So as we all know, George Carlin died yesterday. George was a hero of mine. No, he is a hero of mine. From roughly 1992-2000 I was a semi-professional stand up comic. I did a lot of local shows and did a fair amount of road gigs as well. Carlin was probably my biggest influence in my writing and delivery. So all you bastards who said I was too wordy-blame him!
I believe I first discovered Carlin in my early teens on an HBO special, either "Carlin At Carnegie" or "Carlin On Campus", I can't remember. Apart from being amazingly funny, I was immediately struck with how smart his material was. Yes, it was dirty (a prerequisite for comedy in your teens), but it also was highly observational, confrontational and still goofy. From then on, any chance I had I rented the videotapes and listened to the records. They all made me laugh, and they made me think. In many ways, I was getting an education.
George taught me some important lessons. He taught me the power of words. If you have something to say, and a clever way of saying it, people will listen to you. It's just a matter of finding the most effective and eloquent way to say it-and profanity is okay as long as you use it properly and with purpose. The seven dirty words bit isn't just about cussing-it's about deconstructing language and the effect it can have on others. Weigh your words carefully, use them wisely, and make no apologies.
The other big lesson I got from George (I think he'd be okay with the first name thing) was a healthy mistrust of authority. The more I think about it, he probably did more to shape my attitudes about society than most of the rock bands I've listened to. Musicians like to scream about an unfair society and questioning authority, but George analyzed it, laid bare the hypocrisy, and ridiculed all of it. His was the voice I needed, and he always delivered.
During the later years of his career his attitude changed, as often happens in any art form. However, George didn't sell out or get soft-he got more hardcore. I have nothing but respect for this. His social commentary began to take over the comedy in the 90's and in the past few years it all but eclipsed it. Sure, it wasn't as funny but when I laughed I still laughed hard. George was honest and raw, and that can be uncomfortable to watch. For better or worse, he stuck to his guns and I love him for it.
A few years ago I got to see him perform. He was trying out new material for his next HBO special, ironically titled "Life Is Worth Losing". The show was hit and miss, but all George. Interestingly enough, the show I saw was much funnier than the special turned out to be, but that's how art works sometimes. In any case, I'm glad I was able to go.
I actually had a chance to see him around 1997 or so. Ralph Tetta, a fellow stand up, came in to do a set at Comedy Etc., my home club. Ralph was working for George at the time as an assistant. I remember him telling us stories about his travels with George over a late night Denny's breakfast (a staple of every comic's diet) and inviting the three or four of us who were there to come see the show the next day. It was a Sunday show in Columbia Missouri a few hours from St. Louis. Of course, none of us took him up on it and we all kicked ourselves for miss sing the opportunity to meet an icon. Someday I'll do a blog on all those missed chances and it'll be long too.
I will always love George Carlin. I'll always need to hear him talk about needing a place for his stuff, people he can do without, why he worships the sun, dirty words, dogs and cats, and close with the perfect cheer. In tribute to his passing, I'll be putting up the "Carlin Quote Of The Week" in each blog I do for a while (and they'll actually be his quotes, unlike some sites on the net!). As the first quote, I've chosen some helpful advice:
"We're all fucked. It helps to remember that."
I literally couldn't have said it better. Rest In Peace George.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Where's My Cake, Bedelia?
Ten points if you got that reference.
Yesterday was my first Father's Day. I suppose I started the celebration early by going to see Willie Nelson on Saturday night, kind of a Father's Day present for myself. Okay, so I didn't really know that it was the night before Father's Day when I got the tickets but it worked out anyway. The concert was great, as expected. He and his band Family played plenty of hits, snuck in a few surprises and a handfull of new stuff as well. I had a good time, and between my brother and I we made a nice dent in the merch table (he even bought me a shirt in honor of my first Father's Day).
I mention this for two reasons. One, to brag about being there. The second reason is because I bought a semi-wooden-ish souvenir toy guitar decorated with Willie Nelson art. I bought the guitar for two reasons. One, because it'll look cool in my media room. The second reason is so I can share it with my daughter when she gets older.
Unsurprisingly, I want to share my love of music with Tessa. Not that I expect her to be a music geek like me, in fact it would probably be best if she was a little more, um, normal. Still, I think it might be an area where we can bond together. Plus, how cool is it to have a Willie Nelson model for your first guitar? Maybe I'll get to take her to one of his shows when she's old enough. I have a feeling he might still be around.
So anyway, Sunday was Father's Day. We started the day by going to church where there was, of course, a lot of talk about being a good father. It was a good service, lots of emotion, and one of the few times I've cared for Stephen Curtis Chapman. His song Cinderella was featured, and as a little girl's Daddy, it hit home. The lyrics are about taking the time to spend with your kids now, because all too soon they'll be gone, married and on their own. It's a bittersweet song, made all the more poignant due to Chapman's daughter's tragic death. Needless to say, it got me thinking.
