So, I thought I’d finish up my discussion on Twenty Aught Eight by talking about some of the songs.  I’ll start by listing my 10 favorites, in something resembling an order: 

1. Everything I Need
2. A Little Peace
3. Try Again
4. 6 Feet of Trouble
5. Beauty of our Lives
6. Sinful Pleasures
7. Ain’t a Gonna
8. Never Got Along
9. That Quiet Country Living
10. Faith

Everything I Need remains my favorite, and honestly, I don’t know if it’s even a close race.  That’s a bit odd, considering it features an electric guitar and I’m really an acoustic player.  I didn’t set out that day to write a song for my wife, but that’s what it became.  I love the lyrics and arrangement, the whole song has a strong melody, the slide guitar parts seem to fit perfectly, and it wasn’t all that hard to record.  In fact, the guitar solo after the second verse and chorus was done in one take.  I can hear a few mistakes, but on the whole, I just decided I didn’t want to change it.  I’m not even sure that I tried.  I still listen to this song and enjoy every second. 

A Little Peace has what may be the strongest chorus that I’ve ever written.  It clocks in at 6:18, but I don’t think it’s too long.  Lyrically, I find it particularly meaningful, I really like my vocal performance, and I’m fond of the way the arrangement builds.

Try Again is a really great strong that, in hindsight, would probably benefit from a fuller arrangement that includes another guitar part or two, bass, and drums.  It would sound great right after the first chorus; if you listen to the tune, you’re likely to know exactly what I mean.  But, when I perform, I do so alone with a guitar in my hands, and that’s the vibe I wanted to convey when I recorded it.  I love these lyrics, particularly the following line:  “So who am I that can argue with fate?  I’m the man who will spit in her face because I feel like she’s standing in my way.”  On the whole, I’m of the opinion that fate does play a role in our lives and that the best way to handle things is to roll with punches and respond appropriately to whatever the moment may dictate.  But sometimes, you just have to fight to get what you want, and sometimes the fight itself is important. 

6 Feet of Trouble is the first song with lyrics that I wrote on the guitar I had built.  I think it’s catchy with a great chorus, and it’s something I particularly enjoy playing.  I actually think this could really be a hit as a rock song or a country tune. 

Beauty of our Lives resembles a Bob Dylan song to me, though I don’t count myself as one of his fans.  To be more specific, I don’t really enjoy Dylan the performer. I do admire and respect him as a composer; I find that I really enjoy his songs when they’re done by artists I like.  This song tells an interesting story about 3 different characters, including myself, and I think the resonator parts are particularly tasteful.

Sinful Pleasures is really a down and dirty song that goes back to my love of rock ‘n roll; I can easily hear this being done by AC/DC when Bon Scott was still alive.  This was also my first attempt at 3 part harmonies during Twenty Aught Eight.  I just like it a lot.

Ain’t a Gonna is a fun tune born out of a friend’s insistence that the title phrase be made into a song.  I agreed.

Never Got Along feels sort of like something Guy Davis would do, and I’m certain the fact that I wrote it shortly after hanging out with him for almost a week in Iowa is not coincidental.  I enjoy its groove and the story it tells, even if it’s a touch depressing.

That Quiet Country Living is a lovely instrumental with some particularly good slide guitar work.  The mix that is currently available features background noise from my own back yard.  Somehow, I picture people listening to this while sitting in a rocking chair on their back porch sipping their favorite beverage.

Faith.  Sometimes it’s all we have, regardless of its source.  It’s no secret that I’m not religious, though I am spiritual.  This song ended V3, but it would have been well suited to end the project itself.  “It feels like we may have truly gotten lost, but we can find our way back with faith.  Faith in ourselves, faith in those we love, faith in what we can do.”

Those are my current favorites from Twenty Aught Eight.  They do change from time to time, but I think they are representative of what I did.  Now I’ll talk about a few that strike me as milestones, not including songs I’ve already mentioned.

Ain't No Greater Sorrow is a cool song and it came at time when I had lost my voice for a while, probably due to bronchitis.  The previous week I had posted an instrumental because I literally couldn’t sing, so I didn’t want to do it again if at all possible.  This piece is important because I still managed to meet my deadline even though I faced a considerable physical challenge.  I did redo the vocals later in the week and that’s what you hear now, but…I met my deadline.

Come Back Home is not all that different from some of my other blues material, but I did push myself in terms of my vocal performance.  I think it works and that after I recorded this song, my voice went to a new level; I can hear the difference with subsequent material.  

I wrote Bring Me Relief with the intention of having rich vocal harmonies.  As it turns out, I believe it’s also my wife’s favorite of this project.

The Price represents a guitar part that I found particularly challenging.  I took me about 3 weeks worth of practice before I finally got what you hear now.

I suppose there are a few songs that don’t represent my best effort, but that’s going to happen when you impose a deadline of something new every week.  I was considering discussing them, but honestly, I feel that does a disservice to those songs and myself.  I stand by all my songs, and each one has its own merits.

Ok, that’s enough for now.  I’ll be back with another post in the reasonably near future.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that they made $16.6 billion dollars during their second fiscal quarter.  This was a 2% increase over the same quarter last year, but did fall $900 million short of expectations.  Therefore, they laid off 1400 employees, and anticipate laying off another 3600 over the course of the next 18 months.  You can read an article about it here:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090122/ap_on_hi_te/earns_microsoft

Never mind the number of people it states is being laid off; I’m going by the email I received from Microsoft when I went in to work yesterday.

I sort of saw this coming, but I didn’t completely expect it.  After reading the numbers quoted above, I was deeply insulted.  $16.6 billion in a quarter.  A 2% *increase.*  And their response is to fire 1400 people in one day, and a total of 5000 over the next 18 months.  Are you fucking kidding me? 

Just take a moment to think about the ungodly amount of money that represents.  That’s how much they made.  In three months.  At a time when plenty of people and businesses are struggling to break even, much less get ahead.  And they drop people.  That’s business and capitalism, right?  No, that’s corporatism.  That’s how much MS really cares.  At the end of the day, profit is the bottom line; fuck your people – and by profit, I we mean making more money than 99.9% of the people on the planet can really comprehend, much less make, in their lifetimes.

I could go on for a while about this, but I’m going to stop.  That was my first reaction, and I vocalized my feelings quite clearly during the group meeting when the people in Middleton were axed.  But, once that passed, I realized something.

I was actually kind of happy about it.  Relieved.  Why?  Let’s be honest about something.  I was doing a job that I had considered leaving for quite some time.  I was lucky enough to be able to work from home four days a week for the last few months, and that combined with my salary and benefits kept me around longer than I should have stayed.  I worked to the best of my abilities because I believe in earning my money, but I wasn’t exactly happy.

Let’s be clear about something else – I was making more money than I ever had before in my life and the benefits package was outstanding.  MS employees are well compensated.  But, in the end, I understood that I was perfectly ok with the prospect of living without that job.  

The severance package was also nice.  While discussing it with someone else who suffered the same fate, I compared it to getting screwed, but being really well lubricated first.  I may have been a bit more graphic.  In any case, I’ll be ok for a short time while I figure out what comes next.  I understand that I may wind up dong the exact same type of thing for much less money.  Then again, maybe something more interesting will present itself.

