Remnants of Pandora

Unusual snow storms have passed over Nashville lately. One of them - Pandora - left a snow and ice print on the ground that kept me from going anywhere for five days. Below a picture of a chunk of ice I broke off that was laying on top of the wimdshield ... yes, it was that thick ... (a regular sized microwave right behind it as a reference).

Capital Memories

It was very special. The trip to Washington D.C. To go there, we went by car from Nashville by Knoxville and then northwest through Virginia and the Shenendoah Valley. I really enjoyed the picturesque scenery of the agricultural settings in Virginia, it was a very pretty landscape. The highlight of the trip was definitely the visit to Arlington National Cemetery. I was thinking as I was walking there that I really have the outmost respect not only for the fallen and the servicemen and women interred there and their service and the families sacrifices, but also for the ones who work there. My thought is that they serve those who served. What a legacy.

Virginia landscape.

A quote by JFK at the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite.

Looking over the Arlington  Memorial Bridge towards the Lincoln Memorial.

A New Toy

A necessity can also be fun. This necessity was brought on by a broken chair. It needed some repairing because two bolts had gotten broken and it was not reclining. What's the point with a recliner that doesn't recline? Poor thing, it had been degraded to a chair ...

Anyway, I took the bull by the horn and went to Home Depot to purchase my new toy. It makes me think about the Lowe's commercial that I liked so much that they showed in December where a guy has his Chritmas gift and is pushing the button twice and then singing "bells" (I did that too). Anyway, the chair is fixed and the toy is put away. For now. Who knows, I might use it as an instrument playing a song someday soon.

Back side of the recliner degraded to chair.

My toy.

Chair re-established as recliner.

Growing Nashville

Nashville does not look like it did when I first came here, and it's not that long ago, only 6 years. There were no Omni Hotel, no Music City Center, no Country Music Hall of Fame extension with Hatch Show Print and the CMA Theater ... and those developments changed the scenery and the feel of downtown a lot! Those are pretty cool though  ...

One con is you have to re-learn to know your way around often here. There is constant progress and construction sites everywhere. Even New York Times included an article from the Nashville Scene about what has been, and is going on Gentrification is threatening Nashville's soul?

Here's the latest Article in Music Row

What is the best option for Nashville? Keeping on tearing down historic sites in the name of money or a perfect blend of old and new with the new built on unoccupied lots? I think the latter.

My Resolutions

For starters: Happy New Year to each and all and may love be ever present in your lives.

My New Years Resolution is the same every new year and that is to be the best person I can be every day throughout the year. This year I added some things that I would like to keep doing and that is to continue taking care of myself as best I can eating healthy and not too much, not too little - or "lagom" as in the ever present Swedish "live-by-rule". I've already lost a few pounds eating "lagom", drinking two cups of organic, green tea every day and using a new exercise technique that is as easy as it is simple: just do whatever exercise or movements you want with lots of effort put into it for ... 20 seconds at a time. Yup, you read it right, 20 seconds at a time is all. I'm doing that several times throughout the day so it adds up!

Whatever you promised, or if you didn't promise anything, may 2015 bless you with lots of dreams, goals and desires come true!

Thoughts of Two Words As One

Grateful   - Graceful

Only one letter sets them apart. They feel like they are connected. One leads to the other.

A music friend's bio

My music friend and multi-instrumentalist Greg Holt has asked me to pass his bio along. Check his music and talents out, he's great!

I am currently the fiddle player for the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team...and the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football Team.

My band, Boxcar Hollow Band, won "The Best of Tampa Bay" award!

I am sponsored by Wood Violins, NS Design Violins, Black Diamond Strings, and Dallas Hats.

I am a Multi-Instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, keys, b3 organ, steel, banjo, vocals).

I am available for local, touring or session work (CAN DO IT VIA INTERNET TOO!), or even solo violin performances for events!

