Wednesday, April 18, 2007

You Are NOT what you CONSUME!

I was shopping at Amazon and they have a word cloud style thing describing my interests by way of what I've looked at and bought. Larger words mean I have a larger interest. I find this interesting because, although in one way it's accurate in that I AM interested in these things the relative levels of interest are totally skewed. Also, it defines me incredibly narrowly. Here's who they say I am:
Alternative Metal Animation Arena Rock Blues Rock Boating Britain Comedy Contemporary Blues Grunge Guitar Hard Bop Instruction & Study International Metal Modern Blues Modern Postbebop Music Video & Concerts New Wave Punk R&B Rap & Hip-Hop Rock Guitarists Science Fiction & Fantasy Singer-Songwriters Songbooks
I notice they left out languages entirely though I bought several books on learning Chinese and martial art. Perhaps that's considered "international"? These guys need me on their payroll. So? What does yours say?

Monday, April 16, 2007

Silent in the morning


Cool speaker cab grill dyes by Hard Truckers. I found these by searching for 'Silent in the morning' which is a song by Phish which I had in my head because it was a quiet morning.
LOTS AND LOTS OF RAIN and roads closed, etc... My studio session got cancelled because the engineer didn't want to have to swim there. Big pansy! And of course I had to point them out to our dear friend Lime who I've been giving online guitar lessons to. She made me some tie dyed shirts in exchange for CDs I haven't yet sent her. Bad AndyT13! No puddy! I finally got around to putting up a MySpace page for The Gearjammers because the audio plays so much faster from there. I dunno why but anyway... Lots more shows booked. I'm playing very well for some reason. Certainly not from practicing! I've been watching some great players lately though and getting inspired. Everything is a competition with me so I start thinking "I can be that good! Hell, I can do BETTER than that!" and the next thing you know I'm playing with my teeth and behind my back and over my head. I've yet to light a guitar on fire and smash it to bits but before I die you can bet I'ma do dat shit in spades!

Monday, April 02, 2007

Another day, another meme

Another day, another meme stolen from Lime and Myutopia.
Regarding books:
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Yes please.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Either. I'll book shop anywhere.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Yep.
Bookmark or dog ear?
Lime's gonna hurt me but I dog ear.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Hahaha! Alphabewhatnow? Grouped by genre if at all.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep but mostly loan out never to be seen again.
Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep by default
Read with dust jacket or remove it?
With by default
Short story or novel?
Yes please.
Collection or anthology?
No preference.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Niether but Lemony Snicket if pushed
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
When tired. I dog ear so who cares?
"It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Yes please
Buy or Borrow?
Steal, I mean borrow but I buy A LOT.
New or used?
Either.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
Recommendation or browse. Reviewers and critics have a special room in hell.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Gah! Tidy ending please.
Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?
Anytime is good but I tend to read at night when everyone is asleep.
Stand-alone or series?
Either. Has to be a good series to hold my interest.
Favorite series?
This is more about author. Tolkien, Anne Rice, Anne McCaffery to name a few.
Favorite children's books?
Seuss & Silverstein
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
My own of course. 'Dangerous Dreams' available through www.andyt13.com
Favorite books read last year?
I can't remember yesterday so who knows?
Favorite books of all time?
Too many to list
Least favorite book you finished last year?
I can't remember yesterday so who knows?
What are you reading right now?
Just finished 'Whores' about Jane's Addicition and 'Underneath it all' Traci Lords autobiography.
What are you reading next?
Who knows? Whatever I beg, borrow or buy next.
Plus there's always a pile of "I'm in the middle of these" I may or may not finish.
Labels: , ,

Friday, March 30, 2007

I will Not Cry


"I will Not Cry" by Valery Milovic @ www.fluxfire.com

Victim Of Love

170/36 The show is tonight at The Striped Bass @ 9PM See you there!

What kind of love have you got?
You should be home, but you’re not
A room full of noise and dangerous boys
Still makes you thirsty and hot
I heard about you and that man
There’s just one thing I don’t understand
You say he’s a liar and he put outYour fire
How come you still got his gun in your hand?
Victim of love , I see a broken heart
You got your stories to tell
Victim of love, it’s such an easy part
And you know how to play it so well
Some people never come clean
I think you know what I mean
You’re walkin’ the wire, pain and desire
Looking for love in between
Tell me your secrets, I’ll tell you mine
This ain’t no time to be cool
And tell all your girlfriends,You ’been around the world’ friends
That talk is for losers and fools
Victim of love, I see a broken heart
I could be wrong, but I’m not (no I'm not)
Victim of love, we’re not so far apart
Show me, what kind of love have you got?
Victim of love, you’re just a victim of love
I could be wrong , but I’m not
Victim of love, now you’re a victim of love
What kind of love have you got?
What kind of love have you got?
What kind of love have you got?

