I love this one; a bit of a puzzle with clues for us, and a wire brush? I think of what encroaches your perimeter.... the foxes, or fireflies or those birds with their droppings, A wire brush? the cats won’t take a stand for sure. Must research what encroaches on the Pampa. 😃
John is a hero to me. We were in a band together in college. I remember he was just starting to write songs. Then he went off and wrote some great ones, made some fabulous records, created a career for himself. I had no idea any of that was possible. He lead the way.
Yeah he told us about the Razzy Dazzy Spasm band - I learn new things every time! I grew up with John and Bruce Cockburn as folk-guitar heroes. Discovered your musical poetry later toward college. Heroes, three.
I have been a bit relieved to see you releasing new work, as your work has always resonates for me and anchors me a bit the memory to my life back in the states. I am in New Zealand these last 17 years and your work was often the soundtrack to my best years in NY. I am also pleased to hear of your relatively new experiences in recovery. I marked 25 years last year and know first hand what that road looks like. One I am forever grateful for. Another memory I am grateful for is a night seeing you at Cafe Lena in Saratoga many years ago. I can't imagine a more intimate setting and you killed it as always. That was pure joy for me.
Jun 19, 2023·edited Jun 19, 2023Liked by Richard Shindell
We're in Auckland, North Shore. Recently retired and traveling NZ quite a bit. If you and yours ever want to visit, consider our place yours as a home base. If playing here is something you'd like to do, I have some friends in the business and could make some enquiries.
Just this week, Antje launched her Patreon (which, funnily enough, Substack just tried to auto-correct to “Paterson”), and I’ve been a member of Tracy’s since it launched. It’s so rewarding to be able to give something back for what my three favorite artists have given me all these years, especially with SoCal concerts so few and far between. You’ve made Sundays something to really look forward to.
Great tune , Maestro...Your guitar skills are amazing. Beautiful song about a world so far apart from my own. Love the texture and chording....a cool tune that brought to mind the foxes you spoke of last year. These deep woods in NH are cool and wet this year. Green and greener with the mountain laurel huge and bright.
Would I be wrong in thinking your focus on poetry the last couple of years has helped you lyrically in song writing? Do you approach it differently now?
Thanks again for this sub stack ...so interesting in a linear way...concerts have been a bi-annual check in...and please, please continue that as best you can, but these writings are so much more than that.
Same family of foxes. Their bark is wild. WRATCH! WRATCH! The song was adapted from a poem containing the line "this much scat has to be tactical". But it didn't sing well. And also I wanted to leave "it" unclear. But I guess the scat is out of the bag now.
I don't know that the focus on poetry has changed the way I write lyrics. What I do know is that writing poems has meant writing more. Something got freed up. Now I can go back and mine them for song lyrics. I'm a scavenger.
Thanks for mentioning the textures. I'm relieved it turned out as well as it did. Or at all. The recording was hairy. This is the first thing I've recorded using Ableton. I began on Monday. What could go wrong? It went OK until I hit some errant button on Saturday morning. Everything went kerflooey. Result: I ended up not using any of the guitar tracks with effects or amp modeling. So the textures of the guitars (one electric, one acoustic) are completely "clean". That means no amps and no effects. Straight into the board. We have the workers in Nazareth PA, Fullerton CA and Oxford UK to thank for that schmeck!
Enjoyed the sound of this one a lot. The percussion made me think of William Orbit, like futuristic 2000's music. Also reminded me of the drums in Bjork's 'All is Full of Love' -- it's funny because when I then go and listen to these songs, they sound so different, but I think you might find a thread there. Saw you've been working with Ableton! Would love to hear more about your recording setup in a future newsletter.
Hi Olivia. Sorry about the delayed response. I love William Orbit. Sea Green! I'll often listen to that kind of music when I'm writing (words). As for Ableton, I'm hoping it frees me a bit from the logic of the guitar - or I should say, my own limitations on the guitar. Problem is, I'm a dunce when it comes to the tech. Like, really really stupid. But I appreciate the suggestion to write about the setup. Will do. Vintage guitars and Richard's misadventures in Ableton.