I've got a lot to teach this little girl. I've also got a lot of encouraging to do, patience to have (already working on that one!), laughing, crying, learning, and most of all loving to do. You see, I've always thought that I had the best dad in the world. Not the most perfect one...I mean, I could give you a list...but the best one. Any flaws, lack of judgement, poor decisions or mistakes he might have made were always overshadowed by the fact that my father supported me, encouraged me, loved me, and was my friend as well as my dad. Those are some big shoes to fill, but I think I'm up to the challenge. I want to be all of this and more for Tessa, and I believe I'm off to a good start. I had great training, and I'm already proud to be her dad.
So I guess the lesson here is to love your kids (even when it's hard), love your parents (even when it's hard), listen to Willie Nelson (even when it's hard), and never promise your next blog post will be less wordy.
Oh, and in case you're wondering...I got my cake. Cupcake, but still.
Yesterday was my first Father's Day. I suppose I started the celebration early by going to see Willie Nelson on Saturday night, kind of a Father's Day present for myself. Okay, so I didn't really know that it was the night before Father's Day when I got the tickets but it worked out anyway. The concert was great, as expected. He and his band Family played plenty of hits, snuck in a few surprises and a handfull of new stuff as well. I had a good time, and between my brother and I we made a nice dent in the merch table (he even bought me a shirt in honor of my first Father's Day).
I mention this for two reasons. One, to brag about being there. The second reason is because I bought a semi-wooden-ish souvenir toy guitar decorated with Willie Nelson art. I bought the guitar for two reasons. One, because it'll look cool in my media room. The second reason is so I can share it with my daughter when she gets older.
Unsurprisingly, I want to share my love of music with Tessa. Not that I expect her to be a music geek like me, in fact it would probably be best if she was a little more, um, normal. Still, I think it might be an area where we can bond together. Plus, how cool is it to have a Willie Nelson model for your first guitar? Maybe I'll get to take her to one of his shows when she's old enough. I have a feeling he might still be around.
So anyway, Sunday was Father's Day. We started the day by going to church where there was, of course, a lot of talk about being a good father. It was a good service, lots of emotion, and one of the few times I've cared for Stephen Curtis Chapman. His song Cinderella was featured, and as a little girl's Daddy, it hit home. The lyrics are about taking the time to spend with your kids now, because all too soon they'll be gone, married and on their own. It's a bittersweet song, made all the more poignant due to Chapman's daughter's tragic death. Needless to say, it got me thinking.
I've got a lot to teach this little girl. I've also got a lot of encouraging to do, patience to have (already working on that one!), laughing, crying, learning, and most of all loving to do. You see, I've always thought that I had the best dad in the world. Not the most perfect one...I mean, I could give you a list...but the best one. Any flaws, lack of judgement, poor decisions or mistakes he might have made were always overshadowed by the fact that my father supported me, encouraged me, loved me, and was my friend as well as my dad. Those are some big shoes to fill, but I think I'm up to the challenge. I want to be all of this and more for Tessa, and I believe I'm off to a good start. I had great training, and I'm already proud to be her dad.
So I guess the lesson here is to love your kids (even when it's hard), love your parents (even when it's hard), listen to Willie Nelson (even when it's hard), and never promise your next blog post will be less wordy.
Oh, and in case you're wondering...I got my cake. Cupcake, but still.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Old 97's Review
I went to Twangfest on Friday night with my brother Derek to see the Old 97's. Good show. For those of you who don't know, Twangfest is a yearly fest here in St. Louis featuring mostly alt. country bands that stretches over four nights and multiple clubs throughout the city. It draws in both local and national acts that range from country rock to Americana to singer songwriter types. I've never done the full fest, but I have gone to a night here and there, and have always enjoyed it.
Anyhoo, I had a few things to do around the house on Friday, so we got to the concert a little late (completely missing a band called I Love Math which seems appropriate because I hate math). Miles Of Wire were on stage when we arrived, who I believe are local. Didn't see much of their set, but I liked what I heard. The next act was some dude from Texas called Hayes Carll. I really liked his set. I'd definitely recommend checking him out if you like artists such as Steve Earle, Townes Van Zant, Rodney Crowell, etc. I liked it so much I picked up his CD at the merch table and have been listening to it since.
The headliners were, of course, Old 97's. They put on a good show. I think I may have gone in with a somewhat inaccurate expectation, as I've heard that their gigs were sweat-soaked barnstormers for years. So I expected a bit more of an out and out rocker with a few of the mid tempo songs thrown in. Actually the set was more balanced than that, with quite a few slower songs, but that's okay, it was really good, just not what I expected.
The musicianship was top notch. Philip Peeples, the drummer (who does the theme from Endless Summer), does a lot of that cross handed drumming stuff which looks so cool and I love. Guitar player Ken Bethea is very energetic and fun to watch. Murray Hammond has an interesting thumb based technique for playing bass that is part John Entwistle, part Johnny Cash. Also, his songs are among the best in the band's catalog. Murray rules. Which leaves us with front man Rhett Miller. He's the skinny cute guy in the band, and probably ten years younger than his band mates. Picture Michael Kelso fronting a band and you're there. Some of his hip shaking and half-assed windmills were a little silly, but so is Mick Jagger's stage stuff so whatever.
