rant
I hate it when reviewers act like a record by an established artist is some huge departure for them, then you listen to the goddamn record and you knew they were headed in this direction anyway... I dunno, it seems as if reviewers should listen as hard as a musician would to a bands progression before writing something so dumb. listen to the last 2 belle and sebastian proper releases (dear catastrophe and the books single) and tell me that the life pursuit wasn't a logical record. idiots.

got a new car with my woman a couple of weeks ago, and I don't care if people think I'm gay because its a cabrio. I love it. it speaks to my sense of freedom and economy. moving in a few days to the "L-Dub". I think JR said it best when he said, "let the songwriting begin"

so I was just about in the middle of the book "a million little pieces" by James Frey (pick it up, even though it has an oprah sticker on it... it's amazing) and I hear about the Smoking Gun basically handing this guy a reason to go back to drugs. They claim he made up a lot of his story, which I can see might be the case. but what I don't understand is WHY they are doing it? who really cares if its 20% or 100% true? are we so cynical that we can't take a piece of art for what its worth anymore? we have to destroy people for fabricating parts of their own history? you'd think the smoking gun would weigh its obviously astute and powerful detective skills on something that matters, like taking down the former drug addict in office in the white house... but noooooo... we have to take down a guy who has turned his life around, is hurting no one, and in fact is probably helping more people than any of us could have ever dreamed. Simply by writing about his experiences and making them dramatic and romantic, even though he is dealing with the most harsh and depraved aspects of our being humans... I don't understand tearing him down, and those people are making me sick.

I RANT, THEREFORE I AM...

I don't really care about this, but a certain local label with a certain local band on it recently sent me a street team invitation on myspace and I'm wondering to myself what the FUCK these people are thinking?
I mean, I support music locally as much as the next guy, but I don't support shitty bands with assholes for singers... but then again most of my friends still support them, so it could just be that I'm being emo... guess I should start ripping off reggae.

New Song: "A Pirate's Life for Me"

the docks ring out with the hollow sounds of ships all set to sail
the deck hands thinking of their girls and of their next pint of ale
the captains are telling cruel jokes about the pirates and their wives
about the wooden legs on lonely nights that keep them satisfied

a jolly roger flies through a moonlit night on a dark and empty sea
as gentle waves lap at the sides of the dreaded Anne Marie
the only other sound is of the drunken singing coming from below
the decks are swabbed, the lamps are dim, and the plank is overboard

singing, "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum"
how they drink it down, until it's all emptied out
cork it with a message, and send it out to sea
"it's a pirates life for me"

the captain rises with the sun and sets his pot to boil
his tea leaves brew with honeycomb, he combs his hair with oil
his first mate enters with the news of pirates come aboard
he reaches for his musket, powder, pellets and a sword

the morning starts with bloodshed and the evening ends the same
the captain, crew and deck hands too, have already been slain
their ship is sinking down much like a stone into a well
that echoes from below much like a ghost ringing a bell

singing, "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum"
how they drink it down, until it's all emptied out
cork it with a message, and send it out to sea
"it's a pirates life for me"

random thoughts...

* how creepy is tom hanks in the Ladykillers?
* i randomly ran chris whitley's "living with the law" into nick drake's "pink moon" the other night. I didn't expect it, it just happened as a happy mistake...
* getting a headcold sucks major ass when you're singing for a living. I'm just saying.
* the only good part of trail mix is the m&m's. I got some that I'm trying to eat now that has Reese's Pieces in it. Divine.

I stepped out of a retro-fitted, vegetable oil-burning, 52 mpg, VW Jetta, into the cold night air of NYC's "meat packing" district. I stepped out and thought, 'Well, this could be really great or it could suck, but either way I'm gonna be in NYC for the night'. To those already initiated to that feeling, I don't have to go any further with analogies or hyperbole. Surely.

But to those who have never been to The City on a cold night and bar hopped with friends, you're simply missing out on some of the most momentous and hilarious things life has to offer. I mean, I actually started my HAIR ON FIRE at one point that night!

Anyway. So I was with my friend Jake who had bought tickets a couple weeks beforehand to see the semi-legendary Evan Dando once again lead his Lemonheads into the pop music fray... I couldn't be more excited. I'd never see the band live for some reason or another, but I blame it on my marriage at the time to Adolf-mf-Hitler Jr. Soooo... I was stoked.

Before hitting the Bowery Ballroom, we stopped at a local bar and ordered a beer (for me) and a fruity cocktail (for jake). I scanned the night life and found that we were in the presence of the actor Luke Wilson, and the Jackass, Johnny Knoxville. They were drunk. It was fun. Oh wait, quick break, as I type this I'm watching Anchorman, and the "I'm in a glass case of emooootion!" just came on... classic.

So back to the show. We entered 'the ballroom' on time to see Cat Martino, who was just awesome. Very low-key folk music and a gorgeous voice. Ms Martino was backed by a sparse band consisting of a cellist who looked related to her, as well as a guitar player and a multi-instrumentalist who was hitting a wooden box for a bass drum and some other stuff I forget as I was a little drunk. Next came the United States 3, who were a power pop delight... I don't remember much other than thinking that I wish they'd get done after about 3 songs. They weren't great. Delightful? Yes!

Next the Lemonheads took the stage, Evan with an SG in hand and looking like he hadn't aged a year. These guys rocked rocked rocked! They played just about everything I wanted to hear, and a few new ones from (wait for it!) a NEW RECORD!!! YEAAAAAH!!!

I don't remember leaving that place, but I'm sure it was awesome. I know they did an encore of "Style" which was awesome. And I just remembered, that they did "My Imaginary Friend" somewhere near the beginning. Go see them if they play near you anytime soon. They are the bomb live.

Note to self:
Don't smoke pot after drinking all night long... I always end up puking after the first hit. And I don't even like pot, I think I was just too drunk to think straight. Anyhooo...

So yeah, I'm in connecticut and its frrrrrreezing. I mean, -7 at night?! This blows... good to see family and friends, but snow and ice is for the birds. well, not exactly, 'cause the smart ones migrate to where I'm supposed to be. HOME.

I was in a cool irish pub called the Half Door when this guy asked where I was from... I told him from CT but I live in Florida. He goes "Just like Chris Carrabba from Dashboard Confessional!" to which I agreed with "yeah, only I'm not a millionaire" and we both laughed.

Almost done reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. It's a wonderful book, anyone interested in travel, survival, and religion should read it. One of the main characters is a 450lb Bengal tiger by the name of Richard Parker. It's less weird as it sounds... I promise.

I'm BACK in the saddle again...

I'd bookmark this site if I were all of you, 'cause it's a lot to type out the whole name. Summerblanketmusic.blogspot.com?

(what was I thinking?)

So a lot of things are going on... a lot of shows have been played... a lot more to come. Hope is restored that I can still write songs that mean something to me even while I'm happy in my life... so, expect a new record sometime next year.