A Poem & a Song by RC Johnston

The Screaming Turtle
                        by RC Johnston

I heard a turtle screaming
Inside its tarnished shell
Sounds of bombs and gunfire
From the bottom of a well
It did not sound like music
More like inner agony
Which, is itself, like music
Mixed with reality

I heard a turtle screaming
A most unearthly wail
Those sounds, they echoed in my ears
My heart and breath did fail
But yet, they were familiar
'Twas like I knew them too
The screaming of that turtle
Did chill me through and through

I heard a turtle screaming
Beneath the sunbaked ground
A quiet hillside bathed in warmth
With bronze plaques all around
Each grave held a spirit
That shared a tale or two
And, the screaming of that turtle
Was the soundtrack to that view

Composed on what would have been John's 74th birthday, February 28, 2013...

I visited John's grave the day after I played at Lightbar, in Portland, Oregon, September 19, 2013...I had Dix with me and I played "Death of the Clayton Peacock" while sitting at John's grave...Cheers!!! Ralph.

Ralph also recorded a new song this week. Inspired by his recollections of this visit he brings us "A Tearful Stephen King Carries the Body of the Late, Great Clayton Peacock To a Pet Sematary Just Down the Road" It's a cool lo-fi recording: to listen click HERE or to d/l it just right click and select 'save link as...'.

Ralph says the tuning is D-A-A-D-A-C
"I play it with my bone slide on my little finger, but it can also be played lapstyle, as I fret no notes with my fingers..."
   

Brook Zern on Flamenco - WFMU show from 2004

Here's a really fantastic show, and a long one at that, from that flagship of radio cool. This is probably a good show if you know just a bit about Flamenco and want to learn more, and a really great show if you do know something about the music. All kinds of musical examples are played with plenty of pre-Paco de Lucia for you roots focused people. Brook talks about music theory, the song forms of Flamenco, murky origins of Flamenco, links to American Blues and Spanish music.
Also some interesting discussion of the origins of solo guitar in Flamenco, Sabicas and the like could not do the solo guitar thing in Spain, but in America it was accepted.

 

Visit Brook Zern HERE

WFMU link

   

Kyle Fosburgh - Collection

During this past Holiday season, Fosburgh released three new digital singles on Grass-Tops and offered them all on iTunes as part of a larger 'Collection' of music, which includes two of his recent digital EPs. Together, there are 14 tracks total, comprising of vocal and instrumental material, as well as original and traditional compositions ... a summation of his solo career to date.

Buy on iTunes

Purchase link to individual singles

His fourth full length album (and first vinyl release) is slated for May, 2015

Rural Sketches by Nic Garcia

TOMPKINS SQUARE 'IMAGINATIONAL ANTHEM' VOL. 7

TOMPKINS SQUARE RELEASES THE 7th INSTALLMENT OF 'IMAGINATIONAL ANTHEM', THE ACCLAIMED ACOUSTIC GUITAR SERIES, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

From Tompkins Square's Press Release:
'Imaginational Anthem Vol. 7' is compiled by 20 year old guitarist Hayden Pedigo, from Albuquerque, NM. Hayden has recently been featured in Vogue and The FADER behind his own recent album release, 'Five Steps'. Hayden's selections represent a mature and balanced cross-section across the modern solo acoustic guitar spectrum. As with previous volumes, this one truly represents the state of the art - an area of evolving musical expression that is very vibrant and healthy indeed.

Track Listing :

1.On a Slow Passing Through a Ghost Town-Chuck Johnson
2.Culverts-Sean Proper
3.Enchiridion-Norberto Lobo
4.Trees Return to Soil-Simon Scott
5.Sea Retreat-DBH
6.Araucaria-Jordan Norton
7.The Great North American Wilderness-Kyle Fosburgh
8.Something, or Oil Paintings-Christoph Bruhn
9.USA Self-Michael Vallera
10.Red Bud Valley-Dylan Golden Aycock
11.0/3-M.Mucci
12.Shadow Study at 6 am-Mariano Rodriguez
13.Olympic Peninsula Blues-Andrew Weathers
14.My Grandfather's 12 Gauge-Wes Tirey

Visit Tompkins Square

An Evening of American Primitive Guitar featuring Glenn Jones, RC Johnston, and Ryan Leaf

The Bing

This excellent poster will be for sale at the shows.

And yet another Evening of American Primitive Guitar!!!!!

Friday, January 16th, 8.00 PM

EmptySea Studios, Seattle's Home for Acoustic Music

Glenn Jones

RC Johnston

Ryan Leaf

   Portland show TBA!

Isasa

Jack Rose Guitar Tab

Here's a couple songs so you can play and remember.

Dusty Grass

Woodpiles on the Side of the Road

Thanks to the tabbers!!!
 

Miniatures: A Chef's Life (Seasons 1 and 2) by Chuck Johnson

The Lagniappe Sessions :: Daniel Bachman

Bachman tips his hat to Jack Rose and William Moore. The Rose piece is quite reverent and he injects just enough of his own personality. Go listen, free mp3s.

Aquarium Drunkard