Friday, November 20, 2009

Music on Tap Tonight

 
My buddies are playing tonight; go out and support 'em: "It's raining, Come hear Ron Young, Dan Garcia and Mike Escamilla (The Neverly Brothers) at Casbeers from 6 to 8 (downstairs) or hear them at the Olmos Bharmacy from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m."

 

 

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Monday, November 2, 2009

Pithy

Working on guitar solo for Spingere project in Ableton Live; I've got
a good sound coming out of the rig, but my recording "skills" are
being challenged! Ah, back to the user manuel...

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Silvery Chair

Silver Chair by John Marcell, Scott, Will Cruttenden  
Download now or listen on posterous
Silver_Chair_with_Will.mp3 (4983 KB)

John and Scott "The Garage Band" session; with Will Cruttenden's (Spingere) excellent melodic contribution!

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Ciao Brasil

Everybody Loves To Polka On St. Patrick's Day by Danny Mack And His Honky Irish Polka Band  
Download now or listen on posterous
01-Everybody Loves to Polka on St_ Patrick's Day.mp3 (4290 KB)

John Marcell (guitar, vocal), Will Willard (bass, vocal) and Scott Potter (drumming)

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Silver Chair

The Silver Chair by Tilt  
Download now or listen on posterous
The Silver Chair.mp3 (3192 KB)

From Friday night's "Garage Band" session with Scott Potter on e-drums and John Marcell on guitar and loops

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Guitar Practice

Guitar Practising and writing a new set-list tonight; the current really turned on and I had several incredible, transcendent moments. Trying to maintain attention on left and right hand, while simultaneusly being open to music. Had a killer head-phone sound and after I finished, had to run back out and write down my settings because I had a strong sense of having "found my sound", which includes compression and a bit of gain. Visited new tunes and some old... need to work more with the Lovecaster in the NST modality

Observing my limitations, without being critical, tonight was a major step forward with my instrument. 

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Ideas

Great phone conversation with Matt McCabe (King Never) on things musical and the future...

 Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Exercise 1

Exercise 1  
Download now or listen on posterous
exercise 1.mp3 (3267 KB)

A short "exercise" and still testing the Mix Craft 4; a couple of interesting moments. File this under "total spontaneitiousness"...

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Meditation

Exercise 3  
Download now or listen on posterous
exercise 3.mp3 (3984 KB)

A short loop from tonight (testing the Mix Craft 4 program)

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

The New Japan

  
Download now or listen on posterous
The New Japan MP3.mp3 (4134 KB)

Onerica (Michal Mioduszewski and Aneta Postek) with John Marcell (Fripped-out guitar) and Will Willard (pretty guitars) and Sawako (via creative commons)

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Pop

Talking to Will Willard about a new tune ("Yeah, the tune is souding very much like Willy/Johnny pop music circa 1986.  Real basic and Cure-like or something.  I will succumb to that feel and just go with it.") The 80s is where it was at  (At least for me!)

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Errogenous

Errogenous With Solo by Spingere/ Johnny Love  
Download now or listen on posterous
Errogenous_with_solo.mp3 (7127 KB)

Here's a tune featuring me and Will Cruttenden called "Errogenous"

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Recording

Heading out back to my little studio in an attempt to record with new application; fingers crossed!

 Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Musicking

Still processing and doing inner work on the state of my musical life. Observing myself and much unnecessary tension situated in my left shoulder. Releasing and letting go. Much of my feeling center says "embrace the present" but my moving center prefers to hold onto tension. And the intellectual center wants to feel sorrow for itself. I watch all of this going on with a kind of bemusement and a "well, what can one do?" attitude of acceptance. Now, coffee...

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Thursday

Another day spent in musical reflection and a sense of inner liberation of sorts. Motivation remains high, while actualization seems remote. Things conspire against me but nevertheless I hang on to hope, for without it there is no-thingness. Or perhaps there is only no-thingness. And so I rest in this state of "unknowingness" and prepare for the future to present itself again.

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Thracked Baby WIP

Thracked Baby With Bass by Spingere/Will Willard/Johnny Love  
Download now or listen on posterous
Thracked Baby with Bass.mp3 (2979 KB)

Work-in-Progress: John Marcell, Will Willard and Will Cruttenden. Still in draft, but close to final...

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Burwood

  
Download now or listen on posterous
Burwood.mp3 (2639 KB)

From Trevor's review of the Gilliam Section "Solus" album:
 

There’s a track in the latter portion of Solus called Burwood. Burwood is a pulsating field of guitar swells and atmospheric drone, cut across by a patience - this song is not melodic, it’s textural: There’s an a focus in it on developing an overall aesthete, rather than a moment-to-moment gratification, a sort of building up, cresting. This textural approach is indicative of the entire album.

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Firestar!

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Blue Star Art Gallery

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Rain

Short lunch and meeting with Scott the wonder drummer today due to imminent rain!
 
RAIN!!!

