Category: Music

Jackaroo Days, Yeah

I have always been a voracious reader. It’s rare that you will find me without a book in my hands. Right now, I’m working my way through the Dark Tower Series, again. (I was gifted the Gunslinger when I was in my early twenties and I still have that book… it’s falling apart but it remains untouched by future revisions by the author.)

I remember and a kid, staying up late, hiding my clandestine after-bedtime adventures by sneaking a flashlight into my room, lifting my blankets up like a tent and sitting under them, furtively rushing through whatever fantastic book I was ingesting in great mental gulps, cramming in “one more chapter” before the inevitable sleep overtook me.

I know now, that my parents were FULLY AWARE of these events and indulged me because I was reading… and also, I was quiet.

One of the best days of my young adult life was the day we went to a garage sale and those folks had an outbuilding FULL of books for sale.  10 cents each! The outbuilding looked huge to me but I was a tiny kid so it was probably just a small barn… but I recall racks and racks of books. It was there that I stocked up on Agatha Christie.

As an aside, one of life’s great disappointments is knowing who did it before you finish the book. Don’t peek ahead. I ruined “Peril at End House” because I **had** to know… and I never read the middle of the book.. I spoiled it. Don’t do that. Enjoy the experience. It’s much more gratifying.

Anyway, a book that made a huge impression on me in my younger days, was Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt which is now, evidently, retitled “Tale of Gywn” but when I read it, only one book in the series existed (and I’m not too proud to say that at the age of almost 45, I’m not above reading that whole series now that I know it exists. I don’t care that it’s Young Adult Fiction)

Jackaroo was the legendary hero of a small feudal village and when things got tough and people needed saving, Jackaroo arrived. This story was so impactful because (spoiler) Jackaroo was a young woman who shucked off all of society’s expectations and just did whatever she felt was right. I totally loved Gwyn.. and the book remains floating around in my brain so many years later.

(I’m about to take a quick left turn on you… hold on, there is no gentle segue here..)

Now that I have my new uke (ain’t she sweet?) I have been wanting to delve more into fingerstyle and solo stuff and really build some skills. I was digging around on Amazon and settled on Fingerstyle Ukulele – A Method & Songbook For Fingerpicking Backup & Solos, Ukulele Aerobics: For All Levels, from Beginner to Advanced, and Jazz Ukulele: Comping, Soloing, Chord Melodies.

I almost got The Beatles for Fingerstyle Ukulele but decided against it because I have Stu Fuch’s Chord Solo Book and there are already a few of my favorite Beatles Songs in it.

But the free sample has “Across the Universe” as the first few pages, so I looked at it pretty closely before deciding against buying the book.

Now, before we get into this next bit of my post, let’s all agree that John Lennon did not always write lyrics that were easily understandable.

For example:

Sitting on a cornflake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation tee shirt
Stupid bloody Tuesday
Man, you been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob

I also present, for your review:

He wear no shoeshine, he’s got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Cola
He say, “I know you, you know me”
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

So imagine (no pun intended), given that Jackaroo made such a huge impression on me when I was a kid, that I was pretty surprised when I saw that what I thought was :

Jackaroo, days.. .yeah.. Oh…

Is actually

Jai Guru Deva… Om

Yet, my brain insists that I must continue to sing “Jackaroo Days, Yeah.. oh..”

Nothing’s going to change my world… (or my brain, evidently)

Nothing’s going to change my world…

 

 

A New Addition

Hi, I’m on a social media break so I’ll only see comments here on the blog and not on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.  If there is a question or comment that you want me to see right away, the blog is the place to do it.   I’m back to Social Media (maybe) on November 20th.  Ta!

 

Judy, hanging out at Guitar Center.

You may or may not know that almost 4 years ago, I bought a uke on a spur of the moment decision and I had no regrets other than I wished I’d researched a little more.  Judy is an “all mahogany” uke with a gloss coating.. meaning she’s a laminate uke made out of mahogany and she’s got a big old layer or lacquer on top.

But I love her and she was affordable and just in my price point at the time. She’s beautiful to look at and I’ve never seen anyone else playing one like her.  Honestly, sometimes you just have to go with your gut, am I right?  Sure.

Here is a slightly abbreviated  video of me playing Judy.. I have a few mistakes… well, lets call them “flavor”… and you can hear my friend humming along as he tapes this.  I love that.

