All The Saints Are Calling

just tomorrow

2011-08-28T12:51:00.004-04:00

removing the alarming red colored tape from my windows. enjoying the breeze that irene left for me. sleep. sleep. sleep. disaster followed me around for three days. it made my bones brittle with fear. cold. water. the warmth of my daughters arms around my neck. forlorn. my wife's kisses. gone. far away. escape. ill stay. i have no choice. fear. her old eyes couldn't comprehend. the wrinkles flooded with tears. can i take my pictures?will we loose everything? good job guys! great job! no food. hungry. my partner listens to the news. the news. the news. the news. the news. panic. fear. lets get away. the sirens. headache. dehydration. flooding. he stole our flag. that fucking crazy bastard. brooklyn accent. the rain. heavy rain. zeus is crying. stale cigarettes. the cabin fills with smoke. rain. wet uniforms. hands breaking. working. sweating. hunger. i want to cry but i cant. let me call her. will i die alone. i dont want to wake up. i dont want to see the flood. did we make it? did we make it? shhhh...silence of the lambs. shhhh. did we make it? i cant see. georgia moon. shakey bones. shakey graves. ill see my baby today. ill see my babies today. even the unborn. did she hear the wind? sunny side eggs and french fries. mothers touch. always warm. not like irene's. i feel renewed. woke up. woke up. the flood. no flood. i smoke the cigarette outside my door. the leaves have fallen. its not autumn. collect the branches. gather your tears.

banjo at my window

2011-04-24T18:12:00.003-04:00

short video of some banjo playing that in actuality, doesn't sound like a banjo (for some technical reason). anyway i havent been blogging for some time now, and thought it would be a good way to start up once again.

i was hoping you would get a glimpse of someone looking out their window, hanging up clothes on a line, or screaming some bizarre brooklyn talk but what you can hear, is someone sweeping and some singing sparrows at the end of the video.

hope you enjoy!

im trying to take a nap

2011-04-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

go away from my window

im trying to take a nap

i deserve this nap

last night i had barely 3 hours of sleep

you and the marketing clown

can go and shove it!

when was the last time you took a nap and dreamt

of a beautiful world?

where bills dont have to be paid

where the sky is forever blue

where i can play with Dakota

on the coney island sand everyday of the year

where i can stay home and make art and record those cloudy songs of mine

where i can enjoy some greasy burgers with my wife every evening for diner

and not gain a pound

where i can make love to my wife in the mornings, before i leave for work and come back at 12noon for more

dont bang on my window!

go away from my window!

im trying to take a nap!

and try to forget that i spend my daylight hours enslaved to your labor

go away you clown!

jose delhart (poem in the ambulance)

happenstance

2011-01-30T10:50:00.004-05:00

Definition of HAPPENSTANCE

: a circumstance especially that is due to chance

in my life i have met some very interesting people through happenstance, that have helped me along the way. my good friend and EMT buddy Darren Lolk whom is a musician/artist/actor is an inspiration and a reminder of my goals and dreams while im at work; where i generally tend to forget what truly makes my heart sing. here is a youtube clip of some deleted scenes from "Cornelius" a movie Darren Lolk played a cashier clerk. "Cornelius" was directed by Giovanny Blanco another great artist/musician friend ive made along the way. enjoy!

what i saw today

2011-01-24T22:16:00.003-05:00

The Day I Met Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band

2010-12-18T17:02:00.007-05:00

i met Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band one day sitting

they were sitting on a lonely discount shelf at Sounds used CD store on St. Marks Place

the place where sometimes I would wander aimlessly in failed attempts at getting my head together

it was a nightmare for me

a true and terrible nightmare

it was metal clanging in my ears and tom drums banging over and over and over and over

i told my friends i told them all but they laughed

it was cosmic alien talk....too much overdrive....

i had another nightmare

a really terrible one

i saw the vinyl record for sale

it was hanging up high on that over-sized saltine cracker looking wall

it read 65.00 mint condition on a yellow explosive shape thing

i woke up

i never bought it

i never had the money

they took it off the shelf

i met Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band

im glad it was electricity

sometimes satanic

it damaged me it really did

and im glad

im glad

Poor Boy Fool

2010-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

A. Bogs is truly bleeding out his best material these days. Just heard "Poor Boy Fool" last night on his facebook. What a beauty of a song. Its safe to say this song will go down on the list of songs I wish I had written. Check it out!

Auld Lang Syne Once Again

2010-12-02T15:53:00.002-05:00

Auld Lang Syne always warms my heart and makes me want to quit my job, grow a beard and travel the states in a Westfalia camper playing my music; pursuing my fortune.

Till that day comes true, here is Auld Lang Syne performing " Where My Fortune Lies"

Clothe Yourself Well For The Wind

2010-11-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

A beautiful video created by some beautiful friends with some of the most emotional music I've ever heard. Craven Canary and Lieven have put together some beautiful images that have made my heart sing.

Clothe Yourself Well For The Wind from Aubbilala on Vimeo.

See more videos here: Aubbilala

Ramona Cordova

2010-10-29T10:28:00.004-04:00

This man really inspires me in many ways. I just heard a new track or maybe not so new but new to my ears on his myspace. It has blown me away. If anyone can get in touch with Ramon, please tell him that I would love to record with him someday.

