Here are some links to my favorite musicians and bands. As I recently wrote in my bit on Del Castillo, I've always been very into music. As a musician, and in how I live and experience my life, music is very important to me.
My musical interests run the whole spectrum - from classical to punk, jazz to metal. The overriding theme? Make it intense, make it have meaning. What I've done here (and will update from time to time) is highlight a few musicians that I think highlight this.
My most recent piece is on guitarist/singer-songwriter Kaki King.
Rush
Overall, my favorite in large part because of the combination of their musicianship, music and message. As a bassist, obviously, Geddy Lee was someone I looked to for inspiration. Their message of "Anything can happen/I'm not giving in to security under pressure-I'm not giving up on Implausible Dreams" - a thread that runs throughout their music from Fly By Night to current music - is something that has always resonated with me.
Here are a few sites of note: Official - Power Windows - Wiki - Forum
Also, I put together a Neil Peart Condolences Page (Original - Updated) a while back. Although it isn't as relevant now as it was at the time (and yet I still need to update it with submissions), I still find people who don't know the back-story and what was a very dark chasm that Neil walked through.
Del Castillo
First and foremost, read my blog from my first encouter with the band here. That says a lot of it, albeit in a really long and involved post. Short version - they are an incredible Latin Rock band, with musicianship and style that I found very impressive. If you've seen the movie Once Upon A time In Mexico or Kill Bill Vol. II, you've heard their music.
Here is their official page. They also have a number of You Tube clips that do them pretty good justice.
Live
From my original version of this page, "a band that has never let me down for their understanding of the need for dynamics in music. So many musicians put a line together, or a rhythm, and they go with it. I feel like my friend Gready when he screams, 'Do SOMETHING!' Live has always done something with their music."
Official
Oysterhead
One of the most creative projects of the past decade, Oysterhead is the combination of Primus' Les Claypool, Phish's Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland of The Police.
Official - Wiki
Other bands (links to be added) - Mechelle Ndengeochello - Ani DiFranco - Skunk Anansie - Days of the New - Disturbed - Eric Johnson
BTW - this was my original version of this page.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Del Castillo - I have nothing left....
It is about 1 am Saturday morning. I've been played like a violin, taken on an emotional and spiritual ride that has pushed me like no other, and I got nuthin'. And this blog isn't about me if I don't share this experience. So here goes - a description of what shook me to the core of my being.
First, some background. Understand, I'm a musician. I've played before thousands in groups big and small and, on occasion, solo. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was playing Austin clubs. Liberty Lunch, Joe's Generic, etc. I continued playing while in college. It was mostly rock in high school, and branched out into jazz afterwards. Now, it isn't currently my vocation, but for a time, it was a huge part of my life, and music has always meant a lot to me.
And additionally, I was blessed with the opportunity to lead supporters groups for both the local Dallas professional soccer team for ten years and the US Mens National Team in two World Cups as well as numerous qualification matches leading up to them - most often playing snare in a samba band or with other musicians. When you tie in music to the emotion and passion of sports at that level, mixed in with samba and other Latin influences in the stands, on the field and in the music, those were some of the most intense moments of my life. Playing samba, surrounded by hundreds of fans, on the storied Cotton Bowl concourse in celebration of a Dallas win? A full stadium in Kaiserslautern, Germany, with 10,000 of my closest friends as the US played the eventual World Cup champions to a stalemate down to nine men? "Implausible Dreams" indeed.
My tastes in some ways are very sporadic, but in others very similar. "The only thing I'll ever ask of you - you've got to promise not to stop when I say when." Be it Metallica and Rage Against the Machine or Adagio for Strings, make it passionate, make it intense, make it have meaning. As a musician, I appreciate technical ability, but really appreciate someone who not only has technical ability but also is very expressive. Jimi Hendrix comes to mind as probably the best example I can come up with to illustrate that idea.
One of the musicians I have the highest respect for is Stevie Ray Vaughn, and not just because he was from my hometown of Austin and played Texas blues, but rather because he played it with a level of soul that few have ever matched.
And for perspective, I've seen Texas guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson up close and personal - in a room of 150, from about ten feet away. (If you like Texas music, or enjoy quality guitar work, and haven't listened to Eric Johnson, do so.) I've seen great acts like U2, The Police, Metallica, Linkin Park and The Cure, as well as SRV. I've seen great technical acts like Yes, Rush, Stuart Hamm, along with Eric. I've seen emotional acts like NIN, Alanis Morrisette, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Tori Amos. I've seen legends - Jimmy Paige, Eddie Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty.
I say that so you understand the context in which I make these statements. I've been in the presence of - and that close to - greatness before.
Friday night, at the legendary Austin venue, Antone's, I heard an act that blew away any previous musical experience I have ever had: Passion at levels way beyond what I was emotionally ready for. Musicianship and technical skill that I have rarely been exposed to, despite my thirst for music at that level. A synchronicity on stage that you see only in the greatest of acts, the ones who have played together for years, who have overcome all the maturation issues that a band faces when breaking through. "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" and all that.
To set the scene a bit more, we were there because Janice's friend, Else Maria, "knew" the band personally and said they were pretty good. Actually, she said she was going and she thought it would be great if we came along. In my mind, I was expecting a pretty good Austin band, like so many others that were talented and skilled, able to play to a crowd well enough to sell a few CDs, waiting for a big record company to notice that the next ZZ Top or Stevie Ray Vaughn was out there, ready to explode on the scene. I mean, it was Antone's after all - you usually don't get slouches in there.
To add to the scene, the earlier act was blues legend Pinetop Perkins. Thirty minutes before the act we came to see took the stage, we were in a packed crowd in THE Austin blues bar, listening to a 95-year-old, graveled-voice blues master. That alone was worth the price of admission. I mean, it was Antone's after all. So while I probably should have been a bit more ready for the quality of the act, I wasn't really paying attention to the signs and portents coming at me. I was frankly just happy to be back in Austin for the holidays, that Janice and my family were getting along, and that we had gotten a chance to meet up with Elsa - someone Janice doesn't see very often but they are very close. The fact that we were in Antone's, getting ready to hear from a band that Elsa Maria knew - always a cool experience.
