A Sucker's Blog

The Dead Weather

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:19:00 -0400

The First time I saw Jack White perform was with the Raconteurs. He played guitar like noone else I had ever seen and sang like Robert Plant from Led Zepplin. It was hard to watch anyone else on stage and at first I thought it was just because he was famous, but then I realized he was famous because of something else.

The second time I saw Jack White perform was last night with The Dead Weather. He played drums without flaw, the whole crowd grew into a collective bob as the night when on. When he got out from behind the kit to sing a duet with the sexiest lead singer i have seen in a while, I thought I was watching them make love. I didn’t include a picture in this blog because you have to see for yourself. The show was 64 minutes. Nobody left disappointed. In a sold out show at the 930 club when the band got quiet you could hear the bartenders throwing away empty bottles. Nobody in the crowd looked at each other. They couldn’t take their eyes away. I couldn’t take my eyes away. Jack White sets the standard for what performance should be. He just does. It was the kind of show that gets you out of bed early the next morning because you can’t sleep. It was that good. I have spent the better part of my life trying to get a seat at the table of great performers in the music business. Jack White is at the head of the table. I will shut up now.

RISE UP

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:58:00 -0400

As a follow up to my previous entry concerning the darkness and the light, and the spiritual context of both; I would like to entertain you with an ode to wedgies. Some people in my life tell me I am too serious so I look to the internet to share some thoughts about reflection, and spiritual understanding. But sometimes when your standing in the crowd after a good show and an all night drive, and a little bit of whiskey, a little bit of wedgy goes a long way. These guys happen to be standing right next to each other, although I don’t think they new each other. In order to adhere to my theme of spirituality on the road to somewhere, I decided to call this blog entry rise up.

Wedgy Number 1

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:30:58 -0400

Wedgy Number 1

Wedgy NUmber 2

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:14:00 -0400

Wedgy NUmber 2

Photo

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:05:59 -0400

In the universe, the light and the darkness are constants. If...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:52:01 -0400

In the universe, the light and the darkness are constants. If we are all human and we can’t outlive either one it is safe to say, that for our intents and purposes that they go on forever. The only difference is which one you can see. When you look at the sky you can see both the light and the darkness. So the matter of which one you can see is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is which one you perceive, which one your eyes are drawn to. We are headed back from a long trip. Driving from Denver Colorado to Albany New York. On this trip to Colorado and back I saw the light, and I saw the darkness. I know now that I can see both, and I know now that I have to search for the light. Even in the face of infinite darkness you can see light. When you look to the sky you can see this. I know I sound like a nut job, but this trip changed my life because it changed my perception of things. The light that surrounds the darkness in the sky during tornado season filled my heart up. And so I hope you perceive the light amidst the darkness. And I hope you choose the light

On Tour w/ Carbon Leaf

Sun, 31 May 2009 15:19:44 -0400

We made friends with the guys in Carbon Leaf back in February on the ROck Boat. When we found out we were going to tour with them we were so excited but the bottom line is you never really know what to expect. We have been blessed this year with the opportunity to tour with friends and as it turns out, this tour is no different. The guys in Carbon Leaf have showed us such respect on the road I have nothing but the utmost respect for them. They are dedicated to their show and they have had their shares of ups and downs in the business. They are humble about their abilities and their popularity. Every show we’ve played with them has been packed with hundreds of excited fans, and their music had stood the test of time. and every night on tour with them I learn something about how to do this whole thing a little bit better simply by watching them. We couldn’t ask for anything more out of a tour. Hope to see you somewhere on the road this trip.