Hands Of Heaven

what i see #4

2010-10-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

what i see #3

2010-10-12T10:38:00.000-04:00

what i see #2

2010-10-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

Dakota's Dream

2010-10-10T10:00:00.003-04:00

Dakota woke up this morning explaining in much detail, a dream she had last night. She explained that there was a little girl who was scared of a very big mean dog. Abuela (Grandma) saved her by showing her a picture on her cell phone of a weird girl and giving her a juice to drink. The scary dog wanted to eat the weird girl but Abuela gave the dog some magic potion that made the dog's belly satisfied and therefore spared the girl.

Here are her drawings, explaining the dream.

what i see

2010-10-09T13:27:00.006-04:00

Autumn Is Officially Here

2010-10-04T08:08:00.018-04:00

Here are some pictures of our yearly family tradition of going to Terhune Orchards in Princeton New Jersey for some apple and pumpkin picking fun. The crisp air and the beautiful orchards really welcome the magical season of Autumn.

Beware of Worms My Dear Friends

2010-09-26T10:32:00.007-04:00

My great friend and musical brother A.Bogs has traveled far away from the Brooklyn swamps to blossom into a gallant rose in the swamp town of Rochester NY. His music is sounding stronger than ever and there is even a huge worm hanging around his neck just to make sure it all goes well. Check out this great video shot by artist Robert Frank. This is simply amazing!

In Search of The Day

2010-09-25T16:13:00.003-04:00

Beautiful sounds that have made my day complete. I think I found it, I have finally found it.

Auld Lang Syne .

i quit

2010-09-09T00:02:00.002-04:00

last night i dreamt i quit my job

i showed up wearing only my boxer briefs

i carried my uniform into the office and threw it at the dispatcher

it hit him on the face

i laughed and he laughed

i told them i was leaving and never coming back

i left feeling really fulfilled

the feeling lasted for only a day or so

it felt so good

it felt so damn good

i really want to write songs

you should be dancing

2010-09-06T09:40:00.003-04:00

These have got to be the weirdest toys Ive ever seen. My daughter seems to be impressed; I'm just weirded out.

Friends

2010-09-05T22:12:00.006-04:00

On this lazy Sunday, friends came around to brighten my day. Thank you!

"I Know We Talked About It But That Doesn't Mean I Can Never Set Here Anymore, Does It?"

2010-08-23T09:16:00.004-04:00

A very beautiful video greeted me this morning. My day is suddenly a lot brighter.

Video directed by Derrick Hart and music by my good friend Haruki.

Enjoy!

Jack Rose on My Mind

2010-08-22T14:16:00.006-04:00

Lately, I have been revisiting the sad news of the passing of Jack Rose. Jack Rose, an extremely talented musician with a passion for the old and a warm heart that could makes its way through any melancholic chord he played. He was a master primitive who was relentless in his search to continue to transform his guitar playing and always struck me as someone I would someday meet and become very good friends with.

For some reason his passing, although it has been some time ago, has recently prompted me to reflect on this. I hope I can figure out why that is.

king face

2010-07-24T22:16:00.006-04:00

you sat down on an unwanted discarded milk crate

you drew the faces

pale, happy, sad and hungry faces

they came from far away to see the spectacle

deep inside

my heart kept on beating

wanting, yearning for just a piece of your soul

but i can only imitate and disgracefully mock your soul

you are a rock

overabundance of love and imagery has hurt you

and at times it has trampled all over your bones

they have called you worthless and crazy

but today i will call you KING

did you know that the sound of your milk crate

scraping against the pavement

reminded me of the song "Money" by Pink Floyd?

poem by Jose Delhart

inspired by Felix Morelo's art

please watch this video in relation to the poem

1420 FACES around Union Square by Felix Morelo (720x405) from ponownie on Vimeo.

wings

2010-07-23T09:16:00.004-04:00

all the money in the world couldn't buy me these wings

these wings they sing songs of joy

and at times shatter my fears and bring some heavy black tears

tonight, i will fly away to that place you talked about:

do you remember?

before you died in that dreadful car accident

you had life

you laughed, you sang, you cried and at times you even held my hand

they told us to forget about the past

they told us we couldn't have wings to fly

they lied to us over and over again

and then as we walked by them i whispered in your ear

"all the money in the world couldn't buy me these wings"

poem titled "wings" by jose delhart

inspired by Dubby's picture

eggs and an orange worm for dinner

2010-06-27T18:50:00.005-04:00

she made me eggs and an orange worm for dinner

i began to eat so quickly that i almost forgot to taste it

but about 3 seconds after i began stuffing my face

i realized i was eating eggs and an orange worm for dinner

then i suddenly stopped

and savored every bit of this plate

and was grateful for the food on my table and her bright smile

it took away my hunger

and it took away the extra 40 lbs the doctor said were just too much

at last! i have witnessed my very own last supper

jose delhart 2010

a long time ago

2010-06-13T12:49:00.004-04:00

a long time ago

i met a bearded minstrel

he sang songs

he drew pictures

on my forehead

a long time ago

i crept into his home

a singer of songs

wooden floors creaking

and bending

a long time ago

i heard his songs

and my heart sang songs

a long time ago

i also sang songs

and walked

on creaky

wooden floors

a long time ago

6/13/2010 jose delhart

For beautifully crafted songs by a beautiful heart go here:

A SINGER OF SONGS

A. Bogs and the Orange Tent

2010-05-18T08:24:00.003-04:00

I had a dream the other night where my good friend A. Bogs and I were in a tent. He then walked over to me, and showed me a newsprint sketchbook where he had several pages with the same drawing: the skeleton of an orange tent. He then told me he was going to be drawing some activity that was to take place in these orange tents. I made a quick drawing of the dream on my sketch book as I took a break from ambulance driving.

