Inspirers all.
When things look bleak I reach for music. Spin discs all day long.
And in the evening hours I read books, lately my reading hours have included three novels from Caleb Carr (The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness & The Legend of Broken), and right now I am devouring Marc Ribot's astonishing book: Unstrung Rants and Stories of a Noise Guitarist.
I also watched a few of my favorite films, from Martin Scorcese (Taxi Driver, Good Fellas), Jim Jarmuch (Coffee & Cigarettes, Stranger in Paradise, Paterson, Down by Law), and Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider). Older films that make up my own personal mythology. These movies are embedded deep in my consciousness.
What do all these filmmakers, musical artists and writers have in common? Fiery intellegence, amazing creativity, spiky, hard, brilliant, open-armed & open-headed. Uncompromising. I notice everyone of these folks are Americans. American born & bred originals. They are part my own real America. It's a much better place to live in.
I also have been working on a new song. It started easy, pure inspiration, and then, it kind of drifted, not quite there, not quite finished. So, I have played it in various modes. The lyrics are finished but the musical accompaniment has morphed. A work in progress.
I purchased a new gadget. A little mixer and multi-track recorder. Kind of a going back to basics mode. I love getting lost in a creative project, it is a mission and a journey. Keeps my head clear. Essential work. A good way to fill my days. Music. Words. A humanity of heart and resistance. An antidote to the absolute shit unfolding in Washington D.C. My vision of America is so much better than this toxic nightmare they are trying to impose on us. Fuck them. Damn the torpedoes.