sons of bankers... sons of lawyers.....

Something cosmic occurred tonight. It isn't the first time that it has happened. There are songs in the universe that connect me to others whom I admire. Artists who I have listened to for years. I have two specific examples. It's the night before New Years 2013, and since yesterday I have been listening to very early Elton John records. It's odd because I recall years ago seeing a photo of Aimee Mann holding a vinyl copy of "Mad Man Across the Water." I know it is the record that contains his greatest known hit, "Tiny Dancer." I reviewed the whole record on Spotify and could not stop listening to it on repeat. The album prompted me to also listen to the song "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." I was hoping to find an Aimee Mann cover of the song because I feel her vocal pitch is perfect for it. Instead, I found the following tweet that she posted on Nov 23rd.

"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." Go ahead and see if you can listen without crying, I dare you.

— Aimee Mann (@aimeemann) November 24, 2012

I responded to the tweet tonight. I felt utterly compelled to. Because it's a song that obviously resonates for the both of us. She has written numerous songs that resonate with me as well. My second example is a blog entry written by Courtney Love. I don't have the entry link (might have been an old myspace entry) but she has covered the song "Unsatisfied" by the Replacements numerous times, and gives praise to Paul Westerburg for writing it For years now, I return to that song and it has been on many a mix tape of mine. There are others ... Chan Marshall of Cat Power has mentioned listening to Sinead O' Connor's "Lion and The Cobra" incessantly. It was probably my most listened to album throughout my college years. There are other examples. But they just continue to prove that there is something intrinsically beautiful in the art that we listen to and the art that we create. Obviously amongst the artists that I also listen to. This is a genuine comfort for me to realize.

your milk turns to cream.....

When I first started listening to the record "Live Through This" by the band Hole in 1994 - I knew in my gut that I stumbled upon something unique in sound and revolutionary. You can say whatever you want about the personal character of Courtney Love, but during late 1993, she and the other existing band members of Hole recorded a collection of songs that were brilliant and classic at a recording studio in Atlanta, GA. Every time I listen to the record, I become entranced by subtle nuances and sounds that I've missed during prior listens. The mixing/mastering was epic, the playing was epic, and it defined a period in the early to mid 90s that was unfortunately overshadowed by the suicide of Kurt. I covered "Softer Softest" because for me it is the song that epitomizes a child that was never accepted by most. Courtney was ridiculed and considered an outcast throughout much of her early adolescence and adulthood. This song captures that rejected feeling and the melancholy behind it. I sang it in junior high, high school, college, early adulthood and to this day. It provides me continual solace, and it's a beautiful song from start to finish.

new guitar pedal rig....

So in my new unemployed blaze of glory.... I have explored options to begin creating a guitar pedal effects rack. I have been listening to a shit ton of slowdive lately and want to give my songs a shoegazey edge. Pictured below you will see my Vox AC15 celestion tube amp, a neunaber Wet Reverb pedal, Behringer DD-400 pedal, and marshall effects switch pedal that plugs direct to the amp for tremolo and OD effects. A behringer UC200 chorus pedal is still on the way in the mail. Watch out Kevin Shields!

two great songs about being free

I came across this pitchfork article in which the writer, Mark Richardson, compares two recent songs by two incredible artists and they are : sinead o' connor/the wolf is getting married and cat power/nothin' but time. I realized while listening to nothin' but time that the song consists of only two chords. This article confirmed it for me. This also prompted me to pick up my epiphone and play the two chords : C and F. I played them repeatedly in a trance like state and sang the lyrics to this Cat Power song. I have yet to cover a Cat Power song (although many years ago I played Metal Heart live) and I'm thinking about this one. I feel bad for not saying anything further about the Sinead song "The Wolf is Getting Married." I do see the parallels between the two and relate to the optimism of "being with this person is going to help fix me." Two songs about being free

well i never did believe in time....

it's funny how a song can suddenly, spontaneously... take you over. i heard the song "That's alright" by Fleetwood Mac fairly recently. Something about the lyrics instantly grabbed me. I was not so enamoured by the honky tonk vibe of the sound of the recording but the chorus always embraced me with a warm hug. "I hope you find a love, your own designs of love... that's alright.... that's alright." So I started to try to play the song on guitar. I sang along to a tab web page that supposedly had the song transcribed chord for chord. But something always felt off. The rhythm did not seem to fit with the lyrics. I was trying to play a rhythm that did not match the rhythm of the original song itself. I was frustrated and I gave up multiple times. But the lyrics kept speaking to me. I could not put it down. Eventually I discovered a basic rhythm that allowed me to incorporate my own style to the song. It felt liberating. Almost like I wrote the song myself. But I would never take credit away from Stevie. The significance of this post is to state that this will be the first song I play during my show this Saturday December 8th at the Orpheum in Ybor City (Tampa,Fl). I feel very confident about the set of music I have put together for this event. If you are a Fleetwood Mac Fan or a Pirate Prude Fan, or a lover of good,obscure music fan... please try to make it out to the show. Tickets are available at www.aftonshows.com/pirateprude

mirage...

it's interesting how everyone references "Rumours" as THE classic Fleetwood Mac record. In my opinion, the record that surpasses overall cohesiveness and flow is "Mirage."

i'm not ordinary, friend.....

https://soundcloud.com/pirateprude/superstar-casino-acoustic-1/s-7pysk

about.pirateprude.....

Pirate Prude Show!

Hi blog readers, If you live in the Tampa Bay area you should make every attempt to purchase tickets and come to the next Pirate Prude show which will be on Saturday, December 8th at the Orpheum in Ybor City (Tampa,FL). Tickets are regularly $11 but Afton has kindly offered a $3 promo discount code PIRATE 163 which can be entered during the online ticket purchase process. Please come out and show your support for local music! www.aftonshows.com/pirateprude

Nina Nastasia

I can't help but want to cover Nina's songs. Her song "Bird of Cuzco" is one of the cover songs that I recorded for the album "Under the Covers." I don't make it a point to cover too many songs by the same artist but most recently, I came up with a series of chords that automatically made me start singing the song "Superstar." It reminded me of when Chan Marshall described staring in front of a television and beginning to sing the song "Satisfaction" by the Stones while playing a few guitar chords. These songs are powerful in the simplest form and the fact that it is recorded live during a John Peel session is the icing on the cake.

but the angels turned you down.....

and the Pirate Prude version....

happened the year I was born.....

drive fast.... i can almost taste it now.... you way ahead of the trend, ge- get it....

all the friends that we used to know... ain't comin' back.... ain't comin' back....

the appeal in vulnerability....

not quite sure why this interview segment is so enthralling. there are just so many gems throughout this. "I was not coming from a black void, I was trying to create light..... I am trying to create light." "be the football captain"

i had nothing to spend... but time on you.....

This is Sharon Van Etten. I recall receiving her demos recorded with homemade art just shortly after she became a pitchfork indie kid. She is a tremendous songwriter and deserves all the credit. She also inspired me to cover this very song. Listen below.

you make real friends quickly.....

Here is a live clip of Youth Lagoon performing the song "Posters" live. I am really enjoying the album "The Year of Hibernation." Check it out on spotify or itunes. I hear Vashti Bunyan influence here mixed with death cab. I'm just sayin...

Just the other side of pain.....

"this is just a song about getting through it.... and what's waiting for you on the other side of the pain." --- jill tracy

To kick off an initial entry to the blog, I am including live footage of St. Vincent performing "Krokodil" with some stage diving action. I saw her perform this at her Atlanta show at the Variety Playhouse to a much smaller crowd. The crazy talented bitch still stage dived.