He Came To See Us Pray

2010-05-16T09:54:00.003-04:00

Another ambulance drawing keeps a smile on my face. ;)

Your Image

2010-05-15T09:59:00.003-04:00

Here is a drawing I made on my notebook inspired by a patient I had yesterday. The cheap dollar store markers and Bic ball point pens are working out very well. Hope you enjoy it.

EMS BOREDOM STRIKES AGAIN

2010-04-25T22:21:00.005-04:00

I drew this little hip hop dancer on my nitrile glove while waiting at the ER for my partner to finish up his PCR. He kindly recorded this video of the dancer showing off his dance moves on a camera phone. Hope you enjoy it. DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!

my mind

2010-04-07T20:34:00.000-04:00

With a Little Help from My friends

2010-03-31T10:45:00.002-04:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking a road trip to Rochester NY with some very good friends. We were heading up to A. Bogs house for a night of performances at some of Rochester's hot venues.

I must say that the road trip, and performing made me feel so alive once again. I had been feeling rather dead and lost for some time now but new light has shined upon me. Some would call it an epiphany or some sort of deliverance, I will call it salvation. I have been saved from destruction and a seal of protection has been cast over me. I can see the road up ahead with clarity once again. I can feel my heart beating and the wind breathing life into my weary bones. All of this with a little help from my friends.

Lazy Rainy Sunday For The Strange Country

2010-03-14T10:13:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, I received a nice little treat in the mail: My very own "Strange Country" debut album.

The Album art is fantastic, and the photography was very cleverly taken. I'm still trying to figure out how they made it look so interesting.

I'm not sure what I like most about this band; is it the great musicianship? Is it the laid back vocal style of Mr. John E. Flamingeaux? Or that they have a beautiful female sidekick singing like a baby sparrow. Strange Country has such warmth and perfection that at times becomes overwhelmingly beautiful.

Having developed an online friendship with Mr. John, I was given the opportunity and immense honor of adding some very light vocals on the title track "Strange Country"(added below for your hearing pleasure). I'm not sure what compelled him to ask me to be a part of this, but I guess I'll just take it as a compliment or a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of something grand; something grand and something rather beautifully strange,coming from Strange Country's heartstrings.

Go to http://www.myspace.com/strangecountry to enjoy the tunes. A perfect soundtrack to a lazy rainy Sunday.

Strange Country

In Memory of Mark Linkous

2010-03-09T22:04:00.001-05:00

His music inspired me a lot. Hope his soul is at rest.

spirit ditch from christina vantzou on Vimeo.

STANDBY

2010-02-04T12:04:00.002-05:00

Being an EMT is a hard job. Long hours, back breaking work, sad situations and speeding around to get to the ER. But there are times (standby) when you can chill out and let go of the stress by sitting in back of the ambulance looking like a ninny or drawing silly faces on our surgical gloves.

Happy Face

2010-02-03T13:52:00.002-05:00

She drew this for me. She said " Its a happy face Daddy". I thought I knew love before her. I was mistaken.

The Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blues

2010-01-31T10:21:00.005-05:00

Browsing through youtube I found this awesome video of The Bro Jug Blues CD release party. What an awesome song!

These guys are such great musicians and such great friends. It makes me feel great and nostalgic at the same time. What has happened to my life? I'm now so busy with unimportant things. I haven't seen or played with these guys in ages. Maybe this year, things will change.

Banjo and the Kids

2010-01-22T22:23:00.003-05:00

Beautiful people making honest, heartwarming music: now that's my idea of a perfect world.

Break Free

2010-01-17T22:04:00.005-05:00

break free they say

the fire will help you make them scared

it's a mighty fire,

unlike the one at the campfire last fall.

the stone cell that surrounds your holy ghost power will fall

it will crumble down and you will see them:

standing, fighting and grabbing at each others necks

tonight they bring you peace

but tomorrow they bring you turmoil

break free they shout only if you dare

you're like a puppy being scratched behind the ears

try

just try to break free

Poem inspired by G. Acosta's artwork. A gift from my good friend Eli.

She Greets Me With Monsters

2010-01-17T14:15:00.005-05:00

She greets me with monsters

but they don't scare me

In fact they make me feel like I'm 8

instead of 96

If I could only live with them

They seem so happy and perfectly in place

Grape juice is their beverage of choice

Nothing else but grape juice

Spur of the moment poem inspired by my good friend Teresa Fahlbusch's monsters.

HEAVY HORSE

2010-01-16T09:47:00.001-05:00

Here's a song I recorded a long time ago based on a bizarre dream I had. I wish I had some video or animation for this one. I think the lyrics could really inspire some interesting visuals. I hope to have the time and inspiration to work on something. You can listen to the song here on my page and download from this link.

Heavy Horse

Daniel Johnston Please Keep Singing

2010-01-14T10:01:00.002-05:00

I love this song! The video is great too.

A. Bogs Defeats the Grinch Once Again

2010-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Since for me, Christmas is not officially over till Three Kings Day, I decided to throw this one in. I just heard a couple of Christmas songs on my good friend A. Bogs myspace page and once again was enchanted with his knack for writing timeless Christmas songs. Not sure what magical ingredient he is mixing into these songs that brings out the holiday spirit, but it really works. I'm sure it is something he found in the attic of his new home in Rochester NY and is just not telling me. Well I promise all of you that when I visit, I will request to sleep in the attic and make sure I find this heavenly ingredient he is selfishly keeping to himself.

