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Dec 08 2022

TO WHERE I AM NOW

Gurgling radiators from a bygone era hissing and spitting, rumbling trains on the nearby raised Chicago transit system, and a note on the Airbnb rules about how peaceful it is here and to keep the noise down, haha. I had to open the window into the freezing day to get the stifling heat from the ancient leaking radiator out of the bedroom. The sink is backing up in the bathroom, only one bath towel between us and the water filter on the fridge is sending out an alert to be changed. Strangely, I don’t mind, it’s all good, I’m just happy to be here and I hope my namesake Marty who booked it doesn’t think I’m moaning or unhappy, I’m not, it’s just funny, it’s my job to notice the Airbnb’s shortcomings, haha. Thank you Marty 2 for making this trip to Chicago happen, the accom is out of your control, we are completely satisfied, especially after venturing out today into this wonderful city.

We went around the corner and talked to Carmen who runs a shop called A Secret Closet and Olivia nearly bought a dress but we ended up just having a nice conversation. From there in Lincoln Ave we walked to North Clark Street breathing in the icy air of a winter’s day in Chicago. I took the opportunity to call and speak with sessioneers Craig, Jed, and Brian plus ace mate Patti in Joshua Tree. I tried sessioneer Jeff in Ohio and Robert from Heyday Records in Cali to no avail, and I thought, wow, four out of six answering the phone in America, that’s really something. I have this mad idea that actually speaking to someone is best. As I spoke we walked past a graveyard that had freezing rabbits huddled by the gravestones, what is it with rabbits and graveyards?

We arrived in North Clark Drive at my destination Dearborn Denim where the two extremely helpful guys Gage and Theo Mac helped me pick out some jeans (and a belt) and this interesting company cuts and hems them on the spot to the length you want. Highly recommended for anyone looking for new jeans but doesn’t want to go corporate, made in Chicago. From there we checked out a few shops but were too late for Alamo’s shoe store, so we moved on and stumbled across Rattleback Records. It must be one of the most organised record stores I’ve ever been in. The records are mixed, old and new in the racks but they are in order in the letter as well as having many bands with their own sections, including the ex-band. They had two copies of GAF on vinyl and one on cassette, they had Noctorum – Sparks Lane and Nightjar so I did some serious autographing. Andy who was working there gave me his record, A.M. Slingers, and I picked up Wanda Jackson’s Love Me Forever (1963). I spoke to Paul the owner on the phone, great people, great shop.

We left for food and found a strange conceptual healthy over-lit restaurant and looked back on the day. Now sitting here, the radiator isn’t gurgling, the train has almost stopped as the night grows, the sink isn’t being used, we have bottled water and they delivered us another towel, we were happy before, now we’re over the moon, which by the way looks full.

Music today has been Sean Ono Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl’s The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger, Acoustic Sessions (2010). I saw it in the shop today but wanted to listen first and I really like it. I asked Andy to save it for me.

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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