Sonny took a train
Mary took a boat
Somewhere it’s gonna be better
Everybody needs a little hope
Ten thousand souls
Waiting on a bus and it never rolled
So it goes...
No one’s leaving california
Pacific transit overload
Gold dust dreamers never warn ya
And my guitar strums
I am the american
I got a walking stick
And an old sock hat
I’ve got dirty hands
And I’ve got a dream to match
I’ve got a pocket full
Of government issue cures for poverty
No one’s leaving california
Pacific transit overload
All my friends live on the corner
And my guitar strums
I am the american
Under the streetlight, down by the water
Don’t worry baby, it’s nothing you ever knew
(if it) makes you feel better, throw down a quarter
Don’t worry baby, it won’t stick to your shoes
No one’s leaving california
Pacific transit overload
Gold dust dreamers never warn ya
And my guitar strums
Yeah my guitar strums
I am the american
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Angie Aparo- Spaceship
I had the daunting task once of painting the foyer and living area of our old house in McDonough over the course of a weekend. This was one of those houses that had ceilings that stopped just shy of the Big Dipper.
Wifey was pregnant with our first at the time, and she was going out of town.
I thought this was the perfect time to get the job done.
No paint fumes for Mommy = a happy Mommy and a healthy baby.
After I cleaned up the half gallon of olive green paint that I spilled, I got settled in and ready to work.
But wait...if you know me you know I need a soundtrack.
A patient at my office that was a singer had just given me a copy of his new CD entitled "The American".
If I listened to that CD once that weekend, I listened to it about 30 times. It was that good.
It instantly became one of my "Desert Island" choices.
Faith Hill thought it was good, too.
She recorded his song, "Cry", and oh yeah...won a Grammy for it.
Other artists have done his songs including Tim McGraw and most recently Miley Cyrus.
He's as good as a songwriter as he is a performer.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to see Angie Aparo in concert a few times. He usually tours the Southeast and about once a year I'll check him out when he's in Atlanta.
He'll be playing this Saturday at the Park Tavern in Midtown.
And I plan on being there as well.
By the way, the painting job was completed and approved with no fractures, dislocations, or other spills.
Wifey was pregnant with our first at the time, and she was going out of town.
I thought this was the perfect time to get the job done.
No paint fumes for Mommy = a happy Mommy and a healthy baby.
After I cleaned up the half gallon of olive green paint that I spilled, I got settled in and ready to work.
But wait...if you know me you know I need a soundtrack.
A patient at my office that was a singer had just given me a copy of his new CD entitled "The American".
If I listened to that CD once that weekend, I listened to it about 30 times. It was that good.
It instantly became one of my "Desert Island" choices.
Faith Hill thought it was good, too.
She recorded his song, "Cry", and oh yeah...won a Grammy for it.
Other artists have done his songs including Tim McGraw and most recently Miley Cyrus.
He's as good as a songwriter as he is a performer.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to see Angie Aparo in concert a few times. He usually tours the Southeast and about once a year I'll check him out when he's in Atlanta.
He'll be playing this Saturday at the Park Tavern in Midtown.
And I plan on being there as well.
By the way, the painting job was completed and approved with no fractures, dislocations, or other spills.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
John Coltrane- A Love Supreme
Up until I was about 30 years old, I had a phonograph player.
Back in the day, we just called it a record player.
One of my favorite things to do as a kid, was to play my Mom's old 45s and sing along. I would actually record myself.
Thankfully, all of the tapes were lost.
Mom had a huge collection of 45s.
But I had my favorites: Poison Ivy by The Coasters, I Want To Walk You Home by Fats Domino, and I Write The Songs by Barry Manilow, just to name a few.
I also had some favorite LPs: Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", Styx's "Grand Illusion", and ELO's "A New World Record".
But of course, cassette tapes came and went, and CDs were the collection mode of choice.
One day, I was in my parent's basement with one of my cousins. He saw a huge box of 45s sitting there and said, "What's those black things?"
He had never seen a record before.
I still have a few LPs and 45s at my house. One day soon I hope to get something to play them on. I still have my copy of "40 Funky Hits" that I've been dying to hear.
We never had any Coltrane, but whenever I get a new turntable, I'm considering it.
Back in the day, we just called it a record player.
