Blast From The Past Fill-In Lunch Report For August 9, 2012

[Boogie Bill]

Holy Cow, Time does fly! Especially when I looked at the date on this lunch report I filed back in August, 2004.

Some things for me have changed--like I now have 50 guitars (17 G&Ls), and I'm 61 years old! OMG! I'll tell you, that's a dream--and a nightmare, in those two facts. Now, if I could only play them all at one time.....

...and stay forever young.

Juan Colorado's is now Celia's, still great chile verde. I still love my coffee, though now it has to be decaf, due to atrial fib.

Please step into my time machine, and strap yourself in.

3....2...1....


Hola, amigos!

We’ll start with a little Spanish, because my lunch today is a leftover Chile Verde burrito, some refried beans, and rice washed down with a Diet Pepsi. I am fortunate to have a really great Mexican restaurant, Juan Colorado’s, within a mile of my house. This is what I brought home from a late Saturday dinner, and it is mighty tasty. Chile Verde has a spiced green tomatillo sauce with cubes of pork—it is one of my markers for a good Mexican restaurant (anybody should be able to do credible tacos, rice and beans!) and Juan’s Chile Verde is some of the best I’ve ever had. Talk about a lot of food—I could barely eat half my dinner Saturday—I must be slowing down in my old age.

If any of your remember my last Lunch Reports, you might remember that I am a coffee fiend, (though I prefer the term connoisseur), and sure enough I’ve got a home-made mocha in my grasp. I have a really nice old Krups Novo Espresso Machine. Espresso is made by using a small amount of very finely ground, very dark roasted coffee. The water is forced through the coffee under pressure, extracting a very thick, dark, bittersweet brew. Drawn in “shots” of one ounce (a single), or two for a “double”, you can add steamed milk for an Italian “latte” (or “Café-au-Lait”, should you find yourself in Paris or “Nawlins”); add a bit of chocolate to this mix and you have yourself a “Mocha”. Yum!

Most people have gotten fairly savvy about coffee, since Starbucks became so popular. It’s a Seattle company that started out as a small roasting operation in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the early 1970’s, and look at them now. They have really changed what that morning “cuppa Joe” means for a lot of people in this country. And if you find yourself traversing the streets of Seattle, don’t be surprised if one of the more entrepreneurial pan-handlers hits you up, not for “Can you spare two bits for a cup of coffee, Mister?” but, “Can you loan me three bucks, for a latte, Sir?”


+++++++++++++++++++++++
ABOUT ME

Boogie Bill is 54, and I have been playing guitar since 1964. I sat down and finally figured out exactly when I started learning the guitar, and it was 40 years ago last November. Pretty amazing when I think about it, though I should be better for that amount of time. I had a band in high school; did a lot of the coffee houses in college with a folk-rock-trio and as a solo performer. Eventually I left school in 1971 to take a full time position entertaining at a ski resort outside of Seattle. That was my first “pro” music job, and I did a solo act until 1991. For about ten years of that period, music was my sole source of income, and I traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest to make my living.

I finally got tired of trying to do it all on my own, so I started working with a band in 1991. In 2001, I moved to Oregon, and now live in the Portland area. I have a very versatile pop/rock/blues/country band, and I like to hit several of the local blues/rock jam sessions every week to keep my playing sharp. I don’t consider myself a great lead player, though I can hold my own when it comes to classic rock and blues; but I do have an aggressive, driving rhythm style. I’m a strong vocalist and frontman, and see myself as more of an “entertainer” than as a “musician”. When I get a compliment on my playing or singing, it’s still a thrill, of course. When I hear, “We really had a good time tonight!” from a customer—then I know I’ve done my job.

My guitar of choice is a Legacy, or any one of the G&Ls with that body style. I usually take 4-6 guitars on one of my band’s gigs. My collection has grown to 30 guitars, with 15 G&Ls, a couple of Les Pauls, a couple of Ibanez electrics, a pair of Music Man Sabre IIs that pre-date G&L, six acoustics, a twelve string, a bass, and a banjo. I have four Mesa Boogie amps, and I own a 4,000-watt PA system, complete with monitors. And all of the crazy little items that you need to make it all work.


