In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I notice that the path upon which I’ve been traveling for the past twenty years or so just might be a loop. Maybe I’ll pay better attention this time around.
Stuff referenced in this podcast:
Pod smack
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but sometime in these past couple of years I’ve become a podcast junkie. Listening to podcasts is now far and away my go-to form of entertainment. I listen while I do chores, exercise, — even while I’m sitting on the toilet. Yeah, it might be problematic. In any event, there are many podcasts that I absolutely love, including:
And that’s just to name a few of the programs I listen to on a regular basis. Again, I might have a problem. Here are a couple of gems I’ve listened to in the past few days:
HTG Podcast #17: The grind
In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I find a spare moment to whine about not having enough spare moments.
Liar
“Don’t go to bed yet. Just push record and see what happens…”
HTG Podcast #16: Job hunting, illiberalism, and the Wachowski sisters
In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I babble about job hunting, the ascent of illiberalism in progressive circles, the Wachowski brothers — er, I mean, sisters –, and the latest from the Las Cruces indie/singer-songwriter scene.
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HTG Podcast #15: Graduation Day
In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I metamorphose from graduate student to societal leech.
Las Cruces rocks
It’s been a full year since I ventured out to Art Obscura and got my first taste of the local indie rock scene here in Las Cruces. I blogged about that show here, and since then I’ve quietly supported the scene by buying CDs, promoting new tunes on social media, and even creating my own music every now and again. Unfortunately, my work/grad-school schedule has conspired with my personal demons to keep me from experiencing very many live shows over the course of this past year.
Tonight is no exception, as there will be another big show at Art Obscura that I can’t make, this time celebrating the release of Back of a Car‘s excellent new record, Unconditional Loathe. Check it out right here:
Another local artist I will be sorry to miss tonight is the wonderful KT Neely. KT has been busy this past year putting out great music, including the lovely, heart-wrenching tune, Coyote.
Kt Neely | Coyote from The LNG Company on Vimeo.
One of my local favorites, Alabama Deathwalk, will not be performing tonight, but they continue to put out great, soulful songs, like their latest, 2-Weeks.
Simeon Beardsley, another soulful, acoustic guitar-strumming maestro, who may or may not be playing tonight with KT Neely, has also put out tons of great music over this past year, including this gem (On your way).
Last, but not least, is a brand new (to me) musical discovery who goes by Mosaic Mountains (Not on tonight’s bill, but I’ll keep my eye out for a future show). Cut from the same cloth as KT Neely, Mosaic Mountains is a young woman named Courtney who has produced some gorgeous, stripped-down, soul-bare, acoustic tunes that are pretty freaking awesome, including Protocol Soul and Melancholy My Good Friend.
Great music is indeed alive and well in Las Cruces. If only I could catch a show!
Next time…
Being in love
Being in love (Jason Molina)
Being in love means you are completely broken
then put back together
But the one piece that was yours
is beating in your lover’s breast
She says the same thing about hers
Is beating in your lover’s breast
She says the same thing about hers
However I have gotten here
I have plans to be with you
And for the first time
It is working
It is working
It is working
And I am proof that the heart is a risky fuel to burn
I am proof that the heart is a risky fuel to burn
What’s left after that’s all gone
I hope to never learn
But if you stick with me
you can help me
I’m sure we’ll find new things to burn
Cause we are proof that the heart is a risky fuel to burn
Yeah we are proof that the heart is a risky fuel to burn
Louis C.K.’s Top 10 Rules For Success (Video via @EvanCarmichael)
There’s a ton of great shit here that is relevant to anyone who is trying to live a creative life.
1. Try new things
2. You can’t please everybody
3. Always try to improve
4. Don’t waste time
5. Get rid of your best weapons
6. Survive failure
7. Be interested
8. Be calm
9. Use pressure to motivate you
10. Appreciate life
[Bonus]. Speak from the heart
HTG Podcast #14: Warts and all
In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I try to get back on the creative horse after getting kicked around a bit by, I don’t know, another horse? Half-marathons, job interviews, and mindfulness meditation all get mentioned at some point.
