Been updating my other blog "Desvario" over the weekend to concentrate specifically on writing. Figured it was time to streamline it, make it more focused and not be just an identical version of this one. Drop by to have a look.
My new article, "From The Sublime to The Ridiculous" has been published by BrooWaha. A good book is a good book, regardless of the genre, or How Not To Be A Literary Snob.
A rainy, misty day today, and quite cold too. Figures, since I didn't pack for chilly days at all. Mostly the day was spent in the "Beach" area, walking along Queen Street, checking things out. Stopped off for some coffee, then lunch at an Italian restaurant, then checked out an Arts fair in Kew Gardens park.
Tonight we went downtown to Massey Hall to see the John Malkovich play "The Infernal Comedy." I don't know what to tell you, but I wasn't at all thrilled with it. A sort of combination "One man show" and "Opera" (That's right). The scenes where Malkovich performed were pretty damn good but quite too often the scenes morphed into the Arias, and there were quite a few of them. Six in all. Now unless you are a big Opera fan, I will have to say that most of this will probably disappoint you. It would have been much better had Malkovich spoke more, in the tradition of the "One man show" and used the Arias sparingly, however, they dominated the show. It was more like a performance of Arias with John Malkovich (taking the roll of serial killer, Jack Unterweger) filling in the gaps in between rather than the other way around. Who knows? Perhaps you may enjoy this play. I didn't, really. For more information, check out the link....
Now sitting back in the apartment. Exhausted from all the running around. Time to hit the sack, I think.
Got in yesterday at around 5pm. Here with Linda, Dawn & Mairead. Took the long ride from the airport to the Beaches neighborhood where we are staying for the week. Very quiet, nice, kind of reminds me of some neighborhoods in Queens back home. Didn't do much last night other than get ourselves together here and go out for some dinner.
Dinner at The Winchester Arms. A British-styled pub with some great pub food (and including the World Cup games). Nothing much after that, other than coming back to the house and just hanging out. Today is where we begin exploring things a little.
Tonight: "The Infernal Comedy" starring John Malkovich. Looking forward to that.
My new article, "The Art of Fiction?" has been published by BrooWaha. One writer's take on the plethora of "How To" writing books on the market. Do they do more harm than good? It depends on what you aspire to.
Coming off a good week in San Antonio, Texas. Worked mostly but I did get some time to get out and check out some really cool things: The Alamo, Riverwalk & Downtown San Antonio, some old Spanish Missions and the infamous "Ghost Tracks" just outside the city.
A word about the "Ghost Tracks". Legend has it that a school bus full of children was hit by a train as the bus either crossed or got stuck in the middle of the tracks. It is said if you go there today, drive up on to the tracks, put the car in neutral, the "ghosts" of the children will "push" your car off the tracks in order to help others not suffer the same fate as themselves.
Well, my friend and co-worker Craig and I decided to check this out. After eating some really good food at the only Mongol restaurant I had ever seen--anywhere---we drove out to the infamous "Ghost Tracks". Well, we did what the legend says to do. Sure enough, our car began to slowly roll across the tracks, as the legend says. Was it the ghosts of the children, helping us out? Hardly. Just on the other side of the tracks, the pavement declines sharply, causing a natural gravitational force, forcing the car to roll downward over the tracks. We turned it around, tried going the other way. Nope. The car just rolled backwards, as it would on a steady decline. So much for the legend, I thought.
We decided to park the car and get out, walk along the tracks. I started taking photos. Not one moment being out of the car, a swarm of mosquitos attacked us and after taking three or four photos, the camera batteries immediately went dead. Hmmm.... Strange, indeed. We decided to split, not out of fear of ghosts, mind you, but of the steady squadron of mosquitos which were biting me on the average of a half a second apiece.
Heading back to New York this afternoon. Had a great time here and everyone was nice. Texas is an interesting place and I will definitely come back to San Antonio at some point, especially to hang around the Riverwalk. In fact, there is a wonderful hotel right along the walk called "La Mansion". I wonder what the rates are? Seems like a good place to hang for a couple of days.
Anyway, as much as I love to bitch about New York City, I'm glad to be coming home.
It’s been a hell of a week, creatively. Been working on the new novel a lot. Nearing completion of the first draft. Being that I am still learning, nothing prepared me for how much I still have to learn, particularly when it comes to the simple concept of “tense”. I had been writing this book in the third person, present tense. Things were rolling along just fine until I reached a particular scene, then realized, wait a moment, that may have been a mistake. What the hell am I doing? So, just as an experiment, I wrote the scene in the commonly used Third Person, past tense, and man, what a difference it seemed to make! It seemed to flow much better and it also seemed to further open the doors to different possibilities.
Now, for some more experienced writers here, this should be something obvious, but for me, who is primarily a poet, writing fiction is a completely different world, so bear with me. Suddenly, I realized that I had been approaching this whole thing wrong and should have written in in the third person, past tense. Duh. So, I went back to the beginning and cleaned it all up, converting all the text I had written in this way. It allowed me to purge a lot of crap, get more into the story in a way I felt I wasn’t before, and widened the scope a little to help make this thing a little more interesting. See? What my seem obvious to some was something new for me. Such is the way of the novice....
My first novel, “November Rust” was written in the first person....much like all of my poetry had been, so it just came natural for me to do this. It also allowed me to spout off in the mind of the character telling the story, forcing it to be seen through the eyes of the narrator and therefore not having to care too much about what the other characters were thinking, feeling, etc. Switching to Third Person was a new approach for me. I had literally never done this before so naturally I would have to learn as I went. I really enjoy it too. Opens the doors to infinite possibilities.
The story being told here is also something new for me (in a way). More “psychological” than “action” so to speak. (There are no car chases, explosions or anything). I hope to get the point across through the interaction between the characters and through the worlds they move around in and, most importantly, the “inner” worlds they move around in. Not that easy, really. There is a definite risk of boring the shit out of the reader with this approach, so I’ve been working hard at making these characters seem as real as possible with the hopes of a reader being able to relate to them in some kind of personal way.
I still have a lot of work to do but so far I am pleased with the results, even in its current rudimentary form. The question I have for all the writers out there, with the hopes of beginning a discussion:
What is your approach to writing fiction? What do you hope to achieve and how do you go about trying to bring your ideas to life?
Looking forward to hearing from some of you.
In the meantime, enjoy the weekend, wherever you may be.
Waking up to a very cool New York City morning. I have to tell you I’ve been spoiled by all the wonderful hot weather we had been having here. Having just come back from St. Lucia, where it was near 90, if not in the 90s every day; and then to return to New York City to have it in the 80s and 90s only to drop back to the 40s as it is this morning...well....I have to say I’m not pleased. But what are you going to do...?
Been hard at work on the new novel over the past six weeks or so. Everything is coming along very well. It is only a first draft and it certainly needs a hell of a lot of work yet but I’ve been simply trying to get the story down. I’ll worry about all the corrections and rewrites later. That’s when the real work begins. It’s been fun and I’ve really been enjoying myself immensely on this project. The reason being, mainly, that this has all been a new approach for me. With my previous novel, I struggled for years to get that down but the approach was much different. With that book, “November Rust”, I felt I was too much “inside” the book, so to speak. The mental approach was much different. Too involved. Then one of the most simplest and logical ideas hit me and that was to “get out of my own way”; tell a story, step out of it, strip away all the experimentation, all the literary tricks and gimmicks, all the post-modern devices and just get back to basics. Strip it all the way down to a simple, straightforward narrative, get out of the way and allow the story to emerge, let the characters be who they are, and most importantly, write simple, direct, declarative sentences. I’ve been having a ball with it because of it. This may sound normal and logical to some but for me, one who was weened on mostly surrealistic, experimental, more “literary” novels---and never had taken any formal writing classes---this was something of an epiphany for me. Go figure.
I thought of Ernest Hemingway. I’ve always been a huge fan of his. I haven’t read all his books but this approach made me think of his books and how simple and direct they were. I began to read some of the books I haven’t read just to get an idea on his approach and how he accomplished what he did. It’s been a valuable education for me. Also, having recently read Italian author Nicolo Amannitti and his amazing novel, “I’ll Steal You Away”, which also had this very “Hemingway-esque” approach of stripping things down, this also had a major influence on the approach of this new project. It also occurred to me that I haven’t been reading any novels as of late but mainly history books, travel narratives, non-fiction, etc. I returned to the novel, mainly to see the different approaches their respective authors took to write them. Again, a most valuable education.
So while my new book may not be as well written and/or crafted as Hemingway or any of the other authors I’ve been reading/studying as of late, the simple, stripped down, straightforward approach of their books has been a valuable resource for me while trying to write this one. For those few who have read “November Rust”, this new book will be something of a 180 degree turn. It is very different. Simple, direct, stripped of all the wordplay and literary experimentation---down to bare bones storytelling; and what an immense joy it has been for me over the past six weeks.
Naturally, all writers have their doubts and lord knows I have many. Sometimes I’m not sure about any of it but I soldier on anyway. It’s the only way to learn and the only way to grow. There are plenty of ideas in the pipeline right now and I feel that I have to get myself reorganized in order not to make a mess of things. A big heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you who’ve read the last book, gave me feedback, criticisms, etc. It always helps. After all, I’m truly a novice at all this and every little bit helps. Thank you.
Other things happening: been working with Linda La Porte on her follow up CD. Things coming along very very well. Spent some time in the studio the past couple of weeks with her. Everything sounds fantastic so far and we both cannot wait for it to be finished and available. I contribute bass mainly on this CD, with a little guitar and even Doumbek on one track. All very exciting.
So now I look forward to the weather getting warmer and also looking forward to my next trip out of New York City which may come as early as June. May be staying stateside this time, maybe heading out west to New Mexico. There’s a lot of things I want to see there and am looking forward to it. But nothing is set in stone yet.
Anyway, again, thanks to all who’ve read me, supported me, gave me feedback and encouragement. It means a lot. Hope you all have a great weekend.
I think I had a huge creative epiphany this afternoon. If you are someone who creates anything: music, art, writing, whatever...I think you know the feeling. Despite the fact that I’ve had many poems published in many journals and magazines, articles published here and there, I still see myself as a novice writer, one who is still learning. I managed to write my first novel a couple of years ago and decided to put it out there, warts and all, even though I did work really hard at it. It did get me some interviews recently, which I appreciated more than anything since I was hoping someday, someone...even just a handful of people....would take the time to read that mammoth of a book. It will always be special to me because it was my first serious attempt and I did get some positive feedback from it.
Still, one should not think they are now “perfect” because someone likes what you do. For years after completing that novel, I’ve been struggling to begin the next one. But nothing was coming. Just some vague ideas and a vague notion as to what I wanted to say with it. In the interim, I wrote articles, essays, book reviews, anything just to keep me writing and I hoped that one day the spark would ignite and I could get rolling again. I’m still learning. I read a lot and with each reading it seems I am also “studying” the craft of writing as well. Not only do I enjoy the books I read for their content but I also look at how a writer approaches what they did. What techniques do they use? Why this and not that? Why first person instead of third? and vice versa. For one that has never taken a creative writing class or been formally trained in any way shape or form, this is the next best way of learning the art of writing. Paying attention to what you are reading.
So finally, about 7 years after completing my first novel, I finally got the spark to begin the next one. But something happened to me this afternoon which I didn’t see coming. Suddenly it hit me that I was approaching this all wrong. I’ve been too busy looking at this from one perspective when I should have been looking at it from another. I was basically stifling my imagination by trying too hard. Yes. Trying too hard. Also...I realized that I was putting myself way too much into the writing. Now those who’ve taken classes and all will probably already know what I just learned today, and that is, let the story BE. Get the hell out of the way and tell the story! Since everything I’ve written has always been from a first person perspective, how could I NOT put myself too much into it. So I thought, maybe this time around, I’ll try 3rd person perspective. Seems like a good idea to allow the story to breathe a little, getting inside the heads of the other characters in the story, etc etc. So I sat back, thought about how could I convert what I began from this new perspective and I realized I could do it and will do it. Also, just by making this little tweak, I came up with 7 more ideas --- albeit rudimentary --- for novels which I immediately wrote down on scraps of paper. A very exciting prospect for me.
As I said, I am just a beginner. I am still learning and always welcome the feedback and opinion of others (even though the whole idea of “networking” is more in word than in deed, it seems). Publication doesn’t mean you “made it”. If that’s the case, I’ve “made it” a long time ago. Publication is great...but one can never stop learning, growing, expanding. We all have our own personal goals to attain, no matter what it is we decide to do in life. It’s important to keep the wheels greased, keep the head open and look at things differently from time to time. You just never know what it could do for your creative juices.
Man Ray is easily one of my favorite artists. Hands down. This Philadelphia born, Brooklyn raised artist never disappoints. It’s not often that you get to see a good retrospective of his work around these days but the Jewish Museum in New York City did a superb job capturing all facets of this amazing artist’s talent and career: from his paintings to his innovations in photography and film. The most surprising aspect of this exhibit was the concentration on his paintings; something he is not really all that known for. He is known mostly for is innovations with photography and there is plenty of those works there as well. It is by far the best retrospective of his work I have seen. Fans of Man Ray’s work should go see this. The show ends on March 14th.
For those who do decide to go, be forewarned: To get into the Jewish Museum is like going through airport security...if not worse. The hassle you have to go through is immense: emptying your pockets, going through metal detectors, etc. And the “guards” (I’ll use that term very loosely) are the rudest, nastiest people you’d ever want to come across. Sometimes a “uniform” will do that to people. It was bad enough that I promise you I will never go to this museum again to see anything....that is, unless they reel in their fucking cowboys a little. Just not worth the aggravation to be treated like a criminal before entering an art museum. It was bad enough that I almost walked out right then and there. Those who run this museum should take note of how these idiots are treating their patrons. If they don’t care, I personally, will boycott the place from now on.
“The Art Show” at the Park Avenue Armory was another great show. I haven’t missed this annual benefit for the Henry Street Settlement for the past 10 years now and each year never disappoints. As you browse the represented galleries booths you will find many surprises and treasures: Francis Picabia, Pablo Picasso, Pissaro, Matise, as well as lesser known artists from the Abstract Expressionist era along side many contemporary artists. For lovers of art, this is a show not to be missed. Unfortunately, today was the last day but in November, they return with their “Art 20” show. Be sure to check that out. You won’t be disappointed.
One of the themes that I often write about is one of identity and individuality. I think it was the late writer Kurt Vonnegut that once observed that all one’s adult life is just like high school, with all it’s cliques and hierarchies etc etc. Sadly, I have to say this is true, especially in America. I don’t know if this holds true in other cultures but it might. I cannot say. But here in America there is definitely a tendency to be “defined” by those three to four years of adolescence and then carry it with you all through your adult life. This is something that I find quite pathetic. But to each his own. For some, these years were the happiest years of their life. For me, sure, they were fun times, but it was only four years of my life, not the defining era. I mean, seriously, I am certainly not the same person I was at 15 years old. I wouldn’t want to be. After all, really, what does a 15 year old know about life?
Oh, sure, as we age and get more “adult” things become more complicated, more serious, more real, so to speak. Responsibilities change: some get married, start families, others concentrate on their careers, others are still seeking their place in life, whatever the case may be, a lot of years pass between the present and your stint in high school, especially when you are someone my age.
This summer I will be 44 years old. I’m not one to really think about age but sometimes you do and I think it’s only natural. I sometimes think, and am completely amazed, at the fact that at 44 years old, I still have to deal with people who never seemed to get out of that high school mentality. You know what I am talking about: you were either part of one group or another: a freak, nerd, spazz, etc or you were one of those kids who just got through fairly invisible, or you were part of the “Popular” kids, the “cool” kids. Well, not for nothing, but what does all this matter now to someone who is 44 years old? It doesn’t. At least not to me. Nearly 30 years have passed since those days. Who gives a shit? Yes, it’s “fun”, it’s “nostalgia” but hardly anything you would want to base your current existence on.
So here I am, this nearly 44 year old man dealing with those who still want to define others the way they want to. Again, probably natural. But what isn’t natural is the manner in which they approach it: the high school definitions. Try to imagine one 40-something year old acting like that 15 year old in the classroom, trying hard to make others feel “left out” and therefore gaining popularity points with those around him. I call this person a sad, pathetic asshole who never grew up. And some of these people are parents today too. Another frightening prospect for the future of this culture. What the hell happened? Reminds me of the character in the film “Napoleon Dynamite” who sat around pining away for his high school football days, going so far as to purchase a “time machine” over the internet in a vain attempt to return to those days. It’s funny. It’s comedy but sadly also reality for so many American adults.
These type of folks tend to be the ones who want to define others all the time. Who that person may actually be is of no consequence to them. It’s up to them to define them and that’s who they are going to be.
But not only these cretins do this. You will find that even people close to you often do this as well. They have in their minds who you are supposed to be rather than actually seeing you for who you really are. I think this is done because you are really of no real consequence to them, you are merely a “role” in the movie of their life, one that they are writing and directing themselves. You are given a role and you are to play it, and do not dare to think to deviate from the script. There’s no room for improvisation here. Do your job and shut up. What you have to say does not matter.
Well, sorry to say folks, that life just doesn’t work that way. We all show others who we are by what we do and how we treat them. You can be there for someone through thick and thin, be supportive of them through all their tough times, show true friendship by accepting who they are, warts and all since one chooses to focus on what makes them wonderful rather than the little quirks that drive us crazy. Others choose to focus on the quirks and dismiss the rest. Your role has been written and these aspects of your personality is not part of the script, therefore you are flawed and must be dealt with accordingly. Well, I have no more time for these petty fascists. Getting too old for this, you know?
There are many people in my life who I simply adore. I love them more than I could possibly explain to them. I adore them because of who they are, over all. Do their idiosyncrasies drive me crazy sometimes? Sure. But that’s a part of who they are and what makes them wonderful far outweighs what gets under my skin. We are all individuals and no one on this earth is “perfect”. And what is “Perfect” anyway, other than something that adheres 100 percent to how we individually define “perfect”? So here’s my message to those who decide to choose the negatives over the positives: deal with it. If those things you perceives as “negatives” far outweighs those things that make you a friend to begin with then I have to say goodbye. Why be friends with me if all I am to you is a constant source of disappointment and irritation? I am not going to be how you define me, sorry. I am who I am. And if I am not me, then who am I supposed to be? What you want me to be? I grow weary of people getting angry with me at every turn because I don’t do what they want me to do 100 percent of the time. Life just doesn’t work that way. I also find it shameful and sad that at my age I still have to deal with this but sadly it’s true. If my existence is such a bane to yours and I am nothing but a constant source of irritation to you then let’s go our separate ways. Makes sense, right?
All this makes me think of a friend of mine who I had known for over 20 years. We always got along for the most part but naturally there were sources of disagreement on things. Again, normal. Natural. He got mad at me over something I found very trivial in the scheme of things. Maybe to him, it wasn’t so trivial. Fair enough. All I know is that we never reconciled and I will most likely never see or speak to him again. It was never discussed, never worked out, I was just met with the “silent treatment” for over two years. That’s a lot of energy to exert, I think, but what it told me is that what I thought was a friendship wasn’t exactly a friendship at all. It apparently was based on how I was to be defined by him. I didn’t behave in accordance to how he wanted me to behave. Result: silence. Whatever. It doesn’t matter to me if our friendship was so fragile that one single thing was able to destroy it so quickly and so easily. Such is life....
I think we’d all be better off if we allowed one to just be themselves and stop trying to make them into who we want them to be. After all, we just about make up everything in this life anyway, so what’s the difference? We just all agree to go along with the things we make up. But that’s a whole other issue, isn’t it? So let’s try to be a little patient with one another, look to what makes someone good. If the good outweighs the bad then cut the person some slack. This, of course, does not apply if one is a complete prick with absolutely no redeeming values whatsoever, but even they have people who think they are good. So what’s the answer? How are we to define all this? Just like everything else. We simply make it all up and hope for the best. But if my quirks and idiosyncrasies are too much for you, then why do you bother trying to be my friend? Why do you try? Why do you stick around and get angry at me? Maybe you love the drama it brings to your life, I don’t know. But do me a favor: Keep the drama to yourself. We all have our own to deal with.
I got word this morning via Leah Angstman, publisher of Propaganda Press, that Dave Christy, publisher of Alpha Beat Press and the monthly broadside Cokefishing in Alpha Beat Soup, has passed away. I was very saddened and shocked by the news since it seemed to just happen out of the blue.
I never met Dave Christy personally but over the years we corresponded from time to time. Dave was the first small press editor to ever publish my work. For that, I would always be eternally grateful; eternally grateful because at the time I had literally just begun to take to writing seriously and his acceptance and encouragement of what I had done helped my confidence at a time when I didn’t have much confidence in myself, much less what I was writing at the time. When I received my first chapbook, “Standing on Lorimer Street Awaiting Crucifixion” in the mail, I have to say that I was thrilled.
Dave was a lover of poetry and great literature and what he published reflected that love. He published many writers who would have normally languished in obscurity. He gave them a chance to be read and although it was mostly through the small press world, many of these poets were read and enjoyed by many, myself being one of them. The monthly broadside he and his wife Ana Christy---an accomplished poet in her own rite---was always a great sampling of how many great writers there were out there that the mainstream didn’t seem to want to know about. There was a small press revolution taking place and Dave, Ana and Alpha Beat Press seemed to be at the heart of it. He inspired many other poets to start their own presses and soon a network of small press zines and journals began to appear. I also started one for a little while and Dave was encouraging and instrumental in helping me getting off the ground by putting the word out. Soon, I was in contact with many amazing writers and artists and naturally, a new door opened which allowed me to meet people who would not only inspire me but push me further along a new path in my life, one which changed my life for the better.
One of the poets he introduced me to via his press was Laura Joy Lustig. Laura submitted work to my burgeoning journal and we soon became fast and close friends. She inspired me, encouraged me and also offered her honest feedback of my writing and together, for a time, we would exchange what we were doing, offering each other criticisms and praise, etc. Meeting Laura took me further along that road, which eventually lead to me writing and completing my first novel, which has recently gotten some attention via reviews and interviews.
The point is that “meeting” Dave lead to one thing, which lead to another, which lead to another; and I have to say that if I didn’t come across Dave Christy by reading his listing in the 1996 Poet’s Market and submit my work to him, many things which have happened to me over the past 14 years or so may not have happened at all. His encouragement and him taking the chance to publish this unknown writer from Queens, New York, opened many doors for me and for that, I will always be grateful to him.
Dave probably didn’t know this. I never really told him any of this. For a time I had lost contact with him being that I drifted somewhat from the small press scene and was mostly busy with music but eventually I found him again and then again on Facebook; and it was on that site that I heard the terrible news of his passing. Needless to say it was a shock.
To me, Dave was a pioneer in the small press world. He opened his doors (and sometimes quite literally) to many writers and poets from around the country. That small press from New Hope, PA produced many excellent chapbooks over the years and introduced me and many others to the wealth of talent there is out there across America, talent that the so-called “experts” miss, mainly because many of them are clueless. The fact that he and his press inspired so many others to launch their own presses is a testament to his love for the word and his love for poetry and that’s what it always seemed to be. A labor of love.
I wish now that I would have told him how grateful I was to him and how that seemingly small little chapbook he put out for me 14 years ago lead to so many wonderful things in my life. I guess I was kind of embarrassed to say this sort of thing, which only goes to show that one must say what they feel or else missing the chance altogether. We may not have corresponded with each other all that often, nor had I ever had the chance of meeting him in person, but I will never forget him for giving me the chance to be read when no one else was willing to give me that chance. I will always be grateful to him for that chance. He will be sorely missed and it’s not likely there will be another like him in the small press world.
This year began wonderfully. Two friends came in from Italy for a visit: Giulia Millanta and Paolo Loppi. Giulia was in town to visit New York City and to play some shows while she was here. I got to see a couple of her shows, which were wonderful. I also got to hang out with them quite a bit (along with other friends of mine) and we had an amazing time: talking, eating, laughing, playing music, seeing musicians, etc….all the good things. Wonderful people and it showed me just how great things can be if you have the right people around you. They stayed here about two weeks and are now back in Italy and plans are being made for all of us to get together again…this time over there. Something I am really looking forward to.
But sometimes the good times don’t last for too long and the moronic and idiotic regular day nonsense comes creeping back into the picture. As hard as I try to keep it away these days, these cretins who thrive on pettiness and bullshit will bring it to you. It’s almost as if they are saying to you, “Fine. You don’t want to play? I’m going to make you play.” And so it goes. This has been the past couple of weeks for me: surrounded by moronic games and pettiness from people I don’t want to have anything to do with. Life’s too fucking short to deal with this crap, especially at my age. The sad thing is that most of those who bring this shit are my age too.
Why is this? I don’t know and no longer care. I’ll leave it to the sociologists and psychiatrists to figure out why American adults are regressing to the ways of a 5 year old. All I know is that I’m done with it and will, as a friend of mine put it, rise above it. Enough is enough.
So with that, I say this:
If you don’t like what I have to say? Don’t ask me what I think.
If you don’t like the things I do or are not interested in what interests me? You’re free to go elsewhere.
If I seem a bit “pretentious” to you because I desire to keep learning? Get the fuck away from me and continue to play your childish games with your other childish friends and associates.
If you think the definition of “Friendship” is to believe that I must always agree with you and see things exactly the way you do? Sorry…you can go elsewhere to.
If you think the things I want to do is “irresponsible” or “not practical”? No one said you must do them with me. Step off and go do your own thing.
In the end, this is how it is and if you don’t like it…sorry….no…not sorry…I’m not going to apologize for who I am and for what I think. You can simply take your business elsewhere and leave me in peace.
It’s amazing to me how a two week stretch can enlighten one to the possibilities there are in this life and how often many around you will try to shit all over it or try to thwart it. Seems some have this overwhelming sense of self-importance, that their way is the only way and everyone else must abide by it. Well….this shit is over.
If you’re not with me, kindly step aside. I got things to do. Would love to have you along but if these things are too “pretentious” or “impractical” or “irresponsible” or whatever else, there is no law written that you must come along. Have fun your own way and I’ll have mine. Keep your petty games to yourself and all your other nonsense and have a great life….
Garry Crystal's interview and review of my novel "November Rust" is now also published at BrooWaha. Again, I can't thank Garry enough for his time and efforts and the amount of appreciation cannot be expressed enough. Thank you, Garry!
A review of my novel "November Rust" along with an accompanying interview has been published at AllVoices.com. The review was written by Garry Crystal who also conducted the accompanying interview.
My new article, "Let Them Eat Jellybeans", has been published by BrooWaha. A nostalgic look back at some of the best punk rock records of the early 1980s.
My new article, "Do You Remember The 1980s?" has been published by BrooWaha. A little nostalgic look at some of the more overlooked music of the decade.
My new article, "Out of Balance" has been published by BrooWaha. Just because things can always be worse, does that mean one does not have the right to complain? A word on "Pseudo-Optimists" and "Reactionary Pessimists".
My new article, "Anarchy In The L.E.S." has been published by Broowaha. What once seemed like mindless teenage rebellion may not have been so after all.
In continuing what has become an annual tradition for me, here are some good reads that I took in during the course of the past year. This is really for the fellow bibliophiles and book hounds. Perhaps you’ll find something here that may interest you:
Duende and Other Essays - Federico García Lorca:
A short collection of essays on the “Power of Duende” in Spanish music, art and literature. Always a pleasure to read one of the poetic masters of the 20th century.
Office Poems - Mario Benedetti:
One of Uruguay’s (and Latin America’s in general) greatest poets, at least to me. This is a very slim collection of poems, written mostly in the 1950s. Heartfelt, powerful and always amazing. Sadly, we lost Benedetti recently. But his work lives on and is always highly recommended for poetry lovers.
The Universal History of The Destruction of Books - Fernando Baez:
A fascinating account of how when one culture dominates another, the first thing they usually go after is their books. This is a very informative and interesting volume that describes such cultural crimes from ancient Samaria to modern Iraq. A truly amazing work and essential for students of history.
A Hermit in Paris - Italo Calvino:
A collection of essays and journal entries from one of Italy’s (by way of Cuba) most renowned writers. I would say this one is more for fans than the general reader. For the general reader, I would start with something else first. But this is a very good book.
God’s Crucible - David Levering Lewis:
A history book about the “clash of civilizations” between Christianity, Judaism and Islam during the Middle Ages and how the seeds of today’s conflicts were firmly planted back then. Also a great source of information on all three religious ideas and political ideologies.
Sicilian Summer - Brian Johnston:
A travelouge for the most part, about a man in search of “the perfect cassatta”, a deeply Sicilian pastry but the book is more of an exploration of Sicilian culture and history, written from a deeply personal point of view. Gives good insight on Sicilian culture and mores and reading it, you feel as if you are there right along with the author. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Ariel - José Enrique Rodó:
A classic of Latin American literature, written in the 19th century from one of Uruguay’s leading thinkers and philosophers. A bit opaque at times but that was the times. Readers of Jose Martí may find this book interesting. A political and philosophical tract about liberation from the North and Latin America finding it’s own way forward into the 20th century.
Medocentric - Cristogianni Borsella:
Poet and historian Cristogianni Borsella’s first collection of poetry and I have to say it is an amazing work, exploring issues of identity and culture, specifically Mediterranean and Italian culture. A truly powerful collection of poetry written by one of the foremost writers of Italian/Italian-American history and culture.
Selected Writings - José Martí:
A collection of essays and newspaper articles by the 19th century Cuban revolutionary and freedom fighter. All of these works are powerful calls to freedom, most of them written while he was exiled in New York City. Essential for anyone who wants a more rounded view of the Spanish-American War.
The Quest for the Kasbah - Richard Bangs:
Another travelogue, this one based in North Africa and the author’s search for the authentic “Kasbahs” throughout Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Gives wonderful insights into Arab and Berber culture and customs.
The Existential Jesus - John Carroll:
One of the more fascinating books I’ve read this year. It is a re-interpretation of the Gospel of Mark, being that it is the oldest of the 4 canonized gospels. It gives a highly innovative look at the last days of Jesus from an Existentialist point of view, turning the more traditional interpretations on it’s head. This is not an anti-religious book by any means but it does get into the more “human” aspects of Jesus and his worldview, offering a much more tragic and bleak story than one may have ever imagined. This one had a very big impact on me after reading this.
The Muslim Jesus - Tarif Kalidi:
A collection of sayings and stories attributed to Jesus from Islamic sources, most of which were written long after the crucifixion. Still, a fascinating look on how Islam viewed Jesus and his place in the human story.
The Pillars of Hercules - Paul Theroux:
A travelogue: The author making his way around the entire Mediterranean basin, beginning in Gibraltar and working his way around the entire region until coming full circle, beginning across the Straits of Gibraltar on the Moroccan side and all the way around, chronicling his adventures, meetings and experiences along the way. A great, great book.
Mirrors - Eduardo Galeano:
The latest collection of writings from one of Uruguay’s leading authors/journalists. A collection of nearly a thousand vignettes chronicling the history of mankind from the Garden of Eden to the present day but told from the point of view of the marginalized and the forgotten. One of Galeano’s best works and any fan of him will thoroughly enjoy this.
Beyond The Rivers - Various
A collection of poetry by poets from Paraguay, most of whom, if not all, are largely unknown in the United States and North America in general. Great works by some very innovative and creative poets. The only criticism I have of this collection is that it is way too short. Barely 100 pages but a good window into the creative writing of a country and culture not often written about or explored.
How To Travel With A Salmon and Other Essays - Umberto Eco:
One of Italy’s Grand Masters. Insightful, witty and very entertaining. Eco at his best. It’s pages are filled with intellect as well as humor. Writing that makes you re-think many things while simultaneously entertaining you without the heavy “intellectualism” one would expect from such a brilliant mind.
Shadows of The Pomegranate Tree - Tariq Ali:
Part of Tariq Ali’s “Islam Quintet”: A novel of the last days of Islamic Sicily, told from the point of view of the Muslims who occupied and ruled the island for nearly 300 years. It is the story of how a brief interchange of cultures came to an abrupt end; how Islam, Christianity and Judaism co-existed relatively peacefully until one fateful day with the arrival of a new Christian king.
Los Compeñeros - Antonio Marcos Flores:
A novel by one of Guatemala’s most revered writers. Written in the 1970s, this novel was part of a “revolutionary” movement in Guatemalan literature. The story of a revolutionary gone underground during a very tumultuous time in Central America. A fast paced, highly experimental novel, influenced by the Latin American “Boom” writers of the late 50’s and 1960s.
Rhetoric for Radicals - Various
A “guidebook” of sorts on how to achieve change through “radical” means. I did not enjoy this book all that much. Most of it seemed silly to me: more of how to create PR stunts than anything else. Written from a totally “Utopian” point of view and silly from my vantage point. More American silliness coming from the American Left in a time when any serious change needed in our culture is best left without “street theater” theatrics and silly “hipster-esque” platitudes. Everything I hate about the American Left is encouraged in this book. Best to avoid at all costs unless you want to amuse yourself.
Free Women of Spain - Martha Ackelsberg:
A chronicle of the “Free Women of Spain” Anarchist movement during the Spanish Civil War. A highly feminist book, with interviews with the surviving women of the movement who talk of their struggles against the Fascist rebellion as well as their roles within the Republican/Revolutionary movement throughout Spain during this horrible conflict. Definitely an eye opener and essential for a more insightful study of the Spanish Civil War.
Latin America at The Crossroads - Roberto Regalado:
A look at where Latin America stands in the 21st century world, where globalization and, “Neo-Liberal” policies continues to ignore the poor, oppressed and marginalized in this region of the world.
Colonial Dilemmas - Various:
A collection of essays on the state of Puerto Rico in the current day: essays range from political to artistic to worker issues to identity issues. Also touches on the Puerto Rican Diaspora and it’s effect on the lives of those on the island itself. Interesting reading and an interesting debate to be sure.
Free Pages and Hard Times - Manuel Gonzalez Prada:
Essays by the Peruvian Anarchist, most of which were written in the late 19th century. An interesting look into Peruvian politics and identity shortly after the liberation movements from Spain and their new found place in the wider world.
That Fine Italian Hand - Paul Hoffman:
A lighthearted, entertaining book about the culture of Italians, ranging from Roman times to the modern day.
Guernica and Other Plays - Fernando Arribal:
Wildly experimental plays from the renowned Spanish playwright. Not everything here was my cup of tea. Perhaps it’s best to see these plays performed rather than being read, I don’t know. But highly experimental in the sense that it leaves you scratching your head wondering what the hell is going on.
Don Quixote’s Delusions - Miranda France:
A travelogue: the author’s experiences as a student in Madrid and looking for “Quixote” within the society at large as well as her experiences with fellow students and other colorful characters. A very entertaining book.
Italian Poetry: 1950-2000 - Various:
A great collection of contemporary Italian poetry.
Stolen Figs - Mark Rotella:
A Travelogue: the author returns to the region of Calabria where his father’s family had come from in a search for his roots. A wonderful book on Calabrian culture and mores. Brings the region to life in such a way, you feel you are right there with him. Highly recommended for anyone into Southern Italian culture.
The Dark Heart of Italy - Tobias Jones:
A look at what lies underneath the surface in Italian society. Really a critique and condemnation of Berlusconi’s Italy for the most part, but a good read for anyone who wants to get a sense of what modern Italian society is. A great read.
On Persephone’s Island - Mary Taylor Simeti:
A travelogue: the author spends a year in Sicily, writing about it’s people and culture. A nice read but a bit too “flowery” at times. Considered a classic but I’ve read better books than this. Still, it comes recommended.
The View from Vesuvius - Nelson Moe:
A history of Southern Italy and “The Southern Question”; how the south is often viewed by it’s northern neighbors. Truly fascinating.
Five Moral Pieces - Umberto Eco:
Five really amazing essays from the Italian master.
The Italian Difference - Various:
A collection of philosophical writings from Italy’s contemporary/post-modern philosophers. A bit “heady” at times, but well worth struggling through the more obtuse pieces to get a sense of contemporary Italian thought.
Misreadings - Umberto Eco:
More essays from Eco, these from Italian journals and newspaper articles from the early 1960s.
Fleeting Rome - Carlo Levi:
One of Italy’s most renowned writers/artists. A search for “La Dolce Vita” in Italian society in the 1950s. Though dated today, still a great read. Highly literary and entertaining from the author of “Christ Stopped at Eboli”.
In Arabian Nights and The Caliph’s House - Tahir Shah:
These two books go hand in hand. An amazing and highly entertaining account of a British born writer who buys an old, crumbling mansion in Casablanca and his attempts to renovate it. It is set in the heart of a shantytown and the author’s experiences with the locals and Moroccan culture is not to be missed. The Caliph’s house is the first part of this wonderful story; the trials and tribulations of trying to get the house done while working within the cultural constructs of Moroccan culture, simultaneously modern and ancient; In Arabian Nights is the author’s search for “the story within him”, telling tales of the ancient tradition of Berber storytelling and it’s impact on the culture at large. HIGHLY recommended.
The Olive Tree - Carol Drinkwater:
Sort of a travelogue but more of an agricultural/history book of the olive tree and it’s relation to Mediterranean culture in general. Her search for the “oldest olive tree” still standing, which turns out to be on in Lebanon that is 6,000 years old and still producing fruit; wild observations that the olive trees now standing in the garden of Gesthsemane are the SAME trees that were there when Jesus spent his harrowing night of doubt there. It is also another fine look at Mediterranean culture in general, from Spain to Italy to North Africa. A wonderful book and very well written.
Sadder Than Water - Samih Al-Qasim:
A powerful collection of poetry from one of Palestine’s leading writers. Amazing work.
Pushing Past The Night - Mario Calabresi:
A chronicle of Italy’s “Years of Lead”, the terrorism years of the 60s, 70s and 80s, written by the son of a police officer who was killed by the Red Brigades in the 1970s. A chronicle of these dark times in modern Italian history
Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
My new article, "Judgement Day", has been published by BrooWaha. A disturbing statistic shows why I don't fear the upcoming terror trial in New York City.
My new article, "Stars and Stripes", has been published by BrooWaha. A little tale of being lectured on foreign travel from a man, one who never even leaves his own neighborhood, about being an "American".
It is often said that we often mock what we don’t understand. What’s worse than that, at least to me, is the absolute refusal to understand; to look upon the world with this sense of hubris, that one is the only one on earth “clued in” to what’s important and/or “with it”. In a sense, we carry around with us this sort of High School ethos, those definitions supplied then carrying all the way through adulthood. And of course, we all have our standards as to what that is. One man’s brilliance is another man’s “nerd alert”. In the end, it’s just all nonsense, designed to make one feel lesser than they actually are, often propagated by those who have deep seated issues with regard to their sense of self.
I can speak of this because I was once one of these people. Some might still say I still am but they are those who don’t even bother to listen anyway, or even take the time to actually HEAR what I say, so they aren’t important in the scheme of things. As the old Moroccan proverb goes, “Do not respond to a barking dog”. But since we really have to deal with ourselves ultimately, I have always been one who was interested in all kinds of different things, whether I liked them or not, whether I had good things to say about them or not, I always kept my mind open enough to try to, at the very least, understand them. Sure, I may not have good things to say about certain things, but hell, we are all entitled to our opinions and views. The difference is, as an adult, I no longer try to make the one with a differing view feel less than human for that view. I can’t say the same courtesy is often applied to me these days. But as the Moroccan saying goes….
You only go around once in this life so I say gravitate towards those things that interest you, that touch you, that fulfill you and likewise, gravitate towards those people who do the same. Just be honest with yourself and about who you are and eventually the weeding process will take care of itself, since after all, dead weeds blow far in the wind and eventually they will blow far from your life. That’s the good thing. The bad thing is that unfortunately we must have a lot of patience because there will be those moments where your patience will be tested, even by those who claim to have your back. Sometimes they really don’t and that will also reveal itself eventually. Speak up, say what’s on your mind, defend what you feel most strongly about and if those who don’t agree with you or don’t like what you have to say begin to mock you, then quite simply, fuck ’em. You have no obligation to give them your time or energy. They just aren’t worth it. In the end it is they who lose out. It is they who see the world through a straw then swagger as if it’s a virtue. Of course, you know better, don’t you?
Sometimes, it's easy to get distracted and lose focus. It happens. We're human, after all. There is also a tendency to allow one to take you for granted. That's lapse of judgment and this, also happens too. But what if it happens once too often and you find yourself in that predicament over and over again? Well, then it may not be them after all. Maybe it's you. People, being selfish by nature, will often take one for granted, for numerous reasons. Whether it be for advantage, money, power, position or just merely ego, and lord knows there's plenty of that these days. A sort of narcissism in overdrive, where it's all about them. And you? You are merely a player in their life story, a story which is sometimes partially fictional, being that a lot of the time the role they see themselves in is fictional, something apart from reality, a sort of made up character for the purpose of deceiving the viewer. But the reality does exist, but too many barriers are thrown up, too much obfuscation, too much decoration hiding the true image to get anything worthwhile from it.
So what to do about this? One answer is simple: Simply cut it off. Cut it off like a fucking corn. After all, life is too short for this sort of nonsense. Another thing one can do is simply accept this person for who they are, with all their faults, quirks, and inconsistencies and simply no longer take them seriously. I guess it would depend on the degree of how much they are taking you for granted. Some may do so and not be aware of it simply because they are too wrapped up in themselves to notice. No malice intended. Others are doing it maliciously because it makes them feel better about themselves; those who need to play games with another in order to make them feel they are in "control". Never does the one playing the game realize that their control only lasts as long as the other allows it to.
So what to do? I suppose it depends on your particular situation and your particular circumstances. For myself, I will no longer allow this to happen to me. It's happened way too often and I am getting way too old to deal with this sort of game now. I will remove the power from the hands of the other. Simple.
It is said that people will always show you who they are. And they often do. You just have to be wise enough---or honest with yourself enough---to want to see it.
1. I'm 43 years old. I no longer care about the minutia of American Pop Culture, so stop looking at me as if I just landed from Venus because I don't know who this teenage actor is or who this teenage singer is. I've moved on. Please let me do so in peace.
2. People are generally not good to one another, despite the image they have of themselves as good, kindhearted people.
3. There are quite a few paranoid, delusional, mentally unstable people walking around.
4. Far too many adults still want to play teenage games with one another.
5. This country does need a revolution: a revolution of the mind.
6. It's always a "good thing" to deny something that's pleasurable to another, that is until they come for something you find pleasurable.
7. Americans must stop looking at intellectual pursuits as something to justify and be embarrassed about.
8. Far too many people only want to hear what re-enforces what they already believe.
9. Is there really such a thing as a "guilty pleasure"? This seems to imply that something that's pleasing to you is somehow wrong.
10. American Conservatives and Liberals must jettison their wing nuts for the benefit of the rest of us who just want to live in peace.
It’s an early morning in September…the summer is technically over and the rain against my window has awakened me for some reason. Now I can’t get back to sleep. So…naturally, I head off to the kitchen to make espresso and start going through the emails, messages, etc. There were more than I was expecting, but that is a good thing. It’s been a long while since I blogged anything and a lot has been happening so I thought it was time to “catch up” on things since the summer months I tend to be out more than in so I really didn’t get a chance to sit down and do much here at home. Now that the fall/winter approaches, I will most likely tend to hibernate…since I hate the cold weather but who knows…maybe this year I will bite the bullet and just freeze a little this year.
The summer had been good. I had a birthday pass recently. My 43rd. Spent it with a large number of friends at a favorite restaurant of mine, Café Español on Bleecker Street. Great food there. 15 people in all which was amazing to me and I am grateful for all those who turned out to have a good time. Over the past couple of years I’ve been trying to make it a “ritual” to travel for my birthday but this year it wasn’t possible due to Linda La Porte’s and Anthony Torres’ wedding which was to be held a week from my birthday. So we celebrated here at home this year.
Which of course leads me to Linda and Anthony’s wedding which was a blast and I couldn’t be more happy for the both of them. The wedding was a hell of a lot of fun and I got to see some good people I haven’t seen in a long while so it was good to reconnect with them, enjoy the food, the music, etc. Speaking of music, as part of a “special request” by Linda, friend and former Bitterweed bandmate, Dave Ayala and I performed a short set of cheesy 80s love songs. Linda knew (and wanted us) to do it but she didn’t know which songs we were going to do. Towards the middle of the night, Dave and I donned our guitars and sailed the seas of cheese by performing “I was Made For Loving You” by Kiss, “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie and “Everything I Do, I Do for You” by Bryan Adams. Needless to say it was a riot, being that we were flying by the seat of our pants since we only had two days to rehearse these songs. It was fun…and funny at the same time. Glad Linda and Anthony found it amusing as well. Best of luck to both of you! I couldn’t be happier for you.
I also wanted to take the time to say hello to all my new Facebook friends, most of whom, if not all, are also MySpace friends and are either musicians, artists, writers, dancers and painters who’s work I really admire in some way. I am a big believer in seeking out interesting and talented people in this world since I always also believed that there is so much interesting stuff out there that the magazines, TV and self-appointed experts will not and do not ever acknowledge. So I want to take the time to thank you and welcome you to my world! Always looking forward to seeing new works, knowing about new projects, hearing your music, seeing your artworks and perhaps even seeing you perform if you are either from the New York City area or are coming to New York at any point in time. For those few that came around and then deleted me a few days later…well…sorry to see you go but I thought that’s what “networking” was all about….but such is the fickle nature of the “Social Networking World”, I guess.
I also had two new poetry books come out: “A Symphony of Olives” and “Divertimiento”, both of which were published by the awesome Propaganda Press. Check out their website and have a look at all the great poets and writers they have available. If you’re into poetry, you really can’t go wrong with a lot of these writers. So head on over and show your support. I also just published a new article at BrooWaha after a few months hiatus. There are going to be more in the coming weeks, hopefully and also a really nice surprise which I’ve been holding on to for a while since the time isn’t right yet to reveal it. But coming this winter, there will be something really cool happening and when the time is right, I will let you know.
In the meantime, thanks to those who stop by, leave messages and encouragement and/or just drop by to say hello. I appreciate it more than you know. And be sure to keep me informed about what you are doing since I really am genuinely interested in what it is you do. So for now….onward and upward.
My friend Coco Martin has a new photo spread & article in the Chilean art magazine, Art al Limite. Go to page 38 to see his amazing work. I make an appearance on p.41, which was cool to see (even though I was apparently a couple of pounds heavier in the photo!) :-)
Coco is a really talented photographer & artist. After viewing this, check out his website as well.
Author, Historian & Poet Cristogianni Borsella has reviewed my latest poetry book, "Divertimiento", at BrooWaha.com. Once again, I am greatly appreciative. Thanks, Cristo!
My new article, "The Little Republic That Could?", has been published by BrooWaha New York. What would it mean for Texans if Texas actually seceded from the United States? A lighthearted look at this "What if?" scenario.
Contact:
Gary Glazner
Managing Director
Bowery Poetry Club poetmex@aol.com
212-614-0505 office
505-577-2250 cell
Miguel Algarín releases his latest work of genius upon the literary world at the Bowery Poetry Club.
The Latino icon will be celebrating the release of his new memoir, Surivval Supervivencia, on Friday, July 24th 7-9:30 p.m., at the Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, (Between Houston and Bleecker). For more info please call 212-614-0505 or bowerypoetry.com. $10
Miguel Algarin, renowned Puerto Rican poet and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café, once again invites you to view the world through his personal memoir, juxtaposing happiness with sorrow. With an introduction by Ernesto Quionez, acclaimed writer of “Bodega Dreams,” Survival Supervivencia spans Algarin's complete collection of published work over the past 35 years.
Through raw prose and brutal honesty, Algarin's poetry takes the reader through an intimate, autobiographical journey that spans his entire life. From his introduction to writing and his insight on New York City life to memories and reflections on loved ones that have passed, Algarin leaves no stone unturned as he bears his soul for all. Survival Supervivencia is a historical tour de force of Algarin's life; public and private. The Bowery Poetry Club proudly hosts this literary giant and invites you to join in the festivities.
Hosting between 20 and 30 shows a week the Bowery Poetry Club (BPC) is proud of our place in the lineage of populist art: the Yiddish theater, burlesque, vaudeville, beat poetry, jazz, and punk that gave the Bowery its name.
My new article, "Patriotic Hymns" has been published by BrooWaha New York. A trip to the nation's Capital brings up questions about the nature of patriotism.
I will be playing with Linda La Porte
Live at Club Europa (98 Meserole Ave @ Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn NY)
Friday, July 10th 2009
9PM $8
Benefit Show! "Fighting For Futures!"
My new article, "Green Revolution" has been published by BrooWaha New York. Why the best thing for America to do in Iran's "Green Revolution" is to stay out of it.
My new article: "A Psychosis of Hip" has been published at BrooWaha New York. How old does one have to be before they stop worrying about being perceived as "hip"?
My new article, "Citizen Newt", has been published at BrooWaha New York. If Newt Gingrich is not a "citizen of the world", just where does he actually reside?
Writer/Historian Cristogianni Borsella has just published a book review of my latest poetry book "A Symphony of Olives" at BrooWaha New York. Thanks Cristo! I really appreciate it!
My new article, "Lest We Forget: An Open Letter to Tom Tancredo" has been published by BrooWaha New York. In light of Tom Tancredo's comments about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, it appears to me that someone needs to be a bit re-educated about the immigrant experience.
Featuring: Gary Glazner, John Giorno, Tahani Salah, Marjorie Tesser, Kristin Prevallet, and Cynthia Kraman
On Sunday, May 24 Bowery Poetry Club Records will be recording a group of some of the most talented poets in New York as they perform at the Bowery Poetry Club. The show will be from 4-7pm, and will include readings by Gary Glazner, John Giorno, Tahani Salah, Marjorie Tesser, Kristin Prevallet, and Cynthia Kraman.
Gary Glazner produced the first National Poetry Slam in San Francisco. His poetry has appeared in anthologies, periodicals, on CD, radio, television, and underwater on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. His poems have been translated into Chinese, Moldavian, Nepali, and Vietnamese. Glazner is the Minister of Fun for Poetry Slam Incorporated. He is currently the managing director of the Bowery Poetry Club.
Tahani Salah was a member of the 2007 Nuyorican National Slam Team, has worked with Urban World NYC for the last 8 years and is now the Youth Outreach Coordinator for Urban World NYC, and has performed across the world, including at the Apollo and on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. As a Palestinian-American Muslim woman, Tahani is committed to bringing light and solutions to problems faced by people from communities and experiences whose voices are silenced.
Marjorie Tesser is the editor of Bowery Books, an independent poetry press, as well as the publisher for the journal The Mom Egg. She has won the inaugural Firewheel Chapbook Award for her manuscript The Important Thing Is…, she produced Bowery Women: Shoot the Poem! Video-poetry Festival, and has been featured at the Howl Festival of East Village Art.
Kristin Prevallet is a poet, essayist, performer, and educator whose literary focus is to integrate political and personal consciousness into radical poetic forms. She has taught poetry and poetics, critical thinking and close reading at NYU, The New School, Bard College, and Naropa University. She is currently teaching in the Institute for Writing Studies at St. John's University in Queens, NY. She has received a 2007 New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship in Poetry and a 2004 PEN translation fund award.
Bowery Poetry Club Records has alrea
Cynthia Kraman's new book of poetry is The Touch (Bowery Books 2009). Her previous collections are Taking on the Local Color (Wesleyan University Press 1977), Club 82 (1979) and The Mexican Murals (eg press, 1986). She formed the band Chinas Comidas with Rich Riggins in Seattle in the late seventies, and a CD of their live and studio recordings was released in 2006. She has a doctorate in medieval literature from the University of London, Queen Mary, and lives in New York City.
dy released two compilation albums comprised of some of the best poets and bands that perform at the Bowery Poetry Club. All of Bowery Poetry Club Records materials can be downloaded from i-Tunes. Be sure to check out www.bowerypoetryclubrecords.com for more information about Bowery Poetry Club Records, as well as the artists on the label.
It was such a beautiful day. Sunny, hot, in the low to mid 80s. So we headed off to Vicksburg to check out the Vicksburg National Military Park, which is, in essence, the battlefield in which the Battle of Vicksburg from the Civil War was fought. A beautiful, peaceful place. Basically a national park, with monuments commemorating the soldiers who fought and died there. Along the way you can also see the old fortifications, the old trenches in which the brigades actually fought in, and other historical and picturesque views. It was really a place to just relax, take in the scenery and if you’re a history buff like myself, contemplate what it must have been like there during the war. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful place was filled with so much bloodshed and carnage.
After a couple of hours there, we went off to lunch at the only Italian restaurant I’ve been able to find here..and it turns out the guy running the place was originally a New Yorker so the food was pretty damn good. Nothing fancy about the place. Basically a Pizzeria, really. But the food was really good.
Then it was off to Historic Downtown Vicksburg to see what was happening there. Well…apparently not much. It’s basically another run down city like Jackson for the most part, except for a few streets that had the most amazing old homes. The city sits right at the bank of the Mississippi River and the levee that holds it back from flooding the whole area. Down by the levee there is an old abandoned railroad station with a couple of old train cars still sitting on the tracks and you were able to climb on them and explore them a bit. We also walked along the bank of the river which was a really awesome sight. You can’t help but think of Mark Twain looking at some portions of it but the amazing thing to me was the levee and the “flood marks” they notated on it, showing how high that river had crested at various points in time. It was truly scary to think about the highest point, where literally everything there would have been under water if that wall wasn’t there to keep it back.
We headed home after that, hung out, drank some wine and bullshit, getting plans together for Sunday. Today, since it’s Easter Sunday, everything…and I mean everything is closed down here. A very Christian state. So we are going to head over to the old wagon trail known as the Natchez Trace and drive along there and see what it has to offer. Someone recommended that we check it out…that supposedly it has old mansions along the road at some point of it. We’ll see. If anything, it will be a nice day out before heading back to work again for the next three days….
A grueling week for sure but it wasn’t all work and no play. During lunch hours Carmen and I got to get out and explore downtown Jackson a bit and see what was happening around the city. Wednesday we decided to check out Farish Street, a street that was once the African American business district back in the Jim Crow days. Back then, it was a bustling street of theaters, restaurants, shops and businesses. Somewhere along the way, the whole thing disappeared and now there is literally nothing, save for the one or two bars and one or two food shacks that still remain open. Everything is literally boarded up and abandoned. It is said that the city is trying to turn this historic street into the next “Beale Street” but they still have a very long way to go. The only thing that seems to have been improved are the sidewalks. Everything else looks as if it had begun the renovation project and that, too, seemed abandoned. Nevertheless you can still sense the history here. A few markers mark the spots of some significant places on the street, like the sign in front of where Blues label Trumpet Records once stood and the old Alamo Theater seems to be in good shape, although it is currently not in use. Everything else is abandoned and empty, boarded up, lost. It almost feels as if you are frozen in time in a way. It makes one wonder what this street once was and what it could be again. Maybe, with time, they will fix this street up to where they want it to be and bring some much needed traffic into the downtown area. At the moment, downtown Jackson clears out by 5pm. After that, the crack heads, derelicts, drug addicts and other sordid types emerge….
The following afternoon we decided to lunch in Smith Park, which is right across from the Governor’s mansion. A beautiful little park: quiet, green, filled with shaded areas and benches. It seems a place of refuge from---I won’t say the hustle and bustle---but from whatever people want to get away from. Jackson is not a city like New York in any sense. Even during the day there aren’t many people walking the streets. While sitting in the park, basking in the 80 degree heat, a man approaches us and begins talking to us. He is in his mid-60s, nice enough, conservative looking. He begins by asking us where we were from. We told him and told him that we were here for work reasons and that we were just enjoying a lunch hour and getting away from all the craziness. Turns out, this man is running as a candidate for a city council seat in Jackson. I won’t mention his name. You will see why in a moment. He began talking to us with his Southern charm, talking about race issues and how he hoped Obama would straighten out the country. He spoke to us of how he loves “dark skinned” women, especially Black and Hispanic women and immediately became enamored with Carmen’s “Ethnicity”. He wasn’t trying to pick her up or anything, but he wanted to know whether a man like himself would stand a chance with a black woman half his age. He then proceeds to take a small bible from his back pocket and then removed a photo of this absolutely stunning black woman. He says to us that he’s in love with her but to me, it looked as if the photo is one he just obtained, not one he took himself, since the woman was posing with another man altogether. But who really knows? Maybe he did take it. At any rate, he was sure to point out that he was attracted to black women and wanted to be with one. What happened next was that he began to tell us what his platform was. He was something of a “Jesus Freak”, he said, who did not like “Homosexals” (spelled the way he pronounced it), was against abortion (his card calls for the closing of Mississippi’s ONLY abortion clinic which he referred to as a “death mill’) among other things. He was a Republican, he said, and that he wanted to win to help “straighten out” his city. Ok, fair enough but I’ve heard this song before. Who knows…maybe he will win…maybe he’s just a nut, fringe candidate, but he seemed convinced that some “prominent businessmen” in Jackson had already cleared the way for him to win. I am definitely going to keep my eye on that. So was this guy a real, genuine candidate? I can’t say. But I do have his card…and I will try to see if he winds up winning because my gut tells me that if he does, you will be hearing about this guy…and not necessarily in a good way, either. He says his ultimate goal is to be Mayor. I guess only time will tell…
Friday, we lunched at a place called Miller’s Grill which served the most amazing hamburgers I’ve had in a while. A great little joint, the only bad thing about it is that they close by 2pm---for the rest of the night. They don’t do dinner there. I can see why. No one is around downtown after 5 anyway, why open? Then we took a walk around and we wound up back in Smith Park again just to enjoy the sun. A few EDPs cut that venture short and we headed back to work. For dinner, Carmen really wanted to eat Catfish again so last night we returned to Cock of the Walk. We arrived there around 9pm to discover that they were ready to close. The old man at the door was nice enough to allow us in so we could eat. That was cool. I tried the chicken this time, which was incredible. But all this fried food is really beginning to take its toll on me. I feel I put on a few pounds already. Everything is fried down here…as Carmen joked, the only thing that isn’t fried is the water. The food is amazingly delicious but not for nothing, if you are not one who normally eats this kind of stuff, it’s going to cause havoc with your digestive system.
Ok: Today we are going to Vicksburg where there are some old Civil War sites. More on that later. For now I am just enjoying the fact that I don’t have to work this weekend and that it’s going to be beautiful out there this weekend. We both need the time off and it couldn’t be more perfect out there at the moment to enjoy it….
My friend Carmen and I had lunch today at this restaurant called Cock of The Walk, which is a huge place that serves authentic Southern food. In fact, there are only two things on the menu: Chicken and Catfish. Being the adventurous sort, I figured I’d have Catfish this time, being that yesterday afternoon, we ate at this really cool restaurant called Two Sisters for lunch where I feasted on some of the best fried chicken I ever ate. I have to say that I enjoyed the Catfish very much…especially coupled with Mustard Greens and Black Eyed Peas. I’m not used to eating this sort of food…and I know eating this every day will not be a good thing being that just about everything here is fried…and I mean everything. I got my usual things (pasta, Indian food, etc) for the room…things I can’t go too long without.
We also got to see a historical district today, a district where Medgar Evers’ house is. Medgar Evers was a NAACP member who was brutally gunned down in his driveway during the Civil Rights era. I had always heard about that story but had no idea the house was nearby where we are staying and we got to take a short trip through what is now a historic district. Hearing all those stories of the Jim Crow years down here was really disturbing but not as disturbing as the dirty little secret that some of these establishments down here were STILL turning away African Americans from their establishments as recent as 1981. That was the real shock for me. Unbelievable….
I am here for work. Almost two weeks. I never been to Mississippi before so I guess this is a good opportunity to check out what’s going on down here, one of the homes of the Blues…among other things. I only checked in yesterday so I haven’t gotten the chance to really see what’s going on as of yet but my room is amazing…more like an apartment than a room. In fact, it’s almost better than my own apartment..and is in fact, a little bigger in a way. Surprising accommodations: Full kitchen, TV, Internet Connection…something a guy like me, used to sleeping in hostels, is certainly not used to. Besides, my friend Carmen is with me and she’s always good for a laugh and good times.
It is now 6:30am…I have to remember it is one hour behind from New York. Of course, I have to handle whatever work stuff is on the agenda today…but I am looking forward to later this afternoon so I can explore a little bit, see what’s happening down here. I don’t think I ever would have come here otherwise but it is a chance to see another part of the U.S., one country that I ironically haven’t seen much of, save for a few places. It will be good to sample this part of America.
One point of note: Don’t fly Delta! From what I have heard, they are notorious for losing luggage. Well, my experience was no different. I arrived here at 5pm yesterday afternoon…and the luggage didn’t arrive until 10pm. That’s what I get for checking it…something I never do anyway. Well..surprise, surprise.
Not much else to say right now other than yesterday afternoon was very warm. This morning is cold…and I mean NYC cold, which worries me a bit because I didn’t bring a coat. Perhaps it was a bit judgmental of me, but since this is the deep south, I figured it would be hot all the time. I hope I am right or else I will have a bit of a problem. Oops.
Well…ready to start the day to see what’s what. A nice, quiet morning….
If anyone out there is interested or knows someone who is, please see below. It is a very worthwhile project:
The producers of the documentary Afro-Latinos “The Untaught Story” are seeking interns to assist with post production. We are looking for students or aspiring writers / filmakers interested in becoming apart of the Afrolatino team… this role is for people who would like a career in film. Positions are opened to high school, undergraduate and graduate students seeking writing, editing or audio visual experience. If you’re interested in working towards social justice, learning about Latin American communities and discovering what the social issues are that affect the afrodescendent communities throughout Latin America please apply. This is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a project that aims to bring change to over 200 million afro latinos who are without voice.
SYNOPSIS
Afro-Latinos “The Untaught Story” is a documentary television series independently produced by Creador Pictures, LLC. The program will illustrate history and celebrate the rich culture of people in Latin America of African descent. From the story of how and when slaves came to Central and South America to identity issues that still exist in the hispanic community today. There are an estimated 200 million Afro-descendants in Latin America but the majority of them do not have political or economic power. Of the many issues that are affecting their way of life - - the main (or major) issue is the exclusion of a community of people based on the color of their skin. One of the most important chapters in the documentary is the social issues segment as it directly affects ALL Afro-Latino communities. Consistent in most of the countries visited was the lack of local government support; from corruption to discrimination that Afro-Latinos face. This documentary encourages people to help one family at a time, one community at a time, give voice to the invisible, create awareness, start a dialogue and promote change.
We are looking for people excited about being a part of a MOVEMENT… bring your energy, positive outlook and a willingness to learn. Please apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to afrolatinosintern@hotmail.com. These internships are non-paid (academic credit is available as well as credits on film). All applicants must commit to 2-3 days per week working between 15-20 hours.
Openings:
• Administrative Intern
• Writing Intern (Spanish a plus – but not required)
• Editing Intern (Spanish a plus – but not required)
• Production Assistant Intern
*On the job training will be provided. We strongly encourage people of color, of diverse gender identities and women to apply. For more information or questions please send all inquiries to Alicia Anabel Santos at: afrolatinosintern@hotmail.com
To join the Afro-Latinos documentary mailing list email us at: afrolatinosintern@hotmail.com… in the subject line write ADD TO EMAIL LIST.
SPANISH
Convocatoria a pasantías en investigación social y medios audiovisuales
Los productores del documental Afrolatinos: “La Historia que nunca nos contaron” están buscando pasantes en las áreas de investigación social y medios audiovisuales. Requieren especialmente estudiantes de pregrado (ciencias sociales y humanas, comunicación social y periodismo, y carreras afines) interesados en los problemas sociales que afectan a las comunidades afrodescendientes de América Latina.
Sinópsis del documental:
Afro-Latinos: "La historia que nunca nos contaron" es una serie documental de televisión producida independientemente por Creador Pictures, LLC. El programa ilustrará la historia y celebrará la rica cultura de personas de ascendencia Africana. El documental cubre de la historia desde cómo y cuándo los esclavos fueron traídos a Centro y Sudamérica hasta los asuntos relacionados con la identidad en la comunidad hispana de hoy en día. Hay un estimado de 200 millones de afrodescendientes en Latinoamérica pero la mayoría de ellos no tienen poder político ni económico. Este documental nos lleva a conocer a los afrolatinos a través de naciones de habla española y portuguesa. También enseñará sobre los cambios sociales en toda América Latina. La serie documental empezará con un análisis del comercio esclavista y recordará a los cimarrones y sus comunidades palenqueras, cubriendo también la polémica teoría sobre la presencia africana en la América prehispánica.
Se necesitan estudiantes que quieran hacer una pasantía durante un semestre, tiempo en el que no sólo serán beneficiados con el crédito universitario del caso, sino con la experiencia que ganarán al participar en un documental internacional de esta magnitud. Además, obviamente los(as) estudiantes seleccionados(as) aparecerán en los créditos del documental una vez el mismo sea terminado.
Para mayor información sobre las pasantías, favor contactar a
Alicia Anabel Santos. E-mail: afrolatinosintern@hotmail.com
Well...I am off to the sunny Caribbean for a week. Looking forward to the sun & heat!
Some news when I return. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great week.
Cristogianni Borsella has a new book available, a book of poetry called“Medocentric: In Acclimation of Brown Humanity”. I haven’t received this book as of yet but it is on the way and once I do, you will find a review of it here. This is the third of Borsella’s books, the first two being a great study on the prejudice faced by many Italian-Americans called “On Persecution & Identity” and a study of Italian Fascism called “Fascist Italy: A Concise Historical Narrative” both of which come highly recommended. All three books are available at Amazon.com. Anyone interested in the Italian-American experience should read Borsella’s books. Believe me they are a great read. Look for a review of his poetry book in the coming weeks.
The Good Things About America, a new anthology by Write Bloody.
Write Bloody is a grassroots independent publisher based in NYC, LA, and Tennessee. Join Derrick Brown, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, Sparrow Hall, Paul G. Maziar, and Shappy as they read their contributions. With music by special guests. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, NY 10012. April 8th at 8pm. $8. For more info go to bowerypoetry.com. F/V to 2nd Ave or 6 to Bleecker St. On Bowery between Bleecker and Houston.
The Good Things About America is a book that, above all else, celebrates the enduring awesomeness of the United States of America. This is not meant to sound glib, ironic, or superior. Rather, what we imply is that despite every blind, deaf, and dumb thing America has done in its long and strange history- every misstep, unpunished crime, and lingering bias- there is still something honest, beautiful and hopeful about who we are as a country and as a people. This book serves as a historical document that uses poetry and prose to explore some of the visions for change, the modern glory, albeit broken or majestic, of this unbeatable rising landscape.
Derrick Brown, acclaimed poet and founder of the Write Bloody publishing company, is dedicated to bringing American poetry into rock and roll status. Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, a native of Philadelphia, is the founder of the NYC-Urbana Poetry Slam and author of four books of poetry including Words In Your Face (Soft Skull Press). Sparrow Hall's short story Two Blue Wolves is being produced by Hydrogen Media. Brooklyn-based writer Paul G. Maziar's first book WHAT IT IS:WHAT IT IS in collaboration with artist Matt Maust is published by Write Bloody. Shappy manages the Bowery Poetry Club bar and writes poetry by the bottlefull.
Hosting between 20 and 30 shows a week, the Bowery Poetry Club (BPC) is proud of our place in the lineage of populist art: the Yiddish theater, burlesque, vaudeville, beat poetry, jazz, and punk that gave the Bowery its name. Located in HoBo at the corner of Houston and Bowery.
My new poetry book, "A Symphony of Olives" is now available through Propaganda Press. To purchase, just follow the link. So head on over and buy it! :-)
My new poetry book, "A Symphony of Olives" is now available through Propaganda Press. For more information visit their website. There are many great books available so visit the site and see what they have to offer.
Carol Moldaw, NEA Fellow and New Mexico poet, celebrates her new book, The Widening.
Carol Moldaw and Jeanne Marie Beaumont will be at Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, NY 10012, on Mar. 28 at 2pm. Free. For more info bowerypoetry.com. F/V to 2nd Ave or 6 to Bleecker St. On Bowery between Bleecker and Houston.
Carol Moldaw's lyric novel, The Widening, was published by Etruscan Press in the spring of 2008. She is the author of four books of poetry. Moldaw is the recipient of a Lannan Foundation Marfa Writer's Residency, an NEA Creative Writing Fellowship, and a Pushcart Prize, and her work is published widely in journals, including AGNI, Antioch Review, Boston Review, Chicago Review, Conjunctions, Denver Quarterly, FIELD, The New Republic, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Parnassus, Threepenny Review, and Triquarterly. It has also been anthologized in many venues, including Western Wind: An Introduction to Poetry, and Under 35: A New Generation of American Poets. As noted in The New Yorker, "Moldaw's work repeatedly achieves lyric junctures of shivering beauty." Moldaw lives in Pojoaque, New Mexico. So Late, So New: New and Selected Poems is forthcoming from Etruscan Press in 2010.
Jeanne Marie Beaumont is the author of Curious Conduct, published by BOA Editions in 2004, and Placebo Effects, selected by William Matthews as a winner in the National Poetry Series and published by Norton in 1997. Her next book is forthcoming from BOA in spring 2010. Her poem "Afraid So" was made into a short film by award-winning filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt with narration by Garrison Keillor; it has been shown at over two dozen international festivals, including the TriBeCa Film Festival and the 2008 Split This Rock Poetry Festival; it won 2nd prize at the Black Maria Film Festival, among other awards. She currently teaches at the Unterberg Poetry Center of the 92nd St. Y and in the Stonecoast low-residency MFA program in Maine. Since 1983, she has made her home in Manhattan. Hosting between 20 and 30 shows a week the Bowery Poetry Club (BPC) is proud of our place in the lineage of populist art: the Yiddish theater, burlesque, vaudeville, beat poetry, jazz, and punk that gave the Bowery its name.
Ok, so it’s been a while since I blogged. A long while in fact so now it’s time to play catch up. Sometimes things happen where one just doesn’t have the time to sit down to do this but I keep telling myself that I have to get more on the ball with this, that is, if anyone really cares (I know some out there do, which is why I continue…)
-- In an ever increasing Jones to learn more musically and to expand my playing, I dropped in to Keshav Music on East 4th Street to buy an Oud. I’ve been wanting to get one since listening incessantly to a lot of World Music over the past couple of years, particularly the music from around the Mediterranean. The sound of this instrument appeals to me and I wanted to get one. So after a thorough search around the music stores in New York, I finally found a place that sold them. Keshav is a music store that one must visit if they are a musician interested in different sounds and ideas. Loaded with mostly Indian musical instruments, they will order for you anything you want, which is what they did for me with regard to the Oud. Visit their website to see what they have. This store is a must for aficionados of World Music, especially now that Tribal Sounds has now disappeared in the ever changing East Village. And speaking of World Music, I also recently purchased a new Turkish Doumbek, but I got this one at Guitar Center on 14th Street. Cheap but amazing. In fact, it was used a few days later on Linda La Porte’s new track “If You’re a Girl”, which will be on her forthcoming CD.
-- I caught a performance by Daniella Fischetti with the Musica Bella Orchestra on January 25th 2008 at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Christopher Street in the Village. Daniella plays violin with Linda La Porte and it’s always great to work with her so it was a thrill to hear her play outside our musical situation. She played wonderfully, as did all the musicians in the group. They performed Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1” and “Violin Concerto No. 2 in E”, also by Bach. I am not that knowledgeable at all about classical music and I did not know any of these pieces but I have to say it sounded amazing. Daniella will be performing with them again in the future so I would highly recommend anyone who’s interested in Classical music to drop by their website for information about future performances. If you see Daniella playing with them, do yourself a favor and go see it. She is a very talented musician.
The very next day, I wandered into Luthier Music Corp up on 44th Street to buy some Flamenco CDs that I’ve been looking for. I found them easily then something caught my eye. A guitar on the wall. Not an expensive one, mind you. More of a “student guitar” but something about it kept drawing my eye to it. I asked the woman there if I could try it out and once I did, I knew I had to have it. It’s a beautiful guitar, despite the fact that it was very inexpensive. The sound on it was amazing. I bought it there on the spot and put the CDs back. I am not one to make impulse purchases like that anymore, but if you’re a guitarist, I think you can feel me here. So in essence, I walk in to buy CDs and wound up walking out with a brand new guitar. It truly is an amazing sounding instrument and it just goes to show you that sometimes it isn’t how expensive a guitar is in order for it to have a great sound. Guitarists interested in Flamenco and/or Classical Guitar should visit this store.
-- Like millions of others around the world, I have a Facebook account. I initially didn’t want one because there’s a tendency to belong to too many of these social networking sites. I already have a MySpace and a website and signed up for a few others in an attempt to help promote my writing, music and painting so I figured --- at the insistence of a good friend of mine --- to sign up to Facebook as well. At first, the site annoyed the shit out of me with all the crazy applications, etc but over the months it has become a virtual “This is Your Life” for me. Recently people I had known years ago were suddenly coming out of the woodwork and reconnecting with me, people I had known in grade school in fact. This simply blew my mind, people I haven’t seen in years, some nearly 40 years in some cases. It was interesting to see what became of them and thankfully I can say --- considering what happened to a lot of people of my generation --- that most of them turned out well and are very happy in their lives. I am glad we were able to reconnect. Since then, I’ve been on it more than I usually am. So if you have a Facebook account and want to look me up there, feel free to do so. Always looking to connect with interesting people.
