Author: Ady

Philly area freelance photographer

Ride TLA Philly 7-22-17

Guest Review by: DSM (Thanks DSM for sharing this with the sis diss)

Ride TLA Philly 7-22-17 photo by: DSM

Twenty-one years is a long time to wait for something. Then again, when you never thought that ‘something’ would ever happen again, the reward for all that delayed gratification can be really sweet. This may be why the patrons in Philly’s TLASaturday night conveyed a restless anticipation before Ride took the stage. People fidgeted, people shifted their weight from one foot to another in nervous rocking, others just kept eyes forward, talking out of the sides of their mouth to one another, as if they didn’t want to avert their eyes and miss the first cue that all that waiting would come to an end.

When Gardener, Bell, Queralt and Colbert walked on stage the rocking quickened, the necks telescoped forwards and upwards, and some began bouncing up and down. With the first note of “Lannoy Point”, the first track from their newest album Weather Diaries released June 16th, it was realized – faces turned toward each other, some smiling at each other with a contented half smile, others with grins stretching ear to ear. It looked like some were giggling with glee.

Ride gathered a loyal following in 1990 with Smile, which consolidated prior EP material, and what is considered their debut album, Nowhere. The highly acclaimed album – Rolling Stone called it a ‘masterpiece’ – placed Ride in good company with The Stone Roses, My Bloody Valentine… But the ride was short-lived. 1992 saw the release of another solid album, Going Blank Again, where the energy and musicianship again blended crisply from track to track. Four years and two diminished albums later, the band broke up. But those first two years left their mark on fans and critics alike.

Weather Diaries may be what could have or should have followed Going Blank Again. Its sounds are more of a refined progression than the band’s releases in ’94 and ’96. This may be the band’s rationale for providing a nice shuffle between 1990 to ’92 discography and their current release in their live set Saturday night. After their opening with “Lannoy Point” and the album’s following track “Charm Assault”, there was a crescendo of shouting and cheering when “Seagull”, the opening track from Nowhere sounded its first notes. For an hour and 45 minutes, the band weaved in and out new and older, with seemingly thoughtful progression through the set list. The set was crisp, the musicianship flawless, and a sonic wall of energy came from a surprisingly minimalist stack of Marshall and Vox amplifiers.

Mark Gardener and Andy Bell smoothly choreographed their harmonic vocals live. There’s no straining here with older voices. They’ve matured – and have said as much in recent interviews – and looked like they were enjoying it. They intertwined their guitar work seamlessly as well. Loz Colbert’s drumming is a terrific balance of control and speed, again demonstrating an individual well skilled in his playing ability. His articulation of percussion in sound and movement is as fun to watch as it is to hear and feel. Steve Queralt serves up the support that has been evident throughout their recording history — bass lines that balance out the weaving reverb of guitars, with just the right amount of intricacy sometimes to play a part in the weaving. From all four, studio session playing quality, with just the right amount of energy and variance from the studio tracks that you were undoubtedly listening live. They took “Drive Blind” and wonderfully embellished it past the seven-minute mark.

And that’s the key for my tastes in live performances from bands and music like this. Match the integrity of the studio production as much as possible, while serving up the energy and variance to remind us we’re live. As an endnote, a note about the night’s end. The encore concluded with the superb wall of sound from “Leave Them All Behind”, and as Colbert remained, he pulled out his phone and took a shot of the crowd. That should be a nice ending, but the crowd remained. The stomping and shouting had an even pace, and maybe that’s why it kept going minutes until the crew brought equipment back out, the four emerged, and gave us wonderful renditions of “Dreams Burn Down” and finally “Chelsea Girl”. Gardener graciously told us that was really a wrap, and Colbert saw fit to take another picture.

End notes after endnote… Tomorrow night is their D.C. show, and then they depart for the U.K. and a quick stop in Japan. They’ll be back to the U.S. on September 20th. And, if you have a notion to take a run and hope to ‘run’ into the band, Steve Q and Loz apparently like to take a jog, as they did in Philly this very morning.