Let's move on to something far more compelling.

My wife got me a ticket to see Bobby McFerrin in Madison for Christmas.  I had not previously had the opportunity, though certainly the desire.  It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of which I have ever been a part.  The man has won ten Grammy Awards, but for the moment, forget about his skill and talent. 

He performed with so much JOY.  I felt it and was grinning from ear to ear within the first few seconds.   I was moved to tears during the course of the evening more than once, not only by what he did, but by the way he included the audience.  He brought people up to dance while he sang.  He brought folks up to sing with him one at a time, and let anyone who wanted to do so come up and be a part of a vocal chorus.  There were no tryouts for this, no trashing anyone’s abilities a la American Idol.  Somehow, no one was made to feel like a fool, and everyone had a fabulous time.  Talk about uplifting all beings while doing as little harm as possible.

And yes, I sang with him.  He called up dancers first, and while I was tempted, dance is NOT my thing.  I don’t enjoy it, and I doubt that I’m any good at it.  But, when he asked for individuals to come up and sing with him, I was 2^nd in line and wasn’t 1^st because I was beaten to the stage by a gentlemen whose seat was closer. 

Bobby asked me what I wanted to sing, and I told him that his version of Sunshine of Your Love was one of the coolest things I’d ever heard.  So, that’s what we did.  One verse and one chorus, and the audience cheered us with great gusto.  In fact, I received compliments on my way back to my seat and from a few as I left the concert hall.  But in all honesty, there was a short older woman in perhaps her 60s who sang a song with which I wasn’t familiar that was the highlight of that portion of the show.  Man.  She really belted the tune out.

But again, no one felt humiliated.  None of the dancers.  None of the singers, solo or chorus.  Sure, some were better than others.  But somehow, everyone had a good time.  Mr. McFerrin brought it out.  It was all a truly beautiful experience.  If you ever have the chance to see him perform, I strongly suggest that you take it.  Have a look at his web site:

http://bobbymcferrin.com

I really learned a lot.  I’d compare this favorably with what I felt the first time I saw Jack of Roses back in Tempe and how I feel when I see Guy Davis and Chris Smither play. 

That’s enough for now.  I’ll post again sometime today to discuss Twenty Aught Eight some more.

I'm done.  Finished.  Mission accomplished.  Really.  Just Another Mile marks the end of my Twenty Aught Eight project, and lyrically, expresses how I believe I should approach whatever comes next.  Musically, it's a good song with a minor feel, which isn't something I do much.  

Within the next few days, I'll post an entry here where I will attempt to be eloquent about all that I've learned while doing this project and where I hope it will take me.  I also plan to discuss the songs; I'll let you know which are my favorites, which ones I believe represent a marked period of growth, and perhaps acknowledge which might not be quite as strong...at least to me.

But, for now, I'm going to go take a rest from all this.  Thank you for listening.

One more song to go.  Wow.

I really wanted to do another instrumental, and this time something upbeat and rockin'.  Truckin' is what came out.  As seems to be the case with my instrumentals, my wife came up with the title after I played it for her.  I think it's definitely kind of bluesy, but it also has a bit of a surf music vibe to it, particularly during the middle section.  I think it's a really fun tune, and I found myself grinnin' and groovin'.  Enjoy.

One minor change...back when I started Twenty Aught Eight, I made a small miscalculation.  I said I'd be posting a new song every week for a year, but specified a date range of 1/14/08 - 1/12/09.  I will actually have 52 songs up a week from today, 1/5/09.  The dates have been adjusted accordingly on my music page. 

Negative 37 degrees with the wind chill factored in over the weekend.  I love winter.

This week's song is called My Heaven and was a bit problematic, in terms of lyrics.  I had a few ideas that just didn't quite pan out, and then what became the first line emerged:  

"My heaven is a state of mind."

After that, it was a matter of woodshedding some ideas into something that I felt fit the format of a song.  The chord progression is also a bit different for me; I think it sounds like a mosh of blues and americana, which is pretty much what I'm doing these days, so I guess that's to be expected.  

I was going for a laid back and intimate feel with this one, and I believe I succeeded.  I wasn't trying to push myself in terms of performance, nor was I trying for anything particularly easy.  In fact, I may be done pushing the envelope...considering I only have two songs left, and we're in the midst of the holiday season. 

Or, maybe I'm not.  I guess we'll see. 

We're in the midst of some *COLD* weather.  I believe the high today was 9, but the wind chill factor put it below zero.  According to weather.com the temperature in my zip code is 3 as I type this, and wind chill brings it down to -14.  

This week's song is called The Woman I Love and is a bit different for me in a few ways.   I wound up featuring the resonator again, and started out with a standard blues tune.  When the vocals start, that's pretty much all it is until you get back to the same chord progression that begins the music.  The 2nd and 3rd guitar parts that come in at around 1:15 were kind of an afterthought.  After listening to the vocals and main guitar, I decided I wanted to fatten the sound up a bit, but didn't want to do so in my usual way.  So, I let 1 guitar and the vocal go until after the first verse and instrumental break before adding in acoustic guitar in the left channel and electric in the right. 

Overall, I really like the song.  

Only three more to go...that's pretty amazing.  I will admit that I feel sort of like a cheap watch as it winds down.  When I have time to rest, I do just that.  Rest.  Nothing else, in terms of mental stimulation.  I veg out in front of my TV watching a DVD or Blu-Ray disc and zone out.  I've really loved doing Twenty Aught Eight, but it has proven to be rather tiring.  I'm not complaining - just stating a fact - and I'm still going strong.

Til next time...

Hello there.  This week's song is called We Can Go.  I specifically wanted to do something with my resonator and one vocal track and this is what came out.  I thought I might have a blues song, but that's not where my feelings led me, for whatever reason.  Feel free to interpret the lyrics as you wish; I hope you enjoy the tune.

We're in the midst of what is predicted to be our first bad storm of the winter.  Right now, it's what weather.com is calling a "wintry mix," which I think means snow and frozen rain.  Six to twelve inches of accumulated snow & whatever else is expected between now and tomorrow night.  So, my wife and I spent a good chunk of time yesterday putting our snow plow attachment on our riding lawn mower and insulating the windows with plastic.  Those of you who deal with these types of winters know what I'm talking about.  As for the rest of you, think of it as putting shrink wrap over your windows on the inside to keep your heat in and cold out.  It really makes a tremendous difference.  So, I didn't have the same time I normally would on a Sunday to work on music.  But, because of what I had wanted to compose all week, that didn't much matter.

The last thing I wanted to mention is that I'm now on Twitter, which you can see at the top of this page.   If you aren't familiar with it, have a look.  I'm both annoyed by and interested in it.  

Y'all take care. 

I'm just trying to get this sucker in before my deadline; I may post more about it tomorrow.  For now, this week's song is called A Little Peace.  Enjoy.

I've wanted to write a song honoring the contributions of teachers to our lives for quite some time now.  I believe this idea goes back to before I started Twenty Aught Eight.  However, I could never really come up with lyrics that I thought were decent, much less any music.  This week's song changes that.  It's called Thank You and I think it's very different from any of the songs I've done for this project.  While it features my new Taylor electric guitar, I actually wrote the song on my Woolson Soundcraft acoustic.  I felt the tune cried out for more of a rock feel than is generally associated with material based around an unplugged guitar.  