-- Finally caught two films the Oscars have anointed: “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Wrestler”. I thought “Slumdog” was the better film but “The Wrestler” was really good as well, especially Mickey Rourke who seems to have come back from nowhere to turn in a really good performance. I have a feeling he may actually win the “Best Actor” Oscar but who knows how all that works. Even if he doesn’t, I still say he did a great job. I always liked his movies, from “Diner” to “Angel Heart” to “The Pope of Greenwich Village”, etc. It would be great to see him win, although, ultimately, what do these awards really mean in the great scheme of things? But it would be nice to see him get recognized for this. While watching this thoroughly depressing film, I couldn’t help but think there was something deeper taking place here…a generational thing, so to speak. It’s hard to put my finger on it exactly but being that the two main characters were products of the 1980s and seeing their lives now, 20 years later, and seeing their predicament, I can’t help but wonder if some kind of statement is being made here. Maybe I’m just reading too much into it but the idea keeps nagging at me.
-- Caught a documentary at the Walter Reade Theater called “They Came To Play” which was a doc about so-called amateur pianists who enter an “amateur’s” competition. The film follows a string of “amateur” musicians as they prepare to compete in the competition. All of these musicians hold down 9 to 5 jobs for a living but music is their passion. All of them were amazingly talented musicians and I believe the point was to show that there is a very fine line between “amateur” and “professional” since many (if not all) of these musicians were just as good as the so-called “professionals”. It is a good film to show those who ram a wall between the two that the line is indeed very thin between them and it also shows how many amazingly talented musicians there are out there, whether they are “amateur” or “professional”.
-- Received the proof for my upcoming poetry book “A Symphony of Olives” and I have to say I am very excited about its eventual release, which should be out sometime in March. Most of the poems in it are recent ones, meaning written over the past couple of years. It is being brought out by Alternating Current’s Propaganda Press. Propaganda Press has a really good thing going on and they have loads of releases to date. Check out their website for more information. There are many wonderful poets and writers there and I am glad to be in the same company as them. Once the book is out, there will be more information to follow. I’m very excited about it.
-- Went over to Linda La Porte’s this week to work on some new material for her upcoming CD. She, Daniella Fischetti and I worked on three new songs, two of which will definitely be on the next CD, and one which we came up with that night which needs to be worked on but the rough of it sounds great. There are also some upcoming shows so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out Linda’s website for some music on her debut CD, already available.
-- And finally, I caught The Art Show at the 67th Street Armory yesterday. It’s a benefit for the Henry Street Settlement. Differing galleries from the New York area set up shop to display the works that they carry and there are some very interesting pieces there. Some of the usual fare, Pablo Picasso, Lee Krasner, Andy Warhol, Willem DeKooning, etc plus some more contemporary artists who are doing some interesting things, in my opinion. The thrill find for me was one gallery’s display of some Latin American art which is a rarity. Joaquin Torres-Garcia, being one of them, a painter from Uruguay in the earlier part of the 20th Century. One rarely gets to see his work anywhere so it was a thrill for me to actually see them up close and personal rather than just in my art books. But there is something for everyone here and I believe today is the last day. So if you read this and want to check out some interesting art, drop by and check it out. It costs $20 to get in but it’s well worth the price.
For those in the New York City metro area who are interested in taking Flamenco dance classes, the very talented Xianix Barrera is now holding classes in New York City. Just follow the link for more information.
I will be playing with Linda La Porte
Thursday, January 15th 2009
8:00pm
Club Europa (98 Meserole Avenue @ Manhattan Ave)
Brooklyn, New York.
Featuring: Virginia Summerville - Vocals Daniella Fischetti - Violin
Derrick Brown celebrates his new book "Scandalabra".
Please join us for an evening of poetry, spoken word, music, and magic featuring Derrick C. Brown. This event is free and will take place Tuesday, January 13th, from 6:00-7:00pm at the Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, (between Houston and Bleecker). For more information please call 212-614-0505 or visit bowerypoetry.com.
A book party for "Scandalabra" will be held at 6pm, followed by WordShop, during which Brown will give tips on touring and how to write great poetry. The Urbana Poetry Slam will follow at 7pm, featuring Brown.
Former paratrooper Derrick Brown takes his poetry around the world, as to date he has performed at over 1100 venues and universities, including La Sorbonne in Paris. In 1998 he placed second in the National Poetry Slam individual championship, and in 2004 he won the California Independent Book Critics' Award for his written work. He has consistently been the opening act for Indie rock act, Cold War Kids and has been booked with The White Stripes and performed with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. In response to his latest collection "Scandalabra", Nylon Magazine proclaims "Derrick has blown honesty and humor into the darkness and has somehow made poetry cool again."
In 2004, Brown started Write Bloody Publishing. Write Bloody has published many authors and artists, including the works of Amber Tamblyn, Buddy Wakefield, and Roger Bonair-Agard. Brown's own publications include "Born in the Year of the Butterfly Knife" (Write Bloody Publishing, 2006), "I Love You is Back" (Write Bloody Publishing, 2006), and "The Last American Valentine" (Write Bloody Publishing, 2008).
Hosting between 20 and 30 shows a week the Bowery Poetry Club (BPC) is proud of our place in the lineage of populist art: the Yiddish theater, burlesque, vaudeville, beat poetry, jazz, and punk that gave the Bowery its name.
Keeping up with my annual list of good reads, here is some info on the books I read for 2008. Maybe some of you will find them interesting as well:
Or I’ll Dress You In Mourning” - Larry Collins & Dominique LaPierre
The biography of Spanish bullfighter “El Cordobes”. Not only does this book follow the life of an Andalusian peasant from poverty to becoming a very wealthy superstar but also reflects what he symbolized for a changing Spain during the late Franco period.
Guernica: A Biography of A 20th Century Icon - Gijs Van Hensbergen
A short biography of one of Picasso’s most famous paintings, from creation to the present day. Also, a fine history book of the carnage that took place at Guernica during World War II and the effect it had not only on Spanish society but of the world as a whole.
Leo Africanus - Amin Maalouf
A novel about a Moor in the last days of the Kingdom of Granada and his subsequent exile. A beautiful novel by this Lebanese author about exile and it’s effects on one’s life. A great read for those interested in this part of world history.
Moorish Spain - Richard Fletcher
A short but informative history of Arab rule in Spain from 711-1492.
A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
Not a book I would normally read these days but I have to say it was interesting and enjoyable. Tolle has some interesting insights here, although his world view seems to be an amalgam of all three major religions, mixed with existential philosophy as well as Eastern thought. It’s this mixed bag of ideas that makes this book an interesting read. Yet another “answer” to the problems of mankind.
Siciliana - Gaetano Cipolla
Examines the Sicilian ethos through history, literature and art. A great book for those interested in a concise history of the island and it’s people and attitudes.
Pagan Spain - Richard Wright
A fantastic book by this great American writer. Wright travels to Spain in the 1950s, during the height of Franco’s power and reports on the life of every day people and how this regime effects their daily lives. It also shows how ancient Pagan ideas and rituals carry on into this supposedly then “strictly Catholic” nation.
Ghosts of Spain - Giles Tremlett
Examines post-Franco Spain and it’s struggle to shake off it’s fascist legacy through democracy not only in politics but in it’s art, films and literature as well. It is a story of a nation trying to find it’s way in the modern world.
Island of My Hunger - Various
An anthology of Cuban poetry by some of the island’s greatest writers. Very powerful poetry here, most of which was previously unknown to an American readership.
The Insatiable Spiderman - Pedro Juan Gutierrez
The third novel from one of Cuba’s best known contemporary writers. This novel follows both “Dirty Havana Trilogy” and “Tropical Animal”, following the exploits of “Pedro Juan” through the seedier side of Havana. A remarkably candid portrait of modern Havana in the late 20th century. Gutierrez is Cuba’s answer to Henry Miller and Charles Bukowski. Fans of these writers should definitely check him out.
Liberation Theology - Philip Berryman
An examination of this strictly Latin American spin on Catholicism that grew in the late 1970s and early 1980s and it’s effect on the lives of the ordinary person in Latin American nations faced with corrupt governments, dictatorships and civil wars. The book tries to diffuse the idea from the Vatican that Liberation Theology is closely linked with Marxism and shows how the ideas behind it are meant to follow the original teachings of Christ. The idea of Christ not only as ‘redeemer’ but as ‘liberator’ as well.
Sea of Faith - Stephen O’Shea
A history book examining the close ties between the three major religions -- Christianity, Judaism and Islam --- in the Mediterranean world and how this long history of interaction, cooperation and conflict affect the world we are living in today.
A Sultan in Palermo - Tariq Ali
A fictionalized account of Sicilian explorer and mapmaker Al-Idrisi and his relationship with the Norman king Roger. The story takes place in the last days of Islam’s presence in Sicily in the 11th century. A must for those interested in Italian and/or Sicilian history.
Goya - Edwin O’Connor
A short but fascinating biography of one of Spain’s most celebrated artists. It examines his life as well as his work and also gives a great historical account of the period of Spanish history in which he lived.
Modern Arab Art -
A great survey of modern artists in the Arab world, a segment of the modern period which is completely ignored by art historians and many western museums and institutions. Concentrates mostly on those artists from “The Levant”: Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine. Many unique and interesting works here that deserve wider attention.
The Arts of Spain - John Moffitt
An examination of Spanish art from the ancient Iberians through the modern day. A great albeit short book but informative nevertheless.
The Mule - Juan Galan
A novel about a peasant mule driver during the Spanish Civil War who finds himself a victim of circumstance and becomes an accidental war hero. Another great novel of this period of Spanish history but with a humorous, light hearted approach, the kind of thing you could see an “indie” film being made of one day. A great novel over all.
The Clash of Fundamentalisms - Tariq Ali
A very dense historical analysis of the conflict between the western and Islamic worlds and how decisions made in the past have a direct effect on the conflicts we are facing today. Ali’s approach is objective, finding faults on both sides of the spectrum. Doesn’t offer any solutions as it does point out the reasons for the current climate in today’s world. Essential if you want a better understanding of it.
Castro’s Cuba, Cuba’s Fidel - Lee Lockwood
Lockwood travels to Cuba in the 1960s in order to interview Fidel Castro to get the story from his own words. The result is this book, a collection of interviews with the Cuban leader discussing the Revolution and the change he intended to make for Cuba. The book does not judge Castro but it’s interesting to see it all from his own perspective. It also gives insight into the circle surrounding Castro and their attitudes as well. The one thing that this also shows is that Castro certainly loves to talk for some of these interviews are very very long.
Revolutionary Latin American Poetry - Various
A great book packed with some of the best poetry to come out of Latin America from the 19th century through the mid-20th century. “Revolutionary” in form more so than in content, since many of these poems do not concern themselves with politics though a great many do. By far one of the best books of Latin American poetry I have found thus far, featuring many of the greats from all the nations of Latin America and also shows that a literary revolution was also taking place in “the other America” as well as the United States during the 50s and 60s. This book showed me that there are many wonderful artists out there who simply do not get the attention they deserve in this country.
Child of The Revolution - Luis M. Garcia
Anyone who thinks Castro is a hero should read this book. A story of a young boy growing up in Cuba before and during the Revolution and the real effect it had on his family as well as other families just like the author’s. Should dispel any notion of Castro’s Revolution being “noble”.
Memoirs of an Italian Terrorist - Giorgio
Allegedly written by a member of Italy’s “Red Brigades”. A harrowing account of what this terrorist group did and how they functioned, how they chose their targets and why they were doing what they were doing. Seemingly the last gasp of revolutionary communist organizations during the 1970s and 1980s. Gives good insight into the mind of a terrorist and what motivates them. A great read, albeit disturbing.
Country Under My Skin - Giaconda Belli
The memoirs of Nicaraguan writer Giaconda Belli and how this woman from a very upper middle class family found herself involved with the Sandinista movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A very detailed account of how they operated and how they eventually succeeded in overthrowing the Samoza dictatorship and how they attempted to bring revolutionary change to Nicaragua.
Negri on Negri - Antonio Negri
Interviews with Italian philosopher Antonio Negri ranging in topic from the 1968 rebellions in Europe through the Red Brigade period all the way through today’s geopolitical concerns. Very dense and not always easily understood but still a fascinating read.
Fascist Italy: A Concise Historical Narrative - Cristogianni Borsella
A short, compact, very well written account of the birth of Fascism in Italy. Essential for those interested in the period in Italian history for anyone who does not want to read the numerous tomes published on this same subject.
Goodbye, Mr. Socialism - Antonio Negri
Another interview book of the Italian philosopher, this book concerning itself with the fall of communism and the future of the Left in Europe specifically and the rest of the world peripherally. Discusses many modern conflicts as well, from Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq but mostly concentrates on the political climate of Berlusconi’s Italy.
Introduction to 20th Century Italian Literature -
A survey and study of modern Italian literature. A great read focusing on many authors not widely known in the United States.
Travels in Hyperreality - Umberto Eco
An immensely enjoyable book of essays discussing many varying topics in the Post-Modern world. Many of these essays appeared in Italian newspapers throughout the 1980s through the current day. Eco’s essays are a great read for not only their content but for the humor infused in them as well.
On Literature - Umberto Eco
A collection of essays discussing various forms of literature, particularly Italian literature.
Turning Back The Clock - Umberto Eco
More essays, these more concerned with modern day concerns such was “the War on Terror” as well as the recurring conflict between Islam and the West, drawing on historical accounts to show that since the fall of the Berlin Wall, we are actually heading backward and not forward, reliving conflicts and embracing attitudes that are actually very old indeed.
Serendipities - Umberto Eco
Essays examining language and the many quests of those in search of humanity’s “original language of Adam and Eve”.
Post-Modern Theory - Steven Best & Douglas Killner
A study of various post-modern theories and philosophers such as Lacan, Baudrillard, Foucault, etc. Interesting to say the least.
Gypsies and Flamenco - Bernard Leblon
A very short book on the history of Spanish Gypsies and their position on Spanish society throughout the ages. Also examines Flamenco music and it’s roots but mainly focuses on Gypsy life and history.
The Red Virgin - Fernando Arrabal
A very interesting novel about a woman trying to mold her daughter into brilliance, told from the point of view of the mother. The novel is an allegorical tale about exile and estrangement from both family and nation. From one of Spain’s most celebrated modern authors and playwrights.
Vedette - Stephen Siciliano
A story about an Andalusian peasant girl and her effect on all those around her. The novel is a great account of the Spanish Civil War through the eyes of a young girl and those around her, mostly peasants from Andalusia as well as through the eyes of those who suffered on the other side. It’s a fantastic read and another example of how self-published novels can also be as powerful as “real” novels. This book should dispel any notion that one must need a “real” publisher in order to turn out a very well written and inspiring work.
The Romantic Dogs - Roberto Bolaño
As far as I know, the only poetry collection by this Chilean author available in English. It’s a great read. Powerful poetry collected from the early 1980s through the late 1990s. If you’ve read his fiction, you must read his poetry. Hopefully, more will be released in the coming years.
Deep Song & Other Prose - Federico Garcia Lorca
A collection of essays from Spain's greatest poet. A very interesting read on various subjects but mainly Andalusian culture and Gypsy life. Worth seeking out, especially if you are a Garcia Lorca fan.
Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
My new article, "Viva La Revolucion!" has been published by BrooWaha New York. In today's upside down world, politics sure does make strange bedfellows.
I just happened to stumble across this today while surfing the web. Apparently, my article “Not Better But Different”, which was a look at the idea of multiculturalism, was picked up by a reader named Brigitta, apparently an Israeli woman, and posted on the forum pages for Pravda of all places. That’s right. Pravda. The Russian newspaper. It’s not actually in the news sections, but the forum pages they apparently have. I don’t know who this Brigitta is---and of course I don’t mind that she posted it, the more readers the better, I say----but it would have been nice if she would have at the very least told me about it. I would have liked to get her thoughts on it. She just posted the entire article on the forum page. No comments. Nothing. She did note the source of the article, though. Strange things happen on the internet. This has got to be one of the strangest things to happen to me yet. So my article can also be read at Pravda, apparently.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. I know I did. I had a pretty low key Thanksgiving this year, spending it with my mother and my sister out on Long Island at a very nice restaurant with some really good food. (Since it was only the three of us, what was the point in cooking?)
On the ride out there yesterday morning, I couldn’t help feel that some people were already getting ready for today, the day known as “Black Friday” due to the stampede of people ready to snatch and grab any consumer good they can get their hands on. Since I don’t drive, I have to take the Long Island Railroad all the way out to Suffolk County. What absolute madness, let me tell you. The train was packed to the gills, kids were running around all over the place, adults were whining that they had to stand…it felt like Rush Hour on the Subway. There was even a minor tiff between two middle aged men due to one accidentally stepping on another’s foot. Ah, yes, the beauty of a day of giving thanks. But that’s New York for you.
While I was out there I couldn’t help notice one thing. At a Best Buy, at around 5:30pm, I noticed a growing line of people camped out, huddled under blankets, drinking coffee or hot chocolate out of thermoses, all of them waiting for the doors to open….at Midnight. I realize that the day after Thanksgiving is the traditional day for Christmas shopping to begin but I had to ask myself why anyone would sit around in the freezing cold for nearly 8 hours in front of a closed store. Deals, I am told. Screw that. If that’s what you want to do, by all means, enjoy, but I’ll be damned if I ever would do that. If there is any day of the year in which I don’t Christmas shop, that day is “Black Friday”. Thanks but no thanks. I don’t need the aggravation. I’ll forgo the stampede for consumer goods for yet another year and wait until a little later.
My new article, "Splitting The Elephant" has been published by BrooWaha New York. How the religious right takeover of the Republican Party has caused their current identity crisis.
My new article, "By Way of The Trinacria" has been published by BrooWaha New York discussing the Arabic impact on Sicily and it's impact on Sicilian-American identity.
My new article, "My Red Wagon Is Better Than Yours" has been published by BrooWaha New York, discussing the issue of when art becomes nothing more than a commodity and how shows like "American Idol" contribute to this.
A Shit Week But Thankful Dept:
It’s been a trying week to say the least. Ever get one of those weeks where you just get tired of all the bullshit? This week was that kind of week for me and I’m glad the weekend is here, even though it isn’t the most beautiful day here in New York, there is something about the gray and the rain that is making it seem very peaceful right now. I welcome it. Also, this week wasn’t totally horrific. I had a quite a few articles up a BrooWaha New York which I hope some of you have read. Obviously not everyone’s cup of tea but someone out there is reading them. Since I last checked the stats are showing that all of them combined have been read something like 25,000 times over the past year. That’s pretty good, I think. So I guess there is always an upside to every downside. I feel thankful over all.
Art and More Art Dept:
Last weekend I caught the Art20 exhibit at the Park Avenue Armory. A really good show with a lot of interesting paintings. This exhibit concentrated more on American art over the last 100 years or so and many of these artists worked in the Abstract Expressionist style. The show was made up of a whole slew of galleries from around the world showcasing the works they have available and some of them were obviously more interesting than others but there were quite a few “knowns” there amongst all the “unknowns” (at least to me). Picasso, both Elaine and Willem DeKooning, Andy Warhol, Keith Harring, Leger, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauchenberg, etc but I came across a few painters I never heard of before but I really enjoyed their work: Jean-Paul Riopelle, Edvins Strautmanis, Gregory Johnston, Stephen Pace, Grace Hartigan, among others. It was well worth the $20 entry fee and the shows there at the Armory never disappoint.
The Holiday Season Is Almost Here Dept:
The holiday season is creeping up and up and I’ve done nothing yet. It’s getting close and I haven’t even begun to descend into the consumerist madness but then again, it hasn’t really started yet. We still got another week before the real madness begins. With the economy the way it is, I’m going to be curious to see how it all plays out this year. Nevertheless, despite the drooling, raving maniacs that will be flooding the marketplace, this is the time of year I really like in New York. There is just something about the city that pleases me once the Christmas lights begin going up though it seems at the moment there isn’t going to be any snow to accompany it, but it’s still a little early. I don’t think it’s dropped below 50 degrees yet, which I like, believe me. But there’s always something about the area around Central Park at Christmas time that I really enjoy seeing. In two weeks we will start seeing all that. Let’s just get through Thanksgiving first. But I really ought to get started before I wake up and realize there is only a week left and I am short of money. That happens to me almost every year. You’d think, at my age, I’d have learned by now.
My new article, "The Crooked Timber of Humanity" has been published by BrooWaha New York. Some people's expectations and fear of America's next President is simply out of this world.
My new article, "The Eyes of Nostradamus" has been published by BrooWaha New York. Prophecies, Bible Codes and Other Interesting Parlor Games for Humanity.
In a show to celebrate the life of singer/songwriter, Rich Bettancourt, Linda La Porte w/ Julian Gallo on bass and Daniella Fischetti on violin
will play live at
Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street (btwn Ave. A & B)
MONDAY, October 27, 2008
8PM
No Cover
In researching my own geneaology over the past couple of years, I've come across some really incredible things with regard to how others view my ethnic background. My new article, "Dago Blues", published at BrooWaha New York, looks at this and other incidents that surprised me during this quest.
Some on the right are lighting the fuse to a very dangerous powderkeg. My new article "Lighting The Fuse" explores some of the "populist" rhetoric coming from some voices on the Right.
Remember the "Baby on Board" babies? Well now they are all grown up. My new article, "It's All About Me" examines one segment of that generation through a (hopefully) somewhat humorous account.
Greatest Generation Poet Dept:
I first met Ed Galing back when I first started to send my poems and stories out into the world. Ed was published along side me in the very first magazine that accepted my poems, Lucid Moon. I really liked what he was doing. There was something very Bukowski-esque about his poems, although I can’t say for sure how much he was directly influenced by him. We started a correspondence that has lasted just about a decade now. He has always been very supportive of my writing and has often critiqued it for me over the years. The one thing I can say is that he was always brutally honest, which I always appreciated. Ed is a very talented poet, his work ranging from the hard, brutal aspects of life down to the light hearted and funny. Ed Galing was born in 1917 and he is still fighting the good fight, still putting down the word. The man has lived a very interesting life to say the least and his poems often reflect that life. At 91, it seems there is no letting up. His work has appeared in hundreds of magazines and journals and it continues to be. He also has numerous chapbooks available as well, most of them have recently been brought out again through Leah Angstman’s Alternating Current. Recently someone has created a blog about Ed. Drop by, have a look and if you find that you like what he does, drop him a line. I’m sure he would appreciate it.
Back to The Studio Dept:
This weekend I will be heading back into Capture Sound in Brooklyn NY to continue work on Linda La Porte’s new CD. In the last session we put down the basics for three of the new songs. We hope to get a lot more done this weekend. I’m really looking forward to this project and there are a lot of interesting things in store. Check out recent posts of my blog here for videos that have been cut for two of the newer songs. The videos were edited and directed by the very talented Virginia Summerville. Also check out Linda’s website for more information about her, her music and upcoming shows in the New York City area.
A Great Italian Writer Dept:
I just recently discovered the works of Italian writer and thinker Umberto Eco. I know he’s been around a very long time but I just got around to reading him. I have only read one of his books so far, a book of essays called “Travels in Hyperreality”, which I found absolutely incredible. I am now just past the half-way mark of his book “On Literature” which is an excellent study on various aspects of literature and I can’t seem to put the book down. I am looking forward to reading more of his books, especially his novels. Eco is professor of Semiotics in Bologna and after reading these essays I have to say I want to know more about that subject. Fascinating reads and I highly recommend him to anyone who hasn’t read him. I only wish now that I would have discovered him sooner. Very inspiring.
And Speaking of Italian Dept:
And speaking of Italian, over the past year or two I’ve been really trying to get into my genealogy, specifically on my father’s side of the family who came from Sicily. My mother’s side of the family has been covered a great deal by a cousin of mine who did very extensive research that goes all the way back to 1797, a year in which “Italy” was not even yet a nation but a conglomerate of regions and differing kingdoms. “Italy”, as we know it today, didn’t become a nation until the 1860s when General Giuseppe Garibaldi helped forge it. Well, apparently, my great-great grandmother on my mother’s side, a woman named Angiolina Muoio had some connection to this. According to the papers I have she helped free Garibaldi from prison at some point. Unfortunately I don’t have any further details about this but I am eager to find out. It’s been hard for me to gather information about my father’s side of the family. What I got so far was that my great-great grandfather had played the trumpet for the King of Spain (whatever that means, exactly) and my great-great grandmother was a madam. My great grandparents and their family come from a long line of artists and musicians, but again, no details other than that. Not much else to go on, unfortunately. My grandfather was born in Tunisa and came to the United States when he was two years old and wound up living up on Pleasant Avenue in what is now Spanish Harlem. Sounds to me that there is a great story here somewhere and I am eager to find all this out. But it’s extremely difficult being that a lot of relatives that would know are either dead now or I don’t have any contact with them, which is a shame. I would really love to know this. Other information I found through the Ellis Island website but not much other than when they came here and who they stayed with. This is something I really have to pursue more. There is obviously a very long and interesting history there in many ways.
This video is for the song "What Burns?", another new track from Linda La Porte's new CD. This footage was shot the same day as the last song, "Today", at Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn NY and again features Daniella Fischetti on violin, Virginia Summerville on background vocals and myself on bass. This clip was also directed and edited by Virginia Summerville:
The following video, directed by the very talented Virginia Summerville, is of Linda La Porte working on a new song for her upcoming CD. The song is called "Today" and it also features Daniella Fischetti on violin, Virginia Summerville on background vocals as myself on bass. This is still a rough of the song but Virginia did such an amazing job with this video, we all felt it was good enough to post. The footage was shot at Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn. Enjoy..
Today I will be heading into Capture Sound in Brooklyn to begin work on Linda La Porte’s new CD. I’m very excited about getting to work on it because the new material is awesome. Joining us today will be violinist extraordinaire Daniella Fischetti and the very talented Virginia Summerville on vocals. There is a whole slew of new material to be worked on and I really can’t wait not only to get it started but to hear the finished results. Some of you have had a preview of the some of the new material at recent shows but there is more to come.
Two shows are coming up in the near future: October 27th 2008 at 8pm at Otto’s Shrunken Head, which is a benefit show (for more details, check out Linda’s website. It’s for a really good cause); and November 6th at Club Europa in Brooklyn at 8pm. Also appearing at the Club Europa show will be Dave Ayala and Every Good Boy. Linda is hosting the night so it should be laid back and a lot of fun. Hope to see you there.
In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great weekend.
"Unforseen catastrophes are never the consequence or the effect, if you prefer, of a single motive, of a cause singular; but they are rather like a whirlpool, a cyclonic point of depression in the consciousness of the world, toward which a whole multitude of converging causes have contributed."
The Anonymous Are Always So Brave Dept:
One in a while I will get an Anonymous message from someone who cracks wise and asks questions that they feel I have an obligation to answer. I guess that’s expected on the internet, since these profiles are not “private”, it opens the door to all kinds of nut jobs and idiots now and again. Put simply, I don’t have a problem answering pretty much anything anyone wants to ask but at least be brave and show me who you are--and believe me, the answers to your very “probing” questions and attempts at “showing me up” are really not all that complicated. It seems to me that some “anonymous” people are taking it far more seriously than I actually am. Have fun. It ain’t that heavy. But since you insist on remaining “anonymous” I won’t answer you. Consider this paragraph above my answer to you. But I have a question for you: Is your life really that empty and uneventful that you actually take the time out to “get to the bottom” of very trivial matters? I guess it is. But have your fun. Whatever floats your boat. Bottom line is, I’m not going to answer you until you are brave enough to show me who you are.
It Didn’t Take Long Dept:
Just the other night I was out at dinner with some really good friends and the conversation began to revolve around the debate between Biden and Palin. I had remarked that soon you would begin to see the cultural war begin to rear it’s ugly head. You know, that notion that “Obama is really not one of us” argument. Well it didn’t take long. Both McCain and Palin started doing just that on Monday. It was interesting to hear. At McCain’s rally, when he asked “Who is Barack Obama?” an audience member shouted out “Terrorist!”. At Sarah Palin’s rally, when bringing up the association with Ayers, an audience member yelled out “Kill him!”. Nice to see where this is going and what kinds of flames one is willing to fan. Look: One could not support Obama if that’s what they believe but to be accused of being a “terrorist” is taking a stroll into fantasy land. Let’s get back to reality people. Now it makes me wonder how long it will be before information comes out about how Palin’s husband was a staunch supporter of the Alaskan Secessionist movement. Ever hear the leader of that party speak? Do your research and see. Palin spoke at their events from time to time. Listen to what he has to say and all I have to say is that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t start throwing stones.
Tourist For A Day Dept:
On Saturday I did something I never did before and that was take one of those helicopter tours around Manhattan. It was really a blast and the views from up there were simply amazing. A tad expensive though, but worth it. What amused me to no end was the fact that they were surprised we were all native New Yorkers. They said they never get any native New Yorkers on those tours. That doesn’t surprise me. I’m 42 years old and I’ve yet to go to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building’s observation deck. But it was all a hell of a lot of fun since I never did anything like that before. My only criticism of it was the fact that for what it cost, it could have been just a little bit longer. Otherwise it was really amazing.
My new article, "What is Art?", has been published at BrooWaha New York Edition. It was inspired by an incident that occurred a couple of years ago while having an on-line discussion with a painter who belonged to an Objectivist Artist's website. It asks the question, "What is Art?" (as the title says) but asks questions more than really points to any definitive answer. I'm hoping to get some feedback on it with regard to the answer. It would be interesting to see the different perspectives and hopefully that alone will prove the point I was trying to make.
Debates and Not Discussion Dept:
Ok, so the first Presidential debate is now complete. Those who support McCain will say he “won” and those who support Obama will say he “won”. Meanwhile, nothing was said that anyone paying attention hasn’t heard a million times before from each of these candidates. And that’s just the point. What wasn’t said was far more interesting than what was. We have a economic meltdown going on in this country and neither candidate seemed to address this head on. It was all about earmarks and taxes. What about the crisis, fellas? Any ideas?
Another Loss For The Arts Dept:
Paul Newman has died. He was 83. The world loses another fine actor and artist.
I’d Rather Deal With Active-Aggressive Dept:
There seems to be a hell of a lot of passive-aggressive shit going on around me these days. Why not just come out with it? Why do you keep pretending to know what I am thinking and then act in this manner in order to get a response from what you think I am thinking. Confused? That’s just the point. Come out with it and I will tell you. Simple enough, right? Grow up, already.
Some Really Cool Literature Dept:
Check out the website for Alternating Current. They publish some really interesting underground poetry and literature and they have a lot of great things happening. They will be publishing a chapbook for me as part of their “Pocket Protectors” series in May 2009. The “Pocket Protectors” series has some really good poets lined up. The first in the series is Leah Angstman’s“An Alien Here”, an excellent collection of poetry. Publisher Leah Angstman has done a fine job of selection. Personally, I am looking forward to Ed Galing’s book, a fine writer who’s been turning out the good word for well over 60 years now. They have also recently published a chapbook from him so check out their website for more information about Ed as well as some other great underground poets. Who says that the underground is dead?
Just a quick thank you to all of you who came out to Linda La Porte’s show at Arlene’s Grocery the other night. A short but sweet set which I thought went pretty well and hopefully you did too. The next show is on October 21st at Club Europa in Brooklyn, New York. Also on the bill, ex-Bitterweed guitarist, Dave Ayala and Every Good Boy. Should be a very fun night so check out Linda’s website for more details.
My new article, "Rearranging the Board" has been published by BrooWaha New York. This one discusses the role of the United States in future world conflicts.
New York City singer/songwriter Linda La Porte has her new website up and ready to go, complete with info on upcoming shows, photos, blog and a few tracks off her debut CD. Stop by have a look and a listen to this amazing and talented songwriter.
My new article, "The Butterfly Net" has just been published by BrooWaha New York. This one looks at the Internet as rabbit hole, where every idea under the sun is presented for the whole world to see; where once some people dive in never seem to come out.
My article "My Advice To Young Artists" is in the September issue of Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter, a blog that helps and encourages aspiring writers. Anyone who is interested in writing should drop by and read his newsletter. It is filled with a lot of useful information for writers. I want to take the time to thank Mike Geffner for publishing this article in his newsletter. It is very much appreciated.
Now that the long awaited speech by John McCain's VP running mate is over and the press has discussed and analyzed every detail, my article "The Pitbull Barks" takes issue with just one of her (as well as former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's) remarks. It seems to me that both Sarah Palin and Rudolph Giuliani really need to rethink some things.
Not too long ago, I read an incredible book of poetry by Hungarian poet Miklos Radnoti called "Clouded Sky". It was one of those "just happened upon" finds while browsing a bookstore one day. Coming soon, at the Bowery Poetry Club, is a film about this amazing poet. The details are below:
Contact:
Gary Glazner
Bowery Poetry Club
poetmex@aol.com
212-614-0505 office
505-577-2250 cell
A sneak preview of the documentary film NEITHER MEMORY NOR MAGIC will be shown on September 28 at 8 PM, at the Bowery Poetry Club. Director Hugo Perez will discuss the film, narrated by Patricia Clarkson, after the screening. Sliding scale tickets range $10 to $25.
NEITHER MEMORY NOR MAGIC explores the life and times of Hungarian poet Miklós Radnóti. From the final notebook poems, found posthumously in his coat pocket in a mass grave, trailing back to his premonitory writings of the late 1930s, poetic verse intertwines with archival footage to form this trenchant narrative. Despite his awareness of thickening hostility around him, Radnóti's patriotism resounds in his identification as Hungarian. Though his story is tragic, it is not one of defeat; it celebrates a man who continues to write, most prolifically, until his demise. A unique literary insight into the Holocaust and the lives of its victims, Radnóti's notebook recounts his last six months in a Nazi work camp and on a forced march before being shot. It is the story of perseverance in the face of persecution and the triumph of art over despair. His poems reflect his final experiences, yet the film's roots delve much deeper. They cover the loss of a mother and fraternal brother who died at his birth, the love of a happy marriage, and the will to create art.
Perez portrays a man and the times, investigating the personal and the historical. Shedding light on the anti-Semitism which precedes the war, he challenges viewers to look critically at their own era. Perez draws parallels between Europe in the 1930s and contemporary society, finding Radnóti's experience of genocide and war relevant to the inhumanity of today. Still, the film pays homage to man and his poetry. Taken from a line in one of Radnoti's poems, the title Neither Memory Nor Magic summons the present, in this evocative cinematic success.
Writer director Hugo Perez is a recipient of the 2008 Emerging Artist Award from the Tribeca Film Institute/RENEW Media. The personal insight and craft he has applied to films of his Cuban heritage before extend to Neither Memory Nor Magic, which interweaves poems in English and Hungarian. Radnóti's poetry blends avant-garde, expressionist, and classical styles. His verse has made him a hero in his native land. Narrator Patricia Clarkson can be seen currently in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Ira Sach's Married Life (2007). This sneak preview will benefit Bowery Arts & Sciences, the non-profit wing of Bowery Poetry Club. Patricia Clarkson has helped raise support for the organization before.
Hosting between 20 and 30 shows a week the Bowery Poetry Club (BPC) is proud of our place in the lineage of populist art: the Yiddish theater, burlesque, vaudeville, beat poetry, jazz, and punk that gave the Bowery its name. Located in HoBo at the corner of Houston and Bowery.
Not all Conservatives fit the stereotype Liberals have of them but some are clearly out to lunch. My new article, "Willful Blindness" examines this and has been published by BrooWaha New York.
It seems it's not only the Right who are in a tizzy over the prospect of an Obama presidency. It seems the hard core Left is as well. My new article "Utopia Parkway" published at BrooWaha New York examines this. Drop by and have a look.
Alternating Current's blog gave me a mention today, which I appreciate very much. Thank you! If you get a chance, stop by and check out their blog. They have a really cool thing going on with regard to Underground Literature. Drop by and see what they have going on and what they offer for the near future.
Don’t resent me just because you actually believe it when your peers refer to you as a “failure”. It isn’t my fault that you use other people’s standards as a baromoter of your own life.
Don’t resent me because you never once in your life decided to take any chances, always played it safe; never bothered to explore anything beyond your own immediate surroundings. Yeah, I took chances, sometimes did some irresponsible things, but one learns from that, right? But oh, yeah, I forgot. I was “disobedient” and “rebellious”, so..
Don’t resent me because you fear to actually live.
Don’t resent me because I actually persue my goals and dreams whether or not the chips may be stacked against me. There’s nothing wrong with a little ambition, is there?
Don’t resent me because I “have no respect for authority”. Sorry, I didn’t realize my life was merely lived by permission, subject to someone else’s dictates. I didn’t realize that my life was actually someone else’s. I also didn’t realize that all because someone is in the position of authority that they are always right. Silly me.
Don’t resent me because I have my own thoughts on things, my own opinion on things. Oh, yeah, I forgot. That makes me “angry” right? Why? Because you don’t agree with me? I should think just like you? I should hold your opinions? See the world the way you do? I thought one’s mind was one’s own, free to be utilized in any way they see fit.
Don’t resent me because everything you were taught to believe turned out to be a lie.
Don’t resent me just because I think some people are idiots and morons. Face it. A lot of people are and whatever career they have in life and whatever degrees they may have does not necessarily change that fact. Sometimes people are just idiots and morons. Period. Open your eyes.
Finally, don’t resent me because I am me. I am very sorry that I can’t be you. And that does make me a very horrible human being, doesn’t it?
You take pride in your re-invention as a Christian, pretend to care and have compassion for others. That's what a Christian is supposed to do, right? Yet you sit in a slow burn of anger and resentment over something so trivial in the grand scheme of things. You wallow in anger, use all your energy in order to sustain it. Yeah, you love to espouse the words you obviously do not understand. Horse shit is what it is. You don't mean it, either. You couldn't possibly. Jesus is certainly not your example. Jesus could never be this much of a prick.
Some Americans, especially those among the "hipster" set, have become way too obsessed with Pop Culture. Listen: Your insatiable knowledge of Pop Culture trivia is not the barometer of your intelligence. Nor does it show the world how "cool" you are. Having encyclopedic knowledge of every television show theme, episode, celebrity fact, etc shows quite clearly that your brain should be used for something else. So pick up a book once in a while, learn about the world and stop obsessing about every little thing a celebrity is doing.
Received some wonderful news this week. I will be having a new poetry chapbook coming out through Alternating Current as part of their “Pocket Protector” series. This as of yet untitled book is slated to be released in May 2009. It should consist of somewhere between 15-20 poems. If you get a chance, also stop by publisher Leah Angstman’s blog and check out her own work. She’s a wonderful poet. Also see info about Alternating Current. It’s a great thing and it’s great to see the indie spirit is still alive and well. More details to follow as they come in on this end.
Just a short note to thank all those who came down to Linda La Porte's show at Club Europa Tuesday night. We all had a blast. A special thanks to Dave Ayala who did an amazing set. Thanks again!
3:00pm:
Arrived in Vieques. Got our room late and they screwed up. Have to get another room for the night while they fix the problem. What the fuck? They decide to out us in a different room for one night only at no charge while they make arrangements to get us in the room we booked.
August 12th 2008
8:00am:
Talk about your out of the way place. Arrived in Vieques at around 12:30pm, despite an hour and a half delay on our main flight. It’s very hot…nearly 100 degrees but I’m loving it. We are staying in a place called Bananas in the town of Esperanza, mainly a tourist spot filled with American ex-pats (colonialism rears its head again, I see). It’s nice, though. I’m writing this from the back yard of our temporary room. Later on they are supposed to get us into our regular room. Virginia will be joining us later in the week. Right now I am listening to a cacophony of roosters coming from the house just beyond all the trees directly in front of me here in the back yard. It’s really nice and other than the roosters, it’s very quiet. But I like the sound of the crowing roosters coupled with the atmosphere back here. Linda is asleep and I am enjoying a smoke and some coffee (not too good but better than nothing). Mosquitoes are a problem here….getting bit like crazy during the night. But these are minor complaints. Otherwise it’s very beautiful here.
Last night we basically hung around the Malecón and had dinner being too tired to really venture out beyond our immediate area. Today we are going to Sun Beach, then playing it by ear from there. We still got 5 full days ahead of us. Right now it’s peaceful, wonderful. A nice break from the idiocy of New York. As far from that as could be. Just what I was seeking in this trip. I think I am really going to enjoy this week.
August 13th 2008
7:45am:
Day 3. Yesterday as hot as hell so we spent the day over at Sun Bay beach which is just a stone’s throw from our room. Did a lot of swimming…Linda did some snorkeling. Spent a majority of the time in the water which was unbelievably warm. Now Wednesday morning, coffee out, Linda is up and now joining me for coffee and tea….
8:05am:
Before heading out to the beach we will have breakfast at this little spot down the road called Belly Buttons. It’s really a breakfast stand with tables out front. The usual fare but the food is really good and it’s a nice relaxing spot just across from the ocean. It’s really the only place open at this hour anyway. Everything else is either closed or will open up much later in the morning.
Today: Red Beach (or Playa Caracas as it’s known here). From there it’s up in the air for the evening; but things close very early here, sometimes as early as 5pm, so at night, unless you sit at the bar and drink there really isn’t much else to do in Esperanza. Except dinner: Tradewinds, where we ate last night and the food is absolutely incredible. Tried Mofongo for the first time and I have to say it was amazing. A little taste of authentic Puerto Rican food where otherwise is scarce in these parts. Most things are American for Americans. The only drawback to this place.
Tomorrow Virginia comes in to join us and we have to pick her up at the airport at around 6pm or so. So we are going to spend the day up in Isabelle Segundo, the other town here on the island. Seems like there is much more to do up there. It seems more lively than it is down here on the southern end of the island. Looking forward to seeing what is going on up there.
9:00am:
Perusing the local literature. Some writers and artists to check out:
Manual Alonso Pacheco
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Eugneio Maria de Hostos
Cayetano Coll y Toste
Jose de Diego
Luis Munoz Rivera
Manuel Zeno-Gandia
Antonio S. Pedreira
Enrique Laguerre
Julia de Burgos
Pedro Juan Soto
Rene Marques
Esmerelda Santiago
Clemente Soto Velez
Artists
Jose Campeche
Francisco Oller
Lorenzo Homar
Rafael Tufino Figueroa
Tomas Batista
9:10am:
Linda is in the shower and I am listening to construction going on in the back of the porch room our room has. Pretty loud but I’ve been up since 7:30am. When she is ready, off to breakfast and then the beach. The weather is beautiful. Hot! Nearly 100 already. Thank God for the ocean breeze just feet from our hotel. The porch room has no AC at all but the breeze sometimes makes it way through the wooden slats covering the opening. It’s a quiet room where I can read, write and smoke. It’s a nice space to think, totally separated from the main room. It would be ideal if it were more open though with a home right behind it in the back yard I can see why it is closed off. Nature abounds. Crickets, birds---even a small lizard decided to take up residence inside the room, though I haven’t seen it yet this morning. Strange thing: No coquis. I guess there aren’t any here as there were so many in El Yunque when I was there a couple of years ago.
August 14th 2008
7:55am:
Well, yesterday started off with a bang. We discovered that our car battery from the Jeep was stolen over night. Someone just popped the hood open and snatched it right out. The kicker is that the car rental place, Maritiza’s Car Rental, actually CHARGED US for the new battery. Only $70 but it’s the principal of the thing. First of all, there is nothing securing the hood. No locks, no nothing. Secondly, this town is known for it’s petty theft of tourist’s things…but somehow WE are responsible. For those who wish to come here and rent a vehicle from Maritza’s…DON’T. They offer no insurance and if anything at all happens to the vehicle, YOU are responsible. So if they steal the whole God damn thing, YOU will be held responsible for it. But if you must, bring a pad lock to put around the latches of the Jeep’s hood or better yet, if you have the know how to take the battery out and bring it with you to your room, do it. It’s totally fucked but that seems to be the reality here.
That’s another thing: The locals here do not seem to be too friendly to the visitors, which is sort of understandable, being that this is THEIR country and it is overrun by American ex-pats who set the place up for American tourists. There seems to be a strange dividing line where the locals stay with one another and the ex-pats stay with one another. Let’s just say they seem to tolerate visitors but they aren’t exactly welcoming with open arms. The Americans here are very strange people. Not too friendly either. Not rude but not necessarily the warmest people on earth. Maybe it’s the isolated lifestyle they have here. They seem to only deal with one another. They seem happy to take your business but beyond that, not too personable. They seem distant in a way.
Funny thing about the Jeep incident: An old Puerto Rican man came up to us and told us he thought that one of the employees of the shop across from where it happened did it. He referred to him as a “thief”, claiming that once he tried to break into his car once while he was sleeping in it. The whole incident occurred in the parking lot across the street from Bio Bay Tours. DO NOT, under any circumstances, park your car there over night. With that said, after the guy from Maritza’s Car Rental came by and replaced the battery, I got the feeling that maybe..just maybe…the car rental place got a scam going on where they did it. Since they don’t offer insurance…it’s a good way to earn a few extra bucks off the unsuspecting tourist. Who knows? Just a thought. Maybe it’s just the New York in me coming to the forefront.
With that all settled, we headed off to Red Beach (or Playa Caracas) which has to be one of the most beautiful beaches I’d ever seen. The sand was like powder and the water was as warm as a bath. Unbelievable views. We pretty much spend the whole day there. It’s on one of the beaches located in what was once the Navy Base, which is now a Wildlife Refuge. A very rocky dirt road leads to it so you need a Jeep to get to it.
Later on in the evening we headed out to Isabelle Segundo for dinner. Isabelle Segundo is the capital of Vieques with a main plaza an a few small streets. Looks very “colonial”, somewhat like Old San Juan but not nearly as picturesque. The streets are confusing, hard to determine which is a One Way and which isn’t. The restaurant we ate at was about a block away from the ferry dock and the food there was amazing…although I can’t remember the name of the place. The décor is nothing fancy---just a couple of beach tables and plastic chairs---but don’t let that fool you. The food was really really good. The woman who ran the place wasn’t exactly the most sunny person on earth (again, an American), but she wasn’t exactly rude either. Again, an example of being just “nice enough”. Just like all the other Americans here over all.
We got back to Esperanza at around 8:00pm and since there wasn’t really much to do other than drink at the bar we went back to hang out in our room, sit in the AC and cool off.
Today: Not sure yet. Linda is still sleeping and later tonight Virginia is coming to meet us. We have to pick her up at the airport. There is an old fort/museum we may take in today but not really sure yet what is on the agenda as of yet. Have to wait until Linda wakes up before I know for sure.
The roosters are at it again and it’s very hot and humid. I’m having a very nice time but it’s not as nice as Culebra or Mainland Puerto Rico. It’s questionable at best whether or not I’d visit Vieques again…at least not at this point. The whole car battery incident has put a bad taste in my mouth.
8:40am
Seems to have rained over night. Everything is wet and it’s really steamy out. I’m dying back here in the porch. Just a but of a breeze making its way through the screen. Linda is still asleep and my morning coffee is done. Right now just waiting for Linda to wake up so we can go have breakfast. I’m starting to feel a little hungry. 3 full days left here. We plan on taking Virginia to Red Beach…or maybe one of the others we haven’t been to yet. But 3 days are left so we still have some things to do.
3:35pm:
Had breakfast at Belly Buttons this morning as we usually do. The food there is really good and the woman who runs it seems to be very nice to us. We spoke to her about what happened to the car battery and she said, albeit sarcastically, that she thought the car rental place was behind it; that they may be scamming people so they can charge people for a “stolen battery”. She said she had heard about this happening before. It wouldn’t surprise me to tell you the truth. It really makes you wonder, though, seeming how shady that car rental place seems to be.
So this morning the rains came for a little while, while we headed up north to see the Fortin Conde de Mirasol. The fort is the last Spanish fort in “the new world”, built some time in the 1840s. Not nearly as impressive as El Moro in San Juan but cool nevertheless. Inside also hosted an art museum with some amazing paintings which paid homage to various Latin American leaders/heroes such as Che Guevara, Augusto Sandino, Zapata, Salvador Allende, Hostos, Julia de Burgos and others. There was also a series of really amazing Don Quixote paintings which I really loved since this is one of my all time favorite books. Also on display were ancient Taino artifacts as well as some relics from the Spaniards who occupied the fort, mostly weapons, naturally---an arcubuz, a mace, knives, swords, cannon balls, etc. This fort also has an amazing view of Vieques and the sea, since the fort is situated up a hill top. A nice visit overall but as I said, not nearly as impressive as El Moro.
From there we hung around Isabelle Segundo for a while, looking for some ice cream to help battle the intense heat. There was a place called Scoops which all the guide books raved about but when we got there…it was closed. Noon. Not a soul in the place. The door locked. A woman who lived directly next door told us that the guy probably went out for something so while we waited for him to return we spoke to her about her kids and how they lived in New York and one of them was attending West Point. A really nice woman. After waiting a while…and after it becoming apparent that Scoops was just not going to open, we went walking around looking through whatever shops did decide to open this afternoon. Found a really cool statue of Don Quixote and Sancho for a really good price and then made our way over to the main plaza where we finally found some ice cream at the kiosk there. Got some, sat in the shade to ward off the increasingly punishing heat. Had to be nearly 100 degrees, easy. Got back to Esperanza at around 2pm to rest up a bit, drink in the AC while we wait for Virginia to arrive at the airport.
August 15th 2008
8:15am: A wicked storm blew in last night. Rain, thunder, lightning, wind….like you wouldn’t believe. Outside the branches are down and it’s still raining. Even the coffee place wasn’t open this morning which really sucks because I really need it right now. (This hotel doesn’t have any---the “kitchen” isn’t even open until 11am). I have no idea how long the rain is going to last but hopefully it won’t affect our plans for the day. We planned on going to the beach but if this keeps up, it doesn’t seem likely. What will be the alternative? I’m sure at some point the rain will stop at least. But if not, we must think of something else to do. But who knows? Things are so random here, who knows what will be open and what won’t be.
Last night the wind was blowing coconuts down from the trees and onto the wooden roof of our room, causing a hell of a racket at some points; and since the porch is merely screened in, the palm leaves and branches were whipping against the sides, making it seem as if someone was trying to break into the room. Since the area around here can be sketchy at times (and hearing “word” that sometimes these hotels get broken into), who the hell knew what was going on? But I think our imaginations were running away from us. Ever since the car battery incident, we were just a tad paranoid.
Virginia got in last night. We picked her up at the airport at around 5pm and then came back to the room, hung around the Malecón and had dinner at Tradewinds. Again, the food was amazing. It’s easily the best food on the strip. Then after dinner, back to the Malecón for drinks just before the storm hit, watching the lighting flashing over the Caribbean was something to behold. It made you wonder what it would have been like if you were on a boat out there in the middle of it. At the time we had no idea such a storm was actually on it’s way. When it did hit in the middle of the night, we lost power for about 15 minutes. I found this out later, since I practically slept through the whole thing, although I did hear all the banging and rattling….
So hopefully the rains will let up this morning…
8:25am:
Yesterday at the airport while waiting for Virginia, Linda and I met a woman named Gladys who owns the shop Black Beard Sports up in Isabelle Segundo. A very nice woman. We got to talking to her for a while and we were discussing the flaws of the island has, mainly how things operate. The businesses here seem to operate very randomly, sometimes open, other times not. Sometimes just open for a couple of hours a day, other times not at all. She says her shop is always open and Linda and I happened to be in it yesterday. Basically a sporting goods store catering to the diving and snorkeling crowd but they also have clothing and other things. It was the only shop we seen thus far that had it’s shit together as far as consistency. She was saying how it’s a miracle how some of these businesses survive considering how they operate at times. This is really not the place to come to for what people think of as a “Caribbean Vacation”. Petty crime is a big problem here and the fact that things open and close at will is also another problem. This doesn’t help matters. If you are a beach person, this IS your place. If you want to do anything else, it’s a roll of the dice as to whether or not you will be able to. They have to change that in order to become the “destination” they seem to want to make it become.
August 16th 2008
7:45am: Today is my 42nd birthday and it is also our last full day in Vieques. We are headed back to New York tomorrow afternoon. This morning is beautiful. No clouds in the sky. HOT. Yesterday’s storm cleared up by mid-morning. Yesterday was something of a stressful day. We had to settle issues regarding the theft of the car battery. They didn’t seem to give a shit. It was as if everything was YOUR responsibility. If it was stolen, it’s on you. If they break into it, it’s on you. Although the guidebook says they offer insurance…they don’t. So we decided to take the Jeep back in case, God forbid, something more serious happened. If it did, Linda would be personally liable. Thank God we found out she was still insured, even though she no longer owns a vehicle, so we kept the Jeep but we had to file a claim to hopefully fight the charges the rental car company was going to bestow on us for the battery. So in order to do that, we had to get a police report. Where is the police station? All the way up in Isabelle Segundo. That took a while since the policemen there didn’t speak English very well nor was our Spanish up to par. But we managed to take care of everything pretty quickly. One thing I notice when we exited the police station is how many Missing Persons posters are hanging out there on the bulleting board. At first we thought they were Wanted Posters…but no, sadly they were Missing Persons. There had to be at least 30 of them up there. A very telling thing, I thought to myself. Why so many people missing? What the hell is going on in this place?
Finally, by 3pm everything was settled as we spent the rest of the day at Playa Caracas (Red Beach), relaxing, taking in the beauty of the place. A much needed wind down after dealing with all this other bullshit.
At night, after returning to Esperanza, we had some dinner and hung out along the Malecón again, getting drinks at a bar called Nasa, which was really nothing more than a wooden stand with a back deck just feet off the beach. It was a really nice place with incredible views, especially at night. This finally relieved all the other stressful bullshit.
Got up at 7:30 this morning, took a walk down to Belly Buttons for my morning coffee, sitting here now enjoying a mini-cigar and waiting for Linda and Virginia to wake up so we can head out to breakfast. Tonight we will head out for dinner for my birthday. A great way to spend our final day here.
August 17th 2008
7:45am:
Last morning in Vieques. We leave here later this afternoon. As usual, I got my caffeine fix. Interesting incident first thing this morning. A stray dog outside the breakfast spot is growling and barking at a young woman on a bike. The dog then follows me down the road and growls and barks at me, coming around to stand directly in front of me, showing its teeth. Thankfully it didn’t do anything but I was ready for it anyway, preparing to kick the damn thing in the face if it decided to lunge at me---something for a few moments, I really thought it was going to do. Who needs shit like this first thing in the morning?
Virginia is now joining me for coffee….
…last night we had a great birthday dinner…again, at Tradewinds. The entire day was spent at Playa La Chiva (aka Blue Beach). It was absolutely amazing and after a couple of hours, we were the ONLY ONE’S left on it. Talk about having a beach to yourself, which is likely to happen at times here. The beaches are never really that populated which is a marvel to me being how beautiful they are. How is it that the locals don’t come to them that often? Maybe familiarity? It amazed me since I am generally used to the clusterfuck of the Long Island and New York City beaches. Playa La Chiva is a great beach just to sit and get lost in the atmosphere. Nothing…and I mean nothing…is there to distract you or bother you in any way. Seriously, it’s like having the entire shoreline to yourself. Amazing.
Now we’re getting ready to leave. I have to say that this is the first time ever I am actually looking forward to coming home. I think I had my fill here. 7 days is a long time to spend here. 4 days would be sufficient. Just waiting on breakfast now, then take the Jeep back to the rental place and catch our flight out of here back to San Juan. Our flight back to New York isn’t until 5:30pm so that means we have a few hours to kill at San Juan’s airport. We should be getting back to NYC at around 9:30pm. Actually looking forward to being back in my own bed and not get eaten alive by all these mosquitoes. Had a wonderful time over all and the three of us make each other laugh so much that despite the stressful moments we had a really great time.
Even though I had a great time here, there are issues that need to be dealt with. The petty theft is the major thing. It’s not cool to have to be constantly looking over your shoulder, watching all your possessions all the time. If I want that, I could do that at home. The guide books emphasize this to a certain extent but I don’t think they emphasize it enough. Who knows? Maybe if our Jeep hadn’t been broken into, the slight pall on our experience here wouldn’t exist and there may be more good things to say about it, which is not to say there isn’t anything good to say about it. Over all…in the grand scheme, it is quite beautiful here, especially in the more rural parts outside of town. Green…very green with some very nice homes and an abundance of nature…horses, roosters, etc…just running wild which is something a city person like myself rarely ever gets to see. Over all, it’s very beautiful here…but you have to be a little careful and use a bit of common sense. Seriously. Do NOT leave ANYTHING unattended. It WILL get stolen, especially at the beach. The people here will tell you this when you get here. It seems to be a fact of life here and it’s basically shrugged off and given into rather than having something done about it.
But in a way, I can understand. Not that I condone people stealing your things but you have to realize after all, most of these places are run by American ex-pats who don’t seem to hire the locals except for some menial jobs. The place is for Americans by Americans and in a sense it seems as if it can become a playground for tourists without any regard for those who actually LIVED here all their lives. Yes, Puerto Rico is part of the United States but in a major way it’s still it’s own country with it’s own culture. People have to respect this and I think for the most part they do…but the visitors who come in…the tourists…need to pay a bit more mind to this. Remember this is someone’s home, not your playground. Respect the fact that this is someone else’s culture--with it’s own past and history. As I said, for the most part I think the ex-pats do respect this…but I can’t help get the feeling in some ways they don’t and this may be the cause of some of the weird vibe I feel here. Maybe it’s just me, I don’t know…But I feel more resentment for Martiza’s Car Rental and their flippant-serves-you-right attitude than I do for the one who actually broke into the Jeep. When we went to the police station it was merely for insurance purposes to fight the charge rather than to get anyone into trouble. If you go there, DO NOT rent a vehicle from them if for any other reason that their attitude sucks. Anyway….this is my personal feelings about the matter…But now it’s time to close this up and prepare for the long trek home…
One of my MySpace friends, Alicia Anabel, is involved in a very interesting project. Here is an article about that project. Follow the link and have a read and then follow her journey on her YouTube site where she is posting a day to day video blog about it all. Personally, I can't wait to see how it all turns out in the end. It's very educational, especially those interested in Latin American history.
Well, I am leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow morning, something I’ve been looking forward to for weeks now and I can’t think of a better way to ring in my 42nd birthday. (42---Jesus…where does the time go?). But the hell with it. It’s all good.
This week started off great having spent last Sunday in Red Bank, NJ with our drummer Carl Spataro who was kind enough to host a BBQ at his place. Good food, good friends and good music. One couldn’t ask for more, really. Got to do a little outdoor jam as well which was great. Coming home that night, exhausted and just wanting to lie down, I walk into my apartment to discover that my record shelf---which holds a couple of hundred old vinyl albums, had literally exploded on me, re-decorating my apartment with a literal ocean spray of old vinyl LPs. Not much I can do right now, at least until I can get a new shelf to hold all these things I’ve been collecting since I was a kid. One never knows how much stuff he has accumulated until one finds it splayed out all over one’s apartment. Miraculously, none of them broke but I have noticed, while stacking them off to various parts of the apartment in lieu of getting a new (and stronger) shelf, how much crap is in there. Got to weed those out when I fix this mess up. But the hell with it: It’s all good.
Caught “The Dark Knight” this weekend. A truly amazing movie. Truly. Yeah, I collected comic books as a kid and normally I don’t particularly care for these movie versions of the old comic books but this one was truly amazing. I wasn’t expecting much since I never liked the very first one (with Keaton and Nicholson) to begin with, finding it a bit silly. But this one was really really good, despite the heavy handed allegories to today’s “war on terrorism” (Yes, Carmen…it IS there! Even more so than I thought! ;-) ) Heath Ledger as The Joker was truly an amazing performance. I love the way he completely deconstructed the character to create something truly menacing. What I always find a little funny about films like this is that Hollywood is always accused of being so “Liberal” except for when it comes to these “Good vs. Evil” films. Suddenly, the messages seem to be more in line with the Right. Like this one. It seemed, to me at least, that it is something of a justification of all the anti-terrorism policies this administration has unleashed since 9/11. This is a typical post-9/11 film only the message here seems to be that sometimes you can’t reason with madmen and sometimes you have to become as bad as they are in order to defeat them; and even though the film sort of warns against that at some points it seems to justify it at other times. Who knows? Maybe they’re leaving it up to the viewers…even though it may be lost on a good portion of them. Political allegories aside, if you love a good action flick, this is your movie. But the hell with it: it’s all good.
Yesterday, was in the Poconos in Pennsylvania having another BBQ with some good friends/family. A great day and a very beautiful area. I don’t get out of Pennsylvania much. I don’t get a chance to get out of NYC much so this was a welcome day to be away from the rat race and the madness. A really wonderful time.
Now, just getting my last minute things together for Puerto Rico. Vieques. Really looking forward to that and plan on having a great week there. When I return, it’s back to the shows, playing with Linda La Porte at Club Europe (98 Meserole Street @ Manhattan Avenue) in Brooklyn on Tuesday, August 19th. A special treat is in store. Ex-Bitterweed guitarist Dave Ayala will be performing is first ever solo acoustic set, which I am really looking forward to. Dave is a really talented guitarist and songwriter so those of you who are coming down, try to make it for his set. You won’t be disappointed. It should be a great night of fun and music. The festivities begin at 8pm.
Well, that’s about all for now. See you all next week….
I recently came across an amazing artist on MySpace, Sara Rahbar. Once in a while you come across an artist who will create work that is challenging, work that will make you sit up, take notice and think. I won't describe what it is here because I want those who read this to go see it for themselves. She is a very accomplished artist as you will see. Do yourself a favor and check out her work at the link above. I promise you will not be disappointed. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be hearing more about her in the near future.
I always thought that the kid that lived next door to me had the coolest bike. It was a gold tricycle with a visor over the handle bars adorned with two racing flags. Each day I would go out into the yard and I would see him racing up and down his driveway with that cool bike while I did the same with my rusty and rickety red one, with it’s lopsided wheels. I wanted a bike just like his and I begged by father for weeks for one just like it. One day he said he would try to get me a bike like that and I waited all day long for him to come home from work and bestow on me this very cool bike. I remember I was in my yard with my mother and my upstairs neighbor, watching the gate, waiting for him to come through, rolling the bike along with him. When he finally did get home, all he had in his hands was a little brown paper bag. I was sitting on my rusty, lopsided tricycle and wondered where the new bike was. He walks over to me, pulls two flags out of the bag and fastened them to my handlebars, criss-cross like the one the kid next door had. Naturally, being a mere child, I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. But there was such a love there and even at that very young age I realized he did the best he could. He didn’t want to disappoint me. I raced that bike up and down the driveway as if it were the coolest bike in the world.
I thought about this incident shortly after he passed away. After losing someone close to you, you tend to think of all the little things that happened between you and your lost loved one over the course of your life. I was 27 years old and losing him was a very hard thing for me to deal with at the time. Naturally, at that age, I fully understood why he didn’t come home with that gold bike with the two flags. He couldn’t afford it. But he did his best not to disappoint me and thinking about that after all those years and missing him immensely after he had died, I felt a wave of joy once again. He was a great man, my father; and thinking about that incident made me think about how often in life we are disappointed when we don’t get the things we want in life. This is particularly true when it comes to our relationships with one another.
We have a tendency to project our expectations onto others and not looking at them realistically. This is the source of all our disappointments with other people. You may like another and want to be with them but they don’t reciprocate exactly the way you want them to. You project onto them all your expectations of how you want them to be rather than seeing them how they actually are; and of course when your expectations aren’t met in the exact way you expect, you feel that they wronged you. This, I believe, has happened to everyone at some point in time. You build up in your mind who that other person is and a lot of the time it is not based in reality but rather your expectations of them. You begin to resent them for hurting you but in reality you did not look at the situation realistically. The person who is the object of your affections is something unreal, someone you created in your own mind.
The same thing happens with friends and relatives. In your mind you have your own subjective ideas about who they are and when they don’t live up to that image you become disappointed and sometimes angry and resentful. It doesn’t occur to you that maybe, just maybe, that you are expecting way too much from that person; that what you want them to be is not who they actually are. For some, others not living up to their expectations has often lead to the end of these friendships or breaks in the relationships with another family member. But the truth is, they did not “wrong” you. You just wanted them to live up to a sometimes impossible image you have projected onto them, including their abilities to actually satisfy the needs you want from them.
I think this is just the nature of our culture in general. In all other aspects of life, whether it’s a promotion you want from your job, a certain career that you want to have, a certain amount of money you would like to obtain, the kind of spouse you wish to marry, etc. Often we have ultra-high and sometimes unrealistic expectations that inevitably will not be fulfilled. Then we feel as if we’ve been cheated in some way. Our culture in particular has always been based on the idea of the “American Dream”. That dream is promised to all. You hear about it incessantly since you are a little kid. “If you just work hard enough, you can achieve all you want to achieve”. And some do. But a lot don’t, no matter how hard they work at it. The truth of the matter is that some people are just born lucky and luck has a lot to do with it. Some are born with advantages like having rich or well connected parents while others are born into poverty and/or a home life which is abysmal. There’s always those few who come out of such dire surroundings who manage to achieve what may seem like the impossible and this gives hope to many people just like them. They are held up as an example to all. “See? They did it? Why can’t you do it?” as if it were always that easy. For the vast majority, that expectation will not ever be met and this naturally leads to resentment, anger and bitterness. It becomes easy to look for a scapegoat. It becomes “their” fault that your expectations weren’t met when the truth of the matter is that maybe, just maybe, the expectations are a tad unrealistic. Not everyone is going to have the wealth of a Donald Trump or a Bill Gates. But since society uses people such as them as the yardstick for success, anything less is deemed “a failure”. The bar of expectations is set extremely high and the vast majority of people will not reach it, no matter how hard they work at it. That is not to say “Don’t try”. By all means, pursue your goals, follow your dreams but follow them with a sense of realism that it may not happen for you exactly the way you envision. It may happen to some degree but not exactly.
When it comes to relationships with other people, allow your expectations of them to be realistic rather than over-idealized. Understand who they are and accept them for exactly who they are. See them for who they are rather how you want them to be. If we all did this, even just a little bit, I think it would improve our relations with others and quell a lot of disappointment in life, especially when it comes to a love interest. A very close friend of mine always said to me, “When someone tells you who they are, believe them”. I don’t think her words ever sunk in until going through one disappointment after another, usually brought on by my over-idealized expectations of them. It took getting burned many times to finally understand this nugget of wisdom.
We live in a culture of high expectations and sometimes I wonder whether those expectations are or ever were realistic. We live in a culture that expects to always get what we want and nothing is going to stop us, no matter what. It is reflected in how far in debt a lot of Americans are because they strive to live up to these arbitrary standards and often spend way beyond their means in order to join the club. Some are even driven to crime in order to meet these standards. We live in a culture where anything below what the society as a whole sets as “the standard” is viewed as “failure”. If you don’t have X amount of money, if you don’t have this thing or that gadget, you are deemed “a loser”, so the bar is set very high and we are all expected to reach it. We live in a culture that has great expectations for almost everything but not everything is obtainable by all and for some never ever will be.
This all trickles down to our relationships with one another. None of this happens in a vacuum. It is a reflection of our society as a whole how we treat one another. The more unrealistic the expectations, the greater the disappointment.
Here is an example of an asshole. During a recent "Critical Mass" rally here in New York City, a New York City Police officer apparently thinks he can do what he pleases. Just another example of a swaggering idiot who thinks just because he has "authority" he has the right to do whatever he pleases. Get a load of this:
This one is for the book readers. Some good reads so far this year:
Or I’ll Dress You In Morning - Larry Collins & Dominique LaPierre:
The story of bullfighter El Cordobes. A great book if one is interested in bullfighting but more importantly, the history of Spain and/or Spanish culture. Gives an excellent picture of the life of a bullfighter.
Guernica: Biography of A 20th Century Icon - Gijs Van Bensbergen:
The story of Picasso’s masterpiece and places it in historical perspective.
Leo Africanus - Amin Maalouf:
The story of a young Andalusian who is forced out of Granada during the last battle of the Reconquest of Spain and is sent into exile. A very well written novel by one of the middle east’s best known writers (Lebanon).
Moorish Spain - Richard Fletcher:
A history of the Moors in Spain. 800 years of Islam and it’s effect on Spanish culture.
A New Earth - Eckhart Tollel:
A book I normally wouldn’t read these days but it is an interesting read. It seems that Tollel’s philosophy of “living in the now” is an amalgam of Christian, Eastern, Existential and Islamic sources. Some good points are actually made here. This is a popular one but I fear some of those good points will not take hold in this country for some time to come.
Siciliana - Geatano Cipolla:
An interesting read about the culture and people of Sicily; explores the question, “What exactly does it mean to be Sicilian?”. An examination of Sicilian mores and psychology as well as a look into Sicilian literature & art.
Pagan Spain - Richard Wright:
A travelouge of sorts, American writer Richard Wright travels to Spain in the 1950s and reports on life under Franco and how the regime affects real people and their day to day lives. An excellent portrait of life during the height of Franco’s rule.
Ghosts of Spain - Giles Trimlett:
Another interesting book examining modern Spanish culture, this time in Post-Franco Spain and how after Franco’s death, how Spain began to demoratize and flourish artistically as well as socially.
Island of My Hunger - Various
A great anthology of modern Cuban poetry.
The Insatiable Spiderman - Pedro Juan Gutierrez:
Cuba’s answer to Miller and Bukowski. Gutierrez continues the story of his hedonistic exploits in contemporary Cuba. Gives a good insight of what life is like there in the post-Soviet era.
Liberation Theology - Philip Berryman:
A study of this offshoot of Catholicism in Latin America; the roots of this theology and what it means; how it aspires to return to the actual message of Christ and how Rome dismisses it because of it’s alleged “communistic” influences. Profiles many adherents to this movement and it’s affect on Latin American social progress. A very very interesting read.
Sea of Faith - Stephen O’Shea:
A history of the mingling and the clash of Christian and Islamic civilization in the Mediterranean. A good portrait of how each civilization influenced each other as well as how much the differences lead to bloodshed. Essential if you want to understand today’s conflict.
A Sultan in Palermo - Tariq Ali:
Part of Ali’s “Islam Quintet”, the fictional story (though based on actual history) of the Sicilian geographer Muhammad Al-Idrisi during the last days when Muslims and Christians co-existed (somewhat) peacefully on the island. Essential if you want to learn more about this era of Sicilian history that is never taught or discussed. (Yes…Sicily was an Islamic country for over 200 years).
Goya - Edwin O’Connor:
A wonderful biography of this amazing Spanish artist.
Modern Arab Art - Nada M. Shabout:
A comprehensive study of the modern art movment in the Arab world, must of which (if not all of which) is completely ignored here in the West. A lot of these works are very interesting and very much on par with anything anyone in Europe and America were doing.
The Arts in Spain - John Moffitt:
From “The World of Art” series, a study of Spanish art from the Pre-Roman Iberan days to the present day.
The Mule - Juan Eslava Galán:
A novel about a muleteer who switches sides during the Spanish Civil War and becomes an unlikely war hero. Never far from his closest companion, a mule named Valentina, he unwittingly “fights” for both sides and becomes exploited by opportunistic journalists desperately trying to convince a Spanish public that the war is under control when it is anything but.
The Clash of Fundamentalisms - Tariq Ali:
Ali makes the assertian that today’s conflict is actually a battle of two fundamentalisms: for the West, imperialism, for the East, Islamic extremism. He shows how both sides feed one another. Ali is highly critical of both sides, offering a sweeping historical perspective this current conflict and it’s ramifications for the future. A very well written, entertaining book. A must read.
Writing about Writing Dept:
I just got word that my article “My Advice to Young Artists” will be published in the September issue of Mike Geffner’s writer’s newsletter. Mike is a writer who’s written for numerous magazines such as Cigar Afficianado, Maxim, among others and was once also a columnist for the Village Voice. His newsletter is part of a writer’s group that tries to help out up and coming writers to get their work out there. I have to say it’s a thrill that he wanted to print this in his upcoming newsletter.
Emphasize the “Baby” in Baby Boomer Dept:
For those of you who have read my article “A Conflict of Visions” already know about this seemingly endless spat between a friend of mine of 20 years and I. It just gets worse as time goes on. What is it? 5 months now of getting the silent treatment? Although I suspect what the problem may actually be, this friend is still not talking to me nor did he ever tell me what the hell his problem is. What is with this generation? Why is it that the older they get the more infantile they become? Is there anyone out there my age or younger who are just sick of the way they behave?
Back to More Important Things, Like Music Dept: Linda La Porte recently emailed me from Malta to inform me that we may have another show at the Mean Fiddler in Hell’s Kitchen in addition to the one on July 18th. We may have an early show on August 1st. I don’t believe it’s confirmed yet, but once it is, I will pass on the info. Both shows, I believe, are going to be full band shows, which is a great thing. More details to follow….
Sweeping Historical Perspective Dept:
I am currently reading this fascinating book called “The Clash of Fundamentalisms” by Tariq Ali. I’m nowhere near done with it but the 100 pages or so that I have read so far is fascinating indeed. Little by little it is putting our current situation into sweeping historical perspective. Not that Ali is a defender of the current madness, but he definitely tries to give you the entire picture and how it’s roots lie way back, not just recent history. I think a lot of people need to read this book, especially those interested in history, meaning, not just our side of history. Not only is Ali extremely critical of Islamic Fundamentalism (Ali is in fact an atheist) but also of what he refers to as “Western Fundamentalism”, meaning, it’s penchant of viewing the rest of the world as its subjects, inferior beings meant to submit to its demands. He seems to be, at least as of this reading, to be putting the blame of the current state of humanity on all sides. I will see where he goes with his argument as I progress in reading this fascinating book but I highly recommend reading this. It helps blow away the cobwebs of dogma and reactionary thinking.
