Isolation

So. Here we all are, at home, seeing what it is like to be homebound. For some, I bet it is a relief... being social is a pressure, and no one expects you to be social now. For others, it is likely just torture... either they have never learned how to keep themselves company, or they live in a horrible situation that they now can not escape from (There always is help, though, ask me privately if you need to.)

And then, there are us artist types. We need time with ourselves to create... for me- compose music and write lyrics, maybe paint or write for another... but we ALSO need an audience, regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts and produce a hard product or a performance. Perhaps painters and photographers and writers have this natural delay in having their work viewed, so this doesn't seem all THAT weird. But for musicians... Well.

So we try FB or YouTube or StreetJelly live. And we watch the chat and are pleased that people are listening, or at least you see their name as present. Some of them 'talk' to you or each other. You get to actually talk out loud to them, although they can only type back!!! And so you sing and play and give it what you have, and when you finish the song, it feels empty. Empty. Where are the people? Oh, yes, there they are... there is about a 30sec lag between what I am doing and what you see, and then another lag as people respond... with little hands. That is your applause.

It still feels... empty.

Like you are singing into a void.

I am about 30 minutes from doing my 3rd Facebook Live. It is Easter. I didn't realize that when I set it up, but I decided to go with it anyway. I imagine there are folks out there, needing some distraction and maybe I will be that distraction for just a little while. You hope that you bring some little joy into people's lives at this time. As a musician, that is my job.

Music is SUCH a way to connect. We musicians connect to ourselves to write, or to the songwriter when we choose to cover a song. We then connect with our fellow musicians as we practice it and 'work it up' into a piece that we hope will excite an audience as much as it excites us. Then- we connect with the audience when we perform, and the BEST performances are those where the performer connects with themselves, the other musicians and the audience, all at the same time!

Connection.

That is what is missing in this new world we have here... hopefully for a little while only.

Spring is the time of new beginnings. May you be safe and have peace.

Hello!

We sure do hope that you are all feeling fine, hunkering down in place, likely afraid of every cough and sneeze from everyone around you and especially yourself. These are some hard times... and likely (sorry!) to get worse before better.

However, it will end, it will get better. There is hope.

We are sure you have noticed all the people who are trying to help folks get through this... video streams from your favorite artists, audible books for free, great take out from your favorite restaurants. Try REAL HARD, if you are able, to continue to support (especially local) folks who rely on your purchases. Be sure to get out in the air (being safe about it....) and spend time doing some of those things you wish you had time for in the past (You DO, now!!!).

Rick and Marilyn likely won't be streaming together unless we can find a way to do it from our separate homes (Marilyn is a high-risk potential carrier, related to her day job). Any ideas- point the way for us!!! As you can see, our gigs are slowly getting canceled, so we won't be seeing you very soon. ~sigh~ The Gig Calendar looked FANTASTIC there for a bit, lol.

Marilyn was working on developing a good-sounding stream, and we think she has figured it out, and maybe will do some short live Facebook streams soon. She will TRY to find times that people are available AND does not conflict with other streams people may want to watch. She hopes that Rick will consider streaming HIS music also. One thing Marilyn has on the agenda - streaming Neil Young covers for her Rustie friends. Hopefully, some of that will happen, maybe this weekend.

In the meantime, please be safe. WHO, CDC, NYDOH are all perfect places to get the real info. Try to not contaminate other people. Be safe.

Be safe.

Rick and Marilyn @ Hudson Underground, Blue Love

Interview on Arts Alive!

HERE

is where you can listen to my interview with the wonderful Flo Hayle!

Rick and Marilyn Band @ Hudson Underground

YES! This Saturday Rick and I will be at Hudson Underground with our friends Mike Pagnani and Peter Tenerowicz! We are planning to ROCK IT!!! There are a bunch of things happening in the world right now, and we will sing some songs about them! INCLUDING my new song, NO WAR. Can you guess what THAT one is about? LOL. Join us. 7pm.