided to do these shows.
From Atlanta, to Florida, to Texas, to Chicago, Cleveland and New York, I couldn't ask for a more appreciative audience.
I never cease to be amazed and humbled at the length's some people go to catch one of my shows.
Maybe thats why I repeat ad infinitum, Thank You.
Unfortunately, Jessie was ill tonight and couldn't make the drive down from his home in Upstate NY. Even though he was sorely missed, Phyllis and myself did our best to fill in the gaps.
I had the pleasure of working with CC Coletti tonight. When I booked the Bitter End I thought it would be great to have CC and her band open up for me. They were great. "Greasy" is the proper term.

My schedule gets a little hectic for a minute starting next week. I'm off to Japan on Wednesday for ten days, then another 2 weeks of shows in the US with TR. A short break during May and then, ML duties until mid August.

At which point ........ well, I wish I knew.

K

March Madness

Hi Everyone,

Just finished throwing some things in a bag, changed some guitar strings, set my alarm for tomorrow mornings flight to Atlanta.
I have two shows this weekend. One just outside Atlanta at The Academy Theater in Avondale Estates, GA. @ 8:00PM. Then on Sunday I'm playing in Ft. Lauderdale at the annual Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament. Should be fun.

In honor of a new year and some new gigs I've posted a brand new song on my Myspace page. I kinda rushed putting it up - read - it's really not done yet. I just wanted you to hear what I've been working on. More will be coming as the months progress.
I like this one because it's slightly different from the kind of stuff I usually find myself recording.

After this weekend, I'll be back in NY for a day then to Texas for some 'private shows'.
I'm really looking forward to the end of the month, Chicago, Cleveland and finishing off in NYC at The Bitter End.
Just in time for a trip to Japan with Todd.
I've been shying away from Sushi after reading an article about increased Mercury levels in fish these days but I just might have to ignore that warning for a week.
If I come back from Tokyo with a silvery glow about me, you'll know I've gone a bit overboard.
So, if you have a spare 4 minutes check out the new tune "Watching The World Go By" at; http://www.myspace.com/kasimsulton

Kasim

Notes from the Tundra

Man is it cold here or what? Above is a quick shot of myself with a new fan ... Caroline.
Her Dad took her to our show tonight in Milwaukee at The Pabst Theater. They were sitting in the front row and I nearly took this poor childs right eye out with a pick. After meeting her and her Dad, and apologizing for nearly blinding her, I thought I would try my best to make up for it by posting her picture here. She was a sweetheart and it's always good to see young people at the shows.
We've been venturing into the 'too cold to go anywhere' region of the country for the past week. The last two days were spent in Minneapolis where the high for the week was +9. The HIGH for the week! I have a friend who lives there and when I asked him how on earth he puts up with it, he said "Oh it's not that bad." HUH? Eddie ... get a grip man! This weather is only normal if you're a Penguin or a Polar Bear! Tomorrow we go to Chicago and I doubt it will be any better temperature wise.
As always, these shows are the best. We usually arrive at the venue around 5 for soundcheck, do a couple songs, pick at the deli tray, watch Randy scurry about the stage setting everything up then, it's Show Time. They call these types of tour's 'Plug In And Play'. Mainly because thats about all you do. No stage set, no pyro, no lighting rig, no Tour Manager, no Tour Assistant, no catering (only if you count the deli tray), no Tour Bus, no Private Planes, no Ritz Carltons or Four Seasons, no one picking up my bags an hour before lobby call, no daily sheets, no bed's, no shoes, no Promoter Dinners, and the best is ... NO COMPLAINING! Ummmmmm, wait a second .... THIS SUCKS! No, only kidding. I love it. The set flies by. No sooner do I get on stage than I realize we're doing Mystified (oddly enough a Utopia song) and theres only another 20 minutes left in the show.
The audience is always great. The fans ... our fans .... my fans .... are the best. I do my best to make it out to the house afterwards to show my appreciation for the years of support Todd and myself have gotten.
There's only one week left on this run but I'm sure Todd will be doing this show again in the not-to-distant future. At least I hope so.
I'm gearing up for the March solo dates and I've been told that by end of next week all the dates will be confirmed. Right now only the beginning and end is etched in stone.
Please, please try and make it to one or more of the shows as I will be doing some new material and will have at least one new face on stage with me.
I hope you're all well and safe. I'm looking forward to some warmer days ahead!

