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

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

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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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.

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."

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

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light: DPUMS Day 2: After the Sketch Wine Bar Show

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light: DPUMS Day 1: After the Michaelangelo's Show

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light: DPUMS Day 1: Before the Michaelangelo's Show

Spoons

Years ago, I was standing in my kitchen one night, looking down into the silverware drawer. I noticed that there were more than a few spoons whose origins I couldn't quite pin down. Such as that really nice heavy one with the longish handle. Or that Mickey Mouse spoon from Disney World. Or that little ornate tea spoon. Or that strange-ish, wooden spoon with a Russian peasant-looking paint job. Or that funky modern one. And others.

And then it dawned on me that these disparate spoons all had something in common: I had stolen them, subconsciously, from ex-girlfriends over the years.

It's true. I was standing there in my kitchen, face to face with a new reality: I was a spoon thief. And it also dawned on me that it was a little creepy, frankly. Like some sleepwalking, totemistic, voodoo, final rites ritual. But each spoon reminded me of "her" and our happier times. I thought to myself "Weird, man." And... "I'm a weird man".

But then I thought about it a little more and I started getting a little misty-eyed. I mean, there's something endearing about this mild obsession, if you think about it. I was "just a boy, standing in front of a girl's silverware drawer, stealing a spoon to remember her by..." Kind of like this movie scene. Only odder and slightly less sacharin. And without Hugh Grant or Julia Roberts.

So I did what any self-respecting songwriter would do. I wrote a song about it:

spoons
(imagine the music being played by a full on, guitar-driven, rock band drunk on well tequila at Lions Lair)

i collect the spoons of my ex-girlfriends
they're all right here in my kitchen drawer
it's kind of a weird thing I admit
but it's the one thing that I still have

whenever I saw that the end was near
I'd steal to her kitchen and pocket a spoon
just a little something to remember her by
'cause the end was coming soon

have a good life
with your fork and knife
I got your spoon, got your spoon
makes me think of you
I gotcha spoon, gotcha spoon
gotcha spoon, gotcha

I've never been good at remembering when
like the time by the river or when I met her dad
but when it's 3 in the morning and it's cold outside
it's all right here in my hand

["FUCK YEH" GUITAR SOLO]

I suppose one day I might find someone
who'll put up with all the crazy shit I do
we'll decide on a pattern and get our silverware
and I'll give back those spoons

I'll record this song on an old tape deck
box it up with her beat up spoon
brown paper wrapping with no return address
just a note that reads..

"I enjoyed your spoon"
"I surely enjoyed your spoon"
"I sure will miss your spoon"

[REPEAT CHORUS... maybe twice even]

I got your spoon...
it makes me think of you

============================
What made me remember all of this was a recent Facebook IM conversation with my friend, A.

A while back, I told A. about my strange spoon stealing fetish. A. was going through a break up of his own, alas. So I recommended the spoon stealing move as a way to deal with his angst and grief. A. thought it was "funny". But today, A. popped in on me and we had this conversation:

2:45pm A.
I got a spoon!

its a great silicon spoonish spatula

she's pissed that i wont give it back

2:46pm John
i'm proud of you, A.

good job.

i would have liked to see you nab a metal one.

2:46pm A.
;)

naw

2:46pm John
a big soup spoon has been my specialty.

2:46pm A.
this one is amazing

2:46pm John
but hey, we're different people.

we like different things.

and i embrace diversity.

2:46pm A.
its true :):)

2:47pm John
it feels good... when you look down in the drawer, doesn't it?

surprisingly.

2:47pm A.
so great

i dont even use it

i just like to look at it and gloat

2:47pm John
oh... you're "using it"... you're just not using it.

2:47pm A.
zakly

So Dear Reader, I will leave you with this final bit of advice: The next time you go through a breakup, go ahead and nab a spoon. Do it. It's oddly therapeutic. And if you ever look down into your kitchen drawer and wonder, "Where the hell is that spoon?", don't get angry. Don't judge. Just smile.

Monday night (yes, Monday): JC&BFoL, Nathan Moore, Tyler Despres @ Walnut Room

Hellooooo,

We had such a great time playing at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase this past weekend! We played three shows and had a blast at every one of them. Visit my blog (www.hitrecordandplay.blog

spot.com) to see some lofi videos that I made.

JC&BFoL SHOWS THIS COMING WEEK!
We are playing an EARLY SHOW this coming Monday night, August 3rd, with the full band at the Walnut Room. I you hope can come -- Nathan Moore is a great writer. And Tyler Despres and Adam Exra aint too shabby either. We'll be playing with the full band that night. Here's the schedule for the night:

10:00 - 11:00 John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
8:40 - 9:40 Nathan Moore
7:45 - 8:30 Tyler Despres
7:00 - 7:35 Adam Ezra

Two days later on Wed, August 5th, Jess and I are opening for David Lindley of Jackson Browne fame. He's kind of a legend. Google him. Come check that out for a different kind of show.

Love ya,

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

============
SHOW DETAILS
============

Mon, Aug 3 2009 7:00PM - EARLY SHOW
John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light
at Walnut Room with Nathan Moore, Tyler Despres, Adam Ezra
3131 Walnut Street
Denver, CO 80205
21+ / $10

Wed, Aug, 5 2009 7:00PM
John Common & Jess De Nicola
at Soiled Dove
Opening for David Lindley
(of Jackson Browne fame)
Denver, Colorado
21+ / $15

Calling All Filmmakers

Production notes for one instrument on one song

Some times, making a record is just about hanging a microphone in a room, inviting in some friends and hitting record... Mostly it's not though.