Had a great time this Independence Day. I spent the day up in Tarrytown, New York with Ron Bucalo, an amazing musician and illustrator. Also joining us was Ron’s wife Suzanne and jazz saxophonist Jun Miyake and his wife, Miyo. Most of the day was spent in Harriman State Park where I actually sat in and rowed a canoe for the first time in my life. (This city boy hardly ever spends time in the “wilderness”). I tell ya, I know I’m getting old now because I feel completely sore from the event (I really need to exercise more). But other than that minor complaint, I had a fantastic time with everyone. Just being there, away from the city was a great thing. The one thing I notice, the older I get, is how much I really enjoy being away from all the hustle and bustle now and then. The scene up there is almost Zen-like in it’s tranquility. We BBQ’d, ate some really awesome food that Ron and Suzanne prepared, enjoying the isolation deep in the woods.
From there we all went back to Ron & Suzanne’s house to play a little music; Ron on didjeridu, Jun on sax & flute, Miyo and Suzanne on percussion and myself on doumbek; just an improvised jam which was a hell of a lot of fun. Then of course came the fireworks over the Hudson River, then back to the house for some Yerba Maté before having to head back to the city.
Something different. Always a great thing. Normally I don’t do much for 4th of July anymore…unless it’s spending it at a relative’s house…if that anymore; so it was nice to do something different. Ron and Suzanne are very gracious hosts and I just have to thank them once again for such a great day.
Be on the lookout for Ron’s website, which is now in the works. Once it is up and running I will definitely post a link here. A very talented guy, whether it’s music, film, or illustration. So be on the lookout for that.
For the past few days I've been working on an article about this very same topic but after reading this, I figure I may have to re-work mine a bit. Besides, this one is better and you're better off reading this one. The only difference between the one I was working on and this one is the difference in take on the subject. While the author of this particular article claims that Americans simply don't "care" about their ignorance, I make the argument that Americans are actually proud of it. It's what I like to call a "swaggering stupidity".
Now I do realize that there are a hell of a lot of brilliant, smart people in this country, but they are often looked down upon, as if intelligence is something to sneer at and ridicule. (Obama being called "elitist" ring any bells?). At any rate, this is a very interesting article and I highly recommend it.
My three books, "November Rust", "My Arrival Is Marked By Illuminating Stains" and "Window Shopping For A New Crown Of Thorns" are now available through Indie Bookshelf. Indie Bookshelf is a great source of independent media available, whether it's literature or music. If you are an independent artist, I highly recommend that you stop by and see what they have to offer.
I came across this interesting article this morning (even though it's about 3 years old). Most of you younger folks reading this may not find anything interesting about it at all but for us older folk, it might just resonate a little. I know much was made about that whole "Gen X" thing in the 90s (much of which was just another marketing strategy) but this is interesting nevertheless. It sort of ties in (sort of) with an article I wrote a little while back for BrooWaha called "A Conflict of Visions"
I am home this wet, humid, NYC day taking it easy. Yep…feelin’ a bit tired and under the weather but I am generally ok. Sometimes you just need a break; and finally, it’s quiet around here: no maniacs with their symphony of car horns, no people yelling in the hallway….nice. The AC is on and I feel very relaxed, rested…especially after getting more sleep than I have in the last few weeks combined.
Ever get the feeling that sometimes you’re just a bit off track? I don’t mean in a way where everything is a disaster, but in that way where you got so much going on, so many things to take care of, you feel as if you’re not getting anything done, despite being busy? That’s the way I feel. Sometimes one has to sit back, think it through, and get themselves back on track. That’s when you realize that things are actually getting done…it’s just that sometimes things are such a blur, you don’t get enough time to appreciate it and all the little annoying things creep in and take you off focus. That’s when you know it’s time to take a breather…even for just one day.
Cool things are happening: First off, I will be playing another show with Linda La Porte on Friday, July 18th at 8:30pm at The Mean Fiddler in Hell’s Kitchen. A full band performance once again, with me on bass, Carl Spataro on drums, Daniella Fischetti on violin, and Virginia Summerville on background vocals. This will be Linda’s second performance with her newfound band and we’re all looking forward to it. We’re working on a lot of new material and before long we will be heading back into the studio to begin recording the next CD. No definite plans as of yet, but soon enough, I’m sure.
Last weekend I attended a Flamenco Guitar Workshop with the guitarist Carlos Rebeil. An amazing guitar player, let me tell you. I learned quite a few things even though as far as Flamenco goes, I am very much the beginner. It’s a whole different world than the rock/folk/blues that I am used to playing all these years. It is seriously like re-learning the instrument altogether; and being that I am a self-taught guitarist, who never took a lesson in his life, it was quite intimidating… but I am eager to learn. Carlos has his own music out there. Check out his profile to hear his interesting mix of Flamenco and Electronica. Give him some props as well. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.
I will also be heading back into Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn soon to once again take up the work I started a couple of months ago. I plan on releasing my own CD in the coming year. It’s going to be an eclectic mix of folk and world music and I’m looking forward to getting it done.
Well…that’s about it for now. Hope everyone is having a great week.
Just got word that George Carlin has died. I was always a huge fan of Carlin. To me he was always more than just a comedian. He was always a wicked social commentator as well. He will be missed.
I posted a new song on my MySpace profile page this morning. Well...it's not really a "new" song. It's "Something Happened" by Third Eye Butterfly, my old band. This was the last single we released, sometime in the fall of 1995. This particular song was always one of my personal favorites, possibly because of it's pseudo-psychedelic plodding. It was inspired by something an old girlfriend of mine told me once during a conversation; how when she was in America for only a few weeks, she saw this violin player in the subway which brought back memories of her mother, who was a concert violinist in her country, and how all these memories came swarming back while listening to this man play. It got me thinking about the power of music and how it can bring you right back to a time and place simply by hearing something. So...basically this is what this song was about. Stop by, have a listen. Hope you enjoy.
In the ever raging argument over evolution and creationism (aka "Intelligent Design") there have been all kinds of theories, ideas and explanations thrown around. According to the Creationists, the Earth is only about 5,000 years old; God created man from dirt and woman from a man's rib. They believe this despite the fact that there is evidence that modern Humans (Homo Sapiens) have been on the earth for hundres of millenia. In fact, up until about 30,000 years ago, modern humans co-existed with an entirely different human species which we call Neanderthal man.
We now know from DNA evidence that Neanderthal man were a distinct human species, not related to us at all. But we did co-exist for tensof thousands of years. Neanderthal suddenly went extinct and we are the only human species left. Creationists never explain this.
Until now: I found this one theory on YouTube just by chance. It's good one. Just goes to show you how far Creationists and religious folk will go in order to justify their ideas, despite what the evidence is apparently pointing to. Check this out:
Finally got down to the new New Museum of Contemporary Artthis afternoon. I haven't been there at all since they reopned on the Bowery a few months back. The last time I was there was when the museum was up on Broadway and that was about a decade ago. This one is much better. By far. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect at all since a lot of what is called "Contemporary Art" leaves me cold in a lot of ways. I find some of it interesting but some of these minimalist-conceptual ideas sometimes seem absolutely pointless. However this was not the case here.
First there was Tomma Abts. His/Her (I don't know what gender Abts is…and the bio intriguingly leaves that out as well. All I know is that this artist is from Keil Germany) works were primarily geometric abstraction paintings, which was nice to see off the bat because most of the time when you hear "contemporary" art, it usually doesn't include painting. So it was nice to see these very interesting works. My particular favorites were "Fewe" (2005), "Kobo" (1999) and "Tobel" (1999).
Next up: Paul Chan's "The 7 Lights" which was kind of intereting to me…but more in line of what one would expect with "contemporary" art. Video projections, use of lights, no actual physical work. Digital projections. Some were interesting. Some did nothing for me.
The highlight for me was an exhibit entitled "Double Album" which featured the work of two artists, the first Daniel Guzman (Mexico) and the other Steven Shearer (Canada). Both artists works explore the overwhelmingly male world of Rock-n-Roll and other subcultures with the use of 70s and 80s pop icons and imagery. If I would have heard about this before seeing it, I probably would not have been interested being that the whole Pop Culture reference thing is really getting tired for me. But just happening to walk into these two artist's world really intrigued me to no end. It's obvious to me that Guzman is heavily influenced by Pettibon with his drawings and text. Shearer leaned more toward paintings which reminded me a bit of Guston as well as the whole 1980s "Neo-Expressionist" movement in general. Maybe that's what I liked about this. It brought back some memories of the time when the East Village and the Lower East Side actually meant something. Days…long since gone, believe me.
All in all I have to say that it was a good experience and some interesting works to see.
I'd like to thank all those who came out in the pouring rain on Saturday night to attend the show at the Jan Hus Presbyterian Church for the Circle of Arts benefit. It was to raise money for the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program. We all had a great time and everything went well. Linda never sounded better and it was a pleasure to play with her. Also joining us were Virginia Summerville on background vocals and Daniella Fischetti on the violin. We also joined producer Edmund Leary on his new song "One Day At A Time", something you will no doubt be hearing more about in the near future. Also, I'd like to thank those who came out for the last minute show at the Ottoman Lounge in Brooklyn last night. We had a great time there as well. Linda was again joined by myself and Virginia and Daniella.
Is it any wonder that the rest of the world sees us and complete and utter morons? Get a load of this RIDICULOUS clip. Just when you think they can't stoop any lower:
Here is an interview of Uruguayan journalist/writer Eduardo Galeano I found from the Charlie Rose Show. It's about 20 minutes or so. Highly recommended:
Well, I am back from Virginia and I have to say that as much as I like to bitch and moan about New York, I'm glad to be back. Spent the last 5 days in Stafford, which wasn't bad but for a city guy like myself (especially one who doesn't drive), the boredom began creeping in. My friend Carmen was with me so that made it bareable and with her around, it was a lot of fun. Still, two of the days there were hit with extremely violent storms (including a tornado which thankfully passed just east of us) but I never saw hail the size of that in my entire life; and thank God I just happened to get back to my room in time. I knew something was up when the sky started to look a weird yellow-ish grey. A very strange thing. I'm sure those of you out there in some parts of the country this is normal. But you never EVER see a sky like that in NYC.
The good news while I was gone was the nomination of Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination. It was a thrill to see this happen...and historic. Now we can only hope he will take the White House in November. Is it possible? I think so. But there are still people in this country who have a big problem to overcome. So we will see. Will it be something new? Or more of the same old-same old.
Ok...coming up this week: on June 14th, another show with Linda La Porte. Details to follow but you can see details on my "calender" on the main profile page...as well as Linda's. It's a benefit show for the Homeless so it should be a very cool thing to do.
Now I just want to relax, get something to eat. Glad to be home....
Just wanted to take the time to thank those who came down to Linda La Porte's show at The Mean Fiddler in Hell's Kitchen on Friday night. The show went very well and we had a fantastic time. This was the first time Linda had performed with a full band since the Bitterweed days and I have to say it was a blast. This time out, Linda was joined by Carl Spataro on drums, Daniella Fischetti on Violin, Virginia Summerville on background vocals and myself on bass. It was great to play again and it was great having you all there. Exciting things are happening so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
Well…I'll be out of here for about a week--heading down to Virginia. It'll be good to get away from NYC for a while, even for a couple of days. Be back soon. In the meantime, I just want to wish everyone a great week.
Yesterday, being another beautiful day here in New York, provided the opportunity to check out the 155th Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit. The exhibit runs along University Place between 12th and 3rd Streets (even though there wasn’t a single booth at 12th or 11th for some reason). I managed to catch this exhibit a couple of years ago and it was very good, with many talented artists showcasing their work. This year was kind of a disappointment, actually. At least for me. While there were some really talented artists there, for the most part it seemed more “traditional”, if that’s the word to use. Many of the works seemed to focus on less “risky” artists. Could that have been the point this time around? Who knows? But there are a few who seemed to be doing something interesting. Otherwise, many of them were landscape paintings, portraiture, or local street scenes. Not bad, mind you. Just not very interesting in my view.
The exhibit has it’s origins back in 1931 when Jackson Pollock, needing money to pay the rent on his apartment, set up shop on the sidewalk near Washington Square Park to sell some of his paintings. Fellow artist Willem DeKooning soon joined him and by the next year, more than 200 artists began to do the same. It’s been a yearly tradition ever since.
The problem is you aren’t going to find the next Pollock or DeKooning here, even though there were some artists who seemed to offer something unique. As I said, many artists seemed more traditional this year. I’m not saying that they were bad artists (they clearly weren’t) but just not my particular cup of tea--with the exception of a few. But don’t take my word for it. After all, this is just one man’s opinion. If you’re in the New York City area, go check it out and see for yourself. It will be open again next weekend and then will return in August and September. It’s free so it can’t hurt to go on down and check it out.
Yesterday, I checked out the Hispanic Society of America Museum for the first time. I had just found out about it yesterday morning and decided it was too nice a day to just sit around so I headed up to 156th Street & Broadway to see what it was all about. All I can say is that anyone interested in Spanish art should definitely make this trip. An incredible collection of paintings, (including Goya’s “The Duchess of Alba”, Velazquez, Zurban, El Greco, Murillo, among others), sculptures, artifacts (both Iberian, Roman and Hispano-Mooresque) and decorative works such as a Mudejar Door, Moorish tiles and tapestries and Islamic period pieces. The only flaw of this museum is that it should be bigger…showcasing more paintings from Spanish masters but what they have here is great for those who love art from Spain. If you do, I suggest you check out the link above and pay a visit at some point. The admission is FREE.
From there, I headed down to the Met to check out some more, killed about an hour or two looking at more paintings by Velazquez, Goya, Zurban, El Greco, Murillo, etc, since it’s been a very long time since I went to really LOOK at them. A lot of these paintings are very powerful and looking at them gives you an idea of what life must have been like in those days. And I just had to marvel over the fact that most of these paintings are well over 400 years old. Incredible to think about, really.
I was overcome with a strange sense of familiarity when looking at these works. I don’t know if had anything to do with the way my house was when I was growing up, which is likely since it was decorated in a Spanish style. But there was something “familiar” about all of it. A strange sense of feeling “home” when looking at them all. It brought back a flood of memories for me but I can’t put my finger as to why, exactly. They made me think of my father who passed away some 15 years ago now. They made me think of my childhood. Very strange.
But for those who love Spanish art, you can’t go wrong checking out the Hispanic Society then run down to the Met and see what they have there. Now I only have to take a trip to Madrid to spend time in the Prado, which is definitely in my “to do” list.
I got the chance yesterday to see the "Action/Abstraction: Pollock, DeKooning, and American Art 1940-1976" exhibit at the Jewish Museum here in New York. An over all good show, but if you have been to MOMA at any point in your life, you would have seen these works before. You'll recognize the names: Pollock, DeKooning, Frankenthaler, Newman, Rothko, etc. It was good to see all these works together but there was absolutely nothing really "new" here , other than the way it was presented. There were a few works I haven't seen before, mainly those from the 1970s, but over all, it was sort of "been there, done that". If you would like to see these works, you're better off waiting until they return to MOMA and then get in on the Free Fridays rather than spending the $12 admission to get in...and go through security measures akin to going through an airport. What was it that our fearless leader once said? "We are not going to let them change the way we live". Uh....yeah....ok.
A friend of mine passed along a link to an amazing animated short film done by an artist named Blu from Argentina. See it here. It is absolutely amazing:
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.
I just got word that the artist Robert Rauchenberg has died. Rauchenberg has always been one of my favorite American artists and his death is a great loss the to the art world. To me, he was a true innovator.
Chalk One Up To Another Moron Dept:
So it goes like this. I go to the bank the other day (or more accurately, a Credit Union) and I am being helped by this new teller there, one I haven’t seen before. I walk through the door and she immediately looks at me as if I had just crawled out of a cardboard box. I tell her that I wanted to deposit some money into my checking account. She asks for the account number and I give it to her. It doesn’t come up. I give it to her again. Again it doesn’t come up. Finally she realizes that she kept missing a number then finally calls it up on her computer. “Can I have your name please?” I tell her and hand her over the money I want deposited. She looks at me again, suspiciously. “Is this your account?”. I told her it was. “Just checking,” she says. She gives me a receipt to sign and I do and then she looks over the signature and then suspiciously at me again, as if she weren’t really sure if it was legitimate. Right. I am going to try to scam you by putting MY money into a STRANGER’S account. Is that how it works? Is THAT my ingenious plan?
Facebook Dept:
I have a Facebook account. I don’t really go there much because I find a lot of it ridiculous with all its applications that after a while clutter up the page with all kinds of nonsense that I can’t make heads or tales of anymore. I recently went there and cleaned it up a bit so I wouldn’t be bombarded by too much sensory overload. However, I will keep it (having only made a profile there because a friend of mine kept insisting I do it and I also have some friends who don‘t have a MySpace profile). If anyone here also has a Facebook account, by all means feel free to hit me up there as well. I would love to hear from you.
Astor Piazzolla Dept:
I just recently picked up this 10 CD set of Astor Piazzolla, the famed Argentine Tango musician. What amazing music this is. The man was simply a genius, what can I say. It reminds me of a time when walking through the East Village here in New York and I just happened to pass by a building that had a plaque outside commemorating the fact that he had once lived there. That came as a surprise to me since I had no idea he had lived in New York City for a time. I wish I could remember what street it was on. If anyone out there knows, please tell me. I think it was somewhere along E 6th Street but I am not sure. So if anyone knows, please let me know.
To All The Mothers Dept:
And finally I just wanted to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there
My friend's son, who I have known since he was literally an infant, has recently appeared in a music video by the upcoming artist Karina. From what I understand, this video is now all over the place but you can see it here. I am thrilled for him and very proud of him as well. Who knows? Maybe this is the beginning of an amazing journey for him. Here it is:
This new article published in BrooWaha New York Edition was supposed to be published somewhere else but it never materialized. You can now read it here, a book review of Eduardo Galeano's "Voices of Time".
It's funny how sometimes things will come together even though they have absolutely nothing to do with one another. I wanted to head off to Other Music in order to see if I could locate any CDs from this amazing band from Argentina called Simpecao. I've been listening to their music on line but I've been having trouble actually finding their CDs. So I figure why not give Other Music a try. They're usually pretty good in finding hard to find music.
So this afternoon I find myself emerging from the Bleecker Street subway station at around 1:15pm and lo and behold, who do I see, right in the middle of filming one of her skits: the one and only Ms. Divine. I nearly walked in front of the camera her assistant was using to film this particular bit but luckily I saw it in time. I wanted to talk to her, introduce myself but since she was in the middle of filming a sketch, I didn't want to interrupt. Besides, my time was limited so I wanted to head over to look for that CD (naturally, they didn't have it). I figured if she were still there on the way back, I'd try to talk to her then. But alas, it was not to be. She was nowhere to be found. Just goes to show you that you should always strike when the iron is hot, right?
Ms. Divine's program is something to behold. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you visit her page to find the times and channels it's on or better yet, check out her page at YouTube and get an idea of what she's all about. I promise you, you're in for something very original. She does everything herself, plays all the characters, edits, directs. It is truly a one-woman show, and a quite bizarre one at that---and I don't mean that in a bad way, as the comedian Dom Irrera always said.
And speaking of Simpecao, here is a video of one of their amazing tracks. I had this song in my head all day. Now if only I can get a hold of their music…:
* Took advantage of the beautiful day we had here in New York (over 70 degrees) and took in the “Arte/Vida” exhibit at Museo del Barrio. Mainly a photographic exhibit, this one focused on the many “Happenings” and performance pieces by Latin American artists from 1960-2000. Some were very interesting, some…well…I just didn’t get or it didn’t move me much but there was some interesting things here that make the trip worth it. Featuring the work of Marta Minujin (Argentina), Lygia Clark (Brazil), Teresa Trujillo (Uruguay), Miguel-Angel Cardenas (Colombia), Juan Downey (Chile), Cesar Trasobares (Cuba), Freddie Mercado Velazquez (Puerto Rico) and Eduardo Villanes (Peru) to name a few. A lot of these works were political in nature. According to the brochure, “What is proposed through these many works is that while art affirms and celebrates life with a regenerative force, and sharpens and provokes our critical senses, artistic actions which address inequalities and conflict are not equivalent to real life endured under actual oppression.” Definitely interesting and a lot of these works give you something to think about.
* Caught this amazing band on TV last night called Tinariwen from Mali, Africa. They do a sort of “roots music” and they have a MySpace page. Follow the link to check out their music. I believe they have some videos on YouTube as well. Really cool stuff and those interested in World Music should definitely give them a listen.
One of my favorite singer/songwriters is England's Al Stewart. He wrote some really great songs over the years but never really had that many hits in the US (with the exception of a few in the mid-late 1970s). The following is a video made from one of this older songs "The News From Spain" which was always one of my favorites. This isn't an actual video but one someone from YouTube made. It should suffice in lieu of an actual video for this great song. Great images too:
Leaving New York is always a great thing for me but the flying is something that I don’t really like. Not because I have a fear of flying but because the seats in these things aren’t meant for a man my size. Nevertheless, as soon as the plane took off from JFK, I was overcome with joy watching New York slowly disappear from view, leaving behind a cold, 30-something degree weather and heading toward the Caribbean where it was going to be in the mid to high 80s. Yes, that appealed to me a great deal. But first we had to make a stop in Houston Texas, to, of all places, George Bush Intercontinental Airport where we had to meet our connecting flight. Linda and Virginia, my traveling companions were just as eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York and spend a week literally doing "nothing", which was part of the plan all along. But we really didn’t do "nothing", just in concept.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is a huge sprawling complex but for some reason it wasn’t all that crowded and we had at least three hours before our next flight out to Belize. We decided to kill some time by eating at this sport’s bar they had there---the food ok----before going back to the gate to await our flight. Things are delayed, the airline having overbooked the flight and were waiting for 6 people to volunteer to skip it and take the next one out in the morning. Naturally, we would not volunteer, being that we were very eager to get to our destination. There was no way in hell I was going to spend the night in a Texas hotel and lose a day. It didn’t seem to matter though, since we weren’t effected either way. After about an hour delay, we continued on our way.
The plane touched down at the airport in Belize at around 4:00pm. It is one of those airports where there really isn’t any gate. They roll the stairway up to the plane and off you go, down onto the tarmac and walk the rest of the way into the airport. You already get a sense of what kind of country this is. Hot, palm trees everywhere, everything I was expecting it to be. But we still weren’t finished just yet. We still had another flight to take, a small Sesna plane that would take us to the island we were going to stay at. I had never flown in one of these small propeller planes before and to be honest I was a bit apprehensive about it.
So again, checking in, going through security, getting our boarding passes and waiting around the "gate" for the next flight out. Being that our flight was late, we barely made it, since the last flights off the mainland stop at 5:00pm. Our flight is scheduled for 4:40pm. While waiting for the flight, we meet a middle aged couple who told us a lot of great things about Belize and what we were going to be experiencing. The more they spoke, the more we looked forward to finally reaching our room on the other side.
The plane arrives and we load our bags and climb aboard this really small plane, so small I could not stand up in it. We take our seats and before long the plane lifts off. It’s not bad at all and the view flying over the shallow waters of that end of the Caribbean Sea was amazing. The plane first lands at Caye Calker, another small island on the way to ours. They let off a few passengers and then takes off again to our island, Ambergris Caye. We arrive about 10 minutes later. The "airport" we land in is really not much more than a landing strip right in the heart of San Pedro and as soon as you step off, you immediately get the sense of this town. For such a small town it is hustling, with everyone riding around in Golf Carts, the primary mode of transportation on the island. There are no cars. The only cars are the mini-vans which served as taxis. Almost immediately, we get a taxi and start the very short trip down the road to our hotel at the Mata Rocks Resort.
We finally arrive around 6:00pm, check in and head to our room to drop off our bags, get ourselves together and head out to the bar which was right on the beach, right outside our room. The wind is blowing. Fiercely blowing. A warm wind. A beautiful wind. The first thing I see is the palm tree right at the shore, blowing like crazy. Despite the heavy wind, I am loving it already. We begin drinking, talking to Dan, the manager of the resort and a friend of his named Jacques. Two really great guys. The bartender is a young Belizian woman who is also very nice (whose features suggested a Guatamalan background). We spend the rest of the night at the bar drinking, taking in everything and by 10pm, being that we were completely exhausted, headed back to our room for a much needed sleep.
Tuesday - March 18th 2008
I am up by 6:00am. I take a quick shower, grab my cigarettes and head outside the room as Linda and Virginia continue to sleep. The sun has not quite risen and it is still very windy. I sit outside watching the sunrise, smoking through a couple of cigarettes, taking some video of it all with my camera. A couple of security guards are walking the grounds and I briefly spoke to one of them, a middle aged guy who wanted to know where I was from, etc. He soon went on his way and I just took in the sites, walking around the beach a bit, not far from the room, looking out over the Caribbean at the waves crashing over the distant reef. The bar does not open until about 7:30 to begin serving breakfast so I am pretty much on my own. A few other guests begin coming out, looking around, testing the waters, walking along the docks. Already the boats began coming in to take some of these other guests off to their diving and snorkeling expeditions. We aren’t going to do that but I was a little surprised to see them arriving so early in the morning. I watched the boats bouncing along the waters due to the high winds. I said to myself, thank god I wasn’t part of that. It looked as if it was going to be rough for them. I finish smoking through my cigarette and headed back into the room, where Virginia and Linda had both awakened.
We spend the rest of the morning literally just lounging around the beach, doing nothing but taking in the sun and the atmosphere of the place. We do this until mid-afternoon when we decide to take a walk into the town of San Pedro to see what was happening there. The first thing we notice is that as soon as you step off the resort and onto the road to San Pedro, you don’t feel the winds and it suddenly becomes very hot. The road is only a few feet off the beach but there is a huge difference. It had to be nearly 90 degrees. You felt it immediately. The road to the town looked newly paved with cobblestones and the sidewalk is narrow but easily walkable. Along the way I am taking in the sites, watching the golf carts roll by, some wagons with locals driving their products along the road. It is simply amazing. There are a lot of other resorts and hotels along the road and many new homes being built. Local stores, groceries, restaurants also line the road. You get the sense that there is a building "boom" on the island, mostly hotels, but a few homes and apartments as well. It’s very easy to see that this is still a developing country.
We stop off at a store called Orange, which is a shop selling curios, art work, souvenirs, etc. A nice place with air conditioning, which was beginning to be sorely needed at that point. We poke around there for quite a bit. I check out the paintings from local artists, most of which were very interesting works of art. I would have loved to have bought a few of them but money was a bit tight for me so I had to let it go. We head off and continue our way through town and stop off for lunch with decent food, just resting our feet for a bit and to get a bit of the ocean breeze to cool us off. After lunch we continue on. I spot a huge Christ statue in front of a small Roman Catholic church which is a curious site to me. Huge, colorful and well kept. You could see it from a few blocks away. The church is a small affair, which sort of reminded me of some of the one’s I saw in San Juan a few years ago. After a couple of hours we decide to head back to the room, mainly to rest and get out of the blazing heat which was really becoming intense. As Virginia noted, it was "Africa hot".
Back at the room: We rest for a bit, getting ourselves together and head out again to the bar on the beach. There we meet a very nice couple from South Africa, Garreth and Adele. Very nice, cool people. Adele is a Fire Dancer. I’m not quite sure what Garreth did for a living but we spend the night with them at the bar drinking and having a great time, listening and talking about music. The bartender that night, Cherylyn, wound up playing some of Linda’s songs over the bar’s sound system once she discovered that Linda was a musician. (She also played some Bitterweed!) Getting kind of drunk due to the shots of Tequila Garreth was plying me with, we laughed and had a really great time with them. By 9:30pm or so the bar was closing up and we spend the rest of the night just hanging around, talking, laughing until we eventually felt ourselves needing some sleep.
Wednesday - March 19th 2008
Again, up before sunrise. I head outside again with my pack of smokes to watch the sun coming up. It’s still very windy. One of the security guards told us it was an "Easter Wind" and that it would die down in a day or two. I didn’t mind the wind at all since it was a hot wind. It seemed to bother some of the other guests there, but I didn’t mind it at all. Again, we spend the morning lounging on the beach. We notice a few stray dogs walking around, one of which decided to stop by and hang out with us for the morning. I dubbed him "Fleabag" and he remained our personal pet for the morning before he tired of us and moved on to the other guests. We decide to head into town again only this time via the shore line through the beach. The site here is amazing, passing by all the other resort areas, watching the boats at the docks, etc. We turn off the beach onto the main road to have lunch at a place called Antojitos San Telmo, a local place. The restaurant is literally a wooden shack with chicken wire for windows, a few tables and a bar and a television with cable TV. The owner of the place is a young Mexican guy who also served as the waiter. The food here is simply unbelievable. Locals eat here which is what we wanted. Absolutely amazing food and the waiter/owner is a really really nice guy. If you are ever there you must try the food here. A funny incident occurred while we were eating. A drunk local came in and fell about the floor. The owner, seeming embarrassed by this turn of events angrily threw him out, apologizing to us for this. We told him not to worry about it. "We’re from New York," we tell him. "We see things like this every day so it was not a problem." And it wasn’t and incidents such as this don’t really happen anyway. It was just one of those things. At any rate, I can not stress how amazing the food was here.
We head back to the beach and lounge around there for the rest of the day and night, drinking at the bar and just taking it easy.
Thursday - March 20th 2008
Again, up that the crack of dawn. It is cloudy this morning, raining a little but only a little. The temperature isn’t as hot but it’s still hot enough. The winds have died down. After breakfast we lie around the beach before taking a walk along the shore in the other direction this time. We begin walking, taking a slow, leisurely stroll while Linda and Virginia collected shells along the way. We meet a man with his son, a kind, laughing 4 year old who really loved his "papa". We speak to him for a good half an hour, each telling each other about our lives in our respective countries. A really friendly guy. We continue on. I take many photographs of the homes along the beach, one of which was absolutely amazing. A huge home with Mayan paintings on the doors and multicolored balconies. I was amazed at this house and wondered who the owner was and thought of what a great location is was. It was really something to see. Further along the beach we hung out at a sand bar, wading through it for a while, looking at the crabs and fish in the water. We kept going, all the way down the beach until we tired. We didn’t quite make it to the end of the island but we went far enough. A few hours spent walking to that end and back.
Back at the beach, we run into Garreth and Adele again, hanging out with them for a little while. We tell them that we are leaving the next morning and we exchange contact info so we can hook up again if they came to New York---or if we ever got to South Africa. The rest of the afternoon is spent lounging around, doing "nothing".
Dinner: back at Antojito San Telmos. Again, an amazing meal…even better than the lunch we had the previous day. I tried something new with my meal. A sort of condiment, made of hot peppers, onions and carrots, a condiment that the owner/waiter said was a local thing. Very hot and spicy, just the way I like it. I consumed it as if it were going out of style. We spoke to the owner/waiter quite a bit, talking of music mainly and he and Linda comparing tattoos. I’m really going to miss that place, let me tell you.
Back to resort. Our last night there. I wanted to do something that I wanted to do for as long as I could remember and that was smoke a Cuban cigar which is impossible to get in the United States. They sold them behind the bar. I buy a Cohiba and light it up and thoroughly enjoy it. It was everything everyone had always said about Cuban cigars but I guess if one is not a smoker, they would not understand. I remember my father always talking about these cigars and how ticked he was that we were unable to get them in the U.S. I smoked that one for him.
While sitting at the bar, we meet a guy named Mike who was from Philly. He was in a band and we began talking about music. I find out he was in this punk band from the 80s named the Pagan Boys who played the NYC circuit quite a bit in those days with bands like Sick of It All, Gorilla Biscuits, Token Entry, etc. We talked a long time about music and the old punk rock scene in NYC and Philly. He currently sings in a band called The Heels. I told him that I had gone to high school with two of the guys in Sick of It All and Tim of Token Entry and he was just blown away. It is indeed a small world. He gave us some info about his band and we exchanged info with him as well about Linda’s new music and our old band Bitterweed. The bar was about to close and we had an early flight the next day, so we went back to the room.
Friday - March 21st 2008
Last morning before leaving. I am up at 5:00am and go outside to try to spend as much time as possible on the beach before having to leave. Virginia joins me soon thereafter while Linda slept for a little while longer. It is another cloudy morning so you couldn’t actually see the sunrise but you could watch it gradually get lighter. While Virginia and I sat on the beach we meet this woman with two of her dogs that absolutely went berserk as they discovered crabs under the sand and began digging for them with wild abandon. It was even funnier to watch them find them, pulling them out of their hole and just playing with it. They didn’t kill it, just tossed it around a bit before the dog’s owner took it and tossed it into the sea before the dogs would. It was truly a funny site.
Linda joins us a few moments later and we have breakfast and lounge around a little before having to leave. By 9:15am, we were off to the airport.
Coming back into America was an ordeal. The security at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is like Fortress America. It was really annoying. All I could think of is the President’s statement "We are not going to let the terrorist’s win. They will not alter the way we live our lives". Could have fooled me, let me tell you. It seems they altered the way we live in a huge way.
Nevertheless, and beside that point, I had an amazing week and wished I could have stayed there longer. We arrived back in New York around 11:15pm, to a cold, blustery wind, about 32 degrees. You couldn’t have more of a contrast. But I was home…and still have another week to myself before having to go back to work. A great time, indeed. A really great time….
This past Thursday night I had the pleasure of attending the opening reception for Peruvian photographer Coco Martin’s exhibition "Skin Over Paper" at the Kevin Barry Gallery in Staten Island. Coco is an amazing artist and quite accomplished throughout Latin America. I had attended another of his exhibits some time ago here in New York and it was just as amazing. I highly recommend those here interested in the arts to stop by and have a look. You can also get a sample of his work at his website. Just follow the links. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
Check out this clip from a great Flamenco singer named Terremoto de Jerez. It's an old clip (from the 1970s from the look of it). Also, check out the guitarist he has with him. Amazing:
Have you ever felt that obtaining just a little peace of mind was a Sisyphian effort? Just when you think you're getting there, the boulder just rolls right over you again and you have to start over?
Have you ever been accused of being "selfish" by those who always want it their way?
Have you ever been accused of being "angry" just because you have an opinion?
Have you ever had anyone get angry with you and then not tell you what their angry about? They just stop talking to you and expect you to coddle them and ask them "what's wrong" when it is obvious that it is they who have the problem?
Have you ever been criticized for not living up to the expectations others have of you? Expectations that they have defined and not yourself?
Have you ever been accused of being "rebellious" and "anti-social" just because you live your life not doing everything that you're told? Is blind obedience to other's standards preferable to thinking and living for yourself?
Have you ever been the source of other people's amusement merely because you aren't just like them? In other words, if you don't think, act and/or behave like them, then there's something wrong with you?
If you have, welcome to the club. As a grown man, I am tired of all this but yet this is the sort of thing I seem to meet on a daily basis. Maybe it's a cultural thing, I don't know. All I know is there are a hell of a lot of people out there who seem to think if you don't conform to their personal view of the world, then you are either "angry", "anti-social", "rebellious", etc etc. Well...sorry folks. Sorry to disappoint you. Sorry that I am not you. I guess that's a good enough reason to hold it against me. Just think of all the energy you are expending to let me know this. Meanwhile, in the grand scheme of things, I really could care less what you think. So go ahead and expend all that energy. What harm are you really doing to me?
Here is a clip from one of my all time favorite poets, Ernesto Cardenal from Nicaragua. Even though I am not a religious man by any means, this is still a great poem:
Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things:
Been home for a week now and basically just tried to get back into the swing of things. Being off from work for about 8 days, you get used to it so this week was a bit of a struggle getting back into the routine. Not too bad, though, being that in a couple of weeks, I'm off to Belize. I can't wait for that. Looking foward to the sun, the heat and just taking it easy.
Art Show:
Last weekend I caught the huge Art Show they had at the Park Avenue Armory. It was pretty amazing, with loads of work from some of my favorite artists: DeKooning, Picasso, Diebenkorn, Joseph Cornell, Joan Mitchell among many others. It's a huge event that happens about once a year which is held to benefit the Henry Street Settlement. If you didn't get the chance to catch this, you missed a good one.
Writing:
Finally began working on the new novel this week after an extremely long bout of writer's block. Well...sort of. I just couldn't get this thing started and it was a very frustrating thing for me. I guess writing all these blogs and articles over the past few months finally did the trick. I got about 10 pages written so far and so far so good. This book is a "sequel" of sorts of my first novel "November Rust" (a link for it is on the main page of this website). I say "sequel" because it sort of picks up where the other leaves off, only it's going to be a little different since I want to make it stand out on its own. We'll see how things work out. I'm just glad to get things going. Wish me luck!
Paris:
And for anyone interested, I posted photos from my Paris trip in the "My Photos" album on my MySpace page.
That's about all for now. Hope everyone is having a great week.
February 16th 2008 - Saturday
Arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport at around 10:30am and took the RER to the Luxembourg Metro station to emerge to a beautiful Saturday morning. Seeing the park again brought back wonderful memories of my first time in Paris eight years ago. It is a lot warmer than we expect. After we get our bearings, we decide to walk to our hotel, which is all the way in the 15th arrondissement. Why not? We have a whole day ahead of us and the weather is just amazing. We walk along the Boulevard St. Germain all the way to Boulevard Montparnasse, then down Montparnasse towards the hotel. All the familiar sites are there. Le Dome, La Rotonde, Place Picasso and the Balzac statue. It is quiet and the streets are nearly deserted, a far cry from the mania in New York City. It's a good hour before reaching the hotel off Avenue Garibaldi on the Rue de la Croix Nivert in a quiet but lively area. The hotel is not bad, a much better room then the one I stayed at back in 2000. We check in and rest. It was a long flight and a long walk and I only had about two hours sleep on the flight over.
It is around 5pm when we awaken and get ready to head out. We are hungry and looking for a place to eat. After deciding, we walk to the Duroc Metro station and take the short ride to Boulevard Montparnasse looking for Le Dome but for some reason our bearings are a little out of whack and wind up eating at a small Indian Restaurant near the Gare Montparnasse station. The food is good but the waiter is a grumpy, unfriendly guy but we understood when we realize that he is the only waiter for a restaurant that had about 21 people in it. The poor bastard had to handle it all on his own. We are done about an hour later and head off to the Metro station again to catch the RER, sort of Paris' version of Metro North here in New York, to head out to Rueil Malmaison where Nicole's friends Marianne and Hakim lived. Hakim picked us up outside the train station and drove us back to their apartment.
They are wonderful people, newlyweds, who open their place to us for some food, drink and conversation. There are six of us there, Marianne, Hakim, Patrick and the three of us and we spend the night there drinking copious amounts of champagne and wine as well as eating an amazing meal of shish kabobs, potatoes and cheese, grilled on a portable grill which sat on the middle of the table. We talk, eat, laugh, play some guitar and sang, danced and just generally had an amazing time. Hakim and I discussed the upcoming presidential elections here in the US and he reveals that he is an avid supporter of Barack Obama. We told him that we were too and that we were hoping just as much as he that he will one day assume the presidency. He absolutely loved Barack Obama (as well as a lot of the French we were soon to discover). Hakim played some guitar and sang some of the songs he had written, then passed the guitar off to me where I attempted to sing a Dylan song that I couldn't remember, then I passed it off to Linda who sang her wonderful new song "What Burns?". After we ate we hung around the living room talking, drinking more wine and champagne while Marianne and Patrick served up the most delicious desert I had in a long while. Everyone was so nice, friendly and open. At around 2am, we headed off, Hakim driving us to the city limits where we grabbed a taxi just short of the Arc de Triumph. The taxi driver was a friendly guy, talking with us all the way back to our hotel, pointing out some sites along the way. We were back at the hotel at around 3am, ready to sleep. Our first day an amazing experience.
February 17th 2008 - Sunday
We begin a little late this morning, having not woken up until about 11:30am. It is around 1pm by the time we are ready and hit the streets. The plan was to try to get some lunch at Le Dome again but by the time we reached it, the wait for a table was at least and hour so we decided that we didn't want to wait that long and walked the Boulevard Montparnasse for another place to eat. No luck at La Rotonde across the street, which was crowded and only serving sea food. A little further up the boulevard we found a place called Parnasse 138, a nice place where we had the most amazing lunch. Much to our surprise they had menus in both French and English so ordering wasn't all that much of a problem. Our waiter was a really nice guy who helped us out when we didn't understand what certain things were and spoke to us in English when our French failed us. The food there was absolutely incredible and relatively inexpensive. During our meal, an older couple at the table next to us began to speak to us and were very warm, open and friendly, asking us where we were from and wished us a very nice time in Paris, something you don't normally see in New York (since if there were a couple at the next table listening in, it is often to poke fun and convince themselves that they are cooler than you are). We spend a good two hours there and then make our way out and about again, this time to check out a museum that had recently opened in Paris called Musee du quai Branly, a museum which specializes in art works of native people's of the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
We took the Metro to the Ave President Wilson station and walked from there. The museum is on the other side of the Seine on the right bank. Once getting out of the station I was immediately familiar with the area, having been there the last time I was in Paris. The Metro station is a stone's throw from Paris' Museum of Modern Art, which I had seen the last time. To get to this new museum however, we had to cross the Seine so we decided it would be nice to walk it instead of getting back on the train to take it to a closer stop. To get there from where we were, we had to climb down a fairly steep stairway which lead to the street that would take us to the bridge over the Seine. Once you get to the end of the block, the Eiffel Tower is looming over you from across the river and the view is just amazing. Of course, after stopping to take a ton of photographs we take the underground passageway (which was somewhat freshly painted this time, the last time I saw it, it was covered in graffiti) to the other side of the street and take the bridge across the river. The view from there is amazing and of course we did as all others did and took a ton of photos there. How could one not with that view? In fact, I remembered being there the last time and had Linda take a photo of me from the very same spot she did the last time. It's interesting to see the difference 8 years later.
On the other side, the museum stands, directly in line with the bridge. When we reach the other side, I spot an older Peruvian man playing the accordion (which my friend Maria later told me reminded her of a Bryce Echinique character). We took loads of photos there as well (along with the tons of other tourists) before finally crossing the street to head to the museum.
The museum is amazing and anyone interested in seeing art work from indigenous populations from across the world, this is your place. There isn't anything here from Europeans at all, as I said, the focus of this museum is to concentrate on what is essentially the "colonized" people's of the world. What I loved about it was that it presented the art works in their own right and treated them as works of art rather than being merely "folk art", which indigenous people's works are often relegated to. It attempts to put these cultures in their proper perspective and elevate it to where it rightfully belongs. The works of intelligent, creative people, not "primitives" or "uncivilized" people. The skill and craftsmanship of these works are something to behold when you really think about how old some of these works are. It was nice to see a museum dedicated to this kind of art, one that treats it with reverence and respect and not relegate it to a "quaint" status like the one here in New York which presents it as merely "folk art" done by "primitive" people. I commend those who came up with this idea. It is truly an amazing place.
After the museum, we were to meet Hakim and Marianne at a restaurant called La Maison de l'Aubrac on the Rue Marbeuf, just off the Champs Elysees. The restaurant is known for it's beef, we were told and I have to say the food there was absolutely amazing. Hakim and Marianne arrived and we ate, having a wonderful time. I ate the Beef Burganione (sp?) which was the first time I ever ate that. It was amazing. The meat in this place was some of the most tender meat I've ever eaten. Just an amazing meal and not for all that much money which is always a good thing. After a couple of hours there, we parted ways, having spent another good couple of hours with these two amazing people. We head off down the Champ Elysees for at least a partial walk home to walk off that incredible meal. We reach the Avenue Montaigne which was obvious from the start was a street where very wealthy people lived. The entire avenue was lined with very expensive designer stores, which thrilled Linda and Nicole who took in everything along the way. At the end of the block one could see the Eiffel Tower, fully lit, with it's beacon making it's slow turn over the Paris sky. For me, that's what made this street so amazing. (That and the amazing apartments that lined the street). We took our time, taking in everything until we reached the end of the block and decided it was best to take the Metro back to the hotel. We had done enough walking for one day.
February 18th 2008 - Monday
An early start today: left the hotel at around 10:30am and stopped off at the Café La Place right up the street from our room to get a much needed caffeine fix (at least for me). A small, clean place with very good coffee. With the fix taken care of, it was time to head out, this time for a personal pilgrimage of mine, to see the grave site of the Argentine writer Julio Cortázar at the Cimetiere du Montparnasse. Over the past few years he has become one of my favorite authors and the last time I was in Paris, I wasn't aware of who he was so this time I wanted to visit his grave and pay homage to such a great artist. After walking around the place for a good half hour (due to my inability to comprehend the map) we finally stopped and asked a couple of cemetery workers where the grave site was. One of them was kind enough to show us where it was. For me, this was an amazing thing to see (I don't know what it meant to Linda and Nicole---although Linda was furious at the fact that people would write graffiti all over the grave site, though it wasn't as bad as say Jim Morrison's grave is across town). But for me, I wanted to pay my respects to a great artist and was glad to get the chance to do so.
From there, back to the Latin Quarter where Linda and Nicole wanted to go shopping. I took in the sites, seeing things I had seen before plus some things along the way that I hadn't seen before, such as the Le Duex Magot café that Henry Miller had written about in "Tropic of Cancer". A few hours walking along the Boulevard St. Germain and it was time for lunch.
We had a reservation at the restaurant called Auguste, which is the restaurant that Hakim is the manager of. Before heading there, I put in a call to the singer/songwriter Brigitte Beling, who we had planned to meet during our stay. She was to meet us at the restaurant. The restaurant is a very fancy affair, which made me a little nervous when we first entered it. I felt a bit out of place at first but as time went on, I began to feel a bit more comfortable. Again, plied with much wine before the meal. Soon after, Brigitte arrived and we finally got to meet one another after knowing each other for about a year on MySpace. In fact, I believe she was one of my first friends on there. She was very nice and we all got along great and talked much about music and life in Paris. For a moment everything seemed so strange, being that here is a person who I had only known on-line who is now sitting in front of me, flesh and blood and real, and briefly it seemed like a surreal moment for me. I felt as though I had known her for a long time (and in a way, I guess I did). I was glad to be able to meet her in person after all this time.
After spending a couple of hours there, we parted ways with Brigitte, who was nice enough to give us a present, a gift bag full of candies & chocolate (which was delicious), and headed back to the Latin Quarter and the Boulevard St. Germain so Linda and Nicole could continue shopping. From there, we decided to head off to Montmarte but we decided to walk at least part of the way, walking towards the Isle de la Citè, near Notre Dame, of course stopping to take things in and take numerous photographs along the way. We turned down the Quai Gesvres to check out the numerous book stalls along the Seine, something that I'd been wanting to do since arriving in Paris, then up the Avenue Rivoli, stopping here and there until we finally reached a Metro station in front of the Centre Pompidieu to take the train up to Monmarte.
Monmarte at night is a beautiful place. That is one of my favorite areas in Paris. There is so much history there, even though the area is flooded with tourist shops which kind of takes away from it a little. Nevertheless it is a beautiful area. I wanted to see the Sacre Coeur again and the area behind it where I had been once before. We took the stairs that lead up to the Sacre Couer only to be reminded how out of shape I have really become. It was a struggle whereas 8 years ago it wasn't all that bad. It only reinforced the idea that I need to lose some weight and exercise more. If you haven't done this before, I suggest that you do if you ever go to Paris. It is some walk up those stairs, let me tell you! From atop the hill you could see the entire city of Paris laid out before you and the view is just incredible, especially at night. The cathedral is lit up and the stairs in front are filled with people just hanging around, making music, etc. It is very touristy, this area, but still, I love it. After spending some time catching my breath we continued up the stairs to the area around the cathedral towards a plaza that I really love. It is a small square, with restaurants around the perimeter, painters who set up their easels painting the scenery, and people just milling around. There was a café there that I remembered eating at the last time I was in Paris called Chez Eugene (which made an appearance in my novel "November Rust"). The only difference between this time and the last time is that it was beautiful out whereas last time I was there it was pouring rain. We hung around there for a while and then head back down hill to get something to eat.
At the bottom of the hill we stopped in this café on the corner which was pretty touristy and pretty bad as far as the food went. These guys had the nerve to charge nearly $8 for a glass of Coke and the food I had, a plate of Spaghetti Bolognese was not that good at all. The place is to be avoided at all costs if you ever go there, and thankfully I can't even remember the name of it. Linda and Nicole were looking to get some crepes but the place was so filthy they decided to just get tea instead. We decided to get out of there and head off somewhere else.
Back to the Latin Quarter, Boulevard St. Germain again where Linda and Nicole found a crepe stand on the corner. While waiting for their order, they get into a conversation with a French man on line who once he found out we were Americans wanted to know about Barack Obama. As I said, the French seem to love Obama, this man in particular, shouting out his name as if at a soccer game. It was highly amusing to say the least but again another example of how friendly people were to us throughout our stay. With crepes in hand we headed down Boulevard St. Germain in search of some coffee for myself and just a place to rest our feet. We came upon the Café Le Boul'Mich just outside the Metro station and we stopped in for about a half hour or so, so I could consume a couple of espressos to satisfy my caffeine withdrawal. Then it was back on the Metro to our hotel.
February 19th 2008 - Tuesday
Our last day in Paris and not much time since we had to get to the airport by 11am. I awoke early, around 7:30am and headed out to the Café La Place again for a cup of coffee and a smoke, sitting outside taking in the sites, sounds and smells, watching the people heading off to their jobs. I was a little down because we had to leave and the three days went by so fast. Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time. After about a half hour I went back to the hotel and got myself together and we all headed back out to catch the train to the airport for the return trip home.
Here is a performance by a group called Milagro Acustico, a band I found on MySpace. They combine traditional Sicilian music with other music of the Mediterranean region and the effect is amazing. This particular performance is a song called "La Saracena". Check out their page if you get the chance. They have many CDs available as well:
I was just shy of my 14th birthday when I caught this on the old show "Fridays" (anyone remember this?). After seeing this, everything changed for me. The Jam were always one of my favorite bands while growing up (and still are) and I was lucky enough to catch them at The Palladium here in New York shortly before they called it quits forever. Here they are doing "Private Hell" on the show "Fridays" in the summer of 1980:
I am posting this video this morning mainly because I love it. It's this form of Flamenco I think I like the best, known as Buleria. This scene is from Carlos Saura's film, "Flamenco", a great film if one wants to get an idea of the various Flamenco forms, and one that I highly recommend:
Just a couple of weeks ago I learned about this band named Carmen who released a few albums back in the 1970's. Who are Carmen? Well, basically they are a progressive rock band, not too dissimilar from other prog rock bands from that era only they have one twist which made them unique. They blended their prog-rock with Flamenco. I had never heard of this band before but today I finally received their newly released re-issue CD "Fandagos in Space"/"Dancing on A Cold Wind". They're definitely more Rock than Flamenco but the Flamenco elements are quite apparent and it makes this band a very interesting listen. For those who are interested in hearing this, check out the website set up for them at the link above. Fans of Flamenco Puro will probably not like it but progressive rock fans definitely will. Their playing is very interesting and to hear Flamenco mixed with prog-rock is definitely something different.
Those you who know me know that I have an interest in World Music. It is very interesting to me how music from different cultures can blend and how well they work together (and sadly, more often than the actual people do). Here is an example of the rhythms of southern Italy, in particular, a Tarantella:
Here is another great example of the blending of the two musical forms, Flamenco & Arabic, only this time with dance. The dancer here is named Princesa Karima, who is from Argentina, who does a fusion of Bellydance and Flamenco. Listen to the accompanying music. Unfortunately I don't know who it is but to hear a great example of these two musical forms check out Hossam Ramzy's "Flamenco Arabe" with guitarist Rafal El Tachuela:
I just got word this morning that a writer I know on MySpace, Alicia Anabel has just published an article in Urban Latino Magazine. It's a great read so follow the link to see the article. A double surprise was to see another great artist who I met through cyberspace had done the artwork for the article, Yasmin Hernandez, who I belive is linked to my website. What a small world! At any rate, you should read this article and see Yasmin's artwork at her website. Both will not disappoint, believe me. I'm pretty much a daily reader of Anabel's blog and it's always an interesting read. So stop by, read the article, then drop by and give her props. I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
My article "I Am Myself Plus My Circumstance" has just been published by BrooWaha New York Edition. Stop by and have a look, let me know what you think.
The Emperor and The Pretty Boy Step Down Dept
Well it looks like the Emperor and the Pretty Boy (Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards) have bowed out of the race. What happened to Giuliani? I thought he was so liked by everyone and that he was going to be such a formidable candidate? Well...it's down to two for the Democrats. Obama and Clinton. Who's it going to be? My guess it's going to be Hillary, even though I'd much rather see Obama win. For the Republicans, it seems that McCain is gaining ground after being declared dead so long ago. Things are changing so fast it's hard to tell. But I still hope that my nightmate scenario of Romney vs Clinton doesn't occur. A McCain vs Clinton race, in my opinion, will guarantee a Democratic loss in November. I don't think Clinton will win ANY states that Gore or Kerry couldn't win. So who knows? All I know is that it seems as if things are beginning to shape up as if we're in for the same old, same old...not the "change" America SAYS it's looking for. What do some of you think? What would you like to see?
Only in New York Dept:
Last night, coming home from work, about two stops from mine, a group of wanna-be "gangsta" teenagers picked a fight with a homeless guy. Screaming and yelling ensued with the all white "gangsta" teens throwing the N-bomb at the homeless guy over and over again. The homeless guy cursing them out, challenging the "gangstas" but all they did was parade around in their pile of laundry keeping a good 15 feet away from the homeless guy. After about 10 minutes of ranting and raving and screaming and yelling, the homeless guy leaves the train and things settle down. Strange to me that all the African Americans on that train said nothing about all these white kids using the "N-word" over and over again. It was disgusting and just an example of why I cannot WAIT to take my vacation next month. Hasn't anyone here had enough of this crap?
Cool Music Dept:
And of course I've been trying to get the word out about Linda La Porte's just released self-titled CD. Stop by her MySpace profile to get a sample and contact her to buy one and support this great NYC singer/songwriter.
One of my favorite poets has always been the British poet Adrian Henri. I had first come across his work through a song by the Jam called "Tonight at Noon" which pretty much set one of his early poems to music. (His poem "I Want To Paint" also influenced a 1987 song from my old band Third Eye Butterfly) Eventually I wound up finding an old and obscure book called "The Liverpool Scene" along with its accompanying album that featured not only Henri reading his own work but also featured many of the Liverpool poets at the time such as Roger McGough.
I just came across a new book called "Adrian Henri: Selected and Unpublished Poems 1965-2000" (Liverpool University Press), which was a nice surprise since finding anything of his writing has been something of a challenge over the years. The book also features some of his paintings which would fall in to the Pop Art category, flourishing at the time many of these poems were written. Clearly influenced by the times and by the writings of Dylan, Ginsberg and other beat poets of the era, these poems were always a great read and it's great to see an all encompassing anthology of his work. If you are interested in this era's music, art and poetry, he's worth checking out.
Just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who came down to Linda La Porte's show last night. I appreciate all your support and I'm sure Linda does as well. It was a great night and it was great to see some faces that I haven't seen in a long while. For those who couldn't make it, you missed a great night of music. Linda's set was fantastic and she, along with Virginia Summerville on backing vocals never sounded better. I had the honor of playing the Doumbek on two of her new songs which she debuted last night as well. That was fun, being that it's an instrument I don't normally play. Over all, it was a great sampling of the songs on her just released CD which is finally out! So stop by her website or MySpace page to get a few samples from the CD and show your support and pick one up. You won't be disappointed, believe me.
Also performing last night was Khami Pellegrino from the band Shut Up Junior who did a great set as well. You can check out her music at her profile. And the host of the evening, Adem Tesfaye played a really fantastic set, this time, performing with a full backing band. It was great to hear his songs fully fleshed out with a rhythm section and keyboards which gave the songs a really nice groove. Kudos to his band who were all really incredible musicians.
I have a new article published at BrooWaha New York Edition called "Godless". Stop by and have a look...as well as some of the other great features they have there.
"Art is something subversive. It's something that should not be free. Art and liberty, like the fire of Prometheus, are things one must steal to be used against the established order. If art is ever given the keys to the city, it will be because it's been so watered down, rendered impotent, that it's not worth fighting for."
This week I created a new blog with the title Desvario. It's just another place to get the word out and try to help promote other artists that I like. It will more or less be the same thing you see here and at my MySpace blog of the same name but just another avenue to help spread the word. It will differ from time to time but more or less whatever you see here will be there as well. If you're interested in having a look, by all means, drop by and take a peek.
I recently created a profile at Saatchi Online. There are a couple of my paintings there for anyone interested in taking a look. All of them are also here but for other painters, photographers, etc, it's a cool site to showcase your work. Stop by and check it out if you get the chance.
My article "What Is The Role Of The Artist?" has been published in a new on-line magazine called Art Nouveau Magazine. Very exciting. The magazine went online yesterday so if you would like to check out some cool stuff, follow the links and see what they have going on.
Sunday morning, 8am. All the "Happy Holidays" are now in the past, all the "Happy New Years" are in the past, and people are back to the same miserable pricks they always are and always will be. This is my neighborhood I'm talking about. I've lived in New York all my life and I have to say that the neighborhood I live in has to be the most un-neighborly area in the whole city. I've lived here for almost 9 years and not a single day goes by where you get New York at its absolute worst and believe me, if the rent wasn't so cheap, I'd move out of here in a hearbeat. I guess that's the trade off.
These are the people who when leaving the building only open the door wide enough for themselves to get through, even though they see you walking right behind them. These are the people who when you say "Good Morning" to only look at you like you're beneath them and don't reply. These are the people who never say "Thank you" when you hold the door for them. Miserable, selfish pricks. The real New Yorker.
The funny thing about it is that this is all a choice. People are choosing to be this way and this is why it's is becoming increasingly hard for me to have any sympathy with them at all. This is an everyday occurrance around this place and is probably why I just live here but never do anything around here. It also occurs to me that for all the unhappiness people feel in their lives over whatever issue it is they are dealing with, these people have it pretty good. They're just pricks, and if there is one word that can perfectly describe the typical New Yorker, that word is "Prick". There is no better word for them. The hell with all of them, I say. If this is the way you want to approach this life, by all means, have your fun. Stew in it, coddle it and enjoy it. Just leave me the fuck out of it.
If there is one thing I told myself I was going to do this year was to try to approach things just a little differently, try to attract a more positive vibe and try to completely cut yourself off from all these miserable pricks. And it does work to a certain extent, but they bring it to you, even if you don't want it; and part of the reason why I feel so compelled to travel this year is to get away from this vibe and go places where people are not so consummed with their own selfish BS. Yeah, dude, life can suck sometimes but at least you're not living in Darfur or Kenya at the moment. Oh, but hey, the guy on the street just stepped ahead of you, time to get even with him. You'll show him, right?
Sometimes I wonder if this is just indicative of the American psyche as a whole. When you are in a country that has so much of everything and you don't even look out past your own block to see there is a whole other world out there, this is what tends to happen, I think. That's why a lot of the rest of the world's criticisms of America are not without merit at times.
So now that I've written it out, I feel better. I can't allow them to drag me into their game and I refuse to play it. But it is maddening at times when you think about it. Maybe one day...maybe...and that's a big maybe....a little revelation would do some of these people good. But I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. The fact is that some people are just miserable and they will always be no matter what. They will always feel that they have it the worst in life and that everyone owes them something because of it. The best thing to do with types like this is to try your best to cut them off, let 'em rot in their own pit of misery. There's no helping them and there's no sense trying to be human with them. It's a shame it has to be that way, but that's the way it is sometimes. So I will do my best not to let these pricks get to me and surround myself with people who are more in tune with life as it should be.
I posted a new song on my MySpace profile this morning, "Singing Over Bones" by Linda La Porte, off her upcoming CD. The song features Linda on acoustic guitar & vocals, Paul Schellack on electric guitar,I play bass guitar, Dylan Wissing on drums and also features the vocals ofVirginia Summervilleas well as violin by the demented Nigel Bugsby and cello by Rebecca Higginbotham-Walls, both of London's own Cockfosters String Quintet, respectively. This one is probably my favorite off the CD but there are other great tracks and I am looking forward to its release in a few weeks. Drop by Linda' site as well to hear some other tracks.
So the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary is upon us and soon the first votes will be cast by people's respective parties to begin determining who their candidate will be. After weeks and months of debates, campaign commercials, etc one thought did occur to me throughout the whole process and that is 'Why is so much importance placed on these two states?' Typically, after Iowa, you'll start seeing some candiates dropping out of the race if they don't do too well, and especially so after New Hampshire (which I think is next week). Why does everyone make these two elections---which are only two of out 50----such a make or break event? What about the rest of the country? Don't they count for anything? If a candidate does poorly today or next week, I mean...so what? There are 48 more states to go. Why does a candidate drop out so soon if they don't do that well?
Try imagining the general election. Let's just say that the Presidential race is against, for the sake of argument, Rudy and Hillary. Say the first polls come in: Iowa and New Hampshire and Hillary wins. Should Rudy then just concede the election because he lost those two states? Of course not. That would be ridiculous. So why do candidates do this for these two states during the primaries? Do Iowa and New Hampshire speak for the rest of the nation?
Just something that occurred to me while following this thing. It seems to me that way too much importance is being placed on these two---small----states when there is the rest of a HUGE nation to consider. A very strange thing....
I just wanted to take this time to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Ok...finally 2007 is about to retreat into history and for me it was a pretty good year. It literally started off for me in Salsbury and Bath England which was a great way to start the year, seeing Stonehenge, the ancient Roman baths of Bath and to actually go into Salsbury Catherdral....very intense, let me tell you. I put three of my books out, I spent a good two weeks in California...so over all it wasn't bad at all. Started getting some articles published on various websites and of course, finishing up Linda La Porte's upcoming solo CD was also great. So overall, when I think about it, things were pretty good. Sometimes you just have to sit back and think about it, blowing away the cobwebs of the day to day bullshit in order to appreciate it.
So here's to 2008 and hoping that it is a great year for everyone. I'm personally looking forward to it, being that I will be heading off to Paris for a couple of days in February (I can't WAIT!) and then in March, maybe...MAYBE....Greece...but I just found out that it won't be so warm then, so it may wind up being somewhere else. (I need the heat and the sun!). Plus there are some things coming up this year which I will write about shortly.
Here's wishing everyone a great, happy, safe and healthy New Year. May all the best come to you, wherever you are.
Ok, this has become something of an annual ritual for me and being that the year is coming to a close and I have absolutely nothing to write about---(and not wanting to sit here and recap all the horrors and stupidity that took place in 2007)----I will just do what I always did at the end of the year and pass on the books I read over the past year. There are a lot of books here, which amazes me since I do all my reading on the subway to and from work. I hardly ever read at home. Maybe someone else here will find one of these books an interesting read and may want to try it out for themselves. If not, then, as always, allow me to indulge myself a little:
These Are Not Sweet Girls - Various
An anthology of Latin American Women poets. A very strong collection with some absolutely amazing poetry. Don’t expect flowers, clouds and love here. Real raw emotional stuff, sometimes political, sometimes deeply personal. A must read.
The Muqaddimah - Ibn Khaldun
Billed as “The Islamic History of The World” and written sometime in the 13th century by one of the Islamic world’s most renowned historians. A very interesting read. One has to keep in mind that this was written in the 13th century so some of the information in here is quite bizarre by today’s standards, but it does give insight into how the world was viewed by this part of the world in that time.
Dogs of God - James Reston Jr.
About the fall of Islamic Spain and the beginnings of Christopher Columbus’ exploration of “New World”. Basically centers on the fall of the last Muslim kingdom in Spain (Grenada) and how and why Columbus really wanted to set out to find the East. This book serves as an excellent prelude to the history of the Americas.
Loves That Bind - Julian Ríos
An excellent novel by one of Spain’s most gifted writers. Written in the form of letters, with each letter of the alphabet representing the beginning of the name of the Don Juan protagonist’s love interests around the streets of London. Wonderfully written.
On Persecution, Identity and Activism: Aspects of the Italian-American Experience from the Late 19th Century to Today - Cristogianni Borsella
One of the most informative books on the Italian American experience I have ever read. Anyone of Italian American background must read this. It contains a general history that is completely ignored when discussing the immigrant experience and considering today’s climate on that very subject, this book is very poignant.
Between Salt and Holy Water: A History of Southern Italy - Tommaso Astarita
Exactly what the title says. A very interesting and informative history book that is never dull, dry and academic. A very clear, concise history of the southern Italian experience through the 1860 unification and beyond. An excellent read.
The Hive - Camilo Jose Cela
A classic novel from another of Spain’s most celebrated authors. A story about a group of people in Madrid just after the Spanish Civil War and the effects of that conflict on their lives.
The Devil In The Hills - Cesare Pavese
A classic Italian novel by one of Italy’s renowned writers. The story of life and youth in the Piedmont region.
Pedagogy Of The Oppressed - Paulo Freier
A very well known book on a radical approach to education written by one of Brazil’s leading educators. A bit over my head but a must for those who are teachers, especially (and I know quite a few). Discusses the importance of education to real social change.
Waiting For Snow in Havana - Carlos Erie
An excellent book about growing up in pre-revolutionary Cuba and how the Revolution affected the lives of those living there in the late 1950s. Definitely not a pro-Castro book but also not a pro-Batista book either. A story of disillusionment and the break up of a family.
The New Spaniards - John Hooper
An examination of Post-Franco Spain in the 1970s and 1980s and how the loss of Franco’s grip on power unleashed a flood of creativity and a more prosperous life for many Spaniards.
Mediterranean Mosaic - Various
A book of essays discussing the music of the Mediterranean region.
Sicily: 3,000 Years of Human History - Sandra Bermann
Just what the title says. I’d been waiting for a book like this for a long time. The history of Sicily from the indigenous people’s through the Greek, Roman, Islamic, French and Spanish periods all the way through today. An excellent history book.
If On A Winter Night’s Traveler - Italo Calvino
A brief book about two bibliophile’s search for the author of an unknown book written by one of Italy’s (via Cuba) well known authors. It is a tribute to bibliophiles everywhere and a celebration of the novel in general.
The Conformist - Alberto Moravia
A novel about a hit man in search of an old college professor set in Italy’s Fascist period.
Cuban Palimpsests - Jose Quiroga
A book of essays dealing with Cuba and the Revolution.
If This Be Treason: Translations and Its Discontents - Gregory Rabassa
A book about the art of translation written by one of the most well known translators around today. Not something I would normally read but Rabassa had translated almost all of my favorite Latin American novels so this one intrigued me. A very interesting read and insight on some of the great Latin American novels and authors in the late 20th century.
That Awful Mess On The Via Merulana - Carlo Emilio Gadda
A crime novel set during the Fascist period of Italy with all the twists and turns one would expect in a good mystery. Essentially a mystery novel but also a commentary on the Mussolini era.
Queen of The Gypsies - Paco Sevilla
A biography on the life and work of Flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya. A great source of Flamenco history as well as great anecdotes of some of its finest musicians.
Culture and Politics in Nicaragua - Various
Essays, interviews and poetry from some of Nicaragua’s leading intellectuals, most of whom emerged from the Sandinista movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Also a good source of material about that movement and what it meant and how it even effected the US foreign policy during the Reagan era.
Puerto Rican Poetry: An Anthology from Aboriginal Times to The Present - Various
A huge anthology of the best poetry from Puerto Rico. Personally, I preferred the more modern poets but the older poems are interesting (though not really that well written) in the sense that it gives one a very clear picture of what life was like on the island before and during its initial colonization. I recommend this for the modern poets alone, since they are very strong.
Flamenco! - Various
A short study and history of Flamenco and the Andalusian life that gave rise to it through various essays and critiques.
Tango - Robert Ferris Thompson
The history of the Tango as music as well as dance. This is a great book for those who are interested in knowing about Tango as a musical form and how it relates to the social aspect of Argentine society.
Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers and Artists - Michael Hamilton Morgan
A great, great book about how much the Islamic world contributed to humankind. A very interesting read considering today’s climate and how many things we Westerners take for granted were actually introduced by the Muslim world. It is also a spotlight on the old adage that history is always written by the winners.
Golden Age: Poems of The Spanish Renaissance - Various
An anthology of poetry from Medieval Spain.
Flamenco Deep Song - Timothy Mitchell
An excellent study of the most intense form of Flamenco music. A critical study of the music and life of the Gypsies in southern Spain.
The Italians - Luigi Barzini
A study of the Italian people, though a bit dated, still a great source of history of Italy and the life of its people. Written in a literary way and not dull and academic. A truly great read.
Iberia - James A. Michener
Absolutely one of the best books about Spain that I have ever read. Written more like a travelogue than a history book, although there is plenty of history for those who are interested in it. Absolutely sprawling at over 900 pages but it never gets boring. Anyone interested in Spain and/or Spanish history should read this book.
Fire From The Mountain: The Making Of A Sandinista - Omar Cabezas
An autobiography of how a young man joins a revolution and becomes a guerilla fighter. It also gives a good idea of how Nicaraguans lived under the iron boot of Samoza and how the United States’ support of this regime effected the lives of those who wanted to get rid of it. If you’ve read any of Che Guevara’s diaries, you may like this book as well.
Walking Words - Eduardo Galeano
Stories in the tradition of Latin American folklore accompanied by woodcuts from Brazilian artist Jose Francisco Borges. Galeano was always one of my favorite writers and this book only enhances the respect I have for him as a writer and a thinker. Truly wonderful.
Eduardo Galeano: Through The Looking Glass - Daniel Fishlin & Martha Nandorfy
A critical study of Eduardo Galeano’s writing, books and politics and through it, a study of Latin America as well from the point of view of the voiceless. An amazing book. Definitely for fans of Galeano’s work.
Death and The Sun: A Matador’s Season In The Heart of Spain - Edward Lewine
I’m about half-way through this one at the moment but it is an excellent look at the art of bullfighting and the lives of those who participate in it. A controversial sport (if you can really call it a “sport”) to be sure but interesting nevertheless. In the tradition of Hemingway’s “Death in the Afternoon” and “Dangerous Summer”
In a conversation that happened to come up about the upcoming Presidential election, I happened to be speaking to a young woman who asked me about what I thought about Hillary Clinton. I said, in a somewhat joking manner, that I tried not to think about her and that I didn't support her in her Presidenital bid.
"Why not?" she asked.
"I don't trust her and don't believe what she says," I replied.
"Like you can trust George Bush, right?"
"Huh?"
"Like George Bush always tells the truth, right?"
"I don't get what you mean?"
"Is it because she's a woman?"
"Not at all. I have no problem with a woman president. Just not this particular woman. I don't believe in anything she says. I think she's just another Establishment candidate and nothing is going to change with her. Why do you support her?"
"She's a woman and it's about time this country had a woman president."
"So your only criteria is that she's a woman? That's it?"
"So like things are so great under George Bush?"
At this stage of the conversation I just walked away. This is why I can't stand talking politics with people. Let's have a closer look at all the implied comments here:
You don't support Hillary Clinton = You support George Bush.
I could have gone on to ask her what made her think that I was a supporter of Bush but I realized it was a pointless exchange and decided to just drop it and not allow Hillary Clinton of all people get me into an argument with someone. Tell me, is that really worth it? Is it really worth getting into a fight with another human being because of Hillary Clinton?
No. But this is what happens in our world today. We're supposed to choose sides, sides that were not chosen by you or me, but sides chosen by those who arbitrarily decided to be on the team. We're supposed to pick one and then "discuss" their positions with one another then choose which side to be on. How about this? I'm not playing. I'm not picking a team to root for. Don't hand me the dice because I refuse to hold them. How about that? You can play the game and fight with one another over people who could give a shit whether you're alive or dead (or even care you exist). I'll channel my energies elsewhere.
So some women will vote for Hillary because she's a woman. Others will vote for some Republican candidate because they're evangelicals, others will vote for whoever else because of some other wedge issue. Logic does not play a role in this sometimes and sometimes people will vote for someone based on their own selfish concerns.
It was the comedian George Carlin who once said something like "Selfish, ignorant citizens will inevitably elect selfish, ignorant leaders....Garbage in...garbage out." It's really gives one something to think about, doesn't it?
"As with a two way mirror, literature can show what is visible, and what is not but still is there. And since nothing exists that does not contain its own negation, it often works as revenge and prophecy."
It's All About The Music Dept:
The finishing touches have been put on Linda La Porte's CD this weekend and I am very excited about being a part of it and excited about its release. The CD was co-produced by Linda and Capture Sound's own Paul Schellack who also contributed some guitar and keyboards. The CD also has some other excellent musicians taking part such as Dylan Wissing and Virginia Summerville, among others. Stay tuned for more information regarding the CD release party.
Everyone Is A Critic Dept:
Time Out New York this week has a very interesting article about blogs, on-line crticism and the internet writers as a whole. It generally explores the plethora of blogs all over the internet these days and asks the question: "With all the internet blogging and criticism, who can you trust?" The short answer for me is: Yourself. But it seems that some old dinosaurs in the print media are having a problem with all this internet blogging and criticism, I guess, feeling that they are the "experts" in that field. The way I see it is that all of this is democratizing something that was once held in the hands of a so-called elite few. I think it's healthy and a good thing, even if you don't like reading blogs or any other sort of criticism on the web. But ultimately, you have to make your own decisions about these things, right? Does anyone actually take any critics word about what they will personally like or dislike? Are there really people out there like that? Ultimately, I think the fact that now literally anyone can write about anything they want is a threat to the "establishment" and naturally whenever there are those who feel they are in control, they will try to stamp out any and all competition that threatens their positions. I say, the more the merrier!