I was just featured in the February, 2012 Herald Tribune: http://www.ticketsarasota.com/2012-02-15/section/the-local-original-the-fiddler-of-sarasota

Have been a member of these bands: Boxcar Hollow, Mel McDaniel, David Ball, LoCash Cowboys, The New Creatures, Mad Dog and the Smokin' J's, Billy McKnight and the Soul Circus Cowboys, Riders of the Easy Posse, Stephen Cochran, Walker Hornung and the Brotherhood of the Grape, The Kings Heartbeat

Musicians I have played with: ROCK Steve Holly (Paul McCartney), Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix), Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish), Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, Beach Boys), Erik Boyd (Chuck Berry, Mamas & The Papas), Raymond Angry (Prince, Whitney Houston, Elvis Costello), Delmar Brown (Sting), Kenny Olson (Kid Rock), Ronny elliot (Bill Haley and the Comets, Gene Vincent), Carli Munoz (Wilson Pickett, George Benson), Chico Bouchikhi (Gipsy Kings), Paul Duffy (The Commitments), Gabriel Gordon (Natalie Merchant), Tommy Heath (Tommy Tutone), Antar Goodwin (Lauryn Hill, Matisyahu), Chuck Hancock (Murphy's Law)

COUNTRY Brent Mason (Alan Jackson), Clarence Green (Hank Williams), Michelle Poe (Hank Williams, Jr), Hank Williams III, Tommy Crain (Charlie Daniels), Gove Scrivenor (Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell, Doc Watson), Greg Garing (Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff), Bobby Vogel (Loretta Lynn), Tommy Jennings (Waylon Jennings), Erik Halbig (Tanya Tucker), David Cooper (Travis Tritt), Brian Desveaux (Miranda Lambert), Jonathan Yudkin (Big and Rich), Jeff Lockerman (Gretchen Wilson), Greg Hind (Little River Band), Alex MacDonald (Dwayne Dopsie, Rosie Ledet), Matt Buckstein (American Idol)

SOUTHERN ROCK Peter Keys (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers), Chris Anderson (Outlaws), Jimmy Fadden (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Larry Crane (John Mellencamp), Moogy Klingman (Warren Haynes), Mike Kach (Molly Hatchet), Tommy Talton (Gregg Allman), Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), Dennis Winters (Winters Brothers)

PUNK ROCK Ari Up (Slits), Kenny Aaronson (New York Dolls, Billy Idol), Gary Lucas (Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Captain Beefheart), Joe McGinty, (Ramones, Debbie Harry, Psychedelic Furs), Amy Madden (Johnny Thunders)

BLUES Linsey Alexander (BB King), Carl Weathersby (Albert King), Eddie Kirkland (John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding), Danny Draher (Etta James, Dr. John, Buddy Guy), Jon Paris (Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter), Michael Powers (Pinetop Perkins, HoneyBoy Edwards, James Brown), Sam Bryant (Robert Cray, Kenny Wayne Shepard), Cameron Roberts (Blues Traveler), Big Ray (Otis Rush), Clas Yngström, Johnny Rawls and many others!

Opened up for: Charlie Daniels, Kid Rock, Wynonna Judd, Bonnie Bramlett (Joe Cocker), Gretchen Wilson, Chris Cagle, Easton Corbin, Clint Black, Lorrie Morgan, Daughtry, Bo Bice, Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin, Daryle Singletary, Andy Griggs, Jeff Bates, John Michael Montgomery, and many others

Songwriters I have played with: Dallas Davidson (Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton), Carl Knight (Jerry Lee Lewis), Billy Arr (Mel Tillis), Rusty Golden (Marty Stuart), Tommy Barnes (Tim McGraw), Tony Stampley (Hank Jr), Gary Hannan (Rascal Flatts) and many others

Music Heroes I have hung out with: Stephane Grappelli, Vassar Clements

I have played southern rock, blues, classic rock, country, bluegrass, cajun, old-time, folk, irish, rockabilly, goth, industrial, jazz, arabic, indian, and classical.

Example of my fiddle work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVQNWKMLyI

CONTACT INFO http://www.facebook.com/gregthefiddler 615 948 9566 Tampa, Fl; NYC, NY; Nashville, TN; Nationwide

A Country Fiddler Jumps Onstage With A Heavy Metal Band!!!

www.youtube.com

Unscripted and spontaneous...The Devil Went Down to Daytona!...like Charlie Daniels meets Guitar Hero Video Game!...Greg Holt the Fiddler jumps onstage with ...