When?

Turbulent weather has haunted Utah in the last month. Clear skies and warm weather hasn't plagued us enough. But one clear evening, about a week ago, I sat in the grass listening to an amazing talent. Her name? Kat Tingey.

Kat is one of those performers that reaches out from the stage and grabs you by your heart and mind, shocking your system until it overloads. She's probably able to do this because as she's said, "I write songs about emotions and feelings and stuff." It's more likely that her fantastic voice, and awesome songwriting are at the heart of her abilities.

I mention Kat because over the years I have been blessed to know numerous talented people. When I say talented, I mean people who could be celebrities if the Sun, Stars, Moon, and Planets align. When will the celestial bodies create the necessary fluctuations in time and space to bring success to many of the talents that I have known? How does one put themselves into a position to gain new fans? How does one put themselves in a position to gain more success than entertaining Mom and the ten friends who are willing to come see you play time and time again?

In life, sometimes people ask themselves the question "when?" When is it my turn for love? When will the weather get nice? When will he/she realize that I am here for them? When will he/she learn to respect themselves? When is it my turn for success?

My purpose in typing tonight hasn't been to answer any of the deeper questions in life. However, it has been my purpose to spotlight some talented friends that I've known throughout the ages. People like Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Kim Anderson, Christy Anderson, Dave Smith, Chris Gillis, Sean Winnie, Steve Bradford, Kyle Monson, Brad Monson, Aaron Castillo, Chad Petersen, Laith Kayyali, Anuj Aurora, David Bosse, some writers whose names I won't mention here, myself, and of course Kat are some who are still waiting for their turn.

As some of you know every title to my blogs is the name of a song. I think Kat's song "When" encapsulates many of the emotions people have when asking that very question, because with many of us, the question remains--When? no matter what the subject is about.

Broke

Sometimes song lyrics seem written just for you. Here is one that I think works on multiple levels. Broke by Modest Mouse.

Broke account so I broke a sweat
I bought some things that I sort of regret about now.
Broke your glasses but it broke the ice
you said that I was an asshole and I paid the price.

Broken hearts want broken necks
I've done some things that I want to forget but I can't.
Broke my pace and ran out of time
Sometimes I'm so full of $#!# it should be a crime.

Broke a promise cause my car broke down
Such a classic excuse it should be bronze by now

Broke up and I'm relieved somehow
it's the end of the discussions that just go round and round
and round, and round, and round, and round,
and round, and round, it shouldn't have been anyway
No way, no way, that's right, that's right
uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh,
uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh,

It was like everthing was evidence of broken time
your livin on fancy wine
you'll drink it like turepentime
you're starting conversations
you don't even know the topic

Yeah, the song reminds me of a relationship I once had. Nevermind the fact that I certainly have spent money I haven't had. Of course, I've broken a promise or two in my day as well. I'm not sure that any of this has to do with anything...but there you have it. Some thoughts floating into the upper regions of my mind....

Bruce Wayne on the Run

I played a tune called "Bruce Wayne on the Run" last night on Blues in Orbit. I must say that the kid (Roberto Badoglio) has some chops. The song inspired me so much I had to go home, take off the Superman belt buckle, and replace it with the Batman one. Too bad that the link isn't the tune I played.

Speaking of Batman, Christopher Nolan, writer and director of Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight released information that he will begin work on the new Batman project. He even set a release date of July 20, 2012. I'll be crushed if this is just a rumor.

One day I am going to write a Batman story. Don't worry people, you will love it. I think I have a handle on how to write psycho characters like Bruce Wayne. "Cause a guy who dresses up like a bat clearly has issues."

Cross Road Blues

I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.

How many times have you been on your knees at the crossroads?

I have been there many times, and I am approaching the crossroads again. In a couple of weeks, I will graduate from Weber State University. I don't have a job lined up and I really don't want one. Of course I will do what I need to do, but what I really want is to have a career as a writer.

Over the last year, I completed the first book I am happy with. I think it's a fun rollercoaster ride, filled with ghosts, skeletons, spectral trains, Voodoo gods, and zombies. What could be better?

Without a book deal (don't worry, I am out there doing everything I can to get published), I am left with all of the regular questions. What will you do after you graduate? Will you go to grad school? Will you get a job? What can you do with an English degree?

Hence at this crossroads I am about to ask the Lord above "Have mercy, now save poor Wyatt, if you please."

Then I am going to enjoy the journey. To quote Neil Peart--Anything can happen.

