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Feb 14 2021

TO WHERE I AM NOW

Whether you see Valentine’s Day as corporate opportunism or the chance for planned romantic pursuit, let me tell you something, if it’s 65/18 degrees in Europe in mid-February the heart pumps blood into your enthusiastic blissed-out naked legs as the shorts come out and take you dreaming down to the beautiful River Douro to sit and enjoy Portugal rare and empty. On the trip we met a young couple (Irina and Daniel) from Porto who I asked if they knew if the lockdown will end tomorrow (no it won’t), it’s carrying on till mid-March. In conversation, they told us that this terrible lockdown has at least made it possible for us locals (yes, that’s us too) to walk down by the river and wander through the streets because normally as it gets warm, you cannot move in this town for tourists. So whilst it’s frustrating that everything is closed and that there’s danger in the air, we were advised to enjoy it while we can.

I was up early for an 11 AM session with Arctic Lake Tony in Sydney. The alarm rang once and I was up because the sun was blazing through the half-drawn shutters. I don’t bring them all the way down because then it’s a black cave and you never wake up. The shutters are one of those things we just don’t have in England, I presume because the idea is to keep the sun out and make the house cool in a country where the sun often visits. So I take great joy in opening and closing them because it’s an exotic task.

After Tony I went straight into French, made my goal for the day and the end of the week, over 700 points, keeps me in the Diamond League. I was in the shower as West Brom – Man U started, missing the first goal by seconds as West Brom scored in the first two minutes. I came out of the shower and watched the rest of the match, 1-1, bad result for Man U, good result for West Brom and pondered Liverpool throwing it all away with terrible form in the last few weeks, losing 3-1 to Leicester yesterday. Kloppo (that’s what they call him in Germany) has conceded that it’s too late to catch Man City. But that’s ok, I support Liverpool, but I’m not an opposing team hater, l like to watch it, not scream at the opposition for being better.

We decided to walk down to the river on a slightly alternative route, outside the door one lone hooker was standing, looking a little more rugged up than the weather suggested, we exchanged ‘Olás’ and after I’d dropped off the recycling opposite we began to walk down Santa Catarina towards the city and the river with the warm breeze in our hair and the sun high in the sky. I was taking photos all the way down and was thinking about how few people were around on this stunning Sunday afternoon on the virus planet. Between the city centre and the river, we found some wonderful labyrinthine Portuguese streets with steep steps and patient cats eyeing up the pigeons, balancing on thin wires above them. There were old Portuguese ladies in their dressing gowns laughing in their doorways with the neighbours, locals, couples and small groups sporadically walking and enjoying the day. Outside the major theatre two homeless men sat on the steps, I threw them a ‘peace’ sign, they returned the offering and asked if I had any money, which I didn’t. I had to get close to the building to takes pics of the large carved faces on the exterior. The men had smaller faces but they were equally carved with their lot but they were good-humoured through it all as we went on our way.

At the river it was almost buzzing, small groups of younguns and couples sitting on the wall by the Dom Luís I bridge (the benches have tape stopping you from sitting down). A police car sat at the entrance to the river’s promenade, two officers talking to a group of three people, but they didn’t seem too concerned at the people walking by, stopping to enjoy the view and then the sun (remember, it’s been raining here for the weeks). Also, it wasn’t as if there were big gatherings, it was just people walking, getting some exercise, enjoying the fresh air and that light invisible force that floats above the surface of the moving river and spreads out like a giant sheet beyond the borders of the river bank and envelops anyone and anything that’s lucky enough to feel its gentle fingers and the aroma of freshwater.

I had my zoom lens, so I was able to take some pics of people, an invasion of privacy? Perhaps, but it’s an innocent capturing of their joy and their anonymity is guaranteed. Cats, pigeons, people, buildings, graffiti, steps, streets, architecture, water, churches, battlements and even the nicely located Swedish consulate. What a beautiful day, really makes your loving heart beat.

Music today has been Gentle Giant because they fell out of my iPod and I simply couldn’t ignore their calling, I’m a big fan. I listened to Acquiring The Taste (1971), followed by Free Hand (1975), followed by the first album (1970). Inventive, melodic, complex, beautiful, wonderful harmonies and instrumentation. Brilliant – if you like this kind of thing.

