here i am back home again. . .sitting at my little adjustable table staring at a computer screen and drinking fresh coffee from my penguin mug. . .amazing how little time it takes to get back in the rhythm huh?? we pulled back in town last night about 10:30pm and i must say that the last 3+ weeks have felt like a year. . .i actually verbalized the thought i've had for some time last night, "I'm getting to the point where i don't recognize home anymore. . ." this is a hard concept to explain to those of us who don't travel or don't see home for extended periods of time but it definitely becomes the case. . .its has a strange sort of tiring effect on the body. in my boyish dream land i would love to imagine that this puts me in the same league as the sailor types who used to go away for months or years at a time. . .(and this is when The Pigg starts laughing and says "Oh come on. . . .) but really it just makes you realize how quickly the time slips away and how much change occurs while you aren't looking. . .this particular trip was amazing but only punctuated by doing what i actually do for a living, playing music. . .there was A LOT of hanging out which was awesome but it also keeps you form getting in the "groove" of being gone because you have entire days without anything to do really. . .this sounds like heaven to most, i'm sure, but it can be quite nerve-wracking for those of us with lots of bottled up energy and the need to stay busy. . .hehehe
anywho, its great to be home!!!! i can't wait to hang with the lovelies i haven't seen in a long time and say howdy to everyone i've missed!!! i hope you're well!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"Outside is America. . .or The Life You Save May Be Your Own. . .Part the First
ATP report here we go:
grading on an A-F scale. . .
Built to Spill---B
Polvo---A+
Les Savy Fav---A+
Shellac---A
Bob Mould---A++
EPMD---A+
All 150 dbs of My Bloody Valentine. . .B-
ok so i missed the majority of the Friday night Don't Look Back lineup but did get to catch Built To Spill which were fun but not quite as good as they were in Portland, OR the week before. . .the Saturday night line up was quite the remarkable one as it was made up of a host of bands that i've admired since i was a young'un. . .Polvo kicked my night off by being absolutely amazing and playing pretty much everything that i wanted to hear but not doing it just as it was recorded and instead updating it and making it new in one way or the other. . .they also played a brand new one which blew my mind and made me very happy that they were back together!
Les Savy Fav was just what the DR. ordered and Mr. Tim Harrington and the boys didn't let anyone down. . .they were SUPER tight and Tim's shenanigans were a sight to behold!
Shellac is one of those bands that just seems to stay the course. . .never my fave but a great show nonetheless!
the next day was EPMD who as the odd men out did wonders to realize who the crowd was and play to that crowd and never look back. . .they hit all the high points and then went into some new material that'll be on a new LP in the spring i think. . .AWESOME!!!
Mr. Bob Mould followed us TODer's on sunday and he destroyed all the competition. . .with Jon Wurster from Superchunk on drums Bob and his band TORE IT UP!!!! they played Sugar songs, solo Mould songs and the last half of the set was ALL HUSKER DU!!!! i haven't felt like a kid at a show in soooooo long but this one made me get that feeling all over again. . .
the storied MBV came up to close the night and were 40 mins. late. . .not making a Ford happy and then the LOUDNESS kicked in. apparently the sound engineers were told to make it as "uncomfortable as possible" for everyone. . .they succeeded. having not been a HUGE fan anyways i could've done without all the drama. . maybe i'm just getting old.
grading on an A-F scale. . .
Built to Spill---B
Polvo---A+
Les Savy Fav---A+
Shellac---A
Bob Mould---A++
EPMD---A+
All 150 dbs of My Bloody Valentine. . .B-
ok so i missed the majority of the Friday night Don't Look Back lineup but did get to catch Built To Spill which were fun but not quite as good as they were in Portland, OR the week before. . .the Saturday night line up was quite the remarkable one as it was made up of a host of bands that i've admired since i was a young'un. . .Polvo kicked my night off by being absolutely amazing and playing pretty much everything that i wanted to hear but not doing it just as it was recorded and instead updating it and making it new in one way or the other. . .they also played a brand new one which blew my mind and made me very happy that they were back together!
Les Savy Fav was just what the DR. ordered and Mr. Tim Harrington and the boys didn't let anyone down. . .they were SUPER tight and Tim's shenanigans were a sight to behold!
Shellac is one of those bands that just seems to stay the course. . .never my fave but a great show nonetheless!
the next day was EPMD who as the odd men out did wonders to realize who the crowd was and play to that crowd and never look back. . .they hit all the high points and then went into some new material that'll be on a new LP in the spring i think. . .AWESOME!!!