DSM

Tim Kasher Johnny Brenda’s 6-1-17

I don’t want to be wordy today. But I do want to share my fun from last night. And it was fun, I can’t lie. I made it out to Tim Kasher at Johnny Brenda’s (which is one of my favorite Philly venues) even though I had found out that his set wouldn’t go on until 11pm. So, let me just say there’s maybe 10 musicians that can keep me out way late, or make me use personal days to see their shows. Tim is one of them, he’s always been. I have had his show planned for some time to be my summer kick off for concert season. Check the Sisters Dissonance archived reviews to see posts from years past- including a miniature interview I did with him awhile back. Anyway, I made it and I’m going to share some of it with you. I got an audio clip of him performing “Entertainer” a song from another band of his The Good Life seriously we also got to hear some Cursive too.

Audio clip of “Entertainer”

So here’s some more background info. He released a new album recently titled No Resolution. I feel like it is the evolution of sorts from The Game of Monogamy released in 2010. I couldn’t miss my chance to hear him play his set from this newest release- and of course we also got so much more. I am not surprised.

I took some photos, and some videos and some audio clips. Browse it all, take a look at the (photos link here) – listen to the clips I added and enjoy! Try to check him and his talented band out on this tour. I hope he’s coming your way. Meanwhile I’m operating today on 3.5 hours sleep. Meh. Oh, and soon there will be some youtube videos (link here) once I get them uploaded so keep checking back.

You can listen to a clip of “Truly Freaking Out” from his release Adult Film which fell in between The Game of Monogmay and the latest ->No Resolution.

The best part of this clip is the smashing glass in the background. A really happy woman (if you’re reading– hi! don’t be embarrassed, we were all excited and your dancing was truly part of the fun) twirled into a glass. It was obviously a smashing fun night.

Okay, yeah. That was me being not wordy.

Till next show

~Ady

Interview | Joy Riding

I always enjoy doing Q & A interviews. Totally fun for me to get to know new people, discover their music and spend some time taking their photos- asking some questions. It’s like putting together a little package I get to send out to the world to share.

On 4.22.17 I had the opportunity to meet up with the fellas of Joy Riding a Philadelphia based band at Creep Records for record store day (it was a blast btw). You should go see them live June 5th at Pharmacy and/or catch their record release show for their record “You’re So Smart” on June 16th at Johnny Brenda’s. If you can’t make that you can pick up their new record digitally on June 2nd.

Joy Riding left to right: Brian Mietz Keys/Guitar, Scott Rumble: Drums and percussion, Joe Ryan: vocals, guitar (and keys when recording), John Masino: Guitar, Kerry Mahoney: Bass

Ady: Joe! I’m thrilled to be able to have a some time to chat with you and the rest of the guys from Joy Riding. When did Joy Riding form? Did you all know each other before the band got started?

Joe: Hey! Me too! Chatting is good. Joy Riding formed as an idea a really long time ago when my old band stopped. I planned on just making music under the name Joy Riding by myself. I knew Scott (drums), John (guitar), and Kerry (bass) and I kinda figured I’d ask them to play when I got things going. John and Scott were in one of my favorite bands (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start) so it is/was kind of awesome to get to play with them. Kerry was in some bands and was bandless at the time Joy Riding was getting started, and we’re tight, so it was a no-brainer to ask him. Brian (guitar/keys) just joined the band a few months ago and I’ve always sort of obsessed over his music. It’s really great to have all these dudes. But to answer the original question, we’ve been a band for like 4-5 years now.

Ady: Wait, at first I thought (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start) was a Mortal Combat combo, but I could be wrong… is that Contra? I digress. Feel free to not answer my childhood video game obsession related question.

Joe: Haha, It’s Contra. Scott can elaborate on this…

Scott: Well, if you want to get technical about it – and who doesn’t? – the code could be used for multiple Konami games. But Contra is the one that was most popular because it was pretty much impossible to play without the code. Regardless of what game it comes from, it’s a terrible name for a band.

Ady: I shouldn’t know those codes regardless (but I do) so you get a free pass on the band name.

Ady: Tell me about your latest release “You’re so Smart”. What was the inception of “You’re so smart” like?

