Take One Last Look - Tom Waits

"Let's look forward to the lights that are new,

The world is a ribbon of road for you"

Happy New Year everyone! This year was...well...pretty fucking crazy. Looking forward to better days to come while at the same time being grateful for adapting and learning new skills this past year. 

The last big trip my wife and I took before the big C was to New York. Listening to Tom Waits makes me think of that magical city. On my first trip to NYC I flew up to Connecticut to visit a friend and then took the train by myself from Windsor, CT to the belly of the beast, Grand Central Station . On the last leg of the train ride I was listening to the Rain Dogs album while the view transitioned from empty fields to the shadows of skyscrapers and graffitied buildings. I had a smile on my face while Downtown Train came on my headphones and a bit of nervous excitement as I was about to experience New York City for the first time. Years later I would get to see the great guitarist Marc Ribot featured on this album live score a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s, The Kid at the local revival movie theater down the road (same place I witnessed the magic of Goblin) Very excited to attend events like this again down the line. 

This is a newer tune that I remember watching on the original air date during David Letterman's last week of shows. I figured it was a nice way to put on a bow on 2020.  Prost, Slainte, Cheers! Thanks for reading.

Tom Waits - Downtown Train

Last Christmas - Wham!

 

"Once bitten and twice shy

I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye

Tell me baby, do you recognize me?

Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me"

When I was at the College of Charleston the hip store to go to was Granny's Goodies on King Street. It was the late 90's so Amazon was a place you could only buy books and if you were looking for a vintage Def Leppard t-shirt you could go try your luck on something called eBay (and yes dial up internet was still a thing) Anyways to get something unique your best bet was to go to the store. Granny's was one of those stores you could always find something interesting to pick up and it was a destination you'd wow out of town guests with. It was a place that constantly smelt of incense and if you needed a tie dye tapestry you were in luck. Besides being a head shop, Granny's was the spot for Halloween costumes and in my case random relics from the 70's and 80's. Three distinct purchases I made at Granny's through my college career were a Saturday Night Fever John Travolta poster (displayed next to the Bob Marley poster in my freshman dorm room) a Mr. T air freshener (Hung in my car for years till poor T's face faded from the sun. In case you were curious Mr T. had a minty smell) and lastly a Wham! keychain. I believe this was an impulse cash register buy (you know like a pack of gum or a Soap Opera Digest at the grocery store check out?) Interesting side note, the impulse item at a drug store in Germany I went too was mini bottles of Jagermeister.

So what happened to the Wham! keychain? Nothing, this picture was taken earlier today. The keychain safely sits in my sock drawer and has somehow stayed with me for I believe 9 different moves since purchasing? While Wham! rests in my bureau now it graced my keys for the later years of my college life. Truth be told it was used as a conversation starter with the ladies. (Hey not all of us are Brad Pitt so I had to use humor and individuality for my discourse with the opposite sex)After all, how many people have you met that had a Wham! keychain? 

While I did find the Wham! keychain humorous, I am a fan of their music and of course Mr. Micheal's later solo work. For me it's not the Christmas season till I hear A Charlie Brown Christmas album by Vince Guaraldi or this tune (which may be my favorite Christmas song of all time, yeah I said it) Often imitated, never duplicated. Oh yeah Granny's Goodies is no longer with us. Once they moved out, a music club called Cumberland's moved in (which used to make more sense when it was actually on Cumberland Street) and if you walk by this spot today.... it's an Apple Store. Doh!

Happy Holiday's everyone! Although the last year hasn't always been ideal, I've enjoyed getting back to sharing some stories and music with everyone.  Hope you've enjoyed it too.Till next time, Cheers! 

Wham! - Last Christmas (Official Video)

Cry Little Sister - Gerard McMahon

 Hard to believe the Halloween season has come to an end. I hope everyone had some time this month to celebrate and escape health and political news at least for a bit. As for me, my wife and I sat on the porch and handed out candy to about 4 kids (anybody out there want some Almond Joys?) and then had a backyard screening of 1941's The Wolfman with some neighbors. It was a full moon after all. I had a great time posting some spooky tunes and discussing some of my favorite horror films this past month. I have many more to share but I just ran out of time. There's always next year...although since I celebrate these films and tunes throughout the year I may scatter a few here and there. I realize some people don't like horror moves at all. I tried to think of the roots of why I enjoy these tales so much. It's not that I'm a particular brave person. In fact I'd say most horror fans would pass out at the sight of real blood (me included) I believe five things introduced to me as a child sparked my fandom and curiosity. In no particular oder: Edgar Allen Poe, Scooby Doo, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Ghostbusters, and visiting Salem Massachusetts.

Horror is my favorite genre of movies but I love all types of cinema. As a kid I dug watching Siskel and Ebert on Saturday afternoons. I enjoyed the spirited debates and seeing the coming attractions. One of the movies I first heard about on the show was 1987's The Lost Boys. After seeing the trailer and hearing a positive review I knew I needed to see it. I don't believe I went to the theaters for this one but we did rent it as soon as it came out on video. Not sure how many times I've seen it since, but it's become one of my favorites. In fact after a few drinks last year I was talking about movies with a friend and I declared it was a perfect 10 out of 10. Ha-Ha. What makes a perfect move for me? Great soundtrack or score, believable characters, and a story that keeps moving (Throwing in the two Corey's isn't a bad thing either) That same friend got me a Cameo this year from Tim Capello who's the buff saxophone player singing at the boardwalk (that's one of the halloween costume ideas I have packed away for the future) I was happy to see my personalized video (yes he played the saxophone and had on a tank top) and he seemed like a really nice guy. Side note about the Lost Boys soundtrack. A few years ago my wife and I were having happy hour at an oyster bar in New Orleans when I started paying attention to the background music. Much to my delight the full Lost Boys's soundtrack was playing in the background,,,and it wasn't even October. Gotta love New Orleans. The Lost Boys homage above has been hanging in our living room for the past month. It was a gift from my wife for my last birthday. She was also present for my 10 out of 10 proclamation so I guess they were listening :) 

Last scary flick I wanted to highlight for you is 1973's the Wicker Man. Yes Nick Cage did a remake a few years back and although I enjoy an off the rails Cage as much as the next guy i'd start off with the OG. Midsommar made a big splash last year and if you dug the aesthetics of that flick you'll see it was heavily influenced by this film. Christopher Lee as a cult leader? I'm in!! Happy Halloween everyone!

The Lost Boys - Soundtrack - Cry Little Sister (Theme From The Lost Boys...

