I hate Monkeys, there in my head and they won't go away. The Monkey Stew Song

Please don't mistake those who share positive happenings in their musical pursuits here on ezFolk as vain "look at me" posts. The difficulty that we each must endure in attempting to accure and maintain some tiny bit of forward momentum in our efforts in this endeavor is monumental. With so much stacked against us, vigilence and hope are our few allies in this pursuit. Even the smallest victory in this effort should be shared and applauded within our community as a step in the right direction. Every step along the path takes us closer to our goal.  

EzFolk is taking it's first steps to, once again, begin the lengthy process of rebuilding itself, as are we all. That process includes many hours of labor on my part to research and reupload all of the material that once was a part of my site here but was tragically lost. I could spend time despairing the loss of so many hours of my time and efforts vanishing in one brief instant but that won't repair what was lost.

The discipline it takes to restore such an archive is, and always will be, a labor intensive one. A strong work ethic is required and will aid in the process of its recovery. One must also have a keen vision to direct one's efforts in those labors. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, simple belief in one's efforts is needed and an understanding that the impact that you can have on those all around you, however imperceptible that impact may be to you, is vital!

There are a lot of things to depair about in this world, like racial, gender, class or sexual inequality. Or, when folks have too little to eat, no clean water to drink, no place to sleep, no work to do to support themselves or their families and no way to pay their bills, due to some executive corporate type sending their jobs to some sweat shop labor camp overseas, just so some, in more developed countries, can purchase their iPod for a few less $$$ and/or their stock value can rise a few more points. Or how about drug abuse and addiction and the affect it has on destablizing individual lives, families and communities. You can despair about this country and its dependence on oil and how that dependency has ruined both individual livelihoods and industries via oil spills or dilling carelessly in regions like the Gulf of Mexico. Or despair about war and the many who have lost their lives in pointless combat over a some worthless hunk of desert or vain bit of theological debate.

There are many many more important things to despair over in this world than the growing pains of this site's rebuilding efforts. We're all in this together, pulling in unison to that far greener shore.

I was reminded today of this months theme “The Occupy Movement” and comments reference my song “Occupy and Embarrass” have encouraged me to try to clear a few things up.

Firstly the theme is open to everyone whether or not your views are for or against the occupy movement. 

Personally, I see this theme as a challenge, like many others, I do not and will never support or condone the vultures who are of the opinion that we must work harder so that they can sit at home watching television and drinking beer. But I do not agree that this is what the movement is about, it is about all of us, the 1% of the richest and most powerful political leaders, bankers and business men in our country and the rest of us that are in a bell curve that is the 99% This bell starts from those that are healthy, Educated, wealthy, secure, indeed comfortable. At the end of the curve are those that are unhealthy or poor, have no educational qualifications, they are probably insecure, and know little comfort. (Yes I know I am generalising. But I must make a book fill just a few paragraphs)

(Continued)

Happy Groundhog Day ezFolkies!!!

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I've been making progress on my journey to learn the fiddle. This is an attempt to mark my progress on it and on integrating my clawhammer banjo and OT Guitar back-up.

I recorded the guitar first, then a fiddle track, then banjo.  I then re-did the fiddle track and decided to quit at that point.

Not some of my best work, but not too bad, either, for a  beginning fiddler ((I've only been at the instrument off and on since 2003).

There is nothing funny about drunk driving, but this song is about me in 1993, ENJOY

The differences represented by all of the various music hosting sites online are surprising. No two, however alike, are exactly the same. Each strives to present their own approach to representing those who are musically talented. Some host online contests that allow listeners to choose what artists they like best. Some help artists seeking performance opportunities. Others specialize in helping artists sell their music and still others lean more toward social networking fans with players, players with lyricists or players with other players. Many offer all of the above and more.

In January, I posted the video of my song "Just Another Passerby", that was recorded during my performance at the Historic Everett Theater (11/18/11) for the Hometown Hootenanny's Best Of Show, at one such site, where artists compete with one another for the attention of listeners and viewers. There are supposed awards for such competitions but I have no illusions about winning. Generally, the production value of my recordings is rather low-fi and I like them that way. In this day and age, where so much digital flash is readily available for players to indulge in, there's a lot of smoke and mirrors to compete with. It's especially challenging for someone like me, who eschews that plugged in digital approach to offering music.

In competitions like this, that categorize the genre of music one can present but often offer a lot of latitude in other factors pertaining to an artist's or band's presentation, one can find that they're competing with all manner of approaches to the theme. Therefore, it's always amazing to learn that my solo acoustic endeavors, playing finger style bottleneck slide Blues and offering my own original songs have actually managed to successfully compete and win in such contests. 

The video of my song "Just Another Passerby" was entered in the Pro Performance Video category for 'live' performance videos. It was viewed well over 700 times in January and won the rank of being among the top 40 videos viewed. 

I guess that I must be doing something right! 

Thank you viewers and listeners! Many thanks to Jesse James, who, at that time, was the only person on my email list and not only agreed to attend the show, with only a last minute notice from me, but also brought along his camera gear and captured my performance! Many more thanks goes to The Red Curtain Foundation, producer Beckye Randall and the whole Randall family who have successfully funded and created the Hometown Hootenanny Concert Series events at the Historic Everett Theater with their hard work, boundless energies in faithful service to the local entertainment community and the public. None of my success in this endeavor would have been possible, were it not for their efforts.

Well, so much for our lil friendly community. All I see is a bit 'o look at me . I didnt even recieve any comments on the rally blog. This is not good for EZ folks. So , now I vow to never comment on anybodys' tunes or challange a song contest, or go to ez in the morning to enjoy other writers. Wake up!!!!!

We have all been there, strumming away, staring out of the window, I want to write a song, but what song, what subject, what do I want to say.
Some time ago, Members would come up with a monthly theme, so in Facebook some of us have been talking about it, and Gene came up with "The Occupy Movement" certainly a subject that will find many mixed feelings, this is not a competition, just a bit of fun, so the subject from now until Feb 28th has been set. as for March, if people want to make suggestions, we will find a different subject, and so on and so forth. I hope this meets with your approval, and I look forward to listening to everyone's entries.

Six years ago today, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Challenger Disaster, I uploaded my very first song to the internet, 'Nova', right here on ezFolk.

Much has happened in those six years. The warm and inviting ezFolk community bade my muse return.  I made many friends, uploaded much music, and even spent a little time at the helm of the mighty ezFolk. It wasn't always smooth sailing, but I don't think anything prepared us for the catastrophic meltdown we endured recently.  Three cheers for Richard -- and all of you -- for making ezFolk rise again.

Today, I have begun repopulating my ezFolk page by re-uploading 'Nova', a little bit of 'déja-vu', to remember the Challenger Seven on the eve of the twenty-sixth anniversary of that indelible mark in our collective consciousness.

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Please also check out my personal music page: Tony's Music