Carol of the Drum

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When I was smaller than little, this was my favorite Christmas song. Sean Quigley plays all the instruments (but especially the drum) for his king – very cool. Plus it was created a week or two ago, in my hometown (one of them).
Sean Quigley – Little Drummer Boy 2011
Uploaded by seanquigleymusic

Fu Manchu

The Strokes – Manchu Picchu – from the cd Angles released way back in 2011

Alone Again?

image from SF Weekly

Uno es el número más solitario!
Alex Cuba – Solo Tu – October ’09 Canada – June 8, 2010 (US)
YouTube post by 123alexcuba

South By North Dakota

I’m not sure how to take the start and finish of this song but what’s in between is good.
Michelle Blades from the 3 women group – North Dakota.

Michelle Blades– Trains in Tucson
YT post by michelleblades

North Dakota Facebook
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Oh Mawn

Gonna take some required time-out, kick back and “chillax”.
Zac Brown Band – Knee Deep (featuring Jimmy Buffett) May 2011
YT post by RumShopRyan

Stage Fright

top: Belgium – after. Bottom: Indiana – before

That’s four collapsed sets at outdoor concerts this past few days (Belgium, Indiana, Ottawa, Tulsa….) – and there are thousands of opinions as to WHY this is happening. Check out this link to a discussion board by people in the biz….thanks Michael me b’y.

Some say “Its the rush to let the show begin”. Some say it’s the cabling. The bottom line is it is bad construction. As we used to say in the project management profession:

“Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule.”

Sugarland Concert – Indiana Stage Collapse (Compiled Footage)
YT post by americagotztalents

Well Blow Me Down!

I just saw an interview with the band The Heartbroken on ShawTV. I like their attitude – something rare in a Toronto based band. Of course, part of the reason for their fresh, unpretentious look and feel is because the lead singer is from Newfoundland.

Good indie band in the alt-country folk-pop-jazz-blues-reggae-metal genre. Members: Damhnait Doyle, Blake Manning, Stuart Cameron and Peter Fusco.

The Heartbroken – The Truth 2010
YouTube post by theheartbrokenmusic

http://theheartbroken.com/

Love Me Love My Ireland

So I’m part Irish. My sister even went so far as to get an Irish passport – which I could do too if I had the inclination, time and Euros.

And tomorrow is St. Paddy’s Day in this universe of ours and I was sent this little piece of work from a friend from Dublin. It seems there are some harsh realities to deal with in the Harp nation this March 17th. And like the man sayz – “no snakes or politicians were harmed in the filming of this video”.

Any country that has a musical instrument as a symbol is good in my books.

Chris Kavanagh – Paddy’s Day – 2011
YouTube post by ChrisKavanaghMusic

True This

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain ~ Bob Marley
If Bob Marley was “my man” then the fruit of his loins, Ziggy, must be my man’s man.

Support yourself. Love yourself. Nobody can take that from you.

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be true to yourself. Peace.

Ziggy Marley – True to Myself
YouTube post by KnowledgeIsKey215

And you know….everyone and their dog has put up videos of themselves doing covers of songs – most can be filed in the dustbin – but there are good ones….comme icitte mes gars….

True to Myself cover
YouTube post by cacane75knk

song lyrics :
life has come a long way since yesterday I say
and its not the same old thing over again I say
just do what you feel and don’t you fool yourself I say
’cause I can’t make you happy unless I am I say I say I

got to be true to myself got to be true to myself
got to be true to myself got to be true to myself
got to be true to myself got to be true to myself
got to be true to myself got to be true to myself

day in day out I’ve asked many questions I say
only to find the truth it never changes I say
if you don’t deal with it it keeps killing you a little by little I say
call me selfish if you will my life I alone can live I say I say I

got to be true to myself got to be true to myself

I don’t care if it hurts I’m tired of lies and all these games
I’ve reached a point in life no longer can I be this way
don’t come crying to me I too have shed my share of tears
I’m moving on yes I’m grooving on well I’m finally free I’ve

got to be true to myself got to be true to myself
got to be true to myself got to be true to myself

Words and music by Ziggy Marley

Spanking the Strings

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When we were young we got spanked. I don’t know why. We just did. We also got the wooden spoon and sometimes were told: “Just wat ’till your father gets home…” (at that point I’d run outside and play until the street lights came on – then sneak home).
And at school, there was the ever popular “ruler slam” which every teacher would effectively employ either on their own desk or the desk of the student making them upset. Yeah that woke us up.
But the best was “the strap”. Sometimes given by the teacher but usually the job went to the principal (ours liked to whack them bad students out in the hall by his office so the smack and (sometimes) screams could be heard echoing through the halls of justice.
Poor Craig Penzik. We called him “leather palms” cuz of his weekly strappings and his ability to take it without flinching – its amazing what a couple of hundred straps will do to the skin on your right hand. Good times.
Here’s a video by the man from Oz, Xavier Rudd putting his strings over his lap and spanking them silly – just like the olden days!

(cool lap slide - XR is playing what appears to be a Weissenborn)

Youtube post by le106tv
Xavier Rudd – Love Comes and Goes – Le 106 Rouen, Normandie 2010