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The Art of The Lathe by BH Fairchild
Nine Gates by Jane Hirchfield
This Time by Gerald Stern |
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Razorlight |
Bob Dylan |
Ryan Adams |
...And you will know us by the Trail of Dead |
Aimee Mann |
Black Sabbath |
Metallica |
Third Eye Blind |
Counting Crows |
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Melville |
James Wright |
Ai |
M. Espada |
Sherman Alexie |
Nabokov |
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Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglow
Spector 4-String
Ampeg SVT 3 Pro
Ampeg SVT 6x10
Monster Cables
Boss GT6B Effects
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Monday, August 28, 2006
Psycho
I go into these awful bouts of neurotic behavior. Every three weeks I have a packet of work due for my MFA program, both creative and critical. I’m pretty good at staying on track now, but that last week is still a bitch. I should be in a bubble during those last few days, hemming and hawing (sp?) over the details. It’s hart to believe I spent the first half of this year in weekly counseling.
I’ve been spending much of my time writing songs for our next album. I’ve actually been in a great little zone. Last week, Pat traveled in from the city to work on some of the songs and to lay down some decent demos. Out of that session we recorded working versions of five new songs. I need to ensure copyright status before leaking any titles or lyrics. J We had a great weekend together while Timmy was traveling the country. John was a real trooper. I believe he was in the same outfit from Friday night until we parted ways at midnight on Sunday. On top of his musical contribution, Johnny has become a great friend. We’re a very lucky band to have each other.
In other exciting news, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell successfully defended hi light-heavyweight UFC title. Today, I’m wearing my TapOut t-shirt in honor. Also, I’m still a huge fan of Razorlight, a band from the UK. Pick up their new, self-titled album!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Books
Two people very close to me have read The Divinci Code. I noticed both of them, prior to roaming in public with book in tote, remove the dust-jacket. Neither of them wanted to be caught reading a number one best seller, and I'm just the kind of friend to call them out on it. People do care what you're reading and what you're listening too. For some people it's eye color, maybe skin tone or the designer purse. For me, there's no more immediate judge than a book (second is music).
I was at an annual booksale at the local library. In my opinion, libraries are the best place to cash in on bargains. Many college libraries have an annual sale. The great thing is that the people choosing the books to sell usually have no attachment and little knowledge of the books in their sale piles. Sometimes the used book dealer is too well aware of my emotional attachments. Poetry is the worst. Nobody buys it they say, but try and find some at a used bookstore. When you do find some, it will likely be pricey. Today I got soooo many books for 6 dollars, including a hardback Sound and the Fury (50 cents).
Does anyone else buy books relentlessly, even when they already have a hundred waiting to be read?
Monday, July 17, 2006
Feeling it
"it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll."
Thanks to all our friends who made the trip to Rochacha for our show Saturday night. It seemed like a really good group of people, and as always, a great pleasure to be in your company.
Lately I've been busy getting geared up for my semester of grad school. Beginning Aug 22 I will be hosting a free poetry workshop at the Wide Awake Club Library in Fillmore. I'm excited and nervous. Hopefully I will get some people interested.
We practiced for a few hours prior to heading to the show on Sat. We ran an extension cord to the studio and blasted out all the neighbors. As for a studio update-- drywall was being hung like crazy when I was there this morning.
During practice we worked on a new song. It's amazing, the way a song gets developed with this group. I can't explain it. It's large on scope yet hitting each of us on an intimate level. I can only say once again, the music we are writing is something to really bite into. We're changing. I think TOC was a huge step in the right direction for us. Now we're rolling right along.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
What becomes
I haven't written in a while, since November I guess. I'm not exactly sure why. No excuse. All I can say is time takes us places. We've endured a great amount of change, as a band, and as individuals. The final result of the changes appear to have left Navar in a very nice place. I guess I've been a constant state of waiting, which is quite different from doing. So maybe now, the change will come from me.
We're in the process of building a new studio (part of the forced changes). I just finished cleaning out Ned's Diner with my parents. It was kind of sad. We will be leasing it out beginning in July, so Navar's long time stand at the diner has come to an end. I can't tell you how supportive our parents and families have been.
John has joined us on lead guitar and it has been a blessing to be able to continue with another guitarist. Pat has been spending most his time in New York City, so I miss him. We spent so much time together the past few years. The beauty of today's technology is we can still share our ideas. Tim and I have been chomping at the bit, ready to record again.
I can honestly say, this is the most excited I've ever been about our new music. I truly believe these new songs are coming from the places we have long been striving to inhabit. Get ready for it. And maybe I'll be better.
All the best,
Ben
Friday, November 04, 2005
In great Places
It would have been easy to lose the fire while we have been home. It would have been easy to take a break. Not us! We had a wonderful show last weekend in Hornell with our friends Anna May. What a cool celebration of original music! There's nothing better than playing music, surrounded by friends.
We live in a small house on the outskirts of a small town, brothers together by the river. I have been here nearly a year and am only now beginning to discover this place. Pat and I are spending more time together than would be considered healthy and we're having a blast. We have spent our time: playing darts, watching movies (we have no cable), hanging with friends, and writing songs.
The ladybugs are burrowing in, they keep landing on me. I have been reading about them. Did you know that Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them? In France, they say if a Ladybug lands on you while you are sick, when it flies away it will take the sickness with it.
Considering where we've recently been, where we are , and where we're going, I'm the happiest I've been in a long time.
I am craving lasagna. Please feel free to drop some off. We'll have coffee and jokes... :)
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Fall
We’re home for a few days, trying to figure out what has worked and what was a waste on this tour so far. We needed a break from the intensity in doing it all ourselves and feeling like it’s not enough.
Navar has become my life. Somehow, slowly, without realizing it, Navar became what I have. It’s a really warm feeling to be a cog in this machine, even when it fails.
This is the perfect time of year to be in western NY. The leaves are beginning to change. The hills are all on fire. I would never move South—away from Fall.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
September
One true sign of a great record is one that is played repeatedly and entirely in an RV carrying four men with different tastes in music, with no songs skipped, and everyone loves it. We've had two so far:
Grand Buffet - Five Years of Fireworks
The White Stripes - Get Behind me Satan
We have one of those CD holders on the visor that holds 10 cds. In it, we carry the ten cds getting the most air play. It might be fun to keep track as we travel on.
Rolling Stones - Flashpoint
The Velvet Underground - gold (disk 1)
The Grand Buffet - Five years of Fireworks
Iggy Pop - disk one of his latest collection
Razorlight - Up all night
Bob Dylan - our own mix CD
Bob Dylan - new cds from Scorcese's documentary (2 disks)
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
O Brother Where art Thou Sdtk
Many people asked me if I was scared to go on this tour as we were preparing to leave. I can now honestly say that the thought of going home is what makes me most nervous. Obviously the most direct reason for this is that going home means that we are not working at our new jobs on tour. More than that, even when you go home for a short visit, after a day or two you’ve worn out your welcome and become overly aware that life goes on without you. Nobody’s that special. Nobody should be.
That’s awful.
Please take this as a sign of potential happiness in chasing dreams, in doing something you love. I believe that situations shape moods, not people. People help us in and out of them.
I had the most wonderful time with friends that I have not seen all summer while we were back in WNY. Thank you, Liz and Jenny! And I got to reunite with my long lost wrestling pal, Matt. So life is full and exciting, and I am satisfied.
Situation updates: Pat still has not driven and last night, Skippy made Tim submit in a headlock. The night before, I was involved in an altercation with someone who was heckling Pat. This is the life.
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