Posted via email from Johnny's posterous

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

One-halfway through another somewhat rough week. Bearing all things, believing all things. Still, is this what growing into maturity is all about? Not so sure I want it. Nevertheless, this is the bed I've made. No use lamenting; just need to go about the necessary work of being in-tune with my body, thoughts and feelings... watching, watching as the clouds come and go (and ultimately blow away...) (but boy, oh boy, these are some kinda clouds!!!)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Now that the boys are back in school, a return to normalcy around here is imminent. But its been an anything-but-normal summer, with full-blown crises of a personal and musical nature, sweltering weather, frayed-nerves and an end-of-innocence. What is left except to pick ones' self up and begin again? If nothing else I am questioning my motives and looking for my blind-spot, as well as beginning to delve into my unconscious through Jungian therapy, writing down dreams and working on some art. I feel like I've just embarked on a journey of true self-discovery, digging for something, not sure what, maybe a sense of why I do the things I do...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Beginning Again

Worked with Isaac last night teaching him his first song (Green Day); afterwards I sat on the back patio with the acoustic and tuned it from "drop D" to NST and started playing some of my oldest pieces... "moon", "star" and "burwwood" (originally for piano). It brought me great joy, these simple, innocent pieces. I felt a great peace wash over me and a return to my-self. A purity. After a summer of struggling musically I discovered that music had never left, but was waiting for me all along, quietly, patiently... for me to simply be still... and begin again...

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Things have been fast and furious of late. Already into June, I had thought this year I would turn my attention more keenly on inner spiritual dimensions. However, this year has instead brought a more active engagement with the world, projects, new and old friendships (which I value) and working like mad to maintain it all! And so I sit quietly for a moment and go "woooo"!

The odd craving today of wanting to be leisurely hanging about a bookstore (probably because its been at least two months since I've had that luxury) and sipping a latte. Perhaps next week I can have some time to visit one. This week is toast.

Strategising with Will and Scott on the Johnny Love Birthday Party gig, where once more we will revive an increasingly "old" set-list to play for our sympathetic, good natured friends. Interesting guest guitarist if he can swing it, my old middle-school buddy and grammy winning producer, Joe Reyes. And a standing invitation to Matt McCabe to play/attend if he can make it from Colorado to the party!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Don't swear

I swear, everytime I come here to update the blog I get caught-up in reading everyone else's posts and never get 'round to posting my own blog! I am easily distracted, that's a given. Or as Will might say, "my ADD is acting up again..." Nevertheless, here's a brief post first off thanking you for reading, and secondly to let ya'll know we've got a new Habitual Grace myspace account...

Find us, friend us!

http://www.myspace.com/habitualgrace

and of course, on Twitter as well at habitualgrace!

Now back to reading all of YOUR blogs!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

THE STORY OF MATKA BOSKA

My friend, Patrick Smith asked me to share the following:

THE STORY OF MATKA BOSKA

May 07, 2009
Happy Mothers Day


To this day I wish I could hear my mother saying “Matka Boska.” Her parents were immigrants from Poland. Though born in America, my mom Catherine Theresa, did not learn English until she entered elementary school. This was a Catholic school run by Polish nuns.

When mom was upset with one of her children, we would usually hear her saying “Matka Boska, Matka Boska,” which translates as “Blessed Mother”.

Twenty years after her passing I was practicing guitar one night. I began to improvise and a phrase appeared. Quickly I realized this was about my mom. I played with the phrase and developed it. Frequently I struggle with titles, but immediately I knew there was only one title possible for this piece – Matka Boska.

So to honor my mother and all mothers I am offering a free download of this piece. Use the contact form to request your copy of Matka Boska. Please share this message with any friends, family, and colleagues.

Wishing you and yours a very happy and Blessed Mother’s Day.

Click here to go to the webiste to download (fill in the "Contacts" information to receive the download):

http://www.patricksmithmusic.com/homepage

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Solus review

From trevor_vd on twitter, a wonderful review of our "Solus" album:

The Gilliam Section’s “Solus”
I have family friends in San Antonio who made an album recently, entitled Solus. As one of the firstcustomers/listeners, I’m writing a review, and here’s the short of it - I enjoyed this record, and if you know drone, guitar loops, or ambient music, you will too. Solus is up now on CD Baby, and it’s worth the affordable purchase if you’d like a new album to study, relax, read, or just listen to.

Now here’s the long(er) review:


There’s a track in the latter portion of Solus called Burwood. Burwood is a pulsating field of guitar swells and atmospheric drone, cut across by a patience - this song is not melodic, it’s textural: There’s an a focus in it on developing an overall aesthete, rather than a moment-to-moment gratification, a sort of building up, cresting. This textural approach is indicative of the entire album.

Built around cascading guitars, what sets The Gilliam Section apart from other Texan drone/ambient bands such as Stars of the Lid is a willingness to explore this carefully crafted sense of audial crests and troughs (the artistic sinusoidal action for the times) alongside some more playful musical sensibilities. Prog rock never left The Gilliam Section’s members, and its mark shows in rippling guitar solos and effects drenched in reverb. They’ve made a dreamscape in Solus for you to walk through - be sure to take your ears along!

Filed under: Music , album, drone, review, solus

Saturday, April 18, 2009

ahhhh... Saturday

Could not ask for a more relaxing Friday evening, Saturday; hot date with the wife, thai food, margaritas and Rio Blanco Pale Ale! The weather last night was stormy, but this afternoon is gorgeous and sunny! All this and a new tune to boot! A very non-stressful weekend... just what Johnny needed! I am totally relaxed. Back to work another take of the new tune... bliss

Friday, April 3, 2009

CDs update

Three, (almost) Four CDs now completely uploaded to Kunaki, and Johnny Love copywriting done off the checklist; contacting CD Baby via email and twitter to set up our account! Test ordering 20 of each CD to stock at Hogwild, Waterloo Records and Book People and the office(s). All is moving forward seemlessly, it seems...