Go to Bogs Visionary Orchestra's myspace page and listen. Aside from the three Christmas songs, "This Christmas", "How are you It's Christmas", and my personal favorite " Children of the World" you will find his other treasures waiting for you to hit the play button. Enjoy!

Morning Song

2010-01-04T09:42:00.004-05:00

Wrote this song a while back inspired by my daughter. I have decided that its not doing anyone any good if its just sitting in my vault of unfinished/unreleased songs. So today I'm learning to let go and to not be a Grinch. Enjoy! I hope.

Morning Song ( for Dakota )

The Forgotten Snowman

2010-01-04T09:14:00.008-05:00

Almost forgot about this one. Dakota and I made a snowman last week. The snow had come down heavy on our Brooklyn streets the night before.

We could hardly sleep with excitement of making our snow man with winters first snow.

The Letter

2009-12-30T08:10:00.002-05:00

Today I woke up in my own bed. I was able to sleep uninterrupted through the night. My pillow missed my head and my drool. I wake up with Joe Cocker spinning in my head.

Smash The Emptiness

2009-12-04T21:53:00.004-05:00

Today I had a moment to sit in front of my computer and listen to what my friends are creating.

I decided to visit the myspace page of Girls Doing Embroidery. I listened to the songs on the page and fell in love once again with Olga's simple beauty. It is honest songwriting at its best. The one song that floats in my head today is "Smash The Emptiness". It mirrored some of my inner struggles and moved me in harmony towards a happier light. The gentleness of this song is masterful. Constructed with fine yarns and finished with gold autumn leaves; Olga's gift fills me with rivers of joy and embroiders my hearts wounds shut. Go to Girls Doing Embroidery's myspace page and listen for your own healing.

Fast as Lightning

2009-11-27T23:44:00.002-05:00

fast as lightning

we travel through this world

sometimes we dont see ourselves

sometimes we fall and break our bones

fast as lightning we hate

fast as lightning we love

but when the ice cream truck comes

we slow down

hey listen to the song

it can almost send you to sleep

or even awaken

that hidden need to feed the hungry

or to even wash someones feet

fast as lightning we all die

and fast as lightning we are all born

water is slow and lightning is fast

the hills grow wider

and the trees grow taller

fast as lighting

ONLY YOU

2009-11-24T18:00:00.003-05:00

For some reason this video really made my moody blues go down the drain.

There is some magic there. The song and video both are very lighthearted and truly capture Ringo's warm and friendly personality.

Thank you Ringo!
JD
CLICK HERE

The Gift

2009-11-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago a friend filled my heart with joy with a beautiful gift, an immortalized portrait of yours truly. It was such an honor to receive this painting in the mail. The feeling is inexplicably grand.

Bekka Bluebird is the artist. Bekka a warm hearted jack of all trades hails from the hills and hollers of the great dutch state of Pennsylvania. Flanked by her children whom she adores and her infrangible husband, Bekka changes this world with nothing else but love. The simplicity of her art and her love for all that is good in this world make her a light: a very bright light that for some undeserving reason, has shined on me.

Dollar Store Dream

2009-11-22T12:34:00.004-05:00

I was at a dollar store buying some things.

As I turn around from grabbing something from a rack on the wall, a lady with long gray hair shoves an ice pop in my mouth. I move to another aisle, she follows me and proceeds to rub up against me as she walks down the aisle. I then walk over to my wife and head to the check out and leave the store. It is dark and cold outside.

I go to visit my friend who is Billy Crudup. He needs a heroin fix, so I proceed to help him by tying a tourniquet on his bicep. I also inject him with the drug. The lady with with the long gray hair is hanging around the house.

All of a sudden the cops show up and we run away. We end up catching our breath in the middle of a forest. We are getting really hungry. Billy says that he hears the worms underneath the trees trying to get out of the ground. We then start to rip out the roots of a huge tree and once all the roots are exhumed we tip over the tree. We can see the worms peeking out of the ground. I plucked them, and one by one they popped out. The worms were about 2 feet long.

We begin to eat the worms; we are satisfied.

Together

2009-11-20T19:00:00.004-05:00

Together

One step at a time

It makes the world turn round and round

Sometimes it seems like its too late

and then its all right and all bright again

The streets of the busy city are ours again

"Buy me a rubber band shooter!" she says

"If you do, Ill love you forever and ever"

Tom Eaton Hears Voices

2009-11-19T23:20:00.006-05:00

Earlier this year I had the pleasure and honor of recording my voice for one of Tom Eaton's animations titled "The MP3 Mobile". It was a great experience in which I was able to collaborate with someone very talented and experience something totally new.
Tom Eaton's sense of humor is very classic in many ways and that is why I enjoy his work. His animations have a way of making your day brighter in a manner of 2 or 3 minutes. To me, it is pure magic. See for yourself.

