My calendar has just informed me that my show on Saturday is on Groundhog's Day. Someone get Bill Murray on the phone and have him teach me how to sculpt ice.
When last we left off I was getting ready to play a gig with Charlie Paxson. We had a hoot. Charlie's boss, Colin Hay, was there. He's a congenial guy, in addition to being a great singer and writer. I'm in his top myspace friends. Booyah.
For a long time the change your top friends was only sortable by email. This was real annoying to me, because I didn't have the patience to sort, or the email addresses of some of my friends profiles. You can sort by myspace url now, so I'm finally able to return Colin's favor and put him up there. Good times.
Slow news day again?
Purrhaps.
Saturday will be a bittersweet show, and not because of the possibility of six more weeks of Winter. Bill Shupp, is moving to San Francisco. Bill or "Shupp" or "Shuppstitution" or "The Shuppster" has played with me for more than five years now! He's played bass, drums, and acoustic guitar, or filled every role on the bandstand except for my own. This Saturday will be his grand finale with me (at least for the foreseeable future). I'm planning a 20 minute Rush medley with a 40 minute slap-bass solo as a tribute to Bill.
Mr. Shupp, your impeccable musicianship, professionalism, sunny disposition, and tech geekery will be sorely missed. Perhaps we'll figure out a way to have him play future gigs via webcast.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
butter knives
Tonight the tables will turn and I'll be a part of "and band". I'm sitting in on the saxamaphone with my compadre Charlie Paxson at the Silverlake Lounge tonight at 9 PM.
In related news, I will soon be contributing $70 to Los Angeles County. After a little rehearsal for the aforementioned gig, I double parked in front of my apartment so that I could load the ol' saxophone into the residence, and not have to walk around with my horn late at night. My hazard lights were just the beacon the parking authority needed to leave me a $70 love note from the city of LA. I'm hoping my experience as a driver/parker in Los Angeles will be $70 better afterwards, but I'm guessing not.
Charlie will be playing in my band at the Hotel Cafe this Saturday. It will be neat.
I've really been enjoying toast with honey lately. That has become a problem, because I haven't been washing the dishes frequently enough to keep up with the accelerated use of butter knives, and now I have to use a spoon.
It's a slow news day, apparently.
I've been listening to a speech on the Word for Word podcast by President Clinton. He asserted that if we got serious about getting buildings around the country up to the environmentally friendly standards we would have a veritable ton of new jobs at many different skill levels. I think the public often doesn't associate being environmentally conscious with economic friendliness. The economy grows anytime there are new things to be sold, and a new set of services to be provided (like with the explosion of tech companies in the 90's). This could be one of those times.
In related news, I will soon be contributing $70 to Los Angeles County. After a little rehearsal for the aforementioned gig, I double parked in front of my apartment so that I could load the ol' saxophone into the residence, and not have to walk around with my horn late at night. My hazard lights were just the beacon the parking authority needed to leave me a $70 love note from the city of LA. I'm hoping my experience as a driver/parker in Los Angeles will be $70 better afterwards, but I'm guessing not.
Charlie will be playing in my band at the Hotel Cafe this Saturday. It will be neat.
I've really been enjoying toast with honey lately. That has become a problem, because I haven't been washing the dishes frequently enough to keep up with the accelerated use of butter knives, and now I have to use a spoon.
It's a slow news day, apparently.
I've been listening to a speech on the Word for Word podcast by President Clinton. He asserted that if we got serious about getting buildings around the country up to the environmentally friendly standards we would have a veritable ton of new jobs at many different skill levels. I think the public often doesn't associate being environmentally conscious with economic friendliness. The economy grows anytime there are new things to be sold, and a new set of services to be provided (like with the explosion of tech companies in the 90's). This could be one of those times.
Monday, January 28, 2008
making oohs
The clouds have parted. Rumors were swelling that they were going to replace the "Sunny" in Sunny Southern California with "Rainy" if the precipitation didn't stop by today. Fortunately all epithets are in tact. I'm still the Lego Maniac. Randy Savage is still the Macho Man. Karl Rove is still the Prince of Darkness.
