"It was always summer and the future called"

Greetings, all! So- a rousing Democratic convention, complete with a HUGE rock show like ending! (I get the feeling that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were watching last night saying
" Must EVERYONE crib our stuff???") and now today, MORE big news with Sarah Palin's selection for McCain's VP. So any way you slice it, some history is gonna be made! Pretty cool times we're living in, huh?

At any rate, I've been working like a Trojan today trying to get my life caught up to where it needs to be. As I was in my office listening to some "you tube" (yes, I mainly just listen- like a big free jukebox!) I came across a few songs that gave me pause. Songs that in a sense, feel like the story of my life.

I was on a bit of a MEATLOAF jag (anyone who's known me for any length of time knows of my love for the big fella!) at first. Meatloaf is interesting, and it's no secret why I love him. He's big, bombastic, theatrical, etc...but really it's all Steinman's songs that make him what he is. Jim Steinman's songs are melodramatic (and a tad cliched from time to time)...they sort of hit you in the face like a big open wound, just daring you to look away. BUT- when he's on, the man is on. One song in particular, OBJECTS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR hits me very close to the bone.
Yes, it's a crappy title, and it has one of the goofiest choruses in creation, but in between is an incredibly theatrical and powerful tale, and one that I relate to all to well.
Watch for yourself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37GrbCUvZEM

It's also a damned fine little video, in a Michael Bay kinda way:)

Then, there's this gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcLA596zUwc&feature=related

Don't ask me exactly why, but this song is the story of my life... I think sometimes you don't choose art, it chooses you. Author Nick Hornby writing about Springsteen's THUNDER ROAD said, "It's a process something like falling in love. You don't necessarily choose the best person, or the wisest, or the most beautiful; there's something else going on." He goes on in this essay to talk of how different he is from the characters in the song, and yet the connection to the piece was so strong, he still felt it was still "about him".

Now of course these songs aren't "about" Nick and me, but that's the beauty of Art. It makes us feel a little less...alone in the world. That someone out there understands us...feels us...knows our pain, our struggles, our joy. It's a pretty cool thing if you ask me.

So it that vein, hit me with some songs that tell the "story of your life". And feel free to add the youtube link, if one exists.

"Heavy decibels are playing on my guitar..."

Well, the trip down memory lane was a good one! This weekend, Fletch, Dave, Patty and I dusted off the old INTENT CITY machine and played a set at the Boro for their 20th annual BOROSTOCK show.

It was rusty in places, and I blew my voice out after the third song and sounded like a cross between Tom Waits and Phil Anselmo for the later portion of the show, but I gotta tell you folks...we ROCKED THE F****N' HOUSE!!!!

Sure we were older, grayer and a step slower, but I was amazed at how easy it all came together. And, oh by the way, did I mention that we only had TWO HOURS of rehearsal? We got LOTS of comments about how people couldn't believe we hadn't played in 15 years and we only had that short amount of rehearsal time.

The crowd was good sized, loud and very appreciative (and quite understanding about my vocal woes.) My undergraduate Theatre mentor was there and she told me afterward that I sounded fine, but that if I was one of her students NOW and I ragged my voice out that way, she'd kick my ass! There were also lots of old faces from the past. My buddy Lonesome Cowboy Bill and his pal Mark (who was up from Birmingham), our friend Helen who drove in from Jackson just for the show, my old buddy Neal who used to play in a band with me in the mid 80's...and tons more! It was a beautiful experience. And you know what it taught me? That despite what the cynics say, sometimes you CAN go home again! (the coolest moment of the night was when Patty, the bass player who's the only one of us still actively gigging, leaned over to me after we started the first song and said "Welcome back!" What a great moment!) And that I really wanna do it again!!!! How will that manifest itself? Who knows. Maybe we'll get together every six months and play a show, or maybe we'll record some. Hell, if that doesn't work out maybe I'll find some folks around here who wanna play. But I really feel that it's something my life has been missing. And now that I no longer harbour any illusions of doing this as a full time occupation, the pressure's off and I can just have fun. (I'm thinking Rick probably gets this better than most!) Of course my plate is ridiculously full, and between work, kids and all that goes with it, I may never get the opportunity to play like that again, but I am truly grateful for the privilege to have shared the stage with these men one more time. It was, as they say...a gas, gas, gas!!!

