Let’s Get Real

A good friend of a previous foster child of ours, kindly came to warn me about how something that a current foster child posted online three years ago had been resurrected to defame his name now.

The internet can be a cruel machine that twists and weaves, armed to deceive, leaving victims, innocent and otherwise, with damage to their emotions and mental health. And to their lives in their actual home neighbourhoods.

We are learning, and the next generation will need to learn even more thoroughly, that life needs to be grounded in real friendships, real geography, real communities, real people.

It needs that foundation regardless, because even glorious 5D Hyper HD Virtual Reality becomes meaningless without a real Reality to compare it to.

But it needs it all the more when the shit hits the fan, and when the lies and deceptions are placed into the hands of the witless bullies and the easily led, cloaked, via the dark magic of The Internet, in a veil of unanswerable Cyber “Truth”.

That is the moment when you need real people on your side.

Living On A Globe

At a loss.
Not a crossroads, more of a bend
That won’t stop bending
Without ending
No sign of the straight. Or narrow.
No light at the end of the tunnel.

Loads of roadsigns though.
Full of eastern promise.
But still there’s no pretending…
That this bend
Is showing no sign
Of ending
Any time soon.

Ooh, wait a minute.
That looked familiar.
I think I’ve been here before.

You don’t think it’s possible,
Whisper it from the rooftops,
That we’re living on a globe?

Always Somewhere

Today I’m travelling up The Long and Winding Road that inspired Paul McCartney to write the tune. Then back again this evening. It’s the trip we have to do if we want to get “anywhere”.

Being “a long way from anywhere” is a description people give for the distance we are from everybody else’s “somewhere”. It’s clearly not a normal place!

But most of us who are in that place, like it that way.

The truth is that everybody is somewhere. And it’s always a long way from anywhere.

Or in other words…

We’re all weird! And that could be the quality that united us, if we would only stop pretending that it’s we, and only we, who are the normal ones.

Everything Goes My Way

Isn’t it nice when everything works?

How good does it feel when you get a day like that, just after one in which NOTHING !!!£@!! WORKS?

It’s like walking out of the burning flames of hell into the sweet, soft light of a cherubic, angel-song, heaven.

Here’s to the days when everything goes my way

Because you’re worth it :)

Enough For Everyone

True story.

I did once have contact with someone who was hosting gigs in their home in the UK. I said hi, via email, and how nice it would be if there were lots of other people, like us, who were doing this sort of thing. Why not everywhere, in every neighbourhood, I asked. I put my best case forward for a growing network of grassroots music in homes.

They responded in a friendly way. But they also said how they enjoyed the fact that they were the only ones, that they knew, who was doing that sort of thing.

And up to a point I get where they were coming from. We all like to have our own unique signature. Some way to stand apart from the seething masses.

But the whole beauty of Homesongs, is that everyone is different, and always does have its own unique something. It’s not just that every home and host put’s a special stamp on things, but that every gig is different.

I’m hoping that first contact with another Homesonger wasn’t typical. It perhaps put me off trying to find The Others at the time.

But whoever we are, I don’t think it’s good to bottle up our “precious” and keep it to ourselves, when there is plenty enough for everyone.

Where Are They?

Here is a site that features Home Concerts in Europe.

The emphasis there is on “Concert”, and not on “Home”. Which is fine of course. That is clearly another way of doing music too, and I would go to one if the opportunity arose.

I’m pretty sure though, because of various rumours, whispers, and smoke signals I’ve received, that there are quite a few other places in Europe which have something more akin to the grass roots, donation based, intimate gatherings that I would associate with a Homesong.

There is a resistance movement out there, which is fighting the advancement of The Big. Quite a shy breed though, I think.

They are certainly not easily found via a google search. But it has now become my mission to find them. If only to say “Hi…I too am a fellow human being.”

If you’ve got any concrete information, please get in touch with me.

Thank you.

ps. Europe includes Britain ;-)

Life Is Life

Yesterday began with a positive result of the negative kind after my covid test. But undoubtedly finished with a positive of the most positive variety. Last night we heard that our fifth grandchild, a baby girl, had arrived.

She’s healthy and beautiful and we are over the proverbial moon.

Her name is Caya. Hard C, rhyming with “hiya”, as my daughter-in-law informed us. (She knows I’m going to write a song for the new arrival at some point, so probably hinting at potential lyrics).

Caya has been born into a wonderful family, with three brothers and a sister, as well as a mum and dad, who have been waiting eagerly to see her. And now they have.

We’re going to have to wait a while before we can be there in the flesh. But it is lovely to have these moments to cherish.

And sometimes you just need to celebrate. Because Life is Life.

Remembering

I am now a paid up member of C-lub 19.

Lucky to have very mild symptoms right now, as the majority of people seem to have with the latest variant. Most people are just wanting to get on with life. Me too.

But I don’t want to forget, because for some people it has been or continues to be an horrific and tragic experience. There was a memorial concert at the weekend for a musician friend, which I sadly couldn’t go to because I was isolating.

