Sunday, August 26, 2007

kinda says it all, doesn't it?


here comes the weekend...

In the work-a-day world of my life not much happens during the week that would bear reporting to you, but, occasionally on the weekend my partner and I will venture out into the wilds of Raleigh nightlife. No, you probably won’t catch us at Amra’s even though we DID get our free membership card in the mail. It is more likely that you will find us sampling the fine cuisine at Sadlack’s Heroes just before the band de jour starts to kick out the jams, as we were Friday night. This was my first time seeing the Cartridge Family and I’m glad I finally got a chance to sample their platter of horse doovers .
The previous Friday night we had thrown all caution to the wind on the dance floor for Athens’ own The Vinyl Strangers, who shamelessly deliver power pop for the now people. Oh and if you live anywhere near Athens, Joe promised a Rutles tribute show later in the year. TVS could use a little more power in the pop but still a rock-a-boppin’ little combo that is sure to produce smilefests all up and down the east coast.

Friday, August 24, 2007

in my usual fashion...


of being, at least ten years behind the times, I have just discovered;

the rock*A*teens


Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Wounded Heart

I hope you caught Tom Russell on Letterman last night. Russell has an interesting take on the AMERICA that once was and the america that we live in today.
I first became aware of Mr. Russell through Dave Alvin. The name came up several times in the between song chatter when Aaron & I saw the Guilty Men at the Pour House here in Raleigh.
Then I found a promo for "Hot Walker" at the flea market and it spun in the Toyota's cd player for better than a week. Thanks to Kurt Fortmeyer I found out that Tom would be gracing the Late Night stage and I just couldn't miss it. Tom was incredible and it was very cool to see Paul play the accordian.
Tom Russell is also a noted painter, folk artist.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

remember about a week ago...

I told you about finding that Mekons ep. well, today my lucky stars guided me to the Bargain Box where I picked up a Pine Valley Cosmonauts disc "The Executioner's Last Songs" for $2.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Roger Roger: the back to school session


the time was quickly approaching for Roger Aaron to go off to college and while I knew it was time for him to go, the band had come to appreciate and rely on his many contributions. he was an asset in so many ways be it trumpet, flugelhorn, guitar, keyboards and percussion, as well as chief engineer and just a great guy to have around so cut to the long story short chase, we got together for a day this past Friday. I had really wanted to record with him before he left so I planned to record a copy tune for the MySpace site, which I had already promised in the Roger Roger blog. I decided on Pink Floyd's first US single and a favorite of mine; "Flaming". We recorded a version with me on his gut string acoustic and got one complete take. then we moved on to electric and got what we thought was an acceptable run through with vocals, guitar an fluglehorn then we overdubbed acoustic guitar, horn case percussion and enhanced short wave radio noise. Les Paul P90 guitar, Silvertone 1430 amp, a Getzen fluge and the computer handled the digitized radio noise to line-in on the mixer. mics were AKG and Shure. I wish we could've had a couple more takes with the acoustic guitar but time was short.

we also recorded "1 x 1" a couple of times. I really like the sound of the horn on those and wish for more time to polish where that sound was going. In all this, we still found time to have pizza and gelato from Conti's and scour vintage music shop and a junk store. we saw an interesting item that we might one day go back for. It's a smile for me to remember. thanks Aaron.


go here to listen to the tunes: Roger Roger

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Happy Birthday Mister Fender

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

the Mekons


this past weekend while doing my usual rambling through old junk at local thrifty stores I happened on the FUN '90 ep by the Mekons. just four songs. I resist the need to rant and rave about how incredible this disk is. I will say though, if you want to expand your musical landscape the Mekons would be a great place to start. started in 1977 and still going strong today the Mekons are a force. may that force be with YOU.
oh and John Langford paints.

Monday, August 06, 2007

the Psychedelic Sounds of...


another life changing LP. once you hear Roky Erickson's incredible voice you can never forget.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Too Many People

Too many people on the planet.
Too many people in the world.

Too many people in Africa.
Too many people in Asia.
Too many people in Europe.
Too many people in Australia.
Too many people in the Artic.
Too many people in Antarctica.
Too many people in Greenland.
Too many people in Iceland.
Too many people in North America.
Too many people in South America.
Too many people on the ocean.
Too many people under the sea.

Too many people on the planet.
Too many people in the world.

Too many people on the rivers.
Too many people om the mountains.
Too many people in the desert.
Too many people on the plain.
Too many people on the land.
Too many people in the jungle.
Too many people in the desert.
Too many people driving cars.
Too many people flying planes.
Too many people riding the rail.
Too many people on the train.

Too many people not enough trees.
Too many people not enough herbs.
Too many people not enough insects.
Too many people not enough birds.
Too many people not enough food.
Too many people not enough air.
Too many people not enough water.
People are a virus too many people.
People are a virus too many people.

Too many people on the planet.
Too many people in the world.

Too many people in the country.
Too many people in the state.
Too many people in the city.
Too many people on my street.
Too many people north and south.
Too many people east and west.

Too many people on the planet.
Too many people in the world.

Too many people not enough animals.
Too many people not enough birds.
Too many people not enough flowers.
Too many people not enough fish.
Too many people not enough food.
Too many people not enough air.
Too many people not enough water.
People are a virus too many people.
People are a virus too many people.

Too many people breeding more people.
Too many people in the world.
Too many people on the planet.
Too many people in the world.

Too many people in the solar system.
Too many people in the galaxy.
People are a virus too many people.
People are a virus too many people.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

I'm a poet. I know it. Hope I don't blow it.

Helen says

Helen says emo has no balls.
Helen says emo has no balls.
Helen says emo has no balls.
Helen says emo has no balls.
Helen says emo has no
Helen says emo has no
helen says emo has no
BALLS!

imagine a skinny geek slamming a cheap Japanese, sorry inexpensively aquired fine quality copy of something cool guitar turned up way past ten on the toobular amplitude scale and screaming gravel throated bloody murder and having his way with the one chord or chordless progression that you might find in the almighty "E". For variety you could sing it in different styles for every line while continuing to give Lou Reed like attention to that "E" chord.

this one's for a friend. I hope you get the joke.