music

Open Mic

~ Cave_Guy ~ 27 Comments

guitar

Signups were at 7, I strolled in at 7 after and was 7 on the list. My name in pencil as a testament to this little car-wash of fear for my soul.

I sat down in a chair next to a person I knew from a past life – he was already drunk  – I used to be his boss – he reminded me that I was his best boss and I was a good guy ~ life takes strange twists and turns. (drunk may be his normal state- he did not look well)

A snarky old guy with a leather hat approached and grabbed his coffee from the table next to me – Oh no, I sat in his seat! I apologized; he snarked back “I’m standing right here!”

This is a great start – my alcoholic ex-coworker drunk off his ass and I’ve pissed off one of the regulars here in this little theater –  Somehow all this is good with me – I mean; the water you swim is the water you swim – but you swim anyway.

We are told that instead of the three songs, we will only do two, due to the large amount of sign-ups— Maybe 11 total? And then go around a second time for one more.

I’ve moved to a new spot in this little theater – away from all the strife at the entrance – I meet another new guy  – he is a drummer, seems to be a good guy.

Let the show begin –

And it did.

By the time it got to me – I was ok with going up on stage for the first time – I had trouble getting my guitar to work  – but the host was very gracious in helping —–

I sang and played “Mississippi Kid” by Lynyrd Skynyrd – My version bears little resemblance to the original – I go straight 12 bar blues on my acoustic guitar – I love the song and the snarling attitude of it – My version is closer to that of Jerry Lee Lewis (but I humbly submit that my performance is just a wisp of smoke compared to the fire of the original “killer”).

I told the audience that it was my first time and I was only good for one tune –

And I did it!

By the time I got to the last verse, I was dancing a bit and enjoying myself.

It won’t be my last

I will be going back.

For a few moments that night – I was the “Mississippi kid”!

 

Notes: I bought a new acoustic guitar last March for my birthday and I play it every day –  (maybe I’ve missed a total of a week if you add all the days I couldn’t play in the last 10 months)

On February 1st (exactly 14 months to the day I lost my wife, for those of you that know me) I stepped on a stage and did an open mic.

It went well – I am not ruining this post with actual video; but that is probably coming!

I did mess with guitar in my earlier life, never anything past the tinkering stage and never complete songs.

And I never tried to sing before.

But, so what?

Life is to live.

Go live.

Question: What would be your song if and when you do (did?) this?

 

 

Music and Ink…..and blogging

~ Cave_Guy ~ 13 Comments

Music and Ink…..and blogging

I woke this morning with full awareness that my mind and spirit were connected, attached to my body that was hurling through space on a giant rock. That rock was spinning in a beautiful dance of gravity playing a part in an endless universe … which may be just a drop in a vast ocean of countless other universes.

Yeah baby, I’m back!

It makes all the mundane connections with people I know seem nothing short of miraculous.– I mean,…  to make “me”— all these weird connections of people, places and things over the eons of time since before we even got to living in the caves – I just think about that — everything had to line up or this “me” that is writing would not be here—- and that goes the same for each person that reads this — and also the same for the lady at the deli that I will let cut in ahead of me because she has two screaming kids and needs to get her maple ham and American cheese.

Which makes the connections that are truly “special” nothing short of divine because ….. I mean, …. What are the chances that you and me have a conversation?

It just causes the brain to ignite and fire countless neurons to not figure out.

You may think that this is a strange —- but I think like this all the time —– and have not thought like this in many weeks.

Because I was not connected.

My mind was in severe pain – my spirit was lost and whirring out of control – and my body seemed to disconnected.

They said I was depressed – I don’t know if that word fits – but I will go with it because it and me were so similar that you could not tell us apart even at a short distance.

So we go to ink –

A thought in my mind – that becomes a sketch (in fact, many sketches before it was right) – that goes into illustrator to become a vector – that sings to me in a perfect riot of frenzied negative space.

boar-final22

 

My mind thinks it – my spirit is at peace with it – the tattoo artist inks it to my body – we are all together again. One happy family that is the trio of the Wayne. I am here – I am validated.

My first tattoo – and already thinking how to add to it.

And as I ran through the chords of “Key to the Highway” last night on my acoustic guitar — I understand what Big Bill Broonzy was saying – I understand the feeling – I understand the blues.

I get it – there are things and feelings that we all share – that are the human condition – It’s part of jamming a spirit in a body and having a mind trying to figure out what to do with it- how to make a way – how to rise above and move forward.

Isn’t that part of why we blog? This need to connect and validate our existence.

I play a lot of guitar and I sing all the time – this is new – but was always there.

I just could not put in the work to access it – I don’t feel like that anymore.

