I know I've been promising everyone recordings of my stuff and generally not delivering. Recording is harder than you might think, and I'm too aurally sensitive for my own good, which results in obsessive deletion and re-recording of my stuff. I'd like to promise I'll finally hook it up with my youtube channel before I leave on the 8th (gulp), but knowing me like I do, I should probably just say I'll try really hard. Anyway, I'm sure you're all crying yourselves to sleep for lack of my music...
Anyhoo, I wrote another song, and I felt like sharing the lyrics. It's (obviously) about the general tendency of people these days to medicate copiously. Whether it's self-medication or prescribed medication makes no difference. As long as they don't tie you down, it's all self medication in the end, no?
Brand New Me
Hey there, buddy, have you heard the news?
All about the brand new you?
Drinkable, shootable, inhaleable, doable
Comes in pill form too!
Just take it down
Never a frown
Buddy, it'll help you fit
Just put it away
Three times a day
Share it with the wife and kids!
I'm goin down to the corner store
Gonna buy a cure for my blues
Ain't seen my baby for a month or two
Don't know what to do
Gonna drink it down
Sink right down
Won't feel bad no more
Gonna kill my pains
With the brand new me
That I got at the corner store
Well, my bossman, he don't treat me right
Mama don't like me too
"Better find a way to fit, before you get licked
Or you'll never get ahead, you fool"
So I'm goin' down
To fix my frown
Make a good boy outta me
Can't wait to see
How proud they'll be
When they see the brand new me
Hey there, buddy, do you have the time?
I got somewhere to be
Gotta get to work, make a dollar or two
So I can buy a brand new me
I'm gonna work
'Til the sun comes up
Don't need to sleep no more
'Cause all I need
Is the brand new me
That I got at the corner store
Need a pill or a shot
Or an herbal remedy
Gonna ask my doc
What's right for me
Change my name
Numb my pain
Find a way
To play the game
Buy me a me from the man on the corner
Just five times a day
Won't need any more
Just a little at a time, and I'll be fine
Won't be mad, won't be sad
I won't care if the world's unfair
Need no more than a pill or four
Can't wait to see how proud they'll be
Cause all I'll need
Is the brand new me
That I bought from the corner store!
I think it needs to end, obviously. What started off as an honest (albeit somewhat misguided and misunderstood) attempt of folks in the '60s and '70s to "expand their minds" has turned sour. Most of the drug craze was initially about rebellion against the cultural status quo. I'm all for moving outside the mainstream, so I give credit where credit is due to that generation for mixing it up and endeavoring to find a way to think and live outside of the proverbial box. Unfortunately, they decided on a pretty dysfunctional way.
While it's true that drugs have been used for a long time (which, by the way, is not in and of itself a justification of anything), they have previously been used with respect. Like... in sacred rituals, ceremonies, and other once-in-a-long-time practices. This is because the first time it's used, it might be revelatory. Maybe the second or third too, if you space them far enough. But the western ideal of "more is better" has once again bested us, resulting in all this addictive "regular maintenance" shit. I'm glad people are starting to realize we, as a species, are a little fucked in the head. But sadly, trying to fix your spiritual and mental problems by numbing them with chemicals is a bit like trying to cure your broken leg by beaning yourself over the head with a 2X4. Yup... it'll stop hurting for awhile, but what happens when you wake up in the morning?
I dunno... that's my two cents, anyway. I've seen enough people I've liked or loved exacerbate their problems with habitual medication, most of these problems coming from the belief that they need to "fit in" instead of being themselves. I feel this is something we need to let go of. It's pretty clear that we as a species need to grow up a little (sooner than later, too) and that's not gonna happen through a chemically induced fog.
In lieu of an actual recording of my song, I'll leave you with another song on a similar theme.
Badass guitar on that one, too.
Oh, and for the record, I'm not claiming saintliness here. My shit's fucked up too, ya know, and I've dabbled in self-medication myself over the years. But, like the man says, "the shit that used to work, don't work now".
Peace!
-Mojoe
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
I promised you sunshine and daisies...
It's true. If you read my other blogs, you may remember I wrote a P.S. swearing I'd post something "a little more sunshine and daisies" someday. Having re-read (skimmed) my last post, it occurs to me that buddhism sounds kinda emo from an outside perspective. I swear it's better from the inside. Anyway, that wasn't very sunshiney. Since 1/3 of the feedback I've gotten on my blog so far (literally one out of the three people that comment) is about the music I post, I'm doing another music post. This is my attempt at a crowd pleaser.
Obviously this will be mostly blues-related, 'cause I'm a bluesman, born and bred. But blues is more diverse than you might think. In fact, it's kind of everywhere. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of linkage! So, beer in hand, tonight we're going to play a musical association game, similar to "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon", but without a consistent element like Kevin Bacon.