+++++++++++++++++++++++
TOPICS

I wanted to start the week with a continuation from one of Sara’s reports last week. Of course, this was a big holiday weekend, and many of you got together with your families. Sara had asked about how many of you would take a guitar and play for, or with your family. Here’s more of my story.

In all honesty, this is still a sore spot for me. You have to be really careful--sometimes the people who should be the most supportive can make the most damaging and hurtful comments. I used to love playing guitar for my family, but the so-called "constructive criticisms" about repertoire and career became a bit much after a few years. People had their own ideas about the songs I "should" be singing, without really listening to what I was doing. When they stopped listening, I stopped playing. When their agenda became too demanding, I stopped bringing my guitar.

I finally had to clear the air, and communicate what my life as a professional musician was all about; and to clearly set some boundaries as to what my family’s role would be. I had to let them know that it was my life, my career. I had to communicate what I needed for support. It was in many ways a demand for respect, and in the end the behavior changed. I finally learned that I needed to be my own man, and to respect my own judgment.

So, my experiences with playing for my family were less than totally rewarding. Family comments can be incredibly supportive, or incredibly damaging to you psyche. If you live with a family dynamic that is less than supportive, beware. Best of all, build your self esteem into a powerful armor. Develop the communication and relationship skills that will help you in your music endeavors. Learn to trust your own judgment, and to follow your own heart, your own dreams. Learn to be happy. In the end, you are the only one that can decide what that is.


THE QUESTION:
So, think about the supporters of your music career. Do you have someone to act as teacher, guru, mentor or role model? Are your friends and family supportive—or do they want you to play a different style, or different songs? Is there someone who doesn’t respect your musical endeavors? Do they keep asking if are you ever going to grow up and get a “real” job? Do you communicate with your spousal unit, about your musical hopes, dreams, career, or your never-ending GAS?


++++++++++++++++++++++++
G&L TOPIC

Most companies have some pretty distinctive inlay work, yet G&L has stayed with the traditional simple dots. Can you imagine a country star without the abalone octagons on his Martin D-45? Do you salivate at the crown inlays on the Les Paul Standard, or the big blocks of pearl on the Les Paul Custom? Do you get slightly dizzy at the sight of the birds on a PRS? Do you stare for hours at the Art Deco inlays on your D’Angelico? Did you fall in love with the beautiful woman that graces the peghead of your Larivee? Did you have to take out a third mortgage to buy a Taylor Pelican, a Liberty Tree, a Doyle Dykes, and the Running Horses Limited Editions?

Maybe you’re minimalist with a background in classical guitar and prefer your fingerboard unadorned?

Got a design for a fingerboard inlay you’d love to see on your custom G&L? Let’s hear about it.

Bill

[zapcosongs]

Thanks for stepping up today, Bill. I was considering doing it, but I feel like absolute crap today. Fever, cough, etc.

Great blast from the past. The first thing I wondered is whether you are still with the band that you wrote about. Inquiring minds want to know!

Questions: Playing for family, support, etc. : This is a bit of a sore spot for me as well. Nobody is particularly interested, with the possible exception of my kids who won't sit still long enough to play for. Nobody asks me to play, which, given my skill level, really should not surprise me. The thing that hurts me most though is because I really only play my brother's and my original songs, when I do play, I often get asked why I can't learn any "real" songs. In a way, I understand the sentiment, as what they are saying is that people relate to songs they know, they can sing along, etc. At the same time though, our songs are not only real to me, but they are precious and represent a lot of time and love and emotional and musical exploration and expression.

Inlays, etc.: I'm a plain Jane guy, but I need fret markers because I suck as a player. I admit to getting excited about bindings on the right instruments. Still, I used to spend considerable time marveling at some of the more extreme examples of fretboard decoration. Don't want it on my guitar, but I do have an appreciation of the artform. I think the very best at this kind of thing is David Thomas McNaught. Regardless of whether or not this stuff appeals to you, you really ought to check out his work. http://www.mcnaughtguitars.com/inlays.html Again, thanks for stepping up and providing us with an interesting diversion. - ed

[Boogie Bill]

You're welcome! Sorry you don't feel good. Get better soon!

Yeah, still with the same band, but we haven't played much in the past couple of years.

