So, 2 things. 1.) I’m playing a show that I’m looking forward to at Holy Mountain (617 E 7th Street, ATX) with El Campo and Sweet Ghosts this Thursday night. Doors open at 9pm and I’ll probably play at 9:30 or so. See you there. and2.) I just read a gripping article on Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas, two female blues singers who recorded in 1930. Until recently there was almost no information on these women…there was some vague second order knowledge of their relations and where they were from. They recorded some of the most compelling music I’ve heard. They’ve always been thrown into the category of Delta blues originating in the Delta of Mississippi, but this misses the mark by some state lines. One of their songs “Last Kind Words Blues” was featured in a strange montage in Terry Zwiggoff’s movie “Crumb”…this scene added more logs to the mysterious fire. There is a story that I won’t say more about. Read the article and see some video supplements featured in that rag, the NY Times: X
Phantom Ladies
Terence McKenna on Dying
Thinking of Terence McKenna, the philosopher, writer, who explored and talked about consciousness and the psychedelic experience: I found this quote of him speaking about dying. He died on April 3rd, 2000.
“I always thought death would come on the freeway in a few horrifying moments, so you’d have no time to sort it out. Having months and months to look at it and think about it and talk to people and hear what they have to say, it’s a kind of blessing. It’s certainly an opportunity to grow up and get a grip and sort it all out. Just being told by an unsmiling guy in a white coat that you’re going to be dead in four months definitely turns on the lights. … It makes life rich and poignant. When it first happened, and I got these diagnoses, I could see the light of eternity, a la William Blake, shining through every leaf. I mean, a bug walking across the ground moved me to tears.”
Shows before shows
Dear friends, It’s cold and rainy in Austin, Texas today: a good day to update this site. I’ve just returned from Big Bend National Park on a trip with my girlfriend. We had an amazing rugged time camping and hiking and even getting food poisoning on our last night there. We territorially marked our campsite with vomit in the night. It was a death drive home the next morning…9 hours or so from Rio Grande Village to Austin…something reminiscint of a bad lsd trip through deserted lands…all natural though.
In other news, I’ve four shows lined up. I’m making a return to Patsy’s Cafe this month. If you haven’t been there and you have some kind schedule where you can’t catch my late night performances, it’s just right. It’s more of a sprawling set of tunes in a lighthearted fork in your chicken fried steak during happy hour type of thing. Chew yr food. I’m excited to have a show coming up May 1st at Holy Mountain with El Campo, and Sweet Ghosts(member of Calexico). I’ll leave you with this photo of the south rim view in the Chisos Mountains. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL! -DL
Things are happening
Dear friends, Things are happening. Today over a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches and side salads Jess Williamson asked me to play her record release party at Hotel Vegas. Thing: I also posted a Demo of 4 songs that you can stream here on this site. Tell me what you think (davidlongoriax@gmail.com). On another front, The Cedar Shakes from Nehalem, Oregon will be staying with me for a week starting tomorrow. We’re recording an LP! We’ll start rehearsing at Eastern Sun Studios monday. You can’t find The Cedar Shakes online. They live on a farm and don’t even have cell phones, but DAMN they write awesome songs. Not pulling your chain, really awesome. I’ll try to set up some way for y’all to hear. They have a 10″ record, and if we play some impromptu show in town, i’ll post it on twitter @davidlongoriax or here or something. all for now. Best wishes, DL
Mockingbird
Good evening! This is my first post here, and I will use this space when I have anything I want to share (SHOW THIS SATURDAY). I’ll post everything from the mundane, helpful or practical (wanna get bored?) to ideas one might have while being high on life, or drugs…or simply ponderings, ripples, or stuff that I find on the world wide web. I’m basically a mockingbird, though this song is not particularly loud or rapid. So, I’m giving myself the freedom to foist whatever I want onto this space. You’ve come here of your own accord. On that note, i’ll do a quick shoutout to Jeff Cooper for building this site. And one to Ed Schaefer of Schaefer Guitars for fixing up my guitar. Come to the show this Saturday. -DL