The Lost Boys (1987): Trailer HQ

The Wicker Man (1973) Official Trailer - Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento ...

Suspiria (Originale) - Goblin

 

Christmas came early back in December of 2018 or did Halloween come late? The 1920's revival theater within walking distance of my house (shout out to the Byrd Theater) was hosting Goblin (well some of the original members) to live score their 1977 soundtrack to Suspiria. Would this be a popular event I asked myself? Am I the crazy one that can't wait for this to happen? As mentioned in an earlier post, my crowd estimation skills are not sensei-like but this event was a sell out. 

I had only seen Suspiria on the big screen once before. It was a year prior at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village at a midnight screening celebrating it's 30 year anniversary. Not taking away from the films's frights, but the walk to the film center may have been scarier than the movie that night. Oh yes, another film was also being played at this witching hour...1988's Tom Cruise classic, Cocktail. What was the occasion for this? No idea but I love the randomness. As much as I appreciate "Cocktails and Dreams" and the hit song from "some of The Beach Boys" including a pink tank topped Uncle Jesse himself, Mr. John Stamos on drums..it was an easy choice.

If you're not familiar with the film, Tom Cruise is a business student paying his way through college while mastering circus like bartending techniques....Whoops, let's get back to Suspiria. 

This Dario Argento giallo classic follows an America ballet dancer who heads to Germany to attend a prestigious dance academy which happens to be run by witches. That's about all you need to know. The cinematography is mesmerizing and the soundtrack is infectious. Goblin scored a few Argento films (check out Deep Red if you dig this one, it's funky as hell) I dare you to not get the main theme below out of your head after watching as it effortlessly weaves in and out of the film. Needless to say, Goblin live rocked and the movie lit up the soft red lighted historic movie house like a piece of blood splattered art. Hard to believe the spooky season is almost over but this move would be a great way to cap off your October viewings. I've seen the 2018 remake and while it's an interesting movie on it's own, I'd save that one for a later day and recommend you check out Mr. Argento's classic first. Merry Christmas and Happy Halloween!

  

 

Suspiria (Originale)

SUSPIRIA - 40th Anniversary 4K Restoration Trailer (2017) | HD

The Beach Boys - Kokomo (1988)

Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus

 

"You told me, I've seen it all before

Been there, I've seen my hopes and dreams

A lying on the ground"

Figured I'd slow things down a bit for this week's "spooky" post. Songs used in advertising sometimes take the soul out of a tune you once loved. Instead of coming to your own conclusion about a song's meaning or a sparked memory, the advertiser's image of cars or soap conquer your subconscious.(I guess that's what they get paid for)  I suppose it's similar to reading a book before seeing the movie so you can use your own imagination and interpret the words the author has presented. Songs used in movies however can take certain pieces of music and elevate the way you process them. Whether it's Scorsese playing the Stones or insert any 80's movie with a Kenny Loggins tune, these songs become elevated and sometimes iconic depending on the impact of the scene. (Oh, totally going to post some of my favorite soundtrack tunes at some point....let's just say ole K. Loggins will be brought up again)

I don't believe this song was creepy when it was released into the world in 1988 but once Jonathan Deeme displayed it in one of the more disturbing scenes in 1991's ,"Silence of The Lambs" this tune become infamous. If you've seen the movie you know which scene I'm referring too. The one with a girl in a pit, a toy poodle, lotion, baskets, and a mangina dance. Is that still a PC term? Was it ever?

I believe Silence of the Lambs is a great movie but I prefer the fantastical and supernatural horror pictures rather than the "based on true events" flicks. Real life is scary enough! Speaking of fantastical, the pic from the left is back from 1987 or 88? My Uncle used to work for Coors so this cutout from the Halloween TV promos of the time was in his basement TV room and as a 10 year I found this piece of Elvira art "very interesting." 

The horror flick I wanted to spotlight this week was a new discovery for me about two years ago, !975's "Race with the Devil"!I heard it discussed on one of my favorite movie podcasts, Pure Cinema . The movie stars Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, and Hot Lips from MASH. The cliff's notes version is two couples take an RV trip out to the desert to ride motorbikes (as people do?) when they accidentally witness some type of ritualistic human sacrifice. At that point our Dirt Bike heroes are chased from town to town by some type of cult that as we find out has lot's of reach. Great tagline too..."When you race with the devil...you better be faster than hell!" Cheers everyone.

Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses (Original Video)

Race With The Devil (1975) Original Theatrical Movie Trailer

1986 Coors Light beer commercial featuring Elvira.

Am I Evil? - Metallica

 

"Am I evil? Yes, I am

Am I evil? I am man, yes I am"

4/2/92, the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland I attended my first concert..Metallica!! I was in 8th grade (check out that sweet turtleneck from my class pic) Metallica was already a large presence but this tour supported the Black Album so they were about about to become a global phenomenon. They actually opened the show with the hit single at the time "Enter Sandman." (see below intro clip from the tour) Thanks to the power of the internet I was able to pull up the setlist and revisit the 24 song assault which covered their whole catalogue and a few covers. We only saw 22 of the songs because after a second encore my dad figured we should get home because after all it was a school night. I remember being terrified and excited at the same time before the show. Just driving through the parking lot seeing all the metal heads partying was a bit intimidating to my 14 old self, but I knew I was about to witness a monumental event. From my car window I thought, whoever invented black jeans made a lot of money from Metallica fans. 

I was fortunate to view the show from above. The company my dad worked for at the time had a "skybox" at the Capital Centre so my brother and I got to catch Bullet and Capital games (and of course a few WWF matches) frequently while my dad was working and hosting guests. It was a pretty sweet perk to have. The adults were excited to have unlimited beer and wine while I got to enjoy all you can eat hotdogs and Sprite. I remember seeing my first "passed out" adult at an Aerosmith concert. One minute she's hanging over the glass screaming "play Angel!" over and over again. The next minute she was curled up on a couch. The skybox was always an experience. 

The last song I heard before walking out was a Diamond Head cover, Am I Evil. It's got everything you need in a metal song...anthemic chorus, witches, fire and kick ass guitar solos. I laugh thinking of 13 year old me responding to James's question Am I Evil? Me and the rest of the crowd fist pumping flashing the rock and roll sign screaming YES I AM!! Ha-ha, even though I was someone who never liked to get into trouble so I'm not really evil....OR AM I!!!!! 

