There was never anywhere to go but home, home…

I admit I didn’t start to pay attention to Ryan Adams until 2001 when “New York, New York” became a hit. I mean, who can forget the haunting image of The World Trade Center in the background (shot just days before 9/11) as he sang his ode to the great city I grew up around and love to this day. It was in those trying days that I started to really pay attention to this guy. In the midst of all the personal hell I was going through having been in NYC on ‘that’ day and the reasons I was home, I was able to grasp a hold of some new music that in some ways helped carry me through those horrible weeks that followed. Needless to say, I’ve been a fan ever since and his latest release, an EP entitled Follow The Lights is no less gripping.

The title song from this EP, “Follow The Lights”, among three new songs of seven, has really struck a chord for me. From the first time I really ‘heard’ it (as featured on an episode of the ABC show “October Road”) I was hooked. Perhaps it was the timing of the release, it being The Holidays and me feeling homesick, or perhaps no matter the time of year it’s easy to identify with wanting to go home – wherever that is in your heart - even if no one is there to answer the door. Home is where we feel our naked feet and the grass beneath them, home is where we feel whole or where the ghosts live that either encourage or discourage us to return.


These very moments as they pass
It’s like you’re just dreaming of busting someone else
Hands they hold a candle to the pages
These days they go so fast
These days are ours

Follow the lights that line the streets
connecting telephones
Follow the lights from house to house
And they will lead you home
They will lead you home
Cause there was never anywhere to go
There was never anywhere to go
But home

If every second year is true
Our love is strong enough to guide the way we walk through
Hands inside of hands
Hearts inside of hearts
Like eyes closed
Side by side and through

Follow the lights that line the streets
connecting telephones
Follow the lights from house to house
And they will lead you home
They will lead you home
Cause there was never anywhere to go
There was never anywhere to go
But home

If everything we are is true
Our memories are attics in those houses on the hill
Our love is there above us holding everything so still
And we are always here
Yes we are always here

So follow the lights that line the streets
connecting telephones
Follow the lights from house to house
And they will lead you home
They will lead you home
Cause there was never anywhere to go
There was never anywhere to go
There was never anywhere to go
But home, home
[courtesy of http://www.metrolyrics.com]

As you can imagine from the lyrics the melody is sweet, touching and the music moves us along like a slow river in the deep south. It is surely one of my favourite songs of 2007.

As for the rest of the Ep – it is worth every song. The other two new tunes on it, “My Love For You Is Real” and “Blue Hotel” are fine pieces of work that will whet your appetite for his next release out, hopefully, later this year – another recording he’ll do with The Cardinals tentatively entitled The Cardinals III/IV. The remaining songs are newly redone older songs of his (a cover of Alice In Chains’ “Down In A Hole”, “This Is It” from Rock n Roll and “Dear John” from Jacksonville City Nights) – but with a catch – they are recorded live and thusly, for the purist in all if us, make them even better than the original versions. I tip my hat to anyone who can record live and not use all the tricks that machines afford us. What you hear is what they did, and felt in that moment – it is absolutely one of the best feelings for me. No overdubbing, no layering, just the music as it was in the studio without all the extraneous noise that comes from a concert recording. Very cool and worth downloading the whole EP (which I always prefer to do instead of just the songs I think I might like) or buying it in a real store.
www.ryan-adams.com or http://www.myspace.com/ryanadams

As you can probably guess if you’re a reader of this blog (where I use titles of songs to lead into a topic in my life) I did indeed go home for The Holidays. Thankfully I was able to spend nearly two weeks back east visiting with old friends and touching base with those I don’t see as often as I would like. It was a busy time and of course I didn’t even see everyone I would have liked but those I got to made the miles fade away and made me feel at home.

After a delayed flight in Los Angeles on the 18th of December I landed in Newark and was quickly brisked away to what has become a tradition for me and Fritz. He picks me up (this time in his new car) and we hustle back to Riverdale, drop of my crap and hightail it to Josepina’s where we try to get our order for food in before the kitchen closes and where they make the best Vodka Martinis in town. This time we were joined by his new girlfriend, Debbie, who, unlike the last one, isn’t a recovering alcoholic. Not that I’m against people who are recovering (one of my dearest friends is in AA) – but this last one was a headache and I’m glad she’s out of the picture since I never felt comfy having a drink in front of her thusly making time around them less fun. Though admittedly last year I made a point to get drunk in front her – I was kind of pissed that although they had broken up I was having to spend Christmas Eve with her so I kind of let loose. Ok – maybe that was more than you wanted to know. Needless to say I really like Debbie and I hope this works out for him – he deserves a woman like her and it’s about time he date someone we can all hang out with and like. She’s a real keeper.

