Jim Baumer's Blog, page 4

My Musical Path

Last night I played a gig in Rochester, New Hampshire. It was a Wednesday night show at Mitchell Hill BBQ. On the way over from Biddeford, about 35 miles with a border crossing in Somersworth, I got turned around. I should have just shot down Route 111, but instead, took Route 9 instead. My mistake.

Showed up a bit harried. Had to drag my gear down the sidewalk nearly a ¼ mile because there was no parking due to outdoor dining barriers set-up along North Main Street.

I played the gig. Nothing from the audience. That’s fine. I gave them what I had for two hours including my epic mash-up of “Icarus” and “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore” and the first live performance of “Finding a New Path.” Made $17 in tips. It was a Wednesday night. Someone had to take this filler slot and I gave it the old college try. I’m appreciative for the booking, so “thanks Bob.”

The best part of my day (and nearly every day that I have a gig) is that I pick-up my guitar and bang through some of my songs I’ll play that night. Usually I’m working on five or six songs that are “not quite there” yet. Or, I’m working on a riff or solo to embellish a song I’m already playing.

And then, sometimes, I start playing around with some chords and a song comes to me. That’s what happened yesterday right after lunch. I started jotting down some of my stream of consciousness lyrics. I liked the chorus and my “baseball analogy.” Of course, it was written in D.

I wrote it and played it on the beat-to-shit Yamaha that I’ve owned for 30 years. Yammie was the guitar who saved me nearly three years ago. I’d just slapped on some new strings the day before. That guitar cost $150 back in 1995. I think I got my money’s worth, don’t you?

I’ve actually been using the Yamaha for one song in my set: Neil Young’s “Pocahontas” is tuned down a whole step, so I tune down Yammie and do my best Neil Young imitation. For a guy who worshipped Neil in high school and afterwards, it feels pretty good playing covers by my idol, along with T Rex and my fave obscure artists I name in the song.

The song demo (played at my kitchen table) was recorded on my Pixel phone and then, downloaded to Audacity and mixed. I posted it to my Soundcloud page.

This 10+ minute song captures so much about my musical journey, but also my life, too. How ‘bout some of you “rock stars” getting all the beach gigs in OOB write your own talking blues version of your life like this one? Maybe write yours about The Brunswick, or Myst, or Surf 6 since they’ve booked you multiple times. This is the 30th song I’ve written in the last 20 months. Does that qualify as being prolific? I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Bob Pollard when I see him. He’s someone I look to in terms of measuring my progress as a guy who writes his own songs.

Here it is (w/ lyrics below for those of you who like me to post them):

JimBaumerMe · Finding A New Path (Kitchen Table Demo)

Finding a New Path

Life was getting harder every day
I was wondering if I could stay
Looked up to the sky, I’m not really someone who prays
And I knew I had to change something b/c if I didn’t I wouldn’t be here very long

[chorus]
But life can be cruel, It can take the starch out of you
And then you gotta’ figure out what the next step is on your path
Like a curveball thrown, you’ve got to try to keep your weight back and dump it into the outfield
And maybe a baseball analogy doesn’t really work here
But I was thinking about it when I was playing my guitar

Once you right the ship, it’s time to figure out what’s next on your journey
No one can tell you what that is, you’ve gotta’ come to that place on your own
It can be lonely, and hard, but no one ever said that life would a picnic (and it’s not been one for me)
But I’m still here, and I’m singing my songs and playing my guitar and I’m thinking, Today’s been a really good day, Today has been a really good day. Today’s been a really, really…really good day

[chorus]

[venue you’re playing at]
So thanks to Bob and his good folks at Mitchell Hill, for having me come here to sing my songs, that come from the core of who I am, at this time, I’ve been through hell and back after losing my son, I’m trying my best to keep going on, but sometimes it seems that life can be tough, I’m not sure I can keep on, but I keep trying and trying.

[chorus]

Sometimes, it seems, like every single song I write, is in D; I like the chords, especially the Em, and the D and the A, and the G. It’s a key that’s easy for me to write in and making my living from the I, IV, V, with a ii chord thrown in (usually a minor), for good measure.

[chorus]

Cause I’m finding a new path, and it’s better than the old path, because the old path was a sad path, and it was path that was leading me down into the darkness and I found a way out, banging my way with this old beat-up guitar in the case over there that I’ll play another song and drop it down and play a song, like “Pocahontas” by Neil Young along with all my obscure covers by bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Swearing at Motorists and T Rex a’int that obscure [but some people think they are] that’s the music I’ve been listening to since I was 8-years-old, on my AM radio, my transistor hiding out in bed and listen to the AM radio when they used to play “Summertime Blues” by Blue Cheer and they’d follow it up with Arlo Guthrie singing “Alice’s Restaurant” and 18 minutes and I mean who plays that fucking shit on the radio anymore?

