I "Heart" NYC!

Time off means heading out for my 3rd day in the city. So much to see. Will write soon-fuhgettaboddit!

I "Heart" NYC!

The "Famous Phrase"

Rising and somewhat shine-ing on this rainy/not-rainy Montana morning, I found this often heard phrase (or something like it), "God helps those who help themselves", in "Matthew Henry's Concise commentary On The Whole Bible" (Is 40:27-41). (Maybe this is where that phrase originates?)

Ever heard it said, "It's not in the Bible"? Well, I don't believe it is, but how about this word from Mr. Henry (Photo on left-He must be cool-check out the gray hair!).

"Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves."

I think it works - any thoughts?

The "Famous Phrase"

In The Shadow of the Two JD's (Depp and Dillinger)

From the "I Was There" files:

Before leaving for yet another tour of HC shows (currently typing this on a ranch in Altamont, UT), I went to see Johnny Depp's latest movie, "Public Enemies".

Now, it so happened one evening in June of last year 2008 I had the priviledge of doing a Hotel California show at "Downtown Alive" in Aurora, IL, where some filming for said movie was recently done inside the Paramount Theatre in Aurora some days before our arrival.

Watch this short video below and notice the parking structure, Subway sign and the alley in back of the theatre. Then take a look at my photos below.

Took this picture on that very spot

And another - the alley behind Paramount Theatre

A shot from stage facing parking structure

The night's show & "sea of people" shot.

In addition, in August 2007, Hotel California performed in Manitowish Waters which happened to be the location of the Little Bohemia Lodge where John Dillinger stayed and where a portion of "Public Enemies" was eventually filmed in 2008. Once again, I was there! :)

Well, not at Little Bohemia Lodge, but we stayed at Voss's Birchwood Lodge who's owner's mother was the sister of the wife of the owner of the Little Bohemia at the time of Dillinger's appearance. Following? For the whole story, CLICK HERE.

Apparently, the set designer for "Public Enemies" may have used furniture from the very room I stayed in at Voss's! Who knows?

"Oh, the places you will go!" ~ Dr. Seuss

In The Shadow of the Two JD's (Depp and Dillinger)

Rocket, Man!

I brought the autobiography "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey From The Moon" with me on the latest trek in July with the HC (Hotel California) and, unbeknownst to me until after I finished it, July 17th, 2009 happened to be the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the first man on the moon!  This memoir is from the guy who was actually the "2nd" man on the moon, Neil Armstrong's "sidekick", Buzz Aldrin (written along with Ken Abraham). You creative types out there might like this quote from the book:

"Exploring this place that had never been seen by human eyes, upon which no foot has stepped, or hand touched-was awe-inspiring.  But we had no time for philisophical musings.  Our time on the surface had been designed by Mission Control to be extremely limited-a mere two and a half hours outside the LM [Lunar Module]...We weren't trained to smell the roses or to utter life-changing aphorisms...That's why for years I have wanted NASA to fly a poet, a singer, or a journalist into space - someone who could capture the emotions of the experience and share them with the world.

Who's going?!  :)

Rocket, Man!

Cranky on Craigslist

Thanks to John W. for bringing this actual Craiglist post to our attention!

Free Concert at Guitar Center  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Date: 2009-04-12, 6:46PM EDT 

This is a special thanks to all of the guys that put on a free concert at guitar center everyday, we appreciate everything you do for our community. Like when I go in to actually purchase something, you come sit right next to me and play your "top shelf" ibanez through any solid state monster in the store, and show me how fast you can tap. Or like when I am asking someone a question and you stepped up to the plate and instead tell us all how incredible your band is. Another reason I am so impressed by you guys, is how you find time to come to guitar center every day when you're always out on the road touring. It's already pretty hard to sift through the wealth of knowledge available behind the counter, but when you add your countless years of experience in to the equation, there is no end.  Another way that you guys have changed my life is through my use of equipment. Over the years I've always thought that boutique pedals and custom tube configurations really contributed to my overall tone, yet you proved me wrong. Just from watching you play both measures you know from Free Bird, I learned that all I really need is a digitech floor board or a line 6 product to get the job done. Just hearing you guys really shred on your speed metal makes me wonder why people still listen to bands like The Beatles, Coldplay or U2.  Thanks again for all you've done for me personally, you've really taught me that everything I thought I knew must be wrong, I am forever in debt to you. Because of this, I am now looking for a new drummer. Currently my drummer plays with a metronome and is way to solid and tasteful, consider him gone! If you are one of those guys in the drum dept. that knows that fast double bass is so much more important than keeping time, you're the one for me. So what if you don't own a drum set and therefore never practice, who needs practice when you're a prodigy? Who care's if you came in 7th place at last years drum off, the judges were conspiring against you.  Last but not least, I am also holding auditions for a bass player. Currently my bass player plays through this stupid little ampeg 8x10 cab & head with a few vintage fender basses, and all he knows how to do is stay with the kick drum. Who cares that he's never made a mistake, or that he could write a book on music theory, what matters is that he can't slap. If there's one thing that can make any passionately slow song sound even better, that would be slap bass. So what if these pocket bass players like Adam Clayton are living in mansions and you're working at the mall, you know that slap bass is what's gonna bring in the big bucks. don't worry, you'll get your chance, the world won't know what hit'em.  thanks again! 

Cranky on Craigslist

"That's Just Wrong..."

Rented "Premonition", starring Sandra Bullock, last week.  I thought this "gag reel" special feature was SO hilarious! (She's a favorite actress of mine, especially since my wife has been told many times that she looks like Sandra - lucky guy, I am!)

"That's Just Wrong..."

On The Road w/John & Charley

A recent short book I thoroughly enjoyed, especially since I do so much travel (more so by bus than by plane), was: "Travels With Charley: In Search Of America" by John Steinbeck.  It reads like a autobiographical slice of his life in the early 60's - very cool.  He writes:

"The Mojave is a big desert and a frightening one.  It's as though nature tested a man for endurance and constancy to prove whether he was good enough to get to California."

Guess I've passed the test many times! How about you?

On The Road w/John & Charley