Been a while....way too long actually.

Greetings folk(s)? Not sure if anyone still checks out this blog anymore, but I figured I'd pop my head in quickly. My posts have been sporadic, however my listening has increased tenfold....so here I am. I plan on jumping back in and sharing some great tunes, awesome times, sad times, and even some idiotic stories from page to page. More to come, but if you're out there....thanks for checking in. Cheers. KB

Miles from "Home"

There's something to be said about distance. Sometimes we choose to distance ourselves from areas of our lives that we're not fond of, which unfortunately is the inevitable truth that this is WHO we are. I moved to Boston in 2009 for reasons that no longer exist. Reasons that had me at the edge of my seat; excited about the potential new life I was about to embark on. 2 years have passed since I left everything I knew behind me; everything I wanted to miss and everything I thought I'd never miss. From family to friends, from jobs to apartments, New York is where I laid my head and heart for 29 of my 31 years. The thought of leaving those fears, anxieties, and emotions behind me was very attractive since the distance was just that; a new life and a "cure." As I find myself sitting here with that potential new life behind me, but a new sense of being and appreciation for the strength in my decisions, I can't help but say it for the first time...I miss where I came from.

I miss being able to see my family and hometown friends physically and not through text messages and phone calls. There's something very lonely, yet proving when you wake up and it's just silent. Even though the Monday morning garbage pickups are occuring outside my rainy South Boston window, and car horns sing out of tune on East Broadway, I still don't hear anything.

Over the past few months a lot has changed in my life, but the consistent theme throughout has been distance. I feel as though I'm saying goodbye more often than hello and my feet are only planted in one place for long enough to appreciate where I am for those 5 minutes. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "life is a journey, not a destination" and never have I fully believed in this quote till now. Within each of our journey's there's an unedeniable distance that we must take either from ourselves or from our past, simply to realize who we really are and who we want to be. Waking up with that lonely feeling on a Monday morning is tough; knowing that the only people who truly know you and who you genuinely miss aren't near you. What's even tougher is being in the city you changed your whole life to be in because of a potential life that shattered, and in the end realizing that you need to pick up the pieces yourself because that's just it. They're all pieces of you.

I know we have to travel to get to certain places in this life, but I miss where I traveled from and who took the ride with me for those 29 years. It's a bit ironic. So much of the excitement in changing my life to move here was to get away from that past life that I thought I needed in my rearview mirror. In the process I feel as though I've gotten farther away from myself and further distanced myself from my cornerstone; all of which is back in NY.

If only life had a GPS system. Then again, I'd probably continue to hit the detour button to see if there's a quicker way to get to my destination, as opposed to just enjoying the recommended path. Hey, at least I got there.

Shawn Mullins said it best in his song "Home." I love this man.

"Yeah, I know I'm lucky to sing my songs
If you want to, you can sing along
As you been on this road so long
Won't you help me find my way back home?
Help me find my way back home"

Angus & Julia Stone

Tell me this isn't awesome and I will give you $1MM.

Which I don't have, but that's just proof of how awesome this is.

Glen Hansard & Doveman

Not sure what to really say about this without getting emotional myself, so just check it out for yourself. Thanks to my good buddy Foye Johnson for sending this over. The man knows his music.

This is just so good.

Cheers,
Kevin

Glen Hansard w/Doveman "What Happens When The Heart Just Stops" from Patrick Glennon on Vimeo.

Richard Wright: Piano God

I love the piano, that's no secret if you've read any of my past posts. Richard Wright, the piano and organ genius behind Pink Floyd, perhaps summarizes exactly what I love about the instrument. Its simplicity. Its ability to sound as though it takes little effort to play, yet it takes every muscle in your brain and hands to agree with each other and move separately yet simultaneously. Wright was perfect. 1 listen through "Dark Side of the Moon" and you can't help but notice how beautiful his piano playing was.

