It may not be a surprise that I've been fighting the dark cloud for years. The football this year & the isolation has not helped. Would rather post some Alice Coltrane, but maybe Mario Kempes is listening.
I've tried to ignore the football as much as possible this season, but I still find it making me angry from time to time. I guess we can't detach ourselves from it completely, no matter how much we'd want to. Without wanting to sound trite, things can change quickly. I'm sure better times are around the corner for BFC in the not too distant future. Likewise once the pandemic starts receding, I have no doubt that people's appetite for live entertainment will be huge, and that your work situation will pick up. People are weary of what's going on right now for a multitude of reasons. We all need to let our hair down in a big way.
If the wine’s gone flat as well, JP, I’d say you were Down in the Tube Station at Midnight. Chin up, fella. Lean on your fellow BBSers to see you through.
Like lone striker said "Lean on your fellow BBSers to see you through" Churchill of all people also suffered from what he called the black dog. He spent years building a wall to help him through it. Fortunately it was a physical brick wall at Chartwell rather than a mental one. Years ago, I went through a period of depression having felt I had lost control of my life, but came through it thanks to my wife and family support and made a few life changing decisions. Unless you have experienced it it is difficult to explain and platitudes like, 'get over it', 'look what you have' and the ironic 'you've still got your health' (given it is an illness) do not help. At times like these, I took each day as it came, and gradually the light at end of the tunnel got nearer and brighter. Yep! I passed through a few more before things got better but am now in a very happy place. All one can say is however much sh*t comes your way, get stubborn and don't let it grind you down. Real friends like you have on here will understand and be supportive. This BB can be a volatile negative place but when important things really matter, like fellow BBsers wellbeing, it is also full of great Barnsley people. I hope 2020 is the year where things get better for you and everyone.
Thank you. I had a serious head injury over 30 years ago. It is more than likely going to lead to dementia, but who knows. Only 56 now, but the black fog is there. Had a lovely day walking up in Grassington yesterday. Every day is a struggle. Nice to get genuine messages, rather that platitudes. Picking up my guitar again. A Forest by the Cure is up there alongside Louie Louie by the Kingsmen
I doubt that anyone on here or anyone you meet hasn’t felt the same or isn’t feeling the same. Words mean nothing I know that but just put one foot in front of the other and see what happens.
Pity you can't get yourself over here for a couple of weeks. We have the room. The scenery alone at Spring when everything is fresh green and the snow is still on the mountains is something to see. I also have my home studio so you could bring your guitar As an old school musician (piano and keyboards) you could also teach me something about the modern DJing phenomenon which is a 'closed book' to me. In the 80s lots of DJs just came across as wannabe rock stars who filled in between bands at Clubs Or played at weddings and other events . I realise things have moved on massively since those days and DJs put together complex sets cross-fading and mixing source material etc but don't really 'get it'. I do remember turning up at a few venues years ago -80s- with the band -Full drum kit multiple keyboards (including ,CP80 electro acoustic piano) bass guitar singer and lighting rig etc and having to get the DJ to move his kit from centre stage so we could actually set up. We had a few 'moments' back then. Nowadays DJs are a 'draw' in their own right for clubbers and raves. Would be interesting to see how you construct a set.
Yes, DJing has moved on. Whether you are a musician or DJ the technicalities are less important than the music that you play. I love great pianists like McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock. They need a tune though. Same with DJing. Too many people can do a seamless mix that is boring as hell. I saw John Peel DJ at the Sonar festival in Barcelona. There was no mixing, but he blew everyone else off the stage. I wish I'd been a better guitar player, but only took it up when I was 12 & heard punk rock records. Too late & probably not the best influence. I still got to play some big places to crowds of 4000 at times, which is more than people of greater talent did.
"All this will pass" When times are bad, it will change and things will get better. When things are good, remember, make the best of it, as this too will pass. And a 16 minute version of A Forest is my kind of a good time. I remember well being in Kirk Balk 6th Form and we'd line up or cassettes or records to get a turn on the stereo at break or lunchtime in the 6th Form Common room, I took great delight in playing my 15 minute live version of A Forest. Then new rules on song length were enacted :-(
I agree on the "tunes" bit. I have seen and heard some great technically accomplished musos but been bored stiff. Elton John is not technically as accomplished as the three you mention but the tunes he as written are accessible. Billy Joel is probably a better example as he is a capable classical pianist and some of his stuff is pretty hard to replicate but above all is , again, melodic and accessible. Stevie Wonder was pretty amazing too. Jazz and Jazz fusion though, is in my mind, a bit like painting by numbers and whilst there are many technically brilliant musicians it leaves me cold. I watched 'Whiplash' and it summed it up for me. All about technique and almost like rote learning. The problem is it has not really progressed for years.
Here’s a tune to brighten the evening Yargo are the best band from Manchester no one ever heard of. Class.
I’m not right good on Spotify and have a yearning to listen to the 16 minute version. Is there a cd release of the Albert Hall concert ? Again, I have tried on eBay without success. I’ve suddenly realised that I have no Cure vinyl or cd’s but have always appreciated Smith’s live performances. He is certainly unique
