December 31, 2004
Take a deep breath. If you can see this, it may already be 2005. That means 2004 is behind us and we can move forward. This picture of an Indian woman weeping near the debris of her home describes what 2004 was like for me perfectly.
I cannot know her suffering, but I do understand.
The year 2004 for me will stand as one of valuable lessons, a year filled with closures and subsequent renewals, not to mention a year of financial devestation for most everyone I know.
I’m like many of you reading this. I struggled throughout the crises of the year, the roadblocks, the confusing messages, watching the war continue. I watched the job market fluctuate dramatically. I paid too much for gas. I fought with my family over red states vs. blue states. I felt the enormous struggle of independent artists. But I’ve decided it’s over.
And with that, I welcome you to 2005. May it be prosperous and blessed for each and every one of you. I know that sounds kinda cheesy, but I mean it. We all deserve a break.
Sphere: Related Content
I was about to fall off to sleep when I was drawn to finally watch this screener of Finding Neverland I had received. I had seen only scant reviews and tried my best to avoid reading much about it before viewing. Something inside me told me that it would be a spectacular film.
Running just 1 hour 40 minutes in length, it is perhaps one of the finest films I have ever had the chance to watch. Perhaps because I knew the story of Peter Pan and had even been in the play myself as a young man, I was drawn to know more about its creator, J.M. Barrie. The struggle of the writer to find their muse is something to which many of us can relate. Like yourself, I struggle with mine constantly. I often engage in childish things and adolescent behaviours in the hopes that I might be transported to the time when I saw the world with that kind of magic. I understand the need for hope expressed in the play itself and, now, I feel a broader kinship with the elements of the writer that were presented in the film. Nothing wonderful was ever achieved without two things: being able to cope with life’s unpredictability and having someone who believes in you.
The film works on so many levels — a coming of age story, a drama, a commentary on the society in which J.M. Barrie lived, and a reflection of the innocence every generation feels it has lost and tries desperately to regain. Johnny Depp will likely be nominated, if not win, the Best Actor award at the Oscars this year. The film has already been named Best Film by the National Board of Review. Normally, I am one who prefers to walk outside the boundaries of the adjudicated tastes of the masses; in this case, I see no reason to doubt the masses for the sake of being different.
I, too, have been captured by this film. As I wipe away the tears, joy mixed with happiness as always, it has given me a great many reasons to want to cherish the things in my life that I am so quick to run from.
I wish only that I had seen this film before the holidays. It might have given me reason to work a bit harder at enjoying them and the time spent with the ones I love the most.
Sphere: Related Content
December 30, 2004
Unfortunately, it seems, everyone is out of town right now. My friends are out of town, my new landlord is out of town, everyone is out of town except for me. I’m not sure exactly how that is supposed to work out, being that today is December 30th and I’m supposed to be out by the 1st of January.
Happy New Year, or so they say.
It’s at moments like these I just want to throw it all in storage and run screaming from this city with two changes of clothes and my guitar. It could happen, right?
In a move that still doesn’t make me enjoy their music, but gives me a new found respect for them as people, Linkin Park has set up an organization to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia called Music For Relief. They have funded it with an initial donation of $100,000 which will directly support American Red Cross.
This move is an unprecedented show of generosity by the band, who sold out enormous stadium shows in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia this past summer.
Okay, I’ve got stuff to do. You kids behave.
Elmore James - Got to Move comes from the album Rollin’ and Tumblin’
Sphere: Related Content
December 29, 2004
Click the title to hear Zero 7’s “Destiny”
With Scenestars on hiatus for the holidays, I had to write something dammit. I can’t help it, I had to, this music will not go away and leave me alone. So here it goes:
Sam Hardaker and Harry Binns were two lads from London who did it like producers should: they interned in the right places. Fortunately their mate, Nigel Godrich, was hard at work on some rubbish by this band called Radiohead and asked them to remix “Climbing Up The Walls”. Now, remixers don’t always know what they are remixing until they hear it some place, folks — as was the case when the lads heard their bits on BBC’s Radio One. Then was the time for Zero 7 to be born.
Along came the album, Simple Things in 2001 and, well…it is pretty much the most perfect downtempo recording I’ve ever heard. I’ve become like the rest of the world, missing the initial hoopla about them until I saw Garden State and realized how much I loved the one song. Then, listening to SomaFM’s Groove Salad, I caught this song and damn near fell out of my chair. Once I had the album, I can’t say I’ve really listened to anything quite this much since Christmas day. I can’t get them out of my head, I can’t. It’s that wonderful.