Thursday, April 2, 2009

New Social Networking Site

Created a new social networking site for Habitual Grace on Ning:

http://www.habitualgrace.ning.com/

Will has completed uploads of Solus, Himmel and Wag onto Kunaki and Johnny Love will follow (perhaps) tomorrow.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Solus and More

"Solus" is officially done and speeding its way to the Man Cave via UPS carrier; Johnny Love "Lost in the Valley" is all but done (waiting on masters/re-mixes from DG for the final two tunes..."I Wanna Be With You" and "Ocean's Apart") and Habitual Grace is pleased to announce it has signed on three new artists to its roster this week:

Gary Davenport "Himmel"
Don Hurd "Wag"
Dan Garcia "Big Melvis: the Solo Years"

Elsewhere, DGM's Sid Smith may or may not be writing liner notes for the Johnny Love album (Sid to me: OK off the top of my head...How about
"Johnny Love tells me that he's wonderful and cheering. So it must be true. Would he lie to you? Or me?")

Will is completing artworks with his buddy Gerald and I am twittering Habitual Grace notes to CDBaby and webdesigners, promoters on Twitter.

Finally, excited about re-establishing Work in a group comprised of Gary, Yvonne and Jim. They meet, not at Jim's Coffeeshop (as one would expect) but La Madeleine French Bakery! Tre nice!


Sunday, February 22, 2009

Back from road trip to El Valle...de-stressing and unpacking; Will has made tremendous progress on the Label/Gilliam Section this weekend... primed and ready to work on the next release!!! Still have to to get a paypal account established and work with Will on ebay?

Sunday, February 15, 2009

websites

Things are moving briskly here at the little studio/Habitual Grace Records... we've secured websites for Gilliam and Habitual Grace; productive working meeting with Will yesterday here in the "office" on label issues, spreadsheets, paperwork and BMI. Publishing is in the works as are uploads to CD Baby and Create Space. Two albums worth of material should be streaming across the internets very, very soon.

Now, coffee.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Website, New Label

Intense period of work and research into launching the website and record label; lots of ideas, lots of roadblocks and false starts, but all feels like the time is right to sort of consolidate ideas and market. Firing off a query to Chris on website design, Scott's getting together some photoshop software and Heather is working on the mock-up "Valley" template/CD cover. The "Solus" album is mixed and done and awaiting shipment to CD Baby; the Johnny Love album "Lost in the Valley" is coming together at a quick pace and will be the "test product" for create space. The assumed name certificate is ready to file and BMI awaits me; meanwhile arriving just now in my inbox full of Johnny Love's material is a new version of "Open Window" waiting for me to give it ear...

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Starry night

Went for a stroll out by the office last night. It was cold and clear and I could see the big and little dippers!! Stunningly beautiful and a reminder of my own smallness and insignificance in the Universal scheme of things! There is an immense freedom in this.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Steven Wilson re-mix

Steven Wilson is running this cool contest:

http://www.kscopemusic.com/stevenwilson/insurgentes/remix-competition.html

The contest allows you to download and re-mix a song for the upcoming album; I spent last night downloading and arranging the parts in the studio, and this morning layed-down two tracks of guitar-swells and picking on the NST and added a faux Frippertronics outro to the end of the tune! Great fun; as usual, I like to work fast. I should've sat on it for a few days to see if I still liked it, but I've already sent-in my mp3 via you-send-it. (Wish me luck!)

Also, talking to Will off and on all day; the "Solus" album is now officially finished. We're moving forward with registering with BMI and shipping to CD Baby. Hopefully all of this can be accomplised within the next two weeks and we can move on to the next Gilliam Section CD. All-in-all, I'd call that a productive day!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Mariana

New mixes of "Mariana" and "Burwood" arrived from the Man Cave to my inbox last night and await test-burning for listening-to-in-the-truck; at first glance, "Burwood" is now achieving that ephemeral beauty that I knew was latent within it. Will has done a great job with seperation and panning. This tune is beautiful, fragilities and all. "Mariana" is equally stunning and manages to evoke a strong positive response.

Morning sitting, coffee and now to take Joey to the doctor...

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Latest email update from the esteemed Mr. Willard on current on-going projects:

"John,

You will dig your new Fripp-approved guitar/micing throne. So very ergonomic and comfortable. It seems to sustain my weight so I think you will be just fine on it!

Hoping to start master Solus in earnest sometime today. I will start from scratch and attempt to make real progress. Files to come later, by Zeus!"

This is all good news! Excitements!

