Mar and Big Al Playlist-- Eclectic, Hectic, Frenetic

Sometimes, with a little serendipity, my husband gets a night off once a week. If the stars are in alignment, he might get TWO nights off. As he did last weekend. So when he does, we like to enjoy music. I call our selections the +Mar-and-Big-Al-playlist. It is pan-genre, pan-world. It is hectic, electric and frenetic. Here's a sampling from last Saturday.   Mar and Big Al Playlist. Eclectic, Hectic, Frenetic

Educational Thanksgiving Movies with Awesome Soundtracks

Thanksgiving, as a holiday has some urban legends clinging to it. Historical inaccuracies, romanticized euphemisms, wishful thinking and revisionist history distort our knowledge of pilgrims (more accurately puritans), native Americans and 17th century life in New England.

I'm not going to attempt to lay any inaccuracies to rest. I'll be the first to admit I don't know for sure. I wasn't there. No one living was. What I present are movies based on research to be the most accurate depiction of life in the early 1600s. Most are literature based and have killer soundtracks. Best Educational Movies for Thanksgiving Lessons

Facebook Causes Awards Grant Money to School Arts, Music Programs

 I'm going to be honest about two things. I both love and dread getting a Causes notification from Facebook. I have an activist's heart and love supporting worthwhile issues. But I don't that some Causes requests feel more like someone's agenda. Some literally spam me with requests. Post on your Facebook wall, but don't flood my email with your pet causes.  Facebook Causes, An Agenda We Can All Agree On

Trip Down Music Memory Lane for My Husband's 50th Birthday

My husband and I have been together since 1982. 31 years. Older than a lot of you. Here's our story, set to music from our day. We met October 18 at Muskegon Community College. He was a wild long-haired renegade in black leather who rode a kick-ass '67 Triumph Tiger. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9eWGdJIW74
I was the proverbial serious student. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMdhWRO4-dQ My guy friends said I was hot-looked like Pat Benatar. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-QmgdUVTI. Click here for my musical tribute.
Happy 50th, My Baby (Set to Music)

Are You a Closet Musician, Come Out and Try Busking!

I wrote recently about how panhandling should not be allowed and that there are alternative. Here's one alternative, or many really--busking. I won't give to beggars. I will gladly give to buskers or street performers.
Instead of standing around holding out at cup, do something to earn a donation. It's my advice to anyone who needs extra money--high school, college students, unemployed. Don't sell your talents short. Times are tight. You have to be creative. Is there some skill you have? Drawing, painting, music, juggling, mime, exhibition dancing, acting, oratory? Look for a place that will allow you to perform. Leave a cup for donations. I almost always toss a buck or two in and I see that others have too.   How to Make Money Street Busking - News - Bubblews

Our Eclectic, Pan-Genre Music Playlist

My husband works third shift, often weekends, too. Our treat on Saturday, if he has it off, is to go to dinner, stroll the beach, grab some local Shiraz from Lemon Creek and a craft brew assortment of IPA for him, then hit Youtube for music to enjoy. We've been on a retro kick, looking up songs of our youth. But we mix it up with new talent too. Neither of us was what you'd call a groupie (except me in junior high with Bay City Rollers--I took fan to new, weird levels in my own little world). I never went to concerts or even had a stereo, not much money to spare. But we found we both shared an incredible diversity of music tastes. Here are highlights from last Saturday's +Mar-and-Big-Al-Playlist. Be warned--it's a global, multi-period romp!  Our Eclectic, Pan-Genre Music Playlist Last Saturday

Artists Breaking Music Barriers, Creating New Sounds

 I'm really excited about what's happening in music, particularly the alternative/ indie/ roots scene. I'm pleased to hear so many younger, avant garde musicians. It's always our youth to whom we must look for change. And they're providing. Like the way good craft IPA is pushing Bud Light aside, a refreshing new wind blowing across the music industry.  Artists Breaking Music Barriers, Creating New Sounds