Did You Know You Have a Superpower?

We all dream of having super powers, you know, super strength,  the power to walk super fast, at the pace most people run,  or you are beard man, and can now grow hair at will.  That kind of stuff. Well I bet you didn’t know that  you actually do have a super power! Yes you indeed do! It is the power to control the Weather! You see most of you reading this are saying that I am loony for making such a statement, and you are entitled to your opinion. But if you want to make cold dark cloudy days disappear, and warm glorious sun rays shine down on your beautiful face, then please read on.

I am about to share with you a miracle so hold on to your trousers! All you have to do to acquire this great gift is this. First and foremost, you have to get your mind ready. Start by shaking your head back and forth and jumping up and down with your arms slinging around as though you are Rocky about to fight Mr. T in Rocky III. Now that this is settled, go and get your ipod and headphones. Get on Itunes and Download the song “There’s Nothing in the Water” by Cloud Control and push play (Spoiler Alert: hence the name and you can see where I am going with this). Now Go outside!!! Look around!! The power of music in you, and the band Cloud Control literally changed your day!! The world is beautiful and grand again!! Go on, grab your surfboard (Or longboard in my case cuz i live nowhere near the ocean) and be free!!!

woah, woah!! just calm down now! There is no need to thank me! Just be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, and keep on listening to music!!

Disclaimer: No you don’t really have superpowers. Unless you really do, which in that case, is totally awesome!

Tags: cloud control, indie, inspiration, music, photography, superpower, surfing, thoughts, weather, writing

“Down In The Willow Garden (Feat. Bon Iver)”

Folk music is the heart of music. It tells stories emotionally and brings them to life. But there is something about Irish folk music that enhances this altogether.  It might be because the Irish are an oppressed nation, and so their struggles and stories have lasted for centuries, and even to this day. I think as humans, we crave something more. We want freedom, and we want choice, and folk music brings hope for these things. Like a Rainbow in the storm.

One album I am really exited for is, The Chieftains “Voice of Ages”  featuring artists like, Bon Iver, The Civil wars, The Decemberists, Pistol Annies, and more! These great artists sing Irish tales of  old. Voice of Ages celebrates the the Chieftains’ 50 years of existence. This Album Comes out February 21st.

Here is “Down In The Willow Garden (Feat. Bon Iver)”

Tags: Bon iver, folk music, hope, indie music, inspiration, music, photography, The Chieftains, The Civil Wars, The Decemberists, writing

Be The Air We Breathe

Rain on the Paine of the glass. Drops fill the cracks to lift the window. A swift breeze fills my lungs, to pump my heart. Life again running through me.  Dreams of mine, come to mind again. I was locked out of reality until now. All I saw through the thin glass was rain and pain, but that was a lie! I’ve been missing the world for its magnificence! More of the lush rich breeze hit my face, and a thousand more thoughts and dreams came to mind! The smell of a fresh rain, mixed with the warmth of my new-found hope was bringing me to a new place. How Could I have been stuck with this glass closed all this time! I always thought that I could see everything and feel everything just by looking through this window! But now the rain on the Paine of glass shows me reality. There was always something between me and Real life, I just could not see it, Because I could see through it. – Josh G

Lewis and Clarke

Be The Air We Breathe. If you haven’t heard this album yet i really encourage to go check it out. Their album Blasts of Holy Birth, has the feel of a Simon & Garfunkel Album.  A very Underrated band.

Get. Listen. Love.

 

Tags: art, folk, Holy, holy birth, indie, indie music, inspiration, life, music, photography, thoughts, thoughts and dreams, writing

But Then I Found Gotye…

One of the coolest covers I’ve seen lately. This is a cover of the song “Somebody I Used to Know” by Gotye. Preformed by Walk Off the Earth.  

 

Gotye

Where to begin, where to begin.  The 80′s had such a great variety of strong singers like, Phil Collins, and Peter Gabriel.  For a while i thought that the strong voice singing style was left in the 80′s and 90′s and forgotten. This new generation of music was all about voice distinction and not power. It was about who could sing the most off-key, yet still sound good. Artist like Arcade Fire, or Modest Mouse. Don’t get me wrong these two bands are both on my list of favorites, but I thought that this style of music had overpowered the Strong voice style. But then i found Gotye. If you haven’t heard of them already, I suggest you listen. Wouter “Wally” De Backer, A.K.A  Gotye, is a Belgian-Australian singer songwriter. With sweet soft beginning melodies leading to a very strong Chorus, Gotye has found his knack for music. Adding a bit of new age to the Strong voice Style, he has managed to combined Indie, with 80′s, and I love it. Great artist, Great songs. Check it out!