Morning

Morning sitting, drinking-in the momentary silence; we fill our lives with incessant chatter...it is good to surrender (if only briefly, for 5 minutes) to nothingness; to just be with the body and follow the breath. In such moments we can come face to face with the divine; we can be born again in newness. Sitting still I offer my prayer that today I might be useful. Let it be so. Power to these words!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sunday Night at Brave New Studio

Its amazing how good the Lovecaster now sounds with a fresh set of strings (and running through the Behringer Bass V-amp!!) A patch I dialed-in last night just killed me and I tracked it on the "hindu" song to wonderful effect, if I could only mix it properly. No worries. These are only explorations of a sonic quality, but I am so much closer to achieving a listenable take I can almost taste it. This project was a bit overly ambitious; from henceforward I need to pace myself and not lay on too many tracks/effects that bog down the Magix program. Ah, but the thrill of hearing all those mulit-tracked ostinatto guitars!

Tonight I hope to try Will's suggested "stereo" mix with hard pans and perhaps figure out how to save settings.

And most importantly work on Joey's diorama from school!!!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Saturday night at Brave New Studio

Johnny is fighting off a runny nose/cold with some warming Courvoisier and playing the vintage Kawai K1 digital synth; new tune has been recorded, a fragment really, to test levels and sound. I do think its good. I just might be the next Blue Nile...now to add vocals...

Brave New Studio

Will came over last night and we had a great visit; he re-strung the Johnny Lovecaster and Ibanez for me, we thouroughly cleaned my (previously cluttered) work-station and vacuumed, re-configured my studio set-up and I had a training session on Magix. My guitar sounds great now, especially running through the Behringer pre-amp he brought over! With the addition of this latest bit of technological wonderment (not to mention the vintage Kawai K1 digital synthesizer!) I am really itching to lay down some new tracks and start exploring the sonic possiblities! What a difference it makes having a clean work area! It was wonderful just hanging out; a very relaxing and productive evening!

Will came up with a name for the studio: "Brave New Studio". Nice one!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Projects


Had a fair amount of fun mixing and mashing tunes last night (it was very hit-and-run as time was tight); still one more trick I want to try with "Burwood/NY New Loop" incorporating a solo Alessandra piano part, which may require pitch-shifting (if it even works at all) to fit.

Discussed "Solus" mixes with Will today and possibly leaving "New Arp" on the cutting-room floor... the track has some problems and not sure how well it flows with the rest of the album. "Orbit" is being discussed as an alternate tune.

Also a possible album-length project with Ale creating some more "Gurdjieff-tinged" music akin to our "Sun Absolute" and perhaps bringing in Gary for this one and special guest Overtone singer Stuart Hinds. I think we could work very fast on this if we can get Ale to send us her parts first, and we build up from there. In the meantime, I've sent her a couple of mp3s to work on, and will be discussing schedules, timing and possibilities for the CD in the very near future.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Mixing

Inspired by Will's recent work in the studio, last night I revisited the (eight or nine) tracks that comprise the "Burwood" tune, in an attempt to smooth out some of the piano track hiss. When I orginally recorded the parts, I never even attempted to mix it since I knew I was flying it straight over to Will's machine. Here I finally took the whole tune apart, track by track, e.q.ing each part individually and trying some fades and pans.

I have to report that I am very happy with the first mix, which I've sent over to Will as a complete WAV. Hoping its better than what it was before; in any event, there may be one additional new part I want to try on the piece invloving the "new year new loop piece", just to see how it sounds as a possible fade-out...

Studio


Relaxing in the studio with a "friend"...

MLK

Mind-blowlingly good day, despite shaky beginnings and a cat who wants to poop in my closet. The weather (warming with blue-skies and a nice breeze) is fabulous and I am surrendering to the prarie that is becoming my backyard. The South Texas drought is showing no sign of abatement; this is the worst period since records have been kept. I am seriously thinking of trying to do some drought-condition landscaping (ah, if I had the money...) to conserve water and resources....

Will is re-working several of the Gilliam tunes to delete some "pops" and other sonic problems; can't wait to hear the revised versions!

Meanwhile, I am itching to crank up the recorder as I have some new tune ideas I'm interested in exploring.

Relaxation

Relaxing morning, sitting here with coffee and enjoying the day; had some ideas for some new tunes yesterday, but haven't been able to get out to the office/studio, as Noah is recovering from tonsillectomy. Adding Mick Karn, Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian (not the "real David Sylvian") to my Facebook friends.

Now its time to make the pancakes.

But before I go, I append here my old "Here & Now" webpage (circa 1999-2001) which was on the web way before anyone was "blogging" proper:



