March 2007 Trip to Tennessee

On March 2 - 4, 2007, Tut, Johnnie and I took a business/pleasure trip to Tennessee. For a musicologist, such as myself, it was a very heartwarming experience. On Friday, Tut and I left his house at 7:00 in the morning. We headed to Johnny's house to pick him up. He lives south of Valley Springs. Our itinerary was Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee.

"Memphis, home of the blues, birthplace of Rock & Roll." That is the city's slogan. Our first stop in Memphis was the Gibson factory. Gibson has 3 factories. One in Memphis, Tennessee; one in Nashville, Tennessee; and one in Montana. Seeing the Gibson plant was pretty interesting, seeing how the Les Pauls and ES-335s were made. They make everything at Gibson hand made. There are no production lines at Gibson. It helps keep the idea of quality made. 4 out of every 100 guitars do end up getting "axed" though, but that's not too bad. They destroy the ones that don't make it to Gibson standards because Gibson doesn't sell 2nd quality instruments.

After we left Gibson, we drove to 926 E. McLemore, off of McLemore and College. Does anyone know what stood here once in music history? A show of hands? Soulsville, USA once was here. Yes, folks. Stax Records. Stax Records was owned by Jim STewart and Estelle AXton. Have you figured out where the name STAX Records came from yet? It had to be torn down though back in the late 1990s, and when they rebuilt it, it became a museum. Within this 10 mile radius of the city lived several really well known musicians in the 1960s and they all recorded there. All of them being white and black proving that music knows no colors. Music knows no race. That really hit me hard! It really made me teary eyed. Another thing that touched me was the control room and studio part of the museum. Where the studio part of the museum is at is the same exact spot where the original studio stood. This is where Booker T. & the MGs (Memphis Group), Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Sam Cooke, among others have all recorded. Everything in the studio area was rebuilt to look exactly like the original, except for the "burn holes in the carpet." The control room area even had the original equipment used and even the original master tapes. They were saved after rioting broke out in 1968 when Martin Luther King was assassinated outside his hotel room at Lorraine Motel which is also in Memphis. It is now known as the Civil Rights Museum.

It is really very sad what happens to places because of what people can do. After Martin Luther King was killed, rioting broke out in every major city in America, including Memphis and the cities never really did recover. It really made black folks hate white folks, which made Stax fall under because at Stax white and black people got along together well, and that didn't happen anymore after King's assassination. And when Otis Redding was killed at the young age of 26, a year shy to be in the 27 club*, around the same time, the company just folded. Isaac Hayes and a few other soul kats tried to keep it going, but because of the assassination in 1968, Stax never really returned to its old ways. After a few years of struggling, the company folded. In 1974 the building got boarded up, and over the years it started getting run down. It had stayed that way for 30 years. In the late 1990s, the city of Memphis realized how historical the building was and tried to remodel and renovate it without much success so they tore it down and rebuilt it in the original location. If King wasn't shot, Stax would still be going strong today. All of America's ghettos probably wouldn't be as run down as they are now, also.

On Saturday, we went to Daniel Brom's repair shop in Fairview, Tennessee. Fairview happens to be a suburb of music city. Nashville, Tennessee. He is supposed to be the greatest guitar luthier ever. It was really awesome to see what he does with restoring guitars to get them to the original look. After spending 2 hours at his shop, we went to downtown Nashville where Gruhn Guitars is located. Gruhn Guitars is the most famous vintage guitar shop in the country, if not the world. It now sits where a place called Buckley Records once was. George Gruhn used to have his business 2 stores up before his business boomed in the early 1990s. Tut apparently has 30 or so guitars on consignment there, 10 or so on the lower level that everyone can see and 15 or so on the 2nd level. The 2nd level is where "special clientele" gets to go shop. Vince Gill was on the 2nd floor a couple months ago filming something for New Years on PBS. He picked up one of Tut's guitars and started playing it and said he really liked this guitar and that he was too poor so maybe Amy (his wife) can get it for him. After that film was shown on PBS, there was so much interest in that guitar that Tut thought it finally was going to sell, but it never did.

After we left Gruhn Guitars, we went to the Ryman Auditorium. That is where the Grand Ole Opry used to be back in the 1940s – 1960s before it moved to its present location at Opryland in 1974. The auditorium almost got demolished, but instead it got put on the national historic registry. I am glad for that! We got to stand on the actual stage and have our pictures taken. It was really such a tear jerker! I mean, Johnny Cash had once stood here on this very stage!

After leaving Ryman, Johnny and I were allowed to walk Broadway to see all the different clubs and stores. We passed about 7 different clubs, each one playing some kind of live music. There were even some street performers. I had Johnny tip one of them.

One of the clubs we passed was Tootsies. This club is pretty famous in its own right because during the days of the Grand Ole Opry, the players would hang out there and knock back some brewskis before heading across the alley to the stage door entrance of the Ryman. By the way, the Everly Brothers were discovered at the stage door entrance to the Ryman.

After we left Downtown Nashville, we drove to Opryland, USA. That is where the Grand Ole Opry is now. When we got there, they were obviously preparing for that night's Grand Ole Opry show. There were people moving stuff, and trucks all over by the stage area. While driving through, we noticed about 7 or 8 satellite dishes. My guess is those are so the show can be broadcast nationwide. We saw the Gibson factory there too, which was pretty cool. It is located in the Opryland Mall. The factory is also a Gibson store where you can buy Gibson merchandise like Guitars, Mandolins, and shirts, etc.

On Sunday, we woke up at 7:30 and had breakfast because we wanted to get on the road and head back home at a decent hour. We did have a long way home ahead of us.

We got on the road at 9:00, and were back in Memphis at noon. We saw Graceland first. For $30 you get the mansion tour, Elvis' car museum, costume museum, his airplanes, and a museum that showed how he had fun. To see it all really takes 4 or more hours, and it's very exhausting. They even have numerous gift shops to browse, an arcade and a couple of dining spots.

To the side of the mansion is where Elvis is buried. For years I thought he was buried behind the house, but it's actually on the right side of the house. His mother, grandmother and dad are buried right next to him. There is an eternal flame burning for him at his gravesite. It is such a real tear jerker. Makes you really shiver and really puts a lump in your throat. On the mansion tour they don't allow you to go on the 2nd floor of the house because that was his most sacred place, so when he passed away in 1977 and it became a museum, Lisa Marie made sure no one would go up in respect for her father.

