Jim Morrisson's Grave

Naked in a lift going down

I was sunburned yesterday. Springburn. Winter is officially over.

Spent the day in a field on small island in an estuary.

A strange day.

Watched some german japanese (using a mixture of both languages) play some bizarre version of hand/foot/basket ball. Not that I think that the japanese are always bizarre. I'm one of the minority group bemused by the success of lost in translation/racism. Laugh? I nearly did.  

Finished the day by watching a proper filmmaker's work. Roy Anderson's  film "You the Living".  Very fine. But I felt not as moving or cohesive as the truly fantastic "Songs from the Second Floor". 

Moment of the day has to go to being at the local station waiting for an elevator.

After a looong wait the glass elevator slowly appeared with a man (my guess, accidentally) baring his full naked posterior. 

He didn't turn around. The door opens. No movement. 

We ask "are you getting out?". "No....(long pause) going down".

The door slowly closed and he gradually sank down into the earth again. 

I spent a good couple of minutes in tears painfully laughing.

The poor guy wasn't well. The way it played out as a drama was priceless. Only a really slow elevator could produce such wonderful comic timing.

A bit like life in general really.

A cursory google produced this poem

That was a fine productive day playing 12 string guitar and dobro.

Getting my parts into shape for the songs March April May, The Girls who gave me Flowers, and Bird. Looking forward to rehearsing them with the band and playing them live.

I should announce that we've got a great band.

Jan on Drums: Jan no delay. Rock Solid, great feel and timing. Plays keyboards too

Michel on Bass:The bo michel. Has a photographic memory. Likewise with the feel and timing and a great creative artist. Plays guitar too, and loads more besides.

Flori on Guitar: Likewise and he rocks. Great ears. Great fingers. Patient and stable. Sings too.

Sasch on Keyboards: Likewise and such an amazing pro. Directs/arranges choirs too. Sight reads like a super computer. 

Looking forward to introducing you to them soon. They all have a deep love of music and commitment to their craft. I respect them all so much. I'm lucky to l know them. Together we are a BAND. More than the sum.

Put another dime in the jukebox.

Strange thing language.

So much of the language from my sites from the past six months has sounded comic.

Everything is COOL MAN and ROCKING I'm a READY to HIT THE ROAD DAD with some GROOVY SOUNDS. YEH. 

Wince...

Visions of a tricerotops wearing a cravat and flairs.More Danny the dealer than Byron.

I'm coming back from a long trip. Coming back to tell.

Bruce's Playlist Tonight from the pitiful selection on his powerbook

A-ha - Manhattan Skyline

The Bad Plus - Heart of Glass, Overeater

Theme tume from "The Warriors" Movie

Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

Neutral Milk Hotel - Untitled (from in an aeroplane over the sea)

Calum Kennedy - Bratach Ban (It's Gaelic OK?)

Nine inch nails - Closer (My existence is Fraud, You bring me closer to god :-))

do I really have to tell you? - Wish you were here  

Naz Nomad - Nobody but me 

Trial 1: Knee 3 - Philip Glass, Einstein  on the Beach (Oh yeh this is my youth)

Xogenous - Prince & the new Power Generation from Xpectation

Radiohead - Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box 

Rickie Lee Jones Can Have Babies from me anytime - Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)

Sex Pistols - Silly Thing (I have to cover this someday, it needs improvement but it ROCKS)

Sigur Ros - Glósóli GOD SAVE ICELAND!!!!!! 

Tom Tom Club - Atsababy! (Life is Great) What a lyric, Chris, Tina AND Wally Badarou too.

Tom Waits - Kommienezuspadt (Living in Berlin sounds like this sometimes...spelled wrong)

Violence and Birdsong - Evil Has Never (SCOTTISH AND KICKS F'N ASS) 

EVIL HAS NEVER LOVED YOU AS I DO!!!

Van Morrisson - T.B. Sheets (She's dying up there help her soul)

I'm FREE !!!!!!!

 

Rehearsals

Hey there,

Here's a quick one to say that we had a truly awesome week of rehearsals with the band last week. We'll be getting ready to gig within a month (once our bass player gets back from South Africa - I'm not the only traveller).

