It has been stated that we can see around 3,000 stars in our sky on a dark night. Today is national Astronomy Day. Get out tonight and start counting. I will. A little G Love. A little wine. A little star gazing. And a warm summerish breeze. Aaah…that’s living. For the birthday crowd I hope it was happy. For me, I’ll work on it. Beach House vs. Best Coast? For their latest releases I choose Beach House. Honeydogs live tomorrow. Caught up for now. Bye Bye.
Posted on May 18th, 2012 by BigBob
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Music that I’ve given a listen to that sounded good but not enough to elicit a big response includes Patrick Wilson, Norah Jones, Horse Feathers, and M Ward. All are very listenable but non really move me. Some new releases are still echoing inside my nearly empty head. Cool Icelandic pub pop from Monsters And Men. Colorado folk pub pop by the Lumineers. Sea Of Bees has some folkish appeal and I can’t make my mind up about the latest from Spiritualized. Like the songs but something about the “sound” of the record that wears on me. ‘Bloom’ the new effort from Beach House is airy and pleasant. It sounds like the last sweet days of summer with a wisp of fall. And strange challenging exciting new music from Anders Osborne. Can’t wait to check out his live show next week. Have I mentioned the latest from Ray Wylie Hubbard? ‘The Grifter’s Hymn’. His best yet? I think so.
Well, another food drive is in the books and another defeat to Albert Lea. I just have to admit that community is more generous. They have 7,000 fewer residents and, yet, have collected more food 3 out of the last 4 years. A little discouraging, I confess, but just the way it is. And, in both communities, much needed food was donated. Thanks to all who gave.
That’s it for now. Let me take a moment to wish all you May babies a happy birthday. You couldn’t have picked a better month. Oh wait, you didn’t. I won’t get into that. And now forward into the bog…
Posted on May 15th, 2012 by BigBob
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Happy 1st birthday, Jackson. Wish I could be there but work calls (or demands) and I gotta stay. So, here I am, me and the dogs, watching the storm roll in. How I love to watch thunderstorms. It’s not too severe so I can really focus and participate with the storm. That’s an advantage to being a mailman; you get to be a part of the storm. In the middle of it. I like that. Anyway, I digress. Happy birthday, Jack.
While the storm winds down I put together a little mix I called RAIN. Somi, Ryan Adams, Peter Frampton, Joe Henry, Dylan LeBlanc, David Crosby, Neil Young, Doors, The Who among others. Rain songs or tunes that make me feel the rain in song. Like a fire on a winter night. And John Hiatt “I Stood Up”. “I stood up and I’ll do it again”. “And the rain fell down and over the heads of all of us”. I guess I’m just a rider on the storm.
Posted on May 4th, 2012 by BigBob
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Last week I made an attempt to see how far I could push myself. Three shows in three nights in three cities. The verdict is in…I can do it but it leaves me a bit tired for a few days after. After a winter of hibernation (except for work) this was a bust out week for the warmer months in the northern hemisphere. Two of the concerts were with Matthew Ryan. One house concert in Austin and one Americana Showcase performance in Rochester. The Showcase is still the most relaxed and enjoyable concert series I’ve attended since the early days of the live shows at the Zoo. The final night of the trilogy took me to First Ave and the Toadies and Social Distortion. Jam packed and noisy the crowd was ready for punk with a measure of country and got it. A amphetamine sing-a-long to Ring Of Fire and the dervish of the mosh pit make the night unique in my concert experience. Finished the trek off with a stop the next morning at the Fetus for a little Mojo, music, and more concert tickets. Went back home and worked almost 5 hours to complete the course. Yes, I was tired.
Watched a documentary on the man who inspired the movie The Horse Whisperer. Recommended. More than a animal film it is a life film. Buck. Worth more than that.
And what about music? Heard anything good, lately? Here are a few of my opinions on some of the latest releases and other commercial professions of art. First, the ones heard but not inspired by. Tanlines and Amadou & Mariam. I don’t know. They just didn’t sound like anything I would be interested in.
A bunch of new releases sound good but not meaty. I have no objection to them and they might be something you would enjoy but I cannot say I would give them more than a listen or two. They are in no particular order: Patrick Wilson, Norah Jones, Horse Feathers, M Ward. Two other new bands have an appealing sound but I have not decided if I like them enough to pop for them. Both follow the Mumford And Sons outline for pub pop with some twists. Of Monsters more Icelandic cool and Lumineers more Colorado mountain folk. Some things you have to check out for yourself.
