Yesterday I got a text message from my son (who never reads this by the way). His text asked me if I ever heard of a guitar player named Andy McKee. I told him I had not and he said he would show me this guy when he came for dinner. Well, he came and he showed. Wow. There is a lot of talent out there to be found. Check these clips out. I found Don Ross up at CANdYRAT Records also. I ended up going to CANdyRAT and buying all kinds of cd's. Sweet styles...
Andy McKee
Don Ross
Incredible. Brilliant.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Whiskers on kittens
I had the opportunity to see Ben Folds this summer in Chicago. Great show. He is definitely having fun up on that stage and that's contagious. I have listened to most of his recorded music and some of it misses the mark on me but some of it makes me smile or think. I like to do both but I probably do the smiling thing a lot better. The video is for his song "Still Fighting It". Sweet song written by Ben to his young son...This is from the "Rockin' the Suburbs" CD which I love from front to back. A double selection coming up!
"Everybody knows it sucks to grow up"
"I am the luckiest" This one has made me get emotional more than once. I truly feel that I am the luckiest. To all my loved ones out there, this is how my love for you makes me feel.
"Everybody knows it sucks to grow up"
"I am the luckiest" This one has made me get emotional more than once. I truly feel that I am the luckiest. To all my loved ones out there, this is how my love for you makes me feel.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Raindrops on Roses...
I have been thinking about this ever since I read another blog in which the author ranked a list of the "greatest guitar players". I have always had a fundamental problem with ranking artists and art itself. Who's to say what is the greatest piece of artwork ever? Now, if you create a list that is your personal list and do not disparage others opinions or argue that your list is THE LIST, that's a different story.
I'm convinced that appreciation of the arts is as personal as your fingerprints. There is no right or wrong...the art touches you and you experience a personal reaction to it; positive, negative or somewhere in between. There really is no need to justify your personal feelings for art to anybody. They're yours and they're personal. Nobody should try to convince you that you are wrong about your choices or that a particular thing that you like stinks...if someone or something "stinks" in your opinion it's OK to think it but its probably more mature to keep it to yourself.
I have a friend that absolutely loves ABBA...I don't. As hard as it is for me, if it comes up I just go silent on the subject. My real statement might be that ABBA can not be found among the 8500+ songs on my iPod. Did ABBA stink? Absolutely not. They were making music and it's music that has delighted millions. I admire anyone with the fortitude to make music...to put it out there. I don't have to personally love it or "get" it.
Music means different things to different people. Among other things, it can evoke emotions, vivid memories and mindless comfort. I am going to share some of my personal feelings and opinions about musicians or songs that touch me somehow. These will be my personal thoughts and feelings. I hope this stimulates me to get the words flowing here again.
The first example of music that can conjure a powerful emotion in me, comes from a rock hall inductee that rose out of the C&W world. He is one of my favorite pure guitar players. The song is, I still can't say goodbye by Chet Atkins, C.G.P. I cannot get through this 4 minute and 7 second song without crying (hearty weeping!). Beautiful sentiments by Chet and it gets me every time. When it randomly pops up on my iPod, I will change it if I'm not in the mood for purging my tear ducts. Do you have a song or performance that pushes your buttons?
Here's a sample of his playing...stunning touch....this is a cover of Don McClean's Vincent
I'm convinced that appreciation of the arts is as personal as your fingerprints. There is no right or wrong...the art touches you and you experience a personal reaction to it; positive, negative or somewhere in between. There really is no need to justify your personal feelings for art to anybody. They're yours and they're personal. Nobody should try to convince you that you are wrong about your choices or that a particular thing that you like stinks...if someone or something "stinks" in your opinion it's OK to think it but its probably more mature to keep it to yourself.
I have a friend that absolutely loves ABBA...I don't. As hard as it is for me, if it comes up I just go silent on the subject. My real statement might be that ABBA can not be found among the 8500+ songs on my iPod. Did ABBA stink? Absolutely not. They were making music and it's music that has delighted millions. I admire anyone with the fortitude to make music...to put it out there. I don't have to personally love it or "get" it.
Music means different things to different people. Among other things, it can evoke emotions, vivid memories and mindless comfort. I am going to share some of my personal feelings and opinions about musicians or songs that touch me somehow. These will be my personal thoughts and feelings. I hope this stimulates me to get the words flowing here again.
The first example of music that can conjure a powerful emotion in me, comes from a rock hall inductee that rose out of the C&W world. He is one of my favorite pure guitar players. The song is, I still can't say goodbye by Chet Atkins, C.G.P. I cannot get through this 4 minute and 7 second song without crying (hearty weeping!). Beautiful sentiments by Chet and it gets me every time. When it randomly pops up on my iPod, I will change it if I'm not in the mood for purging my tear ducts. Do you have a song or performance that pushes your buttons?
Here's a sample of his playing...stunning touch....this is a cover of Don McClean's Vincent
Monday, January 07, 2008
Hot or Not
In honor of it being really uncomfortably hot in my office I think I'll do this list.
What's Hot
My Office
Rock Band
Barack Obama - Can we call him Rocky?
Hybrid Cars
The New England Patriots
Scrabble
Florida
What's Not
Hillary Clinton
GWB
Gas guzzlers
The real estate market
Brittany Spears
Greedy politicians
Greedy lawyers
Greedy everything
Gimme some hots and nots...That's all I can write. I am melting in here.
What's Hot
My Office
Rock Band
Barack Obama - Can we call him Rocky?
Hybrid Cars
The New England Patriots
Scrabble
Florida
What's Not
Hillary Clinton
GWB
Gas guzzlers
The real estate market
Brittany Spears
Greedy politicians
Greedy lawyers
Greedy everything
Gimme some hots and nots...That's all I can write. I am melting in here.
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