The Good Shtuff

I like Social Media. Facebook. Twitter. Why? Because I get to find the coolest things. And when I find cool things, I like to talk about them.

"What cool things?" you ask. Here's a few:

1. Entertainer Aindrias de Staic

2. Blogger Daithi O'Connor

3. Writer Eddie Stack

and my newest cool find is:

4. Poet Brian O'Driscoll

Why do I like Brian's writing style?

a) He makes you think without spoon feeding you the same old lines we've all heard or read.
b) He displays courage in doing what fulfills him, what he's passionate about.
c) He expresses raw, outlandish, vivid, soft and hard emotions and curious thoughts.
d) He is contemporary, fresh, and interesting.

His website says, "...anything goes...," and "A poem with the absolute right kind of magic running right through it really can mean the world to someone if appreciated to the fullest extent." If you're so inclined, I encourage you to visit www.poetart.ie and who knows what you may find to appreciate.

Recently, I made the above short clip of random phrases I picked from his website. Don't go through your life with your head buried in the sand. Open your eyes to something different, something eccentric, something new.

Open your eyes to the good shtuff!

A Sister's Plea Entertwined With Some "Dropkick"

What is it about a sibling? We love them and sometimes we hate them. Yet, at the times when we hate them, we’d fight Satan himself if he said a bad word against our sister or brother. It’s one thing to lose a parent, but when a sibling dies, it’s very different. Furthermore, when they die at a young age, it’s unnatural. If addiction has touched you personally, then you will understand this post. If it has not, consider yourself lucky. My brother was dependent upon pot and alcohol at first. This gave way to his wife finding a needle, which later caused a divorce. Eventually, he swallowed pills, smoked meth, swallowed more pills and died at 30 years old. He’s the little boy in the far left in the picture below. This is my favorite childhood photo. I’m about 12 here.

As a writer, I write about things that move me. Yes, this is the third consecutive post about The Latchiko’s. Forgive me. Their music moves me. I’m way beyond silly crushes on handsome and talented musicians, so I hope you don’t think that’s what this post is about. Being a writer, I love words. When the right music is added to the right lyrics in the most perfect way, then it becomes much more than a song. It becomes magical AND real to me, and in this case – very personal. It is my hope after you read this piece, that their music will move you in magical ways too.

This morning, I awoke at 4:30 am by what felt like a slight whisper on my heart and a soft voice in my ear saying, “Sister, time to wake up.” Weird, because I live alone. It was my brother Charlie’s presence. He died in 2006. I awoke with such a feeling of calmness and warmth. He continued to nudge me as I played track #10 from this wonderful CD, and hit repeat, repeat, repeat over and over again. I’d listen, press pause, then write. Press play, listen, press pause, write more, press play. Listen, then cry. You see, track #10 is “Dropkick”. It’s such a sad, poignant song about addiction and the desire for recovery. The lyrics and music are both tear-jerking yet hopeful at the same time. 

  

For 10 minutes, The Latchiko’s take you on a musical journey of what it must be like to be dependent on things that are so dangerous they’re scary. The music mirrors the hero’s path; slow at first, just as life must be in recovery. Then it picks up. Faster and faster and happier and happier music reflect a more joyful life. The phoenix rises from the ashes in this song. By the end, you’re in love with the hero’s uphill battle and feel so overcome with relief that he saw the light at the end of the abyss.

Of my four younger brothers, I’ve watched three of them battle demons of alcohol and drug abuse. With so many resources for the addicted, Charlie should have sought help. I miss him so much my heart hurts, some days more than others. Today is one of those days. Just because good people make bad choices, it doesn’t make one a bad person. If you know an addict, please encourage them to seek help. When addicts use, they lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, and deceive you…over and over again, because we let them. As we hand over money, food, or a place to crash, we think, “Man, I wish he’d straighten up,” or, “He’s just sorry to be in that state,” or even, “If he loved us, he’d get clean.” But, we cannot begin to fathom the power that addiction holds over its victims. Then, when it’s too late, we (the enablers) carry such blame and guilt; a kind of guilt which is hard to forgive, even years later.

Oh how I wish my brother was the hero in ‘”Dropkick,” but am so very happy for Aindrias. Click on the link below to watch a simple performance of this very moving and sad song. In some of the shots, his eyes glow from what I can only assume is happiness and joy, what a testament to his spirit and character. 

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

You can find out more about them at their website www.thelatchikos.com where you can get this wonderful music for yourself. I can talk about this CD all day, but until you hear it for yourself...you have no idea how moving it is.

"Sugarbeat Sessions" by The Latchiko's

Music Comes Alive in This Debut Album!

