Monthly Archives: March 2014

What makes a song live? What makes the listener care about the characters or about you, for that matter, if it’s written in the first person? Melody matters. Rhythm matters. But for me, lyrics are also crucial. Lots of contemporary songs are “mixed” in recording studios in such a way that the vocals are buriedContinue reading “Stones and Kisses”

Here is a baby harbor seal, sleeping happily at water’s edge. He or she is at home: plump on mother’s milk, which I believe is composed of 60% fat, rolling gently in the surf, basking in the California sun. This seal will never have issues about body image. It will grow up as is isContinue reading “Body Musings: the Unselfconscious Seal”

Occasionally, songs almost write themselves, and I am the secretary who types them out. Oops. That was politically incorrect, I think. Are there secretaries any more? In the 1970’s, all secretaries turned into administrative assistants. Maybe the “s” word is okay again. This was around the same time that “garbage men” turned into sanitation specialists.Continue reading “Sometimes a Cabbage Turns into a Meatloaf”

This evening, Stan and I went to hear a passle of gifted musicians play at the Old Towne Pickin’ Parlor in Arvada. Jon Chandler hosts a monthly show called America’s Soul Live! that features regular players, and then he seasons the mix with visiting musicians. Tonight was the tenth anniversary of this ongoing event. DakotaContinue reading “Harmony Isn’t Just About Notes”

In the fall of 2012, I went on a one week retreat, alone, to the Nada Catholic Hermitage. There was no program to follow, no company for me, and no plan. Is this a suicidal plan for an active extrovert? No, I simply wanted to find out 1) could I stand my own company, undistracted,Continue reading “Solo Retreat, Fall 2012”

.”   Blog, schmog, twitter, shmitter, whatever. This blog is my first real attempt to deal with technology, other than my halting use of Facebook and my limited comprehension of my iPhone.  Why am I doing this? Because I love to write music and share it. Because I have a racing mind, lots to say,Continue reading “Blog, Schmog, Twitter, Schmitter”