One of my favorite things to do as a kid, was to play my Mom's old 45s and sing along. I would actually record myself.
Thankfully, all of the tapes were lost.
Mom had a huge collection of 45s.
But I had my favorites: Poison Ivy by The Coasters, I Want To Walk You Home by Fats Domino, and I Write The Songs by Barry Manilow, just to name a few.
I also had some favorite LPs: Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", Styx's "Grand Illusion", and ELO's "A New World Record".
But of course, cassette tapes came and went, and CDs were the collection mode of choice.
One day, I was in my parent's basement with one of my cousins. He saw a huge box of 45s sitting there and said, "What's those black things?"
He had never seen a record before.
I still have a few LPs and 45s at my house. One day soon I hope to get something to play them on. I still have my copy of "40 Funky Hits" that I've been dying to hear.
We never had any Coltrane, but whenever I get a new turntable, I'm considering it.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Elizabeth Mitchell-You Are My Sunshine
I'm loving the new wave of children's music.
I just love it period when I have the chance to play children's music for my kids and it doesn't make me want to jump out of the car after 5 minutes.
Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, They Might Be Giants are all examples of creative artists that have done projects to cater to young ears.
I once heard a Kidzbop rendition of James Blunt's "Beautiful".
"I saw you on the subway, you were with another man, but I won't lose no sleep over that cause I've got a plan."
Great song. Not very relevant.
You see, that's the trick.
You've got to make good quality songs that still have relevancy.
Elizabeth Mitchell gets it.
She grew up in New York City. After getting her degree from Brown University, she moved to Brooklyn and took a job as an assistant teacher at the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery School in New York City.
It was here that she discovered her love of making music with children.
She was the first new children's music artist signed to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in the 21st century.
She has released four children's albums to date with a fifth to be released next month.
This video for this classic tune reminds us to treasure the important...and don't sweat the small stuff.
I just love it period when I have the chance to play children's music for my kids and it doesn't make me want to jump out of the car after 5 minutes.
Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, They Might Be Giants are all examples of creative artists that have done projects to cater to young ears.
I once heard a Kidzbop rendition of James Blunt's "Beautiful".
"I saw you on the subway, you were with another man, but I won't lose no sleep over that cause I've got a plan."
Great song. Not very relevant.
You see, that's the trick.
You've got to make good quality songs that still have relevancy.
Elizabeth Mitchell gets it.
She grew up in New York City. After getting her degree from Brown University, she moved to Brooklyn and took a job as an assistant teacher at the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery School in New York City.
It was here that she discovered her love of making music with children.
She was the first new children's music artist signed to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in the 21st century.
She has released four children's albums to date with a fifth to be released next month.
This video for this classic tune reminds us to treasure the important...and don't sweat the small stuff.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven
This weekend the family and I met my brother and sister-in-law at Callaway Gardens, a beautiful park south of Atlanta.
There is so much to do these days at Callaway. We ended up buying an annual pass because we didn't want to rush. They have an excellent Christmas light display every year, so I know we'll go back for that.
But this time around, we stayed at Robin Lake Beach. There was a nice swimming area roped off for the kids.
I was really surprised how uncrowded it was to be a holiday weekend.
Especially since there was a Hot Air Balloon Festival going on there as well.
That part was a little disappointing because they were supposed to have them lift off at 6:00pm, but were unable to because of winds.
I'm not sure what they were talking about, because it was pretty steamy most of the day.
But the kids had a great time and so did we.
They had a huge giant waterslide thingy set-up, which was basically an enormous inflatable with a couple of guys with hoses. On a hot day, however, it was pretty popular.
My 5 year old, Be-Bop, begged me to let her do it.
So, of course I let her do it.
I was kind of surprised that she wanted to , but I was very proud of her bravery as she climbed up by herself and shot down the slide.
She didn't care so much for the water getting in her face.
Maybe, we'll wait a couple of more years for White Water.
Walking back to meet the others after her daring display, we passed by the pavilion where there was a guy with a piano singing.
As we passed he was singing, "Give me that old time rock and roll. The kind of music that soothes the soul..."
So, I started thinking about what "old time rock and roll" meant to me.
For me, "Stairway" is the ultimate rock song. From the cool vocals to the layering of the song, and the way it just builds.
It may not be the "all-time greatest", but it sure ranks.
"Stairway" is never denied here.
