My favourite celebrity endorsement....

They told me this was crazy, they told me expect the worst, they told me this is going to haunt you someday….

To me there is something so quintessentially Bostonian about Patty Larkin, this despite the fact that she grew up in Milwaukee. I think it’s because not only has she lived in Beantown forever but it was when I was living there that a friend turned me on to her. Most of my memories in Boston can somehow be threaded through her silky voice, meaningful lyrics and her sweet melodies. Not to be confused with that other Patty (Griffin – another great Boston artist who actually grew up just north of the city) this Patty has a jazz vibe to her – a uniquely smart approach to her songs that while most qualify her as a folk artist (understandably so since much of her early work is as such) – this latest release, Watch The Sky, is harder to nail down; unlike her previous work this CD is rife with unexpected sounds and interesting turns.

Ever true to her lyrical voice – there is no mistaking that this is Patty Larkin as evidenced from today’s title lyric from “Hallelujuh” – she musically weaves in and out of her words as if she were on a Bunny Slope at Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire. Gliding on ice as is typical of New England skiing – you know she’d headed down the mountain – but you don’t know where she will come to a stop. Not only did she, according to her website, write and produce this CD she also engineered and edited it as the ideas came to her – writing – then recording immediately following. I think this allows for less reflection – less time to criticize your own work and just put it out there as the inspiration ‘dictates’. Too often as a writer I know I’m prone to over analyzing my words (if you only knew how long it actually takes me to write these blogs you’d probably tell me just to give up) and thusly I’m not always as true to my voice as I should be – not always as fearless as I could be. The freedom she allows herself to purge her written voice and create sounds such as the ‘slapsteel’ guitar – a pedal steel guitar detuned and played with drumsticks – works so well for her songs that you would think she’s always worked this way.

If you’re looking to hear something akin to her Live In Harvard Square CD you’re barking up the wrong tree. This is a piece of work that could very well be in a Wim Wenders film or part of the soundtrack to any number of films such as Tumbleweeds, Sweet Land, or basically any indie film that has to do with hardscrabble living, dusty roads and quirky people in love. My favourite songs are “Waterside”, “Phone Message”, “Cover Me”, “Hallelejuh”, “Dear Heart” and “Traveling Alone”. Each song is different with it’s own spirit and one wonders – was a song written in the morning and thusly the day shaped around it? Or was it the other way around? We’ll never know – but it sure is fun imagining her process. No matter what, this is music worth listening to and getting to know – do it with a cup of coffee or a shot of whiskey on a sunday afternoon and if you’re really lucky there will be a gentle snow falling. www.pattylarkin.com or www.myspace.com/pattylarkinofficial

One thing you should never do on a Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles is go to the grocery store. Now that the writers strike is over and more people are working Monday through Friday – the weekend has once again become about running errands – especially Sunday afternoon. The last gasp of freedom is at our tongue tip – every so tasteful and soon to be sliding down our throats. I was itchy to get out and do something after damn near ruining my flat screen t.v. by pausing on a McDonalds logo for too long. I thought the imprint would last forever and that I would, ironically since I don’t eat fast food, be subjected to this imprint until the end of time – or at least until I’m forced to buy a new high def T.V. As the crisis loomed in my head I walked to Trader Joe’s to stock up on some bare necessities. BIG MISTAKE.

Of late I have tried to go to a store and be zen about it. The more crowded this city becomes the more difficult even the smallest of tasks can be. Driving 5 miles can take an hour; watching a movie in public can cause one to want to support the N.R.A. and apparently buying cereal has become hazardous as well. After patiently waiting behind some old guy to decide not to buy eggs – then politely excusing myself to get by so I could buy eggs only to be given a dirty look – I headed for the cereal aisle.

