ode to someday records

many of you remember someday records, the indie label started by myself, jess, and steven. well, although we didn't sell a million records (ok, we didn't sell 5 thousand), i must say we were well ahead of the curve. today i was listening to my xm radio and they played the bees, who were featured on our "under the needle" soundtrack released 3 years ago. in addition, all of the artists featured on our compilation are still touring musicians and half of the artists have record deals. not too bad!

my town is a wonderland

So here's a little update as to what's been happening...

1. I saw My Morning Jacket at the Ogden Theater in Denver. Just when I haven't seen the Jacket in over a year, they swing by and once again put on the best show I've seen in ages. It reminds me of that epic night in Birmingham with Saliba going apeshit. Saliba, you out there? Anyway, MMJ are unstoppable. They are the best American rock band in concert. Can anyone dispute this?

2. In other music, I purchased The Slip's new album, Eisenhower. I really really dig it. "Children of December" is a great jazzy indie rock song, and "If One of Us Should Fall" is a classic anthem song. You just want to hear them both on repeat. If you're a child of December you will especially appreciate The Slip. You will indentify, you know, when your birthday gets the shaft b/c it's around christmas.

3. The Bolder Boulder. It's America's biggest 10K run - with 50,000+ people. Well, I'm going to run it this year. It's Memorial Day weekend (late May) and the Boulder Creek Festival is also the same weekend. If you're a runner or if you're not (like me), this is a great opportunity to come to Boulder and visit! Consider that an invitation. Run the race with me!

4. A wild winter. We have had so much snow and lots of crazy wind. Usually winters in Boulder are mild, but I guess this is the harshest winter in 20 or 30 years. It has snowed every week for the past 4 weeks. Picture above is near my house, facing the South with the Foothills to the West.

Peace...

The Godfather of Soul

Yesterday, James Brown passed away. He was a legend. Maybe he had a laundry list of criminal activities, but HE WAS JAMES BROWN! An absolute legend. An American original, and he knew it. He put himself next to Elvis. He wasn't humble, but he was unforgettable. There will never be another man like James Brown.

I was fortunate enough to be in a press conference with 25 others as James Brown was being interviewed in a tent in the sweltering tennessee summer. I have never before witnessed such an event. James Brown was larger than life, he looked at the biggest rock journalists of our day, and belittled them like school children on a playground. It was ridiculous, he turned these men and women into his personal examples of meagerdom. It was an amazing display, as my friend Jessica can attest to. In fact, if you have a chance to rent the Bonnaroo 2003 DVD, watch for me in the white hat and my friend Jess next to me. Here are some samples of his brilliance at work from that press conference in '03.

Rolling Stone Reporter: "Hello Mr Brown, I'm So-and-So from Rolling Stone..." (cut off)
James Brown: SO WHAT!?

USA Today Reporter: "So Mr. Brown, If you go out in the campgrounds, you will find all these hippie kids dancing around to funk and R&B... listening to your music. Have you ever played at such a concert like this?"
James Brown: "YEAH, EVER HEARD OF WOODSTOCK!?"

Billboard Reporter: "Have you thought about your setlist tonight, what will you be playing?"
James Brown: "I DON'T KNOW, HAVEN'T GOT THERE YET!"


There it was, James Brown dismissing reporters like it was his job. It was an amazing place to be that day, one of my favorite moments of living behind the scenes in the music business. They didn't call him the hardest working man in show business for nothing!

Do yourself a favor and download some James Brown today.

Make it funky,
-rustafarian

ps: i believe that is me on the stage balcony - red fro and headband...