This video made me teary (Or maybe teary is not the right word…)

Last night, I watched this recorded conversation between Eddie Vedder and Glen Hansard:

I discovered Glen Hansard through a wonderful movie called ONCE

Such a beautiful film with incredible singing in it.

Back to the YouTube clip above:

It made me teary.
Or just really moved.
A big rock star, Eddie Vedder and a well known folk singer, Glen Hansard having such a heartfelt conversation.
It’s Glen’s 50th
He gets a surprise call from Eddie.
You can see and hear the genuine joy.
I think what I am getting at.
Is both of these men are used to being on stage.
Being in “performance” mode.
And often the rock and roll stance, may be to come across or “hard and cool” for the world to see.
But here are two men,
So human
Not performing.
Eddie writes a beautiful piece for Glen.
You get to meet Eddie’s family.
And Glen’s wife.
It’s just so raw.
I love it.
The genuine laughter
The good friendship across the oceans.
It’s nice to be reminded that a lot of people have this side to them too.

To a lot of the musos people may idolize…
They’re just human.
Who are also now going through a lockdown like most of the world.

PS. Eddie Vedder is from Pearl Jam. And if you didn’t know that. Shame on you 😉

Check out their new album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5bTixyz2GHx1YUqNUdzfut

I like this latest song a lot:

Off He Goes

I’ve always liked this song by Pearl Jam:

This is a song for the wanderers and drifters.

It’s been in my head the last few weeks.  (Don’t worry it ain’t a midlife crisis.)  I just like the tune, the lyrics and the imagery of it.

“Its like his thoughts are too big for himself” 

This “man” is bound by no one.  Maybe, there are also people, who drift in our lives for a short while… do we make the most of that?

Squeal at LIVEtheVenue (Durban)

Do you remember blanket shirts? Do you remember the Undertaker from WWE? (He seemed to just keep coming back to wrestle over and over again.)
Do you remember Nokia 3310’s?
Do you remember when the internet had just started?

If you remember those things; then you may just remember the band, Squeal.

Friday, 23rd May 2014, at LIVETheVenue was so rad! (If you are from the 90’s then you know the word: rad)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a nostalgic show to be at. When the frontman, Dave Birch walked on the expectant crowded cheered enthusiastically. (Yes, this gig was actually happening!)

9 years ago was Squeal’s last gig. I must admit, Dave has aged (said respectively) but my goodness his voice is still so incredible!

Like good wine it seemed his vocals had matured!

The set started with the opening track of Squeal’s 1995 debut album: Long Pig. KILLING THE LIGHT>

It was awesome how the words came back to all the crowd as we sang along. (As each song started, I thought “Hey, I remember that song too!)

The band rocked out for about an hour going through all their fan favourites and singles: Necessary, Man and Woman, Candy, See Saw, Runners and Believer.

They ended their main show with their BEST HIT (I am sure a lot of people would agree): Long Pig.

See the video here:

(See, a younger version of Dave there 😉

After that song they walked off (encore expected), and came back on ending off with two newer songs.

LIVE, a brilliant venue for bands, most definitely rocked this past Friday!

After that I really enjoyed the DJ’s choice of music (as the band packed up.)
And I could see by the others on the dance floor; that they were loving it too!

He must have been from our era. We danced along to REM (Radio Free Europe), the Pixies (Gigantic), Pearl Jam (Rear View Mirror), Violent Femmes (Country Death Song), The Cure, Nirvana (Lithium), Soul Asylum (Somebody to show) and my favourite to bust odd dance moves too was “It’s the end of the world as we know it” by REM!

What a kiff evening!
Shot Squeal! Shot LIVE, and big up to that DJ!

Song of the Week 41 (Pearl Jam – Sirens)

I got the new Pearl Jam album: Lightning Bolt last week. Click HERE for the review.

The whole album is brilliant.
This is one of the first songs that got my attention.  I got a feeling this too will be a “call” and anthem for many fans; old and new:

This song will move you. I am very certain. Give it a listen and then get back to me, deal?

Pearl Jam – Hear the Sirens

Hear the sirens
Hear the sirens

Hear the sirens
Hear the circus so profound
I hear the sirens
More and more in this here town

Let me catch my breath to breathe and reach across the bed
Just to know we’re safe, I am a grateful man
The slightest bit of light and I can see you clear

Have to take your hand, and feel your breath
For fear this someday will be over
I pull you close, so much to lose
Knowing that nothing lasts forever

I didn’t care, before you were here
I danced in laughter with the everafter
But all things change
Let this remain

Hear the sirens
Covering distance in the night
The sound echoing closer
Will they come for me next time?

For every choice mistake I’ve made
It’s not my plan
To send you in the arms of another man
And if you choose to stay I’ll wait I’ll understand

It’s a fragile thing
This life we lead
If I think too much I can get over
Whelmed by the grace
By which we live our lives
With death over our shoulders

Want you to know
That should I go
I always loved you
Held you high above, true

I study your face
The fear goes away

It’s a fragile thing
This life we lead
If I think too much I can get over
Whelmed by the grace
By which we live our lives
With death over our shoulders

Want you to know
That should I go
I always loved you
Held you high above, true

I study your face
The fear goes away
The fear goes away
The fear goes away
The fear goes away

Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt (An album review)

12 November 2013

Pearl Jam (PJ) are back with their tenth studio album. For those who group in the nineties listening to Pearl Jam’s earlier records this latest offering will have you smiling and holding onto nostalgia.

