Noise on the web

[editor's note: all pix are old. very old.]

If you've been looking at some of the other "links" available on this site, you may have noticed a new area I've added called IMPORTANT NOISE. Over the last few months, I've found myself getting more involved in the world of music out in the myspace universe. Aside from the countless people sites out there, which I've never participated in, I was surprised to find what a large music community was out there. Not just never-before-heard artists with home studios, but also some of the biggest names in music. I was first made aware of this network through communications with good friend HAWKINS (bluesausageinfant). After a bit of time, I finally decided to take the plunge and resurrect some of my own musical ambitions, past and present.

You'll now see some links to what I consider to be some of the more interesting artists producing music in recent years. I'm not talking about mainstream. And I'm not even talking about music with vocals. Heck, a lot of it isn't even in the old verse-chorus structure. This is abstract. Emotional. Spontaneous. Some loud. Some soft. There are a lot of incredible artists out there trying to redefine musical boundaries. Some of the artists have been around for decades. Others much newer but no less ambitious. I'll be adding more over time as I continue to network with various artists.

What I decided NOT to do was use this as a forum focusing on past efforts. My history of rock and alternative rock goes back to about 1985 or so. And, at least for the time being, it's had its day. I have nothing but great memories from those efforts. But I elected to use this music area as a way to break away from my past and focus on more of the experimental work I've dabbled in the last few years. It's not all polished. It's not all concrete. But it's all me. It's not radio-ready. Some take time to develop. Some don't develop much at all. It's music for music's sake.

Anyway. There are 6 tracks out there on the reanimation link currently (myspace limit). They are likely to change over time. The first 3 are recent solo efforts. Just spontaneous compositions based on a small foundation. RISORGIMENTO, MELD, and THREE MARTYRS OF ATSUHARA are just me and a little bit of free time. A lot of fun to create. Heck, THREE MARTYRS was spawned entirely because I couldn't get the rhythm of our old clothes dryer out of my head. In fact, the intro and outro sounds ARE the dryer! The last 3 songs do pay homage to my past, as I have to, for the time being, show where it all began. The tracks here aren't necessarily the big hits (well, one is), but are there because of what they mean to me. CANVAS was early Every Part of the Animal and one of the highlights of the days as a trio. I NEVER SAID was the college radio "hit" from latter-day EPOTA and, to this day, is the best pop/rock effort I ever wrote. Radio-ready in almost every way. AFTER ALL was a solo effort that eventually was recorded with the other half of my first band, Quixotic. Not a radio hit, but a song I've always loved.

These aren't for everyone. Can any music be? I certainly don't apologize for the efforts. I enjoy the art and hope that some of you might elect to share in some of the experience. And please take a listen to some of the other artists out in the community. There are a lot of exciting results being posted out there and you're not likely to hear much of this through everyday music outlets.

Enjoy. Maybe? Play Loud!

Winfield bound?

OK. Don't tell me if you've heard this one before. Moving? Yes, moving. What do you mean, "Are you moving AGAIN?" It's not like we move every year, right? It just feels like it. I guess there have been more than a few times in our past where U-Haul or Ryder has benefited from our circumstances. Let's review the history, shall we? It's kind of a fun journey:

1) Wheaton, IL apartment: 1988-1989
2) Glen Ellyn, IL rental home: 1989-1993
3) Dallas, TX townhome (rental): July 1993-January 1994
4) Rowlett, TX rental home #1: January 1994-March 1994
(to be fair, we found out on our 2nd day here that the house was under foreclosure)
5) Rowlett, TX rental home #2: March 1994-June 1995
6) Tucson, AZ rental home: July 1995-May 1997
7) Winfield, IL house purchase: 1997-2004
8) Muscatine, IA apartment: February 2004-May 2004
(company-paid housing for job relocation)
9) Muscatine, IA rental home: June 2004-July 2004
(this was to be a purchase, but seller failed to disclose plenty)
10) Muscatine, IA house purchase: July 2004-June 2005
11) Geneva, IL house purchase: June 2005-present
12) ???

So what's next? Actually, it's not that big of a deal this time. No out-of-state moves. No job relocation. Well, sort of. A lot of this move has to do with getting closer to work. Some has to do with just going back to an area we love. And part of the motivation to do it now is to be settled in before Su starts up school in the fall.

When we moved back to IL in 2005, the circumstances were entirely different. I was self-employed, working from home, and could really just pick any affordable place to live and exist. And that's what we did. We found an affordable pocket in Geneva. I worked from home for the better part of 2005 through May of 2007. But when work slowed, I found new employment that required a lengthy drive to work. Unfortunately, it's been a time-consuming and costly one.

I've spent far too many hours sitting in my car and far too many dollars spent on filling up the tank. We decided it was time to get back some of that free time and pull back some of those dollars going toward gas and tolls. Also, we've spent a lot of time daydreaming about returning to an area like Winfield again. With it's more centralized location to the things we like to do, its close proximity to wonderful running trails, and the quaint, quiet wooded feel of the area, it's a more natural fit for us. While it's a great city, Geneva has just never quite felt like "home" to us.