I have been remiss in my bloggy duties lately. That's because I've taken on a new Winter/Spring job of ghost-writing music for a TV show. I'm not going to tell ya which one, because I don't know if I'm allowed to. Hint the theme's lyrics start out with: "so no one told you life was going to be this way". Ok, not really. That show isn't on the air anymore. The West Wing, Six Feet Under, and The Sopranos aren't on the air anymore either, so I'll have to hold out that Alf Clausen has too much work and calls me to help out with The Simpsons if I want to score one of my all-time favorite shows.
Point being, I've been holed up in a studio making marches, vocal oohs, and ten second segues. It's been a great challenge, and mostly very fun. Because of this golden opportunity I'm going to put touring on hold until the season gets finished. That means I should be back on the road in the Summer, barring any unforeseen stuff.
The good news for you Angelenos, other than the rain relenting, is that I'm playing the Hotel Cafe this Saturday. It'll be a full band show, with full band shenanigans. I'm thinking of pulling a "Hannah Montana" and asking Zac Efron to be my body double while I do a costume change into my pleather one-piece leotard.
More on that and other disturbing ideas next time.
I have been remiss in my bloggy duties lately. That's because I've taken on a new Winter/Spring job of ghost-writing music for a TV show. I'm not going to tell ya which one, because I don't know if I'm allowed to. Hint the theme's lyrics start out with: "so no one told you life was going to be this way". Ok, not really. That show isn't on the air anymore. The West Wing, Six Feet Under, and The Sopranos aren't on the air anymore either, so I'll have to hold out that Alf Clausen has too much work and calls me to help out with The Simpsons if I want to score one of my all-time favorite shows.
Point being, I've been holed up in a studio making marches, vocal oohs, and ten second segues. It's been a great challenge, and mostly very fun. Because of this golden opportunity I'm going to put touring on hold until the season gets finished. That means I should be back on the road in the Summer, barring any unforeseen stuff.
The good news for you Angelenos, other than the rain relenting, is that I'm playing the Hotel Cafe this Saturday. It'll be a full band show, with full band shenanigans. I'm thinking of pulling a "Hannah Montana" and asking Zac Efron to be my body double while I do a costume change into my pleather one-piece leotard.
More on that and other disturbing ideas next time.
Monday, January 14, 2008
five cents on the dollar
I've been availing myself of the free downloads from iTunes U. Did you know that if we keep up the current rate of oil consumption that it will all be doneski in 40 years? When you think about it like that, it's amazing gas isn't $10 a gallon. Get your calf muscles ready, because we're going to be riding the bicycle much more often about the time that some of us hit 64 years-old. As Ricky Bobby said, "with advances in modern science and my high level income, it's not crazy to think I can live to be 245, maybe 300. Heck, I just read in the newspaper that they put a pig heart in some guy from Russia. Do you know what that means?" From that perspective riding a Schwinn at 64 doesn't seem so bad. That's not even middle-aged yet.
Other podcast/lecture highlights:
In "The Writer's Almanac" Garrison Keiller reads Louis Jenkins' poem "Too much snow".
My favorite line:
"Someone wished for this snow. Someone got a deal, five cents on the dollar, and spent the entire family fortune."
We don't have that problem in Southern California. As a matter of fact the weather couldn't be more mild if you had your hand on an outdoor thermostat. That was ideal for yesterday's 3 Hour Tour. All went well, and as you can probably guess, I'm not writing this blog from a deserted island. I made new friends and ate more fried chicken then I care to admit.
Zoey's was also a hoot as usual. I've found that as a performer every once in a while I'll get a glimpse of a new level of creativity and comfort on stage. Friday was one of those nights. On Sunday I didn't achieve that same level of inner mojo, but I know it's out there, or in there, as the case may be, and I am determined to grab it and make it mine every day.
Here's to getting better, and staying better.
My next opportunity to slay the dragon will be at the Hotel Cafe on February 2nd. Hope to see you there.
Zing?
Other podcast/lecture highlights:
In "The Writer's Almanac" Garrison Keiller reads Louis Jenkins' poem "Too much snow".
My favorite line:
"Someone wished for this snow. Someone got a deal, five cents on the dollar, and spent the entire family fortune."
