I was in 8th grade when the Beatle's first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. I was already playing guitar, mostly surf music, but everything changed after that. No more three-chord songs . . . verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse chorus. The Fab Four crafted such beautiful bridges to most of their songs, something that has impacted my songwriting to this day.
And playing in a band caused my social stock to rise exponentially!
JFK was assassinated only 79 days before. It's always been my opinion that the Beatles were sucked into a cultural vaccuum created by that heinous event. America needed to forget.
All My Loving was the first song the boys played on TV. I have a recollection of Paul's mic not being turned on the first few seconds of the songs, but TV clips seem to disprove that.
The first album I could afford to buy was Beatles '65. I loved those songs, especially No Reply and I'm a Loser.
Then came Rubber Soul--sheer ear candy to me. Revolver was very interesting, but I'll admit that I didn't care for the Indian/rock fusion, being a popster.
Stupid me--I had a chance to attend their concert at Met Stadium in Bloomington MN, and I thought the $5.00 ticket was too much. My butt is sore from kicking myself for the past 50 years.
Sgt. Pepper started my disinterest in the band. I've ALWAYS been one who likes bands who can play their stuff on stage. The overproduction did me in. And, to me, the Beatles got too full of themselves and, even though they're my all-time favorite band, I have to take my hat off the the Stones who always seemed to remain an organic unit.
I now do a solo act, mostly original stuff, but I'd love to include Julia, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, and Michelle into my act. Everyone plays You've Got to Hide Your Love Away and Blackbird.
50 years is so hard to believe. I watched the Grammy special commemorating their anniversary. What struck me as odd was the musicians they chose to perform to Sir Paul and Ringo (why isn't he Sir Ringo?). I would have chosen more well-known artists. I had never heard of Gary Clark Jr. or Pharrell Williams (go ahead, call me square). And why didn't they have Brad Paisley do one of the more countrified Beatles' songs, like Act Naturally or even I'm Looking Through You. That said, he didn't look too happy to be doing a duet with Pharrell Williams.
What a hoot watching 81-year-old Yoko Ono dancing in the aisle. Even Sean was moving to the music. I thought I saw Julian at the very end, a few rows back, but I could be mistaken. I've always felt bad that he got the short end of the stick.
Charisma, charm, wit, good looks, GREAT music . . . it's small wonder why the Beatles made it to the toppermost.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Beer
Martin Mull once said that no one buys beer, they simply rent it.
I didn't start drinking beer in earnest until I turned 50. American lagers never appealed to me. The words Schlitz, Hamms, Grain Belt, Schmidt, and Pabst conjured up thoughts of foul tasting liquid made slightly palatable by to good shake of salt.
Then, the sun broke through the clouds when I stopped at my friend, Dave Olson's place in Tomah, Wisconsin. Dave asked if I wanted to taste the amber ale he had just brewed. I'm like, "You make beer?" My son, Brian, was with, and he said, "My dad doesn't drink." Of course, that wasn't true--I drank water, milk & OJ. But, I knew what he meant.
Brian just about fell over when I said, "Sure, I'll try it!"
Dave helped open up a whole new world to me and even offered to buy me a brewing kit. I didn't take him up on it, but I continued to try craft beers on tap and in the bottle. 14 years later, I still don't drink much beer, but I like to try new things and, thanks to a burgeoning brewing industry, I have lots to try.
My first favorite beer was Newcastle Brown Ale. I remember getting a tall glass of it at Buffalo Wild Wings in Fargo, North Dakota. It was heavenly. Then I went to a graduation party and was introduced to Blue Moon. Now, before you think, "That's a big box beer by Coors," I haven't yet tasted a wheat ale that I like better, but I'm sure willing to try.
So, wheat beer (which also has barley in it) is my preference, and I rather like fruit-infused varieties (I know, I know).
Growing up in Wisconsin, I eventually discovered the offerings of New Glarus Brewing, just south of Madison. Spotted Cow is made from corn & barley, one I like to crack open after work on Fridays. Then, while visiting Brian at college in Platteville, Wisconsin, he took us to Potosi Brewing on the Mississippi, and it was love at first taste when I ordered a glass of Cave Ale. Sadly, neither beer is sold in Minnesota, but I load up when I make a trip east.
