Recommended Reading

Occasionally friends will ask me what I am reading and/or for book recommendations. So, I decided to write a brief summary of the latest titles that I think are exceptional - moving, thought provoking, enlightening, educational, and all that. For what it's worth, this is what I got:

Roadshow: Landscape With Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle - Neil Peart

Written by the master, Rush drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart. I could go on and on about this book. I have lately been calling myself a born again Rush fan as, after a nearly 10 year on again off again hiatus, I have been reintroduced to, and re-inspired by, their music all over again. I mean, these guys were a seminal influence on me as a musician. Now, Neil has become influential on my prose writing as well. This book - his fourth - is pieced together from a series of journal entries while on a concert tour with the band. Neil rides his motorcycle between all of the dates - eschewing the usual band tour bus regimen - exploring the back roads and small towns of the US and Europe. Known as being fiercely protective of his privacy, the book is a surprisingly revealing account of his life on the road. There is no gossip here, just observations, personal ruminations, and descriptive essays. Part travelogue, part memoir, part method book, overall, a very insightful, literate account of his experience as one of history's greatest rock drummers traveling with one of history's greatest rock bands.

Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells - Tommy James & Martin Fitzpatrick 

Lent to me on a whim by a neighbor, I only had a vague impression of who Tommy James is at the time. Oh yeah! The guy who wrote Mony, Mony and Crimson and Clover. However, his story is deeper and much more convoluted than his classic hits will have you believe. Scooped up by the mob ruled record label, Roullette Records, at a very young age, he was soon under their thumb. You can imagine all of the rock-n-roll cliches that would come of such an arrangement. All of the lascivious trimmings are included - drugs, sex, money, violence, etc. (Fun fact: The record label head, and mob boss, Morris Levy, was the model for the Sopranoes character, Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin.) And of course, Tommy was never paid his proper royalties and over time, he lost millions and millions of dollars. The good news is Mr. James is ultimately redeemed. It is a fun read and also an interesting take on the music industry at large during the 1960s - 70s.

Autobiography of Andre Agassi: OPEN - Andre Agassi  

One of my heroes. I have always felt a certain kinship with Andre. My wife makes fun of me for that. After reading his book, that feeling has only increased. So, writing an objective summary is very difficult. Even if you are not a fan of tennis, or Andre, you will enjoy this book. The tennis stuff is interesting, sure, but more so, it is a revealing story that exposes Andre as a far more complex, at times troubled, human being - very much at odds with the image that we all know. I found it oddly comforting that despite all of his success and rewards, he was never fully at peace with himself. He was always searching for the real Andre, the better Andre, even when he was the best in the game. The good news, like Tommy James above, he too finds his redemption.

When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man - Jerry Weintraub

I would love to meet Jerry. Talk about a media tycoon. This guy has been a manager, agent, producer, directory, promoter, movie mogul, and on and on for over 50 years. He has worked with so many giants of the industry: Elvis, John Denver, George Clooney, Frank Sinatra, etc. that he is now a veritable giant himself and just loaded with wisdom acquired from such an amazingly rich life. This is a true by the bootstraps success story and truly inspiring. Written in a perfect conversational style, it is a slick read with tons of parables and insight into the entertainment business at large. I want to read it again as there are so many life lessons to be learned from this old wise man. The final quote in the book is really the perfect summary:  I was never afraid to fail, which meant I was never afraid to try. I was never afraid to look silly, which meant I was never threatened by a new idea. I see the road ahead, too, a stretch that bends into the undergrowth. I do not know what will happen there, but I do know, whatever it is, I will rush to meet it with joy.

