Temperature Changes & Syrah

Checking in, films, the attention economy, post holiday thoughts while sipping on some wine and a work in progress from a batch of recordings I’m slowly working on

Hello again, dear reader.

I hope this finds you well as can be, post thanksgiving and all. Did you eat too much? Did you enjoy yourself? Did you get into any uncomfortable conversations with family? Did you have any good shared moments with loved ones? Was the pie good?

No matter what kind of day it was, I wish you nothing but a restful recharge, however that looks and in whatever way that takes shape for you. We have a few more holidays to go after all.

There is certainly a little sleep deprivation I’m fighting, or maybe that’s just the sugar and alcohol hangover talking..it’s also now going on 2:30am.

In the background I can hear my roommate watching American Gangster, a film by Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. It’s an old favorite. Loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas. Fascinating story, if you’re into a solid 70s drug crime drama. And while there are certain liberties taken, there is a part of the story that poses the question; what really is the difference between the gangsters on the street or the gangsters in government? How regardless of what world you operate in, you are always going to be presented with a set of circumstances and choices that challenge your character, if you have it. How easily folks can be seduced to corruption. How they can choose to rise above it. The use of power. There are some other elements as well. As they say - it’s Hollywood baby. Tinsel town. It’s a relatively easy watch. It holds up I think. I’m biased though, I tend to like most things that Denzel is in.

Of note - My new roommate is the gentleman who took the above photo, his name is Carl. Very talented photographer, and bass player. I met him while playing in Alexandra Riorden’s band earlier this year. Flash forward to September and we’re on tour together with Garden’s & Villa and Antonio Barret. It’s nice sharing a space with another creative personality. Another gig worker. Also, being in a house again has its perks. I miss my apartment, the seclusion and living alone but the benefits of being somewhere new with more square footage out weighs everything else. It’s also just the two of us. It ain’t a bad set up. Really enjoying stretching my legs. Grateful that circumstances collectively presented this opportunity. Happy to be here. I’ve been needing that change of scene for a long time.

Took things real slow yesterday. Drove up to Lompoc to spend some time with what family was around. Grateful for that. Like a lot of things lately, I’m just trying to go minute by minute. Most days I’m waking up still feeling exhausted. Most days it’s like a dull sort of condition that just sits with you, ever present. I guess that’s depression, or bad time management, or both.

Eating some pumpkin pie that my little sister made, based on an old classic recipe my dad used to use all the time. The secret is having some kind of cream cheese base. Grew up with that as a staple. Eventually I started making them, I think around the time my marriage was on its way out, did that every holiday for a few years. It’s really nice to see Annie getting into it.

I’m wrecking my stomach. More from the wine than anything. The pie is vegan, allergen friendly, it’s really good. Thank you Annie for extending the sweetness.

Fell asleep watching Home For The Holidays. I’ve never seen it and given my tired eyes, I’ll have to try watching it again. Annie suggested. We’re both fan’s of Robert Downey Jr. - Also Holly Hunter was the lead and really gave an earnest and sincere performance, at least what I saw between snoozing - she’s killer. Her voice is really special. We were visiting after the initial family thanksgiving gathering at the designated post hang location. After some conversation, imbibing and pie, even though it was getting late, we threw that flick on for fun. What I was awake for was enjoyable, interesting enough and a little quirky.

My apologies, I think this particular entry is more film reviews than anything else.

Funny enough I’ve wanted to start a podcast about movies with my brother for a while now. Movies always were a special thing growing up, kind of a special occasion. At least it felt that way for whatever reason. Didn’t do the TV thing the way most families do. Music and movies are a shared language between my siblings and cousins. Anyhow, it could be fun. Though, everyone and their uncle has a podcast now. Not to despair too much but it’s become about as common, and almost as expected, as having an instagram account. Part and parcel to being a modern artist of some type, one must also double as a content creator. Speaking of which, I might actually be doing some work soon for TrueFire, a guitar learning platform. More on that soon, and if it ends up happening.

Co-star today says: Resting doesn’t make you weak.

In this attention economy, the struggling artist is expected to be the sum of all parts. A marketing guru, a manager, a booking agent, a videographer, a recording engineer, a savant, a saint etc, etc. It’s the era we are either born into and/or are living through, either way, it is what it is - I guess you just try to make the best of it. Like with anything. Because, why not? Any era in history comes with its own unique set of problems, positives and delivery mechanisms.

One more quick movie reference, if you haven’t seen it - Midnight In Paris. Worth checking out. From a controversial film maker but the message of the film lends itself to this conversation, at least in part. Focus on what you can do vs what you can’t do. Try not to romanticize the past too much. It’s easy to get trapped by nostalgia, which in turn can keep you from moving forward and being present. Making the most of what you have right in front of you.

