Tag: travel

Places

There are certain places that just have that character.

That soul, and unique draw.

A special flavor… worn edges and memories and stories to tell… a place that you can call your own.

What about Disneyland – I can argue each side: 1. The massive scale, is soulless? 2. The massive scale has soul.

So what am I talking about – a place that you can call your own.

Sure, take franchises and chain stores. That can be called soulless. But it’s deeper than that: it’s ……………… . . . . . . . . . . . . Your soul.

Your loving kindness, and heart, and soul.

Vision.

1/1/19 12:44am

Bookshop Santa Cruz

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Fundamental Reality

This is just a picture, a pixel of words.

For whom do we long for and for whom are these blurbs?

Myself!

It’s the one thing that wants to emerge.

For you! It’s the one thing that keeps me encour’ged.

For them! It’s the grass on a shoulder of whistles, and though hast now understood the riddle.

How should we make sense of all this?

We do it all the time.

The world is complex, and we tend to seek novel moments.

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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

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“Live One” New_Music_Release + New Website

Howdy Friends, Family, Seekers of Truth, and all you Dreamers out there,

“Live One” is live now, just live in the now, love one another, and stay a “Live One.”

Listen on your favorite streaming app, and check out the music video I made from my trip to Iceland.

“Live One,” is a new single from our coming album, “Life on Mars” that was written on a journey through Iceland.

“Life on Mars” represents our collective ability to create a better world filled with Love and Empathy, asking the question, “If we were to go to Mars, what would we want to do differently?”

Stay tuned for our Kickstarter launch 3.20.20 (update, links to Preorder on my website) and help support artists promoting a vision of love and empathy through inspired Americana Music and High Quality imagery from a journey through Iceland.

“Within this or that are those that seek nought in the shackles breaking.” Lyrics from “Live One.”

Thank you for reading and please stay in touch!

Riley Hodges – Vocals, Lyrics, Guitar, Hammond B3
Tim Bullock – Bass Guitar
Eric Hirschhorn – Saxophone
Antoine Arvizu – Producer, Drums, Engineer

FULL LYRICS for “Live One”

I’ve been waiting for a sign that I should’ve seen 10 days ago. Staring at a blue sky swirling into red again. Like a vibrational high, I contemplate that I’m not fading. Just purify your mind. We’ll tear apart a magnet, baby. The rolling winds bring life when they whisper bursts of nothingness. I wonder if it’s known that we can be the nothingness. Like a thousand year stone and they call upon the night, “A Live One! A Live One!”

Capture moments that are still and wish we were forever now. The mother of this world uttering divine to men. If One is a gift to the many, God is manifest in contemplating. Within this or that are those that seek naught in the shackles breaking. Stillness in your mind, and it feels just like a loving kiss. Pouring rain in this life will bring returns of genesis. What’s it like to be a stone that’s shot into magma bursting out? I’ve been waiting for a sign and they call upon the night, “A Live One! A Live One!”

In purity of mind does choice bring moral prominence? Does our manifest deserve One and serve the greater good, or is it like the stone blessed by divine metamorphosing? When do we satisfy ourselves and have compassion on doors closing? Are we doomed to befall the consequence of our own bliss? I wonder if it’s known that we can be the nothingness. I’ve been waiting for a sign and the horse brings a gift. “A Live One! A Live One!” Echoes through the night and I am alright. “A Live One! A Live One!” I’ve been waiting for a sign and they call upon the night, “A Live One! A Live One!” © 2020 Riley Hodges

Riley Hodges is a musician from Long Beach, CA, and is the lead singer and songwriter for the Cosmic Cowboys. The music has roots in Americana with each song distinctly all its own.

“Street Walker” is the opening track of “Life on Mars” that recites the exclaims of pedestrian life through bouncy beats, clean guitar riffs and a padded saxophone, while “Maybelline,” a dreamer wanting to sleep among the stars, follows a laid-back funk-rhythm that is supported by uplifting vocals and a Hammond B3.

Riley grew up in his families bar business in Long Beach, CA and credits his parents for introducing him to good music. His mom had the hippest collection of music among his friends, and Riley’s uncle Roland, lead singer and keyboardist from the Elm Street Band, would play backyard parties at their house and events in the neighborhood while Riley was growing up. Riley began piano lessons at a young age, eventually switching to drums for a few years, then as a teenager picked up a guitar and learned to sing. Fast forward to adulthood, Riley operates Shannon’s bars, restaurant, and entertainment venue with his family, and as those businesses have grown, Riley intends to focus more on writing, recording, and playing live music. Over the past several years, Riley has written and recorded 20 original songs with growing commercial success. Listeners describe his music as catchy, upbeat, thoughtful and enjoyable. 

Before the Cosmic Cowboys, Riley met and formed Taste of Red with his friends, John Capito and Tim Bullock, and they were fortunate to play their biggest venue to date at The Observatory in Orange County, CA. Fast forward several years later and John is now the lead guitar player for the Cosmic Cowboys, and their next biggest performance is scheduled for March 14, 2020 where the Cosmic Cowboys are ready to play to a large crowd of festival attendees for St. Pat’s Party on Pine hosted by Shannon’s Corner in Long Beach, CA.

