There are plenty of things I wish were different.  I have wants and desires just like everyone else.  However, a bit of reflection during this holiday reminds me that the really important things in life are just fine.  I am thankful.

Here's hoping that you have every reason to give thanks on Thanksgiving.

Every so often, I send out an email letting people know what I'm up to.  (You can sign up for the list below.)    At the end of the email,  I usually say something like "Support Live, Local music,  or it just might go away."

That statement can mean a couple of things.   One might take it to mean the musicians will stop performing.   That's certainly a real a valid interpretation,  but musicians have been struggling to make it since Oog the Caveman first clunked two rocks together and liked the sound.   

The real endangered species is the music venue itself.  I've been around long enough to see a few favorites come and go.  Canaseraga Hardware & Coffee, Paradigm Cafe, Chocolate Bar, Daily Perks  just to name a few.  Some rise from the ashes as something new, and some just fade away to memories.  They each had their own reasons for closing.  Some were financial,  some had other reasons.  Whatever the reason a venue owner has for closing is their own business.   However,  as a musician,  it makes me sad that there's one less place to play.

Recently,  my friend Georgene announced that Lunahsea Cafe' in Geneseo will be closing at the end of the year.  Again, she her reasons are her own business.   But before she closes the doors,  we're going to bring some great music to the joint.   I used to host a fun open mic there,  and we're going to do one more to send the place off in style.   It's nice to be able to say goodbye. 

Time is a funny thing.  I've played gigs before where it seems like I've barely gotten my guitar out of the case and it's time to pack up.   I've also played gigs that seemed liked they would never end.     I think a lot of that perception has to do with how the audience is reacting to the music.    

I've been thinking a lot about time lately.   In about a week,  I turn 40.  (November 2nd,  in case you're going to go shopping.)    It sort of snuck up on me.   It seems like I was just turning 30,  and now a whole decade is gone.    If you had told me ten years ago that I'd be making my living as a musician,  I don't think I would have believed you.   My goals and dreams were a bit different then.   In another ten years,  I may very well be amazed that I'm doing something completely different than I am now.    Whatever the future holds,  I hope it's a fun ride.

Did you ever see anyone perform who felt they had to introduce every single song they do?   Sometimes,  the introduction is longer than the song itself.  I can't really complain too much about this because there have been times that I've been guilty of it myself.   It does make me think though.   Is the song really communicating the message you want it to if you have to explain it for five minutes before you play it?   I actually like hearing what the inspiration for a song is most of the time,  but I can't stand it when a performer tells you a long story about what inspired the song,  then the song says the exact same thing as the story the performer just told.   

I think that if the audience is left to their own interpretation of what a song means, the chances are better that  they will connect with it more strongly than if the performer spoon feeds them everything.

I've always been impressed with people who write songs easily.   I find it to be a difficult exercise.    I'm pretty good with melodies or coming up with interesting arrangements to other songs,  but lyrics have always given me trouble.

I think it's partially because songs tend to be so personal.   I'm sort of shy by nature,  and it's hard to overcome the anxiety of letting people see into your soul through your songs when you're shy.

Some recent events in my life have brought out some song ideas that were burried somewhere deep in my mind.   Whether or not the songs ever see the light of day remains to be seen,  but I'm at least working on them.

Have you ever been listening to the radio when a song comes on that takes you back to a place or time in your life that you wouldn't have thought about if not for that song?     Songs can do that.   The associative properties they have are powerful.

"If You Leave Me Now"  by Chicago always makes me think of the roller skating parties they'd have at the school when I was in 5th or 6th grade.   For some reason,  they always played that one when it was a couples skate.   "Purple Rain", by Prince takes me back to high school in an instant.     Then of course,  there are the songs that remind me of "her."    "Her"  is different for each song.  Sometimes the memories are wonderful,  sometimes they're painful.   You probably have a "her"  or maybe a "him"  that you think of when that special song pops up on the radio.

As a musician,  I find that certain songs become difficult to perform if I've associated them with someone too strongly.   I get to thinking about things other than the performance,  and I mess up.   Occasionally I even take them off my set list altogether for a while.   Other times,  doing that special song is just what I need to get me inspired.

Here's to hoping that when that one song comes on the radio,  the memories it brings to mind are pleasant ones.

John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."

In the last week or two,  life has thrown me an unexpected curve ball or two,  and frankly I haven't done much of what I thought I'd be doing.    My music studio and my schedule have basically taken a back seat.      Hopefully,  that will be changing very soon.    I've got a few gigs coming up that will get me back on track,  and I expect to get working on my studio soon too.     I hope you'll join me for some music somewhere along the line. 

It's been a great summer.   Technically it's not over just yet,  but I think the spirit of summer pretty much ends when school starts up again.   I think I will remember the summer of 2007 as one of my best in quite a while.  

One can only hope that when Autumn is over,  I'll be saying something similar.

It was a sunny Tuesday morning.   Right around the time I'm writing this, as a matter of fact.   My mom called me and told me to turn on the TV.    A plane had hit the World Trade Center.    I turned on the TV just seconds before the second plane hit.    I remember thinking how horrible,  but it didn't quite sink in yet what was happening.   I started to go on with my day.   I had things to get done.

A little later,  I was at the hardware store,  and the lady there said that another plane had crashed in Pennsyvania,  and one at the Pentagon.    That's when I realized what was going on.   The rest of the day was spent in front of the TV.  As the towers started to come down,  our minds raced through anyone we might know in New York.   My oldest sister quite often worked in Manhattan,  and it took us a while to reach her.   Thankfully,  she was not in the city that day.

In the next day or two,  you were hard pressed to find a house that wasn't flying the American Flag.  Democrats and Republicans joined hands on the capital steps and sang "God Bless America"   There was a sense that it didn't matter what your political beliefs are, what color you are, or what part of the country you come from.   We were attacked.   It was time to stand up.

God bless those who died in the attack.  God bless those heroes who lost their lives trying to save others.  God bless those who have since served and lost their lives lives trying to fight those who would do us harm.   God bless America.