That all said though, it is a wildly different landscape than it used to be, both as an artist and as a working musician. Most session players who do what I do, even with more consistent tour schedules, are still struggling in very similar ways, still juggling different gigs when not on the road. Picking up odd jobs here or there. Teaching. Bartending. Coffee shop working. Playing wineries, sports bars, dive bars, clubs, anywhere and everywhere just to make ends meet and break even. You do what you gotta do to survive. To keep going.

It is just the nature of where things are at the moment. Odd as it may sound, I’m comforted by the fact that other players like me, friends, but who play with bigger artists, are still doing the same thing I’m doing when not on the road. We are kind of all in this collective moment together, figuring it out and trying to think of creative ways to stay afloat, to create more security so that we can keep on creating, living, working and doing the things we care about, the things that inspire you to keep going. I reckon that’s likely what we’re all after.

To be able to put a roof over our head doing what we love, to get from point A to point B without too much drama and to maybe have a little something tucked away for the occasional vacation, or random adventure. Ideally, and long term, being in a situation that allows you to retire with dignity. All things being equal, I am extremely grateful for what I’ve been able to do, where I’ve been able to go and how I’ve been able to live as your friendly neighborhood guitarist/musician/artist type. Especially without a traditional education. Taking the road a little less traveled I guess. Sometimes that perspective or gratefulness just depends on how you roll outta bed though. We all measure success differently and at different times in our lives.

On that note - debating Nashville or LA for the next move. My friend suggested Asheville as well, said it was sort of becoming a great little music town - so that is another option that’s entered my head. Another friend is really into Austin, but that scene ain’t the same as it used to be. Love the city though. Just not sure I’d move there. I’m at a point where I’m just pulling on a thread and seeing where it leads. Trying to take things as they come and breathe a little more. Take things in a little more. Trying to slow down. Be in the moment. There are things I wanna do, but I’m trying not to put the same kind of pressure I did on myself when I was in my twenties. Being open to opportunity and creating the things I wanna create and not beating myself up if I don’t do it by a certain time.

I’ve said it before but part of me still wants to go back to school. So who knows. I’m grateful I can find work and that I have work that finds me.

Most of the time I just want to play guitar and write songs. Often lately, it doesn’t feel like there is ever enough time to do even that. You feel backed into a corner a little. On the one hand you are doing something you love but on the other you’re having to divide up your attention in so many ways just to stay above water that its easy to get lost in the process of trying to survive. It takes a lot of conscious effort and intentional action, not to mention trying to carve out time for rest and relaxation.

There is definitely a pressure to deliver these days, constantly. To always have something to say, to always have something new to put out, to be generating content that help’s feed the insatiable appetite of the algorithm and consumer. Some folks really have the aptitude for it. Some don’t. It ain’t a right or wrong kind of thing. The game has just really changed and we’re all just doing our best to try and play. Find how you can make it work for you, without pulling your hair out. Because truly, does any of it matter? Both yes and no, yes if you buy into the current system and situation. Maybe the secret is to opt out. To not play the game. Maybe the future of success in our industry will come from doing the opposite of everything that everyone is doing now, the opposite of whatever the current prevailing wisdom is.

The older I get the more I believe you can change the terms and conditions, as they apply to you. Regardless - if you feel inspired to create something, I say do it. No matter the circumstances. Find a way. Keep doing what you love, be yourself, and focus on trying to be consistent. Do whatever brings you joy and fills your cup. Life is too short for anything else.

While likely you can read the note above, these are some things I wrote out for myself to glance at throughout the day, they help me stay focused and balanced.

Friendly Reminders To Self:

• Resting is okay, you’re allowed a break

• Don’t Try To Please Everyone

• Practice Generous Gratefulness

• Self Discipline

• Staying Positive but Grounded

• Participate in Fulfilling Behavior

Maybe there is something of use for you there. I’m a definitely a big believer in the power of affirmation and the growth mindset types.

Finally the temperature is changing for the cooler here in Santa Barbara, thank god for that. I’ve been really needing more overcast, rainy and cold for a while now. It’s still overall stubbornly sunny. I should be careful what I wish for though..and also I shouldn’t be complaining. Who complains about sunshine? Aside from Madam Mim in that old Disney movie, The Sword in the Stone. Most would think I’m crazy for, well for a variety of reasons, let alone complaining over sunshine and a balmy 70 to 80 degrees. As I understand it, where I am located in Sb tends to lean just a little bit warmer than average, even for the area. Good to know.