I feel that I have nothing to fear – I feel that I better get whatever is in there out.

Be dammed if it is good or bad or indifferent.

Just get it out!

So I feel better – And the only reason I am writing instead of playing right now is because it is too early and I will wake the kids.

I leave you with a new song that speaks to me – attitude and blues – I need it.

 

 

See you later Marie

~ Cave_Guy ~ 73 Comments

 

Sad to report that I lost my wife this morning.

We are coming up on three years since she was diagnosed and I refuse to say that she lost her battle with cancer.

She did not lose anything.

She fought, she kept her spirit and she cared for those around her more than herself.

She was an amazing woman and I am lucky to have met her – she took a wreck of a human being and made him happy.

Truly happy and truly blessed.

There is no more that a person can do in this world – and no more can be expected.

She turned the light on in my soul –

 

 

Hozier – Wondier or Wankier?

~ Cave_Guy ~ 5 Comments

When I first heard “Take me to Church” – I completely lost it – “What is this crap spewing forth from my new favorite radio station?”

And it kept spewing:

It made the song of the day

It made the song of the week

It made the friggin’ song of the year

Hozier is the anointed saint of music for 2014 and I hate this song!!!!

hate-this-song

A hymn about sex – and it is not subtle

Not even a little bit

It blends two things that don’t blend well in a clunky and brutal manner – like say — one of those weird Japanese desert flavors.

Grab two scoops of == Whale Shark Ice Cream ==

I love Whale Sharks – soothingly beautiful giants gently coasting in pristine blue tropical waters —- and who doesn’t like ice cream?

But together? – I get a reaction like I get from this song. It is a queasiness in my spirit.

And this fish is not even cooked – just chopped up and mixed in.

Yuck!  Stop it!

I hate this song and all it stands for.

 

And now for something completely different:

Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene – Hozier

This is soulful and rich. It has nodes of gospel and blues. It is intense – this dude is from Memphis, right?

No—-Ireland? —- And it is that same guy who perpetrated the gratuitous crime of a song detailed at the start of this post?

Huh?

Color me with a big ol’ paintbrush of converted to this beat.

This is a great song.

Yes, it mixes genres up – but the blend is tasty this time around.

This is ===Raspberry Swirled Vanilla with a Chocolate drizzle === [or whatever epic flavor you want to add].

Bitter raspberry on cool vanilla with quality rich cocoa – does not get better than this.

Cheers from the Cave!

 

 

Notes on the title for this post:

Wondier is “Wonder” with that Hozier “i” added. (I know, hilarious wordplay)

Wankier is “Wanker” with that Hozier “i” added. For further explanation of the word “Wanker” – I suggest you move to England or simply watch “Spinal Tap” —in fact, everyone should watch Spinal tap at least once every 5 years to remind themselves of the beauty and tragedy with humor in all of rock music.

Dire Straits.Romeo and Juliet

~ Cave_Guy ~ 13 Comments

Romeo and Juliet

 

I recently took a little stroll around the WP neighborhood and hit a post about Dire Straits Making Movies – http://80smetalman.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/great-rock-albums-of-1981-dire-straits-making-movies/ – It caught my attention for a couple reasons: I like this entire record and it hides my sentimental favorite from Mark Knopfler.

This one always stops me in my tracks.

I am like that deer on the side of the busy highway – just standing there – the sound and speed wash over me.

I am still

(Up here in the wild Northeast – this is a common sight— not me having a “time stop” moment when a song plays—but the bit about seeing a deer standing patiently on the side of the road.)

*Anyway – I digress much so back to the post at hand.

Last night I am driving and from out of the blue – this song plays on the radio – this song never plays on the radio. You might hear “Sultans of Swing” or “Money for Nothing” – but not this.

It still works

Yep, defenseless fawn me watching all the big metal boxes on wheels and nothing I can do.

I am stupefied from the first little guitar pluck.

He nails that fated to fail with loaded dice romance thing beautifully —- he takes us with him — so we can all ride in the leaky love boat and sink in the lake of the human condition.

All of us know this lake – it is a short ride around the corner – the bar next to it always full of desperate patrons, who, after drinking two more than they should.

Will hum this tune

Great song

Cheers from the cave!

 

 

The Gloaming.Samhradh Samhradh

~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

The Gloaming. Samhradh Samhradh

 

The Gloaming 

Connected

Part of this precious landscape of humanity

What you think it will be and what others tell you it will be

Is vapor

Added to the mist that rises above the path you are walking

There are lessons to be learned — learn them.

There is pain to be felt — feel it.

Walk out into that half-light

With your heart and your soul.

Walk in it and breathe it in.

This is your life and you need every step you can take.