Speaking of evil, i'm also a die hard horror movie fan. While I celebrate this genre all year round, it seems more special to revisit some spooky tales during October. I figure i'd share some of my favs over the next few weeks. Growing up in the 80's slasher movies were extremely popular and the monsters were becoming rock stars. Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface and Jason Voorhees. For whatever reason I always had a softspot for the hockey masked lunatic, Jason. I've seen all 12 installments of the franchise but have seen 1-6 the most. It's hard to pick a favorite but I do dig part 4 quite a bit. Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover? How could you go wrong? Check out the below trailer and of course the amazing dancing stylings of Mr. George McFly himself!(before meeting his demise with a corkscrew...don't drink kids!) Happy October!

Metallica - Enter Sandman - [Live San Diego 1992] [HD]

Friday the 13th Part 4 (1984) Official Trailer [HD]

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) - Crispin Glover Dance

Metallica- Am I Evil? (Studio Version)

Happy October!!

 

I know it's been awhile but I plan on being more active during my favorite month of the year posting some "spooky tunes" for your listening pleasure. Stay tuned. Happy October everyone!

Hello - Lionel Richie

                                                                           

 

"I long to see the sunlight in your hair

And tell you time and time again how much I care"

 It's my birthday month. Yeah! I suppose by now most of us have celebrated our first “Covid birthday." Things of course are a bit lower key this year. Smaller gatherings, limited eating out options, making sure not to blow out the candles on the full birthday cake, (maybe we should keep that tradition going forward?) Despite these changes I overall had a great birthday. Got to see a few neighbors, sipped on some whisky, and watched a movie in the backyard. (Honeysuckle Rose in case you were curious) Also had a chance to retreat to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a few days of hiking, brewery stops, and overall relaxation. While I didn't get to see some of the faces I usually do during this time I’d like to use this post to reflect back on my bday celebration two years ago when I hit the BIG 4.....0?!

My wife and I rented houses next to Devils Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, VA (just a few miles from where I celebrated a couple weeks ago) Friends from various parts of my life and different spots of the country came to spend a weekend in the Blue Ridge to celebrate. We had great weather, were treated to live Bluegrass music at the brewery and chowed down on an Italian feast. We ordered Lou Malnati’s Pizzas from Chicago (one a my favs) and lasagnas from Superior Pasta in Philadelphia. Of course, after dinner it was time to bring out the cake. The cake was a surprise my wife cooked up so all’s I knew was that it was fragile and had an unusually large box for a birthday cake. People speculated what this secret sweet would be from things that I find solace in ...Would it be KISS related? Some type of 80's wrestling homage? A horror movie themed confection? Well as you can see above, I had the right decade but the wrong subject matter. I had often recounted my love for all things Lionel Richie and especially the video for his smash tune "Hello". In fact, it may be my favorite music video of all time. The reveal of what’s going on "in the sculpture class" at the end of the video gets me every time. I often said I would love to somehow have a replica of the Lionel Richie bust that his blind love interest conjures up.

Well thanks to my wife and the genius cake makers at  Sweet Fix in Richmond, VA my dreams became a reality. When the reveal hit, I was speechless. This thing was incredible. It was so good in fact that it killed me a bit inside that I had to dismantle and carve up this piece of art. After dozens of pictures and a quick kiss I went to work and carved up Mr. Richie..and he was delicious! I finally got to see Lionel Live in 2014 but I’ll save the story for another post. Happy Bday to all the Leo's out there. I think we're all wishing for the same thing this year!

One thing about the Lionel show was that he did sing “We Are the World.” I don’t know about you but at the time I believe every household had a copy of this tune (we had the 45 record) I recently heard that Huey Lewis took over the lines that were meant for Prince. Apparently, Prince wasn’t too keen on being part of a group effort. Not sure if it’s true but it seems about right. A few years later a lesser known super group banded together to also fight famine in Africa led by Mr. Ronnie James DIO. The group featured members of Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Dokken, and W.A.S.P., just to name a few. Also featured members of Spinal Tap (wait, weren’t they a fake group?) Anyways, just wanted to also give a shout out to “Hear ‘N Aid.”

 

Hello - Lionel Richie [Vietsub] [KST]

U.S.A. For Africa - We Are the World (Official Video)

Hear n' Aid - We're Stars

Beach House - Space Song

Space Song - Beach House

 "Fall back into place
Fall back" 

Baltimore has been one of those cities that’s been a constant in my life. (I grew up about 90 miles away) When my family moved to Virginia in the early 80’s I remember going to see the Orioles play at Memorial Stadium. Once Camden Yards opened in 1992, I had the pleasure of going to a few games a year. I’ve been fortunate to visit various ballparks around the country (Wrigley, Fenway, Coors Field, AT&T Park, PNC Park to name a few) but Camden is still my favorite. It just feels like home. My dad’s company hosted marketing events their in the 90’s so my brother and I would often get to tag along. Once I got my drivers license, myself and friends would make the pilgrimage at least once a year. This of course was some of the golden era for the O’s where I got to see Cal Ripken Jr, Brady Anderson, Rafael Palmeiro and Mike Mussina in all their (sometimes let’s say “genetically enhanced”) glory. One time I got to attend a pregame picnic with "all you can eat" hot dogs. I believe I got to 10 before realizing it was not a good idea. Let’s just say I didn’t see much of that game.

After college when I lived in South Carolina a good friend of mine moved to Baltimore so I would still fly up once a year to continue the tradition and expand my city knowledge beyond the Inner Harbor. Now that I’ve been able to spend more time in Charm City, I’ve collected a few favorite spots around town. (mostly crab-related of course) For crab cakes I’m going with Koco's Pub , L.P. Steamers for the full throw down steamed crabs on newspaper/get your hands dirty experience (recommend grabbing a rooftop seat if you can with views of the Baltimore Harbor) and on a trip last year I got to indulge in the world famous Crab pie at Matthew's Pizza.

Baltimore doesn’t seem to be in the news for positive things too often but to quote John Legend I love all of its “perfect imperfections.” I’ve had wonderful visits to Baltimore, met interesting people, and I can’t wait to visit again hopefully in 2021 and get back to Camden Yards. The picture to the left was back from a 2015 game. I got up to find some popcorn and beer (as usual) and as luck had it Oriole Bird himself was coming my way. Anyways this was my attempt at a selfie. I’d like to say it was an artistic shot but I was a dude in my late 30’s so it's a skill I suppose I could improve upon. In my defense judging from my eyes I may have been “in the cups” a bit.