It has been a year of serious reflection in so many corners of my life that this blog and music give me an outlet I appreciate and I appreciate you for checking in from time-to-time. Who knows how much longer I’ll be blogging but until the thoughts stop I hope you keep coming back. Up next…the stuff I like…some sort of.
Posted on May 3rd, 2012 by BigBob
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I couldn’t go to bed tonight without a reflection on the passing of Dick Clark and Levon Helm. Something in the universe has shifted. Dick Clark was such an icon of contemporary culture but he did bring rock and roll into the homes of white middle class Americans. Made it alright in a cautious sort of way. The kids already listened in secret. He brought it out into the light and we are still rocking around the clock. Around the world. Levon was the gritty member of The Band. A group whose influence is very much alive today in alternative music or alt country or folk. When the wheels were about to burn up and come off in a psychedelic purple haze they brought the music back to it’s core. Earthy and soulful with more than a dash of blues and country they were, to coin a phrase, the real heart of rock and roll. And Levon’s last two albums I bought ‘Dirt Farmer’ and ‘Electric Dirt’ are tasty treats of real American music. After being drenched all day I warmed my body and soul tonight with a little wine and The Last Waltz. Even as we age we can dance to the music.
Posted on April 19th, 2012 by BigBob
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Flying back from the Twin Cities into the teeth of a blustery headwind we made it back to the hanger in Rose Creek before the rain and storms hit. Just missed hail and high winds in Bloomington and Faribault. Flying instruments only by the seat of my pants the master machine is safely in it’s hanger waiting for the next adventure.
While spending time with friends and family I watched the original Titanic flick A Night To Remember. British film, don’t you know, old chap. A fairly accurate telling of the tragic tale. Had a chance to check out a couple of Deadstring Brothers discs and they are quite fine. Another top new release is by the good doctor, Dr John. A real voodoo mix of musical potions with the Black Keys. Another quite fine review. Let’s see…I bought the latest from Ray Wylie Hubbard and I think it might be his best. Do I say that every time? I mean it. Every time. Nice new music from the Counting Crows (a cover record), the Alabama Shakes (still have to listen to it}, Andrew Bird ( another winner) and I ordered my favorite McCartney album ‘Ram’ newly remastered but not out until late May. Oh, a stop at Barnes and Noble resulted in a purchase of Jules Verne. I love the movies made of several of his classics but I have never read the books. Now I will. Summer reading and it makes me feel fine blowing like the jasmine thru my mind (where did that come from? guess).
Time for a beer and a look out for the approaching storms. Tomorrow morning a meeting for Habitat For Humanity and a trip to Rochester. Or as Jim Morrison wrote “Tomorrow I enter the town of my birth. I want to be ready.” ???
Posted on April 15th, 2012 by BigBob
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Seems the media just cannot stop speculating on what is happening with the lack of commentary on the Big Bob Blog. To stop the investigations and the punditry I have decided to hold a press conference and confess.
It is with a heavy heart that I come forth to explain…it has been too nice outside for me to sit inside and pass along my generally worthless tripe to a hungry for worthless tripe world. There. Whew. I’m out. Feels better to get that off my chest.
Since the weather has been so nice I have not listened to much new music. Nor have I watched any new movies. I have finished a novel titled Post Office. The book was written in the 70′s by beat author Charles Bukowski. He worked in “the service” in the 1960′s and has some funny, sorry, sad, and all too familiar stories to tell. It’s a bit of a crude read in spots but overall OK. Not a great book but passable.
The wheel fell off my expensive lawn mower last week so I have spent a week trying to get it fixed. TA DA! New axle on Friday and mowed the yard yesterday so we are back in the game. Look out grass, I’m out to cut you down to size.
I should have some tunes to comment on in the near future so I will be back sooner than later. March 2012 was the warmest on record and warmer than all but 13 Aprils so I don’t expect the weather to keep me from my tripeing (it’s my blog I can make up my own words) and rambling. And with more consistent weather I hope to shake this terrible cycle of sinuitis/allergy I have been in for a month. It’s hi ho hi ho off to work I go only to return and settle in for a hopefully Kentucky victory in the NCAA hoops finial tonight. Grab your bourbon of choice and bring your bluegrass pom pom with you. It’s a hootenanny in the Quarter tonight.