Here and Now - The Babajohnny Sage Wisdom/Zen Homepage


Diaries

19th october, 2001
Friday morning; feel a fundamental shift underway in my "dribbling psyche." Meanwhile i've received an email from Netscape informing me that they are doing-away with this format and therefor i will need to move or abandon my hompeage! Pooh and bother! Now i gotta go to work.
14 october 2001
relaxing sunday, went to the zoo (wanted to see the new baby hippo "uma" having unexpectedly arrived last week much to the surprise of the zoo-staff). little uma kept a low profile (popped-up out of the water just for a brief appearance)but we had a good time anyway. then back home to finish yesterday's yard work.
Isaac was watching Star Wars earlier and a phrase from Qui Gon stuck in my mind (speaking to young anakin skywalker): "Remember, your focus defines your reality." This has been my mantra this day... I am focusing on the spiritual, on life this day. Joy and happiness, bliss-in-the-moment! The moment is fleeting (but, it ALWAYS WAS fleeting to begin with!). Living life, not in fear or hyper-critical self-judgment, but just as it is, one moment at a time!
thanks be to God!
13 october, 2001
Big storm blew in last night; this morning clear blue sky! I thank my Lord and creator for blessing me with another day, make some coffee and now here I sit in a momentary calmness, before Joey starts to go "wahhhh..." i think i've succeeded in distratcting him, but there is only so much distracting you can do with a four-month old!
Practiced guitar last night; tried out some new chord ideas, based on standard "c", and some different things with cross-picking. Realized how far I have to go before I can get my endurance back; I am very rusty!
5th october, 2001
Om Guru Om
Surrendering today to the sacred Flow
I am at once a single entity
in a larger whole.
My nothingness merges
with the Totality of the Universe
making a unique Omni-Present-
Nothingness
not unlike a roaring waterfall.
Having merged into the mindfullness
I have tapped the deep-well
of
compassionate-embrace-into-the-Now!
I breathe-in compassion
and exhale compassion--
this is the Buddha-way.
Nothing can be taken
that is freely given.
This is my lesson to myself this day.
The mind is capable of infinite compassion.
Today my hands
are open
in the gesture of gratitude
and I say "thank you"
to the universe
for this infinite Being.
How far can I surrender into this Bliss-Moment?
Abwoon--
the touch and taste of the Holy encounter.
So saying,
let it be so.
Ameyn.


LYRICS
Ciao Brasil (Marcell)
Ciao Brasil - You know I never wanted to leave you
Ciao Brasil - You know that I believe in you.
And when I'm cold, as I am so often now;
And when I'm cold, I turn my heart to you, Brasil...
The water's edge, I look toward Brasil, Brasil
The water's edge, I look toward Brasil, Brasil
Ciao Brasil...
copyright 1990-2001 errogeneous jones music

Open Window (Marcell)
The clouds move
Across the swollen moon
Above your open window...
The wind is blowing
Blowing your hair
Through your open window.
I wear my heart
On my open sleeve.
I wear my heart
On my open sleeve.
I wear my heart...
The stars above
Our heads
The world's an open window.
Your hand held tightly
in my own
My loves an open window...
copyright 1983-2001 errogeneous jones music
World (Marcell)
Oh, world
I'm watching you.
How can I stand here
Just watching you?
What you're doing, what you're doing to yourselves-
Can't you see?
Can't you understand?
Love
Is all there ever was;
Love
Is all there ever was.
People
Starving everyday
So much uncertainty,
You're hiding yourself away.
You can't reach out
To touch the one who cries for you
What are you doing,
What are you running from?
Love
Is all there ever was;
Love
Is all there ever was.
Love
Is all there ever was;
Love
Is all there ever was.
copyright 1983-2001 errogeneous jones music
In the Valley of Indecision (Marcell)
Left in the valley of indecision
Left in the valley again
Lost in the valley of indiscretions
I'm lost in the valley again
Lifting the veil of incrimination
I'm lifting the veil again
Found in the valley of contemplation
I'm found in the valley again.
And I can't go on
I need you here with me
I can't go on
Without you here by me.
Tricked in the valley of contamination
I'm tricked in the valley again.
Lost in the circuits of the interference
I'm lost in the circuits again.
Gone is the world where we could run like kids
Never to be seen again
Lying in the sudden of the realization
I'm never goin' back there again.
And I can't go on
I need you here with me
I can't go on
Without you here by me.
copyright 1993-2001 errogeneous jones music
Mystery of Our Love (Marcell)
You don't have to worry
In the pale blue night
You don't have to worry
'Cause I've got you on my mind
I'd never leave you or hurt you
Or do anything unkind
You gotta believe me now
Thats not what I got in mind
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
When I'm with you, babe
When I'm with you
And when I wake up
You're the first thing that I see
And when I go to bed
I thank the stars above
Because I love you
And I know that you love me
And that's the mystery, babe
The mystery of our love
Of our love
Of our love
Of our love
Of our love.
copyright 1993-2001 errogeneous jones music

RECENT POETRY
Incredible events
The world has forever changed...
What will tomorrow bring?
--babajohnny September 14, 2001
Can I be more Open
Loving, kind and forgiving?
Can I learn to put aside
My anger, resentment and uncaring?
If I merely react to pain
And perceived injustices
I am alone, an animal;
In love I can awaken,
Rise above my doubt
And Embrace the
Eternal...
-- babajohnny August 22, 2001
Still cloud
Gentle breeze
Alive in this moment
Vibrant Universe!
-- babajohnny August 22, 2001
Years of solitude
the sacred ground
A gnawing belief in some
inner good
Beyond outward forms, appearances
that you and I are One
Related, yet seperate
and seperated
Though never really alone.
The distant shoreline
crashing waves and coastal birds
Serving to remind us
of our journey home
And the simple truth
No matter how distant
We are One.
--babajohnny 2001. </b>

The Joy of Prayer
Beneath the wintery sky,
I surrender all to my Christ;
He fills me!
--1-15-83, babajohnny

August, 2000
Ocean Drive (Poem for Kate)
Waves crash, crescent moon
jellyfish, jellyfish all the way home
We cross the Cole Park grounds
Towards the black night pier
Kate and I hold Isaacs' hands
and stroll past the fishers
with their coolers, and tackleboxes and smokes
And Kate tells me how the jellyfish
maybe
stung her (on the knee);
And we part with our friends in the summer night:
"I'll call you on your cel phone in the morning!"
And do a U-turn on Ocean Drive
Towards home

