Happy 2012 everyone. I’m writing this update as we make our way from Montrose to Pagosa Springs, CO…what an incredible landscape. Winding through rugged mountain terrain surrounded by exquisite natural beauty and bluebird skies, this is Colorado at its finest. After a memorable run of shows in Texas over New Year’s, we have spent the first two weeks of the year in the Rockies. While there seems to be a lot of concern about the lack of schneefall so far this season, it has been a great hang for us as always.
Excited about the year ahead. In spite of the incessant reports to the contrary, I believe we are in the midst of some positive changes globally. The Mayans were definitely on to something in their prognastications…and while I can’t say I agree, I think it’s fine that some believe the world is going to end this year. (It’d be okay, though. Life would go on just fine without us!). I tend to agree more with the line of thinking that suggests that the Mayan calendar is pointing to 2012 not as the Apocalypse but rather as a shift in social consciousness. Really, it’s hard to say being in the midst of it all (and there is plenty of noise to distract us these days) but perhaps 20, 30, 40 years from now we will be able to look back at this time frame (2011-12-13, whatever) as a period in which some significant changes began to take place. I look at things like the endless braincraft in cellular/data technology realm, the Facebook/Twitter social networking phenomena, and even the Arab Spring as indicators that the world is shrinking and human beings are being brought together in ways that would have been considered science fiction less than 100 years ago. What can be called our shared reality is evolving at an alarming rate. It’s quite possible to me that the Mayans (and I’m sure many other primitive civilizations for that matter) with all their worship and study of nature and the cosmos foresaw something that was written plain as day for those who were/are tuned properly. Some will respond to these sorts of things with fear and hysteria. That’s only natural…and okay. Looking at the big picture–I mean the biggest possible picture here–it’s all just part of the saga, the story of humanity. Nothing to fear; more like observe and enjoy I guess…
I’ve been enjoying a lot of killer records recently…some are new to me, others old favorites. Here is a list of some that are in steady rotation at present.
Ahmad Jamal, Ahmad’s Blues
Radiohead, Kid A
The Caravans, Best Of
Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli, Souvenirs
Curtis Mayfield, Curtis/Live!
Ry Cooder, Into The Purple Valley
Amos Milburn, Rocks
Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection
Wilco, Kicking Television
“With good will and trust in God, self-confidence, and a hopeful attitude towards life, a man can always win his battle, however difficult.” -Hazrat Inayat Khan
TN