On the walls outside of the gates to the house people have left their marking. The other museums at Graceland are short ones, but are still very interesting. The car museum shows every single car Elvis had owned. It included even his famous pink Cadillac that was his mother's favorite car. He even had a cool looking 1973 Ferrari Dino and a 1966 Rolls Royce.

After that we saw his planes. He owned 2; the Lisa Marie is his most famous one. It was originally a plane for the Delta Airlines but when he bought it in the early 1970s; he had it remodeled to suit his standards. There is a bed, dining table, etc. in it. Lisa Marie even celebrated her birthday one year on it with her dad. Since it was his favorite jet out of the 2, he named it after his only child "Lisa Marie." When the pilot would radio in to the control towers, he would say that "Hound Dog 1" was about to land. That was the Lisa Marie's code name.

The costume museum houses all his different costumes he wore on his shows. The after dark museum showed us how he basically liked to have fun. Apparently, Elvis was an insomniac only getting about 4-5 hours of sleep. This would explain his addiction to sleeping pills.

The whole Graceland experience really takes the energy out of you. Makes you really not want to do anything more. It makes you feel really "Elvis'd Out."

After we left Graceland, we drove to 706 Union Avenue. This is where Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis had the famous Million Dollar Quartet jam session and where the most famous picture in Rock & Roll history was taken, which was during the famous jam session. The very first rock song, Rocket 88, was recorded here in the late 1940s. After Sam Phillips quit running his studio there in the late 1950s, it closed down. It became a scuba shop for a few years. When it was a scuba shop, they had plywood on the walls, which was easy to take off so you can see the original tile. Everything at the studio is original down to the neon sign in the window that says "Memphis Recording Studio." The only thing not original is the "Sun" sign at the top of the building. And will stay that way for the rest of time because it is now on the national historic registry. It is the only recording studio still used today that is on the national historic registry. The entrance to the museum isn't through the original entrance to the studio though. It is the entrance to the place next door which was a diner in the days that Sun Records made history. When it was turned into a museum, you enter through the door where the diner was located. They even had the original recording equipment. They wanted everything to remain as it was 50 years ago! They even had the original microphone Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and Carl Perkins, etc. had to lay down their vocals thru. The piano that Jerry Lee played on "Great Balls of Fire" is also there. A real tear jerker!! Very historical!

After leaving there, we drove by the famous WDIA building where WDIA had its radio station. This is the radio station that played Elvis' cut of "That's All Right" for 3 hours. After he cut it, Sam Phillips took the record to his friend DJ Dewey Phillips (no relation). Giving Elvis his first 1, making him a star. It is still in operation today. It's a news/talk station on the AM dial. AM was all you can get back in those days. There was no FM or XM. After getting a couple pictures, and dealing with some idiot in a wheelchair fussing that a cop had to stop, we got onto I40, to head back home.

You know, this area of the country really is the perfect place for music history to happen, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. You got the Mississippi Delta in the south, which includes Clarksdale, Mississippi. There was a lot of culture down here where a lot of black folks, who were back in the late 1800s finally freed from slavery, were playing their music, and inventing the blues and even jazz in New Orleans. And than you got the people in the backwoods of Tennessee and Kentucky who invented their hillbilly music, better known as Bluegrass or country. People headed north for a better life. Ending up in Memphis or Nashville, or even as far as Chicago, where the famous Chess label once stood. All this happening right after the radio was invented. And with all the music, and culture happening in this 300 or so mile radius, people wanted to be heard and people wanted to get them heard. Radio and the recording industry were still in its infancy. There was no mistake or coincidence that music history happened here in this location of America. And because of what people done in the first half of the 1900s in this part of the country musically, people travel from all over to come to Nashville and Memphis for music history of all sorts and to hear music of all sorts.

It was really neat. We had an amazing trip, and it was very exciting. I wish I would've had more time because there is just so much to see. You really have to plan a week vacation to visit Memphis and Nashville. I also realized on this trip that I really need to start getting involved in keeping music history alive, and the music itself alive. Either by donating money to help renovate the historical buildings that were involved, or something of that sort. I have even thought about starting my own foundation that raises money to save and renovate such buildings, or pays money to save instruments that the numerous well known players have played, etc. This trip was very heartfelt, and it really touched my heart and soul, and now it's time to sit down and listen to some Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, BB King, Otis Redding, Booker T, and go to sleep.

		March 2007 Trip to Tennessee VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Mike Irvan Music Foundation

this is a music foundation I am hoping to get started. Read further for my foundation's mission statement. If you would like to help me out getting this foundation started or if you have some ideas on what to name this foundation please let me know.

OUR MISSION AND OUR GOAL:
Our goal is to bring music and music history awareness to everyone. We also raise money for music education programs and for those who want to attend music schools. We also raise money for music history trips. You tell us where you want to go that involves history of music and we map out your trip and will pay for your tickets. If you ever wanted to visit famous blues sites in Clarksdale, Mississippi, or even famous sites in Nashville and Memphis, but didn't know where to start we can help you plan your trip and book your tickets for the famous sites.

We also raise money for people to attend things like rock and roll fantasy camps (which occur every once in a while) and we will even supply you a couple tickets to your concert of choice, and if you have to travel to see that concert we will find you a good hotel so you can enjoy the music and not have to worry about driving. We would even fly you there if necessary.

We also raise money to save, repair and remodel any buildings that were involved in music history. If the building had to be tore down for any particular reason we would make sure that the land it was on got something in memory and honor of that building's history, or even get a museum put there, but we will do whatever it takes to save any building involved in music history. Those buildings don't need to be demolished, they are historical landmarks. We also make sure such buildings get placed on the national historic registry. We need to make sure that such buildings as the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, California; the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville; and Sun Records, among others, will never get demolished.

And of course, our main goal is to bring music history and awareness to the younger generations so that very talented musicians, songwriters, and producers can never be forgotten. If it's related to music or saving music this foundation will cover it.

Time To Start A Revolution!