Mr. Bob Mould followed us TODer's on sunday and he destroyed all the competition. . .with Jon Wurster from Superchunk on drums Bob and his band TORE IT UP!!!! they played Sugar songs, solo Mould songs and the last half of the set was ALL HUSKER DU!!!! i haven't felt like a kid at a show in soooooo long but this one made me get that feeling all over again. . .
the storied MBV came up to close the night and were 40 mins. late. . .not making a Ford happy and then the LOUDNESS kicked in. apparently the sound engineers were told to make it as "uncomfortable as possible" for everyone. . .they succeeded. having not been a HUGE fan anyways i could've done without all the drama. . maybe i'm just getting old.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Brooklyn on a budget or How to make Howie Weinberg nervous
on the couch here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. . .or Crooklyn. . .he he. . .my trip here yesterday was pretty uneventful, well we did hit some pretty "cranky" winds about 2/3rds of the way through the flight. . .always a good time. the events of yesterday unfolded as follows:
In/On "The Flyer" they tell you very early on, "If you're gonna move around the cabin, please use the hand rail to prevent falls." the 3rd lady who got up during our trip either didn't hear this announcement, didn't care or thought she was super woman. . .she was NOT the latter. . .the reason i'm relating this story is not because she fell, which would've been awful, but because the faces she made while ALMOST falling for about 5 mins. (the length of time it took her to go from front of bus to bathroom) made me, once again, have to look at the floor and give a little smile. you see i'm pretty much in love with the ridiculous faces that we as humans make when something goes wrong or not to plan. . .it cracks me up.
once we got to DTW (Detroit Wayne County Aiport) we're informed that its the LAST day for the terminal where my plane will be departing from and that at 12am the entire terminal will be moved to the new, shiny NORTH TERMINALLLLLL!!!! (extra letters for emphasis). . .if you've never been to a terminal on its last day, here's an idea of how it goes. . .when i walked up to what i thought was the security line, nobody there. . .i had to ask the lady on the OTHER side if i was in the right place. somehow for that question i conjured what my father refers to as my "5-year old voice" reminding me that i use to call for him in the middle of the night with a high-pitched faux british accent, "Doddy, Oh Doddy.". . .anywho, she tells me yes i am, in fact, in the right place and then she, wait for it. . . wait for it. . .yells the word, "PASSENGER!!!!" real loud which gets the TSA folks up from their seats (where i think they were sleeping) and makes them do the normal routine even though i'm the ONLY one in sight. once through "security" reality takes a back seat and i step onto the set of the newest George A. Romero movie involving the undead. . .the place looks deserted! people are taking chairs out as i'm standing there. . .i have a little while to wait so i go cruising about the place to dixcover the B.B. Kings is still open but all the employees are just hangin out shooting the proverbial shit and the other 2 eateries only have minimal stuff to sell AND the Magazine Girl (sorry i didn't catch your name) who weirdly called me sweetie (a term reserved i thought for grandma's and older, somewhat smelly aunts) is just standing there looking depressed and somewhat bewildered by what exactly to do. you could see she clearly wanted to be in the BB Kings club but it just was not to be. . .
after my flight i took a cab from La Guardia to the mastering facility of one Mr. Howie Weinberg. anyone who likes music should, at this point, grab a CD and look at the credits. . .especially if it its by Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Slayer, Public Enemy etc. . .this guy has mastered soooooooooooo many records its ridiculous. after checking in at the front desk and receiving my VISITOR sticker (you see Diddy owns an entire floor of this building) i proceed up to the Weinberg suite. . .there i'm greeted by a hall full of gold and platinum albums from some of my favorite bands EVER (review list above for a taste, i mean this guy did THE POWER STATION!!!!!!!!!). . .then i'm greeted by Jason Reece, Conrad Keely and, of course, Howie. . .Howie is a funny man. at one point he asks me, "What, are you nervous?!?!" my reply is "No, no I'm just a "pacer". his response. . ."Well have a seat or go do that outside, you're making ME nervous. I'm no good with pacing." . . .so i sat down. . .hahahahaha!
so yeah now the record is "done" barring minor fixes and i'm finally getting to hear what happened while i was away in Nashville. . .and we're all deciding if we have to call Howie back and get some fixes done or if we're happy with things the way they are. . .today is a busy day, i'll be heading to the laundromat soon for clean clothes getting and then trying to catch up with friends i haven't seen in a while a little later on. . .what are you doing today?!?!