What was I thinking? Cereal? It seems simple enough a task – walk up to the boxes – try and remember what I buy – and pick up a box. Uh. Nope. Another old guy decided that his buying cereal was far more important than my need to buy it all the while attempting to use his cart to nudge me out of the way whilst muttering something about his oh-so important needs. Damn it! I got there first!! I’m slightly colour blind and can’t just pick out any old box based on what it looks like – I have to actually read the god damn label to make sure I’m not buying some sugar laden crap that’s going to give me diabetes later on in life or make me fall asleep after I eat it. Unbelievable!

Next up was to wind my way up to the cheese and meat aisle. Hard to do with all the excessively large baby carriages in my path. What should have taken half a minute took closer to two minutes because of the several detours I had to take to get where I wanted to go. Then of course after I checked out I was nearly run over by another baby carriage as I attempted to exit the store. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!

As I walked out of the store I saw to my right a table and these cute little handwritten signs asking to ‘help our troops’. How can I resist? So in order to assuage my guilt over being so annoyed by all these ridiculous people and being less than zen - I bought Girl Scout cookies that I really didn’t need to buy. Oh well. I’m sure it will come back to haunt me in some way but I figured ‘why not? they’re kids and lets keep them off these mean streets of Los Angeles’. Though come to think of it - I think they were from the Beverly Hills troop. Oh well. I felt better anyway. No more Sunday shopping for me.

Thanks for tuning in…Until next week….CHEERS!! & GO HILLARY!!!

Take this sinking boat and point it home we’ve still got time…(part 2)

I don't know which is more exciting - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova winning the Oscar for Best Original Song for their tune "Falling Slowly" from the film Once or their deeply inspiring, and touching acceptance speeches (see the videos below). Either way their win was the most exciting moments of last night for me as I watched one of my favourite songs from last year get the recognition it truly deserves. It is absolutely one of the best songs of 2007 and if you'd like to read my original review hit this link:

http://lifeinlaland.blogspot.com/2007/09/take-this-sinking-boat-and-point-it.html

Oscar performance:



Acceptance speeches:



What can I possibly add?

Thanks for tuning in....Until next week...CHEERS! and Congrats to Glen and Marketa!!! WAY TO GO!!!!!!

Is it a warning? Is it a sign? Is it a people who have lost their mind?

[James Blunt – “I Can’t Hear The Music” from All The Lost Souls]

It embarrasses and shames me to think that on this day next year, President’s Day 2009, George W. Bush could very well one day be among those honoured. He could be included on that list of mostly worthy Presidents that we celebrate. The list of greats like Washington, Lincoln, or an Adams. It disgusts me in fact. I didn’t vote for him the 1st or 2nd time he cheated, er, was elected to the highest office in the land and I’d never vote for anyone in his family irrespective of their party. All the dignity and grace of the White House has been tarnished by this idiot cowboy who’s been allowed by many in Washington (including the Democrats) to run loose and remain unaccountable. It makes me sick to my stomach.

On a brighter note – with any luck – this time next year Hillary Clinton could be among those Presidents to possibly be honoured in coming years. It’s small – but it offers some relief to know that the reign of terror is nearly over - because no matter who gets elected – anyone will be better than who we have now. 10 ½ months and counting……

GO HILLARY!!!!!!! www.myspace.com/hillaryclinton

Thanks for tuning in…Until next week…CHEERS!!!

PS:
Here's a fascinating video about Barack Obama....you can also go to www.obamatruth.org to read some very interesting articles about him....

There's a big, a big hard sun, beating on the big people, in the big hard world….

If ever there were a perfect symbiotic relationship between a film and a soundtrack it would be, hands down, Into The Wild. The story of an overly intelligent, idealistic and adventurous soul, the film, based on Jon Krakauer’s book of the same title retells the true story of a recent college graduate, Chris “Alex” McCandless, who leaves his cushy, privileged life behind to travel the country with the intent of conquering the Alaskan Wilderness. As we follow “Alex” (the name he takes to free himself of his WASPY upbringing and to avoid being located by his family) we are led on a journey of self discovery both within Alex and those he touches along the way of his two year sojourn. No one he comes in contact with is left unmoved; no one escapes his hypnotizing view on the material world.

