teenagers.
they're waking to that penultimate day of leisure. sleeping in? nervous butterflies flitting around. a summer spent apart from friends and activities. no books for certain. now the pressure increases. the sweat begins to appear. the normal disaffected posture quietly shifts to cope against embarrassment or insecurity.
i sit blogging. for fifteen years i too went through the above process... not a as badly as the kids... but as a teacher i felt the same way. now, i don't. i have left the building and i sit at my computer and try to figure out how to get people to give me money.
mmmmmmmm... money.
now there is backwards mapping. road maps... shifting money from this account to that account... beg to play here... hope to play there... the stress is less... the difference is self discipline, right?
for so long my internal clock was tuned to the school clock... "must wake at 4:30 am to get to work" and now, "i want to sleep until 9 am" not feeling successful... must get up earlier and work harder... today wasn't bad but still. hard to feel like i'm pursuing a career when the overall feel of the job is drastically different than my previous money making profession.
odd
indeed
uploading artwork. thinking about my blog. must practice music. must find a routine. routine will find me. new guitar was bought... 1946 Gibson ES 125. really good shape... it's being refretted now by philtone guitars... it sounds like a stick of butter wrapped in bacon. mmmmmmmmm.... wrapped.
okay... maybe i'll post twice today.
grimm
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
movement on the ground
there are many bits and pieces to the process of putting out a disc... strategies and schemes that i don't think most folk know about...
one sheet: the one piece of paper that hopefully answers the questions of who what and where...
artwork: pics of the band, pics of the artwork, design that is appealing to the eye and not ironically opposed to the subjects within the songs...
presskit: formal introduction to the world
the emailing... OMG... the emailing... many emails... here's what I sound like:
Hi there, I'm Andrew Grimm from the Baltimore based Americana type band, June Star...
yup... sometimes I call myself Andy Grimm... Andy just seems a bit friendlier...
today's goals... contact all of my NC Carolina Press Links... send out promotional discs... whoo hoo...
thirlls and chills...
Grimm
Friday, August 20, 2010
piece meals
sacry monster music... that's what mark mulcahy said
about the songs his band, miracle legion... we playing.
what rough tunes belch from hampden? my friend william
butler yeats would have been proud? maybe. maybe not.
new songs are starting to bubble to the surface and
our jobs will be to boil down the rest. cut the fat
and preserve the goodness. the question remains... will
we be saying anyhting new? yes. the topic, the motif,
the what's it all about? will certainly be new...
inventive... fresh imagery for the horses.
several songs come from fawm 2010. however, new ones lurk
just off stage... on the catwalk, to sexy for this blog no doubt.
funny that they emerge at this point. saying hello.
maybe the songs will be about forgiveness...
forgive me,
grimm
Monday, August 16, 2010
things of the past
june star stuff:
good rehearsals! meeting with morphius... will take the blue pill...
blog junk:
the lamp on my writing desk comes from my mother's desk. acutally, my writing desk is my mother's desk. and here i sit, where she sat, it was her chair too, and i write. my scribbles are far different from hers. my clickety clack to her scratching. my thoughts posted to some nebulous network and nether worlds, her's posted to family. she also balanced her check book at this same desk. wow. imagine the adding and subtracting she used to do.
let me not get too far from the muse. the thought should regain focus, peer in and discern that very sense of what parents give us. dna for sure... lessons in guilt... denial... love... betrayal... forgiveness? forgiveness, that's the one i want to talk about. the power of forgiving.
of all the things humans can do to destroy one another forgiveness swings a heavy bat my friends. sure, guns and bio-tech warfare are pretty devastating... physically. their collateral damage? emotional wreckage, right? how could someone do this to antoher human being? man, i've asked that too... and not necessarily when someone hurt me physically... contrary to hurting someone, forgiveness takes away the power, that threat, those fears whose sole purpose is to degrade and deconstruct. not to mention the personal release forgiveness allows. the allowence of sleeping and dreaming... the bitter ball at the pit of the stomach bubbling when you see the person or hear a name. yes, that feeling launches from its perch away from you and into dissipation.
healthy options for the living include: letting it go, not taking it personally, understanding where someone is going or where someone has been. allah, jesus, buddah, zorlock the space god could be symbols for these ideas or tenets.
but aren't these ideas human to human? what of the monsters that lurk just on the inside, around the gloaming hours? then forgiveness is about personal survival... saving yourself... sparing yourself... discovering the wonderful traction that supports or even encourages resilience and salvation.