So here's to the men of INTENT CITY. Hope to see you again down the road boys. And please, as Lars (the guitarist from LAUGHING STORM DOGS) said after our set "Don't wait 15 years to do this again!"

...cause then we'll REALLY be old!

2 million points for the song reference. And as soon as we get the youtube links active, I'll post those.

AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL!

"Backstage smoke is risin'..."

Well, the reunion is almost here and me and the fellas are stoked! It's gonna be a real, by the seat of our pants affair, as we're only gonna get to rehearse once before we play, but as Dave (our lead guitarist) says "What we lack in talent, we'll make up for with enthusiasm and volume!"
True that, big fella!

I'll be posting a post mortem of the show early next week, then it's on to Auditions and other such Theatre and work related activities, and the rock and roll lifestyle will be laid to rest once more. What's been coolest about this thus far is reconnecting with the guys. Fletch and I have stayed close over the years, but I haven't seen Dave and Patty since before I was married, so this will be a nice event all the way around. Adult time, with two kiddies, is at a premium anyhow, and time with old friends is almost non-existent, so this is a treat. The older I get, the more I start to value not only my old friends in Tennessee and Mississippi (and spread out all across the nation) but my newer friends here in the Bluegrass as well. If George Bailey's book inscription is correct, then I am a rich man indeed!


BTW- Take a gander at the new poll. AND- for those voting in the "other" category, give me a title in a post so we can see "where your head at!"

Peace out, and LET'S ROCK!!!

X

"Cause I'm on Fire..."

Dog Days!!!!

August is always a weird month for me, especially since I moved "north". As much as I come to despise the cold weather during the seemingly endless winter we have here in the Bluegrass, and as much as I pine for Summertime during those cold months, by early August, I'm usually over it and ready for the Fall cool down. When we were down on the coast, the coldest we got was about 2 weeks in February when the mercury MAYBE dipped to the low 40's. That's shorts weather around these parts! I'm also ready to get back to the ole' teaching grindstone. I've got a big year ahead of me, and I'm anxious to get the show on the road. (although, for a guy who was ""off " this Summer, I've spent a helluva lot of hours in my office advising and working. Perhaps I'm just anxious to start getting paid again for all my work! That'd be nice...)


So, lots going on. Got one baby that's about to start teething, another smack dab in the middle of potty training (and on that front, to quote John Denver "Some days are diamond, some days are stone...") who is also getting ready to start (gulp!) pre-school! God, is my boy that big already??? Damn, time flies!


But the BIG news for me is what's going down on August 16th in Tennessee! These four lads will be playing their FIRST live gig in over 15 years!!!!!




















Yes INTENT CITY is back!!! My old rock and roll outfit from my undergrad daze are gonna crank up and rock the house one more time! We have a gig Saturday night, Aug 16th at the Boro Bar and Grill in lovely Murfreesboro, TN (where it all began!) as part of their 20th anniversary BOROSTOCK concert. We'll also be playing with our good friends from back in the day, the LAUGHING STORM DOGS (get it?). The LSD's go on at 10 pm and we go on at 11. Cover is free that night, so if you're in the area, haul your ass on down for some loud, cantankerous rock and roll!!

Now if only I can still play AND sing at the same time!!! I'm really excited about doing this. Call it a midlife crisis if you will (better than a corvette and a 20 year old, right honey? :) but I can't wait to do this. To my lovely wife's credit, she has been very supportive of this endeavor, and kept the eye rolling to a minimum. She's a good one, that Mrs. X!

I'll give ya'll a full report whence we return, and PERHAPS...video???


In the meantime, if anyone can guess who wrote the above lyric, you get 3 zillion points! And here's the question Du jour...how are you gonna live out YOUR mid life crisis? (or, in the case of some of our readers...how DID you??? :)