Sphere: Related Content
Many years ago, when I was lost and hopelessly confused about life, I discovered the television show Law & Order. Maybe because my father, Jay Fred, was an attorney, I became glued to the television set. I watched feverishly, and I never seemed to be able to get enough episodes. Detective Lenny Briscoe, the smart-talking, fast-moving detective machine played by Jerry Orbach was someone I could relate to. As infintely fascinating as any character in television of the last 30 years, I always looked forward to hearing what he might say next.
It turned out that I had been a Jerry Orbach fan for many years and never realized it. He was a great Broadway actor, had appeared in dozens of films I had seen and enjoyed, and was generally revered by the New York acting community as the quintissential actor’s actor. When I was in school at New York University, there was a select community of working actors that you would always hear about. None was more revered, apparently, than Jerry Orbach.
His contribution to the community of New York City, to acting, and to the lives of millions of television and film viewers will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, Jerry, and thanks for all the inspiration.
Sphere: Related Content
Oddly enough, I was sitting here pondering about what it would be like to be an aging rock and roller when I came across this really cool story about a group of old school rock and rollers keeping the dream alive.
Old school, E.J.? You mean like heshers? No, no, no. Old school as in they’re rocking the retirement home. Literally. Among the members of this band, who perform to standing room only crowds at nursing homes and hospitals around the are, is the younger brother of this cat named Bill Black. You might remember Bill, he played sessions with this fellah named…uh…hang on, baby, whass that guys name again?
Sphere: Related Content
So I’ve been in the process of trying to redesign this site so it’s more fun to look at. Every time I do, it just gets more and more plain. Am I getting old and crotchety or something?
I think the look reflects my state of mind. My mind is an empty canvas right now. I feel under a great deal of stress because I am having to move at a very awkward time of the year & I’m rushing to get something done that might take me a while. It seems that during this time of the year when I should be focusing on things like the holidays, I’ve been instead having to focus on the minutiae of my life. Between writing for Scenestars and working on my own music, addded to the enormous amount of stress associated with moving and it’s just plain bad news.
I try to look on the cheery side of things, sometimes to the extent that I am looking on them so much I forget about certain horrific realities. I want to see the world through rose colored glasses but I know that I can’t do that right now.
The Cherry Blossom is a symbol of hope and rebirth, of good tidings and good luck. I started this weblog under the impression that it would help me turn some sort of corner in my life — my writing, my music, my creative and personal affairs. I am holding out for hope that this much is true.
So now, if anyone out there wants to offer some helpful assistance with fixing glitches on my site, feel free to add your comments to this post and give me your suggestions.
Now I must bid you adieu. Sleep calls me, an abnormal response since I normally never sleep until 6am or so.
Sphere: Related Content
December 23, 2004
This is really exciting stuff. I can imagine many of you will be looking forward to the Christina Aguillera one.
December 21, 2004
Last night, I had occasion to go to The Flying Saucer with my friends Rachel, Patrik, and Mark. I can’t say that I had a great time, really, save for the company of my chums. I felt as if I were staring into a sea of date rapes gestating in the minds of overactive imaginations fueled by the world’s finest lagers.
Good thing I don’t drink, hm?
In any event, a gentleman (who will remain nameless, I don’t call everyone out you know) with whom I am acquainted arrived on the scene just as the night was winding down. We see each other out at the late-night stops in Memphis frequently and we always have a good laugh. However tonight, I was surprised to get an earful regarding the liquor store he runs and how pleased he is to have local police stopping by all the time. He unearthed a couple of excellent stories about situations that had occurred and how officers had managed to nab the suspects and/or scare the living daylights out of them with their mere presence at the store. As we were talking, he made it a point to let me know that “We take care of our boys on the force. We appreciate it when you guys stop by.“
Realizing that he had clearly confused me with someone else, I was about to interrupt the laughter and explain that a mistake had been made. Just about then, he handed me his card and said, “You know, most places will give you guys a customer discount. I like to give you guys my discount. So, if you ever need a good bottle of wine or something, come see me, man. I’ll take care of you.”
Thinking down my Christmas list, I quietly pocketed the card, thanked him, and said nothing more about it.
Hope the boys down at the two-seven don’t catch wind of this.
Sphere: Related Content