Over the last two albums PJ have been exploring with their sound. Some fans have not enjoyed it however. To be honest, I lost touch with the band over those albums although there were one or two great songs that came from there.

Lightning Bolt, is brilliant in so many regards. It sounds old school yet right up with the times.

The opening lines of the album grab your attention: “Everyone’s a critic looking back up the river / every boat is leaking in this town.”

This will be a personal anthem for many listeners. Eddie Vedder does that thing he does by adding a sort of desperation to his voice.

Track two is MIND YOUR MANNERS; the first single off the album. Crank this one really loud, it’ll make you want to kick over stuff and smile about it.

This album is packed with punch and questions wrapped in longing. It seems Eddie has tried religion and that has just pissed him off. (I don’t blame him. American religion is like the ugly franchise of MacDonald’s.)

I am old school in the way that I still like having the physical record and I don’t like ordering via iTunes. So holding the album in my hands, I am impressed with the artwork and lay out of Lightning Bolt.

Sirens is a winner of a song. The ballad feel to the song will take you to places and have you recalling memories.

“It’s a fragile thing, this life we lead.”

Infallible and Let the Records Play are among my favourites of the album. Lyrically, they’re inspiring. A bit tongue in cheek and musically arranged in true Pearl Jam fashion.

My dream is to still see PJ play live. I hope they grace South African shores soon. And if they toured with this album; I would be stoked.

If you’re new to Pearl Jam, I would implore, get this album. This is a good introduction to the band.
If you’re an old Faithful. You will still believe, with this album blaring on your stereo.

Don’t delay, go get this album!

“I can feel the dawn, I can feel the Earth, I can feel the living all around.” Swallowed Whole

Song of the Week 33 (Pearl Jam – Mind your manners)

Pearl Jam are releasing our new album soon.

This is the first single of the album.
I really like the sound of the song.  It has their original grungy feel to it.

This band has put out 9 studio albums.  This new album will be their 10th.
What a long career!

Getting older and still rocking hard.
When I was teenager I grew up to this band.
Now it’s a pity teenagers don’t have many cool bands to grow up too.
(One Direction, seriously?) haha!

The lyrics are very intriguing too.
Get you thinking about things you may not usually think about:

I’ve got an unfortunate feelin’
I’ve been beaten down
I feel I don’t believe
And now the truth is coming out
What they’ve taken is more than a vow
They’ve taken your innocence
And then they throw them on a burning fire

All along they’re sayin’
Mind your manners

I caught myself believin’
That I needed God
And if it’s hard for some
We sure could use it now

Try my patience
My patience tried
This world’s no longer good enough
That makes me wanna cry

All along they’re sayin’
Mind your manners
Silence save him

Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else

No longer sayin’
Mind your manners
Always burning

Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else

Go to Heaven
That’s swell
How do you like it
Livin’ Hell
Go to Heaven
That’s swell
How do you like it
Livin’ Hell
Go to Heaven
That’s swell
How do you like it
Livin’ Hell

Livin’ Hell!

So enjoy this week’s song of the week.  And won’t you mind your manners 😉

Are you hiding? Are you camoflauged?

Do you see it?
What are you hiding from?
Do you find yourself putting on camoflauge?

In my picture there is a lizard on the tree. Look carefully, you will see it.

3 Lessons:
1) Why are you camoflauged?

Sometimes we try so hard “to fit in” and lose our identity as individuals? Maybe this is a call for you to stick to the truth of this poem:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost)

2) Where are you hiding?

There is always a song for every occassion:

“I swallowed my breath and went deep, I was diving, diving
I surfaced when all of my being was enlightened.
I’m in hiding
I’m in hiding”

There is a scene in the garden of eden, where God walks in the garden asking after Adam and Eve; “Where are you?”

(8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”) Genesis 3: 8, 9

I like the closeness of God. He steps into their world and wants to spend time with them. Our God is not distant. Yet so often in our head and heart space we place Him at a distance. Maybe at this time of your life, you have been “hiding” from God? maybe you feel ashamed, please don’t… His arms of mercy stretch wide open inviting you into His loving embrace and adventurous life 🙂

Won’t you return to Him. To life.

3) Step out step up be yourself (no one else)

We sometimes think we need to do what the world/people expect of us. We get camoflauged by their plans and ideas for us. We try fit in. We hide into the system.

There is this brilliant quote and brilliant truth:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Howard Thurman)

Now live it!

The gospel according to Eddie Vedder

I thought of this song today, Given to Fly, check out the lyrics:

He floated back down ’cause he wanted to share
His key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, well, fuckers
He still stands

And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly

Could he be singing about Jesus Christ?  Pretty cool take on it!

I can imagine the sensitive ones… putting out.. “oo oo, there is a swear word” in this song… oh dear!

But could we not still learn something from this?  Could we not still be inspired to go to God. I’d like to think so.

See video here: