where is the singer?
an empty microphone on the stage
cords scattered like snakes in a sewer
amplifiers without any sound
resting on a chair
i contemplate the moment
devoted interest in what is beginning
or what has ended
is someone taking the stage?
nothing is happening over there
sound equipment just lying around
is this an in-between moment?
dark
dismal
dreary
the calm before the storm
or leftovers from a party?
is this a dream?
i’m staring at an empty stage
am i waiting for a show to begin?
or still lingering from the night before
hundreds of chairs forming aisles
am i supposed to put them away?
or did i set them up
and now i am just resting
or am i even supposed to be here?
cannot remember
trapped somewhere in time
in a dream perhaps
after all dreams take place
between yesterday and today
“in-between” time
the time it took for me to write this
captured the “in-between” moment
between the time i arrived
and me
getting ready
to stand up and just walk away
i am trying to connect
with the roots
of the Harlem Renaissance
hey Man
i was in church
the other day
staring at the cross
pondering its meaning
reminded me somehow
of Langston Hughes
a Negro who was
neither black nor white
he wrote some poetry
one of them called “cross”
white old man
black old mother
lived and wrote
in Harlem
hey man
have you heard
Bird
on a sax
jazz…oh so truly American
do you remember the weary blues?
i love those lines:
“Coming from a black man’s soul
In a deep song voice
with a melancholy tone.”
i’m talking to you
the Negro Spirit
i’m thinking about Langston Hughes
why?
what is a Negro?
is he the essential American?
out there always finding
solace
his meaning out there
on the streets of Harlem
abstract morality
you bind together
in the village
the bronx
Harlem
you have something
in common
a lot of you believe
in the same things
live and let live
you can be happy
without becoming a millionaire
maybe you feel
like you belong there
its the general feeling
a brotherhood
awakening race
consciousness
a cultural movement
rebirth
New York City
the center of change
accomplishments of the past
created a livelihood now
an interest
in Negro life
and power to the people
it must have been insane
a revolution of thoughts
you are the roots
of possibility
and i am inspired
I am melancholy right now. I have a friend that got angry with me. I threw her under the bus and embarrassed her. Then she got even more upset and denied me a gift and de-friended me on facebook. Life can really suck sometimes. But it is through music that my soul can be heard. My three nieces performed this song on Christmas Eve before my fight with my friend. They did an awesome job! It was stunning to watch them sing, play guitar and keyboard like that and do it with passion and pretty harmony. I enjoyed videotaping it. But now I am reminded of its profound meaning. The girls know what it is like to be human and have real pain and emotions that we tend to bury, hide and ignore. We all make mistakes. We all deserve a second chance. But we all must learn to forgive ourselves. We cannot let the sins and the black coins of our life fill up the jar of our minds and soul or else there will be no more room for love.
All I WANT IS TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN….MY NIECES SHOW ME THAT EVERY TIME I SEE THEM. THANK YOU!
These are the lyrics to the songs, “Demons,” from the band Imagine Dragons
When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale
I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Curtain’s call
Is the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl
So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you’ve made
Don’t wanna let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don’t wanna hide the truth
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
They say it’s what you make
I say it’s up to fate
It’s woven in my soul
I need to let you go
Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can’t escape this now
Unless you show me how
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Here is an acoustic version of the song which is heaven to my ears:
….and here are my awesome nieces; Amanda, Sydney and Sam. This is their version that prompted me to write this blog entry (a baby cries in the beginning):
Savages? Who are they? Four women from London, aka British chicks. They rule. I did blog about them not so long ago. I saw a great show two nights ago at the Metro Club in Chicago. This is a great venue. Basically its across from Wrigley Field on Clark Street. For me its sort of enemy territory because I am a White Sox fan and not a Cubs one, sorry. This street however extends for a couple of miles filled with bars and bars and bars. There are some restaurants and Tapas too. T Shirt shops and record shops, you know? Lots of college age appeal on Clark Street in Chicago’s north side near Lincoln Park. It’s a party community. Lovely I tell you.
Yet, I would have never imagined a band like Savages would be playing there. I only really discovered them about five months ago. I haven’t been…
Those are just some of the words to describe this 80’s style, indie post punk band from London. A female-foursome, nonetheless. I was honestly blown away the first time they blasted energetic and addictive raw hooks into my ears. I’m getting more goosebumps just talking about this band for the third time this year. Their debut album is entitled, “Silence Yourself.” The guitars, the bass, & those tight drums are all so clean, yet heavy. Explosively pulsating machines of focused rage! Everything is amplified by their wonderful production. A new wave of post punk; a do-it-yourself revival is coming your way!!!!
