Margaret
June 18, 2008
Speaking of "House of the Rising Sun," don't forget that you can sing both "Amazing Grace" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" to that melody. Usually freaks people out, the first time you do it...
Peter Spencer: Discussion
Gilbert
May 28, 2008
Hey uncle Pete, recently found out that a cool new band is coming your way in Seattle this July. It's State Radio, a funk-reggae-ish band from Boston. If you've heard of Dispatch (my current favorite), then Chad Urmston (aka Chetro, Chad Stokes etc...) is the frontman of the band. It's a really cool sound, it's like Bob Marley meets something like Chicago or The Eagles. Basically it's some reggae with a more driven beat and better vocals. Dunno if you're interested, the concerts 13 bucks in advance, 15 day of show. It's at Chop Suey, not totally sure where it is, but I don't live in Seattle. Check em out on Youtube or iTunes or whatever.
I mean they're nothing on Dispatch (which I highly reccomend), but I think they're pretty good.
Gil
Mr. Bumps
May 8, 2008
Wish I had known (or remembered, maybe) that you were going...an old buddy of mine from McDowell and Jr. Phil days is a successful session bass player there. Plus Lou Gottlieb's son lives somewhere nearby, I understand. It would be very very interesting to hear stories of that man's life, I'd think, regardless of what anyone thinks of the Limeliters nowadays.
Charlie Bermant
May 6, 2008
Pretty inspiring, that post about Wanda Jackson. After reading it I recalled an ad I saw earlier in the day, that she was coming to town. After reading your take on her I resolved to attend. Looked it up, and she was scheduled at the Tractor....two days previously. Damn. Story of my life.
April 10, 2008
WOW thank you so much!!! I've never even heard of the Zombies before (like you, I am
surprised) and checked them out on iTunes, and was (again, like you, blown away) I'm hearing a Freddy Mercury-esque sound on "A Rose for Emily" and a few of the other songs.
I've heard the hit on the radio too, and I could never figure out who was doing it, so
thanks for solving that mystery for me!
Gil
Mr. Bumps
March 19, 2008
Take a gander at Oliver Sacks's recent book called Musicophilia. I got a copy for Christmas and have dipped into it briefly amid the crush of daily life. Not enough to give a review or anything more than a vague plug, but what I have read is fascinating...just why are humans so attuned to music in so many ways? It is completely useless... except... well, who knows why. Except it feels so good, even when it makes you feel so bad.
You know as well as I do that we triple-distilled musicians don't choose music. It chooses us. (I for one am convinced that I had absolutely no choice in the matter.) Music makes no sense at all and yet remains utterly compelling. It is something that teases us, haunts us, torments us, energizes us, drives us bonkers, all to no discernible end except pleasure, in the broadest sense of the term. And it is always there. There is no shutting it off or out.
So we learn to live with it, eh? And maybe harness it to some limited degree, to try to do some broader good with it...though who knows what that good might be.
C'est la guerre.
Pete
March 15, 2008
Did I say "early April"? I meant late April - the last week, to be exact. Apologies.
pete
March 15, 2008
Sam, the album is called "From the Island" and it's being mastered right now. I'm hoping I'll have it ready for my trip to Nashville in early April. The tracks are:
Went Too Far
From the Island
Dark by the Rain
Holding On
Root Man Boogie*
The Afterwhile
Portland Blues
Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat
A Woman Left Lonely
It's Supposed to Snow at Christmas
I Made My Baby Cry
Delicious Cookies
Beale Street Blues
*back from the grave, thanks to Todd Houghton.
sam
March 15, 2008
Where's this new album we keep hearing about, and what's on it?
Liam Graham
March 8, 2008
Hey, Pete,
Glad Root Man Boogie has been resurrected! I love that one. I love the line about the old root man "Dancin' like an old oak tree" ... or something like that ...
Cheers,
Liam
Noam Sane
February 19, 2008
The song "Love Is a Losing Game" on "Back to Black" is the best refutation to your argument I could think of. Deeply soulful and real, and a string arrangement to die for.
