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Sep 01 2021

TO WHERE I AM NOW

In the early hours of the morning, there was a haunting primaeval ominous thunderstorm that would have definitely scared anyone that believed in omens half to death. Of course, fearing the worst can often make it come true and the old ‘ignorance is bliss’ stance works well. If you don’t know it’s supposed to be evil, you’re not going to be scared of it. Mind you, tell the seagulls that – they’re not quite sure what they hate the most, the fireworks or the thunderstorms? Yesterday’s thunderstorm was eerie, it was over there, towards the hills and started with a flash of sheet lightning and a slow bass-heavy rumble that sounded like it grew from the Earth rather than from the sky. And then it went silent but although the gaps seemed long they were less than two minutes and suddenly flashing jagged fingers of fork lightning across the sky like the devil himself had awoken. Silence again and then seconds later the shutters on the building were rattling with the roar of the deep-throated grinding grumble of the gods. It felt like the atmosphere the hour before a marauding army bares down. It flipped between sheet lightning, fork lightning and the rolling rumble that shook the mountains in the dark distance. Then all of a sudden a downpour of rain, seemingly out of nowhere and as quickly as it began it stopped like a tap as if crooked fingers flicked a whimsical order and turned away with foul thoughts to intimidate another village of innocent frightened souls.

I left a little late for the pool today, took the recycling and the rubbish to the bins across the road and zipped through the Marquês park onto Rua da Constituição which leads to my destination. I stepped onto the pavement, and sped past an elderly couple, probably in their late seventies and holding hands. I walked past a woman who looked at me and said, “Marty!” It was a statement more than a question. She obviously knew me but I couldn’t figure out who she was. I said, “Are you the lady from the bank?” Who else could it be? “No,” she said, “I read your blog.” That was quite the unexpected answer here on a random street in Porto. I said, “I’m late, walk with me.” She said, “You’re going to the pool,” again more of a statement than a question. She obviously really reads the blog. So Marcela from Brazil studying management, nice to meet you and for an intriguing encounter out of nowhere.

The other day we had another encounter when I was laboriously dragging 36 bottles of water out of the supermarket. A man came to help me and pulled the over-laden basket with me over the crossing to where Ariel and Olivia were waiting. His name was Fernando and he was from Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony. He’d been in Germany too and spoke with Olivia in German, cool dude. I carried on with the heavy baskets.

At the pool, September 1st, new season, the reception was packed with people registering. Luckily for me as a super regular, they whisked me through and are letting me sort out the payments when all the new registrations have calmed down. So I got to swim my 72 lengths before returning home for seshes with Craig in Atlanta and Mike in Chicago. My damned camera wouldn’t work for the Craig sesh but somehow did for the Mike sesh, computers drive me nuts and make things happen.

Music today has been Lana Del Rey’s Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019). Next came Iceland’s Múm and their second album Finally We Are No One (2002) in English which I much prefer over the bang crash of their first album Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK (1999). Next came Ólöf Arnalds – Við Og Við (2006). She was a touring member of Múm for five years. She plays violin, guitar, charango, koto and sings in a weird voice in Icelandic. I was reading that harpist, singer, songwriter Joanna Newsom who hasn’t made a record for six years has bought a famous beautiful house, Moorcrest, with her husband, comedian Andy Samberg, plus they have a child now. I hope it all doesn’t stop her from making absolutely insane records like her second album Ys (2006).

Music Of The Daze

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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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
Doors & Delays 🎸 @workshop21_guitarclinic #the Doors & Delays 🎸

@workshop21_guitarclinic #thedoors #fenderstratocaster #fenderhotroddeville #nashtelecaster #rickenbacker
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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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