Gman Blues with David Keeney: News/Journal

New Musical Album “G-force”, excellent cond. Must hear. http://cdbaby.com/cd/gmanblues

Played the Brazen Head last night and WE ALL had a great time. I didn't get the high attendance numbers that I wanted, but boy did we party hearty! Everyone there was committed to fun.

Thanks to everyone.

Tip of the hat to Thomas Leach who came up and threw down some wonderful leads for Dave and I.

The G-force Premiere was a smashing success, and I was reminded what it was all about—why I created the work. An interesting side note to the story; I sent out an email to 250+ friends and fans on the gman Blues mailing list and one of the recipients worked for a PR firm. She generated a press release from the email that went out globally. I got back responses from places like the Department of Justice in Canada, Radio Stations in England, National Public Radio (NPR), the American Press (AP), and countries from all over the globe wishing me luck or RSVP’ing on the invite. To tell you the truth the response was so overwhelming that I wasn’t sure who would be there. Turned out that we had a wonderfully appreciative audience. I donated a copy of G-force to the library and now will be in the SLS networked card catalogue. Cool.
We all had the best time; the energy level was high as were sprits of both crowd and players. This is how I would like to be remembered as a performer. G-force lives!

There are a hundred-trillion-million-zillion bar codes in the world, but one of them is mine. That’s right 634479718236 belongs to G-force and although it seems like such a small thing, but in a way it’s huge. It means that G-force can be sold wherever scanner guns are located, and on this planet—they are everywhere.

My second milestone is having G-force make its debut on ITunes. Again, small but huge. ITunes is one of the largest, if not the largest online music catalog. Cool beans. It took nearly two months from the time I released G-force to its appearance on ITunes, but it’s there now and I couldn’t be more proud.

There’s this guy in a LOUD cowboy shirt and hippy hair perched on a stool in front of the crown droning, droning, droning, this dull, monotonous, repetitive, tedious acid laced dirge of a song; it begins to take root in my mind and mesmerize me.
Next thing I know I’m looking for a ledge to jump off of- -MAKE IT STOP!!! PLEEEEZE Make it go away!! But the song goes on and on, verse after verse, hour after hour.

At verse 97 I’m considering busting my beer glass on the bar for a weapon to put my ears out of commission—must break free—MUST BREAK FREE. But by now I have no will of my own. I’m on this journey for as long as Mr. Loud Cowboy shirt decides to drive. It is hypnotic I must admit, I think as I lose all sense of self. I’m just a phantom in the shadows drinking a black-and-tan; nothing more. I have no past, no future, only this moment that won’t seem to end.

I look across the bar and see myself on the other side looking at myself. Time has halted and I’m at one with nothingness. The song drones on. A pink flamingo sips from my black-and-tan, and the clock above the bar begins to melt in a Salvador Daliesque gloop.

Years later the song ends, and I’m abruptly jolted back into reality. Where the hell am I—Oh yeah I’m Gman and I’m in a bar and hey I’ve got to get the hell out of here before Mr. Loud Cowboy shirt has me like a deer in the headlights again.

The next song starts but I’m already headed for the door. My pace slows, and the doorway seems a hundred yards away. I’m wearing lead snowshoes as I trek across the peanut shell laden landscape for a shot—one and a million at having my mind back. There’s the door, there’s the handle—twist….. Got it.

A blast of frigid Chicago air belts me in the face and I’m back to reality. I’ve got to hear some gman blues.

A icy cold brew, some good friends, a bar that isn’t choking with smoking, and some good tunes—what could be better? Ordering a friggin’ Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza right from the bar that’s what.

It’s as close to nirvana as we can get in the winter you know. It ain’t such a bad deal though.

Announcing:

Gman Blues and David Keeney
LIVE at Beggars Pizza

This Saturday, February 9, 2008

8:00pm

That’s right folks, we’re gonna get up off of the couch and get up and moving, laughing and joking, drinking and …. And… well never mind we won’t go there.

