I'm "vegging" at a great little hotel in Dallas in between gigs...I love this part of traveling..reading, writing, hitting the hot tub.
What amazes me about traveling is how small I sometimes let me world become. I can meet 50 new people in a day just by driving 5 hours south from my home. There is something reassuring about that...seeing people who inhabit lives that know nothing about you and you about them. Like the world that you inhabit is really small, after all...they don't even know you, you don't even know them...it makes all things in life seem less pressing, less of a "big deal". And indeed it is, thankfully.
I'm reading Joyce Carol Oates "Man Crazy" and listening again and again to Marc Broussard...my favorite track on his album "Save me"...great quirky beat...I can't wait to hear more from this artist.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Taking a break with Marc and John
Best Buy is the iconic cave for our generation. It's where the artistic and innovative go to create, think, ponder and of course buy great tunes.
I ducked in during a lunch break today and was instantly hit with the smell of new plastic, metal and all things electronic. I was transported out of the heat of the June day into a cool, loud and very tech-y interior where images, sounds from another world greeted me.
I so rarely visit a "real" store anymore, (most of my shopping being done online) that I felt like a kid at the amusement park. I restrained myself --- I wanted to run from the 400 versions of the digital camera (all lined up in a swirl pattern) , then back again to the computers ( I was tempted to run my fingers up and down the computer keyboards like a kid might do in a music store. ) Instead, I lesirely loped over the to the music section and found my favorite alternative rock bands and read their jacket covers (do CD's have 'jacket covers' or is that old-school talk for album art?)
I settled upon two new artists - Marc Broussard and John Hiatt. Actually, most John Hiatt fans would laugh to hear me call him a "new artist"..he's actually one of most enduring musicians around. His newest album "John Hiatt and the Goners" is still in its plastic sheeting and I plan to rock out to it this afternoon while working.
There is a certain mystique in purchasing a new CD (or album). My kids disdain this type of purchase, "Just go online and purchase the SONG you want, instead of all those songs you don't" is what they always say to me. I dunno. I kind of enjoy letting the artist reveal him or herself to me through the different songs that they've created. I feel that I get more personal with them, understand their particular musical vernacular. Only one song feels more like a a "first date"...too short, too easily forgotten and leaves you just wanting more, anyway.
Music is the narration of life. It speaks into our souls, illuminating feelings that cannot be spoken. Music, like all good art, brings us into the realm of another god, someone who understand the complexities of their world and can explain it to us. A chord, a musical phrase can bring a "rightness" to the world that defies description. The best music is the stuff that introduces us to ourselves, speaks to us on levels that we can only hear through the voice and sounds of another.
Great lyrics from Marc Brousard off his CD ("Carenco")
I ducked in during a lunch break today and was instantly hit with the smell of new plastic, metal and all things electronic. I was transported out of the heat of the June day into a cool, loud and very tech-y interior where images, sounds from another world greeted me.
I so rarely visit a "real" store anymore, (most of my shopping being done online) that I felt like a kid at the amusement park. I restrained myself --- I wanted to run from the 400 versions of the digital camera (all lined up in a swirl pattern) , then back again to the computers ( I was tempted to run my fingers up and down the computer keyboards like a kid might do in a music store. ) Instead, I lesirely loped over the to the music section and found my favorite alternative rock bands and read their jacket covers (do CD's have 'jacket covers' or is that old-school talk for album art?)
I settled upon two new artists - Marc Broussard and John Hiatt. Actually, most John Hiatt fans would laugh to hear me call him a "new artist"..he's actually one of most enduring musicians around. His newest album "John Hiatt and the Goners" is still in its plastic sheeting and I plan to rock out to it this afternoon while working.
There is a certain mystique in purchasing a new CD (or album). My kids disdain this type of purchase, "Just go online and purchase the SONG you want, instead of all those songs you don't" is what they always say to me. I dunno. I kind of enjoy letting the artist reveal him or herself to me through the different songs that they've created. I feel that I get more personal with them, understand their particular musical vernacular. Only one song feels more like a a "first date"...too short, too easily forgotten and leaves you just wanting more, anyway.
Music is the narration of life. It speaks into our souls, illuminating feelings that cannot be spoken. Music, like all good art, brings us into the realm of another god, someone who understand the complexities of their world and can explain it to us. A chord, a musical phrase can bring a "rightness" to the world that defies description. The best music is the stuff that introduces us to ourselves, speaks to us on levels that we can only hear through the voice and sounds of another.
Great lyrics from Marc Brousard off his CD ("Carenco")
"The Wanderer"
I'm just drifting on thie lonely road of mine
And if you like you can come along with me
But I promise you that I am not the man I used to be
But I promise you that I am not the man I used to be
Now you and I we've seen our share of ups and downs
Somewhere we just lost hope
I can't change the past, but who cares
Your love is all I've ever known
Your love is all I've ever known
I'm a wanderer I have no place or time
I'm just drifting on this lonely road of mine
If you would accept me for me
Then I promise you that there's a better man inside of me
Yes I promise you that there's a better man inside of me
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Letter Home
"Dear Mom and Dad:
"I got your letter this week and want to try to calm your fears about my recent decision to
attend church at another place.