I’ve been playing Judy off and on for a while and I decided I wanted to upgrade my  uke. As my teacher Ron says, you should really have one of each size (I like how he thinks), and I’ve been wanting a uke with a more mellow sounds.  Judy is great, but she’s a little sharp when it comes to tone.  I even put new strings on her just to see if that would chill her out a bit.  It didn’t.

So, I was going to do it “right” this time.  I researched tonewoods and sizes and was pretty convinced I was going to get the Tiny Tenor from Romero Creations.  This is not an inexpensive uke. It’s not going to break the bank but I was looking at $500 for the solid mahogany and I wouldn’t be able to play her before purchase.   And then I thought, if I was going to go for the $500 uke, I might as well go all the way and get the solid Koa which is basically the same price as two of my car payments (ouch). Someone in my uke class has the spruce top version  and she loves it.  I loved the idea of a Low G string and a softer tone.

On Tuesday, when I was talking with Ron about getting a new uke, he said, really the best thing is to just play a ton of them until you find the one you like.. and hinted that I should drive to Michigan to visit Elderly Instruments to play a bunch. (I remember my Dad talking about Elderly instruments when l was a kid and I know they have an excellent reputation.. but .. that’s a nine hour drive!)

Wednesday, a little voice in the back of my head suggested that maybe I’d want to wander over to the music store on my lunch and just play some ukes “for fun”.   I ignored that voice, mostly because the last time I was in there, this saleswoman annoyed me.

I had been looking for an all plastic uke to keep in my car, you know.. for traffic jams and long stop lights, like you do… and she did not listen to me and tried to hand me every solid wood uke in the place and did that annoying thing of playing an instrument and nodding at me while I’m trying to get it through her head that no, I was looking for all plastic.. like a Waterman or a Ukadelic.

Not much annoys me more than a salesperson who doesn’t listen.

So I really didn’t want to go back there.

Thursday afternoon, the little voice says “hey! maybe today is a good day to .. ” and I shut that voice down. I was NOT going to go buy another off the rack uke. I was going to do it “right”.

Friday, true to form..  ugh.. ok FINE.  If I’ve learned anything from all of the intuitive work that I’ve done it’s that if you don’t listen to the quiet voice, eventually that bitch gets loud and starts smacking you around…  so fine.  I’ll go.  But I’m not buying anything.

Unfortunately, the same saleswoman was there (ugh) and she did the same damn thing.. and I ignored her.  I just picked up some ukes and played them and put them down and told her I was just “window shopping” and she kept talking and talking and talking and did the whole annoying schpeel (the same one.. do you have a uke now? How long have you been playing? blah blah blah) and I know she’s doing her job but I’m one of those people who just .. ugh.  Let me look uninterrupted, ok?

Courtesy of Potential Past on Flickr

I’m on my last two minutes before I have to head back to work (I literally have 10 minutes to play after driving over there) and then.. I see her.  This GORGEOUS UKE… I had never seen a tonewood like this.. ever!

I.. picked her up and I had to have her.. NO… NOPE NOPE NOPE… we are not buying another uke because it’s pretty.. it needs to sound good!  Besides, it’s a concert size.. Judy is a  concert size. I don’t need another concert size uke.

But I played her a bit. and she felt so RIGHT in my hands.  I peeked inside at the model number…  and stuck it in the back of my head.  I shouted to the now missing saleswoman (who evidently, finally got tired of being ignored and I said “Excuse me, do you know what this uke is made out of?”  She shouts back “Spalted Maple!”

Bullshit.

 

That is not spalted maple.  I’ve SEEN spalted maple and this is not it.  Now, encouraged by my question, she’s practically running over to me and starts telling me all about this uke and blah blah blah but I’m not listening because I know she’s already told me something incorrect.

I put the pretty uke back, say thank you to the saleswoman and go back to work.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about her. While I was waiting for my computer to do it’s thing, I researched the model number. That wood was Olive Ash Burl and it is stunning.

I went home, told LB all about it and said that after we run our errands on Saturday, I wanted to go play that uke again. So, off we went Saturday morning… but before we left, I jammed out on Judy.  Really got the sound of her in my ears.

It was a completely different experience in the store.

I walked right over to the uke I wanted and a salesman peeks around at me and says “That’s a Luna made out of Olive Ash.  Relatively new model   There’s a seat right there if you’d like to sit down and play it”.. and then he wanders away with his coffee.

The dude let the instrument sell itself.

