A New Beginning

This site is being re-directed to its true purpose as a sounding board for me - the loyal grunt behind the scenes at Disclexington Productions. I hope to share with you the pleasures and struggles of an independent label devotee as I help these great bands make their way in an ever-changing, unromantic, increasingly cynical world. You wouldn't think this brave new world we live in would have a place for renegade musicians whose dreams consist of "just one great show," or "travelling the country, meeting new people, and sharing stories along the way." But guess what? It still does. I believe that. I believe it so much, I spent all my college summers working my ass off for nothing at an Indie Label. And now I'm a college graduate with a Business Degree (who isn't?) and what am I doing? I'm devoting my life to promoting the music and musicians I love. So join me as I circumnavigate the music world on behalf of the wonderful people of Disclexington Productions. Let's Roll!

Oh but first...I promised my boss that I'd "host" a celebration of his 7 month "Morning Commute" project. Frankly I think it's all a bunch of dribble and a desperate attempt to make lemonade out of a bunch of rotten apples but whatever, we'll go over the highlights. So here it is, my top ten favorite "Morning Commute" posts in no particular order:

10. Entry Number Three. I don't know, I totally dig the Indian imagery and the drawing is funny. You can skip the first two paragraphs, auto-erotic and b-o-r-i-n-g.

9. Enter Eleven and a half - the "original entry." It's actually way too long and full of useless information but it gives you all the background and I like the link to the exquisite corpse.

8. Entry Six. Needs no explanation. Do you get the idea that I like drawings yet?

7. Entry Eighteen. The beginnings of something great. I guess entry Twenty-Nine should be included here.

6. Entry Thirteen. Fan favorite.

5. This thought goes through my head all the time.

4. Entry Thirty-One. Nice short poem (emphasis on short)

3. Entry Thirty-Nine. I am totally jealous that OMK* got to go to the NAACP Conference. Can you imagine being the only dorky white guy in a sea of God-fearing NAACP conference goers? I can only imagine the scene from the Blues Brothers when Elwood and Jake see the light. OMK said it was exactly like that.

2. Entry Two. I like the Chinese characters, very observant.

1. Entry Nineteen. Another drawing.

*Ol' Man Kilian

Morning Commute: Entry Thirty-Nine Addendum:

This site will be changing theme shortly.

In the meantime, more pics from the Sears Associate Gospel Choir Trip to Milwaukee for the NAACP Annual Conference Gospel Night.

Morning Commute: Entry Thirty-Nine:

The commute was certainly different yesterday morning. I went with the Sears Associates Gospel Choir on a charter bus to Milwaukee, WI for the NAACP Annual Convention Gospel Night where they performed - also featured Pastor Shirley Caesar and Smokie Norful. I went as the photographer.

First of all, let me tell you...they do it up right on the church bus. Before the bus left the Sears grounds, I had a plate of ribs, chicken wings, catfish and hot sauce in my hands and a cold plastic bottle of Rev. Nicey's homemade lemonade.

We went to a Methodist church for rehearsal and then on to the Milwaukee Theater which is downtown and holds up to 4,ooo people. They didn't open up the balcony but the first tier seats were completely full so probably over 2,500 people there; 2,500 spiritually moved and excited people. I got to dance and clap my hands and take lots of photos. And everybody was just as nice as could be.

We didn't get back to Sears until after 1 AM and I didn't get home until after 2 AM but that's okay...I'm working from home today. So today's commute was just a couple dozen feet.

Morning Commute: Entry Thirty-Eight:

I had a commute companion this morning, my mom. She was a bit nervous because of the traffic. I put in a CD of the very first episode of This American Life which was a gift for being a public radio supporter at the hundred and twenty-five dollar level and for calling in during the This American Life hour. It is a soothing show and I think it made the trip better for my mom.

The first feature is about a guy who lives his life as if he is going to die in six months, on a date he sets while staring at empty tombs in Jerusalem on Passover/Easter weekend. He was twenty-seven at the time and forty-three at the time of broadcast (as well as an editor for the forward-looking magazine Wired ). The story is self-absorbed and the show on the whole has improved as it matures but it was a good thing to listen to on the morning expressway with a nervous air-brake riding mother.