A semi with a load of molasses overturned on Washington Street in Wausau. Rush hour traffic was diverted, causing all kinds of havoc....
Friday, October 09, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Great Week in Music
This last week found me with the busiest performing schedule in years. Four gigs, four days. The best part, each of the four shows were completely different:
More dates:
- Wednesday June 24th, I hosted open mic at Intermission. This was the first time in over a decade I have hosted a formal open mic. Sure, I have 'invited guests, regularly, but this was a bit different. It was a great night with performances by Will Yates, the one and only Jerry Duginski, Rob Piehl, and instrumentalist Tom Cat.
- Friday June 26th I performed at the CVA for the Wisconsin Visual Atrists' Guilds "Rhythm & Blues 2009" gallery opening. This show found me performing totally acoustic guitar, no singing. It has been quite a while since I performed as an instrumentalist (in fact the last time was at a previous CVA Gallery Opening).
- Friday June 26th - I sat in with The Townies at Malarkey's on percussion. That's right, percussion. Years ago I used to sit in with Mary and The Mercenaries and jam with drummer Dave Keefe. At Tyler's birthday party I sat in for a few songs so we decided to try it for a full length gig. The gig was a blast, in addition to the Townies, members of Unified Soul and Sue Debaco and her Wise Fools also jammed. It was a treat to share the stage with so many talented musicians.
- Saturday June 27th - A solo gig at the "Hanger" (WausVegas slang for the VFW). At this gig I was 'discovered'. Yep, if all goes well, I'm well on my way to unlimited riches and glory. Sure contracts have to be worked out, but it looks as though I'm the next big thing. It was good to know you.
More dates:
Monday, May 18, 2009
Quick JC Updates
New Gigs:
Great Gigs:
- 05-30-09 - Jim Carlson Solo
- 06-17-09 - Jim Carlson Solo
- 07-16-09 - The Jim Carlson Trio
Featuring Rober Bardo and Brian Miller - 07-16-09 - The Jim Carlson Trio
Featuring Rober Bardo and Brian Miller - 08-13-09 - Jim Carlson Solo
Great Gigs:
- Thanks to all who came out last Friday and Saturday @ Peking. What a blast. More gigs pending, will update jimcarlsonmusic.com and Jim Carlson on Facebook soon.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Jim Carlson Updates
A couple of brief announcements. First of all, three shows have been added for April 2009:
New Music: After listening to the scrapped 'Further Out' sessions, I found a few gems that have triggered new writing, arranging and recording of basic tracks. I'm having fun working with the material, but at this point there is no imminent release date scheduled.
The Jim Carlson Trio: After a bit of a break, the Jim Carlson Trio is returning to the stage. Although the Trio had a pretty consistent line up over the last couple of years, I fully expect that this year you will various versions of the Trio. What are the versions?
- 04-04-09 - The Jim Carlson Trio Featuring: John Hocker and Sean McCue - Mickey's Billiards
- 04-08-09 - Jim Carlson Solo - Malarkey's Pub
- 04-18-09 - Jim Carlson & Roger Bardo - RedEye Brewing Company
New Music: After listening to the scrapped 'Further Out' sessions, I found a few gems that have triggered new writing, arranging and recording of basic tracks. I'm having fun working with the material, but at this point there is no imminent release date scheduled.
The Jim Carlson Trio: After a bit of a break, the Jim Carlson Trio is returning to the stage. Although the Trio had a pretty consistent line up over the last couple of years, I fully expect that this year you will various versions of the Trio. What are the versions?
- Doc Holiday Era Trio: Jim Carlson, Roger Bardo (bass), Brian Miller (drums)
- Out of Fashion Era Trio: Jim, Roger, Sean McCue (drums)
- Mid 2000's Line Up: Jim, John Hocker (bass), Sean
See ya soon!
Jim
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Jim Carlson Reunites with Amanda Parks
Jim Carlson will join forces with Amanda Parks at Intermission on December 11, 2009 and January 15, 2009. Amanda has a great voice and song selection, stop on out!