Kasim

52 And Still A Big Baby

I have tried to post here at least once a month but theres always something that seems to find me putting it off again and again. Selective procrastination. It's important to me that I update you as often as possible. The last few months have been interesting to say the least. As you probably know, the Meat Loaf tour was cut short and I found myself back home roughly three weeks sooner than expected. I used that time to do some long overdue home-work. Mundane stuff really. I was never good at finishing my homework.
Before I knew it, it was time to pack again and head out for the Todd tour. It's been a gas. It's been just what I needed after three weeks of boring homework. Besides, the teacher's just gonna fail me anyway. So, I ran away with the Circus.
One thing thats been especially cool for me is working with Mike Urbano. As a sometimes Bass Player, there are a handful of Drummers that make a big difference in the enjoyment level on stage. Willie Wilcox, Prairie Prince, Kenny Aronoff, John Miceli to name a few. I first met Michael in San Fransisco while recording a track on Todd's 'Nearly Human' record. I had known of his work with Bourgeois / Tagg and thought he was excellent. In any case, this tour was the first time I really got to work with him for more than one day on more than one song and I'm adding him to my list of favorite's. A real special person too.
Ok, enough Michael.
I'm working on some new songs (yes I know I've said that a million times). I should have something for you all to hear very soon.
And now the most important thing ... actually, the reason I sat myself down to write this in the first place (I got sidetracked).
Day before yesterday was my 52nd Birthday. I woke up to a couple calls from my family wishing me a Happy Birthday but two other things touched me most.
First were the emails I received from friends and fans from all over the world.
Second was the Birthday video posted on Youtube. How lucky am I?
I can't begin to tell you how good it made me feel. That you took the time out of your day to do this for me. It was the best gift I could have ever gotten. I truly am blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of people.
If I didn't answer your Bday email personally please accept this as my thank you for everything you do for me.
Thats about it for now. It's late and Mr. Sandman is beckoning....

I love you all.

October 6

I've been meaning to write. I really have. I'm not sure if I've been waiting for something significant to write about or ... if I've just been putting it off for no good reason.
It's not like I haven't been busy. So busy in fact that I decided to reschedule plans for a round of solo shows until after the new year. I just didn't have the time to properly prepare for any in December.
Right now I'm in the UK. Stoke on Trent to be exact. Someone with extremely deep pockets has Meat Loaf and the band performing at this Birthday Party. Tomorrow I will be in someones backyard with the rest of the guys rubbing noses with the upper echelon of Stoke on Trent's elite.
The Todd tour was more than fun. Although the venues were small and there weren't very many days off, the audience's made it all worth it. I don't have the chance to play on the west coast all that much so, it was good to reconnect with those people I don't see as much as I do when I'm touring in the States.
I'm on my way back home on Sunday for a week off then, right back to Koln Germany for the start of the last leg of the Bat III tour.
It's been a long year. One that has seen me on three separate tours. I think thats a record for me.
I'm going to take December and January to work on some new material. A few things are already recorded and waiting to be finished. My plan remains the same. More solo shows in 2008.
I'll make sure to keep you all in the loop on the upcoming Meat shows and once again, I get to miss Thanksgiving at my Sisters house!

Kasim

Alligators Up Your Alley

Just got back to the hotel after playing at Alligator Alley here in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
This was the third and final solo show for me in between Meat Loaf gigs.
I'd like to give a huge thank you to all the Meat fans who came out to see me on these shows ... especially the people who weren't necessarily planning on going but with a little gentle prodding from me, took the time out of their travel schedule to make one or more, pick up a CD or a T-shirt and show their support.
I always truly enjoy doing these shows and, like I've said before, look forward to the day when I do this a lot more frequently.
I'm in the process of putting the dates together for my December run and I can assure you all there will be a whole new spin to what I do on stage. Maybe some new songs? For sure.
Anyway, it's late right now and I have another show tomorrow with Meat Loaf. This one is a make-up for the one we only got 4 songs into last spring. The one where I bravely went out on stage to say Meat was too ill to continue. The one where I was labeled a DWEEB! Well, dweeb or not, I'll take the stage tomorrow here in Boca Raton and I'm sure Meat will more than satisfy everyone there.
Hey ... The New Cars played tonight too! I still have to figure out this cloning thing.

Kasim