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Heartbreak Hotel

Well, since my baby left me,
I found a new place to dwell.
Its down at the end of lonely street
At heartbreak hotel.

You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.

And although its always crowded,
You still can find some room.
Where broken hearted lovers
Do cry away their gloom.

You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.

Well, the bell hops tears keep flowin,
And the desk clerks dressed in black.
Well they been so long on lonely street
They aint ever gonna look back.

You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.

Hey now, if your baby leaves you,
And you got a tale to tell.
Just take a walk down lonely street
To heartbreak hotel.

The show is tonight at The Striped Bass @ 9PM See you there!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Empathy


After everything I've done I hate myself for what I've become. Fucking stupid empath. Bad! God! Fuckin' shoot me now! Gah!

Hey Diddle Diddle


Some of you may or may not know this but I have a real thing for Nursery Rhymes. Perhaps my penchant for poetry and my ability to write and remember lyrics comes from that. I dunno. I've certainly always had an affinity for words and phrases in meter and rhyme. HERE is a nifty site that has every nursery rhyme you ever heard of (and many you never did) in complete form. Amazingly comprehensive and amusing as well, especially for those of you with kids. Enjoy.
-Your friendly neighborhood raving psycho and sociopath

Followed


Bunny, Being Followed By Fear, Regret And Demons Of The Past, Hangs His Head And Cries, 3/2004, 12x16, mixed media on cardboard. Life beats down and crushes the soul. By Valery Milovic @ www.fluxfire.com Used by permission. "We will not regret the past, nor wish t shut the door on it..." Bullshit. Hell hounds on my trail...

Monday, March 19, 2007

Dependency




"Dependency" by Valery Milovic @ http://www.fluxfire.com/ I absolutely love her work. It speaks volumes about how I feel. Go check it out. I've been noticing more and more the gap between what I think and how I feel. I THINK that my life is great and I'm better off than I've ever been. I'm healthier, safer, more financially secure, more in control of myself and my life. Unfortunately I FEEL terrible. I mistakenly gave my heart, my life and my love to a very poor custodian thereof. I got them back when she no longer wanted them, but now they're all broken. I don't know how to fix them. I'm sad and I'm scared that everyone is going to get tired of my whining and leave me even more alone than I already feel. NEW TOPIC: Someone I love very much is also very sad; so sad they carved their arm up bad enough to have to go to the doctor. They made me promise not to tell anyone so I'm not naming any names but I have a message for them. That message is I LOVE YOU. Please don't hurt yourself anymore. I don't want you to die. OK? Please? Call me instead. Thanks. 155/21

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Tag

No time this AM to blog. I makin' pancakes!
Tag brought to you by Dallas Meow:

Three resolutions I’ve made more than once:
Quit drinking, quit smoking, quit getting my heart broken. 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
Three things I wish someone would buy or do for me:
Come back to me, love me, never leave me
Three places I am dying to visit:
Greece, Trinidad/Tobago & N'awlins
Three words I can never spell correctly:
Eye Nevah Miss Spell Wirdz.
Three secrets I have never told anyone:
Well DUH. I have 3 and you can't know.
Three things I would do if I won a big lottery:
Buy big boat. Sail away. Never return.
Three things I’ve lost that I can’t seem to get over:
My heart, my love, my life
Three favorite places to be a tourist:
I'm never a tourist;always a traveller.
Too many to list but Paris, San Sebastien, anywhere Caribbean
Three movies I’ve never seen, that I would like to see:
Can't think of any. If I wanna see 'em I see 'em.
Three things I like to do alone.
Sail, drink and think.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Big Freakin Snowstorm


Big freakin snowstorm in the Northeast today. I wanted to blow off work and stay home but I figured "Fuck it. I'll go in late, leave early, and not lose a precious day off." So that's my plan. I really want to do some longer sailing trips this year. My boat and I are in good shape physically though I wonder about that boat's sanity sometimes. She seems to fall in love the hardest with boats that don't love her back. She has abandonment issues too. She's attracted to flaky boats who abandon her and then she says "See? No one really loves me. They all go away. I think I'll go sink myself." Silly boat! She used to drink and smoke all the time too, that boat, but she isn't doing that anymore. She told me yesterday that she wanted a shot of 151 Rumplemintz to celebrate 151 days alcohol free but I talked her out of it. She really misses her Marlboro reds too but I told her they were bad for her. She told me to go fuck myself but she doesn't mean it really. She's awfully talkative for a boat don't you think? The boat I mean. Boat.