Free Press Dept:
I know I am very late in discovering this but this weekend I happened to find a free newspaper called The Indypendent in Brooklyn. Apparently this has been around a very long time but I only just saw it for the first time. Here is another example of people taking the bull by the horns, so to speak. Another example of how important it is for information to be diversified and taken out of the hands of a few who obviously have their own agenda in mind. It was refreshing to see. I only wish now I knew about it all these years. I would have been a regular reader. I guess I will be now.
"Speaking and listening is how true men and women learn to walk. It is the word that gives form to that walk that goes on inside us. It is the word that is the bridge to cross to the other side. Silence is what Power offers our pain in order to make us small. When we are silenced, we remain very much alone. Speaking, we heal the pain. Speaking, we accompany one another. Power uses the word to impose his empire of silence. We use the word to renew ourselves. Power uses silence to hide his crimes. We use silence to listen to one another, to touch one another, to know one another.
This is the weapon, brothers and sisters. We say, the word remains. We raise the word and with it break the silence of our people. We kill the silence, by living the word. Let us leave Power alone in what the lie speaks and hushes. Let us join together in the word and the silence which liberate."
"No computer can count the crimes that the pop culture business commits each day against the human rainbow and the human right to identity. But its devistating progress is mind-boggling. Time is emptied of history, and space no longer acknowledges the astonishing diversity of its parts. Through the mass media the owners of the world inform us all of our obligation to look at ourselves in a single mirror."
Yeah, I know from time to time I post things here about people doing stupid things or the silly little cultural habits of some people but this time I want to mention someone who is actually doing something that matters.
I happened to catch something about a guy named Mathias Craig last night on CNN who as put together a company called Blue Engergy. Blue Energy's purpose is to provide clean, sustainable energy in parts of the world that have been completely neglected in this area. In this particular piece that I saw, they provided electricity for a remote area of Nicaragua using wind power. It was interesting to hear that people from various countries helped provide the money for this project (it seems America isn't one of them--but I could be wrong).
It gives one reason to hope that there are ordinary people out there doing extrodinary things and doing things that actually matter. For more information about them and what they are doing, check out the link above.
Republican candidate Ron Paul has certainly gotten a lot of attention over the past few weeks. It sort of reminds me of the excitement surrounding Howard Dean a few years ago. It seems that Ron Paul is appealing to a lot of people across the political spectrum. Paul is a Libertarian for the most part and I am not surprised that he appeals to a lot of Convervatives and Right Wingers. What does surprise me is his appeal to Liberals and Progressives.
I can't speak for the rest of the country but I can speak of New York City and some of the conversations I've been hearing about him around the city. It seems that there are a lot of progressives, or at the very least, people who normally vote Democratic, warming up to him. Obviously, it's his anti-war, anti-interventionist stance. Most Libertarians hold this view, if not all of them.
But what I am puzzled by is why Liberals and Progressives are warming up to Ron Paul, A Republican, and not to Dennis Kucinich, a proud left-wing Democrat and Progressive to be sure. Ron Paul may be against the war and foriegn intervention, but as I said, he's also a Libertarian and Libertarians normally want to do away with any and all social programs, including Social Security, Welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, etc etc. They are also pro-big business, favoring the economic policies of the Austrian School. Some are even tuned in to the philosophy of Ayn Rand who was absolutely no fan of social programs and favored what she called "Pure Capitalism" where Big Business are the heroes of society and everyone else is merely a "parasite". Now I don't know if Ron Paul believes in this particularly, but it should be suspect to Liberals and Progressives everywhere.
Don't get me wrong here. I like Ron Paul too. He seems like a decent man and he definitely seems to believe in what he says. There are a lot of things about what he says that I agree with. But I couldn't vote for him because of his ecomonic policies.
Progressives have the perfect candidate out there for them. Dennis Kucinich, who is in lock-step with their ideas. Why are they more apt to support Ron Paul? This is very curious to me.
One more thing: Since it's apparent that Ron Paul is not going to get the nomination, that means that voters who are Liberal or Progressive who plan to vote for him will not be able to in New York since you must belong to whichever party is having a primary in order to vote in that primary. So if there are any Liberals or Progressives ready to vote for Ron Paul in the New York Republican Primary, you better get ready to switch your party affiliation or join it in order to vote for him. Otherwise you are just saying you support him and that's about all you can do about it.
If you really want to check out some amazing paintings, I highly recommend that you check out the work of Angela Gonzales. I just learned of her work through her profile here on MySpace but the link above will direct you to her website. Angela's work is Abstract painting, something that I am naturally drawn to and she does it very well. Stop and by hand have a look.
Whenever I hear the word "Networking" I admit that I often cringe. To me, the word seems to have the connotation of phoniness, plasticity, insincerity and so on and so forth. But for any artist out there trying to make their way, it is a necessary thing. No one can exist in a vacuum, that is, if you're trying to make a living off your art. If you are one who loves to create in the solitude of your own home without any interest of doing it for a living, then this topic is moot. So I am speaking here of people like myself who are trying to do something with their art and hopefully, one day, make a living from doing what they love. I've written a lot about this, mainly because this is my world and this is what I know. Those who have no interest in the arts whatsoever will find all that I say about the subject completely useless to them. That's ok. I'm not writing for them. However, I am writing for those who occupy the same world as I, that of creativity and art.
About 25 years ago, when I started to become involved in New York City creative circles, in one form or another, I entered it with high hopes and a sense of optimism that I suppose every teenager feels when he's ready to try to make his mark. My first exposure to the New York City scene was the Hardcore scene on the Lower East Side in the spring of 1982. I was primarily a musician then, so I suppose that would have made sense. Back in those days there was something electric taking place, not only in music, but in all the arts. It was a very creative and exciting time for me and I was exposed to a lot of great things; things that left a permanent impression on me. This was my time, my formative years. Not only was the Hardcore scene in full swing, and all that came with it, there was the No Wave scene with all it's interesting music, the Neo-Impressionist scene (as it came to be called) with artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Keith Haring, Jose Clemente, and a whole host of others who were producing something new and exciting. The scene at the Nuyorican Poetry Café was still going strong and a lot of interesting things happening there as well, as it had been since the 1970s (and is still going strong today) with poets such as Miguel Algarin and Pedro Pietri. There was a whole exciting thing happening in literature in general. For as much as the 1980s was filled with the Reagan-era greed and over consumption and "Material Girl" esthetic, there was a viable and serious alternative to all of it. As the 80s progressed, more and more things started happening as a direct confrontation of 1980s excess. It was a very exciting time for me and there was so much great things happening.
Towards the end of the 80s, around 1987 in fact, things began to change and the excitement began to dwindle. The art world lost Jean-Michel Basquiat to drugs, Keith Haring to AIDS, Andy Warhol to a medical mishap a few years later, Reinaldo Arenas to AIDS, the "indie" bands of the time began signing to the major labels and everything seemed, to me at least, succumb to the 80s excess. Suddenly people wanted their money. I guess in a way, I can understand that. One's got to eat if one wants to create for a living. But I think a lot of them did so naively, because as soon as their records didn't sell, they were dropped like hot bricks. The neighborhoods that spawned such creative talent in New York began to become gentrified and all the artists were pushed out and suddenly it all became a playground for the yuppies.
During this time, my band was trying to make their way and one of the things that began to happen was that this idea of "networking" suddenly seemed to be nothing more than an abstract idea, a slogan, something everyone always talked about but no one really believed in. The idea was there in theory: meet other artists, get to know them, work together to try to build something where you found things lacking. And in New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s, things were seriously lacking. But no one really seemed to want to build anything out of the rubble. Everything became opportunistic. The musicians really didn't support one another in any true sense. They were supporting you because they felt they "had" to, so you would support them. In other words, it all seemed self-serving. There were promises of swapping shows that no one ever really intended to keep (unless of course one of the bands had a huge crowd, then they were sincere), promises of working together which never materialized, lots of praise to your face while snickering at you behind your back, and a hell of a lot of competition. It was very disillusioning for me, personally, but I kept at it because I believed in what I was doing and somewhat naively believed that there were still people who actually cared.
By the mid-1990s, my band had broken up and I took a hiatus from music for a while to concentrate on writing, primarily poetry, something I'd always done privately but I thought it was about time to have a serious go at it. Much to my surprise, I found a lot of my poems being accepted by the underground journals of the day from all over the US, Canada and Europe and discovered there was this incredible literary scene taking place all over. It pretty much took the same idea a lot of the independent musicians were doing and applied it to the literary scene. There were hundreds if not thousands of small presses sprouting up (one of which published by first chapbook of poetry in 1996) and more readings taking place than ever before for those who were interested in performing it and/or hearing it. I got heavily involved in it, including starting my own literary magazine for a time. But eventually the same thing began to happen as what happened in the music scene. Petty egos, backbiting, phoniness, opportunism and extreme competition began to poison everything and it eventually died out, which is a real shame. The people I had come to know suddenly dropped off the face of the earth once there was no chance of getting published and eventually, all the small presses began to become organs for their own work and the work of their friends. It all self-destructed.
I kept writing (and still am) but I also got back into the music, after taking about a year or two off. I got my feet wet again by joining another band and that wound up taking off rather quickly. So here I was back in the music game and I'd noticed things had changed even more, and not for the better. The independent spirit was long gone, all the musicians were looking to "get signed" and with the exception of a few, no one really cared at all about what other people were doing---that is unless there was something they could profit from. We took the show on the road, literally, and found people outside of New York much more enthusiastic about original bands and independent music. When we would come back to New York, we would often feel why we were even bothering. But we still loved what we were doing and we still played for the joy it gave us and for those who did care to listen.
It is a whole new world now. There is technology available that would set off a revolution if people were willing to utilize it. The existence of social networking sites such as MySpace alone is enough to plant the seeds but it seems here too, not many people really give a damn one way or another. (MySpace is a special case and for me by far the best one of these sites for artists) Back in the day, if you wanted to promote your work, you had to take an add out in one of the hundreds of fanzines, slap flyers all over the place and literally mail out hundreds of mailers to promote your shows. Now all you have to do is write something and click a button and hundreds of thousands of people (if not millions) will potentially see it. Bands can put their music on their sites and reach a hell of a lot more people than they ever imagined, artists can post their paintings to a potential world wide audience whereas before they had to hope and pray some art gallery would take a chance to show their work. Writers can post their poems and stories and even use Print On Demand publishing to get their books out there when no publisher would even take a chance on them. In other words, it's all there for the taking, so what is the problem?
We come back to "Networking" again. Here is the potential for an artist to reach an unimaginable number of people yet it seems, as usual, not many really care. Once I saw the potential of this, I immediately seized upon it, much like thousands of others and if you browse these sites you will discover an amazing amount of incredibly talented people who otherwise would never be seen or heard outside their immediate surroundings. They all set up pages for themselves to promote their work, to try to reach people but it seems to me that still just don't care. We're back to the same old problem of opportunism and narcissism. I've only signed up to these "social networking" sites about a year ago, so they are new to me. Not only do I hope to promote what I do, but to also meet others who are doing the same thing, to be exposed to some great art that I would otherwise never see, and of course, to meet interesting people who may or may not be artists but are interested in it enough to possibly befriend them and bring some interesting people into my life in one form or another; and in that year I have met many wonderful, talented, amazingly interesting people, most of whom, I will probably never meet personally but nevertheless enriched life just by their existence in this world, people that you probably would have never come across otherwise. It is a window into who is out there in this world and it keeps one's cynicism in check. It allows one to see that the pricks of their immediate surroundings are not all there is out there.
While the potential for an artistic revolution is lying there, it seems many people are still not willing to run with it. In fact, it seems that many artists out there could care less if people like their work or not. In a way, this is absolutely legitimate. You create for yourself first and foremost and if someone else appreciates what you do, all the better. However, it seems to me that a lot of these artists are using these social networking sites with the hopes of some big industry type will "discover" them and give them a big deal. I suppose in theory, this could happen, but it is not likely. At a recent Independent Music conference here in New York, a friend of mine told me that if someone in the industry becomes interested in you they immediately check to see if you have a MySpace page (or any of the others) to see how many "fans" you have. They see it as a "built in" fan base so they can gage whether or not it's worth risking an investment in you. But the way I see it is, if you already have a sincere fan base, why would you need them at all, since you can, dare I say, market your work directly to them, cutting out the need for "the industry" completely? The industry knows the potential for this. They see it, but they see it as a threat to their existence. So what do they do? Co-opt it, spin things in such a way as to make people feel that they are not a legitimate artist unless you carry their seal of approval. And a lot of people buy into this. The fact of the matter is that they are no longer needed, that is, if artists of all stripe were willing to take maximum advantage of the potential lying in front of them and if others began to recognize that an artist's creativity is just as valid as those who have been "anointed" by the industry. But I fear in the age of "American Idol", people have not yet grasped the significance of the tools they have at their disposal so it becomes just another avenue for the same sort of thing that happened before all this came into existence. Opportunism and the false notion of artists working together and building something truly revolutionary.
The band Radiohead had discovered this with the release of their last CD. They bypassed the music industry altogether and offered their new CD as an on-line only release, asking their fans to pay what they wished. It was a noble experiment and certainly a way to test the waters. But unfortunately, according to a recent study of the issue, most of their fans downloaded their new album for free and didn't pay even a nickel for it. It's a great way to see how much your fans really support you, I think and they found out that a lot of their fans weren't willing to pony up even a few cents for their work. Interesting indeed.
If something like this had existed 25 years ago, there would have been a revolution. What it takes is for artists to begin to take each other a little more seriously, I think. Just because one isn't making a million dollars doesn't mean they are not legitimate. An artist's creative output is not determined by the magic wand of some individual in whatever industry they work for. We, as artists, give them that power and authority by groveling in front of them, begging them to just take a look at what we do. But this is all an illusion, really. In fact, I find so many talented "unknowns" on the web that are far more creative and talented than those who have "made it". Networking is not a bad thing in and of itself. But when networking becomes synonymous with opportunism where you only care about yourself then things will go awry and the powers that be will continue to hold the reigns.
So what will it be? Opportunism for the chance to grab the brass ring? Or a real artistic revolution where you take control of your own aspirations?
Took in the latest exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art this morning called "New Perspectives in Latin American Art, 1930 -2006". I was really looking forward to this exhibit because it is extremely rare that there is ever any exhibit on Latin American art unless you count the Museo del Barrio uptown. While this exhibit was highly disappointing (it is obvious that MOMA doesn't collect much Latin American art, or if they do, rarely show any of it) there were some really interesting works there, though very few paintings, which is what I was hoping I would see. For me, the highlights were:
Joaquin Torres-Garcia (Uruguay)
"Color Structure" (1930)
"Construction in Black and White (1938) Paintings
Jesus Rafael Soto (Venezuela)
"Untitled" (1959)
"Vibration" (1960)
Horacio Coppola (Argentina)
"Grandmother Doll" (1932)
"Still Life With Egg and Twine" (1934) Photography Anna Maria Maiolino (Brazil)
"Piccole Note" (1984)
Sergio Camargo (Brazil)
"Oree" (1962) Sculpture
Eugenio Dittborn (Chile)
"Air Mail Painting" (1983)
Leon Ferrari (Argentina)
"Untitled" (1962)
"Reflexiones" (1963)
Victor Grippo (Argentina)
"Life, Death, Resurrection" (1980)
Gerd Leufert (Venezuela)
"Untitled" (1980)
Alejandro Xul Solar (Argentina)
"Pan Game and Marionette I Ching"
There were many others but these were the ones that stood out for me. Most of the works were works on paper and sculptures, and as I said, not many paintings at all. So while it was interesting, it could have been a hell of a lot better and more encompassing. Perhaps some day the American art institutions will not dismiss nearly one quarter of the world.
There's a story going around the news right now about a Saudi woman who was gang raped and she...that's right....she was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison. This is just outrageous but this is not the first time things like this have happened around the world. Not too long ago there was a story of a woman in Nigeria who was stoned to death because she supposedly committed adultery. There have been women killed in so called "honor killings" in Palestine, women were beaten and killed for simply wearing nail polish in the Taliban's Afghanistan and women are continually stoned to death in Iran.
The silence from the women's groups in the west is absolutely mezmerizing. But this particular story is getting a lot of attention over the past two days and I will be listening....waiting to hear women's groups speaking out about this. Why is there nothing, no statements, no sense of outrage, nothing...coming out of these groups about all this? Their mouths are usually too gummed up with PC glue to say anything, I guess. I mean, the brutal treatment of women is a cultural thing in some parts of the world. Is their silence merely a case of not wanting to criticize someone's cuture and religious practices? Absolutely ridiculous and outrageous.
So I will say it:
Fuck them!
It's barbaric and it shows what the men in these societies are really all about. It speaks volumes about who they really are.
Uruguayan short story writer who has been compared to Edgar Allan Poe. Quiroga wrote over 200 short stories. Among his famous tales is the haunting 'The Feather Pillow,' in which the life of a young bride, Alicia, fades away in a large silent house. After Alicia's death, a servant finds from her pillow a grotesque animal with hairy legs, a parasitic creature, swollen from blood it had sucked from her.
"These parasites of feathered creatures, diminutive in their habitual environment, reach enormous proportions under certain conditions. Human blood seems particularly favourable to them, and it is not rare to encounter them in feather pillows." (from 'The Feather Pillow')
Horacio Quiroga was born at Salto on the River Uruguay. His father, who was an Argentinian consular official, was killed accidentally in a shooting incident when Horacio was an infant. The family moved to Córdoba and returned to Salto in 1883. In 1891 the family moved to the capital, Montevideo where Quiroga studied for a short time at the university. He started to publish in local magazines from 1897 and was the founding editor of Revista de Salto (1899-90). After his stepfather's death - he shot himself - Quiroga visited Paris, but soon realized that the 'bohemian' life was not for him. In Paris he fell under the influence of the French symbolist movement and the works of Poe, although he also read extensively Chekhov and de Maupassant. Quiroga's diary from this period was published in 1950. After returning to Uruguay, Quiroga published a volume of Modernist poetry, Los arrecifes de coral (1902), and became the centre of a group of young writers.
Quiroga accidentally shot and killed his friend in 1902 while they were inspecting a gun. He left for Buenos Aires where he taught Spanish at the British School. He was the official photographer on an expedition, led by the poet Leopoldo Lugones, to Misiones in northeast Argentina. The target was the Jesuit ruins - the Jesuits had been expelled in 1767. Quiroga became enchanted by the wild region and he spent the larger part of his life in remote jungle regions. In 1904 he settled in Chano province. He planted cotton but the venture failed and he abandoned the project. Experiences from this period - accidents, extreme hardships, and realization that man cannot control nature - became material for a number of his writings. Nature was for Quiroga a hostile element. A simple walk through a cane-brake could be exhausting: "The clumps, arched in a dome chest-high, were tangled in solid blocks. The task of crossing, difficult even on a cool day, was very hard at this hour. Mr Jones crossed it, nevertheless, swimming between the crackling dusty cane over the clay left by the floods, gasping with fatigue and the bitter vapour of nitrates." (from 'La insolación')
From 1906 to 1911 Quiroga taught at the Escuela Normal, Buenos Aires. He married in 1909 Ana María Cires, his pupil; they had one daughter, named Egle, and one son, named Darío after the pseudonymous surname of Félix Sarmiento. Both these children later killed themselves. With his family Quiroga moved to San Ignacio, Misiones, on the river Paraná, where he assumed a post of registrat. Unable to tolerate the harsh conditions, Quiroga's wife committed suicide by poisoning herself - she suffered a full week before she died. Alone with two children, Quiroga wrote a tender collection of children's stories.
In 1916 Quiroga returned to Buenos Aires with his children. He worked at the Uruguyan consulate and in 1925 he returned to Misiones. Two years later he married María Elena Bravo, a friend of his daughter. The marriage ended in separation. In 1935 Quiroga was appointed Uruguay's honorary consul in San Ignacio. Throughout his life, Quiroga was plague by his illnesses. He suffered from mental disorder, and to dispel his bouts of tension and anxiety, he began to drink. Quiroga committed suicide on February 19, 1937, at a Buenos Aires clinic, after he was told he had cancer.
Obsession with death, human weakness, and emphasis on bizarre situations marked Quiroga's tales. Often in his fatalistic stories the protagonist is struck down by a fatal accident or fights against nature, but the will of nature cannot be opposed. When Jack London wrote about the barren ice-covered plains of the far North, Quiroga set his stories in the wilds of the Amazon. His most famous collections are Cuentos de amor, de locura, y de muerte (1917) and Los desterrados (1926). Cuentos de selva (1918) was animal fables for children. Anaconda (1921) was told in the style of Kipling's Jungle Book. It described struggles between anacondas and poisonous snakes in the world of snakes. In the short story 'El hombre muerto' a man falls on a machete knife, he is dying, time stops, and he watches his surroundings with heightened senses. "What had changed? Nothing. And he looked. Isn't this banana plantation his plantation? Doesn't he come here every day to clear the ground? Who knows it as he does? He can see his plantation perfectly; very sparse - and the broad leaves naked from the wind. But now they are not moving. It is the midday calm; soon it will probably be twelve o'clock." In 'A la deriva' the protagonist is bitten by a deadly snake and dies feeling at last better: he don't have to keep up illusions. His own technique as a short story writer Quiroga presented in 'Manual de cuentista perfecto' (1927), stressing the need for economy and intensity. Quiroga also published two novels and a play.
This is a show that I am definitely going to attend. I am very familiar with Alessandra Belloni's music but I have yet to see her perform so this is the perfect opportunity. Looking forward to this.
Hosted By: I Giullari Di Piazza - Alessandra Belloni When: Friday Dec 21, 2007
at 8:00 PM Where: Presented by Theatre for the New City
155 First Avenue and 10th Street
New York, NY 10003
United States Description:
I Giullari Di Piazza - Alessandra Belloni
Spanish poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956. Jiménez made his birthplace Moguer in Southern Spain famous by his series of prose poems of a young writer and his donkey, PLATERO Y YO (1914, Platero and I), one of the classics of modern Spanish literature. Jiménez's early poetry was ornamental, romantic, and often filled with dreams of love. During his second period, from 1917, he wrote "naked" poetry, in which the images were reduced to their essence. A central theme in Jiménez's work was the oneness and beauty of the world.
¡Intelijencia, dáme
el nombre exacto de las cosas!
... Que mi palabra sea
la cosa misma,
creada por mi alma nuevamente. (...)
(from '¡Intelijencia, dáme')
Juan Ramon Jiménez was born as the son of Victor Jiménez, a banker, and Purificación Mantecón y Lopez Parejo. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Moguer, an area of exceptional beauty. Later Jiménez celebrated its people and landscape in his works. Jiménez started to write early poetry, composing his first works at the age of seven. He attended a Jesuit Academy in Cádiz and then studied law at the University of Seville, showing there an interest in painting. However, Jiménez soon abandoned his studies, and also stopped painting, to devote himself entirely to writing.
In 1900 Jiménez was invited to Madrid by the poets Francisco Villaespesa and Rubén Darío, who had seen his verses in Vida nueva, a Madrid review. He became a member of the modernist literary circles and founded two literary reviews, Helios (1902) and Renacimiento (1906). Helios appeared for only one year, but it has much cultural-historical importance due to Jiménez's work.
When Jiménez's father died in 1900, he fell into a depression and returned to Moguer. His preoccupation with death lasted the rest of his life. Poetry, the experience of beauty, became for him a means of struggling against nothingness. To recover from his first bout of mental illness, Jiménez was sent to a sanatorium in France. Between the ages 24 and 31 he published nine volumes of poetry. Later he also revised early verses, trying to find perfection of expression, but knowing he would never reach it. Among the early collections were ALMAS DE VIOLETA, NINFEAS, both from 1900, RIMAS (1902), ARIAS TRISTES (1903), JARDINES LEJANOS (1904), and PASTORALES (1905). The works reveal the poet's mastery of metaphor and skill in capturing impressionistic images of nature. Impressionism also fascinated him in painting and he often listened Beethoven's VIth symphony and piano sonatas.
From 1905 to 1911 Jiménez lived in Moguer and wrote several collections of poetry. In ELEGÍAS PURAS (1908) and BALADAS DE PRIMAVERA (1910) Jiménez continued to experiment with different meters. He moved to Madrid in 1912, translated with the American Zenobia Camprubí the work of the Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore, and wrote the popular Platero and I. Platero follows the poet on his trips to town and to countryside, its silent company is a contrast to the poet's ecstatic linguistic observations. After Platero's death he visits its grave and asks, "do you still remember me?" - it is the donkey who is supposed to remember, not the poet.
In 1916 Jiménez sailed in pursuit of Zanobia Camprubi to New York, and married her. This was the first crucial sea voyage in his life - the second happened in 1948. The sea led his thoughts to nothingness and the cold depth beneath the changing surface. The trip led to publication of DIARIO DE UNA POETA RECIÉNCASADO (1918), in which he used free verse and concentrated form. Many verses from this period sound almost like prose. ETERNIDADES meant a new direction in Jiménez's literary production. He decided to return to the simplicity of his earlier poetry, In BELLEZA (1923) he contemplated the writer's relationship to beauty.
Jiménez worked from the 1910s for the next twenty years as a critic and editor at various literary journals in Spain. His influence was seen on the early works of Vicente Aleixandre, and on others; in the 1920s Jiménez also met in Madrid the young Federico García Lorca, who studied law at the university. From 1923 to 1936 Jiménez did not publish any books of new poetry. After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Republican government appointed him honorary cultural attaché to the United States. He remained abroad from 1939, when Franco's forces won control of Spain. In 1951 Jiménez settled with his wife in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he lectured and gave classes at the university. However, he never considered himself a writer in exile, but a servant of poetry. In 1956, the same year he won the Nobel Prize, his wife died. Jiménez never recovered and died in San Juan on May 29, 1958.
Jiménez's poetic output was immense. His better-known works include SONETOS ESPIRITUALES 1914-1915 (1916), PIEDRA Y CIELO (1919), POESÍA, EN VERSO, 1917-1923 (1923), POESÍA EN PROSA Y VERSO (1932), VOCES DE MI COPLA (1945), ANIMAL DE FONDO (1947). LA ESTASIÓN TOTAL (1946), which appeared in Buenos Aires, was ignored in Spain. Jiménez's last book was DIOS DESENDO Y DISEANTE (1949, God Desired and Desiring), a testament and identification with all that is beautiful and creative in nature. As a Platonist, Jiménez believed in a universal consciousness that existed apart from individual consciousness. Colors and music were central to his work. In one poem Jiménez compared music to a "naked woman, running wildly in a clear night."
Las mil torres el mundo, contra un ocaso de oro,
levantan su hermosura frente a mi pensamiento.
Un éstatis de piedra de mil arquitecturas,
en undeslumbramiento, me lleva, mudo y ciego. (...)
(from 'Retorno')
I've been at this a long time. Whether it be music, writing or painting, I've been running around trying to make my way for more than 25 years now. In that 25 years, I've seen a lot and learned an awful lot. When dealing with people over the years, you become well educated in how things work but there is always more to learn. No one knows everything and I don't claim to. But in my travels over all the years, I think I know enough to give some advice to those who are still young and hungry and looking to make their mark in some way. It also depends on how to choose to achieve what you want and what circles you run around in. For me, it's always been the so-called "underground" or "alternative" route (something that's out there still but for the most part disappeared under the increasing weight of the corporate behemoth.) I've seen Punk Rock, say, become a viable, true alternative to becoming something you can buy at the mall. A lot of people from my generation (those of us born in the 1960s and 1970s) go from being true pioneers to become corporate stooges selling out all the great music for car commercials and other products (just like the generation before ours, the Baby Boomers, who now use their great music to sell arthritis and "Erectile Dysfunction" pills and retirement plans).
Maybe I am still just a but idealistic when it comes to all this but as the years go on and the older I get it's hard not to get a little cynical at times. But I still believe it's possible without needing the Corporate God to tap you on the shoulder. With the advent of the Internet and with the increasing number of social networking websites and YouTube-like video sites, the potential is there for a revolution in the arts, that is, if people are willing to bring it on. Sometimes it seems promising, other times it seems to be falling into the trap of wanting fame and celebrity, with people doing anything and everything for their now infamous "15 Minutes". If that's what you want, the more power to you. For those of us who seek something a bit more, something that may actually touch someone in some way, it's still a long hard road to follow, especially in contemporary America.
I'm the first to admit that I still have a long way to go in reaching my personal goals but I have managed to achieve something over the years, even though that achievement hasn't allowed me to quit my day job just yet. Nevertheless, I am proud of some of it but I'm still not "there" yet, "there" not meaning "fame" or "celebrity" but in the sense that I can one day make my living doing what I love to do, rather than have to juggle it as well as a day job to try to keep a roof over my head in the ever increasing impossibility of trying to maintain a normal existence in New York City.
So with all that said, here is my advice to young artists. Remember, I don't know any more than anyone else and am still learning myself but what I have learned may be useful to some people out there:
1. First and foremost be true to your vision. Don't worry about what is popular. Don't worry about what is currently "cool" or "hip" because these are merely trends and trends die fast and something else always comes along. Never create anything because you think that's what people want to see or hear. Follow your own path and allow people to come to you.
2. Utilize social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook etc. to try to get your work out there. Cast the widest net possible. There are literally tens of thousands if not millions of others who are actively pursuing the same goals as you. But don't put too much weight in "networking". Sure, there will be some people who will respond and be interested in sharing ideas, goals etc, but for the most part, people are only out for themselves and looking to satisfy their own egos. The fact of the matter is a good number of people really don't care what you're doing. They want you to know what they are doing and you will meet a lot of people along the way whose only concern is themselves, no matter how much they say they are interested in you. There are many people who say they are in it for "art's sake" and to "make connections" but much of this is pure bullshit. Reach out but don't expect much in return. Maybe 4 or 5 out of 20 will actually give a shit about what you're doing. But each small number you reach eventually builds and sometimes it only takes a few dedicated, serious minded people who are really interested in other's work as well a their own to start moving along the road you're taking. And those who do respond in kind are usually those who are truly talented people who actually "get it."
3. Read everything you can. Keep your eyes and ears open to everything. Be observant. Don't fall into the trap of clinging to an ideology, social movement or cultural trend. It stifles growth and limits your potential.
4. Travel. Go to places you've never been to before and really try to observe how they live. Talk to people and listen to what they have to say. It is very educational. It is imperative that you realize that you do not exist at the center of the universe. However cool your city or neighborhood is, remember it's a huge world out there and your city or neighborhood is only a very small sliver of it.
5. Don't limit yourself to one particular thing. If you're an artist, see it all. If you're a musician, listen to it all. If you're a writer, read it all. Or at the very least keep your mind open to it all. You won't like everything but you still may get an idea from something that you don't like. Ideas can come from everywhere and nothing should be off the table. Remember, there are no rules.
6. Never worry about criticism. The fact of the matter is that there are always people out there looking to tear everyone and everything down. Beware of these people. Also beware of people who like everything and never criticize anything. They are equally inept and phony. People are people and people will like some things and dislike other things. No one hates everything and no one loves everything. If you happen to be the one that a person does not like, don't sweat it or take it personally. Remember, there are no experts out there. It's all subjective. One person's opinion (or one critic's or mogul's opinion) does not mean anything in the grand scheme of things. All it means is that this one person just didn't dig what you are doing. Remember there is a world of 6 billion and one opinion really doesn't mean much. It is always nice when people appreciate what you do but it's easy to take things too personally. It's also too easy to cling to a certain artistic circle and think that what they say is law. It doesn't mean anything. Take the criticism and the praise to heart to the extent that you find something useful in it. Otherwise it's all just noise.
7. Do not become involved with creative circles to the extent that you "belong" to a movement of some kind. You will find no room to grow and eventually everyone begins to snipe at one another anyway. Egos are rampant in this pursuit. Try to stay as independent as you can. I know it seems romantic when one reads about artistic movements and all but eventually they're all out for themselves and begin to divide and conquer. Nothing can be more damaging to the creative mind than this. Eventually it all becomes self-serving and the art becomes nothing more than personal letters to one another. Move beyond this.
8. Remember there are always going to be people out there who are better than you are. There are also going to be a lot of people who are not. Do not get into a useless competition with either one of them since there are always people better than them and worse than them as well. Belittling someone to make yourself feel better does nothing but alert everyone around you that you are deeply insecure about yourself and what you are doing. Realistically, in the end, no one really cares and it takes the focus away from what you are supposed to be doing. No one likes an arrogant, egomaniac who thinks they are better and "hipper" than everyone else. There are a lot of people in this world who are very talented and have very interesting ideas. You are not and never will be "the greatest". There is no such thing.
9. Don't feel obligated to always "be there" for those you admire and support. You have a life too. Just because you don't attend every show, every gallery opening doesn't mean you're insincere. And don't feel slighted if the same thing happens to you. But you will know who is sincere and who isn't by virtue of how they talk to you about your work. You will be able to tell if someone is just blowing smoke and you can also easily tell when others say they want to "hook you up" but don't really mean it. As I said before, there are a lot of people out there who only care about themselves and could care less about what others are doing. So don't fall into the trap of always being there for them when they are never ever there for you. Actions always speak louder than words.
10. And lastly and most importantly, believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else is going to either.
Spanish poet and dramatist, a talented artist and a member of the 'Generation of 1927', a group of writers who advocated avant-gardism in literature. Among García Lorca's best-known plays is Blood Wedding (1933), a story of a bride who runs away with a previous lover, and is subsequently murdered by her husband. After a period of great creative activity, García Lorca was shot by Falangist soldiers in the opening days of the Spanish Civil war. In both his drama and poetry García Lorca balanced between the traditional and the modern, between mythology and contemporary cultural trends.
"Most of the Madrid critics praised the literary and dramatic merit of Marina Pineda to an extent that surprised me. In general they asserted that it was more than just promising; it was real achievement by a playwright who brought to the theatre a technique aware of the limitations of historical drama and abundance of poetry that flowed naturally and continuously, not only from the characters but also from their surroundings. They found in it an emotional power highlighted as much in the tragic phrases of Marina Pineda as in the sweet and sorrowful worlds of the little nuns when they set out toward the scaffold. This concept of Marina Pineda is the one that satisfies me most, because I sincerely believe that theatre is not and cannot be anything but emotion and poetry - in word, action, gesture." (García Lorca in Playwrights on Playwrighting, ed. by Toby Cole, 1961)
Federico García Lorca was born at Fuente Vaqueros, a village on the banks of the River Genil, a few miles from Granada. His father, Federico García Rodriguez, was a prosperous farmer. Vicenta Lorca Romero, García Lorca's mother, had been a schoolteacher before becoming Federico's second wife. To the Moorish city of Granada, in which García Lorca was raised, the author returned several times in his poetry and drama.
García Lorca first read law at the University of Granada, but later entered the University of Madrid. At the same time he also studied music. In the 1920s García Lorca collaborated with Manuel de Falla, becoming an expert pianist and guitar player. In 1919 he moved to Madrid, where he lived at the Residencia de Estudiantes, the intellectual center of the town. His friends included the writers Juan Ramón Jiménez and Pablo Neruda. With the Catalan painter Salvador Dalí and the film director Louis Buñuel he worked in different productions. Dalí and Lorca had met in 1923. From the beginning, Lorca was fascinated by the young Catalan's personality and looks. Also Dalí had admitted that Lorca impressed him deeply. "The poetic phenomenon in its entirety and 'in the raw' presented itself before me suddenly in flesh ad bone, confused, blood-red, viscous and sublime, quivering with a thousand fires of darkness and of subterranean biology, like all matter endowed with the originality of its own for." (from Secret Life) When Buñuel and Dalí made their famous short film Un Chien Andalou (1928), García Lorca was offended: he thought that the film was about him. Lorca's friendship with Dalí inspired a poem, a defense of modern art and at the same time an expression of homosexual love.
Before the publication of his first collection, García Lorca was already known as a poet, especially through his recitals of his texts. As a writer García Lorca made his debut with LIBRO DE POEMAS (1921), a collection of fablelike poems. His first book had been a travelogue, IMPRESIONES AND PAISAJES (1918). In 1923 García Lorca earned a degree in law and turned his back to his university career.
The crucial moment in Lorca's literary career was folk music festival Fiesta de Cante Jondo in 1922, where he found inspiration for his work from the traditions of folk and gypsy music. POEMA DEL CANTE JONDO (1931, Deep Song), written already in 1921, and PRIMER ROMANCERO GITANO (1924-1927), published in 1928, made García Lorca the poet of Andalusia and its gipsy subculture. In these works he used old ballads and mythology to express his tragic vision of life. In 1926 García Lorca wrote The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife, after finishing MARIANA PINEDA. Its first performance was in 1930. "In my Shoemaker's Wife I sought to express - within the limits of ordinary farce, and without laying hands on the elements of poetry within my reach - the struggle of reality with fantasy that exists within every human being. (By fantasy I mean everything that is unrealizable.) The shoemaker's wife fights constantly with ideas and real objects because she lives in her own world, in which every idea and object has a mysterious meaning which she herself does not know. She has only lived and had suitors on the other bank of the river, which she cannot and will not ever be able to reach."
In 1927 García Lorca gained fame with his romantic historical play Marina Pineda, where the scenery was constructed by Salavador Dali and the distinguished actress Margarita Xirgu played the heroine. By 1928, with the publication of PRIMER ROMANCERO GITANO, he was the best-known of all Spanish poets, and leading member of the 'Generation of 27', which included Luis Cernuda, Jorge Guillen, Pedro Salinas, Rafael Alberti, and others. In 1929-30 García Lorca lived in the city of New York, on the campus of Columbia University. Unable to speak English, he suffered a deep culture shock. However, in his early letters to home he expressed his enthusiasm about contemporary American plays. His suicidal mood was recorded in posthumously published POETA EN NUEVA YORK (1940, Poet in New York), in which he praised Walt Whitman. The poet condemns the frightening, physically and spiritually corrupted city, and escapes to Havana to experience the harmony of a more primitive life.
After a short visit to Cuba, García Lorca was back in Spain by 1931, and continued with theatre productions. He became the head the traveling theatrical company, La Barraca, which brought classical plays and other dramas to the provinces. After the death of his friend, a bullfighter, García Lorca wrote Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter (1935). It has been regarded by most critics as his greatest poem. The work is divided into four sections, whose individual motifs are weaved together. The figure of one man facing his fate, was exemplified by his friend Ignacio Sánchez Mejías. Mejías himself had written a surrealistic play and he was well-known in the literary circles. He was killed while attempting to make a comeback in the bullring. "Now Ignacio the well born lies on the stone. / All is finished. What is happening? Contemplate his face: / death has covered him with pale sulphur / and has placed on him the head of a dark minotaur." (The rituals and codes of a bullfight, a distinct part of the Spanish heritage, were later adapted to Western movies by such directors as Budd Boetticher and Sergio Leone.)
García Lorca's experiments in the theater - he rebelled against the realistic theater of the middle class - involved such puppet plays as TÍTERES DE CACHIPORRA (1949) and EL RETABLILLO DE DON CRISTÓBAL (1938). In 1933 he wrote two surrealistic dramas, EL PÚBLICO, an attack on commercial theater and the entire social order, and ASÍ QUE PASEN CINCO AÑOS, an allegory of lost time. Mariana Pineda (1928) was García Lorca's only historical drama. Its central character, a Spanish national heroine, was a historical figure - she was executed for embroidering a revolutionary flag. The play portrays her as a martyr to liberty and love: "I am freedom because love wanted it so; / Pedro! the freedom for which you left me. / I am freedom stricken by men / Love, love, love and eternal solitudes." EL AMOR DE DON PERLIMPÍN CON BELISA EN SU JARDÍN, writtenin1931, was a farce, but it also ended in death. "Take me by the hands, my love, / for I come quite badly wounded, / so wounded by love's going. / So wounded. / Dying of love!" The first version of the surrealistic drama EL PÚBLICO (The Audience) Lorca finished in 1939, but returned to it again in 1936. The play remained unpublished until the 1970s - it dealt with homosexual love, a taboo subject on the Spanish stage for many years.
Blood Wedding, the first part of García Lorca's famous rural trilogy, was performed in 1933. The love triangle, blending drama and poetry, closely resembled a classical Greek tragedy, in which death hovers over the whole play. Yerma, the second part, performed in 1934, portrayed a deadly conflict in a barren marriage. The heroine strangles Juan, her husband, who do not understand her yearning to love and bear children. The House of Bernarda, written just before García Lorca's death in 1936 and published in 1945, depicted a tyrannical mother, Bernarda Alba, and her daughters. The youngest daughter commits suicide over her lover, Pepe el Romano, who is engaged to Angustías, the oldest daughter.
García Lorca's central themes are love, pride, passion and violent death, which also marked his own life. The Spanish Civil was began in 1936 and García Lorca was seen by the right-wing forces as an enemy. The author hid from the soldiers but he was eventually found. An eyewitness has told that he was taken out of a Civil Government building by guards and Falangists belonging to the 'Black Squad'. García Lorca was shot in Granada on August 19/20 of 1936 without trial. The circumstances of his death are still shrouded in mystery. He was buried in a grave that he had been forced top dig for himself. Accroding to some sources, he had to be finished off by a coup de grâce. One of his assassins later boasted, that he shot "two bullets into his arse for being a queer". Most probably, García Lorca wrote under pressure his last words on a note for a member of the 'Black Squad': "Father, please give this man a donation of 1000 pesetas for the Army." Don Federico, his father, carried the note in his wallet for the following years. He died in voluntary exile in New York.
It is official. I discovered that I am illegitimate. I found this out yesterday during a conversation with a good friend of mine while discussing the pros and cons of utilizing the web in trying to help promote the things you do, one of the major cons being the incessant attempts by hackers and spammers to infultrate your pages. In a subtle way (or so he thought) he revealed that I was not legitimate by asking me this, "You seem to deal with all of it pretty good. I mean, what happens when a legitimate website gets hacked?" So I guess I am not legitimate. It's been settled. I didn't bother to sieze on this comment because I am sick and tired of the American penchant of wanting to constantly try to bring others down who are just trying to do their thing. Americans, for all their posturing for being such "good people" often do this in all aspects of life. They are never happy to see others happy in their pursuits. They always want to try to knock someone down. We do this with our "celebrities" all the time. We worship them like Gods then love to tear them down once they reach the status we want them to be in.
It's true that Americans worship mediocrity. The evidence is all around us. We are resentful of higher pursuits, unless there is millions of dollars to be made. Yesterday, I read an interesting article in the New York Daily News about how Americans always accused the French of their "Intellectual Snobbery". What does this mean exactly? That the French had produced people like Sartre, Camus, Rorty, & Derrida and we can only come up with Dr. Phil? Hell, I'd be a snob too if that's the best we could do.
So getting back to my point, in my discussion with him about what I hope to achieve and explaining that most of the time I go an independent route (mainly because it is clear to me that no "legitimate" entity would touch what I do with a 10 foot pole), I went on to say that the internet is a great way to get the word out. The thousands of artists, bands, musicians and writers on MySpace alone is a testament to that. But it's not "legitimate" according to him and I suspect it's because not many if any at all are raking in the millions. So I had to assume that what makes any artist (or any other profession or pursuit) legitimate is if the corporate Gods bless you with wads of cash. It seems to me with that logic, Britney Spears is a legitimate musician while some poor Juliard graduate with a very well rounded knowledge of music and their respective instrument is not because the Juliard graduate isn't a celebrity or raking in the millions.
This is a purely American thing. Money equals Success. Everyone else is a "loser" or pursuing a pipe dream. In America, an artist is not an artist unless they are making tons of money. A musician is not a musician unless they are selling a billion records and are in all the gossip magazines or on television; a writer is not a writer unless they are on the New York Times best seller's list; a filmmaker is not a filmmaker unless their film grosses millions in the first three days. All of this, of course, is pure bullshit. But Americans love bullshit, especially when it is force fed them and told that it is a beautiful steak.
This Money equals Success argument always rubbed me the wrong way mainly because it's a fallacy. With this logic, Jesus Christ was a "loser" because he had nothing; Albert Einstein was a "loser" because he wasn't wealthy; Martin Luther King is a "loser" because he was not a rich man. And so on and so on. This mentality is insidious and ridiculous on it's face since according to this logic, Donald Trump is better than Jesus Christ, Buddah, Ghandi and Einstein because he makes billions and these men had virtually nothing.
Could anything be more absurd? In this culture, nothing should suprise me anymore.
Uruguayan novelist and short-story writer, a master in fusing fantasy and realism. Onetti was awarded Uruguay's national literature prize in 1963 and Spain's prestigious Cervantes Prize in 1980. In La vida breve (1950) Onetti created the fictional port town of Santa María, which also is the setting of his later works. Onetti wrote with a mixture of comedy and sadness about the loneliness of life, absurd values, the futility of religion, and the breakdown of modern town life. Although the tone was often pessimistic, his stories were rich in imagination.
"I don't know, exactly, when I decided irremediably to accept human stupidity, Santa María, Lavanda, and the rest of the world that I would always be unacquainted with. To keep myself from contradicting. I don't know when I learned to savor in silence my total enmity toward males and females. But my meeting up with Quinteros-Osuna, with his powerful mindlessness, with his incredible talent for making money, brought about an inner self-abandonment, forced me to accept with enthusiasm that form of imbecility which he recognized in me, with exaggerated, almost envious paeans of praise. So I said yes to everything and added details, improvements." (from Let the Wind Speak, 1979)
Juan Carlos Onetti was born in Montevideo of Uruguayan, Brazilian, and possibly Irish background. He never completed his secondary education and spent his first twenty years in his native Uruguay, working in odd jobs. He then moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worked as a journalist and began publishing short stories in the early 1930s. From 1946 to 1955 Onetti edited the Vea y Lea, in Buenos Aires.
In Montevideo Onetti edited the highly regarded weekly journal Marcha from 1939 to 1942. He was editor for Reuters News Agency, first in Montevideo (1941-43), and then in Buenos Aires (1943-46). From 1955 to 1957 he was a manager of an advertising company in Montevideo. During his years in Marcha Onetti promoted a radical transformation of literature and emphasized devotion to art. He attacked the tendency to focus on the Nature, and gauchos were for him old-fashioned literary types. Onetti saw that writers should develop stories about the cities. He admired William Faulkner-Santa Maria, a combination of Argentine and Uruguayan coastal towns, developed into Onetti's Yoknapatawpha. Another source of inspiration was the French writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline, with his intense use of language.
Onetti's first novella, El pozo (1939) has been hailed by many critics as the first truly modern Spanish American novel, and a precursor to the Magic Realism. It used modernist narrative technique, and brought on the scene a character familiar from the works of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. The protagonist, Eladio Linacero, resembles Knut Hamsun's hero in Hunger (1890). He leads his aimless life in a city, where he is unable to communicate with others. He is separated from his wife and has only occasional contact with prostitutes. "The few people that I know are unworthy of having the sun touch their faces," he thinks. "Behind us, there is nothing. One gaucho, two gauchos, thirty-three gauchos." In his nightly self-torture, Linscero recalls his rape of a girl and moral degradation. Tierra de nadie (1941) was set in Buenos Aires and consisted of brief scenes and conversations. In the end Aránzuru, the author sits by the river, meditating the aimless life in the city:"Invisible, behind his back, was the city with its dirty air, its high buildings with the coming and going of people, greetings, deaths, hands and faces, games. It was already night and the city buzzed below the lights, with its men, its hats, boys, handkerchiefs, shopwindows, footsteps, footsteps like blood, like hail, footsteps like a current without a destination."
The three-volume cycle of novels and stories, often called the 'Santa Maria Sagas', appeared in the 1950s. In La vida breve the narrator is Juan María Brausen, a writer, who invents a fantasy existence for himself as Díaz Grey, the protagonist of a screenplay he is writing. The story continued in Los adioses (1954). Una tumba sin nombre (1959) depicted a man who is sexually obsessed with a prostitute. One of the characters states: "the only thing that matters is that when I finished writing this story I felt at peace."
In La cara de la desgracia (1960) a guilt-ridden protagonist accepts responsibility for the death of his brother and a young girl. El astillero (1961), also set in Santa Maria, focused on the life of Larsen (alias The Bodysnatcher) , an ex-owner of a whorehouse, who works in a rusting shipyard. He plans to marry the daughter of its owner, but the shipyard becomes a symbolic landscape of his own ruin: "Erect, exaggeratedly strutting, he avoided pieces of hanging iron with shapes and names which rested imprisoned on a confusion of wires and penetrated into the shade, into the distant cold, into the reticence of the shed. He reviewed the desks, the threads of rain, the nets of dust and spider webs, the reddish-black machines which continued simulating dignity." Larsen appeared first time in Onetti's second novel, Tierra de nadie (1941). Juntacádaveres (1965) took Larsen back to a time when he was a brothel owner. Despite official support, the project is defeated by the women of the town.
In 1957 Onetti was appointed director of Municipal Libraries in Montevideo. As a writer he attracted little critical attention outside Uruguay until the mid-1960s. "Latin American literature has few secrets to divulge to the English speaking world; but one of them is the Uruguayan novelist Juan Carlos Onetti," Gerald Martin said in The Guardian. Onetti's international reputation, and the fact that he was considered the most distinguished Uruguayan author, did not prevent his imprisonment in 1974 by the military dictatorship. He had been a member of the jury, that awarded a literary prize to a short story by Nelson Marra, which the authorities considered to be pornographic and offensive. Onetti was briefly incarcerated in a mental institution. After being released Onetti moved to Madrid and in 1975 he became Spanish citizen. He refused to go back to his country even when democracy was restored. In his new home country Onetti worked at a number of odd-jobs including a waiter, salesman, and doorman. Reflecting his growing pessimism, Onetti had Santa María devoured by fire in Dejemos hablas al viento (1979, Let the Wind Speak), his first novel written in Spain.
"Onetti's uneven, troubled career has resolved itself into a large body of critically admired prose that, finally, hews to a single driving artistic impulse: the necessary predominance of writing process. Onetti's anguished, detached narrators, creators of public words and private torments, brought Latin American fiction out of its provincial stasis at a time when talent, opportunity, and attention were poised to grant it greatness, and the Latin American novel from the 1940s onward stands as the heir to Onetti's artistic, self-examining vision." (Bart L. Lewis in Contemporary World Writers, ed. by Tracy Chevalier, 1993)
Onetti received several awards including National Literature Prize (1962), William Faulkner Foundation Ibero-American Award (1963), Casa de las Américas Prize (1965), Italian-Latin American Institute Prize (1972), Miguel de Cervantes Prize (1980). In 1985, the new president of Uruguay travelled to Spain to present Onetti with the National Literary award. Onetti was married four times, first with his cousin María Amalia Onetti (1930), in 1934 with his cousin María Julia Onetti, in 1945 with Elizabeth María Pekelharin, and in 1980 with Dorothea Muhr; they had lived together for 25 years. Onetti died in Madrid, on May 30, 1994.
Argentine writer, one of the great masters of the fantastic short story, who has been compared to Jorge Luis Borges. Many of Cortázar's stories follow the logic of hallucinations and obsessions. Central themes are the quest for identity, the hidden reality behind the everyday lives of common people, and the existential angst. The author's debt to the French Symbolism and Surrealists has been demonstrated in a number of studies. Unlike Borges, Cortázar became a political radical who was involved in anti-Peronist demonstrations and supported the Cuban revolution, Allende's Chile, and Sandinista Nicaragua.
"No one can retell the plot of a Cortázar story; each one consists of determined words in a determined order. If we try to summarize them, we realize that something precious has been lost." (Jorge Luis Borges)
Julio Cortázar was born in Brussels, Belgium, of Argentine parents abroad on business. When he was four years old, his family returned to Buenos Aires, where he grew up in a suburb. Cortázar attended the Escuela Normal de Profesores Mariano Acosta, a teachers' training college. In 1935 he received a degree as a secondary-level teacher. He studied then two years at the University of Buenos Aires and taught in secondary schools in Bolívar, Chivilcoy, and Mendoza. In 1944-45 he was a professor of French literature at the University of Cuyo, Mendoza. Cortázar joined there a protest against Peron and was briefly imprisoned. After being released Cortázar left his post at the university. From 1946 to 1948 he was a director of a publishing company in Buenos Aires. He passed examinations in law and languages and worked then as a translator.
In 1951, in opposition to Peron's regime, Cortázar travelled to Paris, where he lived until his death. In 1953 he married Aurora Bernárdez. They separated and Cortázar lived with Carol Dunlop in later years. From 1952 he worked for UNESCO as a freelance translator. He translated among others Robinson Crusoe and stories of Edgar Allan Poe into Spanish - Poe's influence is also evident in his work.
Los Reyes (1949) was Cortázar's earliest piece of fantasy interest. The long narrative poem constituted a meditation on the role and fate of the Minotaur in his labyrinth. Cortázar's first collection of short stories, Bestiario, appeared in 1951. It included 'Casa tomada' (A House Taken Over), in which a middle-aged brother and sister find that their house is invaded by unidentified people. The story was first published by Jorge Luis Borges in the magazine called Los anales de Buenos Aires; Borges's sister illustrated it. However, Borges did not appreciate Cortázar as a novelist and once said: "He is trying so hard on every page to be original that it becomes a tiresome battle of wits, no?" (Jorge Luis Borges, ed. by Richard Burgin, 1998)
--'They have taken over our section,' Irene said. The knitting had reeled off from her hands and the yarn ran back toward the door and disappared under it. When she saw that the balls of yarn were on the other side, she dropped the knitting without looking at it.
--'Did you have time to bring anything?' I asked hopelessly.
--'No, nothing.'
--We had what we had on. I remembered fifteen thousand pesos in the wardrobe in my bedroom. Too late now.
(from 'A House Taken Over')
'Casa tomada' set the pattern for a typical Cortázar story - it begins in the real world, then introduces fantastic elements, which changes the rules of reality. In the title story a young girl senses that a tiger is roaming through her house. Other collections followed: Final de juego (1956), Las armas secretas (1959), Historias de cronopios y de famas (1962), which included 'The Instruction Manual', one of his most loved pieces, Todos los fuegos el fuego (1966), Octaedro (1974), and Alguien que anda por ahí (1977).
'Las Babas del Diablo' from Las Armas Secretas was filmed by the Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni under the title Blow-Up (1966). In Cortazár's story, set in Paris but in Antonioni's version in the London fashion world, the protagonist is Roberto Michael, an amateur photographer, who sees a teenage boy and a young woman on a square, and shoots the scene. He develops the roll, enlarges the picture, and realizes that the woman was seducing the boy for a man in a car. The picture becomes Michael's life, he speaks of himself both in the fist person and third persons in the story: ".... nobody really knows who is telling it, if I am I or what actually occurred or what I'm seeing... or if, simply I'm telling a truth which is only my truth..." Antonioni used in his film version the theme of appearance versus reality and created around it a murder mystery, which he leaves open. Reality becomes in the film merely a subjective statement, "life itself is an illusion, a Dionysian celebration of masked and anonymous revels." (Neil D. Isaacs in Modern European Filmmakers and the Art of Adaptation, ed. by Andrew S. Horton and Joan Magretta, 1981)
"'It's like a waiting room, life is,' said the bald gentleman, carefully grinding out his cigarette with his shoe and examining his hands as if he didn't know what to do with them now; the elderly lady sighed a yes born of long years of agreeing, and put away her little bottle just as the door at the end of the corridor opened and the other lady came out with that look all the others envied, and an almost sympathetic goodbye when she got to the exit.' (from 'Second Time Around')
As a novelist Cortázar gained first attention with Los premios (1960), which appeared when the author was 46. The story centered on a group of people brought together when they win a mystery cruise in a lottery. The ship-of-fools becomes a microcosmos of the world order.
Cortázar's masterpiece, his most famous book, was Rayuela (1966, Hopscotch), an open-ended anti-novel, in which the author plays with his charaters as a jazz musician and reader is invited to rearrange the material. Most of the novel Cortázar wrote in Paris. "The general idea behind Hopscotch, you see, is the proof of a failure and the hope of a victory. But the book doesn't propose any solution; it simply limits itself to showing the possible paths one can take to knock down the wall, to see what's on the other side." (interview from Evelyn Picon Garfield, Cortázar por Cortázar, 1978) The protagonist, Horacio Oliveira, is a writer who is surrounded by a circle of bohemian friends, who call themselves "the Club". His great love and mistress is La Maga: "Oh, Maga, whenever I saw a woman who looked like you a clear, sharp pause would close like a deafening silence, collapsing like a wet umbrella being closed." After her disappearance, Oliveira returns to Buenos Aires where he works in odd jobs. He meets his childhood friend, Traveller, with whom he operates an insane asylum, ending on the border of insanity himself.
Oliveira seeks a new world-view outside Cartesian rationalism. Though he never succeeds, his quest is depicted with humor, superb imagery, and optimism. There are two narrative sections: chapters 1-36, which are set in Paris, and chapters 37-56, set in Buenos Aires. The third selection is entitled "Expendable Chapters." The hopscotch progress begins at chapter 73. For this reading, led by the directions, the reader jumps forward and backward through the book.
Rayuela was intended to be a revolutionary novel; a Latin American equivalent to Laurence Sterne's novel Tristram Shandy (1760-1767). It opened the door to linguistic innovation of Spanish language and influenced deeply Latin American writers. The idea for a book based on disconnected noted continued in 62: Modelo para armar (1968). Here the reader had less instructions to arrange the parts. Libro de Manuel (1973) focused on the political condition of Latin America. In this case the various characters shuttle from a mysterious Zone and the City according to Godgame-like instructions they cannot understand or disobey. The novel formed a manual for the child Manuel, a sort of collage of press clippings, and among others revealed torture techniques used by U.S. soldiers in the Far East and juxtaposed them to similar tortures suffered by Latin American political prisoners.
Cortázar visited Cuba after the revolution, and in 1973 he travelled in Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile. In the 1970s Cortázar became a member of the Second Russell Tribunal for investigation of human rights abuses in Latin America. He also gave the Sandinistas the royalties of some of his last books and helped financially the families of political prisoners. When the seven-year ban on his entry into Argentina was lifted, he visited his home country and Nicaragua in 1983.
In 1975 Cortázar was a visiting lecturer at the University of Oklahoma, and in 1980 he was a lecturer at Barnard College in New York. In 1981 he acquired French citizenship. Cortázar received numerous awards, including Médicis Prize for Libro de Manuel in 1974 and Rubén Darío Order of Cultural Independence in 1983. He died of leukemia in Paris on February 12, 1984. Cortázar's friend Christina Peri Rossi later pondered in her book Yo y Cortázar (2001) did the author die of AIDS instead of leukemia. Cortázar's works have been translated into several languages, among others into Finnish. "Anyone who doesn't read Cortázar is doomed," has the Chilean Nobel writer Pablo Neruda once said.
Reading the Sunday paper today, I came across an interesting article that nearly floored me. No, it's not anything really relevent like the wars going on in the world or poverty or anything like that; no this article I happened to come across in the New York Times Real Estate section. The article is titled "Reluctantly Embracing The Upper East Side" by Lynn Ermann. Nothing really eventful about the article as a whole except for the opening lines. Dig this:
For years I lied about where I lived. At parties in neighborhoods like Williamsburg or the East Village, I would pretend that the apartment I occupied on E 74th Street actually belonged to my grandmother, not to me. New acquaintances would nod sympathetically at my sad predicament, at my being forced to live on the Upper East Side. The truth, too shameful to admit it, was that in 1995 at the age of 24 I bought an apartment in a neighborhood that I and everyone I knew considered bland, conformist and kind of a bore.
Only in New York City would you find such absurdity. I mean...really....can you imagine? All right, the writer was a twentysomething when all this happened and I guess we can all grow up at some point, but the sad fact of the matter is that there are plenty of adults who feel and act the same way whenever confronted with that all important question in New York City social gatherings, "Where do you live?"; and the answer my friend may be all important as to whether or not you "fit in" with your new found social group.
It's this kind of extreme narccisism and absolute absurdity that plagues a lot of people living in this city today, mostly (if not solely) perpertrated by transplants who grew up in either Iowa, Connecticut, Nebraska or New Hampshire or wherever else. I've come across this sort of nonsense myself on occasion and I refuse to be a part of this silly social game. But if I did want to play it, I can say that my 41 years living in NYC sort of puts the whole issue to rest immediately. And in my 41 years, it's only been the last few where I've seen this curious phenomenon. There are a bunch of people in this city who live by this inane equation:
Self Worth = Zip Code.
Carry on my friends. Maybe one day you will all grow up. And really, how provincial can you possibly be? Provincial? Yes, that's right. Provincial. When you consider that you live in a world that has a population of 6 billion people, and there are places such as Paris, Rome, Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, London, Prague, or wherever, the fact that you feel good about yourself because you occupy a tiny spot in one sliver of the planet Earth is utterly absurd if not downright sad. Besides, it's these real estate vultures who are snapping up all the property and charging ridiculous prices for them due to it's supposed cache that are really screwing everyone over. Imagine trying to sell a Bic pen for $1000 and getting away with it. That's essentially what these cretins are doing and by adding this little equation into the mix, they are laughing all the way to the bank.
Where you live is not important, people. It's who you are that counts. And if living here or living there is all that important to you as a human being, it certainly does tells a lot about who you really are.
America lost another great writer yesterday: Norman Mailer. A controversial writer no doubt but I always liked him. I haven't read all of his books but out of the ones I did read, "Advertisements of Myself" (which included his famous essay "The White Negro", an examination of the 50s 'Hipster'), "Genius and Lust" (his great book about Henry Miller) and "Existential Errands" had always been three of my favorites. I always enjoyed listening to him whenever he was interviewed or when he made his many appearances on C-Span, mainly because he was never afraid to say what was on his mind, for better or for worse. No matter what you may have thought of him he was a very interesting person to listen to. We don't have writers like him anymore, meaning, writers who were willing to put it all out there even if that meant pissing off many people in the process. He was also one of the few writers left who saw the importance in the novel, something that has long waned in this culture. I admit I didn't always agree with what he said, and sometimes he did make an ass of himself when he spoke, but you have to at least give him credit for saying what he felt without worrying about the consequences. A character for sure, but he will be missed.
I just found out from a bulletin on MySpace posted by Karen Abbey that D.E. Pohren, celebrated author of The Art of Flamenco, Lives and Legendsand A Way of Life, passed yesterday. If anyone out there interested in Flamenco hasn't read any of these books, I highly recommend them. They are some of the most informative books on the subject and are really great reads.
The new book by Cristogianni Borsella is now available. It is called Fascist Italy: A Concise Historical Narrative. I would highly recommend this book since Cristogianni is an excellent writer who's first book On Persecution, Identity and Activism: Aspects of the Italian American Experience from the Late 19th Century to Today was absolutely amazing. This one will no doubt be as informative and engaging. If you are interested in Italian history and/or Italian-American history you must read him, especially if you are of Italian-American descent. Check out his page as well for more details.
Last night Linda La Porte and I caught the new Wes Anderson film "The Darjeeling Limited" which I enjoyed very much. I've been reading a lot of bad reviews for this movie but I really don't understand why (or understand why anyone would put any importance on what any critic has to say about anything). It was very enjoyable and funny and I would recommend it. I am not all that familiar with Wes Anderson's work (except for "Bottle Rocket" which I saw many moons ago) but Linda recently attended an event where she got to meet him and speak with him for a while so we figured we go catch his new film. I really liked it a lot.
It all goes back to art being a very subjective medium, whether it be film, music, painting, literature, whatever the medium. I suppose there is a good living to be made at being a critic and we all do this to some extent on our blogs, websites, just talking to friends, etc, but that is precicely my point. Each of us has our own take on things and my word or anyone else's word is just that. It doesn't put any definitive stamp on anything. What I may like someone else will disagree. So what does it matter in the long run? We all have to judge for ourselves.
Case in point: We had some time to kill before the movie started so we stopped of at some coffee shop over on University Place to kill time and get out of the chill that was in the air. While on line, I overheard two guys talking about music. One guy, referring to one band or another explained to his friend that he was willing to go see them play but it wasn't his type of music. The guy he was with replied, in a somewhat mocking tone, "Why, what do you listen to, indie rock?". Why be so condescending? What is with this new breed of "New Yorker" that must be condescending to someone when they don't agree with another's personal choices? What does it really matter? And the only reason why I even mention this is because personally, I am growing extremely tired of it. Tired of hearing it myself and tired of hearing it from everyone else. And how do you express your disgust with it without the danger of you doing it yourself by even bringing it up or pointing it out?
We all have different tastes and takes on things. No one is "right" about any of it, regardless how some people may think they are supremely "clued in" to "what's happening". It's all BS in the end. Make up your own mind and enjoy what you enjoy (or dislike what you dislike) without apology or worrying that you are going to be judged for it. Whatever happened to one having their own opinion? Does that count anymore? Or is one expected to fall in lock step with what one is "supposed" to think?
So, ignore the critics (and even ignore me) when I say that this is a highly enjoyable film and that I think you may enjoy it as well. But then again, what do I know? This is only my opinion, right?
I got a cup of Turkish coffee in front of me and the news on the television behind me. All I've been hearing for the past 15 minutes or so is the blather of political pundits picking apart all the minutia of the latest slate of Presidential candidates words and then pouncing on them, playing what has now been called "Gotcha politics". It's so disgusting, that I just jumped off the chair and turned it off, put on some music so I don't have to listen to anymore drivel so early in the morning.
Is there anyone else out there who feels that this political cycle has started way too early? I mean, how many "debates" have there been in the past few months? Is anyone really paying attention? I say no. And these so-called "debates" are anything of the kind. How can anyone get a sense of these pressing issues today with 30 second answers, a show of hands, and half-truths or even outright lies. What do people really think of this group of candidates? Is this really the best we have to offer? Are anyone of these people really going to make the drastic changes needed for this culture? I hardly think so. Out of all of these candidates, so far the only one I am drawn to is Barack Obama. There is a lot of potential there, but I am uncertain about him sometimes as well. On the Republican side, what do we really have here? Seriously? Is this the best that they can do as well? If you're a Republican, you are about ready to shoot yourselves in the foot. Your litmus test for a candidate is narrow indeed. On the Democratic side, at least they are attempting to address the important issues, but I don't hear any real substance there. Just a lot of generalities and promises they will not keep.
My feeling is that the problems of this country go far deeper than merely politics or electing one candidate or another. That in and of itself will not change a damn thing. There is a definite deeper problem that needs to be addressed and that is a cultural one. These candidates are merely reflections of that problem. If this is the best we can do as a people, I really don't know what to say.
At the moment, it seems as if that the next presidential election will be between Rudy Giuliani and Hilary Clinton. What a choice. If it comes down to these two, it is a choice I will not make, I can guarantee you that. But it is way too early to tell. Who knows? Maybe a little later on someone will toss their hat in the ring. But I doubt it. It seems that these are the people we are stuck with and that is not such a promising thing to me. I think deep down, most Americans probably feel the same way.
But there seems to be a deep cultural divide in this country as of late, a divide brought on by pundits, politics and people who are doing their best to distract people from the important things and try to force them to concentrate on issues that tend to divide us while they and their corporate interests reach out and grab as much as they can. Distract the populace with things that are nonsensical, the less they see them do what they are attempting to do. Divide and conquer. The age old tactic. It's time for the people in this country to really stand up and take back what is rightfully theirs and it's time for the people in this country to remind these cretins that they work for us and not the other way around. These people are not overlords. They have to listen to us, we don't have to listen to them. Time to clean house, I say. We need real change, not just a change in wardrobe or political party running things. It's only been the two for ages and nothing seems to be getting any better. In fact, to me at least, it seems to be getting worse.
Just a few moments ago I watched Ariana Huffington, that darling of the so-called "Liberals" in this country on Keith Olberman's program, voice her opinions on Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. Now, just to preface something here, I am not a supporter of Giuliani. Those of us who live in New York knows his governing style quite well and his tendancy to be vindictive and authoritarian. He can be stubborn to a fault. However, Ms. Huffington said something that I found quite interesting to say the least. She referred to Giuliani as a "thug", that he acts like a "thug" and even quoted New York columnist Jimmy Breslin who once said of Giuliani, "He is a small man in search of a balcony". Very interesting indeed. Is this a reference to his Italian-American background? Hmmm....
Now I may be looking to much into this but these oh-so-subtle comments seem, to me at least, to be a thinly veiled reference to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and he use of the word "thug" a thinly veiled reference to Mafioso. Is this what the sophisticated Ms. Huffington is implying? Was Jimmy Breslin implying the same thing with his quote? Was Ms. Huffington quoting it to thinly disguise her point? I wonder. I really do.
The trouble with people like Ariana Huffington and her ilk is that they are so blindly enslaved to their political ideology that they often say the most hateful, ignorant things in order to be "right" about their point of view. Now, maybe I am just seeing too much here but sometimes you just have to read between the lines about what these political dolts say in order to see what they really feel. I am not a convervative and yet even I am appalled at what so-called "Liberals" say and do at times. Oh, and Ariana, remember, Greece once had a military junta/dictator too. What would you say if I went on to make a veiled reference to what you think by invoking that period in history?
Tonight is another Democratic Presidential debate. What fun! We get to hear more drivel from these candidates. More of the same crap. It's a shame, really. Over the years the Democratic Party has done absolutely nothing to change things in this country other than bitch and moan about issues then do nothing when their time comes to change it. They have been in control of Congress now for 10 months and nothing of substance has been done, say for a few token gestures to supposedly end the war but nothing of any real substance...like for example....cut the funding. That would end the war real quick. Instead they do nothing...as usual. Democratic front runner Hilary Clinton, in the last debate, would not even commit to saying that she would immediately withdraw the troops from Iraq if/when she is President. Barack Obama, who I like, wouldn't say it either. In fact none of the candidates were promising this other than Mike Gravel and Dennis Kusinich....and yet the Liberals and the Democrats are ready to essentially coronate Hilary Clinton and give her the nomination. Uh...hey anti-war people....why not support one of the two candidates you KNOW are anti-war? You will all vote for Hilary...and the war will go on...at least until the end of her first term, which will be 2013, because you KNOW the troops will not come home immediately after her election, if she does in fact win. Just a very curious thing to me.
Last weekend there was a few thousand strong anti-war protest in NYC and in cities around the country. How many of them are going to vote for one of the true anti-war candidates? How many really mean what they say? Time will tell.
Now I can't sign off just yet without mentioning something about the Republican side of the house. They don't have my vote and never did. I have trouble with candidates who don't seem to believe in evolution. That in and of itself is enough for me to turn away from them, never you mind their social and financial policies.
But either way you look at it, BOTH parties are beholden to their corporate masters anyway. It is their interests that they have at heart, not ours. When will the American people really send a message and clean house? I'm still waiting for that. Until then, we get more of the same, and as the old addage goes, "You get the government you deserve".
Black Flag: "Nervous Breakdown" (1978), "Jealous Again" (1979), "Six Pack" (1980), "Damaged" (1981), "Everything Went Black" (1982), "My War" (1983), "Slip It In" (1984), "Loose Nut" (1984), "In My Head" (1985)
One of my favorite bands of the 80s. Heavy brutal songs about alienation, depression, angst, anger, etc. They went through many different line-up changes over all those years and each one had their own style. Of course, after Rollins joined in 1981, they took things in a whole different direction, daring to experiment with different styles and sounds which left a lot of the "punk purists" a little bit more than miffed. But I loved it and all these records are just amazing.
The Bobbies: "Supersongs" (1993), "We Are Our Shadows (1997)
I know these guys and literally grew up listening to their music. The original drummer was the brother of a friend of mine so we used to watch them practice in the basement when we were kids. They kind of inspired all of us to pick up the instruments we had and actually learn how to play them. These two albums came out after many line-up changes and long gaps in their playing and performances but for lovers of Power Pop ala Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Beatles, you can't go wrong with these.
Born Against: "The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure" (1994)
A collection of brutal hardcore/punk songs from one of the few punk bands of that era that I actually liked. Old school sound (and what I mean by "old school" sound is the bands from my era circa 1981-1984).
Paul Bowels: "Black Star At The Point Of Darkness" (1990)
A spoken word record from the reknowned author ("The Sheltering Sky") as well as some musical pieces by him. If you're a fan of his, this is a very interesting record to hear. Great to hear him reading his own work and the musical pieces are interesting as well.
David Bowie: "ChangesBowie" (1990)
A CD of both "Changesbowie" LPs. In other words a 'Greatest Hits' package. All the hits are here, "Ziggy Stardust", "Changes", "Diamond Dogs", etc, but I could do without "Let's Dance" and "Modern Love".
Brujeria: "Matando Gueros" (1993), "Raza Odiada" (1995)
Absolutely insane heavy rock. I believe this is a spin off band but I am not sure. Sung in Spanish, brutal ala Sepultura. Fans of them will love these records.
Brutal Truth: "Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses" (1992), "Perpetual Conversion" (1992), "Need To Control" (1994), "Kill Trend Suicide" (1996)
What they used to call "Grind Core". Extreme, unmelodic, pure noise but wonderful. You have to be in the mood to listen to these guys and back in the day I used to get out all my frustrations listening to them. I remember seeing them at L'Amour in Brooklyn back in the mid-90s with only 8 people in the crowd, which was a shame because they were unreal. Don't listen to stuff like this these days but ah, it was sweet then, let me tell you.
The Buck Pets: "Self-Titled" (1989) Linda La Porte turned me on to these guys when I met her. A straightfoward rock band with some really cool songs. I think Neil Young discovered these guys. They only did two albums, I think. I prefer this one.
Jeff Buckley: "Grace" (1994)
What a great album. Beautiful songs, great voice, just an over all great record. It's a shame we lost him early (like his dad) but at least he left behind such great music.
