American Standard Telecaster

Decided to post this pic of my Tele. Lovely tones especially when you roll off the trebles - get the warm jazzy tones that Danny Gatton gets up to when he does the same to his Joe Bardens. Beautiful maple neck and fretbaord. When I'm in the mood, I'd do a Steve Cropper thang and turn up the funk a la James Brown. Sweet.

Looking Out

Well, this is my 4th week into the new job, and I'm picking up the pace as quickly as I can. I was ambivalent about the role, but it looks like I might grow to enjoy it. Resistance is futile. Maybe I've spent too much time looking back instead of forwards, and I've not given myself the chance to really do that.
As they say, you ought to let go of the past - easier said than done. But seeing that I'm sinking deeper into this job, it might be a good idea to do that.
Meanwhile, everythng on the music-front looks fine: we're playing everywhere this month, every weekend. Still, the band lacks a little pizazz, more because of a lack of understanding on the musical plane than individually. Hope we'll work out our kinks soon.

The summer sojourn is ending

I'm not sure if it's good or bad, or what I really want, but the month-long break is coming to an end, and I hit the corporate road come July. Back to proper attire, office hours, office etiquette etc. No more lazing around the house, the beach, hanging out at the CD store etc. May be welcoming, I guess, and the money helps. See how it goes. Just hope I'll adapt quickly and painlessly.

Gold Top Std

Gold Top Std
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Ah, a special one. I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but didn't get the chance. It's a 2002 Gold Top standard, all stock, but pre-Burstbucker era. Sweet tones still, and can't go too far wrong when you crank it up for some sweet Southern rock or that jazz-tinged blues. Beautiful.

The Fender Strat American Std make-over

Fender Strat
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

It's a 1991 Fender U.S. Strat - everything stock except for the pickups - I swapped them with Lindy Fralins Blues Specials. Now they hit the sweet overdriven tones without all the extra 60 Hz cyclical hum. Lovely.

Heritage 535

Heritage 535
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Great tone, great texture - a true Heritage. A jazz lover's dream axe.

Idle hands

Boy, being out of work sucks. Big time. Time drags, even though I thought having time drew the biggest appeal when I was in a job. Just spending my days surfing, reading, listening to music, strumming my guitar, talking to strangers. Need to get some exercise. Breathe in, breathe out. There, much better now.

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Wow! That was so much better than episodes 1 and 2. I'm glad it's all wrapped up, and that Darth Vader has finally donned his costume. Will George Lucas make another Star Wars movie? I dunno. But I hope he goes easy on using CGI. Just concentrate on developing a solid plot and dialogue. And maybe recast Natalie Portman?

Pac-Man lives again...

in a neat little console with 4 other games from the Atari/Namco era of the '80s. Emotional draw for a little nostalgia from times (mis)spent in the games arcade. Grabbed a set today - Pacman, Galaxia, Bosconian, Dig Dug and that little racer game whose name I can't recall, but I sure dumped enough coins into the damned machines back then to remember what the game was about. Cool stuff - great for wooing the Gen-Xers whose main claim to fame was in hitting top scores in those arcades of yore back into the TV games room, and making us chuck the PS and XBoxes aside for a while. There are others to collect (all '5 in ones' consoles), and it's a simple plug & play set up.

Questions and answers...

Had a call today - a job offer. Sounds cool right now, but the T&C may not be what I was after. Need to think this through. Still unsure of the path to take. The Tears For Fears song, Everybody Wants To Rule the World, is slowly but surely becoming anthemic.

Questions, questions

Had a weird situation. Got retrenched this week, and a few people have called to say they want me to join them. Need to think about it. It's so damn weird - I barely got over the shock and already I'm supposed to embrace a 'new' beginning. Can I simply just switch 'on' and 'off' like that? It's a weird feeling. Maybe I should be feeling great, but I feel sad. Is that weird?

London is the vibe V

London Cabs
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

One of the sights on London's busy streets. Always had a soft spot for these cabs.

Lazy the Cat

Lazy the Cat
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

The king of the heap, the laziest kitty in the household, and a dumb cat to boot. Eats and sleeps and chases his mate half the day. Loves to be stroked. Hates baths. Loves to laze in the sun. 7 years old and counting.

London is the vibe IV

Swiss Re Building, London
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

As promised, here's the Swiss Re building (aka the Erotic Gherkin) in downtown London. Woody Allen made a movie and included this in a scene, Freudian overtones notwithstanding. Captured from the ground this time en route to Petticoat Lane.