But we’re gonna have fun. Believe it. Please come by and add to the friendship and fun. Beggars is starting to become a favorite place to gather and lose the February Blues. The end of Superbowl leaves us all a gap to fill until St. Paddy’s but we can do it! If we all pull together.

So come on out and let’s rock. All you have to lose is the February blues.

Thanks for your kind support! I can't express how cool it is to see friends having a good time when I play. Hope to see you there.

Here is what John is referring to in his guest book post....

What is the sound of a tree falling in a forest?

Well I’ll bet it’s not as God-awful as the sound of a 45 pound P.A. speaker on a stand squishing a Takamini acoustic-electric guitar plugged into an aphex acoustic exciter would be!

That is almost what happened!!!! Sproooongkeraaaaaash!!!

Luckily a hand shot out from the audience halting the speaker at about a 45 degree angle. The morbid side of me was thinking “Cool—I wonder what sound it’s gonna make!”

I got no common sense!
(then again;never have though he-he).

First of all finally finally finally, the album G-force is out for sale. The last 10% of the work takes 90% of the time…. It is something that I’m very proud of and I sincerely hope you will like it too. Although the style is my own, I have a lot of variety in the album—everything from Blues, to folk, to Pop songs are on G-force. Please check it out when you get a moment. Let me know what you think. I am already starting on a follow up album with the working title “In truth/lies destiny”. Truth may be a theme running through the album but it’s too early to tell yet. These things have a way of taking on a life of their own; sometimes I feel like I’m only steering and the momentum is beyond my control.

Next, I am thrilled to be working with the incredibly talented David Keeney on the Gman Blues Show. Dave has signed on and is now a permanent installation to the Act. He brings a wealth of musical talent and a whole slew of Irish Drinking Songs and some really hilarious parody songs (such as “Secret AGING Man which is about us all getting older sung to the tune of Secret Agent man….”).

Dave won a Chicago Tribune Contest a few years back for writing the best Irish Song “Don’t Quit Your Day Job (to join an Irish band) and has performed it to delighted audiences all over the city. Dave’s music is a nice contrast to mine, and when he’s not strummin’ a six string, he’s playing bass (he also plays trumpet, sax, and keyboards as if that weren’t enough!).

Anyway Dave and I have been best buds since FOURTH GRADE!!! For those curious, that is 44 years—we’ve been through some stuff! Unfortunately I can’t incriminate Dave on this forum, but I’ve got loads of dirt on him (and vice-versa ). Scratch that--Never mind, just think of us as Bluesmen Alter Boys. Yeah that’s the ticket.

Lastly to the friends who have been coming out to see us THANK YOU. It is always so good to see y’all there.

It seemed that the only way I could wheedle Keeney out from under his bed was to offer him a cracker, and another gig.

Apparently he had gotten a taste of stardom from the last and just couldn’t adjust to being “normal” again.

It was a challenge. I lined up seven triscuit crackers in a little trail leading away from Dave’s hiding spot and began talking to him in a calm voice.

“Common Dave—everyone knows that you are the best bass player in North America. You have nothing to prove come on out.”

(although there was no response a hand reached for first triscuit).

“Furthermore no one has ever written a better song than Viagra #9—you can’t deny that that….why it’s more classic than Inagodadavida—everyone says so”

Now I could see his arm up to his shoulder as he reached for the second triscuit. Still Dave hadn’t spoken a word. I began to wonder if I was speaking to Keeney at all or his alter ego “Professor Gedolphs the Medolphs. If I could see his face his glasses would be on upside down and I’d know for sure….

“I’ve got more triscuits Dave—but you have to come out.”

A hand reached out for the third triscuit, but hastily withdrew.

“Alright Dave I wanted to surprise you but I’ll come right out and say it. Tomorrow—that is Saturday January 12th at 8:00pm you and I are going to perform at Beggars Pizza at 155th and Cicero in Oak Forrest”.

For the first time in days I heard Dave speak.