Link

The Invincible Lego Man

2009-10-02T00:34:00.004-04:00

together they make him
an invincible Lego man
trained to never be destroyed
and to always stand his ground
firmly against the tempestuous winds

she sees him with eyes of gold
"oh my invincible Lego man!" she exclaims
and then with a long ferocious yawn
she sleeps with the lions and the reds, greens and blues

Haruko-Wild Geese

2009-09-30T17:26:00.010-04:00

Soft, gentle beauty casting its shadow on my face before dawn. A burst of autumn air that revives my lungs to breath again. I begin walking, following the voice of a holy messenger.
A Joan of Ark that tears down the dense forest in front of me. Hear her voice soft like silent thunder; hear her message bringing me back home. Haruko is home.
http://www.myspace.com/harukomyspace

Morning Dreams by Haruko
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Today I Shall Walk With You

2009-09-27T23:50:00.004-04:00

today i shall walk with you
we will talk amongst the trees
i will whisper in your ear
i will spit on your shoes

today i shall walk with you
we will look out at the horizon
the trees will scrape your Cinderella skin
the roses will turn to stone

today i shall walk with you
we will dance with our broken knees
you will fall down and hurt yourself
i will be there to pick you up

tomorrow...shall you walk with me?

Fried Egg in The Bath Tub

2009-09-24T01:13:00.004-04:00

fried egg in the bath tub
sitting so patiently
waiting for the lady to scrub his back
waiting for the moment in which he should speak

"not tonight!" said the voice that came out of the loud speaker
"today you shall recite the pledge of allegiance until your fingers and toes look like prunes"

fried egg in the bath tub
sat and cried
"waiting is a game for fools" he says
"tonight I'll let them see what I'm made of"

"behold!!!" he shouts back at the loud speakers orders
"I am your king and you are my peasant and there is nothing left for you to say tonight"
"I will no longer submit myself to your demands!"

fried egg in the bath tub
bathed in glory
"waiting is a game for fools" he says
"I am not a fried egg in the bath tub anymore"

DAKOTA SAVES MR. CRICKET

2009-09-11T23:42:00.003-04:00

A cricket made its way into our apartment the other day and serenaded us as we slept. The following evening I returned home from work and spotted the cricket hanging around on our curtain. Dakota is amazed by the creature who has decided to make our apartment his new home but she then decides to save him and bring him back to his natural habitat.
Here's the video of our excursion to save Mr. Cricket.

The Dreadful Day That Came and Went

2009-09-06T19:03:00.005-04:00

Here's a short animation I worked on during an insomnia episode the other night. Hope you like the spooky backwards track.
yours,
JD

My Fortune

2009-09-02T17:30:00.003-04:00

Went to a Buddhist temple the other day to read my fortune. This is what Buddha had to say.

MATS GRÖNMARK

2009-08-23T12:59:00.007-04:00

A man with a face of steel and a heart of cotton candy. A voice from outer space and wild gray curls flying above. A prophet for those who will listen. A wall of sound that will come crashing down with vengeful force upon all those who bring deceit. A gold mine hidden deep inside the mud.
Once again I have struck gold.

MATS GRÖNMARK CLAM WITHOUT A SHELL

Breathe

2009-08-13T22:14:00.005-04:00

Many people breathe
but few are the ones who truly breathe
They come and go
and sway about
They laugh at jokes but nearly drown
An old man is dead
he breathes just to breathe
he opens his eyes to see me
Who am I?
Who am I to live without breathing?
Who am I to laugh without laughing?
Who am I to love without loving?
I am and I will always be a breath
One splendid breath
Breathe

I Get Free Stuff

2009-08-02T14:27:00.005-04:00

Poem for Dinner

2009-07-04T22:22:00.005-04:00

I fell down
about a year ago
I flushed the toilet
I cried in fear
It wasn't me
Its not me
I never wanted it
It just sneaked up on me

Blue nights
Chain smoking in the sun
and then the winter came
to freeze the pond
You know
that beautiful pond
The one in greenwood
No more picnics

They all lied
I wished to make them disappear
but they didn't
They said I was a monster
a big scary monster
They even laughed
but I'm a swan
You know the swan
The pond is frozen

Tomorrow night
I'm gonna have you for dinner
Ive been so hungry
I deserve to eat and rest
sleep without the heavy ghost
I deserve to see my friends again
but I wont

I fell down
about a year ago
I know I'll never fall again

My Good Friend Philipp

2009-05-27T18:09:00.007-04:00

Myspace has been good to me. I never imagined a place on the net where musicians and artists could promote their art with very little effort and at no cost.
Myspace has also been a place to make great friends. I have connected with many great musicians all over the world and have made some heart to heart connections. One of those special connections is my very good friend Philipp Sohlmann. Philipp resides in Germany and is a super talented musician and song writer. Philipp's voice is a concoction of milk and honey. His smooth comforting voice takes you floating on a dream cloud through the hills and valleys of the north country. The songs are carefully constructed and have a many treats hidden inside of them for you to find. Philipp will be releasing a full length very soon. Itll be a gem of an album that should not be missed.
For my birthday Philipp sent me a gift unlike any other gift Ive ever received. A carefree song about life's crazy dance that surprisingly enough mentions yours truly. I am honored to have made history through someone else's art and even more just so overwhelmed with joy that he would place me in one of his gems. It truly makes my heart skip a beat. Here's the song titled " Hey " for your enjoyment.
yours,
JD

HEY by Philipp Sohlmann

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ART!

2009-04-23T12:04:00.004-04:00

Hey Folks!
Been working on some art for the CD Release Party on May 31st. I made this rubber cut on the train the other day and I think it came out rather cool. I think I will include an original print in each goodie bag as a gift to all the supporters. Hope you like it.
JD

Boredom strikes again.......

2009-04-21T01:05:00.003-04:00

On this rainy day, I had to keep Dakota busy somehow.
JD

CALAVERA

2009-03-26T19:28:00.004-04:00

The skeleton speaks to me during my cigarette break. He tells me "quit smoking or you'll end up like me" and then to my surprise he orders me to end my cigarette break and go make him a ham sandwich.

