JC&BFoL at Meadowlark

Hiya Lovers,

We're playing a great show tomorrow night (11/5) at the Meadowlark. It's likely to be the last time you'l be able to see us before the big Denver cd release show for Beautiful Empty (New date for cd release: Sat, Jan 16 -- save it!)

Here is the schedule (pronounced "shedjuwell") for tomorrow night. It's back-to-back loveliness:
11:15 LSW
10:30 JOHN COMMON & BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT (JESS, WES, DAVE)
9:45 JOSEPH POPE III
9:00 JESSE TORRISI

See you tomorrow night!

I'm learning to weld -- I already have the goggles,

john
johncommon.com
twitter.com/johncommon
facebook.com/jcommon
myspace.com/johncommon
hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com

P.S. Goggle time:


















=================
Upcoming Events
=================

Thu, Nov 5
Meadowlark
John Common
w/ LSW, Joseph Pope III and Jesse Torrisi
$6
8PM

Sat, January 16th, 2010
John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
Denver CD Release
for Beautiful Empty
@ Casslemans

Details coming ~ Save the date!!

Snowy morning

Snowy mornings make me remember that little house where I rented a room in Johnson, Vermont... a sleeping bag and my books. A wood stove for heat. A happy young couple shared the rent -- they took the room upstairs. She was gorgeous. I secretly loved her. She let me borrow her Leonard Cohen record. That's how I disovered Cohen: a beautiful girl, an impossible love triangle, self-imposed loneliness and snow that wouldn't stop falling... an over-exposed photograph. I can still hear the crunch and squeak of the snow underfoot when I'd leave the house to the lovers and go walk in the weather.

Yul Brynner

E

"john common is no longer idle" is what it says right now.

10:57amJohn

i'm eating a pb&j for bfast, making coffee and watching it's always sunny in philadelphia.

life is good, E.

10:57am E

god damn

i thought i had it easy by sleeping in until 7

i went to Jenny Morgan's art opening last night at plus gallery. fucking amazing.

you gotta go see it.

10:58amJohn

jennymorgan.

i wanna see it.

10:59am E

you know her?

10:59amJohn

i think she gave me a kidney once?

no, i don't.

10:59am E

check 'em out

http://www.plusgallery.com/exhibitions/41/106

you can click on the thumbnails

you'll see familiar faces

and unfamiliar breasts

11:01amJohn

semi familiar.

the faces.

cool shiat.

you're one of my cultural ambassadors, E.

i rely on thee.

it's a service you provide.

i'm not even kidding.

i only hope i deliver some amount of utility in your direction.

11:03am E

you deliver utilities?! that's awesome!

11:03amJohn

i am software.

sometimes, i am hardware

11:04am E

the revision is better

i think we are of great service to each other

11:04amJohn

wow. that really did sound gay.

speaking of...

i was on stage last night, i lifted my cap, jauntily, i might add.

and said into mic:

"i shaved my head... doooo you like?"

of course, i got the perfunctory applause and woo's.

because people are basically kind, E.

but then i said,

"really? i think i look a little like yul brenner"

and then i delivered the only yul line that i know:

"WHO IS THIS MOSES WITH HIS ONE GOD???!!"

nobody laughed.

i mean, some did.

but it was an E. moment.

brynner.

11:07am E

that's beautiful. truly. and gay. and how is that an E. moment?

11:07amJohn

oh you know...

any time i make an obscure reference in some lame attempt at humor that nobody really gets, i think "E. would laugh at this"

E

ha!

that's truly flattering

you know what the first yul brynner line was that i thought of?

11:13amJohn

do tell

E

"I'm Yul Brynner, and I'm dead now."

11:13amJohn

What movie was that from?

11:14am E

from the anti-smoking commercial that came out right after he died

he filmed it before his death, with the express purpose of having the ad run after he died

11:14amJohn

wow. way to bring the IM party down, E.

