Good Memories…

Was browsing through the LA Times and came across an article on an old friend that was written up in the magazine. Jonathan Wilson was one half of the North Carolina band Muscadine along with Benji Hughes. Both salt of the earth, super guys with an extreme love of music who I had the privilege of touring with while I was in the band Sugarsmack. One of my favorite trips was both bands traveling together in a rented RV playing shows across the South all the way to SXSW to play our showcase and mingle with Sandra Bullock, Forrest Whitaker and Bill Paxton – random. Ah…the glory days.

I heard Jonathan had jumped around a bit til finally settling in Laurel Canyon. LA is lucky to have him. He is an amazing musician that can pick up any instrument and make it sing. Yeah, one of those guys…the ones you’re lucky to get to hang with. Although he still plays shows supporting Benji on his solo gigs, he has carved out a nice scene for himself in the Canyon. Nice to see old friends doing great things…

You can read the article here…

Filed under: Uncategorized, Friends, Music

I Need A Dollar

One of my guilty pleasures in television watching is Entourage. juvenile and sometimes not very well written I know, but when it’s fun, it’s good. Being set in LA also delivers a lot of “been there” moments within each episode, some weird relatability from having worked there  a lot.

Point I’m getting to is that I’ve been suckered into another Mark Wahlberg EP joint called “How To Make It In America.” Sort of the same basic formula on a smaller scale, friends trying to “make it.” I’m hooked for now, Lake Bell and Shannyn Sossoman aren’t a bad reason to watch either.

Always hooked on the visual, I initially gravitated towards watching based on the show’s title sequence and song. The song by Aloe Blacc, “I Need a Dollar” is classic. It has complete 70′s feel, captures that era wonderfully. The title sequence is a series of stills and live action, quick jump cuts from still to still, then slow motion – all captured in and around NYC. Large, bold fonts for credits cover the screen from moment to moment while stills from NYC party life ala Last Night’s Party make you want to put on your Friday’s best and get out of the house…Alright, maybe a title sequence can’t really do all this. Maybe depends on how many beers you’ve had sitting on your couch at 10p on a Sunday night…

Check out the title sequence here…

Filed under: Uncategorized

When I’m older…

I’m wondering when that day will come to when I can be that old wise guy that says things that sound like sage advice. Not in a preachy kind of way, just worldly. Schooled, wiser from experience, etc.

Was flipping through the latest issue of Dwell, half into it when I passed by a small article on architect and designer Piero Lissoni. Dwell had a simple, phoned in Q&A for him and he made it sing. All of his responses related more to life than what he did for a living which are most designers typical response. Just seems like a guy you would want to hang and have a beer with…the best kind.

I’ve posted the article here in case the link goes bad…

Ideal working environment:

Everywhere. I may prefer to work at a classical table in a classical office with a lot of noise, or a beautiful park, or in a forest, or on the top of a mountain. It’s totally personal; there are no limits.

Lucky break:

Love is the real lucky break. It can happen in a flash.

“Eureka!” moment:

To enjoy a fantastic cappuccino in the morning with a very good croissant. This can help the creative process a lot.

Hero:

Donald Duck. He is, at the same time, human, stupid, and a genius.

Best seat in the house:

In the kitchen.

A book:

I have a biblioteca. Two of my favorite books are The Odyssey, by Homer, and Six Memos for the Next Millennium, by Italo Calvino.

A film:

There are too many.

Worst-ever idea:

It’s not possible to talk about it.

Highest compliment:

To be human. Humanity is so complex. You have to be nice, angry, and arrogant. A fighter and a lover.

Soundtrack:

I like baroque music from the 17th century, especially Bach, and the piano player Glenn Gould.

Antihero:

Stupidity is the antihero. I’m against ignorant people and unfortunately this world is full of them.

Best advice:

Every moment of every day is a long intellectual process. Professionally, everything is possible. You have to be lucky, but you also have to be good.

When not designing:

I design a lot.

Dream commission:

To be able to continue in this way for many years.

I wish I had:

More time to spend sailing, skiing, climbing, walking somewhere—–anywhere.

Looking forward to:

Girls. Beauty is a special alphabet. More than just long legs, artifice, and plastic; it’s looking true, a nice light in the eyes, some natural movement.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Lars and the Real Furor.

You’ve probably heard many of stories on Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist who drew the cartoon depicting Muslim Prophet Muhammad in a not so favorable light. After his cartoon was published a bounty of $100,000 was placed on his head by al-Qaida as well threats from other extremist Muslims. Since 2007 he’s had to watch his back from constant threats and even more recently from American Jihad Jane and a few other crazies.

Recently saw this article about his day to day since then and I was struck by how somewhat normal his life seems to be. He lives in rural southern Sweden with seemingly no security and a half put together safe room. He’s not trying to barricade himself, or hire loads of security. He just accepts the fact that he can’t control fate. That’s brave.

In the article it goes on to talk about Sweden’s lax regulation of immigration and how some right wing elements are wanting to change that which will push more muslims and other immigrants from coming into the country. The irony to me is that Lars is much more sympathetic to the Muslims than these seemingly polite right wing politicians, but they can’t see through that because of a cartoon and it’s depiction of their religion.

To be fair, all religions have these kind of issues. Their followers always running with scissors, defending ideals that are never as easily defined as they were written.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Heard on NPR…

Yeah, I’m one of those avid NPR listeners. I just like to hear other people talk, tell their stories. I’ve never been a great storyteller so in some ways I think it helps me better my skills or just kill time in my day.

Regardless I happen to catch this interview about an upcoming Bill Withers documentary. Bill is the guy that wrote classics like “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” He has that classic voice and from hearing the interview about him a classic attitude.

Like with any good interviewee there is usually a great line, quote, that was said. The good ones always stick with you. Bill had a great quote that he used as advice to his daughter about the road to success and to life for that matter…

“One of the things I always tell my kids is that it’s OK to head out for wonderful, but on your way to wonderful, you’re gonna have to pass through all right,” Withers says. “When you get to all right, take a good look around and get used to it, because that may be as far as you’re gonna go.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

Catalogue and Collect…

Was thinking of another way to kill more time in my life….really just a way to document things that I find inspiring, big or small, photos or interviews, art or articles, whatever…you get it. I think I do.

Filed under: Uncategorized