This is beautiful Richard, thank you. Thematically, I hear it as a companion-piece to 'Satellites'. To me (a non-musician) it has a similar cadence, and I can't help but imagine those satellites, which had so reassuringly and diligently circled 'our perimeter' had now decided to encroach on 'our' universe. "We are not afraid" but maybe that is because we have scant understanding if what there is out there; wherever 'there' is.
This is just so fantastic! I’m elated that you are recording again. I have a home studio that I record in, and I know just what you mean about getting things to a state where you’re satisfied. I play what I have recorded over and over again in my car and everywhere else I can listen to it and I’m always changing it. After I release it, I want to re-record it because of one syllable that is off pitch. you are absolutely my wife’s and my favorite singer songwriter.
Will you be releasing your songs on Spotify? I would love to be able to add them to a playlist.
Thank you Brian. Playlists are great. It's a wonderful way to connect people to music (and people to people). But at the moment I'm staying away from any of those kinds of distribution systems. Not even close to ready for that.
I love this. The guitar work. Chord progressions. The vibe. It’s creepy in a good healthy way. It reminds me of a set of lyrics I still need to find the melody for. “The Mow-line “ “all is well and fine…, beyond the mowline.” Are those photographs of where you live? I almost thought those cats were coatimundis. Good security force.
This is lovely. I am sorry I can't afford to support you yet due to being chronically ill/unable to work/perform my music these past two years but as soon as I can, I will. Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring as always xx
Hello Emaline. I'm sorry to hear about your setbacks. But I'm happy you're here! If there were a paywall on anything I'd gift you access. Your music is beautiful. Please just enjoy. Was it Oldenburg where we met?
I love this one; a bit of a puzzle with clues for us, and a wire brush? I think of what encroaches your perimeter.... the foxes, or fireflies or those birds with their droppings, A wire brush? the cats won’t take a stand for sure. Must research what encroaches on the Pampa. 😃
let me know what you figure out sissy... this one is a hard one to decipher.
Wire brush to clean the grill?
O los murciélagos?
So happy for the new music!! Very decent of you make the pay tiers voluntary.
Richard, it's a treat to hear new songs from you. Thanks!
You're most welcome!
Incredible! Can't wait to see you play at Club Passim in October!
Love this. Come to Vermont - John Gorka was just here and mentioned you. :)
John is a hero to me. We were in a band together in college. I remember he was just starting to write songs. Then he went off and wrote some great ones, made some fabulous records, created a career for himself. I had no idea any of that was possible. He lead the way.
Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band?
Yeah he told us about the Razzy Dazzy Spasm band - I learn new things every time! I grew up with John and Bruce Cockburn as folk-guitar heroes. Discovered your musical poetry later toward college. Heroes, three.
Just saw you are playing in Florence - I’ll be there!
I have been a bit relieved to see you releasing new work, as your work has always resonates for me and anchors me a bit the memory to my life back in the states. I am in New Zealand these last 17 years and your work was often the soundtrack to my best years in NY. I am also pleased to hear of your relatively new experiences in recovery. I marked 25 years last year and know first hand what that road looks like. One I am forever grateful for. Another memory I am grateful for is a night seeing you at Cafe Lena in Saratoga many years ago. I can't imagine a more intimate setting and you killed it as always. That was pure joy for me.
Thanks Chris. 25 years is quite an achievement. Congratulations. The road has been bumpier for me. But I'm steady now. Where are you in New Zealand?
We're in Auckland, North Shore. Recently retired and traveling NZ quite a bit. If you and yours ever want to visit, consider our place yours as a home base. If playing here is something you'd like to do, I have some friends in the business and could make some enquiries.
Just this week, Antje launched her Patreon (which, funnily enough, Substack just tried to auto-correct to “Paterson”), and I’ve been a member of Tracy’s since it launched. It’s so rewarding to be able to give something back for what my three favorite artists have given me all these years, especially with SoCal concerts so few and far between. You’ve made Sundays something to really look forward to.
This is the way.
Great tune , Maestro...Your guitar skills are amazing. Beautiful song about a world so far apart from my own. Love the texture and chording....a cool tune that brought to mind the foxes you spoke of last year. These deep woods in NH are cool and wet this year. Green and greener with the mountain laurel huge and bright.
