As if I weren’t slow enough, another year has come and gone.

So many things left undone. songs unwritten, music unrecorded, and thoughts unfinished.

I’m trying to capture time, but it’s slippery, like a wet seal in the arctic waters. Time always manages to slip from our grasp far quicker than we’d like it to, quicker than I’d like it to at least.

2012, it’s almost here and I haven’t thought of what to where. What the fuck are all of you doing? Yeah you heard me! er, read me!, er, whatever…I cursed aloud, even as i write this I speak it, (it’s the only way things make sense and come together in a coherent fashion). I’ve decided to stop being so self censored, yes I spelled it correctly, and no, i did not mean centered. I will speak my mind in whatever words feel the most appropriate at the time. If it means the occasional expletive or a shitload of mother-fuckin’ profanity, then it’s fuckin’ gettin’ written bitches! HA!

It’s Jak Un-censored, un-reviewed, and un-fuckin’-real!

What else is coming for 2012. I’d love to say a new disc will be released, but the gods of music have not been smiling upon me of late, and thus, the creativity is next to non-existent. I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises, I guarantee nothing, and it’s not like you fuckers are participating in the conversation here. I love ya and all, but I feel like a crazy fuck talking to myself here. So I’ll write what I write, when I write it, and not a minute sooner. If you want to raise your voice and give me shit, then have at it short bus, I can take it.

Alright, I’m done, you can go back to facebook with the other crack addicts and get back to me when you have something worthwhile to say.

Jak

Summer is here…well almost. I need to know something, I don’t want to ask for fear of the response I’ll get, I will ask regardless. Are you ready? (no that’s not the question) Sitting comfortably? (no that’s not it either) Can you see the screen alright? (I swear it’s coming but that’s not it either)…ok then here goes.

Does anyone read this blog? (Yes that’s the question)

I ask because I’ve had no comments, and the emails I have had have not specifically mentioned this blog or it’s contents. So I need to know. I mean if no one reads, then why should I bother carrying on with it?….Why should I bother with a site at all? (those are rhetorical questions, you don’t need to answer those…unless you’d like to, in which case, go ahead and answer, leave a comment with your response)

I have been writing in this thing now for the last year, more consistently than previous blogs.  I made a concerted effort to stick to it this time because, with previous blogs, I had no comments either, I had no emails, so my interest just dissolved and the blog fell into disrepair. This time however, I resolved to post more often, to ask more questions of you the reader (are you still there?, yes you can answer this one too)

I ponder, I collect my thoughts into one little semi coherent diatribe and spit them out into this little fucking blog in hopes it will be read and enjoyed, and maybe it is, but I don’t have any real way of knowing, cause none of you say anything.

I digress, I don’t mean to intrude upon your time, nor do I lay claim to any brilliance, but if you could find it in your heart and or fingers to leave a quick reply, I’d like that, and it would spur me on to write more.

I’ll just be napping over hear in the corner till you’re done reading this and put together a short thought to leave in a comment.

Peace

Jak

I’ve been watching a couple shows on TV. I won’t say which shows, because I don’t give that shit away for free. I’ve noticed though, on these shows, that people have happy dances, or good news dances. I need me some of that shit, of course I need the good news that goes along with it too.

There are some things in life that just make one want to “shake that ass”, and I have to say, it looks like fun. Do you have a dance of this nature? Do tell!

Oh well, I suppose I’ll have to work on that. The next piece of good news I get, I will have to experimentally shake something and see how it goes. If history is anything to go by, the good news should be something in the arena of “Hey, your bank card didn’t explode during the purchase of a bag of chips at the grocery store”, good news indeed!

On other topics, it seems if one is to be a good artist, there is a certain amount of torture that should be experienced to achieve creative inspiration. Maybe that’s why I haven’t been overly creative of late. I need some shit to go down, and torture the creativeness out of me.

I’ve never been great at getting myself into torturous trouble, it’s happened, just not with great frequency. Maybe I need to find a gun fight that’s brewing somewhere in this metropolis, or have multiple women fall madly in love with me and not be able to commit to any of them because my wife would not be impressed. Or maybe I should just quit while I’m ahead, hang up my pen and guitar strap, and call it a day.

Who the fuck am I kidding. I could no more do that than I could stop breathing. My musings are here to stay, regardless of who listens, reads, or cares.

“it’s a gas gas gas!”

Jak

March always makes me think of time marching on. It is indeed march, and there has been some shit goin’ on! A suicide in the building I live in, costly mechanical failures, and the usual lackadaisical stoup-er that ensues around this time every year. The next couple weeks will begin to see the mood lighten along with the days.