How come doing doesn't rhyme with boing? Boat.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Misery Loves Company


I got this image HERE. Pretty cool site. A bunch of you contacted me by various means to offer your support and otherwise try to keep me from getting drunk and or killing myself. I thank you. That's one of the reasons I keep blogging. It reminds me that people I hardly know halfway across the world give a shit if I live or die. Moreso than I do even. Thanks.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Surrender


perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most
forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same
open my eyes wake up in flames
it took you to make me realize
it took you to make me realize
it took you to make me realize
it took you to make me see the light
smashed up my sanity
smashed up integrity
smashed up what i believed in
smashed up what's left of me
smashed up my everything
smashed up all that was true
gonna smash myself to pieces
i don't know what else to do
covered in hope and vaseline
still cannot fix this broken machine
watching the hole it used to be mine
just watching it burn in my steady systematic decline
of the trust i will betray
give it to me i throw it away
after everything i've done i hate myself for what i've become
i tried
i gave up
throw it away
Gave Up -NIN

Friday, March 09, 2007

A friend's son off to war

All right you lot (whoever you are) whether you comment here or not now is the time to make your voices heard. My very dear bloggy friend G'night Girl is having a hard time right now. Her son Brian got on a plane this morning at 2AM to fly to Kuwait and thence to Bahgdad for the next 18 to 24 months as part of the US Army. Whoever you are please do me this favor and go leave Gnight Girl a comment. Tell her you love her and her son and that everything's going to be fine, OK? Please? I'll consider it a personal favor. Thank you. Be Thou Blessed.

Monday, March 05, 2007

NO PENGUIN SPOOKING


Whilst searching google for an image to go with the title "Monday Morning Blues" I found THIS! I haven't listened to the podcasts yet but if the imagery is any indication then this thing is a riot! So props to Stu for Pooh-Poohing my Monday Morning Blues. Rock on! The rest of the site is some sort of advertising shlock which would depress me but at this point I'm past caring. UPDATE: www.bloggerheads.com/happy is a much better link!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Latin Blues


This beautiful Giclee print entitled Latin Blues II is by Chris Rea and is for sale to support Hope For Tomorrow a cancer charity. He has a bunch and they're gorgeous. You should buy some because they're awesome, they support a great cause and you can write them off on your taxes.
I tell you this because I was looking for a suitable image for the two songs from the upcoming Gearjammers CD that I want to post for you. They are, in fact, both Latin Blues. Here are The Sayonara Samba and The Mucho Macho Mambo.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The First Taste!


OK, I've been threatening (I mean promising) some audio from the new record. I have not finished overdubbing and mixing said new record and in an uncharacteristic move I refuse to release that which I consider unfinished. HOWEVER since I recorded us live last Saturday I decided to post this live recording of one of our new songs which seems to be finding considerable support amongst the fans. I therefore present you with The Mucho Macho Mambo! For those of you who are curious about The Mambo (or purists want to harrass me about my bastardization of the thing) I refer you to Wikipedia.

Last post lost

Well I dunno what happened. I posted a lengthy and fascinating meme and post but it seems to have disappeared completely. Further fucked-up-ness from Google based Blogger. ANyway, the gig went great! Wait until I post the audio for you! Wow! The studio session have been going well.
I'm on schedule and on budget still although just barely. The bad news is I succumbed to yet another cold. Fuck's SAKE! I've been sick like 5 of the last 8 weeks. That Ain't Right. MOre tomorrow. Back to bed now.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Gearjammers Live at The Striped Bass



Ladeeeees aaaaaand Gentlemaaaaaan!!! The Gearjammers Band is performing live! Saturday Night February 24th at The Striped Bass Restaurant in Tarrytown NY www.stripedbassny.com Show starts at 9PM - NO COVER

Striped Bass Restaurant 236 W. Main Street at the Tarrytown Boat Club Great Seafood Dining on the Hudson River in Westchester County Tarrytown, New York (914) 366-4455

Featuring an all new rhythm section!
The mighty Ric LuBell from Not Dead Yet on Bass!
http://notdeadyetonline.com/
-and-
The astonishing Pete Roan from Gravity Krush on Drums!
http://www.gravitykrush.com/home.htm

Come! See!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Studio Pt I - rhythm section tracks complete