This song from the Baltimore based Beach House came on my shuffle during dinner last week. While listening to these guys I can smell Old Bay seasoning and hear the cracking open of a Natty Boh tallboy. I feel like Beach House’s laid back, meditative, trance like world would be a perfect soundtrack to the afterlife. Whether it's purgatory, nirvana, your own planet!, or a waiting room a la Beetlejuice. The repeated lyric of “Fall Back into Place” is now a motto or mantra I like to try and follow with the current health crisis. Everyone has handled this time differently depending on circumstance and outlook but hopefully most have been able to savor a bit of this pause and been able to reflect on good memories and look forward to cherishing future events even more so. I miss seeing the news stories on how some of the planet’s environment's were healing after less congestion and punishment. Hopefully we can apply some of that narrative going forward. As a bonus track here’s Gram Parsons’ version of “Streets of Baltimore.” Have a good week everyone.

beetlejuice next in line

Gram Parsons - Streets of Baltimore

Civilized - Rollins Band

"Freedom, you ain't no freedom, you want your freedom
Your freedom is killing you man, freedom
You can't handle your freedom, hey
And now you're dying for it"

Hopefully we all had teachers that challenged you a little more than most, stayed current, and made learning an inclusive experience. That teacher for me was my high school senior year government teacher, Mr. Stableford. He'd been teaching for a while and didn’t seem worried about pushing the envelope since he wasn’t concerned about losing his gig. Plus, he was teaching high school seniors so were all 17 and 18 year old’s and I appreciated being treated like an adult. “Duke” (his first name) stood well over 6 feet tall and drove an old school pick up truck with a personalized license plate that said Grtfl Ded. He was passionate about the political system, current events, and a huge music buff. He’d always be blasting music between classes till the bell went off. One of the projects he had students do each year was to pick a song that dealt with some type of social issue and then have each student play their song, give a little history of the artist , and then talk about the issue. As an example, he played us Rage Against the Machine’s “Take the Power Back” Every time there was a curse word he would act like he was going to turn it down but instead made it louder. What a jokester. I immediately riffled through my case logic cd book trying to figure out what song I would like to share. I was a huge Rollins Band/Henry Rollins/Black Flag fan back then (and now) so I decided to go with the attached song.

Henry and his roommate were robbed at gunpoint and his best friend ended up getting shot and killed while he was able to escape.(There’s actually an Unsolved Mysteries episode about the events, wild that show is back) I can’t imagine what that would do to someone but can see why this tune was composed. This version is from Woodstock 1994. I remember my girlfriend at the time ordered the whole weekend on pay per view and I recorded this concert, Nine Inch Nails, Porno for Pyros, Green Day, and Cypress Hill. I believe I still have these performances someone on VHS. It would be another year before I would attend my first Lollapoloza so I was a wee bit young to head to New York and see this spectacle in person.

I bought the book pictured back in 1997 at a bookstore in Boston Massachusetts. Pre amazon days it was difficult to find some of the alternative books and CD’s in my town so I had to take advantage whenever I was in the big city (fortunately for me I grew up an hour away from Washington DC) I bought many Rollins books back then. The first one was Get in the Van which chronicles Henry’s beginnings with Black Flag. Henry doesn’t sing with a band anymore but he does travel the world doing his spoken word shows. I’ve been fortunate to see him 5 or 6 times. In the shows he gives his take on current events, traveling the world, and experiences from his many years in a rock band. Check it out when we can do that again.

I thought of this song after my town held a rally entitled “GunStock Rally 2.0” (cute play on Woodstock) over the 4^th of July weekend. The press put out the usually pictures of the typical "gun rally action figure"…Bulletproof Vest, Assault rifle in hand, beer belly, and some type of camo. (confederate paraphernalia and Make America Great items sold separately)  The organizers boosted 15,000 people would show up to fight the new laws that let you buy only one gun per month, give up their guns if they represent a danger to themselves or others and have a background check before purchasing a firearm.(about 250 people showed up) Wait, those weren’t already laws?

This song came out in 1994, 5 years before Columbine. I managed to make it out of my schooling experience without ever having an active shooter drill or even fearing something like that would happen. I don’t know that these measures will cut down on all mass shootings but as someone wiser than me once said,” The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Seems like a good time to change some of the variables. Oh yeah as a shout out to Mr. Stableford here’s a little two for Wednesday. Is the Rage song written back in 1992 still relevant? Uh yeah.  

Rollins Band Live At Woodstock 94 - 04 Civilized

Rage Against The Machine: Take The Power Back

I'm A Loner Dottie, A Rebel - The Get Up Kids

"I won't come back
I hope some day you'll understand
I want to try and make it right
But don't know if I can"

Ah the 20’s, what a strange, complex and confusing era of life. For the first time peers and acquaintances seemed to be navigating the world at different speeds. No longer confined to the same school and grade structure for me it was a weird “sitting in limbo” moment. Going from living in squalor as a student with multiple roommates to acting kind of like an adult living with a few less roommates in a little less squalor. Some friends decided to get married early and start a family while others (including myself) charted the single path and just let the universe guide us hoping for signs pointing us in the right direction. By my early 20’s I had experienced two “serious” relationships and as the story goes two different versions of heartbreak. Each one scarred me in different ways and as a defense mechanism I became bitter and jaded about commitment. Like a lot of us I attended many weddings in a short amount of time, each ceremony seemed to blend into the other with the same vows and same pomp and circumstance. I was just ready for the reception to begin hoping they’d have the beer I enjoyed and maybe hear a song or two I dug. Don’t get me wrong I had a blast at many receptions with friends, but my head would spin during the ceremonies wondering how and why are you doing this? Turned out my initial question was sometimes correct as some of these couples are no longer together but at least the parties were fun.

Reflecting on those days I realize it was just immaturity and self-doubt that made me feel the way I did. I could’ve just been happy for the parties involved and hoped for the best while realizing sometimes things just don’t work out. I got married after the age of 30 which was the right time for me. The universe finally pointed me in the right direction, or I just matured and opened myself up to the possibility of commitment again. Now in my early 40’s I wish more peers were getting married because I miss going to weddings!