I realize that I've posted this the week of Thanksgiving, but I consider that to be a coincidence.  I'm not likely to start writing material with holiday themes. 

This also puts me past the halfway point the last volume of Twenty Aught Eight.  I'll reminisce about this project at length once I'm done, but for now let me say that this has been very fufilling.  Oddly enough, I've been in a happier frame of mind because of this exercise.  Go figure...doing one of the things I enjoy most in life brings me gratification. 

Who woulda thunk it? 

This week's song comes with a warning...there is a profane word in the first line, within the first few seconds.  I suppose if I ever get to the point where this would be considered for radio airplay, I'll have to edit this and go with saying two letters instead of the word itself.  For now, I think it's important to the content of the song to leave it in.  One could certainly consider the opening line to be controversial, but I'm not certain that was my aim.  The lyrics came, I like them, and they express a point of view which happens to be my own.  I actually consider the song to be one of hope, for whatever that's worth.  

It's called I Believe.  Enjoy.   

The title for this week's tune came from a phrase that I spouted out on Saturday that seemed to catch on with folks who heard it.  My wife and I were shopping for a new couch and she asked if I had sat on this one particular sofa.  I looked at the price tag and responded, "No, and I ain't a gonna."  Mind you, I wasn't trying to be particularly clever or funny.  It's just what popped out of my mouth.

Steve, a sales manager who is also a friend of mine thought that was a great phrase and insisted I make a song out of it.  My little brother in law was with us, and he agreed, as did my wife.  This particular choice of words seemed to cause great merriment for the rest of the day, so I figured Steve had given me some sage advice.  

This is actually a first for me in a couple of ways.  One - I've never based a song on a catch phrase that I seemed to unintentionally birth from nowhere.  I have written songs around phrases before, but they've always come when I was making an effort to create.  This "Ain't A Gonna" just seemed like the thing to say at the time. 

Two - the riff that opens the song and appears after the verses was actually written for another piece of music that was finished but I was unable to record because I was sick and unable to sing properly.  Usually, I'd simply redo the song another week, but this time, I wound up taking that one bit and making something new out of it.  I don't believe I have done that before.  

The song can be heard here and on my music page.  Enjoy, and take care.

This week I wound up with the desire to do something raw & simple...uncomplicated, yet compelling.  The lyrics wound up being the most difficult, going though a few rewrites and a couple of changes in theme.  The song is called My Last Chance, and it's written from the perspective of someone who believes he is making his last decision about religious faith.  I don't often quote my own lyrics, but I think doing so here illustrates what I mean.  The first verse is as follows:

What if God made
up the devil
just to keep us in line?
What if man
made up God
right around the same time?

He's going through two levels of questions...first, what if there was no evil until God created it, or made up lies about it, in order to control us?  And second...what if we made up God ourselves?  The unspoken conclusion he makes is that we created religion, God, and his counterpart ourselves. 

The chorus is:

It's my last chance
to be part of God's plan
should I repent and save my soul?
It's my last chance
to be who I am
should I give up my soul?

In his mind, he can't be "saved" without giving up who he believes himself to be - his essence, his soul.  He's trying to decide if he wants to relinquish total control to a higher power, or be himself.  He can't do both.  It echoes an idea from a Rush song, Resist - you can surrender without a prayer, but never really pray without surrender.  

The second verse is:

I've spent a lot of time
on this thing called faith
and how it relates to me
I may not have
all of the answers
but I know what I believe

He's trying to reconcile what he believes to be true with how it contradicts what he's been taught, and what the majority of those around him consider to be the norm.  The final verse:

I never met Jesus
but I've heard his tale
I don't know if it's true
It seems to me
that don't matter
as much as what people do

He's unsure about whether or not Jesus exists or existed, but he's coming to the conclusion that whether or not He did isn't as important as how people conduct themselves.  The idea of the Man is likely more important that the truth. 

So, take from that what you will.  It's possible you might get something altogether different from the words...that's part of appeal of art.  Y'all be good. 

Ok, it's late, I'm recovering from a nasty cold or something, and I'm tired.  So, not much else to say, other than to present this week's song featuring the new Taylor electric guitar, Day & Night. 

Enjoy. 

Ok, so I *really* like this week's song.  I actually finished it yesterday and spent some of today listening to it while I worked, doing my extra special fat man dance while sitting moves.  

Seriously.

The tune features a new instrument, a Taylor electric guitar.  The model can be viewed here.

I have the walnut version.  This came about because I've had a strong desire for a Telecaster type guitar, though I had no desire to buy a Fender.  So, I've been looking around online, talking to a couple of builders, looking over eBay, shopping in stores where I happen to find myself, etc.  I would never have looked twice at this instrument for at least two reasons:  1 - not a tele.  2 - it's a Taylor, and therefore a factory instrument.  I'm opposed.  However, at my wife's suggestion, I took it off the wall and gave it a shot.

I now own it and used it to write this week's song.  What more needs to be said?

There are actually four different guitar parts; the main rhythm using the Taylor tuned to open G, the Reuter resonator doubling the same part, the Woolson SIG playing the same part with a different voicing, and the solo/decorative parts with the Taylor, still tuned to G using a slide.  Add bass, vocals, and a drum machine, and you get Everything I Need.

Enjoy.

Reminder to those of you in and around Rockford, IL...I have that gig tomorrow night and will be featuring songs from the first two volumes of Twenty Aught Eight.  Info on my gigs page.

Y'all take care.  

Ok, so I'm off and running on the last quarter of Twenty Aught Eight.  I'm really tired today, so this will be a short entry.

The song is called Big Bad Man, and I thought that it might become the 2nd song in something that was going to evolve into a concept album or perhaps even a one man play.  However, I decided that something along those lines merited considerably more time and effort one week per song.  It's also likely to require constant woodshedding of old ideas as new ones evolve.  I have gone back and made changes to only two songs during this process, but neither edit involved rewriting the song in any way.  One was redoing the vocal track after recovering from an illness, and the other was adding some ambient background noise from my backyard.  So, I may revisit the one man play idea after I finish Twenty Aught Eight.  We shall see.

In any case, I've started the home stretch with a down home blues, which somehow seems appropriate.  Enjoy.

So, I'm 3/4 of the way through Twenty Aught Eight.  Oddly enough, I don't feel particularly different or accomplished as I type this.  I'm just happy to have completed the most recent song, and I think it's a nice way to end a volume, or CD.  

The song is called Faith, and yes, that is what it's about.  The lyrics came at the start of this week when I was writing whatever came to mind, and there wasn't really much editing.  As for the music, I thought I was going to record something very different, right up until just before I brushed my teeth this morning.  That's when the idea for the arrangement you now hear came to me, and to be honest, I just knew this is what it needed to be.  This is the song I needed to write/record and release today.  Enjoy.

Next week, I start volume 4.  Thirteen more weeks to go.  So far, this has been more fun than work, though there has been plenty of the latter.

It can be good to go back to something that's comforting, and not necessarily difficult to do.  Sometimes a song doesn't have to be different, or complicated.   Sometimes, I just want to play around with something fairly basic and what comes out doesn't have to be anything brilliant or innovative.  