In/On "The Flyer" they tell you very early on, "If you're gonna move around the cabin, please use the hand rail to prevent falls." the 3rd lady who got up during our trip either didn't hear this announcement, didn't care or thought she was super woman. . .she was NOT the latter. . .the reason i'm relating this story is not because she fell, which would've been awful, but because the faces she made while ALMOST falling for about 5 mins. (the length of time it took her to go from front of bus to bathroom) made me, once again, have to look at the floor and give a little smile. you see i'm pretty much in love with the ridiculous faces that we as humans make when something goes wrong or not to plan. . .it cracks me up.
once we got to DTW (Detroit Wayne County Aiport) we're informed that its the LAST day for the terminal where my plane will be departing from and that at 12am the entire terminal will be moved to the new, shiny NORTH TERMINALLLLLL!!!! (extra letters for emphasis). . .if you've never been to a terminal on its last day, here's an idea of how it goes. . .when i walked up to what i thought was the security line, nobody there. . .i had to ask the lady on the OTHER side if i was in the right place. somehow for that question i conjured what my father refers to as my "5-year old voice" reminding me that i use to call for him in the middle of the night with a high-pitched faux british accent, "Doddy, Oh Doddy.". . .anywho, she tells me yes i am, in fact, in the right place and then she, wait for it. . . wait for it. . .yells the word, "PASSENGER!!!!" real loud which gets the TSA folks up from their seats (where i think they were sleeping) and makes them do the normal routine even though i'm the ONLY one in sight. once through "security" reality takes a back seat and i step onto the set of the newest George A. Romero movie involving the undead. . .the place looks deserted! people are taking chairs out as i'm standing there. . .i have a little while to wait so i go cruising about the place to dixcover the B.B. Kings is still open but all the employees are just hangin out shooting the proverbial shit and the other 2 eateries only have minimal stuff to sell AND the Magazine Girl (sorry i didn't catch your name) who weirdly called me sweetie (a term reserved i thought for grandma's and older, somewhat smelly aunts) is just standing there looking depressed and somewhat bewildered by what exactly to do. you could see she clearly wanted to be in the BB Kings club but it just was not to be. . .
after my flight i took a cab from La Guardia to the mastering facility of one Mr. Howie Weinberg. anyone who likes music should, at this point, grab a CD and look at the credits. . .especially if it its by Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Slayer, Public Enemy etc. . .this guy has mastered soooooooooooo many records its ridiculous. after checking in at the front desk and receiving my VISITOR sticker (you see Diddy owns an entire floor of this building) i proceed up to the Weinberg suite. . .there i'm greeted by a hall full of gold and platinum albums from some of my favorite bands EVER (review list above for a taste, i mean this guy did THE POWER STATION!!!!!!!!!). . .then i'm greeted by Jason Reece, Conrad Keely and, of course, Howie. . .Howie is a funny man. at one point he asks me, "What, are you nervous?!?!" my reply is "No, no I'm just a "pacer". his response. . ."Well have a seat or go do that outside, you're making ME nervous. I'm no good with pacing." . . .so i sat down. . .hahahahaha!
so yeah now the record is "done" barring minor fixes and i'm finally getting to hear what happened while i was away in Nashville. . .and we're all deciding if we have to call Howie back and get some fixes done or if we're happy with things the way they are. . .today is a busy day, i'll be heading to the laundromat soon for clean clothes getting and then trying to catch up with friends i haven't seen in a while a little later on. . .what are you doing today?!?!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Biblical Acid Trips or How to make and influence your friends. . .Part the second
. . .now on the bus and heading out of The EL (East Lansing, MI) and already there have been 2 interesting occurences. . .the first was an older lady talking to the driver and subsequently holding up the line, whose last mutterings as she climbs on the bus are "That's why we need everyone to vote." now anyone who knows me knows that i find these types of things hilarious given that 99.9% of the time 99.9% of the population (myself included, sad to say) could give one giant damn about who's getting elected or not. . .this time around seems different. i guess its displeasure with the current state of politics in america and i guess its also due in large part to giant marketing campaigns on both sides of the party line and yes, i know, history is gonna be made either way (thanks for reminding me of this every 15 mins. CNN = Politics, ya know!!!) but it seems people are really into this one. . i hope it changes things. . .