By the chorus of the first song, they had my attention - way more than what I was expecting. Talented, engaging, passionate....
By the end of the second song, I admitted my surprise to Janice's friend.
By the fifth song, I was asking Janice's friend, "Are you ******* kidding me?!?!?!?"
And when it was all over, I was completely drained. I had been wrung dry, pushed and pulled beyond my envelope of experience. Me, the guy who always wanted more, needed passion in excess - drained.
Who was this act?
Del Castillo, a Latin Rock group from Texas that I found out was amazing anyone who heard them.
To be fair, note that I have always loved classical guitar - the sound and feel of nylon strings rather than steel. And the passion and intensity of Latin music, and the true sense of home that comes with Texas music, has always had a very special place in my heart. I love Texas - its land, its people, its culture - and I think a big part of what makes Texas special is the influence that Mexican and other Latin culture has had in shaping what makes Texas what it is. Throw in the friends and friendships and resulting experiences I've had through soccer (one of the major reasons why I left practicing as an attorney to work for the local Major League Soccer team, FC Dallas), and it is safe to say that I was ripe to be impressed by this group.
I would also say that things like the Gypsy Kings, Los Lobos and Paco de Lucia have always impressed me, but also left me with a sense of "they could do more with that." Even Santana - a band who has done very impressive things with Latin music - has sometimes left me thinking that there was more ground to cover. And not necessarily musically, but that you could add more of a rock element to drive it home, if you will.
But oh my. After Friday night, I am left wanting no more. What an expression of life through music!
As I describe my impressions of the musicians, bear in mind, they are just that: impressions. I don't know them personally - this is just the sense I got from the front row at Antone's Friday night. "One fellow's opinion" and all that.
The Del Castillo brothers - Mark and Rick - are the guitarists, and they are phenomenally talented. And not just in terms of speed or technique. Anyone can play fast and furious. (Well, not anyone, but you know what I mean.) But they use the full range of dynamics - soft, loud, fast, slow, simple, complex, traditional or avant garde.
They alone are worth the price of admission. I was constantly amazed by their solos and how they shaped the music, every moment trying to drink in every note (even at breakneck speed) but also hungering for more. I probably had more than I could handle by their first break, but obviously wasn't going anywhere until they finally called it quits after over two hours.
The key? Every note (and silence) had MEANING. It dripped with intensity, passion, life. And it was at a speed I wasn't expecting, so I never really caught up, emotionally.
And on top of it all, they were having a blast! I've never seen musicians smile so much while playing such intense music for so long. And they have a youthful exuberance that just screams how wonderful life is and can be.
But those are the guitarists. On top of that you have the singer, Alex Ruiz. Imagine Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Perry Farrell mixed into one, and then give him the same passion, Latin and South Texas perspective that the guitarists bring to the show, but with an added touch of grit. His face, and his singing, is lined with experience. I remember k.d. lang once saying in an interview that, "We're only as deep as what is carved into us" and Alex's singing drips with that sense of reality. When he sings about brotherhood or forgiveness, you get the sense that he has walked the dark sides of those streets and his words have real meaning - belief in the face of reality, rather than naive, blind faith in the goodness of life.
Again, meaning.
And then there is the rhythm section. We are talking about Latin music, remember? The bassist, Albert Besteiro, is as rock-solid a bass player as I have ever seen, playing those deep, full, rhythmic bass lines that drive the bus that is rock music. And he does it all the while the engine that drives the activity on stage. He is always smiling, always engaging with either other musicians or stage hands or fans. Everyone is his best friend and he makes sure they are all having a blast. His notes were as aggressive as could be without taking center stage or overshadowing the other musicians, and even if he had just stood there, stoically playing the part, I would have been impressed - although it probably wouldn't have had the life that came off the stage.
And then there is the drummer. Last, but by no means the least, Mike Zeoli was the thumping heart that pounded its way throughout the night. Make no mistake, while this is most definitely Latin music, it is also definitely rock, and I'd kill to see Zeoli play anything from Led Zepplin to Metallica. (They actually slipped in what sure sounded to me like four measures of "One" for good measure, and it was a very cool touch.) Not only am I confident he could pull it off, but he could bring his own energy to it. That should give you the scope of what was sitting behind the kit. They had someone else playing some other percussion bits - unfortunately, I can't remember his name (if someone knows it, comment and I'll add it), but he also brought a lot to the table. But clearly, it was an added layer that raised the bar rather than helping Zeoli fill any gaps in his play. Oh, and I was pretty sure I sensed influences of Neil Peart in some of Zeoli's solos - which I'm sure you know warmed my heart.
As for the songs - Each had its own feel - not the over-consistency you get from some artists trying to "define themselves" - yet there was a definite style above and beyond the fact that you had a set instrumentation and a somewhat consistent placement of the back-beats. And it was so refreshing to see a band not bat an eye at long, involved solos in almost every song - and that each solo had its own presence. Again, like the songs themselves, each had their own nuances and differences, but were definitely "their own."
The nice thing I found on the way home listening to the CD - enough of the feel from the solos and the concert makes it to the album. Obviously, they couldn't put all of the solo work on a studio album, but there is enough of it that you don't feel like the CD is a neutered version of the band. I got "Brotherhood", and if you want to check it out on iTunes, listen to the clip of Este Amor and you'll get a touch of Alex's singing and the brothers' guitar playing. If you get or have the album, I'd also throw in Arena Al Viento, Vida Latina and El Corrido De Don Lulai to get a sense of what assaulted me Friday night.
And the stage presence and showmanship? Again, I've seen The Police, U2, Metallica. I've seen bands who grab the audience by the throat - however gently or firmly - and take them for an emotional, passionate ride. Del Castillo (Wiki) is right there with the best of them. I mentioned the atmosphere on stage - like a band of brothers who have come to peace with themselves and enjoy each other's company. Well, they invite the audience into that same atmosphere, but with the added connection of the intensity of the music.