[chorus]

Cause I’m finding a new path and it’s better than the old path. And I’m happy I’m here at Mitchell Hill BBQ (thank you Bob for having me out tonight—I’m JimBaumerMe); I made a border crossing—came over from Maine—across the New Hampshire border over at Somersworth (one of my favorite towns); I really like Rochester—cause it’s a good working class place, like the town I grew up in, called Lisbon Falls, and it’s trying to figure out what it wants to be in the 21st century—just like me.

Playing Your Own Music

I write my own songs. Not everyone does. I’d wager that it’s fair to say that many solo performers and bands that you’ll see at Maine’s various live entertainment venues this summer play mainly covers.

Don’t get me wrong, covers are fine. In order to fill a three-hour setlist, I play covers. Lots of people like to hear songs they’re familiar with. In fact, there’s a reason grounded in psychology for this and why covers are popular and often, necessary for gigging musicians to perform.

Petr Janata who is an associate professor of psychology at UC Davis’ Center for Mind and Brain indicates that the popularity of cover tunes is that when humans hear a familiar piece of music, it serves as “a soundtrack for a mental movie that starts playing in our head.” Janata states that songs can summon up “memories of a particular person or place, and you might all of a sudden see that person’s face in your mind’s eye.”

Is there a place for original music—certainly. Should I be playing all my own songs all night long? Probably not, at least not this year.

But, I do like coming up with my own songs.

Two weeks ago, I played the Kennebunk Farmers’ Market. My understanding was that it might lead to something semi-regular. Now, I’m not so sure.

I do know this. I got lots of $1 and $5 dollar tips. That tells me that people who heard me appreciated my music and they made a tangible show of their appreciation. I also wrote a new song just for that morning, about farmers’ markets in general.

I played it last week during a short video segment I call “Breakfast with Baumer.”

Here is “The Farmers’ Market Song.”

Songs about TPTB

I’m pretty sure I was blissfully unaware of the danger lurking just below the surface of rock and roll. Perhaps the strains of a 4/4 backbeat, amplified guitar and bass, and the raw energy in those first songs blasted from the 2’’ speaker of my first transistor radio at eight-years-old was enough to complete that defining experience. I’ve never lost the magic and transformative elements of rock and roll on my life.

I had a transistor radio like this one.

If you don’t think rock and roll was once a seditious form of “entertainment” or something else, Google “GG Allin,” or do some reading about Iggy Pop. There are certainly others that could be called “dangerous.” The former is someone who, even if you think his anti-authoritarian stage antics including defecation and throwing shit is a tad over-the-top, Allin believed that his total embodiment of rock and roll was “an escape from consumerism and commercialism” and “a desire to return rock and roll to it’s rebellious roots.” What were those roots? And how the hell did it go from being anti-establishment to every single fucking pansy-ass rock and roll millennial buckling under and quivering in total fear to a virus that may or may not pose any real threat to them and their picking up a goddamned guitar. If GG Allin is a turn-off, look up Iggy Pop then. Is he now pimping for the man? I’m not saying rock and roll has to be scatological to be good. Not at all. But, damn!! What the hell has happened to the genre when everything is so passive and complicit with following a narrative that enshrines our corporate overlords? Seeking an alternative to Allin? I’m fine with Johnny Rotten. I’m a fan of Neil Young and play some of his songs.

What are other rock and rollers doing now? Supporting the likes of Joe Biden and parroting the same old leftist claptrap. Bruce Springsteen is still trotted out there as being “populist” and “for the people.” Right. Like the mindfuckery we’ve been subjected to for a year now from the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and others have our best interests at heart.

A year ago I wrote a song about being locked-down by Janet Mills. This petty tyrant has been allowed unprecedented power and total control over our lives under the guise of “keeping us safe” or some other variant of poppycock that all you stupid sheep are fine with. I’m not!

Two weeks ago, I got shit-canned from my healthcare-related job. I’m fine. I could see that slow train coming. Life’s too short to carry water for a bunch of fakes, frauds, and phonies. I’d say it’s worse when your CEO is a lying snake and disingenuous at that. If this offends you, I don’t fucking care. I’m sick of playing nice. That ship sailed four years ago for me.

JimBaumerMe · Stuck In A Nightmare (for Janet Mills)

In order to stay busy in-between sending out my resume and not lose music momentum, I’ve been working on re-recording some of my songs. Working at some alt mixes, also. I don’t think I’ve ever recorded “Stuck in a Nightmare.” The song has evolved over the past year, too. I recognized a riff in the song and realized I was channeling some 1970s Mick Ronson riffing on guitar for Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie. I like where the song lives right now as an electric number. It’s a nice 3 ½ minute vamp, really. But God forbid—it’s political because I mention Janet Mills, I guess. Or perhaps TPTB can read my thoughts and know I’m being a “bad boy” in questioning my overlords. Because Facebook banned my ad I was going to run promoting the song I uploaded to my Soundcloud page. Will they finally kick me off their propaganda-infused platform? Who knows.

