April 27, 2015: Weekend Recap

Dia 27, KY1

I had a truly enjoyable experience this weekend.  I was given the opportunity to judge the Utah PTA State Battle of the Bands at American Fork Jr. High on Saturday 4/25.  In addition Lord Darksteel, Kalenar and myself brainstormed some crowd funding ideas and we watched some wonderfully good and bad movies.


To start off, Friday night we decided to get some chicken, come home, watch Netflix and smoke Huka.  This can be a truly normal Friday night at Kalehalla so we just chilled and watched.  Kalenar chose the movie which was a Swedish film with English subtitles name Ragnarok.  We were impressed with the film on several aspects and I would recommend the movie.  The cool thing about this film though was what it inspired us to talk about.  The concept of the film is that a Swedish archaeologist was finding the origins of the Viking myth Ragnarok The Twilight of the Gods, end of the world.  Kalenar stated that he would love to do that for a living (discover how myths came into being and finding the primal origin) but how would you make money?  I said we could crowd source it as a hobbyist entertainment web project and we started throwing around ideas.  Now this concept of the origins of myths has been intriguing to me since I started this blog because I want to use this as the creation of my own mythology.  People in the world are interested in who they are and history does a fine job stating what has happened before.  These are not enough which is why man has turned to a metaphysical, community or spiritual need.  I find this concept solidified by a 2011 Ted talk by Alain de Botton, an atheist who describes how not to be dismissive of this need but instead how to embrace it and make it your own.  Now back to this conversation about the origins of myths.  Neither Lord Darksteel, Kalenar or myself are scholars.  We are individuals who have diverse interests and knowledge, we are everymen which allows in my opinion this concept to be truly unique.  Scholars have a tendency to sit in their ivory towers and state that only they are correct and are not willing to give credence to how the masses interpret the world.  I argue that the primal world where myths started, did not have scholars, and even if you accept the cynical views that religion was organized to make money or justify morality or create a distraction for the masses (all of which have truth), the mythologies came from men trying to explain something that the nature of man needed explained.  That is why we love the myths we love, the myths speak to us in an almost magical way.  We don't believe them as truth, we like the stories because they are universal.  The concept of this project is basic, find the origin of the myth whatever it may be.  Will we find it?  Probably not but the entertainment is in the journey and that journey is what the project is.  More on this later.

Fired Pilots at The Loading Dock

The Battle of the Bands happened on Saturday, Dia 25.  This is a fun event and my friend Victor and his wife have been the PTA reps over this the last 2 years.  I enjoy listening to the new bands and I hope to find talent.  Two bands in particular held my attention this year.  The 3rd place band Life on Edge and the 1st place band Fired Pilots.  Life on Edge is a truly musical group of students out Hillcrest High School,  very innovative song writing and all are technically proficient.  I hope to hear more of them.  Fired Pilots have a truly unique approach to the angsty, melancholy alt band.  The sound is cleaner in a lot of ways than the grunge where this genre developed, in addition the youthfulness of the group adds a unique perspective.  I hope to hear more of them as well and I will be having a free consulting session with the band in 2 weeks. 

So a basic weekend no fuss.  Last note Les Morgan showed up on Saturday night and hung with us which was cool.

April 23, 2015: Feeling Better; Recaps and Previews

Dia 23, KY 1

So after about 5 days of feeling like I have been hit by a truck, I am finally feel better and want to write something.  Last weekend I had a wonderful brunch with The Lords to celebrate Gialdron's birthday.  Everyone with the exception of Les Morgan attended and it was a good time.  To note it did start a bout of Gialdron's rage which has vexed most my week, but that is how it usually goes with people on the autistic spectrum.

The other thing we did was start building a fence in the backyard for the dogs.  Kalenar was his usual one minded self which is very handy when you are getting things done.  Lord Darksteel came over and helped (a huge amount and I thank him profusely.)  It was especially awesome because Lord Darksteel broke his diet and had the most amazing queso smothered burrito at Barbacoa for lunch that he ate himself delirious.

This weekend is very low key because I am judging the Utah PTA State Rock Band Festival for the 2nd time.  I enjoy doing this because it allows me to be involved in a way that puts my passion for working class music forward.  Rock music is the peoples music and accessible but that does not make it any less important than the classics.  People postulate all of the time about what amazing pieces Mozart would compose now and I laugh because in my mind He would be not Mozart but Wolfgang and be a Pop entrepreneur on the level of Bruno Mars or Pharrell.  Beethoven would be an alternative/hipster and Wagner would write German Metalcore that appeals to fringe supremest groups.  Now I do not truly know what would happen but before you dismiss it entirely realize Pharrell Williams participated in high school band and owes that to where he is now, read the story here.