A while ago I wrote a song in his memory. I’ve not played it to anyone bar a couple of friends. I haven’t recorded it. Not sure even what to do with it, but here’s the lyric:

Gold On Black

I see a pretty goldfinch
Singing in the sun           
I think she’s come to help me 
To remember someone
For the gold that she is named for
And the feathers on her back
Owe their glory
To the colour black

Gold on black, gold on black
I wish I could bring that big man back
He made everybody 
Shine a little brighter
Gold on black
Gold on black 

At the foot of Ben Gullion
Lies a giant of a man
His heart is still beating
If anyone’s can
And there’s a smile on his face
And we smile back
It’s the glory 
Of the colour black

Gold on black, gold on black
I wish I could bring that big man back
He made everybody 
Shine a little brighter
Gold on black
Gold on black 

That Gold Finch flies away 
Like they do, like they do
And that Gold Finch flies away         
Like they do
That Gold Finch flies away 
Like they do, like they do
And that Gold Finch flies away 

Gold on black, gold on black
I wish I could bring that big man back
Gold on black, gold on black
I wish I could bring that big man back
Gold on black, gold on black
I wish I could bring that big man back
He made everybody 
Shine a little brighter
Gold on black
Gold on black

In memory of Robert Black

Doppelganger?

Well, how did I miss that? I’ve got a Doppelganger!

Turns out that there is another me out there, who has been doing something similar to what I’ve been doing with Homesong, but for longer and on a bigger scale.

”ConcertsInYourHome began in 2006 as the first global house concert website. Out of thousands of scattered events, artists, and house concerts, we created a community”.

The guy who started it is a singer/songwriter called Fran Snyder. He’s over in Florida, and I’ll be getting in touch, just to say “hi” really. The House “concert” situation in the USA is far more established than it is in Europe. It would be interesting for me at least to get some of his feedback.

Fran has even done something that I’m intending to do, and produced a couple of DIY guides for hosts and for musicians. Check out the site and the guides. I’ve signed up to do just that.

Is Homesong now redundant? My own feeling is “the more the merrier”. Most people I talk to about Homesongs, have still never heard of the idea, let alone experienced it for themselves. At least in my part of the world, Homesongs is really still an idea that is waiting for its day to come.

But it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

Space Man

Eurovision is a guilty pleasure for me. But without the guilt. Even though it’s a million miles away from the Homesong ethos.

Some songwriters and music lovers can get sniffy about all of that cheesy Euro glitz. But for me it’s a very life affirming show.

I love the weird randomness, humour, beauty, and poignancy that always emerges, buried, though it always is, in the midst of the more predictable, but glorious trifle mountain of camp techno bling.

And sometimes there is even some fantastic, and universally moving songwriting.

You may be aware that last night the UK’s song managed to breakthrough the sometimes daft Eurovision politics, to come in second place to the Ukranian song. Which in turn won, paradoxically, because of some wonderful and peace affirming Eurovision politics.

That result is what many people who follow this strange other musical world were hoping for. It felt right.

And Spaceman is simply a beautiful song, beautifully sung. Life affirming, like the show it was a part of. Which, at the end of the day, is the kind of destination that every songwriter is aiming for, whenever we light the burners and point our gaze skywards.

Kudos.



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At Home In Hove

When you hear me banging on about home gigs, you might be under the impression that I’m the only one doing the things, or that I’ve got a patent on the idea. On the contrary, they’ve been around for a long while. In America quite a big thing. Also in some countries in Europe, like Germany and The Netherlands.

In the UK not so much. But they still happen. For instance, check out this one in Hove on the south coast of England. I love the way they talked themselves into it:

”There we were, sitting in Hove, lovers of music but too lazy to go out. So we thought 'why not use our newly-knocked-through front room to create an intimate space for musicians to perform?'. They can play their songs, sell their CDs and make a few quid - while we can bask in their reflected glory like the fame-whores we are. Mmmm...”

So don’t be shy to have a go yourself. There aren’t any qualifications needed. And you can call it a House Concert too if you like.

I’m going to keep calling them Homesongs. ;-)

The Path Remains

It has been pointed out to me that this blog has become more of a personal one about my own life philosophy, rather than the one about music in the community that it aspired to be.

And there is no denying it. It is what has happened.

I will be trying to find ways of addressing that, while at the same time continuing to share my personal angle on life and all of that schtick.
Because it turns out that it’s not hard to find words about something everyday. But it’s not very easy to find fresh words about one thing. But without a map from a previous traveller, you only find out where the path leads by going down it.

And in other important news….home gigs are a great thing.

You should try performing at one, or hosting one, or going to one near you. Not many people have that luxury at the moment. Which is, when push comes to shove, Homesong’s reason for existence.

It was good to be reminded. The path remains.

Who Is This?

My daughter-in-law is due to give birth to a baby tomorrow.

There have been lots of babies in our lives. To someone like me, who hasn’t ever and never will carry the growing WEIGHT of A Life inside of me, it can become easy to get laid-back about all of that.