Charles Bukowski: "Hostage" (1985)
A wonderfully chaotic performance by one of the best modern poets of our era. Recorded live at Redondo Beach reading in 1980, it's all here: his great poetry, the insane give and take with the audience. Truly entertaining.
William S. Burroughs: "Break Through In Grey Room" (1994)
Readings, tape experiments, music from this iconoclast of American literature. You know Burroughs. What else is there to say about him that you already don't know?
William S. Burroughs: "File Under Burroughs" (1996)
Not really WSB, but a "tribute" of sorts, music and other things inspired by the writer. Featuring Islamic Diggers, Brion Gysin, Marianne Faithful, and John Cale, among others.
Buzzcocks: "The Peel Sessions" (1989) , "Operators Manual" (1991)
Who hasn't made one of these "Peel Sessions"? This is a great one from a great band. Featuring "Fast Cars", "What Do I get?" and "Noise Annoys". "Operators..." is a 'Best of' collection. A great band.
Buzzoven: "To A Frown" (1993), "Sore" (1994)
Another heavy, grinding, rock band from the 90s who never really made their mark beyond a cult following, I would imagine. Heavy, plodding, dark....everything is there. I always liked these guys during the "Grunge" age, although they didn't really fit that mold. Definitely different from what was going on at the time.
The Byrds: All Of Them (1964-1973)
This is one of my all time favorite bands. I love all their stuff, from the folk-rock sound in their beginings ("Mr. Tamborine Man", "Turn Turn Turn", "5D") to their country-rock experiments ("Sweetheart of The Rodeo") to their later, country/folk/rock records ("Byrdmaniax"). Roger McGuinn was always one of my favorite guitarists and songwriters. I just love their music over all.
Another one of my all time favorite writers is Nicanor Parra, a poet from Chile. I learned about him by sheer accident one day while kicking around Mercer Street Books downtown. I just happened upon two of his books but there are quite a few more that I can't seem to get a hold of (in English, anyway---Now I regret not paying attention in Spanish classes while in school!). He is considered one of the most influential poets in Chile after Pablo Neruda but the two poets couldn't be more far apart as far as style, approach and intent. Poetry lovers should do themselves a favor and check him out if you haven't already. His work is truly powerful and unique. If you're into Beat poetry or post-modern writing, you will definitely appreciate him.
One of my all time favorite writers is the Uruguayan Eduardo Galeano. His books are written in such a way that they make their political points without being dry and preachy. There is a literary quality to them which forces one to think and look at things in a way that he/she may not have thought about it before. Unfortunately, there is no website for him, but there is an unofficial website (in Spanish) for news and updated information. His latest book "Voices In Time" is simply amazing and one of the best books I've read in the last year or two. He's written dozens of books (sadly, only a handful have been translated into English) and a ton of articles which are easlily available across the internet. Do yourself a favor and read him. If there is a time where he needs to be read, it's now. There is a humanity to his writing and when you read him you will think about what this culture of ours produces (i.e. Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh, etc) and you will realize what idiocy passes for discourse in this country.
Beau Brummels: "Triangle" (1968)
60's "Baroque-Pop" and a bit pretentious at that. Something of a "concept album" (remember those?). I really don't know why I have this one. Probably a recommendation from someone. I hardly ever played it. It just doesn't move me.
Bee Gees: "1st" (1968), "Idea" (1968), "Horizontal" (1968), "Odessa" (?), "Best Of" (1977)
Their early albums are very good. Very "Beatle-esque" and long before they went R&B/Disco. For those not familiar with their work prior to "Saturday Night Fever", I think these records would surprise you. My old band Third Eye Butterfly used to cover "In My Own Time". No one ever believed us when we said it was a Bee Gees song. They were something taboo then, admitting that you liked them. Now it's ok, because it's "ironic" (at least among the so-called hipster crowds in NYC). Silly. Good music is good music, right? Let's get off the elitist BS about it. Other great tracks are "1941 New York Mining Disaster", "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Tell You".
Big Star: "Radio City" (1974)
Alex Chilton's band. Great power pop, featuring the excellend "December Girls". Soaring guitars, great melodies. An all around great record.
Bikini Kill: "Self Titled" (1991)
Remember the whole "Riot Grrl" thing in the 90s? This record is a perfect example of it. Primitive, grinding punk rock from the northwest. These women had the right attitude.
Black Sabbath: "We Sold Our Souls For Rock-N-Roll" (1976), "Volume 4" (1972)
Face it. Sabbath rocked! Way ahead of their time. Always one of my favorite bands. (even though these are the only 2 albums I have of theirs). Love Tony Iommi's guitar playing and Ozzy's voice. Dark, heavy bluesy rock.
Blue Cheer: "Vincebus Eruptum" (1968)
Another great hard rock band from the late 60s. The guitar sounds are thick and immense. They didn't get the recognition they deserved either but this one is truly dense. This is before Sabbath and yet they had that same dark, heavy sound. Probably one of the first bands of it's kind.
The Blues Magoos: "Electric Comic Book" (1968)
Garage rock from the Bronx. They had one minor hit, "You Ain't Got Nothing Yet" (which is not on this album) but this one includes "Pipe Dream" and "Albert Common Is Dead". Snotty, Farfisa Organ filled garage rock.
The Blues Project: "Projections" (1968?)
Just what it says. Blues rock from the late 60s. If you like John Mayall and stuff like that, you will like this too.
The Bongos: "Beat Hotel" (1985)
New Wavish pop from Hoboken NJ. They had a good run back in the 80s. Sixties influenced and well written songs. I've noticed something of a resurgence of their music as of late. What that means, I don't know.
Born Against: "9 Patriotic Hyms For Children" (1991?)
Hardcore/punk from NYC. This was one of the only bands that I took notice of in that scene back then. (The other was Go!). Kind of an "old school" sound which is probably why I liked them.
David Bowie: "Scary Monsters" (1980)
I think this was his last really great album when he was still experimenting and taking his music places no one else was taking it at the time. (After this one came "Let's Dance" which will probably explain what I mean here). Robert Fripp joins him on some tracks giving these tracks a very twisted feel. Features "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion"
David Bowie: "Images 1966-1967"
Really old Bowie, before he hit it big with "Space Oddity". Not at all what you would expect. Sort of Anthony Newly influenced British pop. It's obvious he hadn't found his true voice yet.
David Bowie: "Pin Ups" (1973)
An album full of covers. Songs by Pink Floyd, Them, The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things, and The Who among others. Bowie's unique take on these 60s pop classics.
Billy Bragg: "Brewing Up With Billy Bragg" (1984)
A great folk singer, sort of a British version of Woody Guthrie but with a punk rock flair. Strongly political songs and well written ones at that.
Brazil 66: "Fool On The Hill" (1966), "Equinox" (1966)
My dad used to play these records around the house when I was a kid. Bossa Nova/Samba versions of the hits of the day. Sergio Mendes is still out there making music. These hold a very sentimental value for me.
B.T. Express: "Do It (Until You're Satisfied)" (1974)
Bought this as a kid. R&B/Funk record that has all the 70s sounds that you would love. Funky rhythms, wha-wha guitar....something you would have heard on "Starsky & Hutch" or any other show or film at the time.
Bob Brookmeyer: "Trombone Jazz Samba" (1962)
Exactly what it says it is. A cool Jazz record full of Brazilian tunes.
Tim Buckley: "Lorca" (1970)
Yes, this is Jeff Buckley's dad. A great folk record that pushes the boundaries of the usual singer/songwriter records at the time. This album features only 5 tracks. A great songwriter who obviously passed his musical genes onto his son. And like his son, he died early as well. A really great record.
The Buffalo Springfield: "Retrospective" (1969)
Another really great album, featuring the hits "For What It's Worth" and "Mr. Soul". Stephen Stills and Neil Young written songs.
Kate Bush: "The Whole Story" (1986)
A great singer/songwriter. Does anyone even remember her anymore? Very experimental pop songs. Features "Cloudbursting" and "Running Up That Hill". I always liked her music and always wondered what happened to her. Does anyone know?
The Buzzcocks: "Singles Going Steady" (1980)
One of the original "punk" bands from the 70s. I put punk in quotes because they really were a great 60s influenced pop band. Now they're using their songs in Disney films and to sell cars on TV. A real shame. But these songs are short, fast, blistering, melodic gems. Sometimes they sound like the Kinks to me, specially "Ever Fallen In Love". A great band.
Bad Brains: "I and I Survive" (1982)
Another absolutely amazing hardcore band that I used to see now and then during my punk rock days. This is a 12" single/EP that kicks major ass. The title track, a great full on reggae track. These guys were simply amazing and full of energy...and their musicianship was excellent as well.
Badfinger: "No Dice" (1970)
I think this was their 2nd LP (or 3rd?) I'm not sure. Another great rock album, featuring the now classic "No Matter What" and "Without You" (yes, the very same song that Mariah Carey covered in the not so recent past! Go figure).
The Bangles: "Self Titled EP" (1982), "All Over The Place" (1984)
Before they got commecial and popular. I never thought they were a great band but they had some good songs at the time. "Hero Takes a Fall" and "Going Down To Liverpool" were always songs I liked. I never really got into their late 80s ballads or the "Walk Like an Egyptian" thing. But these two records you hear a very different band.
Syd Barrett: "Unforgotten Hero" (1983), "Tatood" (1984), "Vegetable Man" (1984)
These are bootlegs, really. Not official releases but they attempt to scrape the bottom of the barrel to put out anything this guy ever put down on tape. "Unforgotten Hero" features some Pink Floyd demos, including the unreleased single "Scream Thy Last Scream"/"Vegetable Man. Worth it for these two tracks alone. The others are alternate versions of solo tracks and unfinished songs that were apparently never developed. These are for completists.
Beach Boys: "Smiley Smile" (1967)
A very strange record indeed. Features "Heroes and Villans" and "Good Vibrations" as well as some other experimental tracks. Interesting and definitely different for them.
Beach Boys: "Pet Sounds" (1966)
One of my all time favorites. This one is well known and a classic so there isn't much to say here that hasn't already been said a million times. A brilliant album, the band moving away from it's "beach" sound to produce something truly different for it's time.
The Beat: "What Is Beat?" (1983)
Known as "The English Beat" in America. A greatest hits LP. I always loved this band. Great, melodic songs. Featuring "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Twist and Crawl" and "Save It For Later."
The Beatles: All of them (1962-1970)
What can I say? I was the biggest Beatles fan growing up. I was rabid and still am. I love all their albums. There isn't one that I don't like. There isn't a song I don't like. So rather than list them all individually here, let's just say all of them are amazing records.
Bea Ba: "Con las manos abiertas" (2003)
I'm partial here because the singer is my friend! A really great album of Latin Rock, influenced mostly by the Argentine Rock scene. Highlights include "Un dia mas" and "Rings Around The Moon".
Bea Ba: "Illusiones" (2007)
The second album. Improves off the first. Again, I have to say I am partial because I know her. Also, my band Bitterweed and Bea did a song together "Estas Aqui" which is featured here as well as on our CD "Boo!". A bigger and fuller sound.
Beastie Boys: "Pollywog Stew" (1981), "Paul's Boutique" (1989), "Check Your Head" (1992), "Some Old Bullshit" (1994), "Ill Communication" (1994)
I always liked these guys since the "Pollywog" days when they were a punk band. In fact, my old punk band in high school did some shows with them at A7 back in the days when NYC was a truly exciting place musically. Of course, back then, they weren't nearly as known as theya are now. They were just starting out too so it was not a big of a deal as it seems to sound. Back then, I never would have thought they'd go on to be one of the biggest bands of my generation, but they did and kudos to them for achieving that. Always very creative and still going strong.
Beck: "Loser" (1994)
This is really the only one I have. Who didn't like this song when it came out? I still want to get his CD "Sea Change" which I absolutely love but I still don't have it. This song, a great mix of blues and hip hop with some hilarious lyrics. Infectious. But you all know that already.
Big Chief: "Face" (1992), "Mack Avenue Skull Game" (1993), "Platinum Jive" (1994)
Another band coming out of the "grunge" Sub Pop scene in the early 90s. Driving hard rock. This band never got the attention they deserved, I thought. Great songs. If you like that "Sub Pop" sound, you will like this band.
Biohazard: "Urban Discipline" (1992)
I wasn't a huge fan of them either but I did like this CD. Brutal, hard rock/hardcore. "Shades of Gray" was a great track and they do a cover of Bad Religion's "We're Only Gonna Die", always a favorite of mine.
Bitterweed: "On The High Wire" (2001), "Boo!" (2005)
I can't say anything about this because this is my band so naturally I am partial so of course I'm going to say they're great CDs. I love both of them, but prefer the second. Have a listen for yourself. You can't get an impartial statement from me about these! :-)
One of the most surreal things I have ever read has got to be an article by Amir Taheri in yesterday's New York Post called "Tehran's Price For 'Solidarity'". It is truly a riot. It seems as if even the religious folks in Iran are now in the business of re-writing history for their own ends. The article is basically about the formation of what they call a "global progressive front" with the left in Latin America. That in and of itself is hilarious since the two could not be more far apart in ideology and just about everything else. Well, apparently there was some sort of symposium to show what they call "the ideological kinship of the left and revolutionary Islam". Again, that in and of itself is hilarious. Kinship? Are you kidding me? It gets better. The conference title was called "Che like Charman", Charman, a Khomeinist militant who helped the Mullah's sieze power in Iran in 1979. (He's since died, killed in a car crash in 1981).
This is where it gets great: One of the keynote speakers of this conference was a man named Hajj Saeed Qassemi whose official title is "coordinator of the Association Of Volunteers for Suicide-Martyrdom". He says, "Today, Communism has been consigned to the garbage can of history as foretold by Imam Khomeini, thus progressives everywhere must accept the leadership of our religious, pro-justice movement." (Emphasis mine). He also went on to say that Che Guevara "had been a truly religious man who believed in God and hated communism and the Soviet Union". What!? He then went on to say that the left in Latin America and elsewhere must "clarify it's position" on religion and claimed that Guevara and Castro were "men of God and never believed in socialism or communism".
When hearing this version of history, Che's own daughter, Aleida, who was there at the conference responded "My father never mentioned God. He never met God"---and then was swiftly whisked out of the hall and then taken back to her hotel under escort. Che's own daughter! The articles goes on to say that when she made this statement she caused a commotion in the audience, that's why she was....uh...removed.
They say that politics make strange bedfellows but this one takes the cake. There is nothing more surreal than this, let me tell you. And nothing more hilarious. I am of the feeling that progressives in Latin America and everywhere else will see through all this. But this is what happens when one is so hell bent on forging allaiances with people who would have them killed otherwise. There are no "Progressives" in Iran (at least no open ones). Everything Progressives believe in does not exist in Iran openly. Nor did they or could they exist under the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan. If the left or Progressives want to get in bed with Islamic radicals, by all means, enjoy yourselves. You will only have yourself to blame for the consequences that will inevitably flow. I think Qassemi's quote above says it all, that is, if any progressive is really listening. To hear these people say that they have anything at all in common with Progressives is an insult and a shamelss political ploy at the very least.
So there you have it: Che and Castro never believed in socialism and were men of God so therefore, listen to what we have to say and "clarify" your position. Hmm....truly funny, is it not?
Gato Barbieri: "The Third World" (1970)
I'm not a huge fan of him but I do love this album. A great Jazz record mixing different styles. A musician who isn't/wasn't afraid to incorporate different elements into Jazz. Something that should be done more often, especially these days.
Ray Barretto: "Acid" (1972)
One of the Salsa greats. This album is definitely a must get. A great mixture of Jazz, funk, rock, soul & R&B and of course, Salsa. You may have heard "El Nuevo Barretto" before since it's been used many times in films, shows etc. A great album over all.
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers: "A Night In Tunisia" (1960)
A phenomenal drummer, what can I say. This one is a classic and the title track has been covered a million times by many different artists. Featuring Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. A must!
Buena Vista Social Club: Self-Titled (90s)
A great Cuban music album. Picked this up after seeing the film. Great rhythms, great sound. What can I say other than that? An all star cast of great and nearly forgotten Cuban musicians.
Donald Byrd: "Byrd In Hand" (1959)
Another Jazz great, at least to me. Swinging tracks such as "Witchcraft", "Devil Whip" and "The Injuns". Agreat trumpet player and a great album.
Babes In Toyland: "Fontanelle" (1992)
In the "grunge" revolution, this punk band got picked up but didn't seem to go anywhere, really. Not a great band but a decent album. If you like Hole or L7, you'll like this. Co-produced by Lee Rinaldo of Sonic Youth.
Badfinger: "The Magic Christian" (1970)
A great band that seemed to fly under the radar for the most part. This is a soundtrack to the film of the same name and they went on to make some really excellent records. This is the one with the Paul McCartney penned "Come and Get it".
Bad Religion: "How Could Hell Be Any Worse" (1982)
Absolutely one of my favorite punk bands while growing up and still going strong apparently (which is unreal to me!). Melodic hardcore/punk when no one else was doing it. I swear if you listen closely enough, the melodies sound like sped up folk songs ala Phil Ochs, etc. (I've been told I was crazy by a lot of people for this, but if you listen, it's definitely there). Got this one back in High School when I was playing in my punk band and it never lost it's magic. An absolute punk classic. (Who would have thought those two words would go together!)
Bad Religion: "Into The Unknown" (1983)
When this came out I was totally demoralized. Not a good album at all and the band even refuses to acknowledge its existence. In some ways it sounds like Journey! An awful record. I commend them for wanting to try something different here but it just didn't work at all. A huge disappointment, especially after coming off such a great debut. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on this, you will not believe your ears. It's hard to believe that this is Bad Religion. Seriously!
Bad Religion: "Suffer" (1988), "No Control" (1989), "Generator" (1992), "Recipe for Hate" (1993), "Stranger Than Fiction" (1994)
All of these albums are really good. That "Bad Religion" sound, intelligent lyrics, the sound they are best known for. The last one, even on a Atlantic Records (imagine!?). Still a great band after all these years, although I haven't heard any of their recent materal.
The Band: "Music From Big Pink" (1969?)
A classic. Coming off from playing with Dylan, this album is filled with great American rock songs. Featuring "The Weight", "I Shall Be Released" and "Chest Fever".
Syd Barrett: "The Madcap Laughs" (1969), "Barrett" (1970), "The Peel Sessions" (1988), "Opel" (1988), "Octopus" (1992)
One of my all time favorite songwriters. He only made two albums, the rest are radio sessions, unreleased tracks and best of collections with some unreleased material. A great and talented songwriter. If he had decided to go on, who knows what he would have come up with. He died late last year (or was it two years ago now?). A real shame. But he left at least two albums (plus the ones he did with Pink Floyd) and what he left was just magical.
It's simply amazing how many talented people there are out there. This is definitely the case with Italian painter Erica Anesi. He work has been displayed in galleries around the world and I have to say deservedly so. Her profile has a number of wonderful examples in her photo page and I highly suggest that you all have a look at these. Simply incredible. Her work immediately grabbed me being that I am a great admirer of abstract painting. Stop by and have a look at this very talented painter's work.
Rasheid Ali Quartet: "New Directions In Modern Music" (1971)
Avant Garde Jazz at it's best, this time from Coltrane's drummer Rasheid Ali. There are only two tracks on this album but they are amazing. Free form, wild, experimental. Absolute genius. I highly HIGHLY recommend this one.
Rashied Ali Quartet & Quintet: "Moon Flight" (1975)
Another masterpiece of Avant Garde Jazz. "Blood On The Cross" is a must hear. One of my all time favorite Jazz musicians. His band is amazing as well. You just don't hear it like this anymore.
Rashied Ali: "New York Ain't So Bad" (1975)
Billed as "Ali Plays The Blues" and that's just what it is. Beautiful.
Rashied Ali Quintet: Self Titled (1973)
What can I say? All I can tell you is that if you are a Jazz drummer or are into Jazz drummers, you have to hear this guy. What I can't understand how it has gone from this to Kenny G over the years. Amazing musicianship and very intricate structures. What can I say? He's one of my favorites in Jazz.
Cannonball Adderley: "Bohemia After Dark" (1955)
I think it's a shame that these days one has to listen to something 50 years old to hear something fresh. This LP swings! Featuring Kenny Clarke, Horace Silver, Donald Byrd and a bunch of others. Just an over all great Bop LP.
Vicente Amigo: "City Of Ideas" (2002)
A phenomenal Flamenco guitar player who I was exposed to after seeing him on Jule's Holland's "Beat Route" program one night. After seeing him play, I ran out and bought this album. He's truly amazing.
Vicente Amigo: "Un momento en el sonido" (2005)
Another great album from this Flamenco guitarist. Vicente mixes things up a bit with this one, utilizing a drummer and a bass player, something not normally heard on Flamenco record but it works very well here, I think.
Wessell Anderson: "Warmdaddy In The Garden Of Swing" (1994)
I first heard this in a coffee shop I used to go to, run by these Turks who were always playing some excellent music. One morning I was in there and they had this CD on and I just HAD to know who it was. It took me years to find it but I eventually got a hold of it. Amazing sax player and it's a mystery to me why this album is out of print.
Wessell Anderson: "The Ways Of Warmdaddy" (1996)
Another truly incredible album. Again, one that took me forever to track down. What's the deal with that? This one builds on the first CD but I think I still prefer the debut over this one. Nevertheless, it's simply amazing. And his band is phenomenal.
Wessell Anderson: "Live At The Village Vanguard" (1998)
A great performance from a great Jazz musician. He's definitely one of my favorite contemporary Jazz musicians.
Albert Ayler: "Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe" (1969)
Another great one. Back when Jazz musicians were still trying to take it to another level. In the vein of Coltrane and Ornette Coleman (at least to me) but he's definitely got his own style. Where are musicians like this today?
Afghan Whigs: "Up In It" (1989)
This came out prior to the whole Grunge phase and it's a great one. This band was always overlooked in my opinion. That had such a unique sound. How can one not love the song "Retarded" with it's dischordant opener and infectious groove. Besides, Greg Dulli has an amazing voice.
Afghan Whigs: "Congregation" (1992)
This is my favorite album of theirs. "I'm Her Slave", "Turn On The Water", two tracks with interesting time signatures and of course a cover from 'Jesus Christ Superstar', "The Temple". One of the best rock albums of the 90s in my opinion.
Afghan Whigs: "Gentleman" (1993)
Their major label debut and it still kicks ass, though I still don't think it's better than it's predecessor. This one has the great "Gentleman" and "Be Sweet". A great band...
Agnostic Front: "Victim In Pain" (1984)
Heard this one for the first time in my last year in High School. A friend of mine turned me on to this brutal hardcore record. I love this one of theirs. The way New York City hardcore used to be before it got all metalicized.
Agnostic Front: "Cause For Alarm" (1986)
This one is ok. I like the first one better to be honest. This is when the scene began to crossover with Metal and I wasn't particularly thrilled with all that. It's a brutal record nevertheless.
Agnostic Front: "Liberty and Justice" (1987)
A decent one. More hardcover/metal crossover sound than I prefer but it isn't bad. By '87 I was long gone from the hardcore/punk scene but I always liked these guys.
Agnostic Front: "Live At CBGB" (1989)
Captured perfectly what it was like in those days.
Agnostic Front: "One Voice (1992) & "Last Warning" (1993)
Follows the same path that began a decade earlier. Like being pummelled when listening to this. By 1993, I had grown very tired of all this but still...if you like your music hard, aggressive and absolutely brutal, this band is for you.
Alice In Chains: "Face Lift" (1990)
Still "Pre-Grunge" period and I really only dug "Man In A Box" and "We Die Young". A little too "Metal" for me. They hadn't realized their full potential as of yet.
Alice In Chains: "Sap" (1992)
Acoustic record and a very good one at that. Shows that the band was capable of a lot more.
Alice In Chains: "Dirt" (1992)
Now THIS is the shit! I love this album and I think they realized their full potential here. Just a dark, gritty, grungy, album with some psychedelic flourishes thrown in for good measure. I think this is their best one.
Angry Samoans: "Back From Samoa" (1982)
One of those crazy punk bands I was really into in high school. Not a great band but fun. "Todd Killings" is a classic, even though it is less than a minute long!
Angun: "Snow On The Sahara" (1998)
A singer from Thailand. Beautiful voice. I first saw her on that show that David Byrne used to host (but I can't remember the name of it now). Bought the album after seeing her performance. A really good cover of David Bowie's "Life on Mars" as well.
Audioslave: Self-Titled (2002)
You probably all know this one. Got this one as a Christmas gift from my then 6 year old nephew (who is 12 now and has more guitars than I do!). It's pretty good, even though to me it just sounded like Rage Against The Machine with Chris Cornell singing. It seems they hadn't found their own sound as of yet. But I like it.
It's good to know that someone out there is actually reading these things. It's a good thing because I always like to spread the word about an artist, musician, etc that I find interesting and hoping that someone else would find them interesting as well. I've had music in my life for as long as I could remember. My father was a Jazz musician, a trumpet player, and music was always on in the house so I guess it was natural that I would gravitate toward it and eventually begin having tastes of my own as well as becoming a musician. I've always had very ecclectic taste when it comes to music. Some people are only into one thing or another, others are all over the place. I'm one of the latter. I think it's important for musicians to keep their minds open to all kinds of music. It helps the creative proccess as well as enlightens one to the infinite number of possibilities are out there.
Being that I am off work today and it's early, I figured I would indulge myself a little in sharing some music that I have heard over the course of my life with the hopes of either turning some people on to something interesting and/or finding others who also feel the same way about some of this music. This will be the first installment of many more to come (and being that I love to write a well, this could be fun for me---because I think I was always a frustrated music critic or something) :-/
These records are from my collection, but I have so much (too much in fact) but I guess I will start here:
The Action: "The Ultimate Action" (1980)
This is a band from the 60s who were contemporaries of The Who and the Small Faces. In other words, a "Mod" band. They never went on to do anything except release a handful of singles in England. I don't even think they were released in the U.S. This album compiles all their singles and a few tracks for an LP which was never released. A very R&B influenced band with all the slashing Rickenbackers one could hear. If you're a fan of the Who and others like them, this band is for you. The highlights here are "Something Has Hit Me" and "Shadows and Reflections". Mid-60s British pop at it's best.
Aerosmith: "Rocks" (1976)
Remember how good these guys once were? This is a great album, which actually belonged to my older sister back then but I have it now. I was never a huge fan of them, but I liked them over all. This was a great one. When I hear "Back In The Saddle" or "Sick as a Dog" I can't help but think what happened to these guys over the years. This is the REAL Aerosmith, not that "Janie's Got A Gun" crap.
The Alarm: "Declaration" (1984)
Oh, yes, I remember them well. When they came out everyone was comparing them to U2. They sound a little like them, I guess. Definitely coming from the same place but not as talented. This was their debut with "Marching On" and "68 Guns". Cool stuff but a bit dated now.
The Alarm: "Strength" (1985)
Their 2nd LP. I didn't like this one at all except for maybe the title track. I guess they didn't have much in them after their debut. Others may disagree but this one felt flat and left me cold.
Laurindo Almeida: "The Look of Love and The Sounds of Laurindo Almeida" (60s)
A Spanish guitar player. This record was my father's and he used to play it around the house when I was a kid. I took it home with me after he passed away. Basically playing the hits of the day, like Cole Porter and Burt Bacharach stuff. A great guitar player but the LP itself isn't anything one would really sit down and listen to that often. But it has a sentimental value to me.
Laurindo Almeida: "A Man and a Woman" (60s)
See above. More great guitar playing with some Bossa Nova tracks as well. Another one of my dad's that I took home with me.
Pink Anderson: "Carolina Blues Man" (N/A)
Real, old, deep blues from the man where Pink Floyd got part of their name. This is the real thing, not like that George Thorogood shit. If Blues is your think, this is a must listen.
The Animals: "Animal Tracks" (1965)
One of my favorite bands from the 60s. I used to listen to this one with my uncle a lot when I was a kid. A great album with the classics "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". Eric Burdon had an amazing voice. This is a classic!
The Animals: "The Twain Shall Meet" (1968)
The one with "Sky Pilot" and "Monterrey". Another great one when they also began experimenting with psychedelic sounds and Eastern instruments.
APB: "Danceability" (1983)
A funk band from Scotland. They released a handful of singles in the early 80s then eventually an album before splitting up, I think. This one is an EP that has "Rainy Day" which was a staple on WLIR back in the day. I always liked the guy's bass sound. Nothing spectacular but they always had a great groove.
APB: "Something To Believe In" (1985)
This is their album, which really was just a compilation of all their singles. Cool stuff. This one is for those who liked that funk tinged pop that came out in the early 80s. I wonder whatever happened to these guys?
The Art Of Noise: "Into Battle With The Art of Noise" (1983)
This was Trevor Horn's project. A danceable, ecclectic collection of funk beats and noise. You know Trevor Horn's production and it's all over this. I remember getting this because Trevor Horn was once in Yes for a stint. Maybe today this will seem like a novelty but it was cool at the time, big with the Hip Hop crowd for a while in NYC.
Kevin Ayers: "The Best of Kevin Ayers" (1989)
Formerly with The Soft Machine. This guy wrote a bunch of quirky, eccelectic pop songs in the same vein as Syd Barret (who I believe plays on one of his tracks "Singing a Song In The Morning". There's no mistaking that Barrett guitar style). If you're into Barrett or Julian Cope, I would recommend this.
Kevin Ayers: "Bannanamour" (1973)
See above. More ecclectic rock/pop from the former Soft Machine guitarist.
Aztec Camera: "Oblivious" 12" (1983)
Over all, I hated these guys but I did like this song with it's Spanish/Gypsy flavored guitar playing. One of those 80s bands that sounded just like everyone else but this was a decent song (or at least the guitar playing was). Sort of a Spandau Ballet-like group. I wouldn't recommend anything else from them. Like I said, I hated them over all. But even crappy groups sometimes have a decent song now and then.
Charles has just posted some new old songs on the Third Eye Butterfly profile. These next 4 songs were two of the singles that were released. The first two songs, "Life Is Elsewhere"/"Play With The Rainmaker" (this song is now featured on my profile) was released on Psycho-Pop Records in the spring of 1994, even though these two tracks appeared on the EP "What The Thunder Said" back in 1991, the year these two songs were recorded. The next two, "Everything Falls Apart"/"Skin" was released on Psycho-Pop in early 1993. These were the first two singles the band released. Since MySpace only has a 4 song limit, we have to keep rotating them. These will be on for the next couple of weeks then some more will take their place.
Also: Charles and I both wrote blogs about these songs (each separately) so if anyone is interested in knowing the background to any of these by all means stop by and have a look.
Ok. Sometimes you come across someone so incredibly talented it just amazes you. This was the case with a New Zealand painter named Escha van den Bogerd who I just happened to stumble across on MySpace this morning. Her paintings are truly a sight to behold. My words here cannot possibly do them justice so I will simply recommend that you just go to her profile and see them for yourself. Escha is a figuartive/realist painter (most of the painters I've mentioned here have been more modern/abstract) who captures the emotions of her subjects amazingly well. Her use of color and light is simply amazing, something that had always amazed me about painters (and something I certainly cannot do myself!) These paintings come to life. Seriously, have a look for yourself. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
Charles Caracciolo has done it again! Posting a new blog on the Third Eye Butterfly page---an excellent account of the songs we used to cover and some of the amusing anecdotes that went along with them. For those of you who remember us, stop by and have a look. For those who never knew us but are interested anyway, have a look as well. For those of you who could care less....well.....as they say, you can lead a horse to water but... :-)
Last night I began recording my CD at Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn NY and everything went very very well. Bitterweed guitarist Dave Ayala (who is in the process of recording his own CD) joined me by playing Doumbek on the 4 basic tracks we laid down. So far that's all there is, guitar & doumbek, and everything is coming along. In the coming weeks I will be heading back in to finish up those tracks and to lay down some more with the help of some very talented friends, including Linda La Porte, Virginia Summerville, Bea Connena and Charles Caracciolo
So far the sound of it has met my expectations and exceeded them to some degree, mainly because a lot of the music I am doing for this is highly experimental for me. For someone who has come out of a punk/rock/powerpop background, this sort of mix of Spanish-Arabic-Folk-World Music is something I never attempted to do but always wanted to. So far, so good and I am very pleased with the results. I thank Capture Sound's engineer Paul Schelleck for that who always does an amazing job in helping bring out the ideas and allowing them to come into fruition.
Of course, I will miss both of them being that I am going to be at the recording studio tomorrow night. But that doesn't mean YOU can't check either of these events out...or BOTH if you can:
I had a day off from work today (due to some unforseen events around the house) so I was fortunate (or unfortunate) to catch the televised speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad at Columbia University today. Much debate swirled around whether or not he should be able to speak there. I am one of those who welcomed it, mainly because it would be a good thing to let this madman's words speak for themselves. And they did. Much to the credit of the president of Columbia University, he put forth a scathing indictment of the current Iranian regime and asked some very pointed and direct questions....all of which Ahmedinejad tap danced around and didn't answer (or wouldn't answer) directly. In other words, more of the same nonsense.
But this is not the point I am trying to make with this post. As soon as the event was over, I waited around for some follow up commentary and went back and forth between the news channels---CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc and there on the screen, flashing for all to see: "BREAKING NEWS" and/or "NEWS ALERT!". But it had nothing to do with Ahmedinejad's speech at Columbia. It had to do with Britney Spears' custody battle. On each and every news channel, THIS was the "breaking news".
I woke up this morning to find that Charles Caracciolo, drummer for my old band Third Eye Butterfly had written some great anecdotes about the recording of our last two singles on the band's MySpace blog. Reading them brought me right back to the time we recorded them and it was a pleasure to read it. I had forgotten some of the things about those sessions so it was great to read his take on them. We had a hell of a lot of fun over the years and my only real regret was that we never recorded more of the songs we had at our disposal. We only put down 13 over the years....but we had well more than 100, easy. Time, money, laziness...all three? Who knows?
Some of those old songs will make their way into my solo project (albiet in a different form) which I will begin recording next week (and with Charles on those tracks as well---which will be great since we haven't played together in a decade!) So if anyone is interested in knowing some of the history behind some of those songs, by all means, stop by and check it out. It's a great read. Soon, as soon as I can think clearly, will post some of my own regarding the next batch of songs we put up there (since there is only a 4 song limit).
At some point, I'm sure, we will compile those songs and release a full length CD...maybe along with some old live tracks....who knows? Time will tell.
In keeping with my attempts to highlight certain bands, artists and writers that I come across and like, I'd like to mention another great band I found on MySpace that you should all check out. Children Of The Revolution, a band from the west coast who does an amazing blend of Flamenco, Latin and Rock. I haven't picked up their CD as of yet but I definitely intend to...and I also look forward to them coming to the New York City area for some shows. Go to their page and have a listen.
When I visit you, and the moon
isn't around to show me the way,
comets of longing set my heart
so much ablaze, the earth is lit
by the holocaust under my ribs.
If you want to check out some really great music, check out this band called Indialucia, an excellent blend of Flamenco and Indian music. I came across this group on MySpace and I've since tracked down the CD at Other Music in New York City. Check out their page to get an idea of what they are doing. It won't disappoint.
Another New York City artist who is doing some really good work is the painter Anissa Cristina Mendez. I don't know Anissa, she doesn't know me nor have we ever met but I have come across her work here and there during my travels. I know her work appears in galleries around the city now and then and the next time it does, it's definitely worth checking out. Her paintings depict everyday life in New York and there is a "Hopper-esque" quality to them that I really like a lot. Have a look for yourself. You won't be disappointed. There is an upcoming exhibit at Dominie's Hoek Bar/Lounge on Vernon Blvd in Long Island City. Opening on September 28, 6-8pm, which I will unfortunately miss due to the fact that I will be in the recording studio that night. But if you can, you should go and check it out.
Laura Joy Lustig is a New York City artist/photographer/poet. I've known Laura for nearly 10 years now and I've always been a big admirer of her works. I haven't seen or spoken to her in a number of years now but occasionally I will get wind on some of the new work she's been producing. Interested artists should check out what she's been doing lately. It is simply amazing. For those who are not familiar with her work, you're in for a real treat. The best way I can describe her new works is to call them "Minimalist Abstractions", even though I am not sure if that term would be totally accurate. But do check them out. They are simply amazing works.
I am definitely up way to early on this gloomy Saturday so I thought I'd post an update on the upcoming CD I will begin recording at the end of this month. To begin with, I guess the best way to describe what is coming is an "acoustic-folk-pop-world music" thing. I am also honored to have some very talented musician friends helping me out on it as well, including, Linda La Porte (vocals/guitar/palmas), Dave Ayala (doumbek/guitar/palmas), Charles Caracciolo (drums/vocals) and others to be named shortly, possibly Bea Connena and Virginia Summerville. I will be playing guitar, bass and various other things. A few songs that are definitely going to make their way on it are "Mudejar", "To The Ends Of The Earth", "All My Life", "Now That I Couldn't Love You", "Goodnight, Mary Magdelene", "Breaking In Two", and a few others which still remained untitled. All in all it will be about 10 tracks (maybe more).
I'm really eager to get it started, something that I should have done a long time ago but I guess the time was neccesary to refocus about what I wanted to do since the break up of my old band Third Eye Butterfly and the years playing with Bitterweed. For the most part, it's definitely going to be something different for me which makes it that much more exciting. Hopefully I will have some music up here soon to give anyone interested a sample of it.
In the meantime, I highly recommend anyone reading this to check out some of the music of the other artists I mentioned on here, since they are making some great music on their own.
One of the things that always amazes me about social networking sites like MySpace and the internet in general is how you can connect with people you hadn't seen or heard from in years. This is the case with this band Balloon Squad that my old band Third Eye Butterfly used to play with many moons ago. They were one of our favorite bands and the shows we did together were always fun. In fact, I believe the last show we ever did was with them up in Nyack, NY back in 1996 or early '97, my old brain is failing me at the moment.
Tonight, I happened to be hanging with my old bandmates after having not seen them in a while and I was told about a blog entry that Balloon Squad's bass player, Cindi Merklee (a singer/songwriter in her own right---check out her page & music) about the old band and shows that we did together. I have to say it was one of the nicest things to see and we all appreciated it very much. It's just one of those things that make all of this worthwhile and just goes to show you what impressions you can make on someone when it comes to music. To remember all that after all these years simply knocked me out and it was absolutely wonderful. After reading it, I realize that this is what it's really all about.
I caught another really good exhibit yesterday afternoon called "The Abstract Impulse: 50 Years of Abstraction at the National Academy, 1956-2006". A small exhibit but well worth the visit, concentrating more on the lesser known (or at least lesser known to me) abstract expressionists. There are some well known artists represented---Robert Motherwell, Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler---but most I've never heard of, nor have I seen their works before, which was a real treat. A good number of the works are by more contemporary artists which shows that abstract expressionism isn't totally dead and that some are still working in that form, which I think is great. If abstraction is your thing, you won't go wrong checking this out.
Caught two great exhibits yesterday. First was the Museo del Barrio's biennieal "The [S] Files" which showcases contemporary Latin American artists from around the world. This year's show wasn't as interesting as the last one, but it's definitely worth checking out. There are some very interesting works at this show. I think it runs until the end of January so there is still plenty of time to see it. The big surprise for me was to see a work by Peruvian artist Cesar Cornejo, who is a friend of a friend. Most of the works explore the issues of identity, gender, sexuality...which seems to be common theme among all the works at this year's show. So if you're looking for some interesting new works, head on over and have a look.
Next was an exhibit from one of my all time favorite artists, Richard Pousette-Dart at the Guggenheim, an early practicioner of Abstract Expressionism. Very powerful works that were created during the time of the invention of the atomic bomb so many of these works explore this theme and where mankind may be headed because of it. Pousette-Dart never got the attention that most of his contemporary's had (i.e. Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem DeKooning, etc) but his work is on par with theirs. This show runs only until the end of September so it won't be around for long. It was great to finally see a retrospective of this artist's work, rather than just a painting or two here and there around various museums. He is definitely one of my all time favorite painters.
Just wanted to say thanks to all those who came down to the show last night at Luv 24/7. We all had a great time and it was great to see you all. I also want to thank Linda La Porte, of course, for allowing me to accompany her, Virginia Summerville (who did a great job on vocals---you and Linda sound absolutely amazing together!) Khami, Bea Connena, Will, Dave Ayala (always great to share the same stage with you...looking forward to working with you on your material!), Adrian Rhen (it was great to see you again!) and of course Adem Tesfaye for setting up the show and for all the support and willingness to get something going musically in this city. We all had a great time! Thanks!
Come see Linda La Porte rock acoustic
with the likes of Julian Gallo on additional guitar and Virginia Summerville on background vocals...along with some other special guests.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007 8PM
at
LUV 24/7
247 Eldridge Street (between Houston and Stanton Sts.)NYC
Well, today it's back to the grind after having two weeks off. I'm really not looking forward to it to tell you the truth, but I guess I have to start some time, right? It's been a good long while since having to deal with the New York City rush hour and after spending nearly two weeks in sunny California, having not to deal with all the craziness for so long, I'm really not looking foward to slipping back into the chaos and rushing around. But what is one going to do? One has to eat and pay the bills, no? I'm telling you, being away from all of that is good for the soul.
A few good things happening: First- If anyone out there is interested in catching some good music, there is a great show coming up this Friday night. Two Latin rock bands are playing at Sapony's in Astoria featuring Bea Ba (with whom my friend Linda La Porte will be playing) and Tanta Trampa. The show starts at 10pm and all the details can be found at their respective profiles.
Second: I will be joining Linda La Porte once again for her show at Luv 24/7 on the Lower East Side on August 31st at 8pm. We will also be accompanied by ex-Entourage bassist Virginia Summerville who will be singing background vocals on some of the songs. We're both really excited about that. I'm looking forward to playing that since it's a new place for us and fellow New York City singer/songwriter Adem Tesfaye is starting to get a good thing happening there. So if anyone is free to check out some good shows, come on down and join us for the fun.
I am home from California and I have to say I had a wonderful time and I can also tell you I already miss the beautiful weather they have there, especially when I look out my living room window right now. Feels cold.... But it was a blast and I had a great time.
Music news: Be sure to try to catch Bea Ba at Sapony in Astoria on Friday night. My friend Linda La Porte will be playing with them (that is, in them). For more information check out the Bea Ba profile or Linda La Porte's profile. I know I'm looking forward to it!
Well, I'm headed off for California this afternoon and I couldn't be more excited about getting out of the city for a while. It's a welcome break, especially after this past Wednesday's madness. When I awoke this morning and saw rain, all I could think of was I'd go fucking crazy if we had a repeat of all that. But it doesn't seem as if it's going to be a problem, thank God. So I am really looking forward to some relaxation and fun far away from here. As I said, it's a welcome break because even a life-long New Yorker needs to get away from here now and then. The city will just do that to you. I will also be celebrating by 41st birthday out there so I am also looking forward to that as well. Should be a hell of a lot of fun.
When I return, there will be some upcoming events as well. On 8/24 my dear friend Linda La Porte will be playing with Bea Ba, (I should say she will be playing in Bea Ba) doing an acoustic set in Queens. Once I get the details I will post more about it here. Then on 8/31, Linda will also be performing at Luv 24/7 at 8pm (I will be joining her on guitar). We will be playing along with a great New York band called Shut Up Junior, featuring the very talented Khami Pellegrino. More details about these shows are forthcoming.
I'm also looking forward to begin work on my first ever solo CD, which I will begin recording on September 28th. I already have 4 tracks that I will be working on and there should be about 10 when complete. So things are looking up and I'm very excited about it all. It will be a very different project for me, since the CD will not be rock. It's something that I've been wanting to try out for a very long time now and I will be joined by a few very talented friends who will help me see this thing through. I'm sure with their help, everything should work out fine. It should be very interesting....
My band Bitterweed's new song "Shame", which will appear in the film "Delilah Rose" has been posted on the bands profile. Stop by and check it out. It's the first new song in nearly 2 years. The band has been taking a hiatus but will be coming back very shortly---something we've really been looking forward to. So stop by, check it out, leave us a comment or two....
Well, it's finally official. At the end of September, I will be heading into Capture Sound Studios to begin recording my first ever solo CD. It's going to be very different from anything I've done before so that's what makes this exciting for me. For those here who are familiar about what I've done in the past and/or am involved with now this CD will be a huge departure. I will be joined by some very talented friends of mine to help bring this thing into fruition. I'm very excited about it.
Yesterday's session with Linda La Porte was also amazing and things are progressing very well. We were joined by very talented drummer/percussionist Dylan Wissing who did a fantastic job and brought a great vibe to the track.
In other music news, the song Bitterweed recorded the other night got the green light and the thumbs up for the film the song will appear in, "Delilah Rose". We'd like to thank music and artistic director Ron Bucalo for making it all possible. Thank you!!
Heading into the studio this afternoon to record a brand spankin' new song with Bitterweed. It's the first time in almost two years since we put down some new material. This particular track we are recording is called "Shame" and it will appear in an independent film called "Delilah Rose". We're all excited and looking forward to it. Besides, it's been a while since I set foot in a recording studio so it should be a lot of fun. Bitterweed will soon be hitting the stage again after a long hiatus and there will be some new material as well in the coming months. So for those of you who have been waiting, it won't be long now.
Tomorrow afternoon, I will be returning to the studio to record some new tracks for Linda La Porte's solo CD, which is due out soon, possibly by the fall. Stay tuned for more details.
As some of you here know, I was in a band called Third Eye Butterfly for about 12 years. We played out mostly in the mid-80s to late 90s and had a couple of releases out there. Recently I set up a MySpace page for the band and now, finally, there are some songs to listen to. The songs posted were recorded sometime in 1995 and were done at Coyote Recording in Brooklyn, engineered by Al Caiati. One of the songs, "My Idea of Torture" was never released so those of you who knew us may find that interesting, since most of you never heard it, unless you were there at the shows over the last years we played out. So if you're curious as to what we were about, go check it out and have a listen.
Someone I know had extra tickets to see a "Spanish Concert" tonight and of course I was more than willing to check it out. Much to my surprise it turned out to be a show celebrating Peruvian Heritage Week - In Celebration of the 186th Anniversary of Peruvian Independence at the Colden Auditorium at Queens College. A very enjoyable show, featuring a band called Inca Son, who did traditional Peruvian music coupled with traditional dance. Absolutely wonderful. The one thing that stood out for me more than anything else was how the music illustrated the blending of the cultures. The Indian and the Spanish and how the traditional dance as well had, with time, incorporated some aspects of traditional Spanish dance. I'm usually not a big fan of dance (with the exception of Tango and Flamenco) but this was very enjoyable and entertaining. It was a very welcome surprise because I wasn't sure what I was actually going to see. It is also a very fine example of how music and history and culture do not exist in a vacuum and that all these topics are so closely related (unlike how they teach anything these days in America, but that's another topic for another time). Overall, it was a very enjoyable evening and I'm glad I went.
Just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who came down to the show tonight. We all had a great time, as usual. A special thanks goes out to Linda La Porte who asked me to accompany her on her set tonight and to Adem Tesfaye who hooked us up. He did an amazing set tonight. Thanks again for all your support. It is greatly appreciated.
About a year and a half ago, I was kicking around Luquillo, Puerto Rico one afternoon and I happened to come across this art gallery. I can't remember the name of it, unfortunately. But as I went in, I noticed it was a huge place, with paintings and other fine pieces for sale, as well as other things. One of the artists I happened to come across was a paniter named Glenda Santiago. I was immediately taken with her work. It's very expressionistic in nature and it captures life and themes of Puerto Rico through its people. Check out her page on MySpace. You won't be disappointed. It was one of those chance finds and certainly a welcome one. Check out her page to see some of her paintings and to get more information about the artist.
Did anyone catch the "You Tube Debates" with the Democratic candidates last night? I did and I have to say I found the whole thing very sad. God only knows what video questions they rejected when you consider some of the idiotic ones that were actually shown. I don't know about you, but I think we are in a very critical juncture in our country and this debate only seemed to highlight how much trouble we are actually in. There are some very serious issues facing us and it seemed to me that this whole format only trivializes these issues. (Of course, some of these issues raised are to me, trivial). One that sticks in my mind was the snowman asking about global warming. Ok, I get it, it was supposed to be humorous but...come on. Then there was the nut holding up his machine gun and calling it his "baby", then those two guys from Tenessee asking about Al Gore? Why even include that one? The dumb song about being taxed too high? Is it a wonder why we are laughed at around the world?
I am not one opposed to humor, believe me. But I just think that with all that's going on, people should be just a bit more serious when it comes to some of these critical issues that are facing us in the coming years. And none of these candidates seem to have what it takes to deal with them (with maybe the exception of Barack Obama, who I like at the moment). With the war still raging on, climate change, facing terrorist threats, housing shortages, healthcare issues, education issues, a lot of the questions chosen for this debate seemed almost flippant, with people more concerned about getting on TV than getting to the bottom of the issues they claimed to care about. I don't know, it just seemed to trivialize the whole thing, turning everything into a form of entertainment rather than getting the substance of these pressing issues. It just boggles the mind.
I happened to catch poet Martin Espada last night on Bill Moyer's TV show. It was a great interview and Martin read some great poems as well. I had enormous respect for Martin as a writer before but I have even more respect for him after seeing this interview. He is in my mind one of the best contemporary poets out there today. Here is a list of some of his books that I had read over the years for those who may be interested in checking him out:
Rebellion Is The Circle Of A Lover's Hands A Mayan Astronomer in Hell's Kitchen City of Coughing and Dead Radiators Imagine The Angels of Bread
Do yourself a favor and read him if you haven't already. I guarantee you that his writing will make you think.
I just changed the channel on my TV because of these two stupid ass pundits going back and forth about what some politician had said about twenty million years ago as opposed to what he says now. It got really annoying. But it speaks to something that is going on in this culture these days and that is this big game of "Gotcha!" It seems that everyone is hanging on every word someone says and then wants to hold them to it for all eternity, waiting for them to change their minds or have a different opinion then BAM!! Gotcha! But hey, these are politicians and most of them are all full of shit anyway, so what does it matter, right?
But I find that this also creeps into everyday life as well. I can't even tell you how many times it has happened to me. I may make a statement about something then have a differing opinion about it as the years go on, and they they are, the "Gotcha!" crowd, waiting to pounce, salivating at the chance to point out that I had said something different when I was 10 to 20 years younger as opposed to now.
Yes, that's how it works. People evolve, people change. Attitudes and opinions are fluid. No one has an opinion about something when they were much younger and then cling to it as they grow older unless they are some of the most stagnating individuals ever to walk the face of the earth. And there are plenty of those, believe me. People are complex. Nothing is as 'black and white' as it seems. It's happened to me many times when it comes to music. I may be reminded of an attitude or an opinion I had when I was 25 and now that I am approaching 41, I am expected to hold that same attitude. Gotcha!
When it comes to these things, maybe people should just take it for what it is at the time and not cling to each and every word someone utters. Why do that? Why hold these words in some sort of mental vault and wait for the day some contradictory or different opinion takes flight only to pounce on it later....and with such relish? The question I ask is what the hell is wrong with you that you hold every word uttered from my mouth as so sacred that you feel the need to try to nail me to the wall when I say something different as time goes by. That is also really annoying. And childish. In that case, why not nail me to the wall because what I said at 6 is not what I say now? Utterly ridiculous.
But that's the culture we are in today. A Gotcha Culture. God help you if you think through something and come to a different conclusion. God help you if you try to educate yourself about something or at the very least become more informed about something. Reevaluation is something all of us human beings do. It's part of growing as a human being, or else stagnate and sink as if in a tar pit.
Those standard bearers of the Gotcha Culture need to get a life....and quick. Worry about yourself and stop worrying about each and every word uttered out of someone else's mouth. Look in the mirror and do something. Sooner or later, someone will play Gotcha with you too. Then how would you feel?
Went to see "Goya's Ghosts" last night at the Angelika and all I can say is...Ehh! I had much higher expectations for it for two reasons: 1/ it was directed by Milos Forman and 2/ Javier Bardem ("Before Night Falls", "The Sea Inside" and "Mondays In The Sun"), who I think is a great actor but it seems that even with these two involved, it wasn't all that great to be honest and I was left a little disappointed. The story is fictional, of course, set in actual historical events, using actual historical figures. I absolutely love the work of Goya, which is througout the film but the story itself just didn't grab me. What it does do though is give you an idea on how twisted the Inquisition was and the absurd ways they came to determine who was a "heretic" and who wasn't. I guess the point of the movie was to contrast the differences between religious fanaticism and the ideas of the enlightenment but then blurs the whole thing in order to raise the question as to whether or not the ideas of the Enlightenent can be just as fanatical and unbending as that of the Church. The problem is that the movie does not really focus on this question as much as it maybe should have. In the end, it was dangerously close to typical Hollywood pap. I would recommend it, but don't expect much. Also: I couldn't get past seeing Randy Quaid playing King Carlos of Spain.
The Most Amusing Thing This Week Dept:
On the way home last night I happened to pick up the L Magazine's faux-Summer of '77 issue. It always amuses me when recently moved in New Yorkers wax nostalgia for an era they weren't around for, or maybe not even born for. Well, this issue waxes nostalgic on the Summer of '77, as if it were something to really remember. What was there to remember about it? I was there and I can tell you it blew: the Son of Sam was running around, scaring the hell out of everyone, then there was the Blackout, the rioting and looting, garbage was all over the streets, pot holes everywhere, Beame was still mayor, inflation was through the roof, crime was rampant, no one had any money; it was a rough time. Granted I was only an 11 year old boy at the time but there was nothing about it that was so special. Wipe out all the pop culture nostalgia and what did you really have? Maybe the only good thing that happened that year was that the Yankees won the World Series. But I was a Met fan anyway so....
Invasion of The Muggles Dept:
Well, the wait is finally over. The big question can finally be answered. Did Harry Potter die? Did he live? Or did the book end ala 'Sopranos' with a blank page at the end, or the last sentence ending abruptly in the middle? I'm not here to talk shit about the Harry Potter series, being that I never read any of them. What I wanted to comment about was the absolute incredible hoopla surrounding it. These are the only books that I can recall where such a spectacle existed. And this is a good thing. Anything that gets kids away from the video games, even for a couple of days, to crack open a book and read is always a good thing. But it's not only kids, right? So if anything can get anyone to leave their cell phones, I-Pods, I-Phones, etc aside for even a couple of hours can't be a bad thing at all. But seriously, when has a book release ever generated so much excitement? I can't recall that ever.
Finally Getting Over The Hangover Dept:
It took 2 full days but I finally recovered from my hangover, which only reenforces the fact that I am not as young as I used to be. I had such a great time at Linda La Porte's show the other night, I went just a tad overboard and felt the ramifications for two full days. Man...I can remember when I would just sleep it off. Not anymore. I don't even want to think about a drink for at least another month!
I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who came down to Linda La Porte's show last night at the Nightingale Lounge in NYC. I know it was tough for some considering the steam pipe explosion uptown knocking out the trains. I had a wonderful time (maybe a little too wonderful being that I am nursing a wicked hangover today!). It was also fun to watch and listen to the open mic portion of the night with performances by Adem Tesfaye, Bea Conenna and members from the band Deep Intent. Even I got up there at the end of the evening and performed three songs from my old band Third Eye Butterfly, which is something I haven't done since Third Eye Butterfly broke up a decade ago. That was fun....even though by that part of the evening, let's just say I was...uh....comfortable. All in all, it was a hell of a lot of fun and I wanted to take the time to thank those who came down to be part of it.
I will be joining LINDA LA PORTE at Nightingales in NYC on 7/18/07 at 8pm. If you're in the NYC area, come on down and check out this amazing singer/songwriter. I will be playing guitar & bass on some of the songs.
Nightingales
13th Street & 2nd Avenue
NYC
July 18th 2007
8pm
The other day I picked up a CD from a singer/percussionist/dancer named Alessandra Belloni. It was one of those "on a lark" purchases----part of my ever increasing interest in hearing different forms of music from around the world. The CD entitled "Tarantelle & canti d'amore" was a particular interesting find. I have to say, being of Sicilian descent, I am very unfamiliar with Southern Italian music and this CD was a very nice introduction. I also have to say I never quite heard anything like this before. I am familiar with Tarantellas, but nothing like this! It is apparent the Tarantella I had become familiar with is a sort of watered-down version from this firey, explosive form. Here's what her website has to say about her:
Often called a "MEDITERRANEAN VOLCANO"Alessandra Belloni is a singer, tambourine virtuoso, dancer and actress, she was born in Italy, and is committed to preserving the strong and rich traditions of her culture. The only woman in the U.S. and in Italy who specializes in Southern Italian percussion combined with ritual dances and singing, that she learned from the old people in the field research, and also with the legendary Italian percussionist Alfio Antico. She has spent more than twenty years participating every Summer in the authentic drumming Festivals in remote areas of Southern Italy, held in honor of the Black Madonna and as rituals of purification.
If you have the chance to check out her music, do so. It is definitely a very interesting listen and I am looking forward to one day seeing her perform live and learn more about traditional music from Italy in general. This is all very new to me...and it is intriguing me to no end.
The other night I caught Adem Tesfaye at Nightingale's in the East Village. If you get a chance to check him out, I highly recommend that you do. Adem is a singer/songwriter who's soulful voice and jazz/blues influenced guitar playing is something not to be missed. What impressed me the most about his set was the fact that it is very different from what comes to expect from singer/songwriters in New York City. Adem's songs are passionate and real: at times Soul, other times R&B, other times Hip Hop and often all three at once which makes these songs a very interesting listen. His guitar playing is also a treat, often using jazzy chords that give these songs a very soulful and somtimes laid back (in a good way) mood. Check him out at his My Space page but by all means, see him live.
Had an absolute BLAST playing with Ron Bucalo's Didjeridu and Drum Works on Thursday night as part of the Make Music New York festival. The performance was at the Children's Magical Garden on the Lower East Side in NYC. Totally improv, the show proved something of a challenge for me personally, but I think I held my own, especially when playing with such accomplished musicians: Ron Bucalo - Didjeridu and Blues Harp, Jun Miyake- Sax & Flute, Marty Regan - Jembe, Ed Krainer - Congas and Paul (I don't have is last name unfortunately) on Guitar. All these musicians were amazing and it was a pleasure to be able to play with them. As soon as I can find some links for these musicians, I will post them here so you can hear them for yourselves. Truly amazing and a hell of a lot of fun. I just want to take the time to thank Ron and everyone else for giving me the opportunity to participate. It is greatly appreciated.
Tomorrow night (6/21/07) I will be playing bass for Ron Bucalo's Didjeridu And Drum Works at the Make Music In New York Festival. The show begins at 6pm at the Children's Magical Garden on Stanton and Norfolk Streets on the Lower East Side. It should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to it. If you have the time, stop on by and check out something truly different. Hey, what the hell, it's free!
Caught the most amazing, albiet disturbing, exhibit yesterday afternoon at El Museo del Barrio in NYC: "Los Desaparecidos" or "The Dissapeared", which featured many works of art inspired by the brutal Latin American dictatorships during the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the works centered on the victims of the military juntas of Argentina and Uruguay, showcasing work from some incredible artists such as Antonio Frasconi, Juan Manuel Echavarria, Sara Maneiro, Oscar Munoz, Ana Triscornia among many many others.
Seeing this exhibit really put a lot of things in persepctive for me. Nations like Argentina and Uruguay are far from "third world countries" yet something so insidious and brutal had arisen there. Makes one think if it could happen there, it could happen here if we aren't careful. It also brings to mind the petty concerns of most Americans (i.e. Rosie O'Donnell, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and other celebrity gossip and platitudes that passes for news these days) preoccupy themselves with. To see how many lives were obliterated----needlessly and sadistically----makes one think how lucky one really is when you just take a step back and think about it.
I highly recommend this exhibit, though I guarantee you will not walk out there disturbed and unchanged to some degree.
Today was an absolutely fantastic day...and an incredibly fun one as well. This morning Linda La Porte, Craig Germain and I went up to Nyack, New York to appear as extras in the upcoming film "Delilah Rose". It was an incredible experience and a hell of a lot of fun. Everyone involved with this film are great people. I won't get into the specifics of the scene we appeared in (I'm not sure if I should do that) but if you want to know more details about the film check out the film's website for more information. All I know is that we all had a blast and I want to take the time to thank everyone involved for allowing us to participate.
It's hard for me to believe that it was 25 years ago today that I played my first gig ever. On April 16th 1982, I had played the old NYC club A7 with my then band, Distorted Youth. We were kids....naive kids, playing the most undisciplined punk rock imaginable. We only played 3 songs that night....twice. Quite funny actually. And I remember playing with then NYC Hardcore bands Killer Instinct, Urban Waste and others I can't remember now since the years have faded the memories somewhat. (This is what happens when you get old!) :-)
We only did 2 more shows after that, one of which was with Sonic Youth (who weren't quite "known" yet) and then the band broke up amidst drunken stupidity in Tompkins Square Park about a half hour after driving literally everyone out of the room the night of our last show. It was a hell of a lot of fun. This was back in the day when the area around Tompkins Square Park was scary as all hell....a far cry from today's bistros and boutiques and million dollar apartments. My, how times change. And to think I'm still at it after all these years. Jesus....
I was absolutely surprised and delighted to see a feature in this week's Time Out New York about NYC singer/songwriter, Swati. I had written about Swati once before here, having seen her perform about two years ago at Arlene's Grocery by chance one night and being simply blown away by her. She is definitely one of the rare performers on the scene today who is making some interesting and innovative music. I remember being immeditaly grabbed by her music literally within the first few seconds of the first song in her set that night. It was obvious to me that she had something special to offer. The article says that she has just released a CD called "Small Gods". She is definitely someone you must hear for yourself. It's only a matter of time before everyone knows about her. I was very glad to see that she is starting to get the recognition she deserves. Check her out.
Being that it is Easter, I thought it fitting that I comment on this ridiculous show I saw last night on CNN. It was called "What Would Jesus Really Do?" The show trotted out all the "experts" such as Jerry Fallwell and others less known to debate what would Jesus do if he were around today to witness current events. These "experts" had Jesus being everything from a revolutionary, a socialist to a supporter of the Republican Party. The truth is no one knows what he would do. The question in and of itself is ridiculous and only serves to divide people even more over issues that probably would not concern him in the least. It was simply a circus of comical proportions.
BUT....if you are to go by what we think we all know about who Jesus was as a man, chances are even he would have found the whole program ridiculous and would have objected to those who claim to speak for him in this day in age. I am NOT a religious person by any means. But if we are to at the very least understand Jesus, the man's, message of forgiveness, peace, love, understanding and compassion, it isn't hard to imagine what he would "really" think about these times...and especially what he would think about those who claim to speak in his name.
Just my two cents on the topic. And even though I am not a religious man, I wish everyone a Happy Easter anyway, at least in the sense that I wish only peace, love, happiness, understanding and compasion for everyone.
"In their unrestrained eagerness to possess, the oppressors develop the conviction that it is possible for them to transform everything into objects of their purchasing power; hence their strictly materialistic concept of existence. Money is the measure of all things, and profit the primary goal. For the oppressors, what is worthwhile is to have more----always more----even at the cost of the oppressed having less or having nothing. For them to beis to have and to be the class of the 'haves' ".
If you would like to read some phenomenal poetry, I highly recommend one of my writer friends from Writer's Cafe, Leah Simone. Her work is extremely powerful, imaginative and real and she is easily one of my favorite writers at the moment. Hopefully one day her work will be available to the world at large. In the meantime, stop by her page and check out some of her amazing work. You won't be disappointed.
As of this writing, the article I posted today at Helium.com is ranked # 2. I'm not quite sure what that means, exactly, but it seems like a good thing. As I said, I'm not too sure exactly what this site is really all about just yet, but so far it seems interesting. There are a lot of interesting things on there. In the coming weeks, I will write more things for the site and I'll indicate it here when I do for those who may be interested in reading them. But this comes as a pleasant surprise for sure.
Recently, I was invited to write for the website Helium.com. I'm still not sure what the site is all about but it did look interesting enough to give it a try. I posted my first article today, for those who may be interested in reading it. I guess over time, I'll get a better idea about what is supposed to be done there, but this one is my inaugural attempt. It seems like a lot of fun, actually & I hope to do some more in the near future.
I got word over the weekend that the song my band Bitterweed wrote for an upcoming independent film was accepted. We're very excited about it. The as of yet untitled song will be recorded soon. I still don't have much details about the film or what it's even about but I will post it here when I know more details. Thanks to everyone who sent us good wishes.
Here is a link to one of my favorite contemporary artists, Diego Jacobson. I had become familiar with his work through the pages of ArtNews, Art Nexus and Arte al dia magazines. I also had the pleasure of seeing his work at the huge Latin American art show at the Puck Building last summer. Do yourself a favor and stop by to check out his work. He is truly amazing.
Last night my band Bitterweed went into the rehearsal studio to work on a song that may appear in an upcoming independent film. We managed to bang it out...now we only have to wait and see if the song will be accepted. I don't know much about the film or any of the details as of yet but I will post more details as they come in. We got our fingers crossed that those involved with the project will like what we came up with. Wish us luck!
I have been told that for over the past week or so the books I have available were unable to be located. That problem has been solved. If you would like to check them out, go to www.lulu.com/Julian_Gallo. If you like what you see, by all means purchase one! :-)
Available Now:
"November Rust" - Novel
"My Arrival Is Marked By Illuminating Stains" - Poems (1996-2003)
"Window Shopping For A New Crown Of Thorns" - Poems (2003-2007)
Three of my books are now available through www.lulu.com : Two poetry books, "Window Shopping For A New Crown Of Thorns" and "My Arrival Is Marked By Illuminating Stains". My novel, "November Rust" is also available. Stop by and check them out. All three are available in either print editions or for download.
I decided to go the self-publishing route. It's the best way, I think. This way, the creator has total control over the content of their work and there is no one there to say "You can't do this" or "You can't do that", "Edit this out" or "This won't work" or whatever the so-called experts have to say about it. I figured I'd follow the same path as I have for music all these years. The independent route.
So if anyone is interested out there, stop by and check them out. You can preview a bit of the book as well and if you like what you read, then by all means, buy it!
I finally gathered up enough material, after going back over the tons of old songs I had written over the years, for a CD which I plan to record, beginning this coming Spring. This will be my first ever solo CD and I'm pretty excited about it. I will be heading into Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn some time in March or April to begin recording (along with some talented friends of mine who wish to contribute something). It will be a 10 song CD which will hopefull be complete and ready for release by the Summer or Autumn. It's been a very very very long time since I've done something on my own but I think I am ready now. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
I also received a letter in the mail yesterday informing me that one of my poems was accepted for publication in a journal called Small Brushes which should be due out in a couple of weeks, according to the letter. Very exciting.
"Our visions of reality are so often fictions, formless or uninformed visions, fractions and refractions that deceive us, as when we see a stick apparently fractured in the water, and all these fragments we must complete with other fragments that are, in essence, as deceptive and illusory as the earlier ones."
Had the opportunity to catch a wonderful play last night called "Notes To The Motherland", written and performed by Paul Rajeckas. An excellent performance and well written and very well acted. I enjoyed it very much. I believe there is still one more day of performances left, so I highly recommend you check out Paul's website for details. It is a gripping story about family and history and the sometimes dark secrets one may find when one begins looking into that history. Go see this show while you can. You won't be disappointed. Wonderful!
If you get the chance, I highly recommend the latest Guggenheim exhibit Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso. An excellent exhibit. Paintings from El Greco, Zuraban, Gris, Velazquez, Dali, Miro, Picasso, Goya among many others; and despite the throng of Williamsburg hipsters and spoiled upper East Siders acting like total animals and idiots, it was well worth it, especially on this beautiful summer-like day.
Absurdity of the day: Astor Place Starbucks: a guy mocking his friend for getting a cappuccino. What the hell? Can't anyone just be themselves anymore without having to hear some idiot mock him for it? Amusing, to say the least....
Just wanted to indulge myself here and list the great books I had read over the course of 2006. Why am I doing this? Who knows? But I was always a great believer in pasing on the word to those who may be interested. I highly recommend a lot of these so if there is anyone interested in some good reads, here are some I think you should check out:
- "Juan the Landless" by Juan Goytisolo
- "Infante's Inferno" by Guillermo Cabrera Infante
- "Singing From The Well" by Reinaldo Arenas
- "Roads to Santiago" by Cees Noteboom
- "Theorem" by Pier Paolo Pasolini
- "Federico Garcia Lorca: A Life" by Ian Gibbons
- "Voices of Time" by Eduardo Galeano
- "Tania" by Ulises Estrada
- "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- "Seven Interpretive Essays on Peruvian Reality"
- "My Last Breath" by Luis Bunuel
- "Space in Motion" by Juan Goytisolo
- "A Funny Little Dirty War" by Osvaldo Soriano
- "A Vanished World: Christians, Jews & Muslims in Medieval Spain" by Chris Lowney
- "Boricuas: Puerto Rican Literature" by Various
- "The Landscapes of Castille" by Antonio Machado
- "Burnt Sugar: Cuban Poetry" by Various
- "Latin American Literature" by Various
- "Converations in The Cathedral" by Mario Vargas Llosa
- "The Vittorini Omnibus" by Elio Vittorini
- "The Modern Italian Novel" by Sergio Pacifci
- "The Art of Flamenco" by D.E. Phern
- "The Voice of The Turtle: Cuban Stories" by Various
- "Fiestas" by Juan Goytisolo
- "Orientalism" by Edward Said
- "Chromos" by Felipe Alfau
- "Collected Poems" by Federico Garcia Lorca
For those book-heads, any one of these are a great read. I just hope to pass them on to you as well.
I'm usually not one to make any New Year's resolutions. My usual one is to "not make any New Year's resolutions", which in a way is a contradiction, being that this IS one, right? But this year I actually have a few...and in the interest of probably a few people here who actually read this thing, I will list them below:
- To paint a hell of a lot more
- Buy a better Spanish guitar and practice more
- Write more often
- Focus on good, positive things - don't allow myself to let the lunatics pull me into their game.
- Learn & improve my Spanish!
- Read more
- Learn more
- Re-do this cramped apartment so I can live like a human being
- Be more pro-active with things in general.
Ok, not the most amazing goals in the world but they are mine nevertheless and I am determined to acheive them.
Well, that's about it for now. Hope everyone's new year is starting of well....even though it has been only 4 days!
Happy New Year to everyone. I just got back from spending a glorious week in London and I have to say it was absolutely amazing and wonderful. Saw just about everything there was to see, including a last minute decision to take a ride out to Stonehenge, Salsbury Cathedral and the city of Bath, where the ancient Roman bath houses are. Absolutely amazing, let me tell you.
Of course I took loads of photos...about 400 plus...BUT....what happend? I LOSE MY CAMERA IN THE TAXI ON THE WAY HOME!!!! ALL OF IT GONE!!!! Well...I put a call into the Taxi & Limo Commission with the hopes that somehow, some way, I will get the camera back, but being the kind of city this is....I am not holding out much hope for that. All it takes is someone to find it....but I am still holding out hope that someone will find it and turn it in and maybe I can get it back. But hey this is New York...
Thankfully, Linda and Dawn, my traveling companions more or less took exactly the same photos I did so I can get a copy of theirs...but still, there's something personal about the photos one decides to take for themselves. A camera itself is replacable. Particular photos are not...if you know what I mean. So that was the only sad, aggrivating thing...otherwise I had a wonderful time, spending new years eve there and New Year's Day walking around the Salsbury plain looking at Stonehenge. Amazing thing....
Home now....and got a lot of catching up to do...and keeping my fingers crossed that I will retrieve my camera...hoping beyond all hope, that a small miracle will occur....
One of my My Space friends, Brigitte Beling (a very fine & talented singer/songwriter from France) posted this as a bulletin, so I thought I would re-post it here in the spirit of the holiday season. It's very interesting. How "Merry Christmas" is said around the world. So this post goes out to everyone around the world:
Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
That's it! My vacation has begun and I couldn't be happier. I will still be around New York for the holidays and then it's off to Europe...which I can't wait for. To be far away frrom this city is going to do my head wonders. But now that I don't have to be back at work for another week and a half, I already feel peace of mind. Now it's just the holidays with family & friends and all the good things that go with it.
I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a very Merry X-mas and Happy New Year. I hope the holidays and the new year brings great things to everyone. And thanks to everyone who has kept in touch...and to all those who sent messages and communicated with me over the past year. All the best to you.
I am not a "Grinch" or a "Scrooge" (although some people I know may be doubled over in laughter at that statement when they read this). It's not the holiday that gets on my nerves...but the run UP to the holiday. Of course, for someone like myself who always waits until the last minute to finish his X-mas shopping, I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised by all the madness that ensues. Well, tonight I finally finished it all...and for some reason, I am just not feeling the "spirit" at the moment. Not that I am not looking forward to X-mas. I am. But while out doing the last bit of shopping, I just can't believe the mood that's out there. Maybe it's a New York City thing? Maybe it's just my perception of it all but all I know is that there are a lot of miserable, nasty, rude, greedy people out there, all making the mad dash for items you'd think were in short supply. I am sure that this is not a unique experience by any means. This is what I get for waiting for the last minute. It is truly maddening.
Also, right after the holidays I will be far far away from here....on the other side of the earth, thankfully away from this madness. As I write this, a man is having a coronary at the steering wheel of his car, leaning on his car horn for about 30 seconds now...and naturally this is causing a symphony of car horns to begin. Right outside my window. You can almost FEEL his rage. Really sad....