And then there are the times the musicians - especially the guitarists - going into the crowd while they play. For those who don't know Antone's there is a VIP area up some stairs to the left of the stage (from the audience's perspective). At one point, during one of his long, colorful solos, Mark walked up there and gave his wife a simple kiss on the cheek. The cool panache of the moment was most impressive, especially considering that the intensity never wavered. Both Mark and Rick took turns walking through the crowd during their solos, as did Alex from time to time, adding to the personal contact the band has with its audience.
The highlight of the night for me was about halfway through the second set. Mark was doing a solo and it was the first time he had wandered the crowd. Most of the crowd was standing, but there were a few tables set aside for VIPs. One of those were near me, and he walked up and sat down and there I was, leaning over his right shoulder, watching him play music that I had been trying to breath into my soul the whole night. Understand, I was overwhelmed with their music fifteen minutes into the show, so you can imagine how I now felt having better than literally a front row seat.
Eventually, the show was over. I was tired. I was sore. I was emotionally drained. And I loved it. I read up on them, and they are definitely on the radar screen of some people. They have been used for the soundtracks of Kill Bill, vol. II and Once Upon A Time In Mexico - not exactly small ventures. Will they make that jump to true stardom? I have no idea. But if they do, I think they will strike a chord with so many. I mean, if Gypsy Kings can get a hit, surely this band can do the same. And in my humble opinion, if they do, there may be no looking back.
Bear in mind - I'm not a music critic. I am relatively musically knowledgeable, but I'm not trained in the ways of critiquing a band. And I'm here sharing my personal experience, not here to give a critical analysis of their performance. And I certainly wasn't prepared for what I was about to experience.
But that being said, what I've seen of Del Castillo is enough that I will support them in the way that I support Rush. And as I've done here, I'll spread the word to anyone that they are a band worth listening to at least once - with the smiling "warning" that if it strikes a chord, it will strike hard. The last band I had that kind of insight about was Pearl Jam - before they had a single out on the radio or video.....
Del Castillo is the height of what music can be, especially in this vein - it IS Latin Rock - and most certainly capitalize that R.
"Vida Latina Amor" indeed.
For more on Kevin's takes on music, check out Chaotica.
First, some background. Understand, I'm a musician. I've played before thousands in groups big and small and, on occasion, solo. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was playing Austin clubs. Liberty Lunch, Joe's Generic, etc. I continued playing while in college. It was mostly rock in high school, and branched out into jazz afterwards. Now, it isn't currently my vocation, but for a time, it was a huge part of my life, and music has always meant a lot to me.
And additionally, I was blessed with the opportunity to lead supporters groups for both the local Dallas professional soccer team for ten years and the US Mens National Team in two World Cups as well as numerous qualification matches leading up to them - most often playing snare in a samba band or with other musicians. When you tie in music to the emotion and passion of sports at that level, mixed in with samba and other Latin influences in the stands, on the field and in the music, those were some of the most intense moments of my life. Playing samba, surrounded by hundreds of fans, on the storied Cotton Bowl concourse in celebration of a Dallas win? A full stadium in Kaiserslautern, Germany, with 10,000 of my closest friends as the US played the eventual World Cup champions to a stalemate down to nine men? "Implausible Dreams" indeed.
My tastes in some ways are very sporadic, but in others very similar. "The only thing I'll ever ask of you - you've got to promise not to stop when I say when." Be it Metallica and Rage Against the Machine or Adagio for Strings, make it passionate, make it intense, make it have meaning. As a musician, I appreciate technical ability, but really appreciate someone who not only has technical ability but also is very expressive. Jimi Hendrix comes to mind as probably the best example I can come up with to illustrate that idea.
One of the musicians I have the highest respect for is Stevie Ray Vaughn, and not just because he was from my hometown of Austin and played Texas blues, but rather because he played it with a level of soul that few have ever matched.
And for perspective, I've seen Texas guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson up close and personal - in a room of 150, from about ten feet away. (If you like Texas music, or enjoy quality guitar work, and haven't listened to Eric Johnson, do so.) I've seen great acts like U2, The Police, Metallica, Linkin Park and The Cure, as well as SRV. I've seen great technical acts like Yes, Rush, Stuart Hamm, along with Eric. I've seen emotional acts like NIN, Alanis Morrisette, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Tori Amos. I've seen legends - Jimmy Paige, Eddie Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty.
I say that so you understand the context in which I make these statements. I've been in the presence of - and that close to - greatness before.
Friday night, at the legendary Austin venue, Antone's, I heard an act that blew away any previous musical experience I have ever had: Passion at levels way beyond what I was emotionally ready for. Musicianship and technical skill that I have rarely been exposed to, despite my thirst for music at that level. A synchronicity on stage that you see only in the greatest of acts, the ones who have played together for years, who have overcome all the maturation issues that a band faces when breaking through. "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" and all that.
To set the scene a bit more, we were there because Janice's friend, Else Maria, "knew" the band personally and said they were pretty good. Actually, she said she was going and she thought it would be great if we came along. In my mind, I was expecting a pretty good Austin band, like so many others that were talented and skilled, able to play to a crowd well enough to sell a few CDs, waiting for a big record company to notice that the next ZZ Top or Stevie Ray Vaughn was out there, ready to explode on the scene. I mean, it was Antone's after all - you usually don't get slouches in there.
To add to the scene, the earlier act was blues legend Pinetop Perkins. Thirty minutes before the act we came to see took the stage, we were in a packed crowd in THE Austin blues bar, listening to a 95-year-old, graveled-voice blues master. That alone was worth the price of admission. I mean, it was Antone's after all. So while I probably should have been a bit more ready for the quality of the act, I wasn't really paying attention to the signs and portents coming at me. I was frankly just happy to be back in Austin for the holidays, that Janice and my family were getting along, and that we had gotten a chance to meet up with Elsa - someone Janice doesn't see very often but they are very close. The fact that we were in Antone's, getting ready to hear from a band that Elsa Maria knew - always a cool experience.
