studio show at Eastworks

I just posted over at Sound Check about an in-studio I had the chance to attend this past Monday night.

Ash Wednesday by Elvis Perkins

the tents go up
as i go down
down to the flats and into the sound
the closer i get to the city
the further i am from memory
in the green grass looking up
for the words of the angry sun
‘noone’ when he says ‘noone’
yeah he means ‘noone’
noone
noone will survive
ash wednesday alive

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Welcome to the neighborhood

Choosing Holyoke as a place to make our home has been a wonderful decision so far. And it’s a decision made even more wonderful when friends buy houses within walking distance. Jennifer and Scott celebrated their recent purchase with a housewarming yesterday — it included delicious pancakes and the music of The Primate Fiasco. Photos here.

I adore this song

I like the song on the Volvo commercial with the ethereal-looking woman wearing a white dress. It’s by this Swedish guy named Melpo Mene. 

sleeplessness

this week i’ve been sort of living in a fog. For some reason I haven’t been able to get a decent night’s sleep. Last night was the best of the last three nights, because I convinced myself that it was ok to use alcohol to help me sleep. So, I bought a bottle of champagne and had it with dinner. I feel good about this decision, because I was asleep before 10:00 p.m. I feel slightly regretful, because I woke up around 1:00 a.m. completely sober and couldn’t get back to sleep until around 3:00 a.m. Overall, those hours between 10 and 1 am made it so worth it. I promised myself that this was a one-time deal. I am overly conscious of my drinking, which is funny to me because I rarely drink.

I am not sure what has happened to me this week, although I have some ideas. The editor is out this week so things are kind of nuts at work. I moved my bedroom into the smaller, greener room. It’s more peaceful back there, but I think I’m still getting used to the new vibe. I also think that the air conditioner in that room is a bit louder than the one in the other bedroom. My new plan of attack is to cool that room down before I go to bed and then turn off the air conditioner when I’m ready for sleep. If that doesn’t work I’ll have to ask Matt to swap the air conditioners. I don’t want it to come to this, though.

But do you know that feeling of sleeplessness? Of your mind racing with all of the thoughts of things you have to do? Or you are willing yourself to relax, which just makes it worse because you’re just reminded that you’re very much NOT relaxed.

Wow, an AT&T commercial with Mates of State. How weird!

The past few weekends have been full. earlier in the month, Matt and I went to Pennsylvania and did all of the things we set out to do. I have to say that my favorite was riding our bikes around my hometown. It was nice to see Palmyra on a bicycle. What a nice place to have grown up I’ve decided. And last weekend matt played a show in Brooklyn and then we stayed at his grandma’s on long island. I beat them both at Scrabble. Twice. I’m just sayin’

sick of photos yet?

Pretty Piano

pee ann oh

In fewer than ten days my father will retire from his job that he has worked at as long as I have been alive and probably before that. Last time we talked, he said that he is going to get his house ready to sell. This is the house I grew up in. Many years ago I would have been sad about this, but I am grown up now and realize that nothing lives in perpetuity.

One thing I need to do, though, is get my piano out of that house. Back around Christmas when we talked about his retirement we made arrangements to split the cost of moving it up here to Massachusetts. Now that I have a house of my own, this is a plan that I can realistically carry out.

I can already see it in here. I have plenty of room and think it will help fill up this space quite nicely. I don’t know what else I’ll do with it. I know at least one person who can play it, and there are piano books in the bench that I can dust off and try out. I used to play when I was a teenager, but gave it up because I didn’t have the drive within myself to practice.

I don’t know why I’m blogging about this, but I am excited about having it back and then figuring out what it means to have it.

my first

This morning my first mortgage payment was withdrawn from my bank account. All of my tenants are paying me on time and all is well on my corner.

What have I been up to. The highlight recently was seeing the Winterpills at Iron Horse last Saturday. Philip and Flora and Dennis and Dave and Brian created brilliant arrangements for the new songs and assembled a
distinguished and talented cast of guest appearances, culminating in an
amazing “Folded Cloth” closer. I brought some
friends along who didn’t really know a lot about the band and I hope
are now converts to the church of Winterpills.

Seriously, best band ever.

It’s been a month or so of lots and lots of changes as
many of you know. Not just the house but many other things. I’m not too keen on talking about my personal life, but as a newly single person, my focus
has been on remembering who I am, trying to have a good time and spend more time with friends. There have been some dark, lonely,
uncertain nights.
There have also been some great moments, like Winterpills night,
dark dining room night, Vietnamese food, the housewarming and so many more.

Presently, my goal is to save money towards getting the house electrical upgrade and work has been intense as we are covering high school basketball finals.

Blech, I’m getting so journaly.

What’s new at the job

We developed this local music radio player that streams songs from Western Mass. bands. You can get it by clicking the image below:

I like listening to it while I’m working. I have about 30 songs on there right now and am adding more daily.