…and, during my childhood, it meant that today was my (maternal) Grandmother’s birthday. In fact, today would be her 86th birthday; sadly, she passed away in June of 1993 and not a day goes by when I don’t think of her & Paw Paw and how much they meant to me as a kid. I often wonder how adolescence might have been different had they been around to shower love & lessons upon me. And I often wonder how my brother’s lives might have been different had they spent more time with their grandparents. For instance, my baby brother was 5 when Paw Paw died & 6 when Grandma died — even now, he lives vicariously through the rest of us when we reminisce about the days, weeks, months, and years of memories created at 3925 4th Street in Port Arthur, TX.
I wish I had some pictures to show you, but, until my Mother can ever get her scanner working & learn to post those pictures onto her blog, I will leave you with this — my mother’s fond memorial to her mother on her birthday.
I love you Grandma!
UPDATE! Thankfully, my brothers and/or my father was able to assist my mother with uploading a picture of my grandmother, a picture that you can also view on her blog. However, I couldn’t resist stealing it for mine. This photo was taken on October 31st of either 1986 or 1987 — aka a time before Andrew would have had to have been in school during the day. Enjoy!
(L-R) J. Andrew Newton as Felix the Cat & Jessie B. McMahon Adams as Witch Hazel; circa 1986-87
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Well, suffice to say — that was one of the best shows I have ever had the opportunity to attend. Ms. Newsom OWNED the stage. I’ve never seen 400+ hipsters & indie rock snobs sit spellbound for 2+ hours for anything. From her passionate, invigorating harp technique to the way in which the Austin Symphony Orchestra brought the music of Ys to life, this was simply a masterful performance & I’m lucky enough to have been present for the event. I am in the process of writing up a more formal review, yet I’m not quite sure where it will be appearing. So, keep checking back for the link to my fully-formed thoughts on the night.
SET LIST:
“Emilyâ€
“Monkey & Bearâ€
“Sawdust & Diamondsâ€
“Only Skinâ€
“Cosmiaâ€
INTERMISSION
“Bridges & Balloonsâ€
“The Book of Right-Onâ€
“Inflammatory Writâ€
“Colleenâ€
“Peach, Plum, Pearâ€
“Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrieâ€
Untitled New Song
ENCORE
“Milk-Eyed Menderâ€
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Well, after one of the quietest weeks of posting to my blog in recent memory, I wanted to give a little update to my quest to see Joanna Newsom in Austin. And, since there is a wonderful God up in the heavens smiling down upon me, I was deemed worthy enough to receive a press pass to attend and write up the show TONIGHT. Joanna will be performing a 28-piece segment of the Austin Symphony Orchestra at the Riverbend Centre — a lovely facility in NW Austin. I will be composing the review for Amplifier Magazine and I hope to spend a couple of hours just enjoying Austin before and after the show. With any luck, I hope to take some pictures of Joanna to share with all of you (maybe with her & I together after the show!), but nevertheless, I am rather psyched about the show this evening! I just wish she wasn’t dating Bill Callahan….
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Building a Pop Record
UPDATE: This interview can also be found at Burnside Writers Collective.
There are a great many nuances to the making of a good record. A band must be able to capture their live energy in a studio setting, the songs must be top-notch and well-rehearsed in advance of stepping into the booth, and the members must be unified in their commitment to produce a quality product, regardless of the obstacles that might rise up to impede progress. Yet, since many musicians have day jobs as well as all the work involved in finding some modicum of success or notoriety, the daily grind often finds a way to raise its repugnant head, time and time again. So, I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dylan J. Hay Chapman, guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter for the LA-based band Service Group about life as a band dedicated to their art and craft, yet doing so while working at full-time jobs.
APN: Good morning Dylan. Happy birthday! How’s it going today?
Dylan (D): Thanks man. I appreciate it. It’s been a good day.
APN: You’re welcome. Sorry that you’re having to work on your birthday. I’ve had to do that too many times.
D: [laughs] It’s OK. Give me just a second. [shuffles in the background] OK. I’m back. I had to close the door to the office.
APN: It’s cool. Thanks for taking time out of your workday to talk. Your new record, Principals of Electronic Circuitry, is such a delightfully light and breezy album. Were you guys raised listening to ‘60s pop records?
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