wrote this last week while preparing to land in Minneapolis in a plane, on my way to Wisconsin...
Out my window. Bright. Almost blinding, the reflection from the snow-covered ground, far far below. How is it that land came to be parceled out in such neat, square-shaped packages? I mean, I know how, really, it just seems odd to have taken so much of the country and divided it up. The natives would have never thought of land so geometrically.
The plane is banking hard left, now. Some 50 miles from Minneapolis, I believe. The pilot announced that we may have to circle above for a bit due to heavy air traffic. I suppose I should be able to see my home state, my final destination (Wisconsin) while circling above the Twin Cities. In a few hours I will touch down in Milwaukee. Not exactly the "pearl of the midwest", but no Toledo, either. Tomorrow: Madison.
Showing posts with label Madison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madison. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Cell Phone Pictures - Vol. 1
My Motorola phone broke last week and wouldn't charge, leaving me in a bit of a predicament. Luckily, it was still under warranty and AT&T mailed me a new one today, same model, but I have to send my old one to them. This meant that I had to get everything off of my old phone that I wanted to save. I don't know about you guys, but I end up taking a lot of pictures with my cell phone that I never do anything with. So, after I used Bluetooth to extract the hundred or so photos on the old phone, I decided I might as well go through them and see if there were any keepers, or at least funny ones to post. Here they are for your amusement.
A kitten in Sarah Donner's bathroom sink in Princeton, NJ.
Justin Jahnke of Flame Shark gives props to his Lil' Buddy before rocking the World's Largest Brat Fest.
It was a cold night at the Jade Monkey Lounge in Madison, and the dare was simple: Ryan had to press his bare cheeks against the frozen entry door. It was definitely hovering around 0 degrees that night, yowza!
We call this here an Icequake. This picture is from Lake Mendota in Madison. Sometimes these are strong enough to actually shake the ground and cause a loud popping sound heard all over the city.
Park City, UT. Best day of snowboarding I ever had. Rolled into town the morning after they got hit with over 30 inches of fresh powder. I was playing that night in town, and my couchsurfing host was an employee at the hill, and was able to hook me up with a half-priced ticket.
I hope you have enjoyed this random installment of pictures found on my old cellphone.
Cheers.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tour Starts Tomorrow
Playing one last show in Madison tonight (8pm @ the Brink Lounge) and then I will be off, spending 24 hours a day, every day for 3 and a half weeks with THIS guy, fellow Madison songwriter and best bud Jeremiah Nelson. Stay tuned.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Concerts To See Around Madison This Week (7/20 - 7/26)
Was just perusing some of the concert listings this week and thought I'd try and pick something out for each night if possible. I wont make all of these myself, but in a perfect world I would.
Monday, 7/20 - go to the High Noon Saloon for Those Poor Bastards + a couple of other bands. I'm not really familiar with any of the acts (the others are the Black Diamond Heavies and the High Plane Drifters), but any band with "Bastards" in the name usually gets me interested, and they're website lists them as "gothic country". I like!
Tuesday, 7/21 - no-brainer: the Old 97's are playing the Barrymore Theater, and their lead singer, Rhett Miller, is doing a solo set as well. Will. Be. Awesome.
Wednesday, 7/22 - my favorite regular Wednesday night slot in town: The Brown Derby play their golden country hits at the Crystal Corner Bar at 9:30. EVERY Wednesday.
Thursday, 7/23 - Backyard Tire Fire is playing at the Memorial Union Terrace! These guys are seriously a bunch of ass-kicking shit-stompers! I saw them randomly once at the Cafe Montmartre a few years ago, and again at the Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence, KS, and these boys throw down. Don't miss it. Unless, of course, you decide to head out to Waunakee and watch two WHS alumni (Garett Endres and myself) play a Waunafest pre-party show at Mojo's. But seriously, BTF!
Friday, 7/24 - Unfortunately I will be out of town for the weekend, but you should go to the Frequency on Friday night to see my friend Cait Shanahan's new band, Cait And The Girls. Cait is a friend of mine from way back to the Oshkosh songwriting days, and we used to play lots of gigs together. She is a talented performer, go see her. Also playing: Fermata, The Vega Star, and Jenny Is A Boy.
Saturday, 7/25 - Definitely check out Folk On State, which takes place on State Street next to Urban Outfitters, 1-3pm every Saturday this summer. I had the pleasure of playing it yesterday, and my good buddy (and fantastic songwriter) Jeremiah Nelson is playing it along with Scott and Michelle Dalziel.
Sunday, 7/26 - I've got nothing.
Gee, do you think I have sort of a bias towards folk/americana/country/roots music? I'll try and branch out more next time...