Primordial Heart Sutra No. 1
Walked
down Houston street,
past tall boys with severe haircuts and dye-jobs,
past the stranded tourists like starfish,
past the cafe,
and the latte-drinkers
(aegis of similitude)
to this fine spot
here by the fountain
where there is shade and coolness,
and overhead
the sky is not cloudy all day...
this then is where I sit,
desolation angel,
and observe the "I-I"
scribbling these notes on a scrap of grey-lined
paper;
"it" observes the world
'roundabout it, and sips
strong coffee in the mid-day sun...
Non-identified,
a fleeting moment in a series
(of fleeting moments)
passing into primordial
oblivion
like a slow motion arrow seen
passing before it's eyes
into eternity.
This series then forms some part of the past,
a part which is barely glimpsed,
yet underlies all future action.
What part then will "I-I" save;
is there a part
of this present
immune
from the entropic flow?
Or is all lost?
...Food for the moon...
Hot wind blows
Across
Hot concrete,
But here I am overshadowed,
And in a state of calmness,
Aware of the possibilities
In this moment
Here and now.

Primordial Heart Sutra No. 2
Heart mantra
Alive in this moment
Lotus petals brush across my lips.
Envelope me in your fragrance...
Om mani padme hum...
(An ancient prayer; jewel in the Lotus).
Two lovers
Hearts and minds as One
Touching (as if)
for the very first time...
You kiss me like raindrops;
You caress me like clouds.
You kiss me.
You kiss me like rain.
Heart mantra
Primordial
One.

Witness
That Which Is,
Is Christ.
That Which Is,
Is Buddha.
That Which Is,
Radiant Being.
That Which Is,
Beyond Mind.
The Truth and the Way are
inseparable;
Where then are the Ten-Thousand
Things?
Heart to Heart,
The truth is manifested.
Heart to Heart,
We are One.
That Which Is,
Remains undying.
That Which Is,
This very moment.
-- 29 October, 1999

Cafe' Du Johnny

KRISHNAMURTI
Standing among the silent trees
An overwhelming presence, a benediction
He is aware of the birds, the rustling wind
And the sound of the leaves beneath his feet.
They called him savior, but that was long ago-
Now his frail body trembles, drains of strength
And he has come to nothingness, the "I" beyond the ego
Fully surrendered to the one divine God.


THIS MORNING I SAW BEAUTY
This morning I awoke with a smile
new moon, dark sky
She said what is the essential thing
love is the essential thing
What is the randomness
earth, sky, mind is the randomness
A thousand christs or a single flower
your father/mother in heaven knows the answer
Pulsing like lightening on the horizon
Movement or no movement is the same
A vehicle for your ornamental mind
In movement we define our reality
In reality we dance our movement
This morning I saw beauty
Reflected in a smile
Sleeping.

UNTITLED #1
Cigarette smoke
wafting towards heaven
Black night
full of armagnac and stars
Gurdjieff and his father
by the woodshed
In Tiflis, 1902.

UNTITLED #2
Surrender to the "is-ness" of the Universe!
Body and mind, dropped away!
When you drop the question
the answer appears.
There is no Work; that is the Great Koan!

PRAYER
Riding the bus this morning
My mantra is relax and renew,
relax and renew, relax...
Knowing all things under heaven and earth
work together for what is right,
The world is bathed in goodness and light.
Each day I pause to say "thank you."
Each day I begin again, anew.
Surrendered to the sacred flow of life,
Letting the universe unfold as it will,
I embrace the eternal, present moment
And rejoice in the name of the Lord.
"May all I do and am return to praise the One."
Amen.

SUBTEXT
There is a current
Running just below the surface
Of which you and I partake
Electric, intoxicating, wild, vengeful
And bursting forth surprising patterns
Manifesting unhesitatingly into our lives
Yes, surprising us, when we were dead to
The world, but alive to each other
Bringing knowledge and remembrance
Redemption and salvation
Warm and wet and fertile and intimate
Alive in us, alive in mortal I
Grinding forward, dizzying, out of control
That which comes into being, unifying, frightening
Tender and loving, hungry destroyer of all worlds,
Sacred earth, mother, goddess, birther, fire, imminent bringer of death
The infinite "isness" of the universe
Swallow us whole

UNTITLED #3
The sun setting in a midst of colors,
The clouds move across the hiding moon;
One man sitting zazen
Drinking warm tea.
- Burwood (1983).
UNTITLED #4
There is no perfection. There is only perfection.