“Will there be g-g-girls there?”

“Yep plenty of ‘em”

Quite suddenly Keeney was out from under the bed, glasses on right side up and ready to go. He looked at me with the intensity of a superbowl quarterback. “Ok let’s show them a good time” he said.

Hiding Mystery
So catlike beside her soft breathing
they expel cold signs before a smile
and nod of understanding
of what lies untold
Awaken! The nark is trailing in the mist
Sinful and colorful before the dream
They seduce hot dreams upon the fog
Weird and scary dreams upon the clouds
They breathe misty inspirations beneath the tomb
flickering curious
turning away the sense of fear

How many times?
brother take comfort
where she knew no-one before the chaff
Very sensuous below the circling radar
they tiptoe upon sinful leaves
cold dusty footprints upon the wake
Dark and vaporous below the wind
She spread arid deceptions beyond the dream
Betrayal ubiquitous draft
All damp against the fog
All luminous hiding the light
None out of control
an empty address book With what regrets
the witness for love
Has no sight
a trace of sadness
Under what skies
the witness writes a name
not knowing why

Greetings all….

On Saturday January 12th, Dave Keeney and I will work Beggars Pizza at 156th and Cicero on Chicago’s South Side. We play 9:00 until about Midnight or so--we like playing together so much that we usually have to be told to quit! Great new songs; Dave has some really funny parody songs (such as the take off of “Love Potion #9” to “Viagra #9”) #10 was too strong! You can just imagine what happens in the song. Funny stuff indeed . Please attend.

Beggars is a great place—you can sit at the bar and chow down on an Authentic Chicago deep dish pie, sip a pint of Ale, and see some good entertainment. Much better than TV re-runs!

Also for those really south, I have booked a four weekend deal at All Star Sports Bar in Frankfort IL. Acoustic Rock players are a new addition to the bar’s lineup—so if you like this kind of entertainment come on down to see me or any of the other players (on other weekends). If things go well for the venue, they will continue the format. Many people like acoustic rock because they can still talk, joke, and meet people without being plastered against the wall by the extreme volume that a full band produces—and it’s fun!

Last week was a great week for me. So many people came and enjoyed my music that I was overwhelmed. Thank you, really. It means everything to me.

Gary
www.gmanblues.com

PS: It was weird on New Year’s Eve when the pulled all the ashtrays out of the bar, and hung up the “NO SMOKING” signs. If you haven’t been to a bar in 2008 come on out—you will be pleasantly surprised how nice things are now in the bars. If you are a smoker you will undoubtedly network with new people outdoors, and if you don’t smoke the bars now smell clean—if you can imagine that!

Now you may (or may not) know me, my music, or the causes that I’m passionate about. Maybe you stopped by to pirate a tune or two (and just between us—if I didn’t need income to support my family I would happily give them all away….), maybe you want a sense of community—hook up with some friends at one of my shows, or maybe you just clicked on an interesting Google link. But for whatever reason that you are here—welcome.

You are not alone.

Every day hundreds of people around the globe surf to the gman Blues web page.

Collectively we are community. And at any given minute of the day someone in some country thousands of miles from you are at this very second is reading the same words that you are. Wondrous isn’t it?

From the most remote location on this earth Tuvalu, to downtown Manhattan, each click of the mouse is part of a collective whole that you now belong to forever.

Want to know who else may be surfing here when you do?

Here are some of the countries that Host Baby (Gman’s ISP) has reported for this month: Argentina Australia Austria Belarus Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Business (biz)Canada Chile China Colombia Congo, Democratic Rep.Croatia (Hrvatska) Czech Republic Dominican Republic Egypt Estonia Europe Region Finland Franc Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Indonesia Ireland Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Korea (South) Kuwait Latvia Lithuania Malaysia Mexico Moldova, Republic of Information (info) Morocco Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Niue Non-Profit Organization (org) Norway Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Republic South Africa Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Seychelles US Military (mil) Singapore Slovak Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Turkey Tuvalu Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States US Government (gov) USSR (former) Venezuela Vietnam Yugoslavia.