So, what was I listening too during these Gen X fueled view of the world early 20’s days? Why other bitter, jaded, heartbroken bands that vindicated my view of the world of course! Yes, I too fell into the world of EMO. I went from bad boys with long hair and leather singing power ballads to dudes with sleeve tattoos, tight t shirts, and skinny jeans. Dashboard Confessional, Face to Face, Saves the Day, The Cure (one of the OG’s of the genre) all were in heavy rotation. I still enjoy going back to some of these bands but one that has stuck with me through the decades is The Get Up Kids.(Plus I think The Cure rule) The Kids first album came out in 1997 but I didn’t discover them till around 2001 and was lucky to catch them live during this period. My gateway album was 1999’s Something to Write Home About. This was the more polished, produced follow up to their first foray, Four Minute Mile. The first album is a bit urgent and sloppier, but you can see the roots of where the band would eventually land. A few other albums have come out despite many hiatuses over the years (most recently Problems in 2019) In fact the band was starting to tour again last year but we all now what's happened to live music for the time being. So being the 80’s mark that I am when a band has song references to The Outsiders (Stay Gold, Ponyboy) and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (this tune) I’m going to give it a shot. This song about one-night stands and being emotionally unavailable hit all the right cords for me back in my early 20’s. I was certainly no Wilt Chamberlain or Gene Simmons, but I was a king at not letting anyone get too close. Glad those days are over, and I can leave those thoughts to The Get Up Kids.

I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (4/10) Movie CLIP - I'm a Loner, Dottie (1985) HD

Hearts on Fire (Rocky IV) - John Cafferty

"And things that give deep passions are your sword
Rules and regulations have no meaning anymore"

Citizen Kane, Vertigo, The Godfather, Rocky IV. Sometimes cinema just gets it right. My wife and I took a trip to Portland, Oregon a few years back to celebrate my birthday. Much to my delight and surprise one of the revival theaters was screening Rocky IV (a theater a few miles away showed The Goonies the next night) Someone up there was looking out for me! I hadn’t seen theaters show this masterpiece from my youth very often so I logically believed we should go early because it was going to be packed. We arrived a bit before the show, grabbed some popcorn and a delicious west coast IPA and then headed to our seats. Well maybe they play Rocky IV all the time in Portland because only 10 other people showed up. (Side note, I’m awful at predicting how crowded certain events will or won’t be. A few years ago, we saw that the “89” Batman was playing at a theater and once again I proclaimed” We better arrive early because it’s going to be packed.” Turned out that my wife and I were the only people in the theater and I had to go ask the manager to start the movie) Oh well our faithful group of 10 laughed, cried, laughed some more (although I still love and defend this movie there are some ridiculous things going on) and cheered on Sly to defeat those evil Russians.

I remember that Portland trip fondly, but I also vividly recall seeing Rocky IV in the theaters back in the Christmas season of 1985 at the Virginians Movie Theater in Fredericksburg, VA. My dad took my brother and I to this and many other future cinema classics. Going to the movies was a bonding experience for us (although taking a 10-year-old to see Coming to America was a bold move but I loved it then and still do. I tuned out somewhat normal?) Anyways it always felt like a treat going to the movies (still does) kind of like getting pizza on a Friday night. No matter how many time’s it’s done there’s still some magic in it. Happy Father’s Day Dad and to all the Dad’s out there. I still listen to this soundtrack while running and this tune is one of my favs (shout out to No Easy Way Out too!) Alright if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go find a barn and lift some family and friends in a giant sleigh. Drago!!

On a sad note I’d like to say RIP to Kurt Thomas. Kurt was a U.S Gymnastics Olympic champion but more importantly to me, the star of Gymkata. Undoubtedly one of my favorite movies of all time. Don’t know how many times I saw this as a kid, but I still own a copy today and it always makes me smile.

Rocky 4 training montage - Hearts On Fire (HD)

Gymkata - Trailer

You Are Not Alone - Mavis Staples

"Every tear
On every face
Tastes the same"

Not feeling the song battle vibe today so wanted to change it up and throw a little positivity out to the universe. I first saw Mavis Staples live at Wilco’s inaugural Solid Sound Festival in 2010. I was familiar with “I’ll Take You There” by her family band The Staples Singers but once she hit the stage I received an education and history lesson from someone that has seen a lot in her life. Since that performance I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Mavis and her band 4 times. Most recently at her 80^th birthday party at the Apollo theater which included collaborations with Jason Isbell, David Byrne, Lake Street Dive, Norah Jones, Jon Batiste…just to name a few. Yes, it was awesome. Every time I see Mavis she talks about the ups and downs her and her family went through on the road in the 60’s/70's and their work with Martin Luther King Jr. Even though I’ve heard her stage wrap multiple times these stories still get to the pit of my stomach and I find myself tearing up. The picture above is from the 2018 Travelers Rest music festival in Missoula, Montana. Hearing Mavis Staples sing and preach with the backdrop of the big sky Montana mountains was truly a religious experience. (Plus I’m pretty sure Mavis winked at me during her performance)

If you need a pick me I highly recommend the documentary Mavis! From 2015 (check out the trailer below) You’ll laugh, cry, be inspired, hear stories about smooching with Bob Dylan and her work with the Purple One…Prince! The song I picked for today is off her Grammy award winning album You Are Not Alone. Have a great Sunday everyone.

Change - Mavis Staples | Live from Here with Chris Thile

You Are Not Alone - Mavis Staples | Live from Here with Chris Thile

Mavis! - Official Trailer

Follow You Down - Gin Blossoms

"How you gonna ever find your place
Running in an artificial pace"

Last night I had some delicious Indian food from a spot called Lehja and split a bottle of wine with my wife. It was an amazing meal; the wine was delicious, and it was a nice relaxing night especially knowing that it was Memorial Day eve. I fell asleep fast and after some strange dreams (We’ve been watching a lot of David Lynch projects over the “tine”) I was wide awake, and the sun was nowhere to be found. I looked over at the clock and here it was, good ole 3 AM. The mix of Indian spices and alcohol joined forces and decided to gift me with a bountiful case of heartburn. As mentioned in a previous post I’m not a stranger to those dark, quiet, witchy hours but since I no longer share a bed to myself flipping on my precious music infomercials or Three’s Company reruns is no longer an option. Instead I’m left alone with my deep thoughts. If you’re like me sometimes work likes to pay a visit or other stresses of the day that one needs to block out to go back to dreamland. A positive part of resurrecting this blog is that I can push those thoughts away and lean more on the creative side of my brain and figure out what to write about next. Well that’s how the “Indian Food Bottle of Wine 3 AM Challenge” was born.