We don't have that problem in Southern California. As a matter of fact the weather couldn't be more mild if you had your hand on an outdoor thermostat. That was ideal for yesterday's 3 Hour Tour. All went well, and as you can probably guess, I'm not writing this blog from a deserted island. I made new friends and ate more fried chicken then I care to admit.
Zoey's was also a hoot as usual. I've found that as a performer every once in a while I'll get a glimpse of a new level of creativity and comfort on stage. Friday was one of those nights. On Sunday I didn't achieve that same level of inner mojo, but I know it's out there, or in there, as the case may be, and I am determined to grab it and make it mine every day.
Here's to getting better, and staying better.
My next opportunity to slay the dragon will be at the Hotel Cafe on February 2nd. Hope to see you there.
Zing?
Friday, January 11, 2008
doppelganger, except with names
The weekend looms large, ladies and gentledudes.
Tonight a little voyage up to Zoey's Cafe and Loft in Ventura, CA is on the itinerary. Sunday, a little voyage in a boat will set sail (or set motor, more likely) on The 3 Hour Tour. I shall be there. Shall you? Or "shell you?" to make a horrible nautical pun.
Last night, things were jazzy at the Pasadena Jazz Institute. I played saxophone with my tromboning friend Garrett Smith. There was another Zack H. on the stage, although his folks and my folks had differences on how to spell our first name. His name is Zach Harmon, and he plays them drums and them cymbals real nice, although it's not this newly discovered Zach Harmon. How many Zack/Zak/Zach H's are there?! This reminds me of that Edie Brickell song, "someone there's somebody that looks just like you do, acts just like you do, with a different name, and a face that looks like you"
Anywah, I'm excited to get this party started. In case you are wondering what you've been missing, here's a li'l audience perspective from the Plush Lounge.
Finally, I leave you with these parting words:
Open sesame.
Tonight a little voyage up to Zoey's Cafe and Loft in Ventura, CA is on the itinerary. Sunday, a little voyage in a boat will set sail (or set motor, more likely) on The 3 Hour Tour. I shall be there. Shall you? Or "shell you?" to make a horrible nautical pun.
Last night, things were jazzy at the Pasadena Jazz Institute. I played saxophone with my tromboning friend Garrett Smith. There was another Zack H. on the stage, although his folks and my folks had differences on how to spell our first name. His name is Zach Harmon, and he plays them drums and them cymbals real nice, although it's not this newly discovered Zach Harmon. How many Zack/Zak/Zach H's are there?! This reminds me of that Edie Brickell song, "someone there's somebody that looks just like you do, acts just like you do, with a different name, and a face that looks like you"
Anywah, I'm excited to get this party started. In case you are wondering what you've been missing, here's a li'l audience perspective from the Plush Lounge.
Finally, I leave you with these parting words:
Open sesame.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
air/fire guitar
I think I found the meaning of life in a myspace captcha. Then the comment went through and I forgot it.
Good news is I still have Brad Mehldau's jazziness playing on my iPod to keep me comp'nee and enlighten me.
Tonight (Tuesday) I'm playing the Plush Cafe in Fullerton. I've been polishing my guitars and practicing all my guitar pyrotechnics.
If this happens, someone bring a fire extinguisher, or I'll have to play air guitar on future gigs.
What with the political process in the news, I thought I'd share this blog with ye:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg
I'm back on the jazz horse this week, playing a gig Thursday night in Pasadena. Details to follow...
Also, don't forget Zoey's Friday and The 3 Hour Tour on Sundae.
If you did eat a sundae for 3 straight hours, you would probably have a massive brain-freeze (or nose ache, as I called them in my youth).
I got an early copy of the new Big Believers album, and it's delicious.
Till next time... Zing!
Good news is I still have Brad Mehldau's jazziness playing on my iPod to keep me comp'nee and enlighten me.
Tonight (Tuesday) I'm playing the Plush Cafe in Fullerton. I've been polishing my guitars and practicing all my guitar pyrotechnics.
If this happens, someone bring a fire extinguisher, or I'll have to play air guitar on future gigs.
What with the political process in the news, I thought I'd share this blog with ye:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg
I'm back on the jazz horse this week, playing a gig Thursday night in Pasadena. Details to follow...
Also, don't forget Zoey's Friday and The 3 Hour Tour on Sundae.