Bird Builds Nest

2009-03-26T16:46:00.007-04:00

Every day when I head out of my house, I hear a bird making the most beautiful sounds I could ever hear. Today I looked up and waited patiently to spot him, and I did. I believe its building a nest. I hear its little baby birdies chirping away. Its the most beautiful thing, especially living in a city of pollution and noise. I happened to have my camera with me so I took a video of the bird. You can hear its singing fighting with the atrocious sounds of trucks and cars. I wish I could get up on the roof and film the babies. I also wish I could sing like a bird. I think I'll try ( both wishes ). To be continued....

Its 12: 44 am and...

2009-03-25T00:44:00.005-04:00

Dakota is still not asleep. I'm not sure whats going on with her. She seems to get more and more energy by the minute. My eyes hurt.
Someone in France wrote about my music on some music blog. How strange huh ?. I'm not sure how this happens but I'm just baffled at how someone so far away found my tunes and actually enjoyed them.
What a day! I must be dreaming. Maybe Dakota is really fast asleep.
Not sure though.

yours,
jd

Dakota In Concert Take 2

2009-01-14T12:58:00.006-05:00

Do you guys remember last month when I tried filming one of Dakotas performances and her guitar strings popped? Well, her grandma got her a fancy cherry red sunburst acoustic guitar for Christmas so she has been playing that a lot around the house quite a bit. I made a little guitar strap for her so she could carry it around easily. Shes been having some fun playing her songs. Hope you enjoy the videos.
yours,
jd

Elisa Flynn " Songs About Birds and Ghosts"

2009-01-13T23:09:00.007-05:00

Songs About Birds and Ghosts has been in the works for a long long time. I was very excited upon receiving it in the mail last week.
Elisa Flynn is a good friend of mine that Ive had the pleasure of recording and performing with for some time now. Elisa is one of those people who emanates music. She has been in the music scene for a very long time with many respectable projects under her belt. Her determination to make music and make an impact in this boring, saturated music scene is just simply impressive. I can honestly say that I wish I had her balls.
The album is very nicely arranged. I love the progression of the songs and the overall mood.
The songs are very much to the point and don't really dance around too much leaving you bored out of your noggin. One thing Ive always admired about Elisa is her courage to do what she wants to do and nothing else. This can clearly be heard throughout the album. Her lyrics are very dreamy and bring to mind Sylvia Plath's dark, moody compositions. Me being a guitar player, I always look forward to hearing some tasteful guitar sounds. I'm not really ever looking for extensive guitar riffs and coma inducing pedal effects. Songs About Birds and Ghosts has the right amount of "guitar shine" as I would say. Also, her chord arrangements are very down to earth and minimalistic, which really bring out her lyrics and leave your ears satisfied.
I usually hate comparisons but I think this comparison that I'm about to make is merely a reflection of what my ears find beautiful. Listening to the album I could hear that Elisa is not only influenced by those classic pop, punk rock icons that many of us adore but also more contemporary artists that have emerged recently. The spirit of Neko Case seeps through Elisa's heart and drip drops around in some of the more delicate songs on the album, while still holding true to Elisa's trademark folk/punk sound.
"Egon" and " My Mistake" are really my favorite tracks. I listen to them over and over. "Egon's" waltzy/polka/punk jangle makes me want to learn how to play the drums. I just friggin love that song. " My Mistake" has Elisa written all over it. If you don't know Elisa and want to know her this is the song to listen to. Its strong and confident just like EF.
I had the honor of recording banjo on "Big Sky", which Ive uploaded for you to hear.
This is truly a very well executed album. I am sure we will see Elisa shinning in the Big Sky very soon; she has been for a long time now, its just time we all noticed. Enjoy the tracks below.
yours,
JD

Big Sky

Egon

My Philosophy on Donating Clothing

2009-01-13T22:00:00.005-05:00

Every time my wife and I get into a cleaning frenzy we usually fill 2 or more bags of clothing for the needy. Not that we are not needy but there are others who could surely use what we no longer need or want.
So, we call up a church that very kindly picks up our unwanted clothing and makes sure the needy gets it. Its usually a very simple process of just calling the church and giving them your address and time of pick up. They usually have a window from 8am to 3pm to pick up your donations. The norm is to leave your clothing in bags outside your door. Very simple right? Well, not that simple.
The problem is that in Brooklyn NY people have the notion that whatever is on your door step or stoop, is up for grabs. So with that said it could really "open up a can of worms" ( I love that figure of speech ) Sometimes people will go through your donations and grab what they want and then leave a mess on your door step for you to clean up in the morning and for your neighbors to gossip about how there must have been some heated domestic dispute at your house last night. We all know the usual suspects hanging their heads out their windows, checking to see when you come in and out and how many cigarettes you smoke on your stoop or why you ride your bike everywhere.
In order to avoid such catastrophes in our lives, we have taken a step further to ensure the protection of our donations. We have made signs that we taped onto our bags. Not just any signs but signs that are made to play with the intruders self worth. Hopefully this will deter all those crazy used clothing fiends that creep about at night looking for their next victim.
Hope this works and I hope you also enjoy the video.
yours,
JD Theft Free Donation Activist BKLYN NY

