Soul Frequency - Mash It All Up

Soul Frequency Radio - October 31, 2010 - Halloween Spectacular

2010-11-05T07:44:00.001-05:00

1. Alfred Hitchcock - Music To Be Murdered By (4:11)
2. 06-1st Impression-Part 2 (4:46)
3. Bigelf - Gravest Show On Earth (11:41)
4. Various - Monster Mash (Bobby Pickett & The Crypt -Kickers) (3:10)
5. Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London (2007 Remastered) (3:29)
6. Little Steven's Underground Garage - Roky Erickson and the Aliens - I Walked With a Zombie (2:42)
7. Various - Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr.) (4:05)
8. Transatlantic - The Return Of The Giant Hogweed (8:26)
9. Alfred Hitchcock - I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (3:15)
10. Pink Floyd - One of These Days (5:58)
11. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising (2:21)
12. Ramones - Pet Sematary (3:34)
13. Little Steven's Underground Garage - Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' For My Darlin' (2:31)
14. Various - Hounted House (Jumpin' Gene Simmons) (2:32)
15. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (4:20)
16. Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine (Stereo) (4:12)
17. Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater (2:14)
18. Danny Elfman - Mars Attacks! (2:23)
19. Radio-Spot Announcement - Fantastic Voyage (0:53)
20. Dr. Samuel Hoffman - Theremin Solo (1:33)
21. Crack The Sky - Invaders From Mars (3:32)
22. Fantastic Voyage - Fantastic Voyage (Main Title / Sound Effects Suite) (1:43)
23. The B-52's - Planet Claire (4:36)
24. Ferrante And Teicher - Man From Mars (2:26)
25. Various Personalities - Changing Channels... (4:54)
26. Little Steven's Underground Garage - The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much to Dream (2:56)
27. Little Steven's Underground Garage - The Chesterfield Kings - Running Through My Nightmares (3:57)
28. Stevie Wonder - Superstition (4:26)
29. Spock's Beard - Devil's Got My Throat (7:17)
30. Stryper - Abyss (To Hell With The Devil) (1:21)
31. Stryper - To Hell With The Devil (4:08)
32. David Crowder*Band - I Need Words, God of Wrath (8:00)
33. Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Toccata - Carpimus Noctem (4:02)

Soul Frequency Radio – October 24, 2010 Featuring Pink Floyd Saucerful of Secrets

2010-10-29T09:02:00.000-05:00

1. Pink Floyd - Let There Be More Light (5:37)
2. Strongbad - Trogdor (0:56)
3. Pink Floyd - Remember A Day (4:33)
4. Pink Floyd - Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (5:27)
5. Ambrosia - Nice, Nice, Very Nice (5:49)
6. ArkAngel - Morning's Anthem (5:46)
7. Shaw-Blades - Summer Breeze (3:36)
8. Shaw-Blades - California Dreamin' (2:42)
9. Falling Up - A Guide To Marine Life (4:03)
10. Falling Up - The Dark Side Of Indoor Track Meets (5:39)
11. House Of Heroes - It Won't Be Long (2:14)
12. The Beatles - Drive My Car (2:30)
13. Calibretto 13 - The Ballroom Blitz (3:36)
14. Seabird - Black & Blue (2:42)
15. Seabird - Apparitions (4:17)
16. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets (11:56)
17. Electric Light Orchestra - Yours Truly, 2095 (3:11)
18. SCTV - Max Lax (0:56)
19. Pink Floyd - See-Saw (4:36)
20. Pink Floyd - Jugband Blues (2:59)
21. Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To You (6:45)
22. Argent - Time Of The Season (6:37)
23. Yes - Close To The Edge (18:42)

My Friend Jeff Bechinski - A Remembrance

2010-06-26T14:27:00.018-05:00

My Wedding Day: Me, Jeff Mara, PJ Margraf, Jeff "Bech" Bechinski, Drew Hyer, Rick Cass. This is how I remember my friend Bech in my mind's eye

A picture of Jeff doodling from the 1982 Rogers High School Year Book

The only cartoon I could find on Bech’s Facebook

The soundtrack for the Haunted House party we hosted

One of Jeff's Halloween Creations

Beware this drink!

Who ya gonna’ call?

Bech and daughter Sara take a walk at Lake Michigan

My Friend Jeff Bechinski - A Remembrance

June 24, 2010

In the middle of a business meeting Tuesday I received a sad message. My friend Jeff Bechinski died unexpectedly June 21. Bech (Pronounced “Betch”) as we knew him at Rogers High School in Michigan City, Indiana popped back into my life unexpectedly on Facebook recently. I hadn’t heard from him since 1987, so this was a welcome and surprising reunion.

Cue “Reelin’ In The Years” by Steely Dan…

I don’t remember when or how I met Bech. It was at Rogers High School, probably after I broke up with a girlfriend who had a LARGE circle of friends. This break up necessitated that I find a new circle of friends. One of them was Jeff Bechinski. Maybe I met Bech in one of my four years of art class? Bech was a tall, gangly young fellow with an infectious smile and laugh, a shock of somewhat curly brown hair, and a wee bit of baby fat. We were fast friends, and Bech soon joined a newly formed circle of pals that spent a lot of time driving around, hanging at the Marquette Mall, going to movies, listening to rock (wasn’t classic back then), and enjoying our (mostly) care free teen existence. That circle of friends included Bech, Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson, Tony (can’t remember his last name), Jeff Mara, Joe Jaques and a few others I can’t remember. Man I wish I could remember more…