Photo

Sun, 31 May 2009 15:11:23 -0400

Photo

Sun, 31 May 2009 15:04:12 -0400

Photo

Sun, 31 May 2009 15:01:04 -0400

Before

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:32:22 -0400

Before

We All Need a Place

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:28:00 -0400

I don’t know if any of you were fans of the HBO show “Six Feet Under,” but I will catch you up to make my point. A family that runs a funeral home suffered the loss of the their father and in dealing with the death, the oldest son came across a room his father rented; a room that noone seemed to know about. Upon visiting the room the oldest son sat there trying to imagine what it is his father would need such a place for. As his imagination ran wild with the scandalous possibilities it became apparent to him that “we all need a place.” A place that is uniquely our own and for no one else. A place where we can be ruled only by our thoughts and our imaginations and amused only by ourselves. I have recently created such a place, the ironic part is that it is not a secret place and I do not own it. But lately its as close as i can come and ever since i swept the last piece of floor i felt a little bit better about something. Maybe I had been without something long enough to realize what a necessity it was. A lot of times a songwriter’s place can be his or her own mind, but you can’t open your mind, or your heart for that matter in front of people all the time. You need a place to sort through the really personal stuff. Below is a picture of my new “place.” Here’s to glass cleaner and the cartharsis it can bring, and to the people who read this, and the hope that they too have a ”place” of their own.

After

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:16:25 -0400

After

“A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:22:00 -0400

“A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is visible labor and there is invisible labor.” - Victor Hugo

“Writing is manual labor of the mind: a job like laying pipe” -John Gregory Dunne

When I am home I am drawn to the merit and reward of physical labor. It is a much simpler equation then the music business. An honest days work for an honest days pay. I like the way the dirt on my hands makes the most of the cracks and crevaces that time has made there. I like the way beer tastes when your body is tired. I like the way people don’t get in your way when your clothes are dirty. Landscaping is quiet, honest work, and it makes me feel like writing. I see things clearer when my hands are busy and my legs are tired. If you are loosing your mind, try raking some leaves, it just might be what you need.

Photo

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:20:51 -0400

In 2003 I met this guy named Eric Donnelly and we started...

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:54:00 -0400

In 2003 I met this guy named Eric Donnelly and we started performing as Tim and Eric. Its been a long time since Eric and I had some shows together as the duo that would eventually become the Altnernate Routes. For a few days we didn’t argue about the set list, worry about what time to leave the hotel room, or what time dinner should be. The truth is we would have slept in the van. There is only one person that I know of who is willing to drive across this country with me, sleep in a van if need be, and pull it off come what may, any time, any where. Lucky for me he is also the finest guitar player I know. We had a great time in North Carolina, the driving there in the spring is second to none. If you know somebody like Eric in your life, don’t forget to tell em about it. The people who do the most for us, are often underappreciated. One idea that was born during my road trip with Eric was to do house concerts as a duo in places where we aren’t drawing enough people to fill a club. Stayed tuned for more details about this in the weeks ahead, and let us know if you are interested.

On and On We Whisper

Photo

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:39:14 -0400

We are headed east for the first time in a month. I spent five...

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:35:00 -0400

We are headed east for the first time in a month. I spent five weeks with a true friend named Matt Wertz. He is a Christian. We played shows together for hundreds of people and I was grateful to be there. I spoke with Matt a lot about women, and about God. It’s a funny combination, and we spoke about each topic separately. But if you can love one, you can love the other. And conversely, If you can’t love one, then maybe you can’t love the other. Can you love more then one woman. Can you believe in more then one God? I wrote a song driving home from the Wertz Tour. Thought I would share the lyrics. I’m not sure if its done yet, but its done enough to share. Here’s to a good friend, a real conversation, and grey area.

I’ve seen a river freezing I’ve seen a burning sky I’ve seen without believing I see it all the time

I wanna beat this cancer I wanna kill my fear I wanna see my Anger Until it disappears

I lose myself, I do sometimes Honey you know I do Honey I Honey I need you too

I wanna know what faith is I wanna stay in love I wanna know what God means By a woman’s touch

I had a dream in Kansas You gotta dream alone But you give me all your happiness And my direction home

I lose myself, I do sometimes Under this star lit-moon I need some things Honey I need you too

The Road: Stretches for the few who dare to dream her And she...

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:51:00 -0500

The Road: Stretches for the few who dare to dream her

And she rises when you least expect to see her

And the midnight makes you wonder where you are

When the strength you have is broke and breathing hard.

-Texas

Look at me, totally confused, trying to be a songwriter and...

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:37:00 -0500

Look at me, totally confused, trying to be a songwriter and soliciting my friend Trish to take photographs in the middle of Florida. The internet has never been my thing, but its time to jump in the pond. There’s a lot of plastic surgery in Florida, but they do a nice job. The woman who made my dinner told me that the road to success is never crowded when you go the extra mile. Here’s to getting there from here.
Photo by Trish Badger