We're an American Band

I play in a punk rock cover band. I really like the people I play with and I think we are pretty good.
Playing other people's music is a strange thing for me. For over 20 years I played in bands that played originals. In the mid 2000s, I played in two musicals and they were really fun. In fact one of my favorite times ever playing was doing the run of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. But it is different than playing covers. This winter I want to FINALLY perform my Christmas show. I have the players (except a keyboardist), and I am pretty sure that I will have no trouble securing a venue as well.
No excuses.
On Friday night, we played at a local watering hole and it was a really fun low pressure gig.
My amp died before we started playing (by the by, now I have three amps that do not work), but luckily the singer is also a bassist and had gear close by to fill in. The other band was great too. Totally nice guys and good players. Not to be mean about the LBC, but it is still a boys club. Women are few and far between in bands in my opinion. In the 5 years I have been playing in this town only a handful of bands seem to have women or are all female. For the record, I am talking about Long Beach proper. I know that I don't get out much, but I do try and keep my fingers on the pulse of what the kids are into.
I vowed to myself that I would not stop creating my own art. That is why this Christmas show means so much to me. Though they are mostly cover songs, I am making my own arrangements of the tunes and there will be a few originals thrown into the mix. That reminds me, I really need to finish my greeting cards for my etsy store.

One of my best friends, Ego Sensation keeps me motivated. She is a crazy brilliant artist and I don't know what I would do without her in my life. I promised her no more pity parties (table for one?) and gosh darn it that is a promise I intend to keep.

You and Me Both

I am totally out of the loop with music these days. I hear about a band or artist once and again, thanks to my bass student who is a sophmore in high school. I have decided to return to my music obsessing roots and start exploring "what the kids are listening to," and artists who, I in the past have blown off for various reasons. Exhibit A-getting into Led Zepplin two years ago and thinking about downloading a few Blues Brothers tunes. Rubber biscuit anyone?
I wonder if it is nostalgia-influence that has kept me picking the same ol', same ol' for the past couple of years. I could blame the baby for me not having enough time, blah, blah, blah, but it is more than that, so I did an experiment and here are my findings.
A few weeks ago, I had to travel to Canyon Country (yeah, I did not know where that was either) to do some training and I decided to listen to music that I was obsessed with in my Junior High years.
It took me two metro lines and a train to get there, plus I waited an hour at Union Station, so I had time to listen to PLENTY of music.
I started off with David Bowie. I kept only to the Serious Moonlight and Blue Jean era. The music is still pretty good and I appreciate the orchestration and I really like the song "Ricochet," it has a weird feel to it. Also, it is a little embarrassing I admit, but I like the "Dancing in the Street," collaboration he did with Mick Jagger. It is probably because they premiered the video during Live Aid.
After Bowie, I went for Culture Club. I LOVED Culture Club and was fortunate enough to see them in concert. I went through the hits and then decided to listen to "Victims." This song was a pretty big hit in the UK, but was not released as a single in the US. I am sure it is about Boy George and Jon Moss (drummer) relationship and it is depressing. I wanted to lift myself up so I chose Depeche Mode. Mostly, from "Some Great Reward," which let's face it, has a lot of depressing tunes on it. After I listened to "Sometimes", I took a break and listened to a Podcast of "This American Life."

I am really sorry A.
For those of you who are not familiar with Yaz. They were (though they played a couple of years ago) a synth-duo that featured Alison Moyet and Vincent Clarke (who was a member of Depeche and founding member of Erasure). Their music is something else. I was staring out the window looking at the outside world and Yaz put me in a strange state. I was on the train and totally somewhere else.
Their lyrics are so melodramatic but completely sincere. The music is synth-y and not terribly interesting to an untrained techno ear. But damn! I was totally swept away.
My junior high years had some bumps I admit. I tried some pills, kissed some boys, had whiskey for the first time, and barely made it to the 10th grade academically. But I do not remember Yaz being an integral part of my soundtrack and then I remembered. In 9th grade I liked this dude Jim and he totally broke my heart. I think it was the first time I had really had heartache. This might have been when I bought "Upstairs at Eric's," and Yaz can definitely be break-up music. Also, I think that in a strange way their music has stood the test of time. I know that some would very much disagree and you are entitled to you opinion.
"Mr. Blue" is from their second record "You and Me Both (1983)," (which I think is a better record then their first, though the critical acclaim is mostly for their first record) and it is a super sad song.