"I know that you have been worried about me but I want to tell you that I'm doing fine. I'm making lots of new friends and am really enjoying hanging out with them.
"I know that you have a lot of questions. You worked really hard for your faith and you wanted so badly for me to have your faith, too.
"Problem is, I can't have your faith. I have to have my own. And that's what I'm trying to do.
"You asked me about the type of service, the classes, and a host of other things. Let me try to answer you the best way I can.
"Truth be told, the service is not that great. I mean, the bass player only knows a few chords and stuff, so we pretty much stick to a few songs that we all know. Even though we do have a worship order, it's not published anywhere and we really don't know what song might be coming next, which I know would drive Dad crazy. Maybe you, too.
"Sometimes the music is too loud for me, because we never had instruments at church when I went with you. I guess what really matter to me, though, is not so much for the form of the music but the soul of it.
"You asked me about the preacher and the preaching. Well, honestly, the preaching isn't as good as what I'm used to. Mainly because a lot of people who aren't "preachers" share their thoughts and their ideas, so since they aren't really "professionals" it is really informal and sometimes spontaneous. I guess what I like about this is that it seems real and authentic to me, more like a discussion in which I'm a part, involving me, talking to me and me with it.
"You also wanted to know about small groups and stuff like that. I know you'll be disappointed to know that we don't have those really. But when I went through a tough time with my job I had several friends come by and try to cheer me up. We talked about things and they told me that they were "there" for me. They didn't have to do that, though, because I knew that already just because they came to see me.
"Finally, you asked me about what kind of building we have. Again, you'll be disappointed in me when I tell you we don't have a building. We meet in a movie theater along with the leftover coke cups and candy wrappers. And, we aren't really thinking about a building because there are lots of people in our community in need and we want to be able to give to them when we can. We don't have a lot of "staff" (by now, you're probably really worried!) so our money can be used for things like the tsunamai victims and other global neighbors.
"Mom, Dad, I know that you are probably really disappointed in all this. You raised me to go to church three times a week and there were rules and a "way to do things". I guess though the thing that is most important to me is that when I hurt, people are there for me and when I celebrate people are there, too. And I get to be a part of their good and bad times too. I think that is what community is, doing "life" with people and letting them do "life" with you. I'm just not as good as you guys are at pretending and I really want just to be myself and have others just be OK with that.
"You've asked me in your letter about what I think God would think of my choice. I've thought about that question a lot. As I've thought about my new community of faith I see a lot of things that could be different. What I hope is that God sees that we really care about each other and hopefully, others who come into our midst can see that too. I think, Mom and Dad, that when I try to think about what God would want, from what I understand, is that God wants to see us love and accept each other in spite of stupid stuff that we sometimes do. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that is more important than how good a sermon might be or how many classes we have.
"So thanks for writing. I know it's hard to see your kid make different decisions than you might make for him. Love, Your Son"
"I got your letter this week and want to try to calm your fears about my recent decision to
attend church at another place.
"I know that you have been worried about me but I want to tell you that I'm doing fine. I'm making lots of new friends and am really enjoying hanging out with them.
"I know that you have a lot of questions. You worked really hard for your faith and you wanted so badly for me to have your faith, too.
"Problem is, I can't have your faith. I have to have my own. And that's what I'm trying to do.
"You asked me about the type of service, the classes, and a host of other things. Let me try to answer you the best way I can.
"Truth be told, the service is not that great. I mean, the bass player only knows a few chords and stuff, so we pretty much stick to a few songs that we all know. Even though we do have a worship order, it's not published anywhere and we really don't know what song might be coming next, which I know would drive Dad crazy. Maybe you, too.
"Sometimes the music is too loud for me, because we never had instruments at church when I went with you. I guess what really matter to me, though, is not so much for the form of the music but the soul of it.
"You asked me about the preacher and the preaching. Well, honestly, the preaching isn't as good as what I'm used to. Mainly because a lot of people who aren't "preachers" share their thoughts and their ideas, so since they aren't really "professionals" it is really informal and sometimes spontaneous. I guess what I like about this is that it seems real and authentic to me, more like a discussion in which I'm a part, involving me, talking to me and me with it.
"You also wanted to know about small groups and stuff like that. I know you'll be disappointed to know that we don't have those really. But when I went through a tough time with my job I had several friends come by and try to cheer me up. We talked about things and they told me that they were "there" for me. They didn't have to do that, though, because I knew that already just because they came to see me.
"Finally, you asked me about what kind of building we have. Again, you'll be disappointed in me when I tell you we don't have a building. We meet in a movie theater along with the leftover coke cups and candy wrappers. And, we aren't really thinking about a building because there are lots of people in our community in need and we want to be able to give to them when we can. We don't have a lot of "staff" (by now, you're probably really worried!) so our money can be used for things like the tsunamai victims and other global neighbors.