The rules are simple. Each post for the next few weeks I’ll write down the first two songs that appear on my iPod using the shuffle feature and then move which one I prefer to the next round (I’ll start with 12 songs) At first I was going to pit the bands versus each other but then thought it would be fun for the first round to put the actually songs against each other. That evens the playing field a bit since like most of you the mix of music on my iPod is a bit eclectic. (It took forever uploading hundreds of CD’s to iTunes years ago. Now I’m living in a streaming world and I am a streaming girl…or something like that) This way in the first round Milli Vanilla could in fact beat The Beatles. For instance, if “Blame it on the Rain” went against “Octopus Garden” it’s not even close! (well, for me) Since I began streaming years ago this collection of songs hasn’t been updated in 5 to 7 years. As for round 2 I believe I’ll switch to the actual bands matching up but I’m making these rules up as I go so, we’ll see.

Alright first up. Wow great example of the how the song matters. If this was Blue Sky or Ramblin’ Man I’d be prone to go with the Allmans…On the other hand if one of the lesser anthemic Gin Blossoms tunes would’ve come up the Georgia boys would’ve been victorious. So round one goes to the Gin Blossoms! I can’t help not thinking about my high school days when these songs were in the air. Hey Jealousy, Found Out About You, Until I Fall Away and of course this one. These guys were the real deal and very talented pop rock songwriters. As a testament to their talents I believe you can throw on any of these tunes and they still hold up today. I’ve seen them live twice but sadly a little out of their prime.(I was probably too cool to care during that time) Once at the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson, SC (2008) and more recently back in 2015 in an intimate listening room at the Capital Ale house in Richmond, VA. The band still sounded great, but they just couldn’t get past their initial success mainly due to the lead songwriter/guitarist committing suicide in 1993. Glad he left us with some great songs before he went. Next battle coming soon! Happy Memorial Day.

Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down (Official Video)

In the Morning of the Magicians - The Flaming Lips

i

"As the dawn began to break

I had to surrender

The universe will have it's way

Too powerful to master"

I’ve been fortunate to travel the country (and a little of the world) to attend various concerts and music festivals. From the Rolling Stones at Arrowhead Stadium to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Olympiastadion in Munich to Mavis Staples at the world famous Apollo Theater. Concerts have lured me to cites that may not have been on my radar or “on my list” of places I want to visit. Jacksonville Oregon, Missoula Montana, North Adams Massachusetts just to name a few. The first “big” show I attended was back in 1992. I saw Metallica at the now torn down Capital Centre in Landover Maryland (former home of the Capitals/Bullets) That’s a post for a later date. Hard to know how many shows I’ve seen in the 28 years that have followed, let alone harder to pinpoint my favorite 10 thus far. Lucky for me I can say that one of the 10 happened March 10, 2018 about 3 miles down the road from me at The National here in ole Richmond VA.

It was a perfect storm of events that made this night so magical. Good friends, nice buzz and a general excitement that comes when one sees a band for the first time. I had been a huge fan of The Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots album but other than that I didn’t know many of the other tunes…..and I had no clue what the stage show would look like. Boy was I in for an experience! We arrived at the National early to secure a spot near the stage when we received a text from some friends that had space in one of the balconies. Well five minutes later we were led through a door and hallways that I never knew existed at the club and 6 of us got to witness the whole spectacle in the balcony feet away from the stage with the comfort of not getting hit with elbows or having beers spilt on us. (Well at least not from strangers) If you haven’t been to a Flaming Lips show before I’ll throw out a few words to describe the performance. Confetti, flashing lights, laser hands, giant robots, lead singer Wayne riding the audience in a bubble (see pic I snapped from my luxurious box seat) and moving around the whole floor on a unicorn (see video, and yes I got to high five Wayne!)…oh yeah the music rocks as well!!

Would I have enjoyed the show if I had stayed on the floor with the masses?..definitely! Would it still be in the top 10? Not sure, like I’ve mentioned before sometimes the best concerts are when all things fall into place and you’re free to tune out distractions and enjoy the performance. I couldn’t find a great live clip of the song but there’s a full professionally shot concert on youtube worth checking out. Hope everyone has a nice Holiday weekend. Bye for now.

the flaming lips In the Morning of the Magicians

Right Down The Line - Lucious

"'Cause you believed in me through my darkest night
Put somethin' better inside of me
You brought me into the light"


I was an insomniac in college. I purposely didn't have any classes start before 10:00 AM because I would often be up till 3 or 4 in the morning. Thinking back, going on a Taco Bell run at midnight and inhaling Mexican pizza and large Mountain Dews probably contributed heavily to this self diagnosed sleep disorder. In the wee hours of the night I was usually left to my own as roommates preferred to knock out classes earlier in the day.. Yeah I was that guy who had the 7pm class. So during the quite of the night if I couldn't find Gumby or Three's Company reruns I would watch Time Life music infomercials.

So this was right before people were getting the oh so coveted cd burner so you could make your own mix CD's. It was also a few years before Napster and the streaming age took over. Time Life would put together CD collections with some great songs that would cost a lot of money to grab all the tunes. I remember the love themed one hosted by Air Supply and the slow jams soul album called "Quiet Storm" (love that title) but the one that caught my attention was "Smooth 70's." Not only did I dig the songs but this one was a 2 CD collection instead of the 10 or 12 discs which made it more economically feasible for a college student. These were tunes as a kid I'd hear in the air from the radio or my parents record collection so I suppose I found comfort and familiarity in them. One of the gold star tunes for me on the compilation was Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts. Why? I have no idea but I still love it.

Not sure when it happened but these smooth 70's tunes I loved so much were relabeled as Yacht Rock. Fortunately for me Sirius/XM has a whole channel dedicated to this genre. After listening for a few years I feel that they may replay the same one hour of music but it doesn't bother me because I dig almost all of the selections. From Hall & Oates to Rupert Homes to my beloved Seal and Crofts, it's all there waiting for me. Another Yacht Rock regular is Gerry Rafferty. Best know for his epic sax fueled tune Baker Street. Another song in rotation by Mr. Rafferty is Right Down the Line. Worth revisiting for sure but for this post I wanted to share the stripped down cover version by the band Lucious.