Joe: Aw man! It’s our first full length, which is super exciting. It took us a really long time to make. We had a bunch of recording obstacles and it took a really long time to record – but now that it’s done and ready for the world, it’s really exciting. The songs feel sort of old to us now, I think. But I think it will be neat for everyone else who’s seen us play most of the songs live a bunch to finally hear them on record.

Ady: I have heard other bands also talk about the challenges of recording and getting the full length out there. Glad you guys stuck through the process. What was your best memory of putting together “You’re so smart”?

Joe: Certainly. We definitely went through some shit. The producer (Dave) basically made us re-record the whole record after we got halfway through because he wasn’t happy with how it was sounding – that was such a bummer, but listening back to the first recordings to the final ones, it was definitely the right move. That delayed the process for probably a whole entire year. That was definitely the biggest challenge. As far as best memory, I think my favorite memory was probably recording the song “Hail Mary”. I have this problem where I get attached to my original demos and that one probably stayed the most true to the very first recording I did in my bedroom. That was a fun one to record.

jr3

Ady: “Hail Mary”, it’s a good one. It’s catchy, I’ve caught myself singing it in my head a few times since I’ve heard it. What’s it all about? (I love knowing the story behind the songs…)

Joe: That was the last song written for the album and the newest one. It was actually written for the Arbor Christmas record that we participate in every year – but the reception was really good and we felt like it was good enough to be on our album. It’s about the beach and the birds and the baes.

Ady: I love that you wrote a Christmas song about the beach (and the birds and the baes).

Joe: Haha, thanks! The Christmas songs are particularly all over the place because they’re usually crammed and written at the last minute. I do like our Christmas catalog though. They’re all fun.

Ady: Do you have a favorite track on the album?

Joe: The easy answer for me would be that they’re all my favorite – but i’m a #risky guy, so i’ll take the hard route here and say the closer, “Grad School”. At some point during recording, Dave Downham (producer) and I started talking about how Grad School might sound cool as a piano song. We shortened it a bit and recorded just a vocal over a piano with all this noise/feedback that comes in and leads into the ending. We had recorded an early full band version, which I like just fine, but I think the piano version is a much better representation of that song and makes for a pretty good album closer. We actually released the full band version a couple months ago, so at least those early *cut* recordings weren’t a complete waste!

jr2

Scott: From a “my favorite song” standpoint, I think it would be the second track, “Suzie Lynn.” I’m typically more into the crunchier or poppier songs we write, so that one hits those key points for me. But I really love how the title track ended up coming out in the recording. I just love the way it sounds and the long solo ending is pretty out of character for us, so it’s a nice change of pace. I think it’s a toss up between those two.

Ady: I can get behind that. I like “Suzie Lynn” too. Ya’ll don’t seem to have trouble creating catchy tunes.

Ady: Does it happen to musicians where they get more attached to some songs rather than others?

Joe: I think so. It definitely happens to me. I feel like when I first finish a song, i’m really into it. And then the band works on it and we play it a few times. Then i’m just over it.

Ady: Are your fave songs also your faves to play live?

Joe: Hmm, not always. We try and throw a cover into most of the live shows and they’re usually my favorite to play. Lately we’ve been doing this Springsteen song that I really like to play. Mostly, I just like butchering it when we introduce it to the crowd. I told the audience in Long Island a few weeks ago that it was by “New York’s own Bruce Springsteen” and we got some boo’s and strange looks.

Ady: Ah, ha ha keep them on their toes Joe.

Ady: Who are your biggest childhood musical influences? Would you say these influences still shine through in your current work? And, I have to ask what was the first album you owned that you actually purchased yourself? Ohhh, and your first concert? These are the most important firsts (in contradiction to what society may think–who cares when we took our first steps or said or first words or whatever!)

Joe: Well, I have two older brothers and when I was a kid, I was pretty obsessed with Kurt Cobain. Like to the point where it was sort of creepy. My two favorite things in life were like Kurt Cobain and the 76ers. My brothers were super into Nirvana and I pretty much just liked whatever they liked. I still love Nirvana a ton. My parents always had pretty cool music on throughout my childhood too, I guess. My dad loves Springsteen, so he was someone that I was always hearing and I still love him. My mom always just listened to pop music, which would probably explain my obsession with Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen. I think these influences sort of shine through in us? I remember getting the first mixes back and listening to “Suzie Lynn” and my brother telling me it sounded like a Nirvana song. I definitely can’t sing like Kurt Cobain though, probably more so Carly Rae. I think the first album that I purchased myself was probably like Dude Ranch. I loved Blink-182 when I was in my teens. I think my parents took me to a Beach Boys concert when I was 4 years old.

