Cover art

I make collage art for my cd-r covers. This is a recent one.

Music online

I've had Soundclick as a service for a few years now but only recently have come to appreciate it. Have a listen.

Challenged

Well I got a little upset at practice tonight and for no good reason. I'm writing about it to tell myself to address the issue. I read the book 'The Four Agreements' and I need to remember what it says, not to take things personally. I reasoned that I was cranky from getting up abruptly from a nap to get to practice on time. Joe wanted a different tone out of the bass and I was just not feeling it at first. Once I settled down and started to think clearly I knew my emotional defensiveness was unreasonable. He said it well, 'this is not about you, it's about the sound". I need to remain aware of this and be conscious about it. So I learned something tonight, something I've learned before; give up your comfort zone and experience life.

Evening ramble

Rehearsed tonight for the upcoming European tour with Son Ambulance. We jammed a bit which was nice. The latest incarnation of the band (there have been many) needs to loosen up a bit, learn how to respond to each other more intuitively. It seems most everyone has the capability.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to Europe. I've wanted to do this all my life and just never made it happen. Touring and playing music is definitely the way I prefer to make the trip.
Speaking of Europe, I was recently asked to collaborate with a German artist named Kommissar Huler. He deals with absurd abstract art constructions and noise recordings. I checked out his CV and website, liked much of it and decided to go for it. He sent a cd-r of spoken text that is to be incorporated into the piece. I worked on it all weekend. I don't know if he contacted me after seeing on my websites that I am playing in Germany but the timing makes the contact seem related.
I'll post the results after I send it to the Kommissar. I've posted the cover I'll use for the release, featuring artwork by Kommissar Huler.
I look forward to meeting people in Europe and hope to meet this artist. Check out his website http://www.asylum-lunaticum.de/

Son Ambulance at SXSW 2008

another video

Here is a clip of me playing with Coyote Bones at Slowdown. We're covering Nirvana's "On a Plane".

Son Ambulance video footage

Someone in the audience caught our opening song the night we opened for The Faint at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha.

Family Radio video footage

RAF video footage

RAF reunited in 2008, first time in about 15 years.


RAF in 1990 with the late James Widmark on vocals

And a blast from the past, RAF in 1985

My camera is broken

The flash went dead on my little Fuji digital camera that I've used unceasingly for about three years now. I had this interview yesterday for Worlds of Wayne's podcast (http://worldsofwayne.libsyn.com/), and I wanted to catch a shot of Wayne Brekke and myself, only to discover that the flash is dead. See the above photo evidence. It sucks because I am about to go to Europe and I am too broke to afford a new camera. You know, I bet a lot of people are saying those words a lot right now. I am too broke. By the way, my interview will be online Friday.

I'm a Believer

I watched Barack Obama's inauguration and the whole impact of what is happening finally hit me like a ton of bricks. The importance of this event hit me as I looked at the people behind Barack, all of those beautiful brown faces. This wasn't even a remote possibility when I was growing up. Whatever happens during his administration will not diminish the impact of this historic moment. People did not die in vain. I cried tears of joy.

Martin Luther King Day

I can't avoid thinking about how it all seems so hollow, all for show and everything still rotten inside. I'm talking about the hypocrisy of the United States' leadership. If Martin Luther King was so great why did they murder him? If our country's leaders really gave a shit about the people why are we in such dire straits right now? If they gave a fuck about anybody why have they let the con artists suck up all of the money? It seems like the majority of politicians and public figures are nothing but gutless liars. I say this as I think about my childhood. My grandfather was a baptist minister whom I looked up to. All of my family and most of our family friends thought that I would likely grow up to be a minister or something like that. For a time I liked this idea and aspired to it. I pointedly decided to leave that dream behind the day Martin Luther King was murdered. I was in junior high school and I remember thinking, well why would I want to be a public figure representing good values when the people that do this just get killed? Again and again. I was thinking about the Kennedys and Malcolm X before him. It was a crushing and disappointing revelation.

Thoughts on Obama

Obama appears genuinely humane and decent for starters. He appears to be intelligent and aware. I like the way he expresses himself. I can already see that he intends to try to represent all of America, not just the privileged, not just the ones with the money. His style of leadership is a breath of fresh air. I hope he is given a fair chance to do his job.

European tour coming up

My profile shows that my main career has been in the mental health field, but my primary interest and involvement is in music. I play in several bands in the Omaha area:

The Dereck Higgins Band

Son Ambulance

Flamethrower

Paddy O'Furniture

The Pat Higgins Trio

The Family Radio

R.A.F.

I have always been active somehow with music, but in the year 2004 I made the decision that I would attempt to move forward with my musical activities, in other words get beyond just local involvement. I made a plan and the plan has been working. One of the developments was being asked to join the band Son Ambulance, who are on Saddle Creek Records. This led to some personal goals being realised right away; being on a recognized record label, going on tour, meeting musicians I like not as a fan but as a peer, seeing my picture in magazines other than Omaha publications. The scheduled tour of Europe is another dream I have always wished for. European music has been the mainstay of my musical preferences since my teens. I am so grateful for the opportunity to finally visit the continent. From The Beatles through to Genesis, Faust, Gong, Magma, Pulsar, PFM and many others the music emanating from England and Europe literally gave me a reason to live when I was a suicidal teenager. The music remains very important to my life. Even though I am curious about how I will be receieved in Germany (racism?) I am fascinated by that culture and can't wait to absorb what I can of it. On top of that the band is scheduled to play in Brussels, Belgium, another country that has provided me with some very cool music (the Play it Again Sam label for starters). What's more incredible is that the venue we are playing it is also hosting a concert of Magma (!!!) the same night. This is amazing news for me. To think that I may get to meet Christian Vander, a living legend of the drums, whoa.

April Showers movie

Last year I had the great opportunity to work as wardrobe superviser on an independent film called April Showers. The movie is based on real events that happened at Columbine High School in 1999. I'd like to call everyone's attention to this movie which will be released in theaters in April. The director was a student when it all happened and his perspective on what really happened is eye opening. I'm really proud to be a part of this production. Go to the website for detailed information: http://www.aprilshowersmovie.com/

New to blogging

Hello friends and anyone else that might drop by. I have started a blog with no specific intention in mind. I may end up posting favorite records or talking about the bands I play in. I just though it was time to do it.