There have been many other things on my mind this week.  I am in a holding pattern of sorts until some life events happen that will increase my mobility.  Right now a number of things I want to do are not able to be given full attention for the very fact that I rely on public transit.  Personally I am not a fan of driving and if I had my druthers I would actually live in Downtown Salt Lake City where a car free lifestyle is easier to achieve.  Downtown is not as child friendly and Kalenar gives me a grand opportunity to live in Kalehalla so I take advantage of it.  Because of this the lifestyle is harder.  The fascist right-wing community governments in the South end of Salt Lake County are not public transit friendly therefore the frequency of buses is not what it should be.  As a result my pursuit of happiness is limited to the graces of what public transit does exist and the kindness of friends.

Lastly I am leaving you with a video of the new Hellcat Single by the band Wichita "Mrs. Magoo"
because it is AWESOME!!!

Sick Of Being Sick

This week I have come down with a nasty cold and I will write as soon as I am feeling better!!!

April 17, 2015: Weekend Preview "The Warrior"

Dia 17, KY1

This is the weekend I celebrate the birthday of my first son.  In this blog he is known as Gialdron, Patron of Passion, Rage and Food.  I love this young man with all my heart and soul even at the times he is full on berserk.  In the old world Gialdron would be a true Berserker (Bear Warrior) taking upon him the fury of Odin and Thor to defend and provide for the tribe and destroy our enemies.  I bring this up because in today's modern time we see these traits as "defective" or a "mental illness".  The reason for this is that we no longer have to go to war against a local tribe to gain the necessities of life so the traits that have genetically evolved over thousands of years of existence are misunderstood.  Gialdron is a High Functioning Autistic by today's terms, he is brilliant but lacks the ability to recognize emotions in others and also lacks the ability to process his own emotions without a great deal of effort.  This causes a number of problems in his life but he is forever fighting the war to stay in control and I have seen such amazing progress over the years that he has lived with this.  Now I am grateful that we live in the modern world for if this were the old world I would not have been able to enjoy the last 3 to 5 years with my son.  The reason for this is that the life expectancy of a front line warrior was 16 to 22 years due to the incredibly violent nature of their lives. 

Gialdron has gone on to live his passion, he works in a high end kitchen and enjoys this, he has slowly developed close friends that are loyal to him. He is loved by The Lords of Kalehalla and we honor him by naming his birth month after his passion for food.  I hope to have many more years with my son. So join me in saying Happy Birthday!!

His actual birthday was Dia 13 but we are celebrating this Sunday Dia 19 at Piper Down for an amazing brunch.

April 14, 2015 Weekend Recap The Anchorage, Barbaloot Suitz and The Republican.

Dia 14, KY1

just a reminder Chadivus plays the Tuba

For a first concert outing of the year I find myself strangely contemplative considering how fun the show was and the new sounds I heard.  I am still planning on writing a review about Regrow but I am going to have to let life settle down a bit.  Suffice it to say I am still a huge fan of The Anchorage and believe in this local scene.

So to business, the show was very fun.  I forget how much I love Kilby Court but I also remember why it is a hard place to watch a show.  Kilby has such a nice open air courtyard and it allows for a very natural conversation area and pre-show bonding.  It also has a rough time with acoustics and stuffiness because the actual stage area is too small.

The opening band was named Barbaloot Suitz and it is actually a duo featuring Jonali on guitar and vocals and McFish on Trombone.  This band intrigued me to the point that I felt moved to contact them.  The sound is very innovative and I enjoy how they are trying to experiment with abrupt tempo changes and tone colors (especially when the trombone mimics and matches Jonali's ethereal vocals.)  I see a huge amount of potential with what they are trying to achieve but I also see that it is going to take hard work and fine tuning to make it into a viable, growing musical group (then again all groups of excellent caliber do take hard work and fine tuning so I am excited by their possibilities.)  The trombone work is good, McFish has a solid tone with a good match of mellow and harsh (although I would like to see him explore some pedal tones in places.)  I wanted to hear him break forth with some Frank Rosolino style technical passages on his solos but that is a huge thing to ask considering who Rosolino is.  I think Jonali's guitar technique is solid in general but needs a little bit of technical

work on tempos and I would like to see her play a hollow body electric over an acoustic/electric just to get better depth of sound when mixed.  As said though her vocals are ethereal and create a haunting melodic focus for the music, which I love.  They might also consider adding a bass voice either as a stand up bass or a tuba (but I am partial to the tuba just sayin)  I think it would add a tonal base to grow the sound of the entire ensemble from and allow a  strong reference for intonation and rhythm.  Lastly a rhythm section would be cool as well, however I would look at an alternative drum set using Afro-Cuban percussion and tonal percussion (a marimba or vibraphone would add some cool harmonic and rhythmic options.)  Just some observations from a long term musician and person involved in the music world, thank you for indulging me.