But, it can be gritty and cool.  

I give you this week's song, Nothing But Pain.   It strikes me as something you'd hear a good bar band do, perhaps in the middle of their last set.  What you hear isn't really where I thought I'd end up this week, but sometimes I just go where I'm led...for whatever that's worth.  Enjoy.

On a somewhat related topic, the first media reviews for Twenty Aught Eight V1 & V2 are available here.  I wouldn't call it glowing praise, but I would say it's a positive review.  Have a look for yourself and feel free to drop me a line if you'd like to discuss it.

Next week...maybe a blues about being in a good relationship?  

This week's song is called Ease My Dying Pain and is written from the perspective of someone who is dying at a relatively young age; 30 something.  He has the chance to look back and reflect as the end approaches and the lyrics represent some of his thoughts.  The tune features somewhat somber lyrics married to a kind of happy, bouncy sound - not unlike some material by Mississippi John Hurt and Guy Davis.  Enjoy.

I finally got around to taking pictures of my newest guitar, and while I was at it, I took some of my Reuter Resonator...mainly because there aren't any of it posted either.  I set up a little web page with links to pictures that will pop up in their own windows.  Be aware that the file sizes are somewhat large, so if you're not on a high speed connection, they may take a while to load.  The page can be viewed here.   

One more thing...I'm going to add a little something to That Quiet Country Living that I think will give it an even cooler quality.  That should be done sometime this week.

Y'all take care.

Edit at about 10:18 PM my time...That Quiet Country Living has now been remixed, and I think the addition is absolutely perfect, from beginning to end.  Enjoy.  

So, I may have just published my first protest song.  I suppose you might be able to say that Bring 'Em Home qualifies, but I tend to think of it as more of a plea than a protest.  However, I think I Could Be Wrong is in an entirely different category.  I cover my thoughts on a few subjects, most of which could probably be considered controversial.  Make what you will of it and feel free to email if you'd like to discuss it, though as with all art, interpretation is up to each individual to decide.  You may well get something out of this that was far from what I intended when I wrote it, but I suppose that's ok.  

In any case, it's a song.  Remember that.

The words pretty much came all at once and there was very little editing.  I like it when that happens.  It usually feels easier and more natural than having to keep working on a tune until it eventually sounds acceptable...though both have different rewards.  Practice certainly has a place in my life.  

The music came nearly as easily.  I suppose the most difficult thing was coming up with a bass line.  What you hear is very simple; all I did was follow the bass drum.  Bass used to be my primary instrument and I thought Geddy Lee was god, so I nearly always have something in mind that is far more complex than necessary, and this time was no exception.  Hell, I even thought I was starting simply enough; but it wasn't until I came up with the current part that I felt the groove really lock in.  That's not a slight against Geddy and what he does; I still think he's god on that bass.  I just can't do it any more, and I don't think it would fit this song anyway. 

That's it for now.  Til next time, be good.  

Ok, so it's late, I'm tired, and I have finally finished what I consider to be an acceptable version of the song that's been kicking my ass for the last few weeks.  And of course, I had to mix it three times.  Heaven forbid any part of this be easy.  ;-)

Anyway, It's called The Price.  I may discuss it some more in a later entry, but right now, I'm going to bed.  Y'all be good.  

So, I was really gearing up to have a crack at that song that's been giving me so much trouble, when it occurred to me that I felt like doing something much more laid back.  Not necessarily easier, but more relaxed in overall quality.  In fact, I had decided to do some kind of slow solo piece on my Silvertone hollowbody, but as I was showering yesterday morning, I started to hear the beginnings of a chord progression in my head.  So, when I sat down to work, I started with my Woolson Soundcraft acoustic and quickly picked out something that reflected what I felt like doing.  I recorded that, then set about putting down a slide part/melody, and the result is being called That Quiet Country Living.  I'm actually not entirely married to that title, so if you happen to think of something that might be better, feel free to share it with me.

The song, however, I do like.  Very much.  Enjoy.

Happy Labor Day.

Hey all.  This week's song is called More Than I Can Take, and once again, it's something I had to write because the song I've been trying to finish for the last few weeks still isn't happening.  It's a touch frustrating, but it's part of the process.  If nothing else, I'm obviously working on something that doesn't come as easily to me, and that's good.

That's not to say that More Than I Can Take didn't present issues. I worked on the guitar track for 4-5 hours yesterday, and I just couldn't get it right.  So, I get started today, and the first take is almost a keeper.  Of course, I think it took me another hour to finally get what you hear now.  The vocals took...hmm...probably about the same length of time.  I'm not sure because I actually didn't pay much attention to the clock in my room once I had the guitar part down.  I hadn't given any serious thought to what I would do if I couldn't get it done in a few hours, but it was a concern when I started.  

I think that maybe this week, I'll work on something else while I woodshed the tune that is perhaps proving to be the most difficult to complete thus far.  Y'all take care.   

Hello again. This week's song is called Trust No Woman Blues and, like last week, is just me and my guitar. 

This one was written written and arranged in roughly two hours and was born out of necessity.  You see, I have this song that's been giving me fits for about a month or so.  I was counting on having it ready this week, but sometime on Friday, I knew that it just wasn't going to happen.  So, I took the last 15 minutes of my practice session that night and came up with what is the main rhythm.  I take Saturdays off to spend time with my wife and run any necessary errands.  On Sunday, I came up with the lyrics, which started with "when I was just a boy."  In my head, I was hearing the first part of that Paul Simon song "Loves Me Like a Rock."   Truth be told, at the time I thought I was hearing Billy Joel.  It wasn't until I started to type this out that my mind informed that I was not making the correct association.  

So, that one line inspired the rest of the lyrics.  The last time something like this happened, it was for "6 Feet of Trouble" which was born out of a line that became the first part of the chorus: "She's six feet of trouble in her high heels."  

Anyway, enjoy.  See you next week.

Hello all.  This week's song is called Try Again.  I felt the need to go back to what I seem to enjoy the most; a song with guitar, vocals, and nothing else.  Well, foot tapping for some percussion, but no other instrumentation.  No harmonies, no extra guitar parts, no overdubbed solos.  Just the song as I was able to perform it.  Enjoy.

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that the area where I seem to be showing the most growth is with my singing.  It makes sense, but had you asked me when I started, I would have thought that my songwriting and guitar playing would have taken the biggest jump.  Of course, this is just my opinion, but it seems like the biggest risks I've taken so far have been with my voice, so it's no surprise that's where improvement is most noticeable.  I've nearly always felt that my biggest weakness as an artist and performer was my singing.  I've taken lessons and found where I'm comfortable and feel capable, but now it seems like I'm moving beyond that to a new level. 

Good.  That's part of the point of Twenty Aught Eight.

Talk to you again soon.

Another week, another song.  I felt it was time for another instrumental, and while I thought I would write a kind of free form country blues, I wound up with something that is based on the diminished scale.  I think it sounds kind of Egyptian or maybe Spanish.  In any case, it's very different from what I set out to do, but that can be good.  The song is called Running; enjoy.

On a personal note, rae & I adopted two more dogs from the local humane society.  They are hound mixes, which is to say that they're mutts.  We've named them Sawyer & Dobro, and I'll see about posting pics right around the time I put up pictures of my new guitar. 