In the 1700s our forefathers were sick of British rule and British taxes and so began the Revolutionary War which we would go on to win. Than in the 1960s you had kids who didn't agree with the war in Vietnam and you had blacks who were sick and tired of not having rights and being treated like dirt in their own country. Everybody just felt like the government, and authority (let alone anyone over the age of 30!) were to be trusted. They wanted to make a change, and they did. A lot of people I've heard say that they didn't make any change, but think about it: in 1964 the civil rights act was passed due to the civil rights movement, and even though it took a lot of time and protests, in 1973? (I am not sure exactly which year) the Vietnam War ended, making it the longest running war in American history. We also won our Revolutionary War in 1776, making us a country that's free from British rule. If that's not making a change, than I don't know what is.

Where are these kinds of people at these days? As much as people complain about how the world is, they are never willing to do what it takes to change things. They feel as if they can't make a difference, but the thing is, if they can't make a difference and nothing is going to change than how come the incidents of the 1700s and 1960s prove differently? Those two eras have proven that if you get a good amount of people together who agree on something, you can make a difference. You can make a change. Everybody these days however are too afraid. And if they aren't afraid, they are selfish people who only care about themselves, and not everyone else. They are afraid they may lose their jobs, or even go to jail. They would much rather keep their mouths shut instead of sticking it to the man, but I say, "Who cares?" who gives a shit what the man is going to do? Yes, agreed I keep my mouth shut too but if I don't have enough people to back me up that's what I'll get myself, jail time or fired, but we have got to do something, folks. Our country depends on it, and we need to do something now.

Folks, I am 28 years old and I am sick and I am tired. For starters, I'm sick of paying taxes. Why are we paying taxes for to begin with when our country was founded on anti British taxes? Why are we paying taxes all year round from our paychecks and yet pay again at the end of every year in April? Last year I had to fork out $600 in April on taxes. $600 I DID NOT have! I claim 0 on my W4, and haven't had to pay since I've claimed 0 until last year – when I started working 2 jobs to make ends meet! If it weren't for the stupid taxes, I'd actually have enough money from just 1 job! Everything is taxed, and if you can't pay your taxes in April you're charged a penalty fee. If I can afford $600 to pay my taxes in April, I'd have my credit cards paid off and enough money in the bank for a rainy day! I understand that some taxes go to a good cause, but here is what I feel should be done instead to get that money: first of all, taxes coming out of our paychecks could be left as is, but whatever is paid to the government from our checks is all they'll get from our checks. No more "tax time" in April. No more worrying about how much you're going to owe in taxes in April, because it's paid for through your paychecks they get enough from us throughout the year, they don't need more. Second, every working American should pay $100 a year to the government. Think about how many Americans work in this country. If every one of us just paid the government $100 a year, they would have the money needed to pay for whatever taxes pay for, and this would erase the need to figure out how to pay $600 - $1000 each year in taxes when you don't have it. I can figure up $100 easily without screwing my bank account status over, I can't figure up $600. I never have that much in the bank. As it is, Americans go deeper and deeper in debt because of credit. We buy everything on credit anymore because we never can buy it with money. Why not? Because we never have money because of taxes, therefore we go deep into debt – when you get something paid off, you have something else you owe money on! I won't have enough money in my bank account because of bills (and taxes) that if I need to buy food I have to put it on a credit card – in order to not starve to death because I'm not lucky enough to get food stamps. The government "thinks" I make too much, yet alcoholics and drug addicts will get enough food stamps for a month! I have seen people in the check out lane who pay for $50 - $100 in food stamps, and than go on to buy $100 worth of liquor, yet somebody like me who has to work 2 jobs to survive, and pays their taxes can't get the food stamps (yet part of those taxes that I pay goes towards food stamps).

Another thing is gas prices. If it's not taxes making you broke its gas prices, and when you got the two combined you have no other choice to pay for things but with credit because all the money you have will either go to taxes at the end of the year or into the gas tank. It costs about $40 to fill up a 15 gallon gas tank, these days – yet wages aren't going up (but I heard if you are only paid minimum wage your wage went up, but the rest of us haven't seen that raise) and prices of things aren't going down.

Another thing I'm getting sick of seeing, its stupidity and ignorance. Folks, if you are in the store and you're looking to check out – look up at the register signs. If the light is on, they're open; if it's turned off they're closed. If they have the closed sign out, they're closed, and if they have something blocking their register they're closed. Don't waste that cashier's time or yours by asking them if they're open or not. If you would just open your eyes once in a while you can figure it out yourself. Just because that cashier is standing at the register still and his light is off doesn't mean he's open. If his light is off and he doesn't motion you to come over to his lane, he's closed, get over it!

When you're in a parking lot looking for a parking space, look before you turn otherwise you might run into somebody. I can't tell you the number of times I almost got run into and the carts I was pushing almost ran into some idiot's car because they didn't look at all before they turned.

Another thing I'm sick and tired of hearing is stupid ignorant questions. If you're just trying to make small talk that's fine – but make legitimate small talk. Don't ask a person if they have a dog if they're buying dog food. That's a little too obvious; instead ask them about their dog. And don't ask a person if they like bologna or salami sandwiches if they're buying it. Why the hell else are they buying it? And if you go to a colder climate (and its winter time) don't complain or comment about how cold it is! Duh, it's to be expected. Now, if it got colder out that's fine to mention. Or if it started snowing, or raining that's ok too, it's called a weather update. But don't ever act like you weren't expecting it because it's to be expected and if you're traveling don't say something like "wow, it snows here" or "I didn't know there were ice storms here". It's a rule of thumb that when you're traveling CHECK THE WEATHER before you go.

And over the holidays, mainly Christmas, don't expect to find stores open late on Christmas Eve or expect to find any stores open at all on Christmas. Christmas is the only day where 95% of your businesses are closed, get over it. It's always been this way and always will be this way, don't act like that you never knew this. I can go on and on.