I am now just waiting for the actual holiday, where I can spend time with my friends and family and truly feel the X-mas spirit one is supposed to feel---which I do when I am with them. But at the moment, it's hard to get into the spirit of things. Not when you have a guy like the one outside my window, still leaning on his horn, his blood vessels ready to burst. In a way it's kind of funny. In the end, what purpose does it serve? I wish him a Merry X-mas and a very Happy New year as well. He seems like he needs it.
We all had a blast playing our accoustic show at Otto's Shrunken Head last night. Let's just say that our set was...well....uh....intimate and very interactive which of course was a hell of a lot of fun. We wound up doing a 90 minute set; a mixture of Linda's solo material, old Bitterweed songs and some impromptu songs we attempted to make up on the spot. It was a hell of a lot of fun for us.
We shared the bill with Dylan Grewen who did a short and sweet accoustic set of some pretty cool songs. Also, Alcoholic Warhol, with their blazing rock songs made for a very memorable evening.
Thanks to all who came down. We greatly appreciate it. And thanks to Jessica Carmen for putting us on the bill. We had a great time!
I just got word via email that my dear friend Laura Joy Lustig has an opening reception for her paintings at the Merge Gallery in Chelsea tonight. I highly recommend anyone who appreciates painting to go check out her work. It is truly phenomenal and I've always been a huge fan of her work, having known it over many years now. I unfortuanately will not be able to make the opening since I will be playing a show at Otto's Shrunken Head tonight but I will most certainly stop by the gallery in the coming days to see her absolutely amazing paintings. So if any of you are free to do so, you will not be disappointed by dropping by to support her and to see her amazing work.
This past Saturday night I caught a really great show at the Lafayette Bar & Grill downtown. A great Flamenco show featuring a cantaor from Seville named "El Pola", a fantastic singer. He was accompanied by a great guitar player whose name escapes me at the moment but I will indicate it once I find out who he was. His playing was amazing. Also appearing was La Magdalena and her students, one of whom, Xianix, performed wonderfully as did everyone in the group.
The absolute delight of the evening was a singer/dancer named Carmen "La Salao" who simply mesmorized the crowd. It was definitely something to see. This was the second Flamenco show I've seen since getting into it over the past year and I am definitely looking forward to more in the future.
"Love is the only one that can save us from the anguish of dying.
It saves us, when we realize life is so short
Its the only eternity we are given during lifetime.
Do everything you have to do in poetry. dont refrain yourself.
I cant stand logics, or maturity.
I behold from death or youth, no intermediate ways.
The only art that is worth it, its the art of passion, desborde, overflowing, overboundaries, because middlenes is in our every days life.
Literature and art, must not stand up to lifes cotidien rythms, because its the space where you can show hell or paradise".
Thousands of us, get worn out over such poor dreams, credit cards, cars, that are going to fade away as dust in our hands.......and we wont be able to realize that we have lost life, ...........being at our disposal such beautiful, wondrous and important things and experiences"
Well...it seems as if the balance of power has shifted after all....AND a lot of the incumbents were re-elected as well. What will this mean exactly? In my opinion, absolutely nothing. For those who were hoping for a Democratic victory ---and by extension, an end to the war in Iraq---- don't hold your breath. It is my humble opinion that we will still be there for some time to come and the fact that the Democrats now seem to have control of congress will not change this fact. At most, I see SOME kind of change taking place with regard to the war, but I don't see is getting out any time soon. In fact, Howard Dean last night said as much, making some sort of comment that it didn't mean that we were leaving Iraq, but changing course. Who knows what that means exactly?
The way I see it, though, is that whether it's the Democrats or Republicans running things, things will essentially stay the same with regard to most issues. Both these parties are beholden to lobbyists and corporate interests and these are the people they will be serving. Not the people. Of course, I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am.
I truly believe America needs change on a lot of levels but I don't see this Democratic victory as that instrument of change. In essence, Americans by and large have voted the status quo, with very minimal change at best. Essentially, it's still the same thing. The same faces, more or less, are still in power. So really, what will change? I guess time will tell, but I don't see much change actually happening. Any meaningful change anyway....
I voted Green, as I said I would. My votes wil hopefully, at the very least, help the Green Party gain ballot status in the next election...the BIG one in 2008. But I don't know how many votes they got yet. It's too damn early in the morning!!
Well....now we will see how much "change" actually occurs. The Democrats are now in charge of congress. Lets see what they do. Will they push meaningful change in this country as they say they will....or will it be more of the same shit?
It won't take long for the American people to find out.
Time Out New York has done it again: this week, a "test" to see whether or not you are a "true New Yorker" or "just a hapless wanna-be". The quiz, to see if you are a "real" New Yorker or not, is made up of a lot of trivia, designed, I suppose, to test to see if you are "real" or not. Hmmm....let's see.....how about those who were born, raised and lived their entire lives in New York. Would that count? It appears that a lot of this useless angst over whether or not someone is a "real" New Yorker or not comes from those who were NOT born and raised here....but desperately want to be so; so they come up with this sort of nonsense in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. Here's my question: Does it even matter? or "Who cares?" or better yet, "What will it take to just be yourself and stop worrying about things that are, in the end, completely and utterly irrelevant?" I guess this sort of thing MUST matter to a lot of people or else the magazine wouldn't waste valuable space on it. And it amuses me to think that there will be hundreds and hundreds of people taking this quiz on-line to test to see if they are "real" New Yorkers. I say, who cares? We are all citizens of the world, are we not? And New York City, despite what people think, is NOT the center of the universe. (and to those who like to brag that they never leave the boundaries of their own neighborhoods, this is something I wouldn't be bragging about). It's a big world out there with a lot of great, beautiful and wonderful things to experience. Why be so damn provincial?
Just a very amusing observation: Now that the elections are a few days away, I've begun getting junk mail from those who are trying to get out the vote. One of the flyers I received was from a political party here in New York. I don't know if this particular party is on the ballot in any other states. Perhaps they are, but I don't know. They are the Working Families Party. On the flyer, Pete Seeger, Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore urge voters to vote for the candidates on the Working Families line. Who are these candidates? Democrats. Who are the Working Families Party? Democrats. Why they needed a second line is beyond me. But what I found highly amusing about it was the fact that these three "celebrities" are known for being "radical". The amusing part to me is that a vote for Hilary Clinton ---- or any other Democrat ---- is evidently considered "radical". Either that or these three have softened their stances somewhat. It wasn't that long ago that Pete Seeger was a Communist and Michael Moore was throwing his lot in with Ralph Nader. Have they all gone mainstream!? Highly amusing....to say the least! I also received a mailing from the Green Party....with it's list of candidates for New York State/City. That is where I will be casting my vote. To me, voting Democrat is not going to be the solution to the problem. It only softens somewhat the rapid deterioration of this country and it's political process. Even though the Democrats will surely win here in New York, I want my vote to help the Green Party as a viable alternative to the two corporate parties. And with New York State's ridiculous election laws, if they don't get enough votes, then they won't get automatic ballot status next time around. Isn't this a democracy? I guess only if you have the money and the "credentials" needed to "qualify". Happy voting!
Normally, I don't like to get political. I'm not really a "political" person because I find most of it disingenuous and its most die hard adherents completely full of shit most of the time. But with the much touted "Mid-Term Elections" coming up, I felt I may as well throw my two cents in.
While following the election process in the news the past couple of months, I can't help but feel absolutely disgusted with the entire process. Watching these politicians toss their irrelevant concerns back and forth is enough to make anyone sick. The one thing missing from most of these diatribes is....the issues. No one is really talking about them. What we have, simply, is partisans sniping at one another, treating the whole process as if it were their favorite "teams" competing in some sports event and the issues get lost in the noise.
I know that I must be on the right path if I can raise the ire of both Democrats AND Republicans. Republicans, especially those of the Christian bent, get mad at me because I am an atheist and do not see how the laws of this country should be based on religious convictions, which is what they do most of the time with regard to issues such as abortion and stem cell research. I have been told on more than one occasion that I will be "going to Hell" for my support of such issues. That's ok. I don't believe in Hell either. If there is no God, there is no Devil either. So that attempt at an insult doesn't bother me in the least. The other Republicans charge me with being a "Liberal" which is like the ultimate insult to them. I could be called worse, I'm sure.
The Democrats, or Liberals: I piss them off at times too because I tend to call them on their shit and outright hypocrisy at times. I don't believe in political correctness and am a firm believer that people should be free to behave as they wish, think as they wish and SAY as they wish, even if it is repugnant. I can't count how many times these so-called "liberal minded" people have said to me things like "You can't say that!" or "You can't think that!" Really? I thought we were free to express ourselves in this country. I didn't know that we weren't "allowed" to say things or think a certain way. So when I disagree with them, I get called a "conservative", of which I am most certainly not.
So where does that leave me? This coming election, I will be voting my conscience as I normally do. I haven't voted for a Democrat or a Republican in ages. I always go for an alternative, an alternative that attempts to tackle the actual issues and does not get bogged down on useless things as most of these politicians do these days. I'll be voting Green as I have been for quite a while now. Not that these candidates have a shot in hell in winning,but at least my conscience will be satisfied in knowing that my vote did not go to those who are rapidly destroying this country with their power grabs and selfish ambitions.
What strikes me as funny is how a lot of young people in particular think a Democratic victory is going to make the world a better place; as if they take control of the congress, everything will suddenly be great and the world will be saved. Well, the way I see it, this country has been run by both Democrats and Republicans and things aren't so good, are they? Frankly, I don't see any difference between the two. They are both beholden to those with the money and they care nothing about the people.
That's the other thing: The people. People have to realize that these dolts in Washington do not just assume power. The people ELECT them. And if you ask me, all the corruption and incompetence coming out of Washington is merely a RELFECTION of the public at large. It's a mirror of America as a whole. People DO have a chance to change things, but they don't. They merely vote the same faces in time and time again and nothing changes. Seeing how this country is so strictly divided along Democratic and Republican lines these days, it isn't hard to see where the root of the problems stem from. At the very least, the people are enablers. At worst, the cause.
There is an old saying: "You get the government you deserve". When will the time come when we, the people, will deserve something better than this?
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out to Linda La Porte's show last night at the 169 Bar. We had a really great time and it was great seeing you there. It's always a blast to play for you all. Also, stay tuned for some Bitterweed news.
"We are, I thought, victims of a double mirage. If we look outward and attempt to penetrate into things, our outer world loses solidity and ends up dissolving before our eyes, as we come to believe that it exists because of us, not in its own right. But, if, convinced of an intimate reality, we look inward, then everything seems to come from without and it is our inner world, ourselves, that fades out. What to do then? Weave the thread we are given, dream our dream, live."
Another curious expectancy hangs over this day. The waters thawing, drawing back whereas there is nothing to do but to sink into the bed listen to the rain and relax. Words are no good though I have been indexing them. I have called for an armistice. It is finished.
I wanted to take the time to thank everyone who came down to see the show last night at Arlene's Grocery. We certainly had a blast and it was great that the three of us got to play together again. It was the first time the three of us played together since the last Bitterweed show back in February. Speaking of which, some good news regarding Bitterweed. We are currently seeking a new drummer and we already got a couple of responses from the ad we put out. Soon we will begin the process of auditioning new drummers and hopefully we will be ready to hit the stage again soon. But I'm sure this will be a timely process. There are a lot of great musicians out there but finding just the right one is never easy. I'm sure a lot of musicians out there know the deal.
But again, thanks to all who came out last night. I hope you had just as much fun as we did. It was really great to see you come and support us, and particularly Linda. Watch for her CD in the coming weeks!
I finally got around to catching the Dada exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art today. It was also the first time I got to see the museum since it was renovated a couple of years ago. I hardly recognized it but from the looks of it, it's not hard to see why they are now charging the insane fee of $20 to get in. It's like a whole new museum which, to me at least, is faintly reminiscent of the Centre Pompidu in Paris....on the inside, obviously.
At any rate, the exhibit was fantastic...and I say fantastic because I always loved the Dada period of modern art. There isn't anything there that hasn't been shown before though. That was the only disappointment. I had seen virtually all these works before but never together in one cohesive exhibit. All the works are there: Arp, Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, Man Ray, Hannah Hoch, and virtually all the others involved with the movement. It's only on for another couple of days so if you are in the NYC area, try to catch it before it closes on the 11th.
Winding my way through the rest of the museum, I was taken by how different everything looked. There wasn't really anything "new" to see....the museum's collection is basically as it was before and like the works in "Dada" I have seen a zillion times before. All except one small gallery which had a nice but small collection of Italian Futurist paintings that I had never seen in the museum before. One that particularly struck me was a painting called "Funeral for Anarchist Galli" by Carlo Carra. I had never seen that painting before and I have to say it is something to behold. It instantly became one of my favorite paintings of all time. Seriously. I'm sure it's on the web somewhere so try to seek it out. It is an amazing work.
Today I signed up at this great site for writers called Writer's Cafe. Come visit and have a look at some of the work I've posted there. For those who write, I can't recommend this site enough. It's a great way to meet other writers and get some honest feedback on your work. I've already met a couple of really good writers on there. So come have a look, say hello or whatever....
Three rings and the whole nine; jumping from one end to the other sidestepping lion tamers and insane ringmasters who, like good fascists, attempt to control the situation with bullhorns while the clowns are laughing at the performers instead of seeking the children's funny bone. Behind such smiles often lurks something frighteningly sinister.
And what will it take to realize that sometimes you just don't get it right. You try to put things in perspective but often watch it distort in front of your eyes. A feeling of repulsion takes over when you realize that you have been wrong all along. I never thought I'd be feeling this again. But I am. This sickness. This feeling of uncontrollable helplessness whenever the hand touches or the lips kiss. I am lost, often confused. I am navigating this ship with a wooden stick and a rag tied around my eyes. I point northward but end up in circles, rocking from side to side, totally repulsed that I once again put faith into something I should have known was an illusion all along. Again and again, the wheel turns, splinters shooting into my veins and lodging into my wrists. Never again, my sweet nothingness. Kiss the black space around you and then slowly, delicately, kiss my ass.
The distant spires of New York City sprout like healthy stems above ground paved with both history and nightmare. The river stands between me and it and I stand holding you near old trolley tracks watching the sunrise. To kiss you near this picturesque skyline was special to me at the time. Above us stood monuments to progress where there was none between us. It's as if we were ages behind, swallowing the smoke from a bygone era, drinking the backwash of some dead romantic notion that things can be special if you open up to it and let them in. Your lips were full and your neck smelled nice and I enjoyed letting my mouth and tongue caress each milk white inch. Beneath the Hoboken sunrise I held onto a ray of hope, the voices of the past cheering me on.
Will you be there for me when the sun disappears behind tenement water towers; when the moon sneaks out quietly from behind factory windows; when the street lamps ignite over slick, glistening streets?
Will you be there for me when pimps release the whores for nocturnal bliss; when the nuts comb cardboard tenements for smack and a kiss from dirty chapped lips; when the dogs pick through the trash, eyes looking straight into the urban abyss?
Will you be there for me when the sun reappears to shine upon the carnage you leave in your wake?
For I am still waiting, huddled in a doorway counting the cracks in the paint.
One less button on my coat. One less beat of my heart.
I may be eaten by butterflies when the revolution begins. How cold is the touch of the female hand when it's apparent that she doesn't want you? It might feel like freezer burn, but the revolution is circular and constant; kicking up clumps of dirt into your face. I hear Russians outside, arguing. About what, I don't know. But the revolution didn't work for them either and, like myself, sometimes feel as though I've been cast into a spiritual gulag... waiting...always waiting.... I may be kissed by mollusks when the revolution begins. How cold is the touch of humanity when it is apparent that it's nothing of the kind. Better wake up and look out the window again; there's nothing out there but bare trees and broken spirits... waiting...always waiting....
As much as the magazine Time Out New York irritates me at times with its pseudo-hipster posturing I find myself buying it on a weekly basis anyhow. For all its faults, I do find some of the articles interesting and the listings can't be beat when it comes to some very interesting things happening around the city. So despite its "Oh so New York" attitude and articles written by mostly non-native New Yorkers, I do find the articles interesting at times, informative and sometimes downright amusing. This week's issue of Time Out New York has an article in it that amused me to no end. It's called "Geek Chorus" written by Howard Halle (who I believe actually IS a native New Yorker, but I'm not sure.) In it, he describes the rise of what he calls "Avant-Nerdism"----a group of young people who are embracing what was traditionally "nerd culture" and running with it like no one has ever run with it before. It speaks of all the events, games and other sorts of silly nonsense a lot of young people are engaging in these days---all with an aura of "hipness" surrounding it, of course. Either hipness or irony or whatever. That isn't the point. My point is not to pass judgement on them. To each his own. It just isn't my thing. But what did strike me about this article is the willingness of American culture to allow itself to be defined through the prism of High School definitions.
Everyone in America that has been through the High School experience knows very well how people define you on the basis of your look, what you're into, what music you like, etc etc. You know all the terms: The Jock, The Nerd, The Dweeb, The Slut, etc etc and on and on. You sometimes see ads for diet progams and hair replacement programs of all those people who claim that they "look as good as they did in high school". What's this fascination with the high school years in America that stamps one with an identity that they insist on carrying with them for the rest of their lives? Is one's teenage years the end all, be all of their existence? And why, as adults, do we continue to define one another through that prism? High school age---about 15-18----is only three years out of a person's life yet some tend to look back on those years as the defining moment of their lives----and carry those same attitudes about one another througout the rest of their lives. Why is this? It is a curious phenomenon shaped by films, music, music videos and the vultures on Madison Avenue that want to sell every imaginable piece of shit to you by exploiting these sensibilities.
What this article said to me was that there is a whole generation out there who are regressing rather than progressing; clinging to high school definitions in order to define themselves in adulthood. Is "real life" as they say so hard for everyone that they want to pass back into a more "innocent" time? Is the prospect of getting older something that frightens the hell out of them that they have to cling to adolescence in order to block out the harsh realities of adult life? Maybe. What this article also said to me was that as certain people get older they continue to define others through that very same high school sensibility. So what you have is 20-30 and even some 40 year olds still seeing others as "geeks", "dweebs" "jocks", "hip" or whatever else. They still judge others based on pop culture trivia and pop cultural sensibilities. I mean, when does it end? When does all this nonsense stop and people start getting on with their lives without all this judgmental bullshit?
It is possible that I am just making too much of it. But I don't like to think so. For me, my high school years were just that. They've been over for a long long time now. It was 25 years ago when I was that rebellious 15 year old---that "punk rock" kid who everyone thought was "weird". Whatever. That's what being young is all about. But I noticed that in recent years, I still meet people who see others through that same prism. For some, I'm still that "weird" one who doesn't "fit in". Fit in to what? For some, the high school years have defined them for the rest of their lives and they continue to define others as well the same way they did when they were teenagers. Thank Madison Avenue. Thank the nation's obsession with pop culture. Thank whatever. All I know is that it is absurd to me to continue to see the world through adolescent eyes. It is my humble opinion that it is time to let it all go now. Move on....define yourself and stop trying to live up to standards set in high school. It all may just be pseudo-hipster posturing but when does the thirst for being "hip" come to an end? How much longer as a generation are we going to be worried about it? When as a generation are we going to be ready to move on to bigger, better and more meaningful things?
The new poetry chapbook "Desvario" should be coming out within the next week or two. The poems have been selected and now it's just a matter of sending it all to the printers. This book is going to be self-published. It's been three years since the last one so I figured it was time for another. It containts about 30 poems written between 2003-2006. Once it is available, details will follow on how to obtain one if anyone is interested.
It was a very productive weekend at Capture Sound. More tracks were finished, a sludge rocker called "Broken" and the quasi-folk- hard rock track "Baby Boy". Linda did a great job on vocals & guitar and we also had the addition of the guitar stylings of engineer Paul Schellack who contributed some cool licks. I contributed guitar, bass and organ on "Broken" and guitar and bass on "Baby Boy". Vocal tracks were put down for the bluesy "So Low" as well. But there is still more to do but we are definitely in the home stretch now. Look for the release of Linda La Porte's CD sometime at the end of the Fall or begining of winter.
Another poet that has come to my attention is the Cuban Nicolas Guillen. I'm currently reading his poetry collection "Man Made Words" which is absolutely phenomenal. Guillen is considered Cuba's national poet. Along with other Cuban writers Reinaldo Arenas, Jose Lezama Lima, Virgilio Pinera, this book is just another fine example of the great literature that has come out of this small island nation. Absolutely wonderful writing.
Has anyone seen the new issue of Time Out New York with it's article on the "New Nerds?" It's called "New Dork City" and it is truly something to behold. A blog entry of it's own will follow regarding this because something needs to be said about it. The thing that struck me most about the article is not so much the mindless stupidity that some people engage in but more of what it symbolized for me. As soon as I can formulate my thoughts on it, I will comment about it here.
A new poetry chapbook is in the works that should be ready for release in the next month or so. This will be the first new collection since 2003. Tentatively titled "Desvario", this new chapbook will feature about 25 or so poems written between 2003-2006. More details will follow.
Yesterday's Flamenco workshop was very informative for me. Anna Garano is a wonderful guitar player and her presentation really got down to the basics of all the complexities of Flamenco music. It's given me some food for thought as to how difficult this music truly is but I am still willing to give it a go. For more information about Anna and her band Por Los Caminos Flamencos check out her website. Hear her for yourself.
Last night I held my 40th birthday celebration at Cafe Espanol in the Village then headed over to Madame X for some drinks. I had a great time and was glad to see so many of your faces. There are some photos of the evening uploaded on the photo gallery. Had a wonderful time.
Tomorrow night, Linda and I will be heading back into Capture Sound in Brooklyn, New York to continue putting the finishing touches on Linda's CD. We're in the home stretch now....
Finally, I would like to thank everyone for coming out last night...hope you all had as great a time as I. Thanks again for everything!
Today I will be attending a Flamenco guitar workshop and I am really looking forward to it. Mainly because this is something I've been wanting to learn for some time now so this should be a good introduction as to what I am in for. The workshop is being presented by Anna Garano who had studied Flamenco guitar with the likes of Paco Pena. Here's a little about it according to the workshop's description:
Ms. Garano will delve into the concepts of flamenco palos- what characterizes a particular palo and how to distinguish it from others (i.e., analysis of the structure of the Solea). As someone new to flamenco music, this aspect is most important. What is a Solea, a Bulerias, a Tangos, an Alegrias? How do I know what form I am listening to? What is it about the rhythm that tells me - this, THIS is a Bulerias and not a Solea!
Ms. Garano will also discuss the history of the guitar in flamenco with attention to its development and role from an accompanying instrument to solo concert instrument.
In this workshop, you will learn about the characteristics of the flamenco guitar and techniques for playing it as distinguishable from the classical form, namely: tremolo, arpegio, alzapua, rasgueados, and golpe.
Last, but not least, she will explain the relationship of the guitar to the dancer, the singer, the palmero and percussionist during a flamenco performance.
About Anna Garano: Anna Garano studied classical guitar at the Conservatorium of Trieste, and flamenco guitar in Spain, under masters like Paco Peña, Paco Serrano, Manolo Franco, Antonio Heredia, Emilio Maya, and José Luis Balao, and with Paco Peña, Riccardo Mendeville and Hans Van Gogh in Rotterdam. In 1997 she founded the flamenco group Por los Caminos Flamencos with the bailaora Milena Braut, and has since performed around the world in ensembles and as well as a soloist, performing a substantial flamenco repertoire (siguiriyas, bulerias, guajiras, soleà, tangos, etc.) enriched by her own compositions.
This is something I've been looking forward to all week....so it should be very enlightening. Then later tonight it's off to kick of my "official" 40th birthday celebration with a whole group of friends---wine, sangria, great food, tons of laughs, I'm sure.
It was one of those looooong weeks for me but an eventful one. I turned 40 this week...which is something I never really thought about until I finally did. Not that it's a big deal but when the realization really hit me....man....it just sort of blew my mind. At the moment I am literally falling asleep on my feet, I'm so tired. Rough work week. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to that.
This weekend I will be "officially" celebrating my 40th athough my birthday was this past Wednesday. Didn't do much on my actual birthday except for a really nice dinner that Linda treated me to at a place called "Pipas Tapas" on 19th Street. It was very nice of her and I appreciate it greatly.
I will also be attending this very interesting workshop tomorrow afternoon about Flamenco guitar. I'm really looking forward to that. Then it's back home to get ready for the "big" celebration, get plastered on some sangria and eat some good food and have many laughs.
Not much else to say right now....think I'm going to lie down for a while.....
Only one day left till my birthday...which means that there is only one day left until I usher out my 30s and enter my 40s. Where the hell does the time go? Overall, I don't feel it....but sometimes you do. It's a weird thing that I really can't explain at the moment (espresso hasn't done it's job just yet!) It's all just a number really....it's all about how one feels and I don't feel "old" but there are times when one does feel it, as I said but that is another post for another time.
So there's a "cease fire" in the Middle East? Sure....that will last about a day if the world is lucky. Here we are, more than half way through the first decade of the 21st century and mankind is still as fucked as ever. I feel for those caught in the middle of all this madness, those people who just want to live their lives in peace like the rest of us. But as usual, politics, religion and ideology makes the rest of us suffer. Lebanon was once a very beautiful country. "The Paris of The Middle East", Beriut was once called. What a god damn shame....
Finished Luis Bunuel's excellent autobiography "My Last Breath". A very interesting character, this man was. And what an imagination! This book gave really amazing insight on his work. Any fans of his films should read this book. Today, I begin a book of essays by Spanish novelist Juan Goytisolo called "Space in Motion". Goytisolo is an amazing writer who defied all the narrative rules of the novel and is still doing it today. As a writer, I learned many things from him (not personally of course....since I don't know the man!) but from his work. We need more writers willing to turn things on their heads and simply follow their muse. World literature has been deeply enriched by his output. But here in America, a hack like Dan Brown sells a quatrillion books and a man like Goytisolo is hardly known. Par for the course, I guess....
Even though this is far in advance, NYC artist Vincent Maietta is contributing some of his work to an art show on October 29th. Anyone in the NYC area should go down and check out his work. He is truly an amazing and talented painter. As the date nears I will certainly post the details about it. I, for one, am really looking forward to it.
I am currently working on updating my "Photos" page: I am working on an "Old Photos" gallery where you can see old photos from past bands, travels, etc....That should be complete in the coming days.
Finally, I am currently working on releasing a new chapbook of poetry. At the moment I am going through some of the poems now to figure out what will be included. This one will be self-published since I haven't been having much luck lately finding anyone to put anything else out. When all else fails, do it yourself, I say. Besides, it's been about 3 years since the last one so it's time for a new one. Details to follow....
Caught Gazpacho Andalu at Lincoln Center's "Out of Doors" festival tonight. I thought they were amazing although I felt their set was a bit too short....but that's not their fault, I'm sure. The musicianship was incredible and their sound was a very interesting blend Flamenco and North African sounds. I really enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend that you check them out at some point.
Also caught two other interesting acts: Markus James who played a very different style of blues mixed with African musicians. It was very interesting to hear this blend which only pointed out the actual roots of blues music. The other was a traditional Greek group called Fantasia Music which was pretty interesting as well. Over all, with the nice weather, it was a great night and I was glad I was able to catch it.
From there, Linda, her sister Dawn and I headed over to the nearby Mozart Cafe for some Turkish coffee and desert. (Sitting at the table behind us were Joan Collins and Goldie Hawn along with these two other guys.) Completely wiped, we headed home....only for me to wait nearly 45 minutes for the damn R train to show up (R stands for "rarely by the way) but it finally came and the hordes of people crushed on as if it were rush hour. Unbelieveable....
Home now (obviously)...and ready to crash....until the next time.....
In my never ending quest to find some new sounds to listen to here are some of the CDs that I picked up in the past week. I seem to be reaching further out in order to find something interesting these days. Here are some examples:
Ojos de Brujo - "Bari": A "Nuevo Flamenco" group out of Barcelona. Truly something different. This CD is kind old already but I just picked it up. A wonderful mixture of traditional Flamenco, rock, hip hop and latin sounds. Looking forward to hearing some new music from them in the future.
Gal Costa - "Minha Voz, Minha Vida": A Brazilian singer I happened upon on a compilation CD I have of Brazilian music. I just love her voice and her style.
Rafa El Tachuela - "Rosas Negras": Another Flamenco guitar player I first heard on Hossam Ramzy's CD "Flamenco Arabe". I love his guitar playing but I can't say I know much about him. I was just happy to find it.
Brazilian Lounge: Another one of those great Putumayo compilations....a nice assortment of modern Brazilain music and some great Bossa Nova and Samba tracks. 12 artists in all.
Tonight: Looking forward to seeing Gazpacho Andalu at Lincoln Center's "Out of Doors" festival. Should be a great experience. The fact that it's going to be a beautiful day here in NYC, that should only enhance it. Till the next time....
While browsing around on My Space, I came across a New York City Jazz vocalist who is absolutely amazing. Her name is Yasmine Iliya. I never heard of her before this evening but I wish I had. She combines Jazz standards and Bossa Nova tracks to create something truly her own and her voice is absolutely amazing. She is a little reminiscent of Diana Krall but she has her own sound. Her band is something else as well. It is a must hear. Do yourselves a favor and have a listen and when she performs live, try to see her before she becomes too big for the Jazz clubs around New York! It's that kind of Jazz that should be heard in an intimate setting. The way it should be.
My friend Maria sent me an email yesterday telling me about two artists she met recently, both from Peru. Very interesting work. The first is a sculptor named Cesar Cornejo who's work is sort of a mixture of contemporary sculpture and architectural abstraction. Very interesting and definitely worth checking out. His work, to me at least, reminds me a bit of Keinholz and in some ways Richard Sera. The other is a photographer named Lisette Crespo. Again, very interesting work that is worth a look. Judging from the site, she appears to have some paintings as well. I don't know these two artists and I've only seen their work for the first time this morning. I'm glad I did. Check them out and if you like their work, get in touch with them and let them know. I'm sure they would be happy to hear from you.
Over the past year or so I've been listening to a lot of Flamenco. There is just something about this music that I find very inspiring and the more I listen to it, the more inspiring it becomes. There is a NYC group that has recently come to my attention that I feel I have to say something about. They are called Gazpacho Andalu. Here is a brief description via CDbaby.com:
Gazpacho Andalú is a music project devised by a group of New York City based composers and songwriters with completely different backgrounds. They came together to create a more accessible sound for people who love the groove and soulful qualities of Flamenco without losing its authenticity.
Gazpacho Andalú uses the rhythms and textures of North African, Caribbean and Hispanic American music, blending them into the language of this andalusian art form. Gazpacho Andalú also emphasizes the beauty and importance of Flamenco poetry with recited translations of the lyrics of their songs to show audiences understand Flamenco is not only a dance form but also a poetic expression of human feelings.
After listening to some of their tracks, I will be immediately buying their CD. I highly recommend anyone reading this to check them out. The musicianship is amazing and maybe you will find it as inspiring for yourselves as it is to me. They will be performing on August 12th as part of a show at Lincoln Center. The show begins at 7pm and it is free. Details can be found at their website. I know I will be there!
It was one of those days. I realized today that one of my biggest faults is that I am a procrastinator. Discipline is something I need to work on in a big way. I tend to be one of those who always knows what he is going to do but never gets around to actually doing it. Laziness? Fear? Who knows? All I know is that this is something I have to work on if I ever want to get anywhere in this business. It's not as if I haven't been doing anything at all. After all I have been making a conscious effort to update my website every so often, the music thing is going pretty good but as far as writing....that's where I have to get to work. I've been trying to work on my new novel for some time now but I never seem to actually get anything done. A sort of writer's block, I suppose. Most of the writing I've been doing as of late has been letters to people and the blogs here and on my My Space page. I was always told that even that is good enough if the ideas aren't coming. At least a little writing is better than none at all. But this is something I have to improve.
I suppose that I don't get started because I really don't have a clear idea where I want this novel to go. I got a basic idea but that isn't good enough. And it's not as if I haven't been thinking about it incessantly. I have. But nothing is coming. Dry. Totally dry. Even with the poems. Dry. Maybe it's just a dry spell. That happens. It took me years to complete my first novel and there were very long stretches where I didn't even look at it. What's missing, I think, is that "spark", that little bit of inspiration that gets the words flowing. It will come eventually, I'm sure. But I guess writing these blogs is better than nothing for now. The ideas I have for the next novel are kind of complex and sometimes I wonder if they are too complex for me to handle and I should simplify things. But is that the easy way out? Is that just being lazy? Maybe. But maybe my aspirations are higher than my abilities. Here comes the self-doubt, common to all those who create.
So I think....turn things over in my mind over and over and over again and think about how to approach this beast. Sometimes all it takes is just one thing...one simple observation, a sentence, a word....a phrase overheard on the street....and that will be enough to get the ball rolling. Maybe all I have to do is just get myself disciplined and just get down to work! Who knows? It's frustrating...very frustrating....
Hemingway and Orwell took fire from fascists in Spain. Lorca---taken out and shot. Roque Dalton took a bullet in exile in Prague. Reinadlo Arenas spent two years in El Morro in Cuba for his writing and his sexuality. Many Argentine writers and artists were 'disappeared' during the 'Dirty War' in the 1970s. Che was executed, his hands cut off in Bolivia. Vaclav Havel withstood many lonely years in prison. You? You shout slogans and memorized cliches then quietly retreat to Starbucks.
Ok, so I didn't do much today after all. It was kind of nice out---a much bigger improvement than the last couple of days---so I decided to hit the Gotham Book Mart to indulge in my bibliophilic ways. Besides, I haven't been there in a long time so I figured what the hell. The Gotham Book Mart has a very unique and interesting history and many a writer had passed through there over the decades: Jack Kerouac & the rest of the Beats, Henry Miller,Ernest Hemingway, among many many others. It's a New York City literary institution that I'm glad is still around and I've bought many a book to add to my ever increasing library from there over the years. They are now in a new location. They have moved from their former location on W47th Street to E46th Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. Although I miss their former location, this new location is just as good. This bookstore is a bibliophile's wet dream, believe me.
So what did I manage to find this time? Only a few things but I wanted to keep things on the cheap this time and not do what I often do and blow wads of cash that I too often do not have. My finds:
"Space In Motion" by Juan Goytisolo: A collection of essays. I never knew this book existed so I am happy to have found this one. Goytisolo is one of my all time favorite writers. These essays deal with a whole range of topics but mainly Goytisolo's themes of the relationship between the West and the Islamic world and how the West denies it's obvious influences and contributions, the political nature of language, critique of consumer society, among other things. He is a great and gifted writer who broke all the narrative rules in the past with such novels as "Marks of Identity" and "Juan The Landless" to give two examples. The great thing is that he's still around and still writing and publishing novels. I eagerly await his next one...
"The Arc Upon The Number" by Jose Kozer: A Cuban poet who had taught at Queens College for many many years. I never heard of him until this afternoon and the poems in it are amazing. Many of these poems deal with Jewish themes.
"Canticle For A Memory" by Francisco Arrivi: Another collection of poems, this time from Puerto Rico. Another author I had never heard of until I found this book. Arrivi is known as a playwright in San Juan and I believe there is even a theater named after him there now. He his called San Juan's Hart Crane and is also described as the foremost exponent of Puerto Rican existentialism. This is what hooked me and made me want to investigate it.
"Beyond The Rivers: 20th Century Paraguayan Poetry: An anthology of a whole host of writers I never heard of and look forward to reading. I am only aware of one single author from Paraguay, Augustos Roa Bastos, whose novel "I The Supreme" is supposed to be amazing. I have that but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm very intrigued to read these poems mainly because of Paraguay's fascinating history.
"De Repente" by Teresa de Jesus: Another poetry collection. Teresa de Jesus is a pseudonym for an annonymous author who smuggled these poems out of Chile soon after the military coup of 1973 (sometimes referred to as 'The other September 11th). These poems deal with the ramifications of its aftermath.
So not a bad find for one afternoon. That is all....
Coming off a very long and busy week. I am so thankful today is Saturday and I am freed up to do whatever....even if that thing is absolutely nothing....although I am thinking about hitting a museum at the moment. There are some really cool exhibits going on that I want to check out. There's the Dada exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art as well as a huge exhibit at the Whitney. But it's still early yet....
Last night Linda La Porte and I worked for hours on a brand new track for her upcoming CD at Capture Sound. It's coming along great so far and I am very happy with how it's turning out. This track is a hard rock track called "Broken" which originally began as an accoustic track that quicky morphed into this hard rock track with a very 70s vibe. I played bass, guitar and even contributed a bit of "Hammond Organ" on it as well. But the highlight for me are the blistering guitar solos from both engineer Paul Schellack and Linda herself. It's truly becoming something we all didn't expect.
Began reading an excellent autobiography from filmmaker Luis Bunuel called "My Last Breath". Bunuel was always an artist whose work I absolutely loved. I happened on it at The Strand the other day. I never knew about it so it was a nice surprse to find it. Bunuel was best known for his films with Salvador Dali ("Un Chien Andalou") and most notably his films "Los Olvidados" and "The Discreet Charm of The Bourgeoisie".
Tomorrow night at CBGBs Gallery I am looking forward to seeing Bea Ba, featuring Bea Conenna and Linda La Porte. This is a latin rock band that's doing an acoustic show. The last time they played they were amazing so I am really looking forward to seeing this tomorrow night. They play at 8pm if any of you can make it to see for yourselves....
Just a little reminder to say that I will be playing with Linda La Porte tonight at the 169 Bar (169 E. Broadway @ Rutgers Street) at 9pm. It's going to be a lot of fun and I hope to see some of you there. In the meantime, try to stay cool in this ridiculous heat we've been having over the past couple of days!
"A realistic being does not, as a logical consequence, have to be non-idealistic being and existentialism can roll itself in dung but likewise bathe in the sea."
Hot enough for you? I'm dying here. NYC reached 100 degrees today...with the heat index being like 110!! It's too hot to think so this is going to be a short entry. Waiting for the AC to cool off this place!
Just a reminder that I will be playing with Linda La Porte at the 169 Bar this Thursday night at 9pm. Hope to see you there...and if any of you show...stop by and say hello.
I'm about half way through an interesting book my friend Maria had gotten me for Christmas last year. "Seven Interpretive Essays on Peruvian Reality" by Jose Carlos Mariategui. Fascinating book although the information in it is very old. It was written in the 1920s. But it does give a very interesting historical account of life of the Indians in Peru. A very Marxist book. You may have seen it in "The Motorcycle Diaries" in a scene where Che was reading it during his stay at the leper colony in Peru. This book had a very big impact on a lot of Latin American thinkers and authors. It comes highly recommended, even for historical reasons.
"Wouldn't it be better to plunge once and for all into the infinitude of the poem, accept the inpenetrability of its mysteries and opacities, free your own language from the shackles of rationality, abandon it to a magnetic field of its secret attractions, encourage the wave of its expansion, admit plurality and simularity of meaning, purify the verbal incandesence, the flame and gentle cautery of it's living love?"
Juan Goytisolo Spanish Novelist "The Virtues Of The Solitary Bird"
In keeping with my tradition of helping to promote other artists whose work I think needs to be seen, today I offer you two artists from the NYC area that you must check out:
Vincent Maietta:Vincent paints people and does a great job doing it. His work is very Hopper-esque in a lot of ways and he sometimes does abstractions as well. Sometimes the work comes off as a bit surreal, which is a big compliment. I've gotten to know Vin over the past couple of weeks. Not only is he a great artist but he's a great guy as well. He is also a musician who has played with numerous NYC bands over the years and has jammed with Bitterweed and Linda La Porte on a few occasions. I love his painting style and love his approach mainly because it's clear that he follows his own muse, something I feel is very important for an artist. Check out his work and get in touch with him. I'm sure he would love to hear from you.
Anissa Mendez: Another NYC artist of some renown. I don't know Anissa personally but I did receive a very nice email from her over the past couple of days informing me of her upcoming show at the Agora Gallery in SoHo on August 31st 2006. Her work explores people as well and like Vin's work, is very Hopper-esque in many many ways. Anissa had made her debut back in 1992 with an exhibit called "Reflections On The Roles of Puerto Rican Women in The Family" at the College of New Rochelle. She held another exhibit called "A Bartender's Testimony" at the New Century Artists Gallery in Chelsea back in 2005. She has informed me via email that she is currently away working on a new series of paintings. So check out her site and if you like what you see, try to make the Agora Gallery opening. You won't be disappointed.
It's going to be a hot one here in NYC today. It's still very early yet (and god knows why the hell I am up so early but this seems to be the norm as of late). Still trying to figure out what I am going to do today but I haven't even had my coffee yet so I can't think straight just yet. I will now pause to brew some....
I've posted a couple of more paintings over the past two days----and will post some more today before running out into the blazing heat and pea-soup-like humidity----I'm about half way through now posting all of them. Like I said, I am posting all the work I've done over the past 15 years or so. Soon after, I will begin posting my new work which will begin appearing once it is finished. I'd like to get some of your thoughts on them so feel free to comment by posting something at the "guestbook" at the "comments" page or send me an email or whatever. I'd love to get some of your feedback----both good and bad----I'm not that much of an egomaniac that a bit of criticism is going to kill me. But I feel I am still learning with regard to painting so any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated, believe me.
Been having a lot of very weird dreams as of late. I used to write these down because they are so bizarre. I'm toying with the idea of posting them here but I don't know. I have here at home an old manuscript full of these bizarre, twisted dreams (which I don't know what I am ever going to do with!) but I used to collect them and write them down if I remembered them when I woke up. I must have a lot on my mind....something the brain is trying to work out....but what....?
This weekend I will also be getting together with Linda La Porte to rehearse for our upcoming show at the 169 Bar on August 3rd. Really looking forward to getting out there and playing again. It's going to be fun. We asked Bea Conenna of Bea Ba to come sing background vocals on one song but I don't know yet if she is going to or not. Check out her music if you can. Linda has been playing shows with her as of late and I highly recommend you check those shows out as well. They have one coming up at the CBGB gallery on August 6th. More details to follow... That's all for now....
For Christ's sake! Cendrars lost an arm in the war yet he continued to write poetry and novels and live a life full of adventure and here I am, relatively healthy, except for the occasional back ache and sinus trouble pissing and moaning about things when I haven't experienced even a fraction of what he had. Perspective, that's all it is. Instead of complaining about the stupid people who I come into contact with on a daily basis at work on the street on the subway I should be taking the bull by the horns and living my life as fully as I can. Believe me, I am trying. It's all about perspective. So what of the dumb men who compete with me over a girl when there is a DeKooning to look at; so what of the dumb bastards who race to be the first at the stop light when there are streets in Paris, Rome and Madrid to explore; so what of those who judge you because you devalue their values by not accepting them when there are interesting people to meet the world over; So what of those hipster wanna-bees who desperately want inclusion to a special club when there is a whole fucking world out there, ripe for the picking. It's all a matter of perspective and the battles we choose to fight. If Cendrars can lose an arm in a war yet find a way to live life to the fullest, it should be no problem for me who has gotten by relatively easy, comparatively. Perspective, man, perspective. Let the idiots drown in their trivialities. Let them fight one another over the crumbs dropped by the upper one percent. Let them have their heart attacks and aneurysms over their insatiable desire to be "first". It's a simple choice: Life or death. Which one will you choose?
Ok, it's official. I will be joining Linda La Porte at the 169 Bar on August 3rd 2006 at 9pm. Details are on the "Gigs and News" section at the home page. This will be our first show since the last Bitterweed show back in February so we're pretty psyched about it. This is Linda's show with me accompanying her on guitar. For those familiar with Bitterweed, this is something different from what you are used to but we're sure you'll have a great time. I look forward to seeing you there and if you come, stop by and say hello. I would love to meet you.
In a much better mood this morning though I would love to go back to bed, I'm so tired. There are some things happening soon which I will soon post details of. I will be playing an acoustic show with Linda La Porte on August 3rd at the 169 Bar on the Lower East Side. Details will be posted on the "Gigs and News" page later on today. This is going to be a fun show. Just the two of us on guitar. Very intimate and very fun. This will be the first show we've played together since the last Bitterweed show back in February. Stay tuned for details.
Finally got around to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude." I'm about half way through it now. A very strange book. I've heard so much about it and how it is not considered a classic but to be honest with you I don't find it as enjoyable as most other Latin American novels from the "Boom" period. But it's way too early to make a final determination on it. Maybe it's something I'm missing? Something I am just not getting? I mean, I like it so far, but it's not as "great" as everyone had told me it was. I will hold final judgement until I finish it. In my humble opinion, Julio Cortazar's "Hopscotch", from the same period, is a far superior novel and I think Cortazar is a far superior writer than Marquez. Some may disagree but so far this is how I feel about it.
I've posted a couple of more paintings on the site. There are about 43 or so now. There will be a ton more but like I noted previously, It's going to take some time. Keep checking back every now and then to see more of them.
I came across an article yesterday about some of the beliefs of our fearless leader George W. Bush. I'm trying to track down the source of this article and if I can find it, I will post a link here because it has to be read to be believed. The article talks about his plans regarding stem cell research and then goes on, according to annonymous sources, to discuss some of the things he actually believes, one of which is his doubts about the theory of gravity!! Apparently W likes to drop a rubber ball on his desk during slow days to "test" whether or not the theory holds up! Can this be true!? I am fully aware about how politics plays a role in literally everything these days, so I do have my doubts, but who knows? The other thing the article talks about is according to his new plan he wants to require funerals for fetuses that naturally expire in the lab, require people to give them names for couples who want them for fertilization and have the government investigate if the fetus is destroyed to determine whether or not it was done deliberately. If this is true, coupled with his doubts about the theories of evolution and gravity, I say we have a real nut on our hands. The article concluded with this "annonymous source" leaving the room because he "smelled sulphur", which to him, indicated the presence of the devil. Is it any wonder our culture is the way it is? I mean....really....!!!
Now it's time to refill my mate' and get ready to get out of here. Hope everyone has a great day. And look out for the smell of sulphur!! ha ha ha---
It was simply one of those days where you just get tired of everything. Tired of bullshit. Tired of childish games played by people who are supposed to be adults. Yes, it was one of those days for me. If it wasn't the gossiping hens bitching back and forth it was the new breed of gossiping hens----men---who make their lives revolve around whether or not I am fucking the woman they all want to fuck themselves. I haven't experienced such shit since Jr. High School. But this is the modern American: obsessed with gossip and bullshit, pop culture trivia and whether or not you "get the references". What the fuck is going on? If it's not pseudo-hipster idiots constantly dumping their alleged "intellectual" horseshit on you it's the "real men" who puff up their chests because they want attention from a girl but yet do absolutely nothing about it---not to mention all those fine young women who think their life is an episode of "Sex and The City". Life has become one long reality show for these dolts. I used to argue that what people see on television had nothing to do with how they acted in real life but I guess I was wrong. Yes, I'm in a crabby mood. So what? I never thought I'd be dealing with this sort of shit when I was 40 years old. Truly pathetic. It gets tiring to watch 30-40-something men acting like "gangstas" and 30-40-something year old women act like their gushing admirers. Arrested development? You betcha! It seems we're at one another's throats over complete and total trivial bullshit. We smile at one another yet snicker and snipe at one another behind each other's backs. Everyone desperately wants to remain "cool" and "hip" and no one wants to finally grow the fuck up. Enough is enough, I say. Keep this shit away from me. I want no part of it...
"Aspiro a un arte de carne y hueso, con cerebro y con sexo." Oliverio Girondo Argentine Poet
What is it exactly that I am trying to achieve with my art? This is a question I never really thought about until I came across this quote from this very inventive and very original poet from Argentina. Oliverio Girondo is one of my recent favorites. I first came across his work in the film "The Dark Side of The Heart" (which also features the brilliant poetry of Mario Benedetti). The opening lines of this film are Girondo's words and I gathered from the way the film is constructed that these very lines are what inspired the film in the first place. After seeing it, I sought out Girondo's work, which wasn't easy to find in English, but I found it. The quote above I read in a recent issue of Arte al Dia magazine and after reading it, I began to ask myself what is it that I am trying to achieve?
I suppose first and foremost is self-expression. To me, this is the primary. Just like every other person on the planet I am a jumble of thoughts, emotions, feelings, ideas....all of which sometimes do not come together in any cohesive way. I am one who is always questioning things. I am one who is always on the search for something interesting, inspiring and interesting, always looking to move forward, to expand and grow. I try to take this same attitude toward creativity. I hate being in a rut and dwelling on the same themes over and over again but I notice I keep returning to those themes over and over again anyway. Is this being in a rut, or is it simply something I need or want to keep exploring? What is it exactly that I am trying to say? What is it that I want to convey to those who read my writing, listen to my music or see my paintings?
Art for me has always been born out of the internal, meaning, I always loved artists who reached down into themselves and took whatever was inside and laid it all out for others to experience. I think, as human beings, we all experience the same things to a certain extent and we are able to relate to other's work because of this. Of course, it always means different things to different people but it is more or less a universal thing. That is why art always survives over the centuries. Each era has it's own set of themes it wants to explore but over all people remain people no matter what era one is living in. One could look at paintings from the middle ages yet find something in them that can easily relate to their lives today.
Does art have a social responsibility? As a human being living in the 21st Century, do I have a responsibility to address these social issues or am I to address these issues through a very personal prism? In certain countries the idea of social realism is still an important component in the work of the artist. Is art to serve this? Should it? Should it be the responsibilty of the artist to address these themes when a good portion of the public doesn't even care about it? In America, political art is something you see quite a bit but is this kind of art actually saying or doing anything important, especially in a culture where the lives of celebrities seem to trump any other concern? And if art does have a social responsibility, is it my "duty" to accept this responsibility? To a large extent I say no. I feel that art is more personal and by being more personal you become more political. I've always believed that ideology and politics alone solves absolutely nothing. There is no "ism" that has ever made humanity a more caring species, even today.
I am just thinking out loud at the moment. Reading that quote from Girondo made me think about these things for which I have no answer for just yet. At the moment all I can really say is that what I try to achieve is a form of self-liberation through the creative process. Liberation from accepted "norms" of today's culture. Liberation from what is "expected" of me from those who have taken it upon themselves to set the standards which to me are purely arbitrary and most of the time self-serving. To me, art is about the liberation of the mind, the soul and spirit from those who would have you believe that there are paths you must follow in order to find that very thing. I'm still on my journey....still trying to find my own answers to things. My art is my vehicle to help me in this process and hopefully by extention I will come across good people who feel more or less the same way. It makes life that much more interesting and sunstantially meaningful....at least for me.
More paintings have been added to the "Paintings" page. There are about 40 in all at the moment. More will come in the next few days. It's going to take some time before all of them are up there. I look forward to your comments, feedback, etc. Also, hopefully within the coming months I can begin submitting them for exhibit but I know full well that won't be an easy task but it's something I've always wanted to do but never really tried except for a short period a few years ago. At any rate, this is only the start...
Ok: It seems the MY SPACE error was something on their end? Who knows....all I know is that I am very computer illiterate so who the hell knows. But I posted a bulletin on there for those to come check out the paintings here. If some of you make it here, have a look around this site...and post some comments in my guestbook as well. I'd love to hear from you....
More fighting in the Middle East. What else is new? A region plagued by violence from time immemorial. I'm not here to assign blame to anyone or to say who is at fault but the fact is that the average, every day citizen is the one who suffers here and what is going on in Lebanon right now is simply a tragedy. Some humans and their ideologies and their strict obedience to it often leads to the misery and the suffering of the other humans who just want to live their lives in peace just like anyone else on this fucked up planet we all share. With each passing report one can't help but feel for these people---on both sides. With that said, can someone please tell me why evangelical christians in this country are so ecstatic about the prospect of this being the beginning of Armegeddon? I understand why they are happy. Conflict in the middle east---and the prospect of Armegeddon---means the return of Jesus Christ is at hand and boy they are happy! What about for people like myself who don't believe in God and don't believe Jesus is ever coming back? Where does that leave us? What kind of madness is this!? The rejoicing of death and destruction...dancing in the streets....the absolute joy in knowing that the end is near....what is that all about? These are the people that would be happy to bring about the end of the world themselves....just so they can see the prophecy they believed in all their lives come true. All I think about is for the rest of us, these people may just make their beliefs self-fulfilling prophecy....and then it's the rest of us who suffer the consequences when all they've come to believe does not come to pass. That's the ultimate irony, no? The ultimate punchline for this joke called humanity...
I finally got around to posting some of my paintings. There are about 17 of them up there as of today but there will be a lot more in the coming days. They are being posted from the most recent backwards so the ones you see on here as of today are the most recent, dating back to 2001. I'm not a prolific painter by any means so there aren't that many over the years. But here are some to start with. I look forward to your comments, opinions, feedback, etc. If you like, send me a message. If you are interesting in buying any of these, then absolutely send me a message. We'll talk....
MY SPACE is SO FUCKING ANNOYING!!! It's either I can't access it or I can't access the blogs...or some other fucking problem. For all the good things it has, it certainly has a lot of kinks; and no matter how many times I contact them for assistance, I never get any help. I have so many problems with it I sometimes think of just deleting my account altogether. It is REALLY REALLY FUCKING ANNOYING!! I can't tell whether or not they are having a problem or if I just can't access it for the forseeable future....if anyone from MY SPACE is looking at this website, I suggest you come here. It's definitely more reliable.
Finally: Is it me? Or has the whole world gone completely crazy?
"We spend time here in search of a human being. In the course of our being entertained here not too infrequently, there was no trace of one. Our desperation forces us to hold on to hope."
I'm finally going to pick up a digital camera this week (thereby continuing to join the 21st century!) so I should be uploading my paintings on the "Paintings" page for those who are interested. It's been a long time in coming and I'm looking forward to getting some of your opinions on them.
I began a very interesting book this week: "Tania: Undercover with Che Guevara in Bolivia". It is a biography about a woman named Haydee Tamara Bunke Bider, an Argentine woman born of German communist parents. I only just begun reading it but it is already proving to be a very interesting read, despite the obvious political slant the book has. Sometimes it reads like a propoganda text because the author can't help sneaking in his own political views rather than just concentrating on the life of this woman. But the author, Ulises Estrada, was (is?) deeply involved with the Cuban government so I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise. Nevertheless, it's a very interesting read so far. I'm not a political person at all (I find politics to be like religion, only secularized) but I am very interested in Latin American history & culture so this book certainly has a lot of that. Very interesting.
Finally begun my new novel. After tearing what's left of my hair out for months, I finally got the ball rolling. I haven't written much (well...more accurately, I have but I got rid of most of it) and paired it down to about one very short chapter. Writing fiction does not come easy for me and I have a tendency to write and write and write then destroy what I wrote to start all over again. It's no wonder it took me forever to write my first one. At any rate, I'm happy with the first few pages of the new one. Now the trick is to try to gather all the ideas I've been jotting down over the past two years and try to have it all make sense!
Lastly: I want to thank all of those from my MY SPACE page who have written to me, responded to my messages, left comments and helped make this world a far more interesting place for me. I hope you all keep in touch!
Anti-war banners hung from nearly every balcony, nearly every window. Passionate statements from those who are as far removed from combat as I was as I walked these clean, quiet streets in search of something far more important to me than some political issue. I was far away, far from home, in search of internal peace while the madmen and pundits sought another peace. In fact, I think the war was "over" by the time I took those slow, casual steps along the Passeig de Gracia in search of something personal, pacifying and meaningful. Again, the world searched for answers as I searched for tapas and sangria, espresso and a quiet place to sit and commune with my thoughts for a while. Yet a war still raged. A war against stagnation. A war against those enemies of the soul who stalk every nook and cranny of New York City, thankfully thousands of miles behind me and cut off like a corn; far, far away. From those balconies voices announced loud and clear how welcome I was there; somehow connecting me with the actions of my government as if I alone could do anything about it. Those who were rude to me could not comprehend my sojourn, how I was completely disconnected from all the madness in the world. All I wanted was a little reprieve from the madness but they brought it to me, at every balcony, at every window, every rude overture, every inch of grafitti. In their haste to take the moral high ground they needed someone to hate, someone to vent their anger towards. But I was just a lonely soul, in search of some peace of my own, in search of some solitude, culture, and a little bit of the world. But I was merely Uncle Sam's belligerent nephew; I, this solitary New York City man was somehow going to be held responsible for the killings and the bombings somewhere as far away as Mars as far as I was concerned. But the beauty of L'Eixample drowned out those voices; drowned out those agitators. The beauty of those balconies, those streets, those trees and shop windows; the beauty of those intricately designed sidewalk stones and outdoor cafes, the unusual architecture of Gaudi, the flowing fountains and the putting of scooters along Carrer Valencia all the way to Plaza Catalunya where musicians played Andean music for an adoring crowd....all this silenced those voices. All of this gave me what I came for. A little more of the world. A little more of the world that did not seem to care who I was or where I came from. A part of the world that is neutral, indifferent and positively wonderful.
c.2003 Julian Gallo (Originally appeared in "Existential Labyrinths", Black Spring Press 2003)
I come by the way of the trinacria in order to drink the Sicilian-Saracen-Spaniard bloodline left by those who came before me, those whose seeds watered by the Mediterranean Sea only to sprout under New York City sky.
I come by the way of the trinacria in order to kiss the olive groves which line the road back home; a path clear and unobstructed: a cultural and spiritual migration back to where I once belonged.
I come by the way of the trinacria in order to drink the wine of Dionysus and eat the fruit of history. O quante e bella l'aria du lu mare. Cori nun mi ni duna di partiri.
Oh, the sea air so beautiful, I don't have the heart to leave.
It was one of those days where I decided to go out early. I had a few errands to run...go to the bank, the supermarket, the usual day to day stuff. It was a very hot morning here in NYC. Not even noon and it was already 75 degrees. After going to the bank, I decided to go the the local Barnes & Noble just to look around. It was one of those mornings where the New York City spastic brigade decided to show their faces. It didn't seem to take long. Within the first 20 minutes of being out and about, this is what I saw:
a woman bend down in the middle of oncoming traffic to pick up a coin
a man in sitting in his car leaning on his horn for about 45 seconds at a clip
a group of MTA workers deciding to fight with a local pizzeria worker over the price of the food, looking down their noses at the Mexican "immigrant" behind the counter, as if he had control over what the owner wants to charge
a man in his 60s walking down the street screaming how happy he was that a war was on in the Middle East
two very large black women picking a fight with a small, elderly Chinese lady as they exited a local Duane Reade
a young "gansta" Tarzan walking with his "Jane" in tow, giving a middle aged man the "stare down" because he thought this man was looking at his girl
and generally people walking in front of cars, banging into walls and other people, stopping dead in the middle of the side walk to make a phone call from their cell phones...
Something told me that this was not going to be a good day to be out and about. It seemed as if everyone was on the verge of bursting a blood vessel at the slightest provocation. Is it just my neighborhood? Could be. Where I live seems to me a cornicopia of mental illness and nasty, bitter people just looking for confrontation. It wasn't even noon and this is what was happening around me. I decided to go into the bookstore anyway. Afterwards, I decided to go home, get out of the madness and spend a quiet day at home to drink some Yerba Mate and begin working on my new novel, something I've been trying to do for some time now but the ideas just haven't been coming together. I only managed about a half a page but at least that's a start.
Each day I try not to let these things get to me but sometimes it just does and when it does, the best thing to do is just get away from it. Maybe something was telling me that I needed to just stay home for once and relax, take care of some things I needed to do and just shut myself away from the madness for once. At the end of the year I am going to London. It will be a good thing to get out of here for a while. Sometimes you just need to do that. To see some place completely different, some place completely alien to what you're used to. It helps you better understand the world you live in and it shows you with the utmost clarity that where you live, in my case NYC, is definitely NOT the center of the universe. Thank God for that....
It was one of those mornings where I look around and wonder what the fuck is going on in New York...and in America in general...never mind that, what the hell is going on in the world!? Madness
Drawn homeward on this long thread of music. Somewhere between Golgotha and the slaughterhouse my indoctrination begins. Guitars, a burnt sienna Mediterranean composition between two distant memories, art paying back loans with interest.
And just like that it was over. The death camp is creeping in again. Everything would have been perfect if it weren't for my pride. Something intervenes like a rotten green apple. It's signifigance I shall not dwell upon. I have suddenly become soft inside and there is no exit to this strange feeling of total invisibility. As I said, it's over. Words are no good. It is the season of the spirit and each word is losing their meaning. A stillbirth. Everything irrelevant and confusing. My contact with reality has always been tenuous. I take no notice of it anymore. A dream that has not come true. A sort of mirage. Everything chosen is irrelevant. This is the invasion of the true disease.
I just got word from a friend of mine that Syd Barrett, the original guitarist/songwriter of Pink Floyd has died. I had written about Barrett here before on a previous post. He had always been a major influence on me musically and it's sad to hear that he is no longer with us. He was 60 years old.
I'm still having problems posting and viewing blogs on my My Space page: apparently I can't get any help at all at the moment so for those who are interested in reading poems and other items come here to read whatever it is I have to say. For the moment, the My Space blog is down for the count.
Bombings in India, fighting in Israel, North Korean missle tests, Iraq, Afghanistan, a terrorist cell recently broken up who had planned to bomb trains and tunnels here in NYC, political infighting here in the United States....the madness continues. What the fuck kind of world are we living in!?
Haphazardly bouncing from one point to another, reaching out to empty hands which pull away, listening to promises never intended to be kept, realize one and for all you a merely a means to someone else's end. That is, unless you take a stand and refuse to allow it anymore. Yeah, we've all been there, listening to the words of insincere people filter through our open ears, and actually taking it on it's own merit. Revolving around this erratic orbit observing people too lost to make any form of commitment to anything unless it benefits them in some way. There is no real connection made except for those rare few that actually have some meaning. Everyone has their own agenda otherwise and you are nothing more than a stepping stone to that agenda. Therefore, stop reaching out and stop being pulled into their orbit before you become nothing more than some assymetric comet waiting to crash and burn into some unknown sphere. It just isn't worth it.
ITALY WON!! I was very happy to watch Italy's victory in the World Cup yesterday afternoon. It was a great game. I tell you, I was on the edge of my seat during the penalty kicks...hoping beyond hope that the Italian team wouldn't blow it in the last seconds of the game as they did that one time before. I am very pleased with the outcome.
Naturally, I have problems on my My Space page. It seems that I am unable to access by blog there and each and every time I send an email about it, all I get is a response about how to change my email address. !!!??? So I don't know if anyone else can access it or if it's just a problem on my end but there won't be blogs on there until I can figure out what's wrong. It's very frustrating but in the meantime, you can read any new items here, including poems, which I post frequently on My Space.
Chilean author Roberto Bolano has a new novel out, a collection of short stories that are set during the time of the Pinochet dictatorship. I've read only one other Bolano novel, "Chile by Night", which was a fantastic book. He has a few others which I also intend to read. One of the really good contemporary authors out there today.
Theo Eastwind, a New York City singer/songwriter who I see constantly playing in and around the Union Square subway station is performing at The Knitting Factory tonight. I have every intention of seeing it. He is an amazing songwriter and I firmly believe that he is going places. Tonight's show is supposed to be an "industry showcase". If these guys in the "industry" have any brains in their head at all, they'll sign him up right away. I'm really looking forward to it.
Also, Argentine author Tomas Eloy Martinez has a new novel out called "The Tango Singer". Eloy Martinez's previous books are available in English, one of which I had read some time ago, "Santa Evita". "Santa Evita" is a fictional account of all the emotions and lunacy surrounding the body of Eva Peron after she died. It is a truly fascinating read. In his new novel, Eloy Martinez writes about an NYU student who goes to Buenos Aires in search of a famous tango singer. It sort of reminds me a bit of a film I saw starring Dario Grandinetti called "Doble O Nada". In the film, a local tango singer is a dead ringer for Carlos Gardel and Gardel's people use him to cover for Gardel when Gardel refuses to do a show, fooling the audience into thinking it was really him. Soon, their lives begin to merge and the lines between the two singers disappear and it has an ending that is truly remarkable. See this film if you can.
Tonight I went to see a film called "What the Bleep!?: Down The Rabbit Hole." Apparently this has been out for some time now but they had a screening of it at The Center for Remembering and Sharing. It was a hell of a lot to digest. Most of it centered on Quantam Physics and it's relation to how we perceive the universe and ourselves. Many theories and ideas were tossed around in this nearly three hour film, sometimes bordering on quasi-religious ideas very similar to much eastern philosophy. The one thing that struck me most about this film was the coming together of science and theology, two topics that are often at loggerheads. It also made me think about where science is going.
The questions I raised to myself: Is the human race, unable to find answers in traditional, classical science now turning to theological ideas as well, trying to merge the two to find these answers? Are those scientists who study Quantam Physics at heart religious people trying to reconcile religion and science? Are these scientists "Post-Modernists", looking at scientific study from the Deconstructionist point of view? There seemed to be a lot of post-modern philosophy tossed into the mix, which is fine by me. The whole topic was simply fascinating but I'm not sure I buy into the theory of creating your own reality by simply changing your thoughts. Like I said, there was an awful lot to digest and some of the basic ideas expressed in this film clash with my own view of the world so I'm sure I will be thinking about this film for some time. You walk away with a hell of a lot to think about. After nearly three hours of listening to this heady and wierd polemic, I left the film feeling like I just gave birth. But who knows? There is a lot we don't understand about the universe. This could just be one other theory in a very long line of other theories throughout the history of mankind. Then again, maybe they are on to something. I'm no scientist and my knowledge of science and physics is very rudimentary, so who am I to say, right?
I received some very sad and shocking news last night. I learned through a very old friend of mine that Ralph Hasselman Jr, publisher of Lucid Moon had passed away on February 2nd 2006. He was 40 years old.
A few years ago, Ralph was in a very bad car accident which left him paralyzed. He kept on publishing, turning his enormous zine into an on-line magazine as well as publishing a few poetry books of his own. Ralph was one of the first people to publish my poetry when I began sending them out about a decade ago. We maintained a correspondence, albiet briefly, for about two years before we lost touch. Nevertheless it was pretty shocking to hear that he had died, apparently due to the complications of his condition.
Ralph and I lost touch during a very disturbing episode in the small press scene. He became the target of some vicious harassment by another small press publisher which turned into a full scale, on-line war. It was around this time that we lost touch and I always suspected that he thought I was also involved with it. I wasn't and this was one of the things that lead me to break from that whole scene and it had some negative effects on the small press scene as a whole, turning the whole thing into some sort of on-line "reality show" with everyone taking sides and sniping at one another. It was a very sad thing because it got very out of hand. More studpidity of the American psyche...where everything has to turn into sniping, gossip, name dropping and back biting; and apparently there are still a few out there continuing on this ridiculous charade, at least according to my friend's letter. This is why I went my own way, divorcing myself completely and entirely from the whole scene altogether.
At any rate, it was indeed sad news to learn. I feel for his family and friends and they have my deepest sympathies...
Tonight I am looking forward to going into Capture Sound Studios with Linda La Porte to continue work on Linda's forthcoming solo CD. The plan is to put down 2-3 more songs, which should be the last of the basic tracks, as well as putting down some bass tracks for the songs that need them. Things are coming along great so far and I can't wait to complete it.
It's hard to believe that today is the one year anniversary of the London train bombings. Where does the time go? And when will all this fucking madness finally end?
I recently compiled a couple of full length poetry manuscripts to shop around. The first one is just a collection of the first 4 chapbooks I had released over the past couple of years and the others are a collection of unpublished poems and some of those that were published in various magazines and journals over the years. Finding a publisher for full length poetry books is not an easy task. It's hard enough to get just ONE of your poems published. A full length manuscript is even more difficult. But within the coming weeks I will begin to shop them around and see.
I am still working on this new painting which has me stalled at the moment. One of those times where you reach a point where you don't know where to go. There's a quote from an artist, I forget who, that my good friend Laura Joy Lustig had mentioned to me once. It was something like "The painting is the problem...and the trick is to find out how to solve it." Well...I've been trying for days now! I seem to have run into a roadblock made of titanium! At any rate, for those of you who are waiting to actually SEE these paintings, just a couple of more days and I will begin posting them on the "Paintings" page...
And finally....I really NEED to get away from New York City for a while!
Yesterday I picked up Uruguayan writer/journalist Eduardo Galeano's new book "Voices of Time: A Life in Stories". I'm about a quarter of the way through it so far and I have to say it is definitely classic Galeano with his extremely well written vignettes and thought provoking comentary. It is "political" without being preachy and ideological, meaning that you will not find the rantings and ravings and the mindless screeds of an Ann Coulter or an Al Franken. No, this book approaches things from a very human perspective, often musing on the little things in life we would normally overlook and it often says more than Coulter, Franken and their ilk could ever say in a hundred books.
Galeano is a man who has LIVED and has experienced things the Coulters and the Frankens of the world would never see from inside their multi-million dollar lairs. I've only read about 50 pages so far but it contains more insight and wisdom than any of our American "intellectuals". Galeano has written many many books over the years and this one (so far) is easily equal, if not better, than his previous books. If you want to read some very thought provoking, insightful, and INTELLIGENT commentary on the state of the human race in the early 21st century, I suggest you read ANY book by him. After doing so, then go back and think of all the Coulters, Frankens, Savages, Limbaughs, Hannitys and Bennetts and you will realize with the utmost clarity that American political discourse is mired in ideological bullshit and school yard bickering. (We should be embarrassed as a culture for producing such narrow minds as our political commentators).
One of the other great things about Galeano's writing is that its style is very literary and poetic and by being so he drives the points he wants to make directly to both your brain as well as your heart. It makes you simultaneously think and feel and forces you to look at the world from a whole new perspective....something Americans need desperately these days.
Here they come, once again, to save the day: Word is out that some Hollywood celebrities are going on a "Hunger Strike" to protest the war in Iraq. They call it a "rolling hunger strike", meaning, each one will fast for 24 hours and then another will take over and so on and so on. Another empty gesture by very wealthy, comfortable, spoiled, pampered, self-absorbed, self-important idiots. Say what you will about the war. There are plenty of reasons to be critical of it but this empty gesture is the typical American way of doing things: style over substance. We don't have any Bobby Sands' here, do we? I imagine this will do a hell of a lot, won't it? I mean, what a sacrifice! How radical of them all, huh? I guess the war will end now because Martin Sheen won't eat something for 24 hours. Problem solved! Don't worry America! Our guys will definitely come home soon now, won't they?
I was thrilled to discover that Uruguayan author/journalist Eduardo Galeano has released a new book. It is called "Voice In Time: A Life In Stories". I will begin reading it today and am looking forward to it. Galeano is the author of many many wonderfully written books, most notably "Open Veins of Latin America", The "Memory of Fire" trilogy, "We Say No" and "Upside Down" among others. Galeano is a very political writer without being preachy and self-important, which is one of the best things about his books. He comments on the absurdity of today's world from a very human perspective and despite the horrors and absurdities he writes about he still manages to maintain a sense of optimism and hope and his writing style is part journalistic, part literary which makes for very interesting reading.
In 1962, Italian author/poet/filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini said, "Italy is stewing in a welter of affluence accompanied by egoism, stupidity, gossip, lack of culture, moral confusion and conformism. Allowing oneself to contribute in any way to this decay amounts to fascism". When Pasolini made this comment he referred to a fascism that comes in a "jacket and tie", a camouflagued form of fascism which permeates society, shaping its future. It startles me to think how this quote can so nicely fit the current state of America.
....and speaking of Italy, looks like the World Cup finals are between Italy and France. Let's hope that Italy kicks their ass!
Ok: I don't know how many of you out there have been following the World Cup but I am thrilled to see that Italy has made the finals. I've been rooting for a few teams througout the games: USA, Argentina, Brazil & Italy. USA doing what they always do, getting knocked out in the first round; Argentina....almost making it, but sadly not; Brazil's shocking defeat...so that left Italy...and yesterday someone told me that they lost. I was happy to wake up this morning to discover that they actually won.
Had a great 4th of July: ate a boat load of food and had nearly as much wine. I could have done without getting eaten alive by mosquitos though, one of which fed nicely on the back of my head! It must have been all the wine that kept them coming back for more!
Linda La Porte's website is finally up and running. It's still in the works but at least now it can be viewed. Do yourselves a favor and check it out. There isn't any music on it just yet but there will be in the coming days. This coming Friday night I will be heading back to Capture Sound Studios in Brooklyn to continue work on her forthcoming solo CD.
I've been meeting some very interesting people on My Space. I had been reluctant for a while to set up a My Space page but now I am glad that I did. It's a great place to network and to meet people who love the same things that you do. It truly has a world wide reach and so far I've met some very interesting people from Argentina, Spain, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Egypt & Turkey...as well as from all over the United States. You can find some more poems of mine on there as well, some of which that aren't posted here. Go to: www.myspace.com/juliangallo I know this is probably not that big a revelation for those who have been using it for years, but what do you want from me? I'm old and all this is fairly new to me! :-)
I found a book in my bookcase that I completely forgotten I had. "Voices" by the Italo-Argentine writer Antonio Porchia. It's a collection of "poems" of sorts---not really poems but more like quotations that are very interesting thoughts and observations. I posted one of them here previously. A very interesting read.
And finally: The Spanish poet Miguel Hernandez is absolutely amazing! Looking over a book of his poetry, I forgot how powerful his work actually was. In my opinion, some of the best poetry of the early 20th Century, a lot of dealing with the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. For those intereted in reading some good poetry, I highly, HIGHLY recommend that you read him.