I took this picture from the balcony of the Durham Performing Arts Center back in March of 2018. Yeah I know I complained about people taking pictures at shows but I was in the balcony and nobody was behind me. All's I ask is to just be aware of your surroundings. I first heard Lucious on a "relaxing indie playlist" I pulled up on Amazon music. I was immediately entranced by the harmonies Jess and Holly were belting out. So much power and range coming out of two people. After doing further digging I discovered they had sung back-up on one of my favorite albums by Jeff Tweedy called Sukierae. They've also collaborated with Lukas Nelson, Mavis Staples and oh yeah toured the world with Roger Waters. Check out the Wilderwoman and Nudes albums if you dig what you're hearing. And go get some goosebumps and catch them live whenever we can do that again. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Lucius "Right Down the Line" KRCL Amplifying Women's Voices Rally

Funny How Time Slips Away - Willie Nelson

"It's Been so long now
But it seems now, that it was only yesterday
Gee, ain't it funny, how time slips away"

Happy belated birthday Willie Nelson! Willie turned 87 on 4/29 and before the lock down was still touring strong around the country and promoting a new album. Growing up I didn't know much about Willie's story or his massive music catalog. I feel in the 80's I just heard about his problems with the IRS, Farm Aid and On the Road Again. Flash forward to present day and I've read his books, seen his movies (Honeysuckle Rose is my favorite and worth a watch if you can track it done) , named our first dog after him, own over 20 of his albums and caught him live around the country I believe 7 times? He's also become my favorite voice and guitar player in music.

This is a poster hung proudly in our basement bar. (I also spy a Paul Stanley bobble head and the wrestler Nikolai Volkoff) I grabbed this souvenir from a show that Willie was kind enough to play on my birthday in Athens, Georgia.

I started paying attention to Willie when I was in college. VH1 used to have a great show called VH1 Storytellers (I Suppose VH1's answer to MTV Unplugged) Anyway, one I happened to catch featured Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. These two just shot the breeze and traded off some of their biggest hits. I was instantly drawn to the tales, the chemistry, and the genuineness of these two men. Like most cable television networks the special played many times throughout the weeks and every time I happened upon it I would sit and watch. After a few viewings I found out there was a CD. I wore that thing out and as usual when you discover a new band  you start going down the rabbit hole. For me I started with a three-disc boxset, Revolutions of Time. If a song stuck out I found out what album it came from and before I knew it I had quite a few Willie CD's in my arsenal. If you're just dipping your toe into the world of Willie I recommend VH1 Storytellers, Red Headed Stranger ,Willie and Family Live, and Spirit. That would be a great start. The special also gave me a new appreciation for Johnny Cash but that account will have to wait for a later post. Hope everyone has a good week.

Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson Funny How Time Slips Away

Home Sweet Home - Mötley Crüe

"You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low"







I started writing this post a few hours ago in a totally different direction but I just couldn't get into so I figured F it, it's Saturday, let's have some fun! Sure you can find me dusting off my Blue Note jazz records on a Sunday afternoon, streaming the New Music Friday podcast from NPR, or listening to heartbroken indie guys strumming guitars.....but in my DNA I am a child of the 80's and the MTV generation!! I spent countless hours soaking up the various music shows and videos that MTV aired 24-7. Huey Lewis and the News, Twisted Sister, Wham!, Van Halen all of them merged together in TV's version of Free Form radio. This outlet opened my world to various types of music and in its legacy left behind some of the greatest, most entertaining and sometimes ridiculous time capsules of the 80's look and attitude. One of the subgenera's that appealed to me most was what some may call Hair Metal. While I enjoy the rockin tunes of the various bands (Ratt, Poison, Warrant) when they decide to pull out the ballad, I'm.... All... In. One of the treasures of the 80's Metal Power Ballad catalog is Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home." This video encapsulates the whole 80's character in about 4 minutes. Big hair, slow motion, come hither looks, ass-less chaps, tiger striped underwear, makeup....and that was just the men! I was planning on attending the festival this summer featuring The Crue, Def Leppard, and Poison but only time will tell. If not this summer hopefully this fall?!

I also included a clip of Rob Corddry's character singing this tune from the underrated comedy, Hot Tub Time Machine. As an 80's super fan this movie hit all my sweet spots. I also enjoyed the Netflix biopic The Dirt. I read the book back in 2001 so wasn't too shocked about the content of the movie. If you're not easily offended grab a couple beers, sit back and watch some catchy tunes and how not to live your life if you come into fame and money. Happy Saturday everyone!

Mötley Crüe - Home Sweet Home (Official Music Video)

Lou sings "Home Sweet Home" - Hot Tub Time Machine

Present Tense - Radiohead

"As my world
Comes crashing down
I'm dancing
Freaking out
Deaf, dumb, and blind"


Two posts in a row with my world famous "outside the arena" photos. I'm guessing we all know by now how awful pictures usually turn out while a show is going on. And when are you really going to watch that 30 second clip of your favorite song? As I slip into my "get off my lawn phase" I do find it difficult desiring to attend live shows. Whether it's the person in front of you holding their phone up every minute or the people behind you screaming at the top of their lungs to have a conversation. Come on everyone, why are you here? For every bad crowd you still stumble upon that one audience that is following all the unwritten rules and soaking up the experience as the artist meant to share it. And it's those once in a while crowds that keep me wanting to go back for more. Although it was in quite a large room this performance had one of those audiences. This show took place back in July 2018. It was another one of those amazing NYC weekends. I was able to get secondhand tickets a week or so before the event. I was a Radiohead novice of sorts before the show. I had a few of the albums and was familiar with the "hits." My interest re sparked with the band due to the film score work of Jonny Greenwood (the band's multi instrumental savant) specifically 2017's Phantom Thread soundtrack.

It's rare for me to go to see a movie twice during its initial run but Phantom Thread was one of those films.(Had another one this past summer with Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) The acting and directing were phenomenal with the score weaving in and out with it's powerful presence. Sometimes menacing but also loving, mourning, and melancholy all at once. For two hours I was able to escape into the obsessive world of Reynolds Woodcock. Well lucky for me some of those musical elements bled into the album that Radiohead was touring on, A Moon Shaped Pool. This album has some of the electronic elements found on previous recordings but also included Greenwood's string arrangements. The show was a blast. Just being able to see a concert at MSG was a thrill for me and as mentioned earlier the crowd was into it and hung on every word. The high ceiling of this colossal room felt like an intimate theater. After the show I went back and swallowed up all the older albums that I had missed out on. (I'd say I revisit this one and In Rainbows the most)

 So check out A Moon Shaped Pool  when you get a chance. (Or sit down and watch Phantom Thread.) Could be a perfect lazy Sunday afternoon listen. My favorite lyrics are the ones above from this tune. I love the duality of being terrified by a situation yet finding time to celebrate. (Today's celebration came from recreating Clinton Street Baking Co's  blueberry pancake's for breakfast) Thanks for reading, till next time.

