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June 2, 2010
True – adjective.
firm in allegiance; loyal; faithful; steadfast.
Friend –noun.
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
Kit-ty – noun.
a pet name for an animal I’d rather spend my time with than most people I’ve known.
This month my truest friend for the last 16 ½ years would have turned the wise old age of 17. That’s 84 to you and me. She had been my most constant companion for all of that time. She was with me through the writing, recording and production of 3 records under the Clark Institute moniker. Not to mention at least 5 or 6 other music releases which I have been a part of. Upon returning home late after, oh I don’t know… a gazillion live performances throughout those years, she would always be there to greet me at the door. Sometimes she would be mighty pissed with me for staying out into the wee hours of the morning, or being away for a few days at a time but most often she would say hello in a voice that could so easily put a smile on my face and help me forget or care less about a less than satisfactory gig. Of course I realize that this jubilant greeting was mostly because she was hungry and knew that food would now be served, but I also know in my heart that she dearly missed me.
She wasn’t really a big fan of my music though. She resented it every time I would pick up my guitar. When she was young she would openly tell me just how much she didn’t like me spending so much time with it and not showing her the affection that “The Queen” so richly deserved. But soon enough all would be forgiven and forgotten. A quick shake of the snack bag would fix all that wasn’t right. As she grew older, she came to accept the ‘noise’ that I created and would merely walk away and catnap while I rehearsed or wrote and then visit with me again when I was through.
I am saddened that she won’t be with me to celebrate the release of the next James Clark Institute record. I am saddened that I’ll be returning to an empty home after upcoming shows. I am saddened that she didn’t live to taste that chicken surprise I was planning on giving her for her 84th birthday. I am completely heartbroken that she passed away in the early hours of May 12.
R.I.P. Miss Lady Sniffles. You were more than one kool kitty. You were my one kool kitty. I love you.
February 4, 2010
DING! DING! DING!
Recently I was thinking of Paul Simon’s “Mrs. Robinson”. Not the classic Simon and Garfunkel version from 1968 that we all know and love. I’m speaking of the totally bombastic, yet swingin’, finger snappin’ Frank Sinatra rendition from 1969. Lo and behold there it was posted on Youtube. Of course the homemade video consists only of “Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits Volume 2” spinning around on a turntable for the entire length of the song, but that doesn’t matter. In fact it only seems to add to the ridiculousness of Franks’ adaptation. Only Frank would feel comfortable enough changing the lyrics to a Paul Simon song. The question is, if you’re even going to exercise the thought of changing the lyrics written by a songsmith as skilled as Paul Simon, don’t you think you’d better have some hot shit alternative lines up your overcoat sleeve to replace them with? Of course maybe Sinatra’s joke is on us. Maybe he knew just how incredibly laughable his new words were. He was after all good friends with Dean Martin who just happened to be one of the funniest men in showbiz….ever! But then again Sinatra openly berated the rock and roll genre for years starting in the 1950s when it was all the new rage. Maybe this was his way of flipping the young generation the bird? After all the song does ask “How’s your bird Mrs. Robinson”? Below are the lyrics to Sinatra’s version as well as the link to the video. You be the judge and don’t forget to sing. Ding ding ding!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_KsaaG7m4
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jilly loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey; hey, hey, hey)
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our file
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you all you see are - sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you - feel at home
The PTA, Mrs. Robinson
Won't OK the way you do your thing
Ding, ding, ding
And you'll get yours, Mrs. Robinson
Foolin' with that young stuff like you do
Boo, hoo, hoo; woo, woo, woo
So how's your bird, Mrs. Robinson
"Dandy", Mrs. Robinson you'd say
Hey, hey, hey
Well have you heard, Mrs. Robinson
Mine is fine as wine, and I should know
Ho, ho, ho
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Dishing Out With The Alder Fork.
This coming Saturday, September 12, the james clark institute will be performing at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener, Ontario as part of the 10th Annual Alder Fork Festival.
The Alder Fork, first off, is the name of a musical project fronted by my most talented friend Peter Snow. When Peter isn't writing and recording music under The Alder Fork moniker or hosting his own podcast, (www.thealderfork.libsyn.com) or publishing his own books of poetry, (www.blurb.com/bookstore) or baking most delicious cookies... whew... he puts together live music festivals to help benefit charities of his choice. This year he has chosen to donate to The Eating Disorder Awareness Coalition of Waterloo Region, (www.edacwr.com). I am pleased, as is the rest of the institute, to be a part of The Alder Fork Festival this year. Below is all of the details regarding the show. If anyone is interested in attending the festival, feel free to contact me at clartoons@clarkinstitute.com and I'll be happy to set you up with tickets.