Check out "The Great Gig in the Sky" on "Dark Side," or especially "Us and Them." Richard actually wrote the piano part in "Us and Them" for a violence sequence in the 1970's film "Zabriskie Point" by Michelangelo Antonioni. Ironic huh? It's odd how something so beautiful was written specifically for a scene showing killing, blood, and war. The music is stunning. However, Antonioni felt as though the piece was "beautiful, but too sad." Interesting. Isn't violence sad?

So, thank you Antonioni. Because it didn't make the film, the song was then used on "Dark Side" and it became "Us and Them;" one of my favorite tunes on probably my favorite record of all time.

Below is the actual audio of Richard Wright recording the track in the studio in 1970 for the film, along w/ some stills. Wright passed away in 2008 unfortunately. He is a true legend.

"Where At Least I Know I'm Free"

For all 12 of you loyal fans of this blog, you know from time to time I write about various beers I try. From Allagash to Sam Adams Seasonal's, from Blue Moon to Shipyard Pumpkin...I've tasted some pretty awesome beers. The weirdest thing happened the other day though. I tried Budweiser. Have you guys ever heard of this stuff? I mean, I'll tell ya. One sip and I was bleeding red, white, and blue.

I've heard a little about this beer before. I think I remember seeing a commercial during a Super Bowl at one time with these big horses with hairy white feet pulling a Budweiser truck, but I thought that was just an ad for horses. I mean seriously, who really advertises during the Super Bowl anyway? Just loser companies, right?

My friend Danny Noschese introduced me to this beer the other day over a few games of Golden Tee at our local watering hole in South Boston. We got a bucket of cold Budweiser bottles and literally, the second I opened the first one, I heard Bruce Springsteen singing "Born in the USA" from inside the bottle. Not only was Bruce singing at the top of his lungs, but suddenly everyone morphed into a Giants fan at the bar and brought out their portable grills. We started tailgating in the middle of the bar, cooking dogs, flipping burgers, tossing the pigskin around. Noschese went for a long fly pattern and ran directly into Uncle Sam who was on line at the bathroom. The place literally erupted into the greatest party I've ever seen. I was proud to be an American and a Giants fan, simply from opening a cold Budweiser bottle.

This beer unites people. It tastes like spring water with a hint of freedom; the after taste a combination between Apple Pie and the 4th of July. Fireworks erupt as you take each sip, as you truly know this is America...and this is a Budweiser.

Apparently this stuff has been out for years. My dad used to drink it with his white tee shirt on and jeans while singing Badlands and Glory Days around 114 Grandview. I didn't know that was Budweiser. I just thought it was an adult beverage with a weird name that made you smarter.

I can't recommend Budweiser enough. If you find yourself in a quandary at your local pub, or you're standing in the walk-in fridge at your nearest beverage mart debating what to buy, just listen for Springsteen. He'll be waving the American flag with his Desert Storm T shirt on, and he'll lead the way. If Lee Greenwood walks in behind you and points at the barkeep and just puts 2 fingers up, he means a few things. He'd like two Budweiser's and he's flashing the peace sign, because he is indeed Proud to be an American, where at least he knows he's free...to buy Budweiser.

Happy New Year folks. Cheers.

3 Month's, No Posts / James Vincent McMorrow

I took a small, involuntary hiatus from blogging for some reason. I have no clue why. I left Citysearch and started a new job working for the Gilt Groupe, specifically Gilt City up here in Boston. Really cool site, inventor of the flash sale model, and one of the top start-ups in the online world. Maybe that's an excuse? Sure, I've been a lot busier, but I'm not sure that's the reason.

Wedding planning? Eh, we've pretty much nailed everything down from venues to menus, and music and booze. Everything has fallen into place nicely, so, still not an excuse to get away from writing.