Lilac - Helm Matthews 

I know Helm from the music scene of Rochester, MN some 20 years in the past. He his also known as Ted. I picked up his first novel a few months ago and I am duly impressed. It is a well formulated story - emotionally gripping, relatable, grounded in realism with a hint of Twilight Zone overtones. The perfect kind of balance in storytelling that I find to be most compelling. Here is the brief review I sent his way:  I am no literary critic, so, I won't try to say anything profoundly insightful, but, GREAT book. Seriously impressive. It is very well written - a tight, concise, right to the point (to the emotions most importantly), well told story. When I had time to settle in, the pages just kept turning on their own. Consider me a fan and I am spreading the word. I look forward to your next work. Also, makes me want to visit Winona again! Was cool to connect with all of the MN references as well.

A Scenic Overlook

Fall 2010: I traveled North to the shores of Lake Superior, South to the bowels of Kansas, East to the reminiscence of Milwaukee, and then West to the rest stop. Yes, the rest stop. A destination unto itself. A perfect punctuation point to conclude this series of road trips, or road work, as I prefer to call it.

All of this road time was solo and a somewhat measurable exercise in brain development, i.e. a lot of time to reflect and process and create and plan. Time in the past I have hated, but this time, it was different. I actually found a lot of joy and self-fulfillment during the long hours of solitude. So much so that I began to wonder if my true self is actually the guy on the road, the guy who takes the bold step of leaving the cocoon, mildly rootless, venturing out to the relative wild to work, and advance life on his own terms. 

Now, of course, I say this not at the expense of anything. I think the thing that actually has made these trips easier is that I am able to maintain a closer home connection by way of cell phone, text messaging, e-mail, ubiquitous wi-fi, and so on. All combined, they help ease the loneliness, to lighten the dark shadows that follow along with the miles. They unclutter the mind for purer musings. Without those lifelines, it would be quite a different venture. And, in the end, as satisfying and necessary as these brief times of solitude are, both for personal and musical growth, it is always an even greater joy to come home. I guess maybe I am not that guy.

The last of the series was a trip to Milwaukee to complete work on a DVD project for Hal Leonard Corporation. I have driven that long stretch of highway, I-94, Minnesota to Milwaukee and back again, a hundred times or more. And, as the common story goes, the drive is about consuming the miles, getting from point A to point B as fast and efficiently as possible, essentially, to get the drive over with already! However, this trip (and on my previous trek to Kansas) I took a different tack. I stopped a few times, took a few moments, and just did my best to enjoy. After all, it was in the peak of Fall, my favorite season, the weather was consistently glorious, and I found the expansive rural landscapes to be mesmerizing.

Shooting the DVD project was a grueling process. The day was long, having to play perfectly and speak generally off the cuff without error for nearly 9 hours in total. The shoot was staged under the bright, persistent gaze of the studio lights (I can now see how interrogations can be so disorienting and successful) and it took everything I had to stay in character the final two hours. When it was done, I felt like I had climbed Mt. Whitney all over again. I was left drained with a complete loss of perspective on what I had just accomplished. As per usual, in my mind, I could have, should have, done so much better. I often get so wrapped up in my own head, self-critical to a detrimental effect, rarely, if ever, do I enjoy the process of a work in progress. Ditto for my life at large.

On the drive back home, heading West, I paused at a rest stop just outside of Black River Falls, WI. This particular rest stop caught my eye as it also offered up a scenic overlook. I found the path that led to said overlook and began to walk (first having to ditch the internal clock pestering me to get home) and just kept walking some more. The paved path led into a wooded area which ultimately converged with a kind of boardwalk right through the trees. Besides the hum of the neighboring highway, it was very peaceful. And I was alone.

After what must have been about a 1/4 mile stretch, I reached the scenic overlook - a still pretty swath of picked over trees as far as the eye could see. Despite the somewhat arid condition of the foliage, there was a lot of beauty to behold. Another mesmerizing landscape and an obvious metaphor - the scenic overlook that was my life and work for the year. Yep, this was a good old fashioned stopping to smell the roses moment, actually seeing the forest despite the trees so to speak. The DVD work was suddenly intoxicating, a realization of a job well done, and I extended that feeling of good will to the work over the course of the year and to my life in general. I actually started feeling right about what I was doing, had done, and do have. From this vantage point I saw the blessing that is my family, I saw my good health, I saw my friends, and on and on. I surveyed the scene, the scenic overlook of my life and work so far. And what a stunning landscape it is.