Y'all take care.

Greetings.  Still no pictures of the new guitar, I know.  I slack.  This is one of the reasons I took on Twenty Aught Eight.

So, the song this week is called Find Peace.  The main guitar riff and song structure are both blues based, though I don't think the lyrics are standard for that genre.  There's mention of being chased by the devil and the use of the term John Law, so there are certainly elements that come from a blues tradition, but on the whole, it feels more like a folk rock thing to me.  See what you think.

Y'all be good. 

Hey all.  It's late, I'm tired and hungry.  But, the new song is up.  It's called Painful Resolve and can be heard here:

http://toddlorenz.com/music/2008v3/Painful_Resolve.m3u

The title does not actually appear within the lyrics, but to me, it's a more accurate reflection of the song's meaning than what may be the obvious title.  In any case, enjoy.

New song is up, folks...and I'm officially past the halfway mark.  

I've made it my habit to play each song on my home sound system before I post it, and this generally includes my wife hearing the song fully produced for the first time.  Most times, I've lost anything resembling impartiality long before getting to this stage, so it's nice to get feedback from a fresh pair of ears.  I've gone back and remixed songs a number of times based on her suggestions, and I believe the tunes are better for it.

She likes this song a lot and insisted that I don't change a thing.  I give you Bring Me Relief.

I set out specifically to do something with vocal harmonies and wound up with a number that sounds very old timey to me.  Last week, someone said that Soothe My Soul could have been on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack; I think this falls even deeper into that genre.

Enjoy!

Wow.  Talk about getting in under the wire.  This is the closest I've come to missing my deadline, but I made it.  The track is called Soothe My Soul and is up now.  Enjoy.

I still haven't put up pics of the new guitar...sorry about that.  I will do my best to get that done this week.  Off to bed for me...y'all be good.  

Hey all...this week's song is called 6 Feet of Trouble.  Lyrically, it's about a woman who gets by on looks and a predatory nature.  Musically, I think it sounds like a marriage between folk and southern rock.  Enjoy!

http://toddlorenz.com/music/2008v2/6_Feet_of_Trouble.m3u

The new guitar is the rhythm track; the lead is my Silvertone hollowbody.  I also put down a very simple bass track with my Yamaha fretless to fill out the bottom end a bit.  No pics of the new guitar yet; I hope to get that done this week.  Y'all be good. 

Todd

The new guitar is here and is featured on this week's song, Two Step.  It only seemed right to make the first song written with this beautiful, incredibly responsive instrument an instrumental.  I expect I'll be posting pics of it before next week, but I'm not sure when I'll have time.  

If you'd like to see who built it, have a look at Paul Woolson's web site.  

As for me...I'm pretty much going to bed now.  Talk to you soon.

Todd 

Hello, folks.  This week's song is called Life Is Good.  It seems to me that I spend a lot of time bitching or working out my own problems with my material...but hey, that's one of the purposes served by art.  I wound up doing something more positive with this song, and I started with the phrase "Life is good when.." and went from there.  Some pretty good stuff, I think.  Enjoy.

New guitar is almost here... 

Greetings all.  This week's song is called Leave a Light On, and were I a piano player, I could totally hear the Fats Domino type rhythm behind this.  I wasn't necessarily shooting for that vibe, but that's what came out.  The vocals are kind of laid back as well...I tried belting them out for a take or two and it just didn't feel right.  Go where the song takes you, I suppose.  Enjoy the tune.

New guitar is coming...

Hello all.  Towards the end of last week, I made the decision to blow off Snocap and just post the songs on my own site for free.  I considered leaving myspace out as well, but the tunes will continue to appear there.  So, for now, all material from the project I'm calling Twenty Aught Eight will be posted for your listening pleasure.  Donations via PayPal are happily accepted; there is a button on my music page.

This week's song is called Talkin' bout It.  Last week I wanted to push my vocals; this week I just wanted to play some guitar.  To me, the resulting instrumental sounds like a couple of guitarists sat down to play a bit and wound up having a conversation.  They're talking about stuff, having a good time, enjoying themselves.  Here's a link, which is also on my music page:

Week 21 06/02/08 - Talkin' bout It

Til next time... 

Ok, long day.  I started something resembling an exercise routine, so I'm pretty wiped out.  This week's song is called Come Back Home and is available now on myspace:

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

I was in the mood for a new blues tune and this is what came out.  Last week's song, Change, is also there now.  Enjoy. 

Todd 

Hello there.  As I type this, myspace.com is having problems.  I'm unable to upload my new song or change my profile info.  So, I went ahead and posted this week's song on my on site.  The tune is called Change and can be heard here:

(song removed) 

I'll wind up taking it down when I can put it up on myspace sometime tomorrow...or, perhaps not.  Truthfully, I find their site to be somewhat annoying.  I may find another solution, along with a different way to sell the songs because snocap is still not working for me.  

In any case, enjoy the song.  Y'all be good.

The song inspired by my notes entry below (dated 5/8/08) is now available for listening on myspace:

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Be warned that a profane word is used once.  That's it for now...I'm pretty much headed for bed.  Y'all be good. 

The following rant should not be read by anyone whom I have offended on any level at any time during the course of this life or any other.  Those lacking a sense of humor and/or the ability to recognize someone's right to say whatever is desired within a personal forum are encouraged to skip this particular entry, and perhaps every other one as well.  Those offended by profanity should DEFINITELY find something else to do on the web besides read the next few paragraphs.  

In other words, if there is even the slightest chance of being offended on any level by words of any kind, please don't read any further. 

Start rant.

I'm tired of being politically correct and apologizing for being who I am.  I'm tired of those who would prefer an end around to a simple direct request.  I'm tired of hypocrisy in others - and myself, though I'm of the opinion that the latter happens far more infrequently.  

I'm tired of being considered offensive because I speak my mind and because my quips and observances happen to be lined with bits of truth and insight.  I'm also tired of sometimes falling for my own line of bullshit.  I'm tired of those who smile and laugh at a joke when it's made and then later on decide that it was inappropriate, and don't have the courage, decency and common fucking sense to let me know, thereby preventing any future occurrences of similar jokes and/or comments.  I'm tired of those who go out their way to be physically appealing to the opposite sex and find it offensive when others happen to appreciate it.   I'm also tired of my own lack of self control.  

I'm tired of living and working in a world where very few have the courage to be themselves and where most seem to be intimidated by those who do.  I'm tired of lies.  I'm tired of those who put on a shiny, happy face in order to hide whatever the fuck it is that causes them to put up a front.  I'm also tired of my own need to test people's boundaries in order to decide whether or not they are worth the effort necessary for a decent relationship.  

I'm tired of not being able to make a living with what truly drives me, though I seem to learning more about patience as I grow older.  However, I am tired of waiting.  Fuck off, Irony.  Feel free to get off on the next stop.

I'm tired of the fact that the world really seems to be a mess, yet the masses really don't seem to know what to do about it.  I'm tired of trying to sort out fact from fiction in waters purposefully muddied by those with impure motivations.  I'm tired of trying to figure out what truth really is, and I'm *absolutely* tired of its changing nature, my changing perceptions, or both.

I'm tired of gaining a certain level of comfort with people, letting my guard down a bit, and then finding a way to piss them off.  I'm tired of feeling like it's my goddamned fault.  Y'all should lighten the fuck up.  