#1- Dirty, dirty, dirty blues!
Seriously. This is the dirtiest blues you will ever hear. An artifact of the shit they played in after-hours clubs that was too taboo to record. Fun fact- at one point, Lucille Bogan started recording under a pseudonym (Bessie Jackson), presumably because she'd earned a reputation singing songs like This.
#2-Asylum Street Spankers
These guys are awesome. And they do a version of the last tune. They came to the ABQ not long ago, but of course I didn't get to see them. I was introduced to their music by my sister, whose favorite song (mine too) is This'n.
#3-Scott H. Biram
I met him. Seems like a nice guy. Scott plays what's known as Blues-Punk, or Hellbilly. Here's another song about drinking!
#4-Canned Heat Blues
Yet another drinking song- this one's done by a brilliant delta blues man by the name of Tommy
Johnson.
Robert Johnson is the delta blues guy everyone knows (the Robert Johnson Foundation likes to pompously claim "no Robert Johnson, no rock and roll!"), and most people know the "sold his soul to the devil" legend, but guess what... that was Tommy's legend first.
Canned heat is Sterno. Apparently it's basically made of grain alcohol, and there was a way of rendering it back that left you with a cheap and effective way to get 'faced during prohibition. And blind. It made you go blind, too. Here's Tommy Johnson's Canned Heat Blues.
#5-Mojo Hand
Like I said, Robert's legend was Tommy's first. Many blues guys have legends about how they got so awesome, and I am no exception. My own involves a key and a mojo hand... if you come to one of my shows, maybe I'll tell it for you sometime.
What's a mojo hand? Well, my blues name, to begin with. But in the broader scope, a mojo hand is a hoodoo charm. Most often a love charm (but not always), a mojo hand is the hoodoo equivalent of a medicine bag- a bunch of powerful objects tied up in a red flannel bag with spells and whatnot. I'm hoping to get one permanently applied to my flesh in tattoo form when I go to New Orleans. You'll see why in a minute (listen to the lyrics). Anyone know any tattoo artists in Louisiana?
Anyway, here's another great great (Texas) blues man by the name of Lightnin' Hopkins playing one of his songs, Mojo Hand.
#6- Silky Smooth
Since Lightnin' can be held responsible for inspiring almost as many people as Robert, I can pretty much go wherever I want from here. I'm gonna switch back to the more modern age and tell you about a few contemporary musicians who inspire me. First up is Gaby Moreno. I heard an NPR interview of hers in my dad's car, and looked her up 'cause she releases multi-genre albums, which is kind of what I wanna do. Her voice is indeed silky smooth. And she's cute. I think I'm in love...
#7-Dan
Did you actually think we would get through an epic music sharing session without talking about Dan Auerbach? Silly rabbit. I don't believe in idolizing people, but Dan is my fucking idol, man. What a badass. I've been listening to TBK since I was 16, and they are the reason I started playing blues to begin with. His voice, and his guitar, are silky smoother even than Gaby's. Most of you have already heard The Black Keys, and if you haven't... shame. You might not have heard dan's solo stuff though, which, in my opinion, is just as awesome. Dan gets two links 'cause I think he's that cool. In a totally non-gay way.
#8-I need a dollar too! Where's MY goddamn dollar?
My sister turned me on to this guy. For someone who listens to as much obnoxious happy-hardcore techno as she does, Amy sure does display some impeccable taste sometimes. Aloe Blacc is another totally awesome vocalist who may be singing in a town near you. And apparently, he really, really needs a dollar.
#9-That old Mississippi sound
Blues is changing again. Now it's not so much with the Chicago and Texas dudes, trying to imitate SRV and BB King... we're going back to the delta, baby. I like that. A lot. I think I already linked you to Ben Prestage (clearly, I need a cigar box guitar). This next dude's music was introduced to me by a friend who runs a guitar store here in town (Grumpy's). He (the next guy) is the only contemporary musician I know of who's clearly studied Skip James , one of my own delta blues idols. I'm not sure how I feel about this, since that was gonna be my thing. Here's an awesome delta bluesman by the name of Mississippi Gabe Carter. He's 26, and white, by the way. Why do I feel like I'm already falling behind, before I've fairly begun?
That's it, for now. As inadequate as I may feel about my own musical endeavorings, I would like to once again hammer in the fact that I finally booked a decent gig, all on my ownsome. It's not much, but certainly a bit of a milestone in my own slowly budding career.
I will leave you with a bit of a musical blessing. This is a Bob Dylan song I found on an episode of a badass show called Sons Of Anarchy. I mean it, for all you who care enough to follow my silly ramblings.
May you stay forever young.
-Mojoe
Obviously this will be mostly blues-related, 'cause I'm a bluesman, born and bred. But blues is more diverse than you might think. In fact, it's kind of everywhere. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of linkage! So, beer in hand, tonight we're going to play a musical association game, similar to "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon", but without a consistent element like Kevin Bacon.