Winfield Performance Review: An Interior Monologue

i am cool as a cucumber uncomfortably cool clammy is becoming me you can do this be the man japanese kids rule the day don't do the collapse am i in tune? smiling happy man confidence is fleeting that guy is playing a really long time number 34 there is a fan folks in kansas are very friendly 3 hours later don't talk feedback all i hear is my foot stomping stop steady steady steady breathe where's the sound? hey eric i enjoyed our chat you played very well bad note bad notes missing notes too much bad ending try again 2 chances to make it well this greek food is not sitting too well text messages what a clean horse barn pete huttlinger is watching me folks in Iowa are very friendly made some new guitar friends youtube faces come to life judges hear everything judges focusing on my weaknesses my weaknesses win pat kirtley played a fine set you against you brother and 39 other players caught off guard did i turn off my phone? i was ready relax release who am i? don't think feel you are the man a prepubescent guitarist where did i go? last tune better than the first but not good enough completely utterly deflated beautiful landscapes saved me i miss sadie sparse but attentive crowd I miss my wife folks in missouri are very friendly yesterday was a long day today was a long day tomorrow is going to be a really fucking long day objective sidecar walk off stage left bow look cool job undone that wasn't so bad nah it sucked don't think i will return next year perhaps i will.

Wax on. Wax off.

I got cocky this weekend. Or, rather, I should say, careless. New Roots Duo had two shows, one a.m. and one p.m., and I have no excuses for a poor showing in the morning. Okay, as usual, though not usually in a public forum, I am pretty hard on myself. I have spent much time on this blog expounding on the beauty of transcendent playing; the spiritual, existential, metaphysical, blah, blah, blah, experiential moments that occur in live performance. See my previous article here.

Now, I feel it is my duty to expound on the other extreme. I hadn't rehearsed, or even touched, the duo material since our last show together which was....I am not sure (still no excuse). When I opened my case, I had  to confirm that the baritone guitar still had six strings attached. This Summer, due to my familial and professional obligations, any rehearsal time that was allotted to me was spent on my solo gigs (still no excuse). See my previous article here.

But hey, no big deal right? Dan and I have tackled numerous gigs with zero run-throughs and always found a way to pull it off; often with exceptional results. I still believe in allowing time and space for the music to grow. Time away from the guitar can be very productive and valuable, but, not too much time. So, what's one more shot in the dark? A big miss. A fat zero. Fortunately, it was a very laid back show (a farmer's market), and the only people I was really letting down were myself, and worse, my musical compadre Dan. Sorry Dan.  (I would like to take a moment to ensure the readers that Dan played great at both events.)

From the moment we kicked off I was unfocused and really had very little idea what I was doing. I mean, a certain amount of muscle memory and a well trained autopilot can carry you through, but, that is just enough to get from the start to the finish; point A to point B without crashing. I did everything I could to get myself on track, listened, tried to concentrate, people watched, turned away and then toward the sun, tried to find amusement in toddler's dancing, engaging people who walk up and talk to you in the middle of a tune, "Hey, what tuning is that?!", a woman requesting her favorite tune from the CD, sitting down right in front of us to listen, then realizing it was the wrong tune, smelling the food, and, even watching my shadow for clues. That turned out to be the most useful device.

Dan was his usual easy going self, " Don't worry man, it's good to be on the edge. That is when magical things happen." I remarked, "Sure, that is true if you can ultimately pull it off." It can also be disastrous. Okay, I am being a little over dramatic. It was not that terrible. As I already mentioned, it was just a farmer's market. We often use such gigs as rehearsal (sorry music coordinators). But, still, a performance is a performance and I need to be there 100 percent and give it my full attention, my full effort, every time. That is what a professional does. It is not fair to Dan, in this sense, perhaps even more so, to myself, and even more so, to the music. Lesson learned. I guess I will never stop learning these so called lessons.