And again, I'm tired of falling for my own line of bullshit, and my exquisitely beautiful ability to justify my own inappropriate behavior.  I should just grow the fuck up.

I'm tired of feeling like I don't fit in much of anywhere, yet having no desire to effect real change.  I have been striving to be more appropriate in lots of ways, yet I refuse to give up what I feel is my own true essence.  I'm unique.  I'm intelligent.  I'm funny.  I'm brash.  I'm rude.  I'm abrasive.  I'm sensitive.  I'm a rush of fucking contradictions.

Yet, under certain circumstances, I have no problems fitting in.   Put a guitar in my hands, and I can be pretty happy.  Put me in the presence of someone whom I admire and respect, and I seem to be able to go damn near forever without being offensive.  Why would that be?

I'm tired of stumbling across insights when all I really set out to do was bitch & moan.  Hey, it's my web space.  I'm also tired of my own defensive mechanisms and compensating for my own insecurities by leaving my fucking mouth in overdrive while my brain is still idling in neutral.

Hey!  What did I just say about insights?  

Hmm...there may be a song in here somewhere.  

End rant.

Y'all be good.   

I missed my entry last week...what can I say?  This song a week thing keeps me really busy.  However, I did post a song last week and published another just a bit ago.

Week 16 04/27/08 - Walk On By
Week 17 05/05/08 - Sinful Pleasures

They are both available at http://myspace.com/toddlorenz.  I'd like to say that they are available for sale through Snocap, but I seem to be having problems there, and I no longer receiving a response to my emails.  So, I may wind up having to put the material elsewhere.  For now, please continue to listen on myspace and I'll let you know when the songs are again available for purchase.

Talk to you later...

Todd 

So, I spent Tues - Fri of last week in the Quad Cities area of Iowa/Illinois.  Why?  Guy Davis was doing an Artist Residency with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society.  This means that he was performing concerts for the general public and private presentations for others, mostly schools.  I was lucky enough to be his guest, and my employer was kind enough to allow me to use vacation days on short notice. I was able to hang out with and learn from one of favorite artists for four days.  

Pretty cool.

It was interesting watching him change his presentations based on his audience, and perhaps more so to see what stayed the same.  He was always entertaining and available to his audience, which is more than can be said for some artists.   He also listened to some of my newest songs and again offered valuable feedback on what he did and didn't like, and did so in a manner that was always honest and helpful.  

It was a great week.  Thanks Guy.  

Ok, I know I said that I'd talk about my trip to Iowa in this entry, but I really need to get to bed.  So, I will update this page tomorrow with that story.  However, I do need to say that the song for week #14 is called Never Got Along and is available now:

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Enjoy, and be good.

Hello all.  This week, I felt like it was time for a slow, mournful blues and Lost in Pain is what came out.  It should be available on myspace...now!

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

That's it for now.  Next time, I'll talk about a trip to Iowa.  Y'all take care.

Todd

Just a quick hit for now, folks.  This week's song is called Evolution of the Soul and is available now.  

Enjoy!

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Todd

Ok, so as it turns out, I probably had/have bronchitis.  My wife went to the doctor and was diagnosed with it.  I was sick for a week before she showed any symptoms, so I think it's likely that I had it first.  I now don't feel so bad about canceling a gig. 

 I'm still coughing just a bit, and my voice isn't quite back to normal...overall I think I'm up to about 90%. Back on Sunday when I recorded vocals, I was probably somewhere between 80% and 85%.  But, I found that in order to get any kind of decent tone, I really had to relax, so I'd call it important experience.   

There is a new version of Ain't No Greater Sorrow available for listening, and I like this one enough to put it up for sale, if you're interested.  It's over on myspace.com/toddlorenz.  

As of now, the song for Week #11 is one of my all time favorites.  I usually wind up listening to my own material on a semi regular basis if I like it and I've listened to Beauty of our Lives quite a bit over the last couple of days.  I love every component of the song...rhythm guitars, vocals, melody, the resonator parts...I really feel that it's a good representation of who and where I am right now.  It's also available over on myspace.

Oh, and for the record, I've had enough snow for the winter, thanks.

Just a quick note for now...this week's song is called Beauty of our Lives and I think it's really good.  Have a listen and see if you agree; I always welcome honest feeback.

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Y'all be good.

Hello folks.  This week's song is called Ain't No Greater Sorrow and has some story behind it.

If you'd prefer to simply listen, here's the link:

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

I've been sick for about 9 days now, and I lost my voice for a good part of that time.  Today was the first time I've been able to sing at all in over a week so I wasn't really able to rehearse until today, and as you'll be able to hear, my voice isn't what is should be.  Yet, it some way, I think it works because of the lyrics and the subject matter.  Judge for yourself, if you're inclined to listen.  

However, while I am posting this for listening on myspace, I'm not yet making it available for sale.  I may redo the song this week or over the weekend, or I may just leave it the way it is.  I'll make that decision later, in part because I may have lost some perspective on it while working today, and I'm just tired.  I'm not quite myself yet and the recording process can be quite taxing, though I am getting better at it.

So, why post the file if it's not necessarily the final product?  Simple.  I have given myself a deadline, and barring something that's perhaps calamitous in nature, I intend to live up to it.  I could have recorded another instrumental, but I really want to avoid doing that over consecutive weeks if at all possible.  Of course, if my voice hadn't come back, that's exactly what I would have done.  

Now then, just because I've posted the song doesn't mean it isn't subject to revision.  I just won't make it available for sale until I'm really comfortable with it, and even then, it's always possible that I may redo it further down the road.  Hell, My Blues is made up entirely of songs I re-recorded because I felt the need to give them a better representation.  Why wouldn't I do the same with a single song? 

Til next time...

This week's tune is an instrumental called The Meandering Hound.  I'll probably post more about it tomorrow; right now I'm pretty damn sick and I'm going back to my couch.  Maybe to bed.

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Enjoy.

Back on 2/22/08, my wife and I went to see Todd Snider perform at Shank Hall in Milwaukee.  There was an opening act, but quite honestly, I don't remember his name.  He was entertaining at times, but I'm afraid I can't say much more than that. 

Todd is one of my favorite artists (alongside Guy Davis & Chris Smither) and has been since around 1999.  I've seen him twice before and enjoyed both performances.  I enjoyed this one as well, but I do have one major complaint.  He only played 75 minutes.  That's less than an hour and a half for a ticket with a face value of $20 in a venue that is essentially a bar.  Sure, the opening act played close to an hour, but I wasn't there to see him.  Frankly, I would have preferred to see Todd play two sets of between 45 and 60 minutes each with a 15 - 30 minute break in between.  That's usually what Guy and Chris do, and it's far more satisfying.  They actually wind up selling CDs between sets and after the show, and that's to their advantage.  To date, Todd hasn't really bothered with that.  I don't think he cares much about CD sales; he plays his songs, interacts with his audience a bit from the stage, and then bails out.  

I should point out that I drove 2 hours each way to see him, so I'm sure that's affecting my point of view.  As much as I enjoy the man's songs and watching him play, I won't be going out of my way like that to see him again anytime soon.  It's really not worth it.  4 hours of driving for 75 minutes?  Thanks, but no thanks.   Again, I really loved watching him.  But it wasn't enough.  I didn't walk out feeling like he had really committed and given his all to the performance and I just wasn't satisfied.