Would I be wrong in thinking your focus on poetry the last couple of years has helped you lyrically in song writing? Do you approach it differently now?
Thanks again for this sub stack ...so interesting in a linear way...concerts have been a bi-annual check in...and please, please continue that as best you can, but these writings are so much more than that.
Same family of foxes. Their bark is wild. WRATCH! WRATCH! The song was adapted from a poem containing the line "this much scat has to be tactical". But it didn't sing well. And also I wanted to leave "it" unclear. But I guess the scat is out of the bag now.
I don't know that the focus on poetry has changed the way I write lyrics. What I do know is that writing poems has meant writing more. Something got freed up. Now I can go back and mine them for song lyrics. I'm a scavenger.
Thanks for mentioning the textures. I'm relieved it turned out as well as it did. Or at all. The recording was hairy. This is the first thing I've recorded using Ableton. I began on Monday. What could go wrong? It went OK until I hit some errant button on Saturday morning. Everything went kerflooey. Result: I ended up not using any of the guitar tracks with effects or amp modeling. So the textures of the guitars (one electric, one acoustic) are completely "clean". That means no amps and no effects. Straight into the board. We have the workers in Nazareth PA, Fullerton CA and Oxford UK to thank for that schmeck!
i thought raccoons
Could be raccoons. So often raccoons! But they don't get this far south.
Enjoyed the sound of this one a lot. The percussion made me think of William Orbit, like futuristic 2000's music. Also reminded me of the drums in Bjork's 'All is Full of Love' -- it's funny because when I then go and listen to these songs, they sound so different, but I think you might find a thread there. Saw you've been working with Ableton! Would love to hear more about your recording setup in a future newsletter.
Hi Olivia. Sorry about the delayed response. I love William Orbit. Sea Green! I'll often listen to that kind of music when I'm writing (words). As for Ableton, I'm hoping it frees me a bit from the logic of the guitar - or I should say, my own limitations on the guitar. Problem is, I'm a dunce when it comes to the tech. Like, really really stupid. But I appreciate the suggestion to write about the setup. Will do. Vintage guitars and Richard's misadventures in Ableton.
This is beautiful Richard, thank you. Thematically, I hear it as a companion-piece to 'Satellites'. To me (a non-musician) it has a similar cadence, and I can't help but imagine those satellites, which had so reassuringly and diligently circled 'our perimeter' had now decided to encroach on 'our' universe. "We are not afraid" but maybe that is because we have scant understanding if what there is out there; wherever 'there' is.
This is just so fantastic! I’m elated that you are recording again. I have a home studio that I record in, and I know just what you mean about getting things to a state where you’re satisfied. I play what I have recorded over and over again in my car and everywhere else I can listen to it and I’m always changing it. After I release it, I want to re-record it because of one syllable that is off pitch. you are absolutely my wife’s and my favorite singer songwriter.
Will you be releasing your songs on Spotify? I would love to be able to add them to a playlist.
Thank you Brian. Playlists are great. It's a wonderful way to connect people to music (and people to people). But at the moment I'm staying away from any of those kinds of distribution systems. Not even close to ready for that.
trying to subscribe, but can't go from free to supporting.
The error is on my end. I'm learning as I go. Try again. And thank you Christopher!
I love this. The guitar work. Chord progressions. The vibe. It’s creepy in a good healthy way. It reminds me of a set of lyrics I still need to find the melody for. “The Mow-line “ “all is well and fine…, beyond the mowline.” Are those photographs of where you live? I almost thought those cats were coatimundis. Good security force.
Ahoy Wil. Yes, that's home, looking NNE. I don't think the coatis get down this far. Good luck with those lines about lines!
I will persevere. Sometimes those songs sit for years. ha. That rhymes.
This is lovely. I am sorry I can't afford to support you yet due to being chronically ill/unable to work/perform my music these past two years but as soon as I can, I will. Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring as always xx
Hello Emaline. I'm sorry to hear about your setbacks. But I'm happy you're here! If there were a paywall on anything I'd gift you access. Your music is beautiful. Please just enjoy. Was it Oldenburg where we met?
Aw, thank you Richard. Your comment made my day x Yes it was Oldenburg! That seems like a lifetime ago now doesn't it?