My Daughter Wants to be Buddy Holly

2008-12-22T23:41:00.006-05:00

Here she is trying to be just like the Buddy himself. Why doesnt she want to be like me? I mean aren't I cooler than Buddy? I can play most of his songs, doesnt that count? Ive gotta admit the look suits her well. She has been fascinating me lately with her cuteness. Shes been playing guitar, playing the piano, counting in songs, and playing some percussion. Shes been trying everything and anything. Today she even tried some of her mommies perfume. Thank God she didnt enjoy the taste. What a scare. I almost had a myocardial infarction. What a girl!
yours,
jd

Dakota experiences technical difficulties before live concert

2008-12-22T15:40:00.006-05:00

My baby girl Dakota loves to play songs on her baby piano and 99 cent store guitar. I was ready with camera and all to record her performance when one of her guitar strings snapped. What a
bummer! It is so hard to record her doing anything, but ill try again some other time. For now enjoy the video of the mishap.
yours,
jd

ARTFARTS

2008-11-10T15:37:00.011-05:00

More drawing's from my sketch book. Enjoy!
Senor JD.

ARTARTARTARTARTART

2008-11-09T22:27:00.007-05:00

Here is some new art from my sketch book. The medium used was pen over acrylic paint wash. I incorporated a Johnny Cash image I had saved from a magazine. Hope you enjoy them.

Auld Lang Syne playing on my record player

2008-11-09T15:20:00.012-05:00

I had the pleasure of getting in the mail the 7" Auld Lang Syne 45rpm single released by Viper Bite Records. Being a record collector this was a real treat for me. I love the old warm crackle coming from my record players speaker. It's just heaven. Either way let me come back to earth now. Auld Lang Syne is a Rochester NY roots rock band that has been under the radar for too long. I will dare to say these guys are the reincarnation of The Band. These guys are going places and its happening fast.
The first track "Where My Fortune Lies" is a classic. From the moment I heard this song I fell in love with its progression, jangly banjo and dreamy sleigh bells, and not to mention the drums on this song that are just perfect. Every element of this song is a perfect fit. Timothy Dick's voice is superb. Deep baritone tone coming at you with emotion that could easily make you teary eyed. Timmy Gallogly's contributing harmony on this one is chillingly beautiful. All I can say is this song needs to move to a higher plane. This song is a true example of great songwriting and tasteful arrangement.
On the b side of this perfect little 45 is the song "50 Years". This song took me a little bit longer to really soak up, but once I heard it a couple of times, I could really understand the emotion behind the strong voice. It sends chills down my spine. Jonathan Miller the author of this song brings a strong projection of passion and pain on this track. His voice trembles and shakes and is from an era lost and forgotten. "50 Years" embodies so much imagery that I could truly see it being the soundtrack to a deep unfolding drama.
I never doubt that my good friends up in Rochester ( Kathy and Tim, Timmy G and Jonathan )will always produce songs that will blow the socks of my feet. These guys are truly making a mark in this world, from making beautiful music to raising families to making good friends where ever they go. I'm grateful to have had these folks very close for some time but now distance is our enemy but the music still keeps us close. I will keep you posted on the full length which should be out this winter.

Thanh Da Bakery BKLYN NY

2008-11-01T17:17:00.002-04:00

Im no food critic but ill pretend for this one. I just got back from hanging with my good friend A. Bogs. We took a stroll up to 7th ave, the heart of Chinatown Brooklyn. There's a really cool newly expanded bakery by the name of Thanh Da. This has got to be the best place for Vietnamese sandwiches in Brooklyn or maybe even NY.
The sandwich is made up of thinly sliced pickled carrots and daikon, onions, cucumbers, and cilantro. Popular fillings include roasted or grilled pork, Vietnamese Ham, paté, mayonnaise, chicken, and head cheese. Most Banh Mi sandwiches contain a Vietnamese mayonnaise-like spread that is a mixture of egg yolk, cooking oil/butter, and sometimes spices. Sorry my vegetarian friends. The sandwiches are really inexpensive and super delicious. The place is really friendly and super clean. A sandwich with some dessert and a drink will run you about 6 bucks. You really cant beat that. You can sit in or sit outside where they usually have some fold out chairs. What a day! Shooting the breeze with a great friend and enjoying a Vietnamese sandwich. Now thats life!

JD

CONEY ISLAND ON THE BACK BURNER

2008-10-29T12:34:00.000-04:00

Coney Island has always been a special place for me. Growing up, it was the place where us poor folk could have some fun with only 10 dollars. It was a place where you could wash away your demons and never see them again. A place to embrace your sweet heart and make memories that would eventually become stories your children's children would hear at bed time. Coney Island is like another planet; Coney Island is unlike any place you've ever imagined.

2 years ago I began writing about Coney Island in my sketch book. For some reason the spirit moved me in that direction. These words eventually became songs and the songs eventually became ideas for a Coney Island Tribute. I began recording these songs but at some point lost all focus on the project and stopped halfway through.

I'm writing this blog to share with you some roughly mixed tracks that provide a glimpse of what was in my head at the time. I'm also writing this in search of some inspiration to pick up where I left off and hopefully culminate the project. I would love some feedback.

Below are some tracks for you to listen to. Hope you enjoy them.

yours,
JD

WELCOME ( recorded with coney island sea creatures )

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POOR BOY ( Bob Thorne on Piano )

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CAROUSEL ( Bob Thorne on Drums )

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WONDER WHEEL ( Bob Thorne on Piano )

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HERE COMES A. BOGS!!!!