Cue “You Can’t Turn Back” by Red Rider

Bech was an amazing artist, and his specialty was cartooning. I will admit that I was jealous of his skill; he taught me a lot about the craft. And because I was green with envy at his art, he pushed me to be a better artist. We loved to sketch stuff and show each other. Of course most of his art featured his primary love –horror, zombie, and monster stuff. We spent many happy hours drawing together. I have vivid memories of many sessions we spent drawing and painting giant banners for the Rogers Raiders High School basketball team that had a pretty good run while during our school years. We would sit, design, draw and paint together laughing all the while and listening to Bech’s GIGANTIC boom box, of the old school ghetto blaster variety. It was large and silver and rocked hard. We would listen to The Loop – FM 98 “Where Chicago Rocks,” Rush, Red Rider, Boston, Journey, Queen, The Scorpions, etc. while we worked and painted away with a small group of friends. Those were good times.

Cue “The Monster Mash” By Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

Bech loved all things horror-related. Not the slasher-variety that is so popular today, but the classic spooky stuff – Frankenstein, Dracula, Zombies, ghosts, ghouls and goblins. One Halloween (Bech’s favorite holiday) he had a fantastic idea…convert my parents basement into a gigantic old-school terrifying Haunted House. I loved the idea, and we spent several weeks designing and creating a Haunted Maze in my parent’s utility room. We cut garbage bags down the seams and duct-taped them together to create the maze walls, we designed and drew large posters and decorated with horrific love and care. We recruited some of our friends, outfitted them in scary cool costumes, and invited other friends (including my younger sister and some of her friends) over for an evening of blood-curdling merriment. There were forbidding snacks (Mom helped with some of those), and a terror-filled soundtrack. Everyone had a blast…and Bech recently commented on a Zombie-themed picture of mine of Facebook “Ya never looked better, dude! Hey, can we build a haunted house in yer basement?”

Cue “Free Will” by Rush

My friends and I loved to rock, and rock hard. We spent a lot of time in my basement listening to our favorite tunes. One evening we were jamming to Rush and “Free Will” came blasting through my speakers. Several of my friends were over, Bech was there, and my sister had a friend or two there as well. We formed an impromptu air band…with Bech on lead guitar (or was it Bech on drums)? I remember that we played those air instruments so hard we worked up a sweat by the end of the song. What a blast!

Cue “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Long before the stars of Wayne’s World drove in the car singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” my friends and I happily sped through the cold Michigan City winter in my 1978 Chevy Monza singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” as loud as we could. I vividly recall Bech, Jeff Mara, Hutch and I merrily harmonizing (?) as we sped through the streets of Laporte County after a basketball game, likely on the way to grab a pizza. We magically split off into parts during the Opera-like portion of the song. Four friends singing together in a car may not be the most dynamic of events, but for this happy memory reminds me of a simple and carefree time when life was rich and full of promise.

Cue “You Better You Bet” by The Who

After graduating from Rogers I stayed around Michigan City and got a job at Jaymar Ruby. I dated a girl from the church I was attending. That relationship didn’t last long, and I used this as an excuse to go on my first and only drinking binge. I believe Bech, Hutch, and Jeff Mara all accompanied me on that night. We headed to a friends house to watch one of the MANY farewell tours of The Who on cable and began the night with beer and Boone’s Farm Strawberry Wine (you know this can’t end well when Boone’s Farm is in the mix). We then headed to McDonald’s for a late night McNugget fest – they were new at the time. I had a 20 pack, with Hot Mustard. Yum. We then headed towards my folks house, planning a basement evening with drinking, music, and likely Saturday Night Live and SCTV. I assume I did not drive (I hope). We had some Jack Daniels and 7-Up and decided to mix up some 7 and 7s. I was determined to drink my sorrows away to forget the girl, and I later found my friends were pouring around ¾ cup whiskey to ¼ cup 7-Up. I pounded down a few of these and promptly passed out, much to the merriment of my buddies. I remember waking up at 2.30 AM suspended over a utility sink propped up by Bech and my friends. This earned me the short lived nickname “McChuck.” I remember being thankful for my friends taking such good care of me in the middle of the night as I barfed my guts up.

Incidentally, this was the last hangover I ever had. I suffered through singing in a choir special at church that Sunday. While singing in a fog induced haze I spied the woman would become (and still is) my bride. Lyndy was sitting in the pews looking amazing. Love at first sight!

Cue “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

Sometime in 1984 I hung out with Bech for one of the last times I remember. The movie “Ghostbusters” was a huge hit…and of course Bech loved it. He loved it so much he created the “Bechmobile” – a loving tribute to the movie. It was a white AMC Gremlin customer painted by Bech to resemble the car in the movie. There were the classic Ghostbusters “NO GHOST” paintings on each door, and a skull in the rear window with red lights in the eye sockets that both lit up when he braked, and would blink left or right when he put on the turn signals. The auto probably had other nifty Bech-like touches that I forget. It was a very cool car, and the custom work Bech did was amazing. We were driving down Earl Road, heading who knows where when we saw a red light and heard a siren – after us! Bech was doing around 50 in a 35 zone. The cop who stopped us was a nasty fellow…he yelled at Bech, wouldn’t let him talk at all, threw him up against the car and kicked his legs open. Bech handled himself well despite the abuse. Both of us knew better than to argue with an angry cop with short man’s disease (the cop was a wee fellow). This guy PISSED me off severely; his treatment of my friend was shabby and inexcusable. But I had an ace in the sleeve. My Dad was chief of police at the time. And while I would not normally “narc” on someone to my Dad, I figured this arrogant little twit deserved what was coming to him. I told Dad about the incident, and the cop got suspended. Go Dad.