So it is when the film begins and the voice of Eddie Vedder starts to ring out. While “Hard Sun” is written by Gordon Peterson, the rest of the songs, including “Rise” and “Far Behind”, other prominent songs we hear throughout, are penned by Vedder himself. As we follow Alex we hear Vedder somehow saying all that Alex is unable to say. The music becomes another character, or really, another facet of Alex.

HARD SUN

When I walk beside her
I am the better man
when i look to leave her
I always stagger back again


Once I built an ivory tower
so I could worship from above
when I climb down to be set free
she took me in again

CHORUS
There’s a big
a big hard sun
beating on the big people
in the big hard world

When she comes to greet me
she is mercy at my feet
I see her inner charm
she just throws it back at me

Once I dug an early grave
to find a better land
she just smiled and laughed at me
and took her rules back again

CHORUS

Once I stood to lose her
and I saw what i had done
bowed down and threw away the hours
of her garden and her sun

So I tried to want her
I turned to see her weep
40 days and 40 nights
and its still coming down on me

CHORUS
[Hard Sun lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

There is a subtle pain one witnesses when watching/listening to this film. A young man struggling to find his voice thrusts himself into any adventure that comes his way and embraces the world at his feet. Initially penniless (he gave the remainder of his $24,000 college fund to Oxfam) he grabs any job he can to get him to his next destination – sometimes unknown, sometimes haphazardly, but ultimately as the miles and months move along he knows Alaska is where he will find his final truth. That is where he believes the rest of the answers lie – in the solitude and the quiet of The Great Wilderness; only then can the answers within him be fully realized.

It is hard to imagine this film without the sometimes thundering music and insight that Eddie Vedder provides. Having read the book in 1996 when it came out I wonder if he did the same in order to really understand Alex’s heart, soul and desires for the world. Somehow Vedder really ‘gets’ him – really taps ‘into the wild’ that was in Alex. Perhaps we can all understand his need to question, be free and to take those brave steps to leave it all behind, but few of us actually go. His misanthropic leanings, as well as his inexperience (and some might say, stupidity) are ultimately his downfall. Simultaneously the one thing he was escaping most in the end turns out to be what he craves the most. There is a cruel and heartbreaking irony to this fact – something that we hear and feel as we take this journey with Alex, Eddie and Sean Penn the writer/director of the film.

FAR BEHIND

Take Leave
the conscious mind
Found myself
to be so inclined

Why sleep
in discontent?
Oh the price
of companionship

My shadow runs with me
underneath the Big Wide Sun
My shadow comes with me
as we leave it all
we leave it all Far Behind

Empty pockets will
Allow a greater
Sense of wealth
Why contain yourself
Like any other
Book on the shelf

My shadow lays with me
underneath the Big Wide Sun
My shadow stays with me
as we leave it all
we leave it all Far Behind

Subtle voices in the wind,
Hear the truth they're telling
A world begins where the road ends
Watch me leave it all behind

Far Behind

Far Behind

[Far Behind lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]


THE LONG ROAD


Will I walk the long road?
I cannot say
There's no need to say goodbye
Oh, the pressure's building
All the memories going round
Round, round, round...
I have wished for so long...
Now I wish for you again
And the wind keeps blowin'
And the sky keeps turning grey
And the sun is set
The sun won't never rise again
I have wished for so long ...
Now I wish for you again
I have wished for so long...
Now I wish for you today
Will I walk the long road? (3x)

[The Long Road lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

I can’t say enough how amazing, powerful and haunting this film was. Thankfully it had been so many years since reading the book that much of it felt new whilst I was taken on the long rivers journey that is this piece of work – both musically and visually. Not only did Eddie Vedder capture Alex – it would not have been so without Jon Krakauer and Sean Penn and their deep love and compassion for the man that was Chris, the man that was Alex, and all the conflict and understanding that made him who he was and made his story so compelling. Stupid or not – he was braver than most of us could ever hope to be.