Never Going Back Again

I sat down at my computer this morning and looked at the mess surrounding it. On top of a stack of papers that I really need to go through was a cd with my name on it. I didn't know what it was, so I slipped it into the computer. The media player opened and I was greeted by the rolling, fingerpicked guitar of Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. Never Going Back Again.



Have you ever been greeted by a tune that fit exactly how you are feeling? This song perfectly captured how I was feeling when I woke up this morning. Sometimes, music moves us because of the way it feels. Sometimes, the lyrics of a song perfectly explains the situations you are going through....When both of those elements occur in one song, emotions are often captured in a way which is hard to describe.



Let me put it to you this way. I went out with a girl this weekend, and I also went dancing this weekend, where I spoke with many friends,who, happen to be girls. The girl that I went out with is emotionally unavailable because she has feelings for another boy. Imagine that! She likes a boy and she knows that he doesn't like her, yet she continues to pine after him. I often wonder why people choose to be in painful situations. If it was me, I would move on, and choose to be in a situation that made me happy...that's just me though. I know many people don't roll that way.



Another friend is "confused" because a boy she likes is calling her...but she knows this boy is choosing her SECOND! (He stopped calling her a few weeks ago so he could be with his ex, but now that his ex dumped him again he is calling her again...) Being second choice to a girl is not how I roll. If a girl doesn't want me, I will move on to someone else, and I won't let her "have her cake and eat it too." (which is what this dude is trying to do with my friend.)

That reminds me of the actual lyrics to the song.
She broke down and let me in, made me see where I've been.
I've been down One time, been down Two times...
I'm never going back again.

You don't know what it means to win,
Come down and see me again...
I've been down One time, I've been down Two times...
I've never going back again.

I will do you a favor and not analyze these lyrics, or how they might pertain to my life. You can all read English lit papers elsewhere. (I am sure your own analysis will conjure some interesting images...) Sparing the paper, and moving straight to the point, I will say that there are some lessons I have learned in life. One of those is that when it comes to relationships I choose to be happy, and if a situation presents an opportunity for me to be confused, sad, or experience constant unpleasant emotions, then I choose to do one thing--Never go back again.

This song might not be a jazz or blues tune, but music of all kinds can teach us great lessons...even if we are feeling a little blue during a folk song. I love the lessons music can teach us.

Satellite of Love

Yes, that's right, I'm talking the satellite of love, and no, I am not talking about that bone shaped spaceship from Mystery Science Theater of the same name. What exactly is the satellite of love? I am not exactly sure. I do know that it is an awesome tune by Mr. Lou Reed. Other than that, I am clueless on this one.



I sure hope that Lou wasn't describing one of those people who just couldn't function without their boyfriends or girlfriends. I have seen one to many people who are always hovering in close proximity to their significant other. Those kinds of satellites usually crash and burn on reentry into the real world.



I watched it for a little while. I like to watch things on tv.



Sometimes I am relegated to watching love stories on tv. There is a serious lack of a love story in my life right now.



I've been told that you've been bold

With Harry, Mark, and John (or Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, to Thursday



Being bold is what's needed if the satellite is going to continue orbiting love. People who don't act never get anywhere. Be bold or there won't ever be any love.



Satellites are cool. Lou Reed wrote a song about em, as did Dave Matthews. I think P.O.D has an album called satellite, and U2 watched ten million channels of tv on satellite feeds during their Zoo TV tour (with a prerecorded image of Lou Reed singing a duet of Satellite of Love with Bono).



I like satellites, they give me the ability to communicate through cell phones, internet, they inspire cool music and of course...I like to watch things on tv.



Try and figure out how love fits into the picture and let me know. I won't think to hard about it til then.

Freddie Freeloader

So, I was out at lunch with my sister, bro-in-law, niece, nephew, and father today. Someone bought me lunch. I wasn't too happy about it. My financial institution screwed me over, and I don't have funds or access to funds for another couple of days.

It isn't a fun situation. I don't want to feel like a freddie freeloader, or a little mooch all the time. Not that I am, but my family has given me some great opportunities to come out here and get an education. The idea is that I will be able to pay them back after school is out and I am making better money.

I don't want to froget all the cool things people have done for me to have this opportunity to have higher education. If they forget that they bought me lunch today, at least I won't. I also won't forget all the simple things others have done for me to get here as well. Hopefully in someway I will be able to help someone out like people have helped me. Let's face it. no one likes people who are nothing but Freddie Freeloaders...

