When I have free time I walk around with my camera. I met @tru.illustrations working on a piece while I tried my hand at long exposure photography and this is some of my favorite stuff I’ve captured. I think as reality becomes more of a blurry mess of abstract shapes I like making photos that reflect that. Anyway, explaining art is dumb, but go check out Tru’s stuff, it’s really good
On Friday @toddsniderlive passed away and it’s hit me pretty hard. @mikalkhill showed me his stuff years ago but my dad would sing me “B-double E double R-U-N, beerrun!” when I was young so I guess he’s always been kicking around the background of my life. If you are looking to be a singer-songwriter Todd Snider is a must listen. He was one of the best at stripping the world and his songs down to the absolute bones to get to the truth of the matter. He lives in the DNA of the songs I write and I can’t believe I missed my chance to see him live. While I love his records there is no better way to experience him than listening to his live albums “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms” and “The Return of the Songwriter”. While he has many, many heartbreaking and beautiful songs that may be more appropriate for this moment I decided to play one of my favorites by him and the first time I heard “tension” I just thought “I would do anything to write a song half as good as this.” I don’t have much in the way of wisdom to give other people but at the open mic when people ask me for song writing advice I always tell them do not try to master the genre, always try to master finding your voice and perspective. Trying to master genre means you have to get better than Bob Dylan or whoever is at the top of your mountain genre. If you can instead focus on honing your perspective you are only competing against yourself. No one, maybe ever, spoke from his own voice better than Todd. Rest easy, man.