If you did eat a sundae for 3 straight hours, you would probably have a massive brain-freeze (or nose ache, as I called them in my youth).
I got an early copy of the new Big Believers album, and it's delicious.
Till next time... Zing!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Rain, man. Chandler.
As Radiohead once said:
The raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops
Maybe I can keep this going and make my blog "a six degrees of Radiohead quotes" kind of thing.
Or maybe not.
It's raining in Southern California. This is newsworthy, because it's not supposed to rain or be cold here. Also, everyone here has plastic surgery and a script in their back pockets at all times.
Should I be writing a script instead of these words? Probably not.
Continuing yesterblog's theme of reconnecting with artists who have inspired me, I started re-reading Raymond Chandler. To put it briefly, Chandler wrote noir detective books set in Los Angeles. Chandler's "The Big Sleep" became a movie featuring Humprey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Two of my favorite movies, "L.A. Confidential" and in a more subtle way, "The Big Lebowski" are both grandchildren of Chandler's body of work.
Chandler lived in thirty-some different residences in Los Angeles, in just about every conceivable neighborhood. After reading an article in the L.A. Times (that I can't find, but there's a similar one here) I decided it's time to revisit my first favorite author. Thus far it's been a treat. I'm hoping to work in some snappy/witty, tough-guy dialogue into my blogs.
"I don't like your manner."
"That's alright, I'm not selling it."
Zing!
I've decided to change the spelling of my name back to Zack, or maybe I should call myself "Zing" Hexum. As in Zing a zong of zixpence.
If it rains as hard as they say it will, I wonder if the 3 Hour Tour, will turn into an ark. Tickets are still available, so just in case...
Till next time, don't forget your raincoat.
The raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops
Maybe I can keep this going and make my blog "a six degrees of Radiohead quotes" kind of thing.
Or maybe not.
It's raining in Southern California. This is newsworthy, because it's not supposed to rain or be cold here. Also, everyone here has plastic surgery and a script in their back pockets at all times.
Should I be writing a script instead of these words? Probably not.
Continuing yesterblog's theme of reconnecting with artists who have inspired me, I started re-reading Raymond Chandler. To put it briefly, Chandler wrote noir detective books set in Los Angeles. Chandler's "The Big Sleep" became a movie featuring Humprey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Two of my favorite movies, "L.A. Confidential" and in a more subtle way, "The Big Lebowski" are both grandchildren of Chandler's body of work.
Chandler lived in thirty-some different residences in Los Angeles, in just about every conceivable neighborhood. After reading an article in the L.A. Times (that I can't find, but there's a similar one here) I decided it's time to revisit my first favorite author. Thus far it's been a treat. I'm hoping to work in some snappy/witty, tough-guy dialogue into my blogs.
"I don't like your manner."
"That's alright, I'm not selling it."
Zing!
I've decided to change the spelling of my name back to Zack, or maybe I should call myself "Zing" Hexum. As in Zing a zong of zixpence.
If it rains as hard as they say it will, I wonder if the 3 Hour Tour, will turn into an ark. Tickets are still available, so just in case...
Till next time, don't forget your raincoat.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
typos and corrections
Corrections:
Reno is actually known as "the biggest little city in the world," not Las Vegas.
and
"Fitter, Happier" is from OK Computer, not Kid A.
and
My name is really spelled "Zatch", I've just been putting you guys on all these years.
*Cricket*
*Cricket*
I teach guitar lessons. Yesterday we listened to Elliott Smith's music to illustrate the concept of voice leading on guitar. Elliott's music had slipped out of my mind a bit, I'm glad he's back. Time to practice!
I got a nice mega-sized bump from a 311 MySpace bulletin yesterday, so that extra digit or two in play count for the day wasn't a typo. I'm doing my best to send a "hello" to each new friend, so some of those requests may sit in the inbox for a minute or two. Thank you!
Reno is actually known as "the biggest little city in the world," not Las Vegas.
and
"Fitter, Happier" is from OK Computer, not Kid A.
and
My name is really spelled "Zatch", I've just been putting you guys on all these years.
*Cricket*
*Cricket*
I teach guitar lessons. Yesterday we listened to Elliott Smith's music to illustrate the concept of voice leading on guitar. Elliott's music had slipped out of my mind a bit, I'm glad he's back. Time to practice!