Ady: I love it! You’re all over the place with influences and likes. It’s got to be that way in order to keep your music alive and evolving over time I imagine. And Over liking Nirvana is in no way creepy. KC was the best of the best. Talking to a true blue.

Scott: My history with music is a terrible story compared to most respectable indie musicians, I suppose. My parents listened to some pretty lame stuff – The Carpenters, Alabama, Garth Brooks – just the worst. Okay, The Carpenters aren’t the worst. But everything else. And it took me a long time until I realized that. I also have an older brother and he somehow, through sheer force of will I suppose since this was pre-everyone-had-a-computer-and-the-internet days, was able to break through our checkered music past and found out about bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Texas is the Reason and that sort of stuff when I was in my early teens. That led me to find Braid, The Dismemberment Plan, The Promise Ring, all huge influences that I continue to try to rip-off. They changed everything for me. But they can’t change the fact that I think the first album I bought with my own money was Bon Jovi’s “New Jersey” from The Wall in the Ocean County Mall. That’s a stain that doesn’t wash off. But hopefully I get some points back by saying that my first concert ever was to see The Promise Ring on their tour supporting “Nothing Feels Good” (which is an all-time favorite) at Maxwell’s in Hoboken when I was 16. C-clamp and Compound Red opened. It was so great.

Ady: Scott, I think you can release yourself of the checkered music past knowing you found your way. We all do eventually. And we all have those albums we try not to admit we owned (eh hem I think my big admit would be buying my own first cd when cds first became a thing – wait for it- Big Daddy Kane’s “Long Live the Kane” 1988). Oh, and don’t you worry I also had a copy of Bon Jovi’s “New Jersey” and I think I bought the Young Guns soundtrack too (did I just admit that in a public forum?). See, we’ve all got these bones in our closet! I think in order to be a good musician- or a discerning listener you have to be all over the map and know just about every genre you can.

Joe: Shit. I wish our album was called “Long Live the Joy”.

Ady: Perhaps you’ve got your next album name. And I just have to say, after I divulged that info about my first cd purchase I went to youtube and listened to a little bit of Big Daddy Kane and to my shock and confusion I still knew all the lyrics. This journey into Youtube also led me to Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story”.

Ady: So guys what’s next for you? When is the next show? Summer tour dates to come?

Joe: We’re playing on June 5th at Pharmacy and then our record release show is June 16th at Johnny Brenda’s. The record is coming out digitally on June 2nd and then all the physical copies will be available at the release show and beyond. The tapes are being released on Black Rd Records and they look super amazing. It’s been a really long time coming so i’m super pumped to see what everyone thinks of it. Beyond that, we’d like to do some touring now that we’ll have our record out. Either that, or we’ll just break up.

Ady: Yes, it’s always a wonderful idea to break up just as you release. I’m KIDDING. It is not a wonderful idea!

Ady: I’m so glad I was able to spend the day at Creep Records to meet up, take photos, and catch you guys live. You are all a fun bunch to hang with. I’m looking forward to seeing you all play again at Johnny Brenda’s on 6/16.

Joe: WE ARE so glad you were able to spend the day with us too! Creep was so much fun! Brian has been talking about that Ol Dirty Bastard record so much since that day. Thanks for having us.

Thanks guys! See you soon!

~Ady

Interview + Exclusive EP Preview | Night Windows

left to right Ryan Buzby- bass VI, percussion & group vocals, Ben Hughes- guitars, vocals, synthesizer, & korg mini pops5, Tad Lecuyer- drums, percussion & group vocals

I was one of those kids who grew up singing into her hairbrush. I guess in adulthood the equivalent is dancing in the kitchen singing into wooden spoons. When Ben Hughes from Night Windows shared his latest EP Home with me I couldn’t wait to take a listen. It’s the first release in a long time that has me dancing and singing in the kitchen again like a kid and I like that.