There is so much to do these days at Callaway. We ended up buying an annual pass because we didn't want to rush. They have an excellent Christmas light display every year, so I know we'll go back for that.
But this time around, we stayed at Robin Lake Beach. There was a nice swimming area roped off for the kids.
I was really surprised how uncrowded it was to be a holiday weekend.
Especially since there was a Hot Air Balloon Festival going on there as well.
That part was a little disappointing because they were supposed to have them lift off at 6:00pm, but were unable to because of winds.
I'm not sure what they were talking about, because it was pretty steamy most of the day.
But the kids had a great time and so did we.
They had a huge giant waterslide thingy set-up, which was basically an enormous inflatable with a couple of guys with hoses. On a hot day, however, it was pretty popular.
My 5 year old, Be-Bop, begged me to let her do it.
So, of course I let her do it.
I was kind of surprised that she wanted to , but I was very proud of her bravery as she climbed up by herself and shot down the slide.
She didn't care so much for the water getting in her face.
Maybe, we'll wait a couple of more years for White Water.
Walking back to meet the others after her daring display, we passed by the pavilion where there was a guy with a piano singing.
As we passed he was singing, "Give me that old time rock and roll. The kind of music that soothes the soul..."
So, I started thinking about what "old time rock and roll" meant to me.
For me, "Stairway" is the ultimate rock song. From the cool vocals to the layering of the song, and the way it just builds.
It may not be the "all-time greatest", but it sure ranks.
"Stairway" is never denied here.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Darkness- I Believe In A Thing Called Love
My good friend J and I went to see the band Kiss perform here in Atlanta earlier this week.
It was honestly one of the best live shows that I've seen.
One of my friends, when I was telling her about the show, said "They're old but they still rock".
That's kind of how I feel about myself...most days.
The one thing that I would have changed about the show would have been the opening bands.
The first opener was a band called "The Envy".
They were decent and I think that they were on Gene Simmons' record label which answers to why they were on the bill. But the style didn't match very well. They should have been opening for Green Day or somebody like that.
The same was true about the second band.
They were called "The Academy Is...".
The way the lead singer was moving caused the "rural" gentleman behind me to lean up and ask, "That lead singer's a girl, right?"
It just didn't fit.
The thing was...even when Kiss came on, there were still plenty of seats, both in reserved seating and on the lawn.
We were trying to think of better openers or split bills that would have drawn better...and that would have had the same type of sound.
Motley Crue, Cinderella, Britney Fox, The Scorpions, even Guns n' Roses would have worked.
Oh well. We're not promoters. I'm sure Gene Simmons knows what he's doing. He's a marketing genius.
I heard that if you bought a lawn seat to the show, they gave you 4 child's tickets for free.
That's a perfect way to introduce the younger crowd to your music.
And honestly, there wasn't really anything much that was inappropriate for youngsters.
Except the whole Gene spitting blood bit. That may cause some nightmares.
The band was donating $1 from each ticket sold for this tour to Wounded Warriors Care Foundation, a veteran's relief fund that provides care for soldiers returning from war. Class act.
Another band that would have been a good opener for Kiss would be "The Darkness"...if they were still together.
Some guys can last for decades with each other and some can't.
It was honestly one of the best live shows that I've seen.
One of my friends, when I was telling her about the show, said "They're old but they still rock".
That's kind of how I feel about myself...most days.
The one thing that I would have changed about the show would have been the opening bands.
The first opener was a band called "The Envy".
They were decent and I think that they were on Gene Simmons' record label which answers to why they were on the bill. But the style didn't match very well. They should have been opening for Green Day or somebody like that.
The same was true about the second band.
They were called "The Academy Is...".
The way the lead singer was moving caused the "rural" gentleman behind me to lean up and ask, "That lead singer's a girl, right?"
It just didn't fit.
The thing was...even when Kiss came on, there were still plenty of seats, both in reserved seating and on the lawn.
We were trying to think of better openers or split bills that would have drawn better...and that would have had the same type of sound.
Motley Crue, Cinderella, Britney Fox, The Scorpions, even Guns n' Roses would have worked.
Oh well. We're not promoters. I'm sure Gene Simmons knows what he's doing. He's a marketing genius.
I heard that if you bought a lawn seat to the show, they gave you 4 child's tickets for free.