That said, I agree with much of your argument. Todd Rundgren's "Soul Brother," on his unjustly ignored "Liars" album of a couple years back, made the point as well:
It's just a murky, jerky groove.
It motivates but it don't move
And all the pimps and funky divas
Crank out their empty testifying
They mixed it all in a bowl but then they
Forgot to add a pinch of soul
Can't find a little a bit of soul
Cause it's so hip to be a ho
And all the brothers act like crooks
And all the kids in the suburbs write the radio hooks
Pete
February 18, 2008
That's a worthwhile remark, Ned, and I'm glad you posted it. I get the feeling that there are just as many good young musicians as there always were, but every time I go looking for them I have to wade through a dismal swamp of imitators, half-talents, and corporate sludge. So I get discouraged and stop. I like Ryan Adams, although alt-country seems to involve as much posing as the regular variety. Let me think some more. I'll get back to you. vvv
ned
February 18, 2008
Nice last line, man. But, hey, is there anybody new that you like?
Liam
February 11, 2008
Hey, Pete,
So glad you're doing the regular blog entries now. Your take on things is always interesting, and always evidences a great deal of thought and consideration. You definitely make me think in ways I haven't thought before, and - whether I end up agreeing with you or not - that's something special.
All the best,
Liam
Bob
February 10, 2008
Wow! I don't know what to think about that last blog entry. You're looking at things from a different angle than I've ever heard before. Keep it up. You may not be right but you'e interesting.
pete
February 4, 2008
Usually double-neck guitars have 6- and 12-string necks. Jimmy Page used this combination with Led Zeppelin in concert, the better to play the 12-string intro to "Stairway to Heaven" before moving to the other neck for the solo. I've also seen guitar/mandolin, guitar/guitar, and guitar/bass combinations. I THINK Mike Campbell was playing a guitar/12-string double-neck but I'm not all the way sure. I do know he switched necks at least once. Perhaps there was some pickup combination or other sound effect that he wanted. You'll notice he moved his hands very carefully.
Margaret
February 4, 2008
What is the point of a guitar with two necks? I was watching Tom Petty at the Super Bowl last night, and one of his bandmates was playing a guitar with two necks. I know that adds up to twelve strings, but I can't imagine it actually sounds like a twelve string guitar. So what's the point? Are the two necks tuned differently, theoretically adding to the instrument's range? (But you have a bass for that...) And wouldn't you spend a lot of time bashing your fingers on the lower neck, when playing the upper one? I mean, really - what gives?
Andreas Gygli
December 27, 2007
Do you have the lyrics from Buddy Boy Hawkins:
"Hawkins' Blues" - I try to learn it in the version of Rory Block.
Thanks.
Andy
Lindsey Meyer
December 25, 2007
I've been listening to Gathering Light quite a bit this week and it's such a pleasure to hear. One spends so much time trying to avoid all the awful Christmas music in the stores that it's a relief to hear your stripped-down and elegant approach to the carols. They have your stamp on them for sure, but you let the real spirits speak that are bottled up in all those familiar musical notes. Thanks for making this album.
New London, NH
December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas from your sister and (by extension) your parents - one of whom is now looking over her shoulder and commenting...
I hope we'll touch base over the next couple of days - it would be great to hear what you've been up to! Lovelovelove, M. (and M&D, natch)
elena
November 29, 2007
hi
in your christmas album, do you sing? I need music for the store but am sick of bing crosby and retro compilations
Mr. Bumps
October 22, 2007
So rather than be a week early I'm a week late. As you know I have a fairly good reason for that, but regardless, here's hoping it was a happy day and that all continues to percolate as it should. Middle age is not for the faint of heart, eh?
Tovey knew what he was talking about, practically all the time. That whole English thing about how it's better to be sincere than talented and hard-working is mostly a pretty fragrant load of pferdescheiss and it's good to see through it, the sooner the better. And I'm an Anglophile. Olivier never got to where he was just by being sincere, any more than have David Willcocks or Tony Blair or Posh Spice.