I recently asked Bech if he had any pix of that car. Sadly, he did not keep any.

Cue “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor

Then life happened. I met my future bride Lyndy, got way too busy for my friends (my wife and I both regret that), and got married (my wife and I don’t regret that). Bech was a groomsman at my wedding. And we lost touch soon after that.

I saw him once in Ft. Wayne in 1987 when my family and I stayed there briefly for a few months on a break from college. We both had mullets. His hair was VERY long – mid-back. It was great to see him, but we had both changed immensely and grown apart.

Fast forward to the last year or two. Bech and I became Facebook friends and started caught up quickly. He married a wonderful lady (Ronda) and had a daughter that was his pride and joy (Sara). Bech posted a “Lyric of the Day”…sometimes several a day…and several of his friends (especially Molly Colangelo, Jeff Mason, and myself) battled it out for the correct (non-Googled) answer. Bech would post a YouTube video if no one could guess.

Jeff and I messaged each other on Facebook, and chatted a few times. I never understood why he gave up drawing…he had such talent. In a private chat he shared his reasons (I'll honor his wishes and not share that). I encouraged him to pick up a pen again. He was such an amazing artist.

Before Memorial Day we talked about getting together again in Michigan City. Bech was going to visit his Mom, and she lives just a few doors down from my parents. My kids decided on a visit to our house so I had to pass. Bech and I exchanged phone numbers, and I was excited about the prospect of seeing him again and catching up this summer.

I never made a phone call to his number. And now it is too late.

I don’t understand why this happened. I hope to someday on the other side of this life.

R.I.P. Jeff Bechinski. You were my friend. I wish we wouldn’t have fallen out of touch. Ronda and Sara will stay in my prayers for years to come.

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

James Taylor – “Fire and Rain”

Soul Frequency Playlist - March 14

2010-03-17T19:29:00.003-05:00

March 14 - Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune & Muse The Resistance

1. Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune (4:04)
2. Jimi Hendrix - Sunshine Of Your Love (6:47)
3. Jimi Hendrix - Bleeding Heart (6:23)
4. Utopia - Hammer In My Heart (4:11)
5. Neal Morse - Walking On The Wind (9:33)
6. Muse - Undisclosed Desires (3:56)
7. Muse - Uprising (5:02)
8. Muse - Resistance (5:46)
9. Fleming and John - A Place Called Love (Intro) (0:53)
10. Fleming and John - A Place Called Love (2:58)
11. Gentle Giant - Proclamation (6:47)
12. Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet (4:08)
13. Paul McCartney & Wings - Bluebird (3:24)
14. Jimi Hendrix - Lullaby For The Summer (3:48)
15. Jimi Hendrix - Fire (3:12)
16. Jimi Hendrix - Trash Man - [Bonus Track] (7:25)
17. John Davis - Have Mercy (4:00)
18. Demon Hunter - Collapsing (ft. Bjorn "Speed" Strid) (3:38)
19. Demon Hunter - Driving Nails (4:06)
20. Demon Hunter - Blood In The Tears (4:49)
21. Muse - Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture) (4:18)
22. Muse - Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination) (3:56)
23. Muse - Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption) (4:37)
24. Wilco - Bull Black Nova (5:39)

2009 Top Albums According to Me

2010-01-03T16:27:00.006-06:00

Here’s my list. No particular order.

David Crowder*Band – Church Music – Crowder’s music is always interesting, envelope-pushing and enthralling. DC*B added a touch of ‘80s keyboard jam to make one of the year’s most engaging releases. I love the epic “God Almighty, None Compares.”

Neal More – So Many Roads: Live in Europe – How can you not like a TRIPLE LIVE CD set for $14.99 or so? Full of great progressive rock that is a virtual “greatest hits” of Morse’s work with Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic and his solo work. I love the mash of “Author of Confusion/I’m the Guy,” and the folk surprise “That Crutch.” And Morse's European band is top-notch.

Transatlantic – The Whirlwind Special Edition – Prog supergroup Transatlantic made a righteous return in 2009 after a way-too-long silence. The preferred edition is the Special Edition box ‘cause you must have the covers (Beatles! America! Santana! Gabriel-era Genesis!), the extra songs, and the DVD. Plus I took pix and vid for the project. It is the only one of the albums on my list with my name on it!

Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings – 3 Disc Special Edition – Portnoy and company know how to please the fans…a great new CD, a bonus disc with great covers (Queen! Zebra! King Crimson!), and a third disc with instrumental versions of the new album.

Wilco – Wilco (the album) – Late entry! Thanks to John Shenberger I have now discovered Wilco. In late 2009! Great stuff!

Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane – A return to form for Switchfoot. Some great songs, especially the rocker “Mess of Me.”

Mike Farris – SHOUT! Live – A wonderful belt of Gospel from one of the best voices in music today.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – The Live Anthology – Amazing 4 disc live set for a CHEAP price! Picked up mine for $22.99 with another 25% off at The Great Escape Records & Comix in Bowling Green. Gotta’ support the local music emporium.

Glass Hammer – Three Cheers for the Brokenhearted – A huge surprise…Glass Hammer is always a favorite prog band for me. But who knew they had an amazing psychedelic/pop masterpiece in them? You must check out “Come On, Come On, Come On,” “A Bitter Wind,” and the classy cover of the Zombies “A Rose for Emily.”