One thing I have learned: I don't like hoppy beers. Call me a beer wuss if you must, but I like beers less than 30 IBU's (International Bitterness Units). Here's a list of my favorites:
Any of the Wild beers: Wild Blue, Wild Red, Wild Black (Blue Dawg)
Monte Python's Holy Grail Ale (Black Sheep)
Cherry Wheat (Samuel Adams)
Vanilla Porter (Breckenridge)
1554 (New Belgium)
Honeycrisp Apple Wheat (Shock Top)
Spotted Cow (New Glarus)
Cave Ale (Potosi)
Pre-Prohibition Lager (Lucky Bucket)
Summer Shandy (Leinenkugel's)
Blue Moon (Blue Moon)
and my favorite holiday beer . . . Shiner Holiday Cheer (Spoetzl)
Then there's the beers that only come in growlers:
Apricot Ale (Fitger's)
Sinister Pear (Laughing Sun)
All told, I like draught beer better than in the bottle or can. And, to me, beer is to be drunk on an empty stomach--sort of an appetizer. That's all the wisdom I have for now!
I didn't start drinking beer in earnest until I turned 50. American lagers never appealed to me. The words Schlitz, Hamms, Grain Belt, Schmidt, and Pabst conjured up thoughts of foul tasting liquid made slightly palatable by to good shake of salt.
Then, the sun broke through the clouds when I stopped at my friend, Dave Olson's place in Tomah, Wisconsin. Dave asked if I wanted to taste the amber ale he had just brewed. I'm like, "You make beer?" My son, Brian, was with, and he said, "My dad doesn't drink." Of course, that wasn't true--I drank water, milk & OJ. But, I knew what he meant.
Brian just about fell over when I said, "Sure, I'll try it!"
Dave helped open up a whole new world to me and even offered to buy me a brewing kit. I didn't take him up on it, but I continued to try craft beers on tap and in the bottle. 14 years later, I still don't drink much beer, but I like to try new things and, thanks to a burgeoning brewing industry, I have lots to try.
My first favorite beer was Newcastle Brown Ale. I remember getting a tall glass of it at Buffalo Wild Wings in Fargo, North Dakota. It was heavenly. Then I went to a graduation party and was introduced to Blue Moon. Now, before you think, "That's a big box beer by Coors," I haven't yet tasted a wheat ale that I like better, but I'm sure willing to try.
So, wheat beer (which also has barley in it) is my preference, and I rather like fruit-infused varieties (I know, I know).
Growing up in Wisconsin, I eventually discovered the offerings of New Glarus Brewing, just south of Madison. Spotted Cow is made from corn & barley, one I like to crack open after work on Fridays. Then, while visiting Brian at college in Platteville, Wisconsin, he took us to Potosi Brewing on the Mississippi, and it was love at first taste when I ordered a glass of Cave Ale. Sadly, neither beer is sold in Minnesota, but I load up when I make a trip east.
One thing I have learned: I don't like hoppy beers. Call me a beer wuss if you must, but I like beers less than 30 IBU's (International Bitterness Units). Here's a list of my favorites:
Any of the Wild beers: Wild Blue, Wild Red, Wild Black (Blue Dawg)
Monte Python's Holy Grail Ale (Black Sheep)
Cherry Wheat (Samuel Adams)
Vanilla Porter (Breckenridge)
1554 (New Belgium)
Honeycrisp Apple Wheat (Shock Top)
Spotted Cow (New Glarus)
Cave Ale (Potosi)
Pre-Prohibition Lager (Lucky Bucket)
Summer Shandy (Leinenkugel's)
Blue Moon (Blue Moon)
and my favorite holiday beer . . . Shiner Holiday Cheer (Spoetzl)
Then there's the beers that only come in growlers:
Apricot Ale (Fitger's)
Sinister Pear (Laughing Sun)
All told, I like draught beer better than in the bottle or can. And, to me, beer is to be drunk on an empty stomach--sort of an appetizer. That's all the wisdom I have for now!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesdays Are Almost As Bad As Mondays
My favorite day of the week is Saturday, followed by:
Sunday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
When I retire, they will all be the same . . . great days!
Retirement seems like the light at the end of the tunnel that never arrives, but I'm 28 months away from full retirement age; and, by hell or high water, I'm going to end the day job and get more involved in family, music, and home repair. And, hey, as my income plummets, perhaps I'll qualify for those government programs that help po' folks fix up their houses!
I'm a pretty busy guy. I work 40 hours a week for the State of Minnesota as an employment counselor, riding herd on welfare recipients either to find work or file for disability. 10% of my customers take up 90% of my time. Egads!
