Shinybass Journal entry 06-01-22

Happy May! 

I am a funny bird. I love people. I hate crowds. I love olive oil. I don’t like olives. I love to travel. I don’t like to travel in broken vehicles. More on that last one later.  

My friends call and ask ‘What have you been up to?, and typically my response is ‘Being Dad’. Which is true. Being a Dad is a full-time job, and my spare moments at home are at a Lego table or spent outside in some form or fashion with the kids (Mostly honing my Dad-like soccer skills these days). My working moments are full, but no one really wants details of what that entails. Or do they? I feel that my outlets (this journal, socials, etc.) are a small portal into my life, and maybe I don’t post enough. I dunno, it’s just guitars and stuff, right?  But then I like to scroll and see what the coast of Italy is cooking this time of year, so I suppose it is all relative. 

So here goes. On the work front, I have been pretty slammed. I am in the middle of a huge video project for a great recording studio in town, filming and editing essentially 6 months’ worth of content in 3 days. That’s been a welcome challenge.  

I have been writing music a little bit with a true living legend, and that has been pretty uplifting. I am excited to see what the next sessions bring. Maybe I’ll do a whole journal entry on it when it’s all polished and ready for the world. Maybe I should start writing my own book in this whole process? Thoughts?

On the Alex St. James front, I am writing and recording as much as I possibly can in the small windows I have. I really want to get another record done this year. The first was a true learning experience, and the reception from the first record has been positive enough to do the next. Have you added it to your relaxation playlist? YOU SHOULD! (Alex St. James – Space). 

There is a thing in our business called ‘sync’ licensing, which is where your songs are used in advertising, apps, movies, etc. I was recently accepted by Crucial Music in LA for my songs to be pitched for sync. Maybe you’ll hear some Alex St. James in a car commercial. I dunno… Anywho, it’s pretty cool to have the opportunity.  

I’ve also been writing a lot of presets for the Line 6 platforms (nerdy bass stuff), and consulting like crazy across a lot of platforms.

Sheesh. As I look at it from the outside, I can now FULLY explain my coffee addiction. In all honesty, I truly think the 45 minutes to an hour I sneak in at 5AM is the best gift I can give myself. At least for free.  

And some days we play live music…With coffee in tow and a couple bass guitars at the ready, we pointed our (sometimes) trusty bus up 81 toward the motherland: Virginia. I am always excited to get ‘home’ ( I am a native Virginian), and I had a full day planned even before we played a note.  

Family and friends are always on the menu when I get close to home, and this time was no exception. People ask if I ever get tired of traveling. Not when I can spend time with good people and see cool things. Like family and dessert.

The next day of our East Coast swing found us in Norfolk, CT at Infinity Hall. Now, the last 3 times we played here there was at least 6 inches of snow on the ground. This time was significantly warmer, and I was able to spend some time walking the town. I learned a lot about this little gem, including that for some reason it is typically 10 degrees colder in Norfolk than the rest of the state for no good reason whatsoever. This explains a lot. 

The first stop was the library, the likes of which, sadly, has gone the way of the rumble seat. I could have spent all day here; with its inviting leather chairs and soft glow lamps I could have blasted through a few pages. Alas, there were more things to see, although the librarian pointed me in some great directions, including a walking tour pamphlet to help me along in my tour. My point is to ask questions of the locals. You just may find more answers.  

The next day we were at Mohegan Sun, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t get out much. I was able to find some great food, but some days are harder than others to get out and about.  So here’s dessert.

2 shows at Ram’s Head were next in one of the best walking cities anywhere: Annapolis. I walked the streets with David in the morning, and played a little bit of tour guide with him as we marveled over expensive yachts at a boat show. I was also able to Facetime with my wife at the perfect moment to see Henry score in soccer. 

After sound check, Adam (who is filling in for Jeff right now), told me he had never been to Annapolis, either, so off we went. I absolutely love being a tour guide, and a quaint town like Annapolis makes it easy.  

So we finished our shows, and fired up the bus. And then the bus decided not to work. We made it just a few miles down the road and luckily the Baltimore Airport was not far, so we ended up flying home, which is good and bad. Good because it is much faster, bad because after trying to figure out a game plan and then eventually getting to the airport, we were all on either little or no sleep. I was asleep before wheels up and was awakened by wheels hitting the tarmac. And then a few minutes after getting home I was in the front yard playing soccer with the boys. The life.  

So what did I learn on this trip? Well, I learned that there’s nothing like family. I learned that good friends are really hard to find, and making new friends is pretty cool, too. I learned that the Lobster Tail from Castro’s bakery is an acquired taste – just get the cannoli – and I was reminded that books and libraries are still pretty cool, and that we (still) probably don’t spend enough time in the library.

And I cannot stress this enough: Get out and explore. There are so many nooks and crannies to be seen, so many stories to read, and so many stories to create. Your book isn’t finished. Go write some new chapters.  

See you on the road!