If you don't know what a sugarbeet is, think of a gigantic, non-orange carrot made for the Jolly Green Giant, and it's spelled sugarbeet (with an e), not sugarbeat (with an a). Yet, when it comes to The Latchiko's, they are anything but conventional, and the spelling with an a is in the title of their album, which I just received a few days ago. Now I can't stop playing it and am so addicted it's crazy. Like when KISS released their "Dynasty" LP when I was 9! (I didn't get MY record until I was 11 or 12!); or, when Prince released "Purple Rain" when I was in high school! Believe me, this is better. Waaaay better!
     We all have those cds where one, two, or even three songs we don't really like and can live without. I hated "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince (still do...) and when anyone other than Paul Stanley sang on "Dynasty" I wanted to vomit. However, on this Sugarbeat Sessions album, there is not one song I can live without. NOTHING makes me want to throw up! I love all the songs! The sounds are so chameleon-like, so changing, blooming, and explosive. For little over a month, I've been seeing and hearing bits and pieces of most of this on YouTube. As I finally get to put it all together, it blows me away.

Tim Scanlan performing in New Jersey, March 2013. Photo courtesy of Terri Taylor Tattan

     10 magical, hypnotic, overwhelming, and oh-so-amazing-it-makes-me-smile-tingle-and-dance songs are on this album. After listening to track 1 “Sugarbeat,” I thought, “Wow, this is amazing. It’s my favorite.” Then, after hearing track 2 “Pish Shtains” I thought, “Craaap, THAT’S my favorite.” Then came track 3, and well you get the idea. Each song affects me this way. The diversity of sounds, rhythms, and lyrics fits together like caramel and chocolate, it’s perfectly soothing, satisfying and exciting at the same time. I DO NOT have a favorite because I can’t pick one. 

     With song titles like, “The Shligo Rovers,” “Nova Nova,” and “The Moogaga Jig,” this album is so eclectic, groovy, sexy, up, down, funny, sad, wild, crazy, energetic, spirited, and diverse as are the guys in the band. While Aindrias and Eimhin are from Ireland, Tim hales from Australia. Look at Aindrias, he’s so gypsy-looking it’s unreal. (I think he’s really from Transylvania or Romania and simply wants to say he’s from Ireland. I guess he thinks people like the way the Irish talk? Who knows?) Then, there’s Tim who looks like the cool, hippy cousin (or uncle depending upon your age) you want to go fishing or fighting with. To watch him play his instruments takes my breath away. Then, we come to Eimhin who looks like an accountant rather than a percussionist. Nothing wrong with math, I have a 2-yr degree in Accounting!  His smile, his singing, his beats blend like flour, sugar and eggs to make the most perfect cake. How crazy is this trio? Oh, and by the way – they ALL sing and play. I tell ya, there is method to the madness. But whatever method these guys use, the formula works. To show how crazy they are, Aindrias performs bare-footed here in a performance!

Aindrias de Staic performing in Maryland, March 2013. Photo courtesy of Terri Taylor Tattan.

 

     Listening to “Pish Shtains” is like watching the most flowing, flawless, beautiful Tango dance mixed with the haunting and hallowed sounds of “The Phantom of the Opera” soundtrack. A very dark message of being pulled back into a world of bad behavior and addiction is hidden within groovy, arousing, melodic sounds that you can’t help but move to. I could make a one-man silent play based on this song alone! The contrast of the message and the music is out-of-this-world. Analogies and metaphors abound. Right from the beginning you are blinded to the actual meaning. At first, you think it may be a funny song with funny lyrics simply because of the funny title. Then you hear, “…but as I tried to turn around, but on this muddy ground, the shlope that I was climbing, it was shlippy.” The song ends with these lines:

I woke up three weeks later in a muddle.

In a bed of little weeds I had to cuddle.

My digits they were shtingin,

my head was loudly ringin,

so I caught my own reflection in a puddle.

To focus on this face it was a chore.

I had way too much to drink but needed more.

As I shtood up empty handed,

that puddle he demanded,

“Have we not met somewhere like this before?”

      Track 7 “Reggae Reel” is also mind-numbing. In 4 ½ minutes of instrumental music, I hear three distinct mini-songs. With no break, they bleed together with fascinating efficiency. At first, you don’t even notice. Then, you think, “Is this the same song? Did it change and I didn’t notice?” The first minute contains the slower reggae-style, harmonica-laden, soulful vibrations in a very hypnotic, melting and groovy feel. Second, at the 1:15 mark, the pace increases with faster rhythms and funkier beats. As certain notes get higher, higher, and higher it goes straight into the final part of this song, at around the 2:50 mark, with what I consider traditional Irish music. Blasts of an even faster tempo and an exploding fiddle cut straight to your heart and sizzle like bacon frying.