Monday, 7/20 - go to the High Noon Saloon for Those Poor Bastards + a couple of other bands. I'm not really familiar with any of the acts (the others are the Black Diamond Heavies and the High Plane Drifters), but any band with "Bastards" in the name usually gets me interested, and they're website lists them as "gothic country". I like!
Tuesday, 7/21 - no-brainer: the Old 97's are playing the Barrymore Theater, and their lead singer, Rhett Miller, is doing a solo set as well. Will. Be. Awesome.
Wednesday, 7/22 - my favorite regular Wednesday night slot in town: The Brown Derby play their golden country hits at the Crystal Corner Bar at 9:30. EVERY Wednesday.
Thursday, 7/23 - Backyard Tire Fire is playing at the Memorial Union Terrace! These guys are seriously a bunch of ass-kicking shit-stompers! I saw them randomly once at the Cafe Montmartre a few years ago, and again at the Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence, KS, and these boys throw down. Don't miss it. Unless, of course, you decide to head out to Waunakee and watch two WHS alumni (Garett Endres and myself) play a Waunafest pre-party show at Mojo's. But seriously, BTF!
Friday, 7/24 - Unfortunately I will be out of town for the weekend, but you should go to the Frequency on Friday night to see my friend Cait Shanahan's new band, Cait And The Girls. Cait is a friend of mine from way back to the Oshkosh songwriting days, and we used to play lots of gigs together. She is a talented performer, go see her. Also playing: Fermata, The Vega Star, and Jenny Is A Boy.
Saturday, 7/25 - Definitely check out Folk On State, which takes place on State Street next to Urban Outfitters, 1-3pm every Saturday this summer. I had the pleasure of playing it yesterday, and my good buddy (and fantastic songwriter) Jeremiah Nelson is playing it along with Scott and Michelle Dalziel.
Sunday, 7/26 - I've got nothing.
Gee, do you think I have sort of a bias towards folk/americana/country/roots music? I'll try and branch out more next time...
Song-In-My-Head Sunday: "Iowa"
So I played a gig on State Street in Madison yesterday with Carrie Elkin, a great songwriter and current resident of Austin, Texas. Her own material was great, and what a voice. It certainly carried through the Maxwell Street Days celebration and down State St.
The highlight for me, however, was her cover of a song I used to love but had completely forgotten about: "Iowa" by Dar Williams, off of the Mortal City album. When I was a freshman in college Dar Williams was one of those songwriters that first got me into writing my own stuff. I had since stopped listening to her, as a majority of her stuff is admittedly pretty cheesy and a little over the top. However, "Iowa" is worth its weight in gold, with great lyrics and a beautiful melody. I'm pretty sure I've heard Peter Mulvey cover the song, as well.
Here is a youtube video of Dar singing "Iowa" at Milwaukee's own Pabst Theater. The video is pretty grainy, but I wanted to share this particular one because it also features Minnesota's Brianna Lane on harmonies. Warning: there is a slightly cheesy talking/folk sing along part at the end, but still a beautiful version.
Small plug: Brianna Lane will be playing with me at the September 3rd songwriter showcase show at the Brink Lounge in Madison!
Lyrics to "Iowa":
The highlight for me, however, was her cover of a song I used to love but had completely forgotten about: "Iowa" by Dar Williams, off of the Mortal City album. When I was a freshman in college Dar Williams was one of those songwriters that first got me into writing my own stuff. I had since stopped listening to her, as a majority of her stuff is admittedly pretty cheesy and a little over the top. However, "Iowa" is worth its weight in gold, with great lyrics and a beautiful melody. I'm pretty sure I've heard Peter Mulvey cover the song, as well.
Here is a youtube video of Dar singing "Iowa" at Milwaukee's own Pabst Theater. The video is pretty grainy, but I wanted to share this particular one because it also features Minnesota's Brianna Lane on harmonies. Warning: there is a slightly cheesy talking/folk sing along part at the end, but still a beautiful version.
Small plug: Brianna Lane will be playing with me at the September 3rd songwriter showcase show at the Brink Lounge in Madison!
Lyrics to "Iowa":
I've never had a way with women, but the hills of Iowa make me wish that I could,
And Ive never found a way to say I love you, but if the chance came by, oh I, I would,
But way back where I come from, we never mean to bother,
We dont like to make our passions other peoples concern,
And we walk in the world of safe people, and at night we walk into our houses and burn.
Iowa oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
How I long to fall just a little bit, to dance out of the lines and stray from the light,
But I fear that to fall in love with you is to fall from a great and gruesome height.
So I asked a friend about it, on a bad day, her husband had just left her,
She sat down on the chair he left behind, she said,
"What is love, where did it get me? Whoever thought of love is no friend of mine."