Do yourself a favour - don’t wait for the DVD – see this on a HUGE screen – you will be glad did.

Thanks for tuning in…Until next week….CHEERS!!

HARD SUN video:

Wonder if you’ll understand it’s just the touch of your hand behind closed doors….

It’s hard to explain the excitement I felt a few weeks ago when I read on her blog that Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke, collectively known as Yaz, or Yazoo, had decided to reunite for a U.K. tour, entitled Reconnected, (as preceded by In Your Room a four disc box set of their work) that begins in Galsgow on 4 June 2008. I damn near grabbed passport and credit card to book a flight and follow them around like some Grateful Dead hippie only with an Electronica/New Wave bent. It’s something akin to lots of people with interesting haircuts, skinny ties, and lots of black clothing gulping down espresso and dancing like there’s a backboard up their asses. I know – it sounds crazy – afterall – they AREN’T The Dead – but they sure are a hell of a duo who wrote some amazing tunes and would be more than worthy of their cult following following them around.

I don’t actually remember when I started listening to Yaz. I know it wasn’t until either late High School or early College – long after their 1982 debut, Upstairs At Eric’s. I do remember listening to Alison Moyet’s solo work (Alf, and Raindancing in particular) which perhaps caused me to look backwards and investigate her time with Vince Clarke. Either way their effect on me was immediate and powerful as evidenced by the above quoted song, “Only You”. There is something so pained and honest about it – the distance we can feel from someone we love and yet have no power to change. We can’t change our feelings and we can’t change their desire to move away. It’s like a drug – you want more – you can’t get it and yet you can’t walk away. Instead we are left holding a bag of emotions that we have no idea what to do with; still, we keep putting more in the bag and as it gets heavier we stand still because we can no longer carry it. What to do then? The song leaves it open and all we know, quite simply, is that there is only one person – only you. There are no answers sometimes – only feelings.

I woke up the other morning with this song in my head. You could say it’s haunted me ever since. I have no idea why it’s in my brain right now – but I woke up and put The Best of Yaz on (I think my copies of their only two albums, Upstairs At Eric’s, and You and Me Both disappeared in a move) and listened anew with great pleasure and astonishment at how refreshing the songs are and, of course, how timeless. Some say the test of a really great song is how it sounds on an acoustic guitar and an acoustic guitar alone. In it’s more bare form without all the trickery of synthesizers and vocal overdubs a song shows it’s true essence and heart. But I believe that another sign is how a song sounds twenty five years later.

Holy crap! Did I just say that? Yeah – twenty five years later their work sounds as relevant and meaningful as you can ever be. Alison Moyet, with her deep, throaty, soulful, hearty like a great stew voice has one of the best sounds of ANYONE since the beginning of time. You can’t go wrong with either her solo work or with her time within Yaz. With all the bands who have come and gone in these twenty five years their union will be one of the most everlasting. They are like The Eurythmics, time will go on, trends will come and go – but their music will last a lifetime. Oh yeah – if you’re wondering how “Only You” stands up to the acoustic guitar test – believe me – I investigated it and sure as the day is long – the song stands up and holds it’s own. But don’t worry – I won’t be doing a cover of it anytime soon because this is one of those songs that unless you are Yaz , The Flying Pickets, or Joshua Radin you can do more damage than good. www.myspace.com/yazooofficial or www.myspace.com/alisonmoyetofficial or www.alisonmoyet.com

It was a slow week in my world this past one; nothing too great to announce or even discuss so I thought I would toss out some random thoughts and then perhaps turn you on to some cool blogs I’ve started reading of late.

Delightful moment of the week: Joshua Radin on XM Café singing “Only You”. Yep – he’s good!!! Loved his tune, “What If You” on the Catch and Release soundtrack and have been paying attention ever since.

Snoozefest moment of the week: Colby Caillat on David Letterman. No – it wasn’t because it aired at 12.30a – I have tivo - I was wide awake when I put it on. Quickly I was put to sleep wondering – what’s the big deal? BORING. Oh right – your dad’s a music producer – THAT explains it. DELETE!!!!!!