By the chorus of the first song, they had my attention - way more than what I was expecting. Talented, engaging, passionate....
By the end of the second song, I admitted my surprise to Janice's friend.
By the fifth song, I was asking Janice's friend, "Are you ******* kidding me?!?!?!?"
And when it was all over, I was completely drained. I had been wrung dry, pushed and pulled beyond my envelope of experience. Me, the guy who always wanted more, needed passion in excess - drained.
Who was this act?
Del Castillo, a Latin Rock group from Texas that I found out was amazing anyone who heard them.
To be fair, note that I have always loved classical guitar - the sound and feel of nylon strings rather than steel. And the passion and intensity of Latin music, and the true sense of home that comes with Texas music, has always had a very special place in my heart. I love Texas - its land, its people, its culture - and I think a big part of what makes Texas special is the influence that Mexican and other Latin culture has had in shaping what makes Texas what it is. Throw in the friends and friendships and resulting experiences I've had through soccer (one of the major reasons why I left practicing as an attorney to work for the local Major League Soccer team, FC Dallas), and it is safe to say that I was ripe to be impressed by this group.
I would also say that things like the Gypsy Kings, Los Lobos and Paco de Lucia have always impressed me, but also left me with a sense of "they could do more with that." Even Santana - a band who has done very impressive things with Latin music - has sometimes left me thinking that there was more ground to cover. And not necessarily musically, but that you could add more of a rock element to drive it home, if you will.
But oh my. After Friday night, I am left wanting no more. What an expression of life through music!
As I describe my impressions of the musicians, bear in mind, they are just that: impressions. I don't know them personally - this is just the sense I got from the front row at Antone's Friday night. "One fellow's opinion" and all that.
The Del Castillo brothers - Mark and Rick - are the guitarists, and they are phenomenally talented. And not just in terms of speed or technique. Anyone can play fast and furious. (Well, not anyone, but you know what I mean.) But they use the full range of dynamics - soft, loud, fast, slow, simple, complex, traditional or avant garde.
They alone are worth the price of admission. I was constantly amazed by their solos and how they shaped the music, every moment trying to drink in every note (even at breakneck speed) but also hungering for more. I probably had more than I could handle by their first break, but obviously wasn't going anywhere until they finally called it quits after over two hours.
The key? Every note (and silence) had MEANING. It dripped with intensity, passion, life. And it was at a speed I wasn't expecting, so I never really caught up, emotionally.
And on top of it all, they were having a blast! I've never seen musicians smile so much while playing such intense music for so long. And they have a youthful exuberance that just screams how wonderful life is and can be.
But those are the guitarists. On top of that you have the singer, Alex Ruiz. Imagine Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Perry Farrell mixed into one, and then give him the same passion, Latin and South Texas perspective that the guitarists bring to the show, but with an added touch of grit. His face, and his singing, is lined with experience. I remember k.d. lang once saying in an interview that, "We're only as deep as what is carved into us" and Alex's singing drips with that sense of reality. When he sings about brotherhood or forgiveness, you get the sense that he has walked the dark sides of those streets and his words have real meaning - belief in the face of reality, rather than naive, blind faith in the goodness of life.
Again, meaning.
And then there is the rhythm section. We are talking about Latin music, remember? The bassist, Albert Besteiro, is as rock-solid a bass player as I have ever seen, playing those deep, full, rhythmic bass lines that drive the bus that is rock music. And he does it all the while the engine that drives the activity on stage. He is always smiling, always engaging with either other musicians or stage hands or fans. Everyone is his best friend and he makes sure they are all having a blast. His notes were as aggressive as could be without taking center stage or overshadowing the other musicians, and even if he had just stood there, stoically playing the part, I would have been impressed - although it probably wouldn't have had the life that came off the stage.
And then there is the drummer. Last, but by no means the least, Mike Zeoli was the thumping heart that pounded its way throughout the night. Make no mistake, while this is most definitely Latin music, it is also definitely rock, and I'd kill to see Zeoli play anything from Led Zepplin to Metallica. (They actually slipped in what sure sounded to me like four measures of "One" for good measure, and it was a very cool touch.) Not only am I confident he could pull it off, but he could bring his own energy to it. That should give you the scope of what was sitting behind the kit. They had someone else playing some other percussion bits - unfortunately, I can't remember his name (if someone knows it, comment and I'll add it), but he also brought a lot to the table. But clearly, it was an added layer that raised the bar rather than helping Zeoli fill any gaps in his play. Oh, and I was pretty sure I sensed influences of Neil Peart in some of Zeoli's solos - which I'm sure you know warmed my heart.
As for the songs - Each had its own feel - not the over-consistency you get from some artists trying to "define themselves" - yet there was a definite style above and beyond the fact that you had a set instrumentation and a somewhat consistent placement of the back-beats. And it was so refreshing to see a band not bat an eye at long, involved solos in almost every song - and that each solo had its own presence. Again, like the songs themselves, each had their own nuances and differences, but were definitely "their own."
The nice thing I found on the way home listening to the CD - enough of the feel from the solos and the concert makes it to the album. Obviously, they couldn't put all of the solo work on a studio album, but there is enough of it that you don't feel like the CD is a neutered version of the band. I got "Brotherhood", and if you want to check it out on iTunes, listen to the clip of Este Amor and you'll get a touch of Alex's singing and the brothers' guitar playing. If you get or have the album, I'd also throw in Arena Al Viento, Vida Latina and El Corrido De Don Lulai to get a sense of what assaulted me Friday night.
And the stage presence and showmanship? Again, I've seen The Police, U2, Metallica. I've seen bands who grab the audience by the throat - however gently or firmly - and take them for an emotional, passionate ride. Del Castillo (Wiki) is right there with the best of them. I mentioned the atmosphere on stage - like a band of brothers who have come to peace with themselves and enjoy each other's company. Well, they invite the audience into that same atmosphere, but with the added connection of the intensity of the music.
