I guess this movie just came out this year on DVD, but it seems like I'd heard about these guys some time ago. Anyway, PLEASE SEE IT! It's so sweet - like life - I cried a few times. It's totally geared to the 80s college hipster with the covers of Sonic Youth and Talking Heads. And it's ingenious because it takes those songs that moved you in your youth (and some from now) and places them in voices that probably thought the tunes were noise when they came out, as in, "Turn that crap off, kid!" But they build a trust with their 53 year old conductor and give performances that make you feel like you won't be absurd when you sing the Coldplay hits of your youth in a nursing home on music night. These elders live for the music and the collective experience of learning and trusting each other. I'm so inspired. I stopped in the middle to write a new song. That's always my favorite art, stuff that you can't even read/listen/watch all the way through because you're inspired so much you can't control the urge to create yourself!
One sweet part of it for me was the song choice of Allen Toussaint's, "Yes We Can Can." I'd referenced that in a song I wrote last year at this time. It was a Christmas song and hopefully I'll actually record it in the next couple days so you can stream it for the holidays. No promises.
But if you're still reading, I'm do promise to play 5 new songs at the Genghis Christmas show. And I'll have a new one for the Santa Monica show as well.
I've been writing a lot. And a lot tonight. So goodnight. I'll check in again sooner than last time.
Stir It Up for Barack! (Cross posted from theObamanation.com)
A few years ago I'd just turned 21 and had this mulatto moment. I share it with you today on my birthday. I recorded this at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood.
I'd like to encourage synergy with the Obama campaign, especially around the acceptance event in Denver on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, so I thought I'd put this out. I have a vision that we can get Diana Ross to mash in "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with my "Stir It Up"
Then I'd like to sing Daydream which was written hoping for a day like this 10 years ago, when hope seemed more distant.
Also I'm thinking that it would be nice to have some supporters cut videos to Daydream and Miracle using clips highlighting the issues that we hope to move in positive ways. The lyric for Daydream talks about a day when Martin's dream is fulfilled. With all that's going on in the media and campaigns, we know that is not going to be unequivocally August 28, 2008. But there is hope!
--
daydream
carry me up to be received we're drinking coffee at 10am
newspaper deaths thirty years, one day a folk singer says i ain't scared
and tears fall as i daydream of martin luther king fulfilled
(can you feel...?)
carry me up to receive 'cos despair as fate is nonsense to me sun warms us through our windows but my friend and i must go outside
with knowledge from these conversations we must act at least in song
can you feel? you're not alone! can you feel?
carry me up to believe that words of peace stir collective souls that we'll be moved by nonviolent hands that my passion's not nostalgic
and tears rise as i daydream and i begin to smile
can you feel? you're not alone! can you feel you're not alone!
can you feel... can you feel... you're not alone! you're not alone!
So I just got home from tour in time to catch Jonathan Richman play in LA. Excuse the lack of tour blogging. I may do a recap soon but it was a long trip with many great moments, so the task seems a little big right now. But JoJo... He always seems to show up at the right time to inspire to keep going. Honestly, I was a little offended when he asked me if I was still playing when I saw him at Rockaway, but that's the weird part: I feel like I know him because he's been there at several critical junctures reminding me to keep on. Not that I wasn't inspired already after the successes of the past month, but seeing Jonathan play his flamenco guitar at the age of 57, un-amplified and with the joy that captured an entire record store reminded me of why I do this. I've been saying for ages (even though it sounds a little pretentious) that I'm in the "Engagement Business" rather than the "Entertainment Business." And that's what Jo Jo does. He engages this innocent part in all of us with his songs about the pleasant smell of bus diesel in cities, chewing gum wrappers, young lovers, the good and bad of a day at the beach. There's something about him that allows us to be elemental in our likes and dislikes like the curmudgeon that refuses to get a cell phone or loving the faded colors of twilight. There's something about him that gets to the root of our common impulses that can encourage the guy that was standing in front of me texting half the show to participate unironically in a call and response on the anti-mobile side.
So there's no grand point to this blog. I just love his music. I used to see him perform all the time when I was first starting to get into the idea of playing solo. Then when I finished college and went to busk in Europe, when my own songs failed to get the reaction I wanted, I turned to Jonathan songs and got the tips I needed to eat for the day. [To be fair there were also a few Little Richard songs I'd do and a mean version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," but the Jonathan songs were the freshest. I couldn't bear to do any Eagles or Simon & Garfunkel, I was too punk rock in my head at that time. And you know JoJo invented punk rock. :-)] Check out Jonathan. And please visit me again soon.
Yes! This is the first time I've felt compelled to blog since starting the tour. I mean I've thought there were some funny stories along the way and some joyous experiences, but after tonight I just have to write. I just got back in from doing my first open mic night performance of the aughts at Eddie's Attic and it was so much fun. It's kind of a competition, so you could say this was my first ever American Idol moment since I was asked if I was Sanjaya on my morning hike... OK, now I know I'm getting tired... so here's the point: I'm just so grateful to the people I've met in this city! Teresa and I did a show at Trinity Episcopalian Church on Saturday night with Ashley Wells from Columbia, SC. The audience was small, but generous in sharing their stories and appreciation. One woman, told me while I was on stage that she was actually baptized as a baby in the room we played, which led to me telling the story of "Dreams" off Living Room, then being asked to play that song for 3 kids that were being baptized the next day in church. That was a blast and meant 2 Sundays in a row that I played church services (the first being where my mom preaches in New Hampshire). Everyone there kept telling me that I needed to play Eddie's and it so happened that Teresa had already figured in this open mic, so I called and at the last minute they fit me in, too. I didn't win...but I closed the show as one of the three finalists. Anyway, it was just one of those moments. Often as a singer/songwriter your friends tell you that it's so great that you go with the flow and live your dream, when you know that you're a hyper organized person that replies to emails at 3 in the morning to maintain relationships with "fans" after booking shows all day or doing some "day job work" to keep afloat, then playing a show. But this weekend has matched the sense of adventure that is projected on us "troubadours." I just feel so lucky to do what I do! Thank you Decatur. (And thanks to cousin Dave for putting me up! It's so lucky to be able to connect with family!)
(I'll tell you more about the great people I met in SC and NH soon, I hope.) Good night.
Maybe it's not the best idea to send an email announcing the tour. I sent it with the subject line from shows two weeks ago. The interesting thing is that no one else seemed to notice. I always know my peeps were more about the strength of the verses than the chorus or title.