Odd moment of the week: Seeing my uncle on a blog. Or at least seeing a present he gave to a friend. Whether my uncle is on it or not – it’s a cool blog: www.plaidshirt.blogspot.com

Bummer moment: The Patriots loosing the Super Bowl.

Happy but not the happiest moment: The Giants winning the Super Bowl. What can I say? They’re both my teams – I was going to be happy either way.

Happiest moment (despite the outcome): Watching the Super Bowl with two of my favourite people, Abby and Rebecca. Great afternoon, R! Thanks a bunch!

Sad moment: Getting an email from my dear friend Jodi about my 2nd favourite dog, Tigger, letting her peeps know that Tigger has cancer and had to loose a leg. All is good right now and she is doing well but if you want to follow their journey: http://hopalongwithtigger.blogspot.com/

True New Yorker moment of the week: My uncle (a die hard Brooklynite) sending me a link to a smart, biting and funny blog about Hipsters in our beloved city: http://www.diehipster.com/

Alright kiddies – enough of my blather for this week – I hope you all check out Yaz – check out Alison Moyet - and have yourselves a great listen...all of this work is worth your time...and you just can't go wrong!

Thanks for tuning in…Until next week…don't forget to vote.....CHEERS!!!

"Only You" Videos:

Yaz:



The Flying Pickets

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome…

In the shadows of tall buildings
Of fallen angels on the ceilings
Oily feathers in bronze and concrete
Faded colors, pieces left incomplete
The line moves slowly past the electric fence
Across the borders between continents

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is

In the shadows of tall buildings
The architecture is slowly peeling
Marble statues and glass dividers
Someone is watching all of the outsiders
The line moves slowly through the numbered gate
Past the mosaic of the head of state

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is

In the shadows of tall buildings
Of open arches endlessly kneeling
Sonic landscapes echoing vistas
Someone is listening from a safe distance
The line moves slowly into a fading light
A final moment in the dead of night

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is

(from Jump Little Children, “Cathedrals”, courtesy of metrolyrics.com)



Thanks for tuning in....Until next time...in sadness....Cheers.

Tell the sky don’t fall on me….

I’m not sure why this happens but when I tell people I listen to classical music nearly every day they seem surprised. They look at me, somewhat perplexed, and tilt their heads and say ‘huh’. I think perhaps because of the music I’m likely to have playing on my computer either at home or work they think I’m not attuned to listening to any other kind of music; or they read my blog and make their assessments based on what they read. What few people don’t know is that more often than not I put the local classical station on at night before I go to bed, or in the car, or anytime I’m so inclined – which is as it turns out about once a day.

When I was growing up I was surrounded by people who not only listened to classical music, but were opera trained singers and actors. More often than not after - dinner - listening in the living room revolved around classical music and/or opera. While I wasn’t always in the room when that was going on – sometimes it was so loud it was hard to miss. Thankfully the house was big enough that I could, if I wanted to, escape and go play my drums (imagine the polarity of THAT night). Either way, what was instilled in me was a love of classical music, some operas and when it came time to study music it was the obvious choice. Start at the beginning and go from there. Classical music for me is something that I use for relaxation, something that reminds me of my family, and a tool that I use for my writing. When I’m feeling less than inspired I drown myself in it and let everything go. I’m told that if you know what you are listening to you can even hear the influence in my music.

So began yesterday, Sunday, after a day of tears and walking the beach on Saturday feeling the anniversary of my mother’s death, I lay in bed, not wanting to move. It is rare for me to not want to get out of bed. I have to either be sick or sicker. But it was an unexpected way to spend the morning. Perhaps it was Abby bringing me coffee in bed (yeah – I know – and I too love the band Squeeze so don’t think I didn’t chuckle when I saw her bringing me my travel mug full of hot, not so black coffee) or maybe it was the emotional hangover from the previous day, or simply the fact that it was Sunday and it was quiet for a change, but it was a nice change of pace. After about a half an hour of enjoying the silence I flipped on the Bose and put my favourite classical station on – KUSC. To my lovely surprise they had on a gorgeous choral program and very little talk. As we lay around drinking morning beverages, eating breakfast and chatting the music added to the calm and the feeling of a brand new day. It was so peaceful, slowing down, and letting the morning sink step by step upon us.