And then there are the times the musicians - especially the guitarists - going into the crowd while they play. For those who don't know Antone's there is a VIP area up some stairs to the left of the stage (from the audience's perspective). At one point, during one of his long, colorful solos, Mark walked up there and gave his wife a simple kiss on the cheek. The cool panache of the moment was most impressive, especially considering that the intensity never wavered. Both Mark and Rick took turns walking through the crowd during their solos, as did Alex from time to time, adding to the personal contact the band has with its audience.
The highlight of the night for me was about halfway through the second set. Mark was doing a solo and it was the first time he had wandered the crowd. Most of the crowd was standing, but there were a few tables set aside for VIPs. One of those were near me, and he walked up and sat down and there I was, leaning over his right shoulder, watching him play music that I had been trying to breath into my soul the whole night. Understand, I was overwhelmed with their music fifteen minutes into the show, so you can imagine how I now felt having better than literally a front row seat.
Eventually, the show was over. I was tired. I was sore. I was emotionally drained. And I loved it. I read up on them, and they are definitely on the radar screen of some people. They have been used for the soundtracks of Kill Bill, vol. II and Once Upon A Time In Mexico - not exactly small ventures. Will they make that jump to true stardom? I have no idea. But if they do, I think they will strike a chord with so many. I mean, if Gypsy Kings can get a hit, surely this band can do the same. And in my humble opinion, if they do, there may be no looking back.
Bear in mind - I'm not a music critic. I am relatively musically knowledgeable, but I'm not trained in the ways of critiquing a band. And I'm here sharing my personal experience, not here to give a critical analysis of their performance. And I certainly wasn't prepared for what I was about to experience.
But that being said, what I've seen of Del Castillo is enough that I will support them in the way that I support Rush. And as I've done here, I'll spread the word to anyone that they are a band worth listening to at least once - with the smiling "warning" that if it strikes a chord, it will strike hard. The last band I had that kind of insight about was Pearl Jam - before they had a single out on the radio or video.....
Del Castillo is the height of what music can be, especially in this vein - it IS Latin Rock - and most certainly capitalize that R.
"Vida Latina Amor" indeed.
For more on Kevin's takes on music, check out Chaotica.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Karma = Good (Motorcycle version)
So I'm on my way to meet a friend to ride north of the MetroPlex this morning, and my plan was to gas up at the meeting site, about 40 miles away. Starting off, I'm still in the main tank and I usually get 40 miles out of the reserve, so I figure I'm good to go.
Going west on I-635, about five miles into the ride, I have to reach into my reserve tank, which, again I've got a five mile buffer so I'm cool, right?
Well, then I'm going north on I-35 about ten miles later and I come across and accident that has traffic backed up for about a mile. I thought I got through it relatively quickly and still had some buffer to go, but then 25 miles into the reserve, I run out of gas......
Short story long, as I'm about a mile into walking my bike about two miles to the next gas station (you're right - it sure could have been worse), I notice a truck pass me and then start backing up. WTH? Then I notice a sports bike in the bed of the truck and realize my good fortune. The gentleman stops, asks what is up and when I tell him I'm short on gas, pulls out a gas can and drops in some. We introduced ourselves - his name is Ron. As we talked, he said he is learning to ride and his brother apparently is pretty good, and he couldn't let another rider get stuck. Needless to say, I thanked him sincerely and wished him the best.
It wasn't until he started to drive off that I realized that this was Karma in action. See my earlier post about Why Motorcyclists Wave. For a variety of reasons, Ron was very helpful today and saved my butt. Thanks tons, Ron! Best wishes! Here is hoping that when it is your time for Karma to come your way, it does with the same speed that you came to my aid today. You're a good man and a good friend in my book.
FWIW, props to all who reach out to help others - it isn't just a motorcycle thing. I just mention it here because it seems one of the communities I know where you really see it in action.
As for the trip, it was a great ride. The guy who suggested we ride is guy I've known for a while and we grab a ride from time to time. This time, Steve called me Thursday or Friday, and I hadn't been planning on riding but had the time and I know we've missed each other in the past, so I jumped on the opportunity.
We took another Shadow of the Valkyries ride - going north of Denton, up to 902 through some back roads, then over to 289 south to 121 over to Tioga and Clark's Outpost for BBQ. Up until 121, it was all new roads for me and it was really cool. (If you want to try it out, look for 3002 east from I-35 and map a route up to 372 and 3496.) Some of the roads were high-twisties, but also not in the best condition.
After a late lunch, we went over to 75 via FM 455 and 543 - my two favorite roads in Texas in large part because they were the first real twisties I ever took (thanks, Mer and Randy and all you Beginner Biker folk). Those roads are still great for turns. Disappointinly, 543 is a little rough for wear with some washout areas, but it still was a good ride. Thanks, Steve - great suggestion and it was great to hit the roads with you again.
So, to sum up - Texas is still beautiful for riding, and Karma is still good currency.
Coda - so it is now 2012, and nothing in this post has changed. Texas is still beautiful for riding, and Karma is definitely still good currency.
Going west on I-635, about five miles into the ride, I have to reach into my reserve tank, which, again I've got a five mile buffer so I'm cool, right?
Well, then I'm going north on I-35 about ten miles later and I come across and accident that has traffic backed up for about a mile. I thought I got through it relatively quickly and still had some buffer to go, but then 25 miles into the reserve, I run out of gas......
Short story long, as I'm about a mile into walking my bike about two miles to the next gas station (you're right - it sure could have been worse), I notice a truck pass me and then start backing up. WTH? Then I notice a sports bike in the bed of the truck and realize my good fortune. The gentleman stops, asks what is up and when I tell him I'm short on gas, pulls out a gas can and drops in some. We introduced ourselves - his name is Ron. As we talked, he said he is learning to ride and his brother apparently is pretty good, and he couldn't let another rider get stuck. Needless to say, I thanked him sincerely and wished him the best.
It wasn't until he started to drive off that I realized that this was Karma in action. See my earlier post about Why Motorcyclists Wave. For a variety of reasons, Ron was very helpful today and saved my butt. Thanks tons, Ron! Best wishes! Here is hoping that when it is your time for Karma to come your way, it does with the same speed that you came to my aid today. You're a good man and a good friend in my book.
