Head The Gong

[photo copyright: temples of grey] This week’s studio noodling combines a section of The Who classic Naked Eye (off Odds & Sods) with some heavy riffing/experimenting with guitar effects. As always, it is what it is, which is how I like my Sunday sessions at Green Desk Studios. Enjoy: Naked Eye/Brainstorm(mp3)

I’ve been chipping away at digitizing my song idea tapes. A daunting task, considering I’ve got damn near a hundred of ’em. I’m enjoying it, though, as I get to relive the moments of creative epiphany (and sometimes pure insanity) I’ve captured on tape over the years. It would take at least ten years—with no … Continue reading "Song idea tape #63"

Few things will get me out on a Tuesday night, and at 9:30pm I still wasn’t sure if I had it in me to walk down to Nightlight to check out Seattle’s Tiny Vipers (a.k.a. Jesy Fortino). I had only recently sampled a few of her tunes via her MySpace page and YouTube, and while … Continue reading "Music Spotlight: Tiny Vipers"

Yeah, I’ve been listening to The Black Keys a lot lately. Here’s some blues wanking that has my ears ringing: Blood-red house.mp3 Got on my hands and knees and I begged my disease Said “Beg you darling, please. I need some release. If you let me off the hook this time, I’ll do anything.” She … Continue reading "Sunday Dustbin: Blood-red house"

This Sunday’s session: Floating leaves.mp3 When you at last returned to me The sky was full of floating leaves I didn’t forget to catch one for you I stood outside under our favorite tree and waited there for it to come to me

Stephen Murtaugh, Robbie Scruggs and Ben Dunlap have been rocking the Chapel Hill music scene as the power trio Transportation since the turn of the century. The first time I saw these guys at The Cave, circa 2000, I was hooked. They crank out a big, 70’s Rock sound, with killer harmonies and a loose, … Continue reading "Music Spotlight: Transportation"

I used to do a weekly thing on my MySpace page called “Dustcast,” to motivate myself to create on a regular basis. I pumped out maybe nine or so “episodes” before it slipped my mind—for the next couple of years. But hey, what can you do except get back on the horse. And if the … Continue reading "Isaac’s Dustbin: Love ain’t for keepin’"

One minute I’m home winding down in my PJ’s and the next I’m wearing a blond wig, standing next to Eric Wallen, and head-banging to a Black Sabbath cover band. That can happen on Halloween in Carrboro, NC. Of course, Eric’s hair is the real rock n’ roll deal, and he’s known all about town … Continue reading "Music Spotlight: My Dear Ella’s Blonde Baby"

Who knows why certain things capture our imaginations. A few weeks ago my friend Bill posted a Joan Halifax essay on his blog called “The Lucky Dark.” The phrase comes from a translation of a St. John of the Cross poem, and basically it refers to all the dark, scary shit that we hate—like suffering, … Continue reading "Seventh time’s a charm"

So I woke up from a nap yesterday, shuffled into my little studio, and dazedly recorded this little song before it drifted back into the ether. Goodbye Allison.mp3 No, I don’t know anyone named Allison, and yeah, I suppose taking a picture of myself immediately after each new recording is pretty weird. Given the sad … Continue reading "Goodbye Allison"

I felt like crap today after a late night out reacquainting myself with the Carrboro music scene. However, I promised myself I would record something this weekend, come hell or high water, so I pushed through the fog and pushed out the following piece of strangeness. Green Desk Studios is back in business. Godspeed.mp3 The … Continue reading "Godspeed"

I miss my little bedroom studio and sharing the results of my audio experiments on this blog. As I get ready to return to Mexico (on Thursday, February 21st), I’m checking off things on my to-do list, including sending off a few copies of my last record to friends and supporters. To date I think … Continue reading "B-sides"

Mom and Dad were out for a few hours yesterday, so I decided to make some noise. This is the second time I’ve recorded a demo version of this tune, although it morphed significantly while I was in Mexico. What’s it about? I don’t know. You tell me. You told me.mp3 You told me I … Continue reading "You told me"

I have one week to get my leg back in shape, which means full range of motion and significant strength increase, or else the doctor will have to delay surgery even further, which means more time away from my wife. So, I am working hard on my pre-hab, but a guy has to take a … Continue reading "Break through"

This song, by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, never fails to move me. Here’s a version I recorded a few minutes ago: TLW.mp3 I’ll drown my beliefs To have you be in peace I’ll dress like your niece and wash your swollen feet Just don’t leave Don’t leave I’m not living I’m just killing time Your tiny … Continue reading "True Love Waits"

Tonight’s musical meditation, dedicated to Ken Wilber. Be well, brother. I am alive.mp3 The sun drops out of sight And I am the night Cool air on my skin And I am the wind I am the wind I am the wind Nothing’s quite as it seems And I am the dream Floating out on … Continue reading "I am alive"

I can’t begin to describe how much I enjoy sitting down in front of my green desk. I used to keep my four-track recorder on an old wobbly blue desk I bought for five dollars at Goodwill. It was about ready to collapse when my girlfriend (now my wife) built me a new desk for … Continue reading "If you want…"

I really didn’t want to write this song. It just nagged me all week until I surrendered. Excuse me.mp3 He stepped on the bus holding a suitcase A look of pensiveness on his face I moved toward the window, making a space He sat next to me and said: “Excuse me for bleeding all over … Continue reading "Excuse me"

Okay, so I just wrote a Christian Rock song. Of course it’s not a Christian Rock song, but the lyrics sure do read like one. I just laid down the tracks as they came to me and, as usual, I’m not quite sure what it all means. But it’s definitely not a Christian Rock song. … Continue reading "New eyes"