 

Tags: 1980's, art, Cover, Gotye, guitar, Inde Music, indie, music, Somebody I Used to Know, Walk Off the Earth

“The Thrill of the 90′s is Alive in Portland!”

“The thrill of the 90′s is alive in Portland!”  Portlandia said it right when they made this video! Portland is the home of many interesting people and things. If you’ve noticed people wearing overalls again, with old school 1920′s macalister boots, and some vintage Steve Urkle glasses, that is the wonderful trend of hipster, from P-town. I believe that the best things to come out of Portland is the music though. Just some great artists to come from P-town are, Modest Mouse, The Shins, The Decemberists, She and Him, Laura Veirs, and The Helio Sequence. I don’t know if it’s the crazy atmosphere, the beautiful mountain setting of Portland, or a mixture of both, but i think we will find more and more great artists coming from this “free-mind flowing”, living in the 90′s, town.

One such artist that i have recently discovered from P-town is called, Nurses.  If you’re into the Foster the People sound, then you will love these guys! Great up tempo mixed beats, with an interesting voice melody. Their album, Apple’s Acre, has been related to band like Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear with the sound of carnival organs, slightly out-of-tune pianos and basic percussion from a lone snare or tambourine. Their album, Dracula, is a concoction of Foster the People and Phoenix. Under the Radar Magazine, Gave the album an 8/10. So if you’re on the look out for some great new music, check this great band out and support the artists of Portland!

 

 

Tags: art, foster the people, Hipster, indie, indie music, music, Nurses, Portland, Portlandia, Under the Radar

The Dove, the Wreath, and Sufjan Stevens

Snow drifts from the stars to the earth and seems to kiss the ground. Douglas fir trees all white and green grab hold each other and sing sweetly. Gentle springs flow cold water from the mountains to the town. Christmas  Lights on every tree and every house. But the light in the hearts of the people were not lit. Instead of warm song and joy, there was a still coldness. People would smile, they would sing, they would give gifts, and have parties with great feasts, but nothing could fill their hearts with joy.

Now every Christmas season the streets would be full of crowds, buying this and that, fighting over the last turkey in the window, and yelling about how they don’t want their relatives over for Christmas dinner. Still not one person had a spirit of happiness. Yet Little did anyone know that this day would be unlike any other the town would see. A sweet small dove from the mountains was making its way through the forest. But this bird was like no other. Everywhere the bird would go the forest would yell out in praise, the pine trees would bow and the rocks would move. The cliffs would fall into the rivers and all the creatures would sing. The Dove flew to the outskirts of the town and perched on a rock to drink from the stream. having its fill, it started to sing. Some of the towns people heard the call of the dove and were filled with hope. They started to walk to the sound. The bird flew to the air and through the streets, bouncing a-top people’s heads from one person to the next. Some would swat at the bird and yell, yet others would be full of joy and start to sing with the bird. The dove then grabbed a wreath from a door and headed back to the mountain top. Those people the bird had touched the hearts of, followed. They soon came to a ridge on the mountain that was lined with trees. On top of every tree was a wreath. The people began singing with the dove a great song, and the people were filled with joy for the first time. As the song went on, more and more people would come through the forest from every town to join them.  And the great song of joy filled the air, and the earth heard. Anyone who sat down to listen to the song, were filled with joy. And when the song was over and they went back to their houses they continued to sing and have joy, and they would smile! They would give gifts, and have parties with great feast and were actually filled with joy. You see It was not giving gifts and spending time with family and friends that gave them joy, it was worship to god and his son Jesus Christ that filled their hearts.

Don’t forget what the season is truly about. Merry Christmas to all!

When I was writing this story I had these two songs in mind. They are both by Sufjan Stevens off of his Christmas album “Songs for Christmas”.  The First song is called “Sister Winter”  and I think that it was written as a metaphor. Winter is used here to show a broken heart being cold and angry and Christmas is a happy time within the cold of winter in which friends can be happy together and the narrator can try to overcome his broken heart. I Felt that fit the first part of the story well. The Second song is an old classic called “Holy, Holy, Holy”. I don’t think I need to explain this one.But i thought it tied into the end well . Hope you Enjoy, and again, Merry Christmas!