the monsters cannot be held accountable for their actions can they? can they be explained... monsters aren't human so how could we rationalize them as cognizant of their actions? i know, forgiveness doesn't keep us safe from their physical attacks... but again, that emotional twinge, your inner sanctum, where you live, home, your room, your dreams, your pride, your kitchen, your heart, your "self", those are the temples forgiveness defends... a shield,the force field. bitter roots find zero ground... the monsters can be caged... but so can you, the resentment incurred from monstrous activities feeds from self pity and loathing. think of a drive in... think of that large wooden screen where images are projected... the film showing tonight: What happened to me and look how awful it is! starring: you know who. why watch it? you've already lived it. take down the screen... do not allow the past injuries to reflect on the present opportunities or those endeavors will hint at bitterness...
enough, enough.
grimm
good rehearsals! meeting with morphius... will take the blue pill...
blog junk:
the lamp on my writing desk comes from my mother's desk. acutally, my writing desk is my mother's desk. and here i sit, where she sat, it was her chair too, and i write. my scribbles are far different from hers. my clickety clack to her scratching. my thoughts posted to some nebulous network and nether worlds, her's posted to family. she also balanced her check book at this same desk. wow. imagine the adding and subtracting she used to do.
let me not get too far from the muse. the thought should regain focus, peer in and discern that very sense of what parents give us. dna for sure... lessons in guilt... denial... love... betrayal... forgiveness? forgiveness, that's the one i want to talk about. the power of forgiving.
of all the things humans can do to destroy one another forgiveness swings a heavy bat my friends. sure, guns and bio-tech warfare are pretty devastating... physically. their collateral damage? emotional wreckage, right? how could someone do this to antoher human being? man, i've asked that too... and not necessarily when someone hurt me physically... contrary to hurting someone, forgiveness takes away the power, that threat, those fears whose sole purpose is to degrade and deconstruct. not to mention the personal release forgiveness allows. the allowence of sleeping and dreaming... the bitter ball at the pit of the stomach bubbling when you see the person or hear a name. yes, that feeling launches from its perch away from you and into dissipation.
healthy options for the living include: letting it go, not taking it personally, understanding where someone is going or where someone has been. allah, jesus, buddah, zorlock the space god could be symbols for these ideas or tenets.
but aren't these ideas human to human? what of the monsters that lurk just on the inside, around the gloaming hours? then forgiveness is about personal survival... saving yourself... sparing yourself... discovering the wonderful traction that supports or even encourages resilience and salvation.
the monsters cannot be held accountable for their actions can they? can they be explained... monsters aren't human so how could we rationalize them as cognizant of their actions? i know, forgiveness doesn't keep us safe from their physical attacks... but again, that emotional twinge, your inner sanctum, where you live, home, your room, your dreams, your pride, your kitchen, your heart, your "self", those are the temples forgiveness defends... a shield,the force field. bitter roots find zero ground... the monsters can be caged... but so can you, the resentment incurred from monstrous activities feeds from self pity and loathing. think of a drive in... think of that large wooden screen where images are projected... the film showing tonight: What happened to me and look how awful it is! starring: you know who. why watch it? you've already lived it. take down the screen... do not allow the past injuries to reflect on the present opportunities or those endeavors will hint at bitterness...
enough, enough.
grimm
catching the fever
june star news: none... except look at all the freaking dates we've booked... holy sugar... look at 'em... yowza!
album release: Oct. 26th
cd release show: Nov. 6th @ Patterson Theatre/Creative Alliance
blog stuff:
the true measure of whether "anything" is worth anything can be found by how quickly the low subconscious impulse to acquire matches the passion that created said "anything." musically, dj's used to know this secret. spin the record and kids go crazy... kids go dancing... kids go buying. funny to think our tastes hinge on the choices or impulses of kids. we come to believe that anything purchased en masse by a younger generation reflects the quality of any product.
what a disaster to be reduced to a demographic and not even know it. someone much older and much smarter lays out the clothing, music, political ideology, and socially acceptable for younger more "independent" generation.
i remember the label generation x... then generation next... now, i know i'm behind the curve..., but generation text? pretty funny, pretty sad. that's what they said about my youth collective... cycle cycle, right?
the funniest,saddest thing i'd seen was when my brit. lit. class read 1984 and i posed the question about whether or not the basic premise of the novel was a possibility in current times... over half of the class said, never. this is america... we don't do things like that... the gov't. wouldn't allow it. insert shivers here.
gov't. isn't bad. conception and execution however, that could use some tightening up. right? several times, on television mind you... characters will mention the importance of senators... a high office and that always seems to strike me as odd... i've been conditioned to believe that senators are either criminals or incompetent rubes that can't get their jobs right... or maybe, they figured it out... whatever, my cynical chip is engaged... at all times.