Instead of just writing up a review I wanted to know more about the themes in their EP Home and more about Night Windows themselves. I set out this past week to ask some questions and take some photographs of the Jersey/Philly trio. We did this at the American Sardine Bar and it was a lot of fun. And, lucky all of you SD readers you get to stream Home here before it’s released! Take a listen while you read on

Ady: So, I’m excited about this release. How long did it take you to complete Home?

Ryan: The songs recorded on “Home” were added to the set list and took shape in early 2016. We recorded them in our garage studio at Ben’s house in February, they were sent back and forth to Fred (Thomas) for his input over the course of spring/summer 2016. The masters were finalized earlier this year, and now we’ve got some pretty nice looking little cassettes for the analog kids to enjoy.

Ady: Cassettes, love it! Who’s idea was it to embrace the good ole’ days of analog?

Ben: It was my idea. It just seemed like something fun to do. We actually listened to one of the tapes the other night in Ryan’s car, and it sounded really good!

Ady: Tell me about Night Windows! How do you all know each other? How long have you been making music together? And what does the writing/recording process look like among you all?

Ryan: Ben and I met as Freshman in high school. We bonded over Weezer “Blue” and have been playing in bands together ever since. In our travels, we came across Tad while he was playing with a great South Jersey/Philly band called “Big Fat Marker”. They eventually disbanded. Then, in Winter of 2013/2014, we recruited him to play drums for Night Windows. In the music creation process, typically new songs come in mostly-completed demo form which Ben records by himself. Then, Tad and I help to refine the structure and the parts for our instruments.

Ady: Alone (punk rock tees) really resonated with me. I’m 100% guilty of weaving my rock tees into my professional attire at any chance I get. Is this something you do too? I love the line in the song …”I still wear punk rock tees…- as I fool myself into believing I still dream”. Is this how you keep your youthful side alive? And do you have any advice for us on how to keep going even when the years pass (and we work these day jobs) and watch some of our dreams pass us by? (or am I over identifying!)

Ben: When I wrote Alone, I was working between 50 & 60 hours a week as a mail carrier. I had to put everything, including being on time for dinner & spending time with my wife, on hold for something that I didn’t give two shits about. It felt strange and stupid and the only thing that made me feel better was blasting all the old punk records I used to listen to growing up. I had this little portable speaker in my mail truck that I’d listen on. Most of those days, I was wearing band shirts under my uniform. Advice for keeping it going: I really don’t know, but I think it has to do with the idea that you have time for what you make time for. Also, a supportive significant other and group of family & friends helps.

Ady: I like that— the idea that you have time for what you make time for. So true and I’m glad you have made the time! I’ve really enjoyed Home (the whole EP) I’ve had an earworm all week! Which song off the EP is your favorite right now and why?

Tad: Miss You and the Weekend. I love every part from start to finish. Really fun to play as well.

Ady: Safe to assume this one will be included in the set for March 28? (Am I trying to get a set list spoiler??)

Ben: You got it! We have a little surprise planned to go along with it, too.

Ady: The song Alone (punk rock tees) is of course about much more than the attire we wear. You talk about loneliness in this song and also about being ashamed of admitting this. So, is it fair to say this song is about getting older, wanting more, resenting the grind?

Ben: I’d say this song was more about growing up than getting old. I remember feeling really down for an extended period of time. Then it hit me. I was spending all day alone, working really hard for something that I didn’t care about — I guess that would be resenting the grind… So many negative feelings are suppressed throughout life. It’s taboo to bring it up. It would be better to talk about it, but who wants to hear it & who wants to admit to feeling it? It’s tough. I know that those feelings and moods are there for a reason, so I try my best to accept them. It’s still really hard to talk about it. Nobody wants to feel vulnerable or to be viewed as weak.

Ady: It sounds like such a double-edged sword, some of the things that can bring you down also create the space for your creative/writing process. How many years have you been writing and playing music? Was it always an expressive outlet for the down times in life?

