Monday September 01

Radiohead, Hail to the Thief lives up to the hype: it is simply brilliant.

And timely for me.

Where I End And You Begin

There’s a gap in between
There’s a gap where we meet
Where I end and you begin
And I'm sorry for us
The dinosaurs roam the earth
The sky turns green
Where I end and you begin
I am up in the clouds
I am up in the clouds
And I can't and I can't come down
I can watch and cant take part
Where I end and where you start
Where you, you left me alone
You left me alone
X'll mark the place
Like the parting of the waves
Like a house falling in the sea
In the sea

I will eat you alive
There’ll be no more lies
 

* * *


Tuesday September 02

TravisM over at my place this evening to complete tracking for his song "Pinball" -- I'll be sending him off to Atlanta in the morning.  Earlier this evening, we met with  WalterH and listened to a few songs through Walters incredible sound system.

Reassuring to hear our final work though this system.  A satisfying confirmation that we have done some very good work.

* * *


Wednesday September 03

Travis is off to an East Coast adventure.  I remain here, local immobile. 

For now.

* * *


Thursday September 04

Art opening by old friend Francesca Sundsten at the Davidson Gallery this evening.  Ran into many pals including Billr, SaschaK, CurtG and DebraG and BobW and JaxieB. 

Great to see them all, although briefly. 

Then, on to a fateful dinner at Peso's on lower Queen Anne.   I guess I should have followed my instincts and gone for Chinese with the gang instead of letting a $5 bill tear apart something that should have been torn apart two years ago.  And now back to the life I am meant to be living.  Onward.

* * *


Friday September 05

There is an American phrase we use when a guest has stayed too long, or when we are really not sad to see some one or something go: "Buh-bye." 

 * * *


Saturday September 06

More appropriate brilliance from Hail to the Thief.  Go to Amazon right now and buy this CD.  This band deserves your money and your attention. 

There There

In pitch dark I go walking in your landscape
Broken branches trip me as I speak
Just cos you feel it doesn’t mean it’s there
Just cos you feel it doesn’t mean it’s there

There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
Stay away from these rocks
We'd be a walking disaster
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)

Just cos you feel it doesn't mean it's there
(There’s someone on your shoulder)
Just coz you feel it doesn't mean it’s there
(There’s someone on your shoulder)
There there

Why so green and lonely
Heaven sent you to me
We are accidents waiting
Waiting to happen
 

* * * 

 

Sunday September 07

And more Radiohead, now on constant rotation in my car.

A Punch-Up At The Wedding

No no no no no no ...

I don’t know why you bother
Nothing's ever good enough for you
(By the way)
I was there and it wasn't like that
You’ve come here just to start a fight
You had to piss on our parade
You had to shred our big day
You had to ruin it for all concerned
In a drunken punch-up at a wedding
Yeah
Hypocrite opportunist
Don't infect me with your poison
A bully in a china shop
When i turn round you stay frozen to the spot
You had the pointless snide remarks
Of hammerheaded sharks
The pot will call the kettle black
It’s a drunken punch-up at a wedding yeah
Oh no no
 

 * * *


home

Monday September 08

And more:

I will
Lay me down
In a bunker
Underground
I won’t let this happen to my children
Meet the real world coming out of your shell
With white elephants
Sitting ducks
I will
Rise up
Little babies eyes eyes eyes eyes

* * *


Tuesday September 09

And related, Death Cab for Cutie documents one of the great things about being a songwriter (esp. when, let's say for example, your former girlfriend finally decides to run away to the guy who has been hitting on her for the past month or so...) 

For What Reason
this won't be the last you hear from me
it's just the start
I hope that he keeps you up for weeks
like you did to me

I will hold a candle up to you
to singe your skin
brace yourself, I'm bent with bitterness
I can't forsee

when your apologies fail to ring true
so slick with that sarcastic slew
with phrases like, I thought you knew
while keeping me in hot pursuit

tracing the plot finds
skin touching skin
absence follows

in the end I win every time
as ink remains
sour tastes prevail as you play back
the tape machine

when your apologies fail to ring true
so slick with that sacrastic slew
with phrases like, I thought you knew
while keeping me in such hot pursuit

tracing the plot finds
skin touching skin
absence follows
 

* * *


Wednesday September 10

Part two of "One of the great things about being an articulate songwriter" -- no horrid experience ever goes undocumented:

http://www.steveball.com/music/SteveBall-BottomRung-Demo.mp3 

bottom rung
bottom rung
song is sung
time is come
we are done

all that you said to me
letters you read to me
your words are dead to me
died on the vine
how can I comprehend
your lover your ‘special friend’
was I misled or
was that by design?

grass is long
leaves all brown
trees fell down
made no sound

I knew why you looked so nice
made such a sacrifice
walked out to roll your dice
when my cards were down
but why did you wait so long
sing my song, drag it on
freeze me out, lead me on
you knew I would drown

please him, tease him, in the end he'll be gone
leave me, grieve me, in the end you'll still have this song

bottom rung
song is sung
time is come
we are done

why did you wait so long?
freeze me out, lead me on?

* * *


Thursday September 11

An anniversary to be remembered and respected.

Traveling to Whistler with Tobin and Kim, but stopping first in Vancouver to see Greenthumb bandmate, Pablo Mandel, as well as former bandmates and Brock, Heather, and Clem Pytel.  Come to think of it, Tobin is also a former bandmate. 

A reunion of sorts.  

Tomorrow: on to Whistler for rehearsal for a Wedding.  

* * *


Friday September 12

Drove to Whistler this morning after breakfast with Brock, Heather, and Clem. Great to see them.  Brock had a show last night, but we missed it...

In Whistler this evening -- rehearsal went well, but it was a bit windy (wedding is outside.)  Then, a run through to set the stage for the reception tomorrow. We're going to do an all request selection of SBRS material that Tood picked out from the early alpha edition of the SB Box Set.

My previous fears about the wedding and reception shows are now relieved. It's going to be a good show and a good night tomorrow night.

* * *


Saturday September 13

A wonderful wedding ceremony and reception this evening.  Tobin joined the SBRS solo show and reminded me of the days/weeks/months/years we spent together traveling the globe playing esoteric chamber music for large guitar ensemble. 

His version of the Crossing during the wedding ceremony was indescribably appropriate and incredible.

At Todd's request, we also managed to pull of a SBRS version of a Rush tune during the reception.  The arrangement also worked quite well in Steve Ball Standard Tuning (C G D A D E.)

* * *


Sunday September 14

Driving home with Tobin and Kim.  A great trip north and a good time to be on the road, out of town.  Todd and Maureen's Wedding was a great reminder of what could and should be. 

I have a few choice pictures from the wedding that I'll download and post next week.

* * *


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