so, i've also been reading Time Life Home Blogging Books on how to connect two seemingly disparate topics... how trends are formed through youth shopping sprees and gov't. control. on page 47 of the Time/Life series... it says, "To connect between to seemingly disparate subjects can appear difficult. However, with some patience and trust in your audience, the common ground will make itself apparent."
so, okay. it will make itself apparent through the crazy conspiracy theorists... lady gaga is really a republican stooge meant to distract us from the real issues... gaga stands for... Girl Agent Grievous Amusement.
okay... i've gotten bored with this... i shall navigate the blogging topics slowly... metaphorically... perhaps... but i will not navigate a ship... through murky waters? tough rapids... treacherous waterfalls... no... i will navigate a my vessel... actually... i'm beached... i'm stuck... mired. so i guess i will be pulling that vessel... thereby becoming some wonderful quasi-vessel... a cyber tugboat. what was it thoreau said? "we do not ride the railroad, it rides upon us."
so true.
grimm
album release: Oct. 26th
cd release show: Nov. 6th @ Patterson Theatre/Creative Alliance
blog stuff:
the true measure of whether "anything" is worth anything can be found by how quickly the low subconscious impulse to acquire matches the passion that created said "anything." musically, dj's used to know this secret. spin the record and kids go crazy... kids go dancing... kids go buying. funny to think our tastes hinge on the choices or impulses of kids. we come to believe that anything purchased en masse by a younger generation reflects the quality of any product.
what a disaster to be reduced to a demographic and not even know it. someone much older and much smarter lays out the clothing, music, political ideology, and socially acceptable for younger more "independent" generation.
i remember the label generation x... then generation next... now, i know i'm behind the curve..., but generation text? pretty funny, pretty sad. that's what they said about my youth collective... cycle cycle, right?
the funniest,saddest thing i'd seen was when my brit. lit. class read 1984 and i posed the question about whether or not the basic premise of the novel was a possibility in current times... over half of the class said, never. this is america... we don't do things like that... the gov't. wouldn't allow it. insert shivers here.
gov't. isn't bad. conception and execution however, that could use some tightening up. right? several times, on television mind you... characters will mention the importance of senators... a high office and that always seems to strike me as odd... i've been conditioned to believe that senators are either criminals or incompetent rubes that can't get their jobs right... or maybe, they figured it out... whatever, my cynical chip is engaged... at all times.
so, i've also been reading Time Life Home Blogging Books on how to connect two seemingly disparate topics... how trends are formed through youth shopping sprees and gov't. control. on page 47 of the Time/Life series... it says, "To connect between to seemingly disparate subjects can appear difficult. However, with some patience and trust in your audience, the common ground will make itself apparent."
so, okay. it will make itself apparent through the crazy conspiracy theorists... lady gaga is really a republican stooge meant to distract us from the real issues... gaga stands for... Girl Agent Grievous Amusement.
okay... i've gotten bored with this... i shall navigate the blogging topics slowly... metaphorically... perhaps... but i will not navigate a ship... through murky waters? tough rapids... treacherous waterfalls... no... i will navigate a my vessel... actually... i'm beached... i'm stuck... mired. so i guess i will be pulling that vessel... thereby becoming some wonderful quasi-vessel... a cyber tugboat. what was it thoreau said? "we do not ride the railroad, it rides upon us."
so true.
grimm
Sunday, August 08, 2010
posts for the post
So… blogging bloggers… here we go… the run down, the skinny, the how do you do!
Mum’s… fun time interesting lineup… june star was fabulous… we played some spirited versions of new and old tunes… thunder from the new album… spectacular in its simplicity and swelling pedal steel… some rockin’ versions of hard working miner and saint reaffirmed our status as baltimore’s most incredible rock band in Baltimore, according to the City Paper’s 2014 Reader’s Poll.
Sound in Stone snuck on in to Federal Hill towing a 12x8 trailer to their 8 passenger van… seems more like they were planning to live on the road and never go home… their set was lively despite few folks in the audience… some sort gypsy rock and roll three part harmony tuba stuff… strange and good…
Healing Hearts were playing their first show… some jitters aside they closed their eyes and played well… they got through it… important with that first show, right?