Well, Pete (left), Ric (right) and I went into The Loft Studios in Bronxville NY last night from 7PM to midnight. We spent an hour setting up and then recorded 13 tunes in 4 hours. We only recorded bass, drums and rhythm guitar. Tonight I go in for another half day to overdub vocals and lead guitar and (I hope) do some preliminary mixing. I'll reserve judgement on just how well or poorly we did. There was virtually no listening back. Beyond "Here's a few bars of what we just recorded" on the first song we just cranked right through. I relied on the bass player (Ric) and the engineer (Crawford Brown) to say "Yeah, that felt good." for any given take. I hope they were right. The titles were (for my own benefit since you won't know the difference) were My Lord, Just Can't Let You Go, It's All On You, That Ain't Right, Ain't Gone Be Your Fool, You're Not, No Denyin', No More, Trouble Road, Macho Mambo, Sayonara Samba, I'm So Sorry, Devil and The Deep Blue Sea. I wanted to record a tune I wrote Saturday night called "That's What I Heard" but we ran out of time and energy. I could have probably pushed it on them but it was late and we were all shot. I got almost everything in one or two takes except for "You're Not" which turned out to be quite a bitch. We played it OK in rehearsal but for whatever reason (the caffiene?) we couldn't maintain a steady tempo. It's a fast tune to begin with so when we were speeding up it was unmanagably fast by the end. We ended up making like 6 passes at the thing. Anyway, I have the tunes hooked now. Let's see if I can reel them in. UPDATE: Well, I got vocals laid (yes, laid) on 6 songs. I booked more time for next week to do vocals on the other 7 tracks and guitar leads, etc... on all 13 tracks. Then? Mixing. Ugh.
I had really hoped to be done by my birthday next Thursday. Well, at least I'll have something to play for you by then. Cheers! HHNT!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Recording Studio Tonight!


Well ready or not here we come! I'm hopeful these sessions will prove to be productive. I recorded the last gig and frankly it was awful. None of us played well and the sound was all facacta. Unusable. So I got a new rhythm section and we're using a pro studio. They have many famous clients and many gold records on the wall. Wish us luck. Lord knows we need it. I wrote 12 new songs for the occasion so we're moving forward into unknown territory. The Lewis and Clark of the recording studio. Sacajawea where are you?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Late as always


Just had to share this wonderful Anti-Valentine site.
Boy does that ever sum it up.

I can't understand a Gott Damn thing...


...so here's Captain Kirk with an intergalactic sex toy in his hand.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Salsa Dancing Pt II - Ouch!


OK, salsa dance class Pt II - Ouch! I did something stupid. I wore boots this week to be a little taller because the girls in the class last week were all kinds of tall (especially in heels). I was fine while I was dancing but this morning my right ankle is killing me. I need to get some good dance shoes with the cuban heels baby! This picture sums up why I started doing this. Let's face it, salsa dancing is sexy. Super sexy in a woman and muy macho in a guy. You dance close, lots of touching; Rowr! I want to be that guy!

Monday, February 12, 2007

This Is How We Do It - Iceboat style!!




OK, so my friend Captain Bob calls and says "Iceboating in Newburgh today!" Neither of us had ever gone or seen this up close. I totally fell in love with the beautiful old fashioned wooden ones so I took a lot of pictures so we can build our own! The little fibreglass ones, DNs and Arrows, were like Sunfish and Laser...except they go like 50 miles an hour! The big wooden ones can go 80! The big ones steer from behind and have a tendency to spin out, but I didn't see that.
The little 'uns have a T-bar that connects a rack and pinion to the front runner. These guys were heeled over with one runner in the air going by like rocktships! Fun! There's a reason people wear helmets when doing this! It was cold as f*ck but for a change I didn't care. Sailing in February!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Remembering San Sebastian


Some years ago I went to Spain with my buddy Luis Vicente for the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona. I ran with the bulls and drank lots of beer and Spanish wine. Good times were had. While we were there we met a pair of lovely Viennese girls and toured large parts of the country in their little Volkswagon Golf. Anyway after an especially brutal night of drinking Luis was comatose so the girls and I drove out to San Sebastian in the Basque country and spent the day on this beach. In fact I nearly drowned when the tide came in suddenly while I walked along the beach at the edgeof the high sea wall. Good times, good times! Can't wait to go back.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Cotillion Ho HNT


I was going to do a bunch of work to cut me out of this pic and paste my into a fancy ballroom scene but I couldn't find a decent source pic of the ballroom scene and I just don't have time right now anyway. Besides it's just as funny as it is. I especially like the red eyes. I happened to be in Boston with my friends Lyle and Andrea last weekend and her Halloween costume was hanging around. Since I'll do anything for a laugh I donned it and came down the stairs singing a showtune. I was unaware there was a camera handy. Opps. Well, if you can't laugh at yourself...otehr people will do it for you. HHNT y'all!