Eight Hours is a Marathon
Performing at Granite Peak is one of my most challenging, yet rewarding gigs. The most difficult factor is time: The shows are a whopping eight hours. Most gigs run in the 3-4 hour range, thus the Peak shows are essentially two back-to-back shows...a double header of sorts. Physically, playing and singing for eight hours is exhausting. My fingers ache, my voice is usually shot. It is more of a workout than a performance!
I'm not complaining. Performing at the Peak reunites me with old friends and provides me the opportunity to perform for people from the all over the region. Performing for such a long time frame also provides time to revisit music that I have not played in a while. The best part of the gig is that the crowd comes and goes, thus there are certain songs that can be played more than once (kind of like a radio station, repeating 'favorite songs at the top of the hour'). Also, I am thankful when guests like Tyler, Rob and Sam stop by to play guest sets!
As difficult as an eight hour gig can be, it is the ultimate rut buster. Catch my next show at the Peak March 7th, 2009.
UPDATE: I have been booked back at Granite Peak December 26th, 2008!
I'm not complaining. Performing at the Peak reunites me with old friends and provides me the opportunity to perform for people from the all over the region. Performing for such a long time frame also provides time to revisit music that I have not played in a while. The best part of the gig is that the crowd comes and goes, thus there are certain songs that can be played more than once (kind of like a radio station, repeating 'favorite songs at the top of the hour'). Also, I am thankful when guests like Tyler, Rob and Sam stop by to play guest sets!
As difficult as an eight hour gig can be, it is the ultimate rut buster. Catch my next show at the Peak March 7th, 2009.
UPDATE: I have been booked back at Granite Peak December 26th, 2008!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Time, Choice and Consequences
Being a musician presents the opportunity to meet people from many walks of life. I've chatted with millionaires, politicians, people who are penny-less, dreamers, actors, famous people, and people who are looking to escape their reality for an evening. Along the way I've met extraordinary people and extraordinarily average people, but each person has a story that intrigues me. Maybe that is why I perform to begin with: to share stories.
Many years ago, I met a girl (who's name I can not recall) who fancied herself a poet, a writer. This is not unusual, in fact, a lot of people come up to me and want me to put music to their words. (I rarely do, as my songs are a byproduct of my own existence.) I remember chatting with her briefly, and sadly, remember very little about her beyond one thing: She gave me a book.
The paperback book she gave me was called Einstein's Dreams. (Read the Wiki or buy it for as little as one cent at Amazon dot com. One cent, wow.) The book is an interesting read on how time can shape our perception of reality by telling a story that changes based on how time is perceived. This review said it best:
Time. In an instant, a moment of time can change lives.
A fraction of time could have changed this event:
A driver chose to drive without a valid license (it had been revoked). She chose to be yacking on her cell phone and speed through a red light. She also ignored road workers who were there to witness the event. Her choices led to an unnecessary car accident, which changed my friend's day, and lead to a few traffic citations (but no arrest) for the careless driver. (I can't help thinking if I were driving with a revoked license, I'd be the best damn driver on the road....)
Yesterday's event happens every day. Unless we know someone involved, the report becomes lost in the rest of our day's news (if we stumble upon the news at all).
There is a human element I can not ignore. A moment of time intersected with a series of choices which had an impact (pun intended) on someone I know, and indirectly on me. For this moment in time, I'm thinking about my own choices and realizing how precious each moment in life can be...and how quickly things have the potential to change.
This is not an uncommon reaction at all. From time to time, we all take inventory of our own lives when something triggers this same emotion. What baffles me, is how soon we forget and are easily distracted by the other things that life brings us. It is a shame it takes a dramatic moment in time to remind us how precious every moment is.
I'll try to be lighter next time...
Many years ago, I met a girl (who's name I can not recall) who fancied herself a poet, a writer. This is not unusual, in fact, a lot of people come up to me and want me to put music to their words. (I rarely do, as my songs are a byproduct of my own existence.) I remember chatting with her briefly, and sadly, remember very little about her beyond one thing: She gave me a book.