      Every song is a story. Yet, the voices Aindrias gives to the characters in these story-songs are like when you were a child. If someone read a bedtime story to you and put voices to the characters in the book, the story came alive on a personal level! In these stories, even the music becomes a character with its own changing voices. Not many artists can do this. Nothing is felt forced. It all sounds and feels so natural. Like Frankenstein’s monster, the music itself is alive! And…just as I am left to wonder about the characters in these stories, I also want to know what happens to the music after the songs end. (Told ya’, I’m addicted.)

 

Both Tim and Aindrias in Maryland, March 2013. Photo courtesy of Terri Taylor Tattan.

      If I could have only one CD for the rest of my life, it would be this one! I still don’t have a favorite. Maybe you will once you hear this music combined with storytelling and background elements. It’s so beautiful and inspiring. I wish these guys much success and hope they continue making music together. Music touches us all in different ways. If you want to be touched by wild, raw, sexy, calming, charismatic, electric, tingling tunes, check out “SUGARBEATS” by The Latchiko’s. Each of these guys is a master at his craft, and it shows.
     I urge you to visit their website, look them up on YouTube, do whatever you have to do! You can buy your own cd straight from their website store at www.thelatchikos.com and see for yourself. It's very easy through paypal. Don't let the international transaction scare you.
 

Cover of their CD. Photo courtesy of their website

 

The Latchiko's, The Pot of Gold at the End of My Rainbow

Isn't it odd that we always find the strangest things in the most peculiar places, especially when we're not looking for them? That's what happened to me a few weeks ago. While viewing a particular YouTube video, one thing led to another and now I find myself on the edge of stalking (or...as I like to call it - aggressive admiration) this three-man band of misfits. Ok, they're not really misfits, I just like the word and thought it would get your attention faster than words like: talented, funny, smart, spirited, and handsome.

Being born and reared in Southwest Louisiana, music is as much a part of our culture as food and fais do-dos are, and in this connotation do is pronounced dough! With people like Jerry Lee Lewis, Sammy Kershaw, and the soulful, sexy sounds of Buddy Guy and Harry Connick, Jr, our state is rich in music and talent. However, the world stereotypes us. Little do they know we are more than just gumbo and gators. (And we don't marry our cousins anymore either, thank you very much!) Sadly, the Irish are stereotyped too. I wonder if the rest of the world knows there is more to them than being stupid, stubborn, lazy drunks? After reading this post, perhaps both misconceptions can be dismissed.

Have you ever felt compelled to do your own thing, to think outside the box, to blaze your own trail no matter the obstacles? I have...but this piece isn't about me. It's about a band called The Latchiko's.

Aindrias

The 1970s produced folk singers like Joan Baez, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan. They performed with only their respective instruments. The 80s gave us rock music, big hair, and men who put on make up like Alice Cooper, Poison, and the almighty KISS (who are still rocking it in their 60s). The 90s produced the alternative sounds of grunge with the likes of Soundgarden, Nirvana and of course Pearl Jam. In 2013, The Latchiko's are helping bring back folk music, and I am thankful.

Being born in 1970, I never fully appreciated what people called folk music, until now. The energy, grit and sheer joy displayed by Aindrias de Staic, Tim Scanlan and Eimhin Cradock is infectious. What's super cool about this group is simple: plain, creative expression. That's an oxymoron if you think about it because what's plain about creativity? Is this what folk music is, simple creative expression? I don't know, never been too much for labels. What I do know is I get much pleasure in seeing them enjoy themselves in tiny UK pubs or larger US venues. They are all alone on stage with their instruments, microphones and nothing else to distract  me from the bliss on their faces, or from the lyrics that reach out and grab me, or from the tempo and rhythms that make my heart dance. This is true passion, for them and for me. No theatrics, lights, smoke, stupid costumes, which at times leaves little to the imagination, no "look-at-me-and-be-impressed" gaggle of dancers wanting to be Michael Jackson (no disrespect intended because I loved MJ!), no opening acts that linger for hours making you wish you hadn't spent that $75 on a ticket, no fancy PR or security goons trying to be Michael Corleone of "The Godfather" to keep fans at a safe distance. These guys have none of those stupid, silly, over-the-top, money-sucking distractions. Thank God!

As a writer, I understand the overwhelming desire for creative expression. Just as they are unconventional and unorthodox, so am I. For example, I don't really care if others like my poetry or prose at times. I do it to cleanse my soul. Other times, however, I want my pieces to touch you, to resonate with you somehow. And when that happens, (hell...I don't know if it ever REALLY happens or if people are just being nice, but I like to think it does once in a while) I'm over the moon happy.