So the process started all over again. Our house went up for sale officially on Tuesday and immediately produced a couple of showings. Our sign wasn't even out yet, so it was like our little "secret" from the neighborhood. This morning, the sign was up, so now the word is out. But we already have an offer on a place (contingent) in Winfield. And we're hoping we can keep up the activity level on this house and maybe find our way to a solution soon.

I'll try to keep everyone posted. At least this move is local!

Save the date!

Where do you plan to be on April 19th? After reading the news today in the entertainment section of our local newspaper, the answer became more than obvious. The ONLY place you should be is at your local vinyl-and-CD authority. For April 19th is...

RECORD STORE DAY!!

I didn't know there was such a day. And maybe not before this year (although, as a youth, I would proclaim almost ANY day to be Record Store Day). I saw the little blurb in the paper. Local merchant heroes Kiss the Sky were participating! And my eyes lit up when I caught the phrase, "...when Kiss the Sky joins indie stores throughout the country to pay homage to record-store culture via live music, mega sales, and overall "High Fidelity" camaraderie." Geez! Camaraderie, too?!

For grins, I visited the Kiss the Sky site and was surprised to see an actual banner ad for an actual Record Store Day web site (graphics above). When I linked onto the Record Store Day site, there were the words right in front of me:

"On Saturday, April 19th, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate 'Record Store Day.'"

Additional:

"On this day, all of these stores will simultaneously link and act as one with the purpose of celebrating the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local communities and nationally."

So do you need any more encouragement to take a journey to your local participating establishment? Not sure if one near you is involved? Just visit the Record Store Day website for a complete list of stores that are sharing in this milestone day. Do your part. Get involved. Share in the fun. Make some purchases. Keep these key members of our community in business for a long, long time.

A little tiger

This past Saturday was the last class of Tae Kwon Do for Su this session. It's hard for me to believe I'm actually disappointed. While I had a feeling that the "family" class would be good for Su and I, there was no way for me to know just how much fun we'd actually end up having together.

Last fall, we had signed Su up for a Tae Kwon Do class for individuals -- kids whose ages ran from about 5 years to 9 years. The class was through the Geneva Park District and run by Bill Cho's United Tae Kwon Do Center in St. Charles. We initially decided to try out the class because: A) we figured an additional winter-time activity wouldn't be a bad thing, and B) I figured the class could go a long way into developing some confidence and coordination. I had taken lessons some time ago and had accumulated a few belts before hanging it up, but knew that it could be a lot of fun for her.

Su did seem to enjoy the class, but like with a lot of activities, wasn't sure if she really wanted to do it again. And that's fair. We have given her the chance to try out different activities and only want her to experience something new once in a while before ruling it out. When that particular session was up, we decided to give it one more shot -- this time as part of the "family" class, giving the parent a chance to participate with the child.

This seemed like a great opportunity to spend some time with Su, keep her interested, and also add a little bit more exercise to her winter-time routine. Su wasn't sure about another class but at least was a good sport about trying it again.

And we had a blast. Working through routines, bonding exercises, counting to 10 in Korean, reciting the 5 tenets ("Courtesy, SIR!..."). We had so much fun together. And I witnessed the changes in Su as she became more confident in her abilities and also did a fantastic job of memorizing routines and language. For me, the class was a lot harder than I thought it would be. The routines came back to me quickly, but the hard part was performing a lot of these exercises with a 5-year old on my back! Running relays, push-ups, all with Su hanging on my backside. It was hard, it was fun, and the 8-week session seemed over before it began.

We're thinking about trying one more session together in April. I'll see how Su feels about doing this with Dad one more time. Su especially loved the interaction with Master Han (Master Yong Soo Han), who was especially great with the kids, and Master Jeff, who added additional assistance and training.

Tae! Kwon! Do!

The Year of the Rat continues

As mentioned in the previous blog entry, the wonderful thing about our Chinese New Year celebration schedule is that we get to do it multiple times and continue to spend time with extraordinary friends. This past weekend was our yearly celebration with our travel group. And like past years, this bash was hosted in wonderful fashion by Ron and Wendy. This gathering brought together five of the travel group families, as well as a couple of families that were part of an earlier travel by the hosting family.

The house was festively decorated and the food, all painstakingly prepared by Wendy, was in abundance -- and just out of this world. There was certainly no shortage of refreshments, chow, and great desserts.

From the very first moments upon arriving, Su was greeted by her special friends and immediately ran off to start playing together. You wouldn't know that it had been months since they'd last seen each other. Members of the travel group continued to arrive, filling the house with good cheer and (with each additional child) that much more noise. It was certainly a "charged" environment. Everyone was in particularly good spirits.

The evening was capped off with a dragon parade, colorfully prepared and colored by the kids, who draped the long paper figure over their heads and stomped around the house, feet puncturing the rolls of packing ("popping") wrap laid out in front of them to guide their journey around the admiring parents.

After quite a bit more playing, everyone started to slowly exit. As usual, we seemed to be the last ones there. The true sign of a good time. Even at the late hour, Su still didn't want to leave. Of course, we had to explain that a good guest is one that will eventually leave!