Posted on April 2nd, 2012 by BigBob
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Opened the door yesterday morning to let the dogs out and was awash with the chirping of robins. I still have not seen one (I did see a few over the winter) but they are there. In the trees, lurking. Waiting for their moment to (here it comes) spring on us and begin a new season of northern bliss (or something like that).
Want more?
OK. This morning as I gazed at the early morning sky (mainly checking out Saturn) it was hard to miss the Northern Cross which is part of the summer triangle. Only seen in this hemisphere during the warm months from March to Sept/Oct it is a sure sign of Spring.
And more?
Even the clouds have a look of warming weather. More cumulus and rain bearing. Blackbirds and starlings stealing from my bird feeders. Kids with dogs (a real danger for the mailman) even letter carriers in shorts. Motorcycles and boys with bats and gloves. Spring is in the air. Even after a record mild winter it’s coming none too soon, for me.
One more?
The Bose is outside and the screens are on. Time to break out the beer. Happy Spring, y’all.
Posted on March 11th, 2012 by BigBob
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2012 is shaping up to be a record year for me. In one way, not for the better. After having gone a few years without calling in sick once I have called in twice this year. Another sinus malady and after a week of sucking it up (careful-don’t let your imagination get away from you) I called in to take it easy and try to kick this thing. I even went to the doctor GASP! No strep. No bronchitis. Just sinus shit that won’t go away. I got a prescription for antibiotics. Might wait a day or two to see if I need them. I HATE being sick.
So, how is your day? I plan on listening to a live broadcast of Springsteen at the Apollo tonight in my pajamas (I’m sick, remember) on Sirius radio. The rest of the day is mapped out with reading, napping, music listening, napping, soup, napping all interspersed with random nose blowing and sneezing. Sound like fun? I sure know how to have a good time.
Posted on March 9th, 2012 by BigBob
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A weekend of hair raising adventure and wild twist and turns. Just a typical weekend watching the grandkids. My job is to play hide-and-seek with them in the “forest” of our backyard and then to fall asleep in the chair with them on my lap. There are pictures but I’m trying to have them confiscated and locked away. It was fun and I introduced them to classic culture. Rocky and Bullwinkle and Droopy the dog. High brow stuff.
My task yesterday was to clean up the whirlwind of activity that blew thru here this weekend which I did to more turned up tunes. I really like the sound of the new Andrew Bird ‘Break It Yourself’. It has a warm interesting combination of instruments, voice, and whistle. Ray Wylie Hubbard has a new one almost ready to go and I’m all over that one. I’m ready to ‘Court The Storm’ of Y La Bamba a kind of Mexican folk/rock band that really grabs me. I did not come around to Magnetic Fields new one. Clever lyrics but not for me. Julia Holter ‘Ekstasis’ is a kind of ethereal electronic Kate Bush but too much of the same thing to warrant a purchase. And White Rabbit just sounds like too much hip college radio for me (a strange thing coming from a former college radio programmer). Three I’m looking forward to hearing that will be out soon include new art from Justin Townes Earle, The Alabama Shakes, and a highly rated new one by the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Anyone have those or will have them? Let me know what you think.
Watched a smokin’ Joe Bonamossa concert on PBS last night. Recorded at the Beacon Theater in New York it was just him and his band working up a sweat. A couple of guests joined in but the treat was Joe and the band. I’m sure it will be on again so catch it when it rumbles by on your TV screen.
Anne Lamott has a new book coming out soon about her son’s first son. Doesn’t seem that long ago I enjoyed her book about his growing up. I don’t agree with all her points of view but she is a laugh out loud author.
My music to clean by included several old Climax Blues Band selections, some old solo Robert Plant, The Del Fuegos, Sharon Van Etten, and the newly remastered Pink Floyd classic ‘The Wall’. Not much dancing to those but I have been know to bang my head against ‘The Wall’ ( I say that’s a joke, son). No mirrorball and dance classics (sounds like fun – depending on what you define as “dance classics”) but it got the job done. What kind of clean-up job can a person do with a mirrorball spinning around? I would be dizzy. Which is what my dancing looks like so I guess it all fits.
Well, it’s off to work I go but you keep your eyes on the road and your ears to the music. The Doobies said it best, “Listen To The Music” spring is on the way.
Posted on March 6th, 2012 by BigBob
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