Recent Blog Posts
Since Prince was on Appollonia...
post a comment | posted Sep 14
So I was running through a new song with the guys last night and during a brief break in the music/conversation/noise The Roach goes, "Why don't you ever write happy blogs"? So here is my attempt at a "happy blog":
The new record is almost done. Mixing the last 2 tracks, then mastering, then packaging and artwork, and then it's over. Finally. It's been a long road and I have learned an infinite number of things about myself as a writer, as a "producer", and as a music listener. I have learned alot not of ":not-to-dos" and figured out how to make alot of things work for me that I didn't think would. ProTools is a strange and wondrous device that has saved my ass more than once. So, that will be out soon. Also, you may notice that my schedule is filling back up. I will be heading to all my favorite places and venturing into some newer markets as well which I am really excited about. Going on a little Florida run in a couple of weeks thanks to a really great, super helpful buyer at The Social.
Whenever I go into Carnival with new songs I instantly get this very strange, skeptical, like "what's next?" look from my managers which I can't blame them for. I have a penchant for weirdness that doesn't always please the buying public not to mention the people who invest in my career. They always come around (mostly because my ideas tend to get less weird as the song evolves-most of the time) and I continue to enjoy unfettered freedom creatively but it's always funny to see the initial reaction. Especially since I walked in recently and said I have two new songs, "Lonesome Flo and Her No-Fingered Fist" and "War For The People (Shotgun Sugar)". See what I mean? I do need to come up with "Paradise City" or something as a reward for the support for the "Tookie"s and "Frank and Abilene"s and "Hangman, Honey"s in my catalouge. I'm still trying everyone.
Thoughts:
-Go buy the new Kayne West record. Awesome. Best tracks: "Stronger", "Glory", and "The Good Life"
-Springsteen's new single makes me sad. "Radio Nowhere"?
-I love The Office. Greatest American sitcom.
-I need to get my piano tuned again. I know I don't play that badly.
-I got a new guitar. '62 Gretsch Corvette. Bad ass.
-Don't ever try to bathe with 2 inch tape. Uncomfortable and hard to get out of.
-I know what a mosquito bite looks like. Thanks anyway.
Happy enough?
Three feet high and rising.
War for the people...
post a comment | posted Sep 12
4:32 AM. This is my new routine and I can't shake it. Stay frighteningly wakeful all night, watch the Office DVDs, try to write, listen to records, read a book (ps-never, ever read "Tears Of Rage: The Adam Walsh Story", heartbreaking and brutal) then I go to the gym and swim a few laps. Maybe my body will not rest until I swim now or something. Or maybe I just can't get past the the brutal reality of the last few days. I have struggled with and agonized over these things for a long time but I never thought it would come down to where we are now. Maybe it's something about the long, quiet night that makes you really really think and now it all has hit me like a truck.
(Disclaimer: What follows is a very political discussion. Most of you who post on my blogs know me and where I stand. If you don't, please read back and you can get a feel for who I am. Thus, sensational arguments and accusations will not be accepted as viable forms of debate. For the political process to work it must be carried out between rational individuals with clear and objective points of view. Thanks.)
It's over. Our government has failed us. You and me. Democrats and Republicans. All have let us down.
I'm a thief and I dig it...
post a comment | posted Aug 26
Slow days...
I watched the CNN seriers "God's Warrior's" with Christian Amanpour this weekend though. Very informative and very well done. Fair, I thought. Ms. Amanpour is Iranian-American. Born and raised under the Ayatolla but I thought her dissection of the different factions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam was very broad and non-discriminate. It will be re-airing this week. Make sure you watch it. You might learn a thing or two about the 3 major religions and the problems facing each worldwide. You might also understand a little more about someone different than you. I did.
Three big things I learned: The militant wing of the Christian Right scares me almost as much as the militant fascist wing of Islam, the conditions or pre-conditions under which some people worship make me feel guilty (such faith in the face of such hatred), and Jimmy Carter really dropped the ball and the Nobel Peace Prize cannot erase history.
Elsewhere...Lots of big changes soon. Can't tell you everything yet but here's what I can: New booking agent (I'll be back on the road very soon so all my friends in my favorite cities get ready to see way too much of me). New publicist (So get ready to read sanctimonious planted stories about how great I am and how I am going to save rock n' roll. Don't believe everything you hear...But you can believe that.) New record (Late '07/Early '08 release. In the words of the immortal Chuck Lee "This might be the greatest record ever." I agree) Still got a long way to go but I can almost feel momentum swinging in my favor. Imagine that?
Well, gotta go be hungry and try to get in shape. Crazy photog Chuck Arland wants to take "bath tub shots". Provocative. I'll let you know.
1,580 days since the Declaration of "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.
