Beatles-A-Rama

I've found a great online station to listen to. It's called Beatles-A-Rama--it plays all Beatles songs, Beatles solo work, outtakes, interview clips, related artists, cover songs and "Beatle-esque" songs by artists that are Beatles-influenced. It will also play "British Invasion" era songs, a touch which I think effectively sets the scene for what it felt like to experience that time period...nostalgic if you're in my age group, and educational if you weren't born yet.

If you are a Beatles fan, it can be addicting. 40 years later, there's something just so comforting about those early Beatles songs. Maybe it's because I was lucky enough to grow up in that era. As a youngster I was swept up in the moptop frenzy, but bottom line I believe the music endures because these guys were great singers, great songwriters and fine musicians.

Listening to this station introduced me to a lot of the solo work I'd never heard. Paul is a pop craftsman, John's is soul-bearing transparency, George has some of the most interesting and introspective work, and Ringo is endearing and entertaining. I've also checked out an artist or two played in the "Beatle-esque" category that impressed me.

Take a listen, but be warned--it may be hard to pull yourself away.

Birthday Weekend

Well, I must say that this birthday has been the best since my 50th, when my co-workers at the time completely covered my desk with 50th birthday paraphrenalia. I had little "50s" coming out of my keyboard for months. My favorite thing, though, was the sign that one of my co-worker's daughter made: Wow, the big 50. I kept that one.

Anywho...this weekend was quite awesome. It started with a dessert get-together with some friends. I got a bunch of cards, little gifts, even one from someone I'd just met that evening who stopped over. One highlight was when two songwriter friends came and showed their musical magic to those friends of mine also new to town or otherwise not part of my musical circle of singer/songwriters.

I had a good long lunch with a friend Sunday and then the icing on the cake: a concert by Gordon Mote and Buddy Greene with Jeff Taylor (a/k/a "Michael Card's twin brother"). The crowd was smaller than expected due to rain, but no matter: their sets were incredible. I snuck in the door while the soundcheck was going on. Most people who hear the end results probably don't realize just how much preparation goes into the technical aspects of the sound. When some level is off, the artists know exactly what's needed to get it right in terms I and my untrained ears haven't a clue about.

Gordon Mote continues to amaze me with the level of his vocal and keyboard talent. Having heard Buddy Greene in a full bluegrass concert (see my Nashville Blend blog for a report) and then switch gears in this gospel themed concert showed me again how impressively versatile this man is. Once again, he was beautifully supported by Jeff.

We were even treated to some special guest singers: Kimberly Mote, Gordon's wife, due with a new baby this month (if this gal ever cuts her own album, she will be very major in the Christian music area--you heard it here first); Wes Hampton of the Gaither Vocal Band who was in the audience with his family (one of the most down to earth persons I've met in the Southern Gospel arena...as are all of those who performed this evening); and former Florida Boys bass Gene McDonald, handling bus duties for Gordon. If that all were not enough, Buddy and the players sang Happy Birthday to me from the stage. Wow. What else could a person ask for.

Man, I love this town.

I also got tons of birthday e-mails, message board posts and my MySpace page is covered with comments. I am not accustomed to such attention, self-celebration having been the norm for me for so many years. I humbly thank you all.

Did I mention I love Nashville??

My Birthday Poem

I am having a birthday this coming weekend. I've gotten some cool gifts in my time, but my friend Teresa pretty much nailed my Nashville journey in this poem she wrote for me. Enjoy.

Wendy's Birthday

It's time for Wendy V's big day
And happy birthday is what I want to say.
This year's been a busy one for my friend
Exploring the streets of Nashville from morn til days end.

Just think, last year at about this time
She was asking for God to give her a sign.
A big move she was wanting to make
And decided to do it standing by faith.

Nashville was beckoning for her to come
To hear the music and have lots of fun.
One day some friends offered to lend her a hand
And packed up her stuff into a rented van.

After some misadventures she was on her way
And Wendy was in Nashville in a couple of days.
A new apartment awaited for her to arrive
Where unknown opportunities would begin in her life.

Now Wendy's having her first birthday in Tennessee
I forget how many this will be, fifty one, two or three?
If you want to celebrate with her and don't know where she's at,
Just look through the crowd until you see a red hat.

I'm sure she can be found waiting in a concert line
Trying to be first so a good seat she'll find.
Her dreams of living in Nashville finally came true.
And I want to say congratulations and happy birthday too.

© 2007 Teresa Hicks Banda
Reprinted with permission

Different...But OK

We're now into Labor Day weekend as I write this. In St. Paul, the Minnesota State Fair would be just wrapping up. It's the first one I've missed in 18 years. But of course, I have a good excuse since I'm now living in Nashville. Yet, it was still a bit strange not being there. Usually I'd be making my way to the media booths, going to the live broadcasts of the local TV news broadcasts and offering a word of encouragement to the reporters if the opportunity arose. One of my yearly rituals was going to the Morning Show radio broadcast at the Minnesota Public Radio booth. This time, I was there virtually via streaming radio...so at least I didn't miss it entirely.

I must note, however, it dawned on me that I did survive not having my fix of a bucket of french fries, foot long hot dogs and malts from the dairy barn.

The weather has finally cooled here in Nashville, so I took a walk with my IPod phone. Some of the songs I'd listen to as I walked along the Mississppi River path down Shepard Road in St. Paul popped up, and momentarily my mind went back there. But now there are new places and paths to walk. Nashville is home now, I have a sense of place and settlement here. I'm looking forward to discovering even more and building new rituals.