My nod to rock and roll’s spirit, as much of my populist songcraft is a paean to. I even posted the words so you know what the hell I’m singing about.

Look out—JimBaumerMe is  dangerous performer!

Stuck in a Nightmare

Verse I

Stuck in my house
Feeling Like a Mouse
Waiting for the cat to pounce

Goin’ to the store
Don’t want no more
Toilet paper aisles cleaned out

Chorus

I wanna’ leave today
I can’t ‘cause the governor says to stay
Fear-fogging is the media’s way

Maybe this nightmare ends today

Verse II

On the road to work
Cut off by a jerk
Wishing that the guy would try

We’re all in this phase
People getting crazed
Thinking that their world might end

Chorus

I wanna’ leave today
I can’t ‘cause the governor says to stay
Fear-fogging is the media’s way

Maybe this nightmare ends today
(Hope this…) (Would that this…)

Rock and Roll Church-Easter Sunday Edition

I find that most people seem fixated on performers they’ll never meet or know. But they are “famous” and I am not.

Not going to make any comparisons between JimBaumerMe–who has only been working with any diligence at his lo-fi rock and roll craft for slightly less than three years–and let’s say Bruce Springsteen (faux populist), Bob Dylan (always been a fraud) and John Prine (who seems to be everyone’s favorite these days). But sometimes, to read all the hagiographic bullshit posted about artists that you probably don’t even own a fucking record by is really maddening (and hypocritical, too). Playing live music, live or even streaming, is much harder than most of you who can’t even form one cowboy chord, realize. But I’m sounding angry and bitter (my perpetual state).

Anyways, I’ve got another Sunday Morning Rock and Roll Church episode (the Easter 2021 edition) up on the platforms. I have an MP4 also, if anyone tries to de-platform me for my “mealy-mouthed millennial blasts” and railing against TPTB (like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and the other tech elites that are trying to shut down any reasoned dialogue).

And, oh, btw: this isn’t scripted. The emotions you see—the anger, and then, the very real tears from a father with a broken heart who lost his only son—those are real. And for those who walked away when things got too hard, there’s a song for you, too.

Lastly—where are all of Mark Baumer’s friends/fans these days? Just curious. His commitment is still worth considering in an age where everyone’s a bumper-sticker/front-lawn sign activist. Jesus certainly wasn’t.

Unplugged and Praying-Maundy Thursday Edition

Last week, streaming was a little too weird, with six screens staring back at me. So this week, I’m just going to pre-record and post.

This Maundy Thursday Unplugged Prayer Meeting was done in one take (no edits) down at the First Congregational Bunker Rock Church of Lo-Fi Salvation. Had fun making it and I tried not to go off the rails. Oh well….

It’s Thursday Night Unplugged Prayer Meeting/Maundy Thursday version

Thought the sound mix with guitar (acoustic) and vocals was a solid one. Played my Epiphone through the Vox and mic’d it directly into the DAW along with the vocals.

Setlist:

Broken Little Bird (JimBMe)
Main Man (T Rex/Marc Bolan)
Tulsa Time (Don Williams/Eric Clapton)
Wonderwall (Oasis)
Self-help bromide
Living in This World (JimBMe)
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young)
Icarus (Gold Connections)

Riffing on Bowie and Blistering the Walls

Music, like everything else, wasn’t intended to be programmed by algorithm. But, people seem to have succumbed: anything that isn’t easy, or pleasant, or makes them feel good about their pathetic lives is just deleted, or tuned out. Like populist rock and roll.

Try doing a Google search for “populist rock and roll” or “populist rocker.” Notice how Bruce Springsteen pops up? One of the articles is an older Spin magazine piece (from 1985) and another one on “The Boss” is from the New York Times and 1997. I guess if he’s the standard-bearer for populist rock and roll, no wonder it sets people off so easily. No one really remembers, apparently what music that pushed back against the establishment’s supposed to sound like. Oh, and see what I mean about algorithms? They fucking distort reality. And just so you know, Springsteen’s populist pose is just that: a pose. Remember the pathetic “unity in the middle” Super Bowl ad for Jeep?

But go ahead, keep looking for that populist thread running through what’s left of rock and roll. I won’t hold my breath waiting.

I ran through another Rock and Roll Church service Sunday morning. Got the stream to work, too. Weirdly, I had this odd, cascading thing going on during the Facebook Live stream. But, at least people showed up and could see and hear something. We’ll keep working to get all the speed bumps smoothed-out.

