HEY MAB!!! Yep!! For now we're fine. Getting ready to either "ride it out" or RUN!! We'll make that decision tomorrow morning. If we do leave, we'll head NW towards Montgomery.
phil g.
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Keep safe Phil.
Hello everybody,
Well I guess we are all a little busy to get over here and I understand. The past three months have been the busiest I have ever had. Constant gigs, travel, and of course, the death of my friend Susie Martin in June, and my Mother in July have really put a lot on my plate. Just an update for some of you.
This week on Wed. and Thus. I caught up with Fast Eddie, who was in town to be a speaker at a convention here. He hooked me up with it and was a really great time. Before that, wanted to let you know that Eddie is really amazing. His company are first responders in almost every disaster and emergency in the world. And as you all know, there have been quite a few of those lately. He came here from Houston, where he has been helping in the effort from Hurricane Harvey organizing relief workers, helping clear the areas and get people back to as much normality as they can.
On the heels of that came IRMA and then Maria. Been a busy time. He is going home for a couple days then to the Caribbean to help in St. Martin, and other islands in that area. Man that guy is amazing. And in the middle of all that he gave a big speech yesterday on Disaster preparation. My favorite comment, "When in a building being hit by an earthquake, get out BEFORE TEXTING ABOUT IT!"
Great advice.
Great advice.
The conference he and I were involved with was the LOSS PREVENTION MAGAZINE annual convention. They are a magazine that has sponsors, vendors, people involved with disaster management, cyber security, identity theft protection and a ton of things I don't begin to understand, but was very interesting.
My role was for a "team building" exercise. Since all these companies are coming to Nashville, they want a little of the "Nashville experience", which is to WRITE SONGS.
My role was for a "team building" exercise. Since all these companies are coming to Nashville, they want a little of the "Nashville experience", which is to WRITE SONGS.
So on Wed. during a big cocktail party, about 100 of their attendees, all paired into groups to write lyrics. I gave a short presentation (that no one could hear a word of,) and they got to work. In about 30 minutes, we had the basics of 8 songs.
A bunch of people who don't know each other, thrown together for a half hour, tons of noise and conversation going on, trying to write songs WHILE HUGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD AND ALCOHOL IS INVOLVED.
YEP. A NASHVILLE WRITING SESSION.
At any rate, yesterday I took all the lyrics, (some of the words I didn't even understand because it was inner language of their businesses) and put music to all 8, tweaked and added lyrics and worked them out to perform them. Ended up doing three last night in front of the whole crowd. Was a lot of fun.
Was also cool because the "headliner" was another songwriter that I knew years ago here in town. His name is PATRICK HENRY (yeah I know, give me liberty or death) who has found a really cool niche with comedy, public speaking and his music. Was a good show. I should be doing that. LOL!
After, was the guitar pull at Bobby's and many of those people showed up and we all played a bit. A lot of fun. I love introducing outsiders to the inside of Nashville. I really enjoy that.
So just wanted to update any of you out there as to what is going on around here. Tomorrow I head to Atlanta where I'll be playing close to where Jules Bloeth, and Deniese Bain, two of our long time ramp members live. I hope one or both can make it out. Would be great to see them.
Hope you are all well and enjoying your fall. Just started today.
Take care and would love to hear from you guys.
MAB
Hey MAB!! Well, let me write something. Don't have much to report, but I did survive the hurricane. As a matter of fact, I totally missed it! Slept right through it! We (at our house) had a few small limbs fall down. No trees down. Now windows, shingles, or porch roof damage.
Sounds like you've been busy! Writers nights, Sam's Jams, coaching. One of these days, probably not until next year, I just might be in the audience. I will at least see you in November at the Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival. I haven't heard back yet as to whether or not I will be working the lunch service, but I plan on being there every day by around 10am.
You've also been busy posting some great advice on Face Book! I may have commented on one or two, but I've read all of them. I did read through your post about the Mississippi Songwriter Festival, even though I didn't comment. Sounded like a great time! I just didn't have the money to make it out there. Saving up for FBISF.
I am playing a few open mics around here to keep up some experience to be ready for FBISF. Let me tell you a short story about one of them. It's a small venue in a coffee shop. This young girl, who had all original songs, got up with her Yuke and lyric book. Every song, she sang to the lyric book, made mistakes, paused, then started up again. Finally, for her last song, she announced how proud she was of this song, and that it was the best song she had written and it was her favorite. THEN, she proceeds to start reading her lyric book! STILL made mistakes, had to pause, and even backed up once or twice. I'm thinking, "Your FAVORITE song? REALLY?" I'm looking forward to starting back at Loosey's (I hope). We didn't have one the Thursday before the hurricane, and the Thursday after, there still wasn't power in a lot of areas, so that one was canceled also. The next one is supposed to be the first Thursday of October. They have mostly much better musicians, singers, and performers. I'll be challenged to do much better there.