We (I) made it through and the morning was done. The great irony of it all was, we sold more CDs than we ever have at this particular farmer's market. It is a phenomenon I have experienced countless times over the course of my performing career; the worst shows always sell the most product. WTF? Just demonstrates how subjective this performing thing is, the internal perception anyway, and, I guess in all reality, I really have no clue.

Fortunately, the evening's gig was something else all together. My head was in the right space, still on edge, but magical things did happen. See my previous article on the topic here.

The rust was abated. Wax on. Wax off.

Time to get to work.

Goodbye August. Goodbye Summer.

It appears we have entered the long dénouement into Fall, then...fade to black. Yep, the Minnesota State Fair is in full swing which is the ultimate symbol of Summer's demise. So be it. I am ready for Fall but have really enjoyed the past few months...more so than I ever have. I actually was successful (sort of) in my efforts to embrace the sun, though, many evenings were comfortably spent in the basement recovering. I was lucky enough to enjoy several vacations, tons of quality family time, and now, it is time to reflect a bit and get ready to move forward. It's not quite over yet though! In fact, I started writing this in between grill check points.

Reflecting:

I played a few fun shows this Summer with two exceptional stand out performances: The annual Lake Harriet gig with New Roots Duo and my new favorite solo venue up at the old Historic Inn at Itasca State Park. Dan and I always find a way to rock the bandshell. Itasca was a serene setting with a relatively large and enthusiastic crowd AND all of that old historic inn wood just sounded amazing! It's so easy to play when you are surrounded by good vibrations. I am going to video this one next year.

The precious free work time I had was spent playing the guitar, of course, and I must emphasize the word playing. It was an absolute joy to sit down periodically for spontaneous practice sessions; short bursts of inspiration that yielded surprising results. I will expound on this experience in a later article. Anyway, it was a welcome relief to the usual overly focused intense 'gotta get something done!' sessions which dominated the previous year. I think I am on to something. And, I no longer wake up at 5:00AM to work.

Moving Forward:

I have been working up several new solo guitar arrangements of pop tunes from various eras. This is not a concept that has necessarily been planned and carried forth. It's just what has been showing up at my door. See my previous reference to playing and joy. Not sure if it will lead to another immediate project or not. If so, it will be an odd duck - perhaps 1/2 arrangements and 1/2 new compositions. Talk about a mixed up muse.

I am also very much looking forward to regrouping with New Roots Duo. We have some solid shows coming up, some new music, and are hoping to record a few singles later this Fall. I head to Milwaukee sometime in October to tape a session for a new instructional DVD that is being released by Hal Leonard Corporation. It is not exclusively my instructional DVD but rather I am one of the featured acoustic personalities in the series. More on this later as well. Needless to say, it is a fine opportunity.

I am hoping to play live more this coming year, maybe hit the road more often, beginning with a trip down to Winfield, Kansas later this month to compete in the International Fingerstyle Competition. Why I submit myself to such abuse I will never know. A born hedonist, I suppose I need a counterweight. Perhaps there are some masochistic tendencies hidden within. It will be interesting to see what goes down. My playing style isn't really designed to win competitions but this is an opportunity to showcase in front of a large and selective audience. Hopefully I will make some new, more far reaching, connections as a result. If I escape the experience with my ego still intact, I will count it as a victory.

Yes, another time of transition is upon us. A time to look back, a time to look forward, and time to stay present.

 See you later in September!

On Technique

What is technique? I like this Merriam-Webster definition the best:

A method of accomplishing a desired aim.

Developing and refining one's guitar technique is a lifelong evolution and absolutely essential to becoming a proficient player. Every day I am reminded of this while working with students or working through my own practice routine. There is always something to be changed, added, deleted, fingerings to manipulate, postures to adjust, flexibility and fluidity to be maximized, motion to be minimized, and, all in all, it is the necessary grind to facilitate the most glorious end: making powerful music.We, as players, particularly finger-style or classical guitarists, spend endless hours obsessing on and developing our technique as a means to communicate our music in the most effortless manner possible. We try to knock down all of the physical impediments so as to allow the metaphysical elements the requisite room to sing out.