E

one of the services i provide

This Thursday at The Walnut Room: me, you us

'Sup Punkin',

I'm playing a tres cool show this Thursday (Oct 22) at the inestimably great sounding Walnut Room. I will be playing the show with the lovely Jess DeNicola and the beguiling Dave Preston. How's that for a power trio? Also playing that night: Liz Clark, Tessa Perry and Melanie Susuras. Not to turn this into a gender thing, but I just realized I'll be the sole male songwriter of the night. Hmmm... Interesting.

Fear not, it's an early show--you will get your beauty rest. Not that you need it.

Will you come? Say yes.

Here are the DETAILS of the show and a way to buy TICKETS for you and your date:

http://www.thewalnutroom.com/show/detail/23996#tickets

I've been reading Emerson lately,

john
johncommon.com
twitter.com/johncommon
facebook.com/jcommon
myspace.com/johncommon
hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com
P.S. We're looking for graphic artists to collaborate with on band merch. Here's the idea, delivered by yours truly. And yes, that's the best shark I know how to draw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF_wabxGEIQ

Super Cool Merch Project Idea Thingy

Beautiful Empty Supercool Merch Project (BEScMP)

Hi -- Here's the idea for the BEScMP:

Rather than doing merch the normal way for this new record, we want to make it more artful and collaborative. The idea is to work with a handful of chosen graphic designers/artists who create an amazing custom design that is inspired in some way by a song from our new record.

If this goes the way we're hoping it will, 1) artists will get introduced to a bunch of new fans, 2) fans will get access to supercool, artful merch, 3) we all make a gajillion dollars, we move to Italy together and retire on our t-shirt and sticker fortune. :)

Interested? Email Adrienne at missmoon691@gmail.com -- she's pulling this crazy thing together. God bless her lil heart.

Also, this project was inspired by these projects:
www.commonboxproject.blogspot.com
www.beautifulempty.blogspot.com

=======================
Okay... Here are the rules:
=========================

1) have fun! be creative!
2) make a design that works for merch (tshirts, hats, hoodies, stickers, coffee cups, banners that fly behind airplanes, buttons, you get the point) -- example: will it work as a single color? it probably should.
3) you can create as many designs as you want - go crazy, kid
4) each design should be inspired by a song/lyric/song title from the new record by John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light, named 'Beautiful Empty'.
5) we'll send you a top secret (no kidding) link where you'll be able to hear songs from the upcoming record:
6) please DO NOT share this link with anyone. it's just for you. and it's just to get you all inspired and shit.
7) please try to work the name of the song and/or the band name (john common & blinding flashes of light) into your design.
8) sign your design if you want to!
9) don't forget the high res part
10) drink beer and/or coffee and/or jameson as needed
11) for the designs that get chosen (because they're amazing, supercool, communicate something clever/beautiful/thoughtful/freakishly remarkable about the song), we're gonna put them in the store at johncommon.com so that folks can buy them!!! and we're gonna highlight each artist on our website as a collaborator and all around lovely person whom everyone should know and love.
12) we're still working the details out, but if merch that uses your design starts to sell, we're gonna pay you. more on this soon.
13) email adrienne with any/all questions: missmoon691@gmail.com think of her as the den mother of this project.
14) email adrienne to get the top secret link and then start cooking up ideas! we can't wait to see 'em!
15) you rock. love you. thank you.

Let the merch begin.

Latest JC Newsletter

Subject: "Fort Collins" spells "Come to show" if you re-arrange the letters.

Hey Crackerjack,

I'm playing a fun show this Saturday, Oct 10th in Fort Collins at Everyday Joe's with Dan Craig and Danielle Ate The Sandwich. 7PM. It's a bit of an early show too. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

This is the part of the email where I write something funny/witty to get you to come. Pretend I just did that. Did it work? Visit this link for directions, tickets and such:

http://www.everydayjoes.org/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&Itemid=64&agid=548&year=2009&month=10&day=10

Love you, miss you, write me,

john
johncommon.com
twitter.com/johncommon
facebook.com/jcommon
myspace.com/johncommon
hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com


P.S. The cd artwork for Beautiful Empty is nearly done. It's lovely. Just like the new record is. Can't wait for you to hear it. Saturday, Dec 12 -- Denver CD release show. Put it on your refrigerator!