I totally understand about the songs. A big source of criticism for me is my brother, who only wants me to play country. (I tell him, "Hey, The Beatles come from England! That's a COUNTRY, ain't it?") Wasn't until a couple of years ago that my band worked up a few of my songs, and we all went, "Wow". I invited my brother over to hear us and he was absolutely stunned. "Uh, gee, you've gotten better" he stammered. And I said, "No Larry, I've ALWAYS been this good--you just haven't been listening."

I think a lot of the family non-support issues come from somebody who's trying to be controlling. If they can tell you what to do, it makes it all about them.

But my mother told me years ago when I was first learning to play and perform that I should learn something for the "old folks"; that it would help me to open doors to get them to listen to me. People do like to hear things they know. So, I can play "Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue", or "Tom Dooley" or a pop song to break the ice. Then I can say that I have a song I wrote, would they like to hear it, and then I'm in. But some people don't get it (i.e. original material), and they never will. I have a "pleaser" streak in me, and I like to "entertain" as I wrote in my OP. But at some point, you have to please yourself.

If "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" or "Proud Mary" will get them to listen to ONE of my songs, then that's what I'm going to do. In my band we only play about four of my songs, and I only do them for the right crowd, when I've set them up well and I know the audience will actually hear them. That seems to be the most effective way to do it.

But family, no. They still whine if I don't play what they want. LOL!

Bill

[RickT]

My bad for missing the lunch report today. Things got a bit hectic at work.

RickT

[gitman001]

Hey Bill,

Great stuff from the way back machine! Since both my wife and myself are full time teachers we are always playing, but never for each other Ever since i was a kid my Dad has always wanted me to play Johnny B Goode - Which to this day i have unfortunately have not. But my folks have always been super supportive of my career choice, in fact, it amazes me to this day that they agreed to let me move to LA to attend GIT at 18 years old..... In their position i don't know if i could do the same for my kids. My wife is really supportive of the never-ending GAS but she hasn't been out to a show of mine in 5 years! (she blames the kids!)

I am with Ed on inlays, i wouldn't want it on my guitar, but they can be pretty cool

Scott

[KenC]

The best I've done from my wife is toleration. She really wasn't pleased with my last regular playing situation ("world music" that tended to draw a lot of belly dancers), but she put up with it because it gave me an outlet and kept my stress level down. My sons (the oldest was in first grade at the end of that time) loved the outdoor shows and local festivals we did, since they could climb up on stage between sets and got lots of attention from my bandmates and their dancer wives/girlfriends.

The hardest part with playing for me is finding enough time to make something gel, without missing family time or being too tired to function at work. I miss the days of being able to spend an entire Sunday playing, or practicing with a band two nights per week. I've just started playing with a very good guitarist (I almost always play bass in band situations). We're managing to get together one night every week and pull some reasonable material together, but finding others who can match our schedule has been almost impossible.

I have a small collection of original songs in various states of completion, but lyric writing is not a strong point for me and I've been waiting a very long time to connect with a vocalist I relate to enough to involve in the writing process.

I'm perfectly happy with the dot inlays on my G&Ls and couple of Fenders. One of my ASATs has the letter "L" inlayed into the upper bout, and judging from the finish around it I think it must have come out of the factory that way. The guitar plays so well that I don't mind having somebody else's personalization on it. If I ever buy a new instrument (other than the LE II), it will probably be a fretless bass with no fret markers or inlay lines.

Ken

[asphalt-abate]

Rick:

No problem. Looking orward to tomorrow.

Bill:

Nice to hear from you. I've seen you check in everyonce in a while. I was really hoping to see one of your street fair gigs but it sounds like your band has slowed down quite a bit. Hopefully you'll do something this summer when I'm down in Portland. I did hook up with Kit. It was a good time. What I thought would be an hour turned into three and still seemed like it flew by. I'm hoping to catch Kit's band at practice one of these days.