Muse – The Resistance – I love Muse. This CD finally helped the band break big in the US. Paranoid lyrics aside (just what are these guys resisting against?), this is a great listen.

Owl City – Ocean Eyes – Big fun smooth pop made even better by some assistance by Matthew Thiessen (Relient K). Who says top 40 has to suck?

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Another latecomer (thanks for costing me $$$ Shenberger). The first band I ever liked from France. Yummy power poppishness.

Levon Helm – Electric Dirt – I love The Band, and it is so cool that Levon Helm is able to sing and perform again. This CD is a lot of fun and hearkens back to some of the classic stuff from The Band.

Cheap Trick – Sgt. Pepper Live/The Latest (TIE) – Trick returns with their best album in YEARS with The Latest. And the fanboy in me LOVED their version of Sgt. Peppers. A highlight of 2009 was watching Cheap Trick do Sgt. Peppers live @ The Hilton in Las Vegas. An amazing show!

Rufus Huff – Self Titled – Take Free, Cream, Mountain, and healthy dose of thunderous southern fried blues rock and add a whoppin’ amount of fun and you’ll get Rufus Huff. Great stuff from my buddy Greg Martin, Dean Smith, Jarrod England, and Chris Hardesty.

Reissues/Box Sets

The Beatles – Stereo Box Set – Yes I know that the buzz was for the mono set. But for my $$$ the real thing is the stereo set. Simply a must purchase for any music fan.

Big Star – Keep and Eye on the Sky – Classic power pop from Big Star in abundance…featuring a bevy of alternate cuts, live stuff, demos and more. Some truly great music on this set.

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King – The 5.1 surround remix is jaw-dropping. Remarkable stuff.

Where the Action Is: Nuggets Los Angeles – 1965-1968 – Rhino hits another one out of the park with this box set focusing on the mid-sixties music scene. Here hits and great garage band stuff; one hit-wonders and early tunes from The Byrds, The Doors, Love and more.

There you go. What was your favorite music in 2009?

Soul Frequency Radio - 12/27 Playlist - Bigelf & Yes Symphonic

2009-12-30T12:49:00.003-06:00

Bigelf! Symphonic Yes! Celtic proggers Iona! Beatles! Stryper! Whatta' show.

Bigelf - Gravest Show On Earth (12:03)
Bigelf - Money, It's Pure Evil (7:10)
The Zombies - Care Of Cell 44 (3:56)
Iona - Trilogy (8:36)
Journey - Kohoutek (6:41)
Yes - Long Distance Runaround (5:43)
Yes - In the Presence Of (12:01)
Da - Return Of The Beat Menace - Da (2:59)
Yes - Starship Trooper (12:30)
The Beatles - I'll Be Back (2:26)
Bigelf - The Evils Of Rock & Roll (12:04)
Bigelf - The Game (9:45)
Yes - I've Seen All Good People (7:30)
Yes - Roundabout (6:04)
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command (5:04)
Stryper - Battle Hymn of the Republic (2:37)
Wyrick - Supernatural (3:26)
Stars on 45 – Beatles Medley (15:48)

Old Skool List - Top Pop Rock Songs of All Time (According to Me)

2009-12-21T18:15:00.005-06:00

Hi folks: Direct from October 2005 Xanga blog...some of my fave pop/rock songs of all time:

Top Pop-Rock Songs of All Time (According to Me) – Part 1 & 2

I promised this a while back. They are in no particular order. Note these are some of MY favorites songs, secular and sacred all mixed together. Kinda like our lives. Most (if not all!) of these songs actually charted somewhere. You kids should listen to these songs. Really.

The Zombies – Time of the Season – Perhaps the most perfect pop song EVER. Killer organ. Soaring harmonies. Magnetic hooks.

The Monkees – Pleasant Valley Sunday – So many Monkees songs to choose from! This is my fave though – an indictment of our shallow suburban life with an unforgettable guitar riff. My buddy Neal Morse says that is has a cool, prog-like chord change. And he would know.

Seal – Kiss from a Rose – Seal doesn’t like printed lyrics in his albums so I mostly have no idea what this song is supposed to mean. I like the la la section.

Audio Adrenaline – Ocean Floor – My favorite Biblical truth set to music. I like the guitar riff @ the bridge. AA grows up.

Supertramp – The Logical Song – Listen for the Mattel Football game sound FX. Great "I need to find my place in this world 'cause I'm kinda' lost" song.

The Beach Boys – God Only Knows – Man, this one kills me.

The Beatles – Abbey Road Side 2 – OK, I am cheating here. I can’t really pick one Beatles song. So I pick the entire album side. Hey, it’s my list. Sue me.

Keith Green – Until That Final Day – One of the few songs that can reduce me to a crying, blubbering mess. Really lays me out.

Electric Light Orchestra – Can’t Get it Out of My Head – One word: haunting. My favorite band ever so it was way hard to pick just one song.

Steely Dan – Deacon Blues - A song that tells a story-sorta' sad and depressing. But I like it. Deacon Blues is one of my nicknames, BTW.

The Imperials – Be Still My Soul - Good, mellow yummyness

Neal Morse – Cradle to Grave - OK, it did not chart. But if there were justice it WOULD have. I was in the studio while the drum track was cut by Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)

Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural - Woman - Don't get any ideas chump, I'm secure in my manhood. But this song is oh so cool, makes you feel like dancing around the room.

Neil Diamond – Solitary Man - One of the first 45 singles I owned. Back when Neil Diamond was cool.