First I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! Ok....it isn't exactly the 4th just yet but the celebrations have already begun. Here's to good food, wine, fireworks, etc and a sincere wish that soon all of our soldiers will safely come home.
Yet another amazing Flamenco CD I bought this week, "Arabe Flamenco 1" by Hossam Ramzy & Rafa El Tachuela. This CD is better, in my opinion, than it's follow up. The first track "Al Quantara" is just amazing. The more I listen to this stuff, the greater appreciation I have for it. As a guitarist, it's something to aspire to....but I fear I'm not that good a player. But it is a challenge I intend on taking....
Tonight, Linda La Porte joins Bea Connena & Bea Ba for an accoustic show at the CBGBs Gallery. I've been looking forward to seeing this show for some time now. Bea had joined Linda and I on a Bitterweed track on our last CD. This is something different for Linda as well. Bea Ba's music is in the Latin Rock vein so it will be a thrill to hear her play. I've been purposely NOT wanting to hear the progress so I can hear it for the first time tonight, but I did manage to catch them rehearse two songs about two weeks ago and it sounded amazing. Really looking forward to this.
Another CD I picked up this week: Joao Gilberto's "Joao voz e violao", a very very laid back, mellow Bossa Nova CD with Joao Gilberto playing guitar and singing. Nothing else. It's chock full of his best known songs and to hear it stripped down to the basics is a real treat, really bringing out his beautiful melodies to the forefront.
Still working on this new painting: soon they ALL will be posted here on the "Paintings" page. Within the coming week.
For art lovers: Not only is the Museum of Modern Art having a great retrospective on Dada, I just found out that the Whitney Museum of American Art is also having a huge exhibit as well, highlighting, from what I understand, nearly if not all it's paintings. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one!
Oh....and "Respiro" is an excellent movie! The scenery alone is worth a view....
How extremely difficult it is to actually make a living off of the things we love to do. I was thinking about this this morning when I was making my coffee, being thankful it's a Saturday morning and I don't have to rush around to get ready for the 9 to 5er. The three things I love to do more than anything----music, writing and painting----and how after over all these years I find myself in the same situation I have always been in. Not that there hasn't been some successes. As a musician, I have been lucky to put a couple of CDs and a few 7" singles out there, had pretty good press from them over the years, made a little money here and there; as a writer, I managed to get poems and short stories published in about 40 journals and zines, had a handful of chapbooks published, had decent press from the small press journals and again, made a little money now and then; and painting---well....I never really pursued that in the same way so....but I was happy to get one painting in one art show about 7 years go. Even though these small milestones please me, it did absolutely nothing to change my financial situation so hence the 9 to 5er. How else is one expected to live? And I know a hell of a lot of other people in the same boat, even those who actually had good record deals and/or publishing deals and even some artists I know who sold their work. All of them are finding other ways to pay the bills.
It's not that I am ungrateful for the minor successes I managed to get but I am sure I'm not exactly at the top of the listening or reading lists of those handful of people who actually bought my music and/or bought my books. Nevertheless, I am grateful to those who did. So what do we do to push things to the next level? We keep striving. We keep trying to vie for attention, trying to get ourselves and our work noticed through the gigantic whirlwind of other talent out there trying to do the same thing. And when one does succeed to the point of actually making a living off their work, you always ask the question, what was it that separated them from the rest of those who are doing the same thing? Is it really talent? Or is it just dumb luck and knowing the right people? Or being in the right place at the right time? Maybe it's a combination of all of these things. Maybe not. And lord knows---and I'm certain almost everyone felt this way at some point----there are a lot of people out there with absolutely no talent, no ideas, no skills, whatsoever who are making a fine living off their "art". Good for them, but what is the determining factor? What is it exactly that makes those able to make a living and the rest of us to keep struggling? Sometimes you get to the point when you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this? Why am I even bothering?"
Then the answer hit you: you do it because you must. You do it for the joy it brings. You do it because you have to do it. It's almost like a compulsion. You have to ask yourself what your reasons for doing it is. If you are doing it for fame, celebrity and fortune, I suggest one fine another field to get into. If you are doing it because you love to do it and feel you must do it for the peronal satisfaction it gives you, then soldier on. There will always be those who like what you do and other who won't. But you have to ask yourself why you are doing it. It's got to be for the love of it and for the personal satisfaction it gives you, otherwise the road to disappointment and disillusion is a very long one.
So we set up websites, My Space pages, or whatever else in order to try to bring a bit of attention to our work and to reach out to people that would never even know you were alive. That's the one great thing about the internet. It's a potential world wide audience. You can actually reach people. It's still no guarantee of anything but at least you can reach them. When I got into this over 20 years ago, there was no internet and trying to get people to hear your music was much harder. Trying to get people to read your writing was much harder, etc etc. With a click of the button you can now reach the world, unlike in those days when you literally went around the city plastering up flyers, licking envelopes and mailing them out, eeking out a small audience one person at a time. Now it's not so cumbersome. Again, no guarantees of anything, but your chances of reaching people are far better now than they were then, that's for sure.
My purpose of setting up a website and a My Space page is to try to reach people who have similar interests and maybe reach people who might appreciate what I do----and also to find others doing the same thing who I otherwise would have never heard of and enjoy their work as well. Besides, you may actually meet some really great people in the process, no matter what happens and meeting interesting people from around the world is always a plus.
So despite what seems like a daunting task and what sometimes may seem like pissing in the wind, I feel hopeful. But I always never try to lose sight of the fact that I do what I do because I love doing it. That's the primary. To express myself, to create. Once this is lost then I would have to question why I'm even doing it at all. But I'm really not the get married, have kids, settle down in the burbs type so I guess I will keep going on doing what I have to do even if I only have an audience one could count on two hands, if that. It's that drive all creative people have to do it that keeps them going, to keep challenging oneself to expand and do better and improve. If along the way people pick up on it and enjoy it, all the better.
So for all of you out there pursuing your thing, let me know. I'm interested. I sincerely look forward to hearing, seeing and reading what you do. A lot of the most talented and interesting people out there are the one's people never hear about anyway. It only enriches life that much more.
Spent Monday night at the studio watching/listening to Linda La Porte record a song for Jim Destri (Blondie). She did a fantastic job. It was something very different from what she is used to but she met the challenge and rose to the occasion wonderfully. Jim is a very talented guy and an amazing songwriter. It was a thirll to just be hanging out, listening to his new music and having a laugh. Linda wrote about the experience on her My Space page. For more information check out her blog at www.myspace.com/lindalaporte
Right now I am listening to Juan Martin's "Musica Alhambra", an excellent Flamenco record which is another great example of how Spanish and Arabic music blend to make a very enjoyable listening experience. Along with Martin's Spanish guitar is Tabla, Oud, vocals...Arabic and Spanish rhythms...a great way to greet the new day.
Leave it to Time Out New York (one of NYC's leading "Hipster" magazines) to come up with this one. The current issue highlights New York City rivalries. Most of them are the typical ones most New Yorkers know about but leave it to them to turn riding a subway into an excersize in stupidity. One of the rivalries mentioned is what train is "cooler" to ride, the F or the L train. The coolness quotient is based on where they go and how many "hotties" one sees on the train. I never knew what train you rode added to your hipster cred, but I guess it does now. Maybe I'm just out of the demographic, I don't know. But please, can this rampant stupidity stop already?
Looking forward to viewing the Dada exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. I haven't been there since the renovation but this exhibit is the perfect excuse to finally go and see what they did with the place. Besides, Friday nights from 4-8pm is free admission. I'm a huge fan of Dada so this retrospective should be worth checking out.
"Whoever looks into himself as into vast space and carries galaxies in himself knows how irregular all galaxies are; they lead into the chaos and labyrinth of existence."
"At any streetcorner, the feeling of absurdity can strike any man in the face." Albert Camus
Sipping Yerba Mate': listening to Hossam Ramzy, trying to awaken from a very short night sleep: only about a half hour to go before venturing out to face the rat race: exhausted, but Spanish/Arabic rhythms slowly awaking me: mate', hot and bitter, doing it's job: the gurgle from the gourd: yaaaaaawwwwwnnnniiiinnnng: a cigarette is lit: a new day begins....
Over the years a lot of different things have influenced me in art, music, writing and just life in general. The more one is exposed to different things, the better it is for your creativity, I think. I like the idea of those who throw all their influences into the pot, mix it up and then pour it all out, letting the chips fall where they may. For some, this is something they don't like to do or refuse to do, something I feel is a big mistake.
Over the years I've known other musicians and artists who hold stubbornly onto what they like and close their minds off completely to new ideas, images, sounds...whatever. One of the things I love about being in Bitterweed is the fact that nothing is taboo. Everything is on the table. Since each one of us have such vastly different influences I think it makes it all that much more interesting when we are coming up with new songs or ideas. I've met some musicians over the years who simply refuse to listen to any other kind of music. Artists who refuse to open up to different styles, writers who won't read any other authors or try different forms. Why is this? I think it's important to be open to all things. You don't have to like everything, but at the very least be open to it. But to each his own, I guess. I don't criticize those who do this, but merely question as to why they are not open to it at the very least.
Recently I've been drawn to different kinds of music which just a couple of years ago I couldn't imagine myself listenting to. Flamenco being one of them. The more I listened and the more I learned about what is actually behind it, the more fascinating it became for me. I have a new appreciation for it and a hell of a lot of respect for the musicians who in my mind are simply phenomenal. I came to Flamenco through Jazz. Jazz has also lead me in other musical directions since some of the Jazz musicians I love include some Indian, Middle Eastern, Afro-Cuban and Latin music into the mix, which in turn made me go out and investigate the sources of this music, which in turn lead me to others and so on. What I am finding very appealing about these various musical styles is the fact that, to me, it sounds very fresh; and since many current rock bands have not been doing it for me (with the exception of a very few), I felt I had to move on to something else in order to get that excitement I used to get whenever a new band came about who played some interesting and exciting music.
Lately, the state of Rock music has grown stale. For me, it all ended with the grunge era. After that was over, very little has come along that excited me and I think this is a shame. It's a shame because I feel that a lot of these younger rock bands are not striving to do something that is unique or truly their own. They are merely copying what they hear, doing what they think they should be doing. I like Green Day very much but how many bands out there are doing exactly what they are doing? Too many. We already have one Green Day. How many more do we need? The same thing happened with Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Alice in Chains. As soon as something "worked", the lemmings followed suit. Former "Hair bands" were suddenly dropping the make up and wearing flannel and singing with deeper voices. It all became very stale very quick and nothing since 1995 has been truly unique to me. So I began to look elsewhere. I found myself turning to Jazz records which sounded fresh, exciting, interesting and from listening to those records lead me off into a million different musical directions.
Naturally then, hearing music from these different cultures made me curious about those cultures and I began looking at art from these cultures, reading their authors, learning about their history. And the more I saw and the more I read the more I began to appreciate what these cultures had to offer. This lead me to more music, more art, more writing and a different way of viewing the world, opening me up to possibilities I never thought of before. It all has been very inspirational to me. I've also been very interested in my own geneology lately. My family roots being Mediterranean lead me to look more into that culture which in turn lead me to more music, art, literature and history of that region. And being that the history of the Mediterranean is so diverse it would naturally lead to many diverse things.
My interest in Middle Eastern music and Arabic poetry has grown immensely. There is a wonderful book that was published a few years ago called "Poems from Arab Andalusia". What struck me as very interesting about these poems were the obvious influence it had on Spanish poets such as Federico Garcia Lorca and the rest of the "Generation of 1927". What I also found interesting was these poet's reverence for music, beauty and life. Very simple poems that say a lot with very little words. Listening to Flamenco also allowed me to appreciate the influence of Arabic music on Spanish music and in Italian music as well. A recent find has been the music of Hossam Ramzy (who I mentioned here before) and Iranian singer Sussan Deyhim whose music is simply hypnotic and it's piqued my interest in what else these cultures have to offer artistically; and I intend to seek it out.
I've also been listneing to and exploring music from Brazil, namely Bossa Nova and Samba. I just love the sound, the rhythms and particularly the guitar playing. I had already known a little of it from my father who listened to this music around the house when I was a kid. It just took me a very long time to come around and truly appreciate what was going on there. Artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto and Bebel Gilberto among others.
At any rate, I think it's important to keep looking forward, to keep seeking out new ideas and looking for new forms of expression. I firmly believe that to grow creatively is to also grow personally and I guess that's the whole point, isn't it? The world is open to everyone. Why not seek it out and see what's out there?
Sometimes I really can't think of anything to write about or I may not have the time to write about anything, hence the "Into The Laybrinth" series of posts on here. When I can't think of anything to write about----or again, if I don't have the time to write anything, I like to post a quote that I find interesting that may also be relevant to how I am feeling at that point in time. I also feel they are quotes worth thinking about.
I am finally----FINALLY----getting the ideas together for my new novel. I completed my first novel about three years ago and since then I've been struggling with new ideas that just don't seem to pan out. It seems that I've finally reached the point where I can begin gathering all these ideas to get started. It can be very frustrating at times....
My poem "Dear John Coltrane" is to be published in an issue of Small Brushes magazine. I think it's supposed to come out this month----or is it in October? It's hard to tell with these things. Sometimes they never appear when they're supposed to. If it is out and if anyone out there has the issue, please let me know so I can obtain a copy for myself. I'd appreciate it.
Within the next week or two I should begin posting my paintings on the "Paintings" page. I look forward to reading your comments about them. I've also been working on a new painting which will also be included here.
I recently bought a couple of CDs from the Putumayo cataloge. One is "AcousticBrazil" which is absolutely wonderful, particularly the first track by Gal Costa called "Aquele Frevo Axe' ". A samba/bossa nova track. It also features a great track by Tropicalismo artist Caetano Veloso (who some may have seen in a scene in Almoldovar's film "Talk to Her") called "Cajuina". The other one I bought is called "Mediterranean Odessey: From Athens to Andalusia". My favorite track on that is Greek musician Glykeria whose track "Pare Me Apose Pare Me" is a must hear. Also features great Flamenco from Miguel Gil. Anyone interested in World Music should definitely check this label out. It has a wealth of interesting music from all over the world.
Is anyone surprised as I am that Argentine director Alejandro Agresti's new film is "The Lake House"? I know I am. I haven't seen it, and really have no intention of seeing it being that I don't like Keanu Reeves (who I feel is one of the most overrated actors of our generation) but being that Agresti's film "Valentin" was, to me, nothing short of a masterpiece it may actually be something worth checking out after all. But Agresti didn't write "The Lake House" so who knows? "Valentin" was written by the director and is partially based on his own childhood experiences in Argentina. See this film. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.
This week I began reading a fascinating biography of one of my all time favorite writers Ferderico Garica Lorca. So far it gives incredible insight into his life and work. The author is Ian Gibson.
"Old men are always young enough to learn, with profit."
Aeschylus 5th Century B.C.
A friend of my said something to me today which made me think. We were talking about music and he thought it was funny that my musical tastes had changed dramatically over the years. He has known me a long time now, since I was a 21 year old kid. Over the years he had heard me rave about bands like Nirvana, Slayer, and others in which he didn't particularly care for. But we also talk a lot about the classic rock bands, bands we both love. But lately I've been telling him how there just isn't really anything in rock music today that excites me, save for a few bands here and there. For the past two to three years or so, I've been listening to Jazz and world music almost exclusively. The reason being that sometimes one needs to hear something fresh and exciting since after a while, it's just the same-old, same-old. My friend was particularly amused that I've been digging a lot of Flamenco as of late. I explained to him that as a musican and a guitarist, it amazed me that I never listened to this music long before. If you're a guitarist, I can't see how you can't appreciate it. But to each his own, right?
One of the things I think he was alluding to was that as I got older, my opinions about certain things had changed and what I felt so strongly about in my 20s I no longer feel today. That's natural. I don't think my tastes have changed so much as it has expanded. I still love the music of my youth: Punk Rock, Classic Rock, old R&B, the New Wave bands I grew up listening to....that hasn't changed and there is always a special place in my heart for all that music. But when I spoke to him, I was speaking in reference to new/current/contemporary rock bands, which in truth, leaves me cold or at the very least completely and totally ambivalent. When everyone got excited about The Strokes, as an example, my feeling was that I had heard all that 20 years ago and frankly, I thought they sounded better when they were called The Velvet Underground. I do like some of the Strokes' songs, but I can't get excited about them the way a lot of younger people did. The same goes for a lot of these new bands. I mean, it's all right, but it doesn't excite me the way the bands in the past did. Perhaps I'm just getting old. Maybe this is what happens.
But I have to say that I never, ever bought into the whole "rock star" thing anyway. The pretentiousness and outright silliness of the 80s hair bands----the whole "sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, living life on the edge, partying till you puke, everything in excess asthetic never appealed to me. I never wanted to be a "Rock Star". I just wanted to me a "musician", as pretentious as that may sound to some. Over the years, I never---or rarely---went for the old shop worn cliches about what being in a rock band was supposed to be. I was always quite content to play or do the show and then take off, go home to my girlfriend (when I had one, that is) and just get on with my life. It was always about the music. It was never about the trappings that came along with it all. I suppose it was Punk Rock that did that for me. Back in the day, Punk Rock was the antithesis of the "Rock Star" thing. It was always about the music and maybe the message. It was never about finding yourself face down in the gutter, swimming in your own vomit. (At least it wasn't supposed to be. There were many punk bands who preached against the rock star asthetic but in reality embraced it with open arms. Darby Crash of the Germs and Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols come to mind. Pathetic.) I don't claim that I saw myself as an "artist" who "didn't do those things". It's just the way it was for me. Besides, I had my fill of all that long before I even picked up an instrument. Sometimes I get mocked, albiet playfully, for never embracing that whole thing, but whatever.
It just wasn't and isn't me. For me it was never about that. There's absolutely nothing romantic about being the strung out junkie rock star parading around the Lower East Side clinging to a past that is long long gone, receiving the accolades of aging rebels and punk rockers who can't seem to let go of something that in reality never existed in the first place. And you see it all the time. If that's your thing, great. It just isn't for me.
So when my friend and I talked today about all this it occurred to me how often one holds on to what one said many years ago as if it were the standard which should be carried for the rest of one's life. As you get older, you get exposed to more things and if you keep an open mind, it only can enrich your experiences. No one is saying to throw away your old records because you are getting old. No one says that you can't listen to the music of your youth (every generation does that), but over time you are exposed to different things. As a musician, I think it's important to keep your mind open to different types of music. It keeps your ideas fresh and allows one to expand into interesting directions, much like anything else in life. Ok, so I am not that same guy with his Jesus hair and ripped jeans anymore. So what? What does all that mean in the grand scheme of things, anyway? Absolutely nothing. If I learned anything from my youth it was to be true to yourself. After all, no one else is going to live your life for you, right?
"The duende is a momentary burst of inspiration, the blush of all that is truly alive, all that the performer is creating at a certain moment. The duende resembles what Goethe called "the demonical". It manifests itself principally among musicians and poets of the spoken word, rather than among painters and architects, for it needs the trembling of the moment and then a long silence....Where is the duende? Through the empty arch comes a wind, a mental wind blowing relentlessly over the heads of the dead, in search of new landscapes and unknown accents; a wind that smells of baby's spittle, crushed grass, and jellyfish veil, announcing the constant baptism of newly created things."
With painting there are many different ideas and theories that come along with it. For someone like myself, who was not formally trained in an art school---or even any art classes save for those I took in high school----it can be a very frustrating learning experience. I dabbled in painting for a long time, since I was in high school but I never made a serious go of it because I had always felt that I had no idea what I was doing. I just did it. I felt like doing it and thought I'd try my hand at it; and since I do not know what I am doing in any formal sense, naturally the results can be negligable at times. So I would make a few small paintings, enjoying the entire process while making one and then hating the end results. Most of them either wound up in a closet somewhere or ended up either being painted over or thrown in the garbage in frustration. After a couple of well meaning attempts, I basically had a handful to show for it, some of which, if not all of it, I was not very proud of.
I try to learn about art by examining it, experiencing it, getting up close and personal andlooking at how they achieved certain things. Learning how they approached it and what were the ideas behind it. I did this for years. I would look at the "masters" very closely at the museums, go to gallery shows, go to friends openings (or friends of a friend's openings) and really look at what they did. After doing that for many years, something suddenly occurred to me and that is it doesn't matter. Now I know this statement may offend some of the more "serious" artist's out there but after seeing so many works in so many various places it occurred to me that the whole art world, like music, writing or anything else, is based solely on subjectivity. There are no "rules" so to speak and there certainly isn't any objective standard by which one can approach it. It suddenly occurred to me one day, after viewing a local artist's work in a downtown gallery, that his work was no better or worse than what I was doing and that maybe I was just being too hard on myself or believing that there was some sort of innate knowledge one needed to have. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
It's all about running with your ideas and executing it a best you can and as honestly as you can and letting the chips fall where they may. Nothing drove this point home more than seeing an exhibit of paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a painter who in my opinion, is vastly overrated, although I do enjoy some of his work. What I did like about his work was the sense that he just didn't give a shit at all about what was generally "accepted" and followed his own muse and did what he wanted to do. Whether or not he deserved all the accolades bestowed upon him is definitely open to debate.
I approach painting in the same manner in which I approach music or writing. I explore the same themes and ideas only in a different medium. Once I told myself that there are absolutely no rules whatsoever, suddenly the world opened up to me. I went home one night and began painting again, this time with a seeming reckless abandon, not caring at all about whether or not it was being done "right" or not. The results were rather surprising for me. I was suddenly pleased with what I was doing, more or less.
It wasn't too long after that that I met a painter/photographer/poet from Brooklyn named Laura Joy Lustig. She would sometimes come by the hovel and look at the paintings I did and gave me an honest---sometimes brutally honest----assessment of what I had done. Since I respected her work very much and thought she had a lot of talent her opinion meant a lot to me. She was very encouraging most of the time, which naturally fueled the flames and the more I began to paint. Her opinions and encouragement and advice was and still is very appreciated.
Like anything else, it's all subjective. Some people will like what you do, others will scoff at you. There are always going to be those who think they know what's best based soley on their own tastes and feelings (and for some, based on what they think will make them be perceived as "hip".) In the end it doesn't matter and the important thing is to have the confidence in what you are doing and follow the path to wherever it may lead.
I managed to have one painting in a show a number of years ago in Brooklyn. It was a fun experience. To see one of my paintings hanging there along side all these different works of art was a thrill for me. I didn't expect anything to come of it at all. It was just to be part of it. And seeing that painting along side all this other work, some of it brilliant, some of it not so brilliant, it only re-enforced the idea how subjective it all really is. When I wander around a museum and see a Cy Twombly or a Jean Dubuffet (two artists who I love, by the way) I had to ask myself what are the standards that elevate these artists to "museum status" while other local artists, who in my view are just as good if not better, struggle, struggle and struggle, to get their work noticed? The only answer that I keep coming back to is perception. What one may find "brilliant" someone else will see as garbage.
You may hear this all the time when someone looks at a particular artist. "I could have done that." or "It looks like a three year old did that." I was one of those until I began to try it. It's not as easy as it looks and there is a method to the madness. There is thought behind something that looks random and arbitrary to someone else. But in the end, truly, it's a matter of affecting the right person at the right time, much like music, writing, or any other creative endeavor. I firmly believe that when it comes to the arts, subjectivity rules supreme. There are no rules, no objective standards, nothing. It's what pleases the individual eyes, ears and soul. Nothing more to it than that.
I think if one approaches their creative endeavors with this attitude one can accomplish many things. It takes away any barriers that one may put in their own way because they feel there is a certain objective standard in which one must live up to. You have to do what you do because you love doing it first. You have to please yourself first. If someone else likes what you do, all the better. If they don't, that's ok too. One person's shit is always another person's gold and there will always be disagreements on what is that shit and what is that gold. But objectively speaking, the answer is in oblivion. It can't be nailed down as fact despite what some experts seem to think (i.e. Ayn Rand's Objectivist theories on art, which are absurd.)
So for myself, I will continue to experiment and explore different methods towards my ideas and learn by doing. It's the only way in my view. To keep striving to improve, to keep learning, to keep your mind open to all forms and criticisms and ideas. If you believe in yourself, someone else will eventually believe in you too. For over 20 years doing the music thing the very simple lesson that I learned that applied to all creative endeavors is this: one must do it, first and foremost, for the joy it brings.
"Writing is sketching my mandala and at the same time going through it, inventing purification by purifying one's self; the task of a poor white shaman in nylon socks".
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
Albert Camus
Each person's life is a struggle of sorts. That struggle is to find one's place in the world: what they want to do, where they are going, what makes them happy, what brings them peace of mind, etc etc. Each day we awake with the potential to make right the very things we feel stress us, wear us down or displeases us. For some, it's easy to take this step and move on. Others have to fight their way uphill but eventually they get there. The ultimate desire is to reach that space where all the things that beat on you no longer have their affect. To the degree in which this is done depends on each individual. Understanding of others (i.e. Friends, family, etc) is the key to all this. Without that understanding of others the struggle to reach that point in one's life can be an arduous journey. Each person goes through their life an explorer of their own self in one way or another.
I have always been one who marched to the beat of his own drum since only I know what will make my happy. Only I know, for myself, where I want to go and eventually want to be. But America is a culture where there is a tendency for others to think they know what's best for you. Our culture has it's "rules" and "standards" which are put forth as a guide in which everyone is expected to follow no matter what. God help those who choose not to accept these so-called rules and standards. One of the things my late father taught me all my life is to follow your own path and care not about what others think you should be doing. Sometimes people have a tendency to think that what is good for them is good for everyone else as well. They sometimes slip into a mindset in which they project what makes them happy onto everyone else as if life is a one-size-fits-all proposition.
A recent movie I saw explored this theme to a certain extent. The movie, "Friends With Money", is an excellent portrait of modern American values. Before seeing it, I had expected it to be just another romantic comdey but it turned out not to be the case at all. It turned out to be a very good exploration of the contemporary American mind where the little things that others do are the topic of intense scrutiny and judgment by those who accept different values and likewise fail to grasp or accept that other people do not neccesarily accept those values. It is an intense existential drama in which people seemed to focus more on worrying about other people's happiness rather than working on the problems of their own happiness and place in the world. The film does not have a happy ending nor does it conclude with everything tied up in a nice neat little package with everything all figured out. In a way, it reminded me very much of a slightly less intense "Interiors" by Woody Allen (and the Woody Allen influence on this story is not untintentional, I'm sure). It's a story in which I think a lot of people can relate to to some extent. I thought about it for a couple of days and realized that each and every one of us go through this life searching for something more than what is literally in front of our faces; that one can achieve great things as far as their careers, material wants and financial success but still find a gaping hole in the center of their lives in which nothing seems to fill.
Each of us decides for themselves what path to take and I am one who feels that one should be able to take that path in relative peace. The voyage of self-discovery and self-liberation is a theme running through many works of art throughout the centuries. It is something that always made certain works of art interesting to me and it's a theme that I believe all of us explore to some extent. After all, even though we are surrounded by people who care for us and love us, ultimately we each travel this road alone. Sometimes people have your best interests at heart and offer their advice, their ideas, their helping hand and sometimes people do not have your best interest at heart at all. For those who do it is a greatly appreciated thing. There are a lot of people who are truly all alone and have absolutely nothing and no one. Thankfully, I am not one of those. I have many people in my life that I am truly grateful for and I appreciate them with every ounce of my being although at times we may not see eye to eye on everything. It's not supposed to be this way. We are all individuals, after all.
In my creative pursuits this is a theme that I come back to time and time again. Art is a tool in which I use to help facilitate this journey of self-discovery and self-liberation. One of my all time favorite writers, Henry Miller, is a fine example of this very thing. His work is constantly returning to this theme time and time again and for him, writing was his method. As one gets older one tends to reflect on their lives and re-evaluate everything he once thought and tries to come to grips with it. One tends to find that certain things that once meant an awful lot suddenly doesn't mean anything anymore and there are a whole new set of things and principles in which he examines. That's the way it should be, I think. I don't believe that what one thought at 20 is the same as what he thinks at 40. It's only natural.
Losing my father at the age I did only hastened this train of thought. I was at a very pivotal point in my life and him not being around at this pivotal point has made things very difficult for me at times. Sometimes it's very important for sons to turn to their fathers in times of need, even if just to talk about things as the weight of life becomes too much to deal with at times. I lost that and pretty much had to turn inward and try to take what he had taught me and what I had learned from him and apply it as best I can. Sometimes it is not easy at all. He was always one who always seemed to know what to say when things got rough. He was a great man like that and I miss him intensely and now that Father's Day approaches, I only miss him that much more.
In about 8 weeks I will be turning 40 years old and I no longer see the world as I once did. Things have changed dramatically. I feel that I am on another path now, seeking something different, something more substantial and meaningful. For a lot of years I have lived in this seemingly cold winter and I feel ready to finally emerge into the warmth of a brilliant summer. All I ask for is to be allowed to do so without being subjected to notions of what others feel I "should do" rather than allowing me to do what I want to do. It's not much to ask. What one finds at the end of his journey of self-discovery and self-liberation is known only to the one taking that journey. For some this is an easy journey. For others it can be like Sisyphus, pushing the boulder up the hill only to have it roll back down again. But the old addage may be true: it's not so much the destination but the journey itself in which we learn many things.
"If a man does not keep with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music in which he hears, however measured or far away."
One of the forms of music I've really been getting into as of late is Flamenco. Being that I am a guitar player as well as a bass player, I think that would make sense. When I was a kid, my father used to listen to Jazz pretty much exclusively around the house but some of the time there were these other forms of music that would creep in: Flamenco, Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz, all of which I've been listening to with a passion for the past year or two. What appeals to me about Flamenco in particular is not only the guitar playing but the feeling in which it is played. I learned very quickly that there is much more to this music than the guitar. It is the vocal performances as well, the lyrics, the "scream" coming from the pit of one's being so to speak. This kind of Flamenco is known as Cante Jondo or "Deep Song". It is truly intense and I am still exploring a lot of it, being that I really come to this music as a total novice. So far I am only familiar with a few artists: Juan Martin, Paco de Lucia, Paco Pena, Estrella Morente and a few others.
But yesterday during my travels I came across a CD entitled "Flamenco Arabe 2" which features two collaborating musicians Hossam Ramzy, an Egyptian percussionist who has played with literally everyone including Sting and Peter Gabriel and guitarist Jose Luis Monton, a young performer from Barcelona. The CD is marketed as an "exhiliarting CD" that "fuses pulsating Arab rhythms and percussion with fiery Andalusian Flamenco" and I guess this is done for novices like myself who don't know much about this form of music. The fact of the matter is that this combination is nothing new. Flamenco has it's roots in Moorish music going back over a thousand years. In fact, if it weren't for the Arabs and their rhythms and musical modes, it's safe to say that this music wouldn't exist at all. The only thing that surprised me about it while exploring it is how much Arab music forms the basis of it. For afficianados, I'm sure this is no surprise at all, but for me, coming to this only recently, am amazed. For a long time I've been searching for exactly this kind of Flamenco and sometimes it's hard to find or at the very least I don't know what I am looking for exactly so I'm pretty much exploring this music as a "hit and miss" mission.
Bossa Nova is another form I've been listening a lot to lately. This is music from Brazil and I only knew of Astrud Gilberto and I only knew of her because of my dad who first turned me onto Jazz through Stan Getz's LP "Getz au Go-Go" when I was about 10 years old. Another LP, "Getz/Gilberto" followed, which features guitarist Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto. This is the LP where her most known track "The Girl From Impanema" appears. Bossa Nova---which I think literally translates into "New Wave" appeared on the music scene back in the 1950s-1960s, born out of a very young group of musicians who incorporated Samba and other musical forms to create something completely new. For a brief time during the 1960s this music became all the rage and lately I've noticed it "coming back" (that is if it ever went away) with a lot of young singers and performers doing it. For those who are unfamiliar with it, I guess it can be described as something like laid back "cocktail Jazz" but it's clearly more than that.
Another singer I literally just came across yesterday afternoon is the French singer Coralie Clement. While I was browsing a bookstore yesterday afternoon they happened to play a CD of French music which featured Coralie's track "Samba de mon coeur qui bat" which is, for all intents and purposes, a Bossa Nova track which upon hearing it immediatley lifted my spirits. I really don't know why exactly. Perhaps it was her smooth, soft, almost whispering voice that did it. It literally lifted my spirits upon hearing it. So I looked into it when I got home. I had a feeling that it was most probably from a series of CDs put out my the world music label Putumayo which offers numerous compliations of music from all around the world. Some new artists, some already well known. I went to their website and sure enough, that's where I found Coralie Clement's track. Putumayo offers a very good sampling of music from all over the globe, from Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and beyond.
Which brings me to the point of today's post. The language of music. Despite all our differences---religious, cultural, racial and ethnic----the one thing that seems to bring everyone together is music. It is the one "language" that everyone seems to understand; the one "language" that seems to demolish all the barriers between all these cultural differences. Listening to music from all over the world you begin to discover how much the same we all are. You can hear someone from France, like Coralie Clement, for example, making Brazilian music while singing in French; Spanish guitarists who incorporate Arabic rhythms; Argentine Tango musicians incorporating European Classical music; traditional Arabic musicians incorporating American rock; Latin American musicians incorporating American Jazz. There is no end to the combinations if one is willing to try and on that level, we suddenly discover we are all human and these cultural differences suddenly become something to embrace rather than shy away from and look at as "the other". Maybe today's leaders and political figures from around the world can learn something from the artists and musicians that live in their midst. If the language of music can demolish these cultural barriers, why not anything else?
Occasionally I will write a little about some of the exhibits that I see from time to time. These are for those of you reading this who have an interest in art and I hope to recommend some exhibits that I think are worth seeing in the New York City area. Do not consider these "reviews" but rather my thoughts on them.
I caught the Eva Hesse exhibit at the Jewish Museum this morning. I was more familiar with her paintings than I was with her sculptures so I was glad to finally get the chance to see them.
According to the museum's website on the exhibition: "This exhibition is an opportunity to present Eva Hesse’s major achievements—her Minimalist and Postminimalist sculpture—within the context of her life and artistic career. The show features a fascinating collection of Hesse’s diaries, letters, exhibition announcements, reviews, photographs, and other archival materials, most of them drawn from the Eva Hesse Archives in the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College and never before displayed. Notably, this is the first time that the public will see family documents retained by the artist’s sister, Helen Hesse Charash, including Tagebücher (diaries) about the artist’s early years kept by her father and pages from scrapbooks and photograph albums."
Most of the work, if not all of it, highlighted her use of latex on various items including one piece in which latex was put on string, hung from the ceiling and allowed the forces of gravity randomly do with it what it will. The results were fascinating and eeire. They also seemed to explore the idea of the works being simultaneously "something" and "nothing" where certain pieces were placed randomly without any purpose other than to illustrate that very point. Also at the exhibit were various pen and ink drawings. The collection of her scrapbooks, appointment books and various other items were also a treat. I still prefer her paintings to this work but if minimalist sculpture is your thing, this is something to definitely check out. It's not often, if at all, that her work is given the attention it deserves.
Over at the PaceWildenstein Gallery on 57th Street were the new works of Spanish painter Antoni Tapies. I've always been a huge fan of his work so it was a pleasant surprise to learn that there was an exhibit of his new paintings. The new works seem to explore the theme of spirtuality and most of them were done with what looked like sand and spraypaint. Alot of these paintings are huge in scale and some canvases are completely covered in sand and then dug into or scraped, revealing words, shapes, drawings of human body parts, etc. I really enjoyed them. The only drawback about the exhibit was that there weren't a lot of paintings so it's kind of brief experience. Nevertheless, this one comes highly recommended. If you are not familiar with Tapies' work, I would say that he is something of a cross between Jean Dubuffet and Cy Twombly.
Do yourself a favor and check these out if you get a chance.
"If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things."
Descartes, Discourse on Method, 1637
No, this is not to be a critique or discourse on Ann Coulter's latest screed. I have no time for the partisan rantings of political stooges (on both the left and the right), nor do I have time or compulsion to make time worn criticisms of the cast of the religious right wingnuts. This has all been done before, ad nauseum and most of the time, adds nothing to the discussion.
I came to my atheism gradually over the course of my life. I was raised Catholic. I was baptized, received my first communion as a child, was confirmed and all the rest of it. When I was a much younger man I believed in God. In fact, I believed in God (or a Supreme Being of some sort) until I was well into my twenties. When I reached about 25, I began to have my doubts. I began to question things, mostly brought on by a close friends sudden conversion to religion. I watched as it completely consumed her, changed her (and not neccesiarily for the better) and how eventually they treated her as soon as she deviated from the path that they had demanded of her. It was like watching someone caught in the clutches of some demented cult and it had, for a short time, affected our relationship to a certain degree. All of a sudden I was an untouchable for a while. I didn't know "the truth". Naturally, this upset me, angered me and really made me begin to question the whole nature of religion, God, and all the mystical trappings that come with it. She had given me a bible to read at the time and I began to thumb through it from time to time and suddenly what seemed so self-evident as a child and a young man suddenly seemed absurd to me. Needless to say, I quickly became an agnostic and my belief in God or any supreme being for that matter suddenly came into question.
By the time I reached my 30s, I was moving more out of the Agnostic camp and more into the Atheist camp. What made me move in this direction was the voracious reading I was doing at the time. I had read many books on history, myth, religion, philosophy, etc and all it did was raise more questions than it did to provide any answers. I suddenly began to notice that there were a lot of similarities among the many myths across the timeline of mankind. There were myths and stories, written sometimes a good thousand years before the Bible, that had a very familiar and almost identical ring to them. Interesting, I thought. "The Epic of Gilgamesh", a Persian myth predating the Bible by a good thousand years, also had a flood story, virtually identical to that of the Noah story in the Bible. Hmmm...interesting. Then upon reading about the beliefs of the ancient Egyptian cultures, Persian cultures such as Zoroastrianism, Greek Gods, Roman Gods, Pagan Gods, etc...more questions arose. For thousands, and maybe even tens of thousands of years before Abraham even appeared on the world stage, mankind had their beliefs and ideas about a Supreme Being or ideas about a God or Gods. Then about 5 to 7 thousand years ago, a man named Abraham wandered out of what is now Iraq and suddenly declared that there was only one God and all these other Gods were false. Again, hmmm...interesting. So the question I asked myself was, why was this one man, with his one idea, suddenly accepted as "truth" not to be questioned while all other beliefs that came before him suddenly dismissed as "false"?
It was clear to me right then and there that the whole notion of monotheism was just one other idea and nothing more. His idea was no more or less valid than any of the others. So why did this become the accepted truth, all these thousands of years later? Abraham wasn't the first to have a monotheistic idea. There was an Egyptian Pharaoh who was monotheistic and Zoroastor's beliefs for the origin of mankind is remarkably similar to that of Abraham's idea. Something interesting began to unfold before me the more I thought about it. In parts of the world where the whole notion of a monotheism was completely unknown and in a part of the world that those in the so-called ancient world didn't even know existed (the ideas and beliefs of Aztecs, Mayans, Olmecs, etc) the whole notion of Abraham's God was completely alien. How come their ideas and beliefs are dismissed as "pagan" or "myths" and Abrahams's idea considered "truth", not to be questioned?
Mankind first walked out of Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and eventually populated the planet. Long before there was any Abraham I'm sure mankind had their ideas and beliefs about there being "something more". Their burial rituals indicated as such. Did Abraham just come along and suddenly make it clear to everyone? I doubt it. Again, it was just another idea, another way to explain the meaning of existence, just like men had done for all those thousands of years before him. Another theory along the journey of mankind to try to explain the "why?" to all this and nothing more.
With that said, I am not one of those so-called atheists who get all twisted out of shape about the ideas of religion. In fact, the subject interests me very much and I do read a lot about it, discuss it with believers and ask a lot of questions about the theology, etc. I'm not one of these atheists who get all bent of shape when someone says "God Bless You" when I sneeze nor do I care if "In God We Trust" is on the dollar bill. I simply do not believe in God. I do not believe in a creator of the universe as in a "being" doing the creating.
Whenever I see those booths set up around New York City from time to time by so-called "atheists" ranting and raving about religious people and ideas or when I see on the news some "atheist" taking people to court over religious practices, I have to wonder whether or not these people are truly atheists or if they are just anti-religion or anti-God, rejecting God rather than simply not believing in one. No, I am not one of those. I will gladly accept and read any book on the subject. I am willing to discuss it without trying to change anyone's point of view. I also find some gratifying and interesting things to learn about other people's religious beliefs and philosophy. I do not condemn others for believing in God and I respect their beliefs regardless of whether or not I believe them myself. I think some of the ideas of Jesus and Buddha and yes, even Muhammad have validity if you really think about what these ideas are and not just dismiss them because they have their basis in religion. I just simply believe that no supreme being exists. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The trick is now to discover why----the real reason----as to why when believers learn that I feel the way I do, I am met with scorn, hostitilty and sometimes outright rage. I've known some Born-Again Christians who reacted this way upon learning of my atheism. Why is this? Is my beliefs---the ideas of one solitary man among billions----really a threat to their beliefs? Is their faith so weak that one man from Flushing, New York can uproot it that easily? I sincerely doubt it. That would be absurd. If I could respect those who do believe, why is that same respect not reciprocated? Why the hostility, the pity, the judgement? I don't force my ideas down anyone's throat. I merely explain my position. I wonder what the world would be like if all others did the same, even among those who do believe, who seem to be at war with one another over this belief system. Hmm....interesting, indeed.
Sometimes I wonder why it is we do what we do. Why to musicians, artists, writers...performers in general put themselves out there for all to see? Why do people have websites, blogs, etc? One reason is, I guess, is that we desire to make a living at doing what we love to do. Another reason could be to maybe "give back" something that was given to you by other artists who have influenced you or had some sort of impact on your life. Maybe it's because some of us have something to say and want to share it with others who would be interested in it; somehow potentially moving others as others have moved you. Maybe there is a bit of the narcissist in all of us. Well, maybe "narcissist" is a bit strong but there's something that makes us want to not only create but share it with whoever we can. In any case, to some extent, ego is definitely involved in all this. Something makes us want to have a platform to say "look at me! Look what I am doing and what I have to say!" There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, by the way, but it is something that intrigues me when I think about it.
I ask myself sometimes why I do what I do. Why is it so important for me to "put it out there" for all to see. In some ways I guess it's a way to hopefully connect with people who are of a similar mind and have similar interests. Art is something we use to connect with people in some way. We could all easily make music, paint, write, dance...whatever....without having to parade ourselves in front of some audience. Is it all for some sense of approval? Is it for the applause, the recognition, to have the feeling that you are not just a voice in the wilderness? Maybe mankind has a need for simple entertainment and someone has to do the entertaining. Maybe it's much deeper than that. Maybe it's to help further the discussion as to who we are and why we are. Maybe it's a form of communication, trying to reach as many people as possible through the various avenues that are open for communication. Maybe it's all for naught, who knows?
I assume that many of us would do what we love to do even if there were no one watching or paying any attention. It's almost a compulsion in some cases. Others do seek the limelight and sometimes even stop doing what they love to do because no one is paying any attention to them. Others don't care one way or the other. For myself, I really don't know, to tell you the truth. I can remember being a little boy and performing my little "act" in front of my parents. As I got older, the more into music I became, I wanted nothing more than to form a band and play in front of an audience and maybe have people love my music as much as I loved others music throughout my life. Maybe...just maybe I can give something to someone that was given to my by so many talented and creative musicians. When I write, I seek publication. Why? I assume it's to relay to others what I have to say and maybe...just maybe...touch someone with my words and ideas like so many great, talented and brilliant authors have done for me over the course of my life. Their words allowed me to see the world in a different way than I did before encountering them. Maybe I can do the same, even if it's just for one person. Maybe...just maybe...I'm a simple egomaniac who needs attention and approval from people to help validate my existence. Maybe it's a combination of all of these things.
All I know is that I love doing what I do, regardless of the reasons. It fulfills me and I suppose that's why we all do it to some extent. The act of creation is something very human and very important, in my opinion. Maybe Samuel Beckett had a point when he said: "All art is the same----an attempt to fill an empty space." Whatever the reason we do it, I rather it exist than not to exist at all. The world would be a much emptier place without it.
"I am myself plus my circumstance and if I do not save it, I cannot save myself." Jose Ortega Y Gasset
At times it can be tough. We try to live each day seeking the joy we seek. But we are all different and sometimes when dealing with people, things don't exactly connect. That's ok. We are all individuals with different perpectives, choices, points of view, thoughts, dreams, goals, likes, dislikes, etc. No two people are ever exactly the same or are seeing eye to eye at exactly the same time. Some take that very personally. Others accept it and live and let live. It's natural for two people to veer off a similar path from time to time.
Sometimes when these differences come to a head, feelings get hurt. I think that's natural too. But sometimes we must over look these differences which make us who we are and understand the bigger picture; that with any close relationship the positives always outweigh the negatives. The reasons for two people having a connection are usually more substantial than the differences. We each come into this world shaped by our experiences and circumstances and they are never the same for each individual. After all, that's what makes us individuals. I am shaped by my own circumstances and experiences and I relate to them in a way that only I can. Others may relate to it but they could never fully understand in exactly the same way as the one who is experiencing it. Hence, the conflict that arises sometimes. As I stated before, the same glove does not fit every hand.
So we go through each day dealing with what we have to deal with. The human species is very complex in this way. It's easy to dismiss one for not thinking the way you do or for not having the same feelings about certain things the way another does. I have that problem to deal with and to work on myself and I've been trying. I have to recognize that this is a big world with billions of people and I am trying, as I get older, to recognize this fact and deal with other people on that---what I think is---an elevated level. I expect the same in return from others. But sometimes this is not an easy task. It's easy to be biased to your own point of view.
In the end though, I firmly believe that throughout all that chaos we do find those people special to us that we connect with on a very deep and substanial level, regardless of the differences. Differences are expected. We have to learn to respect those differences without condemning the other for them. A lot of the world's religions are supposed to be based on that and I suppose this is why they exist in the first place: to offer some kind of guidelines in dealing with one another. But even that sometimes goes awry. We can only try and do the best we can in the time that we have here. The question that must be asked is whether or not we can live with these differences.
"To be nobody but yourself----in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else----means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting"
Ok, I've been getting a little heavy with the last couple of posts so it's time to lighten things up a little. What can I say? I get in my moods. Sometimes from one extreme to another. I'm only human, right?
I've been thinking about painting as of late. I haven't picked up a paintbrush in quite a while. Painting is something I love doing but it's not one of my full time pastimes, though I keep telling myself I should do more. At some point soon, I will post my work on this site for all to see. Whether or not that's a good thing, who knows?
Painting is just another way to express myself. Another way to get out the "shit" so to speak. As the years went by, I discovered that music alone just wasn't doing it anymore and writing and painting offered other avenues to express myself in a way that music could not. And vice versa. I've always been a great lover of art, from all periods, though I have to say I am partial to the "Modern" period. Lately, I've been really getting into a lot of the Spanish (including Latin Americans) and Italian painters. I've also been trying to open up to different styles and periods that I normally didn't pay much attention to.
One of my favorite painters as of late has been Goya. My interest had been piqued in Goya after watching an excellent television program on him called "Goya: Crazy Like A Genius". I think it's shown on Ovation every now and then. Goya's more personal work really intrigues me because it really gets into who Goya actually was. Through his more personal work, you get a sense of a man really wrestling with himself and trying to work it all out in the pictures he painted. His work seemed to not only comment on what his true thoughts were about life, art, madness and society of his time, but also a very deeply personal statement about his state of mind. He seemed to return to the theme of equating royalty with madness, letting the world know that he didn't see much difference between the two, a theme which holds some particular relevance in today's time to be sure. But there is still a lot more I'd like to learn about his life and his work.
Learning about his approach and learning what drove him to make these remarkable paintings allowed me to re-evaluate my own approach to painting which has thus far been mostly in the Abstract Expressionist mold. He made me want to try to do something different, something more personal. Lately, I keep coming back to him again and again, and it's only a matter of time before I take a trip back to Spain in order to explore his work further. Besides, the idea of spending a few days walking around the Prado appeals to me immensely.
When it comes to painting, I still consider myself a novice. But I am learning and I'm glad that I got to see that program about Goya. It has been very inspirational.
Beliefs--theories--ideas: those things we grab on to in the course of our individual development and using them while forming our own individual identities. A lot has been said about the subject of "identity", the ideas about who we are. Some find "identity" in many different camps. We are thrust into this world without being asked. We merely appear by the choice of others. We don't have a choice in the matter. No one is asked to be born. We become vaguely aware of ourselves at a young age and then we move on from there, our personalities developing, our interests, our ideas, everything. We eventually come into contact with others and this furthers our development for better or for worse. It's the same story for each and every one of us. We come into existence and then are expected to figure it all out.
For thousands and thousands of years man has tried to figure it all out but in the end the so-called answer is still quite elusive. In my opinion, no one has figured out anything. We still ask the same questions that the ancients did and we seem no further along than we were then. But there are plenty of beliefs, theories and ideas; some interesting and intriguing, some utterly assinine and ludicrous. Where you stand depends on your own individual thoughts and ideas. I can't speak for anyone else. I can only speak for myself.
I was brought up Catholic which is not much of a surprise since I am of a Catholic culture. Growing up, I never questioned the notion of God and what religion was supposed to be. I was taught about God and what he meant and my religion was to explain the seemingly unexplainable. The religions of the world are supposed to give mankind a moral compass, a message, a belief in something greater than himself, the promise of an afterlife, and most importantly, an explaination of why things are the way they are. As I got older, the more agnostic I became until finally I moved into the area of outright atheism. I no longer believe in any notion of God. To me, God is just another concept, an attempt to explain why things are and why we are here. It's a legitamite theory but no better than any other idea. It's just one of those ideas man came up with to try to give meaning to their lives.
There is philosophy: another attempt by mankind to find answers and explanations to things. Yet there are thousands of differing and sometimes outright contradictory theories and yet, like religion, we must take on faith. There is no all encompasing answer there either. The same with psychology or any other ideas we come up with to try to give our existence a meaning. This is not to say that religion, philosophy, psychology or any other idea doesn't have merit or something to offer. It absolutely does. But I don't believe that there is a one-size-fits-all agenda here like so many people do. We navigate our lives picking and choosing those things that we find solace in, adapting them to our own individual lives based on whatever experiences we have.
I am of the mind that we must choose to be who we are. We create our own identities. I don't believe in pre-destination or destiny or anything like that. To me, the idea of pre-destination locks one into a certain path in which he has no control over. If one is pre-determined to be something, then there is no point whatsoever in doing anything since whatever path you are on is of no consequence. If you were meant to wind up at a certain end, then what is the point of trying to choose where you want to go? Those of a religious mind believe firmly in pre-destination. My question to them has always been if God has a pre-determined role for you, then why give his creation a free will? What's the point of that, then? "You are given free will to choose your own path but it is of no consequence because I have already determined your fate." Seems like a sadistic joke to me.
Some people breeze through life with everything going their way all the time. Others have to struggle every moment, an uphill struggle for everything. Others are just completely oblivious and are like feathers in the wind who go wherever the wind takes them without so much a single thought about anything. A lot of it also based on pure luck and people sometimes underestimate the power of luck has on life. Sometimes you may hear someone dismiss this idea by saying something like, "You make your own luck". How ridiculous. Luck by definition is success due to chance. If it's by chance, how can you make it happen? It's like rolling the dice and making a 12 turn up because you want it to. It doesn't work that way.
So we move through life discovering ourselves. We gravitate toward things that give our lives meaning, whatever that is. Some find religion and God, others find work, others politics and a host of other things. We each seek happiness in many different ways. We each try to find meaning for our lives in many different ways. We are each on our own individual path. We are not on one road to the same destination. I am on my own road, still seeking my own destination and I expect to be left free to do so without anyone telling me how to do it or why I should do what they expect I should do. People will run into this all the time, other people telling them what is best for them. Sometimes people have certain expectations of others and if one does not conform to those expectations, all hell breaks loose. There seems to be no respect for one's individual choices and one's individual journey. Life has given many different alternatives for people to choose from but in the end one only knows what is best for himself. The glove does not fit every hand. These choices are the true definition of freedom in my opinion. Freedom is not clinging to some pre-conceived notion of what one must do in order to obtain the happiness they seek. Freedom is not living up the expectations others have of you. Freedom is not choosing between a Democrat or a Republican. Freedom is to be allowed to pursue your own path without interference or judgement; to be left alone to seek your happiness whatever that may be. And even that is not the same for everyone. "Happiness" being yet another human concept completely and utterly subjective and extremely individualistic.
It seems that in today's world----and in this culture in particular----you are told what happiness is. You are told what is expected of you. You are told what you should do. I reject that and always have. It's a false notion. One may not like what someone has chosen to be but that is not of any consequence since others are not living your life for you and it is extremely dangerous to live up to what others expect of you. We all make our own choices in life. Sometimes we bump into the wall but that is ok. We are supposed to learn something from that. You learn, you try to apply the lesson and move on from there. No one needs others telling you what you should do. Advice is always welcome but advice is just what it is. It is not a directive, like some people seem to think it is.
The story of Siddhartha Gautama is a very interesting one because it seems, to me at least, that this was his very message, that is before his followers turned it into a religion with all it's mystical trappings. There's something to be learned from that, I think though I don't see the message being a "religious" one at all. Like all things, it's something to look at, to mine, to adapt but not live to the letter of the law. There are good things in all things just as there is bad in all things as well. We must adapt them to fit our own experience. There is no law saying you must follow a particular path. Our journey is individual and with any luck we will find the happiness we all seek for ourselves. Putting your faith into one particular ideology or theology may work for some but it does not work for all. That is the mistake some people make, I think. It works for them so it must work for everyone else. The one thing I desire most in life is to be left alone to follow my own path without someone telling me how I should follow it. If each and every one of us did this, the world might be---might be---a better place after all.
"Art is essentially the affirmation, the blessing, and the deification of existence." - Frederich Nietzchie
"A work of art has no importance whatever to society. It is only important to the individual." - Vladimir Nabokov
Two very different opinions to be sure but it does raise the question, what is the role of the artist in today's culture? Does he even have one? Should he even have one? For me, these two different quotes are both true. The first being that art...creativity in general, is something essential to human development. This urge has been with us for as long as we have walked the earth. Something possessed those early men and women living in the caves of Spain and southern France to depict those images that reflected their daily lives. Something possessed them to carve those little trinkets that they chose to wear somewhere on their bodies and/or bury them with their dead. Some other ancient cultures were driven to mark their bodies and others were driven to make idols and other representations of their gods or fellow humans. It's something essential to being human.
On the other hand, in some societies in the past (and not so distant past) has been essential in raising the voice of the individual. Art contained messages beyond reflecting mythological stories and religious beliefs, often political in nature. These artists felt the urge to relay a message to his fellow man. Something so important and dangerous in some cases a lot of artists were either imprisoned, forced into exile or killed for it. The list is long on societies in which this has occurred. For these artists, creativity is social and the role of the artist should be social. For them, the role of the artist is to lift the spirit of the people and/or to rage against any form of injustice that they perceive in their given society, sometimes at great risk to their own lives as well as their friends and families.
But what is the role of the artist in America, 2006? Does he have one beyond personal expression? Is there a social role for an artist to play, and if he does, does it even matter to anyone other than to those who it matters to? Or is is merely to obtain some sense of "fame" and "celebrity"? Is his purpose to be "rich & famous"? In American life, does the artist even matter at all anymore? I guess the answer to these questions really depends on where you stand with regard to what art is and whether or not it even has a purpose at all. For artists and enthusiasts, it has a very important role to play. For others, and there are many, it is merely something to hang on your wall when decorating their apartment, if even that.
In America today it seems to be a double edged sword. For many artists, especially young artists, there is this huge desire for celebrity and fame. They are the ones who "look" the role of the "artist", adopting all the cliches and mannerisms (and interests) they feel an "artist" should have. It's almost as if they are part of the work as well as whatever it is they produce (that is if they even produce anything). I'm sure you've seen them, those who wear all the wacky clothes, have a funky haircut and/or appearance, designed to illustrate that they are artists. This is not a criticism, per se. Some people just like the look. Others, it's all important. It is all important for some artists that they be recognized not for the work but for the fame it will potentially bring them. They want to be seen at all the parties and have their faces in the society pages and some will even go as far as self-consciously creating the most controversial work in order to gain that attention they so desire. There are many cases of this. Sometimes the work is self-consciously social in the sense that it's almost too easy to find a topic to address that will easily offend someone and bring attention to themselves first, then the message, which in my view, is something that has usually been said a billion times over without any new twist on it. (Some of the work in 1999s "Sensations" exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum being a perfect example.)
Then there are those who really don't care at all for fame and celebrity and see the work as being the most important thing. They want attention as well, yes, (we all do, otherwise we wouldn't put ourselves out there) but it is the work they seek attention for, not themselves in the sense that they could care less whether or not they are recognized on the street. They want nothing to do with any of it.
Then there are those artists who were very subtle in their rebellion. The now legendary artists such as Pollock, Duchamp, Picasso, Dali and a host of others. Their work challanged a lot of different notions but it was created in a time when what they did was truly revolutionary and it truly did challange the accepted notion of what art is But what about today? Are there any artists out there like this? What is to be done that hasn't been done a thousand times before? There are thousands and thousands who are trying. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But it is possible.
In America, where everything is a business and where everything is ruled by the bottom line, what role does the artist truly play? How does one stand out among the millions who are doing exactly the same thing? What is it that elevates one artist to the level of innovator and the other to "also-ran", even though the work is just as good in most cases? Have things become so tired that it doesn't even matter anymore? Does it really all boil down to personal expression and personal experience? And as a society, where a great number of people could care less about art; where a great number of people do not see it as a viable "living"; where a great number of people think you are not an artist unless you are famous and making tons of money; where making money and living the high lifestyle is more important; does it even matter at all anymore unless you are one participating in it?
In a society where a "great" film is judged on weekend ticket sales, where a "great" song is based on how many "units" it sold and where a "great" novel is based on how many weeks it spends on the New York Times Bestseller's List, I have to wonder whether or not American's appreciation of art even exists in any real sense. In the end, I suppose it boils down to what one's interests are. For those of us interested in it, those of us who pursue it, the topic matters. For those who do not, this topic is irrelevant and means nothing. That's just the way it is and one does have to be careful about crossing that delicate line into snob zone, something I do not wish to do and hope I am not doing. But it seems to me that the only time those who do not seem to care about art in this society ever take notice at all is when something controversial comes to their attention. Then they stand up and take notice for better or for worse as if all of a sudden they care and have an opinion on it. Maybe this is why so many artists take this route. Maybe sometimes that is what is needed to bring art to those who would normally never even have a look or thought about it.
I make no claims to have an answer here. Just a lot of questions. For me, personally, it's all about personal expression, no matter if the work ever gets noticed. It's something, like those early humans in those caves must have felt that made one in particular walk hundreds of feet into the back of the cave, in a place where no one was to see it, to blow ochre around his hand to leave his hand print, seemingly just to do it. That's what it's like for me and the more people do that, the better life is. Art is a window into existence and how people perceive that existence. It is a reflection, and sometimes a very faint one, on who we are, for better or for worse.
"Happiness is the only sanction in life; where happiness fails, existence remains a sad and lamentable experiment" George Santayana
America is a very unhappy place these days. It seems each and every one of us is at each other's throats over every little thing. Politically, we are at one another's throats, which to me is the most absurd thing of all being that it all seems to be by design, created by those who don't and will never have our interests at heart. We have allowed a certain class in America to make the rules and set the standards for our own individual lives, whether they be politicians, Madison Avenue, the wealthy, religious figures, what-have-you. While the wealthy and the powerful run off with everything they try to distract us with irrelevancies in order to turn one another against one another so no one can see what it is they are actually doing. While the average person fights one another over crumbs, the elite run away with the pie. They sit high upon their perch, amused at the masses while they seek to destroy one another over things that they have no stake in whatsoever. Political leaders, our "representatives" have figured out a way to make the public believe that they actually count for something. It's a dog and pony show. A means to an end. Once the public is used and they achieve their goal, they seem accountable to no one. And the public goes on buying it. It's as if they set up a standard, you know, "the American Dream". They then parade those around who have "achieved" it in front of everyone to show that it's possible for everyone. Then when the average person suddenly discovers that it will not happen for them, they turn to their neighbor as if it is their fault. What we get are an army of little Napoleons, power tripping because of their sliver of control they seem to have over someone else's life. They become duped into thinking that they are part of the very elite which has nothing but contempt for them.
And then there are those who are merely seeking happiness in life. They just want to be free to pursue what they want to pursue without some pseudo-elitist cretin getting in the way. The one's who don't want a priest or a reverend telling them that they are "sinners" and that they are living their lives incorrectly. The one's who don't want some "committed" politico turning every moment of conversation into a political debate in which you are expected to take a side. The one's who could care less about what their neighbors have. Those who just want to be left alone to follow their path, whatever it may be, without someone looking over their shoulder and telling them what they "should" do.
It's not easy when one allows himself to accept someone else's standards. Who sets these standards and why are we not to question them? Are we really expected to just shut up and do what we are told? For those at the top? Yes. For those who put all their faith into them? Yes. For those who feel they are part of them (a delusion to be sure)? Yes. And these little Napoleons are everywhere, deluding themselves into thinking that they are with those at the top. They see themselves as the movers and the shakers. They see themselves as the ones who are "doing business". They see themselves as having power. In the end, they are nothing, merely that cliche of the mental patient who really does think he is Napoleon while the rest of the basket weavers aspire to become him.
"Sicily has a different life, different blood, a different nature, different customs, different needs, different sensitivities, different feelings." Luigi Pirandello, 1932
Some Sicilians have always seen themselves as being somewhat "different" from Italians. There has been some controversey over this idea since a lot of Sicilians do feel very Italian and get their back up whenever someone poses the idea that they are in fact distinct from Italians. Among the dialogue about "race", the notion of "What is A Sicilian?" has also been very controversial (the infamous scene in Tarantino's "True Romance" not withstanding). The fact is that most Sicilians have Spanish and Arab blood along with their Roman blood. A lot of Sicilians are not comfortable with this fact. Being of Sicilian descent myself, I don't feel there's anything to be ashamed of. Sicily has a very rich and very old history and being that it lies in the heart of the Mediterranean, it had been conquered and ruled by many different people over the centuries. These conquerers and rulers had their effect on the people, the language (it is a language, not a dialect. In fact, Sicilian is much older than 'Italian', which is really a dialect of the Tuscany region), the food, some of which is really not that well known to a lot of people. It is not that well known that one of the staples of the Sicilian (and Italian) diet, pasta, was in fact introduced by the Arabs. It is also not that well known that Sicily was, for a time, (about 200 years) an Islamic territory, with Palermo (then called Bahlram) as it's capital. The name of the city Marsala was derived from the Arabic name which meant "Allah's Port" (Mars & Allah) and for those who have a particular interest in the history of the Mafia, the very word Mafia is an Arab word meaning "safety". Many of Palermo's cathedrals and churches still show Arabic inscriptions on it's walls. It's not to dissimilar from parts of southern Spain where you can still see the legacy of Moorish rule. This is something that makes people very uncomfortable, especially in today's climate. The fact of the matter is the Arabs had a major impact on Sicilian society, even if to a lesser extent than they did in Spain. But the evidence is there. The Spaniards ruled Sicily for nearly 400 years. Some of the Sicilian surnames have a distinct Spanish flair. The novelist Giovanni Verga being one of them. (My surname, Gallo, is shared by Sicilians, Italians and Spaniards).
Much controversey had arisen over the years over whether or not Sicilians are "white". Sicilians are caucasions but they are also a mixed people. How that applies to each and every individual of Sicilian background is debatable. In my view, it doesn't even matter. Especially this day in age. I mean, who cares? We are who we are and I am not at all ashamed of the idea that I, in fact, may carry Spanish and Arab blood in my veins. I may very well, deep in my past, have ancestors that are both Spaniards and/or Arabs (and with my current beard, it may not be that much of a joke when some of my friends say that I look like an Arab with it!) I can't be sure of my own lineage, although I have been working on that over the past year or so. To be honest, I don't even know where to begin but I had made some progress. But if it turns out that I do have these genetic lines, I will not be "ashamed" of it. It's part of history. It would be part of who I am and I embrace it with open arms. But the jury is still out as far as I am concerned. Maybe with more research I'll be able to find out for sure.
The history of the world is rife with one people moving into another territory and conquering another, it's people mixing with the local populations, so the reality is that no one is really "pure" anything at this stage of the game. Very few people on this earth are "pure" and the whole idea of anyone being "pure" anything just reminds me of the insane rantings of a certain German lunatic and his equally mentally defective minions who went through hell and high water to prove something that simply doesn't exist. Racial purity. Even some Germans have Mongol genes, after all, Genghis Khan and his people made it all the way to what is now eastern Germany. The point I am making though is that it's useless to concern oneself with it. We are who we are and ultimately, we are all part of the human family, no matter where we are from ultimately.
The author Brian Sykes has an interesting book called "The Seven Daughters of Eve" which puts forth the idea that all humans alive today can trace their ancestry back to seven women. It's a very interesting theory he came upon by studying the Mitochondrial DNA in a wide variety of people. It's a book I plan on reading to find out more.
I know this is a topic that makes some people very uncomfortable but I don't see any reason at all why it should. As for me, I will happily embrace the idea. For me, it just makes life that much more interesting.
"Existentialism is the revolt of the individual against all those systems of thought, theories of psychology, and social and political pressures that attempt to rob them of his individuality." John Fowles.
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, "Existentialism" is defined as "a philosophical theory emphasizing the existence of the individual as a free and self-determining agent." Now I don't really consider myself an "Existentialist" per se but according to the two definitions above, it pretty much sums up how I feel about the universe. I don't believe in God or the supernatural, including psychic phenomenon, ESP, pre-determination, etc. I feel the universe just is. It doesn't reward. It doesn't punish. We are part of it, yes. We are connected to it and nature, yes, however I don't feel it's any supernatural phenomenon directing our lives, thoughts, dreams, ect. This is a position that is radically opposed to those who are of a religious persuasion (whether eastern or western) and sometimes it makes for interesting discussion. For those who are of a religious or spiriutal mind, they see my world view as "negative" and "bleak". I cannot disagree more.
For someone who sees the universe as though it is by design, it is natural for them to believe my world view would be "neagtive" and/or "bleak". But since there is no evidence whatsoever of a supreme being or a "guiding hand", it merely boils down to a difference of opinion. Nothing more. Just another theory among many. I firmly believe that mankind still hasn't figured anything out just yet. It's all ideas, theories, suppositions, beliefs, yet, "the answer" everyone is looking for seems to be just as far out of reach as it ever was. I do not believe that life has a "meaning" in the sense that there is one, all emcompasing meaning we are all expected to discover. I believe that we have to find our own meaning for our own lives, whatever that may be. And it's not the same for everyone.
I think this quote from Jean-Paul Sartre sums it up perfectly: "Man is alone, abandoned on this earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilites, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets for himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth."
All in all, this is my theory. My belief. I don't have "the answer" either, nor do I pretend to. But I will walk my own labyrinth, with all it's twists and turns and dead ends and hopefully, with any luck, I will one day find the center.
I was there with a couple of friends around the week of the festival of Sant Jordi. Sant Jordi would be akin to what Valentine's Day is in America. Traditionally, men give women a rose and women reciprocate with a book. Book tables and flower stalls line up and down La Rambla, all the way from Plaza Catalunya to the Monument a Colom where one can stand and look out over the Mediterranean. For a book lover like me this was something of a nice surprise, despite the fact that I don't speak Spanish well nor do I speak Catalan, which is the language that most of the books were in. Spanish is really the second language in Barcelona. Catalan is the primary language. Nevertheless, it was a treasure trove of good books, some of which I wish I could have read. La Rambla was nearly impassible, with thousands of people walking the strip. It was a beautiful April morning, nearly 70 degrees and sunny. Performers lined La Rambla, the outdoor restaurants filled with people, and no one jossling anyone, getting all red in the face and sucking their teeth because someone isn't moving fast enough.
Later on in the afternoon we stopped for a pitcher of sangria and some tapas at a nearby cafe, getting nice and twisted while observing everything around us. One of the things I noticed was the presence of anti-war banners in at least one window in nearly every building. It was about a month into America's new war, one in which Spain was also involved in. There was some grafitti against the war, in English, no doubt a message to people like ourselves who were walking the streets. It was obvious that the people were not too happy about this and occasionally---not often at all, but now and then----we would be treated a little coldly by certain people due to the fact we were all Americans, as if the group of us had anything to do with what was going on in the Middle East, thousands of miles away. But I guess certain people had to get their frustrations out somehow. Over all, people were very nice and 5 thirty something Americans were not held responsible for the actions of a fifty-something president back in Washington DC.
Walking through the Barrio Xino, Barcelonetta, the beach, El Raval and the narrow, quiet streets of Barri Gotic. Something to behold, let me tell you.
I think of this now as I get ready to face the New York City "rush hour" and everything that goes with it. I think of how a lot of people in New York are not very happy people and some can't wait to take out their frustrations on whoever happens to be near them. It's a daily ritual here. The rushing, the mass movement, the shoving, the grunts, the sighs, the looks of disgust, anger, the little challanges and petty little competitions over irrelevant things such as who is going to grab that last empty seat on the subway. You would figure after 40 years of being in this city it would be something I am used to by now; but I find the older I get, the less patience I am having for it and to be honest, it's only a matter of time before I finally say goodbye to the city of my birth and look elsewhere. When you are in a place like Barcelona, you really get to see that New York City is not the center of the universe, although a lot of people out there tend to think it is.
Early morning thoughts: a cup of espresso and a freshly lit cigarette: anticipating the rat race that will unfold before me in just an hour or so: anticipating the dour faces of early morning commuters, back up, ready to fight over even the most insignificant thing: this can't be all there is: this isn't all there is.
I grew up in Flushing, a neighborhood of working families and immigrants in northeastern Queens, which is, for those of you living outside of New York City, one of the city's five boroughs. It wasn't (and still isn't) the kind of place where trendiness abounds or means anything to anyone. That sort of thing is alien to most people, despite some of the glimmerings of trendiness that is now beginning to pop up here and there in certain areas. But overall, it was and is one of those areas where the plight of the artist isn't on anyone's radar. It was the kind of place where a punk rock kid like I was got bottles thrown at them for looking "weird" and generally got harrassed by the other kids who were into thier Camaros, AC/DC T-Shirts or those other Italian-American kids who embraced the whole "Guido" esthetic, something, being an Italian-American myself, I never embraced, thank God. But it wasn't the kind of place where a kid could walk down the street with his hair spiked up, wearing a Dead Kennedy's jacket, blasting Bad Religion from his boom-box and not get harrassed by someone. A lot of my friends were not punk rock kids. Most of them were the AC/DC T-Shirt wearing guys but there were a few of us open minded enough not to care about those things too much. Other parts of the neighborhood were the projects where Hip-Hop flourished.
Around the time my friends and I formed our band (Third Eye Butterfly), almost from the start we were doing something different. There was a burgeoning music scene coming out of Flushing in the mid-80s to the early 90s. Most bands were just knock offs of the hair bands that were so popular in those days. We weren't like that. We had our own path to follow and there weren't any real places to play in Queens in those days so we went straight to Manhattan, ignoring our home turf for the mere fact that we knew that we would not be embraced musically.
When we began to play out live and meet other bands, we noticed this curious phenomenon begining to emerge. We suddenly started to notice that our musical peers would look down their noses at us because we were from Queens. After one performance we did, a then well-known singer/performer for a reasonably well known band (I refuse to mention him) came up after our set and complimented us this way: "You guys were good, considering you're from Queens". This sort of thing went on for years. We weren't from Manhattan. We weren't "cool".
Now here we are 20 years later and things have not changed in the least. The only difference now is that there's a whole new generation of transplants living in New York City who carry with them the same elitist attitude; a funny thing when you consider that 95% of them didn't even grow up in New York City. When the Lower East Side/Greenwich Village thing got to expensive for the colonizers, they moved over the bridge to Brooklyn and formed their own scene, taking with them their elitism and close-mindedness. Now the whole notion of zip code=self-worth is at full force, a phenomenon which still, to this day, boggles the mind.
In the interim period between Third Eye Butterfly and Bitterweed, I was attending a lot of these loft parties that a photographer friend of mine would throw. These places were packed with other artists, musicians, performers, nearly all of them having migrated to New York City from wherever it is they came from: Texas, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Michigan, wherever. Most of them either lived in Brooklyn or Manhattan. Most of them became very cold when they discovered that I lived in and came from Queens. What is this shit? I thought to myself. How absurd. It seemed more important to them that they looked the part rather than concentrating on their work, which is, if you're an artist, the important thing; not how "with it" you look or come across. Then agan, I was already in my 30s at the time and a lot of these people were still young, in their early 20s, still in college, still trying to find their way. It's expected for young people to think they know everything.
When Bitterweed began to perform some of the people we would meet would ask almost immediately where we were from. When we told them we all grew up in Queens, they suddenly had this puss on their face, as if where we were from mattered in the least. Not all people, but some. The same old shit, two decades later. Over the past couple of years, I have met a lot of people who have come to New York City from all over the United States, mostly from places so far removed from the urban experience, that I find it highly amusing that they would throw this attitude at someone who was born and raised within the confines of such an urban experience. I sometimes found myself dealing with someone who came out of some farm town or middle American suburbia looking down their nose at me because I didn't reside in some "cool" area. Once they heard the word "Queens", they suddenly turned off. Amazing.