TWO MANTRAS
I
I am merged
With the Mindfulness
Of the Present.
II
One Heart
One Mind
Endlessness.
-- adams' house, September 11, 1993.
PEACE
Peace
is like the raindrops
on my shoulder.
-- September 23, 1993
CLOUDS
The clouds
move across my mind;
Already I have forgotten
them!
- September 23, 1993
UNTITLED #5
This subtle mind-cloud;
Here for awhile, then gone.
Are you the totality of your
experiences, your thoughts?
Or perhaps it is all a dream;
Waiting for the moment
of Awakening.
-- November 22, 1999

Sign my Guestbook and Be Free
Name:
Email Address:
Web Address:
Comments:


Guestbook entries
Farfalla de Madame



Comments:
Qualcuno giovane di fronte ad un giro. (its Italian for the pooheads out there..) :D
-----
linda lazy
mailto:sleepinsafety@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/sleepinsafety

Comments:
i liked your site...i hope your buddhanity brings you joy
-----
olof palme
mailto:olofpalme63@yahoo.com
http://hometown.aol.com/olof63/

Comments:
" de si de förstå mig, bortsett från jag kan icke löpe till vara förstådd!"
-----
olof palme
mailto:olof63@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/olof63/

Comments:
"they say they understand me, but i cannot stand to be understood!"
-----
johnny



Comments:
Thanks, Alan, for those kind and reassuring words...whoever said i was an "adult" in the first place?!
-----
Alan
mailto:threexfive@yahoo.com


Comments:
Congrats on Joseph's arrival! What a blessing for your family. But remember, the adults are outnumbered in your house now.
-----
Io-No
mailto:DRobot01@msn.com


Comments:
Sidewalk slabs light up
Flourescent radiation underlights a crowd
A city vibrates with slowly increasing loops of amplified feedback
Then, a theremin chick whistles by, hopping to a basket of color eggs

Across some water, the same
-----
Shelly
mailto:shellykvd@yahoo.com


Comments:
The link on the Netscape header "View other sites like this one" - 'tis impossible! This is unique. Hope Spock & Picard come home soon. Possum, be gone. Call if you want to borrow 2 cats & a dog to rid your house of pests.
-----
Erasmus



Comments:
Missive on the freedom of the mind from a like-minded monk at the dawn of the modern era to a mystic muse at its dusk:
May not a man be a Christian who cannot explain how the nativity of the Son differs from the procession of the Holy Spirit? If I believe in the Trinity in Unity, I want no argument. If I do not believe, I shall not be convinced by reason. The sum of religion is peace, which can only be when definitions are as few as possible and opinion is left free on many subjects. Our present problems are said to be waiting for the next Ecumenical Council. Better let them wait till we see God face to face. Peace, Johnny. Got a light? (1522)
-----
babajohnny

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/cafedujohnny

Comments:
Stroll over to my new club on yahoo (see the link...) where you can check out new pics and interact live via chat!

baba
-----




Comments:
Forgetting to Remember...

Forget to remember,
Remember to forget...
The past is reflected in the Present. The future is a moment
Waiting to be born.
--babajohnny
-----
Jishin
mailto:diane@akshin.net
http://sites.netscape.net/babajohnnylove/www.akshin.net

Comments:
Forget to remember...remember to forget...

Though provoking..lovely1

Thank you!

Diane hailing from Anchorage, Alaska.
-----
John
mailto:john@egyptian.net
http://sites.netscape.net/john62274john/homepage

Comments:
Thank you for pointing out my address error in my previous message. I am adding a link to my webpage to connect to your site. Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for your insight.
-----
John
mailto:john@egyptian.net
http://sites.netscape.net/62274john62274/homepage

Comments:
I found your websight to be quite wonderful. It is the essence of the moment, as experienced. Perhaps you would consider allowing me to link your page from by webpage.
-----
frank kormos
mailto:stagesoflight@yahoo.com
stagesoflight.homestead.com

Comments:
hey whats up just a fellow krim fan
musician from NY
-----

mailto:bloodsimple73@aol.com


Comments:
heartening, and warmth bring me rice with tomatoes on my plate...over, and over, as i bathe in flesh, sparkling stares, and everlasting kisses...
soft as nature hisses
-----




Comments:

-----
evana
mailto:bloodsimple73@aol.com


Comments:
a heart before twilight, a kiss before dawn...and my bodies of ocean become still unto the break, and within which, we all foresake
-----
Breathless
mailto:breathless_kaz@yahoo.com


Comments:
Smiles !
-----
Kristan



Comments:
cool
-----
babajohnny



Comments:
ah, the beach... surrendered to the isness of the moment, water rushing over my head; sand and sun and wind, a sense of well-being and calm pervades my being. Missy and I sat zazen in lotus posture in the water, a flowing timelessness, eternal moment!
-----
jonnygonepomo's literary agent



Comments:
jm- please excuse pomo's lack of closing parenthesis in his last guestbook entry. it's been a hard day for him. being a friday in reality and such.
-----
jonnygonepomo
mailto:sleepwell@thevoid.net
my url is beyond earthly ken

Comments:
baba johnny turns into johnny love on certain magical nites and can be seen singing and playing guitar at good old fashioned folk hootenannys at tacoland. at least this much I dream is true.

personal message to babajm: johnny, I was walking down the street today and i just suddenly realized that none of this is real. that's it's actually ridiculous and even funny - the crazy human goings-on and how we misuse the substance of now. i know that human tragedy hurts, but we must accept loss as kerouac says (one of the fundamental rules for the modern - dare i say postmodern - spontaneous technique. i can't wait to see what lies in wait after this world. any thoughts?
-----


psarath@hoovers.com

Comments:
Just checking in John and Melissa. Sounds like things are cool at the Marcell house. Lots of stuff going on here, trying to sell our house, it's been hectic as hell. More later.
-----
ken
mailto:bearwarren@yahoo.com