I'm also sick and tired of corporation America (mainly the stores). I worked for Wal-Mart for four years. I used to like Wal-Mart until I worked for them. They have an open door policy there where, as they claim, if you have any problems you can talk to their manager and they'll help you. What it translates into is, "there's the door. If you don't like it, you can leave." – However if you treat them like they're your best friend they'll do whatever it takes to help you out. I'll give you an example (and this is what led to my termination from crap-mart) I was outside pushing carts for a little over a year, it got to a point where I was getting burnt out and they got me so mad that a customer asked me how I was doing (and I'm not one to lie to people) and I told that customer how I felt. The co-manager got wind of this, and told me instead of putting me elsewhere he was going to put me on carts for another 6 months in hopes that my attitude would change. I told him how I felt, but he didn't care. What kind of tactic is this? Obviously an employee is getting tired, put him elsewhere. That is what I would've done. But no changes were done and it just got worse, over the next month 2 more customers asked me how I was, and again (twice more) – not being a liar (which I have never been) – I told them how I felt, and next thing I knew "there was the door". Some open door policy. Yeh, maybe I should've kept my mouth shut but when he heard that I was getting burnt out, he should've put me in a different position in the store. He should've worked with me instead of acting like a jack-ass over the situation so my termination could've been prevented if he would've worked with me like he would have with the 'butt kissers'.

Another thing I'm getting sick of seeing is corporation America treating holidays, especially Christmas, like a gimmick to make more money. Christmas is not about making money; it's about giving and mainly the birth of Christ. We should all spend one year and skip Christmas and see how the corporations feel than. I am sick and tired of seeing these kids in the store at Christmas time (let alone any other time in the year) with attitudes of "I want, I want, I want, gimme, gimme, gimme" – this is what Christmas seems to mean to people anymore. It's not about buying things and getting things. It's about bonding, family values, the birth of Christ, togetherness, being with loved ones. It's not about buying things and getting things at all. Giving a needy person or family a hot meal and warm clothes, maybe. Christmas has always been about giving to those who are less fortunate, which is a good thing. Help those people out, and raise your kids to have the same values to want to help them out, but don't ever raise them to have that "I want, gimme" attitude.

And lastly, I'm sick and tired of rude, bossy, and inconsiderate people. I understand your boss, supervisor, manager, whatever you want to call them is going to tell you to do things, but they better be nice about it and know how to say please and thank you. I've worked for people who look at me like I'm stupid or ignorant just because I didn't do a project for them right away (or at all) – chances are I might have not heard them for one thing, or was working on another project and not going to drop one thing just to start on another. There's a manager at the store who is a very fast talker and is very rude. He reminds me of a car salesmen, and he apparently asked me the other day (over the PA) to sack for someone on register 4. I mainly didn't hear this, and when I looked around at register 4 I saw only 10 items on that register. When that manager walked by me he gave me this look, and had a bad attitude when he said to me, "do you not sack for people when you're cashiering?" and my answer to him was that I come off my register to sack when there is 20 items or more to sack, because on 10 items the cashier usually can sack it." – Usually if there's 10 items, it's pointless to sack for that person because it's already sacked by the time I get there. And on another day, there were only 8 carts outside, that same manager said "go push carts". There was no "please" – it was an order. Who does this guy think he is? Where does he think he is? He reminds me of a drill sergeant at a military boot camp. I never joined the military because of that kind of attitude. I'm also sick of people who aren't managers at all, but are naturally bossy (and these people usually fall into the same category of stupid people too). I've had co-workers that are so bossy that I never would even say hi to them, and they also just had a really bad attitude.

I am sick and tired of those people who tell me I have a bad attitude, but I really don't. It's like I tell everyone else, "you give me lip I give lip right back. But you give me kindness I'll give you kindness right back." Just because I ignore you doesn't mean I have an attitude. I usually ignore people I can't stand. However, the rest of this world hasn't figured that out. I can't tell you the number of times I'll be talking to someone, and they'll tell me how they can't stand a certain person at all and next thing you know they're having a conversation with that person. Why talk to somebody if you obviously don't like them? For starters, that can fool that person into thinking you do like them when you don't, and if you talk to somebody you don't like they may annoy you by something they say or vice versa, and start some argument or fight. This problem can be solved by not talking to them. Unfortunately, if you're a manager this is different. There is an exception to this rule, but why do you think I'm not a manager nor do I want to be one?

In closing, I am just fed up with how people are in this world these days and would like to make a change. We can do it. We can make that difference. Quoting Back to the Future, "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." America, we are a free people and we should fight for our rights! We might not be able to end ignorance, and bossiness, but we can at least shrink that problem by thinking before we act. And as far as taxes and gas prices go we can definitely change that through protests. If we can somehow get enough people for 1 week to say 'no" to the gas stations by not getting gas, that might say something. Too many people are afraid though. There have been "no gas" days before where people were supposed to say "no" to gas, but there weren't enough people involved. Why not? Because people don't care anymore. We live in a time where it's every man for himself. People with I can't lose my job attitudes, but if you get enough people involved what do you have to lose? The man can try, but if he's overpowered he's going to lose. We can do it, America. We can end this madness that we are suffering through the power of protest. It's time once again, America.  Time to make a change. Time to start a revolution!

Tran-Siberian Orchestra Play In Little Rock on December 29, 2007

My mom and I went to see the Tran-Siberian Orchestra in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I never even heard of them until she told me about them last year, but they apparently have been around since 1996.  I really enjoyed the show and I definitely love what they are doing with music.  What they are is this huge group (I believe of about 10 musicians), and some of them are classically trained and some were rock musicians.  What they are doing is bringing classical music to the rock fans.  They are definitely a group I feel will be around for a long time and if they ever come to your town their show is definitely worth going to!  Laser lights and everything!  I give them 5 stars out of 5 stars.

LIVIN’ IN THE CITY

 

(VERSE:)
I live in a small rural town where everything closes down
Nothing ever goes on around.
So I close my eyes and all I can think about
Is my past big city life!