After the choral program they shifted gears and played some Baroque – a favourite genre of mine – and I heard some Johann Pachelbel I had never heard before (a sonata in G). It’s always a cool thing to hear someone’s music that doesn’t often get played in the radio. Of course if you listen to it carefully you can hear that it’s his work. Since most musicians favour certain notes it’s an easy connection to make and a refreshing one at that. Basically, it was a prefect morning that was enhanced by some new sounds (including a version of “Amazing Grace” I’d never heard before), some old sounds and some inspirational juice. I highly suggest you start off your Sunday that way sometime soon. Because in the hectic world we live in – with all the noise and chatter – sometimes you have to let the world fall down.

Speaking of the world falling down - rude awakening moment of the week: this morning at 7.20 the construction started next door and not just a little banging but MAJOR saws, hammering and yelling. I called the LAPD at 7.50 and was told by the dispatcher that they were not allowed to work on a holiday. When I called at 9 – I was told they were. I wish the police would get their stories straight or at least know the laws they are sworn to protect. Needless to say the yahoos next door are still at it and show no signs of giving us all a break today. I hope their world falls down on them.

Thanks for tuning in….Until next week….CHEERS!!

PS. This week's title is from REM's "Fall On Me"

In The Morning when the moon is at it’s raise you will find me at the time I love the best…..

I was at a loss this week for a CD to review. You see, there are weeks when I am nearly obsessed with a song or a CD – it’s inhabited me, it’s haunted me – it’s maybe sent me to another plain as music has always done. I think I’m lucky that way – not everyone feels music and I’m grateful for it’s inhabitance of my soul. Maybe it’s no different than the person who feels that way about archeology or cooking, or maybe it is. Since art is subjective and, if you’re a Dadaist, art can be anything, it’s hard to quantify. I do know we all have our passions and if we don’t - we are dead. Irrespective of your passion – it’s good to have one, or a few – they keep us alive and aware of who we are and where we belong.

So I’m sitting here typing away rather uncensored as I listen for the first time to the CD that Abby suggested I review. This week’s offering: David Gray’s latest, a live CD of covers, A Thousand Miles Behind, released this past October. I’m not quite all the way through as I write this but so far I’m enjoying my listen. While doing a little research I did stumble upon his website and watched the Live Earth video of him and the reclusive Damien Rice singing “Babylon” (I’ll post it below). It was worth the detour since it was a performance that I had missed. But back to this CD; so far, so good.

I have to say, I think you need to be a fan of his to really enjoy this CD. His style is mellow and thoughtful and it’s not for everyone. All the songs are done in this manner of slow-moving, mildly sad, yet introspective way. Although, don’t get me wrong – hearing him cover Bob Dylan’s “To Ramona”, “One Too Many Mornings”, and “Buckets Of Rain” is a real pleasure and I do believe he does justice to these fine pieces of work.

One of the really cool things about this collection of covers is that some of these tunes are rather unexpected. I never thought I’d hear him sing the Barry Gibb song, “In The Morning”, done so beautifully and with a sensitivity to the tune that can bring you to tears. Though perhaps that says more about Barry Gibb’s songwriting than anything else since every tune that brilliant man has ever written, with the right production values, can do that (I believe a lot of his brilliance has been lost amid the schlocky disco production and sappy crap that has made him and the Bee Gees a ton of money – it’s a true shame that many don’t recognize this fact). Another surprise worth the price of admission is Bruce Springsteen’s “Philadelphia”. Surely few others could do this song justice in the way that David Gray has done. However, the most surprising for me is the Randy Newman tune, “I Think It’s Going To Rain”. I admit, I’m not a fan of Mr. Newman’s but after hearing this version of one of his songs I realize that, much like how I feel about Ani DiFranco, it may have less to do with the songwriting and more to do with the delivery. I think both are very fine songwriters but I don’t want to hear them sing their own tunes. David Gray remedies this and does it well. He has opened my eyes to Mr. Newman and perhaps now I won’t be so quick to dismiss him.