George Harrison – What is Life - "Wall of Sound" single by the silent Beatle. Good stuff.

Badfinger – Day After Day - I have loved this song for years.

Phil Keaggy – Everywhere I Look - Perfect tribute to the Beatles. And more importantly, God.

Sweet – Ballroom Blitz - This manic bit of rock is still intensely cool after almost 30 years. Someday, when I have a band I am going to cover this song. And scare everyone while jumping around.

Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life - Classic. Great bridge. Features James Taylor on background vox.

The Byrds – Eight Miles High - Inspired guitar intro.

The Police – Message in a Bottle - The perfect driving song.

Spock’s Beard - June - Another "should have charted." The perfect singalong song.

Daniel Amos – Alarma!- A deceptively simple song with a wicked guitar lick. New wave wonderment.

Mercy Me – Word of God Speak - Another "reduce Barry to tears" song

I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family - I dare you to listen to this song and not sing along.

The Association – Never My Love - Whoa, sorta' cheezy, incredible harmony love song wonderment. Don't miss it.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - From the Beginning - I *must* learn to play this on my acoustic guitar befor I die.

Billy Joel – Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel was way-cool before he married supermodels and started writing classical music and driving his car into people's houses.

Grass Roots – Midnight Confession - OK, I *think* this is about a guy who is in love with a married person (hence morally I would kinda' have a problem with this song). However, I prefer to think that it is written to a girl about to get married to the wrong person. Rationalization? Perhaps. This song rox though. Has ba bas that I like to sing.

Jet – Radio Song - Kids, get this. Jet rips off my fave bands. But I like 'em.

Smokie Robinson & the Miracles – The Tears of Clown - Whoa, when Smokey sings I hear violins (that is another song, BTW). This song is incredible. I always wanted to cover this and make it rock way hard.

Ray Charles – Hit the Road Jack - This song makes me laugh.

Journey – Anytime/Feelin’ That Way - Two songs in one. Journey has become sort of a forgotten band equated with hefty cheese. But the boys could sing, and rock, and write anthemic love songs that make you think about your favorite girl.

Michael Roe – The Boat Ashore - Mike Roe makes me mad, 'cause he can rock AND write perfect pop songs. This is one of the best. Haunting.

Skypark – Wait for Me - Little known band that shoulda/coulda been huge. Produced by Ed Stasium, who produced classics from the Ramones.

Jars of Clay – Crazy Times - My favorite single from my favorite JOC album. They need to stop trying to be Johnny Cash and do another classic pop-rock album. Yup.

Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed - Whoa. Killer piano. Way-classic guitar lick. Sing it to your favorite gal.

Switchfoot – New Way to Be Human - Still my fave Switchfoot album. I love this video.

Cheap Trick – I Want You to Want Me - Again, near perfect. Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying/didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying/feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying/Oh didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying...

Rock n Roll Worship Circus – Untitled - Dadgummit, now RRWC has gone and renamed the band to "The Listening" and they don't do worship anymore. Bummer. But this one (from their swan song as RRWC) is incredible. Fender Rhodes piano, & a simple lyric about a lost & found guy. I can play air drums to this, BTW.

The Call – I Still Believe - Great song! The original is the best IMHO, but the covers by Russ Taff and James Clay are pretty cool. Wicked, big thumping bass line that starts the song.

New Holiday Art for The Great Escape - Click for Large View

2009-12-12T15:41:00.005-06:00

Cartoons

2009-10-31T22:17:00.007-05:00

A few cartoons I created for The Great Escape Records & Comix in Bowling Green...the first is a music loving Octopus, click for a bigger view:

The second is a loose interpretation of Marvel's classic Avengers #4. I did this one during a lunch hour, it was a bit sketchier than I would have liked.

I Have a Pet Dragonfly

2009-09-13T09:49:00.003-05:00

I have a pet dragonfly.

This summer I had a cool experience. After work I drive home in anticipation of planting a large kiss on my bride's lips. I pop out of the car looking forward to the wonderful greeting that will happen soon.

Then he(?) pops out. I think he is a he. Maybe he is a she. Or an it?

Somewhere near the variety of bushes in the landscaping near the front porch the dragonfly buzzes towards me, sometimes looping around my head. Sometimes he comes dangerously close. Sometimes he freaks me out.

This happens many times during the course of the summer. It happens so much that I begin to think that I *may* have a pet. I start to think of naming him.

This weekend I realized that my pet dragonfly is gone. I'm not sure the lifespan of a dragonfly and I don't want to really think about it. I prefer to think he hung out with me a while and just flew off into the sunset.

Fly on pet dragonfly!

Soul Frequency Radio - America - July 5, 2009

2009-07-04T10:02:00.005-05:00

Hi folks: You can now hear Soul Frequency Radio on the internet! Check it out Sunday @ 11 PM HERE. 2 hours of commercial free freeform rock and roll of many genres. This week in honor of Independence Day our theme is America . Here is this weeks setlist:

1. House of Heroes - Intro (0:32)
2. House of Heroes - If (3:15)
3. House of Heroes - Dangerous (3:45)
4. House of Heroes - In the Valley of the Dying Sun (4:33)
5. Al Green - Let's Stay Together (3:19)
6. Badfinger - Day After Day (3:11)
7. Badfinger - Carry On Til Tomorrow (4:49)
8. Stryper - Peace of Mind (3:59)
9. Nice - America (2nd Amendment) - Original (6:15)
10. Five Iron Frenzy - Beautiful America (3:43)
11. Yes - America (10:33)
12. Genesis - The Cinema Show (10:41)
13. The Syn - Time And A Word (4:59)
14. House of Heroes - Baby's a Red (3:38)
15. House of Heroes - Voices (4:32)
16. House of Heroes - Field of Daggers (5:27)
17. House Of Heroes - Can't Buy Me Love (2:17)
18. The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love (2:14)
19. Electric Light Orchestra - Calling America (5:15)
20. Alice Cooper - Lost In America (7:27)
21. The Call - Become America (3:19)
22. Jellyfish - Queen Of The USA (8:47)
23. Glenn Miller - American Patrol (5:16)
24. Rich Mullins - Here In America (6:44)

Soul Frequency Radio is brought to you by the Great Escape Records & Comix, your pop culture emporium. Located in Bowling Green, KY.