Why do you think they came here? It is a small world after all and we have much more in common than we have differences.

Stand back honey—I don’t know how big this thing is going to get!

In my case however I’m referring to the album. First Barker gave me sign off on the mix, so I can begin my market campaign. I’m so psyched. I am considering making a small change to the name—G-4ce, rather than G-force. What do you think? Also Onederous You might become 1-dr-US-U.

I was told by Tracy that it sounds a little like a cross between the Grateful Dead and Frank Sinatra! What a combo!

Friends are calling me to comment on the finished work. It's a wonderful life!

So great to hear from everyone. I thank God that I was able to take my thoughts, ideas, and inspirations and convert them into a palatable form; it's humbling.

These songs as you may well know are simply dreams that now are locked into a digital format--that in itself is amazing!

It’s been a while since I have added anything to gmanblues.com. Been busy on lots of things though, and to you who might be interested, I’ll catch you up.

I was in Detroit all last week and played some Traditional Irish Music with a couple of blokes at Shanahan's Irish Pub, and I also threw down some Tom Waits, and believe it or not, a Monkees tune! It was the best time.

G-force co-producer Bob Barker (no not the) was there too. Self admittedly, Bob has NO musical talent, or ability. Just how he got involved producing the album with me is interesting. Bob has a great “ear” for details. Whenever I could manage to pull him away from ogling women, and booze, and poker, I coaxed Bob into directing his hyper-focus on the album; he came up with lots of good changes.

I was playing “Onederous You” for him; at a certain place in the song he stopped the music. Something is wrong here. It sounds muddled and conflicting he said. I listened very intensely and sure enough there was something muddying the waters. I made note of the place and moved onward. The tempo should be picked up—it sounds like it’s dragging. Noted. Keep the harp, can you maybe play more of a melody here? Noted.

I thought that if I could get this song past Barker, everyone would like it. I felt like Edmund Gwenn (in the role of that spry old gentleman Kris Cringle) trying to convince a young Natalie Wood that there really was a Santa Claus. If I could sell Barker, I could sell

everyone

on the song.

I went back to the tracks, pulling them apart like layers of a croissant. Sure enough, way in the back was an old track buried deep within the mix. A scratch guitar lead used for building the feel of the song, I meant to discard it into a pile of numeric junk but had forgotten it. Gone.

I eased up the lowest frequencies on the bass guitar so I got a good thump instead of a rumblethumprumble.

Like many, I am a huge Beatle fan. I bought all their records except (like everyone else) the last one. George Martin and the boys did some really cool (and radical mixing) in their day, placing sounds extremely off to one side or the other. We didn’t know it back then but we always got a slightly different mix of the song depending upon whose car or stereo you were listening on. To learn the tunes, we simply switched over to the channel that didn’t have to vocals.

These days we live in a world of musical perfection. Not only do we fill both left and right channels with much of the same stuff, but if you watch the lights on your graphic equalizer you’ll see that today’s songs fill the space vertically through a process call compression, and also all the frequency gaps are filled with instruments (taking advantage of the gap to be heard). No longer do we see the display happily jumping up and down to the music, but we pretty much see a flat line. Sure you can hear everything, but in my humble--yet superior (–thanks JR) opinion the music is a bit lackluster. Eh? You with me?

On the back of the Woodstock album there is a disclaimer that the tracks contain flaw but they suggest that we regard them as grain in fine leather. By that standard today’s music is pleather. Without flaw, but regarded as a cheap imitation. Whoa, why don’t I just break bad on the whole freakin’ industry man! No the music is as good and probably a lot better, but in our drive for perfection, perfection becomes the imperfection.

Not to worry about G-force however. Lots of imperfection there! I am good with that, because it is what happens to our soul, when we connect. That’s where it’s has always been at. That is why rock has proliferated and become the multi-billion dollar industry it has become.