The other thing I wanted to discuss was the passing of Jeff Healey.  He died on 3/2/08, finally succumbing to what was largely a lifelong battle with cancer.  I've been a fan of his and counted him as one of my favorite people since sometime in the early 90s.  I have all of his albums (save for perhaps a best of or two) including his last three jazz CDs.  Even though I'm not really a fan of that genre, I do enjoy hearing Jeff do just about anything.  I think there is something each of us finds appealing about the energy put out by certain people; perhaps that's why there are those that transcend styles or trends with an audience...obviously some have a wider appeal than others.

I'm not going to go on about his career; that information is readily available elsewhere.  I just want to say that I will miss him.  I was lucky enough to see him perform 5 times, and while he did seem to start one show just a bit off, all of them were really great.  I won't pretend to know what happens to people and their souls, essences, or whatever when they die.  I can say it hurts to know that I'll never see him again during this life, and that I never got the chance to interact with him, or have a simple conversation.  I would have liked that.  However, I do believe that the universe tends to provide us with what we need, though we often don't understand it.  Jeff lived his life until his time was up.  We never know when our time will come to move on to whatever is next, if anything.  It's important to try and remember that when our lives are going really well or very poorly; it only takes a moment for things to change, or end. 

This is where people tend to say to live each moment as if it were your last, but honestly, I can't quite buy into that.  If I really believed this moment was my last, I wouldn't be sitting here typing, or worry about money, or my mortgage, or my car, or anything else...I'd be off finding whatever pleasure suits me.  So, I guess the trick, as usual, is being able to find balance in all things, difficult as that may be or as we tend to make it. 

Bah.  I've blathered on enough.  I'll miss you, Jeff.  I hope to see you again in whatever follows death.

From Jeff's web siite:  Jeff's family would greatly appreciate a donation in his memory to Daisy's Eye Cancer Research Fund (to support their efforts to discover a cure).  Donations may be made through the organization's website: www.daisyseyecancerfund.ca.

Hm...it seems I missed an entry here last week.  The song was up on time and it's called Trouble No More.  It's actually one of my favorites. 

This week's tune is called Moonbeams and it's an instrumental of which my wife is particularly fond.  I was practicing one night, and she actually called me from bed (our bedroom is above my office/music room) and asked that I "play that song that sounds like moonbeams."  

Pretty cool title, and I think it does sound like that.  Enjoy!

 http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

I record Share of the Blame on Sat; good thing, too.  Sunday I started to feel pretty bad, and today I'm in fairly horrible shape.  I spent most of the day asleep.  In any case, I posted the new tune on Sunday.  Enjoy.

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

I'm really hungry & tired, so this will be brief.  The song for this week is called Balance of Life and is available...now!  Enjoy.

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

Hello there.  The song for Week #3 is called Rock Me and is now available.

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz 

This was actually a lot of fun to do, and I think it comes through in the tracks.  I honestly grinned like a kid while I was working on this, especially during the last guitar solo. 

Sometimes I forget how much fun this can be. I often find recording music to be grueling, but rewarding in the end.  This was just a good time for nearly the whole process.  And, there is more going on than just vocals and one guitar.  Three different guitars were used, though the song is not at all complicated. 

Anyway, the lyrics are also posted, and yes, they're supposed to make you smile.  

 Enjoy!

Hello all.  The song for this week is called Keep My Faith.  Make what you will of the title; part of the beauty of art is that it's open to interpretation.  I know what I was thinking when I wrote it; that doesn't mean it will have the same meaning to you.  The lyrics are available over at myspace, where it can be heard for free, and downloaded for $.99 via my Snowcap store:

http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

My plan for getting a song posted once a week is to work on three songs.  This means writing, arranging, and recording each tune.  The one that was my favorite just didn't sound as good as I hoped when I listened back to it; I'll have to work on the arrangement.  The other option will be available in a few weeks.  I'm happy with the song, but I screwed up the lyrics performing what turned out to be the best take, that one whoopsie aside.  Of course, it was the last couple of lines in the song.

So, Keep My Faith it is.  It's the best presentation I have this week. Enjoy.

Ok, so the first new song of what will be a new tune every Monday for a year is up for listening and purchase on my myspace page:

 http://myspace.com/toddlorenz

It's called Three Chords and the Truth and it has a fairly simple story behind it.  It's been said that a good country song is...can you guess?...three chords and the truth.  I don't know who first uttered those words, but the first time I heard them was during a Chris Smither concert; something about his producer telling him his songs had too many chords.  It's also the name of a song and album by Sara Evans, though I had never heard of her or it until after I wrote my own tune and thought it might be a good idea to do a search and make sure I wasn't subconsciously stealing from anyone.  I've listened to her song; mine has nothing in common with it other than the title.  

In any case, I've carried the phrase around in my head for a while, and the words came quickly when I put pen to paper.  I played it at gig last Friday and it received a good response.  I think the lyrics can be discerned fairly easily, but if you'd prefer to read them, there's a pop up link on the myspace player. 

The download price is $.99 - 99 cents, from the snocap store on the same page. 

Enjoy! 

So, Happy Holidays to those of you who read this page and aren't on my email list. While I haven't updated this blog for awhile, I do send emails out periodically to let folks know what I'm doing. If you'd like to be included, et me know: todd (at) toddlorenz.com.

So, I've decided to try something rather ambitious. Starting Monday, 1/14/08, I will post a new song every week for a full year. They will be available for listening and purchase on my myspace page (http://myspace.com/toddlorenz). The goals here are for me to grow as a songwriter and to try and further my career.

Songs will be original compositions that have not been previously available in any form. No cover tunes, and no reworking material. Postings will continue until 1/05/09. Exceptions may be made in the event of serious illness and/or hospitalization to me or my wife, death in my family or close circle of friends, or if I have the opportunity to tour.

That's it for now. Be good.

Ok, I realize it’s been over three months since my last update here.  As with most things, there are a number of factors involved…my laziness and a lack of much to say are both at the top of the list.  Anyway…

Back on 8/18 I performed at a benefit in Rockford for the Blues in the Schools program.  It was a pretty good time and I performed fairly well.  I sold a few CDs and donated the proceeds to the cause, which I felt was only appropriate.  I also made a few connections that may prove to be valuable, including one with the gentleman who orders CDs for the Borders in that town.  I also perform there on a regular basis.  In any case, he emailed me and said that he had a spot open at one of the listening stations and wanted to stock some of my CDs, specifically My Blues. 

Now that’s pretty damn cool.  For those of you who may not be familiar with what a listening station is, essentially, people who are browsing music at this Borders store will be able to put on a pair of headphones and check out my CD.  Of course, I’m hoping this leads to a few sales, but honestly, I think it’s great that he thinks enough of my work to put me in this spot.  As Cartman might say…”Sweeeeet.”

