allcowseatgrass-blog

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Donald Trump is our President

It’s hard to even write that title. It’s been almost a week, and it still hurts. I didn’t see it coming, not many people I know did. The “filter bubble” is real. To a certain extent, we’re all in our own little worlds. Our communities IRL and online - whether they’re made up of folks from the “elite” coastal cities or the rustbelt states - enforce our opinions, and in particular our political views. For someone like me, the real and serious reality of a misogynist, racist, xenophile actually entering the white house didn’t seem possible. I am essentially the white people in this SNL skit.

I don’t want to belabor the Donald Trump discussion. God knows I’ve read and heard way too many opinions this week. I had to delete Facebook and Twitter from my phone to lessen all the toxicity. It felt like every armchair pundit in the world was making some emotionally charged negative statement. Still, there were some statements among the noise that I feel helped me move on. One of these came from a tweet by Sean Ono Lennon (John Lennon’s son).

His perspective helped me out of the denial, anger, and bargaining phases of Trump grief. I’m moving towards acceptance. Out of trouble and strife, often we find some of the most beautiful things. Perhaps we can start looking at this election of Donald Trump as a time to usher in a new era of musical enlightenment.

Now, I’m off to write some music... :)

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

The Recycled Orchestra

Here’s another cool project I learned about today on NPR. There’s an orchestra from Cateura, Paraguay, that plays instruments out of recycled materials from their local landfill. A documentary about the orchestra called, “Landfill Harmonic” came out recently.

With all these up-cycled instrument projects I’m hearing about these days, I keep thinking: maybe it’s time I embark on something like this!

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I recently discovered the talented Sami Elu, a Tokyo-based composer and inventor who created a "piano" out of chopsticks. He uses it by plucking piano wires and playing the chopsticks like piano keys. There's also a little drum set, so he can operate his own percussion section. Here’s a video of him playing the instrument. So rad!

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Ween @ Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA

Ween was amazing as usual last night. Setlist below; good mix of old or new(er) songs.

Nan

Transdermal Celebration

The Grobe

Mister Richard Smoker

Roses Are Free

Buckingham Green

Did You See Me?

Mutilated Lips

Frank

Bananas and Blow

Learnin' to Love

Happy Colored Marbles

Your Party

Touch My Tooter

Gabrielle

The Stallion, Part 1

Transitions

I'll Miss You

The Mollusk

Kim Smoltz

Kim Smoltz 2: The Smoltzening

Chocolate Town

Tried and True

The HIV Song

Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)

How High Can You Fly

Wavin' My Dick in the Wind

Dr. Rock

Freedom of '76

Encore: Big Jilm > Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony? > Buenas Tardes Amigo

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

WOW

I just returned from my first trip to Sweden. I was there for work, but managed to take a day to travel from Stockholm to Göteborg on the West Coast for the Way Out West (WOW) Festival. It was a rainy day, but that didn’t stop me from seeing great music, eating some tasty festival food, and getting a feel for festival culture in Sweden. Here are some pics. 

Entrance to WOW Festival @ Slottsskogen Park, Göteborg

Jose Gonzalez @ WOW Festival

Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals @ WOW Festival

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Summer Shows

It’s been less than two months since I moved to NYC, and between settling into a new city and job, I’ve managed to see a decent amount of concerts. Live music never gets old for me, and I’m happy to live in a place where I can always find a venue where artists are sharing their music. Here are some highlights from the shows I’ve seen since living in NYC. They’re listed in order of enjoyment (#1 being my favorite).

1. Hiromi @ The Blue Note  

I think Hiromi might be the most talented pianist alive right now. Hearing her play the three-part piece, “Viva! Vegas” off her album Place to Be��was like listening to three pianists play a symphony at the same time. It was my first time hearing anything off that album. (side note: her hairstyle is the coolest!)

2. Super Furry Animals @ Webster Hall

I’ve listened to SFA for a number of years now so it was cool to finally see them live at this beautiful, historic venue. They definitely delivered on the zany, pysch-rock shtick they’re known for. Leader Gruff Rhys held cue cards to coax applause, munched on carrots for a sound effect and stuffed his head into a red helmet, transforming into a robot crooner. 

3. DJ Questlove Presents: featuring Razhel @ Brooklyn Bowl

Razhel hit it out of the park! If you haven’t checked out his beatboxing yet, Google him right now. I promise you will be amazed, even if you’re not a hip hop fan. 

4. The Wood Brothers / Aoife O'Donovan / Hiss Golden Messenger @ Prospect Park

I didn’t catch the whole show (I stumbled upon the event walking around my neighborhood), but was totally impressed by what I saw. The Woods Bros have a nice sound, and frankly any band that has a decent stand-up bassist is good in my book. Aoife has the voice of an angel, and I’ve been listening to her on Spotify religiously since the show.

