B-Sides

In Austin for SXSW earlier this month, I came across this wonderful

peace crane display by Houston origami artist Joan Son in the window of a downtown bank. My wife also creates beautiful peace cranes to commemorate family events or to help us focus and find balance during challenging times. Do you make peace cranes? Here are some easy-to-follow instructions. Join the peace crane evolution. Fold paper for peace!

Heading to SXSW next week? Here's your chance to get a look at the performers with this cool SXSW photo preview courtesy of Austin360.com. See you in Austin!

I was saddened by the recent news of Steve Gerber's passing. As a teenager in the 1970s, Gerber's writing was like a fresh, subversive breath of fresh air. His stories for comics including Guardians of the Galaxy, Man-Thing, The Defenders, and his own creation Howard the Duck worked on multiple levels like the best humor and satire. He didn't so much turn the comic genre upside down as he did twist it into something completely different. His storytelling and characters were original, unexpected and injected with great originality energy and heart. His writing entertained, but more importantly, it often made me consider relationships, life, politics and other equally confusing topics in new and interesting ways.

And without Steve Gerber, would we would never have had that infamous line from the Pretenders song Precious:

Now Howard the Duck and Mr Stress both stayed
Trapped in a world that they never made
But not me baby I'm too precious I had to fuck off.

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Mr. Gerber's work, now's a perfect time. Enjoy!

Steve Gerber homepage
Blog
IMDB page
The Comics Reporter obit

Check out Red House Records artist Ray Bonneville's "Big Easy," from his new CD Goin' By Feel. Love the swampy harmonica.

Ray will perform at SXSW this year (date and venue TBD). Hope to catch him live. I've posted "Big Easy" on Radio Barz via the Redhouse media player. Wasn't sure how to get this to work on Vox. Give it a listen.

This photo is still one of my favorites! Last year, our son turned himself into a Valentine's Day card. Enjoy your day!

This is a fast-car life. Too often, we don't think before we zoom.

Really like this tune. Wyclef Jean does a nice job of striking a chord of caution with a note of upbeat optimism.

As someone who didn't think twice a few times in the past before getting into or behind the wheel of a fast car, I like the thought that we all need to watch out for each other, to help each other "see clearly now."

"Fast Car" also provides me with the same infectious vibe as Gnarls Barkley's "Smiley Faces."

And you know, having Paul Simon on hand to sing a verse is pretty awesome. At least for this old guy.

Wyclef Jean home page
Paul Simon home page
Fast Car lyrics

Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, is again raffling a brand new guitar, this time a Fender American Deluxe Telecaster guitar. The guitar retails for $1,925. Raffle tickets cost only $20 each and only a total of 250 tickets will be sold. Drawing will be held once all tickets are sold. Visit the Stuart's Web site for more information and remember to support your live music venues.