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Deep Thoughts and Pointless Ramblings
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Stage Fright.....and affirmation
Every Sunday night in the summer,  there is a free concert at Vitale Park on Conesus Lake.  It's practically in my back yard.   They get some local acts,  but they also get some larger, regional acts to play.   The concerts run from 6PM to 8 PM.   There are usually hundreds of people,  maybe even thousands on a nice night including those who listen from their boats.   It's a great way to end the weekend.  
     I've always had this thing about not wanting to perform in my home town.   I've been asked before,  and I usually make up some excuse.  I guess I feel like if I play in front of people I don't know and they don't like me,  I don't have to see them again,  but if I play in front of family, friends, and neighbors and they don't like it,  I still have to live here.   Irrational,  I know,  but I think most performers have some insecurity,  and that happens to be mine.
     This past Sunday,  about 5:15 PM,  I got a call from the town supervisor.  The band they had booked broke down in Pennsylvania and wasn't going to make it.  There were a lot of people already at the park,  and they were in a real bind.   Was I available?   I hemmed and hawed for a minute,  then said I'd do it.   I promptly went into panic mode.   How could I do this whole show alone on such short notice?  I needed some support.  I tried calling the boys from W.B. Blues,  but Ross was out of town and Tim had been playing another gig all day.   Pete Collin had been working all day,  and just wasn't up to it.  I tried my old friend Bill Brown.  He said he would,  but he didn't think he could get there in time.  I even tried a few of the guys from the Son House Blues club at Beale Street.  No answer from anyone.   I was on my own.
     I got there,  and after an announcement from the supervisor that the band they all thought they were going to see wasn't coming,  he introduced me.  There I stood in front of the microphone with my guitar.  No set list,  no preparation, and no idea what the people wanted to hear.  I started with a Keb' Mo' song that I've played thousands of times.  I can play it in my sleep,  which is a good thing since I was on autopilot at that moment,  just trying to control my nerves.  That went ok.   The next song was well received,  and I started to loosen up.   I played some old standards which the older people seemed to like,  and some blues that appealed to the younger crowd.  By the end of the show,  I was feeling pretty good.  I was hearing some people actually whistling and cheering my name.  When I said goodnight,  there were calls for an encore.  For as nervous as I was,  I have to say that it was one of my best moments as a musician.  And it happened in my own home town.

Posted by westguitar at 10:13 AM EDT
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Monday, 18 August 2008
Working for a Living
 I am a fortunate man.  For the most part,  I am able to support myself doing what I love.  I'm not getting rich,  and I have no delusions that I'll ever be famous,  but between performing and giving lessons,  I'm able to get the bills paid.
Every now and then,  I must admit it feels like work.   After my gig on Saturday,  I will have played 9 gigs in 11 days.   That's a lot of singing.   My voice is starting to feel it a little.   I need to be extra diligent about making sure I warm up properly and take care not to strain too much.
This week,  I've been painting for my sister.  While I don't mind the work, I can't exactly say I'm enjoying it.  It feels like a job.   I can tell you that it is a nice reminder that making your living by doing something you love is a great way to live. 

Posted by westguitar at 8:59 AM EDT
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Friday, 8 August 2008
Pure Musical Joy
My friend Deborah Herbert is in town.  She comes to visit family and friends about once a year from Denmark, where she currently lives.  Over the years, I've been lucky enough to have her trust me to get a gig or two and find some backup musicians so she can put on a show while she's home.   This year, we're going to be playing at The Big Tree Inn on Main Street,  Geneseo on Saturday, July 26,  and again on Thursday July 31. 
Deb is just a wonderful singer.  I dare you to watch her perform and not leave with a huge smile on your face.   You just can't do it.
This year,  Gary Holt will be playing bass,  Dave Sharman will be on guitar,  Andrew Lawton will be on drums,  and I'm going to doing my best to keep up on guitar and harmonicas and maybe a vocal or two.  I'm not too proud to say that I'm the weak link, musically speaking.   If you know what to look for,  you'll probably see a Milli Vanilli moment or two from me.  It's just a privledge to be on the stage with these fine musicians.
Here's a link to Deb's myspace page where you can listen to a sample of her.  http://www.myspace.com