In this day and age of music, it’s not easy to find an original and valid band. These girls have done it! They made an anti-pop record. There are no “anthems” involved here. I honestly do think of other garage punk groups from the late 70′s when I listen closely. Groups like Joy Division and Siouxsie & the Banshees come to mind for sure. As lead singer of Savages, Jenny Beth’s voice compliments the instruments quite lovely. Their appearance is dark and mesmerizing. All of it is riveting, poisonous, exclusive and reckless.
This album rocks hard! It really does. This is my favorite record of the year. Why?
Well; first of all, they all actually know how to play their instruments each with a unique sound. Nothing is radio-friendly about them. Compared to their live shows, the album “Silence Yourself” is low-energy. I saw them at Metro Club in Chicago! Wow! Astonishing! I do not believe that these ladies are over-hyped. No. Not this time. They bring it!
The fusion of Jenny’s original sounding screams at the end of a perfect track, “She Will” with the wailing feedback makes me think to myself, “Damn that is genius.” Who does that anymore? I love the bravery and brilliant results of these tracks. At moments they can be be unsettling and dreamy. But still, my ears do the talking. They like what they hear. I find it difficult to avoid them. I keep playing them over and over and over again. Almost every day over this summer and for the past two months. I am nuts over them!
British chicks RULE!!! While tons of bands have all done similar things with their music as other groups have over the years, it’s the jaw-dropping and unique way that Savages recorded the sound on this album that makes the difference. This re-creates rock and roll history, for me. If it SOUNDS great then it is great!
It’s time to do a 180. That’s the title of a supreme British Punk Record for the year 2013. The album title is based on the studio in Lambeth, London where the band tends to perform. Palma Violets are a pretty radical group. They are the first of two British bands that made it to the top of my countdown! What does that tell you? I LOVE British bands! They just know how to do it for me. For the fans of bands like THE CLASH, look no further. So these guys are named after an old-fashioned British candy, apparently. The lads of this gigantically buzzed-about indie-rock four-piece from southeast London look like they blew their first paycheck on facials and cigarettes—so far. But Palma Violets have a great sound all of their own, even if it has been pieced together from their favorite records. But that’s ok. The band’s debut single, “Best of Friends,” featured an awesome and stylish organ, plus loud drum pounding and background shouting that recalls the Who or something that begs for a round of drinks and earplugs. Animal like noises blast at times. I even hear a bit of Syd’s Piper in it. No matter. The songs get their rugged physical strength and vocals from the likes of Nick Cave and surprisingly the deep and fantastic Joe Strummer. Give this video a view and a listen! Modern Rock to the MAX Baby!!!! It’s pure brilliance!
Who are we?
Where are we going?
I am someone who is distracted
Aren’t we all distracted?
Attention Deficit Disorder
is a modern day problem
But when it comes to music like this
None of it matters anymore
It’s one of Indie Rock’s finest moments
with a full spectrum of music influences
Rock
Reggae
Folk
Jazz
Pop
Punk meets Gary Glitter
Now I admit that I just wasn’t always a fan of Arcade Fire. Not sure why. I simply wasn’t feeling the grooves before this DOUBLE album came out in October. For two months straight I have been playing this record repeatedly. So many touching songs. There are numerous dancing moments that suddenly get shattered into a million disco pieces smothered by hardcore punk and then swallowed whole by Bob Marley’s spiritual side. It can be silly at times when this Canadian group speaks of Joan of Arc in a Doo Whop style. Boy its just all over the place. It never gets boring. There are live induced moments that seem reminiscent of old radio programs at times and then it just takes off into these cosmic space directions. In a strange way I am reminded of Pink Floyd’s The wall mixed with a jazzy disco groove.
Perhaps to say that there is a U2, Radiohead, Neil Young and Velvet Underground vibe all mixed up on this record would not do it justice. Because its a double album, one could say that this is their ultimate concept album like so many others have done before. But its fun to take risks and let it all go and see what the masses have to say. After all we only have one life to live. Embrace this video below…..of the song…Afterlife. You just might get BLOWN AWAY!!!