Looking forward to catching up in November!!
phil g.
It's the fall and it's is so hot here in Ontario.I'm out at the trailer with my 84 year old dad.Hotter Da Betta.
Okay Phil,
And as to the "girl having to stop and start over on her song" that is something I see all the time as well. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually PLAY a song on them from start to finish without having to start and stop over. Which is what leads me to my beliefs.
I have now done TWO LONG POSTS on your Ukelele subject and they have BOTH DISSAPEARED! Which is leading me to formulate what I believe is happening here! I think the Ukelele is a secret weapon designed by North Korea to destroy us from within!
I HATE THEM!!!! I don't know where, when or who it was that seemed to deem these things cool, but I would like to SHOOT THEM!!!! There are thousands upon thousands of young girls all getting these things and they ALL SOUND AS HIDEOUS AS THE NEXT!!! They are a combination of the "wind up Monkey with cymbals clashing" and the "Pop goes the Weasal wind up toy!" They all sound completely stupid, and like a "Don Ho" wanna be!
And as to the "girl having to stop and start over on her song" that is something I see all the time as well. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually PLAY a song on them from start to finish without having to start and stop over. Which is what leads me to my beliefs.
There is something in the sound of them that makes people's brains completely forget what they are doing and drift in their attention. Therefore it was developed to make us all forget where we are and the North Koreans have developed them to fire missles at us and we can't defend ourselves. Kim Ul Jung has developed them as a secret weapon and sent them all here to destroy us from within. Get it, small little guy. Develops these hideous instruments, convinces people they are all destined to be the new DON HO or TINY TIM, and play these obnoxious things over and over.
We all lose our minds, and they can just nuke us without us even realizing it.
I wish someone could start posting thousands of Tiny Tim Videos, on the Net so people would see what they do to people. If you just turn on a few "TIP TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS" videos then i think over night sales would stop and the dumpsters would be filling up with hundreds of thousands of these things headed to their proper places, the landfills.
Oh well. I guess we just gotta be destroyed.
"Tip toe, through the window, in the moonlight, just come and see, so tip toe through the tulips with meeeeeeeee!!!!!
"Tip toe, through the window, in the moonlight, just come and see, so tip toe through the tulips with meeeeeeeee!!!!!
See, the downfall of society all comes on four strings! Thanks a lot for bringing it up Phil. Going to count against your overall semester grade.
MAB
In defense of the poor ukulele that Arthur Godfrey helped make famous, check this out:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=tightropetb&p=give+me+sunshine#id=3&vid=d2abe2817184ffa47981dac3492aca6a&action=click
Eddie Rhoades
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=tightropetb&p=give+me+sunshine#id=3&vid=d2abe2817184ffa47981dac3492aca6a&action=click
Eddie Rhoades
See Eddie. Arthur Godfrey did that in the 50's. We were at war in Korea in the 50's. See, it even started back then. If you have been viewing these videos, it has probably already destroyed your mind. Do you find yourself forgetting things you were doing? Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you came in? Have you ever forgotten someone's name? See, it's already having the devastating effect on you. You need to STOP WATCHING THESE EVIL THINGS NOW!!!!
You're welcome
MAB
No I never, I never uh, What were we talking about? My daughters bought me a Ukulele for Christmas. Or was it my birthday? Now all I need to do is learn how to tune it, or is that really necessary? Then I need to learn or write a song for it. Look out Tiny Tim. It will be a lot easier to lug around than a guitar in a hard shell case. I'm getting old but that's better than not getting any.
I rest my case. "Ukelele", which means "Horrible instrument sound that is designed to destroy you Yankee Dogs by erasing your memory the second you hear the horribility of it...."In North Korean.
It's all coming together now.
MAB, I KNEW a Uke story would wind you up!!! It's a phil thing too!! It's a MAB weapon to get you loose so I can apologize. I think. I seem to recall I promised you a video of me playing your song, "Trying My Best To Live", BEFORE I played it out? I know I told OD and Kevin I would make a video. Well, I've been lax in making a video, but not in learning that song well enough to play it out. I do play it like you recorded it on your CD. Only, obviously, I use a guitar instead of a piano. I am sure it has been well received. I have been playing a coffee house, so the audience is smaller and more attentive. I always introduce it as being written by you, Norm, and Allen. And I tell a story of how it really made me rethink what "living" means to me. This is a GREAT song MAB, and I'm proud to play it out, and give the three of you a big shoutout on how this song has influenced me.
phil g.
