I just stumbled across these guys, and I'm super digging them. Very Bob Dylan-esq. Click the link. Give a listen. I think you'll enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BZQ6iuJ2kM&feature=player_embedded
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Lyrics of the day
“I’ve gotten so much braver, can’t ya tell?” – Brandi Carlile “Happy”
“The cold, hard truth that you see right to.” – Sara Bareilles “Basket Case”
“Please don’t have somebody waiting on you.” – Taylor Swift “Enchanted”
“Love, it will not betray you, dismay, or enslave you, it will set you free.” – Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More”
“Pretty, pretty please don’t you ever, ever feel like you’re less than f**kin’ perfect.” – P!nk “F**kin’ Perfect
“Everybody tells me all I need is time, then the morning rolls in and it hits me again, and that ain’t nothin’ but a lie.” – Caitlin and Will “Address In The Stars”
“I know you don’t really need me, but still you opened up, and I guess that’s why this all feels so damn good.” Chely Wright “Hang Out In Your Heart”
“When divided we stand, baby, united we fall.” Def Leppard “When Love And Hate Collide”
“The cold, hard truth that you see right to.” – Sara Bareilles “Basket Case”
“Please don’t have somebody waiting on you.” – Taylor Swift “Enchanted”
“Love, it will not betray you, dismay, or enslave you, it will set you free.” – Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More”
“Pretty, pretty please don’t you ever, ever feel like you’re less than f**kin’ perfect.” – P!nk “F**kin’ Perfect
“Everybody tells me all I need is time, then the morning rolls in and it hits me again, and that ain’t nothin’ but a lie.” – Caitlin and Will “Address In The Stars”
“I know you don’t really need me, but still you opened up, and I guess that’s why this all feels so damn good.” Chely Wright “Hang Out In Your Heart”
“When divided we stand, baby, united we fall.” Def Leppard “When Love And Hate Collide”
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I Wish I'd Written That
What? You ask.
"Martin" by Zac Brown Band
I downloaded their new album You Get What You Give. And after listening to it, I am only more certain that these Georgia boys are, hands down, the most talented musicians in country music right now.
The first time I heard this song it put the biggest smile on my face. Mainly because for the first time in my life, the person that this song reminds me of is playing a positive role in my life.
Growing up, the only time my father was tolerable was when he and I avoided words and opted for playing music. And the guitar he always played was (and still is) a D42 Martin. It’s beautiful and sounds amazing. A deep cherry-chocolate back and honey top, with beautiful shell inlay around the sound-hole and on the headstock, this guitar and the sounds that emanated from it were the most beautiful parts of our time together.
One night while I was standing in his kitchen waiting for him to write the child support check, he decided to randomly let me know when he dies, everything he has goes to me- morbid, yes, and the way he said it was crass and insinuated I cared about such, or worse, expected it. I remember getting angry and telling him all I ever wanted was an actual FATHER, but if he wanted to leave me anything, he could keep his money and will me the guitars, because they were responsible for the only decent memories I had of him.
Our relationship continued down that same rocky road, and I'd resolved myself to the idea that it was destined to stay that way. BUT in some weird twist of fate, after two years of not speaking at all, and a bizarre 'Come to Jesus meeting,' we've, seemingly, started to find our way to a kind of legitimate relationship. For the past 2 months, we've actually been spending some time together once a week. It's new, and half the time I still have to calm myself down when I'm headed to his house, but... so far so good.
Though we still sit around and play music, now there's actual communication. We're getting to know one another. Now, he’s kind and encouraging rather than harsh and cruel. And every week when I walk into his house, we head into the same office, where he opens up that same navy blue travel case, and pulls out that same old Martin D42. And every week, I’m finding myself more and more thankful that this guitar we both love so much will be accompanied by pleasant memories.
Like the song says, “If you treat him well, he will last your life long.” ... I'm truly thankful my father and I are now treating each other well and creating something that will, hopefully, become as sturdy and beautiful as that D42.
I’m probably going to have this on repeat for a while.
*My blogging skills won't let me figure out how to just post a SONG, so settle for this YouTube video I found,*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCXKfatA6w
"Martin" by Zac Brown Band
I downloaded their new album You Get What You Give. And after listening to it, I am only more certain that these Georgia boys are, hands down, the most talented musicians in country music right now.
The first time I heard this song it put the biggest smile on my face. Mainly because for the first time in my life, the person that this song reminds me of is playing a positive role in my life.
Growing up, the only time my father was tolerable was when he and I avoided words and opted for playing music. And the guitar he always played was (and still is) a D42 Martin. It’s beautiful and sounds amazing. A deep cherry-chocolate back and honey top, with beautiful shell inlay around the sound-hole and on the headstock, this guitar and the sounds that emanated from it were the most beautiful parts of our time together.