 

 

That about sums up 2014 for me – Difficult is what many experience and many had deeper struggles than this blogger.

Mainly, what I take from this year to the next: stop wasting moments – stop living from accident to accident and move with purpose.

We choose how we feel and how we react-we choose what we carry and what we discard.

I love the mood and feel of this song. There is something about Irish music that bypasses the brain and connects directly to the soul.

I can’t understand the words but I understand the emotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year’s nominees are (mostly) wack!-Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame 2015

~ Cave_Guy ~ 9 Comments

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Here starts the “one hit wonder” phase for the hall.

“Hey dude-Joan Jett rocked and she was hot-I know she had another song after  I love Rock and Roll – I just can’t think of it –hang on let me google this.”

If that is the typical reaction- I ask you – Hall worthy? – I think not.

Bill Withers – at least his “one” hit was so good that I almost don’t have to list it.  Ain’t no Sunshine is something else –but again –I have to google to find something else.

Before you say that I am not a dedicated music fan because I don’t know the catalog of these important artists — really —- seriously —- Music fans are crazy and subjective —but find me one – just one— that had either of these “classic-serious-music-stars” tattooed on them anywhere – I don’t care how drunk they were!!!

It has not happened.

 

Now let’s get to serious Artists:

In the spirit of: We need to add Ringo because all the other Beatles are in separately and we need the complete set.

“Let’s make up an award that will fit him.”

Hey- I got it – he always chooses excellent musicians to hang out with- how about AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE—Really RRHOF? If Joan Jett gets in for her insightful lyrics—why not man up and put Ringo in for his great writing like … “no no no no I don’t smoke it no more, I’m tired of waking up on the floor.”

I blame the  Kiss induction of last year for these “treasures” going in. It lowered the bar and declared open season in Cleveland for all the flash.

The others I have no problem with:

Lou Reed and SVR are icons. If you ever heard “Sweet Jane” on the radio or were ever lucky enough to be there when Stevie stepped on a wah wah pedal—MAGIC BABY, MAGIC!

Paul Butterfield is good honest hardworking blue-collar blues.

Green Day is an actual successful rock band in an era devoid of actual successful rock bands.

I don’t know -The “5” Royales – but I will give the hall the benefit of the doubt.

 

BUT-deny “The Smiths”?  Whatever you think of Morrissey- this band was a game changer.

I also would have put Kraftwerk in ahead of that first batch I mentioned.

But hey- I am just a simple blogger.

Cheers from the cave!

 

 

 

 

New York and a Radiohead Mood.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 6 Comments

Item One:

Some dude walks around N.Y.C with a hatchet and takes random whacks at people in uniform- we think he might be a terrorist, or maybe a whacko—or a combo of the two—–and this could be a copycat deal that will spread across the country like the ice bucket challenge.

Not only are we afraid of an isolated brutal act—we are afraid of it trending on twitter and turning into a plaque of insanity.

Item Two:

A doctor risks his life to go to Ebola ground zero and work with “Doctors without Borders” – helping those that are in more trouble and lack more resources than us reasonable people can imagine.

This guy is a hero.

No wait-he caught that crap-The dude brought that shit back to Brooklyn—his neighbors are calling him a big jerk face scumbag.  Ebola is here.

Shut down all flights in and out of Africa right now!

This and other reasons (which I don’t wish to discuss) make me reach for something to pour on my wounded psyche.

Radiohead works.

I love you creepy bastards- I am starting to feel better already.

Muted Cheers from the Cave!

In other news: I have been working on my blog by taking the “Blogging 201” thingee that is going on now-

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/courses/blogging-201-branding-and-growth/

You may notice some changes as I clear my vision and put a little pizazz in my “brand”—Oh yeah- I am a brand baby!

This Will Destroy You- They move on tracks of never ending light.

Image ~ ~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

Post Rock

It does not shake us – it does not rattle us — it calls us

lake-george02-invert

This image is from an early morning shoot at the lake a few weeks ago- it is a mundane effort that I originally over-saturated and turned gold.

Then I wondered what would happen if I inverted the whole thing for the opposite effect.

Boom Baby!~  Black becomes white- yellow becomes blue – warm to cool and we are on to something. It takes it from warm reality to cool dream—-just one little [Ctrl-i] click of the keyboard and we have magic.

This Will Destroy You- They move on tracks of never ending light.

This song pulls me in to a void of contemplation-not a bad thing or a good thing; more like another realm of the mind thing—like stepping outside of yourself in order to take a little gander.

I think this band is from Texas and this is soothing stuff.

The blue image starting me thinking of this tune.

Below is the image that started this:

lake-george02-inver-smAnd sorry for using arty words like invert and saturation in a post.