I love ukuleles!!! I think they sound great.
here's a song with two ukes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNuicQZfSBY
A one-hour skirmish, to boot! ... and yes I am looking at the chords and lyrics (ha!)
here's a song with two ukes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNuicQZfSBY
A one-hour skirmish, to boot! ... and yes I am looking at the chords and lyrics (ha!)
I love Da Ukelele as well.
Okay, my point has been made. The sneaky North Koreans have gotten to two of our own. Many scientific studies are going on now to find out how to combat this phenomenon, known as "USS." (UKULELE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.) This is where the subjects are brainwashed through continuous exposure to Ukulele music and convinced that it sounds good. Much like people who have been held hostage grow sympathies to their captors, you see Kevin and Y'rall have fallen under a similar spell. Very unfortunate and sad. It does raise my concern as to how far gone they are.
The NK have probably gotten to them through very subversive means. It starts with a couple of Don Ho records, then through hidden messages, backward messages in television and motion pictures. The next thing you know, they buy their own Ukeleles and become practicioners of the black art. It is suspected that the North Koreans are selling endangered woods in their products and sending these out worldwide.
There have been ancient cave drawings going back thousands of years of cave men playing this dastardly instrument, and corrupting their offspring. It has been noted that Charles Manson, Torquemada (Spanish inquisition), and the Marquis De Sade, were all devotees to the evil that the instruments have wrought. Much like the "Ouiji boards" can summon evil spirits and demons, similar claims can be made for these four string Devil spawns.
I would suggest finding a local therapy self help group in your areas, and get some help from professionals. The damage can be reversed, but the first step begins with YOU. You have to WANT TO GET BETTER.
But as always I am here to help you through any bad times you get through weaning yourself from the evil. Like Crack cocaine, it can be very damaging. But I know you guys can get through it.
To find a UAA (Ukulele's Aholic Annonomys) in your area, go to their web site:
Good luck and stay strong.
MAB
LOL
Sorry, The universe is made up of ukuleles!
Now there U go MAB.LOL
Wow, It's worse than I thought . When I found out a couple of our friends got "Ukunized" I started doing some research. Much worse than I would have ever expected.
IT seems the Ukulele was an instrument that was actually outlawed by Pope Constipation in 1461 AD, when they determined that the sound of that instrument attracted rats, and therefore spread the Bubonic plague, which was the "BLACK DEATH" which wiped out half of Europe in the middle ages.
This is what would lead to the phrase "You Dirty Rat" that actor James Cagney said in so many movies. The original translation was "UKE Dirty Rat!"
It had a short Rennesance in the late 1700's, when Robispierre, who had secretly brought it back, started to play it privately. Determinations by historians, feel that the noise associated with the squeaking, caused his mind to go, thereby creating the French Revolution. He made it a central pillar of the Revolution and many people chose to go to the Guillotine, to get away from the sound.
This is what would lead to the phrase "You Dirty Rat" that actor James Cagney said in so many movies. The original translation was "UKE Dirty Rat!"
It had a short Rennesance in the late 1700's, when Robispierre, who had secretly brought it back, started to play it privately. Determinations by historians, feel that the noise associated with the squeaking, caused his mind to go, thereby creating the French Revolution. He made it a central pillar of the Revolution and many people chose to go to the Guillotine, to get away from the sound.
After the Great purge ended in 1798, it was not heard from for centuries, until it showed up in the Samoa Islands and in Hawaii. One theory from some historians are that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in order to stop the sound of the instrument that invaded their airwaves on their radios. Also, it was used in the "Trinity blast" of testing the Atomic bomb in New Mexico in 1945. It is rumored to have been built on thousands of captured Uke's, piled around the "Device" to attempt to rid the world of the instrument.
Some comparisons to Ukulele's were found at Area 51, as studies went forth thinking they were an alien force sent to destroy mankind But those were dismissed in the late 60's.
From there, they seem to be around many Hurricanes, leading some scientists to think they have something to do with creating low pressure areas, thereby increasing the intensity of storms. Some have referred to this effect as "Global Droning."
Some comparisons to Ukulele's were found at Area 51, as studies went forth thinking they were an alien force sent to destroy mankind But those were dismissed in the late 60's.
From there, they seem to be around many Hurricanes, leading some scientists to think they have something to do with creating low pressure areas, thereby increasing the intensity of storms. Some have referred to this effect as "Global Droning."