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

New CD in the works


I'm having a heart attack fretting (pardon the guitar pun) over the new album. I know I should say CD but the concept of a group of songs taken as a whole didn't go away with the advent of CDs. If anything it's more prevalent since record albums (what now?) were max 40 minutes countin both sides and CDs are 75-80 minutes. Anyhow, I have pressure on all sides. The studio is $500 a day. I hope to finish in two half day sessions. Considering I'll need to spend $1500 to have 1000 of them printed I'm trying to keep the budget down. Let's face it, two grand isn't chump change to just blow. At least not for me. Additional factors: the rhythm section is new and mostly untried. We'll get maybe three rehearsals in for the 15 songs I want to try to record. Everyone tells me "Oh man, you'll be lucky to get 4 songs in one session." Blah blah blah. Why is everyone such a pessimist? I did my first record in three sessions. Of course the band had been together for 4 months and we played three times a week plus gigs that whole time. OK so I'm totally unready, the band is totally unready, I've never worked in this studio or worked with this engineer and it's $500 a day? So what? What? What could possibly go wrong? Did I mention I'm not done writing all the songs?

Welcome To Hell


Welcome to hell my little ducklings! I've discovered that it's truly no fun to hang out with drunk people. Not that this comes as a surprise mind you, but it's being brought home to me in a profound way. I just can't take it. Everyone's having such a good time and I'm just bummed out and bored. Next stop: skydiving!

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Salsa!


Well, last night I took my first Salsa dance class. One hour of beginner class and then I stayed for the advanced session. OMFG! Talk about working it! Jeebus! That's freakin hard man! I'm pretty excited though. It's been a while since I was interested in something that I was no good at. I mean, I can sort of paint and draw and play guitar. Good enough so that you wouldn't notice I suck right away anyhow. This is more like martial arts was. Strenuous workout! I was flattered that the instructor insisted I had done this before. I said "No, really, I never have and I have no idea what I'm doing." He gave me a lot of special attention since the class started back in November. I did pick it up quickly at least I didn't step on my partner's toes but I'd better practice for next week! Anyone want to dance?

Monday, February 05, 2007

Lithium


I'm so happy cause today I've found my friends ...They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but thats okay, cause so are you ...We broke our mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care ...And I'm not scared
Light my candles, in a daze cause I've found god
Yeah
I'm so lonely but thats okay, I shaved my head ...And I'm not sad
And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard ...But I'm not sure
I'm so excited, I cant wait to meet you there ...But I dont care
I'm so horny, but thats okay ...My will is good
Yeah
I like it - I'm not gonna crack I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
-Nirvana's "Lithium"

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Surf Andy HNT


Me and my new haircut! I got tired of the hippie look. Plus I've been doing so well at the gym that I finally decided to go for the nair and get rid of all that monkey hair on my chest. What do y'all think? HHNT!

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

A Love Divine


I know you're out there somewhere looking for something more. I hope you find it, but in my heart I know there is no greater love than this. I'm writing messages in the air for someone who's not watching; shouting my love from the rooftop of the wrong house. Of troubles great and small I find myself amply possesed but none greater than the loss of the only thing I ever truly cared about. I will likely title the new CD "A Love Divine" and use this blue butterfly on the cover for what it represents to me. I think you'll like the new music. I hope so. In three weeks we start recording; ready or not. I might be long gone by then or I might never leave. Who knows?

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Version 2.0 - Got Nuffin


I'm avoiding posting anything really personal lately but I'm making an exception today. I've been in a severe funk the last few days. That's moderately bizarre because overall things are going really well. I suspect my efforts of stay off caffiene and nicotine are negatively effecting my brain chemistry because I could truly see no reason for the degree of unhappiness I was experiencing. Sure, I lost someone I truly love to the ravages of time and distance and that hurts A LOT but that's par for the course in this life. People come and people go. The only other real hurdle was a profound dissatisfaction with the band since we have no regular drummer. As such we had become a "pickup band" playing with whatever drummer on very little rehearsal. Since we're playing some complex music this wasn't working. That problem resolved itself this past weekend as I opted to move forward with a new rhythm section which thankfully come with a rehearsal space. Thus the very expensive pro recording studio sessions at the end of the month have a much higher probability of producing quality material, or so I hope anyway. I have a chance at a really big opportunity at the end of the week but if I actually GET the opportunity it's going to entail some huge life changes. That has me a bit apprehensive but WTF? It's all in the Lord's Arms. Namaste.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Last chance with Ye Olde Blogger


I don't know who this woman is but I love her. She sums up my feeling about the entire administration. Whoever you are miss or madam, I salute you and your willingness to get down on your knees for our country. This will be my last post in Ye Olde version of Blogger. They're making us switch. Google is taking on Microsoftic proportions of suck these days. I gues it IS possible to get too big for your own good. This blog has caused me so much trouble with the women in my life that it's amazing to me that I keep it up but I can't seem to help myself. It seems to me that I've never posted anything I wouldn't want my mother to see, so what the hell is the problem? I guess they get jealous of the attention I get. Meanwhile when I walk around with them and every guy who walks by fucks them with his eyes they tell me I'M imagining things. Ladies, I love your gender but I find you to be inexplicable at the best of times and down right inscrutable the rest of the time. Kisses!

