The Eye of the Hurricane

Ryan Bingham – Thats How Strong My Love Is

What happens when a gritty county musician covers Otis Redding? You get this song by Bingham that sits out in the space between genres of music and penetrates your thoughts and heart.

I’m not a huge fan of love songs as they tend to get sappy and over sensational… but this one hits home. It’s so simple and well crafted.

“I’ll be the breeze after the storm is gone.
To dry your eyes and love you warm”

It’s probably both the writing and the way it’s sung here, but it puts images of my wife, Christy, into my head. And any song that can puts images of the one you truly love into your head.. well I call that a successful love song.

So this one’s to you darlin’. That’s how strong my love is.

“That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Ryan Bingham

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If I was the sun way up there
I’d go with love most everywhere
I’ll be the moon when the sun goes down
Just to let you know that I’m still around

That’s how strong my love is, oh
That’s how strong my love is,
That’s how strong my love is, baby, baby,
That’s how strong my love is.

I’ll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears
You can go swimming when you’re here
I’ll be the rainbow when the sun is gone
Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm

That’s how strong my love is, darling,
That’s how strong my love is, baby,
That’s how strong my love is, oooh,
That’s how strong my love is.

I’ll be the ocean so deep and wide
I’ll get out the tears whenever you cry,
I’ll be the breeze after the storm is gone
To dry your eyes and love you warm

That’s how strong my love is, baby,
That’s how strong my love is,
That’s how strong my love is, darling,
That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is, so deep in,
Well, that’s how strong my love is
So much love, yes so much love, oohh,
Yes so much love, yes so much love,
Anything that I can do, I’ll be good for you,
Any kind of love you want, I’ll be with you….

I’m now 0 for 3 in missing great shows this year

I’m generally in touch with our whole music scene and I have my favorite bands that I can’t miss seeing when they come to town. And on the off chance that I do miss a show, I know that I can wait a month or two and they’ll be back around… or I can at least take a short 3 hour drive and get my fix.

Last night I realized, around midnight as I was scrolling through my twitter and reading a concert’s live coverage, that I am utterly spoiled with the amount of great music our scene is pumping out. I should have been downtown last night, at that show. I should have been watching Courtney Love’s band, Hole, churn out one of the best shows of the year.

I make excuses… no…. I make bad excuses. I think in my mind… “Well.. I have this other thing to do… I’ll just catch them next time around” or “I read a really bad review of a show they just did…”.

Note to self.. these are both VERY stupid excuses.

And this isn’t the first time I’ve screwed it up like this. Rewind a few months ago and I missed the Carolina Chocolate Drops when they came through Houston. A few months before that.. I missed William Elliot Whitmore in Austin. Both of these are very new to me bands that I really wanted to see live. Not to mention that I’ve been a fan of Hole for over 15 years and have never been to a live show.

As I sat there on my couch last night I keep thinking… “Why do you keep doing this?!?! This is what you do.. you go see live music!” And sadly I have no real answer except that not only has our great music scene gotten me spoiled… but it’s also made me lazy towards other music.

Don’t be lazy, people. Go see live music.

Jason Eady – Promises and Pieces {video}

Went out and caught Jason Eady playing in town the other night and got some footage of him singing one of my favorite killing songs that he wrote. Watch it full screen if you can.. the song will really draw you in.

Getting the new tattoo

Been really busy lately and not had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to write. A few weeks ago I got a new tattoo and put together a video.

Getting a tattoo can be an amazing experience for people that really love art. When it came time to get a few new ones, a friend and I scheduled the same artist on the same night for an incredible experience. We also brought along the camera’s to catch the process of how it all went down and to document all the pain!

Two very different pieces and two very different meanings, yet put on the same medium. If you want to go see a different art form than you are used to, go visit a legit tattoo shop… You’re sure to find some real talent.

Jeff Bridges – Hold On You

Am I really writing about a song that an actor sings? Yes. I am.

Besides the standout songwriting of Bingham on the Crazy Heart soundtrack… you get totally sideswiped by Jeff Bridges singing lead on several of the tracks. He does an amazing job at bringing to life a old country sound and makes you feel the music along with hearing it. He has a gritty voice and a history of heart felt roles including the current one that he won an Oscar for playing Bad Blake in Crazy Heart.

I say all that about Bridges because the guy is the real deal. He takes this song and creates a haunting tale of mistakes and poor choices in life, but gives it a purpose… getting a “Hold On You”. It’s never quite clear what the “You” is… maybe it’s love for some of us, maybe it’s purpose, maybe it’s getting a hold on life, or maybe it’s finding God. His voice and the writing seep of the truth of someone that understands that life deals you curve after curve and we find ourselves in the most crazy circumstances. “I’ve been people that I don’t know” and “All my lies have been unrehearsed ” are two of my favorite lines that sums that up perfectly.