Sometimes your passions get away from you and we lose a small piece of ourselves over time. Whether the guitar is sitting in the corner collecting dust, or your running shoes smell like roses, we all know that a piece is missing and we miss that void, however it's hard to get back into the swing of things. Writing a blog is simple. You sit down and start typing. Maybe I haven't been too moved by the music I've heard since my last post. Maybe I'm just bored of the music that I'm currently listening to? I don't think so. If anything, I've found even MORE artists that I want to share with people, artists that have made these new chapter transitions in my life a bit easier.

With all that said, blogs are simply logs of our thoughts, feelings, and happenings. You log your days, your nights, your new itunes purchases, and your last concerts. Sometimes, you even ramble about tasty beers you've tried. Not too hard, right? I have no excuse as to where I've been, but I'm back. "My dog ate my blog" isn't gonna work this time.

So, as an apology, please enjoy Ireland's James Vincent McMorrow. James toured with Bell X1, a band I used to work with at Intrigue Music a few years ago. Solid song foundation, Irish singer/ songwriter tunes. James' voice is impeccable. It's like he's whispering and doesn't want everyone to hear, then builds up to make sure you've been listening the entire time.

Cheers. Happy Holidays everyone.

Passenger : "Flight of the Crow"

This record has blown me away, completely. Melancholy instrumentation and really nice vocals. Check it out. "Flight of the Crow" by Passenger, a UK artist.

Haven't stopped playing all of his 4 records over the past few days, but this one stands out. It's his new one. The title track is beautiful. Simple chord changes, but strong.

Below is a widget that streams the whole record. Throw it on in the background and go about your day. You may not hear every word, but your subconscious will.

Cheers,

John Legend & The Roots: "I Can't Write Left Handed" (Bill Withers Cover)

Bill Withers is a true musical icon.  It's interesting, as I write this post from my Boylston Street office in Beantown, his classic "Lean on Me" comes on the radio.  Irony has its way of sneaking its way into your life, and right now it's singing to me.  Bill Withers is a musical genius.  "Live at Carnegie Hall" is probably one of my favorite live recordings in music.  It was recorded and released in 1973 in NYC, at the infamous Carnegie hall.  There was still a large amount of social unrest between blacks and whites at this time, but Bill took over Carnegie Hall and put together an amazing compilation of tunes that make you think, cry, and dance; 3 things we should do often.  One of his songs, "I Can't Write Left Handed," is a standout track. 

It's about a Vietnam vet who lost his right arm during the war.  The lyrics are autobiographical and filled with such an interesting view on the war, what happens while at war, and even about the guy who shot him. 

"I aint gonna live-I don't believe I'm going to live to get much older.
Strange little man over here in Vietnam I aint never seen, bless
his heart, aint never done nothing to, he done shot me in my shoulder."

Throughout the song you start to feel for the guy. In this "spoken letter" that the solder is writing, he keeps asking his mother to ask their local reverend to pray for him, as he feels he's about to die. He asks his family lawyer to get a deferment for his little brother so he doesn't get shipped out to Vietnam to potentially get hurt as well. It's such a deep, meaningful, storytelling song that blows me away everytime I hear it. On the Carnegie Hall record, you hear the entire band of 6 humming in the background while Bill tells stories and sings the tune. It has such a huge gospel feel and one that will make the room quiet whenever you play the song. Just listen to Carnegie Hall itself. You hear a few cheers and "amens" from the crowd, as if the hall was temporarily a Baptist church and Bill Withers was the reverend. It's beautiful.

Below is a really cool version done by the legendary Roots and John Legend, which was released on their record "Wake Up" which hit stores Tuesday of this week. The whole record dives into old school classics like Bill Withers and Donny Hathaway tunes. Really good stuff. Check it out.


Cheers,

Biffy Clyro : "Many of Horror"

Check out the below.  Biffy Clyro is huge in the UK....maybe he'll finally make his way to our shores.

Shout-out to my buddy Mike Mayer for showing me this tune.  It blew me out of the water.  This version is stellar, live from the NME magazine set.

Cheers,