Thanks again for reading! We appreciate your support, and we hope you enjoy the release of “Live One.”

P.s. If you haven’t seen our Kickstarter teaser, check it out here and consider making a pledge when we launch our Kickstarter on 3.20.20 for a cause that stands for Love and Empathy! Our goal is to raise $10,0000 so we can release “Life on Mars” on “vinyllll, vinyllll, vinylll!” in the Fall of 2020. With a little courage you too can experience this inspired vision through a beautifully produced Americana music album by hardworking humans just like you! Together, we can change the world through positive vibrations 🙂

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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…

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Measurable Words (wall posts)

Referring to these wall posts of late, scroll down the feed and make your date:

Poll feelings and followers and those in need

My wall is open for those to seed

But in the end there’s always you

My wall grows so continuously too

To top and shallow for weak and hollow

For strong and old and bored and bold

For young and hound n’ passion’s loud

For any other of many sold

For most of all a creative crew that sees me wallow in this stew

A poll will show results of many

My ideas flow in words a’plenty

Your words I write and think and brew

Your word inspires a creative mood

Stay tuned for more “wall posts”

C’est La Vie En Sevilla

Arriving in España reminded me of the time I spent here while studying abroad in Barcelona. We visited Sevilla at that time yet I could not really appreciate the city then the way that I do now.

For starters, our Airbnb was a great choice, and it’s exciting to be here for our friend Maria and Alex’s wedding!

Sevilla is beautiful, romantic, and cultured with a rich history of traditions like Flamenco and food like Paella and Iberian Ham. There are also stories of conquest, exploration of the Americas and stunning architectural design.

As we venture out into the city I am finding there are many parallels to explore as I am releasing my new single, C’est La Vie!

    Sitting on our balcony with La Giralda in my view reminds me another time and place. Have you been to space?

    Life on Mars is about expressing our best self while practicing empathy, courage and love.

    Family is so important and I feel blessed to be able to spend time with them on this lovely vacation!

    I’m excited to release C’est La Vie next Friday, June 28th! We are playing a release show at the Prospector the night before, Thursday at 10pm. Come say “hola” as I bring the Spanish vibes home with me to share in the LBC.


    Playing on a new friend’s guitar at Luis y Luz (pron. “looth” in the Sevillian accent 🙂
    My sister, Shannon, and new friend at the pre-wedding Paella and Ribs BBQ at Luis’
    Maria’s son and Spanish father, Luis. He hosted the BBQ at his home in Montequinto, and selected a very special wedding venue.
    Alex and Maria

    Upcoming notes:

    it’s amazing you can perceive emotions so subtly on a living face. a face that’s alive, however far away or near you feel to it, can be detected by the viewer and in relation makes them feel alive, however far away or near you feel to it.

    //

    Rose petals are divine

    Ancient 

    Eternal

    Divine

    // 

    Flamenco 

    Rumba 

    //

    When the sangria and gazpacho becomes confused, it’s a good thing… 

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    Staring at Kirkjufell

    Staring off into the sea I see a silky wide abyss. My mouth was watering for I had nothing else but myself I thought to give. Was it me that felt I couldn’t see another gazing soul? I had thought I’d be far off before I’d grow too old. Where hath been whence I sure came for longing forever more? I stopped to think a mountain here was lonely in the cold…

    Interesting or nah? I conjured a space inside my mind somehow tonight. As I was laying in bed the above image was literally mirrored in shape and color from my actual mirror and soft orange-pinkish light. Actually, I’ve been thinking about this image for quite some time. This trip to Iceland has showed me a path that I’m continually discovering with more purpose.

    Kirkjufell (Icelandic: Church Mountain – kirk-you-fet-l) is a 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. It is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country. WikipediaElevation: 1,519′ Did you know: Scenes from Game of Thrones Season 6 and 7 were filmed near Kirkjufell, featuring as the “arrowhead mountain” that the Hound and the company north of the Wall see when capturing a wight. mountainjourney.com

    When we first traveled to this site to camp we drove past this location (to the left) toward the coast. As we reached a fork in the road, we saw that we could either go left to continue on this narrowing road, or go right and enter an otherwise normal looking area adjacent to this volcano and out toward the Arctic sea. Upon further review, the road was blocked by a small, unassuming gate with a compact red sign that said, “Prison.”

    @ Tractor lyfe

    So we went left, but not for long as a tractor started quickly approaching. Alrighty then… we backed up a few hundred feet to reach a small pasture with enough space to park just before the fork.

    @rriless

    After we got situated, and took “our vitamins” so to speak, Patrick warmed up some hot dogs… and then… the horses started to arrive…

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    Perspective In Sound – Making Music with Riley Hodges

    RILEY HODGES·THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

    Riley Hodges is a musician from Long Beach, CA. Having grown up in the bar business, Riley operates Shannon’s bars, restaurant and entertainment venue with his family.

