Astro Nut

My friend Gregory Page released a new album in the Netherlands this week. One Way Journey Home is yet another epic collection of words & melodies strung together by Mr Page, sure to strike a chord on your heartstrings. Check out his hilarious promotional film as he goes door-to-door to tell the world about the new release.

 

For as long as I can remember, Mr Page’s website has referred to him as “songwriter troubadour filmmaker astronaut.” And in many ways I relate. To tour is to orbit the Earth. We may not travel 17,000 miles per hour like those aboard the ISS (International Space Station), but we do log those miles eventually, on our own time. And we too see the world from many fascinating angles.

 

Music takes you places. It can guide you through your inner world, making sense of emotion and easing pain, or it can literally take you around the planet, from NYC to San Diego; Antarctica to Outer Space.

 

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX where I got to hang with astronauts on the ground and converse with those in space, all thanks to music. Did you know that we’ve had someone in space for 14 consecutive years? The space-men & women still change shifts every 6 months but plan to extend their stay-cations to an entire year.

 

The recently retired NASA shuttle program was not the end of our space program at all. Now that the ISS is practically self-sustaining, NASA is refocusing its exploration away from low orbit and looking to soon be exploring nearby asteroids, moons of Mars, and Mars itself; searching for medicines & histories on the frontiers of new technology. Again I see the comparisons between songwriters & astronauts.  Troubadours explore new and old worlds to share those worlds’ stories, all the while putting medicine in the music to increase the potency of the message.

 

On board the ISS, each crew member is required to exercise 2 hours a day in order to preserve their bone mass. They eat processed foods due to the lack of farmer’s markets in space. And they drink recycled pee. Astro-Nutty! We troubadours might eat at gas stations & diners. And we might pee in moving vans if there’s no time to stop before the gig, but the only thing we exercise is our right to free speech. I guess Astronauts have us beat.

 

I think I’ll keep my feet on the ground and continue to look up to astronauts as I do.

 

“And I look up” to Mr Page. He gave me my first gig in San Diego in 1999 and we have remained good friends ever since. I invite you to check out his new album, ONE WAY JOURNEY HOME, recorded by me. It’s just lovely.