The paperback book she gave me was called Einstein's Dreams. (Read the Wiki or buy it for as little as one cent at Amazon dot com. One cent, wow.) The book is an interesting read on how time can shape our perception of reality by telling a story that changes based on how time is perceived. This review said it best:
- Within each world live people who make decisions and choices based on how they perceive time. For example, the people living in a world about to run out of time, seize all the moments they can and abandon restraint and, it seems, bitterness and ambition. They dance naked through the fountains, fulfill fantasies that were unrequited, and express their love for family and friends before the final moment.
Time. In an instant, a moment of time can change lives.
A fraction of time could have changed this event:
- My friend could have avoided the accident if she were running late, or got an early start, or been in a different lane.
- Someone else may have been hit instead
- The red light runner could have continued on with no implications
A driver chose to drive without a valid license (it had been revoked). She chose to be yacking on her cell phone and speed through a red light. She also ignored road workers who were there to witness the event. Her choices led to an unnecessary car accident, which changed my friend's day, and lead to a few traffic citations (but no arrest) for the careless driver. (I can't help thinking if I were driving with a revoked license, I'd be the best damn driver on the road....)
Yesterday's event happens every day. Unless we know someone involved, the report becomes lost in the rest of our day's news (if we stumble upon the news at all).
There is a human element I can not ignore. A moment of time intersected with a series of choices which had an impact (pun intended) on someone I know, and indirectly on me. For this moment in time, I'm thinking about my own choices and realizing how precious each moment in life can be...and how quickly things have the potential to change.
This is not an uncommon reaction at all. From time to time, we all take inventory of our own lives when something triggers this same emotion. What baffles me, is how soon we forget and are easily distracted by the other things that life brings us. It is a shame it takes a dramatic moment in time to remind us how precious every moment is.
I'll try to be lighter next time...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Change
I seem to have been in flux for some time now.
In November 2006, I decided to take a break from regular performances. Although I have returned to performing, I have not even approached the volume of gigs I left behind in 2006. Best yet, I don't care. I like performing, and it is fun again. I simply don't allow my performance schedule to control my life.
July 2007, I downsized from a 2000 square foot town house to an almost 800 square foot former suite in an old hotel. I sorted through my life, and walked away from two thirds of my worldly possessions. It is amazing how much of our lives is spent collecting things that are really unessential and unimportant. It is also noteworthy that we spend a lot of time maintaining things we don't need.
July 2008, I left my job of 18 years. Think about that for a second. My generation is noted for job hopping and lack of company loyalty. 18 years is a long time in today's era. I didn't leave because I was bitter (sure, there were moments), it simply was time to move on. It didn't hurt that my new job offered me a much better time/life balance.... Time and money are two commodities that you can't get enough of.
I'm not sure where I'll end up, and that is ok. I feel better than I have in years, and because of this I am looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.
In November 2006, I decided to take a break from regular performances. Although I have returned to performing, I have not even approached the volume of gigs I left behind in 2006. Best yet, I don't care. I like performing, and it is fun again. I simply don't allow my performance schedule to control my life.
July 2007, I downsized from a 2000 square foot town house to an almost 800 square foot former suite in an old hotel. I sorted through my life, and walked away from two thirds of my worldly possessions. It is amazing how much of our lives is spent collecting things that are really unessential and unimportant. It is also noteworthy that we spend a lot of time maintaining things we don't need.
July 2008, I left my job of 18 years. Think about that for a second. My generation is noted for job hopping and lack of company loyalty. 18 years is a long time in today's era. I didn't leave because I was bitter (sure, there were moments), it simply was time to move on. It didn't hurt that my new job offered me a much better time/life balance.... Time and money are two commodities that you can't get enough of.
I'm not sure where I'll end up, and that is ok. I feel better than I have in years, and because of this I am looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.
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