I never had much support from my family with the exception of my little brother. I started him playing and he took up bass. Being a bass player and being better on bass than me on guitar, he lands more gigs than I do. He also sings, not good enough to front a band but good enough to sing lead on a some songs and backup on others. He's supported me on occasion by coming to my shows and giving me advice. We have played in many bands together. Usually I start the band and bring him in to help out. I have had a lot of good times with him but the rest of my family see's my music as boyish hobby, akin to riding a Harley or buying a sports car, an attempt to recapture my youth. My wife supports me to a point. She knows it is good for my mental well being but she never comes to watch me play and I cannot let my playing interfer in my duties as a father and husband (rightfully so). Some times I get depressed that I only have a few hours a week to practice but that's just the way things work out and I know that I'm doing the right thing by placing family first. As you can see I'm kind of in a mellow reflective mood. I have some ideas about where I want to take my playing next. Putting my ideas into action is the hard part. As I get older, I tire more easily. Guys like you and Darwin really are an inspiration to me. If you guys can soldier on, I can to.

[zapcosongs]

Ken -

Having vocal talent and being able to write moving lyrics are entirely different talents, so I wonder whether your seeking one person that will do both for you isn't a bit unrealistic.

The best vocalists I have heard have had a real knack for interpreting and delivering a song. Not co-writing one.

What the hell was I saying? - ed

[KenC]

Having vocal talent and being able to write moving lyrics are entirely different talents, so I wonder whether your seeking one person that will do both for you isn't a bit unrealistic.

Very true! The folks I've clicked with musically over the past 15 years or so have been incredible instrumentalists, but didn't think at all about lyrics as a key part of a song. I guess I was thinking more in terms of a collaborator who actually considers the words to be relevant...

Ken

[zapcosongs]

Ken -

You had me at "Hello." Ha! - ed

[louis cyfer]

great stuff bill. thank you for filling in, and i hope i have your enthusiasm for playing and life when i get to be your age.
i was quite a coffee fiend for a long time (i always enjoyed the lighter roasts, maybe for the added caffeine content), until pretty recently actually, in the past 8 months or so, i have gotten more into tea. still enjoy coffee, but i am much more into different types of green teas and oolongs making my own blends, timing of brewing, flash brewing etc. i have many different types of loose leaf tea at home, both chinese and japanese green, and some specific oolongs i enjoy. it is not any less expensive unfortunately. i like my coffee with cream unless it is a very good coffee, and i can do green tea just by itself, a huge calorie saver. i enjoy being back in shape more than the enjoyment i'd get from the foods and drinks that i am skipping these days.

i have a lot of people who support my music, my family is not a big part of that. i was the black sheep in the family for wanting to play music instead of becoming a doctor or a veterinarian, which was the family tradition for the males in mine. interestingly the way i make my living is much closer to a doctor than a musician, and i do a lot of work rescuing pets. so go figure.
i made a choice long time ago not to make a living with being a musician. i want it to remain a passion, and i want to play what i want to play, not what people want me to play. did the restaurant/wedding stuff while in school, also teaching, and it was not for me. occasionally it's ok, but not for a living. i have the utmost respect for those who can do it, put up with the grind.

i don't care for fancy inlays. i am fine with plain clay dots, or just side markers. inlays drive up the cost of the guitar a lot, without adding anything to it functionally.

[louis cyfer]

Having vocal talent and being able to write moving lyrics are entirely different talents, so I wonder whether your seeking one person that will do both for you isn't a bit unrealistic.

Very true! The folks I've clicked with musically over the past 15 years or so have been incredible instrumentalists, but didn't think at all about lyrics as a key part of a song. I guess I was thinking more in terms of a collaborator who actually considers the words to be relevant...

Ken

my sentiments exactly. growing up not understanding the lyrics to songs kind of taught me to ignore the words. so i still do. it's a habit. people tell me i wrote a song and they show me some words, i just laugh. that is a poem at best, the song is the music. i don't think great lyrics can make bad music listenable, but great music works regardless of the lyrical content. i view a singer just like that, not necessarily someone who can write lyrics, but someone who cares about them more. most people who call themselves songwriters usually are lyricists, some also write the music though. not many who do it like you, writing songs and not having the words for it. i do the same thing though. i write the melody, the riff everything, couldn't care about or come up with the words. lalala is just fine for me.

[louis cyfer]

You're welcome! Sorry you don't feel good. Get better soon!

Yeah, still with the same band, but we haven't played much in the past couple of years.

