Happy Birthday, Howie

Today would be one of my favorite musicians’ birthday, so happy birthday to Howie Epstein, a fantastic bassist, talented multi-instrumentalist, awesome producer and songwriter, and incomparable backing vocalist with a voice like an angel.

I’m sharing this video because, though he isn’t on bass as his usual role in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers went, it’s yet another example of what a wonderful musician he was, and that’s my favorite thing to celebrate about him.
But if you want great basslines, this is my favorite TPATH track with Howie on bass. (Also, this is one of my favorite TPATH songs, period. Not to get salty on Howie’s birthday but there is NO EXCUSE why this song wasn’t freakin’ on Southern Accents! I blame Jimmy Iovine, the king of making dumb suggestions like leaving perfectly good tracks off of albums especially where TPATH was concerned.)

Alice Bag albums: review

Okay, so I’ve never written an album review, or like…formally reviewed an album before. But I felt compelled to start with Alice Bag because she’s one of my heroes, and if anyone and their music needs more exposure, out of all of my faves, I think Alice is most deserving.

Though I’ve read my share of album reviews, I’m going to do something different and go track-by-track, then end with an overall summary of the album as an entity. For any reviews I endeavor to write in the future, this will be my format. (Unless I decide to be more creative and try a different approach. I might…in which case, I’ll let y’all know.)

And because this post is rather long (I’m reviewing both of her solo albums), I’m putting the important part of it under a read-more so you have a choice if you do really want to read it.

Since supporting artists is my thing (especially because I’m also an artist), you can buy her albums here (debut & second album), and/or check out the albums on Youtube (1 & 2), Spotify (1 & 2), Apple Music (1 & 2), or Amazon (1 & 2). Or, you know, just look up her music on whatever music streaming service you ordinarily use, I guess.

Continue reading “Alice Bag albums: review”

Is Your Pearl My Pearl?

Swinging her body wildly
Enduring reality

Paints a blue picture
Framing pink horizons

Reckless, or steady?
Vulnerable, or tough?

Surviving a world that settles
For what she wouldn’t

Her legacy, though watered
Sustains my passion
Under the sun

End note: I don’t write poetry often but this came to me suddenly and I figured it would be appropriate for this to be my first post on this blog. It is inspired by Janis Joplin, whose nickname was Pearl.