I am tired

Yet, managed to do my astronomy assignment at 6:30am, and get 100%!

This was an online test, based around the actual doing of the test, not the content.

So...

Just an excuse to post a picture of a partial eclipse in Austria, really.

http://media.skyandtelescope.com/images/Partiellesonnenfinsternis-Baden-Saban.jpg

OMBB

I finally get it! I finally understand why the Old Man Blues Band is such a universal phenomenon!

To me, a 20-something musician moderately educated in the history of music, the Old Man Blues Band is somewhat of an inevitable destiny for most musicians. Its like a funny joke, no matter what or how well you do in music, the punch line is that you will eventually end up playing the blues at some shitty bar on a Thursday night. I will never be an old man, but imagine myself somewhat akin to the singer in Lost in Translation's Tokyo hotel band "Sausalito"- singing standards, lookin garish. Thats what I think! Thats what my ignorant little brain has solidified as a personal philosophy.

So really, what this blog is about is my epiphany of why the blues is such an omnipresent in so many musicians lives. Think about it- no matter who you are playing with (unless they are from another planet) you all know how to lay down a BLUES JAM. Hexatonic, somewhat swung, curvy notes. Smoke. Whiskey. THE BLUES. It's inherent! Everyone knows it from birth. Life blood. Ya know?

Long story short, the blues are just always satisfying to play because everyone GETS it. It has stood the test of time and will always stay the same. And because you inherently know this, it feels the most natural, enhancing its appeal to not only player but also listener! There ya go.


(I do realize I may reference Ghost World a little too much, but remember the scene when Thora Birch first discovers Skip James via Steve Buscemi's record collection? Its like that! She gets it! BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY IN HER!)

WILLIE

Not that I am suprised by this, but I just found out the other day that Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline. Good lord, what a fucking song. I naturally assume all monumental pop and country classics were written by Fred Rose or Jimmy Webb, so this comes as an embarrassing suprise.

I just keep forgetting how amazing Willie Nelson is. He is such a cool dude who still tours, and you know... I just forget how important his brain is!

New years resolution: read Willie Nelson's autobiography, look for hints on how to write a classic like this, write a classic and maybe stop experiencing perpetual existential crisis triggered by writer's block. Thanks, internet!

The ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

This is a pretty hot topic right now. To a few people.

The Royal Engagement: who cares?

I care.

And so does my friend Jeff.

Why? Because my mom is British, and because my Gran sends me clippings of Hello UK magazine about hilarious gossip such as this. I think it is an endearing form of escapism, and a sort of classic style of celebrity fascination. In fact, our most infamous celebutantes are the form of crazy Royals who had affairs, scandals, marriages, divorces, and gruesome deaths. They are the original form of celebrity.

Grace Kelly
Lady Di
Elizabeth, the original 40 year old virgin.
Henry V11 the slut bag

Anyway. Not going further into this. All I'm saying, you guys, is that I'd much rather have a commemorative plate of Will and Kate than Jessica Simpson or Octopussy, ok?

Well hello there!

I haven't done this in awhile, woah!

I guess I've had NOTHING to say!

So, here is a thought I've recently had. Brian Wilson does Gershwin. Is this the most narcissistic vanity pro J of all time, or is this another example of Wilson's inherent musical genius and understanding?

I don't know. But to combine two of my favorites... can't really go wrong. Right?

YAY

After telling myself "no booze for a week", I naturally ended up having 4+ last night after playing my first show with full band. Needless to say I'm a tad hungovs, so can justify sitting on my computer for the majority of the morning.

Much to my delight, while doing my daily blog rounds, I FOUND THIS



So, please, Brenna, Coral and Amy, and whoever else reads my blog, feast your eyes upon the woman that is Kate and all her genius.

Big smile on my face right now. Heil Kate.

I have no patience

So I'm just going to post a link to this!

(I'm 2 years late on this "news item" but my recent studies in indigenous religions makes me GOOGLE EVERYTHING)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1022822/Incredible-pictures-Earths-uncontacted-tribes-firing-bows-arrows.html