Mind you, talented and hard-working amateurs have done remarkable things over the decades, but what allowed them to do that was not their amateur status but rather their talent and hard work.
But you knew that.
pete
October 8, 2007
Is this Billy Idol, teasing me about my upcoming birthd....
Mpff.
Hey, Little Sister
October 8, 2007
Only a week to go...
son spencer
October 6, 2007
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4PDKStGR0kM
speaking of great great great songwriting check this one out and try to hear the lyrics and ignore the pitchy voice
son spencer
October 6, 2007
hey i was just checkin out yer site and everything.. big ups and respect from all yer east coast homies.
i ran across this..http://vimeo.com/322463
it's amanda palmer doing(about half of) a dead kennedys song,beautifully.
i never liked this song... i had a live DK album and always skipped this track. but as always amanda has a real talent for playing things the way they should be played
speaking of amanda and great great great great great great songwriting check this out http://youtube.com/watch?v=4PDKStGR0kM and try to listen to the lyrics
much love
c
louanna farnsworthy
September 13, 2007
PICTURES!
We need fresh pictures!
Liam Graham
August 23, 2007
Hey Pete,
Just dropping by to say I really dig the videos. It's great to 'see' you again, while hearing your art.
Hope to see you again one of these days!
Liam
Doc
August 12, 2007
Hi Pete,
I finally got around to checking out your site, looks great! It's good to see your lookin' good and doing well, the new videos are much more flattering and representative of what you can do. By the way Mystery Woman Blues is a knock out surprise, (the only tune I was not familiar with). Keep up the good work, it shows.
Everybody's doing well 'round here; it’s been a decent festival season, with more to come.
We'll see you next time your on de udher side,
Doc
Mr. Bumps
July 25, 2007
I don't particularly know from Clapton, but I feel confident you can play like him. What I like the best is you playing like you. FYI, went to a Leo Kottke concert last year in Exeter. Steve B. (who was not there) said he figured the place would be full of guitar geeks (his phrase) trying to figure out how the heck he does it. Which I'm sure was true. What I decided is that he must have six or seven fingers on each hand, and that just about everything he does sounds the same. Which is too bad. And which is a different way of saying I like what you do, precisely because it's all so different from one thing to the next.
If I'm not supposed to diss (or in this case, semi-diss) others here, say so and delete. But it's what I think.
Margaret
July 20, 2007
Hi, Big Bwadoo!
I just zipped over to YouTube to watch the videos - NOT FAIR!!!!! First, I started singing harmony on "In the Pines," which took my office mate *totally* by surprise (my current computer has no speakers, so I have to listen over headphones, with the result that she didn't realize what I was listening to), then I hopped over to "From the Island" and got all weepy at my desk. Luckily, "Mystery Woman Blues" got me back on my usual even keel, so no one needs to know about this except you, me, my co-worker, and the thousands of people who read your blog and the discussion pages. What a relief...
Still remembering how much fun I had out there with you last month, trying to figure out when I can get out there again. See you at Dad's b-day! XOXO, M.
pete
July 10, 2007
Dear Mr. Bumps,
All I can say about our relative merits as musicians is that I have been saved by your erudition considerably more often than you have by mine. I doubt very much I would be anything like the player, singer, writer, or thinker I am without your example all along the way. Your sensibility informs everything I play, and there's only two or three people I can say that about. I'm very grateful.
Mr. Bumps
July 9, 2007
You know, I was mentally drafting some long screed for this spot a few weeks back about something or other I saw here, when life kinda took a really sharp left and didn't use the brakes. But as I sit here thinking things over, I realize that even though we are both musicians in our own very different ways, and if I may say so both very good ones, you are a better one than I am. Why? Because you have such a wider range than I do. Me, I'm a walking taproot, endlessly and uselessly informed and experienced in one increasingly marginalized area. You may not have the depth there that I do, but you have _so many_ areas where you do excel, and any attempt I might make to string together two or three coherent syllables would end up being all vowels, no consonants. My loss. If you're a dinosaur then I'm a troglodyte or a coelacanth or something.