Tune in!

Ireland, Day 1

2009-06-03T03:43:00.005-05:00

OK, I am writing this on Ireland day 2 to be specific. But I'll cover day 1. Flights were uneventful, but as always sleeping on a plane sux. We flew from Nashville to Philly, then transatlantic from Philly to Dublin. The last leg was Dublin to was on the amazing Aer Lingus airline. But during that last leg Lyndy and I basically passed out with exhaustion and did not wake up until we landed.

We landed at the quaint Shannon airport to find that most of our luggage had not made the trip! So we had to wait at the airport a few hours for it. Waiting in the airport after a long night of flights is kinda' miserable, but we were glad to *finally* be in Ireland. Then we had to pay double what we thought for the rental car...so things were off to a bit of a rocky start.

The adventure truly began when we checked out our rental vehicle...a Skoda Octavia. Sounds like a super-villain, not a car (I have never heard of this make/model of car). I was terrified when I started driving: the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car + the stick shift is on the opposite side of the card + you drive on the opposite side of the road + the roads are narrow + our internet directions were not good and we got lost several times.

We finally made it to an amazing, quaint bed and breakfast called Carey Farmhouse. We had a wonderful, friendly Irish hostess named Margaret. She took good care of us and gave us hospitality and good travel advice.

After a much needed nap we headed to Gus O'Connor's Pub for dinner and shared a tasty meal of authentic Fish & Chips and veggie soup. OK, so we did not share the soup -- Lyndy ate it. It was kind of pureed, like baby food. Lyndy said it was "interesting." We learned you have to go order your food at the pub. They don't come to the table to take your order. It is a good thing we learned this or we may have starved to death.

We then headed to Doolin pier, checked out some weird rock formations and cool signs. And I planted a big ol' kiss on her the EXACT moment of our anniversary!

Our day was capped off with an adventure to the Cliffs of Moher. Our hostess Margaret told us to go in the evening to avoid the crowds (and not have to pay the entrance fee). It was incredible. Lyndy ran up the stairs like a giddy schoolgirl. It was so cool to see her dream of visiting Ireland finally come true. I got so wrapped up in watching her meet her dreams head-on that I tripped and fell on the stairs in front of God and lots of people of many nationalities. We got some amazing pictures and had a wonderful time of exploration. We came back to the farmhouse and crashed.

It is now day 2 and we just had a scrumptious Irish breakfast: scones, coffee, orange juice, eggs, ham/bacon-y stuff, sausage, etc. Yum. I uploaded pix on Facebook, wrote this entry, and now it is time to hit the road.

Slainte'!

Barry

Cool Shirt/Pic

2009-05-17T16:20:00.003-05:00

Cool pic and tag line. You can buy the lastest version of this t-shirt HERE.

New CD Review - Red

2009-02-07T10:30:00.003-06:00

My latest CD review is posted HERE.

It's Red's Innocence & Instinct. Good stuff, with a Duran Duran cover. So how could it be bad?

Your pal,

Barry

Viva Las Vegas iPod Style

2009-01-07T06:28:00.005-06:00

I travel to Las Vegas for my job. A lot. Last year I was there 4 times, which is about 3 times too many trips to Vegas in one year. Here is a small playlist I put together for trips to Lost Wages, Nevada...some of the selections are obvious, some not so obvious. Go ahead, download these tunes and check it out. It will cost you $7 or so on Amazon or iTunes (the Stonehill song is sadly not available digitally).

Viva Las Vegas - Elvis - One of the obvious picks
The Turn of a Friendly Card (Pt. 1) - The Alan Parsons Project
The Winner (High Card) - Randy Stonehill - early classic from Stonehill produced by recently departed Larry Norman. About a guy who thinks he has it all but really does not. From the classic Welcome to Paradise album that you should own.
Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones - From the classic Exile on Main Street album
Vegas - Mike Farris - "Give me a ride to Vegas..." Former lead singer of the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. What a great band name. His Salvation in Lights CD is a must buy. This is from his Goodnight Sun LP.
I'm Shooting High - Nat King Cole - "Got my eyes on the stars in the sky" from the Ultra Lounge Vegas Baby! CD
Viva Las Vegas - ZZ Top - 12" extended remix. Over eight minutes!
The Letter - The Box Tops - Not about Vegas per say, but a must listen on the trip home to see my bride. After a few days a glitzy, kitschy, walk-a-hundred-miles Vegas overload I'm ready to see my Lil' Schweetie and get back to normalcy: "gimme a ticket for an aeroplane/ain't got time to take a fast traing/lonely days are gone/Imma going home/my baby she wrote me a letter"

See you soon,

Barry

President Bush Loves to Read

2008-12-27T11:43:00.005-06:00

To all you folks who think President Bush is stupid: Bush has read 186 books that last 3 years. Read all about it HERE. I wonder how many of us have enriched our minds by reading that many books. I know I have not read that much! Bush also reads the Bible cover-to-cover in a year along with a Daily Devotional. This is challenging to me...I need to read a lot more in 2009. If I were going to make a New Year's resolution that would likely be it.

