The one that got away...

Most would think I'm talking about a girl (well there was that one that one time....) but sadly no. I'm talking about a guitar. I can recall it like it was yesterday.... envision a wavy TV effect as we flashback to: 2003.

I rarely go to Sam Ash or Guitar Center. Their prices are based on profit margin and frankly you don't get much for your hard earned cash. However, this one day, it was between Christmas and New Years 2003, I hit the Wine store next to Guitar Center and curiosity got the better of me, so I made my way in, and nonchalantly went into the acoustic guitar section. One other guy was in there checking out Epiphones, so I stroll around. At the time, they started a small section of "used" guitars, behind glass. A few old Gibson's caught my eye and then I saw this beat up, brown, plain and very forgettable Martin sitting in the corner. I played a few other guitars but always my eye went back to this Martin. Now I've played tons of Martins in music stores, and they are hit or miss at best - especially the lower and mid priced ones. Sometimes they sounded great, sometimes they sounded like ass, usually "ass" was because of old strings, not being tuned up, not be cared for and hundreds of 13 year old's banging out Nirvana or trying to play the latest Green Day song. I sat down and picked this thing up. Cigarette burns on the headstock, buckle rash on the back, scratches on the front, chips off the back of the neck, frets were in need of help but the neck was straight and no cracks. I looked at the tag: "1977 00-15M mahogany, used, $1,599". I laughed. They'd be lucky to get $500 for this thing - it looks like it was dragged through the woods behind someone's Jeep on a camping trip. I started playing it and my jaw dropped. It had the most open, woody sustained tone I've ever heard. Clear, a little dark, but so very open. This sound you can't find on a new guitar or even most old guitars. This sound comes from decades of playing that opens up the wood top fibers.

I continued to play, my songs, old band songs, covers. The thing sounded amazing. I looked at the tag again. Staring at me: "$1,599". I can't. I can't do it. I took the guitar to the useless guy behind the counter in the guitar section. "Anything you can do about this price? This thing is in bad shape but I think I can make it work." "Nah", he said uninterested, "we can't negotiate prices, it's whatever the tag says." Sixteen hundred... I can get a new 7 series Taylor for that (at the time), or a Gibson or even a brand new Martin. I played for another 20 minutes just savoring the sound. I'm thinking to myself, there's no way - it's too expensive and I have five acoustics already; My Taylor 514CE, a Santa Cruz 00, a Santa Cruz Baritone, a 1992 Ovation Parlor, and a very rare Goodall KCJC, one of the first five guitars ever made of that line handmade by James Goodall himself for the 1997 NAMM. What am I going to do with this beat up old Martin?

I had to put it down and leave. If I stayed, I'd have made a bad move, at least that's what I was telling myself. I left the store. That night I couldn't sleep. Next day, it was all I thought about. I told myself, it'll pass. Another few days and I'll forget about it. Well, that didn't work. That woody open tones and overtones from that guitar haunted me! After 5 days I went back. Got up early and met the guy unlocking the doors. It was nearly New Years Eve and I had to get that guitar! Walked in, searched - nada. Someone got there before me and bought it. Again I walk up to a different Mr. Useless behind the counter. "You guys had an old beat up Martin in there a few days ago. Someone buy it?" "Not sure. Sometimes they rotate stock between other stores if it doesn't sell." he says. So there was hope? "Can you check if that happened? It was a 77 Martin Mahogany." The guy starts to take out a binder from behind the counter then stops. "Oh wait, yeah that old beat up piece of shit Martin? Yeah someone did get that a few days ago."

Fuck. "Thanks," as my hopes were dashed. Never before and never since have I heard a guitar like it, at any price. That's the muse a musician searches for and I found it, and walked away. Never again if I hear that voice, will I walk out. I'll sell every guitar but my 514CE (that one I get buried with) if I have to, but I will listen to that voice the next time it calls my name.

What happened to our hero's?

Musical hero's in this case. Two artists in particular have been dropped into the dregs due to sexual assault accusations, both of whom I have looked up to for their songwriting abilities and performances for decades. Before getting to who they are, I wish to make a statement and my view of how to deal with this as a listener and a fellow artist. Because someone has been accused (key word) does not mean they are guilty. If they are found to be guilty in a court of law and not public opinion, certainly they deserve to be punished professionally and possibly lose their freedom. Being accused is not akin to guilt. I have seen morons in both online and in print publications stating how these artists should be shunned and listeners should reject their music; stop listening. Time out. Anyone can accuse - it costs nothing. Proving is a whole different ballgame. Does a song lose meaning because the artist has done something bad to another person? Not to me. Sorry if that offends, well, actually no. I'm not sorry. Deal with it.

Ryan Adams and more recently Mark Kozelek both have been accused of sexual misconduct/assault. They've both denied any wrong doing. If it can be proven, then throw them in jail if that's what's needed. I however will continue to listen. The world has changed. Rock and Roll artists of the not too distant past have done much worse and have told stories. Zeppelin & Vanilla Fudge with the roadie and the fish, Maynard from Tool, Happy Gilmore and the groupie, Manson, Korn, David Lee Roth, Motley Crue. The list goes on and on. If sexual misconduct means I can't listen to their music and I can't separate the music from the artist's personal life, it means I have the problem.

Our musical hero's aren't hero's, they're just people. Imperfect, sometimes fatally flawed people. The greats were great because their brains are wired differently. Many died young because of that wiring but left behind some incredible music. I won't begrudge Janice Joplin or Lane Staley their legacy for drug use that eventually killed them. I won't stop listening to Ryan or Kozelek due to accusations.

It's been a while....

In May this year (what a friggin' year 2020 has been right?) Scott and I decided we'd stop hitting the studio and take a break while the Corona virus raged in NY and NJ. Thankfully, both our families and friends have been mostly untouched so far. We're staying smart and safe and in July we decided that the infection rate in our area was low enough to start up again. The rest of the country isn't so fortunate. Because NY and NJ (as well as PA) were hard hit early on, we're now in a lull, yet the rest of the US seems to now have a bad time. While we all wait for a vaccine to be finalized and available at the end of this year, musicians, restaurants and other live music venues are still closed in the tri-state area. This means hard times and many will not re-open after this pandemic has passed. Please help support your local restaurants and musicians - many have adopted going on twitch.tv and other streaming sites to try and keep their fans and music alive this year. Try to at least give them a follow and show you appreciate their efforts. Their livelihood's are damaged but the will to bring joy through music is still very much alive and well. If you can make a small donation - even if it's a few dollars. Everything helps.