Buddha Sounds IV " Dakhenha "

Since my first Burning Man experience in 2006, I have been infatuated with Global Fusion music. I particularly love the downtempo style. Me, being the old school rocker, finding myself drawn to world beats was a bit surprising. Now I find myself listening to this style of music about 90% of the time I'm in the studio. It takes me away. Radio music has worn me quite thin. Change is good.

De Phazz "My Society"

A German band that I really love. Kind of a cross between lounge, old house disco and global fusion. I find myself playing their album "Days of Twang" often while drawing or painting.

The Music Biz, and so it goes...

No Mule poster from DCS tonight in Atlanta. Sorry folks, it was beyond my control. I'll be working on the image that was intended for the poster as an art print to be released at a later date.

Sometimes when it rains, it pours. This trick is learning to enjoy the rain.

Thanks for your support.

Surreal Mural Artist John Pugh

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John Pugh is one of those artists that make you scratch your head and wonder how in the heck did he do that. He is a master of the optical illusion. The piece you are looking at is painted on the flat side wall of a diner. Simply amazing. Imagine walking down the street and seeing this. The woman standing looking inside is also painted to really complete the illusion. I did a double take on that one.

Check out more of John’s fantastical mural work at www.illusion-art.com

Jam In The Dam 2010

Jam In The Dam announced their line-up for the upcoming show in Amsterdam on March 21-23, 2010 at The Melkweg. It is one not to be missed. I'm rather pleased to see Mr. Claypool on the list. Oh, I do love me some Les and to see him at The Melkweg will be all kinds of mind blowing.

The line-up is as follows: Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Les Claypool, The New Mastersounds, The Bridge and an acoustic show by Bayliss and Austin. That is quite a chunk of musical nirvana to experience in a town like Amsterdam. And I promise there will be no mud, roadblocks, drug dogs or rude cops to harsh your mellow.

I highly encourage anyone who has not visited the wonderful city of Amsterdam to venture forth and make the trip across the pond. It is one of my favorite cities. Museums, fine food, great beer and the wonderful ambience of civilized culture make for an experience not soon forgotten. Where else can you get baked, eat a 5 star meal and then go stand 3 feet away from an original Rembrandt in his studio? For an artist, that can damn near be an orgasm inducing spiritual experience. I get warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

Did I mention the coffeeshoppes? Being able to stroll up to the counter and have your choice of the HIGHest quality herb in the world is a bit surreal. The laid back chill of the place can not be described, just experienced. Ah, if we were only so sensible in America.

Tickets go on sale July 29th. I'll be working up a new poster and shirt for the event. Judy and I will see you there.

Losing an old friend

I awoke a few weeks ago and sat down at my computer for morning coffee only to be jarred fully awake. I saw a Facebook update from a friend that the Ga Theatre was fully engulfed in flames. I was in shock. No, it couldn't be. Not the Theatre. It had been there forever. In my mind, it would be there forever. I could almost smell the stale beer and old wood. For anyone who has ever graced the place with their presence you know exactly what I mean. It was also the best sounding venue in the country. I did the cover for the Derek Trucks Live at the Ga Theatre CD. Everybody loved recording there. Those 3 foot thick walls just made for the perfect room. Now it was gone.

I immediately made a few phone calls to check in with friends downtown. I was planning on being at a Perpetual Groove show that night at the theatre and then leaving the next morning for a short vacation. I was informed that the show was cancelled and a new show was planned for the next night at the Classic center to raise money to help the dislocated staff of the theatre. I went into artist mode. The vacation was postponed. The art schedule for the day got scrapped and I started working on a fundraiser poster. For the next 14 hours straight I painted a phoenix rising from the ashes. The poster was finished the next morning before the ashes had cooled at the Theatre.

The show that night was somber. Backstage, seeing my friends who worked there was difficult. They looked shell shocked, but were holding it together as best they could. It was the quietest I think I have ever seen a Backstage atmosphere.

I found a place in the back of the Classic Center to sit and watch the show. PGroove raged, but there was this hollow feeling that I had lost a dear old friend that would never be replaced. We will build the Theatre back, I'm sure of that, but that beer stained icon of my youth was gone forever. At least I have 30 years of memories of shows and events. Those memories are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Please contribute to the "Rebuild the Theatre" fund at Georgiatheatre.com. Athens needs this venue. I want those 21 year old kids going to shows to be able to look back in 30 years at the new theatre in the same nostalgic manner as I have, knowing we spent some of the best times of our lives in that hallowed room.

The Yurt

I spent some time away this past week. It was a very good to recharge the soul. Often one needs a break to catch their breath. I was in sore need of some fresh air and change of scenery. It did me good.

Judy and I are presently researching how we are going to build our new home. We are looking at a 30" yurt as one possibility. I went this past week to stay in one at the Falling waters Resort on the Nantahala River in North Carolina.

I fell in love with the feeling you have while inside it. I have owned several large Native Lodges (tipis), but a yurt feels more like a home. A 30 footer will give us lots of room to play with it. The model I stayed in was a 16' footer. Lots of space with a fridge, couch, queen size victorian bed, electricity and running water. not really roughing it by regular camping in a tent standards.



-- Post From My iPhone