Full Band

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Sunday December 19, 2010 – The Phoenix Saloon / New Braunfels, TX / 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Sarah is K’s cousin.  She studied film in Spain.  She’s only 22.  I want to know this person.  I asked her to film a video as well as an epk for me.  We are on an adventure.  A strange one, really.  We are both quiet and reserved.  It may take some time to crack our shells, but we are well on our way.

New people will be good for me.  Ever since my entire life started over at age 30, I’ve been upset with myself for carrying so much of my old self on my back.  I dry her tears, console her silly worries, and listen to her complain about all those old events that happened long ago.  She’s kind of a whiny little bitch.  And in the end, I can’t fully live in the now until I drop her off in the wilderness of the past.  But… One step at a time.

It’s time to take stock and realize how grateful I am for my friends.

I don’t have many.  Never have.  I’m a loner.  My dad told me he was a loner, one time when I was too young to understand what that meant.  Now I do.  I choose carefully and wisely, I think.  Recently, a young girl confided in my friend that she was upset I “never said anything” to her when she and I were at the same event.  And with that, she now holds a grudge against me.  That, and she lusts after my K so there’s another grievance.  But my point in saying this is that I don’t talk unless I have something to say.  I trust my intuition.  Some people make it easy to talk to them.  Those are the people I tend to gravitate towards.  Maybe it’s who they are.  Maybe it’s the dynamic of our personalities.  I don’t know.  I just trust my instincts.

I do the same with music.  Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I feel as though I live with the most talented songwriters in the world.  They don’t know they are.  I can see it, though.  I can hear it.  It’s beautiful how they are just people writing songs.  THAT’S what makes them great.  Not people SAYING they are great.  The world is full of bloated bullshit about who is better, more popular, etc. etc.  Being great has nothing to do with other people’s opinions.

I feel as though I’ve changed my scenery in the past year.  Once, I was surrounded by people who only knew how to suck-up and appease their “famous” “friends.”  Now I’m surrounded by humble, grounded human beings.  I couldn’t ask for more.  These people are rare and hard to find.  I realize I don’t have many friends because I’ve been holding out for them.

“I could live here.”

“Me, too.”

Sometimes I feel trampled on by the music business.  And maybe it’s just this specific area’s music business.  Maybe it’s just all kinds of business.  It’s hard to claim a tree in those woods and declare it open for business, when people with money are claiming millions of trees and opening them all at the same time.  And let’s say you’re trying to offer a product that’s truly unique and one-of-a-kind.  It doesn’t matter.  You’re already screwed from the get go, because you’ve been swallowed up by the other tree shops offering copy-cat, cookie-cutter bullshit.  What do you do?  Eh.  Keep on keepin’ on, I guess.  It’s come to my attention that as much as I like to think I know what makes an artist successful, all I really know is how to be an artist.  A REAL artist, mind you.  There’s a difference.  So maybe that’s what really matters?  I am a student of life.  I am learning just like you.  So I guess we’ll see.

I played Woody’s Tavern in Fort Worth as support for Travis Linville.  He was in trio form that night.  I had K along with me.  Basically, they were our audience and we were his.  It was an even trade.  It was also a shame.  They were some of the best musicians I’ve ever seen.  And not just chops, for they had those without a doubt.  They just knew music like a lover knows his partner.  It didn’t feel they were breaking a mold or anything like that.  It was just pure perfection… accompanied by TV’s projecting a multitude of sporting events, and even one hunting channel with it’s poorly shot programs and commercials.

Here’s a drawing of them.  I was drawing at an angle so it may look a little crooked.

I have decided to put together a book of photography, drawing, and perhaps some writing. I have not put a deadline on this new venture. First and foremost I want to release my new album. All focus goes there for now.

I’d also like to start posting some of my drawings from my drawing book here. That animal goes with me to all shows and outings. Posting here often will also encourage me to draw more. Sometimes creativity needs a little push.

I am planning a couple of videos to accompany my new album. I meet next week to discuss my vision.

My album’s title will be released soon. Artwork will begin next week. I want preorders to begin December 1st.

These are just some things I am planning. Maybe posting them here helps me believe they will happen. Though I have never been one to back down from any creative obligation, whether required or self-imposed.

Updates soon…