I remember two specific instances quite early in my development as a guitarist when I first learned the importance of developing a strong, solid, technical base. Back in those days, the early 1980s to be sort of specific, experiencing music was still predominantly an aural experience. Some of the most profound musical developments for me occurred as I would lay on the ground, headphones on (and plugged into the turntable), eyes closed, listening deeply. What the players were doing at this time - or the method in which they were accomplishing their most awesome aim - was left up to my imagination. I would hear Leo Kottke play all of those notes, so fast, so loud, so soft, and thinking to myself, 'How is one human, with presumable only two hands and 10 fingers, able to produce so much sound'? I would hear Geddy Lee whipping off these crazy fills, and riffs, and again, inhuman feats. 'How in the Hell'!? These guys have got to be moving a mile a minute and there extremities HAVE to be running wild! Right? Wrong.

And then I saw each man perform. What a revelation! As I studied their hands I could not believe the economy of motion each exhibited, I mean, relative to the notes being produced, their hands were barely moving. I could hardly tell what they were doing as all motion was so extremely limited; extremely compact as they navigated the fretboard. Lesson learned. Efficiency of motion is so key to effective communication. I had my work cut out for me.

I am sure that these guys still practice. I believe any true virtuoso does. Not just for writing purposes, to produce new material, but I am willing to bet that each still obsesses over ways they can improve their respective abilities and still work things over and over again. Even at the highest levels of mastery, there is still something higher. However, the first steps require long disciplined practice and self-analysis. From the beginnings to the desired end, a strong, solid, technical base is absolutely fundamental and essential. If something is difficult to play, chances are, your technique is a bit unstable and just needs to be tweaked. Get used to it. Keep working. You are only getting better.

And always remember the desired aim: making powerful music.

Summer Fancy and Mindless Practice

Just before the Summer blast set in, I rediscovered a long forgotten technique for practicing my guitar; TV practice. Yep, that's right. You plop down on the couch, flip through the channels, find a bad program, and let the aimless wandering begin. I can't tell you how many compositional ideas I have stumbled on this way over the years. This sort of exercise facilitates mindless practice, an altered state if you will, where the subconscious rises to the top and assumes control. Now, I am in no way advocating this method as your PRIMARY practicing routine, it is just a way to shake up the grind and allow the whimsy a little space to groove.

For me, with the limited time that I have, the tendency is to get bogged down by the time crunch and fall into the required regimen of having to work on this piece or that in preparation for this concert or that recording. As a professional it is very easy to forget how to 'play' the guitar. Since I am in full time Dad mode for the Summer, my free (and work) time has been drastically depleted (all for the great), however, when I do have time to practice, it has become my freedom to explore, to alleviate the pressure, and to unwind. The usual persistent, disciplined practice has been temporarily put on hold, and the pure fun has returned. I tell you now, this expanded space has only benefited my playing. A little bit of letting go can go a long way. Try it.

TV practice can also turn the redundant repetition of working on a particularly difficult passage or technique into a very effective and efficient routine for improvement. When you pull away that intense, focused attention, things fall into place in the most unexpected ways. I often think of a classical guitarist I new in college. He went on to study at Juilliard and ultimately became a GFA (a very prestigious guitar competition) winner, and  he played the most flawless scales I ever heard. He was an occasional TV practicer. I would be willing to bet that there are many more top flight players out there who have employed this ancient technique.

Of course these days, you have a massive library of bad TV, reality shows, movies, and scattered media, at your fingertips by way of YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, and the like. The possibilities are endless and there is no excuse for not getting something done. So, take a break, and get down to some serious mindless practice.

I got a ton done late the other night watching this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C51ggwdkFeI