    Over the past few years as the Shannon’s businesses have grown, Riley has endeavored to focus more on creating and playing music. His latest project is Life on Mars.

    Friday, October 13, 2017 at The Compound Studio, Long Beach, CA –
    Photo by @hey_andrewg

    Life on Mars is an eclectic-rock album that was inspired by a journey through Iceland in 2016. The song Live One writes about this experience, asking, “What’s it like to be a stone shot into magma bursting out?” From there the album took shape as a metaphor for life on Earth, what we’ve done here, how we’ve grown, our follies… and if we went to Mars, what would we want to bring and do differently?

    Life on Mars album artwork by Eric Stoner – ericstonermixedmedia.com

    The album conjures a utopian dream where virtues like Empathy and Courage are held in high regard. The songs chat an earthly tone with the opening track, Streetwalker, reciting the exclaims of pedestrian life through bouncy beats, clean guitar riffs and a padded saxophone, while Maybelline, a dreamer for equal rights wanting to sleep among the stars, follows a laid-back funk-rhythm that is supported by uplifting vocals and a Hammond B3.

    September 2016 photo by RH – “As you drive along Víðidalur, you will come to Kolugil Farm which stands beside the Víðidalsá river. Just below the farm, the waters flow peacefully downwards to plunge into the deep, rugged gorge called Kolugljúfur. Their journey then sends them cascading over many waterfalls which bear the name Kolufossar Falls in honour of the giantess, Kola. It is a breathtaking sight to drive across the bridge and watch the calm waters of the river suddenly leap and tumble onwards over so many impressive falls – a sight which will leave no one unmoved.” – northiceland.is

    C’est La Vie reminds us that such is life while drawing the listener into a world of psychedelic and bouncy rhythms whereas Coming Home brings us back to solid ground by expressing the simplicities of passionate love with a pedal-steel, rocking solos and female backing vocals to support words like, “That old house feels just like a smile sittin’ on a summer night, and maybe we’ll smile while we’re rockin’ on a ‘lil baby porch swing.”

    September 2016 photo by RH – “Iceland is a country in the North Atlantic Ocean that is aptly known as the “Land of Fire and Ice”. It is an island born out of volcanic eruptions over millions of years. Up until 8000 years ago, the entire island was buried under ice.” – youngzine.org

    Next up, Live One takes aim at the god within us all, rooted in the evolving chaos of actual rocks and forms of matter underlying the processes behind life on earth: “If One is a gift to the many, God is manifest in contemplating. Between this and that are those that seek nought in the shackles breaking. Stillness in your mind, it feels just like a loving kiss. I wonder if it’s known that we can be the nothingness…” Expect 2 minutes of soaking and frantic saxophone to convey the messages further sonically as the song finales.

    September 2016 photo by RH – “Kirkjufell (Icelandic: Church Mountain) is a 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. It is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country. Kirkjufell was one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones season 6 and 7, featuring as the “arrowhead mountain” that the Hound and the company north of the Wall see when capturing a wight.” – wiki.org

    If the first half of the album is dreamlike, the second half shows that reality has finally set in. Let It Go stories the simple wisdoms of attachment as jangly strings quickly turn to screaming guitars, wet vocals and apoplectic lyrics, and Long Couple of Days follows a more balanced path using folk elements and a classic line, “Shoo fly outta my way.”

    September 2016 photo by RH – “ancestors of the Icelandic horse were probably taken to Iceland by Viking Age Scandinavians between 860 and 935 AD. The Norse settlers were followed by immigrants from Norse colonies in Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Western Isles of Scotland.” – wiki.org

    Finally, High Low culminates in energetic fashion with heavy drums and heavy distortion to make a statement anthemically that given a choice of high or low, “we can go high” and “when you’re ready to come we can light sparks.”

    September 2016 photo by RH: SVÖRTULOFT AT SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA – “Sailing in the Faxaflói bay and the Breiðafjörður bay in the western part of Iceland might be secure and calm, but traveling from one to the other can be quite tricky. The sailing by the tip of Snæfellsnes peninsula, past Svörtuloft is still a serious business. Throughout the centuries there have been drastic incidents and casualties. Ships have stranded, and as anyone can imagine looking at the sharp and black lava cliffs, this is not a good place to strand a ship. Most of them are quickly blown to pieces by the shore. The formation of the cliff is quite spectacular as they are dark and black lava cliffs.” – hiticeland.com

    Check out the promotional release of Live One, and full album release in May 2019.

    If you like my writing, please check out more where that came from.

    Special thanks to Antoine Arvizu at The Compound Studio, and to Eric Stoner for use of the album artwork, APOCALYPTICUS ROMANTICUS.

    Sunday, October 15, 2017 at The Compound Studio, Long Beach, CA – Photo by @hey_andrewg
    Sunday, October 15, 2017 at The Compound Studio, Long Beach, CA – Photo by @hey_andrewg
    Photo by Andrew @ The Compound Studio while recording album, “Life on Mars” with Riley Hodges (left), Tim Bullock on bass (center), Antoine Arvizu on drums (right)
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