(CHORUS:)
Livin’ in the city, life can be so pretty
In the city, that’s where I come from

(VERSE:)
Concrete all around
Night life all abound
There is always something to do, there is always something new
Where traffic jams are nothing new
But you can always get through if you knew what to do

(CHORUS)

(VERSE:)
City limits – never ending.
Something to do everywhere you turn to
30 miles – another suburb
look here, look there – another mall
downtown buildings can be so tall

(CHORUS)

(VERSE:)
In the sky – aircraft all around
Sometimes you can get lost and never be found
At night you see the neon lights
And when you’re cruisin’ you run into the traffic lights

(CHORUS)

“LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN” CD review

It took them 20 some odd years and a few live gigs since they got back together in 1994, but The Eagles have officially came back on October 30, 2007. That date marks a date in Eagles history because even though they have been back together since the Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994, they haven’t really put out many new studio tracks – just a few here and there. “Hell Freezes Over” had 4 new tracks and the rest were live tracks of their best songs. There double CD they put out back in 2002 titled “The Very Best of The Eagles” had “Hole In The World.” We were beginning to wonder if they were going to put out a new studio disc. After waiting for 13 years (how long they been back together) they finally recorded a new studio disc. 2 discs – 11 on disc 1, 9 on disc 2. This time however, the album is exclusively sold at wal-mart or on their website.

Both CDs have the full eagles sound on it. The first disc starts out with “No More Walks In The Wood” – it’s an a-capella song that kind of reminds me “seven bridges road.” Than comes a countrified-rock “how long” sung by Glenn Frey. Obviously a hit. “busy being fabulous” – sung by Don Henley. Another great track. Above all, I think my most favorite track so far is the next track. “What Do I Do With My Heart” sung by the great Glenn Frey. It’s a slow love song. The next track is sung by who I’d like to call the comedian of the crime “Guilty Of The Crime” by Joe Walsh. Then Glenn Frey sings the mellow rocker “I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore.” Don Henley than sings the mellow “Waiting In The Weeds.” “No More Cloudy Days” sung by Glenn Frey was previewed on their Farewell 1 tour. It’s another really awesome track which is single material. “Fast Company” is a rocky song sung by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. “Do Something” is a very mellow hit sung by Glenn Frey. The last track on the first disc is “You Are Not Alone” – another mellow track by Glenn Frey.

It seems like Disc 2 is more or less about anti-terrorism and the war in Iraq and it opens with the title track. Despite the fact it’s about 10 minutes long, “Long Road Out Of Eden” is a great mellow song sung by Don Henley. “I Dreamed There Was No War” is a 1 and a half minute instrumental by Glenn Frey, he than goes on to sing the rocker “Somebody.” Don Henley than sings the rocky “Frail Grasp On The Big Picture” – which seems to be about the media. Joe Walsh than goes on to sing “Last Good Time In Town”. Glenn Frey than sings the mellow “I Love To Watch A Woman Dance.” Don Henley than sings the rocky number “Business As Usual” and the mellow “Center of The Universe” with Glenn Frey. Glenn Frey than sings the closing track – the mellow “It’s Your World Now.”

Overall, “Long Road Out of Eden” is an awesome album. Even though you can tell there changes in styles in the songs since their albums of the 1970s – you still can hear the Eagles distinctive sound. That’s one thing that will never change. If you love The Eagles go out and buy this CD. You won’t be disappointed.

Spring 2007 Performance At The Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Arkansas

 

For those of you who weren’t at the Lyric Theater in Harrison, Arkansas you missed such a great show! I was with one of the acts, so of course I didn’t have to pay the $10 fee to get in. It started at 8:00pm and lasted until 10:00pm. It had this little 4 year old girl sing a country song - which was really cute. (http://www.thelyricharrison.com).

The Kingtut Blues Band (which I am happy and proud to say that I am very involved a lot with. My best friend is the leader of the group. I try to help the band out a lot when I’m needed because I’m younger, and they need some help loading/unloading equipment. – I am one of the few people who is proud to call themselves a roadie. I just love music, so I wouldn’t care if I’m just a rodie). The band sounds much better than it had a few years ago. Now because of new personnel with the band, they play quite a few originals, also. Griz Adams (who plays keys, harp and sax for the band) sings "Start Singin' The Blues" which he wrote, which is a very good blues song. Bill Lusk (on rhythm guitar) sings "Too Much Time." A song he wrote a few years back. Both are very good numbers in there own right. Tut and I both agree each is a great asset to the band. After there set, the band than played for “Elvis”! Cody Slaughter is a 15 year old kid who is an awesome Elvis Impersonator. I swear, he must eat sleep and dream Elvis! He was that good! There is a performance on May 12th with this Elvis Impersonator at the Lyric Theater on May 12th. If you are in the area, you should see him. The Kingtut Blues Band will be backing him too, so if you go you are most definitely in for a real treat!!! After that, there was a great accordion player. And that was all before the intermission! Just wait, it gets even better - and Tut even joined us in the audience to watch the rest of the show too! (http://www.kingtutbluesband.com).

After the intermission, the host of the show (who is from the country station KHOZ) came back on stage and was looking for guys without much hair. Tut was busy talking to someone so he didn't really know what was going on. I motioned him to get up there and he just gives me this look and asks me why. I just told him to get up there. When he got up there, he figured out why he was going up there soon enough. That was when he put his cap back on. The host from KHOZ yelled at him for that, making him take it off.

They were looking for the guy with the least amount of hair, so I had our group clap harder when they came up to Tut. They voted for a 3rd place winner, 2nd place winner, and a 1st place winner. The 3rd and 2nd place winners won tickets to a Branson show and the 1st place winner won 2 tickets to see the Titanic Museum in Branson. Tut didn't win anything though.

And then there was a 16 year old dancer who did a couple routines (a country song I can't remember and than "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas). She was such a great dancer (and runs her own dance studio in Harrison by the way). Her name was Dalia Garrison and her dance troupe is called "High Voltage." They'll be on the TV show "America's Got Talent" sometime soon, so be on the look-out for her on national TV. Very awesome dancing routine she has, which she choreographed herself!

After that, they brought out Taylor Reed to do some magic (yes, the Taylor Reed that performs in Branson). He is a really awesome magician and he has really great stage presence. I have never had the honor to see his show yet, but after what I saw tonight, it's definitely on my list of definite must see Branson shows. I did have the honor to shake his hand though, and tell him how great he was - so I guess you could say I got to meet him. He was loading up his "supplies" after the show tonight when I was helping Tut load up his gear, and I joked with him for a second by saying, "Now don't be sawing any more people in half, that'll cause a major lawsuit," and he thought it was funny. (http://www.taylorreed.com).

The next act was a great one in their own right. It was the "From Patsy To Present" show in Branson. They did 4 songs to give you a great idea on what their show is like. I was kind of skeptical about them at first because I'm not much of a Patsy Cline fan, but after seeing there performance tonight, it is also on my list of must see shows in Branson. They are a family of 3, with the mother (who I guess also runs there show) being the Patsy Cline singer, and she sounds just like her too. And I think, by far, the most amazing part of the whole show tonight (that possibly even stole the show) was there son's drumming. He is now 15 years old, he first picked up the sticks at the age of 11. Everybody in the house even gave him a standing ovation. It is no wonder on there website they call him a teen drumming sensation. I'd like to call him a Drummer Extrodanaire, myself! One of the greatest drummers I have ever heard in my 27 years on this rock!!! Such a musical prodigy. You definitely can tell with his playing skills that he is gonna go far in the business. When it was over, I got a chance to meet the young lad and shake his hand and talk to him for a second. I wished him the best of luck in his future. Remember his name, because he could be performing near you someday. Josh Roberts. (http://www.patsyinbranson.net).

Be on the lookout for all these guys I saw tonight. They were all absolutely amazing, and extremely talented, and very inspirational. It just makes me want to pick up my axe and my harp, and never give up on the dream. I can only play one song well. And I don't even have the guts to show people the original stuff I have written. Someday maybe. If ever I get rid of the stage fright. I'd be happy to go on stage to do just one or 2 songs. Or maybe record a couple songs on CD and try to sell the CD instead. I love music, and I like to play when I do - even if it is "in the closet.” When you get a chance come see them perform where-ever it is they may be performing at.

Overall, it was a very awesome show, and it was too bad I couldn't shoot good pictures in there or good video. The lighting was really bad for my camera. I kept some that I took that were ok, but they could've been better. If you want a copy of the 2 videos I shot, let me know. but I'm warning you, they aren’t pretty.

On another note, I have been writing since I was 13. I started out writing short scripts (plays) and short stories, but than at around the same age I also started getting into writing poetry. Around 1995 (when I started getting into music, and playing guitar) I started trying to write my own songs, but none of them turned out any good. I have a folder I keep that has stuff I have written over the last 12 years in it, and of all the 12 years I have been writing the best stuff is now just starting to come out. Also in recent years, I have started writing articles for my own purposes, starting with my high school newspaper from 1997-1999.

I was 8 or so when I got my first guitar, but didn't have much of an interest in it. It wasn't until 1993 when I started getting an interest in people like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, etc, but it wasn't until I saw the Beatles Anthology special on ABC in 1995 when I sealed my fate as to what I really wanted to do in life. Play music. But than sometimes your dreams do fade away because you realize you're not as talented as other people are, but you can at least get close to the action by being a roadie. And who knows, I might actually be up there someday. I'm still young. I got a lot of years ahead of me still!

I guess you could say I'm an artist in my own right. I like to create things, and putting things creative together. I'm just not very well known for my craft because I don't try to sell myself, for obvious reasons. I would actually like to give my website a complete overhaul (perhaps all my websites). I started the Kingtut Blues Band site, and I really like what the new guy Tut hired has done to the band's website. I had to give up working on the band's website because my computer crashed and I still haven't had it fixed, so after a month he needed to find someone else to work on it. I just met the guy today who works on it now, and he's a really nice fellow and maybe perhaps sometime he and I can collaborate on ideas and designs for the website or something. I don't know. I didn't get a chance to talk to him much so I wasn't able to discuss business with him, but I would have liked to. When I do get my computer fixed (hopefully within the next year) I plan on giving my site a complete overhaul, and this time adding a blog so I can put articles like this one on the site. I have wanted to put a blog on my site for quite some time, but I don't always have much to say so I never did. Most days would be left empty, so the blog would've than been hardly updated. If you would like to check out my site and bookmark it so you can see when it is updated, I'm at http://www.mikeirvan.com. Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. If you would like to contact me to chat or something, you can E-Mail me at mikeirvan@suddenlink.net. Oh, and stay tuned for my Chuck Berry performance article on Friday.

WHAT DID I DO?

 

FEELIN’ ALL ALONE IN THIS WORLD.
I REALLY DON’T KNOW VERY MANY GIRLS.

FEELIN’ SO DEPRESSED.
BUT IT’S NOTHING I CAN’T REGRET.

I LIVE MY LIFE AS A LONER
BECAUSE NO ONE  HARDLY MAKES AN EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW ME.

MY DAD ALWAYS TELLS ME LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
IT’S KIND OF HARD WITH NO ONE AROUND!
MY DAD JUST DON’T KNOW HALF OF IT.
HE NEVER WILL.

MY PAST SCREWED ME FOR LIFE.
AND MY LIFE SCREWED ME TO THIS DAY.
IT SEEM LIKE HARDLY ANYONE WANNA BE COOL WITH ME.
I FEEL LIKE I’M PAYIN’ THE PRICE FOR SUMTHIN’ I DID WRONG.

WHAT DID I DO?
AIN’T GOT A CLUE.

WHAT DID I DO TO MAKE PEOPLE HATE ON ME SO MUCH?
AIN’T GOT A CLUE.

THEY SEE ME AND JUST WALK ON BY!
WHAT DID I DO?

I GOT A GIRL

 

I got a girl
so I need to start to talk
I got a girl
that I would call,
but the first time I did
her father scared me off
I love a girl
her name is   
she's my
and I'm the worst 'cause I'm too shy
when I'm behind her I don't wrap my arms around her
and I want to.
When I'm next to her I don't put my hand
to where she can hold it, unless she wants to
even though I want to try.
I don't instigate kisses
because I never know if she wants to kiss me then!
I never instigate conversation with her
because people say I talk about stupid things!
I love her!
I think I should become a better lover!