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
Once I had everything, I gave it up for the shoulder of your driveway and the words Ive never felt.
And so for you, I came this far across the tracks, ten miles above the limit, and with no seatbelt, and I'd do it again,
For tonight I went running through the screen doors of discretion,
For I woke up from a nightmare that I could not stand to see,
You were a-wandering out on the hills of Iowa and you were not thinking of me.
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
And Ive never found a way to say I love you, but if the chance came by, oh I, I would,
But way back where I come from, we never mean to bother,
We dont like to make our passions other peoples concern,
And we walk in the world of safe people, and at night we walk into our houses and burn.
Iowa oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
How I long to fall just a little bit, to dance out of the lines and stray from the light,
But I fear that to fall in love with you is to fall from a great and gruesome height.
So I asked a friend about it, on a bad day, her husband had just left her,
She sat down on the chair he left behind, she said,
"What is love, where did it get me? Whoever thought of love is no friend of mine."
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
Once I had everything, I gave it up for the shoulder of your driveway and the words Ive never felt.
And so for you, I came this far across the tracks, ten miles above the limit, and with no seatbelt, and I'd do it again,
For tonight I went running through the screen doors of discretion,
For I woke up from a nightmare that I could not stand to see,
You were a-wandering out on the hills of Iowa and you were not thinking of me.
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
Ioway oh ooo oh, Iowa oh ooooh ooo oh I-Iowa
Thursday, July 9, 2009
New Album - Recording Tomorrow Night in Madison
For you Madison folks/Wisconsin folks/anyone else that felt like making a road trip this Friday, the live recording, full band show that was scheduled this Friday for the Cafe Montmartre is now being held at the Brink Lounge due to the unfortunate closing of the previous venue. The show will start at 9pm, and will be recorded for the new album, "John Statz & the Cheap Shots" , which will feature almost entirely new material. The cover charge is $8, and also playing are Chicago's fantastic Cameron McGill & What Army, and my good pal Jeremiah Nelson with his band, the Shifty Switches. Hope you can make it out!
Thanks to Rich Albertoni for the great article in the July 10th, 2009 edition of the Isthmus! Here is an excerpt:
"Since returning to the Madison area in 2006, Statz has built one of the most rigorous tour schedules of any Madison musician. This year, he'll be on the road at out-of-state destinations for more than four months. Later this summer, he'll embark on a four-week tour of Canada and the northeastern United States.
Read the whole article and interview here.
Thanks to Rich Albertoni for the great article in the July 10th, 2009 edition of the Isthmus! Here is an excerpt:
"Since returning to the Madison area in 2006, Statz has built one of the most rigorous tour schedules of any Madison musician. This year, he'll be on the road at out-of-state destinations for more than four months. Later this summer, he'll embark on a four-week tour of Canada and the northeastern United States.
A double major in music and history at UW-Oshkosh, Statz frequently uses historical themes in his songwriting. With song titles like "Best Girl of '16" and "Letters from Southeast Asia," Statz sometimes takes on the persona of a war soldier in his compositions."
Monday, June 8, 2009
"Best Girl of '16" v. 2.0
I believe it was February or March of 2008 when I wrote the song "Best Girl of '16", a happy, coming home from the war sort of tune. I had written plenty of World War I tunes before, but this was the first one with a happy ending, I guess you could say. The song found its way onto my last album, An Evening With John Statz, which was recorded live in Chicago in April of '08.
Since then I've written a bunch of new tunes, and am gearing up for a new album. On July 10th my band, John Statz and the Cheap Shots, will record a live album at the Cafe Montmartre in Madison. This will be my first rock'n'roll, full band album, and I'm really excited to capture the guys live, as I'm very fortunate to have some fantastic players in the band.
More on that later. I really wanted to re-write "Best Girl..." for the full band, as the original song is in an open tuning and just wouldn't work well with a rock treatment. This morning I set out to work on the song, and couldn't be happier with what came out of it. It is now a very different song, with different chord changes, and some different lyrics. If you have the last album, I think you'll recognize it. The new version has more of a bittersweet ending with an anti-war message, a bit more my style :). I plan on keeping both versions alive and well, but for now, here are the new lyrics:
Well back in the summer of '16
There was a young woman I was seein'
Well I'd pine for her, and sometimes she'd respond to me.
Oh back before the war, and everything came in between.
Well when I got back was March of double 19's,
Had gone 'cross the ocean protecting the land of the free.
Well France was as much of the world as I wanted to see.
Oh back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
On the train through Illinois
Well she is restless on my mind.
Hoping that she is unwed.
And that she took her time.