I’m on the road right now with Mark McKay… we’re in Hamilton, NY… the home of Colgate College where Mark matriculated and graduated… quaint joint for certain… two kind of main streets… two theaters… we played the palace theater… and as I type… I’m looking across some sort of lake… staying at the white eagle hotel… a series of cottages and great big lake… pleasant weather… good times… when we checked in last night we heard this music coming from one of the bigger cabins here… and curious we slinked on in to take a look…
The entire staff of the hotel were dancing and haing a great time! Man… it was cool… they were dancing so close… well… I’d never seen anything like that before… so sweaty and dare I say… suggestive in a dirty way… I happened to be standing next to this younger looking woman… I mean… almost a child as far as concerned… when I noticed she’d locked eyes with one of the dancers… he motioned for her to come closer and they disappeared into the crowd all entwined and pulsated… I hope they had the time of their lives.
Oh… our promo shots are done… here’s one…
See ya…
grimm
Mum’s… fun time interesting lineup… june star was fabulous… we played some spirited versions of new and old tunes… thunder from the new album… spectacular in its simplicity and swelling pedal steel… some rockin’ versions of hard working miner and saint reaffirmed our status as baltimore’s most incredible rock band in Baltimore, according to the City Paper’s 2014 Reader’s Poll.
Sound in Stone snuck on in to Federal Hill towing a 12x8 trailer to their 8 passenger van… seems more like they were planning to live on the road and never go home… their set was lively despite few folks in the audience… some sort gypsy rock and roll three part harmony tuba stuff… strange and good…
Healing Hearts were playing their first show… some jitters aside they closed their eyes and played well… they got through it… important with that first show, right?
I’m on the road right now with Mark McKay… we’re in Hamilton, NY… the home of Colgate College where Mark matriculated and graduated… quaint joint for certain… two kind of main streets… two theaters… we played the palace theater… and as I type… I’m looking across some sort of lake… staying at the white eagle hotel… a series of cottages and great big lake… pleasant weather… good times… when we checked in last night we heard this music coming from one of the bigger cabins here… and curious we slinked on in to take a look…
The entire staff of the hotel were dancing and haing a great time! Man… it was cool… they were dancing so close… well… I’d never seen anything like that before… so sweaty and dare I say… suggestive in a dirty way… I happened to be standing next to this younger looking woman… I mean… almost a child as far as concerned… when I noticed she’d locked eyes with one of the dancers… he motioned for her to come closer and they disappeared into the crowd all entwined and pulsated… I hope they had the time of their lives.
Oh… our promo shots are done… here’s one…
See ya…
grimm
Monday, August 02, 2010
the game and its pieces
the game is called "booking a tour" and it's hours and of fun.
Object:
align 5 shows together in both a chronological and regional sequence.
Obstacles:
you are relatively unkown, people lack imagination, you are relatively unknown
Directions:
1. Gather your materials (press kit, contacts of venues, patience)
2. Roll the dice (email the venue) if talent buyer emails you back (this could take 1 day to 4 weeks) move forward two spaces. If there is no response, role again.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 at least 30 to 40 times a day.
Seriously... booking cd release tour for October and it's starting to come together...
Tue. October 19 @ the Town Pump Black Mountain, NC
Wed. October 20 @ Snug Harbor Charlotte, NC
Thu. October 21 @ the Cave Chapel Hill, NC
Trying to fill in the 17th and the 18th... Monday and Sunday night... yikes... not much fun at all... but i'm getting back into the spirit of the whole thing... I've been working on November and now, today! I begin December... January... we're going to back to the South... whoo hoo...
status of the album,
master, complete
artwork, near complete
photos, wednesday
shows coming up... this Friday at Mum's... you bums... get out there... twil be fun.
grimm
Object:
align 5 shows together in both a chronological and regional sequence.
Obstacles:
you are relatively unkown, people lack imagination, you are relatively unknown
Directions:
1. Gather your materials (press kit, contacts of venues, patience)
2. Roll the dice (email the venue) if talent buyer emails you back (this could take 1 day to 4 weeks) move forward two spaces. If there is no response, role again.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 at least 30 to 40 times a day.
Seriously... booking cd release tour for October and it's starting to come together...
Tue. October 19 @ the Town Pump Black Mountain, NC
Wed. October 20 @ Snug Harbor Charlotte, NC
Thu. October 21 @ the Cave Chapel Hill, NC
Trying to fill in the 17th and the 18th... Monday and Sunday night... yikes... not much fun at all... but i'm getting back into the spirit of the whole thing... I've been working on November and now, today! I begin December... January... we're going to back to the South... whoo hoo...
status of the album,
master, complete
artwork, near complete
photos, wednesday
shows coming up... this Friday at Mum's... you bums... get out there... twil be fun.
grimm
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