Well anyway back to the story. I went back to the tracks ala Martin, Lennon, McCartney, Starr, and Harrison. I put the harp and lead on east and west tracks. I took my vocal, copied it and pasted it in new track and shifted the second vocal east a couple of hundred micro-seconds.

The ear truly delights hearing the same “thing” in both ears each sounding slightly different. You can’t really perceive the difference, but it just sounds good. I took the mixed down file, created a wave, imported it into Audacity and digitally sped up the tempo 7%. All in all about eight hours work. Not bad.

I haven’t tested the mix with Barker yet and that is the next step before posting on gmanblues.com. If he like young Susie Walker believes—so will you.

I as browsing through an old Hard Drive the other day and discovered tracks from a song I laid down maybe ten years ago.

This made me so happy that I celebrated with a slice of fresh juicy watermelon. Ummmm good!

The Guitar and Vocal tracks were in bad shape, but my daughter Amy put down some Midi Orchestration that sounds as fresh and they day she pressed the notes.

So I'm going to redo it with new guitar and vocals.

It's not a G-man Blues song per se, but more of an old Woodlind folksy kind of tune. Pretty, flowing, easy-going, fresh, like a slice of summer watermelon.

Meadow Echo

Meadow Echo
Whispering day
your mornings have come to pass
they slip away...

They slip so deep in day dreaminess,
and leave an offering--
lingering sweetness.

That's it!

To bathe in the light discreetly wrap her gently;
near brilliant fires pours burning love of the devil's paladin;
by that starlight she sighs, and the woods sing resonate sweet melody

Vision of her breasts, gentle waves upon abysmal ocean,
their coolness on my fingers, the beads of intrigue softly rising
slumbering embers soon edged by ashes
near smoldering indigo forests; the stars now sleeping

Lying in her long veils on the calm black water
embroidered with secret moss her great veils rising
mount in my soul but endless

I cared nothing for all, and everything once again
of teary red-eyed realizations; ancient dramas fade
like foggy scented twilight devoured by mist.

Go Bears!

Well I've got to say that being from Chicago. Big stir in this city.
Everyone is excited.

Although we now are finally into Winter's deep freeze lots of hot
things going on around here. I have hooked up with some old friends
and we are working on new songs to share with the world. I believe,
and have faith that the music coming out of my studio will move and
inspire you. If you are unimpressed so far with my music projects,
hang tight, I trust that I WILL write that song this year that you
will want to hear over and over. My spirit resounds with this feeling-
- can't shake it.

In addition to that I am going to try best I can to perform as much
as possible. I slacked off last year but you know what? I miss hanging
with people and sharing the love. I've been a studio rat and although
it is fulfilling in its own way- - just ain't the same as hanging with
the people- - front line. This is what it is all about. The music is
pointless without the ear to hear it and the heart to feel it.

If you know of a place where my scene fits please let them know about
me, and also write me. Let's have some fun, some community, bar-b-q,
brews, and of course music.

I continue to add Gman Blues music for listening and downloading at
gmanblues.com. I have sent out press releases advertising this because
my web provider has given me statistics showing that our young hero's
in the armed forces are surfing my site and enjoying the music. It is
my humble gift to them. I will release the album in CD form this year
and also on Itunes. I don't want to make anything on it. I just want
people to enjoy the music.

Well, If you have stayed with me this far, thank you for being part
of my world. Let me say that again- - THANK YOU! Hope we meet in
person this year. Best of luck in '007.

Write me back at gman@gmanblues.com and tell me about what you will
do this year, ideas for songs, music you like--anything. If you are a
player, come on out when I'm playing and jam with me. I always have an
open mike.

Go Bears!
gman

(note to the folks in Tuvalu-- Bob is a fellow band member from my old band in the '70's called Woodlind. He is a 21st Century Cowboy and part-time Da Vinci (poet, sculptur, artisan, inventor yeah yeah). He took the Cowboy Song that I spoke of in the Haunting Dream installment a few articles down this page, and smoothed out that bumpy horse ride so it now rides like a 2007 Mustang.

