Play Loud

Anybody seen "It Might Get Loud"? It's pretty much the coolest music documentary ever. Jimmy Page, Jack White (not to be confused with Jack Black) and The Edge. It's a compilation of their histories intertwined with current footage of the three musicians hanging out together, shooting the breeze and playing music. These guys are a-maz-ing. They absolutely, unequivocally, positively love what they do. Page plays Ramble On, all by himself, 40 years after it's fame as if he just wrote it yesterday. Love. I could go into a play by play of each scene in the movie but how bout you just go watch it.

There are a couple of scenes I must address though.......or what would be the point of this post? At one point Jack White is hanging out with his son, "playing" the guitar and piano. Now, I say "playing" instead of playing because the term can and should be used loosely here. White, although extremely technically proficient, exposes the simple heart of his work. His boy starts to play a little piano and he keeps urging him to play louder and louder, ignoring the notes but capitalizing on the raw, gut wrenching soul of the music.

Now, when I have sat down to my various instruments, I have always been a little timid, not wanting to disturb anyone or cause my neighbor to call the cops. I'll play the electric guitar unplugged or fiddle around on the piano with something pretty, soft and pleasing. Although there is a place for pretty, soft and pleasing, it is not relevant here. Those two were pounding on the keys like they were they were gigantic, poisonous spiders being stomped to death before they could strike. So, they are a little brutal with pianos. How about a fragile guitar? White throws it on the ground and has his kid stomp on it to elicit strange and powerful sounds.

Sound weird? Ok, maybe a little over the top but he is the real deal. No BS. That music erupts from him and is so undeniably sincere that even if you hate it......you gotta love it. That movie made me want to pound and abuse, to not be afraid to get what is in, out. No, I am not going to beat the hell out of my $8000 1DS .......it's a metaphor. I'm not that committed to the craft. But I do aspire to be loud, unafraid.

I don't have a lengthy rant for this next scene. It just kicks ass. That is all.

Oh, The Places We'll Go

This morning I ran a trail that I usually ride. It is kind of a grind up the mountain but it's worth it. There are several downhill options and they are all sort of bike obstacle courses. Really fun. However, today I had to drag myself there and I was feeling tiiiiiirrrrreeeeedddddd. But the day was beautiful and I couldn't bring myself to spend all of it indoors, considering how dreary it has been lately.

I started walking and the clouds were blocking the sun, creating a slight nip in the air, the wind was blowing hard so I put in my earbuds and I was fumbling with my phone, trying to find a good spot for it so I didn't have to hold it. I was ready to just turn around and then a shuffle dealt me a song I love, my feet began moving faster and my mood completely turned around. Before I knew it, the wind had died down a little, the earbuds came out, the birds were chirping, the sun was shining and I became more content and optimistic by the second.

By the time I was ready to descend I was in a great mood, feeling so grateful I hadn't missed this beautiful run. As I let gravity carry me down the trail I also became increasingly grateful for my body and legs that wound me through the aspens, banked me around huge turns and launched me into the air off jumps. My cool legs showed me a good time and as I stretched them at the car I got something that sounds both extremely cheesy and lame but when I get one I am psyched........I got a major happy bubble. For you happy bubble newbies, that is when you feel so content that your get chills and you're and completely in the moment, not worrying about what's ahead or what's behind, what you suck at, what you have to do that you don't have time for, who offended you yesterday, why your husband won't put his sock in the laundry bin instead of under the bed.....you get the picture. They pretty much rule and so did this day.

Pulling the Shot

Oh, Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. You are simply stunning. But that is besides the point. Watching this video, I was captivated by the frames the photographer chose to pull; the seemingly awkward transitions in Rachel's natural movements that made gorgeous photographs. Not a lot of, "ok, now move your elbow a centimeter to the right and drop your chin, now hold it, hold it, hold it" going on. Guess what? Big shocker here........a posed shot feels posed. Crazy. Just another testament to the belief in shooting sincerity, not pretension.

Beautiful lesson on pulling the shot; pinpointing the moment at which the subject's body language makes magic on film (or on flash card......film sounds sexier......lets just go with that, shall we).