But the heavy truth is this:

Arriving Soon - a gift to the world that will take up to a century, perhaps, to reveal everything about itself. Many decades to demonstrate all of its incredible potential.

A gift that will daily be full of surprises for us.

And even more full of surprises for him or herself.

Who is this? Who could they become?

Those are the questions we can ask.

Because in a dark, warm place right now, rests a body that is fully formed and ready to enter the light. Ready to meet the woman who has carried all of the weight, and the family whose lives they have become gradually aware of, like silhouettes on a stage behind a curtain.

And deep inside an already sizeable brain, conscious of its surroundings but not too much else, a particular question will slowly start to emerge:

”Who am I? Who am I becoming?”

Wishful Thinking

Have you ever wished that you were someone else instead of yourself?

I have.

I’m pretty sure it’s not all it’s cracked up to be though. I’m sure that there are many things about your life that you wouldn’t wish upon me. Or your worst enemy.

And if we could wish our lives away, we’d never get back all those particular moments of irritation, sadness, ecstasy, laughter, surprise, embarrassment, pain, peace, and happiness, that only we could have experienced in that particular way.

Those moments that mould all of us into human beings who have something worth keeping.

And something worth giving.

Ourselves.

The Quagmire Of Uncertainty

The Quagmire Of Uncertainty
Is a place of discontent
I’ve visited there occasionally
Though it’s never what I meant.

That dreaded bog is full of doubt
And a hoora muddy sand
There never is a stone or rock
Upon which to stand

It tastes of panic and despair
When you’ve sunk up to your chin
And the dirty water gropes at you
To find the best way in.

At that point, the Quagmire speaks aloud
As the end seems to draw near:
”Could you answer just one question
- Do you really like it here?”

Well of course the answer must be “No!
I want to be set free!
No one could enjoy this place
Whoever they may be.”

And though your words are not that much
They’re real, and now you see
That in a place of doubt and fear
You’ve found some certainty.

The Strong Kind

Strong and kind. Kind and strong.

The strength of kindness that keeps standing when challenged. That fights off cynicism. That possesses the energy to keep on shining when darkness threatens to overcome.

The kind of strength that waits for the weary. That feeds off the success of others. That hands the trophy to the weakest member of the team. That is kind to itself.

It’s very hard to have both of these I think. Maybe impossible.

But it feels like it is exactly this kind of strength, this strength of kindness, that the world needs right now.

Riding White Horses

“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley” - Robert Burns

I have come to the firm conclusion, a little bit later in my life than Mr Burns did in his, that we really, really, REALLY, can’t know what is around the corner.

Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still go about our scheming and planning. But while we’re doing all of that we better be ready, waiting and willing to surf the wave that’s coming up there, right after the one just before it.

Riding those white horses. It can be exhilarating or exhausting. It can be both at once. But it can never be truly safe or predictable, however much we try to make it so.

Reaching Earendel

Our foster son’s secondary school transition week has gone well.

So despite the nervousness all round earlier in the week, things went a lot better than expected.

Better than expected is a good place to be. And it usually comes about when we set our expectations at low levels.

Which sounds like quite a negative mindset to have.

But not at all. It has nothing whatsoever to do with which star in which distant solar system we are aiming to reach. We can go all out to reach that star, but still acknowledge that we could well fail at each and every little step we take along the way. We’d be lying to ourselves if we denied that.


With that in mind, when we manage to get that rocket to fly away from the ground for a couple of feet, it can feel like a real victory.

A step that didn’t fail. Yes!

And now we’re just that little bit closer to reaching Earendel.

All Of This Life

That’s the way to do it. Darren broke his G-String on the final song on the final HomeSongs4Life in this current manifestation of online music, magic and mahem that we’ve been having.

It felt like an appropriate ending. But as I might have said on the night, not an ending at all really. Just a pause.

Because we couldn’t stop it all happening, if we wanted to. All of this Life. It’s bursting up inside of us, and it’s got to GO somewhere.

So, a little rest, while it all bubbles away, and then suddenly, without much warning, shoots off in the next direction.

We’ve just got to make sure that we’re there and ready when it happens.

Old Fashioned?

“I’m old fashioned. I think we should….”

I was going to use that phrase, but I’m not sure it’s got anything to do with what I was about to say. Which is that it’s important, if someone has sent you a message, to reply quickly. Even if it's to say that you’ll reply properly at a later date.

Or, if you’ve got an appointment, it’s important to be there on time.

I think this matters more, not less, the busier we get.

I’m a scatter brain, so I need my reminders. And we all make mistakes. I missed an appointment yesterday. I was going to be interviewed for St. Helens Speakerbox podcast. (She’s interviewed a number of other HomeSongs4Life performers too)

But I forgot to give myself the required reminders and, what with one thing and another, it completely went out my head.

I nearly sent my apologies with excuses regarding the crazy start to the day that I’d had. Which was true. But the true Truth was that I forgot. So, that’s what I told my prospective interviewer, who was very gracious and re-arranged for today.

It’s better to be on time. And it’s better to be open an honest when we’re not.

That’s not old fashioned, is it? I hope not.