Hey Bob,

I put "Hildago and Me" (#2) up on Gmanblues.com in the Music Tab / Friends music section at the bottom. I like #2 a bit more than #3 because of 1) it's simplicity, and 2) the harmony vocals just EXPLODE in the air. I like the high harmony quite a bit, gotta have that or 3 part--I imagine three cowboys sitting around a campfire and at that part they all just jump in the fray. Very cool. I'll update it whenever you have something that you would rather replace it with.

And once again I must marvel at how this piece with only a handful of words, and a few common chords can take the imagination so deeply and far way. I am humbled and thankful to be a part of it all. Whatever the spirit of this song is, it flowed right through the very core of my being and played ME like a instrument.

Looking at the info about the song I see May/Wesselhoff. I can't tell you what a good feeling it is to see that once again. It is something that is (and always has) meant to be. This is a new beginning of sorts. God willing the best is yet to come. Believe it. Live it. I am probably more excited about Hildago more than any gman Blues song.

Speaking of which, did you get a chance to listen to any of my songs? If so I would like your thoughts, what you liked and what you though could be better. The songs on my site are pretty much my 2006 efforts as I only played a handful of places. This year I'm going to hit the stages as hard as I can. Going to have a CD release party, and hopefully some interest in our music for movie soundtracks or something great (whatever that may be...).

Like ALL Woodlind songs, it is a great piece of art that once again only WE know about. What do you want to do with it? Do you think that the song will continue to flow through people? Do I just toss it out there and see where it lands? Do I plan, scheme, contrive a migration path for it? I can have it worldwide in 90 days; more than seventy countries now surf Gman Blues EVERY DAY. But is that that forum for this piece? Movies, plays, soundtracks, Itunes, concept album?

Part of me says that this one is not like the others and it will rise to its own level with only the intervention that it needs, without me trying to do anything about it. My worldly side says it is a great piece of art that once again only WE know about. The worst thing that can happen to it is to just let it die like a cigarette ash. Unsung, unheard. But maybe its purpose is to be fulfilled 50 years from now. Time only has meaning for us right now at this moment. All other time past/present is conceptual at best--agreed?

Got any cowboy philosophy? Maybe you could ask Hidalgo--she'll know what to do I'm sure.

In my mind the working title of our album is Campfire corona songs. Corona not relating to the beer, but rather a halo, nimbus, aura, radiance, circle of light. But most people will use the beer def, which works for me

Hidalgo and me
Copyright © 2007 Tuneslingers (May / Wesselhoff)
This song contains approximately 57 unique words (not counting repeated chorus words). Nearly everyone of them has been amplified to a word that best supports song, meter, and visual imagery. You can be very proud of yourself for being able to use your gift to such a wonderful degree.

Scent of sage on the breeze, (Love the imagery in this line--it sets the stage)
Hidalgo and me. (This line is great--you give the listener a visual cue right off the bat, and the horse's name is extremely interesteing--the first time through the listener won't realize that Hidalgo is a horse--and that gives interest too--I lit up the first time I heard that name).
Ride the dust past dry creeks, cuts and canyons. (I like the imagery of riding on a cloud of dust--it speaks to me more than just riding and also gives the imagination wonderful visual cue's).
There ain't two more compatible companions. (Love this line--it has a true cowboy feel to it too, the cowboys were very fond of their horses even when we were kids we knew not only the cowboy's name, but what they rode
I could choose another life;
A bunk house in town and a wife. (here the narrator downplays living in town--it might me a bunk or a shack in town, or even a bed in town, but a house in town still sounds somewhat appealing--this guy is thinking that it is a small life living in town and he wouldn't be the owner of his dwelling).
Those folks just don't know what their missin'.
I can hear a hoot owl callin' if I listen. (Love this line).
Here and there's a stretch of fence needs tightening. (Love this line)
Sunset so beautiful it's frightening. (Love this line)
Wide canyon colors, they paint the "Quiet Time"
I can't contain the wonder. I gave up even tryin'
Something caught in my eyes,
As we gain the next rise.
Dry wind can send that sand a flyin'
Hidalgo looks at me like he's not buyin. (Hidalgo is calling his bluff--perfect, like when we were kids the horse always had more horse sense than the wild and crazy cowboys).
Wide canyon colors, they paint the "Quiet times"
I can't contain the wonder. I gave up even tryin.