Here is an example of the kind of detail we've put in to the new record -- these notes are for one instrument (cello), on one song (Turnaround).

intro
- i'll need to hear this against the organ/rhodes stuff. it'll probably work

verse 1
- i'll probably use all / some of this

chorus 1
- fucking gorgeous.
- check tuning

verse 2
- give it to me, probably too busy - fights the vocal often, but i might grab a phrase or two.

chorus 2
- fucking utterly lovely
- check tuning

bridge A
- honestly, i think these ideas are the ones we should go with. the tuning, timing and specific note choice of some of the "connecting phrases" just need to be improved/tightened.
- seriously, this general approach is gonna work! we just need to commit to it.
- on the chop parts - i hear two cellos doing really tight / tempo-locked harmony chops - with the note(s) you currently have. just thicken it.
- the "connective phrases" between the chops sound out of tune and maybe a bit to obvious / "i'm an orchestra guy". having said that, I don't think they need to be "weird / out there". I'd go for subtle harmonic color, actually. don't feel like you have to do the heavy lifting - let the vocals do that.

bridge B (speak up, hold on, walk away)
- love the pizz

solo
- heart breaking
- love the top notes in the 2nd half
- don't change a god damned thing

verse 3 - empty / quiet verse
- yes. nothing here.

verse 4 - building verse
- this feels like 10 pounds of cello in a 5 pound bag. BUT - give me them all and I'll pick the ones that work with the organ/rhodes tracks. you're fine.

final chorus(es)
- lovely.

descent into outro
- god damn -- gorgeous

outro
- yup. you're done. i might do some trimming / slimming, but it's all there.

churchy final outro
- lovely
- some of the notes need to be more in tune



John Common
-------------------------------------------------------
email | letters@johncommon.com
web | johncommon.com
blog | hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com
facebook | facebook.com/jcommon
twitter | twitter.com/johncommon

Remote recording.

My friend Evan sent me this, thinking I'd like it. He was right.

Reice Hamel, in 1960, at the Hungry I in San Francisco. This is the uncle of bassist Edo Castro... He was one of the pioneers of remote recording. He built his own portable mixers when none existed and also created other mic'ing techniques for recording live.

So many cool things to tell you... Grab a cup of coffee.

Hey Summer Squash,

Sorry I've been incommunicado lately. We've been sequestered in the studio wrapping up our new record. And man... I think you're gonna like it. I hope you're gonna like it. I've never made a record like this. It's orchestral and patient and quiet and lush and layered and very, very real. And it has a name: Beautiful Empty.

We'll be releasing it this fall (late September). But you can come get a sneak listen to it on Saturday, July 18 at an incredibly cool event called the Common Box Project at Abecedarian Gallery in Denver. It's an entire art exhibit of assemblage/box art made by 60+ different visual artists -- each box was inspired from a song from our new record, Beautiful Empty. I've seen some of them boxes -- they're amazing. I want to especially thank my dear friend Alicia Bailey (owner/founder of Abecedarian) and her right hand, Ella Trujillo for the LARGE amount of work that's gone into this exhibit. Details are here and below. Check out all the artists' websites -- you'll be blown away.

Also: we're putting together a Short Film Festival in conjunction with the release for Beautiful Empty! Are you an indie filmmaker? Know any filmmakers? It's like the box project, but with FILM -- and it's open to anyone who makes art with film. Read all about it here:

http://hitrecordandplay.blogspot.com/2009/07/looking-for-filmmakers-short-film.html

We're doing some really cool things in the next couple of weeks:
- An outoor show this Wednesday sponsored by Swallow Hill (full band)
- A duo set (me and Jess) at a benefit at Meadowlark for Flobots.org
- I'll be speaking at Action Figures (Katie Taft is Denver's Terry Gross and Action Figures is her Fresh Air)
- The Common Box Project / Sneak CD Listening Party
- And then several appearances at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase. All the details are below.

Cant' wait to see you at any or all of them!

Love,

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

---------------------------
Upcoming Events
---------------------------

Wed, Jul 8 2009 6:00PM
John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light
Swallow Hill's Outdoor Concert Series
at Four Mile Historic Park
with Jen Korte
715 S.Forest Street
Denver, Colorado 80246
seating: gen admission
all ages, non smoking

Sat, Jul 11 2009 9:00PM
John Common & Jess De Nicola
at Meadowlark
Benefit for Flobots.org
2701 Larimer St
Denver, Colorado

Tue, Jul 14 2009 7:00PM
Action Figures Series
with John Common
at Abecedarian Gallery
910 Santa Fe, #101
Denver, CO 80204
www.myspace.com/selfmadedenver

Sat, Jul 18 2009 7:00-10:00PM
Common Box Project Exhibition
and CD Listening Party Denver
60+ Works inspired by new recordings from John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
910 Santa Fe, #101
Denver, CO 80204

Thu, Jul 23 2009 7:30PM
John Common
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
at Michaelangelo's
1 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203

Fri, Jul 24 2009 10:00PM
John Common
Denver Post UMS - Sketch Wine Bar Denver

Sat, Jul 25 2009 3:30PM
John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
at CarToys Outdoor Stage
Denver, Colorado

Mon, Aug 3 2009 7:00PM
John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light
at Walnut Room
with Nathan Moore and Tyler Despres
3131 Walnut Street
Denver, CO 80205

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