That's a perfect way to introduce the younger crowd to your music.
And honestly, there wasn't really anything much that was inappropriate for youngsters.
Except the whole Gene spitting blood bit. That may cause some nightmares.
The band was donating $1 from each ticket sold for this tour to Wounded Warriors Care Foundation, a veteran's relief fund that provides care for soldiers returning from war. Class act.
Another band that would have been a good opener for Kiss would be "The Darkness"...if they were still together.
Some guys can last for decades with each other and some can't.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Walter Hawkins- I'm Going Away
I had a weird dream last night.
It was kind of one of those dreams that you can't shake all day the next day.
In my dream, I was getting my kids ready for the bus to go to school.
Pretty normal up til now, right.
Well, in my dream, we somehow all knew that Jesus was returning for His people later that day.
So, this was the last time that I was going to see my kids here on Earth.
It was emotional and unnerving.
I think the dream was spurred by the sermon that was preached on Sunday at church.
We had a guest preacher that spoke on "end-times prophecy".
For those that don't believe the Bible is a true and authentic, relevant inspired Word from God, you just have to count the prophecies. There are so many things that were predicted thousands of years ago that eventually came to pass.
Now, the stage is being set for the beginning of the end.
This should cause us all to consider our priorities.
First, are you prepared to meet the judgment? You don't have to be afraid of the end of times or death for that matter. If your trust is in the One that made and controls it all, there is nothing to fear.
Secondly, are those closest to you ready? If I really care for someone, I should love them enough to tell them that destruction is coming. I would warn them if they were about to be hit by a bus. This is eternal.
If you read this blog, I want you to know that you can't face The Creator alone.
He'll crush you.
Yes, God is a God of love. But, He also hates sin. He can not stand to be in the presence of anyone that has been tainted by it in the least.
You may have heard that Jesus died for you. It might not have made since to you.
Here's the jist, short-version.
He was God's son. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life so He could die as a sacrificial offering for sin. This was important in the ancient Jewish culture. The sacrifice had to be perfect.
By becoming a sacrifice, he offered a trade: His perfection for our sins.
This doesn't mean that a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ is now perfect.
It does mean that if you accept the trade offer, God now sees you as perfect.
If you desire to take the offer, send me a message on Facebook or email me at greggchiro@aol.com.
I'll do the best I can to guide you through.
It doesn't cost anything. It's a free gift. But in order to be effectively enjoyed, a gift must be received.
Much love!
It was kind of one of those dreams that you can't shake all day the next day.
In my dream, I was getting my kids ready for the bus to go to school.
Pretty normal up til now, right.
Well, in my dream, we somehow all knew that Jesus was returning for His people later that day.
So, this was the last time that I was going to see my kids here on Earth.
It was emotional and unnerving.
I think the dream was spurred by the sermon that was preached on Sunday at church.
We had a guest preacher that spoke on "end-times prophecy".
For those that don't believe the Bible is a true and authentic, relevant inspired Word from God, you just have to count the prophecies. There are so many things that were predicted thousands of years ago that eventually came to pass.
Now, the stage is being set for the beginning of the end.
This should cause us all to consider our priorities.
First, are you prepared to meet the judgment? You don't have to be afraid of the end of times or death for that matter. If your trust is in the One that made and controls it all, there is nothing to fear.
Secondly, are those closest to you ready? If I really care for someone, I should love them enough to tell them that destruction is coming. I would warn them if they were about to be hit by a bus. This is eternal.
If you read this blog, I want you to know that you can't face The Creator alone.
He'll crush you.
Yes, God is a God of love. But, He also hates sin. He can not stand to be in the presence of anyone that has been tainted by it in the least.
You may have heard that Jesus died for you. It might not have made since to you.
Here's the jist, short-version.
He was God's son. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life so He could die as a sacrificial offering for sin. This was important in the ancient Jewish culture. The sacrifice had to be perfect.
By becoming a sacrifice, he offered a trade: His perfection for our sins.
This doesn't mean that a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ is now perfect.
It does mean that if you accept the trade offer, God now sees you as perfect.
If you desire to take the offer, send me a message on Facebook or email me at greggchiro@aol.com.
I'll do the best I can to guide you through.
It doesn't cost anything. It's a free gift. But in order to be effectively enjoyed, a gift must be received.
Much love!
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