Then there's my live radio show, Minnesota HomeBrew. I get paid for three hours, again by the State (through a Legacy Grant), and I put in 8 - 10 hours on the show. AND I should put in more time to make it the show I want it to be, complete with in-depth, dazzling interviews.
Then there's songwriting which I do little of. I start a lot of songs, then they sit there as if in a petri dish, either germinating or dying. The problem with being a sexagenarian songwriter is that one's sort of (I said "sort of") over writing love songs. So I look for other subjects and have thus become "famous" for my weird, bent, nutty, eyebrow-raising offerings, even though I've written some pretty, heartfelt songs, like "A Day in April" and "That Moment." Here are some recent and not-so-recent unfinished song ideas:
"Why Are My Clothes Shrinking" about the battle of the bulge.
"Oklee MN 56742" about my favorite little town.
"Lloyd & Leo" about my hometown cops.
"Shower Hooks" about less-than-useful things in our lives.
"Beer Snob" about the perils of learning too much about beer.
"My Least Favorite Things," a parody on "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.
"War Is Heck," a tongue-in-cheek song about how modern conveniences make being a soldier a bit easier.
And then there's my grandkids, Liv & Ody!
So, when people say that retirement would be boring, I tell them that I would still be busier than a Pole in a pirogue shop!
Sunday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
When I retire, they will all be the same . . . great days!
Retirement seems like the light at the end of the tunnel that never arrives, but I'm 28 months away from full retirement age; and, by hell or high water, I'm going to end the day job and get more involved in family, music, and home repair. And, hey, as my income plummets, perhaps I'll qualify for those government programs that help po' folks fix up their houses!
I'm a pretty busy guy. I work 40 hours a week for the State of Minnesota as an employment counselor, riding herd on welfare recipients either to find work or file for disability. 10% of my customers take up 90% of my time. Egads!
Then there's my live radio show, Minnesota HomeBrew. I get paid for three hours, again by the State (through a Legacy Grant), and I put in 8 - 10 hours on the show. AND I should put in more time to make it the show I want it to be, complete with in-depth, dazzling interviews.
Then there's songwriting which I do little of. I start a lot of songs, then they sit there as if in a petri dish, either germinating or dying. The problem with being a sexagenarian songwriter is that one's sort of (I said "sort of") over writing love songs. So I look for other subjects and have thus become "famous" for my weird, bent, nutty, eyebrow-raising offerings, even though I've written some pretty, heartfelt songs, like "A Day in April" and "That Moment." Here are some recent and not-so-recent unfinished song ideas:
"Why Are My Clothes Shrinking" about the battle of the bulge.
"Oklee MN 56742" about my favorite little town.
"Lloyd & Leo" about my hometown cops.
"Shower Hooks" about less-than-useful things in our lives.
"Beer Snob" about the perils of learning too much about beer.
"My Least Favorite Things," a parody on "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.
"War Is Heck," a tongue-in-cheek song about how modern conveniences make being a soldier a bit easier.
And then there's my grandkids, Liv & Ody!
So, when people say that retirement would be boring, I tell them that I would still be busier than a Pole in a pirogue shop!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday Blues
Does the world need another blog? Probably not. But, if I feel like blathering, opining, griping, bloviating, sounding off, complaining, kvetching or . . . wait for it . . . animadverting about something, I need a blog. It will never be my intention of offending or hurting anyone, so go with me on this. I don't like discussing politics or religion. Politically, I'm an independent who leans right; and in matters of faith, I'm a mavericky (to use Sarah Pahlin's adjective) Christian. But enough about that.
I'm a red-blooded 3rd-generation Euro-American, descended from German, Swiss, Italian, Irish, French, and English roots. I boldly use the term Euro-American because it's appropriate, especially if others are allowed to use Latino-American, African-American, Asian-American, and Native American. In fact, the last term puzzles me coz (1) Since I was born in America, I'm native, and (2) since I live in America, I'm American. So why aren't I Native American? Enough said about that too!
I'm a red-blooded 3rd-generation Euro-American, descended from German, Swiss, Italian, Irish, French, and English roots. I boldly use the term Euro-American because it's appropriate, especially if others are allowed to use Latino-American, African-American, Asian-American, and Native American. In fact, the last term puzzles me coz (1) Since I was born in America, I'm native, and (2) since I live in America, I'm American. So why aren't I Native American? Enough said about that too!
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