"Winter sounds are crying-Like an old man slowly dying
And the only sound, the wind that fills the trees
Even colder comes the moon
And though it never seems too soon
A sudden stillness as the rainfall starts to freeze
I'm mister blue and I'm here to stay with you and no matter what you do
When you're lonely, I'll be lonely too."

Whew. For some reason these lyrics get me every time and take me to a place when heartbreak was not only painful, but new...

Penthouse and Pavement

Inspiration. Motivation. Execution.
I was at the first really loooonnnnnggg work meeting and our fearless leader was yammering on about being psyched while doing your job and I am really good at faking that part. Being motivated to finish one of my many creative projects is quite another thing.
My friends in the band have helped with their latest endeavor, a podcast. It is so good and it totally want to finish a project. Thanks Dave W. and Ego!

https://soundcloud.com/white-hills-radio/wh-podcast-01

She bought a clock on Hollywood Boulevard the day she left...

I just read a blog of a dear friend of mine and it inspired me to write one of my own. She is currently listening to music that was important to her when she was a in her teens. Though she apparently doesn't like Yaz (c'mon Mr. Blue, Midnight, Nobody's Diary?). She expresses an appreciation for the music of her yesteryear and is embracing it by listening to it again.
I started to reflect on the music I used as my soundtrack and the mix tapes I created to define moments like new loves, heartbreaks, and  angsty business I got into. There are many bands (i.e. Culture Club, The English Beat) that were SUPER important to me for a year or two and songs that meant EVERYTHING to me (i.e. Kim Wilde "Kids in America" and  J. Geil's Band "Freeze Frame") for a few weeks of summer.
There is one band that I have loved since I was 16 years old and three weeks ago I saw them for (I think) the 43rd time.
The first time I heard them was when I was in 8th grade. I was dabbling in punk rock and listening to KSPC 88.7 the college radio station that I could pick up in the Inland Empire. Their record More Fun in the New World had just been released and I think that X was the opening act for The Clash who were on tour supporting Combat Rock. Which if you ask any real Clash fan will tell you is their second worst record barely beating out the rightfully named Cut the Crap.
The song I heard off the X record was The New World  and I really liked it. I taped it off the radio the next time I heard it and the following school year I bought the 45 of their cover of Breathless, which was featured in a movie of the same name. By the end of 9th grade I was obsessed with watching  music video programs (MV3, Night Flight, Friday Night Videos) because I did not have MTV at my dad's house. When I would visit my mom I would stay up all night watching the same 22 videos (okay there were more than that by then) over and over again. I saw X's Hungry Wolf  video and I decided that I was going to like this band and bought their album Under the Big Black Sun. I liked it alright, but  now looking back I don't think I was ready for them.
Tenth grade proved to be difficult at first for me to maneuver. I was at a new school and it was a clean slate. One friend I made was into metal and the other was all about ABC (pounds, dollar, millionaire). I was a punk rocker, but I still listened to Swedish Eagle's show on KROQ and went dancing at Studio K at Knott's  Berry Farm. Yeah, I was confused. Ain't Love Grand was released in 1985 and at the time John Doe and Exene were in the middle of their divorce. The record changed me.
By the time I moved to San Francisco five and a half years later I had all of their records on either vinyl CD or both. I started to see them every time they played in my city. My good friend, Ego Sensation introduced me to The Knitters (country side project featuring X plus Dave Alvin) and John Doe as solo artist. I had originally been an Exene specific fan, listening and seeing her solo endeavors, but Mr. Doe became one of my inspirations and influences as a musician (and of course bassist).
In SF during my twenties, they got me through some crazy party times (Must Not Think Bad Thoughts), which my friend A will tell you I listened to A LOT. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes was in heavy rotation during one of my two significant break ups. Because I Do helped me through the other heartbreak. When I decided to move in with my boyfriend (who is my husband now) I revisited the entire album of Wild Gift and UnClogged, which contains acoustic versions of their songs.
My husband makes fun of me when we go to X and X related shows, he thinks it is some weird cult kind of thing because we see so many familiar faces. The band has been around since 1977 and I have been going to their shows since 1987.

