And now, the video! I'm actually enjoying this Picasa stuff. Click on the box to watch, of course...

ANTI-GRAVITY KINGS AT THE TAP ROOM, JUNE 5 2010

We had a GREAT time at the Tap Room show last night! Click on the picture here to get to the online picture album.

Another day in Paradise

Waking up to a fantastic looking day! I've got a million things to do but one more cup of coffee watching the birds won't hurt anything I think. Work to do everywhere...house, yard, day job, and 4 bands that need a little attention (with gigs coming up for all of them in the next 3 weeks!), I'm getting a little unfocused but I should be OK. Those birds are having a jam session outside my window right now. Actually, I'm gonna play hooky for a half hour and walk in the woods...that should recharge my drained batteries. All the best to all of you...

Someone Stole My Guitars!

Hey, Everybody,The news today is kinda sad. My studio got broken into the other night and three of my guitars were stolen! What a drag. So I'm trying to get the word out to everybody, just in case someone sees one of them. Here's the descriptions:

Fender Squier Telecaster: White Pearescent Pickguard, Black Finish, Maple Fingerboard, Graphite Nut, Pickup Switch is a Pearescent Tuning Machine, Budzguitar Pickups

Fender Fretless Jazz Bass Style (Made from parts): Chandler Neck w/maple strips as fret indicators inlaid on rosewood fingerboard, Blonde Natural Wood Body by Warmouth, Cream Dimarzio PickupsChrome Volume/Tone assembly, No Pickguard

Agile AL 2500 Les Paul Style Guitar: Body is completely covered in White Pearescent material, Pickups are GFS Dream 180s, also finished in White Pearescent, Some scarring on side of guitar near lower strap button, Tiny hole right by the bridge on top of guitar ...

Well, that's it. If you hear anything at all, please call K. Dalton at the Washtenaw County Sherrif's Office at 734-971-8400, ext. 67396. It's in reference to complaint 10-15493. It'd be nice to see them again, although I don't hold out great hopes. Thanks, Todd

New Song

SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE

Sing a song of sixpence, bottle full of rye
Tryin’ to get away from what’s behind my eyes
Like a bent casino cheating on a bet
Lookin’ for the jackpot, hasn’t happened yet

Out of ready answers, staring into space
I look in the mirror, see a stranger’s face
Need to get away, how long I don’t know
Might just take a day off, or a couple years or more

Somewhere, anywhere
Anyplace long as it’s not here
Somewhere, anywhere
Like a traveling bird in the autumn air
Somewhere, anywhere
Anyplace long as it’s not here
Somewhere, anywhere
Set my feet on the road now, I don’t care

Wonder if you’ll miss me when I have to go
Will you wonder where I am, or will you even know
I’ll take my troubles with me? We’ll just have to see
Maybe at the least they’ll get a change of scene

Somewhere, anywhere
Anyplace long as it’s not here
Somewhere, anywhere
Like a traveling bird in the autumn air
Somewhere, anywhere
Anyplace long as it’s not here
Somewhere, anywhere
Set my feet on the road now, I don’t care

Cheapy Slides

Recently I've been playing a lot more slide guitar...I'm starting to feel more confident on it and it's really great fun. Only real challenge (besides the various factors of playing) for me has been finding the right slide. If you've played guitar with a slide I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Some are too light, some too heavy. Different glass and metal slides feel very different and sound different too...and tone quality is a big deal when you're playing in that style. Some slides I've tried are just too big for my fingers, like the Fathead slide and the Coricidin bottles. I have a few brass slides I like OK, but my fave is a little prescription bottle that Cyn found in a rubbish tip in the woods a few years ago. Right weight, right size, great tone, just felt very comfortable. Problem was that I didn't want to take it anywhere and maybe lose it, or break it, or something! And since they now issue prescriptions in those unfortunate little plastic bottles I wasn't sure what to do. Once again I thank the Internet and my search engine...turns out that 5 dram glass vials are easily available online, and for cheap too! I just got in 12 of them for 8 bucks. Can't even buy one single slide in a music store for that. They seem identical to my favorite slide, and now I'm back in business. May play a little slide at the Jam Session tomorrow...

Spring Stream

The Spring stream comes running down, shining refracted light off the snow around it as the water moves along the hillside, its music blending with the new birdsong, creating a composition that signals the end of a long Winter. From tiny tributaries in the frozen fields, the stream gathers its forces, multiplying, growing as the snow gives up its hold on the countryside. A glistening channel through a white and brown palette, reflecting off the earth, the sky. A hand put to the water there would quickly numb and freeze...this is liquid newly converted from its more solid form, still half in its old element. The rippling sound of the water's running is joined by a strange cracking as the ice weakens and starts to break up. The scents of loam and moisture send a heady rush, a sense of the potential growth hiding just under the surface of the soil. The sun shines down out of the blue sky, turning the cycle over out of the darkness and into the light, as in the soon-to-bud trees, oceans of birds sing songs of courtship, joy and of Spring.