Overall I think this CD is a very sweet listen and will open anyone’s eyes to a few songs they may have never given too much thought to. It has opened my eyes and I hope you check it out. www.davidgray.com and www.myspace.com/davidgray

Last week I filled you in on my Christmas Holiday. In between the miles of travel and the martinis I learned some unexpected news. It was Christmas Eve and my niece’s first church recital; she did an amazing job and was as cute as a button! After it was all over while we were standing in the pew congratulating her and gathering our things I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was a dear old friend of mine from college, Sue, whose nephews were in the same chorus with Cate. As her brother and her wife looked on we did a little catching up – though not too much since we all had family to attend to. The inevitable question came up – ‘how’s (my ex boyfriend and her best friend) Jim? The last I heard he was an art teacher in The City, is he still doing that?’. Silence. A very long moment. A bombshell. ‘I’m sorry to tell you but he passed away five years ago of cancer’. WOW, not what I was anticipating and certainly not the time to talk about it. I gave her my card and hoped to hear from her.

After getting back to Los Angeles, settling in with a nasty cold and catching up on my myspace, I learned that Sue had put in a ‘friend’ request. Cool. It’s always good to be in touch with old friends – it makes us feel as if our ‘childish’ indiscretions and wild nights weren’t as bad as they seem in retrospect and that hopefully all is chalked up to ‘those crazy years’. Though I may never ‘get over’, (laugh), Sue calling me ‘the bitch on wheels’ (I used to ride my bike furiously across campus and apparently looked so intense it gave people, or Sue, the impression that I was well…you get it) I am glad she tapped me on the shoulder. It took some courage, and I don’t know why I was afraid, but I had to email her and ask what happened to Jim. She explained how they found each other and how it was just in time. She was in his life his last few months thanks to a mutual friend and they managed to reconnect, hang out and just ‘be’. I gathered she felt at peace about his passing.

It’s so odd to find this out five years after the fact. Jim and I lost touch long ago but he was one of my favourite boyfriends and I loved him. I still wear the pinky ring that we got in the West Village too many years ago – the rings that made us the ‘power twins’ – he wore his on his right hand, I wore/wear mine on my left hand so that when we held hands our rings touched. I have never taken it off except to record (the ring bangs on my guitar which can sometimes be an unwanted noise). I know now I will wear this ring until the end of time.

I was deeply saddened at Christmas to learn of his passing and, this week, to learn more details. One might think, ‘why would you be sad? You weren’t in touch and for all you know he had long ago forgotten about you’. But that’s not the point, is it? The point is that we are touched by those we love and no matter how many years pass between hearing their voice or getting an email, they remain a part of us. While they may get tucked away and sometimes put aside to protect our emotions from pain, they are somewhere inside of us. Maybe we bring them up to the surface sometime on a rainy day in private, or maybe they cross our minds when we walk around our old college. This week I mourned not only his loss, I mourned the loss of possibility. I will never get to thank him for opening my eyes to Punk music and dark beer. I will never be able to tell him again how talented an artist he is. He’ll never know I still have one of his self portraits. I’ll never meet his wife and be able to thank her for loving one of my favourite people more than I ever could. I’ll never be able to say how sorry I am for how things ended and for what a jerk I was to handle it the way I did. But no matter what – he will stay with me and when I get the courage I’ll look at our old pictures as I’ve done over the years – only this time I’ll know that he is gone. Somehow it changes everything.

Thanks for tuning in….Until next week….Cheers!

Here’s the David Gray/Damien Rice video:

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":