Jim Alfredson

Whoa, Game of Thrones (the first book, not the series)... can't put it down. Figured I'd do some "light" fiction after two heady books on civilization and one on quantum mechanics. Thanks to my brother for the suggestion!

So, last week Janiva's new CD "Stronger For It" was the number 2 downloaded blues album of ALL TIME from AirPlay Direct. What is AirPlay Direct? It's the site that radio stations use to download CDs for airplay. The tracks were downloaded over 900 times. Radio is all over this new CD, including the #2 most added CD on Americana stations nationwide.

“Observance of customs and laws can very easily be a cloak for a lie so subtle that our fellow human beings are unable to detect it. It may help us to escape all criticism, we may even be able to deceive ourselves in the belief of our obvious righteousness. But deep down, below the surface of the average man's conscience, he hears a voice whispering, 'There is something not right,' no matter how much his rightness is supported by public opinion or by the moral code.” ― C.G....

Corporations, like pieces of art, religion, or other human artifacts, beliefs, or institutions, are manifestations of cultural desire. ~ Derrick Jensen

Had a ball debuting the new songs at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix last night. On to Tucson today! Feels good to be out of rehearsals and actually performing this stuff. The crowd loved the new material and the joint was packed despite the Fabulous Thunderbirds being in town. I'd say that's a good sign!

Pet peeve: people who stand too close behind you while waiting in line. Back off, broham!

Your inability to invalidate my hypothesis is not at all the same thing as proving it true.

Rehearsal today in LA. The new songs are full of lots of backing vocals. The band is killin' them. Watch out!

The bus to Detroit Metro is as full as I've ever seen. And the majority of these folks are coughing, sniffling, hacking. Can. Not. Get. Sick.

And my status about violence in our Western civilization disappeared. I did not delete it. Is it time to don the tin foil hat?

I just heard about the high school shooting in Ohio that occurred yesterday. While the action itself is appalling, why is everyone so surprised? We live in an incredibly violent society. In fact, our very culture formed out of violence and violence is still a prevalent and widely accepted method to "solve" problems. Just look at the last 10 years of war and the calls for another one against Iran. Why the shock?

Well, that was dumb. I meant to format an 8GB USB stick and formatted my main music workdrive (with all my Cubase projects on it) instead. Brilliant. Good thing I backed it all up before I left for Florida a few weeks ago.

Home.

Rehearsing today and then taking the red-eye back home for a few days with the family.

So for the last four nights in a row, I've had dreams with my father in them, who passed in 2008. We've been discussing all manner of things. In one dream, he took me to where he's been hanging out, which I can only describe as some sort of center of a galaxy with all these other beings around it, being fed from the blackhole at the center. None of them were human, including my father once we arrived.

After I finished "People's History of the United States" (which should be this weekend), what should I pick up next? I've got a bunch of stuff on my wishlist. A book on tax reform, a couple on quantum physics, a few on astro-physics, the Inquisition, some novels, Civil War history, the Twain autobiography, and some good ol' Dawkins classics like The Selfish Gene. Suggestions?

I just saw a weird Facebook ad on the right side of the screen urging me to call my senator and tell them to pass the EPA Regulatory Act of 2011. Uh, that passed already. Last October. Hence the "of 2011" part.

Oh no! El Pollo Loco you just broke my heart. I couldn't find an ingredient list on their website so I called and spoke with a customer service rep. The marinade they use on the chicken has Yellow #5 in it. For the love of Thor, why? It's a marinade!!! You don't even see it once the chicken is cooked. Criminey. This country is insane.

Yesterday I ate at a Chik-Fil-A for the first time due to location (right next to the hotel) and a time crunch. I ordered a chicken salad. They had 8 different types of dressing. Each one had synthetic dye in it, even the "balsamic vinaigrette". So no dressing for me. I wrote an email to the company urging them to remove the synthetic dyes from their products and they wrote back "Unfortunately, it is our corporate policy not to accept or consider any unsolicited creative ideas." Thanks...

Ch. 11 of Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States" should be required reading for all citizens.

Florida, it's been fun. Flying to LA this evening for more rehearsals and a show at the Roxy (On The Rox) on Wednesday.

Clearwater Blues Festival tonight! Headlinin'. Oh yeah!

Lake Worth, FL tonight at the Bamboo Room. East side!

Playing BB King's in Orlando, FL today! Excited!

New Smyrna Beach, FL tonight at the Om Bar with Janiva Magness. Gonna feel good to PLAY again! Don't forget, you can pre-order the new CD and get an exclusive, instant, free download of a bonus track (that is NOT on the CD!)