Ben: I started writing songs when I was 13. I’m almost 30 now. It’s hard to explain, but yes, songwriting has always been an expressive outlet for the down times in my life. It’s been so much more than that, though. It feels like a whole different dimension sometimes. There’s a certain energy and serenity, where everything makes sense and I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, where I’m supposed to be doing it. It could just be the simple fact that I’m distracting myself or the fact that I’m fully present in the moment — who knows… Whatever it is, I’m addicted to it and I’m grateful for every moment I get to spend in that little world.

Ady: The creative flow! Yes, it’s the space most human beings long to be- where you can lose time and be immersed. Lucky are those who can find this outlet in their lives! So when you’re in this space of writing and creating your flow, is it a solitary experience or a collaborative experience?

Ben: Solitary all the way. I love collaborating and fleshing out the songs after the fact, but I’ve got to be alone during the initial phases of songwriting.

Ady: I love Home, the first track. It honestly got me bouncing around my kitchen when I first heard it. It’s so catchy. I can’t wait to see it live (hope you play it). Got me thinking about your song creation. When you write a song do you write the melody first and lyrics after? Or do the words come and you write the melody to match? The songwriting process is always so fascinating to me.

Ben: Funny you mention the kitchen… I actually wrote Home in my kitchen. The chords came first, then the melody and lyrics for the first verse came shortly after. Eventually, the whole song came together. Back when I wrote these songs, a lot of times I’d write the melody and the lyrics as I was walking (mail routes) and then I’d get home and figure out the chord progression. It’s nice writing the melody first, so the song isn’t held captive by my muscle memory on guitar. Historically though, I don’t have a set formula or method for songwriting. I go through phases and follow what excites me.

Ady: That’s awesome, so maybe having a job that keeps you on foot is a good thing. You can have that quiet head space to create even while on the clock. Sort of like footsteps as a metronome.

Ben: Exactly! I don’t work as a mail carrier anymore, but I do get an hour lunch break that I use to walk a nearby nature trail everyday. Also, my wife and I have an awesome dog now (featured on the album art of the EP in a jean jacket). She’s super energetic, so we take her hiking and on walks around the neighborhood all the time.

Ady: What does spring/summer tour look like now that you are releasing the EP?

Ben: We’re all really excited for the release show at Boot & Saddle on Tuesday March 28 with Fred Thomas, HLEP & Max Stern. After that, we’re planning to get out for some long weekend tours over the summer months.

Ady: I’m excited to see the show also, and I will definitely keep an eye on the tour calendar! Here’s a fun question for you all. If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be and why?

Ben: Hands down, I’d say John Vanderslice. Ever since I first heard his record Emerald City, I was in love. The records he produces are almost always done to tape with minimal takes and they sound amazing. We don’t currently record to tape, but we try to apply the same mentality when recording. It would be awesome to get out to his studio, Tiny Telephone, someday and make a record with him.

Ady: I know you and I have some mutual musical favorites. What’s currently on repeat on your playlist? I love hearing what musicians actually listen to when not working on their own projects.

Ben: New records from Bonny Doon, Conor Oberst, Big Thief, Shannen Moser, The Afterglows, Wilco, Fred Thomas, John K Samson, Pilkington, Sun Organ & Beach House. Also, a lot of old Dylan & Cohen records.

Ryan: Over the last year: Conor Oberst, John K Samson, Regina Spektor, Kacey Musgraves

Tad: Mac DeMarco, Real Estate, Tennis, Deerhunter, and 80’s remixes of Justin Beiber

Ady: See this is why I get along with you all! Great musical taste- and more importantly you make great music. Thank you for letting me be a part of your EP release! I really enjoyed talking with you three, rearranging the furnishing at the American Sardine Bar and taking photos, and having some laughs. Good luck this Spring and Summer.

NW: Thanks – let’s do it again sometime!

Their EP officially releases March 31, 2017 on Black Rd Records.

Release show with Fred Thomas, HLEP & Maxwell Stern 03/28 at Boot & Saddle in Philly.

In addition to their release show, you can also check out their Daytrotter Session and Rubber Tracks Session.

~Ady

Joseph Arthur City Winery NYC 1-1-17

ja2 Happy New Year friends, can you believe it? 2017! I say this with a big sigh. I’m not sure if this is a sigh of relief or a sigh of trepidation. I guess only time will tell. Sometimes when I feel like this I take certain precautions like self-care steps, and these precautions that keep/restore my sanity always lie in music, art, and adventure. I got all three yesterday 1-1-17.(Hey, that’s the first time I wrote the date and it looks weird and makes me feel old.)

