Bawltics has moved...

I've decided it's time to take more control over my blog, so here's the new url for my blog... please update your records.

Birch Fire & Apples

As I strode quickly through Valdemarpils from the bus on the the way to the mechanic's garage, those were the scents that gently filled my nose. Thankfully I had the leftover aroma of a Latvian autumn in my nostrils, as I walked up to the garage. My car was in the shop, & to my dismay, I found out that the left rear spring was totally busted & the shock absorber was just as useless. I'm so grateful nothing worse happened. Several monetary units later, I drove my now high-riding, smooth-sailing Mazda back to Talsi, while admiring the beginning of the leaves turning, the lightly clouded, blue sky & the slightly cooler breezes. The sun is still warm... quite warm. The tomatoes on our balcony continue to ripen (to my taste buds' delight). Yet in all of that, the wind gets ever more biting. Soon, all too soon, the wind will rip across the landscape in a wintery fury that will send the heartiest of men racing for his heated hearth. In the meantime, the vine leaves on buildings all around are getting to be quite red like fire engines. I like fire engines. It reminds me of being a kid... kind of like fallen leaves raked into a pile that is just waiting to be jumped into & thrown about into the air.

What I really want to be is a producer

My friend Vita asked me last night what my future plans are with music. As I started to answer, I faltered, partially because I was tired from running sound for a friend's wedding for 7 hours (Latvian weddings are really long... at least the receptions are). The thing that came to mind wasn't to have my own band or to record a solo project. See, that's what you would think as Vita was encouraging me to keep singing because "You can see the passion you have when you sing." However, the thing that came to mind was to produce a worship record. Maybe it's because that is the clearest idea/goal/project that I have in my mind right now.

I want to be a record producer. It seems the thing that I've wanted to be for several years now. I had a wee bit of experience about 6-7 years ago, but I haven't done anything since. I'm here in Latvia in the midst of incredible songwriters, singers & musicians, & it has inspired me to remember my dream & passion of recording & pursuing what it is to be a producer.

Sure I'm in a band with a bunch of 18-yr-olds (who are phenomenal musicians, by the way), & sure I've been asked to join another band of similar demographics (which I'm seriously considering), but I think, in the long run, that's not where it's at for me. I'm not glamorous or uniquely styled musically like some of my musician friends. I can't really write a song that's worth a hoot, unlike Vita, Ieva or Arta. I don't have a unique voice. But I think I do have some creativity (at least I hope) when it comes to producing.

I don't know. I'll see where this goes. In the meantime, I've got tons (metric tons, not American... they're heavier) of website work in front of me. Not sure how that happened... I mean, sheesh... you do one or two websites & suddenly everybody wants a piece (*chuckle*).

~t

"Play us a song, you're the guitar man!"

Last night I did something a little crazy. My friend Andis & I went to a little restaurant in the center of Talsi... & I took my guitar. As we walked up to the door, we saw that the place was kind of full, & I chickened out. So, I put my guitar back in my car & went into the restaurant. As we ate, Andis got more & more excited, so he asked the waiter if the owners were around because he knows them. The waiter replied that they had the day off, so we sat a few more minutes pondering & stewing over what we should do next. Well, again, Andis got anxious, so he went to the waiter & asked straight out if we could sing & play a few songs. The waiter replied that it would be ok, if the other patrons wouldn't mind. He asked the restaurant (granted there were maybe 15 people there) if they would mind if we played & sang & a few responded, "No... please do!!"

So, I went out & got my guitar again... tuned it outside & finally came inside with it. I was a little nervous. We hadn't prepared a program. We didn't want to be too "churchy" in our lyrics, but it's difficult when all you know are worship songs. So, we sang & played for about a half an hour... mostly in English. The people were cordial... they even clapped a few times. The waiter came over & gave me another beer... on the house. Huh! I've never had that happen before!

I think the highlight came when one of the patrons asked me to play a song by a famous Latvian rock band. I just sat there & stared blankly... but Andis was quick on his feet & told the guy, "He's American, so he doesn't know Latvian stuff." The guy asked if I knew anything by the Beatles, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of anything but "She Loves You, YEAH YEAH YEAH" which I don't know, especially not how to play it on guitar.

Anyway, I'm glad we did it. Andis sure is a lot braver than I am. We just need to work on a broader repertoire. I think we could do this kind of thing more often!

~t

More things...

Just one week left of the music seminar. It's been a long 5 weeks. We've been in tour mode for the last week. It's been intense. My friend counted last night that in the last 7 days we've done 18 concerts in 8 cities. That's just freakin' wrong.

I'm tired.

Apparently, too, I still have a lot of character issues for God to work out. In this last week alone I have gotten so angry that I nearly quit the tour 2 times. The problem is that I am annoyingly reactionary.

The good thing is that I'm getting more opportunities to meet amazing musicians who are professionals in their field. It seems like these chances are becoming a little more frequent. I'll keep you posted.

~t

A few things from the month past

So much has been happening within this last month that I just don't want to write it all down right now.

Some of the highlights:

- I got to spend one-on-one time with a rising Norwegian pop star
- I'm developing a pretty good friendship with a pro session guitarist from the UK
- I had some good encouragement from a leading Lithuanian record producer
- I've been living life with some of the most talented musicians I've ever met (& they're from Latvia!)
- My friend from the US came & did some pro photography for my wife & me... check out Jim Baker's work & look for pics from Latvia & Czech in his portfolio.

On Monday, I'm heading to Latgale, the part of Latvia in the southeast that is considered to be like another country. It even has it's own distinct dialect of Latvian. I've never been there, & I hope it will turn out to be a positive experience. I'll be there for a week. I'm thinking I should take some toilet paper with me.

Delirious

I was last night, & yes, they were here, too. It was the first time they'd come to Latvia. It was a very powerful time of worship; a definite sense of God having had broken something open in the spirit realm. They are my heroes now.