P.P.S. This is me having an ADHD moment during the mixing of a song named 'Same Scar' from the new record. Further proof that making a record is filled with dangerous, white knuckling moments fraught with tension and... who am I kiddin'? It's actually a lot of drinking Jameson, listening and waiting around. http://hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com/2009/08/mixing-same-scar-self-amusement.html

=================
Upcoming Events
=================

Thu, Oct 22
Walnut Room
w/ Liz Clark

Thu, Nov 5
Meadowlark
w/ TBA

Sat, Dec 12
Denver CD Release
for Beautiful Empty
Curious Theatre
Details coming ~ Save the date

Sprint Triathlon at Pensacola Beach

I did a sprint TRI at Pensacola Beach with my brother this morning. It was his first -- he did great! He was thinking his time would be 2 hrs 45 min. But he did it in 2:13! Go Bruce! I wrote this on my arm to look at during the race:

My goal was 2 hrs 5 min.

My stretch goal was 1 hr 48 min.

I did it in 1:48:25.

Yay!

The Stats
swim (1/3 mile) 12:25
T1 3:09
bike (18 mile) 1:02:27
T2 1:43
run (3.1 mile) 28:44
total 1:48:25

Surgery

I just had a dream that I could perform something I named "time travel surgery". I have no idea what that means.

Pad Thai

I had a dream about Pad Thai and Christmas. That is all for now.

Really?

Rain the color of cement
Rain in the morning depresses me
Rain the color of Monday
Rain the color of work
Socked in to this life
“A job is good… Beats the alternative,” Dad would say.
Really?
Really?

My status is hiatus.

Hi All, Just wanted to write a short note and tell you that 1) the new record is pretty much done, 2) it's named Beautiful Empty, 3) our Denver release party will be Sat, Dec 12 at Curious Theatre (save the date!), 4) that night is gonna be crazy cool, and that 5) we're taking a break from music for a month or so... to rest up for all the flashing and lighting and blinding that we'll soon be doing. Enjoy your September. I sure will. Love you, miss you, write me, john johncommon.com twitter.com/johncommon facebook.com/jcommon myspace.com/johncommon hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com P.S. The Beautiful Empty Short Film Conspiracy is still accepting submissions -- jump in if you or someone you know is an indie/amateur film maker... or if you want to be one. Details here: www.beautifulempty.blogspot.com P.P.S. Fall is almost here. I love fall:http://hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com/2007/09/fall-is-here.html
Upcoming Events Sat, Dec 12 Denver CD Release of Beautiful Empty Curious Theatre Details coming ~ Save the date	Click the riot... Buy great music.

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Free School Records | Northside | Denver | CO | 80211

I Should Read This Every Day

A good friend just sent me this:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, 1927, Terre Haute, Indiana

New Piano

Here's a picture of my new piano... its dimensions, actually.

Channel 34

I'm sitting in bed in a low end hotel in San Francisco's China Town. I've been here 3 days. Four days? It's all blending together now. At any rate, a couple of nights ago I was mindlessly flipping through the few channels available on the old television set in my room when I came across a subtle meditation. Apparently, there is an entire television channel devoted to 24 hour coverage of what looks like a random intersection somewhere in downtown San Francisco -- just a live picture with no sound. 24 hours a day. Like an unblinking eye.

When I mindlessly flipped to this channel - channel 34 on this old television - I stayed there, thinking it was an exterior shot from some movie perhaps. I just watched it, waiting for the next significant thing to happen. And I waited. And I waited. And then my mind started to wander.

And then I started thinking about some thing. And then another thing.

And then it dawned on me that nothing "significant" was coming. I was just watching a random street corner in San Francisco, live and with no sound.

And then I REALLY began to watch it. And an odd feeling came over me. I suddenly realized that I felt more calm than I'd felt in WEEKS.

...

I watched it for about 20 minutes. I just watched this foggy, silent, lamp-lit street corner in San Francisco.

I woke up the next morning, turned the television back on, having forgotten about channel 34, and was immediately sucked in again. It was, of course, morning outside. And it was also morning on channel 34. I watched it for about 10 minutes. 10 wonderfully calm minutes.

And then I took a shower, dressed and left my hotel room.

