Sunday Review: Shattered

An album of loud purple sounds. Someone popped their eggnog on a fruitcicle and created a new dessert.

When you go looking for an album of magnificence in groove and the possibility of a meow style, you pick downtown for the bass line and uptown for the tempo.

All the guitars work together like a saddle fits on a horse. Everybody finds their way.

Of course the drums do all the talking when they say n”sp “sp “sp “tat “tat and that bass is walking like it don’t care none except right here.

When people say things about me, I’m the baddest mountain. Like a thunder rolled in and said “hey!” Where all my dancers at?

Track One starts out clean and keeps riding till it’s over, no stops, just a belly up slouching cruise with a clear wind carrying the salty coastal air.

Track Two begins calm, but then finds an off ramp and gets subdued when it seems to find a clearing toward the beach.

Track Three is like a reflection of your grandmother’s memoirs that jot down everything from cookies to coastal swims. Beach days are fun, and everyone gets along just fine.

Track Four is a little more calm except when it tends to escalate for a minute as if to say, “hey, I’m here.”

Track Five continues onward like a boat on an anchor, swaying in the sea. The world can’t help but to bring rain. It’s just life.

Track Six reminds us of our mothers and fathers of the world. Those who lift us up.

Track Seven reads like “a Day in the Life,” and sings like “Bitches Brew.”

Track Eight tells us when to be happy and it’s all the time. “Could you be loved?”

Track Nine has more to say. And it’s that “we want more wine, and whiskey, and a good night’s sleep as much as possible. Someone needs to remind us of this more often, and that’s what this song is all about. Funk layered with harmonies and horns and a laid back approach to life in general. Just finding connection and being willing to embrace it for what it is and to do good wherever possible.

Track Ten someone told me to write them a song and here it is. I’m here for you.

Track Eleven slow grooves and a soft voice with some percussive style, congas and hand drums. Where a groove gets locked in. We are here.

Track Twelve bring rain and birds. In no particular order, someone lights a fire in the sky. With no warning, a siren calls and tempts.

Track Thirteen there is always morning to freshen the mood. The warm sun brings a calm. It feels good to soak it in and feel whole. Cosmic guitars bring a groovy vibe.

Track Fourteen we live in a musical space. Sound is our friend. We know it when we heart it. Soothing, vibey, a tip of the hat. A step in my walk. It’s all the same. Just groove with it.

~ Just Groove With It

All Rights Reserved 2021

Release Date 1/21/21

The Road Ahead

The Road Ahead envisions the world as a better place. This better place, like all human constructs, is only as real as you make it.

The song, Long Couple of Days, is about finding your groove. This, and other new songs, will be released as the Cosmic Cowboys.

The Road Ahead is like finding your way home. Coming Home.

See tags

The past is future

Positivity in motion

Cosmic cowboys ?

I can feel it in my teeth. The tingles gives one a feeling of both numbness and pressure. The rolling waves crushed me to the bones, but I was not afraid. From hammer to stone, it is my only feeling.

“Where will we go?” she asked as the canyons echoed.

Just then the phone rang…

Sleeping On Sidewalks

I was walking down the street tonight to grab a bite to eat. I noticed a man in a sleeping bag just as he noticed me. I wondered if he chose that site among the passersby because it brought him comfort in sleep. Why not find a quiet place away from all the sounds we make along this busy street? Perhaps this was the choice he made for lonely days have set himself too deep. We may be different in this homelessness yet all the same in life. For when we have a home to keep we vacation in countryside. But when we turn ourselves astray a man will sleep on lively streets that fill his heart with sound. He does this so – I think I know – his soul can find a home.

What is becoming more and more apparent is that I am motivated by these tiny tales of inspiration – using my Echo while others fight for life or a homeless man in sleeping bag on a cold night. I use them to get started writing. I will say, too, that my thoughts are genuine. I actually did wonder these things as I walked along the streets tonight.

What’s funny is about 10 seconds later, after passing the man in the sleeping bag, a voice called out faintly, “Riley… Riley… Riley.” Yes, three times. I scanned to my left and to my right, and left again as I centered on a figure directly across the street. I was standing in front of my favorite sandwich shop, moments away from entering! I was so hungry. As the dark figure approached I recognized that it was a friend from high school. A friend I actually was not friends with in high school. We aren’t really friends now either, except that we are friendly when we see each other. You know the kind. So we talked for a short while. He asked about my music. I thought that was cool. I should have said, yes! But have you read my blog?”

Okay, enough of that for now. Let’s talk about my weekend of music. I rehearsed on Friday night with friends. It was fine. I think that coming from recording sessions, where my sound has been dialed in, it felt difficult to coordinate a first rehearsal like this. I also have not been playing with a full band very much lately so that added to what I felt were challenges. But all in all, it was fun to hang with friends and play music. We did some covers too. Playing songs you already know is a good way to get started. I realize now we should have done that so we could get our dynamics going. Like I said, it was fine. I am just happy that people are interested to play these songs!

On Saturday I walked from my house to meet Tim and John for a late lunch at Nick’s on 2nd. We walked from there to John’s studio and played music for a lil while. Same place as the night before. It was fun! We just fiddled around a bit, and I shared a couple of new song ideas. We regrouped later that night during the 2nd Street Christmas Parade to play some more.

I got to play on Sunday too! My cousin had a surprise party for his wife at our venue, At The Top. I only played at the end of the party. My uncle let me use his black and white telecaster. It was nice to mess around and play my tunes in front of family. My cousin is a full time musician and my uncle has been playing in the same band since high school. Him and I played a few covers and originals and it was cool to have him take interest and give me positive feedback. I want to keep this rhythm going. Maybe I should play a local gig? Hmmm. Yes, I should. But right now all I can think about is how thirsty and tired I am.

I have a lot of work to do this week (non-music). Also, my cat keeps waking me up super early so I need to get to bed at a reasonable hour. I want to take advantage of my very real and relentlessly loud pussycat alarm clock. It’s a burden and a blessing.

P.s. How do I keep this blog from sounding like a journal? Does that matter? How much entertaining shit do I need to throw into this so that people want to read? Do people want to read my trials, tribulations, and triumphs? Who fucking cares? Someone must…

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