My only complaint, and it's a small one, was the length of the show. At almost 2/12 hours, I felt it was a little long to headline a festival type show (even if I didn't see all of the acts.) Hey, I'm all about getting your money's worth, and as far as that goes, they delivered. It's just that with all the slower and mid tempo stuff they did, the show dragged a little from time to time and I left feeling tired. Not tired in an exhausted way like a Motorhead or Drive By truckers show, but sleepy tired. Still, the good stuff well outweighed the bad. I'd see them again, but maybe in a few years, not every time they come in.
Wow, that was long and rambly. I'd planned to go into some stuff about my band, Blue Tattoo, and a couple of other things but I've already been typing too long and I'm not sure anybody's still reading anyway. So I'll check in with all that soon, and a Willie nelson concert review next weekend (a little less wordy I hope).
Bye.
Anyhoo, I had a few things to do around the house on Friday, so we got to the concert a little late (completely missing a band called I Love Math which seems appropriate because I hate math). Miles Of Wire were on stage when we arrived, who I believe are local. Didn't see much of their set, but I liked what I heard. The next act was some dude from Texas called Hayes Carll. I really liked his set. I'd definitely recommend checking him out if you like artists such as Steve Earle, Townes Van Zant, Rodney Crowell, etc. I liked it so much I picked up his CD at the merch table and have been listening to it since.
The headliners were, of course, Old 97's. They put on a good show. I think I may have gone in with a somewhat inaccurate expectation, as I've heard that their gigs were sweat-soaked barnstormers for years. So I expected a bit more of an out and out rocker with a few of the mid tempo songs thrown in. Actually the set was more balanced than that, with quite a few slower songs, but that's okay, it was really good, just not what I expected.
The musicianship was top notch. Philip Peeples, the drummer (who does the theme from Endless Summer), does a lot of that cross handed drumming stuff which looks so cool and I love. Guitar player Ken Bethea is very energetic and fun to watch. Murray Hammond has an interesting thumb based technique for playing bass that is part John Entwistle, part Johnny Cash. Also, his songs are among the best in the band's catalog. Murray rules. Which leaves us with front man Rhett Miller. He's the skinny cute guy in the band, and probably ten years younger than his band mates. Picture Michael Kelso fronting a band and you're there. Some of his hip shaking and half-assed windmills were a little silly, but so is Mick Jagger's stage stuff so whatever.
My only complaint, and it's a small one, was the length of the show. At almost 2/12 hours, I felt it was a little long to headline a festival type show (even if I didn't see all of the acts.) Hey, I'm all about getting your money's worth, and as far as that goes, they delivered. It's just that with all the slower and mid tempo stuff they did, the show dragged a little from time to time and I left feeling tired. Not tired in an exhausted way like a Motorhead or Drive By truckers show, but sleepy tired. Still, the good stuff well outweighed the bad. I'd see them again, but maybe in a few years, not every time they come in.
Wow, that was long and rambly. I'd planned to go into some stuff about my band, Blue Tattoo, and a couple of other things but I've already been typing too long and I'm not sure anybody's still reading anyway. So I'll check in with all that soon, and a Willie nelson concert review next weekend (a little less wordy I hope).
Bye.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Been A While
So I haven't been blogging much lately...sorry. It's pretty difficult to find the time here lately. I've thought of things to say, but when I finally get some free time, I'm usually too tired to do anything about it. Translation: being a Daddy takes a lot of time.
Even feeding the girl is difficult. Last night it took about two hours to feed her a 5 oz. bottle. She does a lot of stopping and starting, and gets over excited to the point where the whole thing's just ineffective.
Getting her to sleep can be difficult too. Daytime nap or out for the night, sometimes Tessa just won't sleep. add that on top of my existing schedule, and you can see how there's a lot of work and my free time (not to mention my wife's) is compromised. Let's be honest here folks, blogging ain't exactly number one on the catch up list, but I'll work on it.
So I do have a few things I'd like to talk about, but once again they'll have to wait. I'll check in this weekend with a band update, a review of the Old 97's concert tonight (I do have some free time!), and maybe a few other things as well. I Promise. Maybe.
Even feeding the girl is difficult. Last night it took about two hours to feed her a 5 oz. bottle. She does a lot of stopping and starting, and gets over excited to the point where the whole thing's just ineffective.
Getting her to sleep can be difficult too. Daytime nap or out for the night, sometimes Tessa just won't sleep. add that on top of my existing schedule, and you can see how there's a lot of work and my free time (not to mention my wife's) is compromised. Let's be honest here folks, blogging ain't exactly number one on the catch up list, but I'll work on it.
So I do have a few things I'd like to talk about, but once again they'll have to wait. I'll check in this weekend with a band update, a review of the Old 97's concert tonight (I do have some free time!), and maybe a few other things as well. I Promise. Maybe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)