One night while I was standing in his kitchen waiting for him to write the child support check, he decided to randomly let me know when he dies, everything he has goes to me- morbid, yes, and the way he said it was crass and insinuated I cared about such, or worse, expected it. I remember getting angry and telling him all I ever wanted was an actual FATHER, but if he wanted to leave me anything, he could keep his money and will me the guitars, because they were responsible for the only decent memories I had of him.
Our relationship continued down that same rocky road, and I'd resolved myself to the idea that it was destined to stay that way. BUT in some weird twist of fate, after two years of not speaking at all, and a bizarre 'Come to Jesus meeting,' we've, seemingly, started to find our way to a kind of legitimate relationship. For the past 2 months, we've actually been spending some time together once a week. It's new, and half the time I still have to calm myself down when I'm headed to his house, but... so far so good.
Though we still sit around and play music, now there's actual communication. We're getting to know one another. Now, he’s kind and encouraging rather than harsh and cruel. And every week when I walk into his house, we head into the same office, where he opens up that same navy blue travel case, and pulls out that same old Martin D42. And every week, I’m finding myself more and more thankful that this guitar we both love so much will be accompanied by pleasant memories.
Like the song says, “If you treat him well, he will last your life long.” ... I'm truly thankful my father and I are now treating each other well and creating something that will, hopefully, become as sturdy and beautiful as that D42.
I’m probably going to have this on repeat for a while.
*My blogging skills won't let me figure out how to just post a SONG, so settle for this YouTube video I found,*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCXKfatA6w
Monday, January 10, 2011
Screw smelling roses, just listen to the music
This story is a bit dated (April 2007), but it begs the question, if our lives were too busy in 07, how much more of our time is accounted for today at the dawn of 2011?
Here's the rundown: We've all seen, whether in person or at least in video or photograph, the quintessential subway musician. He/she stands in the corner, back to the wall, dressed in common threads and plays in front of an opened instrument case or up-turned baseball cap. More often than not, passersby live up to their name and catch only a glimpse of what's going on in that florescent-lit corner. Usually they don't even register that they've heard anything at all. The notes or lyrics so easily blend in with the ample ambient noises of the every-day that to differentiate seems a daunting task.
Such was the case on January 12, 2007, when a young man made his way into a busy Washington D.C. subway station. He stood against a wall and took out his violin. At about 10 till 8 during the morning rush, he began to play.
For the next 43 minutes he played six classical pieces and over 1,000 people were exposed to the sounds. The young musician made a little over 32 dollars and during the time he played, only a handful of people stopped to listen.
Little did they know the musician was Joshua Bell, one of the worlds greatest violinists, and he was playing some of the most intricate music ever written on a violin that cost over 3 million dollars.
The focus of this social experiment, conducted by the Washington Post, centered around the question, "In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" Unfortunately, as it seemed then, the everyday hustle to continue the rat-race push of life took precedence. And, though I claim to be someone who values music over almost every other pleasurable outlet, I'm left to wonder, if, in those circumstances, I would have made myself stop and enjoy the small snippet of beauty in that corner of the world. Would you?
For the complete Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc
Also, to bring this more up-to-date, for all of you in North Alabama... or within a 100 mile radius of Birmingham, AL, Mr. Bell will be performing at the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center on January 20.
For more info on the event, or to purchase tickets just give this little link a click!
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Joshua+Bell/event_details?event_id=10610240
Here's the rundown: We've all seen, whether in person or at least in video or photograph, the quintessential subway musician. He/she stands in the corner, back to the wall, dressed in common threads and plays in front of an opened instrument case or up-turned baseball cap. More often than not, passersby live up to their name and catch only a glimpse of what's going on in that florescent-lit corner. Usually they don't even register that they've heard anything at all. The notes or lyrics so easily blend in with the ample ambient noises of the every-day that to differentiate seems a daunting task.
Such was the case on January 12, 2007, when a young man made his way into a busy Washington D.C. subway station. He stood against a wall and took out his violin. At about 10 till 8 during the morning rush, he began to play.
For the next 43 minutes he played six classical pieces and over 1,000 people were exposed to the sounds. The young musician made a little over 32 dollars and during the time he played, only a handful of people stopped to listen.
Little did they know the musician was Joshua Bell, one of the worlds greatest violinists, and he was playing some of the most intricate music ever written on a violin that cost over 3 million dollars.
The focus of this social experiment, conducted by the Washington Post, centered around the question, "In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" Unfortunately, as it seemed then, the everyday hustle to continue the rat-race push of life took precedence. And, though I claim to be someone who values music over almost every other pleasurable outlet, I'm left to wonder, if, in those circumstances, I would have made myself stop and enjoy the small snippet of beauty in that corner of the world. Would you?
For the complete Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc
Also, to bring this more up-to-date, for all of you in North Alabama... or within a 100 mile radius of Birmingham, AL, Mr. Bell will be performing at the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center on January 20.
For more info on the event, or to purchase tickets just give this little link a click!
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Joshua+Bell/event_details?event_id=10610240
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