3 4 1 Pt II or Hero Worship X

I'm doing 3 4 1 again today because frankly I'm getting tired of guitar heros on my blog.
So, in order of their influence on me, I offer these:

Carlos Santana - what can I say? His is a unique and very recognizable style. He pretty much single-handedly (pardon the pun) brought The Latin Influence into rock music. There's a lifetime achievement, eh? He was never much of a songwriter per se, but he's great at coming up with grooves and he's a hellacious guitarist. What more do you want?

Trey Anastasio owes a lot to Jerry Garcia and Jazz. Some classical too. He's a VERY accomplished and talented soloist though I admit to liking Phish a lot more than his solo efforts to date. I especially like the many influences evident on Picture Of Nectar which I highly recommend.

Oh, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry. Your music was poisoned for me by drugged out hippie girls who thought you were God. As opposed to ME who they rightly SHOULD have thought of as God, but whatever. It's a pity that the culture that The Grateful Dead spawned overshadowed so much of their music. I saw them about 8 times and was never very impressed. I'm one of the rare few who preferred their studio efforts. The shows for me were about chasing my vices and waiting for Space and Drums. I want my money back.

Thought for the day: Life is hard, but fortunately short.

Friday, January 26, 2007

3 4 1 hero worship part IX

These are all lesser influences on me so I give you 3-4-1. These guys are all great guitar players and I love their music but their personal styles are less of a direct influence on me. They get more credit for their influential songwriting, sheer speed and energy. I present you:

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath - The Prince Of Darkness' good left hand is a Gibson SG man. Well known for simple riffs organised into tortuously long and complicated arrangements. He's less of a shredder and comes more from the electric blues but is widely considered the father of all Heavy Metal although the origin of the term is debatable. Who hasn't played Iron Man a million times?

Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple - Another strat player like me. Is that a MIDI setup on his bridge there? Black more is known for his use of classical elements in his soloing. He's the father of neo-classsical rock à la Yngwie Malmsteen. Who hasn't played Smoke On The Water a million times? In fact that's one of the most common first riffs anyone learns.

Angus Young of ACDC - another Gibson SG man, Angus is known for the pounding simplicity of ACDCs rock anthems and his lightning fast shredding. Who hasn't played Back In Black a million times?

Thursday, January 25, 2007

New of Old


Rehash of an older shot with photoshopped light effect. I have no time for HNT these days!


A couple of drawings from my figure drawing class. I'm not great but I don't suck and I'm getting better. Had to skip class this week to meet with a producer for the new CD. We have a deal! Therefore there will be recording sessions in the month of Fenruary and hopefully the new record will be done on my brithday March 1st! Wish us luck! HHNT!
Oh! The Gearjammers and I are playing at The High Street Roadhouse tomorrow night. Come! That's Friday Jan 26th @ 10 PM No Cover - Great Cajun Food!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

The Busy Bee


Today I got up at 4:30 AM, made & drank some herbal tea, checked email, prepped for an important phone meeting today, did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, took out the trash, tested my microphones & cables (two of each not working brought into work for repairs), compiled a list of 15 clubs to send demos to, made & ate breakfast, made lunch, got my art suppplies together for class tonight, got my gym stuff ready, showered & shaved, dressed, put away clean laundry, bagged dirty laundry, dropped it off, picked up dry cleaning, dropped off rented videos, and drove to work arriving by 8:30. It's 10:30 and I've already done a lot at work (including eating my lunch - oops!). Christ! At this rate I'll be painting the house and framing up a barn! Last night at the gym I realized I lost 1/8th of my body weight this year. I'm dead center of the target weight for my height. Size 32 pants are snug. Ten more pounds off should make them fit right.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Recovered (again) and Hero Worship VIII - Steve Vai