Pretty sure I’m built for colder weather. Might just be that I’m used to a slightly more overcast climate in Lompoc, or shoot, even way back in Connecticut it would be close to snowing season. I have to remind myself that this is still a new move. I’m still adjusting. I did it quite fast. Was on the road for a good chunk of this past year, and when you’re traveling like that but you never go back to the place you started out from, it can be a jarring feeling. My body and mind had been still expecting to go back to a certain spot and climate post tour, and that never happened. By my own hand of course. Anyhow, I’m just rambling.

Can you get depressed by too much sun? That’s my question.

Alright one last little film recommendation and an ensuing ramble. Seems pertinent given the season we just entered.

This film is a documentary called: Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy. It just came out and I just finished watching it. It’s on Netflix. If fast fashion, corporate greed and consumerism are new topics for you, I think it’s worth checking out. Planned obsolescence. Consumer baiting, tracking and surveillance. Finding the new perfect object. The new shiny thing. As well as being told we need things we don’t. We’ve had the wool pulled over our eyes by marketers, massive corporations and tech companies. Lying by omission. Distraction. Plastics. Green washing. Staying a step ahead. Control. The narrative has been incredibly effective, tested over decades and we’ve all on some level fallen prey to the things these giant companies tell us, easing the mind of folks. Pacifying.

The business model depends largely on selling with the intention that the product needs to be replaced, creating waste, and then you give them repeat business. The amount of product/consumer goods that corporations just discard is boggling. What happens at the end of life for a lot of these items? Where is this magical “away”? These things all have to go somewhere. It shouldn’t be on the consumer, even if we need to curb some spending habits certainly, the bulk of the responsibility should be on the company that creates the product and often very insidious marketing strategies.

Something I remember thinking about/noticing when I started touring roughly ten years ago was how different cities worked out recycling laws and ordinances, how much variance there was and how it seemed like even if on the ground level things were being sorted, and some things were recycled, a lot just gets shipped somewhere else, outta sight - outta mind. Where does it all end up going? Cause it has to go somewhere. The answer isn’t necessarily the warm fuzzy picture that is painted.

Maybe I’ll make a career change into being a Waste Investigator.

In the meantime, I’m just gonna keep doing like our mama did; buy local, thrifting, buying with intention, quality over quantity. She was ahead of the curve on that.

It’s one reason I love guitars so much. They are built with a different business ethic in mind. Especially the older ones. Which unlike a lot of other things, sound better with age. Even if in need of some repair, usually they play better with age too. They are built to last longer. Honestly, I guess that’s why I like a lot of older things in general. Cameras. Vintage wears. You can really tell, the care and integrity these older products were built with. It was there still. At least for a little while.

Appreciate y’all sticking with me this long. The bottle of Syrah is gone and it’s getting pretty late. I’m a slow writer so while there is more I’d love to discuss and share, I’ll save it for the next entry.

Thank you everyone as well who chimed in on the question regarding the name change for this publication. I truly appreciate your input! There were some great points and suggestions. I had some healthy in person conversation as well with a couple close friends. Collectively that’s all been super helpful. Found out as well upon doing some prudent internet diving that a couple of the names I was floating were already in use, so that left me with: Coffee & Chords

Funny enough, that is essentially the name I had started this publication with but a more simplified version. Feels appropriate after being on here for a little over a year to streamline, refresh and make over.

Now for a little bit of housekeeping. Here are some upcoming dates:

11/30 this Saturday playing a solo set at PCH Wine bar, 10pm to midnight. Lompoc CA

12/6 Friday playing solo at 805 Charcuterie from 5-8pm. Santa Maria CA

12/7 Saturday playing solo at Arrowsmith Wine Bar from 7-10pm. Solvang CA

12/8 Sunday playing solo at Vega Vineyard from 12-4pm. Buellton Ca

12/14 Saturday full band show at The Cruisery, 9pm to midnight. Santa Barbara CA

12/15 Sunday duo set with Alexandra Riorden, house party. Santa Barbara CA (email or message for address)

I have another song I’m gonna leave for y’all as well. It’s a live in the studio take of a track that I’m working on for my next record. It’s Jess Bush on keys, Samuel Cole on drums and Wesley Hill on bass. We were in the room playing together, laying down the foundational tracks first. So vocal and guitar are scratch tracks. Nothings been mixed or comped yet. Still pretty ruff. I’ve been debating keeping this track for the album, I go in and out of liking it. Right now I’m liking it more than not. All things being equal, I hope you enjoy!

Appreciate y’all being here, reading through till the end and for your patronage, patience and interest. Truly means a lot. Wishing well this coming holiday season. Lots happening, I look forward to catching up soon.

If you like what I’m doing here, or want to just support, feel free sharing with a friend. Any new subs help and it all goes collectively towards keeping the lights on.

Thank you again and take care.

~ J