“The Bones of What You Believe” is such a fantastic album. It tortures me to have this one only in the fourth spot on my top twenty countdown. But I love this record so much! It’s crazy awesome 80’s synthpop! What a fine tribute to the MTV new wave generation. Remember groups like Depeche Mode and Human League? You can hear the influence all over the record. So, they are two guys and a girl from Scotland. Each of them have enormous talent and musicianship. Synthesizers, samplers, guitars and gorgeous vocals coming from an awesome girl named Lauren. Did you know she has a Law Degree and was a Journalism major? Her voice is rather pretty and makes you wanna dance or go for a long drive and absorb this grand life. It’s organic because it flows through you like “tickle fits!”
Chvrches is pronounced like Churches, by the way.
The two dudes, Ian and Martin, are quite focused on their musical instruments and occasionally provide some cool masculine vocals as well. Every song gives me chills. What an addictive sound! It draws you in. It’s got this gigantic POP ENERGY that rushes through you like sugar on a sunny day. I suppose this video below will give you a nice taste. But you’re gonna want to drink a gallon of this ocean wave of pure poppy, bubble gum and highly accessible delightful hurricane buzz juice.
So who the heck is this?
They are Scottish
Two brothers
Marcus and Matt
make
electronic music
Strange introduction
Like an old video game
Or championship anthem that
Kicks off the weary
And desolate noises of isolation
Yet there’s beauty all over this record
It’s been
8 years in the making
Codes precluded its release
Album cover image of a foggy L.A.
Life deteriorating in front of us
Life is like listening to a cassette tape
Over and over again
Until it crumbles
Or watching a VHS Tape
Repeatedly
When suddenly it breaks
It’s holding on to memories
And then recreating that sound
That feeling
That presence
Of a forgotten era
The song entitled, REACH FOR THE DEAD
(The track you are about to hear)
Is a beautiful display of release
My stepfather in law, Mark, passed away
Just after it’s release
This music got me through the grief
When I want to zone out
I listen to this…it heals my pain
It comforts my loneliness
Trent Reznor is a genius. Yet he comes from a small town in Pennsylvania and his parents got divorced when he was really young and he grew up with his grandparents. So he had a somewhat different upbringing. When he was only five years old, he started to play the piano and then down the road he started messing around with the saxophone and then he got really into computer generated music. Trent is a multi-instrumentalist and has a lot going on in his head. For him, the music he has created since 1988, its all about an escape. Escape from reality, a normal life and the celebrity world that he never really felt was kind to him. A lot of his lyrics deal with torture, submissiveness and being dominated. A sense of danger seemed to encompass the world of Nine Inch Nails, his industrial rock group. Reznor started producing soundtracks and really, he became this sort of “mood composer.”
In the studio, Trent lays down all of these digital tracks with guitars, drum loops, computer tricks and a techno vibe that definitely creates a dancing yet ambient sound of regret and pain. However dark you might think it sounds, his stuff is so catchy. He has a band but they only play live with him on stage. Otherwise, all of these noises on the albums pretty much just come from his creative mind and body. It has been his responsibility for the direction that this band followed over the years. He is aggressive yet he is passionate. Several albums over the years have defined his sound. Pretty Hate Machine with its “Head Like A Hole” anthem or The Downward Spiral’s infamous recordings at a house where Sharon Tate was murdered all seem to sum up the kinds of atmosphere associated with that of the Nine Inch Nails sound.
NIИ is the popular symbol, by the way. There is no true meaning as to the name or what it means. Only rumors have circulated over the years. So this album, Hesitation Marks, truly is a brand new music moment for me. I grew up in the high school and college years always listening to NIИ and wearing hats and shirts with that symbol. It was all about a gothic, grungy, indie and hipster kind of fashion era of my life. But with this new release, it is like Trent flipped everything in his life upside down on its back and emits the same noise but with the opposite feelings about his former drug and alcohol usage. He is married now with two children and he is sober. However those dark sounds and dismal lyrics are still present.
The “hesistation marks” title suggests that of someone who contemplated taking his own life but only leaving “cutting traces” as a reminder but never going through the actual deed of ending his life. He must live with the pain but use it as energy into a positive direction with a digital masterpiece of a record that does everything its supposed to do. It is a way to get all of these real emotions out there in a vulnerable sort of way without fear or remorse and just let it be. I have attached a new video with insane imagery and a layer of sounds that truly define him as an artist before (pre-dating today) and Trent’s music now as a homage to himself and to his fans that no mater what you go through in life that as long as you’re not compromising your true feelings then people will still love you, no matter what. Good job Mr Reznor. Thanks for staying with me for all of these years.
The Music Bard 