OK, first things first: I have now had all three flavors of the flu going around in the last three weeks. I'll spare you the details but ENOUGH ALREADY! OK? Seriously! The good news is being unable to eat or anything else for four days made it possible to quit coffee and cigarettes. I am now 100% drug and alcohol free. Everything is so real! Crystal clear and sharp and coming at me WAY TOO FAST! Make it stop! No, I kid. True sobriety is great but being caffiene free is a weird thing. I feel so...dumb! And slow! I can't get from the cab to the curb without forgetting where I am, why I'm there and what doing. Pretty sad but I hope it will pass. Overall I'm much calmer, more serene and closer to God. Laugh all you want, I don't care. The perception is that when you merge with God you lose yourself, but not so. You BECOME GOD! Fortunately for you all my Godhood is a long way off yet. I sense I'd be a vengeful jealous God. Anyway... STEVE VAI! This guy gets my vote for best overall guitarist ever. His virtuaosity in every area of musicality is unparalleled. Nobody has the whole package like little Stevie Vai. Any guitar player who can satisfy David Lee Roth AND Frank Zappa simply must be acknowledged. So there it is Stevie. Big Props all around from your number one fan.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Hero Worship VII Keith Richards


I feel better! But I look terrible! Look, just LOOK what drugs and alcohol do to you! LOL! OK, well I finally beat off...my cold. Phew! 'Twas nasty! It's cold as a motherfucker in the Northeast today for the first time this winter. Dammit.

Slight digression: I went last night to a figure drawing workshop for the first time since I medelled for them in college. It was FUN!!! I haven't enjoyed myself that much in ages! I was smack dab in the middle of the talent level. Better than about half the class, not as good as the other half. I held my own pretty well though. Results soon to be posted!

Now to resume the hero worship theme: Keith Richards is the luckiest sonofabitch alive. I've always run hot and cold on The Rolling Stones. Sometimes I'm into it, other times it's a big yawn. I wouldn't go see them, especially at $400 a ticket but they did make some great and influential music. As a rhythm guitarist the guy can't be beat. Also, he has the best rock star quote on aging I ever heard. "When I was 20 it was a good bet I wouldn't make it to 30. When I turned 30 it was a SURE bet I wouldn't see 40. When I turned 50 it finally hit me; I'm going to live forever!" True enough! I bet in a hundred years more people still know who Keith Richards was!

Monday, January 15, 2007

Been sick...

Hey, sorry gang. Been sick off and on since Jan. 1st and not much for posting. Also a certain bloggy friend has been missing and was reported dead. No proof of this but still kind of creepy. Makes one think both of the fragility of life and the unreality of blog life. This sweet beautiful person could be dead, nevermore to grace this world....or...any number of equally unpleasant possibilities. Anyway either way she'll be missed. You Betcha. Another friend disappeared not long after I found out she was really really sick and getting divorced besides.
Missing TLOML. If you're reading this ILUSFM. Generally feeling very unsettled and much missing many friends old and new, found and lost. 92 days and counting. I can't wait for boating weather. I need some time on the water to calm my nerves. My hands have been shaking again.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Hero Worship Part VI - Alex Lifeson


This guy really should have come first. In fact all three members of Rush should have come first since more than any other musician or group they were the ones who inspired me to become a musician myself. I played drums for several years learning their songs to the best of my ability, then switched to bass as a step towards guitar then finally guitar. This is the only band (with the possible exception of Led Zeppelin) whose songs I can play on all three instruments. So here's to you Mr. Canadian Prog Rock Star! Side note: this series is getting prohibitively long! I already have 8 more guitarists to spotlight and that's just the ones everybody knows! I'm feeling really guilty about not providing all sorts of interesting technical and biographical data onb these dudes but you know what? If you';re reading this you have access to www.wikipedia.com which is where I'd find that crap anyway so ... Viva La Strangiato!

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Hero Worship part V - Eddie Van Halen


OK, I was tempted to put one of the many unflattering pics of this guy up but I decided to be kind. I regard this as giving the devil his due. It is my firm conviction that this guy hasn't played a single note worth listening to since he fired David Lee Roth. With Dave the band consistently rocked and could do no wrong. Ever since they've gone from pop pathetic to pablum puke. Why can't this be love? Because it sucks, that's why. OK, 'nuff said about the forgettable songwriting. On to the guitar playing. You have to give it to the guy. When Eddie came on the scene he was following the likes of Hendrix, Beck, Page, Iommi, Blackmore and Clapton; not an easy lot to follow on. Yet he did it with attitude and style. His two handed technique was so unusual at the time that I've heard he would play with his back to the audience so no one could see what he was doing. If so it was with good reason. If Hendrix was the greatest innovator on the electric guitar since Les Paul invented the thing then this guy surely took it the next step. Only Hendrix and Page inspired more imitators and in the three decades since he probably has more than both of them combined by now. As I write these I realize I should be a lot more technical in my descriptions and specific in my citations but to hell with it. They're my heroes. I'll worship them anyway I want. I should mention that Eddie has another point in his favor: He's sober unlike so many of his contemporaries. He'll probably outlive most of them as a result. However in the minus column he married Valerie Bertinelli. At the time I thought she was the prize of the century. I've since come around to be a more MacKenzie Philips type of guy. I'll say this much: Dave was a lot better after Van Halen than Van Halen was after Dave no matter WHAT the money said.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Hero worship part IV - Jimmy Page


