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Monthly Archives: September 2007
Lou Cowboy Blonde Concrete Junkies Reed
guitar-playing friend mentioned he was learning Concrete Blonde’s “Joey”, which of course made me think of Cowboy Junkies since they melded in my mind years ago, so I started talking about Lou Reed.When I first heard the Cowboy Junkies doing a song the DJ claimed was called “Sweet Jane”, just like the Lou Reed song, I thought he was mistaken, then I thought it was just the same title. Those sentimental lyrics and the delicate melody certainly weren’t the rock and roll animal. Continue reading
Rio
wenty-six years later I finally got around to tracking down the video to Michael Nesmith’s ‘Rio’ and I ask you: has there been even a single music video better?(Ah; sadly, the video is no longer available online. Perhaps I’ll check with Nez about sharing an officially authorised version.) Continue reading
Berkley Hart: Wake Up Charlie
“Wake Up Charlie” from Berkley Hart’s first album “Wreck ‘n’ Sow” as performed at The Acoustic Barn in Newcastle, California on September 15th, 2007
In a Barn with Berkley Hart
pstairs at Kevin’s Acoustic Barn in Newcastle, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart were amazing. The last time I found a musical performance anywhere near this entertaining was when Best Beloved took me to see Michelle Shocked at Marilyn’s in Sacramento. Continue reading
Up the River with Berkley Hart
ard to believe it’s been over five years since I wrote about ‘Elvis Einstein Rockefeller Jones’ (and almost as long since I’ve seen my older kids, one of whom introduced me to ‘Wake Up, Charlie’ way back then; both songs and more are included on 2002′s ‘Wreck ‘n’ Sow’)I found out earlier this week that Jeff and Calman will be doing a house concert at The Acoustic Barn, just up the road from us in Newcastle, a hilly town between Sacramento and Auburn, the seat of Placer County (Placerville, of course, is in El Dorado County; Yuba City, rather than being in Yuba County is in Sutter; I wonder how Sacramento ended up in Sacramento County?) Continue reading
Tommy Makem, 74
hose who know my music know that Tommy Makem’s was one of the first singing voices I ever heard, and to this day, one of my favorites. Somehow I was blissfully unaware of his passing six weeks ago. Continue reading
The Commonsense Entrepreneur
‘m writing a book, ‘The Commonsense Entrepreneur.’ My goal is to help small businesses succeed, while succeeding myself. As one step on that road, I would like to offer entrepreneurs a free half-hour consultation. Let’s discuss the biggest challenge you’re facing in business, your most recent ‘learning experience’ (some call them mistakes), or your dreams for your career and yourself. Let me convince you of my ability to understand your issues quickly, and offer practical guidance to help you succeed.All I ask in return for this free consultation is your honest feedback, and the right, if I choose, to include it on the Commonsense Entrepreneur website (credited to you, or anonymous; your choice.) Continue reading
Heart Like a Train
ne thing I love about blues is that they don’t have to be sad, despite the lyrics. Continue reading
Quality Shoe
e finally got Mark Knopfler’s “Ragpicker’s Dream” and started wearing it out. It’s not really a concept album, since the songs aren’t really interrelated, but Knopfler’s ties to movie soundtracks are evident in the overall feeling of depression-era America. Though it contains some sad (or angry) songs, it’s not a depressing collection. Most of it feels just plain fun (it’s hard not to smile during the last verse of “Devil Baby”, a paean to circus freaks; in fact, it’s hard not to smile just writing that ridiculous sentence.)Three tracks get played over and over, when I’m not playing the whole album: the single, “Why Aye Man”, a western swing thing called “Daddy’s Gone to Knoxville”, and a tribute to Roger Miller’s unique musical style, “Quality Shoe.” Continue reading
Driving Miss Minnie
lthough I’m not completely up to date on actresses half my age (well, not quite) it was impossible to ignore Minnie Driver’s cuteness (I mean it in the best possible way) in the movie ‘Return to Me.’Not long after I saw it for the first time one of my music magazines, probably the now-defunct ‘Tracks’, delivered a sampler CD with Minnie’s “Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket” on it. Driver was a singer before her acting career, so it’s no surprise that the vocals on the tune are warm and personal; just enough breathiness to sound intimate without losing the open friendliness in the lyrics. Continue reading