4. Beirut @ Prospect Park

It’s fun to see a band that strays from the typical instruments you see in a 4-6 piece outfit. I love a good horn section, and am enamored by the glockenspiel so I give Beirut props for integrating these sounds so harmoniously. Their set was a little monotonous for me (indie feels that way sometimes), but I think the crowd was very pleased. 

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Songwriting

Writing lyrics is the easiest part of songwriting for me. Chord progressions don’t come naturally. I’ve been playing other people’s songs my whole life. I recently decided that I want that to change. Here is my first attempt. I’m still thinking of a title and a good bass line for this one.

C Bb F G - intro

you've learned your lines  C Bb  and now it's time F G to get on stage  C Bb and stare into the dark F G

there's daggers C Bd in those smiling mouths F G they stare you down C Bb as you take a bow F G

they'll make you cry F C if you let them try G C don't let them by F C masters of deceit G C

F C G C - instrumental 

oh what a web they weave Am Em F G these half-truths that they speak F G oh what a web they weave Am Em F G masters of deceit  F G

Am Em F G - instrumental 

the curtain stands C Bb behind there’s a man F G the outside streets C Bb paved in green F G

he'll make you cry F C if you let them try G C don't let them by F C masters of deceit G C

C Em F G - instrumental 

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

Pretty jazzed about my new red #uke! #ukelele #hawaiian #musical #instruments

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

His Purple Majesty Died on My Birthday

The headlines on April 21st, 2016 read, “Prince has died of the flu at his Paisley Park home in Minnesota.” 

It was the first day of my 29th year. I was in NYC for a work conference, and halfway through an otherwise amazing week catching up with friends and family. I was devastated from the news. What a somber note to hear on an otherwise awesome day.

I didn’t join the cult of purple until Prince was much later in his musical career. I was 7 years old when Prince became “the artist formerly known as” and changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol to emancipate himself from his contract with Warner. I didn’t understand the intentions behind the name change at the time. I don’t think many people did. He was the butt of many jokes on late-night T.V. shows after that. 

Flash forward to my high school years and that man with the quirky name change became a musical god in my eyes. It was nearly two decades after being released, but hearing “Raspberry Beret” for the first time as a junior in high school was my gateway drug to a haze of purple fandom. I listened to the song on repeat driving around the streets of Chicago. I bought c.d. after c.d, in his discography, amazed how each album and song sounded so unique but so utterly Prince. His music exuded sex appeal. He was the pictorial definition of sexy.

Prince was one of those rare and wonderful human beings who’s influence on so many is impossible to articulate in one blog post. In fact, it’s taken almost an entire week for me to put my feelings about Prince in words. No other pop star could match the range of his talents which included not just singing and dancing but also composing, producing, and playing all the instruments on his albums. He was one of the most naturally gifted artists of all time.

Rest in Power my paisley-powered, purple-wearing friend. You are at peace now, and your music will live on in our hearts and minds forever.

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

WE HAVE A FLYER!

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Don’t Quit Your Day Job

For better or worse, I’m not a trustifarian. I can’t abandon the comfort of my day job. I’m also not the kind of person who can quit without anything lined up. I’ve never been fired, but I haven’t kept a job for much more than a 2-3 years. Since I started working at age 15, I’ve always had this feeling that there’s “something better” out there. I’ve found there usually is something better  - in terms of pay, skills used, company, etc. In my defense, job hopping makes sense considering I’ve always elevated my career by doing so. It’s how us millennials operate. ;)

Librarianship, content management, corporate information wrangling - whatever you want to call it - has been my game for a couple years now. I never dreamed of devoting my life to this career, but I’m working on being ok with it for now. I did my time in grad school. I might as well put in my due diligence career-wise. 

I’ve been trying to focus more on ways to make my career be more about my passions (er, music) than before. I don’t LOVE the work I do, but I’m learning to focus more on making my day job align with my hobbies outside of work. How am I doing that? Well, one way is by changing companies again. I officially submitted my two weeks notice at Adobe, and my last day is tomorrow. I start a new job at Spotify on Monday. Spotify! AHH! A SWEDISH MUSIC-STREAMING COMPANY! That’s gotta be up my alley, right?

I hope so! This is a big move. Not only am I leaving a cushy job in SF for a newer, (some might say) “riskier” company; but I’m moving from SF to NYC. We plan on moving after our wedding in May. Moving across the country is no joke. Especially when you and your partner combined have lived in a city for over 20 years.

I hope this is the right step. It’s not that I don’t love Adobe or its’ products. I have a lot of mixed emotions about leaving to be honest. I say that not only as a “knowledge worker” pursuing a career in a new company, but as a budding musician who wants to make life outside of work be all about music. It’s about continuing on the path I set out on of making music my life both at work and outside of it. 

Of course, my day job will never be playing music all day (I’m not that good), but perhaps working with others who are passionate about music will open up other avenues to make music my life in and outside of work. In the meantime, all I can do is live, learn, listen, and love.

Here’s to looking at the journey ahead!