#1- Dirty, dirty, dirty blues!
Seriously. This is the dirtiest blues you will ever hear. An artifact of the shit they played in after-hours clubs that was too taboo to record. Fun fact- at one point, Lucille Bogan started recording under a pseudonym (Bessie Jackson), presumably because she'd earned a reputation singing songs like This.
#2-Asylum Street Spankers
These guys are awesome. And they do a version of the last tune. They came to the ABQ not long ago, but of course I didn't get to see them. I was introduced to their music by my sister, whose favorite song (mine too) is This'n.
#3-Scott H. Biram
I met him. Seems like a nice guy. Scott plays what's known as Blues-Punk, or Hellbilly. Here's another song about drinking!
#4-Canned Heat Blues
Yet another drinking song- this one's done by a brilliant delta blues man by the name of Tommy
Johnson.
Robert Johnson is the delta blues guy everyone knows (the Robert Johnson Foundation likes to pompously claim "no Robert Johnson, no rock and roll!"), and most people know the "sold his soul to the devil" legend, but guess what... that was Tommy's legend first.
Canned heat is Sterno. Apparently it's basically made of grain alcohol, and there was a way of rendering it back that left you with a cheap and effective way to get 'faced during prohibition. And blind. It made you go blind, too. Here's Tommy Johnson's Canned Heat Blues.
#5-Mojo Hand
Like I said, Robert's legend was Tommy's first. Many blues guys have legends about how they got so awesome, and I am no exception. My own involves a key and a mojo hand... if you come to one of my shows, maybe I'll tell it for you sometime.
What's a mojo hand? Well, my blues name, to begin with. But in the broader scope, a mojo hand is a hoodoo charm. Most often a love charm (but not always), a mojo hand is the hoodoo equivalent of a medicine bag- a bunch of powerful objects tied up in a red flannel bag with spells and whatnot. I'm hoping to get one permanently applied to my flesh in tattoo form when I go to New Orleans. You'll see why in a minute (listen to the lyrics). Anyone know any tattoo artists in Louisiana?
Anyway, here's another great great (Texas) blues man by the name of Lightnin' Hopkins playing one of his songs, Mojo Hand.
#6- Silky Smooth
Since Lightnin' can be held responsible for inspiring almost as many people as Robert, I can pretty much go wherever I want from here. I'm gonna switch back to the more modern age and tell you about a few contemporary musicians who inspire me. First up is Gaby Moreno. I heard an NPR interview of hers in my dad's car, and looked her up 'cause she releases multi-genre albums, which is kind of what I wanna do. Her voice is indeed silky smooth. And she's cute. I think I'm in love...
#7-Dan
Did you actually think we would get through an epic music sharing session without talking about Dan Auerbach? Silly rabbit. I don't believe in idolizing people, but Dan is my fucking idol, man. What a badass. I've been listening to TBK since I was 16, and they are the reason I started playing blues to begin with. His voice, and his guitar, are silky smoother even than Gaby's. Most of you have already heard The Black Keys, and if you haven't... shame. You might not have heard dan's solo stuff though, which, in my opinion, is just as awesome. Dan gets two links 'cause I think he's that cool. In a totally non-gay way.
#8-I need a dollar too! Where's MY goddamn dollar?
My sister turned me on to this guy. For someone who listens to as much obnoxious happy-hardcore techno as she does, Amy sure does display some impeccable taste sometimes. Aloe Blacc is another totally awesome vocalist who may be singing in a town near you. And apparently, he really, really needs a dollar.
#9-That old Mississippi sound
Blues is changing again. Now it's not so much with the Chicago and Texas dudes, trying to imitate SRV and BB King... we're going back to the delta, baby. I like that. A lot. I think I already linked you to Ben Prestage (clearly, I need a cigar box guitar). This next dude's music was introduced to me by a friend who runs a guitar store here in town (Grumpy's). He (the next guy) is the only contemporary musician I know of who's clearly studied Skip James , one of my own delta blues idols. I'm not sure how I feel about this, since that was gonna be my thing. Here's an awesome delta bluesman by the name of Mississippi Gabe Carter. He's 26, and white, by the way. Why do I feel like I'm already falling behind, before I've fairly begun?
That's it, for now. As inadequate as I may feel about my own musical endeavorings, I would like to once again hammer in the fact that I finally booked a decent gig, all on my ownsome. It's not much, but certainly a bit of a milestone in my own slowly budding career.
I will leave you with a bit of a musical blessing. This is a Bob Dylan song I found on an episode of a badass show called Sons Of Anarchy. I mean it, for all you who care enough to follow my silly ramblings.
May you stay forever young.
-Mojoe
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