It’s around this time of year that plans start getting made for the days that will be sunnier and warmer. Weekends will fill up with gigs, family, friends, food, and booze. I always love the spring, the shedding of heavy clothes, the exchange of shades of gray for more vibrant colors, and the unshakable feeling that something promising is yet to come.

Alright, enough of that fluffy thinking shit…”Where’s the new tunes?” I hear you asking. One is on the way. Some final takes and production still to do, but one is coming. Frail as my brain is, I can feel it resolving itself into a more formidable state. Like construction workers putting up scaffolding to shore up structural weak points.

Ahhh yes…there’s some shit coming, good shit, weighty shit, and shit that does not stink. As foreboding as it sounds, this shit shall come from me.

Keep you boots handy, it may get deep in here!

Peace

Jak

Well ain’t this a bitch? Seems I just got “Happy Nude Ear” past my lips, and we’re already a month into 2011.

This work-a-day world just goes speeding past without us realizing that the posted speed limit keeps increasing. All one can do is acknowledge this and try to keep up.

So what’s new with you? How ya been? Have you been behaving yourself? You know…there is a little space at the bottom of these posts to write something back. I know it’s intimidating and such, but you need not fear any reprisals, or fun making from yours truly.

In the meantime, I’ll tell you the goings on here. It seems so long since I’ve written something useful, either lyrically or philosophically that I’ve almost forgotten that it’s something I do.

Music has not been pouring out of me these days, but I have started to gear up to something. My head is pounding, and the noise in there is rapidly growing in its intensity. This is usually a sign that a fit of songwriting is forthcoming. Meanwhile, I have been cruising the mean streets of our fair, but chilly, city in search of inspiration musical or otherwise, so far it’s been a reletive disappointment.

I’m looking forward to warmer weather, days when I can bare my chest in the pursuit of absorbing UV rays to produce what the kids refer to as “a tan”, maybe even one of those all over deals. Spring and summer seem to be more productive musically for me as well. I hope you’ll all hang in there and keep a candle in the window for a new release. I’ll be keeping a candle in the window for all my returning fans.

It’s not far away boys and girls, sunny days are on the rise, and fat lady will hit her highest note on that final snowfall.

Peace

Jak

Alright music lovers, January is upon us. You all know what that means when it comes to music don’t you?…that’s right!….not very much.

I’ve had quite a few people asking when the hell some new music is forthcoming from yours truly. To answer that, I have to tell a little story.

A man gardening in a backyard in a small country town suddenly has the urge to pee. Running through the back door of the quaint little abode he calls home, he runs to the bathroom. Slamming the door behind him, he unzips and retrieves his manhood from within. All set to open the flood gates and feel the relief of an emptied bladder, he stands ready. Seconds pass uneventfully, the pressure still present, but the stream uninitiated. Seconds turn to minutes, his legs grow tired as he imagines the stream pouring out of him. Minutes turn to tens of minutes. Frustrated he replaces his handful back in his boxers and sits on the floor.

Essentially I’m the guy on the floor…and the pee is my songwriting…you get the idea. I’ve always found it has to come naturally, not under duress, and usually unexpected. (songwriting, not peeing!)

I do have a few things kicking around that will hopefully resolve themselves into a new track or two, but I will have to let the fates of the music gods decide.

Did all of you have a good Christmas?, a happy New Year? Did eat drink and be merry? Share with the group, don’t be shy.

2011 should be an interesting year. No doubt I will teeter on the brink of sanity (as usual) and you, my adoring fans will extol my virtues to all that will have you. Don’t be stingy now, talk me up good! I always speak highly of my fans, they are truly the best and brightest of the music goers.

“Still my heart, let it fall apart, and carve a fragment with your name”
(Name that tune and I’ll send you something nice)

Peace

Jak

Did I say that out loud? Oh…good, I was hoping I did. I joined Twitter a long time ago, but I haven’t made use of it. I mean think about it, so many places to post information now; Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Google, Yahoo, Tumblr, and a crapload of other sites. Granted I don’t use all of these, I could, but I’d spend most of my super-valuable musician time logging in, logging on, logging out, and logging through, rather than blathering on like the enigmatic musician I am.

That said, I’ll wrap up my blather for the moment.

Oh, just as a side note, I guess some twitter shit should now show up after this post…we’ll see (said the blind man).

