Hola!

Well, I am off to Mexico - so...no blogging for a bit! Miss me!!!

I don't expect to be musically entertained while there...unless you consider those guys singing "Aye, Yeye, Yeah, Yeye" entertaining. Oh, or the loud dance music pumping out of every speaker in every cab and club! Well, it is worth it for the sun...and fun!

I am working on a new song, not the stuck song, that is shelved for the moment... a new, new song and I hate to leave it, even for a couple of days... For the new song I put the capo on the fifth fret - interesting... banjo inspired... speaking of which, I am communicating with a fiddler who has a mandolin player on board...could be interesting....

New gigs being penciled in daily, so be sure to check the calendar! Summer is shaping up nicely!

Okay - adios, hasta la vista y hasta luego!

Julita

If A Blog Falls in the Forest...

And no one is there to read it...

Bass lesson yesterday. Awesome time. Need to practice. I think I am getting it...

Got some new to me Iron & Wine today...great stuff.

Not gonna do any @)!(*(&*$@(# tomorrow...only practice...if only...

Frustrated musician typing...

Not your momma's blog

Since I am blogging from my mother's tonight (while we watch New Moon with my daughter) this blog is dedicated to my mom. A big thanks for my first musical influences; Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie...may I forever be scarred.

Though she may pretend to have no musical talent (she who plays violin, piano, etc), I remember her singing Judds tunes with me note for note, complex harmony by complex harmony.

Don't deny it Mom! Love and thanks! Your favorite (oh, and only) daughter.

Tattoo of the day

Here is a photo I took of my friend's new tattoo! It means: Woman, Conquer, Chaos...surely there is a song in there somewhere. We listened to her ipod playing Dead Weather while it was done. How cool is that? I, on the other hand, am not inked, yet again, out of time and still undecided. Such is life.

New Tunes

Okay - there is some great music coming out right now. Under Great White Northern Lights (White Stripes) just arrived and I can't wait to hear it! Drive By Truckers have a new CD out, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club...too many cool bands to list! Very exciting!

Hmm, now for my new music...I am stuck on a song...not writers block per se, but definitely stuck, but it doesn't feel like one of those I should let get away. So, every day I come back to it and there it is...

On a more positive note, I think the bass lessons are paying off! I think I will actually try playing bass with Val next practice, now that is very exciting indeed. Who says you can't teach an old dog!

I have a friend up from CA, so we are going to get our hair cut, maybe get some new tattoos...you know, girl stuff! I'll let you know what transpires!

Spring forward?

Time change - yuck!

Okay - awesome bass lesson today! Made actual progress - very cool. Had an extra bass lesson with Steve Newton at the Island Music Center tonight - also very cool. Thinking that perhaps someday this bass thing might work - hopefully by summer when all the gigs start occurring!

The new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is out - nabbed a copy off emusic. Sounds like good stuff. Also recently acquired the new Sean Hayes and Lhasa - will review soon.

Okay - I REALLY, REALLY need to go practice - too much talk, not enough walk!

Ack - Missed a Day!

Well, some blogger I am - missed a whole day! I am sure you noticed and were quite alarmed.

Yesterday I checked out acoustic electric bass guitars, trying to decide if that might be the way to go. They do put out a bit of sound if unplugged, but I am not sure if there is enough sound to be heard over/under an acoustic guitar and singing. I will have to have Valerie come with me next time to try it out :-). They necks are also wider, which, could potentially be a problem. Perhaps I will have to stick with an electric bass and not play bass if there is not amplification allowed at a venue. I asked about the Ovation Basses and the person working at that particular store was not fond of them - the bodies are extra large and bowled, making them strange to play. I will have to find one to try myself... He also didn't like the Ibanez arch-top f-holed basses, thought they sounded tinny...

Valerie played the Shamrock Dinner at the historic Masonic Temple in Poulsbo last night. I can't wait to hear how it went.

We have another gig booked - mark your calendars - July 3rd at the Kingston Farmer's Market. WooHoo! Sounds like fun!

Okay - I actually have to go take a shower now - I know, TMI

To Sing or Not To Sing...

Nope, that's never a question.

Just picked up some new music at the library - Bainbridge library has excellent taste in music. I only listen to them, of course, I do not pirate them... If I like them I can always buy them later on iTunes, or maybe even a record store... We musicians have to stick together...though the ways of the world are changing (with mp3s and streaming), we must stand strong...

Today :

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic vol. 1
Clem Snide - Hungry Bird (album art is PG13 - parents strongly cautioned!)
Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards

Can't wait to take a listen!

Okay - going to cram an hours worth of practice into five minutes before heading out to dinner!!!

Valerie Thursday!

Well the symphony yesterday was beautiful...though I am so glad I don't have a job where I have to be in a tuxedo by noon! It was my first time in the Benaroya Hall - what an amazing structure. Herding fifth graders through the streets of Seattle was, however, not so enjoyable...as one might imagine.

My topic for today (since it is Thursday, and Thursdays for the last couple of months have been the day we get together) is Valerie Markell.

Valerie Markell is a singer/songwriter/guitarist from Poulsbo, WA. Valerie has been performing in the area for around two years now, playing coffee shops, farmers markets, etc. She performs her original tunes and an eclectic mix of covers. How would I describe her style? Hmmm...not sure - I'm not very good at that! Let's just say she has a beautiful voice, plays her lovely Taylor guitar with precision and skill and her songs are catchy, haunting, melodic and just plain good! You will be humming them to yourself after the first listen.

We met on craigslist...cool, huh! We have been learning each other's songs and creating harmonies - great fun! We have chosen some covers to work on together...you will love our unique version of "Jolene". We played an open mic night at Tizley's Europub in February, the video is on my myspace and youtube, we had a blast to say the least. We are currently working up a full set list and our first confirmed gig is a Stephens House Concert (Bainbridge Island) on Saturday, June 12th. Hope to see you there!

Symphony Today

Well, I am headed over to the city (Seattle) with my daughter's fifth grade class to see the symphony perform Peter and the Wolf...twenty seven children on the streets of Seattle...I think I need more coffee first.

Helping my daughter experience Pat Benatar had the expected results, she said Pat has a great voice and that was it...perhaps the sound was a bit dated for her modern ears!

I have decided, since the blog has just begun, that I need to go back in time a bit and review some of what has been going on prior to its inception. This may require more than one post a day - so be it!

Off to the ferry - wish me luck!!!

A blog a day...

Helps keep the what away?

I realized yesterday that I had created a severe deficit in my daughter's musical education. We were discussing her vocal range (after a meeting with her singing coach) and she said she had a range like Mariah Carey. I said, or like Pat Benatar. She asked who Pat Benatar was???? Could this be true? Could it be in the last few years I haven't played any Pat Benatar in front of her? I have the Synchronistic Wandering box set on my iTouch...surely... Well, she will hear it today after school (whether she likes it or not)! I have been listening to it all morning...ah...Promises in the Dark... Actually Pat Benatar was my first concert...in Seattle at the Key Arena (I think...it was a long time ago)...ah, leather mini skirt and fishnet stockings...those were the days... I think I thought I was Pat Benatar for awhile...