Hope you are enjoying a Christmas break. I know I am.

Your pal,

Barry

XMastime is Here!

2008-12-23T09:11:00.006-06:00

We had a Christmas present exchange (Dirty Santa-style) at the Bluegrass Cellular annual Doe Run Inn Christmas Lunch. We were supposed to purchase a joke gift. I wanted to offer a joke gift that could actually be used, and Lyndy had the great idea to buy a GIGANTIC universal remote. Gigantic being like 1 and 1/2 ft. long. Great idea: practical yet still in the "gag" realm. We did not have any fancy/schmancy wrapping paper so I tricked it out w/some Dirty Santa-esque Christmas art:

Hope you are enjoying the season. So far I am mellowing out nicely.

Your pal,
Barry

We Have Lost Our Collective Minds

2008-12-09T04:46:00.003-06:00

Last night I was driving home listening to NMLPR (National Muchly Liberal Public Radio). I heard of all the wonderful new spending projects that Pres-Elect Obama is going to put into motion the second he can. New roads!! New bridges! Electronic Medical Records! Shovel-ready projects that will put millions of people to work and inject much needed $$$ into the economy. No one mentions who is going to pay for all of these projects (aren't journalists s'posed to look at an issue in-depth?). 1/2 trillion dollars in new government spending (at least) on top of the 700 billion for the bailout. And not a peep about how to pay for it all. The not-so-secret deal is we are ALL going to pay for it in additional taxes. And our kids and grandkids are going to pay for it in future generations of debt.

They I heard that the city of Chicago has privatized their parking meters in a deal that will net the city a crazy amount of money to help their budget. Billions of dollars. Parking meters will immediately cost 4 times more-rising from $0.25 to $1 immediately. The catch? The city fathers had to sign a 75(!) year contract with the company that leased the meters. 75 years for a contract is INSANE.

We have lost our collective minds.

Have you noticed in this economic tsunami that NO ONE mentions sacrifice? We don't want to give up a thing in our cushy, cozy, comfortable way of life. And we certainly don't want our leaders to request this of us (God forbid, it's not the American way). We are spending ourselves into blissful oblivion. On a national and personal level, we love our stuff, and we going to pump our fists in the air, beat our breasts, and make sure that we get our "fair share." There will be no sacrifice required by our government to get the economy rolling again so we can feed the vast consumer machine.

Actually, there are some good signs. There are people out there preaching common sense (Dave Ramsey, etc.) about personal finance and living in your means and the amazing concept that you should not buy anything unless you have the $$$ for it. As a nation we are actually consuming less gas and spending less. And if we are honest many of us could afford to skip the extra Big Mac and shed a few pounds. It seems maybe some folks have figured out how to cut back and sacrifice a little after all. Despite the message sent out by members of the government: "we are going to take care of you, just let us spend more."

Your pal,
Barry

The Accidental Playlist, Part 2

2008-12-07T17:57:00.002-06:00

Sunday evening iPod shuffle while reading and preparing red beans & rice:

Alice Cooper - It's Me
The Beatles - Ohh! My Arms
Resurrection Band - Sacrifice of Love
Styx - I'm Okay
Roger Joseph Manning Jr. - Sandman
Matt Redman - Blessed Be Your Name
Relient K - The Thief
Warren DeMartini (Covering Jeff Beck) - New Ways Train Train
Henry Cow - Slap Happy
Tourniquet - Sola Christus
Cheap Trick - Voices
Journey - Send Her My Love
David Bowie - John, I'm Only Dancing
The Beatles - Baby You're a Rich Man
Sweet Comfort Band - Habit of Hate
Galactic Cowboys - Circles in the Fields
Chris Tomlin - Let God Arise
The Remains - Don't Look Back
Passion - You Are My King
John Davis - I Need Someone

Yuletide Zeppelin

2008-12-07T08:29:00.003-06:00

Check out this Yultide mash-up: Led Zeppelin vs. Christmas Carols. Who will survive?

A Trip to a Mexican Bathroom or Signs Pt. 2

2008-11-28T17:08:00.011-06:00

Hi folks: Lyndy and I decided to get all crazy and do some spur of the moment Black Friday shopping today. We picked up some decent stuff at Wallyworld and K-Mart after the crowds had settled down. No 5 AM wake up call for Lyndy and I. Then we decided to hit a mexican restaurant that shall remain nameless (locals might be able to figure it out, although every time you turn around a new south-of-the-border themed restaurant pops up in Glasgow). I'll give you a hint, the name starts with Los. While at the restaurant I found it necessary to borrow the facilities (don't worry, this is as detailed as I'll get. Promise). When I locked the stall door this is the very cool sign I saw:
Don't worry, I obeyed the sign and left the paper ON the trash can instead of ON the toilet.

After finishing said bathroom stall activities (and taking a picture of this cool sign with my cell phone) my eyes wandered to the light fixture. Lo and behold above the lights I focused on the extremely inventive storage area for the super-large rolls of toilet paper. And now, I share this with you. Perhaps this will give you ideas that will help to decorate your home in a similar spiffy fashion:

Folks, you just couldn't make up stuff this cool if you wanted to.