Is this what it's like for Aindrias, Tim and Eimhin? I don't know because shit, I don't know them on a personal level. We're not friends, cousins, siblings, old acquaintances, or even enemies. I just like their style, grit, heart and music. I've never seen them live, but maybe one day I'll witness the real smiles on their faces. Maybe one day I'll see the corners of their eyes light up with joy. Maybe one day I'll see their hands and fingers caress instruments or beat on a drum. It could happen...

Tim

If this is what folk music is, consider me addicted. Thank you guys for thinking outside the box and for having the heart to blaze your own trail. Thank you for your creative expression. Thank you for helping me appreciate something 43 years late. You are the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow.

**********

For your viewing pleasure, here is the extended version of "Bondi Junction." Although a shortened version is available on itunes for the ridiculous cost of a dollar! YES, a frickin dollar! http://youtu.be/1DbihZh0pfs and you can google them to find loads more.

Visit Aindrias' website at www.aindrias.com to find he's much, much more than a sober Irish fiddle player.

Photos of Tim and Aindrias courtesy of (and used with permission by) Bryan Kremkau at www.skapunkphotos.com from their performance at Irving Plaza, New York City, March 15, 2013.

Follow The Latchiko's on Twitter at @The_Latchikos and like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheLatchikos

Banjaxed, Bogman, Bedraggled, and then some...

Can't believe it's been months since I've posted. How time gets away from me. What I would like to share is a brand new writer I recently discovered. Well...HE'S not brand new at all, just brand new to me. The ironic part is I discovered him while crushing on my new favorite band http://www.thelatchikos.com but oh my, that's another post so won't get into that now. The pic below is of them, courtesy of their facebook page!

Originally from Ireland, Eddie Stack makes his home in San Francisco. Winner of numerous awards, his writing is so witty and genuine that it envelopes all of my senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, in such a way I feel compelled to share with you.

Eddie shares free stories on his website http://www.eddiestack.com and it's these stories I want to elaborate on to give you a taste of his style. His word choices are out-of-this-world. The Irish phrases, though sometimes hard to get at first, are refreshing to those of us who may have heard, "I've got to take a leak" many different ways; yet, I bet you never heard it Eddie's way.

With his permission and blessing, I share these bits and pieces from the noted free stories on his site. (Really hope I can add his books to my library soon.) I know we are taught that each of us has our own voice, our own style. Which we do and should embrace! Don't get me wrong, I embrace my weirdness. It's just...well, I want more of Eddie Stack. I want to read it, absorb it, assimilate some of his wit, rawness, and humor into my style. Maybe, by reading more of his work, it will make me a better writer. Sure hope so. Please enjoy...

 

photo courtesy of www.eddiestack.com

1. Granda and Me
"...wild head of wild white hair..."
"...shouting and cheering like a crowd of jail breakers..."
"...they were cockeyed with drink and anarchy."
"...kept out of my space."
"He belted me until I cried, not with hurt but with rage."
"...as if they'd been branded with a red-hot cattle iron..."

Words I like from this piece: bedraggled, druids, propoganda, and Granda.

2. Limbo
"...ye're as lazy as Sin."
"...we were the flotsam left behind by the tide."
"...becoming more demonic with every stroke."
"...and don't always be looking like a moon calf."
"...sleaze and slaughter."
"Mention of drink, Rasputin and red Russia in the same page was the height of treason."

Words I like from this piece: lout, bards, Jaysuz, sty, drivel, sutach, bogman.

3. Back in the Days of Corncrakes
"...soft scents of summer..."
"...press ganged..."
"...lounged in the caravan like the Rolling Stones before a gig."
"...my feet go rubbery."
"Fullbright didn't own a blade of grass."
"...just shook like a statue in an earthquake."
"I'm bursting to make a lake." (Yeah, guessing from reading the context this means, 'I gotta pee.')

Words I like from this piece: jerkins, arsing, banjaxed

4. Finito
"The Irish had very fertile imaginations."
"...pathetic clothes hanger in a crumpled suit."
"Freud would say she was shooting Larry by proxy."
"Subversive ballerinas, Buddhist butchers, film star typists, lesbian nuns and gay jockeys."

The word I like here is shag! (Yes, it means what you think it means.)

5. The Power of Prayer
"Cop cars cruised swift as sharks..."
"Virgins and villians,..."
"...the broken veins that came from long nights of lonesome drinking..."
"...an exotic fish in these warm seas..."
"Somehow in those twelve peals, God got a foothold."

Words I like from this piece: flummoxed and half-eleven (meaning 11:30)

Hope these tid bits raise your interest enough to visit his site and read for yourself about internet dating from a man's point of view, an uninterested therapist, young lads being in a commercial, a female cop undercover as a prostitute, and a stern Granda. Who knows what words will jump out at you!

Comments are welcome and encouraged. Thanks for taking the time to read, and thank you Mr. Eddie Stack for your encouragment and blessing on this piece.