PHANTOM THREAD - Official Trailer [HD] - In Select Theaters Christmas

Radiohead - Present Tense: Jonny, Thom & a CR78

Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads

"I'm Feeling okay this morning
And you know
We're on the road to paradise
Here we go, here we go"

My wife and I love to travel. I always feel grateful when I can spend time in a foreign place. A certain energy courses through my blood and my senses are heightened. These new experiences have helped broaden my horizons and open myself up to things I used to be afraid of and reject. One city I've been fortunate to spend more time in since moving back to Virginia is New York City. I've thought a lot about this city and the people I've meet up there during this crisis. The picture to the left is one I took outside the Hudson Theater on 2/13/20. Little did I know this would be one of the last trips my wife and I would take for a while. Or that we left the city just before all this madness started breaking out. Our main catalyst for going was to experience what at the time was the last weekend of David Byrne's American Utopia run on Broadway (it was later announced he would be returning this fall and I hope that this will be possible by then and if  I'm financially able I hope to be there)

The first time I saw David Byrne live was actually back in May of 2019 when he did a duet with Mavis Staples at her 80th Birthday celebration at the Apollo Theater (I’ll save that story for a later post) They performed the Talking Head's tune "Slippery People." Something about his energy that night reminded me that I need to finally see a full performance by this guy. Lucky for me, shortly after he announced bringing his American Utopia album to Broadway. With agreement from my partner in crime we planned to make it happen a few months later.

We arrived in the city a few hours before the show. We checked into our hotel on the familiar block in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, grabbed a slice at Scarr's pizza (pizza may be a running theme in this blog) sipped on a beer at Top Hops Beer Shop and then got ready for the show. I was fortunate to get tickets which included entry to The Ambassador Lounge at the theater an hour before the performance. We enjoyed the ambiance of the cozy room (Where we were informed that Elvis and Jane Fonda (not together) had spent some time in) and sipped on a couple of Old Fashioneds. We then grabbed the elevator to head down to our seats.

The show was a vision to the eyes, inspiring, and of course rocking. His message throughout the show was one of positivity. I gathered that his American Utopia was one with less divide and kindness. His banter and songs were about a person constantly evolving and cautioned being stuck in one’s ways. To keep learning and adapting at all ages.(at least that's what I got from it) This is a message I try to practice in my own life but of course can be challenging at times and I still have work to do. If you would have told me five years ago I would not only eat but crave brussel sprout tacos I would've said... "You Cray!" As mentioned earlier the traveling and openness to new ideas and people has spearheaded this new way of experiencing life (plus a shout out to my wife for the extra inspiration)

Okay today's song is one that's been running through my head the past few weeks. As I look out my window while working or when I'm hitting the pavement to get some air it's interesting to know that nobody is going anywhere. We're just walking to walk and then turning back around to our respective homes....basically (sing it) we're on a Road To Nowhere

Hang in there everyone and if you want to enjoy a concert over the weekend the amazing "Stop Making Sense" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime (check out the below video for a taste or revisit) RIP Bill Withers.

Talking Heads - Burning Down the House [HD]

I Would Die 4 U - Prince

"You're just a sinner I am told

Be your fire when you're cold

Make you happy when you're sad

Make you good when you are bad" 

I'm not a big Tuesday fan. I feel out of all the seven days of the week it has the least personality. Marketing gurus have tried to jazz it up with themes like "Taco Tuesday" but I'm not impressed (although I do occasionally partake in this new holiday) Even musicians don't seem too inspired by this day. It's not "Tuesday I'm in Love" or "Tuesday Night's All Right For Fighting" or "Tuesday Morning Coming Down." Friday, Saturday, and Sunday won those battles. So, what's one to do on a rainy day at this time in the weekly cycle?  Why listen to Prince of course!

I was lucky enough to see Prince perform at the North Charleston Coliseum back in 2011. He was one of the only performers that could announce a show two weeks prior and sell out a coliseum. The show was fantastic, I mean it started off with "Let's Go Crazy" so how could you go wrong? One of my favorite parts of the show happened before the one they call Purple even hit the stage. I was in line getting a beer (and probably some popcorn) and a voice came over the house intercom all over the Coliseum and it was Prince. He politely said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Prince." He then went on to advise us to call our next of kin because "you were about to witness a miracle." Best..intro...ever! I've been a fan ever since I saw the "When Doves Cry" video on MTV as a kid. I also still watch the Purple Rain movie at least once a year (that's what the below clip is from) Worth checking out while we're on lock down if you haven't seen it. It was hard to believe the news when he passed but he was able to leave quite an imprint on this world. We've all been hit with some heavy news as of late so do yourself a favor, take a break and crank up this tune or watch the video below and celebrate today...even if it's a Tuesday. Till next time...

I Would Die 4 U

Prince I would die for you

Phosphorescent - Storms Never Last (Live on KEXP)

Storms Never Last - Phosphorescent 

"Storms never last do they babe
Bad times all pass with the wind"

Hello! Much like everyone I've found myself with more free time on my hands. And so I don't fully binge Narcos: Mexico Season 2 in one day I decided to restart this outlet. I had a music blog on and off from 9/2006 till 4/2012. Wow where did the time go? When I started that blog I was in a transitional time in my life and the blog was a way to express myself while sharing one of my favorite things in the world, music! Although music plays an important factor in my daily life it always seems more powerful in times of need.

So things have changed a bit since I last did this. First I wasn't able to sign into my old blog and edit that hence this new format. However, that blog still exits so feel free to see what I was up to back then. The song links have all expired but the good news is music is way easier to stream now. I use to upload the mp3's and users were able to download the tracks. Well now all you have to do is pull up your handy streaming service and find the song i'm writing about.(plus i suppose it's more legal that way) I'll try to post the you tube video when possible. I'll mess around with a few cosmetic things as I get comfortable with this but hopefully you'll enjoy the content and hear something new.

Okay so first up is a song written by Jessi Colter and first performed by her and her husband Walyon Jennings. For obvious reasons this song popped in my end when thinking about how to start off this blog. While I enjoy the original version I'd like to recommend the cover sung by Phosphorescent. This can be found on the Deluxe version of the great 2013 album Muchacho. The deluxe version features a live stripped down piano/acoustic guitar concert from London's St. Pancras Church. You can find the amazon digital album here. I was recommended this album by a trusted like minded (at least when it comes to music) old friend of mine back in 2014.(Track #2 "Song for Zula" is my fav)  I still have more exploring to do with his music but I quite enjoy this album and his Willie Nelson cover album, "To Willie" (Willie is an all-time favorite for me so I'm sure he'll pop up here soon) Alright that's it for now. I'll keep posting when the mood is right.

Oh yeah if you'd like to check out the original blog see the below link...Stay well everyone - Chris

Original Blog

Read more about the Muchacho album HERE