I am in the process of digitizing a big bunch of LPs before they get tossed, and I will definitely include yours from way back when, and send the result to you for use as you see fit. Hmm...a CD with surface noise??!?
With love from Mr. Bumps (in memory of him who bestowed that name upon me way back when)
bubbles
June 25, 2007
Hey Peter! Thanks for making Flo, Trixie and me get up on that stage Saturday night! Trixie and Flo sang out like stars and I saw stars and can't remember a thing. YOu made it all happen through your great coaching and band-leader talents!
XOXO Bubbles
Dan Fjelstad
June 18, 2007
I'd like to extend a kudos to Peter. With endless patience and more dedication than I would have expected, he has produced a CD of 15 of my songs that we began recording in January. He made changes, such as tempo, to songs that I wrote over 20 years ago, and made them different, fresh, and better. Of course, having him add the guitar licks that I could not do myself, and even some drums, truly round out the disk. I highly recommend his services as a producer. Thanks, Pete.
Liam Graham
June 6, 2007
Hey Pete! Just had a comment from your blog entry from Monday:
"hymns to beauty from decrepitude"
Sounds like a great album title!
All the best,
Liam
pws
May 24, 2007
Dear Gil,
Thanks for the kind words. If you're curious about blues now, check out a little Lightnin' Hopkins. The man never made a bad record. Your Uncle Pete
Gil
May 23, 2007
I just got out all of your albums from dad's (your brother's) CD Shelf, I have a new found appreciation for your music and the blues, Thank You!
PWS
May 23, 2007
Barlow died. Pete lives.
Al Granger
May 23, 2007
I thought Barlow died.
CWS
May 10, 2007
You certainly did end up in tears. I remember looking over at you, seeing how moved you were, feeling the same way myself and realizing, maybe for the first time, how powerful that music is. It rolled right over us carrying us along on the wave.
Love, Mom
Liam Graham
April 26, 2007
Hey Pete,
So glad to hear that it's working out with Mike on bass!! That is SOOOO cool. Hey, please give him my email adress ... I'd love to stay in touch with him ...
All the best!
Liam Graham
Marcie
April 21, 2007
So what's your definition of "African American" music? I would say that love it or hate it, rap music has been one of, if not the most significant musical developments of the 20th century, and it is decidely African American. There are still very few well-known White rappers. If you can't name a significant figure in African American music post-1965 perhaps it's because you haven't been listening to the right radio stations, ya dinosaur. ;-) Love you! M
pete
April 9, 2007
Dear Denise,
Thanks for your post. Ny problem is that I listen to so much old music on recordings I'm not nearly as current on the modern scene as I should be. A friend once joked that a blues singer has to die to get my attention. Two singers, both now deceased, who I love inordinately are Lowell George of Little Feat and Richard Manuel of the Band. And there's a post on my blog (entitled "The Hat, the Glasses") that mentions some other, living persons, including my old friend Guy Davis and longtime inspiration Paul Geremia. And if you don't think it TOO crass a piece of self-promotion to mention it, my new album "The Blues Concert" offers special thanks in the liner notes to several great singers and players of the past, including my main man Buddy Boy Hawkins. If there's anybody you especially like let me know and I'll check them out. Thanks again, pete
denise smithson
April 9, 2007
Hi Pete. Love your music and I would call it all blues. I'm wondering who you consider a real blues singer today. Aside from yourself of course.
Liam Graham
March 18, 2007
Pete, thanks so much for being a part of the concert last Friday. Playing with you one last time in the northwest meant more than I can say. I'll be seeing you, man ... not as often! But I just know I'll see you again.
All the best,
Liam
Lindsey Meyer
February 14, 2007
On behalf of tall women everywhere, happy Valentine's Day, Peter.
pete
February 12, 2007
Yes, there are new pictures and yes, the new album is now "out" but I have been super busy getting ready for this East Coast tour (first stop Saturday night in DC) and the links may not be up until I get back ten days from now. BAD beatnik, BAD!