A great group feeling. Lineup is Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys and myself on Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Bluesharp. We have a set of 16 tracks right now. We'll be adding another 2 originals and a couple of covers at the next rehearsals. It's really rocking. I'm proud of the guys in the band. I think we do the arrangements from the Album proud and we'll be performing some new songs that'll hopefully make the eventual second album. I can't wait to introduce you.

Keep in touch and I'll keep you posted about any gig dates.

Thanks to guitarmeister Flori for the pedalpic

All the Best

Br.

Berlin ice has been thawing the last couple of days. It's like walking through a Margarita out there. Legs feel like one's had a few too. 

Distribution of responsibility? Icicles of doom

I was coming back from a late meeting the other night. Berlin's ice began to melt.

I came close to serious injury twice. The locals call the snow coming from the roofs "roof avalanches". The icicles don't get a special name.

Well I was almost hit by 2 mini avalanches. So by the time I got back to base I wasn't really in the mood for the two meter long icicle hanging directly above the door from the roof six floors up.

Distribution of responsibility: the powerful "someone else's problem" effect that meant no-one had done anything.

I called the fire-brigade. They sent two dry and idiot-weary Berliners round. They said I would be robbing the city of fire-safety if they sent an engine. Seeing as how the neighbors up on 6 still had lights on, would I be so kind as to deal with it myself. Ok. I'll do my best. They're right actually.

I got two other neighbors to make sure the way below was clear and made my way upstairs.

The apartment on 6 belongs to an expert on John Cage but he was not "prepared" to stick a broom out of his window to hit the thing for fear of being responsible for an injury. His insurance was more important than public/neighbors safety: well here we are in the wonderful 21st century. He's not exactly Mr Rogers eh? What about all the kids in our building?...nope. He made joke about him using his mobile phone on airplanes. What? 

So I did the deed. I was up a step ladder sixfloors up and whacked the icicle with a broom. Down it went. Everyone's safer. Hurray. Me hero. I have a fear of heights actually. But I care more about my fellow humans.

My neighbor offered me a whisky to celebrate. What? His lack of care for others than himself? 

Take action. You make all the difference in the world.

The same night I was shedding more than a few tears for Haiti. I'm in absolute horror. Take action. Distribution of responsibility. If you wish to help, as I did, then here's  one possibility.

2010 : The Year We Make Contact.

Happy new year everyone.

2010 is a great number. I'm looking forward to a great year and wish you all one too.

Wow, that's a long time since my last blog post.

Things have been a bit busy in Bruceland, but I'll try to get back here more this year.

What a year that was. 

The rehearsals and technical preparations for the gigs took up more time than I ever expected.

But things a really shaping up. 

Airplay on national radio and more than a few local ones including a rather sultry sounding interview with me.  We'll post a clip here soon.

We sold a few CDs too so it seems a few people were able to hack through the amazon jungle there.

Myspace has been a source of amazement and joy this year.

We crossed the 2000 friend mark on Christmas day. The comments and support there have been great. 

Facebook needs a little more love. This will come. And  a lot of venues.;-)

Berlin is currently submerged in snow which made for a slightly quieter firework bombardment than in other recent years. iLike.

Asleep in Copenhagen. Very disappointed with the Climate Conference. What are we going to do now?What are we going to do now?What are we going to do now?What are we going to do now?What are we going to do now?What are we going to do now? (S.Milligan is sorely missed)

Obama already looks 10 years older. What a job.

We lost a few more in 2009 Jacko of course but I was much more cut up about Farrah Fawcett my (everybodies?) childhood pinup (along with Daphne from Scooby Doo...I believe I have this much in common with Marilyn Manson :-0). We also lost some of my other heroes: John Kung-fu Carradine, John Martyn, Billy Powell and Patrick No.6 Magoohan. Peace.

Today I performed my annual Jan 1st Ritual of opening all the windows and doors in the house to let the old year out and bring in the new. Felt good.

Looking forward to my annual wander round the Alps in February. Travelling down by train as ever!!! 

Looking forward to seeing you all. To the new songs. To the Concerts. 

B