The Shoot The Messenger CD Drops 2/14/11 & John Lennons’ Producer Loves It

Valentines’ Day: quite apropos considering Cupid plays a leading role in our most popular song, This Is Why Life Sucks.
Though I wrote these songs 4 – 7 years ago, they’re still timely.

I don’t mean to brag, but…well, hell yeah, I’ll brag like I mean it: the 9 songs on the CD have won a total of 18 songwriting awards. So buy mass quantities for $5 each by dropping me a line at ShootTheMessenger@gmail.com.

More importantly, here’s what Jack Douglas, producer for John Lennon, The Who, Aerosmith, Patti Smith, et. al. had to say about some of the songs when he listened in July, 2010:

Overall Comments
• I am going to keep my eyes open and try to catch you some time in the city.
I really enjoyed your music. It is very unique and I had a good laugh.

What Did I Miss?
• Very inventive! Totally unique.

This Is Why Life Sucks
• You had me up dancing a jig on that one.

Here’s a synopsis of some of the songs:

• What Did I Miss? about an Iraqi mans’ 21 year plight to get the last laugh on Saddam Hussein;

• My So-Called Democracy about the pervasive perversion of the media by its’ corporate pimps (My So-Called Democracy);

• The Other Side Of Somehow about the working classes’ disposability by the corporate kleptocracy, where justice is blind – to greed gone wild
(a 2010 Billboard Song Contest winner).

So by buying mass quantities for $5 each, you’ll visibly glow in the good vibes that come from supporting a most euthenticlectic (unique, authentic, eclectic) artistic expression. And the USDA recommends good vibes daily, along with fiber, so it’s win-win.

And with that glow,  your lover will love you even more.

Are You A Creative Opportunist?

The Beatles first album, Please, Please Me, has a cover photo shot by one Angus McBean.
McBean agreed to meet them at the EMI House in Manchester Square, London around mid-February 1963. The photographer recalled later:
As I went into the door I was in the staircase well. Someone looked over the banister – I asked if [...]

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About that Picasso at The MOMA that got a tear in it

About that Picasso at The MOMA that got a tear in it: you can’t tell, at least from the news photos.
And that is the True Genius of Picasso.

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Songwriting: ‘Finding The Game’ Of A Song

In Theater Improvisation (which I’ve practiced for over 8 years), we’re taught how to create realistic two-person scenes out of nothing. One technique for this is to ‘find the game’ of a scene, as it unfolds. The game of a scene is defined as an unusual thing that repeats, but not exactly: it rhymes. [...]

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New Year, New Venue: Gizzi’s Coffee, Sat. Jan 9th

Just one email, and one listen to my song ‘What Did I Miss?’ was enough for booker Mike McHugh to give Shoot The Messenger a double slot (2 hours) on Saturday, Jan. 9th, 7 – 9pm.
Mike McHugh has booked many hot acts over 25 years including: Regina Spektor, G.E. Smith,  & Michelle Shocked.

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Solo Performance @ The Bowery Poetry Club, Nov. 25, 2009

STM-BPC3-2009-11-25

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STM @ The Shrine, Nov 17, 2009

Tom & I switched off between guitar & drums for a single 75 minute set. Peter was great on bass & 3rd harmony on some songs. Shrine audiences are discerning music lovers; Shoot The Messenger loves Shrine. The house band for the open mic afterwards had amazing talent; as usual.

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Heard Any Good Songs Lately?

My recent favorites:
Pretend You’re Alone,  by Keane
A Brit-pop masterpiece by some Brits
Crown Victoria, by Robbers On High Street (or here)
A Brit-pop masterpiece by some New Yawkas

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It Was 8 Years Ago Today I Met Paul McCartney

I had yellow tape stretched right outside my cubicle, saying “Police Line, Do Not Cross.” This was a Mad Serious, Don’t-Breathe-Unless-You-Have-To Anthrax Scare.
..
He extended his hand to me and said:

“I’m sorry, but I don’t sign autographs in public — but I will shake your hand”

This was unintentionally, but pricelessly ironic: the guy who wrote “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” wanted to hold my hand!

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Larry Coryell @ Iridium, 10/19/09

As Larry stood at the mic and said goodnight [he] gave me a Shout Out as one of his best students.

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