Nance
February 12, 2007
When are we going to get to look at some new pictures on your site?
Maybe from the upcoming tour?
Barlow
February 9, 2007
Great show at the IMG the other night! When is the album out?
leslie
February 3, 2007
Any pix from the show?
max b.
January 30, 2007
Deb has a good point. But on the other side, how many Rolling Stones albums do you need? There's enough of their music out there to satisfy any mood I might have,l and it IS possible to run out of things to say eventually.
Deb Sullivan
January 30, 2007
Well, new music by older acts can be interesting because those are the guys I grew up listening to and they are like old uncles or something. What are they up to now, you ask yourself. And what do they think is going to sell now. New artists are hard for me to find out about and I wonder how people do it. I don't mean kid music-- I mean indie artists that would have something to say to me.
Greg Hoffer
January 29, 2007
I totally enjoyed the live album show on Jan. 25. As always, your performance was inspiring and well worth the trip. I can hardly wait to get a copy of this album, and your next studio release. Also, thanks so much for creating "Pete's Blog". In addition to being a wonderful musician, you are a most enjoyable read.
Arthur Blythe
January 28, 2007
Here's a question for group discussion. Should we pay attention to new albums by older acts - like the Rolling Stones or Stevie Wonder - or is it better to look for new music by new artists?
Pete
January 26, 2007
I DELETED THE ITEMS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
Dear Deb,
Thanks for the input. We've had some problems with this sort of thing here. I come one nearly every day and pull the weeds but I can't be here all the time. Thanks to everybody who sticks around despite these pests. best, pete
deb sullivan
January 26, 2007
If the two posts below aren't phishing, I don't know what is.
Frankilin Power
January 15, 2007
Happy MLK Day, y'all! I'm glad we're starting to discuss things among ourselves. Here's a topic - who is the most influential musician you've ever heard? I mean, influential to you personally.
Peter Spencer
January 12, 2007
Dear Joanne,
Nobody invented shallowness, just like nobody invented making fun of someone's name or honking your car-horn too much. Inventions are usually good things or, at the very least, intended by their inventors to be good things. The frustrating part of the human condition seems to be that nobody is responsible. It just happened without anybody making it happen, least of all a particular race. Thanks for writing. Pete
joanne dimont
January 11, 2007
I read your blog. You say in your last post that white people didn't invent shallowness. Does that mean that black people did?
Caroline Hightower
November 30, 2006
Thanks, thanks for Gathering Light (an inspired title!) Your talent and approach is a pleasure: spirited, straightforward, tender...an antidote for the commercial malaise that descends right about now. Your website is also a pleasure - no surprise. ONWARD !
Caroline
Ben Wachtel
November 30, 2006
Hey, Pete. Your site looks great and I enjoyed checking out your blog. Sounds like you're doing well out there on the West Coast. Take care.
-Ben
lothar!
November 25, 2006
hey it's me again, wanted to say i love you and your blog is really cool hope everything is great and give ta and all of them out there big hugs for me
suzanne
November 25, 2006
This time of year I spend a lot of time in the kitchen baking and cooking for the holidays. I'm finding that your Gathering Light cd is a great companion during the time spent stirring and kneading. Best wishes to you and thank you for a beautiful Christmas CD.
Kathe Davis
November 1, 2006
11/1/06
I met you last night at the Third Place Open Mic. I like the picture of you on Eagle Harbor the best. I'll see you at Hugo House! I love your stuff.
S. Claoughs
October 30, 2006
How can I buy your new Christmas CD? Very useful for those long holiday vols de nuits, yet I do not know how to find it. Please have your elves contact my elves re: this matter.
SC
otecotec155
October 3, 2006
SUPER!!!!!