"If I played guitar I'd be Jimmy Page; the girlies I like are under age!" That quote is from The Beastie Boys but I forget the song. It HAS been heavily rumored that Lord Page prefers them young and docile. He is purported to have a collection of whips, chains and other paraphernelia for the abuse of young and beautiful girls. He has nothing on Bill Wyman (bassist for The Rolling Stones) who I hear married his 13 year old sweet heart. At least they weren't related (like Jerry Lee Lewis' bride). Anyway, his sexploits aside, I admire Mr. Page most for the fact that he's an amazing guitarist. Arguably Jimmy Page is the most immitated guitarist in the world. He had it all; looks, flash, style, substance, talent, control, innovation...come on who else ever used a violin bow on a guitar? Even Eddie Van Halen (a future subject of this series) claimed to have gotten the idea for his famous two-handed technique from Mr. James Patrick Page. During the solo to Heartbreaker he was said to have held a fretted note with his right hand whilst hammering on and pulling off with his left hand above. So here's to you Mr. Gibson slingin', bow wielding, effects drenched, drug takin', groupie shaggin' rock star! We've now had tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Next up? Eddie Van Halen.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Hero worship part III - Jeff Beck



I've done posts on Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn but it's time to say a word about the most under-rated guitarist of all time; Jeff Beck. Firstly, he's an amazing guitarist. He's gets sounds out a his strat with just his fingers and an amp that most guys can't make with a whole rack of fancy effects. His sublte microtonal control bending, sliding and using the whammy bar is unparalleled. It's not so much his technical prowess but his ability to emote through his instrument in a clear and heartfelt way. Gets me every time. Also, he's a handsome devil. Another thing that makes him great is he isn't one of those eat, sleep and breathe the guitar guys. He builds hot rods for fun. He does lots of other stuff. All in all a fascinating, talented and amazing individual. Individual; that's the key. His work stands out like crazy. If he's playing on a record you can't miss it. The tone is just so uniquely his own. Also he plays with his fingers rather than a pick. That impresses me. I do that a lot too. Anyway, I guess maybe next we'll feature some more guitar heros in the next little bit.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

The Devil in Me HNT


Inspired by everybody's favorite demoness Lil Bit
The Devil in You is the Devil in Me! Mwah-hahahahahahaha!
Or is it the woman in you that's the worry in me?
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNT!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Religion and Spirituality for Less!

Sorry. I was browsing Amazon.com and that product category headline(!) caught my eye. Christ, first I couldn't leave politics alone; now this? Religion and Spirituality for less... Less than what? Yes, of course they're talking about the cost of products relating to those things but really! Firstly religion and spirituality have as much to do with each other as a cow and a countess. Religion speaks for itself. Dogma. War. Ignorance. Conformity. Conscription. I have no use for it.
Spirituality is something I'm beginning to have some truck with. It's a slippery thing. If you look right at it (metaphorically speaking) it disappears but if you go on with your life with the proper attitude it's beneath, between, beside and behind you all the way. However you have to work for it. It requires being selfless and giving; concern with your fellow travellers. Introspection and reflection are required. But I can let you have it at a steal! Just send $19.95 to P.O. Box 13
Bukkake, NY 13131.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

VERY educational quiz!

I found this on http://headrush.typepad.com/ by way of www.gapingvoid.com
It pointed up some pretty important things I knew but hadn't thought about much.
Answer in the comments, email me or just consider yourself tagged!

0) What's your name and website URL? (optional, of course)
1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why?
2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did?
3) Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting it off?
4) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why?
5) If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn?
6) What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?
7) Now list two more words you wish described you...
8) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes)
9) Write--and answer--one more question that YOU would ask someone
10) What is one question you wish people would ask themselves?

Unrelated Bonus: Great recommended reading list!

Resolutions


Oh, who's kidding who? A resolution? Fuck, for me it takes an act of congress! Alright, alright, I'll give it a shot. I resolve to try and forge a better and stronger spiritual connection with God and my fellow man in the coming year. How's that for high-falutin'? Further I resolve to lose not only the ten pounds I put back on between Thanksgiving and New Year's but an additional five pounds as well. While I'm at it I resolve to quit smoking sometime during this year. There are lots more things I'd like to do but I don't think they call for resoloutions. Just discipline.