Another crazy night in Asbury Park..

I played with the inimitable Geena at a Asbury Rock Star charity event at the Wonder Bar. It was enthusiastically and professionally hosted by Sheli Arden - yet another under discovered kick ass singer/songwriter calling AP the home base.. Another component of a living history here that is remarkable.. Over $600 was raised for a local SPCA thanks to the efforts of volunteer such as Mallory Massara the musicians involved including Geena, Tanya, Joe Harvard, George Wirth, Keith Monaccio, Greg Wilkens, Michael Scotto, we are (featuring Sheli's incredible daughter) and others..

Local sound legend Elmo from the Stone Pony was in attendance and we had a great debate over 80's rock trivia and discovered we were blood brothers from Sayreville with a gazzillion shared connections and background.

Was an incredible evening shared by all, reaffirming my faith in this local artistic community.. The world (in)famous Tinker was on hand too!

The only real bummer of the night was when a Madison Marquette executive refused to pay the $5 cover that went directly to charity and dismissed the door person with a arrogant hand waving gesture.. Really dude? You can't afford $5.00 to support a charity event in your own venue? You may have money, but perhaps you need to learn something about class and stewardship..

Anyway this local dumpster kittie is en route to Maine tomorrow.. Bought a sweet little house in Eastport and hope to end my daze in peace and thanksgiving for the incredible blessings I have under appreciated in my life.

Also bought a little sail boat yesterday and look forward to many Barnegat Bay adventures with my son Elijah in the near future..

Thanks to everybody who loves me enough to deal with me and my myriad imperfections. Especially Manuela..

Colie

This tune sounds like it was lifted form a late 70's serial drama from TV, but has an inspiring, driving, vibe that reminded me of my frined moira who is a triathelete. She uses it for training..

On Saturday at the Stone Pony, Colie Brice and the New Age Blues Experience won a 2008 Asbury Park Music Award in the Avant-Guarde category. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who voted for us. I'd also like to thank local experimental artists such as Mike Black and Jon Francis for inspiring me to explore and honor my artistic authenticity and of course all the incredible artists involved with AERIA Records who bravely follow their own muse.

The award was a particular honor considering that we were in contention with some incredible bands including Lunar Ensemble - a truly remarkable avant-guarde band comprised of John Lunar Richey (words) Doug Slugger Vizthum (guitar/mandolin) Tom DiEllo (stand-up/electric basses) Greg D (guitar/Q harp) and Chris McKenna (drums/piano).

I'd also like to thank John Pheiffer at the Aquarian for his support of "weird" music, and Scott Stamper at the Saint for providing a creative habitat for these sonic forays. I gotta thank my wife and kids for putting up with a rather eccentric middle aged man and my twin sister Collette and Brother in Law Aldo have earned eternal gratitude for providing an affordable rent which allows me to live near by and helps accomodate the very existence of an artistic life to begin with.

Most importantly I'd like to thank my usual line up of Andy Bova on drums, Matt Lott on sax, Kurt Thum on piano, and Jay Walker on bass. Alan Gowa is an essential reoccuring guest star in this project and we've also cross pollinated on stage with the mighty and fierce Tony Tedesco, Ben Feld, Dark Mark, Keith McCarty, Geena, Rick Barry, Capt. James Peacock, Meagan Brothers, Bootsy, Jamie and all kinds of other musical creatures..

Thanks as well to everyone I've been so fortunate enough to jam with over the past year or so - John Pheiffer, Gorgo, Dragster, Geena and the 45s, Agency, Turtle Soup, Jeremy Korpas, Mike Black, Jon Francis, Joe Harvard, David Spelman, Jimmy Capobianco, and so many others.

Why do I keep hearing these stupid arguments against intellectual elitism?


Humanity's capacity for intelligence and reason is the most important distinction between us and God's other creations.


Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, humans are supposed to think.


Is the dumbing down of our collective median level of intelligence really cultivating a superior society? A sustainable on?


The ring masters and ring leaders prey upon our ignorance and fear. Their divisiveness is the root of our societal dysfunction.


We are distracted and dulled by modern day bread and circuses - tabloid journalism, sensationalism in all forms, the cult of celebrity, etc..


In the mean time class warfare, environmental destruction, social injustice, genocide, a decaying infrastructure, declining public education, and all other manner of additional atrocities rage on..

It doesn't seem that our lower, primal nature is gonna save the world. Maybe we should give our intelligence and capacity for reason a chance..