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May 12 2022

TO WHERE I AM NOW

Walking across the Marquês square, the church was ringing its bells in an attempted tuneful pattern, punctuated by sour bell hits and a melody written by a madman. I suppose there was some kind of event on, it was around midday and there were people milling around as if they had witnessed something, perhaps a christening? The towers loomed and the bells were loud and I could still hear them some distance from the square. The local characters seemed oblivious to the noise, unmoved by the tune and equally not bothered by the cacophony. I always wondered about people’s interpretation of noise pollution, tuneless irritating bells don’t seem to irritate anybody. On the other hand, pop music has been irritating the older generation for decades, but what now when pop music is the older generation’s music of choice? Paul McCartney is 80 on June 18th.

At 64, I’ve been having trouble with the tendons between my thumb and fingers and this morning I woke up with pain in that spot. Repetitive computer writing, playing guitar, training, all things that are not convenient to stop. In the gym today I broke some world records on the bike and the elliptical but on the rowing machine, I felt something shift in my hand. It could have been perceived as something snapping but although it made that kind of freaky sound it felt more like a loosening and since then I’ve had no pain. We’ll see what the consequences are in the coming days.

Two seshes today, one with Craig in Atlanta and a project that is slowly building, the other with Brian in New Jersey that is turning into a record. Will keep you posted on all projects as they arrive. I’m in the process of trying to figure out how to get a guitar sound I like without turning the amp up too loud and not using the digital medium. I’ve figured out a way to use the amp louder and into the computer by disengaging the speaker and tricking the amp into thinking it is powering a speaker when it isn’t. The only problem is that the box I bought to do this, is the wrong box and I have to try and exchange it for the right one. I’m not very technical, my brain fuses when I see bare wires.

On a beautiful day, I went back to the guitar repair shop where Jorge, a man who does understand bare wires had fixed my delay pedal. It was him that explained why I’d bought the wrong box. It was a good job I was hesitant to plug things in, I might have blown something up. After the shop I walked back down those mysterious Portuguese back streets again and ran into one of my swimmer mates Francisco, getting off a bus and heading to the pool. He showed me the way to the pool up the secret steps that I missed last time I was winding my way through this unknown territory. There’s a whole city to explore here in Porto’s ancient streets.

Music today has been 10cc – How Dare You! (1976), their fourth album. It had the hits Art For Art’s Sake (No.5 on the UK chart) and my fave, I’m Mandy Fly Me (No.6 on the UK chart). It’s arty pop by clever/clever singer-songwriter musicians Lol Creme, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman. Gouldman you’ll know from writing sixties hits No Milk Today for Herman’s Hermits (No.7 on the UK Chart), For Your Love (UK No.3/US No.6) and Heart Full Of Soul (UK No.2/US No.9) for The Yardbirds and Look Through Any Window (UK No.4) and Bus Stop (No.5 in the UK and the US) for The Hollies.

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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