Rachel Weisz by Greg Williams for Esquire UK in HD from Greg Williams on Vimeo.

Nurturing Creativity

I stumbled across this mini lecture by Elizabeth Gilbert this evening. In case you have been living under a rock, she is the author of Eat, Pray, Love, a hugely successful book which is coming out this summer as a movie starring Julia Roberts. I love this book. Well, I should say, I love the parts I have read because this well worn book has poked its head in and out of my swimming bag, suitcase, daypacks, purses and drawers over the past couple of years waiting for me to pick it up, have a lovely read over breakfast or a break in the sun and put back into its hiding place until inspiration or happy feelings are needed once again. So, reading this book has obviously not been a linear process for me but I have been elevated by it nonetheless. Truth be told, nothing is linear for me, so there you go.

Anywho, love the book, love the author and loved this segment. To anyone who has ever tried to make anything..........anything whatsoever, and has either experienced failure, success or the torment of not finishing for any one of a million unreasonable fears or obstacles, listen up. Elizabeth is a little out there but don't tune her out because of this. She is willing to consider anything and I love that about her. No idea is out of bounds but she still has a mind with which to reconcile her crazy thoughts with the sane thoughts so I feel this gives credibility to what she says.

Oh, I am rambling. This is almost as bad as my trying to leave a message on an answering machine and finish before I'm beeped into silence. Back to the difficulties creative people face. She poses a very cool question:


What if...........we are neither responsible for our creative failures or our creative successes?

What if we don't get to take credit for it when something we create totally rocks but we also don't have to feel the weight and sting of failure when we suck?

Listen to Elizabeth.........she is much more engaging, coherent and literate than I.

Eager

This pretty much sums up my life right now. I am working on or toward things I am very excited about. My head is spinning and life has been a little bonkers. I keep hoping that at any moment the parking meter will give and off I will go. In the meantime, could someone please get me a bowl of water? I'm thirsty.

Ahhhh, Boutiques

Yes, I am a sucker for boutiques. I rarely spend money in them but I love browsing their diverse racks, thumbing through their eclectic accessories and trying on scarves, hats and shoes that are at least 2 shades more fashionable that I am. Pete and I had the pleasure of working with Ashley at Apt. 202 Boutique a of couple weeks ago and I loved every moment. The sun was shining, the music was good, there were PB M&M's in abundance and I was in heaven.

This shoot marked my first time working with stylists (Ashley is a stylist as well as the owner of the boutique) and that was super cool too. I could concentrate on the photos instead of conceptualizing wardrobe and makeup. Don't get me wrong.......I like wardrobe and makeup but it is difficult to juggle both at the same time and that is exactly what I have been doing up until now. It was so fun to be handed a camera ready model with little participation on my part.

So, if you are in the mood for a little loveliness, stroll on over to Ashley's little shop. It pretty much rules and so does she.

My Heart Songs

I was zoning out the other day while driving. Wait. I probably should not admit that. Do you ever get from point A to point B and ask yourself how the bleep you got there? This happens occasionally when I drive a route I am really used to and I go into autopilot. Scary. Anyway, I will leave tales of irresponsible driving habits for another time. This day I got what I call a happy bubble. I know, I know. Whatever. Moving on.

The sun was glowing and I was basking in the warmth of the first tease of spring. My kids had fallen asleep on each other in the back seat. I was feeling artistically full and was listening to the most recent Radiohead album, In Rainbows. Warning: Do not even attempt to listen to anything Radiohead unless you can devote your full attention. It is not easy listening. You can't talk over it. You can't put it on at a dinner party unless you want people to get all quiet and introspective and weird. But you can zone out while driving home on a beautifully sunny day with two sleeping babes in the back seat of your car and think.

It is not uncommon for me to have these moments when I feel so overwhelmingly grateful for my life. But this was the first time that I can remember having such a deep feeling of gratitude for music in my life. I mean, I have always been aware of the affect music has on me and loved the fact that I was raised with an appreciation for it but this was more.