I got a nice mega-sized bump from a 311 MySpace bulletin yesterday, so that extra digit or two in play count for the day wasn't a typo. I'm doing my best to send a "hello" to each new friend, so some of those requests may sit in the inbox for a minute or two. Thank you!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Lost Vegans
Happy New Year.
I have a printer. I have labels. I try and combine these two items when it comes time to send out the ol' PayPal orders of the new album. I ran out of magenta ink. You wouldn't think this is a problem, since I don't print labels in magenta (although, maybe that should be my New Year's resolution). However, the lovely engineers at the Brother corporation have deemed that you must have all varieties of ink in order to simply print black. This is poor.
As a result I have been handwriting the last batch or two of orders until my ink gets here (I ordered it online, because it's a whole lot cheaper). Sometimes my mind wonders/wanders when I write these addresses. Yesterday I addressed a CD to a music fan in Las Vegan, NV. Somehow I don't associate vegan-dom with the neon lights of Las Vegas. Any vegans in Las Vegas surely must be lost, no? Welcome to Lost Vegans, NV, the biggest little city in the world.
As you can see my endless appetite for puns (better puns then destruction) hasn't abated in 2008.
I think this is a fine opportunity to make bad jokes like "Oh Em Gee, I haven't seen you all year!"
I don't have a lot of resolutions to put into practice. There are the ever present Kid-A-style "fitter, happier" ones, but in general things seem to be going right on schedule. Mostly, I want to see through a bunch of the ideas that have been bouncing around in my head. The first episode of the Talking Music Show needs to be edited. I have a burning desire to play saxophone, and have been considering getting together a group, or a "combo" as the jazzy folk say, to assuage those feelings.
I'm close to finished with Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I can't say that I'd recommend it, at this point.
I saw "I am Legend" last night, and I would say that I recommend it. It may not be the most ground-breaking film of all time, but it's definitely entertaining.
Speaking of being a vegan (which I am assuredly not) one New Year's resolution I'd like to put into practice is finding a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm to get more tasty and more responsible meals happening. All this was inspired by my favorite book of '07, The Omnivore's Dilemma.
I'll leave you with the thought that if you're reading this, you've survived 2007, and at least one of my blogs. Health and happiness in the Near Year to you.
I have a printer. I have labels. I try and combine these two items when it comes time to send out the ol' PayPal orders of the new album. I ran out of magenta ink. You wouldn't think this is a problem, since I don't print labels in magenta (although, maybe that should be my New Year's resolution). However, the lovely engineers at the Brother corporation have deemed that you must have all varieties of ink in order to simply print black. This is poor.
As a result I have been handwriting the last batch or two of orders until my ink gets here (I ordered it online, because it's a whole lot cheaper). Sometimes my mind wonders/wanders when I write these addresses. Yesterday I addressed a CD to a music fan in Las Vegan, NV. Somehow I don't associate vegan-dom with the neon lights of Las Vegas. Any vegans in Las Vegas surely must be lost, no? Welcome to Lost Vegans, NV, the biggest little city in the world.
As you can see my endless appetite for puns (better puns then destruction) hasn't abated in 2008.
I think this is a fine opportunity to make bad jokes like "Oh Em Gee, I haven't seen you all year!"
I don't have a lot of resolutions to put into practice. There are the ever present Kid-A-style "fitter, happier" ones, but in general things seem to be going right on schedule. Mostly, I want to see through a bunch of the ideas that have been bouncing around in my head. The first episode of the Talking Music Show needs to be edited. I have a burning desire to play saxophone, and have been considering getting together a group, or a "combo" as the jazzy folk say, to assuage those feelings.
I'm close to finished with Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I can't say that I'd recommend it, at this point.
I saw "I am Legend" last night, and I would say that I recommend it. It may not be the most ground-breaking film of all time, but it's definitely entertaining.
Speaking of being a vegan (which I am assuredly not) one New Year's resolution I'd like to put into practice is finding a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm to get more tasty and more responsible meals happening. All this was inspired by my favorite book of '07, The Omnivore's Dilemma.
I'll leave you with the thought that if you're reading this, you've survived 2007, and at least one of my blogs. Health and happiness in the Near Year to you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)