We're all feeling the pinch,  but man,  the price of gas is getting out of hand.  Where I live,  it went up 14 cents per gallon in 4 days,  and there's no indication it will slow down.   That makes it difficult for someone who needs to travel a lot for work.   I teach guitar lessons in the homes of my students.   The higher cost of gas means that I have to either raise my prices or make less money.    Unfortunately,  I'm sure my students' parents are feeling the pinch too,  so I walk a fine line between being able to continue doing what I love,  and pricing myself out of business.   Then there's the gigs.  As you can see from my upcoming gigs page,  I'm booked pretty far in advance.   I've set my price for playing when I'm booked,  so if prices rise dramatically between now and the time I've got to do the gig,  I've lost out.  

I usually try to keep this space on the topic of music,  but this is an issue that really affects our whole way of life.   It's time to tell your elected officials that we need to rebuild our capacity to produce energy at home.   Allow exploration and drilling for our own oil so we aren't beholden to foreign countries.  Allow new refineries to be built so we can increase supply,  thereby reducing prices.   I'm not saying we need to throw environmental concerns out the window.  But we need to look at the big picture of what will happen if our economy continues to head south.

 I know we've barely begun Spring,  but I'm already thinking about Summer.   That's because this year I've got a bunch of outdoor gigs.   I'll be playing at the Art at the Barn festival in South Bristol, The Dansville Town Park, The Geneseo Summer Festival, The Angelica Town Park, The Perry Farmer's Market,  The East Bloomfield Town Park (that one is with Connie Deming.  Bonus!),  Kinsey's in Honeoye a few times with W.B. Blues and with some other friends, a private party or two,  and of course,  I'll be on the deck at The Brown Hound Bistro a number of times.  

Playing outside presents it's own unique challenges,  but when the weather cooperates,  it's a lot of fun.   You can see all my upcoming gigs on the Upcoming Gigs page.

I got asked to sing at a funeral.  While I've never done that before,  I guess it's not all that unusual in and of itself.   The unusual part for me is that I was asked by the.......guest of honor,  shall we say.   She's not dead.   To the best of my knowledge,  she's not even sick.  Yet,  it wasn't just a passing remark that she wants me to sing at her funeral.  She is serious.   There's a specific song and she wants to make arrangements to have me there to sing it.

Above all,  I'm honored that she would think of me.   Beyond that,  I feel a little bit strange about it.   We all have our own feelings about death.  Personally,  I'd like to avoid it for a while.  Being asked in advance forced me into the future to a time when I'm sure I will be feeling pretty sad.   She is, afterall someone I know and like.  The song she wants isn't one that I'd otherwise perform as part of any of my shows,  but I guess I should learn it in advance,  and even sing it for her while she's still around to hear it.    

If you'd like me to sing for you,  it's much easier to hear me while you're alive (I presume).  Why not check out one of my shows.  There's a bunch listed on the upcoming gigs page.

I went to a concert last night.  Eric Bibb is a fantastic guitarist and singer.  If you ever get a chance to see him live,  I highly recommend him.    There were several songs when people felt compelled to clap their hands during the songs.  Now I'm not trying to diminish anyone's fun.   I'm always pleased when people are really enjoying good music,  but please people,  listen to when those around you are clapping.   All night,  some people would clap on the 2 and 4,  while others clapped on the 1 and 3.    The result sounded like constant applause during the song.   Eric would step out from behind the mike and stomp his foot on the 2 and 4 and try to give people the appropriate beat,  but God bless them, some folks just didn't get it.

I suppose if that's my biggest complaint,  then I saw a pretty good show.    I hope you continue to support live music.   Look at my gigs page for opportunities!

I got an email from an old friend yesterday.   She's bummed because a long term relationship has recently ended,  and it seems her career path is not what she had hoped for.   I could sympathize, having been through a breakup not too long ago, and always feeling like my career is on the precipice. 

    I offered some words of encouragement, as most people would.  Then it struck me how easy it seems to see the bright side of things when it's someone else's problem.  The bigger picture isn't always as clear when it's our own issues we have to deal with.   It was one of those little life lessons that sometimes smacks you in the face when you're least expecting it.

On a completely different topic:  I did my taxes today.    I firmly believe that if election day were April 16 and not in November,  the shape of our government would be altogether different.

The birds let me know that Spring is on the way.  I saw my first Robin of spring the other day.  Then just yesterday,  I noticed that the Heron who lives in the ponds in front of the Geneseo Wegmans was back.  It was a welcome sight.  We haven't had too many big snow storms this year,  but it seems like it has been a long winter. 

Spring always puts me in a good mood.  Getting out of the house isn't such a chore.  There's all this new growth around.  It seems like natures way of giving us a do over.   I can't wait until we get some consistently nice weather,  but for now,  I'm happy just to have a peek at what is to come.

I tend to play old songs.  There's a lot of great music from the 1930's and 40's that I don't hear a lot of other musicians around this area playing,  so I sort of have my own little niche within the music community around here.     The downside to that is that I have sort of neglected hearing what's out there that's new.   I can read a list of the top ten songs of the day, and if I'm familiar with one or two of them,  it's a surprise.    Part of that is that I'm just getting older and pop music has passed me by as it inevitably does everyone who leaves their teens and twenties and (gulp) their thirties behind them.   I'd also like to say that music isn't as good today as it used to be,  but that's just a sure sign that I'm old.

That's all a precurser to saying that I've been listening to,  and learning some new things.  I've even been dabbling in writing some original music.   Whether or not it ever sees the light of day remains to be seen,  but it has been a good exercise.  More to come.....