Chad Taylor Blog Post (3/17/12) Options

[OutToDry]

YEs, it's better to think the happy stuff.

[OutToDry]

Prelude to TGF?, prelude to the split....or simply off the cuff!!

June 6, 2004: Chula Vista, CA - Coors Amphitheatre
I've been slow with the diary entries over last few shows, in part because I didn't feel there was anything worth writing about. The York show was strange at best, I guess Shit Towne will always be somewhere left of center. I was extremely happy to have both Don Carn and Mac White join us on-stage. We handed out roses to each of our mothers and enjoyed ourselves and York but the crowd was just not into the show. Why, I have no idea. One of life's hard lessons is that no matter your discipline or dedication or talent you cannot move those who choose not to be moved. Stuck. Solid rather than liquid, stiff and non-flexible; close-minded or just brain/body-dead. Read the daily paper or listen to a news report. 'We' are fast becoming a reflection of this. I find it incredibly hard to fly in the face of this sadness; to play music who's sole purpose is to join and celebrate when our world is in a constant state of division. Our generation has lost it. We had in our hands the most wonderful means of gathering and communicating and we flushed it down the toilet by embracing soulless corporate music and culture. Compare for yourself the top ten list of today, where are the Simon and Garfunkels, Beatles, Doors, Dylan's and Hendrix's our generation? Where are the civil leaders who will challenge government to drop its quest for division and place its interest in developing a nurturing world where true equality can flourish? Its not that there aren't good musicians, artists, and civil leaders but somehow we have allowed the mass marketing corporate world to make us lazy and placid. We only buy or believe what's given or easy and rarely take the off-beaten path toward earnest active thought. This trend is happening at all levels, not just limited to music or politics. It's why we are getting fast food fat and fed nonfactual news twenty-four seven. We are just too fucking lazy to do anything beyond easy. What I am trying to say is that everything has its time and place. Right now we need to push hard for world order, and pop culture is not helping to develop or elevate our spirits as 'we' dictate what is current and relevant.
The tragic reality is that most of the surviving bands of early rock n' roll lend no source of leadership or guidance. Let's see the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney or Page and Plant put on a concert for world unity and healing. I would love them to take just a little of their energy and put it to positive use. There are some artists that are fighting a good fight; U2, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, The Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam to name a few. These artist could care less about the bottom line and keep the spirit of music alive by constantly pushing for positive social and spiritual change. Yes, at some level music should be about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, but ignoring the overwhelming trend toward brutal disregard of life is a huge mistake. JayZ, P-Diddy, Snoop Dog, Usher and Dre - Where are the hip-hop artists who are willing to stand up for love? How many rides can you pimp before it gets old? I find it strange that the inner cities of America are in total decay but the heroes of hip-hop put all of their time and energy into clothing lines and dub's but give very little back in terms of real passionate love. Why? Fuck, I know this talk gets old too but watching my fellow man destroy himself is motivation to never tire of wanting more peace, more love, and more compassion. Drop your weight, your bags of conditioning, your history of self.
“Did you give it up? Did you let it go? Let's get it back, let's get it back together.” - Ed K. 1990
It seems little has changed in our twenty years.
CT

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Mar 28 2012, 9:12 pm

[OutToDry]

June 17, 2004 - Omaha, NE: Rosenblatt Stadium
15,000 baseball fans welcomed LIVE to Omaha. We were setup on a stage about fifty feet away from the stadium bleachers, and I found myself remembering the Beatles doing these types of gigs. Not what I would want to do every night, but this is a very receptive crowd so it's pretty cool.
Our road crew hasn't had any time to work on our gear and most of these shows have rental backline as there is no way to fly with all of our stuff. Tonight all of it was breaking down!

Patrick's bass rig didn't work until midway through the first song and Adam almost fell and broke his neck. I guess he missed our production manager telling us there was a step in the middle of the stage. Gracey's drums were falling apart too. I just laughed it off, its only Rock N Roll and shit happens.

The set lists have stayed the same since before the York gig, there have been no soundchecks or rehearsals. I would love to fit some new songs in but its been tough finding the time.

I started to play Sparkle at home, what a cool track. I want that one back in, Iris too.

Ed and I hit a local pub after the show and met some nice people, thanks for all of the kind words Omaha, good luck with your baseball.

CT

[OutToDry]

June 24, 2004: Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Day Off
I spent the last three days in Ft. Lauderdale enjoying the warm weather and intense sunlight. The water is as warm as the air and the positive ions generated from the ocean are doing my body/mind well.
MoonTree is running smoothly without me so I have dedicated my free time to developing Barely Breathing and a new project, my first lounge/bar.

The first week of August is a huge week for me. I will be meeting with several buyers/agencies who are interested in picking up Barely Breathing. I find it strange that a story based on my life could generate this much excitement but as always I am focused and grounded. I have had the suits of this business let me down many times and try hard to remain distant from their grasp.

My song writing skills continue to develop and I am pushing hard to expand my melodic/chordal structure. I can't wait to massage these efforts with the boys and also hear what they have been up to. Much like the first kiss or the early exploration of a lover's body, we slowly reveal who we are to each other, note by note, word by word, we challenge the past and dare the future to BE.

I have begun to write lyrics to some of my material and have found a new affection for this type of expression. Ed has always been exceptional with words and in many ways I've limited my production within this medium because of his remarkable skills. Frankly, I guess my lack of effort was born of two parts: necessity (no need) and desire (never wanted you in my head). Why this has changed I'm not sure, but it has. Don't look for this material to turn up on a LIVE record anytime soon. My bandmates have worked incredibly hard to define their skills, and my work is infantile compared to their inspirational efforts.

I guess I would describe this growth as being a sketch artist who lays down a foundation but has always had another person finish the piece adding color, texture, and shading. Would that sketch artist not create better art if he were better able to understand the struggles of the finish process?

Such is the sacrifice of being in a band, however, we each need to push our creative juices for the betterment of the whole.

Still the mind and quiet the soul but let the river rage.

[+Ed+]

how bout posting those blogs....are they still at cerf.net or elsewhere in the wayback machine?

As said, I have them all printed only

Thank you for digging out the archives!

[FishOutaWater]

As said, I have them all printed only

Thank you for digging out the archives!

Don't make me come to Russia and scan them into pdf files for you!

[FishOutaWater]

June 17, 2004

The set lists have stayed the same since before the York gig, there have been no soundchecks or rehearsals. I would love to fit some new songs in but its been tough finding the time.

Yikes. There is something telling.

OTD - thanks for posting this stuff man!

[OutToDry]

You're welcome... great reading.

[zmanpga]

very coll stuff