Now onto The Anchorage.  As said I will write more when I review Regrow however this band ROCKS live.  The horns are in your face but even better since I reviewed Bridges, their ensemble playing is electric with all of the strengths that I liked even stronger and the opportunities to improve were all improved.  Derek's vocals are very good live and the bass playing was amazing. This band has impressed me even more than before and I was very grateful and humbled to hear them.  What made the experience even better is that the show was packed and everyone enjoyed the performance.  I am looking forward to more great and amazing music from this band.

Lastly after the show Lord Darksteel, Monsieur OneTrack and myself journeyed to The Republican to enjoy a pint of Guinness and a cider and talk about music.  We talked punk rock and ska and many other styles.  We discussed philosophy and honor and enjoyed each others company without pressure to impress.  This is why I enjoy the Republican because even with its hipster clientele, it still is an old world Irish pub complete with cement floor, wooden chairs and tables, shuffleboard, drinking songs and the best poured Guinness in the state.  Overall a great weekend.

I almost forgot, WATCH THE NEW DAREDEVIL SERIES ON NETFLIX, so amazing!!!

April 10, 2015; Weekend Preview, The Anchorage at Kilby Court.

Dia 10, KY1

The spring concert season has begun and I am planning on going to the New Release show of local ska band The Anchorage on Saturday.  As some of you may remember I reviewed The Anchorage back in January and I am very excited to see them live.

Their first album is called Bridges and it was a very energetic album, here is the review that I posted
in January.  Please read and take a listen again.

The new album is called Regrow and it is available for sale at Bandcamp.  I am in the process of listening to it and I hope to have a review of both it and the concert next week.

On other news the calendar is coming along and I hope to have it finished so that we can create some merchandise around it.  In addition we are working on a Kalehalla logo and thinking about other merchandise opportunities as well.  I am also in the process of planning Gialdron's brunch birthday which we are having next week.  Other than that there is not much going on, just living life and moving forward.

April 7, 2015 Weekend Recap; The Plans Are Set.

This will not be a long post. We met Friday night and set the plans for the month.  So as it is nothing much happened and we drank a little and I listened to what people had to say and in general the weekend was fairly basic.

As far as other developments in the month so far, I am listening to a whole lot of music lately.  In addition to updating the Top 5 lists weekly, I am posting a Soundtrack of the day to Twitter and Facebook. Most days it is what I am in the mood for.  However on Tuesdays it is New Music Tuesday and I make soundtrack from artists I discover over the previous week and Thursday is Throwback Thursday and the soundtrack is from legacy artists like The Pogues.  This is just something I am doing to pass on what I live to others, I do not even know if anyone follows it, I just enjoy coming up with the bands to feature. That is all for now.  Remember that Wednesday is the new Top 5 Music playlist on Spotify and Thursday or Friday is the Weekend preview.

April 3, 2015; Weekend Preview; Planning is Indispensable

So finally the Lords of Kalehalla are putting forth some energy to ensure a successful new year.  Now that the Celebrations of the Green are over and we are fully rested, we can decide how the feasting, activities, good works and recognitions are going to pan out over this year.  I am officially naming this year Kalehalla 1 The Rising of the Lords.  Now because this Kalehalla calendar is based on a modified Gregorian, we need to find a way to shorthand the name so we do not confuse people and take to long to write it out like we did with BC and AD.  I currently think the shorthand should be KY for Kalehalla Year (I literally laugh out loud each time I think of it or say it because it is really funny).  In addition to this being year 1 of the Lords I also want to come up with new month names based on seasons and celebrations.  On the Kalehalla calendar the first month of the year is March which I have already renamed Uaine (Irish for green) because it signifies life and the celebrations that are important to us during the month (St. Patrick's and general Celtic Traditions) and we have already talked about how important the month is to us all.  April is a bit harder because we do not have a tradition other than it is the Birthday of Gialdron (Rone by his sisters) my oldest son and the brother of The Wee Dancer, Regina Elsa and The Grey Knight.  In the past we have celebrated Gialdron's day with a brunch at Piper Down so it does work.  Gialdron is the the Kalehallan Deity of Emotion, Passion, Food & Rage (all truly important things that this world needs.)  He is also one of my muses when I decide what food to prepare for the feasts and I consult him every time.  So I like the idea of making April into the Kalehalla month of Bia (Irish for food). 

Enough of this, I will work on the calendar as we go.  This weekend is about planning.  Lord Darksteel, Kalenar, Bomba, Vladimir and OneTrack are all coming over to map out at least the month of Bia and we will go from there.  Then Kalenar and I play Dungeons and Dragons on Saturday and Sunday and the weekend is over.  There will be drinking and eating and thus life goes on. Talk to you all on Monday.