I took my time, tuned her up, and then played the same stuff I played on Judy at home.

Holy Gods, she sounded amazing.

I think you know where this is going.

The salesman comes back after I’d been playing for about 10 minutes and says “So, what did you think?”.  I’m practically drooling in the chair.  But I played it cool…  he offered to throw in a gig bag at half price, because it didn’t come with one (and it should have).

Friends, I’m so ridiculoulsy happy with this uke. She’s a solid wood uke and has a moon theme going on.. (she’s made by Luna Ukes.. but they don’t all have this).  She’s sweet, resonate and mellow but still perky.. kind of like me (har har)

Here she is.   She needs a name.. and I kinda want to name her Hina-i-ka-malama, but I feel weird about it because I worry about the internet being wrong about translations and sacred mythology and I’m not sure I would pronounce it correctly.

I’ll post some video of me playing her at some point.. after some practice … on a day when I feel like putting on a bra. But right now, I’m off to sew a strap for her.

Isn’t she lovely? Gosh, I’m so glad I listened to that little voice in my head. As for a tenor, I’m going to go with an inexpensive laminate. Luna makes one with Honu around the sound hole although I’m not seeing it on their website right now.. but Amazon has it so I’ll have it on my wishlist.  If and when the time is right, I’ll pick it up.  But for now, I’m happily jamming on this pretty little thing.

After all this time – a new Stu Fuch’s album

You guys.. I’m so excited!  You remember way back when I met Stu Fuchs at Old Songs and had a transcendental experience?  You don’t?   Ok.. let me  refresh your memory.  Did you go read that?  Ok, good..  You didn’t?  Fine.. be like that.  Here.. have the video.

He’s the guy on the didgeridoo that you can barely see.

Oh and he’s also this guy

And… well. this guy

Stu is a multi-instrumentalist but I know him for his ukulele playing and I try not to miss a chance to see him live. He’s funny, charming and engaging  and now that I’ve slammed you with videos, I want to tell you about his new album and how you can get it and help him make it. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy his first album “Stukulele”

Well, here.. go listen to some clips.

Stu has brought an amazing amount of joy and appreciation for making music to my life. After spending a week with him learning his Zen Method to making music, I can tell you that he has truly changed my approach for the better.  I’m sure his new album will be spectacular, soulful and fun.   Here, let him tell you all about it.

Stu’s campaign is on Indiegogo.com and the album will be made if he meets his goal or not.   For a $15.00 contribution, you can get the mp3 album before it’s released.  That’s pretty awesome because honestly, that’s what you’d pay to buy it anyway…

Right now, Stu is about 1/4 of the way there and I’d love it if you would consider backing his album.

Follow the linky loo.

What I did on my summer vacation…

Hi!  Me again.

I did this thing… this life changing thing.

I spent a week at Omega Institute for a workshop entitled Ukulele Zen.

Go ahead.. chuckle..   I’ll wait.

But it was amazing.. it was music and laughter and joy and meditation and zen and peace out man wow…

I made so many friends, I sang so many songs….

And we did this flashmob thing

and we had a concert.. and I did OPEN MIC and screwed up so bad and totally did not care and we all laughed together.

Do you know the joy of laughing with someone over your mistakes instead of having people laugh AT you?

It’s bliss.

And on our last day we all cried like babies…

and played songs

and more songs..and maybe I danced around a little bit

I wish I could tell you more about what an amazingly beautiful experience this was… but I can’t.. because I don’t have the words.

Old Songs Part 3- The Last Day

Sunday was bitter sweet. It was the end.. but it was still great.

I had my last shifts to work in the morning. You know, I enjoyed them but I sort of felt like I missed out some things while I was working but at the same time, I got to see things I wouldn’t have normally.

For example, while we were working the gate, the Rustic Riders (aka the Rusty Criders. It’s fun with fonics!) came over and sang and played for us. That was really really nice. Sort of like our own little concert.

I also got to have some fascinating socio-political discussion with the guy I worked the ticket sales with. So fun.

Sunday is a shorter day but there was the Disney Sing Along with Bing which was fun and I got to learn how many Disney songs I **don’t know**.

I really spent a lot of time just wandering and stopping and listening to this and that. And I stayed for a good amount of the afternoon concert.

I heard this really great band, whose name I have since forgotten… Thank goodness for Twitter.

