An Open Letter to Kevin Spacey

Kevin,
Dude.
I love House of Cards. I love the acting, the writing, the photography, the entire show.

I recently discovered the original BBC production and have noticed a disturbing trend. You follow the original line closely. Perhaps too closely.
Stamper, Tim or Doug. It is the same character.
The female reporter. Mattie or Zoey. Was there any forethought in having her name also have the 'ie' sound.
Differences in politics. Differences in certain sensibilities. But essentially the same show; so far.

Will the US version follow the UK to its conclusion? In some ways you could say it was to be seen coming from the start. But - I dun wanna.

Please oh, please oh, please oh puhlease find a way to wend a new path and tale.

First, because that means we already knows what will happen. I might as well go back to awaiting Homeland.
Second, because that means you have ceded all creative areas of the plot line to the original. And while the differences are great, they are not enough to base a series...are they?
You are banking on the fact that most of your audience will have not seen, nor sought out the original.
Or that even knowing the ending we'll continue to watch, binge or otherwise.

I will, I am a student of the craft and find you very engaging, but I wonder about the rest of the world.

Whatta ya say, FU?

So Many Songs & So Little Time

Under A Slow Canopy

Bass and guitar were recorded live while the drums, piano and viola were added later.
(LOVE YOU BIAB)

Dippity Do

What forms on your Dippity in the early morning.

House Of Cards

The music of both series, the BBC's and the Netflix iteration is iconic, atmospheric and incredibly well done.

The writing for both shows is tense, superb, gripping and very compelling.
The acting? Can't touch this. Both the BBC & Netflix casts are insanely well chosen.

So what is it about patriotism that excites a soul?
What is it about stirring patriotic tunes?

Not the music itself for the most part. I find Sousa to be pretentious and overdone. But play some flag waving piece and it'll stir things deep within. Even Urquhart's March with it's incredibly British orchestration.
(Reminds me of Penny Lane - which is McCartney telling us of his youth in Liverpool)

I think more than love of country is the love of fellow man. Part of the reason I play at all. My great need to share. To care for and help my brother is my wish and desire.

And I think these tunes bring that feeling to the forefront. It is more about belonging to something, being part of a community with a shared goal and promise. Not a flag.

But the people that did for that flag...who in reality were doing for the friends next to them.
As I do every time I play.

What We Do

Music.
To some a hobby, to some a way of life.

Some people are consumed by music. Eat it, breathe it, live it.
I don't.

While I am music, I cannot abide 90% of the radio offerings. I have friends that turn on the radio the moment they enter their cars and can find a groove no matter what sludge of classic rock is being played.

On my last road trip I took along a dozen CDs and played two of them. But I did play my guitar and heard tunes in the howling of the wind.

I think ads play a huge part in my channel surfing habits that rarely allow a song to go completely from beginning to end. That ad fade in as the song ends cause an involuntary button press on my part.

I compose at a whim. There is something very satisfying in the construction or reception of a new tune. Sometimes it is inspired and just flows. Sometimes it is a construct. Something to be assembled.
Good tools are a prerequisite for me.
The changes to Band In A Box this year were just what I needed to take my use of BIAB from a secondary way of doing things to not only my primary tool but newly infused with that joy of discovery.

I can compose while driving more easily than I can listen to ClearChannel garbage.

Actually, I do not think it as strange as that some people can just sit with any noise in the background and be happy.

While music may be integral to life, some embrace it while others are just breathing in and out.

I get a charge from any exposure. I go to a club, I get the urge. I see a good video, I get the urge.
So the trick for me is to keep the exposure up there. Go to a jam. Walk into a bar. Find a YouTube video.
I'm easy.
Yes, you