In the decade since he first emerged in San Diego\u2019s music community, few have had as varied or colorful a career as Chris Leyva. He\u2019s been a manager, songwriter, label owner, concert promoter, videographer, graphics designer and more \u2014 not only for his own group, but others, as well. While he is perhaps best known for his activities behind the scenes, he said making music himself comes first. “I never really considered myself anything other than a musician,” he said. “The business stuff happened by default. I needed stuff done and I saw where I could help others. It\u2019s simple as that. Necessity makes us head in directions we didn\u2019t expect sometimes.” On Friday, May 30, Leyva and his band, Falling Doves, will host a CD-release party for their new album, “Ready to Go,” at Mother\u2019s Saloon. Opening will be indie rockers Dante\u2019s Boneyard. The choice of venue was no accident. “It\u2019s my home away from home,” Leyva said. “I played my very first show there, back when it was Dream Street.” Ocean Beach figures in the album\u2019s creation as well. It was partially recorded at Leyva\u2019s former apartment on Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
\nThe Falling Doves have had a volatile lineup since their inception, currently consisting of guitarist Mike Dorsey, drummer Jason Knight and, for this special show, local bassist Mark Wikowski. “All the lineups have basically been just a bunch of friends making noise, you know?” Leyva said. “But time marches on, and I\u2019m feeling like the last man standing. All of those friends of mine now have babies and all that. It\u2019s only a matter of time before I succumb to life and normalcy, but I still have a few sunsets left in me.”
\nThe album contains music written from throughout Leyva\u2019s musical career, with songs chosen from demos and old favorites from the more than two dozen albums in his discography. “It started off as just taping some demos,” he said. “But then I realized I wasn\u2019t happy with some other versions of songs in past albums, so I ended up re-recording a few and wrote some new ones in the process. Those new ones are important to the whole thing, like \u2018Glass of Wine,\u2019 which kind of stamps where my writing is at these days, both lyrically and musically.” He points out that life on the road can make coming up with new music difficult. “Traveling really does not give me any free time, but I keep a notepad and a recorder handy for melodies between flight trains and commutes,” Leyva said. “Finding time can be hard. But sometimes situations out there give you inspiration, so it\u2019s a bit of a trade-off, I suppose.”
\nHe acknowledges that the life of a touring musician is harder than ever, but he said he is happy to continue rocking as long as he can. “Making music? It\u2019s the best job you could have,” he said. “Just being a musician can be a good thing. There was a study about a guy with a guitar and a guy without one [it was the same guy] in an elevator. Supposedly, people smiled at the guitar guy, identifying with him and thinking things like \u2018I wish that was me,\u2019 and all that. Same guy, same situation, but no guitar and he never got a second look. “Honestly, I think people know it\u2019s not easy to do this, so they kind of throw us a bone,” Leyva said. “Sometimes you get a smile, sometimes they buy you a drink.”
\nMusic has consumed Leyva\u2019s life for as long as he can remember, and he said he intends to keep it that way. “I don\u2019t want to sound clich\u00e9, but I\u2019ve been singing and writing as far back as I can remember,” he said. “I will say there was a definitive visual on television and radio in the \u201990s that made me want to pick up a guitar. It\u2019s the same old story. Boy listens to a band, the music speaks to him and he becomes obsessed. It\u2019s almost like puberty, where you can\u2019t stop thinking of girls and all that. Like a deep crush, but it\u2019s music.” \u2022 FALLING DOVES: Friday, May 30 at MOTHER\u2019S SALOON, 2228 Bacon St., 9 p.m. 21 and up. For more information, visit www.motherssaloon-ob.com.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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