The Alder Fork Festival in support of:
Eating Disorder Awareness Coalition of Waterloo Region
Featuring:
Dave Fallis
The James Clark Institute
The Alder Fork
Saturday, September 12th, 2009
The Registry Theatre - 122 Fredrick Street, Kitchener, Ontario
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Show starts at 7:00 pm
Tickets $10 at the door or by emailing thealderfork@gmail.com
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Live At Budokan...er...The Cameron House.
Four live performance videos from a show at The Cameron Public House on March 4th 2009 are now available at: www.myspace.com/thejamesclarkinstitute.
They can also be found on the ever popular youtube.
Here are the links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIszNMpi_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4x_ggwEc0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gubb3IJdMHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_L46cunec8
The footage was shot by our new good friend Scott Sherman at Double Essence Productions. I do recall it being a chilly winter night in March. I also remember 4 people in the audience for our second set. Don'tcha just love the rock'n'roll biz, kids?
yer rock'n'roll pal,
james
Sunday, February 22, 2009
the james clark institute is apparently Not Lame!
That's right! I was extemely pleased to learn this week that "Sideshow Unattraction" is now available online at http://www.notlame.com/. For those of you who are not familiar with Not Lame Recordings, it's an online distributor operating out of Colorado by a gentleman by the name of Bruce Brodeen. Not Lame specializes in representing independent power pop artists and Bruce himself is the biggest supporter of all that is fine pop music that I am aware of. It is for this reason that I am honoured to have "Sideshow Unattraction" included in his roster of indie releases. I first became aware of Not Lame about 7 or 8 years ago when they released a 4 disc boxset of a very cool yet very obscure band out of California named Jellyfish. Jellyfish was my favourite band from the ninties. In their entire time together which was a measley 4 years, they only released 2 full albums and a handful of b sides. The story goes that Bruce Brodeen actually mortgaged his house to be able to see the Jellyfish project come to light. The compilation has been out of print for several years now and always fetches big moola on Ebay. Below is what Bruce has to say about "Sideshow Unattraction."
Here`s a left-field gem that sounds like it could have been recorded in 1971 off of Sunset Boulevard. This is a vaguely country-rock-ish styled CD that is grounded firmly in the sounds of sunny California from another time. For those familiar with The General Store, you will find some familiar territory with the sounds of the early Eagles, Gene Clark, Quiver, Crazy Horse & Neil Young, early Jackson Browne, The Band and George Harrison. Hard to exactly pin down but all I know is that it sure is GOOD and a delightful, sunny afternoon on the porch kind of listen. The songs embrace bathes the inner-ear in a elegant, hushed warm surrender to their charms. Give the fives song here a listen and catch the happy, laid-back wave of smiles. Very Highly Recommended.
Okay, I find it somewhat amusing to think of it as a sunny afternoon on the porch kind of record. Jeeez.....I didn't see a sunny afternoon during the 2 and half years it took me to complete it! But hey, my perspective of my own work will always be different from everybody elses I suppose. I'm just pleased that somebody has noticed the record as being good. Hail Bruce Brodeen, my new best friend. Here's the link especially for all of you reading who do not yet own a copy of "Sideshow Unattraction."
http://www.notlame.com/FEBRUARY_-_New_Releases/THE_JAMES_CLARK_INSTITUTE/Page_2/CDJAMESCLARK1.html
Of course you can always order it from here, http://www.clarkinstitute.com as well. Just drop by The Souvenir Shack and place your order. Ta da!
Or here:http://cdbaby.com/cd/jamesclarkinstitute. Ta da!
Til next time.
Yer pal,
james
Monday, February 2, 2009
Love Stinks - featuring The James Clark Institute
Just in time for Valentine's Day, my friends at CD Baby have created a "Love Stinks" collection of music available for purchase online. Songs about lonliness, break up and divorce are all featured. Hey, whaddya know....The James Clark Institute's "Sideshow Unattraction" is one of the 17 titles picked to be included in this playlist. If you don't already own a copy of "Sideshow Unattraction", then here ladies and gentleman....boys and girls is your perfect oppourtunity. You will find it here:
http://cdbaby.com/playlist/15
I am honored to have "Sideshow Unattraction" recognized as being worthy enough to be included in this fine assortment of musical heartbreak. More and more good things keep coming from my extended moment of bleakness and hopelessness. Keep checking back for more developments sure to make you (or is that just me?) giggle like a little school girl as they happen.
Yer Pal,
james