Latest JC Newsletter

Hiya,

Ever want to make a short film? Know any budding filmmakers? We're cooking up a really creative film project attached to the upcoming release of our new record. The idea is to collaborate with all kinds of artists around the songs that are going to be on the new record. Just like the Box Project, only with film!

Visit this link if you or someone you know might be interested:
www.beautifulempty.blogspot.com

And here's a YouTube video of me and Darci (Beautiful Empty's Film Festival Director) talking about the project:

Love ya,

John
johncommon.com
twitter.com/johncommon
facebook.com/jcommon
myspace.com/johncommon
hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com


Upcoming Events

TOMORROW Friday, Aug 14 2009 11:30AM - EARLY SHOW
Lyons Folks Festival
John Common - songwriter showcase
Lyons, Colorado
Tickets: http://www.bluegrass.com/folks/contests.html

Fri, Aug 21 2009 7:00-8:30PM
John, Jess and Wes
Parfet Park
Downtown Golden, CO
(10th Street and Washington)
We play then there's a movie in the park
All ages / free show

Live Photos from Denver Post UMS

These photos were taken by the amazing Lindsay McWilliams at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase. We finished the set out in the audience.

Flickr Feed

I'm trying to learn how this Flickr feed thing works...



The photos were taken by a bunch of amazing photographers including (but not limited to) kelly kievit, lindsay mcwilliams, ann fealteau, rhiannon royce, photog brian and many more...

Impossible

impossible

she was raised by machines
and she doesn't give a shit
she's beautiful yeh
but she's about to split
her smile is a thing you could never keep
she was raised by machines

she's got wolf blood in her veins
she eats rocks and glass
she'll hate you even more
if you kiss her ass
that snarky sneer goes bone deep
she's got wolf blood in her veins

impossible, impossible
impossible, impossible
impossible, impossible
look how you try
look how you try

she'll never be with you
she'll only be near you
you can talk all you want
she'll never really hear you
love is a joke and touch is cheap
she'll never be with you

impossible, impossible
impossible, impossible
impossible, impossible
look how you try
look how you try

how did she end up
so broken
the words of human kindness
never spoken
no one ever taught her to love
all she ever learned was push and shove
awwwwwww
to her you are totally tossable
but still you think…

it's possible, it's possible
it's possible, it's possible
it's possible, it's possible
look how you try
look how you try
look at him try
look at him try

Playing with David Lindley

Super honored to be asked to open up for David Lindley, acoustically. I did the show with Jess (from Blinding Flashes of Light). It was such a fun night. The audience was very kind and seemed to genuinely like our music.

We ended up meeting and hanging out with David and Norm, his road manager, before the show. Right before we went on, I was trying to decide what song we should start with and suggested a darkish song named "You Got The Lonely". David said, "Yes... Start with a dark song... make them drink their own tears!" So funny.

Here's a video I made about the night.

Possible name for the record after Beautiful Empty.

Angels and Sharks

Today's paraphrased quote: "Angels are just sharks who have learned to control their appetite." -- the Cook in Moby Dick

The actual quote:

"Your woraciousness, fellow-critters. I don't blame ye so much for; dat is natur, and can't be helped; but to gobern dat wicked natur, dat is de pint. You is sharks, sartin; but if you gobern de shark in you, why den you be angel; for all angel is not'ing more dan de shark well goberned. Now, look here, bred'ren, just try wonst to be cibil, a helping yourselbs from dat whale. Don't be tearin' de blubber out your neighbour's mout, I say. Is not one shark dood right as toder to dat whale? And, by Gor, none on you has de right to dat whale; dat whale belong to some one else. I know some o' you has berry brig mout, brigger dan oders; but then de brig mouts sometimes has de small bellies; so dat de brigness of de mout is not to swaller wid, but to bit off de blubber for de small fry ob sharks, dat can't get into de scrouge to help demselves."

John and Darci Talk About B.E.

Mixing Same Scar... Self-amusement

This is me trying to amuse myself In the studio with John Macy. We're mixing a song named Same Scar from the upcoming JC&BFoL record (Beautiful Empty).

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light: DPUMS Day 3: Goodwill Experience