Despite the tired exterior, Su somehow managed to stay awake in the car during the 35 minute trip home. But once home, it was quickly off to bed and followed by a VERY lengthy time in bed. Actually, the same was true for ALL of us.

Xin Nian Kuai Le

Happy New Year! It's that time again to recognize the Chinese New Year. As expected, this has become an important tradition in our household in recent years. We have a lot of fun with Su during this time of year. And due to the many wonderful friendships we've made through our adoption process -- both with our travel group and locally -- sometimes it seems like the celebration never stops.

We initially had a small family dinner on the actual holiday, with the three of us paying a visit to our local establishment, China Taste. Despite it's not-so-Chinese sounding name, their food is actually far and away the best in the area. Always mouth-watering. And always with very good service. The only downside? No beer served at this establishment. Sure, you don't HAVE to have alcohol when celebrating. But sometimes a refreshing Chinese beer goes a long way in complementing a meal.

That very next Saturday, we did go out for yet another meal of Chinese food, visiting the East China Inn, this time accompanied by cold beverages. We spent the evening with Su's pal (and former roomate) Cole, his sister Lina, and their terrific parents. Su was even able to wear one of her special dresses that we bought while in China. She looked just beautiful. Another night of good food and great company. The kids had a wonderful time and it helped set the stage for a little post-dinner playtime -- a chance for the 3 of them (probably feeling very restricted by restaurant rules) to let out some steam.

It was a fun-filled night. And we returned home with a very tired little girl.

Near extinction

Once upon a time, there were many. Some towering over local sidewalks. Others nestled in decades-old homes. Others hidden amongst the brick landscape of small downtown locations. Wheaton. Glen Ellyn. Bloomingdale. Lombard. Lisle. There were sightings everywhere. Some were warm, inviting, with an alluring song extending out like a familiar hand. Others were dark, cold, and almost daring you to come near.

But you did. The temptation was always too great to resist. And having made the bold leap into the unknown, you were rewarded with candy for the senses. The incense, almost intoxicating, and a constant reminder that these were new worlds. The images. They almost leaped off the walls and shelves. Where do you turn first? Eye-catching psychedelia. Bold new designs. Glistening shrink wrap. Vinyl as far as the eye could see.

And the sounds. Yes, the sounds. This was a brave new world, wasn't it? Extending well beyond the reaches of commercial radio, we were treated to a musical vision not intended for the masses. Some of what was shared was intense. Loud. Almost ear-splitting. Was this music? How come none of my friends were listening to this? Some experiences were almost cerebral. Who were these new artists reshaping or tossing away the old mold? What I heard was fresh. Not quite so familiar. Smart. Lyrics that were almost poetic. Song structures that seemed to take you on an actual journey, not just a 3-minute break at the highway rest stop. And some experiences were just breathtaking. Music that seemed to spit in the face of tradition. Artists playing time signatures that seemed to zig when you thought they should zag, showing a musical dexterity that would cause the average rock star "wannabe" to cramp up with exhaustion trying to keep up with the speed and precision.

25 years ago, they were out there. You didn't have to look too hard to find these small offerings of musical bliss. I felt secure knowing that I had a place to go to get away from the norm, the mainstream, the conformity. And there was the indescribable, absolute joy that came from those first moments returning home, tearing off the wrapping, revving up the turntable, and settling into a wonderful journey. The music. The artwork. The liner notes. All for me.

And now they are almost all gone. First, it was almost in slow motion. One disappeared. Then another. And then they were herded away in the middle of the night. Lonely shops. Empty bins. Unable to survive the changes brought about by the music "business" (as well as a mostly conforming public), they threw up their collective arms in frustration and surrendered. The music seemed to die. And what's worse. Nobody seemed to care.

Sure, some of the more densely populated downtown districts have managed to hang on to these beacons of hope (as blogger pal hawkins occasionally details in his DC platform). A few hung on through the tough times. And a few others might have quietly entered the scene. But out in Suburbia, it continues to be a sad time.

But there is cause for some hope. A survivor. Here in Geneva? It's true. Having established a loyal following in nearby Batavia, Kiss the Sky has decided to rise to the challenge in full, tightening its belt, padding its armor, and planting itself right in the heart of the downtown river community. I say "bah!" to the gourmet pet treat stores and expensive collectibles. "Humbug" to the trendy clothing boutiques and pricey restaurants. And I can say WELCOME at the top of my lungs to our new neighbor.

The familiar lights are back. The incense. The selection. The music knowledge from owners and employees who actually care. Vinyl is still secondary to the CD format here. But the back room is changing more each week. At least I have a choice. It's not just Hannah Montana and Celine. Britney or The Jonas Brothers (just TYPING those names almost caused me to weep). Nope. Real artists. Real music.

Monday was a vacation day. My first order of business had to be Kiss the Sky. And there was a familiar giddy sensation at the end of the experience as I sorted through my new purchases in the car. Cluster. Circle. Dead Kennedys. Comets on Fire. Wire. Six Organs of Admittance. More.

Much like 25 years ago. Please don't ever leave me again. Please.