January 2012
1 post
December 2011
1 post
3 tags
November 2011
2 posts
3 tags
October 2011
1 post
September 2011
2 posts
August 2011
1 post
NOW. #33. (A TIDY-UP.)
Busy-ness. Or, if I must spell it as such, business. That’s my excuse for the lapse in communication. And admittedly, I’ve written and re-written this blog over the course of several weeks as my thoughts and scenarios change. I do understand that these writings are supposed to be a bit more “from-the-hip” than that, but indeed, my neurosis knows no bounds. Even so, not...
June 2011
1 post
thistledownmusic-deactivated201 asked: Hi Owen, I've got some songs that I've been working on and I wanted to get the opinion of someone I really respect musically about whether there is some potential in them. It'd really be great if you took a listen. If you've got the time, a few comments and critiques would really be appreciated. I don't know if this is something that you would normally charge for through...
May 2011
2 posts
justtheash asked: Hi Owen,
I was sad for a while when I found out that the Elms has come to an end (especially since I wasn't able to see the Elms play here in Europe a couple of years ago.) I still have a sampler CD I'd picked up years ago with the tracks 'Goodnight Rosa' and 'Lifeboat' — I'll never forget hearing the band for the first time. But change is...
I was sad for a while when I found out that the Elms has come to an end (especially since I wasn't able to see the Elms play here in Europe a couple of years ago.) I still have a sampler CD I'd picked up years ago with the tracks 'Goodnight Rosa' and 'Lifeboat' — I'll never forget hearing the band for the first time. But change is...
SHORTCUT 2 N UPD8.
Compadres, I miss you all, and the experience of blogging frequently. Much creative work is in the air, which means that deadlines and plans (both self-imposed and otherwise) loom daily. At the first chance I get, I’ll sit down and write out a hearty, righteous note that we can all discuss at length. Word. Until then, there’s this little interview that I did with NUVO Newsweekly last...
April 2011
1 post
WatchThis Lennon/Van Halen mashup blew my mind. “Imagine” vs. “Jump.” My Twitter here.
March 2011
1 post
November 2010
3 posts
3 tags
VIA COLOMBIA.
I still get notes from people expressing their fond sentiments regarding the music of The Elms. Today, I received this very nice letter via FB from a guy called Manuel who lives in Colombia. I love the language divide. For some reason, a note like this would be much less interesting/charming to me if written in perfect English. _________________________ Hi Owen, I send you greetings from Colombia....
nicole1983 asked: Do you like The Mighty Boosh? If so, what's your favorite episode?
HOME ON THE RANGE.
I accidentally hit the “Most Played” tab in iTunes, and found the stats. Funny. —————— 1.) “Bang Bang Bang” Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. 2.) “The Long Way Around” The Dixie Chicks 3.) “Radio Nowhere” Bruce Springsteen 4.) “Bad Reputation” Freedy Johnston 5.) “Lose It (In The End)”...
September 2010
1 post
5 tags
UP 2 D8. (Or, PLAN A.1)
Compadres, I’m not going to belabor this point, but I’ve missed Tumblr, and you all! I’ve had to engage Twitter a bit more lately, only because it feels more on-the-go. And I’ve been on-the-going. I take blogging more seriously than I do Twitter, and I think that’s how it’s supposed to be. Things are good, things are cool. Lots of creative mojo in the air....
August 2010
8 posts
4 tags
icy-anna asked: This is going to seem strange, but I've got to know. When you say "sssss", what are you trying to say? WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Am I just missing ssssssomething?
1 tag
WRONG & WRITE.
People comment on my handwriting. I’d forgotten how often they comment, since typing has become so much more prevalent in my life and most of us write freehand far less. My natural handwriting is tag-like, bold and all caps. Pursuant to my blog on 8.10.10, I received notes about it again. It got me thinking. I remember being in grade school, where there was always emphasis on penmanship,...
3 tags
JEREMY BLAKE.
During a bout of insomnia tonight, I found myself looking for a movie to watch as I scanned through my overloaded email inbox. Yeah, the whole movie part was just supposed to be background accompaniment. Do you ever put movies on just because it feels like you’ve got some company while you’re doing mundane things? I do. I decided on P.T. Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love. At the...
1 tag
DECOMPRESSIONISM.
This is a blog to say that soon, there will be a longer blog. And… I had my weekly volleyball game tonight. It’s co-ed. Some of my greatest friends are on the team, and this is the first year in 10 that I could commit to being consistently local on Sunday nights for a Summer. Anyway, tonight one of my female friends walked up as I was tying my shoes on a bench at the park and said,...
July 2010
6 posts
NOW / #32.
As I sit here while my 32nd birthday ticks in, and as the dawn breaks on the single most important sea change that I’ve experienced in my life… I must be totally honest with you. Most of the words that I hang up here for you to read are labored over. They gestate, and sit inside my brain and my guts for days (or even weeks) before I write them down and let them go. Words are my...
YOU vs. YOU.
(PRE-BLOG DISCLAIMER: Although I’ve been in a rock band for ten years, I think that there are truisms in life that exist whether you’re playing guitar for a living, building houses, day trading on Wall Street, or shuckin’ corn. You people are pragmatists, you’re bright and insightful. On this blog, words like “artist” and “stage” have greater meaning...
michaelshoup asked: From a Dayton, Ohio native Singer / Songwriter living in Nashville: How do you feel living in Indiana [vs Nashville, LA, New York] has effected your career? Songwriting? What made that decision easy or hard?
June 2010
6 posts
“LET’S GO, OWEN!” One of my best...
1/3. LAFAYETTE IN, 6.19.10.
The Elms did our first of three final shows tonight, and the evening was beautiful. A quick rundown, as my brain begins to drift to sleep: The show was a street festival, but in an historic part of the city across from town hall. When the band took the stage at 8:45pm, the crowd was a bit light and it was hot. By the time the sun went down, the streets were full and the atmosphere was really...
ROLLIN' & TUMBLRIN'.
I did an interview yesterday with a bright young guy named Dan whose website has been supportive of The Elms for years. A wonderful guy, this one. Good conversation ensued. The interview will surface at some point soon… Dan and I discussed the unique interplay between our band and its supporters. The opportunity to interact personally with our audience after our shows became an intrinsic...
THE FIRST BLOG OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Hi all, First off, your various forms of contact over the past several days have been more than heartwarming, and I’m so thankful for you. As you can now see, I’ve been consumed for the past several months preparing myself for the announcement of events that will change the trajectory of my life. A couple things I’d like you to know: 1.) MY CONTACT WITH THE WORLD AT LARGE HAS...
TO EVERYTHING, TURN TURN.
(PR) After an extraordinary decade of music and camaraderie, Indiana-based rock band THE ELMS have announced plans to disband, with a final performance taking place July 30 in Indianapolis. Retrospective digital box set, digi-book released TODAY… http://www.theelms.net
May 2010
5 posts
May 14, 1998.
Seinfeld went off the air 12 years ago today. I propose a new national holiday: National Seinfeld Quotation Day.
craggyosaurus asked: If you had to pick a song that you've written that you're most proud of.. what would it be and why?
Will Owsley.
If you’re unaware of the great Will Owsley (ubiquitously known simply by his last name), take a moment to track down his 1999 self-titled power pop masterpiece. iTunes has it. Will passed away on April 30. I never got a chance to meet him, but his music was wildly melodic and expertly crafted, even garnering his debut an engineering Grammy nomination in 2000. Several songs on that album...