Growing up I was exposed to music early. My maternal grandparents, both jazz & classical musicians, always played when I visited them. I loved listening to my grandmother play Claire de Lune on the piano or sing with my grandfather, who was a bandleader years earlier and could scat like nobody's business. I still have a very vivid memory of all the things in their piano bench. I can smell the musty wood that held old sheet music, wire drum brushes and a million other things I cannot put a name to. Although Mom never fully developed instrumentally, I always knew she loved the music and saw her face light up when her parents would let loose. I loved trips down the canyon singing Madonna or Sting with her, neither of us needing to talk or feel inhibited. Fields of Gold still gives me the best feeling ever.

But my dad was the epicenter of my music universe. I have no memories of nursery songs.....just the undeniable goodness of the greats like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Heart, Rush, The Doors and on and on and on. Listening to music around Dad wasn't just listening to music. It was a way of life, listening to him find harmonies and drum on the steering wheel of his truck. I can still feel the thump of the ceiling as he perfectly pounded out When the Levee Breaks from his office above my bedroom (this talent of pounding he passed on to my brother who is an excellent drummer........me, not so much). I can recall the stories behind every song, album and artist. Pink Floyd's, Comfortably Numb still makes me cry because to Dad, it was so much more than a stupid song.

And one of the great things about Dad also was that he evolved with me musically. Every band I brought home he gave a shot. He still to this day cannot stand Rap but, I'm confident that bands who cross pollinate like Gorillaz will open him up a little. I'm not a huge fan either but I'm sure I like it more than he does. So, besides rap music, he got to know and sang along with all my music too. He knows every word to my high school staple albums like Nirvana, Nevermind and Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream.....which brings me to Peter. My music lover, kindred spirit. I cannot even begin to count the hours we have spent experiencing music together. He opened me up to the world of Brit Pop with bands like Blur (whose lead singer, Damon Albarn, was spotted by Peter's sister at a grocery store in England..........high point in her life) and The Stone Roses. He taught me to play the guitar, which is sort of sad in a way because my dad is an amazing guitarist but I guess I wasn't ready to learn until Pete came along. It think that evolved as a product of my spending so much time with him and it being something he loved to do. I have always been an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" kinda girl.

Pete and I were in a couple of bands together, which was cool, but my favorite music time with him has always been road trips. Can't go anywhere without at least part of the time being devoted to music. Sometimes we analyze, sometimes it's a dance party and sometimes we are just quiet, enjoying what we both love so much. I feel so tightly bound to him when Thom's vocals come back in on Reckoner and I can see him being moved by the same moment.

And then there are the times when I enjoy it all by my lonesome. How many problems have I worked through with a little emotional guidance from The Cranberries? How many gloomy days have been turned around with a little Bob? How many artistic notions have been hatched while listening to the 405,978th mix I've made? Ahhhh, Lake Powell and Enya. Busting The Ting Tings out with Hannah. Jumping on the trampoline as an 8 year old to Supertramp. Falling in love for the first time over the summer to Sarah McLachlan. Dorming it up in college to Porno for Pyros. Pounding the pavement, or treadmill, to Tatu. Being an obnoxious little teenager to The Beastie Boys. There are too many memories to document but they all form a collective whole that has helped form who I am as a person and I will always be grateful.

I'll never be a professional musician. I've tried my hand but have found other outlets I like better. I love to play and write music but don't think my expressions of it can ever live up to my experiences listening to it. Sometimes I envy the fluidity with which my dad can play his Strat, a friend he has had since he bought it with his own savings in his youth. I will always love listening to his fingers squeak across the fretboard but have come to accept my personal limits. And, as The Decemberists would say, "It's alright, It's ok".

Another great thing about music is that I will always have a new friend around the corner, a new band or album or an old artist I hadn't connected with previously. There is so much music to soak up. I love finding new things to listen to. I get all giddy when I find something new.......like I am in the first stages of dating a new person. Oh, and don't even get me started on dancing. I have decided that they need to invent a place to go dancing that doesn't involve groping, sweaty men. Oh, and I get to somehow dance and DJ because if the music sucks it is pointless being there.

So, in conclusion to this lengthy post that no one is reading, I will cite a cool song. Maybe not musically one of the best songs on the planet, but it spoke to me anyhow. It's by a band I adore and it's relevant. Check out Heart Songs by Weezer.