The Ptown dunes, early spring

The gift of lighter, longer days - what a welcome change after this cold season of winter; this sometimes endless season we endure, curse, sometimes enjoy, but usually wish were over sooner rather than later. 

Moving into a new season is always a bit difficult for me, and somewhat cathartic in it’s passage - cold into warmth, dark into light. But I welcome this change, even with the personal difficulty surrounding it.

As we slowly enter into this season of Spring, I sense hope in the song of birds I hear in the morning. As the crocus stems fight their way up valiantly through the semi frozen ground, I applaud their courageous struggle and tenacity. I reach deep down into myself, looking for similar strength to meet the days ahead - with an open heart, a clear mind, and a tender soul. And I keep writing down the songs in my head….

Try Again 

dark days, long nights

it took awhile before I could,

see the light.

So, I slowed down,

it was too fast

it took awhile before I knew,

it would last.

Somethings are better left to wonder

Some words are better left unsaid

Sometimes I feel like I’m going under

When I listen to the voices in my head

So, I try again…..

Sometimes I’m apprehensive about walking into band practice, especially in the last few months when the stress of recording and releasing the CD has taken it’s toll on band relationships. We’ve had to grow up a lot in the last year, actually having to make tough decisions like….. adults. (imagine that)

As in real life, in the band, we all have our roles to play.  Peacekeeper. Silent & watchful. Passion flower. Voice of reason. Sensitive soul. We argue, yell, cry, and make up, though sometimes the making up phase takes a while.  Some practice nights, our egos enter the studio, grab the instruments and take over. Nothing much comes out of nights like that.

There have even been times when I’ve left practice in tears, or gotten so angry, that I’ve just up and left. Gone, baby, gone.

Tonight was NOT one of those nights.  Tonight felt like…old times. Relaxed. Happy. Hopeful. CD sales have been great, they’re playing us on the radio, a music video is in the works. We’re riding the wave…

Tonight, once we got band business out of the way, Donn started playing a riff, I threw out a lyric, Jack grabbed his harmonica, Gerry & Paul joined in and we…played. Jammed. Started creating again. Two new songs tonight. Just like that.

Just like old times.

I’m in the middle of reading a rich & wonderful story of a woman’s search for spiritual insight. It’s called Eat, Pray, Love by Liz Gilbert. Anyway, she travels to various exotic countries across the globe, searching for enlightenment in a variety of ways (well, eating, praying and loving, actually). When she first visits Italy, as she pursues  her passionate desire to study the Italian language, she also feeds her desire…literally. And in an ashram in India, she meditates (among other things) and follows the guidance of her Guru.

Well, it looks like we now have our own personal video guru - Mark Mesko. ( aka BTVG - Blues Train Video Guru) Did you see him way up in the theatre rafters at the Whaling Museum, hidden behind his tripod, little red light aglow….??

Well folks, Mark did a masterful job of recording the concert as well as the crowd in the gallery, a few blooper moments, even our sound check (my portion of that comes with a disclaimer)

We had a little pre-screen showing of the footage tonight and we ….yelled, laughed, cheered, whistled and basically fell over ourselves with delight- you are going to want to see this! Stay tuned, full length feature of the concert available soon…

In the meantime, check out the pics/video page of our website to view a slide show that I put together of some still shots, photos courtesy of Jon Alden…

later…  Dori

Here’s a video post from the CD Release party. (Thanks, Norm!)

This is digital camera video, amazing quality! Video footage from Mark, our video guru, should be available soon..

Enjoy!!

No Logic

Climbing up the stairs,

waiting for you.

Throw my clothes on the chair,

waiting for you.

My eyes watch the darkness rise,

remembering what you said.

My mind tries to improvise,

your voice in my head.

September’s gone,

waiting for you.

So far from home,

still waiting for you.

Writing you a postcard,

my words fall away.

Even if I found you,

you couldn’t stay.

OK folks, I’ve figured out how to get some video on the blog…I think!!

 Let’s experiment.

Here’s Gerry and I, doing a bit of a comedy routine during our presentation to John Mailloux of Bongo Beach Productions…

more to come!

peace, Dori

Kudos and congrats go out to John Mailloux of Bongo Beach Productions - yes, the one and the same JM, our favorite recording engineer!!He’s got a mention in this month’s Rolling Stone Magazine!! Go buy it!!!

 and

more good things - congrats to Herbie Hancock, the recipient of this year’s Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year!

It’s called River: The Joni Letters (as in Joni Mitchell). Amazing album, pick it up, you will NOT be disappointed. Superb musicacious experience!!

It’s about time superb musicianship was finally recognized and rose above all those twenty something neophytes, posing as musical artists. Bravo, HH!!

it can’t be Monday already….but it is. And it’s COLD out there. Real life has returned after a weekend of magic and music. Get the kids up. Breakfast. Bus stop. Shower. Blow dry. What to wear?? blah, blah, blah……….

Emails from friends await in my inbox, that makes me smile.

Monday looks better already.

Time to greet the day…………………..

peace, Dori

Up to the next level. I like the sound of that. That’s the phrase we’ve kept repeating to eachother as we’ve entered this new process of recording and releasing our first CD. We want to take it to the next level.

Where exactly is that? Don’t know. But it’s forward motion. It’s looking ahead. It’s dreaming. Seems like the right time.

Our CD Release party at the NB Whaling Museum was an extraordinary experience - far beyond anything my mind might have imagined over these weeks of planning and organizing the event. But as I had hoped, all things fell into place with faith, hard work and many talented and generous helping hands.

 Pictures and videos are trickling in from friends and family, I will post them here and on the website soon. Don’t forget to post your comments and reviews about our music on www.cdbaby.com/cd/bluestrainband 

What I’ve discovered, in this band and in my life in general, is that communication is the answer, the key. It can happen in something said or left unsaid. It might be in a touch. A look. In conversation, or in words, lyrics,  a love letter perhaps.

It seems like the right time now,  to keep the conversation alive - invite understanding, erase misconception, embrace ideas and exchange. And here, in this blog space, this cyberspace forum is an opportunity for information exchange. Time to jump on that technological train.

Hence, the Blues Train Band Blog.

Train Reaction. 

Let’s talk.

Read. And write back….

peace, Dori