Sandy, Dawn, Kim

I didn't mean to bring a tear to Sandy's eyes. The point that I was making though is that life is full of "stuff". I imagine that if I wasn't such a complex, crazy, moody bastard life would be much easier. The things in the physical world are largely out of my control; like many I operate mostly in a reactive mode. But listen to the tracks of G-force and you will find an orderly world where I am calling the shots. What is truly amazing to me however is that this "world" that I have created consists solely of bit s magnetic code representing zeros and ones. How can that be? The miracles of technology allows us to hear things in that code that rouses our very spirit--deep down in that hidden place within the self. (Not you Dawn…).

My goal for G-force is conservative. I am hoping to sell 1,000 units at ten bucks a copy, for ten grand which I'm going to use to self destruct. I believe this is doable. This month in December Seventy-seven countries surfed to gmanblues.com averaging over 300 unique visits (people not computers--darlings) each and every day . Among the seventy-seven countries, I got 37 hits from Moldova, 19 from Estonia, 14 from Tuvalu, and 2 from Burkina Faso--countries that I have never even heard of (Tuvalu by the way is located in the South Pacific between Wallis, Tokelau, Vanuatu, and Fiji. It is one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth consisting of six of the coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae. There is one Am Station, One FM station , and seven hundred households with telephones in Tuvalu. Yet some of the Tuvaluians still took time out of their busy day of fishing to dial up, and download a little Gman Blues--amazing isn't it?). The mournful wail of my blues harp travels a long way to the beautiful island paradise of Tuvalu. I'm guessing that people in an island paradise sometimes feel the blues too: My fishing net is empty--can't afford no booze…. Storm surge swept my woman off of the beach like a shell…. You know wink wink nudge nudge say no more.

Kim,

Thank you so much for the kind words and the encouragement. This last year has been a really hard year for the gman; I struggled with problems, mostly in my head, and terrible situations that I mostly created. Music was one of the few things that I was able to use to escape from my demons (at least for a while). Without, I surely would have gone off the deep end. Let me say that again... Without it, I surely would have gone off the deep end. . If I say any more than that I'll surely end up in the psyche ward without my blues harp. (so sorry Mr. Wesselhoff but we cannot allow you to have your harmonica--the doctor thinks that you may try to swallow it...). Dang!

I am sure you know how much I like, respect, and admire you, if not please understand now that you are a truly great person. Your acceptance of my music means more to me than you'll ever know. I am quite proud of the songs. I keep asking people to comment on them, but I'm beginning to realize that most people DON'T really like my art. This isn't stopping me though or even slowing me down; more than ever it makes my music a sanctuary--a place where no one can truly find me.

This album was written, and recorded in my cozy lil' bedroom mostly late in the night when the world was recovering from the day. Listen closely to the sounds and you won't hear the bustle of a suburban household full of active children, Mom busily working in the kitchen keeping the family afloat, the drone of TV dramas, or the dinging of a gamecube. You will not hear the anguish of a grown man acting like an irresponsible brat, or the lies of denial associated there with. You will hear the night, the city, winds of promise, and a world that gman has created where anything and everything is possible. Like my friend (Sallyport) Paddy, there is an inescapable flight from reality; somewhere in the middle of that studio MIX is this passionate, fanatical, mad, extreme, foolish, ridiculous old guy with a road weary guitar fooling himself that he's happening.

This room is locked tight, but you are welcome to enter anytime via your imagination.

Thank you
Gary