 

 

Tags: christianity, Christmas, god, indie, indie music, jesus Christ, love, music, stories, Sufjan Stevens, writing

Mountain Air, and the Warmth of Song

Beauty is all around me. Spinning stars through the night, and trees so lush, they are the very essence of what nature produces as elegance. The stream to my side speaks of life. Fish swimming to and fro, up and down. Soon day turns to dusk. A cold chill in the air, and frost on the trees. A delightful fire built upon rocks reflecting its heat back to me. The scarf and jacket wrapped tightly to my neck and chest. And of course the faint song of fleet foxes “Blue Ridge Mountains” on my lips as I sing it back at the wild.

Fleet Foxes have a way of bringing their sound to you so you can experience what they are talking about, especially when I’m out in the wilderness. It’s so folksy but new at the same time. I was up in the Applegate area the other day (The wilderness of Southern Oregon), and just found myself loving  the mixture of nature and fleet foxes. You can really find the heart of what Robin Pecknold is singing and the emotion of the music. And that is what music is all about really. Every artist wants you to connect with them and know what they are singing emotionally.

Fleet Foxes, You have succeeded in my book.

Tags: art, Emotion, fleet foxes, folk, folk music, indie, indie music, love, photography, writing

Stories of Old Coming to Life

It was a cold fall day. A man was walking down an old English countryside road. wearing an old coat of dusty grey to match his coarse hair, and trousers splashed with mud. His eyes blinded by tears. With a soft cry to the wind he sings a melody. His voice shakes with sorrow, but soon gets stronger and stronger till a choir of souls sing from the mountains! A soft voice whispers to him , “look up and find your strength, for I am your hope and your new beginning”. His sorrow begins to fade and it slowly turns to hope. A new beginning is set in his path. He sings louder and louder and his feet begin to move faster and faster running for home to tell his loved ones the good news! The old grey hair on his head slowly turns darker and darker, and the lines of pain on his face fade to soft skin again. He sings ” a new beginning, a new beginning!”  His feet moving faster and faster! He gets a glimpse of his home only making him more earnest to tell the good news and new beginning! Finally he reaches His sanctuary, only to find all of his family and friends singing with a great voice and youthfulness again of the great change and new beginnings!

When I listen to folk music this is kind of what I picture. stories of life and what someone is going through no matter what decade it’s in. Something that I love about folk music, is its ability to tell stories in a way that makes you feel what the song writer is going through. It is amazing to me that this style of music has been around for centuries, and you can still feel the impact of it. The rich history of folk music is so great. The fact that we can learn about cultures, and stories of old,  just by a song that has been passed down by generations. This song called “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart, is fastly becoming one of my favorites. It just has the feel of a great old folk song that will be sung with passion for years to come.  Hope you enjoy. 

Tags: art, folk, heart, hope, indie, indie music, love, music, stories, the head and the heart, writing

Sweaters, Glasses, Sun, and of Course a Dog

Simplicity. Sometimes the best things in life, are the simplest. When things are over the top, it distracts from what the heart really wants, and that emotion is then overthrown. My best memories are so simple. Like The first look into the eyes of my beautiful, amazing, wife. That moment was so simple, yet impacted my entire life! Or the little moments in life when You’re on a beautiful mountain top, overlooking a gorgeous spring day, and suddenly a warm breeze surrounds you. Again, so simple, but some of the best things in life.

This song called “It’s Real” by Real Estate, Just reminds me of this simplicity. And the music video just brings it all together. A time where there are no worries but just family and friends. Where there’s sweaters, glasses, sun, and of course a dog.

Tags: art, dogs, indie, indie music, love, music, music video, real estate, simple, sweaters

It Brings a Light to the Dark of Winter

Cold days close in. Clouds of the dark, awaiting their time to echo their thunder and rain through the town. The streets full of souls that are sorrowful, sad, and ashamed. Then a swift warm breeze from the south, a near change in heart, and sun shining through to the people of the cold town. Warmth and joy fills everyone and a great song plays!

Every time I hear this song called “Old Pine” by Ben Howard, This is what I picture. It has such a sweatness to it. These cold darkened days of winter makes me hope for the warmth and sun again, and this song just brings that to light. I was a little bit sceptical of Ben when I first heard him, but as I listened to him more, it builds up something inside you and there is such a calming to his music. If you haven’t heard of Ben Howard yet, or were quick to pass him by, I would take a second look at his music.

Tags: Ben Howard, calm, clouds, cold, indie, indie music, joy, sun, winter