2008-10-20T20:01:00.000-04:00

A. Bogs a friend, an artist, a musician, and a brother. We painted Jody Sunshine's apartment in the summer of 95. We listened to the Beatles while we painted white walls and ate stale sandwiches till late in the night. A month went by and the work was finished; we parted ways not knowing that 3 years later we'd be reunited and play music that neither of us even dreamed of.
One day cleaning out my phone book, I discovered his number and gave him a call. Little did we know that we were neighbors living only a few blocks away from each other and were both making music. We got together to break bread and recorded music the first day we reunited. Ever since then A. Bogs and I have collaborated in music and shared life's joys and sadness.
Over the years we've played many shows under the name Swampbelly and then Bogs Visionary Orchestra, and also recorded several albums. A. Bogs enchanting music embraces hillbilly roots, Allen Ginsberg wit, mountain banjo twang, and humanitarian/political/apocalyptical and sometimes humorous lyrics. A. Bogs latest album Maladroits Union was a blast to record and holds some inspirational tunes and some very interesting instrumentals which did not exist in the earlier albums. Soon to be released, is yet another masterpiece by our junkyard, indie rocker that Im sure will inspire great things among mankind. Stay tuned for A. Bogs!
http://www.myspace.com/bogsvisionaryorchestra
Yours,
JD

PS
Ive uploaded "Down the Road", one of our first songs recorded. I'm playing a reverb drenched electric guitar. Maybe a little too drenched. :)

Working the Fields

2008-10-20T19:01:00.001-04:00

Looking through some boxes that I have yet to unpack from the move many moons ago, I found a cdr of a song that I recorded a long, long time ago and had completely forgotten about. "Working the Fields" was a spur of the moment song inspired by the movie "Cool Hand Luke", which Ive seen many times. Since Paul Newman RIP just passed away, I figured I'd let this one go in his name. I'm not a Paul Newman fan per say, but love the movie and think he has had some admirable roles in his career.
The song was not intended to be on an album, It was just for kicks. The mix is sort of terrible since at the time I did not have much experience mixing, but the spirit is strong. Either way, I hope you enjoy it. Nighty night.
Yours,
JD

Sneak Peak

2008-10-19T20:42:00.000-04:00

Here's a very short video I shot in my home studio, playing a snip of a track that will be on the anticipated album. You can hear my good friend Bliss Blood's saw playing, sweet!!!! You can also see some of my close friends who make sure everyone is quiet while I record.
There's a weird UFO type of effect when the camera points at the sun. I'm sure AV people will have a valid explanation for this strange occurrence, but nevertheless it looks really interesting and I'm trying to convince myself that UFO's are truly visiting me. Till next time dear friends.
Yours and yours only,
JD

DM STITH

2008-10-17T02:45:00.000-04:00

DM Stith is a gentle soul. A keeper of beautifully crafted folk songs that I can only imagine existing in my most allegorical dreams. DM Stith is also a close friend with whom I've had the pleasure of collaborating with in our musical journeys.
His debut album will be released by the Asthmatic Kitty Record Label sometime in December. A song titled " Just Once" from this anticipated album was graciously reviewed by FADER. I had the honor of laying down some obscure lap steel on this gem of a song. My lap steel playing can be mainly heard towards the end of the song. It almost embodies a creature dangling from steel tightrope, scratching away at the surface of this dreamy song. Watch out, DM Stith is coming your way!

http://www.myspace.com/dmstith

Radiant Sun

2008-10-15T23:55:00.001-04:00

Here's a song I recorded very quickly in my living room with the sounds of my family doing their thing around the apartment. I normally try to keep things quiet but was inspired and couldn't wait for peace and quiet to visit me. Even tough the tracks are noisy, you really cant hear anyone clanging away in the kitchen or my baby girl's pitter patter . Anyway hope you enjoy it. Hasta la pasta!

Yours,
JD

ROLLIN HUNT TRIBUTE

2008-10-15T19:41:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year I had the honor of being asked to be a part of a tribute album to Rollin Hunt.
Rollin Hunt is an amazing singer/songwriter/artist from planet earth. I discovered his music about 2 years ago and was immediately hooked. The honest rawness of his recordings and his amazing story telling is something to admire. I chose to cover the song " Nice Night". Its a very intimate song that automatically made my spirit feel at ease. I tried to think of very eccentric ways of covering this song, but in the end, following Rollin's spirit seemed to work the best. It was a lot of fun and for sure an immense honor to be a part of such a tribute. I have posted a link to Rollins Myspace and the Tribute's Myspace too. The song is posted below for everyone to listen to. Adios!

Yours,
JD

Tribute album Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/himwhoisthere

Rollin Hunts Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/rollinghunt

Greatest Day

2008-10-15T12:51:00.000-04:00

Life has changed so much in the span of 2 months. Today is my first day blogging, something I despised and surely never thought I would be doing, but like the saying goes "never say never".

I spent most of my morning playing a little accordion with my baby girl Dakota. She's really obsessed with this toy accordion. The problem is that she can't really play it on her own, so I have to sit with her and help her get some sound out of this forsaken baby accordion. At first, its adorable and inspirational, but after a couple of hours you start to go bonkers. I finally distracted her with her ukulele. Thank the heavens!

I'm trying to to get back to finishing my album. So far, Ive been working on it all week. Hopefully it'll be out in the next few months. I hope everyone enjoys it, as I think it holds many beautiful treasures.

Its a beautiful day today. The sky is clear and I havent heard a car alarm yet, so I think were good to go. Im not sure how good I'll be at this bloggin stuff, so we will see. Till next time.

Yours,
JD