April Showers the movie

It's a little over a week away from the national theatrical release of the film April Showers. I did the wardrobe for the film and the experience was pretty awesome. The film is based on director/screenwriter Andrew Robinson's experience of living through the Columbine tragedy. I missed the premier of the film at the Omaha Film festival due to being on tour in Europe so I have yet to see the finished film. I'll tell you that the trailer that is online looks pretty damned good and I'm very proud to be a part of this production. I must say that I think it's ludicrous that the film is rated R, the film is intense but not violent. It's almost like some people want to keep teens from seeing a film that attempts to realistically portray life events, because that's what the film sets out to do. Again, I'm speaking from having been a part of making the film. It was the kind of project and atmosphere where many of the people involved got to be like a family, we needed each others support because it was so personal and intense. The film is showing across the country starting Friday April 24 and I encourage everyone to go and see it. At the very least it will get people talking.

Back to the regular world

I've come down from the tour and I'm back at work full time. I didn't originally plan for this. No thanks to the economy tanking and foiling my original plan to work on-call virtually full time. It was possible before the recession really set in. Honestly, I'm thankful to have an employer to return to. I worked for 23 years at Community Alliance before leaving last year to do music and film as much as possible. I am so glad I finally did it. Working on film crews, touring and playing so much music with the different bands has been so fulfilling. I almost sound like it's all over but I don't see it that way. I have to refocus on maintaining my household for the moment but I have projects upcoming.

In Austria

I so appreciate that someone dug us enough to tape this.

playing in Austria

A fan took this video of the band performing a song Dylan wrote in German while on the tour.

Greedheads

I don't know about you but I was never fooled. I sussed that there were no benevolent figures looking after the best interests of the common man decades ago. It seemed so obvious to me as a child that the only thing that seemed to matter was money/power. Everything else was a lie. The church and what it represented, the schools and they're supposed purpose, the public figures that asked for our trust all lied and continue to lie. Look at the current state of the world, the economic crisis. It was always about the naked money grab. We was hoodwinked and it is not going to get any better. Ever.

Back home

Being home from the tour is kind of tough. Life in general right now is a challenge with the economy being in such shape. I feel it directly because I gave up my full time job last year to do the band thing. Returning to the harsh reality of needing to get back to regular work hours is a bit daunting. I am constantly challenged by life. I would love to live the life of full time musician/artist but it still doesn't pay well enough. Time to readjust, take care of bills and put together a strategy to increase my music business.

The Tour

The tour is winding down, we have two dates left in Dusseldorf and Brussels. It has been quite an experience. Many highs and of course, some lows. I think the most diplomatic way to describe some of the lows would be to say that I wish I had been touring with my band as opposed to being a band member. Several things would have been done differently. I also am very tired of the curious looks I get from people on the streets and sometimes in stores. It is 2009 for fuck's sake, what is with this continued attitude about race? It is not my imagination, some people's distrust or distaste with encountering a black could be cut with a knife it was so obvious. It enrages me that ignorance will not die.