I’m so enjoying getting back to being with live bands, live audiences!!
In the Leslie Baker Trio video are bits and pieces of our performance at the Urban Press Winery, Burbank, CA.
Adjusting to whatever’s next, I feel a bit more global even if I stay home more than I used to.
It’s 2022 Major adjustments due to pandemic conditions are upon us,
are we through yet? Of course not. I am continuing to explore musical possibilities.
Finding new ways to make music from my home studio, I practice, write and produce . I use Logic to record at home and Dorico software for writing music.
Finding time and inspiration from 2 poems, I’ve turned poems into songs.
The 1st poem from a neighbor ROADMAP:
ROADMAP
Marylou Watkins
Something changed one starless night
The roadmap shifted before the light.
Perceptions, once we thought we knew
Suddenly are no longer true.
The talking heads argue why,
While people lie and children cry,
The heroes try, the unlucky die.
Reality shifts from place to place,
Unseen forces quicken the pace.
The road is forked, the signposts gone,
The future is looking grim.
As we seek to know the truth
In this changing paradigm.
The 2nd poem from a friend FLOW:
FLOW
(a song for sheltering in place)
Marc Berg
Wise man told me long ago when we can’t fight or flee we can FLOW, we can FLOW
Now it’s quiet, we have time, great to have Amazon Prime we can FLOW
Hear the music, feel the beat, make your house all nice and neat
Think of places far from here.
Put your mind in neutral gear.
Comfort food is GOOD for you, order pizza, brownies too we can FLOW
Fields of flowers, golden sand, fun we had in Disneyland we can FLOW
Play the music, feel the beat, make your house all nice and neat
Think of places far from here.
Put your mind in neutral gear.
Take a nap and watch TV, YouTube videos are fun and free, we can FLOW
Pet the dog, stroke the cat, stretch out on your yoga mat we can FLOW
Wise man told me long ago when we can’t fight or flee, we can FLOW
Things are picking up this month. I’m doing a new show as part of Hollywood Fringe Festival with week end shows thru August.
Tickets available
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/7194?tab=tickets
Gatsby, an immersive Illumination
Chapter 1: East Egg
AUGUST 08, 2021 certified reviewer
Once I got my ticket I got a text message from “Daisy” calling me “Nick” Don’t be alarmed. It’s not a spam text like I initially thought lol. Awesome use of the space. A live upright bass is played throughout the night as tone and underscore which was elegant and driving the pace.
The actors are fantastic. They interact with you and want you to verbally respond to their questions.
Wish it was longer. I was having such a great time I wanted to hang out in that world a bit longer. Which is NOT something I’ve ever said about a Fringe performance before. Kudos.
Truly felt like I went to a swanky dinner party.
Mask on, mask off……coming out of a plague or danger ahead? Making new friends during safer at home orders is different and for many, more difficult.
I found a new friend on nextdoor.com. Her name is Marylou Watkins. She posted a poem there that so resonated with me I felt compelled to write music for it.
We’ve been mandated to stop so many businesses in California due to stay home orders. My usual way of doing music, live for audiences is not allowed, gatherings not allowed……for now.
The mix and mingle that means so much to me has moved online. I see some wonderful folks in 2D. Some are people I have done things with in real life, some I only “meet” online. We can all be global this way.
I cannot stop doing music even when the work is gone.
This circumstance has given me a long awaited sabbatical. I hope I have used it well and will continue to use it well. I’ve been producing music, covers and originals that I publish at my YouTube channel. My band members & I coordinate and create music videos remotely.
Here are the results so far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMGK8mfKh88https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBrbEBeiElk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMGK8mfKh88https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBrbEBeiElk