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