If we are truthful about ourselves, we can see these truths in our past. If you don’t see them, then you aren’t looking hard enough. The key with finding and admitting our failures is we have to do something with them. What are you going to do.. continue hurting or change and grab a “Hold On You”? That is what this song speaks to me about… It tells a story of the past to remind me of the future.

“Hold On You” by Jeff Bridges

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I’ve been loved
And I’ve been alone
All my life I’ve been a rollin’ stone
Done everything that a man can do
Everything but get a hold on you

Done everything that a man can do
Everything but get a hold on you

I’ve been blessed
And I’ve been cursed
All my lies have been unrehearsed
All the fire that I’ve walked through
Only tryin’ to get a hold on you

All the fire that I walked through
Only tryin’ to get a hold on you

I saw you waitin’ at the gate
But I arrived a moment late
I saw you shed a single tear
And still I can’t get there from here

I’ve been high
And I’ve been low
I’ve been people that I don’t know
Been to China and old Peru
Only tryin’ to get a hold on you

Been to China and to Peru
I’m only tryin’ to get a hold on you
Only tryin’ to get a hold on you

Jamie Wilson – The River

Jamie Wilson’s, “The River” has lyrics so vivid that it needs no chorus. I’m not sure what all went into the choices to keep it from having one, but her feelings are strong about it keeping it the way she wrote it. Jamie says that it never worked out to put it on The Gougers albums… and I’m glad, because it feels right at home on her solo EP, Dirty Blonde Hair.

Written for her husband, it’s a tale that we can all relate to… one of a Love that we have or Love that we long to have. One of my favorite lines is “I’ve had my share of lonely, but now my lonely is gone” and hearing her sing those words, I don’t need a chorus to hook me into remembering this one. It reminds of some of the old hymns that drip with Truth… that of course… have no chorus either.

“The River” by Jamie Wilson

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Oh darling, I have loved, I have once loved long ago
But never have I longed for one simple touch, I know
I’ve waited by the river and watched its gentle flow
but I haven’t been so deep to find what lies below

Oh darling, I was lost, I was lost once in the past
But never have I wandered quite so far, so fast.
I’d question my direction but I’ve got no one to ask.
And I’ll follow if you’ll lead me and show me my way back.

Oh darling, I have found what I’ve been searching for so long
And I’ve heard of those who’ve lost what once had made them strong
I’ve had my share of lonely, but now my lonely is gone
And I know now where to find you and with you is where I belong.

Oh darling, I’ve seen eyes that I can look right through
And I’ve seen those of deception and seen those of the truth
If you’ll meet me by the water then I will wait for you
And we’ll walk down in the river like only lovers do.

SXSW 2010 – There and back in a day

I was completely OK with not making it to SXSW this year. Really I was. Then the abundance of work hit me over the past month and I really needed a day off before I went insane staring at the beautiful weather outside through weather.com. Put in for a day off, packed my toothbrush and pointed my truck towards Austin.

Although last year was a little better, I’ve been disappointed with the music portion of SXSW for about the last 6 years. I prepared myself with what I figured would just be a good day of just listening to music, people watching and soaking in the sun with friends. What actually happened was that I showed up to a really solid festival, showcasing talent that needs to be heard. Sure there is still the band that is playing a showcase because, well, they know a few chords. But the over whelming schedule was made of more bands that are continuing to solidify themselves as great bands and musicians. I think SXSW has finally turned the corner from what it used to be, a washed out festival that was replaced by Myspace and the internet.

I was only there 12 hours before I had to do the turnaround and head home, but it was totally worth it. Several bands really made an impact while I was there, so here are my thoughts…

Radney Foster – Completely sideswiped me. I wasn’t going to stick around for the show, but Suzy convinced me that I needed to stay and boy was she right. He played an old one… Texas In 1880 and it brought out this feeling in my heart that hasn’t been there for a while. It’s that feeling that rootsy country music will give you that sort of feels like hugging an old friend. And I’ll admit it, I fist pumped… don’t judge me.

Guy Forsyth – Surprise of the day. I’ve heard his name for years, but never caught a show. His playing style mixed with a voice that can sound like it comes from somewhere the soul dwells, drew me straight to the stage till he was done.

The Trishas – Favorite set. Again. These girls were on it… they had the standard fiddle option along with the drums and lead guitar upgrade, which put them at a 7 piece on stage. They seem to be getting tighter and more comfortable together each time I’ve seen them play.. and that makes for great music.

Band of Heathens – Never fail to deliver. Not much to say here other than they met a very high expectation that I don’t put too many bands at. The amazing thing about that statement… they will hit it every single time. Love these guys.

Walt Wilkins – Cuts me deeper each time. Walt is guy that I don’t like to miss when he’s playing and admittedly I haven’t always “gotten” his songwriting style and playing. But over the past year or so each time I’ve seen him his art dives a little closer to my heart and this show was no exception.