I’ve been playing “Stuck in a Nightmare,” my COVID song about lockdown and Janet Mills for a year. I wrote it in March, 2020. I’ve never played it live until today. There was this riff in the verses that sounded Bowie-esque. I couldn’t put my finger on the song. Ironically, it’s “Queen Bitch,” which seems fitting since Governor Mills plays so prominently in the sentiment of my song. I really like the electric version. This track was on Bowie’s 1971 record, Hunky Dory.

After a brief respite where Mary and I walked part of the beach at OOB, I was back down in the Bunker, working on recording a four-pack of songs I played during the morning R & R service.

Let me warn you. Don’t listen to it near flammable liquids. They may ignite.

I’ll post my video and then, Bowie playing, “Queen Bitch.”

There’s the screed about Jeff Bezos, and how his wealth has gone from $106 billion to $186 billion during COVID. So much for pandemics being tough on TPTB. I also reference Jimmy Dore, someone you might want to check-out if populism doesn’t offend you.

Unplugged Prayers for Rock and Roll Salvation

I am doing a combination of recorded videos and live streams as part of the work of the First Congregational Bunker Rock Church of Lo-Fi Salvation. As the church’s music minister, here is my contribution: a setlist of songs played Thursday afternoon.

Later that night, a live stream went out on the interwebz. I thought this was a more energetic (and slightly different) set. By the time we went live Thursday night, I’d played three sets, so my fourth set that night was a bit underwhelming, in my opinion. You be the judge, though. Oh, and there’s even a brief self-help segment about midway through the set. Bromides by Baumer, or something like that.

Thursday Night Unplugged Prayer Meeting/Rock and Roll Church (March 18)

Come on down to the First Congregational Bunker Rock Church of Lo-Fi Salvation for tonight’s maiden voyage of the Rock and Roll Church’s Thursday Night Acoustic Prayer Meeting.

JimBaumerMe will be running through a set of acoustic tunes, with a self-help bromide or two thrown-in for good measure.

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Song Fodder/Broken Little Bird

When I was teaching writing, I worked at cultivating the habit of writing in my students. I’d say to them, “writers write—so start writing.” Not necessarily profound, but really: you want to write, so in order to start the flow of words, you need to prime the pump.

Countless people who have dreamed of playing guitar often never start with something as basic at what I wrote above. Rather than writing, you need to begin playing—every single day! How do I know this? Because I’ve taken that advice and parlayed it into guitar skills that while they aren’t steeped in virtuosity—they serve their purpose and allow me to write songs and then, play them. How much more do you need?

I’m a fan of The Hold Steady and the songwriting of Craig Finn. For my money, he’s as good as anyone writing in the rock medium. His songs flesh out stories about characters like hoodrats (“Your Little Hoodrat Friend”) and women with migraines that bet successfully on horses (“Chips Ahoy”).

Finn is a proponent of the daily writing habit. That’s what he lives by as a songwriter. If it’s good enough for Finn, it’s good enough for me and anyone else who wants to write songs.

While I’m no Craig Finn, I have written more than 20 songs over the past 16 months, or so. I just wrote another one last night.

Songwriters such as Finn, mine the experiences from his life for fodder that become the lyrics of his songs. I used an incident that happened last week to craft the lyrics and then the progression that became “Broken Little Bird.”

Tuesday morning, prior to jumping on the phones—my source of shekels and keeping ahead of the bills—listening to Finn and his band. I had ideas of where I wanted to go with “Broken Bird,” but knew I was still short of it. Lunch was spent fiddling with lyrics and moving verses around, wolfing down some Annie Chung KungPao. By the end of the day, I had the song framework I wanted.  Thanks, Craig!

After writing it on my acoustic, I thought I’d fiddle around playing it on my Danelectro last night in the basement. Danny is my “Fender” and his tone is what I was aiming for.  I located a drum track that was perfect and I started the sound recorder on my phone. My rough mix prior to breakfast, and here you have it. Song-making in 48 hours from JimBaumerMe.

Oh, and that person who after 15 years walked away with two sentences in an email: you’re simply song fodder.

JimBaumerMe · Broken Little Bird (Demo)

Rock and Roll Church-Sunday, March 7/Do You Want to Get Well?

Rock and Roll Church this week was pre-recorded earlier in the week. It makes for a “less bumpy ride” than dealing with stream issues. Plus, it gives people some flexibility in being able to watch/listen if Sunday morning don’t work for them.

Time: March 7, 2021

Location: First Congregational Bunker Rock Church of Low-Fi Salvation

Host: JimBaumerMe (music)     Rev. Jimi (sermon and edification)

Set 1:

Sermon:

Set 2:

Note: I mentioned “Burkean Conservatism and John Michael Greer” in my sermon and a link. Here it is.