So the evidence continues to pile up. I would hope some of you see the error of your ways and repent by ceasing your flirtations with what is obviously a very dangerous instrument.
As always I care for you all and just want to help you before it's too late. But as I said. The first step begins with YOU.
Or should I say, "UKE."
As always I care for you all and just want to help you before it's too late. But as I said. The first step begins with YOU.
Or should I say, "UKE."
MAB
Yrall,
Thank you for that. Even MORE PROOF. You see, everyone that plays the Ukulele DIES!!!! This is from Marty Robbins. Where is he now? DEAD!!! Tiny Tim? DEAD! The Fat Hawaiian guy who brought back the UKE phase by doing SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW? DEAD!
Are you starting to see how DANGEROUS THIS IS? You nearly infected me just by sending me this link. If this doesn't finally convince you to RUN AWAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY I don't know what can!
But remember Yrall, Pride goeth before the fall. I know what you are thinking. "Oh I can handle it." "That won't happen to me." "I can use it just a little." "I can Quit anytime I want to...." You see what is happening? You have been lured into it by the evilness. Now it has a hold on you and you are trying to justify it's existence, I want you to PUT DOWN THE UKE and walk away. Calmly. It can't hurt you any more. Just don't LOOK AT IT DIRECTLY! OR LISTEN TO IT'S SIREN SONG.
Just set it down in the middle of a fairly busy highway or roadway, preferably interstate. Let nature take it's course. And you will be FREE of it's EVIL LURE!!!!
NO UKES!!!! NO UKES!!! NO UKES!!!!!!
Are you starting to see how DANGEROUS THIS IS? You nearly infected me just by sending me this link. If this doesn't finally convince you to RUN AWAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY I don't know what can!
But remember Yrall, Pride goeth before the fall. I know what you are thinking. "Oh I can handle it." "That won't happen to me." "I can use it just a little." "I can Quit anytime I want to...." You see what is happening? You have been lured into it by the evilness. Now it has a hold on you and you are trying to justify it's existence, I want you to PUT DOWN THE UKE and walk away. Calmly. It can't hurt you any more. Just don't LOOK AT IT DIRECTLY! OR LISTEN TO IT'S SIREN SONG.
Just set it down in the middle of a fairly busy highway or roadway, preferably interstate. Let nature take it's course. And you will be FREE of it's EVIL LURE!!!!
NO UKES!!!! NO UKES!!! NO UKES!!!!!!
I'm going to get some celebrities together and do a "NO UKE'S CONCERT" to raise awareness!!!!!
I pray for you and KevMo to break this evil addiction.
I pray for you and KevMo to break this evil addiction.
MAB
You are way behind the times, there Marc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMT-oEIQuo
(The bass player should be using a bass ukulele, though!)
(The bass player should be using a bass ukulele, though!)
Sorry Kevin, but I'll take the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, even the Monkeys, over the British Ukulele Orchestra! It's SAD the Uke's have invaded and infested even Great Britain! May Rock and Roll RIP!!
phil g.
Kevin,
Oh I am quite sure of all these things. But I can't view them, because if i see them I have to report them to the CDC, who have to move in, arrest all the participants, confiscate video tapes, computers, hard drives, etc. Sort of a version of Musical pornography. So as long as I don't SEE OR HEAR IT, I can't report it. just trying to keep you safe from Government intervention. But don't be surprised if some people show up at your door or are in your living room when you get home to have an "intervention." Once these things get out, it is hard to stop them.
MAB
MAB,
Let Phil and I know your schedule for Frank Brown this year. We couldn't convince OD to join us,but Phil will be there the whole time and I be there for Friday the 10 and leaving the 18th.
Kevin
Let Phil and I know your schedule for Frank Brown this year. We couldn't convince OD to join us,but Phil will be there the whole time and I be there for Friday the 10 and leaving the 18th.
Kevin
Kevin,
We won't get the schedules until about two weeks before the festival and even then it still changes. Last year they had me booked in two places at the same time the day before I was to do them. I'm good, but not that good. They go until the last minute because of last minute cancellations, and additions. They start it the night AFTER the CMA awards for that reason. Some people who are nominated but don't win, will make it and some that win won't make it. So they will hold off on posting it as long as they can.
You should do what we do. About two weeks before, check with the FBSIF web site, and check out the venues and pull up names of people you want to see. You put a skeleton list together and then be prepared to change as you get there. People generally plan on being there either one weekend or the next, or be there for the whole time and plan their schedule accordingly.
My biggest suggestion is BE FLEXIBLE. Things will change.
MAB