"Mom, Dad, I know that you are probably really disappointed in all this. You raised me to go to church three times a week and there were rules and a "way to do things". I guess though the thing that is most important to me is that when I hurt, people are there for me and when I celebrate people are there, too. And I get to be a part of their good and bad times too. I think that is what community is, doing "life" with people and letting them do "life" with you. I'm just not as good as you guys are at pretending and I really want just to be myself and have others just be OK with that.
"You've asked me in your letter about what I think God would think of my choice. I've thought about that question a lot. As I've thought about my new community of faith I see a lot of things that could be different. What I hope is that God sees that we really care about each other and hopefully, others who come into our midst can see that too. I think, Mom and Dad, that when I try to think about what God would want, from what I understand, is that God wants to see us love and accept each other in spite of stupid stuff that we sometimes do. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that is more important than how good a sermon might be or how many classes we have.
"So thanks for writing. I know it's hard to see your kid make different decisions than you might make for him. Love, Your Son"
Monday, June 13, 2005
New tunes
I've been checking out some new music and found some great new bands (to me, anyway)..
Marc Broussard (www.islandrecords.com/markbroussard)
John Hiat (www.vanguardrecords.com/hiatt)
and my personal fave right now...Carbon Leaf (www.garageband.com/carbonleaf)
I really like the garagaband site...dedicated to independent artists who are bypassing more traditional music outlets. Carbon Leaf has this ether-music sound that I really "dig" (if I can use that word now that I'm 40). Hard to describe, must be experienced.
Marc Broussard (www.islandrecords.com/markbroussard)
John Hiat (www.vanguardrecords.com/hiatt)
and my personal fave right now...Carbon Leaf (www.garageband.com/carbonleaf)
I really like the garagaband site...dedicated to independent artists who are bypassing more traditional music outlets. Carbon Leaf has this ether-music sound that I really "dig" (if I can use that word now that I'm 40). Hard to describe, must be experienced.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The Mike Tyson in all of us
"You're smart too late and old too soon," Tyson said. "I just got caught up in that suction cup. I feel like Rip Van Winkle right now."
Tyson reportedly earned $5 million of his last bout, which he ended early and then conceded. The purse will be doled out accordingly:
2 million to his creditors (he is over $4o million in debt)
2 million to the IRS
and $750,000 to his ex-wife.
I've read all the stories and seen with my own eyes the antics of this man who has been an amusement for the boxing world. But still, I feel for him.
Maybe you and I don't fight in boxing rings where we bite people's ears off for fun and profit. Maybe you and I don't sit with Barbara Walters with our (now) ex-wife and talk about how the relationship with our spouse has spiraled out of control. And maybe we don't return to the boxing ring and lose our dignity in front of thousands of unmerciful fans.
There's not much about a Mike Tyson that I'd want to emulate. But truth be known, I probably have more in common with him than I'd care to admit.
I don't take off ears in the boxing ring, but I am sure I've taken off a few heads in my ignorance and arrogance. I haven't been to divorce court but I've sure taken my hits in my own relationship with family members. And Lord knows I've paid more than my fair share to the IRS.
It would be too easy to laugh at a Mike Tyson or other celebritiesand hold myself above them. But I'm not. I'm just as capable of blowing my career, my marriage and my image as he is. And the thing is, most of the rest of us are, too.
Still, we like to look at celebrities and admire them when they are on top of the world...and chastise them when they are at the bottom.
I guess I've reached the point in my life that I have to say, "there but by the grace of God go I..." and really mean it.
So, Mikey, tough fight. I wish you well, man. But most of all, I wish you peace. The kind of peace that has to seep into old bones and make them new. The kind of peace that all of us are looking for no matter what kind of office we keep.
Tyson reportedly earned $5 million of his last bout, which he ended early and then conceded. The purse will be doled out accordingly:
2 million to his creditors (he is over $4o million in debt)
2 million to the IRS
and $750,000 to his ex-wife.
I've read all the stories and seen with my own eyes the antics of this man who has been an amusement for the boxing world. But still, I feel for him.
Maybe you and I don't fight in boxing rings where we bite people's ears off for fun and profit. Maybe you and I don't sit with Barbara Walters with our (now) ex-wife and talk about how the relationship with our spouse has spiraled out of control. And maybe we don't return to the boxing ring and lose our dignity in front of thousands of unmerciful fans.
There's not much about a Mike Tyson that I'd want to emulate. But truth be known, I probably have more in common with him than I'd care to admit.
I don't take off ears in the boxing ring, but I am sure I've taken off a few heads in my ignorance and arrogance. I haven't been to divorce court but I've sure taken my hits in my own relationship with family members. And Lord knows I've paid more than my fair share to the IRS.
It would be too easy to laugh at a Mike Tyson or other celebritiesand hold myself above them. But I'm not. I'm just as capable of blowing my career, my marriage and my image as he is. And the thing is, most of the rest of us are, too.
Still, we like to look at celebrities and admire them when they are on top of the world...and chastise them when they are at the bottom.
I guess I've reached the point in my life that I have to say, "there but by the grace of God go I..." and really mean it.
So, Mikey, tough fight. I wish you well, man. But most of all, I wish you peace. The kind of peace that has to seep into old bones and make them new. The kind of peace that all of us are looking for no matter what kind of office we keep.
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