Comments:
Johnny, keep in mind:
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
-----

Sean
TopographicYes@yahoo.com

Comments:
Enjoy Life!
-----
Sheila
mailto:Marybeth_22@excite.com


Comments:
I believe your words are true to your heart...and that makes them beautiful, and inspiring.
-----
michael escamilla
mailto:esky1979@aol.com


Comments:
right on, but I miss the angsty love poetry of Johnny Love (before he was babajohnybegood)
-----
Zelda
mailto:BigZ@SanMarcos.net


Comments:
Hear my fingers snapping.
-----
Your friend Linda!!
mailto:LifeCloud@aol.com


Comments:
I like it! Can you place this stuff on more than one page?
-----
John Navarro
mailto:io0io1@hotmail.com


Comments:
I was riding a hovertrain through NeoComfort, a megalopolis of over 30 million citizens. This was still a small town compered to the big cities. I crumpled the waxy brown substance into some paper and lit it. Pushy billboards flashed by, their subliminal slogans overriding each other, rendering all useless for specifics, creating only a sense of lack, a need to accumulate. I'd had enough. The genome project had cut off my funds and my research had lost support from my peers, who once lauded my papers as the blueprints for a new branch of study-nasal warps.
-----
Rainey
none
none

Comments:
Dear Johnny I seem to have left the "r" out of sure. - I am not sure what to feel anymore.
-----
Rainey
none
none

Comments:
sue is alot to read. So we saved it.
-----
Alan



Comments:
I say that we, your friends, should ordain you instead of ULC. So it's official: Your are hereby Baba Johnny, Minister of whatever it is you're into this week.
-----
ktr



Comments:
so, like I just walked up to the hotdog vendor and said,"make me one with everything"
-----
Tamii Rogers
mailto:chibir@yahoo.com


Comments:
write me! Oh, I went and saw that big buddha while back in the home land
-----
baba-san



Comments:
what is the essential thing?
breakfast tacos are the essential thing...
yes, nunzio, working on possible drawlings and even a photo rainey took of me in j.paul sartre pose... thanks for visiting!--baba
-----
James Cobb
mailto:cobb@texas.net


Comments:
Johnny---This is the third time I've visited your sight and I still haven't read most of it, but it's early in the morning and Pseudo Buddha had a late night (and not altogether great) gig last night which is leaving me just sleep deprived enough to want to deal with such as THERE IS NO PERFECTION, THERE IS ONLY PERFECTION with my coffee. I promise I'd get further into this homepage of yours if only I had some breakfast tacos. Alas, I don't. THERE ARE NO BREAKFAST TACOS, THERE IS ONLY NO BREAKFAST TACOS. Add some inimitable BabaJohnny drawings, eh?
-----
melissa
mailto:JJMMarcell@netzero.com
http://sites.netscape.net/babajohnnylove/www.clickchick.com

Comments:
Just think what would happen if you used your powers for good.
-----
jonnypostmod'seviltwin



Comments:
baba, forgive me, had to try to see inscriptions in guestbook
-----
TomStar



Comments:
Great stuff JohnStar
-----
babajohnny
mailto:babajohnny@yahoo.com


Comments:
dear jonnypostmod: thanks for the comments; yes psychic-oneness-connection via the internet is the FUTURE... i'll look into a more interactive format. in oneness --babajohnny
-----
jonnypostmod
mailto:disgruntledgoat@despair.com


Comments:
baba, please forgive intrusion just wanted to read offerings in guestbook once again. maybe you can work something out with the great void that will allow visitors to view guestbook and interact. creating web of love transparent rising across skies to hold whole earth in its silent, unseen heart?
-----
Christine (Xtie)
mailto:ckestner@rma.edu


Comments:
You devil! I don't even have a website yet. Cool...
-----
Tyrone
mailto:franscott@stic.net


Comments:
Jim Morrison my @#$^! Looks more like Jack Kerouac to me. Either way, great stuff!!
-----
Ethan
mailto:JJMMarcell@netzero.com
http://www.stickerworld.org/kids?ethana

Comments:
I like it. That's all.
-----
Alan
mailto:alan@mail.utexas.edu
http://216.169.122.124/rayn/turkstud.swf

Comments:
Why aren't the Buddhas dancing?
-----
Jon Pearson
mailto:jonp@mail.utexas.edu


Comments:
too good to be true. three days sick with cold and flu. you sent a little light and warmth into my soul.
-----
Bubba
rxgbub
rxgbub@austin.cc.tx.us

Comments:

-----
Norm Boyle
mailto:bluebus99@yahoo.com


Comments:
Jim Morrison's poetry is alive and well and living in San Antonio, Tx.
-----



c. 2000/2001 - babajohnnylove/all rights reserved.


"And work consists in subjecting oneself voluntarily to temporary suffering in order to be free from eternal suffering." -- G.I. Gurdjieff
(Page 357, "In Search of the Miraculous; Fragments of an Unknown Teaching," by P.D. Ouspensky c. 1949, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.)


January: Pausing and Giving Thanks

Today I pause for a moment to remember to be grateful, and give thanks for my body, my being, my loved ones. Too often I seem to be so busy ...