Posted by westguitar at 7:33 AM EDT
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Saturday, 26 July 2008
Some Random Thoughts
There's a lot of things that I've been wanting to write about,  but haven't put anything into a cohesive thought patter,  so I'm going to just ramble here....
  • Everyone who works at the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester should get a direct pass to Heaven when they die.  In dealing with them recently, I could not have been more impressed with how caring and supportive everyone is.
  • How come when you're running late,  there always seems to be someone on the road in front of you driving just 2 mph under the speed limit?
  • Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me,"  while a beautiful song, is the most agonizing thing in the world to listen to if you're anywhere close to the end of a relationship.  Doesn't matter which side of it you're on.
  • People who stop in a busy doorway to have a conversation (at Wegmans, for example)  should be given a mild electric shock to keep them moving.
  • Smell is a powerful memory trigger.  I got a whiff of someone wearing the same perfume a former girlfriend wears,  and it brought back all kinds of memories.  Kind of a strange feeling.
  • My friend Deborah Herbert is in town for a couple of weeks.  I've lined up some great musicians,  and we'll be doing a couple of gigs.   You don't want to miss them.  Stay tuned for details.
  • I attended a wedding recently.   I like being comfortable,  but every now and then it's nice to see a crowd of people dressed up and looking pretty.
  • I believe if they didn't allow political candidates to declare which party they belong to,  we'd have a much more informed electorate.
  • We're all too busy.  Every weekend throughout the summer, there are at least four events going on.  Festivals, fairs, concerts, parties, etc.  It's nuts.

Well,  I could go on like this forever,  but I suppose I ought to wrap it up.  I'll have something more cogent soon.   In the meantime,  keep supporting live, local music.

Posted by westguitar at 12:07 PM EDT
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Saturday, 19 July 2008
the band
It started simply enough.   I mentioned to Tim Brinduse that I'd love to have a band that played acoustic blues.   I wanted to do Delta Blues.  Real down home stuff.  He was in.   We recruited a bass player to play upright bass,  and got ourselves a gig.   Then the bass player dropped out.   I knew Ross Bracco as a very talented guitar player,  but I knew he could probably handle some simple bass lines.   We did that first gig at the Canaseraga Hardware and Coffee Company in March 2005 under the vague name of the sw blues band.   That was mostly because I had told Al we had a band,  but no name.   We later tossed around a few names,  and decided we'd just use our initials.  WBB Blues was too much "B" sound.   BBW,  it was learned is an abbreviation in the personal ads for fat women.   We thought the crowd might be disappointed when they saw us under that name.   We settled on WB Blues.    We set out on our musical journey as a trio.
Ross decided to buy himself an upright bass and learn how to play it - very well, I might add.   We modified our original dedication to strictly Delta Blues to include some other types of blues,  including our own arrangements of some not so traditional blues songs,  while remaining true to the acoustic sound we started with.
Three years later,  after a lot of rehearsals,  some great gigs,  a few nights of playing to empty seats,  a disagreement or two here and there, and a lot of fun later,   W.B. Blues is changing directions.   That is to say,  we're taking a break.   We haven't really said we're breaking up.  One never knows what the future may have in store,  but our respective lives and careers have gotten busier and it's more difficult for us to do the band the way it deserves to be done.   We don't want to half-ass it.
This week there are a few more chances to see us before we put the act on ice for a while.   I hope you can make it out to give us one more listen.   I know I speak for Ross and Tim when I say we genuinely appreciate all of the kind support that we've received.   To be sure,  you will see us out playing in one form or another.   I continue to do my solo performances,   Tim can be found sitting in with one band or another all the time,  and while Ross will soon be sporting a ball and chain,  his betrothed is quite a music fan,  so I'm sure you'll see him out and about,  guitar in hand.
Thanks so much for giving us the chance to do what we love.