I went to see Rush in Milwaukee on 9/6/07.  They played well, but overall, the sound wasn’t great.  I don’t know how much of it had to do with the amphitheater versus the band’s sound system.  The drums sounded great, keyboards & vocals were good, Geddy’s bass was ok, but anytime he played with the band, Alex’s guitars sounded really muddy and just didn’t cut through the mix at all.  In defense of the arena, my seat was next to someone who had seen them in St. Louis, and he said the same problem was evident there as well.  But, not having attended, I can’t say that building didn’t factor into it. 

To be honest, I think it was the guitars Alex was using.  He used Gibsons for every song for the first time that I can remember (I’ve seen every show since the Power Windows tour back in 1986/87), and I think that that sound isn’t conducive to what he plays live.  Single coil pickups cut through more, in part because they don’t have as full a sound.  But, when your guitar is getting buried by bass & drums, there’s a problem. 

Listen to the acoustic player offer his opinion on why a major league rock band had problems with their mix…nice. 

At times, the guitar sound was so bad that if I hadn’t been familiar with the guitar parts, I wouldn’t have had any idea what he was doing. 

On the plus side, Neil had a lot of new stuff in his drum solo, which is always a treat to watch and hear.  They also had three different video screens that sometimes showed different shots of the band, sometimes the same, and of course, sometimes had videos to enhance the show.  They had video intros from Bob & Doug McKenzie for The Larger Bowl) and the kids from South Park for Tom Sawyer.  I love Bob & Doug, but I don’t think I’ve heard anything funnier than Eric Cartman pretending he’s Geddy Lee and screwing up the words to Tom Sawyer by mixing them up with the plot line from Huckleberry Finn.  Bloody brilliant. 

So, all in all, I had a good time and I’m glad I went.  But, it also reaffirmed the position I’ve taken in avoiding music shows set in larger venues, particularly rock shows.  There was NO sense of intimacy, and I wasn’t all that far from the stage.  I’m fairly certain that Rush is the only band I’ll go see in this setting. 

By contrast, I then went to Yellow Springs, OH the next day to spend the weekend at a Blues Festival that included performances by Guy Davis and the Nerak Roth Patterson Band.  Well, it was more than that.  I went to spend time with those two artists, who performed both together and separately.  I was welcomed into Roth’s house, and the highlight of the trip for me was the jam session in his basement the first night I was there that included myself, Guy, Roth, and a number of people I had not met before. 

Consider that for a moment.  Guy Davis has been one of my favorite artists for almost a decade, and I was able to play with him.  Not only that, but I think it’s fair to say that he now considers me a friend. 

Sometimes, life can be pretty good. 

Roth is one of the few guitarists that can solo for as long as he wants without losing my interest.  Generally speaking, one of the reasons I prefer acoustic blues to electric is that I don’t really care to hear anyone solo for more than a couple of rotations, if that long.  I’ve been listening to music for most of my life, and a smokin’ guitar solo generally doesn’t get to me like a good song does.  Roth can.  So, it was great to go back and forth with him a bit. 

I was also involved in a workshop Guy led the next day, which he actually turned over to me for a couple of songs.  That was pretty cool as well.  That evening, I had the chance to see Roth perform with his band for the first time, and WOW.  He has some really great players backing him up, including his son.  Great show. 

I guess that’s it for now.  I’ll try to update this on a more regular basis. 

Be good. 

So, my gig last Friday in Rockford went pretty well.  I played better, particularly during the 2^nd set.  In fact, it might be safe to say that I didn’t really get it going until then.  I wasn’t bad during the first set, but for whatever reason, I didn’t really “feel it” until about a third of the way through the 2^nd hour, though I wasn’t really aware of that until I got there. 

So, I guess I am, or was, a bit rusty when in comes to live performance.  It makes sense.  Prior to the current bookings, I hadn’t really played live for around two years.  It seems I forgot how different playing live with a PA system is from being alone in my home.  I’m not talking about the audience or the corresponding pressure, though both are factors.  I mean the technical aspects of being able to hear yourself, trying to find the right mix and balance of sound, and lots of other little details.  It can actually be quite a pain, until the right combination is found and a comfort level is reached. 

It’s not like I just gave up music or gigs; I simply made the decision to focus on recording new songs.  Then, I realized I didn’t have anywhere I could record unless I decided to pay for a studio and that just wasn’t an option.  So, I waited til after the move, finished the songs, decided that they all had to be redone, re-embraced the idea of revisiting some older material, and finally released the CDs. 

Of course, they’re not on my site yet. 

They will be available online via CDBaby.com and I’m selling them at gigs.  I may also wind up selling mp3 files on my site if I can find what I think is a fair deal with a reasonable amount of work involved.  

Oddly enough, work seems to have started on the next batch of songs, at least in terms of lyrics that seem to have sprung from nowhere.  Maybe I’ll be able to actually record and release another batch by this time next year.

I’m going to get somewhat political for a moment.  First, let’s just acknowledge that the oil companies are just vigorously screwing us as hard and as deep as possible.  This is evidenced by record prices at the pumps and record profits:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1029991

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8646744/

Feel free to find your own articles if those aren’t sufficient. 

I don’t care what spin they put on it.  In my opinion, they’re reaping the benefits from years of greasing our political and economic systems.   They’re doing it because they can.  That’s kind of the nature of capitalism, isn’t it?  Get as much as you can as quickly as possible.  But, moving on for now…

So, when gas costs near or over $3.50 a gallon and the daily commute to and from work totals 100 miles, what does one do to try and conserve gas & cash? 

Simple.  Slow down.

At least, that’s my solution.  I typically get between 30 and 33 miles per gallon when I drive between 60 and 65 miles per hour.  Last week, I made the decision to drive no faster than 50 mph and kept to it about 95% of the time.  I did creep up to 55 mph a few times, but not for more than a few seconds.  For that tank of gas, I got just over 39 mpg.  So, assuming that I put 9 gallons of gas in when I fill up, I get an extra 54 miles per tank.  That’s half of one commute.  In terms of cash, it breaks down like this.  I have to drive roughly 500 miles every week to get to and from my day job.  If I’m getting 33 mpg, that breaks down to 15.15 gallons of gas.  If I’m getting 39 mpg, that breaks down to 12.82 gallons of gas.  If gas costs $3.50 per gallon, that’s a difference of $8.16 per week, or $424.24 per year.  I won’t add it what it costs to get me to and from gigs and/or the surrounding towns. 

Is it worth it? 

I’m not sure, honestly, but it comes down to time and the irritation of other drivers.  The speed limit on the roads I use is 55 mph when I’m not going through a town.  Of course, very few respect that, so If I slow down to 50 mph it really annoys a lot of people.  Frankly, I don’t really care, though I clearly remember what it’s like to be on the other side of that equation.  Sometimes one has to save money wherever possible and in all honesty, there is something almost liberating about driving a bit slower.  I feel a bit more relaxed, regardless of the nasty stares I get from some of those that pass me.  55 is the speed limit, not the minimum. 

On to something political, yet humorous.  I’m a huge Todd Snider fan and I stumbled across this the other day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si0WTCMrksw

It’s a video for Conservative Christian, Right Wing Republican, Straight White American Males.  I plan on working that song into my repertoire, because I think it’s important to give some form of tribute to artists that inspire me and it’s just a cool tune.

Enjoy!

 Previous entries dating back to 1999 are available at http://toddlorenz.com/archives1.txt .  I would suggest downloading the file and using some kind of word processor to open it.