I totally understand about the songs. A big source of criticism for me is my brother, who only wants me to play country. (I tell him, "Hey, The Beatles come from England! That's a COUNTRY, ain't it?") Wasn't until a couple of years ago that my band worked up a few of my songs, and we all went, "Wow". I invited my brother over to hear us and he was absolutely stunned. "Uh, gee, you've gotten better" he stammered. And I said, "No Larry, I've ALWAYS been this good--you just haven't been listening."

I think a lot of the family non-support issues come from somebody who's trying to be controlling. If they can tell you what to do, it makes it all about them.

But my mother told me years ago when I was first learning to play and perform that I should learn something for the "old folks"; that it would help me to open doors to get them to listen to me. People do like to hear things they know. So, I can play "Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue", or "Tom Dooley" or a pop song to break the ice. Then I can say that I have a song I wrote, would they like to hear it, and then I'm in. But some people don't get it (i.e. original material), and they never will. I have a "pleaser" streak in me, and I like to "entertain" as I wrote in my OP. But at some point, you have to please yourself.

If "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" or "Proud Mary" will get them to listen to ONE of my songs, then that's what I'm going to do. In my band we only play about four of my songs, and I only do them for the right crowd, when I've set them up well and I know the audience will actually hear them. That seems to be the most effective way to do it.

But family, no. They still whine if I don't play what they want. LOL!

Bill

this is very interesting reading bill. i only try to please myself when i play out, but interestingly, it is when i do that best is when i also happen to entertain people. of course can't entertain them all, like a guy last week told me that i have no soul, because i have a pedal board and muddy waters didn't use one. i just told him that i appreciate him using his eyes to determine whether he likes the music rather than his ears. he was not happy.

[louis cyfer]

Guys like you and Darwin really are an inspiration to me. If you guys can soldier on, I can to.

i absolutely agree. they are an inspiration, and something to strive towards.

[glvourot]

I have been in a band for about 7 months now and it has been a great experience so far.
We practice once a week for 3 hours at a time .I play the bass. It's very laid back and we all have a lot of fun. All the songs we play are original tunes with our singer writing most of the lyrics. I'm really learning to embrace the low end of things ( it was hard to stop reaching for the guitar so much at home). My wife thinks its cool that I'm in band and looks foward to our first show ( whenever that may be ). I really get pumped up for rehearsal .

I'm not so big on inlays ,however my AJ has them and they look really good without being over the top.

[blargfromouterspace]

I'm lucky to have a supportive family and friends, there's almost always someone in the audience at the shows I do around town, though admittedly the country band does a pretty good job of keeping people not into country music away! My girlfriend doesn't even care that I've bought two large, loud amps in the last month!

The coolest inlays I've seen are the skulls on the Will Ray model!

[willross]

THE QUESTION:
So, think about the supporters of your music career. Do you have someone to act as teacher, guru, mentor or role model? Are your friends and family supportive—or do they want you to play a different style, or different songs? Is there someone who doesn’t respect your musical endeavors? Do they keep asking if are you ever going to grow up and get a “real” job? Do you communicate with your spousal unit, about your musical hopes, dreams, career, or your never-ending GAS?

The Caribbean Pop "Star", Levi John was a big supporter of me early on. I was into Rock, Country, Metal and he changed my perspective and put me on stage. Many years later, Sting gave me a big pick-me-up and now I'm writing again... Not to leave out my first music teachers, coffee shop patrons & family.

++++++++++++++++++++++++
G&L TOPIC

Most companies have some pretty distinctive inlay work, yet G&L has stayed with the traditional simple dots. Can you imagine a country star without the abalone octagons on his Martin D-45? Do you salivate at the crown inlays on the Les Paul Standard, or the big blocks of pearl on the Les Paul Custom? Do you get slightly dizzy at the sight of the birds on a PRS? Do you stare for hours at the Art Deco inlays on your D’Angelico? Did you fall in love with the beautiful woman that graces the peghead of your Larivee? Did you have to take out a third mortgage to buy a Taylor Pelican, a Liberty Tree, a Doyle Dykes, and the Running Horses Limited Editions?

Maybe you’re minimalist with a background in classical guitar and prefer your fingerboard unadorned?

Got a design for a fingerboard inlay you’d love to see on your custom G&L? Let’s hear about it.

Bill

I like that two-tone fingerboard someone displayed on here a few weeks ago. Or maybe that "toasted" maple neck...