Not-So-Recent Blog Posts
three nervous breakdowns and two debates...
post a comment | posted Aug 9
So this new song is killing me. "Blue Bandana" (side note: you never know where you're going to find inspiration). Cut it, liked it. Hated first vocal (first breakdown). Cut strings/horns, loved it. Then listened to "On The Nickel" -Tom Waits and realized what I really wanted it to sound like, hated it again (second breakdown). Resung, played guitar and mandolin, added backgrounds, now I think i'm loving it again. With some pedal steel, and a wicked slide solo in the bridge, it might sound like it is in my head. But the other part of my brain KNOWS it can (and maybe should) be just piano and strings (third breakdown, which I'm still working through...pray). Here's the problem, I think: Every song I've ever written can be expressed in so many different ways and I am just starting to embrace this. Which is great. Unfortunately, I don't have endless captial or three different touring bands to work with. So I do the best I can. But maybe just this time it must be done both ways. I'll regret it if I don't try. I'm over my head to the company anyway and Carnival Rum is about to take off. "Hangman, Honey" continues to kick ass. When Jedd and my lady friends get on it it will be 4 minutes off good time, hoe down, low down, throw down rock n' roll.
"Don't you know, I know, you know, I want you?"
An adult portion...
post a comment | posted Aug 2
Watching the Last Waltz. Hating every song I've ever written. Wishing I could be Levon and look as good as Robbie.
Almost done with the new record. "Mighty Max on sax" says "Blue Bandana" sounds like Neil Diamond. So that can't be bad. The other new one, "Hangman, Honey" may be my favorite song I've ever written. Killer chart Maxwell. I like singing horn parts, too.
regards,
rb
too many blogs for one week...
post a comment | posted Jul 26
this is the last one I swear...
Ok, so the Local Lightning Spotlight thing has been going great this week and I'm getting some good feedback, etc. So all of you here in Nashville can tune in on Friday afternoon at 6 pm and I'm going to be doing a live radio show on Lightning 100.1. I'm going to play a couple of songs then I'm gonna talk about my new record and the show on Saturday night. So, if you're driving home from work and need something to listen to or you're hanging around with nothing to do, flip on the radio and you can hear something no one in Nashville ever really gets to hear. I think it's gonna be pretty cool. Thanks for the support. See you all on Saturday night!
regards,
rb
Imagine...
post a comment | posted Jul 24
So I'm in the studio today. Cut two new tracks. Finished basics in relatively short order. Sent the band out (I like to work in solitude, you know). So just me, my manager, and the engineer. I'm singing my ass off, etc. We take a break, go out to the car and flip on Lightning 100. Lennon's "Imagine" is on. Then "I Don't Believe In Love" comes on. I gotta say (don't wanna sound like that guy) but it kinda felt right. Now I know I should be super excited and humbled to have a song I wrote and put so much of myself into played back to back with John Lennon, and I am, but to be perfectly honest, it felt perfect. Like this is how it should be. I don't get excited by much but it definitely got my heart pumping. Sorry if that pisses you off, but it's the truth. Now you know. If you heard it, thanks for listening. If you dug it, go request it. Thanks.
RADIO...AND FREE MUSIC
post a comment | posted Jul 20
So yeah, I'm bouncing back after my severe depression over the past couple of days. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be Levon Helm but I can continue to channel The Band's purely American, purely spiritual, purely beautiful, inspirational music. So please take me as I am. I'm trying.
IN BETTER, LESS DEPRESSING, LESS SELF-DEPRECATING NEWS:
I will be on the RADIO this week. LIGHTNING 100.1 here in Nashville is including me on their "Local Lightning Spotlight" this week...
My life is in vain...
1 comment | posted Jul 19
Have you ever felt so helpless? Like everything you have worked for and tried to so hard to get and suffered for is now worthless? Like all your dreams will never come true? Like you know that you will never be exactly what you want to be, never as good as you wish you could be? Aside from pure exhiliration and overwhelming joy right now, that is all I feel.
Levon Helm...
post a comment | posted Jul 19
Ok, besides being the greatest drummer who has ever lived (Yes, I said it. There is more to drumming than hitting as many drums in one half bar segment as humanly possible. Drummers used to keep time. Imagine that.) and singing with the voice of God himself, he is now a potentially career ending throat cancer survivor who I hear is better than ever (at over 70 years old). And tonight I will be front row balcony at the Ryman to witness the magic. I have only gotten this excited about one other event in my life, meeting the greatest piano player who has ever lived, Chuck Leveall (were pretty much BFF). So now all I need is for Duane Allman to raise from the dead and Dylan to stop by my house and I can cross guitar player and song-writer off my list. Listen up kids. This is the greatest band of the 60s-70s (possibly ever) and next to the E Street Band, or perhaps directly beside them, there has never been such an amazing assemblage of musical talent in one group. So tonight, wherever you are, whomever you are with, just know that somewhere I am happier than you. Thank you.