My New Year’s Day adventure sent me to the City Winery in NYC to see Joseph Arthur— yes again! To see the full photo set from the show click here. I’ve been fortunate enough since November ’16 to catch him three times live. This is my remedy, you know for my sanity like I said: art, music and adventure. As my break quickly wraps up and the real world is catching up to me I can say I ended it with some lightness, some fun, creativity and photography.

So, Sunday’s show was sort of like a wedding with something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. I went online and found the set list, it’s floating out there, but I’ll save you the trouble and you can just link here. You can see which fall into the categories, old, new, borrowed, and blue (which was the color of his shirt) .

The borrowed portion of the show was a cover of George Michael’s Freedom take a listen here (just now creating this hyperlink for George made me sad again. RIP George Michael). The track was laid down on his phone but he didn’t say which app he uses (getting hip like the kids nonetheless). I had a very visceral reaction to the Freedom cover, I’m sure others did too. I was a child product of the 80’s and I loved Wham and GM but I don’t think at my age back then when Freedom was released that I actually grasped its poignancy. When Joseph sang it last night I listened, every lyric and to every bit of the intention in his delivery just absorbing it. Not to mention I think this cover officially gave him the #badass. I think in its original form as a pop song (and my age) I missed the depth, and to hear it like this I finally got it. It hit me. And I’m being careful not to talk too much about the new president-elect, but I worry about things as simple as the title of the song, the things that should be simple for us all like Freedom. Fair to say last night was strangely emotional for me kinda like a hybrid of feelings that come up the way church used to be when I was young or how my yoga mat is for me now as an adult. Just a deep feeling of contemplation and emotional space you can get once in a while. And it wasn’t just this moment during the show but there were others too. ja3

I’ve mentioned it before, but me and the other half of Sis Diss, my sister Shan are Northeast Ohio byproducts and listening to Joe play songs from The Family feel so much like home, so much like the rust belt we grew up in, all the good and the bad all rolled up in a ball of yarn you can’t quite find the beginning or end to. It feels all so familiar and sitting with these songs as he plays them from the piano on stage just after holiday brought me even deeper into the head space I was in.

I think my conclusion from last night was that it’s not about resolutions, it’s not about getting better or being better it’s just about being. It’s enough. I think jokingly he even mentioned on stage the quote about something being the journey and not the destination. That may have been about his Leonard Cohen cover of Everybody Knows.

One of my dear friends said to me the other day, “it’s not about knowing what’s next it’s just about asking the question of what is next”. I think the New Year’s Day show for me was about revelations and not resolutions and just thinking about what is next for me in many ways.

Not every show I step into will make me feel this way. I think for me it is when a show is done in the moment, and JA does this well with the feel of being free of ego, or as free of ego as you can get. He’s pretty much an open book up there, this is the part of his showmanship that the audience can connect with. I have some mad respect for a man who can just be in the Flow which takes skills to do. (For those interested in what the Flow is there’s actually some scientific evidence for the idea of the “Flow” you can read about here on your own. (I won’t get into it here in this post since it’s too similar to my work-work, but it is fascinating). My best example of this was midway through painting on his canvas with bubble gum pink paints, Joe just stops glances down and decides in that moment to paint a perfect pink heart on his tee-shirt. It was like this uninterrupted flow of feeling, thought, idea and action that just all came out at once. There wasn’t this process of “hey I want to paint a heart, should I paint a heart?, would a heart be cool?, will the heart be a good idea?, does the audience want to see me paint a heart?…”… That’s flow folks. And modern research says in order to be our happiest we need this trait and I admire him for having it, it’s what keeps me coming back and buying my tickets.

So for 2017 can we all just paint some metaphorical pink hearts. Don’t stop and think too much, get into the flow of the good things life has to offer us. We’ve got some negative forces opposing us for the time being. I’m not quite sure 2017 will make America great again, but I do believe in the power of jaol love, art, music and kindness. I think that is where I will put my focus this year.