Cheers,

Will

[darwinohm]

Bill, great report from the past! My family was my support initially and still are but it is the reaction of the people that we are playing for. We are a cover band of old guys that have been musicians for years except for our ladies. They are my daughter and Kelly, who is the best female singer I have ever heard and is currently working some large venues and blows them away with her Patsy Cline, Linda Rongstad and whom ever she does. It is the crowds that we play for and have a lot of fun doing it. We cover a huge range of material and that is not always common as many bands are either country or rock or a specific genre.

I like inlays on guitars. There have been some fine examples shown (Eds link yesterday) on this board and Elwoods 2 tone is a masterpiece.

Speaking of talent and inspiration, there is a lot of talent on this board and everyone has something that they do best or prefer to do. Obviously, I am not into re-engineering myself at this point in my life, but the clips and pictures that I see from day to day are inspiring to me. I admire you young folks who are making it in the world of music. It is a tough field and not many are able to be successful in it as a profession. I wouldn't have. I wish I had Louis recording skills and background, and there are many of you doing music that is very inspirational. There are songwriters. An interesting crew indeed. I am a day late and busier than a guy my age should be, but I am having fun. Bill, you have mentioned many times that you are a lucky person and I think there are many of us who can say that. I have been so fortunate for the experiences that I have had and they are wonderful memories on the eve of my 69 th birthday. It ain't over yet, and I am not going to say that it has just began, but it is Damn close!!! Maybe I will have a cold one tonight-- Darwin Thanks for stepping up yesterday Bill.

[jakkanen]

my sentiments exactly. growing up not understanding the lyrics to songs kind of taught me to ignore the words. so i still do.

This is exactly how I am, as well. When I listen to music, the singing part is just another instrument among the others.

In my older years I've become an okay singer, but it's a huge obstacle that I can never remember the words to anything. And even if I know the melody, and have the words in front of me, I still have a lot of trouble. Almost invariably, each line is phrased differently in any one song, and I have no clue how to make the words and music fit together. If I am going to sing anything, I always mark up the lyrics sheet beforehand so I know which syllable lines up with which beat, unless it's blatantly obvious.

-Jukka

[westsideduck]

WOW I actually remember that lunch report!!

50 guitars is way too many to keep up with, I got into the high thirties at one point and couldn't keep up with the maintanence on them. Figure you have to pull a guitar out of it's case at least once a year to clean and oil, make sure the truss rod is still working and maybe change strings, if you have 52 guitars you have to maintain one a week for the whole year! It was a whole lot of fun collecting a large stash of guitars but now I'm down to the players which are the cream of the crop, 6 electrics and 5 acoustics.

Gary

[Kit]

I had the good fortune of catching Bill's band once and met up with Bill during his break. The band are excellent musicians and great entertainers.

I have been playing in a hobby band situation for around 4 or 5 years now. The current configuration is the third such involvement. The bass player and drummer are from the last band, and we have added a second guitarist and a good female vocalist. We have been together for about 7 months and have a few dozen songs we can play competently.

The drummer and bass players are very interested in playing for an audience so a couple of months ago we took a 3 hour gig at a grill pub not far from my house. Since we are totally unknown and untested the only way we can play is if we do it for free. That is no detriment to the drummer and bass player, and the rest of us were willing to go along to see how we'd do.

We had a fairly nice crowd of friends and family, my wife came with a friend of hers, and there were 2 or 3 dozen other customers at the pub. Afterward we all agreed that we did a creditable job, and luckily we got feedback that many in the audience thought we did very well. My wife and her friend both told us they like what they heard.

Encouraged by the result the drummer has arranged for us to play again toward the end of this month at a lodge (again for free). This is a philanthropic organization and they will accept voluntary door donation and we figure it would be nice if we can help them raise a little money (I hope). We have 2 more practices before we play again, and we are adding at least 3 songs since we ran a little short of 3 hours the last time we played.

A video was made of our last gig, but so far the singer who arranged for the taping had had problems getting the DVD duplicated so I have not seen the footage. I hope this weekend I can finally get a copy. If it is not too embarrassing I may even share something from it.

Kit

[zapcosongs]

Would love to see some of that, Kit! - ed