Food Banks and Kickstarters

I am raising funds for my life and raising funds for others, at the same time. Last Saturday night my music duo partner Kat Eggleston and I played holiday music at the Quartermaster Inn on Vashon Island, WA as a food drive for the local food bank. And during the past 30 days our kickstarter.com pledge drive has helped us organize a way to fund the completion of our second duo recording. It's all about ebb and flow. My job is to remain constantly in the presence of the presents, and to play beautiful music in honor of all moments.

I'm 49. That means I am going on 50. And I'm proud of that. Yes, I am. Because I now know some things. And I know myself better. I see things from a different perspective, from somewhere up a mountainside. I don't feel a day over 18 even though I sometimes feel as though I've seen enough and am ready to go. Being ready to go is ok, it leaves space for surprises and clears the weeds of personal agenda. And the best part is...when I have fun, I genuinely have more fun now, now that I am going on 50.

I've lost many performance opportunities because I am over 30, or over 40, or over whatever age it is that makes one too old to listen to, unless one is famous. Ha! The truth is...I have much to say and I say it in my songs. The best is yet to come. So listen up!

I guess the question is... "Why do we do things...anything, what we do, for fun, for a living, who we love, why, with our time, our thoughts, when, where, and for what end, satisfaction, community, family, money, environment, security, habit, dysfunction, desire..."
Well, I guess that is more than one question. But, I think about all of this while I work, on music. I work on music most of my waking hours, between the performances, the teaching, the recording productions and the private practice that I schedule in just to keep my hands in shape. Well, I do believe that when one is creating something beautiful, especially with other people, something good is happening, balancing out, not contributing to violence and destruction of our world. While attending the violin-making school many years ago, we had a graffiti statement that we would leave in the public bathrooms in Salt Lake City...make violins, not violence. I believe in that. I also believe that singing is good for humans, in many ways, and that people should sing every day...in the shower, in the car, and especially with other people.

Lunch With My Guitar

Have had a good time producing recording projects this summer, all of which will be out in 2011. There will be a new recording released with duo partner Kat Eggleston, look for news about that on our websites. Kat and I are producing singer Rose Laughlin's upcoming recording. Also in the recording stage is the Bruce "Utah" Phillips tribute CD from the Utah region. Sometimes I spend so much time in the recording studio or on the internet, that I almost forget that I play musical instruments. When I finally find time to pick one up and play again, I feel as though I'm having lunch with an old friend at a fine restaurant in Paris.

Good morning world. On this 4th of July weekend my little Sugarhouse, Utah neighborhood is hosting a 5k run, a flag-raising ceremony and doughnuts with no coffee. This activity is centered in a Mormon church parking lot across the street from my house. I hear voices there. I might join them when they break out the watermelons.

I have had a busy time performing lately for various outdoor events, the core of my playing in the summer months. The all-present sunshine and long comfortable evenings of this region are conducive to plentiful outdoor events. But as always, present here is--the Mormon/non-Mormon issue. For instance, I virtually never perform in Provo, UT. I did once many years back, at a house concert, but have not performed my own music there since. The Freedom Festival, held on the 4th of July weekend every year in Provo, has a contract that states a dress code of 'no sleeveless shirts'. I suppose because shoulders can be sexy, or not, depending on the shoulders, I guess. Although I've lived here for 30 years, I'm still perplexed to notice blank stares from eyes of Mormon church members in an audience, as I am assessed; they are trying to decide if I am "safe" to listen to or not. This phenomenon is noticed by us musicians more at this time of year when outdoor festivals bring together large audiences from different backgrounds. Necessarily my performances are primarily relegated to the areas of Salt Lake City, Park City, ski areas, Moab, and sometimes Cedar City. You can probably tell by now, that I am not Mormon. I listen to musicians of all backgrounds, and find diversity to be more interesting than not. But conceptually, I understand how the mysticism in my lyric style might not correspond with a dogmatic religious context of thought. On the worldly side of this, I have to wonder how many people out-of-state who think of hiring me, worry if I am of that religious faith. I've experienced several people who were, people who would actually come out and say so. If that is the case, there must be more who just don't mention it. And maybe some who assume and don't even bother considering me. I encountered a very friendly sound man at one of my concerts in Illinois, who mentioned that he was worried that I might be Mormon because of where I've lived for so long, and since he was gay worried about our encounter. That made me sad.

I'm an easy-going person who can get along with just about anyone and can fit in with just about any cultural group. I was raised on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and experienced diversity from the start. I continue to perform in Utah and in the surrounding region, but it has become more difficult over time for me to do so without saying something about what I experience. And so, I am writing here, about my experience.

Last night's recording session was phenomenal. I am producing, with Duncan Phillips, a unique recording that will feature some of the more obscure Bruce "Utah" Phillips songs performed by regionally-based musicians. Wait 'til you hear this! It's going to be amazing. We've actually recorded six song basics so far, with more to be recorded in April. For me, it's an honor. For my brain, it's a lot of organizational work. Trying to get everyone into the studio is like trying to move frogs in a barrel. I also don't have time to play my instruments much once I am into a project like this. But you can hardly beat the magic that sometimes happens in the recording studio. One of these days I'll get to sing on it, too. Until then, I'm on the "bridge" with the sound engineer and those who stop by to listen. Last night we had a room full of friends; Duncan Phillips, Anke Summerhill, The Iversons, Buddy Mondlock, Hal Cannon and the engineer Michael Greene. Phillips' fans should see the project's website, www.thelongmemory.com.

It's been a while since I have written. I've had a myriad of activities going on including touring in TX, OK, LA, recording a new album with Kat Eggleston, performing on other artists' recordings and organizing the production of a Utah Phillips tribute recording. This week is quiet. For a few days.
My latest aha...I've grown accustomed to bed and breakfasts. Staying at a B&B is like a visit to Grandma's house, which is a real treat when you are on the road. I think I'll stick with them. When I am traveling, in the mornings when getting ready for the day, I sometimes watch the music video channels. On Monday morning I saw a few videos on the country music channel. Wow. There was Jewel. I love Jewel's early stuff but have not heard her recent recordings. She's now on the country music channel. She has moved? She's country now? In the video she was portraying the 'I'm a model, too,' thing. I couldn't believe it. She was putting on lipstick, puckering in front of the mirror, and all! Of course women are beautiful creatures by nature. We are. And to make the most of that is an art form in itself. I get that. But the upsetting part for me, was that the song she was singing was insubstantial, which is where the need for the model comes in. Oh my gosh. Jewel!!! What has happened???
To be kind, I must give her the benefit of the doubt, that it is only one song and there could be more. Yet I could not help but wonder why Jewel's career would become LESS substantial as time goes on, except to suspect that she's decided she has to take that route. Does she think that she won't have a career if she's not playing that game? Are people telling her what to do? And what about us? Have we gotten nowhere? Do we still have to primp and strut, and put on that sexy, longing look in order to get some music accross? I just don't know what to think about it.
Hmm...I make very little money, was turned down for an opening act slot on a great music tour because of my AGE, have a day-to-day decision to make about whether to continue working in music, decided yesterday that I would not die the gray 'highlights' out of my hair. Yet, if I had the chance to be on a major record label, and to be able to reach the whole world, well, I hope I'd not make fluff. That, I guess, would be obvious if one listened to some of the songs on my latest album. 'Blooming' was released in October, was buried underneath the releases of the more famous people, I'll not be on TV. Somehow, instead of discouraging me, this all seems to light a fire in my heart.
Still, I love Jewel.