Trying out Spotify play button.
Lera Lynn - Happy Ever After
Best opening act I’ve seen in quite some time; they won’t be openers much longer. Nice, vibrant Jill-and-Sam kind of feel (or whomever she’s playing with now). I’m assuming they’ll open on concertwindow.com Friday night.
If time allows maybe I will have a little springtime burst of blogging.
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Ani Difranco - Mariachi
She’s equally good at ferocious and sweet, and sometimes a mix of both. This one’s all sweet. After I decided that this was probably my fave from her new album, the wonderful little low-power radio station at the youth & cultural center in Pa’ia played it as I was driving down to the shore. It’s nice when life makes you feel like you’re in the right place, even if it’s just coincidence.
Fretwork - Goldberg Variations (Bach), var. 8
Listen to this first - it’s pretty, no? - and then read the 2-star Amazon review left by someone who clearly has a lot of knowledge about classical music, and this work specifically. He calls it an embarrassment, and allows all his expectations and knowledge about what instruments it should be played on and what tempi it should be played at to conspire against his ability to simply find enjoyment and be content. I know almost nothing about classical music in comparison, but I think this album is absolutely lovely and warm; it’s good to be reminded of the importance of keeping an open mind instead of letting your experience and expectations shrink your opportunities for discovering joy.
Nada Surf - Jules & Jim
Not much to say about this one, I just like the bit of melody they eventually build to at the end of the chorus. Maybe I will rent the movie sometime.
Honorable mention - the new Kathleen Edwards, produced by Bon Iver. Soft Place to Land is nice.
Re-discovery: Matthew Sweet - Wait. Everyone has those songs they could play 1000 times and never tire of. Here’s one of mine I’d forgotten about. He’s hit or miss for me, but I really connect with his best stuff.
My calendar year ends with a few drops of water. I drip them onto the little sponge that I place in its holder and then between the strings into the hollow of my guitar. Sealed up tight in its case with a drink for the wood, my guitar should be comfortable while I’m away. It’s been an interesting year and I’ve tried to make the world a little better in my own way, on a larger scale through volunteering and charity, and on a smaller one by doing my best to bring some happiness to my family and friends. Didn’t always succeed, but that’s how it goes. I’m not much for looking back, although this time of year lends itself to that sort of thing, and I’m not much for resolutions. But I like fresh starts, clean breaks; a big unbroken snowy year that no one has set foot on yet; the first skate cutting a frosty loop across an icy pond. Ready to line up new challenges, and finally get myself to someplace where I feel I belong, someplace that feels like home. It’s getting closer and that feels good. Part of me wishes I could stay here and keep working, but once I’m out the door I’ll be glad to get away for a while and have some time to get myself moving creatively in the right direction. Tumblr’s been a fun experiment for the last several months and I’m glad I tried it out, although it’s kind of a hot mess. I’m looking forward to jumping to a different platform and trying a new approach. Happy new year to all, I hope you find your way to someplace truly fantastic this year and make the world a little better along the way.
The nicest thing I get during the holiday season is handwritten thank you notes from my friend’s young kids, on their own little hand-embossed cards. They’re pretty adorable, and politeness is a lost art these days. I try to be a thoughtful gift giver, although when I give books it’s hard to know whether the kids will truly connect with them. But getting a carefully-inked thanks is a warm fuzzy on par with being curled up by the fireplace.
Essential viewing on the corrupting influence of money in modern politics. Find an hour.
Bedtime kitty on my chest looking for rubs, suddenly lit against the black by a crackling storm of tiny sparks like a fluffy Tesla coil = time to re-fill the humidifier.