FWIW, props to all who reach out to help others - it isn't just a motorcycle thing. I just mention it here because it seems one of the communities I know where you really see it in action.
As for the trip, it was a great ride. The guy who suggested we ride is guy I've known for a while and we grab a ride from time to time. This time, Steve called me Thursday or Friday, and I hadn't been planning on riding but had the time and I know we've missed each other in the past, so I jumped on the opportunity.
We took another Shadow of the Valkyries ride - going north of Denton, up to 902 through some back roads, then over to 289 south to 121 over to Tioga and Clark's Outpost for BBQ. Up until 121, it was all new roads for me and it was really cool. (If you want to try it out, look for 3002 east from I-35 and map a route up to 372 and 3496.) Some of the roads were high-twisties, but also not in the best condition.
After a late lunch, we went over to 75 via FM 455 and 543 - my two favorite roads in Texas in large part because they were the first real twisties I ever took (thanks, Mer and Randy and all you Beginner Biker folk). Those roads are still great for turns. Disappointinly, 543 is a little rough for wear with some washout areas, but it still was a good ride. Thanks, Steve - great suggestion and it was great to hit the roads with you again.
So, to sum up - Texas is still beautiful for riding, and Karma is still good currency.
Coda - so it is now 2012, and nothing in this post has changed. Texas is still beautiful for riding, and Karma is definitely still good currency.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
El Capitan
Every once in a while, especially on Twitter (drumrboy93) and Facebook (kevin.lindstrom1), I'll mention El Capitan, usually in reference to an FC Dallas game.
What is El Capitan you ask?
See Wiki - and yes, I'm the one that fires it. As described in the Wiki entry, it is a Civil War Era, muzzle-loading mountain howitzer. El Capitan ain't no two shotgun shells and a pull-string, that is for sure.
Love the smell of gunpowder. Smells like . . . victory!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Motorcycle Rider Resource Page(s)
Originally, this was a very detailed set of recommendations and information resources. Unfortunately, the original pages have been shut down so I will need to rebuild them.
For now, a few things. First and foremost, if you are a new rider, learn as much as you can. Motorcycling can be a great experience, but it does take more than just hoping on and going. It certainly is more involved than driving an automatic transmission car, truck or van.
The statistics about new riders is awful - a large portion of motorcycle fatalities happen in the first year of riding - so learn what you need to so that you don't join those statistics. (The other large factor is riding drunk...)
A great resource for that is BeginnerBikes.org. It is a great community of riders who are either new and learning or experienced and willing to share their experience in a positive way. I can't recommend it enough.
If you have specific questions, you are welcome to email me.
Also, take a look at one of my most popular articles, Why Motorcyclists Wave.
Beginning Riders: Get In The Saddle (my original BR resource page) - Beginnerbikers.org
More advanced Riders: Highway Child (my original resource page w/ info about me) - Beginner and Beyond.com
Get In The Saddle has a number of good sections, including stuff about information sources for bike evaluations, insurance options, used bike evaluation tools, along with a number of notes about how I learned to ride and the things that challenged me and the things that helped me. Ideally, GITS is an all-encompassing resource page for beginning riders.
Beginnerbikers.org is a wonderful internet discussion site that has a bunch of great contributors. Especially for a beginning rider who doesn't have people they personally know to ask questions of, or if you're just looking for a community that has a positive attitude about riding (have fun, be safe), it is a wonderful place to check in to.
Highway Child was my original website and chronicles how I got into riding, a number of the notes and comments from GITS but in a more raw form as a lot of it was written as it was happening. The GITS stuff is more condensed. It also includes Stephanie's Corner, a section of websites geared towards women riders.
Beginner and Beyond.com is a website that is - as the name implies - for beginning and more advanced riders. It includes some of the Beginner Bikers stuff, but also has stuff for riders that have been around the block a few times, so to speak.
I intend on revising GITS and Highway Child through this website down the road, but for now, here is a good starting point.
Also, I came across an interesting website out of Oregon - HinesSight. An interesting set of (wait for it....) in-Sights! (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) Seriously, very cool take on the world.
For now, a few things. First and foremost, if you are a new rider, learn as much as you can. Motorcycling can be a great experience, but it does take more than just hoping on and going. It certainly is more involved than driving an automatic transmission car, truck or van.
The statistics about new riders is awful - a large portion of motorcycle fatalities happen in the first year of riding - so learn what you need to so that you don't join those statistics. (The other large factor is riding drunk...)
A great resource for that is BeginnerBikes.org. It is a great community of riders who are either new and learning or experienced and willing to share their experience in a positive way. I can't recommend it enough.
If you have specific questions, you are welcome to email me.
Also, take a look at one of my most popular articles, Why Motorcyclists Wave.
____________________________________________________
I'll update this page with more detail later, but as a starting point, here are some Motorcycle Rider resources:Beginning Riders: Get In The Saddle (my original BR resource page) - Beginnerbikers.org
More advanced Riders: Highway Child (my original resource page w/ info about me) - Beginner and Beyond.com
Get In The Saddle has a number of good sections, including stuff about information sources for bike evaluations, insurance options, used bike evaluation tools, along with a number of notes about how I learned to ride and the things that challenged me and the things that helped me. Ideally, GITS is an all-encompassing resource page for beginning riders.
Beginnerbikers.org is a wonderful internet discussion site that has a bunch of great contributors. Especially for a beginning rider who doesn't have people they personally know to ask questions of, or if you're just looking for a community that has a positive attitude about riding (have fun, be safe), it is a wonderful place to check in to.
Highway Child was my original website and chronicles how I got into riding, a number of the notes and comments from GITS but in a more raw form as a lot of it was written as it was happening. The GITS stuff is more condensed. It also includes Stephanie's Corner, a section of websites geared towards women riders.
Beginner and Beyond.com is a website that is - as the name implies - for beginning and more advanced riders. It includes some of the Beginner Bikers stuff, but also has stuff for riders that have been around the block a few times, so to speak.
