Everywhere you look.

Greetings,

When I moved to the San Luis Valley in December of 2005 (actually, I moved Tracy here in the summer of 2005 but spent a few more months in California), I expected the music scene to be just a bit limited. At the least, I'd be one of the only drummers in town. Upon arrival, I met my next door neighbor who just so happened to drum for a traveling band back in the day and who still plays around town.

So much for that notion.

As it turns out, there's a lively scene here, and a plethora of artists of all walks of life with a variety of backgrounds, levels of dedication, and an assortment of talent. The following is a story of one such person with a. the varied background b. immense dedication and c. bottomless talent.

One day, I was helping a neighbor (different neighbor than the above) remove weeds from the alley when the conversation turned to careers. Upon learning I'm a percussionist, she put me in touch with a recent expat from Denver who was working on a movie and needed a drummer for a music video shoot. I was given a tune to learn and arrived on scene to what would prove to be an interesting evening, where I played far more tunes than expected with this guy fronting the band while this guy worked a video camera, hosted a large crowd at his self-built home, and then sang/played guitar with us. This began my relationship with Eric, his dogs, and his music.

On the rare occasion I meet such a person, I'm always so very impressed by someone who puts their art before traditional concerns (wealth, fame, status, etc). Artists who can relate their life back into their art, even if it's not their traditional medium, are the most inspiring. Eric, the musician and recording engineer, became a film maker with little to no background in film making. His first endeavor, Everyone But You, clearly an arduous task, caught my attention (and not just because I appear for .2 seconds in the video shoot scene) as a multifaceted story capable of capturing an environment, a life in music, and the twists and turns such an artist takes. To date, I've watched the film nine times and am still captivated by it's story, soundtrack, videography, and meaning. The movie won awards at indie film festivals but there's a lot more to his creations than seeking validation from others.

Eric recently "completed" the film with the making of a video set to an original song so hauntingly beautiful, it stands alone without any need for the visual element of a video. Putting the video into context with the rest of the movie- the rest of his life here in the San Luis Valley- creates a depleted mood and takes the experience to a whole new level. This video is classic Eric ingenuity and creativity, if there's such thing as "classic" Eric.

Check out the video, listen to the words, put it into context, and if you haven't done so already, watch the movie. While you're at it, download some of his tunes off of his site. Better yet, buy his work. You won't be disappointed.

I'm very glad my neighbor put us in touch. I'm perpetually inspired by Eric's dedication to art, his musicianship, and commitment to our community. He has a., b., and c., and so much more.

And it begins again...

After a much needed vacation, the semester has begun in full force. We are lucky to be experiencing rather moderate weather, so the desire to wake up and get to the campus isn't dampened by the -20 degree weather outside (-5 is much more manageable). Having said that, a week in 88 degree temperatures and many cervezas on the beach in Mexico may have freed my mind (and thawed my spirit).

Up until our trip to Akumal, I've always felt guilty on vacations. When not feeling guilty, I've wanted to accomplish something pertinent- like study a new technique, learn something culturally significant on my agenda, or read the "history of"" this or that. I was recently expressing this sentiment to a friend when she responded, "you were doing something- healing." While this statement may sound a bit existential, I have come to believe she's right. A clear mind and relaxed body is needed to prepare for the onslaught of recitals, concerts, recruiting, festivals, and classes that is the collegiate spring semester. The semester began with the least amount of stress I've ever felt, and in addition to accomplishing some recordings, practicing, taking in pre-inaguration coverage (and a limited amount of football), I feel ready to give 110% to my students and colleagues from day one.

And if not, Cancun's not that far away.