Well pulled into Union Station, military bands played loud,
nothing there was ventured, and nothing there was found.
Climbing from the rail car, my eyes gleaming 'cross the crowd.
Well I found my best girl waiting, and I kissed her on the mouth.
Well we got us a place in Jackson County,
my God and my country say they love me.
But Uncle Sam well he still owes me money,
so I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
As for the rest of the info on the new album:
It is untitled as of yet, though I have some ideas. The band members are Ben Johnson on the 'lectric geetar, Matt Donoghue on the bass, and Greg Schmitt on the drums. These guys are a blast to play with, can't wait to do this new album with them.
the other songs on the album (this can change yet):
Ghost Towns
How Best to Survive the Flood and Save the Girl
Jackson Hole
Everything to Me
Ugly Like I Should
Disclaimer
Night Train to Sarajevo
Zia
Somtimes (Quittin' Don't Feel Half Bad) - Ben Johnson tune
and full band versions of older songs "Absentee" and "Silverton Mines"
Friday, July 10th - 9:30pm @ the Cafe Montmartre in Madison, WI
tickets are $8, and the night will also feature: Cameron McGill and What Army & Jeremiah Nelson. Hope you can make it out!
Since then I've written a bunch of new tunes, and am gearing up for a new album. On July 10th my band, John Statz and the Cheap Shots, will record a live album at the Cafe Montmartre in Madison. This will be my first rock'n'roll, full band album, and I'm really excited to capture the guys live, as I'm very fortunate to have some fantastic players in the band.
More on that later. I really wanted to re-write "Best Girl..." for the full band, as the original song is in an open tuning and just wouldn't work well with a rock treatment. This morning I set out to work on the song, and couldn't be happier with what came out of it. It is now a very different song, with different chord changes, and some different lyrics. If you have the last album, I think you'll recognize it. The new version has more of a bittersweet ending with an anti-war message, a bit more my style :). I plan on keeping both versions alive and well, but for now, here are the new lyrics:
Well back in the summer of '16
There was a young woman I was seein'
Well I'd pine for her, and sometimes she'd respond to me.
Oh back before the war, and everything came in between.
Well when I got back was March of double 19's,
Had gone 'cross the ocean protecting the land of the free.
Well France was as much of the world as I wanted to see.
Oh back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
On the train through Illinois
Well she is restless on my mind.
Hoping that she is unwed.
And that she took her time.
Well pulled into Union Station, military bands played loud,
nothing there was ventured, and nothing there was found.
Climbing from the rail car, my eyes gleaming 'cross the crowd.
Well I found my best girl waiting, and I kissed her on the mouth.
Well we got us a place in Jackson County,
my God and my country say they love me.
But Uncle Sam well he still owes me money,
so I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
As for the rest of the info on the new album:
It is untitled as of yet, though I have some ideas. The band members are Ben Johnson on the 'lectric geetar, Matt Donoghue on the bass, and Greg Schmitt on the drums. These guys are a blast to play with, can't wait to do this new album with them.
the other songs on the album (this can change yet):
Ghost Towns
How Best to Survive the Flood and Save the Girl
Jackson Hole
Everything to Me
Ugly Like I Should
Disclaimer
Night Train to Sarajevo
Zia
Somtimes (Quittin' Don't Feel Half Bad) - Ben Johnson tune
and full band versions of older songs "Absentee" and "Silverton Mines"
Friday, July 10th - 9:30pm @ the Cafe Montmartre in Madison, WI
tickets are $8, and the night will also feature: Cameron McGill and What Army & Jeremiah Nelson. Hope you can make it out!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Nominated for 2 MAMA Awards
Just wanted to share the nominations for the 2009 Madison Area Music Awards:
Folk/Americana Artist of the Year
Folk/Americana Album of the Year (for "An Evening With John Statz")
Thanks so much to everyone who has participated and voted in the MAMA's in the first round, its all for a great cause. You can read more about what the organization does for school music programs at their website.
You can get online and vote right now at: www.themamas.org
Also, congrats to all of the other nominees, and to some of my friends who have been nominated as well: Josh Harty, the Blueheels, the Guppy Effect, Jentri Collelo, and the Kissers!
Folk/Americana Artist of the Year
Folk/Americana Album of the Year (for "An Evening With John Statz")
Thanks so much to everyone who has participated and voted in the MAMA's in the first round, its all for a great cause. You can read more about what the organization does for school music programs at their website.
You can get online and vote right now at: www.themamas.org
Also, congrats to all of the other nominees, and to some of my friends who have been nominated as well: Josh Harty, the Blueheels, the Guppy Effect, Jentri Collelo, and the Kissers!
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