“Don’t Look Back”
It’s release day for the new song, “Don’t Look Back.” Also, a preview of the new Nothin’ Lastin’ album cover. Yes, you can now pre-order the vinyl edition of the album.
Baxter Black
This past weekend I traveled to Benson, Arizona to attend a memorial for my dear friend Baxter Black. Held at the First Baptist Church, the crowd was mostly friends and family. It was a cowboy affair, all about love and devotion.
Projected on screens at the front of the church was a favorite portrait of Bax. No matter where you sat in the room he looked directly into your eyes. That gaze was so personal that it brought up a wave of memories as I waited for the service to begin. We had been friends for nearly forty years but it was our phone conversations this past year that brought us close.
Don’t look back is the theme for this Boost. I’ve never known anyone who so simply and directly looked forward as Baxter. It was not in his nature to look back with regret. I’d often find myself thinking how tragic it would be to be a poet ending up with a disease that robbed you of finding the right words. For some, that would be a crippling irony but not for Baxter. He was all about looking forward to the next place he was going, and that was to meet his maker. He loved his family and life but what he was excited about was the afterlife. He called it a simple faith but one he held to all his life. Baxter always knew who he was and his example will ever be an inspiration to me.
“Don’t Look Back” July 12, 2022 Release
I’m a folklorist. My job has been all about nurturing tradition, acknowledging the past in our current life. I do love tradition yet at its extreme, it smothers the life out of art, politics and conversation. I’m all about wonder and excitement, exploring the winding road in front of me.
Life is about balance. It would be pathetic to only charge ahead. Sometimes we need to stop and appreciate the incredible life that surrounds us. And yes, we look back to learn and nurture our souls. What would Baxter say?
Musical Instrument Museum
After the service I drove back to Phoenix where I spent the next day at the Musical Instrument Museum. If music is important to you, don’t miss this museum. Not only are there instruments from all over the world but as you walk around with headphones on you are treated to video performances by the preeminent musicians of the instruments on display. I was struck by how much the natural world influences much of the music here and how “place,” is the primary ordering structure for the museum. Visiting MIM was truly an experience of musical geography. Seeing the wide world through music gave me heart to continue to play the music that honors my part of the world. That is my inheritance.
The high deserts of the American West have always been my home. And my tastes and aspirations have been molded by the vastness, the openness, the sparseness of my homeland. It’s no wonder I love the laconic music of cowboys and the heartbeat of Native American music. I too relate to other desert music from around the world. My rendition of “Don’t Look Back,” was directly influenced by music of the Sahara as performed by Etran Finatawa. You can hear it in my insistent banjo and in Dave Tate’s percussion and a high-flying electric guitar. I also appreciate Victoria Lagerström who sang along with me on the cut. The song is about moving forward in a desert setting.
Don’t look back, slows you down
Don’t look back, don’t watch the ground
See ahead, smile bright
Trust your feet and face the light
Look around, a beauty day
Sun and air will lead the way
Just move on, let beauty flow
It’s your move; it's yes, or no
Flows the water to the sea
We can fight or let it be
Just relax and drink it in
Feel the current from within
It’s the comfort of tradition
That can lead us to submission
Just stay true and try to be kind
Truly seek and ye shall find
Petition: May we live in faith, one step at a time
Edward Bateman’s Album Art
This Loose Cannon is over the moon with Edward Bateman’s album cover. I wrote a special post about Mr. Bateman and his world renowned art. I just learned he is off to London today to be nominated for membership in the British Royal Geographical Society.
Some of his latest work uses 3D printed miniatures of iconic places such as Yosemite. He then creates entire environments of atmosphere and light for his photographic compositions. The Royal Geographical Society has featured these prominently. You might like to know that the background for the album cover is one of those 3D images, Angel’s Landing from our beloved Zion National Park.
Vinyl Pre-Order
Today, you can order my new album, Nothin’ Lastin’, in the collector’s vinyl edition. The cost is $30.00.
I remember as a kid saving up $9.98 to buy vinyl albums, LP’s. Today you can get all the music you can digest for free on streaming services like Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube. I stream music too, but I also purchase albums when I think something is special. When I pay for an album, I send a message of support. It changes my relationship to the music, gives me a more tangible connection to not only the music but the musicians.
Vinyl is enjoying a comeback as many of us have pulled out our old turntables (or even bought new ones) to enjoy the warmth and breadth of non-digital sound. But even if you don’t have a turntable, I hope you will enjoy this offering displaying Edward Batemans art in a size befitting the image. Along with liner notes and lyrics, something sadly missing in the digital music experience, the vinyl edition will offer another dimension to the music even if you ultimately listen to it another way.
I’ve been working on these thirteen songs for the past four years. They have given me a chance to collaborate with an incredible cadre of artists. The songs on the album will be the topic of several Boosts this summer so again, you are an insider to the whole process of creating the Nothin’ Lastin’ song cycle.
As the album release in early October draws closer, you will be able to purchase CDs and downloads as well. As you may know, producing a vinyl album is not only costly but quite a lengthy process these days. So having advance orders really helps me plan. Vinyl is in such demand we have hired the same guys that steal catalytic converters off cars to strip vinyl siding off homes to be able to bring you this offer.
But Is It Any Good?
I can’t explain why the impulse to share my music is so strong. I don’t need to prove myself and yet when I completed the recording I sought-out new ears to help me hear it fresh. I sent the songs to people who have one thing in common, brilliant ears. I didn’t expect to hear back but was overwhelmed by the number of unsolicited responses. I will publish selected remarks as the album release draws closer. The first comes from Van Dyke Parks. If you don’t know who he is I’ve provided a link to his Wikipedia page.
“Your amazing album arrived and is an absolute triumph of the human spirit. Truly, it brings dimension and depth to my understanding through the heart’s desire: a sense of place.... I am so grateful for it—-to you and the great team that orbits around your celebratory gift. My family and I will treasure this forever.”
I envy Baxter's ability to live in faith, one step at a time. I question the ongoingness of my existence daily and mused today over two podcasts that highlighted the fact that scientists don't really know what consciousness is (or the soul or spirit). One scientist posits that consciousness is electromagnetic, another talks about panpsychism, the belief that inanimate objects have consciousness. A simple faith would be so much easier.
I imagine your career as a folklorist has included the core beliefs of indigenous people. I wonder if you have come across the songlines of First Nations people - the melodic contour of the song describing the land over which it passes and taking into account the actions of ancestors' feet. Your song, "Don't Look Back" with its droning Etran Finatawa acknowledgement may be one of these.
Thanks for the beautiful post about Baxter and for the link to your music. So inspiring in a very trying time.