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Oct 29 2021

TO WHERE I AM NOW

So winter hit today and issued the whole of Porto with umbrellas, making it tricky to manoeuvre through the streets as people of all different shapes and sizes hid below them, shuffling underneath, half-blinded by the rain, heads down, not quite seeing where they were going, moving on automatic, anxious to get home. I was one of those, returning from the pool where I’d done my best to arrive without getting wet – before I got wet. But despite the coming storm, the filthy weather and the buzz of the rush hour, I didn’t feel cold, that’s the difference living here.

At the pool, I managed 70 lengths, sharing a lane with an old man and a young girl. After the freestyle, I changed the strokes for the last few lengths and felt that large muscle in the back of my leg tense up. It felt like the muscle was suddenly a plank and I had to carefully coax it back to flexibility. Ongoing age-related issues – the young girl thought she was in the lane with two old men. The other day in the pool in the same lane we were in today, lane number one, there were about ten young lads in a row with one older guy on the poolside. They were completely silent and every now and again they would all dip down under the surface of the water. When they came up, still silence. It was very strange and I found out later they were all firemen. Perhaps they were learning to hold their breath because of smoke?

On opposite corners of the Marquês square, two roasted chestnut stalls have arrived with their hot drums and smoke. I was wondering if they are traditionally here but haven’t been able to be there because of the pandemic. The trees towering above still have their leaves but they’re dying, drooping down half green and brown, the ground littered with dead leaves. Earlier before the rain came the usual older men and women were sitting there on the benches as they do most days, even the man with the belly was there although thankfully we don’t get to see it as the weather changes.

Last night the Fritz Kola man arrived (German coke), rang the doorbell and asked for Olivia as the delivery name. I buzzed him in and waited for him at our door. After five minutes and not hearing the lift I thought he must have delivered to the wrong apartment and then I remembered that this has happened before with another delivery we had of something else that I can’t remember. The deliverer put the package, or in this case, the box, in the lift, pressed the button for the fifth floor and left. I went and opened the lift door and there it was. Confident, I thought.

Tomorrow we are taking Ariel to the AutoClássico vintage car and motorcycle exhibition in the north of the city. There are some old friends she wants to meet. There will also be future wheels to check out, so expect some arty shots of wings and sleek trims and body lines. I don’t drive but I love classic car designs.

Seshes today with Fred and Noel in Minneapolis and Surrey. What a small world we live in these days. I was thinking about those trips from England to America in the 1800s that could take between six to fourteen weeks, it could take four months to get to Australia. Can you imagine the conditions? It’s hard enough flying to Australia which incidentally was the first time I ever got on a plane. But rather 24 hours on a plane than 28 hours on a ferry on a stormy sea. The most perfect situation would be to have a cabin like you have on a boat but on a plane. I suppose first class is pretty comfortable. Once I flew to Australia from Stockholm for one day to do the Tantalized video. I left Stockholm at the height of winter on January 1st and flew to Sydney at the height of summer. I was back in snowy Stockholm on January 3rd. It was the days of budgets and youth.

Music today has been the Mark Hollis self-titled solo album (1998).

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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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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