LONER’S WORLD

 

Always miserable
Always depressed
Always anti-social
Everyone makes you miserable

They say things that are interpreted to be mean

Rather be alone
Don’t like nobody hardly
Been this way my whole life

Valentine’s day one day I can’t stand
Feel like I never amount to anything

Last Weeks of School

Three years at this school!
I spent three years at this school!
I feel such a fool!
But at least not everybody treats me cruel!
They are so cool, they rule!
They boosted up my personality a little,
But I still am in the middle!
I guess that's ok,
I know where I'll be
Spending my days.
I'm glad I'll be getting paid.
Did I make the grade?
Four more weeks
And then, do I earn my keep?
I'll be able to get lots of sleep,
I feel free!!
Assholes, let me be.
I need a date,
So girls, I'm the bait!

I KNOW A GIRL

 

I know a girl in my life,
her name is          .
She actually likes me,
I heard the birds and the bees.
She had to go
and I love her so.
We had to go.
At first I had fear
but I can't wait till next year!
She's the girl in my dreams
and the first one to like me.
I love her so!
I just got hit with Cupid's bow.
I'll find out where she lives,
and then I can't wait till Valentine's Day
so I can say, "She's my babe."
      can make me soar
up in the sky.
I love her so.

I HATE SCHOOL (HOW UNFAIR)

 

I hate school!
It treats me so cruel!
No one likes me there!
It's so unfair!
I hate school!
They make me feel like a fool,
How cruel!
I hate school!
Couped up in a rat house!
I hate school!
They're the true fools!
I did nothing wrong!
How unfair!
I feel so bare!
I used to feel so grand,
But now I don't want to see the school land!
They make me look like a trouble maker!
What a bunch of fakers,
Turn on your thinkers!
I feel like I'm in prison!
I wouldn't be surprised if they find me missin',
The way I feel, I'd rather be ditchin'
'Cause they don't listen!
Oh, I hate school!

WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

Why is it that people just feel they have to be so hateful because they can’t stand somebody? I don’t get it. I’ve always tried to be nice to everyone, but others don’t try. Some people will just look at what other people do and because they wouldn’t do such a thing they’d hate them for it.

My wife and I have been together since March of 2004. A month or so after we started dating, My mom and her mom first met. Well, I was actually hoping my mom and my wife’s mom could be friends. But for some reason, a month or so later my mom decided she didn’t like my wife’s mother. No one really knows why but it is just upsetting everybody. Because of it my mom has told me to choose between my wife or my parents! So if I choose my wife (whom I love very much) my mom doesn’t really want to have anything to do with me. She claims she doesn’t want anything to do with my mother-in-law because she “knows her kind” – stating that her mom was that way! My wife was never bounced around in foster care, and even though my mother-in-law partied a lot in her younger days my wife and her siblings always had food on the table, and they were always cared for by her mom. I also don’t really think my wife was ever ripped off by her mom. My mom, however, growing up was bounced around in foster care, and her mom partied a lot and ripped her kids off.

My mother-in-law may not be the smartest person in the world, and she’ll be the first one to admit that she has done some dumb things in her life but she’s only human! No one is perfect. She may have got a credit card for my wife last year without my wife’s permission, which is actually illegal, but it was gotten for good intentions. When my mom caught wind of it all hell breaks loose and my mom says that is wrong! A month ago somebody tried to get a cell phone and a walmart credit card in my dad’s name. My parents immediately point the finger at my mother-in-law all because they can’t stand her and a phone book shows up at our house with my dad’s name on it. How can my mother-in-law get anything in my dad’s name when we don’t have any of my dad’s information over here, and what info we do have we weren’t even aware of until he told us after his info was stolen. His social security number is on my savings bonds. Those are in my wife’s lock box. That lock box you can’t break into, and there’s only one key to it and my wife has it. That lock box was lost under everything in a closet since we moved in back in august. My mother-in-law has carpal tunnel, bone diseases, is going blind, among other things, and she’s also computer illiterate. Do you think that she could actually find my wife’s lock box in the closet, jar it open for those savings bonds (not even knowing they were in there and had my dad’s social # on it?) and placed it back in the closet and not leave any marks on the box that showed it was tampered with? It is logically and physically impossible. In the words of my father-in-law, “Wow, she’s good!” When my wife told my mom all this she started accusing my wife, her mom (still), and her step-dad, and a friend of her mom’s! A friend of her’s that has never stepped foot in our house! Even though I didn’t do it, for all my mom knows I could’ve stolen my dad’s information, but she didn’t even try accusing me. Just people my wife knew.

We don’t know who did it. All that we do know is that my mother-in-law, nor my wife or anyone else accused didn’t do it. But my mom has no intentions on apologizing for the accusations until she finds out the truth. But she’ll never hear the truth from us because she is so stuck up in her ways. Once she believes in something you can’t talk her out of it. My mom has cost my wife her job so now my wife is looking for a new one, but it is hard finding jobs in small towns where you can make decent money that can pay the bills. And even though my mother-in-law has helped us out also my parents are trying to manipulate me to believe that my mother-in-law did nothing for us and my parents are the only ones who have. You can’t manipulate me when I know differently. My mother-in-law helped get us groceries, get our heat turned on, she even gave me a ride to work sometimes. My parents may have done more by getting a car for us, washer/dryer for us, helping us with deposit and 1^st month’s rent for our first apartment, and helping us move. Both my parents and my in-laws have done an equal amount of helping my wife and I out when we need it.

So why can’t my parents just get along with my mother-in-law? She isn’t all that bad of a person. I may not like the idea of her staying with us at the moment but it is only temporary. Until her and her husband find a place. In the meantime she is here to help us pay the bills, and so my wife can take of her. So my mom should just quit her whining and bitching and accusations for my wife’s and mine sake!

TAKE US OUT OF THAT SILLY WAR

 

Mr. President, why don’t you listen to me
All it’ll cost you is for free
I wish you could see what the American public sees.
Mr. President, why can’t you please take us out of that silly war.

MESSAGE TO MY PARENTS

 

Hey, dad look at me,
I know you’ll never see, I’ll never be who you want me to be
I’ll never be what you want me to be, but I’m happy
Well, at least I try to be

I can’t be perfect, can’t nobody can
I wish you could be proud of me, man
But I still love you, dad.

I love you, but I wanna be free
Free from the fussing and fighting at me
Please let me be free
I can’t take it.  I wanna be free.

Your Love - lyrics

This is a song I wrote when I was with my ex-wife. Enjoy.