And it continues. This psychosis of hip that permeates every waking moment for these people who can't seem to wrap their minds around the idea that it doesn't mean anything. They are the "open-minded" set, the "tolerant" set, who immediately take on an elitist attitude when confronted with someone who doesn't fit their pre-conceived notion of how someone should be. Being seen as "cool" and "with it" is very important to them. It is all consuming, so much so that they live a lie in a lot of cases, afraid of being themselves for fear of being rejected. They want to belong to a group so badly they will do anything to fit in. And there is nowhere more indicative of this phenomenon than in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
At my age, I don't care about any of this but it's hard not to think about it when you are confronted with people who throw this in your face time and time again. I tend to have nothing to do with these types of people anymore. It's mindless, immature and I don't have the time or patience to deal with it. But being that I still run within these circles due to necessity (after all, being a musician, you tend to deal with those circles just by virtue of what you do), I still have to deal with it to a certain extent but I do my best to limit it as much as I can. For most of these people, it's as if they are living in a movie that no one is watching. Being that I am nearly 40 years old, all of this seems even more absurd and ridiculous. Life is too short to care about such nonsense.
Having grown up in the place that I did, with the kind of people I did, it helps keep one grounded. You learn that the world is a very big, very real place where the concerns of "artists" don't amount to a hell of a lot in the grand scheme of things. There are many people out there who have a very rough way to go with a lot of very real concerns and just because they don't relate to what you do, care about what you do or even know what you do, doesn't mean that they are not deserving of respect as human beings, something the "hip" set seem to know nothing about. To them, it's all about "looking right" and "acting right", whether socially or politically. They don't live in the real world but some manufactured existence meant to destroy any remnants of their former lives. A re-invention meant to run way from who they truly are, deathly afraid that they will be laughed at or mocked because of where their roots lie. Very sad, especially sad when you are dealing with someone in their 30s and 40s.
Of course, I'm generalizing here to try to make a point. There are also some very good, very talented people out there among all the pretenders. But that's neither here nor there. The concerns and the drama of the "hip" ones don't amount to anything at all when looked at within the context of the bigger world. So what is up with these people? What world are they actually living in?
(*Apologies to singer/songwriter Nate Ouderkirk for the use of his song title)
I know that topics such as the one that will follow really means nothing in the larger scheme of things but being that it is something I'm involved in (and possibly many of you reading this as well) I thought I had to say something about it.
Just this week, I came across an article in the newspaper which spoke of how the advertising and marketing cretins have now wormed their way into planting commercials at live performances. Yes, that's right. Live performances. It's bad enough that one cannot go to a movie anymore without having to sit through about 20 minutes of commecials, now we have to endure them during a live performance. The article specifically mentioned that a performed commercial now appears before the performance of "Stomp" at the Orpheum Theater here in New York. So now not only does one have to drop about $40 plus to see the show, they have to be treated to some advertising idiot's idea of sticking a commerical in there, performed live, no less. This is probably only the beginning. "Stomp" is an off-Broadway performance (maybe even off-off-Broadway) so it's almost a no-brainer to envision these sorts of commercials to take place in all the Disney-fied theaters along the Great White Way.
Then comes an article in today's New York Times about a new reality show to be broadcast on a channel on the Dish network. I almost feel like not writing about it because it will do the very thing I don't want it to do, and that is advertize it. But again, something has to be said about it. The show is called "Artstar". The title alone is enough to make anyone sick. Now painters desire to become "stars". The idea behind the show is similar to all other reality shows whereas they put group of 8 artists in a SoHO loft (naturally) and then follow the same old tired formula of most reality shows by setting up the situation to humiliate themselves in front of a large TV audience. According to the article, those participating would be "subjected to withering criticism, marched before wealthy collectors, ordered to collaborate, asked to perform (even if they're not performance artists) and persuaded to dress up in tights for a neighborhood parade all the while being followed by television cameras". If that isn't enough to make you sick, I don't know what is. The question raised is, "What happens to artists when they stop being polite and start being real?" The article then has photos of the show's participants, some of them, looking the role of "artist" while others do the little hip check pose for the camera. This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen with regard to the arts. Who in their right mind would submit to this? Those who are looking for fame, celebrity, recognition (for all the wrong reasons), notariety. Once again, the celebrity narcotic has entered another American vein.
There are now reality shows based on models, chefs, musicians, dancers, midgets (I shit you not!) and everything in between. Now it's artists. When will this insipid trend end? And when will those with even an ounce of fucking dignity stop parading themselves before the TV cameras like some sort of perfoming monkey? Is the desire for celebrity so strong that people really need to submit to something like this? Cheapening what they do in order to get some face time on television?
I suppose in one way it makes sense. It was an artist after all who once said, "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." That artist was one who craved celebrity himself, parading around with all his celebrity friends and making sure he was at all the "right" places and the "right" times. But that was Warhol's deal. That was his schtick. Now it seems a lot of artists, and that includes musicians, all want to follow suit. The whole thing is a joke and it furthers America's reputation about being a junk culture. Garbage in, garbage out.
I try to imagine Picasso, or Klee, or Jackson Pollock taking part in some of these antics. But who knows? Maybe it's just the time we are living in. It just might be if they were of another generation, they may have very well participated in such a thing, who knows? But I doubt it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any artist looking for publicity. After all, there is some element of ego involved in what we do, or else we wouldn't put ourselves out there to be seen and judged (or have websites and blogs, etc). Maybe there is that element of egocentricity involved in all of us, ultimately. But there is a fine line to be crossed between trying to get some attention for your work and becoming a performing monkey for some Madison Avenue pond scum who see all this as nothing more than to make money for themselves and their corporate masters. You are just a means to an end and they will gladly exploit you and make you look like an idiot to achieve those ends. You become nothing more than a modern day court baffoon, there to appease and amuse those who do not have your work or career at heart but rather a way to make even more money while you debase yourself and continue to starve, looking for someone to take you and your work seriously.
Politics is something that really leaves me cold these days. It's not something I will be talking a lot about here, the main reason being that I find most of it to be complete bullshit and I really don't have much faith in the process anymore. The main reason being that more than ever one sees political ideology creeping in to almost every aspect of life. I don't dispute that politics are important but in America is seems to have become nothing more than some sort of twisted identity badge where once again style over substance rules the roost. This comes from both the left and the right. You see on a nearly daily basis (that is, whenever the newspapers and news broadcasts aren't spending a quarter of their pages and time writing about some celebrities hangnail) politics skewing everything imaginable, and most of the time on issues that are really not as important as some of the other things that aren't being addressed anymore.
One example that comes to mind almost immediately is all that hoopla surrounding the Dixie Chicks' views on Bush and how people get all twisted out of shape over that, as if they committed some high crime for offering their opinions. Three southern women don't like Bush. Big fucking deal. Is that news? Should anyone care? If some Hollywood celebrity voices their opinion on something (whether or not it is informed or not) why as a nation should we give a shit? Are their views any more important than anyone else's? It seems to be the case judging from the public reaction at times.
Then there was the "outrage" over Cindy Sheehan. Again, this is one woman who has her own personal views and she was treated as if she were begining an insurrection. She was condemned, ostracized and viewed as a "Benedict Arnold". The right wing(nuts) had a field day. Contrastly, there are those who identify themelves as conservatives who support Bush and his policies and the left wing(nuts) foam at the mouth at them. Again, it is only one person's opinion and it doesn't seem to matter much in my eyes.
Now before all the politicos go crazy and start foaming at the mouths, I want to state for the record that I am actually a card carrying member of the Green Party (even though I don't always agree with them, either) but I gravitated towards the Greens for the mere fact that the Democratic Party is no longer the party it once was. In 2000 and in 2004, they were the only party that even addressed the issues that were important, something that the Republicans and Democrats didn't even come close to addressing. All my life I have voted Democratic (and sometimes Independent) but over the years, I noticed that the Democratic party moved away from it's base, leaving millions with no place to go. They didn't have to worrry. They knew the poor and working classes would not vote Republican, so they took (and take) these votes for granted.
In 2000, I would have gone for Al Gore if he hadn't sold himself down the river and resort to ridiculous antics like turing to Naomi Wolf to learn how to dress more like an "Alpha Male". I would have went for Gore if he would have presented himself as the man he is and not how he thought the American public wanted to see him. He's doing that now. Too late. The man you see now should have been the man on the campaign trail. But no. Presidential politics is generally a popularity contest. Issues be damned. Sometimes telling the truth can be very uncomfortable for people. Al Gore dropped the ball. So I voted for Nader, the one man in the entire process who addressed the important issues and cared nothing for being "popular".
In 2004, the Democrats chose John Kerry as their candidate. Another one who played to the "American Idol" style politics America has embraced and he went one way, then another, much to his discredit. It seemed superficial and it was. But I wasn't going to vote for another blue blood millonaire to represent me, so again, I went with Nader. Both times, I've been told it was a "wasted vote" but I don't see it that way. I voted my conscience and if more people did this, then maybe we would see some actual change.
The most alarming thing I noticed during both these elections were the number of young people who really thought that a vote for the Democrats would have somehow changed anything. In the last election, many young people had pinned their hopes on John Kerry as if he would have been the savior of the world. I doubted that and still doubt it. It would have been more of the same shit. One could argue that the mess in Iraq may have been different, but I don't think so. I think things would have remained more or less the same. Kerry never once said he would get our troops out of there. He just said he would do it "differently". But yet a sizeable number of people voted for him anyway, especially young people, who pinned all their hopes on this blue blood from Massachusettes as if he was speaking for them.
Now we're stuck with "The Decider" for another few years but when his term is over and 2008 is upon us, what are the choices Americans are going to have? Is Hilary Clinton going to be the Democratic nominee and if she is, is she really any better than the rest of them? The Republicans will no doubt pick some wingnut to run for them, since the evangelicals hold such sway over the party. So what are we left with, really? I submit that if Hilary gets the nomination, the left wing in this country will vote for her despite the fact that she betrayed them on her stance regarding the war. She knows it. She doesn't care. But it's too early to tell who is going to be running against who but I don't have any faith at all that someone really worthy will take up the challange. The country is too divided over bullshit and they get distracted from a lot of the pressing issues that really concern all of us. They will vote based on what Ralph Nader referred to as "Gonadal Politics".
2006 will be very enlightening, I think. I predict you will see the same old faces getting themselves re-elected, with a few exceptions. In other words, it will be business as usual.
All in all, in my view, if we really want to see some drastic change in this country, the people are the one's who have to change first. These leaders of ours just don't assume power or lead in a vaccuum. The American public puts them there. The power is really in our hands. There is an expression, though I can't remember who said it, and that is, "You get the government you deserve". These people in Washington are put there by their supporters. I think it's time to clean house. Young people are very important to this process. If more of them get out there and at the very least vote, just maybe things will change. But I don't have much hope for any drastic change. I'm nearly 40 years old. I've been around from Nixon through today and not for nothing, not much has changed at all.
I can say, though, at least the Democratic Party pays lip service to the poor and working people of this country. If they ever decided to actually represent them again, I may actually support them again. But in the meantime, I'll go my own way. Judging from the current field of possible candidates next time around, I will most likely vote Green again in 2008. But that's something to be determined later. It all depends on who's out there. Meanwhile, there are a lot of people out there with no voice at all and no one is truly representing them. The Democrats and the Republicans do not care about them, only at election time. After that it's, "thanks and good luck to you". In the meantime, I will continue to support those who address the important issues and not get bogged down in distractions. Maybe it is a "wasted vote" but at least I can walk away with a clear conscience. Voting for the status quo (which is voting for the two major parties) will not change anything.
It was some time ago when Linda and I were at Arlene's Grocery on the Lower East Side watching a friend perform her set. When she was done, we were heading for the exit just as Swati began to play her first song. After literally hearing the first three seconds of her first song, we stopped in our tracks and turned around to watch her. In those first three seconds, we knew that she had something special. We watched the first song, then the second and before long, we remained for the entire set. The set she performed that night simply blew us away. She offered something truly different and truly exceptional. We were confirmed fans after that set and we've been keeping our eyes open for her ever since.
Her music is truly exceptional (somewhat reminiscent of Ani DiFranco, who I absolutely love, but it has it's own voice and vision). Her guitar playing and songwriting is top-notch, unafraid to experiment and explore areas most people are unwilling to go these days. Both Linda and I are looking forward to seeing her again and I highly advise anyone reading this who happens to notice when she's doing a show to go see her. You will not be disappointed.
She has also just released a CD which I will promptly obtain and I suggest that everyone reading this do the same.
Hear her for yourself. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. www.swatilive.com
For those who are interested in literature I try to share those books I've read with the hopes of turning some people onto some good reads if I can. I know that not everyone is into it, but that's ok. This one goes out to those who are. For me personally, reading is something I've done voraciously ever since I was a little kid. Being that I also love to write, reading is something I think a lot of writers should do, even as a way to learn the craft of writing, which I find more instructional than any writing class could ever give.
It also is a window into the world. Reading different authors from various countries around the world gives one a peek into what is going on in the world (or what had gone in in the world). It allows one to clear one's head of shitty attitudes and a self-absorbed view of the world, something I try to do for myself, personally. It helps, at least for me, develop a sense that the place you are in is not the center of the universe (New Yorkers and Americans in general have a tendency to think they are the center of the universe).
I've come across some good reads over the course of the past year that I'd like to share with those who would be interested. In the interest of space and time, I will not comment on each and every one of them but I would like to list those books I read over the past year that I feel you should check out (Be forewarned---this list is rather long) :
Voices - Antonio Porchia (Italy)
A Year In The Death Of Ricardo Reis - Jose Saramarco (Portugal)
The Anatomist - Federico Anderhazi (Argentina)
Santa Evita - Tomas Eloy Martinez (Argentina)
The Disinherited - Michel del Castillo (Spain)
History As A System - Jose Ortega y Gaset (Spain)
Configurations - Octavio Paz (Mexico)
Aunt Julia And The Scriptwriter - Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru)
Tragic Sense of Life - Miguel de Unamuno (Spain)
Posthumous Poems - Cesar Vallejo (Peru)
The Obscene Bird of Night - Jose Donoso (Chile)
Barborous Nights - Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain)
Before Night Falls - Reinaldo Arenas (Cuba)
Poems/Parables - Pedro Armando Fernandez (Cuba)
They Come and Knock On The Door - Alfonso Quijada Urias (El Salvador)
Mona and Other Tales - Reinaldo Arenas (Cuba)
The Dirty Havana Trilogy - Pedro Juan Gutierrez (Cuba)
Bread of The Angels - Martin Espada (USA/Puerto Rico)
A Mayan Astrologer in Hell's Kitchen - Martin Espada (USA/Puerto Rico)
On Modern Latin American Fiction - John King (UK)
Bread and Wine - Ignazio Silone (Italy)
The Uses of Literature - Italo Calvino (Italy)
The Ragazzi - Pier Paolo Pasolini (Italy)
The Dark Back of Time - Javier Marias (Spain)
On Heroes and Tombs - Ernesto Sabato (Argentina)
Spain: The Root and The Flower - John Crow (USA)
Selections - Jose Lezama Lima (Cuba)
Macho Camacho's Beat - Luis Rafael Sanchez (Puerto Rico)
Poems of Arab Andalusia - Various (Spain)
Selected Poems - Luis Cernuda (Spain)
Scarecrow - Oliveiro Girondo (Argentina)
The Diary of Andres Fava - Julio Cortazar (Argentina)
Selected Poems - Miguel Hernandez & Blas de Otero (Spain)
Volcan: Poems of Central America - Various
Inventing A Word: 20th Century Puerto Rican Poetry - Various
Immenent Visitors - Jaime Saenz (Bolivia)
The Chronicle of San Gabriel - Julio Ramon Ribeyro (Peru)
The Virtues of The Solitary Bird - Juan Goytisolo (Spain)
The Ship of Fools - Cristina Peri Rossi (Uruguay)
The Book of Embraces - Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
Open Veins of Latin America - Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
Written in Water - Luis Cernuda (Spain)
Poem of The Deep Song - Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain)
Selected Poems - Miguel Hernandez (Spain)
Selected Writings - Juan Ramon Jimenez (Spain)
Cosmic Canticle - Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua)
Blood and Sand - Vicente Blasco Ibanez (Spain)
My Art, My Life - Diego Rivera (Mexico)
A Change of Skin - Carlos Fuentes (Mexico)
Upside Down - Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
Persona Non-Grata - Jose Edwards (Chile)
The Leather Jacket - Cesare Pavese (Italy)
An Interpretation of Universal History - Jose Ortega y Gaset (Spain)
Landscapes After The Battle - Juan Goytisolo (Spain)
The Palace of The White Skunks - Reinaldo Arenas (Cuba)
A View of Dawn in The Tropics - Guillermo Cabrera Infante (Cuba)
Mea Cuba - Guillermo Cabrera Infante (Cuba)
Don Quixote (Part 2) - Cervantes (Spain)
Days and Nights of Love and War - Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
Meditations on Quixote - Jose Ortega y Gaset (Spain)
Words Are Stones - Carlo Levi (Italy)
Christ Stopped At Eboli - Carlo Levi (Italy)
Interviews With Spanish Writers - Various
Larva - Julian Rios (Spain)
Emergency Poems - Nicanor Parra (Chile)
Three Tragedies - Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain)
Traffic Violations - Pedro Pietri (USA/Puerto Rico)
Mainland - Victor Hernandez Cruz (Puerto Rico)
Poems - Roque Dalton (El Salvador)
With Walker in Nicaragua - Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua)
Apocalypse and Other Poems - Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua)
Eyes to See Otherwise - Homero Ardijis (Mexico)
Duende - Jason Webster (England)
Fontamara - Ignazio Silone (Italy)
Let The Wind Speak - Juan Carlos Onetti (Uruguay)
Tropical Animal - Pedro Juan Gutierrez (Cuba)
20th Century Latin American Art - Eduard Lucie-Smith
Any one of these is worth checking out. If I can turn even one person out there on to any of these then it would be worth it. For those who could care less about any of this, I apologize.
My friend Carol (and former Third Eye Butterfly bass player) recently emailed me a little tidbit that makes the claim that actor Johnny Depp is interested in making a film about former Pink Floyd guitarist Syd Barrett. I was very excited to hear this since Syd Barrett has always been a huge influence on me musically. Truth is, I can actually see Depp portraying him. I really can't see anyone else doing it to tell you the truth.
For those of you out there unfamiliar with the work of Syd Barrett, I highly recommend that you investigate him. It's not an easy listen due to the fact that at the time he recorded his two solo albums "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett", Barrett had already begun to undergo his mental collapse and it's clearly audible on both these albums. Nevertheless, despite the false starts, the sound of pages turning in the middle of the songs, and it's extremely irregular song structures, they are some of the most beautiful songs ever written in my opinion. Barrett was an enormous talent that sadly never had the chance to develop. By the early 1970s, he had apparently given it all up and retreated back to his home in Cambridge England to pursue his painting and live out his life in peace and quiet. For years it was rumored that he was going to do another album but that was mainly the hopes and dreams of his hardcore fans. He never did another record and not much else is known about what he is up to these days.
But news of this possible film sent me back to those records. Hearing them again brought back a lot of wonderful memories for me. My old band, Third Eye Butterfly, used to do a cover of "Lucifer Sam" by Barrett-era Pink Floyd and it was a regular song in our live set. The only record he did with Pink Floyd was their first one "The Piper At The Gates of Dawn" and he was featured only on two songs on their second, "A Saucerful of Secrets"("Corporal Clegg" and "Jugband Blues"). The only other songs he appeared on are very hard to find singles: "Arnold Layne", "See Emily Play", "Candy and a Current Bun", "Apples and Oranges" and "It Would Be So Nice". Some of these songs may be on some Pink Floyd retrospectives but I am not sure.
At any rate, I hope this film does eventually get made and there's also no doubt in my mind that Depp would do an excellent portrayal of him. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
It was late in 1984 when I pretty much gave up on the hardcore scene and found myself more drawn to the burgeoning Garage rock scene that was happening. WNYU had a show called "Mod Monday" which played a lot of the unknown and not so well known bands of the 60s. Up until that time I was totally unaware of all this great music, mainly because no one ever played it on the radio. Bands such as The Chocolate Watch Band, The Music Machine, The Standells, The Electric Prunes and about a million others turned me on in a big way. It was raw, simple rock-n-roll. Period. I was already attracted to the sounds of the 60s but this was much different than anything I had heard before. The more I listened, the more and more into it I became. I would rummage through the racks at Venus Records on 8th Street looking for anything I could. Most of this stuff was on compilation albums like "Pebbles","Highs in The Mid 60s" and "Nuggets". In a way, this was very much like punk rock, only a generation earlier.
When I began to think about starting another band, my idea was to blend this music with everything else I was into at the time. I had already decided to switch from bass to guitar and began to write songs and most of them seemed to reflect this new musical sensibility, albiet, very rudimentary. By early 1985 the new band came together with Charles Caracciolo on drums, Carol Rowan on bass and Richie Molesso on guitar. We called ourselves The Ides of March. Richie would only stay on for a short while. He decided to leave the band after only a few months. (Richie would later go on to play bass for the Road Vultures and the Kevin K Band). We carried on for a while as a trio and then replaced Richie with Tom Doherty. We rehearsed a whole slew of originals and a couple of garage rock covers and soon we landed our first gig at a club called The Dive in February 1986. The Dive was on W29th Street and it was a place where local bands could play but the whole garage rock scene was originally centered there. Bands such as The Fuzztones, The Vipers, The Cheapskates, The Headless Horsemen and a whole slew of others. It was a very lively scene with it's own fanzines and record labels and for a while it was very exciting. The Ides of March were never really part of that scene but we played on the same bills with some of these bands and shared musical sensibilities.
Tom was out of the band by mid-1986 and we carried on as a trio from then on. We recorded a song for a compilation LP called "The Bands That Ate New York Vol. 2" on Natural Enemies records in early 1987. I never knew how well that did. It just sort of came out and that was it. Our song, "Black and White Dream" was in a very 60s vein, very reminiscent (and purposely so) of the Byrds. This was our first official release.
It was during this time where we would catch all the current garage rock bands at the various clubs but soon the scene sort of died out. Like anything else, once it becomes a "scene", it begins to collapse under the weight of it's own rules. But we carried on, moving away from this sound in an attempt to forge our own. This influence was always present in our music even though we had moved well beyond that scene by then and began to play all the clubs around the city. By 1990, we were literally forced to stop using the name The Ides of March by Jim Peterik who was in a band called The Ides of March back in the 1970s and had a hit called "Vehicle". Somehow, he found out about us and gently threatened us with a lawsuit. So we became Third Eye Butterfly and carried on.
I still love listening to that old garage rock and there has been a resurgence of it lately (i.e. The Hives and The Vines as well as The Sonics' "Have Love Will Travel" being used in a car commercial). Alot of the original bands had reformed as well as some of those we used to see in the 80s. I never went to any of the recent shows so I can't comment on them. But "Nuggets" has been released as a CD box set and I would highly reccomend it for anyone interested in hearing some of the greatest rock-n-roll ever recorded. Little Steven had a radio show which showcased a lot of this music (I don't know if it's still on the air or not and has in the past sponsored some live shows). He had been playing some of the best bands from the period as well as more recent ones. If you're one who likes their rock raw, snotty, simple and to the point, this is definitely something to check out.
I am an American by birth and culture, a Mediterranean man by genetics and I speak an Anglo-Saxon language. It's enough to confuse anybody. But this is the essence of being an American. We are all children of immigrants in one form or another, regardless of what generation we are. In my case, I'm somewhere between second and third generation. On my father's side, my grandfather was born in Tunisia, though of Sicilian extraction; my grandmother was born in New York City. On my mother's side, both my grandparents were born in New York City. So I guess I lie somewhere between. My father's side of the family were from Palermo, my mother's side from Salerno: both cities were once part of "The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies" which were ruled by Spanish kings before Giuseppe Garibaldi (who at one time lived in Staten Island) liberated the Italian peninsula in the 1860s. According to my family history, my great great grandmother on my mother's side had something to do with getting General Garibaldi out of prison. I'm not sure of the details but I am still working on that.
I write this because over the past year and a half or so I've been trying to look into my geneology. I found out some things but I have a very long way to go. The older I got, the more interested I became in discovering it. Up until a few years ago, I wasn't really all that interested. I was an American of Sicilian descent. That was all I knew.
Little by little I learned more about Sicily's rich history. Many people had made their way through that tiny island in the Mediterranean and a lot of people are now descended from those people, most notably the Greeks, Romans, Arabs (for over two centuries), French and Spaniards (for over three centuries). My name could be of both Spanish and Italian origin. I don't know for sure if there is a connection to Spain at all but I am looking into that as well.
I write all this at a time when there is major controversey over the issue of immigration. A lot of passions have been inflamed over this issue but it occurs to me it wasn't that long ago when everyone suddenly stopped being "American" and became hyphonated Americans. Now all of a sudden, we're back to being "Americans" again. It's a roller coaster ride that never seems to end. I personally see no problem with immigration. After all, my own family were once immigrants and at the time they arrived, Italians were in the same position the Mexicans and other Latinos are finding themselves in now. The history of pejudice and outright racism against Italians in America when they first arrived isn't that well documented, but there are some who are trying to change that. One person who comes to mind is writer Cristogianni Borsella whose book "Our Persecution, Identity and Activism: Aspects of The Italian-American Experience from the Late 19th Century to Today" addresses this issue head on. Most Italian-Americans don't have any idea how their ancestors were treated when they first came to America.
According to Borsella, "Italians were often publicly derided and often brutalized. You had Ku Klux Klan rallies directed at Italian immigrants during the early 1900's. You had newspaper editorials proclaiming Italians an inferior race. You had mass expulsions. Hundreds of Italians, many of them women and children, were kicked out of whole towns in America. Many Americans were outraged that Italian immigrants were 'stealing' their jobs and working for cheaper wages. You had labor posters that divided work groups: White, Black and Italian. Italians were often given the harder jobs for less money." (Today's Immigration Debate. An Italian American Perspective - Primo Magazine, March/April 2006)
I also know from differing sources that Italians were considered "Enemy Aliens" during World War II by then president Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a lot of Italians were also placed into "detention camps" along with the Japanese Americans. This is a little known fact for most people. Italians were also considered "non-white" up until the 1940s. All of this sounds strangely familiar. The fact of the matter is that most people have gone through the same thing over the course of American history and as we all know, American history is full of this sort of thing. My own personal view is that I welcome anyone from anywhere, so long as they are not here to cause anyone harm. I also believe there is a right way of coming to America and it isn't fair to those who do it the right way to go through all sorts of hell to try to live here while others simply sneak in and avoid the bureaucracy. It's a very complicated issue now because there are now about 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. What do you do with them? You can't round them up and throw them out. If that were done, it is no question that a lot of those people who went through the immigration process will get swept up in the fury.
I have a suspicion that a lot of the anger and fury directed at immigrants today has more to do with hostility toward Mexicans and Latinos in general than it does anything else. There is a whiff of xenophopia in the debate which is not healthy for any society. Why people get bent out of shape about Spanish speaking people being in America is a mystery to me being that the Spaniards were here long before any English speakers arrived (and even they didn't arrive under the most benevolent circumstances). Most of the west coast and southwest United States was once part of Mexico. Florida was once a dominon of Spain, as well as Puerto Rico. Spanish speaking people have just as much history on this continent as the English speaking people do. So it is a little bit disingenuous to act as if we are being "invaded" by the Hispanic hordes. They were here too. Ultimately, though, Europeans in general came to this continent and basically took it from the natives anyway. I don't care where your political leanings lie. That is the truth and sometimes people forget that. Some act as if this land we all share didn't come into existence until 1776. There were people already here for thousands of years. Europeans didn't just grow out of the American soil.
The history of the world is rife with one group of people moving into another's land and taking it for themselves. People moved from one end of the earth to the other, mixed with the local populations and then spread out again. I guess the point I am trying to make here is that we are all descended, more or less, from the same human family and to debate this issue as if it's the death of civilization is a little hysterical. I don't have any solutions for this "problem" but I am sure something will be done that will lean towards more of a protectionist stance that won't be good for anyone. Who knows what the future holds? All I know is that most people are looking for the same things in life and that is to live their lives with minimal amount of hardship, no matter where they are in the world. Of course there are some who are just absolutely insane and feel it is their duty to impose their will on others. There will always be that so long as there are humans on the planet. It's not right, but that's the way it is. The American story isn't over yet. This is just another bump in the road. Time will only tell how it is handled.
One of the things I loved about being in both Bitterweed and Third Eye Butterfly was the wide scope of influences each of those I played with brought to the music. In both bands each member had very different influences, taste and ideas that were brought to the table and somehow we had all found a way to make it work. That is the one great thing about making music. The following is a list of albums that have affected me in some way. This list is in no way complete and it isn't in any specific order. This is my personal list:
Revolver - The Beatles: I love all The Beatles music but I think this one is my favorite. Great guitar sounds, excellent production, great songwriting and in some cases very experimental (note "Tomorrow Never Knows").
Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan: I am a huge Dylan fan (and have been trying to get Linda into him for years!) and this is my favorite one of his. The overall sound, the great lyrics, the "attitude". Hearing this album changed my original opinion of Dylan.
5D - The Byrds: To me, this is akin to "Revolver" in it's quality and sound. Love the guitar work and songwriting on this. "I See You" has some of the most beautiful harmonies I've ever heard; and the guitar work is completely out of control!
Oddessy and Oracle - The Zombies: An unsung classic from the 60's. The quality of the songwriting is amazing and it isn't afraid to be itself. It's amazing to me how this record didn't get the attention that it so richly deserved.
Damaged - Black Flag: Like all disaffected youth, this one had a huge impact on me. A sonic assault about pain, aggression, anger, depression. Part of the soundtrack to my youth. Even though it's been well over 20 years since its release, I still think it holds up.
Entertainment - Gang of Four: This kid Dario introduced these guys to me in High School. An amazing record that has since been "rediscovered" as of late (thanks to bands like Franz Ferdinand). A highly charged, political tour de force. It's worth a listen just for the guitar work alone.
Metal Box - Public Image Ltd: I used to drive kids in the neighborhood absolutely crazy with this one when blasting it from my boom box. PIL was far more interesting than the Sex Pistols ever were and what I loved about this record was Lydon's seemingly total disregard of what was expected of him.
Sound Affects - The Jam: Loved these guys and still do. This was my favorite of theirs, mainly because of it's glaring similarity to "Revolver", which was an obvious influence on this album. It also turned me on to a great book called "Camelot and the Vision of Albion" by Geoffrey Ashe. The Jam were at their peak here.
Underwater Moonlight - The Soft Boys: It has it all. Surreal lyrics, great melodies, beautiful guitars. Some of Robyn Hitchcock's finest songwriting.
The Madcap Laughs - Syd Barrett: The damaged former lead singer of Pink Floyd came up with this one soon after being "asked to leave" the band. The songwriting is great but in a way it's a very disturbing listen. It definitely captures the sounds of a man who has gone over the edge. In a way, it's very sad because this guy was such a major talent and had enormous potential. Still, the songs are wonderful.
Close To The Edge - Yes: Dave & Linda of Bitterweed hated them (I drove them nuts by playing this on a road trip one day!) but I love them. Their musicianship is simply unbelievable and Chris Squire had always been a major influence on my bass playing. I think this one may be my favorite of theirs but I'm not sure. Normally, I am not that into progressive rock but Yes was always different to me. This was the record that I drove my bandmates nuts with on our last road trip!
Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: If you want to drive anyone absolutely fucking crazy, play this one for them. Outright madness. I know Linda absolutely hates this record!
Liege And Lieff - Fairport Convention: British folk-rock. Great guitar work by Richard Thompson and great vocals by Sandy Denny who is unfortunately no longer with us.
Black Sea - XTC: Great record from one of the 1980's most overlooked bands. These guys had enormous talent but it was never recognized as much as it should have been.
Quadrophenia - The Who: Another soundtrack for disaffected youth everywhere. John Entwhistle's bass playing in "The Real Me" kicks major ass!
Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd are one of my all time favorite bands. This album I feel is their strongest and most consistent, even though I love all of their stuff.
Forever Now - The Psychedelic Furs: Yeah, I know, listening to it now it kind of sounds like a soundtrack to a John Hughes movie but this one stayed on my turntable for a long time in 1982. This was their best record, in my opinion.
Impressions - John Coltrane: The record that turned me onto Jazz in a big way. It lead to a million others. To me, Coltrane was it! The man took the music as far as it could go and did it joyfully.
For thousands of years philosophers have attempted to find the answer to the ultimate question: why? Well, maybe there is no one answer to this question. Maybe Darwin was on to something when he implied that we are all just another animal who's primary reason for living is simply survival. I think the ecologists are right when they say that we are part of one large ecosystem. I think we invented God and religion and philosophy because our minds are able to think abstractly unlike other animals on this planet; and after thousands of years of thinking, fighting and trying to figure it all out, no one yet knows the "answer", unless of course you give the existentialists some credit where it's due when they identified existence in and of itself is absolutely meaningless. The choices we make in life determine the answers we seek individually. Some look for meaning so deep it can literally boggle the mind. Others are content simply putting on their I-Pods and going to the mall. I don't have the answer either. Maybe you can tell me.
Saying that someone is "just a friend" devalues the meaning of friendship.
From my experience the French are not rude. What is rude is the American who traveled three thousand miles to a foreign country an demands to know, in English, where the nearest McDonald's is.
There are no great artistic partnerships anymore. Then: Jean-Paul Sartre & Simone DuBevoir Now: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie
Most politicians are those kids who grew up wealthy and comfortable, did very well in school, made all the varsity teams, made president of the student body, belonged to fraternities and now they feel they have the right to run our lives as well. But you know what? These spoiled frat boys just don't assume power. We, as a people, put them there. So the next time we complain about a lying, thieving and corrupt politician, we should look in the mirror. They are a reflection of all of us.
Ever think of all those poets & playwrights who were either sent to prison, tortured or exectuted over the course of history? They wrote from the heart, even under the threat of imprisonment and/or death. What do we have today? Tupac Shakur? Biggie Smalls? Not to take anything away from them since they were speaking to a segment of our population. Only they were gunned down by those they were speaking to not against. If this is not another sign of the times, I don't know what is.
Man is not superior to woman. Woman is not superior to man. We are both part of the same fucked up species. "Superiority" depends on who's in the position to define it at any given time. Ultimately, we are all fucked in the head to some degree.
There is more pollution generated by those who know not when to open their mouths than by anything the industrial revolution has ever produced.
"Religion is the opium of the masses", Karl Marx said. So is TV, drugs, alcohol, video games, electronic devices, politics, and just about everything else we invented to distract ourselves from looking within and actually deal with one another as human beings.
Political theory for young people is just another fashion accessory. With time it becomes outdated and many a judgment is made on which style you choose to pick up on. Meanwhile, life goes on and it all just comes around again anyway.
What's the difference between a "Film" and a "Movie". A movie is something that the intelligentsia are embarrassed to admit they went to see.
How come all these "free thinkers" all look the same, talk the same, act the same, dress the same, like the same music and films, and have exactly the same viewpoints?
What's the difference between a hippie and a yuppie? A yuppie is a hippie who has convinced himself that he hadn't "sold out", he is merely "trying to change the system from within".
How come prophets never look into the future and envision paradise?
Most people either look forward or backward. No one ever seems to look at now.
I wonder what kind of major shit would errupt if a major museum ever exhibited the paintings of Adolf Hitler?
Most "Progressives" see themselves as such because they think it makes them cool.
Rugged individualism is dead in America. It is now a collection of style tribes.
Most things are to distract us from how badly the self-proclaimed elite are fucking us.
Something I saw while I was walking the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit last year: There was this young woman handing out flyers across from Washington Square Park for a preview of a play that her group was putting on. When I passed her, she offered me a flyer. She began to explain that the idea was that they were going to preview this particular play but the final cast had not yet been chosen. That was going to be left up to the audience, "American Idol" style. I thought this was very sad. Has everything become nothing more than a contest these days? Doesn't anyone have faith in their own abilities, decisions and most importantly, vision, anymore? Does everything have to have to have a gimick these days? I didn't take the flyer. I was no longer interested in knowing any more about it.
This has crept into the music scene as well. Everything is a contest. Everything is competition. Everything is for sale. It seems to me that everything has to be "better" than something else. It used to be those useless "battle of the bands" now it's also completely dependent on "draw" or "votes" or whatever else. Everything has become about "marketing" and/or "Public Relations". There was a time, many many years ago, that a career in "marketing" was considered one of the most "unhip" things one could do. It seems nowadays that marketing is a booming industry with more and more young people getting into it. They've been marketing everything from cars to household products using the songs of their youth for television commercials or crafting ads in magazines to hawk some product to appeal to the "hipster" in everyone. The previous generation eventually wound up on Wall Street. This generation wound up on Madison Avenue. I don't know how anyone else feels about it but it was very dishearting to hear The Buzzcocks "What Do I Get" in an SUV commercial; to hear The Ramones' music in a commercial about a household cleaning product. I even heard Black Flag's "Rise Above" in a television commerical recently. And who could forget the infamous commercial hawking a Caddilac as "punk rock"? The list goes on and on.
Who knows? Maybe this is just the natural order of things. Maybe hearing this music in commercials selling everything from cars to Mr. Clean is just another sign that I am indeed getting old. Perhaps my generation is really no different from the one before. I don't know and in the end, I suppose it really doesn't matter. But there seemed to be a time (or am I just imagining it?) where there was just a little more dignity and integrity about what one created. It wasn't so easily for sale. Who knows? Maybe as people age, this becomes less important to them. I'm sure way back in the mid-1970s, the Ramones would never envision one of their songs being used to sell some product on TV. Maybe it is just my imagination that there was once a time when someone's artistic vision wasn't comprimised by reality-TV-like tactics, pitting one against the other in order to "win". Maybe this is our more "civilized" version of the old Roman Colessium games where the audience gave the thumbs up or thumbs down before a gladiator finished off his opponent, where instead of deciding the death of an individual, we now have the power to decide the life and death of someone's artistic pursuits. It all leaves a sour taste in my mouth but what is one going to do but follow their own path and do what makes them happy. Maybe all this competetive spirit makes some people happy.
It seemed to me that there used to be a time when people were open to all different kinds of things without worrying about whether or not it was "hip" or "cool" or whatever. People truly embraced diversity and not "diversity" so long as it adheres to a certain sensibility. There are so many great things out there to experience. Why allow someone's (i.e. some marketing guy/girl) decide what is worth it and what is not? Yes, I do realize that this thing we all pursue is considered a "business". I don't dispute that. But it seems to be that those in the position of making the decisions (being "the Decider", as our fearless leader would put it) are not motivated whatsoever by the quality of the art but rather looking at art as nothing more than a product. It's no different to them whether they are selling a bottle of soda or a lipstick. As long as it sells, who cares how awful or banal it is.
A show like "American Idol" does more harm than good. First of all, it encourages mediocrity at best, homoginization at its worst. It does not encourage a young person who wants to pursue music to be original and creative but to follow the hordes over the cliff into the abyss of mediocrity. The recent "controversey" regarding this pagent is another example of stupidity and it reduces the arts to nothing more than a third rate talent show that one would see in a high school auditorium. I know millions of people like this show. To each his own. But I can't understand it.
People will like what they like. They won't like what they don't like. Art in general is subjective. There is no objective sense of what is "good" and what is "bad". It each goes according to our own tastes and opinions. One man's shit is another man's gold, right? Some people just aren't exposed to anything that isn't handed to them. Some don't even bother to explore the alternatives and see what else is out there and what is possible. I think this show only serves as a restriction to young people who want to pursue music. It tells them that this is all there is and this is what one must do in order to succeed.
There are some amazingly talented musicians and artists out there that most will probably never hear or see, from all over the musical spectrum. What "American Idol" has to offer is a peek into the disposable and it's tactics of having a panel of judges and voter participation only cheapens it even further. It's a third rate talent show where people are forced to choose whatever is handed them, as if this is all there is. The fact that people would reduce their own vision to "American Idol"-like tactics in order to further their own artistic vision is to me pathetic. Yes, I guess it may seem like "fun" to make something an "event" but I have a hard time imagining Beckett doing the same thing after writing "Waiting for Godot" or Eugene O'Neal after writing "The Iceman Cometh" or Arthur Miller after completing "Death of A Salesman". To me, it just cheapens the whole thing turning it into a circus rather than a vision. And one's vision is very important to the creative process. It shouldn't be comprimised for the sake of cheap gimmicks. It is all a very American phenomenon, uniquely it's own, where literally everything is about competition and absolutely nothing about trying to create something beautiful and letting the chips fall where they may. Rugged individualism is dead, even in the arts in this culture. It is this false sense of empowerment, meant to make people feel as if they are a part of something important, temprorarily relieving them of their sense of helplessness, turning over the decision making process to the mob. To me, in the much larger picture, is something truly ominous.
I'd like to talk a little about the 1980s. Yes, that glorious decade, the "Me Decade" as it was known (though I really believe that the "Me Decade" has already lasted for more than 20 years). Although a lot of the music of the 1980s has seen a resurgance in recent days (as well as the look in some cases) to be quite honest with you, I thought a lot of it was crap and unfortunately a lot of what is now being looked back on with wistful nostalgia was, to me at least, the crap I couldn't stand during that decade of materialism and self-absorption. Most of it was just goofy pop music that was terrible then and it even more terrible now. I think it was the comdedian Marc Maron who said, "You know, it doesn't mean something was good just because you remember it." There was a lot of truly great music to come out of the 1980s, most of which is now forgotten. The following are just some of the records that I did like during that decade.
Once Upon A Time: The Singles - Siouxsie and The Banshees (1981): They came out of the original punk rock scene in 1977 but they eventually found their own sound and went their own way. This collection of their early singles is a great sampler of how they progressed from the dingy 100 club to their own, dark, surrealistic sound. It's a fine example of what can be achieved when a band decides to follow their own muse.
Everything's Gone Green - New Order (1982): After Joy Division's Ian Curtis decided to kill himself, they continued on and began to explore different sounds and experiment with synths without really ever losing their human feel. Well...at least not in the beginning. This was always my favorite record of their's, even though I liked most of them. Great melodies. Great songwriting although the production is a bit shoddy.
London Calling - The Clash (1980): This is the album that introduced me to the whole punk/new wave thing in the first place, much to the displeasure of my friends who were still deeply steeped in the stoner rock of Cream and Jimi Hendrix. Hearing this record was for me the first time that music actually spoke to me. It opened the doors to a whole new way of thinking and looking at life, even though I was still a boy at the time, just barely into my teens.
Setting Sons - The Jam (1979): Although technically released at the end of the 1970s, it was this record (and seeing their killer performance on the TV show "Fridays") that really changed everything. The Jam meant much more to me than The Clash did and this record was one of the first records to spark my interest in politcs, literature, art and a host of other things. "Little Boy Soldiers" is probably one of the best anti-war songs ever written.
Black Snake Diamond Role - Robyn Hitchcock (1981): His first solo album since the break up of the Soft Boys. This record is packed with beautifully written songs and melodies and the warped lyrics that Hitchcock was famous for. "Acid Bird" is a beautiful song, even though I still don't know what the hell it's about! This album is worth getting for this song alone.
Closer - Joy Division (1980): I bought this record after hearing "Love Will Tear Us Apart" on the radio (and was very disappointed by the fact that it isn't on the album!) I found this in a record store out on Long Island. I remember the guy in the store talking to me about it, saying how awesome it was and that I would really love it. It looked strange. No information at all on the cover. Just a photo of the "Pieta", an all white background and nothing else. The label didn't even list the songs nor did it even have the name of the band on it nor any indication on what was side one or side two. The guy in the store told me, "These guys make the Jam sound like...peanut butter, man". I still don't know what he meant by that. At any rate, this is one of the most darkest records I ever heard. Tribal rhythms, heavy bass, dark, depressing lyrics, dark production. It's no wonder why this band became THE band for Goths everywhere. This one had a tremendous impact on me and it is still one of my all time favorites.
Wilder LP/You Disappear From View EP - The Teardrop Explodes (1982): Another band that was one of my big favorites in the 80s although they never really made any impact here in the States. "Wilder" has some neo-psychedelic gems such as "Like Leila Khalid Said" and "Colours Fly Away". A weird mixture of pop/psychedelia with some good examples of Julian Cope's warped mind. "You Disappear From View" EP was released around the same time and it had an orchestral version of "Suffocate" that still give me chills when listening to it and the outright weirdness of "Ouch Monkeys". Another highlight is the all electronic "Inpsychopedia". Also: The 12" single for "Bent Out Of Shape" contained one of the best B-sides ever. A song called "Christ vs. Warhol". It should have been on the album.
Porcupine - Echo and The Bunnymen (1983): These guys came out of Liverpool as did the Teardrop Explodes. They were similar to Teardrop in a lot of ways but their sound was more influenced by Bowie. My favorite Bunnyman track is on this record, "The Cutter", with it's wonderful string arrangement by Ravi Shankar. I liked a lot of their stuff but I think this one is my favorite.
Fried - Julian Cope (1984): Julian Cope's second solo effort. Weird with a captial W. Very much like Syd Barrett and Roky Erickson. You could hear the garage rock influences as well as Cope's special brand of surrealistic whimsy. You just got to give a hand to anyone willing to pose nude on their album cover wearing nothing but a giant tortoise shell. This man was and is out of his mind but he makes some of the most interesting music. Always a huge influence on me, musically.
25 O'Clock - The Dukes Of Stratosphere (1985): This is really XTC recording under another name. They came up with some of the best psychedelic rock since the original era, complete with melotrons, sitars, backwards tape loops and lyrics that could have been taken right from Alice in Wonderland. It was an obvious homage to a bygone era when music wasn't afraid to push the boundaries. I played this one to death.
Skylarking - XTC (1986): The recording of "25 O'Clock" obviously inspired XTC proper to begin inserting elements of the Duke's sound into their own. This is a strong album with some absolutely brilliant songs. My favorites, "Summer's Couldron", "1000 Umbrellas" and of course "Dear God". Todd Rundgren's production was amazing as well.
The Flowers Of Romance - Public Image Ltd. (1984): What can one say about this album? It is strange...beyond strange. Tribal in some ways, Arabic in others. The only instruments on this record are drums, vocals, some guitar and an occasional synth. It is one of the most experimental records of the decade and one of the most ambitious. I still can't imagine how any record label had the balls to release this but I guess those days are long long gone in the age of Brittany Spears. There's no way to describe the music on this record. It is truly a beast unto itself. Fucking brilliant!
Sister - Sonic Youth (1987): My old punk band Distorted Youth had played with them at A7 back in 1982 and at the time, I couldn't stand what they were doing. We sucked and made a racket but nothing in comparison to the racket these guys made. It took me years to come around to them after seeing them that night. This was the album that made me come around. It took me some time to truly appreciate what they were doing. Maybe I should have listened closer to them that night. Besides, I was so drunk out of my mind...
Sorry Ma I Forgot To Take Out The Trash - The Replacements (1981): Long before they went pop, these drunken bastards offered this messy mixture of pop, punk and a dash of hardcore. Short blistering songs about having a great time. Rock and roll at it's most raw.
Flip Your Wig - Husker Du (1985): Ok, this was much MUCH more commercial than their earlier records but it was full of great guitar sounds and beautiful melodies. It was something of a shock to hear this one after hearing their earlier efforts like "Zen Arcade" and "Metal Circus". This record most definitely influenced the Foo Fighters and a ton of other bands from the 90s.
Entertainment - Gang of Four (1979): This band has made a huge comeback as of late with a lot of current bands aping their sound (Franz Ferdinand being the most obvious). This album mesmorized me when I first heard it and it still sounds very fresh today. The guitar work is absolutely brilliant. Very sparse, minimal. Fantastic. Glad it's finally getting it's due.
This is a partial list. There are many more and I don't want to go on forever. Now if only there were nostalgia for this segment of the 1980s, rather than the nostalgia there is for Culture Club, Aha and Dexy's Midnight Runners, I would be a very happy guy.
You may have seen them: The non-smoker who overly exaggerates a wave of the hand if even a minutia of smoke enters their space; the overly self-conscious hipster who must check everyone out to be sure that he or she is still "with it" and then making snarky remarks to their friends about someone else's appearance; the cultural critic who scoffs at you when you claim to like a particular film or piece of music; the record store clerk who must check out what you're buying so he can make some unwarranted comment so he or she could feel superior; the raving, drooling lunatic at Starbucks who can't wait one nanosecond for the poor Barista to make their latte; the one guy at an art gallery criticizing everything in front of him; the "rebel" who rages against the corporate system whose parents are millionaires and paying their rent for their $2,000 a month apartment in some "cool" neighborhood; the jerkoff who connects his self-worth with his zipcode; the "atheist" who rages against Christians but demand that you respect all other religious beliefs; the self-proclaimed anti-fascists who demand strict adherence to a certain political thought; the freedom of speech advocates who want to shut up and shout down anyone they disagree with; the activist who attends every protest imaginable and then never bothers to vote; the open-minded college student who refuses to converse or associate with anyone who does not share their political or social views; the artist who looks the role but never produces anything; the individualist who reads an article in Time Out New York or the New York Times' Sunday Styles about a certain growing trend then suddenly adopts it as his own invention; the humanitarian who preaches the virtues of peace and compassion but will run you down on the sidewalk because your in his or her way...the list goes on.
This is the new New York, 21st century America. Naturally, there are a lot of very good, decent people out there but there seems to be an increase in those who do the things I described above. This is not the city I have grown up in and lived in all my life. Now I don't know if it's because I am just getting older and getting a tad more cynical or what. I don't know much of anything anymore. But I do know that the city that was once the epitome of "live and let live" is drastically becoming a city of nannies, peepers, whiners and crybabies; spoiled brats who demand that they have their way no matter what. It has become a city where style rules supreme over substance. It has become a city where everyone is suddenly in your business and feel obligated to tell you that you are not living correctly, thinking correctly and acting correctly. The New York I know is a city where people were free to live their lives in peace without anyone looking over their shoulder telling them what to do and how to think.
Perhaps some of you reading this will disagree. Some of you will no doubt take offense. That's fine. We're all supposed to be free to make our own choices and live our own lives without interference from anyone. Perhaps one day the city will return to the city I remember it being. Or am I just nostalgic for a time that never existed?
I will be turning 40 in the next few months. Where does the time go? It almost seems like yesterday when I got into this whole music thing. It's not a big deal for me at all that I will be turning 40. Despite the fact that rock music is something of a youth oriented business, many of us still can't let go. It's the love of music that keeps us at it, I think and keeps us young the same time. Even though my musical tastes have changed dramatically over the years (I barely listen to any new rock bands) one still has a soft spot for the music of their youth. Mine was all over the place but punk rock had an enormous impact on my life in more ways than just musically. It's what punk rock represented. No, not the "Fuck You, I'm a rebel" thing (though when I was 14 it did). It was mainly the whole idea of being an individual and being true to yourself and your ideals; not to be a lemming and do what everyone else was doing merely because everyone else was doing it. But, like all things, over time it becomes stale and it becomes just another peer group with all it's rules and regulations, it's look, it's sound and sooner or later it just becomes a paradoy of itself. That's what the new punk bands seem like to me but I suppose that's natural. In punk years, I am an old man now.
But Punk had a tremendous affect on me when I was growing up. It literally changed everything for me as I'm sure it did for anyone who had embraced it with wide open arms. I discovered punk when I was 14 years old with the release of London Calling by The Clash. At the time I was listening mostly to classic rock like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Kinks, Traffic, Santana, Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, etc etc. (bands I still love, by the way). Hearing The Clash was something of an epiphany. It was the first time I felt I heard music that actually spoke to me. But it was The Jam that literally turned my world upside down. After seeing them on the old TV show "Fridays" back in August 1980, that was it. I pretty much discarded all the classic rock and began looking for more of this new and wonderful thing called punk (or New Wave as it was known by then.) Soon I had the Sex Pistols' "Never Mind The Bollocks" and The Ramones' first LP and that was it. I was a confirmed punk rock kid. Then, about a year later, I happened upon Black Flag's "Damaged". I found it for 2 bucks in a local record store on Kissena Boulevard. By the time I had turned 15, I had cut off my hair, spiked it up, and started stomping around my neighborhood in boots and my Dead Kennedys jacket.
It was around my junior year in high school where I met this kid Chris who was also big into punk rock and we decided to form a band. With two other kids from school (who were not into punk at all, but wanted to play anyway) we christened ourselves Distorted Youth (the name being inspired by Social Distortion, who were then very very different from the band everyone knows today). We would all get together at Chris' basement and begin rehearsing, taking breaks listening to the wonderful compilation LP "Let Them Eat Jellybeans". We were also heavily into Tim Sommer's "Noise The Show" which was on WNYU in those days. It wasn't too long after that we had our first gig at A7, one of the few clubs at the time that had punk rock shows. It stood just across the street from Tompkins Square Park and it was a wild scene with a lot of great bands (some of whom are legends now). Other clubs at the time where I spent some of my nights were the Mudd Club (where I saw Black Flag in '82), the Peppermint Lounge and Danceteria, all of which had hardcore nights at the time.
It was April 1982 when we played our first show. Johnny Ramone was in the crowd and we thought it was the greatest thing on earth. We only had three songs but we played them twice. We had gotten the gig from a local punk rock band called Killer Instinct. The show went well and we had a great time. We only played two more shows after that, one of which had Sonic Youth on the bill who were pretty much just starting out themselves. Our only claim to fame was that we were so awful that we succeeded in driving literally everyone out of the room at our last show. Needless to say, after that fateful gig, Distorted Youth disbanded. It would be a few years before I was in another band but by then I had moved on from wanting to play strictly punk and hardcore. By 1985, the scene had changed and I wasn't as excited about it as I was in the beginning, although two of the bands from that period, Sick of It All (two of the members, Pete and Armand, were classmates of mine in high school) and Agnostic Front were the only ones who impressed me. By 1985, I had moved on to garage rock and my band at the time, Third Eye Butterfly moved into a completely different direction although punk was always an influence on what we did.
The following is a quick list of the punk rock records that I loved with a passion and still have a soft spot for whenever I hear tracks from them:
Minor Threat Crazy, insane, brutal hardcore. I was never into the whole "straight edge" thing (far from it, believe me!) but I loved this band anyway. One of the best hardcore bands of the '80s.
Bad Brains: This was a cassette only release. Again, brutal. These guys were amazing.
In God We Trust Inc. - Dead Kennedys: They were always incredible and had the sickest sense of humor. This was their best record. "Religious Vomit" and "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" are some of the highlights. "Moral Majority" had some of the most hysterical lyrics ever.
Group Sex - Circle Jerks: Another brutal record. A must.
Reagan Youth - "USA": They were one of the best local bands and I loved seeing them. This was my favorite song of theirs.
Beastie Boys - Pollywog Stew: Before they went hip hop and conquered the world.
Punks Not Dead - The Exploited: British post-Sex Pistols punk. When everyone else went "New Wave", they carried the banner.
Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols: Obviously.
Jealous Again - Black Flag: Pre-Rollins and raw. Chavo was their singer then.
Damaged - Black Flag When Rollins came in to the fold. A brutal assault on the senses. Still one of my all time favorite punk records.
Never Again - Discharge: Another great British band. You could hear a Metal influence on these guys and I think they eventually went that way as the 80s progressed. This was my favorite of theirs.
How Could Hell Be Any Worse - Bad Religion: When I first heard these guys---in Chris' room in between Distorted Youth rehearsals---I was blown away by the fact that they played hardcore and had melodies. It was the first time I ever heard anything like this in my life and they quickly became one of my favorite punk bands. Amazing to me that they are still around after all these years. And they're still great.
God Is Dead - Heart Attack: Another local NYC band. I bought this 7" off the bass player who lived in my neighborhood. This was Jese Malin's band when he was very very young (before his wonderful band Hope, who I used to see all the time, and the more well known D-Generation). Three great old-school NYC hardcore tracks. "Shotgun" and "You" were the other two. I still have this 7", now in it's yellowed, xerox record sleeve. Always one of my favorite records from the era.
Urban Waste: Another local band that we had played with at A7. They used to drive the crowd crazy.
New York Thrash - Various: This is a great sampler of the NYC hardcore scene at the time. Other great bands like DOA and Adrennaline OD, Heart Attack, etc. What a time and what an era. I miss those days like you wouldn't believe.
There are plenty of more but I did say this was a short list. I look back at that time with great fondness. It was fun and exciting and energetic and there was so much creativity happening with so many great bands. Then the Yuppies started discovering the Lower East Side and began buying up all the real estate and scrambling to buy Jean-Michel Basquiat's paintings for insane prices and the whole thing went down. By '87 it was a different place (but better than it is now). But what the hell, right? The past is the past. But man, what a time it was.
Punk is still alive and well and I suppose so long as there are disaffected youth around the world (and these days it's not hard to see why) there will always be a vehicle to rage against stupdity and injustice. These days, I can't say the new punk bands move me in any way, shape or form (I wouldn't even know who they are, anyway) but then again, I'm going to be 40 years old. It shouldn't speak to me in the same way it did. In fact, I am at the age now where young people are supposed to kick me in the ass and tell me to get out of the way. Fine. That's the way it's supposed to be. What amuses me about it all now is that I am now probably looked at by the current generation as I looked at the old hippies in my days of youth. I'm now old enough to be these kids father! God help me! Nevertheless, it's always a good thing for the young to question things around them. So long as punk rock is around, there will always be that avenue, despite the fact that it means nothing to me anymore. We can grow old gracefully but that doesn't mean we have to abandon certain ideals we learned while we were young. The one thing punk rock taught me was to always be yourself and not submit like sheep to what is viewed as "conventional wisdom". This is because what is usually perceived as "conventional wisdom" is usually not wisdom at all. It is usually rank stupidity. The current time being a fine example.
Ok, I admit it. I am a huge bookworm. I read all the time. I suppose this is a practice I got into when I was little. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't have a book of some sort in my hands. It has been said that no one really likes to read anymore in America but I don't believe this is true. At least not in New York City. I can't speak for anywhere else. With the advent of the "superstore" over the past decade or so (with all it's faux-bohemian pretension), I tend to think that the idea that "Americans don't read anymore" is most likely an exaggeration at the very least.
Over the past couple of years I've managed to get a boat load of poetry published in around 40 magazines and journals and also managed to release 5 poetry chapbooks into the void. I've also got a novel that has yet to find a publisher but I haven't given up hope just yet. Writing is just another way for me to express myself and it is just as important to me as playing music is. Writing allows me to express myself in a way that music simply can't and vice versa. They are very different mediums but in a lot of ways they are very much the same. They are both vehicles that allow one to reach down and get out all their "shit", whatever that may be.
I now want to take a little time to mention some of the books and writers that have impacted me as much as musicians have impacted me musically. For those who are interested in literature as well I hope to turn you on to some great books that I have come across in the past couple of years.
"Tropic of Cancer" - Henry Miller (United States)
"Hopscotch" - Julio Cortazar (Argentina)
"The Ragazzi", "A Violent Life" & "Roman Poems" - Pier Paolo Pasolini (Italy)
"Poem of The Deep Song" - Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain)
"Marks of Identity" - Juan Goytisolo (Spain)
"Death In The Afternoon" - Ernest Hemingway (United States)
"Scarecrow" - Oliviero Girondo (Argentina)
"Desolation Angels" - Jack Kerouac (United States)
"A Change of Skin" - Carlos Fuentes (Mexico)
"Don Quixote" - Miguel de Cervantes (Spain)
"Down and Out in Paris and London" - George Orwell (England)
"Life Is Elsewhere" - Milan Kundera (Czechoslovakia)
"A Dreambook For Our Time" - Tadeusz Konwicki (Poland)
"Contempt" - Alberto Moravia (Italy)
"Blood and Sand" - Vicente Blasco Ibanez (Spain)
"The Blood That Keeps Singing" - Clemente Soto Velez (Puerto Rico)
"Paradiso" - Jose Lezama Lima (Cuba)
"Before Night Falls" - Reinaldo Arenas (Cuba)
"The Book of Disquiet" - Fernando Pessoa (Portugal)
"Eternal Curse on The Reader of These Pages" - Manuel Puig (Argentina)
"The Roominghouse Madrigals" - Charles Bukowski (United States)
"Memory of Fire" (Trilogy) - Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
These are just to start with. The list would go on forever. Maybe another time, I will list some more. These are just some of the books that have affected me in some way and come highly recommended to my fellow bookworms everywhere.
I've always been an admirer of people who follow their own muse; those who aren't afraid to say what they feel regardless of whether or not I agree with them. I've always respected those who are open minded. I never had much admiration for those who pose; those who betray who they truly are in a desperate bid to fit in with a certain crowd or ideology. I think this is very limiting for an artist and for creativity and most importantly, personal growth. Some people's desperate bid to be seen as "hip" thwarts whatever creativity they may actually have within them.
There is a lot of art, music and literature that exists today that consciously plays into the hands of a certain crowd and a certain sensibility. The creation of that work becomes dictated by that pre-set sensibility, often times limiting it's scope and hindering it's chance to break out and be challenging and interesting. With that said, there is a lot of great work out there by some very talented people but sometimes you have to wade through all the irony and "snark" in order to find it. But it is there if one is willing to look and it is to those artists that I salute; those creative people who refuse to allow the parameters of "hipness" imprison them.
In New York City these days (I can't speak for anywhere else) there are certain neighborhoods that are considered mostly "artistic" neighborhoods. Usually these are the areas which were once a hell hole of some sort so artists move in for the cheap rent, the plethora of space and establish a community or sorts where they could find one another. Sooner or later, after touting how "cool" their area is becoming, the real estate vultures come swarming in and suddenly this former hell hole is now hot property and the cost of living there skyrockets. Gentrification. It happens all the time. It becomes too expensive for the struggling artist to live and the former residents of the area who had lived there all their lives are suddenly forced out due to the ridiculously high rents. In New York City this has happened in Greenwich Village, The Lower East Side, TriBeCa, SoHO, then over the bridge to Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill, and now it seems Bushwick is on it's way as well. All these areas certainly have something to offer but if you didn't get there in time, unless you can afford it, forget it.
But a curious phenomenon came along with all this gentrification, a phenomenon I will never understand. That is somehow equating your self-worth as an artist and as a human being with your zip code. Suddenly this aura of "hip" had become connected to these areas as if where you plant your ass on any given day has everything to do with your artistic sensibility and/or creativity. Instead of artists following their own path, they suddenly become entwined with "the scene", often catering to that sensibility and thinking that because their physical presence is in a certain area, it suddenly gives them and their work a certain credibility that if they lived anywhere else they assume they would no longer have. This is absolutely absurd, of course, but I've noticed this occurring over the past couple of years. Some artists suddenly lose their sense of independence and become totally dependent on what they think they must be and what they must do in order to "fit in" and feel as if they are a part of things. It becomes more of a pose than anything else. The work suffers, their creativity suffers and it becomes nothing more than a silly game.
Of course there are many talented people in these areas. I'm not saying that they are all pretenders. A lot of these people are those who moved to New York City from other places, trying to find their way and make their mark as an artist. Some of them, to my mind, are legitimite artists. Some merely adopt a pose and play the role very well but are seriously lacking in originality and creativity. To be "hip" is more important than anything else, even above the work. It matters more how they dress, how they look, what bars and clubs they hang out in, what music they know (the more obscure, the cooler they are), what trends they follow, what political ideology they adopt, what extremely obscure pop culture references they can pepper thier conversations with at any given time, what films they like, and it goes on and on and on. Put simply, it is a parade of stupidity that means absolutely nothing with regard to the work of the artist. What matters to me most is what they produce and if they are real as a human being, totally unconcerned with what other people will think because of their personal choices in life.
There are artists who follow their own muse and there are artists who merely go along with whatever is considered cool at the time. Followers of trends. Sheep. Many of the most talented artists that I know live outside these areas, sometimes in such far flung areas of New York City as Staten Island. The point is that it makes no difference whatsoever where the person resides. That alone should be obvious. But not for some. For some, it's all about, as the real estate vultures say, "Location. Location. Location." Absurd.
Being a life long resident of New York City (going on 40 years now), this is a phenomenon that I find very sad from a creative point of view. A lot of these artists have been in New York for a few years at most and have come at a time when it is very desirable to be here. It wasn't that long ago when people were fleeing with their lives, the quality of life here being less than desirable.
The best thing one could do, in my opinion, is to be true to yourself. Follow your own muse and not concern yourself with ridiculous trends and just get on with it. There will always be those who think they're the arbiters of taste. Since art is something inherently subjective anyway, in the end, it all becomes meaningless. To each his own. Worrying about such irrelevancies will do nothing but kill the creative spark in anyone who feels compelled to embrace them.
Poetry is something that I think tends to be overlooked by a lot of people. I think the reason for this is because we are usually exposed to poets who spend a lot of time ruminating on a tree or a flower or some other nonsensical topic. I know this doesn't appeal to me in the least. That kind of writing is utterly useless to me and all it seems to serve is how well one can put words together. A craft rather than a form of expression. But in some parts of the world poetry has had (and still has) been instrumental in social change in one way or another (the Nicaraguan poet Ernesto Cardenal comes to mind and Che Guevara was known to scribble a poem or two now and then). In the U.S. most of the poets that are given any attention at all are usually those who concentrate on well crafted word play and flowery metaphors and usually appeal to English teachers who love poems that take nearly a page to describe a leaf falling from a tree. Either that or some four page rumination, full of forced rhymes and is usually about nothing at all. Call it "Spoken Word" or poetry, whichever you like. No matter what you call it, it is certainly a vehicle for self-expression if done well. Much like music, it can be something extremely powerful.
Poetry (and people writing it) has been making something of a resurgence over the past few years, especially in New York City. There are many places where one can attend a reading and the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe has been more popular than ever. There is usually a poetry reading taking place somewhere in New York City on any given night in nearly every neighborhood in the city. Add to all this the popularity of the Def Poetry Jam and I think you're beginning to see a very different attitude toward poetry.
I began writing poetry (seriously writing it, anyway) around 1996. It was a rough time for me. Having lost my father two years earlier (as well as others in a span of three months), dealing with a recent end of a relationship and spending nearly every week as a drunken mess at various Brooklyn parties, by the time 1996 rolled around, it's fair to say I was completely out of it. It got to that point where one would wake up one morning, experiencing just one more crippling hangover, and realizing that something had to be done. I just couldn't go on like that anymore. So one morning I just got up and began to write. Before long, I had a whole batch of poems written and decided why not try to see if I can do anything with this. The result was my first poetry book, "Standing on Lorimer Street Awaiting Crucifixion" (Alpha Beat Press 1996). It was such a thrill to have a small poetry book published that I began sending my stuff out everywhere and much to my amazement, found it being published in various magazines and journals from all over the place. I thought maybe I should continue this. I love writing anyway so why not? It was never my intention to write poetry but whatever I was doing, I was apparently doing something right.
It was around this time where I met a poet/painter/photographer from Brooklyn named Laura Joy Lustig. We had become fast friends and together we would exchange our writings, books and ideas about things and through these conversations it sort of helped me find my footing again. It helped clear my head and make me realize what I should be doing and where I should be going, but that is an entirely different story, one which I will get into at another time. But I began writing and I haven't stopped writing since. I once again realized the path I should be on.
I began to rediscover my love for literature and art (something that I had sort of pushed to the sidelines at that point) and it's been nothing but revalatory for me ever since. Then Linda La Porte and I took a trip to Paris in 2000 and that pretty much sealed it for me. That trip allowed me to complete my novel and it opened my eyes to a whole new way of seeing the world and my place in it. Since then, I've published 4 more poetry chapbooks and continued to be published in various small magazines and journals. I still continue to write and pursue this course, though it certainly hasn't been easy.
The following is a short list of poets and poems that had affected me in some way. If literature is something you are interested in and you like strong writing with something important to say, I highly recommend the following:
Howl and Other Poems - Allen Ginsberg (United States)
Little Stones At My Window - Mario Benedetti (Uruguay)
The Blood That Keeps Singing - Clemente Soto Velez (Puerto Rico)
Save Twilight - Julio Cortazar (Argentina)
Poem of The Deep Song - Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain)
Clandestine Poems - Roque Dalton (El Salvador)
Collected Poems - Miguel Hernandez (Spain)
Collected Poems - Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina)
Mexico City Blues - Jack Kerouac (United States)
The Roominghouse Madrigals - Charles Bukowski (United States)
Gasoline - Gregory Corso (United States)
Buddhist Third Class Junk Mail Oracle - d.a. levy (United States)
Roman Poems - Pier Poalo Pasolini (Italy)
Orphic Songs - Dino Campana (Italy/Argentina)
Zero Hour - Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua)
Poems and Anti-Poems - Nicanor Parra (Chile)
Emergency Poems - Nicanor Parra (Chile)
There are many others. New York City has it's fair share of wonderful poets as well: Pedro Pietri, Nancy Mercado, Miguel Algarin and La Bruja to name a few.
I realize that not many people are into this sort of thing these days. It's unfortunate but what the hell? To each his own. But like music, literature is something that has made life just that much more rich for me. Maybe it could do that for you as well.
One afternoon about a year ago I wandered into J&R Music World on Park Row to look around for some CDs to buy and I heard some of the most amazing music coming from upstairs at the Jazz Department. At first, I thought it was just a CD they usually play over their sound system. I followed the music upstairs and was surprised to discover a live Jazz band playing. It was Miguel Zenon and his band promoting their latest release "Jibaro". As I perused the CDs, I listened to them play. It was some of the most amazing music I had heard in a long time. I stood there and watched them for about 20 minutes or so and by the end of the set, I was a confirmed fan and immediately bought the CD.
I mention this because over the past few years I've become something of a Jazz fanatic. It's pretty much all I've been listening to lately since not many new rock bands have been appealing to me (with the exception of a few, i.e. Radiohead, System of a Down, Sigur Ros among a few others). My move towards Jazz has primarily been because of what the music represents for me; that is: freedom of expression. Even though many of the records I've been immersed in over the past few years are somewhere between 40-50 years old, there is a freshness to them---a sense of freedom that one doesn't really hear anymore. Besides, the musicianship is simply amazing. You get the feeling that people are together making music for the love of making music and there seems to be no consideration whatsoever about "image" and "marketing" (although I'm sure there is to some extent) or fitting in with some amorphous idea about being "cool". It's about the music and listening to these musicians, you can hear without any doubt that the music is the primary force. This appeals to me in a big way since these days what's important---the music---seems to get lost in the tidal wave of "marketing the product".
Whenever I hear the music of John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Rasheid Ali, Roland Kirk, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Jackie McLean, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Yusef Latif and Dexter Gordon among many others, I am overwhelmed by it's extreme creativity and sense of freedom and personal expression so lacking in most contemporary rock music. There are some contemporary Jazz musicians that I love as well: Greg Osby, Miguel Zenon, Wessel Anderson and Ravi Coltrane, all of whom are making some very interesting music.
My father was a Jazz musician back in the 60s (I have one record of his that he recorded back in the 60s with a group called "The Swing Kings" which was recorded as part of a WNBC Radio program) and for a long time he had tried to turn me on to some of these records. He turned me on to a few as I was growing up, namely Stan Getz and Charlie Parker. If he were around today, I wonder what he would have thought about my growing interest in this music and he would have probably been amazed since I used to drive him absolutely crazy with my Black Flag and Dead Kennedys records.
It is the sense of freedom I hear in these records that appeals to me, a freedom I had always strove for in the music of Bitterweed and still hope to do with whatever projects I am involved in in the future, whether it be music, writing or painting. But the business being what it is, I only hope the boundaries aren't as restrictive I fear it may be. But who knows? To me, it's always been about the music and these records and musicians seem to confirm that. The doors are always open to new and exciting paths to follow and I take a lesson from these musicians to keep my mind open to all interesting possibilities there are to explore.
I'm primarily a musician but I also pursue other interests as well and the purpose of this site is to have it all in one place. For the past 7 years or so I was the bass player in the NYC rock band Bitterweed. The band split up early this year although there is a chance we may get together again. In the meantime, I've teamed up with Bitterweed's guitarist/singer Linda La Porte in support of her new solo venture. We are currently recording her debut CD at Capture Sound in Brooklyn and plan on playing some shows in the near future. Linda will also have her new website up soon with all the information for those who are interested.
I will also use this particular blog to help promote other artists & musicians, whatever their stripe. This was something I liked doing on the Bitterweed site and I will continue to do so here because I think it's important that we all pull together. I don't believe in the "competition" mentality so prevelant these days sickeningly illustrated by "American Idol" and it's ilk. Granted, there are those who will not like what you do. That's ok. I certainly don't like everything I see or hear or read. But I feel strongly that pitting artists against one another is not a good thing for the artist creatively or spiritually. You will not find any "hatchet pieces" here.
This blog will also be about various other topics that interest me. This site may take a little while to set up completely but I intend on blogging quite a bit so at least there is that in the meantime.
I look forward to your comments and interacting with you all. Feel free to get in touch if there is anything interesting you think I should check out. I'm always eager to find new things.
It is often said that we often mock what we don’t understand. What’s worse than that, at least to me, is the absolute refusal to understand; to look upon the world with this sense of hubris, that one is the only one on earth “clued in” to what’s important and/or “with it”. In a sense, we carry around with us this sort of High School ethos, those definitions supplied then carrying all the way through adulthood. And of course, we all have our standards as to what that is. One man’s brilliance is another man’s “nerd alert”. In the end, it’s just all nonsense, designed to make one feel lesser than they actually are, often propagated by those who have deep seated issues with regard to their sense of self. 
My new article, 