After catching up with our college bud, Courtney, the next day we hightailed it to Brooklyn for dinner to see my dear old friend, Jodi, whom Fritz had never met despite us knowing each other for eight years. Another Vodka Martini, some very tasty food, stimulating conversation and meeting Jodi’s new girlfriend (odd that these two friends seem to be embarking on new relationships at the same time within a week of each other) and a good time was had by all. Despite a ‘new’ restaurant, and new surroundings, I felt at home. Sometimes ‘home’ has to do with the people at the table and not where that table is located. I’m glad we hauled our asses out there – it was well worth the trip.

Next up was a trip to Boston to see Amanda and Rosemary. It was Thursday the 20th and it was time to break in the new car, aptly dubbed Klaus. For the most part it was an uneventful drive up until Fritz got tired and asked me to take over, conveniently in a snow storm. Hmm…oh well, he knows I love to drive and he knows I love weather so it worked out very well – but instead of heading into to town we had to go straight up to Redding for fear of getting stuck in nasty weather traffic. It was a smart move to just get on up there because the snow didn’t stop until well into the night. Unfortunately, it was also the day Amanda was having surgery on her shoulder so they weren’t exactly home when we arrived. Oh well. After some shoveling and sheer will we got up into the driveway and had a good time in the car watching the snow and drinking some Sam Adams Winter Lager that I stashed in a snow bank to keep cool. Why not make the best of it, right?

Thankfully they showed up just as our hunger was making us contemplate loosing our spot on the hill/driveway that we’d worked so hard for to head out into the storm. Yep – they have four wheel drive so any errands (including dinner) that evening were consequently run in their vehicle whilst Klaus rested and snuggled up with his first snow. Even though Amanda was on painkillers and just basically out of it it was another good night at ‘home’.

Next up after a leisurely breakfast with the girls: a ‘queer eye’ makeover for Fritz. It was time for him to loose his “Michael Bolton” locks and cut the shit off. We went back to my old ‘hood in Somerville and got an appointment at Judy Jetson’s – a place I used to get my hair cut back in the day. WOW. Wonders never cease – he looked great! We also had enough time to walk into Harvard Square and hit the old streets. I was comforted to realize that much of what I’ve always loved about Harvard Square remains. It is and always will be a very beautiful part of town and I’m so glad for my time there.

Saturday rolled around and it was time to head out to The Berkshires to catch up with Lauren and Katherine (my second favourite niece). Fritz and I took one of my favourite roads and traveled out Route 2. It was simply amazing and beautiful! Thanks to the snowstorm everything was covered in white and idyllic in it’s feel and look. It was truly magical as was our time with them which included meeting Lauren’s new cheese making boyfriend, David, who managed to convince me with his deft pouring hands that Gin Martinis are the bomb. You rule, man, really you do. Another keeper.

After a breakfast of Lobster Benedict (only in New England) on Sunday it was time to head down to Connecticut to see my sis and my first favourite niece, Cathryn so I could spend the week with them and hang out for Christmas. It was a busy week – my dear old friends Corrina and Nicole swung by on Wednesday for the night (good times) and then Thursday and Friday I used my carpenter skills to finish up the window between the kitchen and living room that a looser carpenter my sister hired never bothered to finish. It’s ok – he did a crappy job and I had to fix his work – if he had stayed the window would have eventually collapsed so it all worked out in the end. It wouldn’t be a trip home without working on my sister’s house - something I greatly enjoy.

Anyhoo……my last night in town, Saturday, was spent in Times Square with Fritz, Debbie, Nicole and Corrina. I rarely do such touristy things in NYC but it was, after all, The Patriots/Giants game and what better place to watch than in the middle of the city with the game being played just miles away. It was very exciting and if you’re wondering who I was rooting for I chose The Patriots since it was when I was living in Boston that I learned how to watch Football. It’s kind of hard NOT to root for them when you live there – it’s like The Sox – it’s in the water and you drink it.

Overall it was an amazing time at home. The weather was awesome – I got my snow – I got my hugs and I ate some amazing food. I even saw a movie (Juno – awesome!) with my sister for the first time in years - just like we used to do on Christmas Day when we were old enough to stretch our legs and get away from the family whilst they lounged in front of the fire. It was all very sweet, and it really felt like home – ghosts or no ghosts.

Thanks for tuning in…Happy New Year & Happy Russian Christmas…Until next week…CHEERS!!

Ps. I’ve posted some pictures on my myspace page under the title “Christmas ’07…” www.myspace.com/laraschuler

Here's the video for "Follow The Lights":