Caleb
September 5, 2006
thought i'd give you some e-love
i stumbled through 'round midnight last night at open mic....i didn't play very well but that was okay cuz there was nobody there literally i was playing for the bartender
i'm almost done with the song i just need to get the bridge nailed down and then i'm gonna try to mess around with it and make it different
hope all is well
summer storr
August 22, 2006
I saw you at the Poulsbo show last Saturday! Sounded great-- where can I get the shirt?
Andrea Boggs
July 22, 2006
Hi Peter...
It was great to hear you play at the Luv Shack performance in New Hope, PA. I'm listening to Handsignal now and enjoying it very much. Thanks for the good time and sharing your awesome talent.
Andrea Boggs
jean bridgeton
July 5, 2006
What does "I heart the dinosaur" mean? I saw it on the "handsignal" T shirt. Does it mean you have an old girlfriend?
Peter Spencer
May 29, 2006
What!
Liam Graham
May 9, 2006
Hey, Pete,
Just a congratulation on the new CD! I had a blast playing the concert with you Saturday night, and look forward to more ...
All the best!
Liam
Greg Hoffer
April 28, 2006
Saw you for the first time with Cat Loves Crow last year. Wish I hadn't taken so long to check you out. I am thoroughly impressed with your music. "restless youth in chinatown" is one of the best songs I've heard in many years. Can hardly wait for the May 6 "party"; gotta get my copy of the new CD.
joe pickering
April 17, 2006
i hear you have a new cd, but it isn't on the site yet. when? when?
Steve Brennan
February 27, 2006
Hi Peter. Your brother Bill told about the sight. Nice. Good stuff. Love the battle is over. I know him through Mary who got me into the Christ church choir. I own Exeter music downtown. Used to be a folky but burnt out on the self promo, late nights, and lonely travel.
Know Geoff Bartley well only I don't see him much. We used to do a songwriting group back around the late 80's, called the "songos". I didn't choose the name. I may actually have met you in the 70's. I can't remember. I might have been drunk. I used to know Jack Hardy a little bit too. What a piece o' work!!! Anyway, nice talkin', and we should get together when you visit your bro'. Remember, we've made it this far, at this point there's absolutely nothing to be gained by growing up.
see ya' sometime,
Steve Brennan
Matt
February 26, 2006
I think Peter I fab...a true icon and without a doubt his legacy will linger around for a long time...
Matthew F
Tom Walz
February 21, 2006
Finally, the site you deserve!!!! Looks great and its always good to see you doing/looking good. Looking forward to playing w/you May '06.
Bill Spencer
February 15, 2006
What a difference! It looks great and we hope you look and feel just as great, if maybe a bit less yellow and green than this pgae I'm writing on. Looking forward to hearing you and seeing you sometime before too too long. Love from us all!
Doc
February 10, 2006
Looks good man, congrats,'bout friggin' time huh. I especially like the S-E- Grin on the front. Hey the tunes even work all the way over here, hear, HEAR HEAR! You should talk to Gene maybe he's still feeling generous with the free membership beta test, at any rate he is up and running now. I hope all is well, we're off to the Cheeses for the FNJ, then we get hit with 12" so they say, so that's the weekend pretty much. Best of luck, nice job!
SCOTT
February 10, 2006
HI PETE: NICE WEBSITE...
WE ARE STILL ALIVE HERE IN TRENTON, AND MAKING MUSIC !
Peggy Salvatore
February 10, 2006
Hi Peter,
Nice job on the site. All the best!
Peggy
Erik Frandsen
February 10, 2006
Nice. Gotta get one for myself.
Lutece, Comptesse de la parfait
January 3, 2006
La Comptesse is LOVING THIS SITE. THe only thing she requires is that you crop the top pix to remove the de trop folding chairs from her sight.
She means your site.
She is very pleased.
Liam Macdonald
January 1, 2006
Heya Peter,
Just streamed the tracks from "Handsignals" on your new site here. Great stuff. You are among the best. I have "New Hope and Wise Virgins" and that is also excellent. The photos suggest that Bainbridge Island is a very good place to live creatively. Something must be agreeing with you out there :-) All the best in 2006, Liam