the other happening was a lady in the front of the bus who spoke like my old Yoga instructor before she put the crazy sleep hex on me during "body scanning" (a term that still conjures memories of that movie Fire In The Sky) telling a man that had just entered the bus that she was "Soooooo glad to see hiiiiiiimmmmm." and that "It's been yyyyyyeeeeaaaarrrrrssss." all the while he listened patiently until he realized that this lady had NOT, in fact, EVER met him. the joy for me as a spectator was watching this realization creep onto his sunglassed face. you could tell he went from friendly to "creeped out" when he replied, "You must be thinking of someone else (dramatic pause) well i gotta keep the line moving." this was said with just the right combo of "creeped out" and embarrassment that i couldn't help but look towards my feet and give a little smirk. . .
man i love this blog thing. . .
the other happening was a lady in the front of the bus who spoke like my old Yoga instructor before she put the crazy sleep hex on me during "body scanning" (a term that still conjures memories of that movie Fire In The Sky) telling a man that had just entered the bus that she was "Soooooo glad to see hiiiiiiimmmmm." and that "It's been yyyyyyeeeeaaaarrrrrssss." all the while he listened patiently until he realized that this lady had NOT, in fact, EVER met him. the joy for me as a spectator was watching this realization creep onto his sunglassed face. you could tell he went from friendly to "creeped out" when he replied, "You must be thinking of someone else (dramatic pause) well i gotta keep the line moving." this was said with just the right combo of "creeped out" and embarrassment that i couldn't help but look towards my feet and give a little smirk. . .
man i love this blog thing. . .
Biblical Acid Trips or How to make and influence your friends. . .Part the first
sitting at the table with the little lady having coffee before i leave to catch The Michigan Flyer which will take me to Detroit's Wayne County Airport where i will catch the flight that gets me closer to ATP. . .NYC by 6:30pm and then studio hangin (more than likely) and a chance to hear the results of 2 straight weeks of mixing what we recorded a few months ago. . .it seems like we recorded that stuff YEARS ago now. . .geez. its gonna be hard to leave here today. this trip has been so very nice. . .
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tomorrow Never Knows or The face you see in the mirror might be your own. . .
so i finally head out tomorrow for the fabled land of NY and ATP. . .the line-up for this one is KILLER (www.atpfestival.com) and i honestly can't wait to play some crazy TOD rock again. . .too bad Mr. Jay Leo won't be able to join us. . .i miss that guy's face (smoochies Jay!) and can't wait to rock it with him either!
plans are in the works for multiple things on the music front. . .right after ATP i do a week tour with Bobby Bare Jr. from DC down to Austin for the ACL festival and then we start practicing up for the big Ryman extravaganza with the Drive-By Truckers, The Hold Steady and BBJ. . .THEN, TOD cranks back up with a Texas mini-tour playing Dallas, Houston, Austin and Fun Fun Fun Fest and 2 shows in Los Angeles (not in TX) before coming home for the year. once i'm back here there will be a gathering of the troops for some LONG LONG overdue Sincerity Guild recording/playing and a possible foray into SALT land with Forget Cassettes. . .pack some fishing into that and a trip to Puerto Rico for the New Year and you've got yourself one busy Fordsie. . . .hahaha!
i hope all is well with you and yours and i hope to see you all really really soon!!!
plans are in the works for multiple things on the music front. . .right after ATP i do a week tour with Bobby Bare Jr. from DC down to Austin for the ACL festival and then we start practicing up for the big Ryman extravaganza with the Drive-By Truckers, The Hold Steady and BBJ. . .THEN, TOD cranks back up with a Texas mini-tour playing Dallas, Houston, Austin and Fun Fun Fun Fest and 2 shows in Los Angeles (not in TX) before coming home for the year. once i'm back here there will be a gathering of the troops for some LONG LONG overdue Sincerity Guild recording/playing and a possible foray into SALT land with Forget Cassettes. . .pack some fishing into that and a trip to Puerto Rico for the New Year and you've got yourself one busy Fordsie. . . .hahaha!
i hope all is well with you and yours and i hope to see you all really really soon!!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
This Is 1
howdy folks. . .i'm gonna give a go at this new fandangled piece of readery called "The Blog". . .i've kept one up over at myspace semi-religiously but i figured it was time to have a real place to keep my thoughts and ramblings. . .hopefully i'll continue to have sordid tales of love and betrayal to keep inundating you with for many, many years to come. . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
