This poor negelcted space

I've been thinking of a return to the blog. Trying to slow down the swirl of words, ideas, and emotions in me long enough to present something worthwhile. Pictures have been my words recently and maybe that's just too one-sided.

I've run out of excuses. I have my own computer and can access the internet from anywhere in the house I wish. I could even grab some WiFi at some hipster coffee joint. I guess it's time.

Five Thousand Miles

Five Thousand Miles
Originally uploaded by Matt Callahan.

Saturday

I can't escape from the sensation of warm rays of sun on my skin. A touch you don't want to move away from. Fighting for my attention is an almost cold wind. The two elements swirl around and make something very comfortable. As if they belong together. The sound of rushing air past my ears makes me think of Jon Gagan's Five Thousand Miles from Transit. Pieces of it play over and over in my head.

I think of the distance I've covered this past year. So many changes. Things I could of never prepared myself for. The path is an interesting one, to say the least.

Thank you to those who've kept me standing, walking, moving forward.

Peace

Merry Christmas

I dropped off my children and their mother at the airport this morning at 4:30. For a number of reasons, they will be spending the holidays in Michigan. December 25th will find me waking in a house occupied by a dog, two birds, and a fish. 2006 has been a year of great change for me. Awakening to things I had never known before. Finding holes in the program I deemed unacceptable. This last action seems a fitting end to this 12-month cycle.

A path that seemed nothing more than a straight line has fractured into a confusing maze of options. I know what direction I want to move in, I know what I want. I simply do not know which line will take me there.

So, with that bit of light news out of the way, I’ll say Merry Christmas to my friends. I was born without a politically correct gene so please don’t be offended that I haven’t offered a happy holiday wish.

Barrett Martin - Earthspeaker

I downloaded Barrett Martin’s Earthspeaker from the Listening Lounge yesterday afternoon after sampling a few tracks. I love it when music finds you at just the right time. I needed something different. There was a void to fill that I couldn’t quite identify. Not even my beloved Opium could quench my thirst. This was serious. Something had to be done.

I’d been meaning to sit and listen to the tracks from this collection to see what they offered but time, as always, is a rare commodity. My interest was driven by the fact that Barrett is part of the yet unnamed project with Ottmar Liebert, Rahim Alhaj and Jon Gagan. I should have simply purchased the music when it was added to the lounge and been done with it. After listening to Agbadza and Sunlight, I was hooked. I burned a CD and then added the tracks to the mp3 player. I took the CD on a short car ride after dark and listened through headphones while waiting for sleep to take me.

I woke up ready to pontificate, to wax poetic about this new treasure. Out of curiosity, I began to explore Barrett’s website and found this and this. I find myself outdone by the source. There is nothing more that I could add. I’m happy to see that the world offers me another kindred spirit. A lover of the desert due to it's unique balance and harsh reality. In addition, I have another source that can speak through music, leaving cumbersome words behind.

Hopefully, Barrett’s Painted Desert CD will be added to the lounge soon. I look forward to hearing more.

Another Day at the Office

No animals or humans were harmed in any way during the making of this

Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra, Celebrity Theater August 9, 2006

Well, as you can see here, the cats out of the bag. Under normal circumstances, just seeing Ottmar perform is a huge high point for me. Getting to spend some time with him adds to the experience more than I have the ability to explain.

After meeting the crew (yes, Jon Gagan is as cool as you think he is) and hanging out for a while, I headed back home so they could get ready for the show. A few hours later I was back at the venue. A friend from work who had never seen Ottmar live before had decided to attend (this could have been peer pressure). I caught sight of my neighbor from down the street as well.

The Celebrity Theater continues to be one of my favorite venues. The sound is good and the atmosphere pleasant. Wednesday’s show was no exception. The latest incarnation of Luna Negra includes Stephen Duros on rhythm guitar and soft synths, Dave Bryant on percussion, and of course, everyone’s favorite bass engine Jon Gagan who also lends his skill to the “hard synths”.

I’m not sure if it was just me but I never knew where to keep my focus. All four of these guys are having so much fun playing, you don’t know who’s going to do what next. This is my first time seeing Dave Bryant’s percussion and he does not disappoint. The crowd loved him. Stephen’s playing is a fantastic compliment to Ottmar’s. Before the show, the house music was a blend of Stephen’s new CD as well as Jon’s. Both are great but I’m really looking forward to putting in some serious listening time on Mr. Duros’ latest project.

Early in the set I was surprised by a new twist during Santa Fe. After most of the familiar sounds of this song had been played, Ottmar then reached for his electric guitar. This was so cool! After the show, he said that this was something new they started in Australia, as were some of the new bass changes on a few other pieces. What a great addition. The tone of the electric guitar seemed even better than it has before. I forgot to ask if he made some change there. I think it’s time for an electric guitar album. Stephen can play acoustic rhythm guitar and let Ottmar loose with the electric.

The start of the second half of the show begins with This Spring Release 10,000 Butterflies from the One Guitar CD. Ottmar plays this alone on stage and is then joined by the rest of the guys. It was great reminder of his solo shows. Those on the east coast of the US should watch for the upcoming dates. These shows are not to be missed. The intro to Duende de Amor is a fantastic new buleria, which should appear on next years release Up Close. Food for a buleria junkie to be certain.

As always, the show passed by too quickly. Before I knew it, the crowd had all left and I watched as the crew handled the tear down. From there I witnessed the now infamous “Fake Segway” episode. They had the nerve to put training wheels on the thing. After another chat while watching the trailer get loaded, it was time for the day to end. I would have loved to hitch a ride on the bus for the rest of the tour. Who knows, maybe sometime I’ll have the chance.