 #career #music #transitions #relocation #NYC #SanFrancisco

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

Bass Dreams

I’m a Fender girl through and through. It’s what I learned on, and the fretless j bass is my go-to toy.

That said, I would love to own one of these Fodera beauties someday. Thanks for turning me on Victor Wooten!

Here are some other basses I’ve been dreaming about.

[allcowseatgrass-blog]

Starting to Write Again is About as Easy as Finding a Suitable Domain Name

That is to say, it’s not. allcowseatgrass.com and all my other good .com domain ideas were taken. Thus, tumblr - w00t! I’m only 9 years late to the tumblr scene.

Once upon a time, I adored writing. I wrote limericks as a kid, Livejournaled, Wordpressed, and Blogspotted my way through young adulthood. I wrote nearly everyday while living for a year in Japan. Then something happened. I finished my masters, moved to California, and started working corporate research/librarian jobs. The humdrum, always on, constantly staring at a screen lifestyle of working “in tech” distanced me from my once vital creative release: writing. That was almost four years ago. Mountains of ups and downs ago. Relationships ending and new (much healthier ones) beginning.  Four years of fake-ass California seasons filled with runs along the Bay, foggy nights in the Haight, sunny days in the Mission, $7 coffees, RSUs, and avocados everyday.

Life in the Bay Area is weird. There’s truth to what everyone says about San Francisco being the land of Peter Pans, smugness, and leftist extremes. I’d be considered a commie red anywhere else in this country, but here I feel like a moderate conservative. I’m not a burner, I’m in a monogamous relationship, and I can’t really get behind the whole Folsom-street vibe and all the public nudity. Blame it on 16 years of Catholic school. 

Living in San Francisco has given me a heightened sense of privilege and a lot of anxiety. I’ve become accustomed to spending almost half my base salary on rent. I’ve also become that person who waits an hour for brunch on the weekends and makes fun of the tech bros while essentially being their hoodie-wearing female counterpart. I’m my own yuppie-nightmare. I think what makes my entitled lifestyle here so cringe-worthy is that it’s so opposite from the drug culture and the rampant homelessness here. This city’s have and have not binary is too apparent. These things existed in Chicago of course, but not on the same, densely populated scale. San Francisco is on the same income inequality scale as Rwanda! It’s a privileged cycle of despair, and it makes me feel helpless and neurotic.

I may be bitter about life here sometimes, but despite all it’s problems, I have a lot of positive feelings towards San Francisco. It is, after all the city where I met my soon-to-be-husband, started my career in earnest, and rekindled my connection with music.

This last point is a big one, and is the real intent behind this blog. When I talk about my reconnection with music, it really stems from my relationship with @4m1r Amir encouraged me to start playing the bass. Meeting him and taking up bass are two of the best things to ever happen to me. 

I grew up in a musical family, and have played piano form an early age. Piano came naturally to me. I have a good ear for music. As a kid, I’d hear a song on the radio or watch a Disney movie, and immediately start playing the song on the keys. I loved playing my grandma “granny” Rita's organ. John, my first piano teacher, was a memorable guy who, along with teaching me the boogie woogie, taught me a lot about humility. He suffered from skin cancer and had a gaping sore on his forehead that was hard for me to look at. His heart was made of gold. 

High School was a significant time for me musically. With the passing of my older brother - a great musician himself - I inherited a slew of instruments and an album collection that expanded my tastes significantly. This was before streaming music services really took hold so I was still mostly listening to c.d.’s, tapes, and vinyl. I had c.d. cases full of albums, many of which I “burned” as mixes for friends and family. I attended concerts of friends and bands I was into at the time almost every weekend. It helped that I grew up in Chicago, one of the best places to be immersed in any and all music scenes.

I was never really in a band formally back then, but I played music with friends sometimes. I also had the benefit of having some amazing music teachers during this phase of my life. Red-headed, long-haired, hippie Steve taught me guitar and mandolin. I learned beginner chords on both instruments with him. Most lessons consisted of me strumming to Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead tunes while Steve soloed. Rose was my second official piano teacher, and much stricter than Steve or John with learning music theory. Rose was the first teacher I had who taught me the science and discipline of music. The stuff I learned from my music teachers in Catholic school didn’t count. I wasn’t paying attention much anyway. I learned some beautiful classical pieces and sharpened my music reading skills with Rose as my teacher. 

In college and grad school musicianship was a very occasional hobby. Piano was something I played when I was back home visiting my parents. Of course, I still listened to music and attended concerts fanatically, I just didn’t practice my instruments every week like I do now. It was really the bass guitar that brought that once solid practice back into my life.

Amir, being a bass player himself showed me the ropes. I then started lessons with John C., another amazing musician to study under. John is a jazz standup bassist who really helped expand my bass skills. Two bands later and a near daily practice repertoire, I’m certain I want to make this my life. I’m not naive enough to realize I still need a day job. I’m going to find a way to make my job AND my passion be about music. 

Enjoy the vibes.