The answer is simple.

Yes.

I have recently noticed that common and unnoticed phrases like “now that you’re gone” or “put it down” or “are you there” are all great hook material. These don’t even really count as phrases. They are just things we all say sometimes. As I have become aware of this, I have become increasingly aware that we all use hooks all the time. Why then are we not all gazillionaires?

Come hear some sa-weet hooks on Thursday, August 12th at Kenny’s Castaways.

All in good time.

So why, then do you have to do the nast with Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson and particularly Jennifer Love-Hewett? Isn’t that just adding insult to injury?

Well, John Mayer (if that really is your name) TWO people can play at that game. This month is officially “do things as well as John Mayer” month and I plan to do JUST THAT!

But I am not gonna have sex with any of those babes. Mostly because I am married but a little bit because those babes all beg me just a little too hard and a little too often. It makes them seem pathetic and I can’t enable that kind of thing.

Jon: "There’s a sign on that pole there that says "WE BUY HOMES". What the f*** does that mean?"

Rob and Ale, in unison: "It means they buy homes".

Jon: "Yeah, but what the f*** does that MEAN?"

Rob and Ale, in unison: "It means THEY BUY HOMES!”

Jon: "Yeah…?!"

Rob: "It means that if you foreclose your home and are ready to die they buy your home."

[Pause]

Jon: "Whatever."

I want to find the fun in the music. Sometimes it’s so freakin’ heavy. We need to get some fun and even some funny in there.

Also, I want to bring in some of the soul that I get when I am playing alone / singing melodies to myself or improvising. It’s easy to let that soul disappear in the writing / producing process.

Mostly, I want to find the space in the music. I think our arrangements are really cool but when I listen back, I hear so much sound. There is so much going on. Things need to chill out a bit and open up.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….coming up will be some songs that are fun, soulful and open.

Hopefully.

Mean? I hope not. Just honest. I still am glad they are both out there rockin’. Speaking of that, come watch The Hillary Step rock on 6/24 at 8pm at Local 269.

Breaking strings has always been the bane of my existence. I play hard. I don’t play super hard but I play my acoustic guitar with a sense of purpose. That’s what makes the rock ‘n roll come out. The downside is that the strings just can’t take the burn of my deep, deep rockin’ and so every now and then, I pop a string. It used to be worse. Sometimes during a gig, I would break up to 3 strings. Once I broke 3 strings in ONE SONG! However, after adjusting my technique and the type of pic I use, I have it down to a more rare event.

That being said, yesterday in rehearsal I broke a string in the middle of working on the song “Well Anyway”. Usually when this happens, all rocking stops until I change the string. This process generally takes about 1-2 minutes. Yesterday, however, a different process took place. When I broke the string, the band just kept playing the section of the song that we were currently in. They played for awhile and then they started jamming on it. Greg took a solo, Ale got all jazzy on the drums, Eric rocked the keys, etc.. It was awesome. So, we have created a new band sensibility. When / if a string breaks, that is not cause for commotion or stagnation. It is now a reason to jam in the middle of the song until the string is back and we can rock again.

Once again, little tragedies become little gifts!