 

YOUR LOVE

Your love is for free
Your love is all I believe
Your love is all I wanna see
Your love is all I wanna be
Your love comes for cheap
My Dane’le, you are special to me

Your love, your love
Your love, your love
Your love, your love
Your love, your love

By land, or by sea
Always together we will be
Your love makes me feel free
As the wind blows, I feel a good breeze
Everyone else can just let me be
Cause your love is all I need

Your love, your love
Your love, your love
Your love, your love
Your love, your love

THE POOR MAN’S POVERTY BLUES

 

Gas prices going up,
It gets me so fed up!
This war in Iraq,
What’s up with that?
Mr. President, listen to the poor man
Because we are not your fans!

You are so insane,
You can’t even hear our pain!
You are so lame,
You can’t even feel our pain!

The war on terror I agree with,
But I’m pissed!
What does Iraq got to do with it?
It’s not our war, just like ‘Nam!
Mr. President, you are such a con!

I work, but all my money goes to a big fat jerk!
Every day I just keep getting poorer and poorer!
My wife and I?
We sufferin’ financially!
Why won’t you hear our plea?
We are living in Poor Man’s Poverty!

I AM A PREP

I am a prep
I am a threat to this world
I am a prep
It’s all about my ego
I am a prep

I like to make fun of others for how they are
I am a prep
I only care about myself
I am a prep
I’m very selfish
I am a prep

I am big, and think I’m all dat
I am a prep
I tell others that they’re slow when they may be faster than I
I am a prep
I hate others that aren’t like me
I am a prep

Why am I like this?
I am a prep
Why do I always feel like I should diss?
I am a prep
Why am I so mean?
I am a prep
Why are there some people out to get me?
I am a prep
Maybe it’s because I’m so mean
I am a prep

SNOWFALL

 

I see the snow fall from the sky,
I see it fall for you and I!
It is making piles and piles
for miles and miles!
I see the snow fall on the ground.
I pick it up and throw it all around!
The sidewalk is so icy
and so it's ficety!
I see the snow fall from the sky
that is really really high!
There are so many snowflakes
that I can make 10 million cakes,
but I can't bake, so I'll just eat each
snowflake as they fall!
I see the snow fall from the sky!
Now I don't see the snowfall,
It's just slick ice!
I wouldn't drive
'cause it's so bad,
so it makes me mad!
I see the snow fall from the sky!

The Slum Lords of Harrison

(Note: when my ex and I first lived together, we rented a house with her mom from probably the worst landlords in Harrison, Arkansas.  For liability purposes I won’t disclose who the landlords were - but those who lived in there rental properties probably know who they are.  Lot of people who lived in Harrison will probably agree that they are the slum lords of Harrison, Arkansas.)

 

(Come one, come all!  Cheap housing at expensive pricing!!)
(repeat)

Come gather round people,
I have a story to tell
About a business that is going to hell
$450 a month, does that ring a bell?
These people don’t care
They don’t care if you even fell
All they want is your money,
And that’s not even funny

Come down here and listen
This is there latest mission
From the slum lords of Harrison
Rent you a dump now do you feel conned?
These bastards don’t care
They don’t care if you poor
All they want is for you to feel sore
And I know we all get ignored

Destiny - lyrics

another one I wrote called “Destiny”.

DESTINY

What’s mine?
Is there a sign?
Trying to figure it out
What is life all about?
This I ponder as I sit here on the couch

Sit and wonder
Sit and wonder
What do I do?
What do I do?

Do I get on stage just to get booed?
Or do I write something offensive just to get sued?
Or do I just eat up all of my food?

We all have a destiny
What could it be?

When I See You - lyrics

This is just another song I wrote.

WHEN I SEE YOU

I love you
I’ve loved you since I first saw you
When I see you, I think marvelous view
Baby, when I see you

When I see you,
My skies turn from grey to blue
You are so very dear and true to me
Baby, can you see that I love you honestly?
I just love it when I see you

When I see you
My world feels full
My world is complete
Now I got you
Dear, I love you and I always will
Even after 60 years, I should still
When I see you

“RAY” Movie Review

· I finally was able to see the biopic “RAY” with Jamie Foxx in the lead role as the late-great Ray Charles, and let me tell you: it is most definitely a must see for every music fan and musicologist!

· Jamie Foxx fit the part perfectly, and this I found very astounding. I find it really amazing how you can’t picture certain actors in certain rolls and they do the job perfectly! They’d do such a good job they deserve Oscar nominations for them. A real good example is Will Smith portraying the great Mahammad Ali in “ALI”. No one, knowing the norm of his usual rolls, would ever picture him playing such a serious character as Ali. Will, I never pictured Jamie Foxx portraying the great Ray Charles either. Not with what he usually does, but he did so will at it that you’d think it was really Ray!

· The movie starts off when he was in his late teens in the 1940s when he goes from his hometown in Georgia all the way to Seattle, Washington where he got his break. A 5 day road trip, and there he mysteriously runs into Quincy Jones, who was just a teenager at the time – I’m sure his name does ring a bell.

· One thing I didn’t know about Ray until I saw this film was that he was an adulterer and a drug addict. He was a heroin addict for quite some time until he finally kicked it in 1966. According to some online information about him, he started using dope when he was 16. He also experimented with Marijuana. I was really surprised and it just goes to show how naïve I really am about all the great musicians. A lot of them I wouldn’t think would ever have done such a thing like committing adultery or use dope, but it just goes to show how much you can underestimate their persona because of their music. All the great music legends may be music legends and icons but they all have deep dark domestic secrets. Whether it be drug abuse or adultery! Paul McCartney still smokes Marijuana to help influence his music.

· The movie pretty much ends in 1966 when he kicked his drug habit, but it’s a definite must see. It talks about his upbringing from poverty, to his struggling as a musician in Seattle trying to score a record deal, he tries to find love, and even though he has found it he’d prefer being with a groupie girl more and using his dope more than being with his wife and 2 kids, and than he realizes that his kids wasn’t worth it so he goes and gets clean and breaks the heroin addiction for good, but most of all it’s about his great music! We will all miss Ray Charles and I’m sure this movie is great for memory’s sake! I give it an A+++

· Ray Charles - RIP - 1930 - 2004