London is the vibe III

London Eye
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Finally got round to doing the photosets, and thought I'd share this with you. It's the London Eye (step right up folks, it's 12.50 Sterling Pounds per adult and takes up to about 30 minutes per cycle). Took a ride and saw much of central London - flattish with a few spires sticking out. Waved at the Swiss Re Building - coming up in the next post.

Transamerica Building

Transamerica Building
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Cool piece of architecture. Love SF!

Gibson Les Paul Studio

Gib_body
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Had this Gibson Les Paul Studio since 1993, and it's still one of my faves. Use it for blues, jazz, & rock. Will be swapping out its stock pickups with Seymour Duncan Jazz (neck) and JB (bridge) soon. Wish me luck.

Springtime in San Francisco

Was in SF for a few days last week, and it is still one of my fave cities in the world. The air was crisp, a touch of spring and a little bite in the air, but sunshine kept me company most of the time I was there. Popped by old haunts such as Sears Fine Foods for breakfast (da best bacon crisps to date), Guitar Center (reloacted to 1645 Van Ness Ave but stocks less than what they used to) and of course Virgin Megastore (picked up Rachel Yamagata's debut - raw, tense, angry, imploring, and she's cute to boot). Skipped Banana Republic this round (although I heard they had a sale going on).
What's new in SF? A lot of reconstruction going on - some buildings left hanging onto their proud past with only their facades standing - everything thing else was demolished. But it was good to be back in SF if only fleetingly. Spring and SF.

Loaded

I'm the master of my destiny. I am what I eat. I am what I read. I am what I hear. I am what I say. And I'm so loaded. By food. Heavy lunches shouldn't be allowed during the work week. It saps energy. Help - I need to snooze. Can't. type. any. longer. Zzzzz.

Entry Restricted II

Well, the anguish over the privileged amusement park isn't about to subside. People are still incensed, infuriated, and insulted. The city's officials aren't going to make any apologies for their Fascist act either. Will the downtrodden tear down the walls? Can they ever find the collective strength? Shall they move on? And let injustice fester like a cancer, imploding within their insolent bodies in the distant future?

Can fairness be ridden roughshod by the seeming gain in economic benefits? Has pragmatism denigrated common sense and individual rights? Must we let them?

Entry Restricted

Imagine having a nice amusement park built in your very own city, with the latest and greatest rides, gizmos and attractions the city can ever offer. Now imagine that the park is opened exclusively for people who don't live in the city, but who are wealthy enough to pay the entry fee and for the rides.

The people in the city are shut out, and told that this is for their own good. There could be an addiction to rides, and the city's officials don't want anyone to get hooked and possibly waste their lifesavings on the rides.

Okay, they give in - people from the city can go, but they have to pay a hefty entry fee before they get in, much higher than what outsiders would pay. And the city's officials will post counsellors on site to spot would-be addicts, and haul them out of the park.

Gives me the jitters everytime I think about it - is there an affront to the freedom of choice and individual rights of the citizens? Strangely enough, there are people who live in the city who would happily choose to be shut out, for all kinds of reasons. But there are others who are insulted at the way they are treated.

What to do? Is there merit to discrimination, and should it be condoned in this case?

What are the benefits to the city's people if the park was a roaring success? What are the consequences should the park fail miserably?

Deep Purple revisited

Am listening to the 1976 Deep Purple line-up: David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Tommy Bolin, Jon Lord, Ian Paice from their Come Taste the Band LP. Great stuff if you gave it a chance, post-Ian Gillan, Richie Blackmore and Roger Glover.
Bolin's guitar playing is superb, bluesy and soulful. Great use of the guitar effects and slide. Coverdale's voice is sublime. Check out 'Coming Home' to see what I mean.

Wonder what would have happened if Deep Purple hadn't broken up after that...

London is the vibe II

Visited the weekend markets (Camden, Portobello, Old Spitalfields, Petticoat Lane, Brick Lane) and noticed something - it's like One Nation Under A Groove all over. Everything music stall I stopped at was blaring out ragga/dub music, which was great! Loved it!
70's funk was also a favourite among some stall owners, and I couldn't stop grinning ear to ear. Vibey or what? Pass that joint, mate.

London is the vibe

Just returned to my island republic from London. Old traditional London, and yet, it's fresh, exciting, and vibey at the same time. Caught Tim Garland's International Quartet and Judy Lewis at Jazz@Pizza Express, and Mark Crooks/Jim Tomlinson with the 'Lester Leaps In' band at Club 606. Great stuff. I love jazz, especially the free form stuff.
London's kinda expensive though.