I intend on revising GITS and Highway Child through this website down the road, but for now, here is a good starting point.
Also, I came across an interesting website out of Oregon - HinesSight. An interesting set of (wait for it....) in-Sights! (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) Seriously, very cool take on the world.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Why Motorcycle Riders Wave
Those of you who don't ride motorcycles probably don't know this. Those of you who do ride probably do.
Motorcycle riders wave to each other. It usually is a small thing - a simple raise of a few fingers or nod of the head in a lot of instances. This article includes some of my thoughts on this great practice.
It has always given me a sense of community and never ceases to put a smile on my face. It means we're brothers and sisters on the road.
Today, though, it became a lot more - a reminder of what it really is all about.
I was riding home from work when I saw a guy riding a Harley coming into the intersection from my left. He waved, and as I was holding down the clutch with my hand, I just nodded. Then he entered the intersection to turn left in front of me. His front tire lost pressure, his bike lost contact with the road and he dropped the bike.
It took me about three seconds to really get what had just happened. Once it sunk in, I pulled my bike to the median and went over to him. As bad as things can be when you drop a bike, he was relatively okay. But I stood with him and made sure everything was okay. We checked out the bike and noted the scrapes and scratches, and then he got his bike back up and I followed him down the road to a gas station where he refilled his front tire. We talked a bit, making sure that he was good to ride home, etc.
That experience was a bit startling, but not what really drove home to me the issue of why motorcycle riders wave. What drove that home was one of the stories he shared - about a night where he was basically ridden off the road by a van and left behind in oncoming traffic, and about how no one stopped to help until two motorcyclists stopped and helped get him out from under his bike and out of the road.
My point? In many instances, we're all each other has. I've stopped a number of times for riders who look like they might be in trouble. This is the first time for someone who had dropped their bike, and I'm damn glad I did. Thinking back, I am sure I could have handled a situation like that on my own, but I'm sure I would appreciate having someone who understood riding (or even just someone to make sure I was okay) there to have my six, so to speak.
On the rest of the way home, I saw a number of riders. Bikes of all kinds - cruisers, crotch rockets, touring bikes. And every time someone waved, I could feel the camaraderie - and the underlying "when we waive, we celebrate enjoying riding together, but we also say 'I've got your six', too."
So if you ride - thanks. Thanks for being a part of that family that takes care of each other.
If you don't ride, please, watch out for the motorcycles out there. Car and truck drivers have a tendency to not notice motorcycles because they are more focused on the larger vehicles like themselves. I'm asking you to be proactive in noticing the motorcycles out there, and if you happen to see someone on a bike in trouble, consider checking to see if they are okay. The vast majority of the riders out there are not the stereotypical biker gang dude, but rather people who have found the joy of riding motorcycles.
If you are considering taking up motorcycling, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. The VAST majority of serious motorcycle accidents happen in the first year of a person taking up riding. Reduce those odds by taking a MSF course and then riding carefully for at least six months.
If you want more information, take a look at my old "Get in the Saddle - A Motorcycle Rider Beginner Basics" page. It has a lot of solid information about how to evaluate bikes, links to resources, etc. Some of them are outdated, and I plan on doing a revised version here on this Blogspot page, but for now, it is still a useful page.
Also, in checking out articles about riders and waiving, I found an old friend, so to speak - BeginnerBikers.org! This was a wonderful resource from when I started riding. It included a forum that was great for discussing all things a learning rider needed to see and read and talk about. I met friends there who rode with me in the Hill Country - what a great ride! Unfortunately, that version of the organization apparently hit a road bump or two and was offline for a bit, but apparently it resurfaced and is back, stronger than ever. I HIGHLY recommend it to any rider with two years experience or less, and would even recommend it for experienced riders who just want to stay in touch.
Keep the shinny side up, folks. And remember - when riders wave, it not only means "ain't this cool?", but also "I've got your back."
By the way, there was a follow-on article that happened soon after the events that inspired this post. It resulted in this article, "Karma = Good (Motorcycle Version)."
Motorcycle riders wave to each other. It usually is a small thing - a simple raise of a few fingers or nod of the head in a lot of instances. This article includes some of my thoughts on this great practice.
_________________________________________________________
Thank you for joining us at Implausible Dreams. This is my website about motorcycling, sports and music. Enjoy and share your feedback!
_________________________________________________________
It has always given me a sense of community and never ceases to put a smile on my face. It means we're brothers and sisters on the road.
Today, though, it became a lot more - a reminder of what it really is all about.
I was riding home from work when I saw a guy riding a Harley coming into the intersection from my left. He waved, and as I was holding down the clutch with my hand, I just nodded. Then he entered the intersection to turn left in front of me. His front tire lost pressure, his bike lost contact with the road and he dropped the bike.
It took me about three seconds to really get what had just happened. Once it sunk in, I pulled my bike to the median and went over to him. As bad as things can be when you drop a bike, he was relatively okay. But I stood with him and made sure everything was okay. We checked out the bike and noted the scrapes and scratches, and then he got his bike back up and I followed him down the road to a gas station where he refilled his front tire. We talked a bit, making sure that he was good to ride home, etc.
That experience was a bit startling, but not what really drove home to me the issue of why motorcycle riders wave. What drove that home was one of the stories he shared - about a night where he was basically ridden off the road by a van and left behind in oncoming traffic, and about how no one stopped to help until two motorcyclists stopped and helped get him out from under his bike and out of the road.
My point? In many instances, we're all each other has. I've stopped a number of times for riders who look like they might be in trouble. This is the first time for someone who had dropped their bike, and I'm damn glad I did. Thinking back, I am sure I could have handled a situation like that on my own, but I'm sure I would appreciate having someone who understood riding (or even just someone to make sure I was okay) there to have my six, so to speak.
On the rest of the way home, I saw a number of riders. Bikes of all kinds - cruisers, crotch rockets, touring bikes. And every time someone waved, I could feel the camaraderie - and the underlying "when we waive, we celebrate enjoying riding together, but we also say 'I've got your six', too."