Posted by westguitar at 12:18 PM EDT
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Monday, 7 July 2008
Independence
As we celebrate our nations 232nd birthday,  I want to take a moment to thank God that I was born in the United States.  I have lived overseas and spent time in countries where the citizens are not afforded the same freedoms and opportunities that we have.  What makes our country great is not that the government takes care of us,  but rather that we are afforded the chance to take care of ourselves.   We are not told where to work or when to work or what work we must do.   We can vote for the candidates we like,  we can speak out against those we do not like.   It's easy to take that for granted or not really appreciate how important that is.   When you've seen it from the other side,  you begin to realize just what makes the USA special.  

Posted by westguitar at 3:43 PM EDT
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Thursday, 3 July 2008
Local Music
I send out an email about once a week telling people about the upcoming gigs I have.  You can sign up for it below if you like.   Usually, toward the end of the email I say "Remember to support local music,  or it might just go away."    I got reminded this week just how true that is.  A place that I was scheduled to play several times this summer called and cancelled the gigs.  In fact,  they were closing the business.
I can't tell you why one place succeeds and another fails.  I've seen owners who work their butts off fail,  and others succeed despite their ineptitude.
As a musician,  I hate to see anyplace that has supported live music go down.  Over the years,  I've seen a number of great places close their doors.   Sooner or later somebody else will give it a try.  Some win,  some lose.   I'd like to encourage you,  gentle reader,  to give them a fair shot.   Support the businesses who support local musicians.    Yeah,  I'm being self-serving in saying that,  but in the larger sense,  we all benefit from having an outlet or two for creativity in the private sector.

Posted by westguitar at 9:16 AM EDT
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Thursday, 19 June 2008
And the livin' is easy.....
Although Summer is still technically a few weeks away,  the season has begun.   The outdoor music season,  that is.   Festivals,  gigs out on the deck,  summer concerts in the park.   I've got a bunch of them,  and I am really looking forward to them.    There are challenges to sounding good outside,  but if Mother Nature is cooperating,  there's nothing better.
This weekend is a new event for me.  The Art at the Barn Festival at the South Bristol Cultural Center.  Check it out at www.southbristolculturalcenter.org 
With gas prices going through the roof,  everyone is feeling the pinch.  This summer,  instead of a huge trip somewhere,  why not decide to support the local festivals and events that our very own region offers.

Posted by westguitar at 11:55 PM EDT
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008
always remember
Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day in the United States.  It is a day we honor the men and women of our military who have died in the line of duty.   There will be parades and speeches,  and then back yard barbecues and picnics.  Too many view it as a day off of work, or an excuse to go shopping.   This year, too many more will view it as a chance to make political hay on the backs of those who have lost their lives in the service of our country.  Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of this.   I'd ask you to take a moment and really consider why our service men and women are heroes.
In my opinion,  they are heroes simply because they put on the uniform.  Like so many before them,  they heard the call.  Protecting freedom doesn't necessarily mean they go to war for our country.  It means they have stepped up at some point and said,  "If it needs to be done,  I'll do it."    The necessity of any individual death will always be debatable,  but it can be agreed that it is always tragic.   The fact that there are men and women who volunteer for a job that at any time could put them in peril is truly amazing
Those who have lost their lives serving in the military deserve more than one day of remembrance,  but since we have only one official day,  take some time to really think about what they have given.  Try to remove yourself from the politics and your feelings about war,  and really consider on an indiviual level what it takes for a person to step up and say,  "I'll do it."   That,  my friends, is a hero.
God Bless our servicemen and women.  

Posted by westguitar at 7:50 AM EDT
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Thursday, 24 April 2008
It's Getting Tough

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.

Posted by westguitar at 10:53 AM EDT
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