So yeah.. the Andrew and Noah Band

So great right!? They had a fantastic set but I didn’t get to record a lot of it. I was in a high traffic area and I stopped here and there so people could walk through.

And here is an actual 10 minutes of Bing Futch. I found a seat with less traffic.

So what have I learned in my three months of ruminating on this?

It was awe inspiring to be around such kind people. To be surrounded my music and laughter and light was so beautiful an experience. It reminded me of all of the things I’ve let fall by the wayside, all of the energy work I used to do, all of the joy I got out of finding wonder in the things around me. And it reminded me that I can be granola crunchy in my own way that doesn’t fit into any particular mold. I can be myself around people I don’t know so why not do it around people that I do know?!

I also feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have had a chance to talk with such great people. The fact that people I admire and respect sought me out to talk with me is a reminder that I’m more than that “kid no one likes and everyone picks on” that I should have let go 20 years ago. It’s a reminder that I have value.

I know that’s pretty heavy, man.. but that’s what happened. It’s not every day that a music festival makes such a huge impact on me, but for some reason, this one did.

Old Songs Part 2.5 – The second half of Saturday

Well, hell.. it’s been months.

I’ve not posted about the second half of Saturday at Old Songs all of this time because I think I’ve been internalizing how amazing it was.

Guys it was magical. It’s rare that I’m in a place that I feel totally comfortable.. like totally. And I had an opportunity to be around people are just…well HAPPY.

So.. to continue where I left off…

I had just grabbed some ice cream and headed off to the workshop where Bing Futch, Stu Fuchs and Joseph Bruchac were doing a Native American flute thing.

I had not met Stu before that day. I had heard of him but I had no idea what cool dude he is. He’s just… ZEN.

I sit down on a bench with my ice cream cone in hand, and Stu starts talking about starting with a meditation … and then he started using words like “mantra” and “mudra” and I’m like.. um… I need to get rid of this ice cream… I have a feeling something kind of awesome is about to happen and I’m going to need my hands for that mudra.

I got myself up, snuck out the door, pitched my Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia (which is my total favorite and I don’t get it very often) and I hustled back into that room. I so completely enjoyed the meditation that Stu lead the group in. That guy has the energy of a peaceful spring fed lake.. so serene and calm on top, but giggling and bubbly underneath. He’s a delight for sure.

After the meditation, there was storytelling from the Native American Traditions, there was some flute playing and dulcimer playing and an all around good time but what I can’t get over was the energy between these three guys. They didn’t practice anything, they didn’t play together before and they actually didn’t even know each other before that day.

Then Stu pulled out a didgeridoo. Not a traditional didgeridoo.. one with a slide on it like a trombone. When he started playing that and Bing started with the dulcimer and Joe got some hand rhythm percussion going, I was transfixed. It was … astonishing.

I managed to get my hands to my camera and capture just a moment or two on my phone. I didn’t have a great seat for viewing but holy crap.. (also, I’m secretly jealous of Stu’s hair)

I don’t share this with many people, but my experience at Old Songs, reminded me about my goal to be more myself. To bring myself back to myself, so I’m going to share this with you all. I see auras and energy because of work I’ve done before now. Work that I’ve let fall by the wayside… there’s more too, but I’ll just hit you with a bit at a time. The energy that was flowing between the three of these guys… it was insane. I hadn’t seen or felt anything like it in years.

I mean just look at these guys. Don't they look like old friends?

I mean just look at these guys. Don’t they look like old friends?

I went back to wandering around and saw the things and did the things and had fun fun fun..

And then out of nowhere, Bing shows up and asks me if I want to intro a song for Rhythm Roots on Ditty TV. HOLY CRAP! after the fear of Oxtail in my teeth was dispelled, Bing filmed us and I was pretty dorky in a fun way. (I eventually filmed it from my living room while watching it on my TV but the sound quality isn’t great.. so turn your speakers way up and WITNESS MY DORKINESS! (SO FUN!)

And then..

It rained.

It rained a lot.

I got to find out just how not waterproof my raincoat no longer is.

I got wet.

Really wet.

The evening concert was moved inside but I stayed outside instead of heading into the barn to listen to the concert because at that point, it was too late. I was drenched.

And I totally didn’t care…. why?

Because this guy found me and we hung out and chatted and listened to the music.

Hanging out in the rain with Bing Futch

Hanging out in the rain with Bing Futch

And then I went home.. higher than a kite on all of the good vibes.