Two Months Later (and notes on a solo album)

And I'm just now checking in...

What's up, internet? How you been? Good? Good! I've been doing okay, too. Well, more than okay. I've been doing really great! What's that, you say? There's not really any actual content in any of my posts? Hmmmm... I would have to agree with you, and yet, I won't. Because there is an audience for everything. And metrics don't lie. I don't have any actual content in my posts...

"I'd like to do lots of stuff, but there never seems to enough time," said anyone and everyone at one point in her life.

I like listing logistical properties of artistic projects I hope to bring into existence.

Solo album.

Recorded in my garage.

With a single microphone up in the storage area of the garage.

Recorded on to and mixed in and with my iPhone.

It would have to be garage rock, by default due to geography.

Three piece?

Bass.

Guitar.

Drums.

Vox.

Concept album?

8-12 songs.

2:30 minutes or less, which bumps the song total to 14-18. No, wait... 10-12. About half an hour would be nice, but I wouldn't cry if it were 34:19.

Extreme focus within the subject matter. A song about the 4th hole at Mountain Meadows golf course. A song about the Expedit shelving unit from Ikea. A song about the bacon wrapped asparagus from Bengal Barbecue in Disneyland.

Take your time, but don't dwell.

Sweet.

He's Old Enough to Just Walk Around the Mall with Me

Chase is almost 3.

Which means a host of things. He has opinions. He's beginning to voice those opinions. He soaks up everything like a sponge... and is able to regurgitate those things with uncanny intelligibility.

And he's able to just chill at the mall with me without making a scene. Just walk through the mall, saying "Hi" to the occasional passerby, holding my hand while walking or rushing 4-5 feet in front of me to demonostrate his independence.

It's awesome. It's scary. It... is going to be a song very, very soon.

OCD just... works for me...

Lots can happen in almost three months...

I start a brand new job with an awesome company on Monday. And I can't think of what to say in this blog because I've forgotten how to write in the past three months...?

Question mark because I'm not sure if that's true or if it's just an excuse.

Excuses are easy. Much easier than taking a good hard look in the mirror and bringing to light your own shortcomings, misgivings, and failures.

OCD, huh...? Maybe. I do eat my burgers in circles...

I just googled "eat burgers in circles" and nothing very interesting popped up. I may or may not have to make my way down to San Diego to fill my belly soon, though.

My double stroke roll is coming along nicely. I guess that's what's happen when you actually practice and don't just rely on natural talent.

I am arrogant. I am humble. I am clueless. I will stumble. But if I can keep my feet underneath my body for another moment or two, I know I can become truly great.

You Don't Get Anywhere by Announcing Your Intentions

Yeah. This blog is a journal of sorts. If you're reading, I thank you. And I despise you because you keep me from being my true self because I seek your approval. I need to be accepted by you. Otherwise there are no repeat visitors, no audience, no purpose to this blog. Which is bullshit because didn't I say that this is a journal? And does a journal depend on any reader other than the writer himself or herself? It shouldn't. And so your weaknesses and deficiencies are exposed...

Blacklisted. A loaded term. You did something worth prohibiting. Worthy of being remembered... but don't do it again.

It's hard to write a post while listening to Black Star. Genuine. Authentic. And really good. Would that I could create art like this.

Don't say. Don't not do.

Circular reasoning. A feeling other than believing. It's true because it is.

I'm Excited About...

... a website that will hopefully make some waves in how music business is conducted: backsta.gr/

Well... damn...

I just read a thread about the website on Reddit, and now the only thing I'm excited about is not being a lawyer... Seriously, though. Red tape and the rabbit hole and compliance and legalese make me... so sad...

I'm really excited about going to my first Dodgers game of the season.

And about recording more music with Lexy Baeza.

And about posting my "Making of" video for the song "Be Boring" based on a chapter from Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist.

And about doing the RW Summer Running Streak 2012, which basically means I'm going to be running at least a mile a day from Memorial Day to Independence Day.

Yep... lots to be excited about!!!

Going Out on a Limb

You've got to put yourself out there.

Stick your head out.

Flirt with the possibility of falling off the cliff.

Take the low percentage shot because you feel in your gut that you can clear the water hazard and have that putt for eagle.

Go for the harder riff while you're tracking guitars (even though this has been your most solid take) because you know people will wonder how it all came together.

Start a two piece band that takes song suggestions from the crowd and makes up the music and lyrics on the spot because you can't wait to feel the sensation of being inches from falling flat on your face... or achieving sonic brilliance.

Take a chance.

What have you got to lose?

Create

Because you can. Because you must. Because it feels good.

I recorded a 3 song demo about my son Chase today in just under 2 and a half hours. And it was so much fun and the time flew and I can't wait to to do it again. Record. Music about something I love or something I hate or something I feel strongly about. Tell a story. Convey a message. Get on a soapbox. Become a participant, not just a spectator.

The behind the scenes video was fun, too. Less pretense, more content.

And consistently ship. Set deadlines. Test hypotheses and make adjustments and learn and soak things up like a sponge and regurgitate what you've learned and become better and become better and always strive to become better.

You can stream and download the demo here.

And here's the behind the scenes video!!