Wow. Much
time has passed between now and my last post. Before the gripin’ begins, I must
defend my sloth. I’ve been tracking the next album. No not hunting it down, but recording it. Well, maybe hunting
it down would be a correct way to think of it. I’ve also been to Spain
with Cindy. There’s a new bass in the works, and it’s not (gasp) a Warwick. With all that and more going on, I’ve been lacking in the gig blog department. So this post will cover Spain,
June Jatema gig, July Ashton’s gig, and my set at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. I’m
sure some other stuff will worm it’s way in as well.
Spain
is a very wonderful place. Everyone thought Cindy and I were crazy for going
in May after all the Madrid bombing mess.
I’m going to try not to wax political, but come on! Don’t believe your
television. Turn it off. Go outside. The “powers that be” are trying to scare you.
It’s the best form of control. I understand that some crazy stuff is going
on out there. However, extreme paranoia is not the answer. The world was given to you to enjoy. Eat, drink, and be merry
for tomorrow yada, yada, yada.
Sorry about that. Now, where was I? Spain is a very wonderful place. I got to spend tons of time with my wife, and actually see first hand things I only read about when I was
a kid (Spain, not my wife). You haven’t experienced a Gaudi building until you’ve
actually walked within its walls. We visited Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Parc Guell
and Sagrada Familia. To walk in these places is definitely a spiritual experience,
enlightening, and inspiring. I can see why Michael Manring composed a song about
Sagrada Familia. To describe that place with words alone is definite folly. If you’d like to see photos of these buildings and learn more about Antonio Gaudi
(it’d be a good idea) go to this site:
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Antonio_Gaudi.html
Look him up on your own, or better yet go to Barcelona
and be awestruck. Cindy took the most wonderful photos while in Spain. Maybe I can con her into posting them on the web somewhere.
While in Barcelona,
I dropped in on a bass luthier named Jerzy Drozd. His shop is tucked away is
a very pleasant neighborhood. In that shop you will find a very pleasant man,
a few apprentises, and the most wonderful basses to be seen and played. The ideas
Jerzy has about bass building are remarkable. Needless to say, I have one on
order. It should arrive in February of 2005.
I’ll write more about it then.
Cindy and I also visited Seville
and Malaga. We experienced flamenco
in Seville. I’m not even going to
attempt to type my reaction. All I will say is, and I mean this as constructive
criticism. American musicians suck on the collective whole. Flamenco is an ultimate experience in beauty and life. Go
to Spain and see flamenco.
Malaga is more than worth a visit as well.
It has wonderful gardens and nice beaches. I think I like Barcelona’s
beaches a little better. Anyway, I could type volumes about our trip to Spain. If you want to know more about it, ask me at the next gig. Better yet, go there yourself.
Recording of my next album is going kind of slowly. Chris Moore and I ran into some snags in the new East Hall recording studio. I laid down some pretty good takes, but we got a lot of unexpected noise that kind
of ruined the solo pieces. Not to worry, though. I’ve been re-tracking here in
Atlanta. The album will be available
at the end of September 2004. Promise me you’ll buy it. Promise? Do you promise?
That’s three times you’ve promised, so now you HAVE to buy it.
The June Jatema gig went pretty well. I still love playing there. It’s very nice, cozy, and laid
back. Since I hadn’t played live in almost two months, I was a little rusty but
in a good way. The place wasn’t packed, but folks that did show up were into
what I was playing. A couple of listeners said I reminded them of there cousin
except I have long hair…and play bass. I swear I have a doppelganger running
amuck in the world. Do you think he’ll stand in line for me at the DMV? Me either. Anyway, I had just gotten
back from recording ten songs at East Hall, so I felt in the mood to play all the songs from the new album. If you weren’t there, you missed it. You’ll have to wait until
next time. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo. Thanks
again to Jason Donavan for letting me play at Jatema. I’m looking forward to
my next show there on July 21st.
Playing Ashton’s was once again cool. Decatur has a good vibe going on. Thanks to all the usuals for making it to the show. I saw
some new faces in the crowd. It’s good to see new folks. One of them was a Bass/Nature camper. One was one of my students
and his main squeeze. A few were from Cindy’s photography club, and few were
friends that finally got to catch me live. Thanks everybody. I played a lot of new tunes in a set that lasted over two hours.
Man, I need to start taking breaks. When I get on a role, I just don’t
want to stop. Thanks, Luma, for having me out again. My next gig at Ashton’s is August 20th. Be there
or be square or cubic or an illusion of a cube (see Blank Screen on the Thoughts page).
The Callanwolde show was beyond neat. I played a 45 minute set in the library of the main building right before poetry readings. The room was a mix of musicians and poets…as well as an editor and an accountant. My set seemed pretty quick and fun. The room was very attentive
as well as responsive. Public Broadcasting of Atlanta was on hand to film the
event. With a little luck, snippets of my show will make it onto television as
well as a quick interview with me. So you can turn your TV back on for that one. Heh. I’ll keep you posted as to when
this might air. Anyway, after my set we stayed to listen to the poets. I found every bit of the poetry enjoyable. Listening to each
poet was like seeing life from the perspective of ten people all at once. We
all have our own existence and personal truths, but to share them in this way seems to reveal a greater truth and a greater
notion of what it means to be alive and human. Fun stuff. I hope to be a part of such events in the future. Thanks to
Mary Lynne Beckley, Dereck Patterson, and everyone at Callanwolde for having me play.
Also, thanks to Chip (didn’t catch your last name) for the help with the load in.
Okay, gotta wrap this up.
One more thing, Michael Manring will be playing Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA
on August 4th. If you like any of my music, you will be slack-jawed
at Manring’s creations. Check out his link on my links page. Okay, ta-ta for now.
