Merit Music Video

Here is the Merit music video I mentioned in my last post. I love this thing. It was made by Tub-O-Popcorn Productions (very talented film-makers. By the way, Jeff Nelson, the drummer in Merit, also plays on John Engerman's CD "Maquett" (Hondo Mesa Records, HMR 002) available on itunes, CDBaby, and HMR's store.

"Muted" short film

Here is a wonderful short film by Tub-O-Popcorn Productions, the same folks who made my favorite Merit music video. This film was made in 48 hours, for the Atlanta 48 hour film project. There is no audio.

You can see more work on their YouTube channel or their web page.

Wasim Ahmad

Here is a short clip on my friend Wasim Ahmad produced by Tonielle Moore during the Newhouse School's J-Camp, hosted by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Wasim Ahmad: Storyteller in pictures from Newhouse School J-Camp on Vimeo.

Happy 74th Birthday Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 74 today.



This account of His Holiness' birth was taken from the official web site. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was born on 6 July 1935, and named Lhamo Thondup, to a poor family in the small village of Taktser in the province of Amdo. The name, Lhamo Thondup, literally means Wish-Fulfilling Goddess. Taktser (Roaring Tiger) was a small and poor settlement that stood on a hill overlooking a broad valley. Its pastures had not been settled or farmed for long, only grazed by nomads. The reason for this was the unpredictability of the weather in that area, His Holiness writes in his autobiography Freedom in Exile. During my early childhood, my family was one of twenty or so making a precarious living from the land there.

His Holiness' parents were small farmers who mostly grew barley, buckwheat and potatoes. His father was a man of medium height with a very quick temper. I remember pulling at his moustache once and being hit hard for my trouble, recalls His Holiness. Yet he was a kind man too and he never bore grudges. His Holiness recalls his mother as undoubtedly one of the kindest people I have ever known. She had a total of sixteen children, of whom seven lived. (Thank you for looking at me)

Photos from first night of recording the Tonalities Project

Here are a few pictures from our first night of tracking on the Tonalities project. We recorded in the practice room at the Setnor School of Music (College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University). I'll post more images and tell you more about the project as it progresses. Check out the beautiful building where Setnor is located:

Scotty "the bluesman" Suyeishi Neville

Here is a short clip of my friend, Scotty Bluesman Suyeishi Neville jamming in San Jose, CA. He's the badass playing the blues harp. Soundin' good Scotty. Scotty and I use to jam all the time when I lived in San Jo. We also frequented my favorite San Jo restaurant, Guadalajara II, for chorizo and egg burritos with fresh Jalepeno peppers and cold beer.

Larry Hoyt Playing Johnny Cash's Tennessee Flat Top Box

This is Larry Hoyt performing Johnny Cash's Tennessee Flat Top Box at Borders (Syracuse, New York) in-store promotion of Larry's CD "Folksinger Songwriter" (Hondo Mesa Records, HMR001) on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Larry rarely plays this in public, even though it is on his CD, because it's a difficult tune to play.

Happy Birthday Cyndi Lauper

Happy Birthday to one of the most innovative and fearless singers/songwriters in the land. Check out Cyndi's official web site when you get a chance. I remember the first time I saw her video "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"... wow, too cool, I thought. Then she followed up with the wonderful (and heart pulling) "Time After Time." You got to love Cyndi Lauper. Happy Birthday from all of us at Hondo Mesa Records and thank you.

Happy Birthday Paul Abdul

Happy Birthday Paula. Your "Straight Up" video still knocks me out! Hondo Mesa Records loves you.






Image from: http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/2008/01/paula_abduls_song_is_not_as_ba.html

Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, Brian Francis, opening for Volker Strifler this Saturday at HopMonk.

Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, Brian Francis, called me today from sunny California. He was excited to discuss his upcoming gig. Brian is opening for Volker Strifler this Saturday at HopMonk. This is s prime spot. Volker is making a name for himself in CA and Nashville and the folks at HopMonk love Brian and wanted him to open. Way to go Brian!



Here's some info. on Volker Strifler from the HopMonk website:



HopMonk presents...
VOLKER STRIFLER
blues / rock / americana

The Volker Strifler Band is a sizzling package of roots and soul mixed with a little rock, jazz and a taste of the Delta just to let everyone know it's still the blues. The increasingly popular Sonoma County Band is the recipient of the 2007 North Bay Area Music Awards for Blues, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival competition and returned from Memphis to well received accolades at the 2008 Blues Foundations International Blues Challenge as well as being selected for the pre nom round of the 2008 Grammy's in 7 categories.

Moving from languorous jazz and roots, to white hot blues/rock to a funky calypso rhythm Strifler connects his disparate influences into a seamless whole showing that blues is a feeling more than a style. He has a compelling soulful voice that is confident but not brash putting life in perspective offering frank discourse and humor dealing with the tribulations that periodically come our way. Strifler aptly proves that music is a refuge where optimism and human resiliency reign, souls are cleansed and spirits raised.

Having shared the stage with such luminaries as Robben Ford, Lowell Fulson, Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, and BB King, Volker Strifler has become a talent one cannot ignore. However it is his songwriting that truly stands out from the crowd, lending a caring sensitivity that erases lines and connects his audience by recognizing that life is the ultimate shared experience, one that is defined by both joy and sorrow and an acute social awareness. "Volker is a wonderful blues songwriter, which is an important contribution in keeping the Blues genre vital" Robben Ford.

The Volker Strifler Band is an extraordinary group of musicians that is more than just the sum of their shared and individual experience as performers. With Volker Strifler on guitar and vocals, Gary Silva on drums, Don Bassey on bass, David Schrader on saxophone, Carl Bowers on trombone, and "Chip" Roland Condon keyboards, they conjure up a seductive mixture of old and new styles and hard to find originality.

In 1996 Volker recorded his first solo release titled ‘Full Moon' and in 2002 released his eponymous 1st release on Blue Rock'It records to great reviews. It is compiled of mostly originals and showcases his talents as a player, singer, songwriter. The release of his third solo CD ‘The Dance Goes On' shows just how gifted Strifler is as a guitar player, singer, songwriter and producer. As proof, the CD was added to play lists in numerous radio markets throughout the United States and abroad, including the legendary WWOZ in New Orleans, San Francisco's KPFA, Santa Cruz's KPIG and many more. "One of my favorite releases of the year, it's as impressive lyrically as it is musically. That he's a killer guitarist with a superb voice adds to the overall appeal..." Mark Gallo of Blues Bytes writes. "This is a don't miss within 100 mile show!' Ricky Stevens, Blues Foundation Board Member.

Strifler has also lent his talents to the Ford Blues Bands releases of ‘Tribute To Paul Butterfield' ‘In Memory Of Michael Bloomfield' ‘Another Fine Day' and ‘1999' as well as currently fronting the band, touring Europe and the US.

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

Happy Birthday from all of us at Hondo Mesa Records Paul McCartney. You inspired us early and you are still inspiring us.



Happy Birthday from all of us at Hondo Mesa Records Paul McCartney. You inspired us early and you are still inspiring us.



image from: www.law.stanford.edu/.../ spilf_items.html