I like to be liked...so therefore someday I will return the favor.

Nuages

"Nuages" is the french word for clouds. I am a creative kind of guy, and clouds have always fascinated me. Yeah, that's right, I am one of those guys who likes to lie on the grass and pick out shapes in the clouds.
"Look at that one! It looks like a horse!"
"What about that one there, it looks like a crab!"
"Dude, that one looks like your mom!"
Just kidding, I haven't seen any clouds today that look like your mom, but I have seen some interesting clouds today. Gray, ominous looking clouds, and white popcorn looking clouds have filled the sky, and through it all the sun was shining, anticipating the coming summer.

All this talk of Nuages is making me excited for the Blues In Orbit program tomorrow night. I think I will have to play Django's tune for all of you. It is one of his more reknowned tunes, and starts of hectic, almost as if the clouds are storming at the time...then without warning the tempo slows, and the song changes direction, as if the storm has broken. At this point of the song I often think about lying in the grass, a blade stuck between my teeth, enjoying where the clouds take my imagination.

My imagination has wandered lately. For the first 8 years of my swing dancing life, I danced in San Francisco. There are always clouds hovering over that city. I also danced in Sacramento for the same amount of time. They can get a cloud or two there as well. I now dance in Salt Lake City, Utah and we all know they have clouds here. This state never knows if it should rain, snow or shine.

The reason I bring this up is that the San Francisco and Sacramento dance scenes are pretty big. Salt Lake is pretty small as a scene. But, as with the clouds, I let my imagination wander. I imagine that Salt Lake can become a big dance scene. I imagine that hordes of people will migrate to the city in order to "cut a rug" on Friday nights. Just like the shapes in the clouds, there are endless possibilities to what swing dancing can be in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City's Downtown Stomp, the newest swing dance in Salt Lake, will be holding a dance and live band this weekend. There is a 40's Military theme. A fun time will be had by all. I am excited to go. This is the kind of thing this scene needs in order to consistently bring the people to the dances.

Like seeing shapes in the clouds, I am seeing what this dance scene can become and I find it fascinating. If you have a love for swing music, and dancing, come on out to the Downtown Stomp swing dance this weekend, and if it is your first time I promise to do my best to make you feel welcome...just ask for Tombstone...someone will point you in my direction.

If you aren't a dancer, but love good live music, come on out anyway, guaranteed there will be some great music, and it is always fascinating to watch swing dancers in action. If you need more information click here.

Shiny Stockings

At the Downtown Stomp swing dance held in Salt Lake City, Ut on Friday May 1, 2009 we had a moment of silence for Mr. Frankie Manning. Then we all danced away to Shiny Stockings. I am sure swing scenes around the world did the same thing. Now that Frankie's funeral has passed, I wanted to throw two more clips up here for people to check out. One is a general tribute to Frankie, and the other is people dancing the Shim Sham at funeral services for Frankie.

When I pass away, I hope someone will put some Shiny Stockings on me and then lead a Shim Sham for me. This is the way to remember someone!

Tombstone Blues

I am so thankful Bob Dylan wrote a blues song for me...it was so sweet of him.

On Friday, when I woke up, I was greeted by an overnight occurence. My basement flooded. It wasn't good. I called my brother in law, and we spent half of the day cleaning up a foot of water in the basement. I couldn't find the shop vac, so we were relegated to having a couple of carpet cleaners sipping up the water off of the basement floor. I am lucky that the basement isn 't finished, and the floor is concrete, otherwise there would have been thousands of dollars worth of damage to that basement. As it stands now, there wasn't a single casualty in this potentially catastrophic event.

I may be an eventual casualty of the event. Let's just say that the odor isn't the most splendorous. In fact its downright horrible. Still, after a couple of nights it is...more than pungent. I may die soon.

One of my first thoughts about the situation is that I should write a blues tune. Having cut my teeth on the blues, I figured I should pick up my guitar or harmonica or both and play. I did do that, but I didn't have an original tune come of it. Therefore, maybe the situation wasn't bluesy enough. Not enough pain. If I wake up screaming and puking from the bog of eternal stench, then yes, it might be bluesy enough.

Either way, I felt like it was bluesy enough at the time. Guaranteed, if it wasn't, We all have had experiences in life that truly were bluesy enough to write a song about. In the meantime I will keep enjoying Dylan's tune that shares my namesake...