Song Of The Daze

They talk about Zep getting Stairway To Heaven from Spirit’s Taurus, listen to Gentle Giant’s Nothing At All from 1970, a full year before the Zep.

Written by Marty Willson-Piper · Categorized: Blog

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there's any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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Thanks to The Wernickis for a little glimpse into Thanks to The Wernickis for a little glimpse into their new New Mexico listening space 🌵 #nightjar #schoolkidsrecords
Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵 📷 @oliviaelek Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵

📷 @oliviaelektra 

#danelectro #danelectrobass #redeyerecords #pleasantrylane #pleasantrylanestudio
You usually don’t spend the day in the studio an You usually don’t spend the day in the studio and the night at a gig but if you put the studio next to the gig then there’s a greater chance. So @salimnourallah did just that, he put the gig and the studio next to each other and made it possible for me to spend the day recording and the evening playing live 🎵

📷 @drewliophoto 

#galacticheadquarters #happinessarecordlabel #pleasantrylanestudio #salimnourallah #oliviawillsonpiper
TO WHERE I AM NOW A visit in the studio today fro TO WHERE I AM NOW

A visit in the studio today from old mate Mark Burgess from The Chameleons who has been hanging in Texas recently. I was thinking about the two of us growing up in the northwest of England and all these years later finding ourselves in such an unlikely spot together. We fixed a few issues in the universe and I carried on recording some guitars until Mark had to leave. Mark had played at the Galactic Headquarters next to the studio this year as Olivia and I had four years ago and this reminded me to remind myself to remind everyone to remind their friends that we will be playing there with Salim on Saturday, New Year’s Eve, for the ultimate in intimate performance. You can get tickets here (follow link below).

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1045

KEEP IN TOUCH: https://linktr.ee/mwillsonpiper

📷 @salimnourallah 

#markburgess #thechameleons #chameleonsvox #pleasantrylanestudio #happinessarecordlabel #martywillsonpiper #oliviawillsonpiper #moatband
📷 @argirgirl 📷 @argirgirl
TO WHERE I AM NOW Sadness manifested in a buildin TO WHERE I AM NOW

Sadness manifested in a building, today we went to visit Paisley Park. Prince built Paisley Park in Chanhassen, about twenty minutes southwest of Minneapolis. It opened in 1987 and he recorded his later albums there. Apart from Prince, REM also recorded and mixed Out Of Time there, recording Kate Pearson’s vocal on Shiny Happy People vocal. Madonna had Prince play guitar on three songs from Like A Prayer and the two co-wrote Love Song, finishing it remotely due to Madonna not being able to stand the cold weather and the rather desolate location of the studio. Of course, there are things around but it’s not in the city and it’s not in the countryside, it’s in a suburb, no distractions, just what Prince wanted.

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1032

KEEP IN TOUCH: https://linktr.ee/mwillsonpiper

📷 @argirgirl 

#paisleypark #prince
Marty & Pablo! 📷 Rod MacQuarrie Marty & Pablo!

📷 Rod MacQuarrie
At last, a proper door stop. 📷 @judgeschamber At last, a proper door stop.

📷 @judgeschamber 

#grammysitting 👵
🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵 31 December - DALL 🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵

31 December - DALLAS
7 January - CELINA
12 January - HOUSTON
14 January - AUSTIN
15 January - SAN ANTONIO

With @salimnourallah and @joereyesmusic

More info here: https://mailchi.mp/e47ede06acd6/texas-acoustic-dates
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Songwriting & Guitar Guidance with Marty Willson-Piper
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"These are awesome sessions that I highly recommend for guitar players of all levels. Very informative, frank discussions on everything related to guitar and music in general. Definitely a must for anyone pursuing songwriting."
(Stephen G., VA, USA)

"Marty knows how to bypass scales and get to the heart of feel and timing. His musical knowledge spans multiple cultures and genres. Perhaps most importantly, Marty is a cool dude. I highly recommend his guitar guidance." (Jed B., MN, USA)

"Ok, so you’re sitting in your home and Marty is across the world but is actually right here teaching you how to play guitar and write songs. He is a delight to talk to and he is your teacher, meaning he wants to see you get something out of his lessons. You know he’s paying attention and wants to steer you in the right direction. I am so grateful and humbled that he offers his time in this manner. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who admires anything from his enormous body of work. How often do you get to learn from somebody that inspired you in the first place? Amazing." (Ann S., CA, USA)

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there’s any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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