So if you ride - thanks. Thanks for being a part of that family that takes care of each other.
If you don't ride, please, watch out for the motorcycles out there. Car and truck drivers have a tendency to not notice motorcycles because they are more focused on the larger vehicles like themselves. I'm asking you to be proactive in noticing the motorcycles out there, and if you happen to see someone on a bike in trouble, consider checking to see if they are okay. The vast majority of the riders out there are not the stereotypical biker gang dude, but rather people who have found the joy of riding motorcycles.
If you are considering taking up motorcycling, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. The VAST majority of serious motorcycle accidents happen in the first year of a person taking up riding. Reduce those odds by taking a MSF course and then riding carefully for at least six months.
If you want more information, take a look at my old "Get in the Saddle - A Motorcycle Rider Beginner Basics" page. It has a lot of solid information about how to evaluate bikes, links to resources, etc. Some of them are outdated, and I plan on doing a revised version here on this Blogspot page, but for now, it is still a useful page.
Also, in checking out articles about riders and waiving, I found an old friend, so to speak - BeginnerBikers.org! This was a wonderful resource from when I started riding. It included a forum that was great for discussing all things a learning rider needed to see and read and talk about. I met friends there who rode with me in the Hill Country - what a great ride! Unfortunately, that version of the organization apparently hit a road bump or two and was offline for a bit, but apparently it resurfaced and is back, stronger than ever. I HIGHLY recommend it to any rider with two years experience or less, and would even recommend it for experienced riders who just want to stay in touch.
Keep the shinny side up, folks. And remember - when riders wave, it not only means "ain't this cool?", but also "I've got your back."
_________________________________________________________
By the way, there was a follow-on article that happened soon after the events that inspired this post. It resulted in this article, "Karma = Good (Motorcycle Version)."
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Welcome to Implausible Dreams! - Euro 2008
Have you been following Euro 2008?
If not, what rock are you stuck under, and what do we need to get you out from under it?
ESPN and ABC could not have asked for a better year to take this great tournament into mainstream America. What incredible games. It isn't too late to start following the games - they are in the quarterfinals now and if things continue at this pace, people are going to start dying of heart attacks from all the incredible drama.
As usual, I have made some more additions to most of my pages, including the page about Janice and her radio show, my Dallas Stars page Cygnus X-1, and the US Soccer Links page.
FWIW, I transitioned my June 9 entry into a mini-Rangers page. I also added a few things to the links on the right - including some basic stuff I use regularly (CNN for news, the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram for general local sports, Weather.com, etc., and some general working links like MapQuest, Wikipedia, Google).
For now, take a look at the following pages:
Janice and The Music Therapy Show
Cygnus X-1 (Dallas Stars)
Neil Peart Condolences Page
US Soccer Links Page (a bit under construction still, but recently revised)
Texas A&M University Sports Page
Soon to come/under construction (current link to old page):
Motorcycle Beginner Basics Page
Chaotica (my music)
I don't plan on updating The Red Book (originally about the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas) as I work for the team and I'm going to leave that stuff up to the official team sources, the media and the fans.
I also will probably not update the original idea that sparked Implausible Dreams, my World Cup Resource page, as I probably won't have time to. If that changes, I'll consider it. But for now, use the US Soccer Links page to get access to that stuff.
Here is the original post, "Implausible Dreams Returns!" It contains a more detailed description of why we're back.
For those so interested, here is the link to my old Main Page. And then there is the link to my REALLY old Main Page.
For those visiting for the first time or otherwise not familiar with my old site, here is a (somewhat) brief summary.
Implausible Dreams
"Why Implausible Dreams?" THIS is why. I'm pretty happy that I've been able to experience a number of them come true, including a number of USA soccer triumphs on three continents and the construction of an incredible soccer specific venue in the DFW MetroPlex, among others.
As mentioned above, the original idea for Implausible Dreams was to put together a World Cup Resource for the 2002 World Cup, and things just grew from there.
If not, what rock are you stuck under, and what do we need to get you out from under it?
ESPN and ABC could not have asked for a better year to take this great tournament into mainstream America. What incredible games. It isn't too late to start following the games - they are in the quarterfinals now and if things continue at this pace, people are going to start dying of heart attacks from all the incredible drama.
As usual, I have made some more additions to most of my pages, including the page about Janice and her radio show, my Dallas Stars page Cygnus X-1, and the US Soccer Links page.
FWIW, I transitioned my June 9 entry into a mini-Rangers page. I also added a few things to the links on the right - including some basic stuff I use regularly (CNN for news, the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram for general local sports, Weather.com, etc., and some general working links like MapQuest, Wikipedia, Google).
For now, take a look at the following pages:
Janice and The Music Therapy Show
Cygnus X-1 (Dallas Stars)
Neil Peart Condolences Page
US Soccer Links Page (a bit under construction still, but recently revised)
Texas A&M University Sports Page
Soon to come/under construction (current link to old page):
Motorcycle Beginner Basics Page
Chaotica (my music)
I don't plan on updating The Red Book (originally about the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas) as I work for the team and I'm going to leave that stuff up to the official team sources, the media and the fans.
I also will probably not update the original idea that sparked Implausible Dreams, my World Cup Resource page, as I probably won't have time to. If that changes, I'll consider it. But for now, use the US Soccer Links page to get access to that stuff.
Here is the original post, "Implausible Dreams Returns!" It contains a more detailed description of why we're back.
For those so interested, here is the link to my old Main Page. And then there is the link to my REALLY old Main Page.
For those visiting for the first time or otherwise not familiar with my old site, here is a (somewhat) brief summary.
Implausible Dreams
"Why Implausible Dreams?" THIS is why. I'm pretty happy that I've been able to experience a number of them come true, including a number of USA soccer triumphs on three continents and the construction of an incredible soccer specific venue in the DFW MetroPlex, among others.
As mentioned above, the original idea for Implausible Dreams was to put together a World Cup Resource for the 2002 World Cup, and things just grew from there.
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