Happy Thanksgiving - Watch This

2008-11-27T15:39:00.004-06:00

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful day of thanks. Here is my Thanksgiving present to you...an amazing sitcom that is essential holiday viewing. Watch it and thank me later:

A Sign

2008-11-23T18:05:00.002-06:00

Delicious Gourmet Lunch & Green Christmas

2008-11-22T13:34:00.005-06:00

I just finished a delicious, mouth watering lunch. This lunch was so tasty, I found it necessary to share with you (digitally of course, I can't actually *share* the meal with you since I have consumed said culinary delight). Rather than discuss it, I thought I would let you feast your eyeballs upon my lunch:

Spam sandwhich on wheat with Miracle Whip lite, Maruchan Instant Lunch cup o' soup thingie (last seen in this week's Office episode in a stunning product placement coup. Ryan the psycho temp was holding it. Did you see it?), Kaukauna (how *do* you pronounce that?) Port Wine cheese spread (now available at Walmart for the holidays), and Zesta crackers. Isn't that just an incredible lunchtime spread? The perfect hot and cold meal for a chilly November day. Rachel Ray would be proud. Come back and peruse my blog whenever you are hungry!

In other holiday news (since the season is now upon us). One of my favorite things to do this time of year, or anytime of the year for that matter, is check out Christmas blogs full of music, pictures, and holiday merriment. A Christmas Yuleblog just posted some great info on Stan Freberg's Classic "Green Christmas" holiday single. Along with A Charlie Brown Christmas, Freberg's 50 year old masterpiece points to the true meaning of Christmas, without bonking folks in the head. Check out this informative and entertaining Christmas blog HERE. Here is the cover to this scrumptious holiday treat:

The END of the Diet in Living Color

2008-11-19T18:55:00.005-06:00

So I'm sorta' kinda' on a diet. That is, I *was* until the Lil' Schweetie purchased the delicious confection you see in the picture below:
Old Fashioned Candy Cane Creme Oreos. Can you imagine such a thing? I can, I ate 1/2 of the bag last night and the other 1/2 today. Now far be it from me to lay blame for my complete lack of willpower and self control, but obviously my Blessed Spouse does not want me thin or she would not purchase me such amazingly wonderful sugar filled, peppermint-flavored concoctions. She must like me a bit "pleasantly plump." Makes you wonder.

In other news of note: behind said tasty holiday concoction you will see one gigantic head o' Santa made of genuine styrofoam. I can't tell you how happy this newly acquired bit of Noel-themed wonderment makes me. I just scored this and another (not one but TWO) gigantic styrofoam Santa heads on eBay for the low, low price of $12.99. Ahh, what childhood happy memory bliss this is. One gigantic Santa head for home (Lyndy does *not* like this idea), and one for my office to share the happy gigantic Santa head holiday delight with my co-workers. Joyeaux Noel!

Finally (if you are still reading, THANK YOU) I just wrote a review for a spectacular holiday-themed CD called Christmas A G0-Go from Wicked Cool records. Check out the review HERE.

Gotta' go. Still a few Oreos left. Your pal, Barry

10,000 Hours - How to Get Good @ What You Do

2008-11-16T18:01:00.012-06:00

I read an interview with Malcolm Gladwell in the Wall Street Journal this weekend. Gladwell is one of my favorite writers (he wrote Blink & The Tipping Point & the upcoming Outliers). I heard him speak @ a BlackBerry Symposium back in 2007. Fascinating speaker with great hair. See pic on left for proof on the hair comment.

In the interview Gladwell states that the difference between a professional and a talented amateur is 10,000 hours of practice. Around ten hard years of solid practice. He mentions a chess grandmaster plays for ten years before he achieves that level of excellence, and a classical composer won't be able to create great classical music without this kind of practice. Gladwell states: "it's an empirically-based finding that seems consistent across a number of different fields...an opportunity is a chance to practice."

So you want to get good at something? Practice. A lot.

Most things worth doing require work. Being a great guitarist, or preacher, or artist, or cook, or parent requires discipline and blood, sweat and tears. Prodigies are rare (I do think our Korean son Robin was a prodigy @ Guitar Hero. He could play advance mode quicker than anyone I have ever seen. I suck @ Guitar Hero, but could jump up and down while playing much better than Rob. This might be why I suck).

This got me thinking--have I achieved "professional" status at anything? In what area do I want to excel? I think I have some hard work and practice ahead of me.

How about you...in what area would you like to be a professional? What do you need to practice more? Are you a "professional" at anything now?

Sounds like we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Your pal,

Barry

The Accidental Playist

2008-11-15T19:36:00.005-06:00

Welcome to my new blog! Tonight I'll be starting a new recurring feature...The Accidental Playlist

I put the iPod on shuffle lately. A lot. Sometimes you get wacky combinations, sometimes crappy. Tonight's was pretty solid:

Galactic Cowboys - A Different Way
Baptize My Mind - Jon Foreman
Not a Second Time - The Beatles
Son of Billion Dollar Babies - Alice Cooper
Strange Brew - Bob & Doug McKenzie
Weeping Willow - The Verve
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Pezband
Everybody Wants to go to Heaven - David*Crowder Band
Maktfaktor - Edin Adahl (Swedish Christian band...we used to play the English version of this song on WKCC radio in college. This is the Swedish version of it. Don't understand a word, but I love it)
Five in the Nave - 77s
Turning Thirty - Randy Stonehill
Rock Bottom - UFO
Up and Down - The Serpent Power