ziasudra

After thirty-three years, CBGB -- the CBGB -- hosted its last concert yesterday night as the place for American punk rock music pulls its roots and founder Hilly Crystal is heading West.

From Rolling Stone: Patti Smith, Flea Bid Farewell to Iconic Punk Club: the legendary NYC rock club gets a worthy send-off courtesy of its most famed progeny.

Oh, and on top of things as ever, Wikipedia's CBGB entry has a section on its closing already.

This is sad news for me. When I used to work in Chinatown, I would pass by the club many times a week as I walked along Bowery. I can't even imagine seeing the place boarded up from now on, or to see the familiar landmark taken over by some new store. And to think that I was naively hoping CBGB would have raised enough money to hold back its closing during last year's benefit concert... *weeps*

A salute to Hilly Crystal and to the underground punk movement of the 70s and 80s.

Gloria, gloria! Hey! Ho! Let's go!

Current Music: Patty Loveless -- How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye

No, I wasn't performing, but I went to a show tonight called The Ark, which features Noah, conveniently known as Ziasudra (!) in the Gilgamesh version of the flood story. *loves America Reads for giving out free tickets*

First, the press blurb:

"THE ARK is a fresh take on a familiar tale. It's the story of how one family learns to brave life's rough waters by sticking together. Michael McLean, the renowned composer of more than 20 best-selling albums, gives us an incredibly uplifting score, ranging from pop to gospel.

You can also check out the website: www.TheArkMusical.com to hear the music and see some cast photos, as well as check out some of the press we have received already!"

The story is exactly what it is: Noah and the ark. What I absolutely love is the fact that the actors talk to the audience—we were the animals in the ark XD There were a few times when the cast would walk into the aisles to "inspect" the animals. My favorite was the one song, "Dinner," when after almost a year of only eating barley/wheat/oak mush, a very hungry Noah's family was looking out at the animals singing: "Sirloin steak, prime rib, pork chop, sausage link, BBQ, goose liver..." But don't worry, no animal was hurt in the production of the musical. *g*

( More About The Ark... )

In the end, the rain stopped and the family got off the ark. Happy ending for all. Incidentally, this is what I want for New York. It's been raining for days and days now (funny: I am told that the weather this week is in fact an advertisement for this show). Hopefully the rain will stop soon.

Current Mood: entertained
Current Music: Hacken Lee -- Wo Bu Huai Chang Ge

As I was riding the local bus back to my hotel tonight, at 1:30 in the morning, this hymn started playing in my head. It's been a long time since I sang this song. It's always been one of my very favorites. Lyrics behind the cut.

( Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing )

Also, I was randomly flipping through the hotel's copy of the Bible and it opened to Psalm 143. It really spoke to me.

School: I've updated my Planning the Family in Egypt post yet again. Notes for chapters 5 and 6 are up! In the tail end of chapter 7 right now... the end is near, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Whee!

OK, I'm way too tired and am getting delirious here. Good night!
.

Current Mood: VERY tired
Current Music: Come Thou Fount (song playing in my head)

I get asked "So what have you been up to?" a lot lately, since school is done, both my jobs are done, internship is still on hold, and I'm just not doing anything scheduled in general.

So what have I been doing? Spending an insane amount of time on the guitar, of course ;) Gosh, has it been 10 years since I learned my first chord?!?

Some recent tunes I've been trying to learn ("trying" is the word) -->
♦ Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World, by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
I rec'ed this song before in this post. Always brings a smile to my face :)

♦ Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Green Day
One of those songs that completely jumped out at me when I first heard it on the radio. Easy to play, but sounds very different without the heavy electric guitar timbre.

♦ Hotel California, by the Eagles
Still working on this song. I've played the acoustic chord part so many times that it's somewhere in my permanent memory. It's just the solo and licks that are giving me a hard time. I cheat by playing the "easier" version, with capo on the 7th fret.

♦ Dear God, by XTC
I randomly found out about "Dear God" today while browsing

bugland's post on the song. The lyrics might be considered a little... heretical (?), but very thought provoking. Guitar-obssessed that I've been, my first thought when hearing the song was: "Hey, I think I can play this!" So play I did, and am still learning how to.

♦ Worlds Apart, by Jars of Clay
I finally got my acts together to look up the "right" chords besides just playing close-enough chords to the song. Very guitar-heavy song, perfect for my Yamaha acoustic guitar. *g*

♦ Future project: Tears in Heaven, by Eric Clapton
I used to know how to play the entire song, but I managed to forgot it all. Looks like re-learning is in order.

So I suppose I have been productive, if sore arms and calloused fingertips are anything to go by.
.

Current Mood: productive (in a sense)
Current Music: Israeli folk song -- Hinei Ma Tov

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raises glass sadly

Ziasudra On Stage

A Moment of Reflection -- My 400th Post!

So What Do You Do?

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January 2011

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