I love listening to music that was part of my life movie from when I was younger and I find comfort that X has been in my life for so long.

Happy new year! Happy new year! May we all have a vision now and then. Of a world where every neighbor is a friend.

Happy New Year!
Back at work after a nice 11 days off!
Went to Seattle for a few days and it was really fun. M is a pretty good traveler. There were only two real episodes of fuss. One was on the plane to Seattle, I am not sure if it was the heat (the plane was REALLY hot), or no milk. We made a rookie error and did not buy milk before we boarded the plane. We assumed that they would have some...oops! Sorry baby! The second fuss was before boarding the plane home and it was because she had a wicked whiz diaper that had soaked all the way into her pants! Ooops! Otherwise she was a great traveler. On the way home she fell asleep with her feet in Papa's face and I was holding her head in my hand.

Instead of new year's resolutions my friend suggested that we pick a word. B picked steps, our other friends picked truthful and adventurous. What did I pick? Zany. Really? Like I am not a frickin' weirdo already.
So folks, 2013 is the year of ZANY for me!
Below are some of the definitions that I found on the interweb.
In ode to Justin Timberlake I am gonna bring zany back...Yeah.

From the urban dictionary and Merriam-Webster
An out-of-fashion word for wacky and individualistic. Most zany things are out of fashion now too.

a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal  AND one who acts the buffoon to amuse others

Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! While the merry bells keep ringing...

I cannot believe that Christmas is just under a week away. I have already watched Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, White Christmas, and The Santa Clause. I still have to watch Scrooged and of course Holiday Inn.
With all of my free time I want to explore one of my musicological passions---Christmas music.
I was thinking of examining the orchestration of religious Christmas music to secular Christmas music. My theory (without much to go on) is that the orchestration used in the 30s, 40s and early 50s shaped what is used in the tunes. I don't know maybe I am on to something...

Learn to love me... Assemble the ways.. Now, today, tomorrow and always

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Whew! The holidays are over. Having a baby has changed the dynamic for celebrating the Yuletide cheer-for the better. It is all about her.

I have an interesting relationship with some of my relatives. They have no idea who I am or what I have done for the past twenty plus years.

I have actively been playing in bands since 1987. In that time I have written at least 100 songs, recorded with bands/solo, been in two musical productions, played over 1,000 shows, and toured the US a couple of times. Granted I am not a member of the Dave Mathews Band, but being a musician is part of who I am. And in 2010, I received my master’s degree in music history to boot! So when there are gestures that are completely oblivious to the fact that I know how to play instruments or know anything about music. I have to laugh and say things like- “Yeah, I know, I have played guitar for twenty five years,” or my favorite “Her (my daughter) parents are both musicians, you know?”

Okay, I am not super duper close to these people, but the small talk at these functions either there is no effort to find out how I am doing or if there is an acknowledgment it is usually negative. One of my favorites from about 8 years ago was, “I don’t know why you still waste your time playing, it seems like a waste of time.” A classic!

At least now, they don’t have to pretend to give a crap about me, because it IS and SHOULD be all about the baby. I want her to play instruments so bad. I hope that if she does decide to be a musician they will recognize her passion for it. I wasn’t going to post this, but fuck it they are not gonna read it anyway.

The picture is a painting that is on one of those boxes that control the stop lights. It is on my way home from work and when I was pregnant I walked by it everyday.