Peace

Jak

Tis the season to be all sweet and nice. Well that’s the idea anyways. How many of you have done something purely out of the kindness of your heart? I don’t mean the purchase of a gift, I mean a deed of kindness, an act of selflessness, a laying on of hands (easy boys, not that kind of laying on). Anyone volunteer their time for a worthy cause? Feed a homeless curmudgeon not because they asked but because they didn’t? Throw a blanket to a bum so they could be a tad warmer in some wintry climates (if you are in South America this one doesn’t really apply).

I know a few people that have given just because they can. They’ve donated their time to wrap gifts for the epilepsy society, they’ve given food and money to food banks and toys for tots drives. Some have contributed various skills to cook, bake, build, or knit a little something for the less fortunate. Some have gone out and bought gifts for a whole family so they can be reminded that people still care.

I will be making my usual donation to the CCAA (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness).

While many count on the season to fill their pockets with everyone else s money, a meager few almost tear the lining out of their pockets in the interest of making someone’s Christmas a little nicer.

Even if you don’t have buckets of time to give to those less fortunate, at least give some money to those in need. Flip them a fiver, drop a ten spot in a salvation army bowl, toss some change to the bum on the corner that’s obviously seen better days. No one says it has to be a fortune, but a little can go a long way to giving someone a bit more hope for another day.

I hope you have a great Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate. I don’t need to explain, you all know I respect your individuality.

I plan to jot some stuff here before the New Year arrives, so stay tuned, and stay warm (unless you are in South America…then stay cool)

Peace

Jak

In a somewhat recent blog I touched on the subject of the holidays. I was reading through my posts checking for grammatical and spelling errors (as I am so prone to make) and I noticed something, it didn’t hit me right away, nothing ever does unless it’s thrown by someone else. Not once in my rambling on the holiday stuff did I refer to it as Christmas.

I’m hardly what one would refer to as a good christian, I don’t do the church thing, I rarely pray unless my life is dangling by a thread, I eat meat on Fridays, and I couldn’t tell you the last time I gave something up for Lent.

I do however take exception to the dismissal of Christmas to put “Holiday” in it’s place. I’m all for being nice and recognizing an individuals’ right to their religious beliefs, I wish those of Jewish denomination a happy passover, or Hanukkah, as the case may be. I shake hands and wish those of Islamic faith a happy Ramadan, I wish joy and happiness to those that celebrate Diwali.

I can understand that since Christian faith is so large, it sometimes seems an affront to other faiths when some of the more prominent Christian holidays comes around. I do have to say though, freedom is freedom any way you slice it. Why should Christians secede their holiday titles in place of more generic politically correct titles. I could be wrong, and feel free to correct my if I am, but I don’t think you’d go to Israel and sidestep Hanukkah, or Saudi Arabia and be able to skirt around Ramadan with ease. Further I’m sure you wouldn’t be wished a merry Christmas in either country. Come to Canada though, and you can have it any way you want it apparently.

I don’t want to step on toes, nor do I want to paint myself as some sort of know-it-all, or even, know-some-of-it-all…er…yeah! I would just like to be able to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, even if you don’t celebrate it. It should simply be taken for the meaning that lies behind it, peace, love, joy, happiness, and acceptance of all. Isn’t that really the crux of any major religion?

I’ve been wished a joyous Ramadan, I’ve had my hand shaken with verve while being offered a happy Hanukkah, I’ve even been wished a happy and peaceful Ostara (Go ahead, look it up).

So, Merry Christmas to all, and if it offends you, then pretend I wished you the best of wishes for your own religious holiday.

“From the streets into paradise skies”

Peace

Jak

What happened between birth and now? Geez people, lots of stuff. I made friends, lost friends, made love, lost that too, and in the end I sit here in front of this computer and spout my idle ramblings to you. Shit, that sounds boring doesn’t it?

I have had some excitement, I’ve seen things, I’ve done things, some I could still be arrested for in some countries.

I am quintessentially the worst of my critics. I don’t go easy on myself in many respects. It can hamper one’s progress sometimes, being so critical of one’s self. We all do it though. We look hard and judge our life choices big and small. It doesn’t mean we are doing things better, we’re just challenging ourselves to do things better. We still manage to fuck it up pretty good though don’t we?

So this is where I am, writing, pondering, criticizing, and generally being a pain in my own ass. I don’t even know what my intentions for this “view of everything” blog are, it will reveal it’s true nature on its own I suppose.

I bid you a fond farewell, until next we meet.

“If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need” Sing it brotha!

Peace

Jak