Category: music

getting the band together again

Jarrod’s not playing, so it might be weird to keep calling it Old Braunfels. Who knows, though. It’s a good name for a band in Munich, whose members predominantly come from Texas. However, we’ve got something else going on and Vancouver Michael will most likely have a considerable impact. Nina Kuhlig, who you might remember… Continue reading getting the band together again

another Blue February? grab your handkerchief

It’s already been two years since I did the first Blue February show, and for the last week or so I’ve been talking to musicians, including Carlos and Nina who played last time, about doing another concert of melancholy love songs. Any locals who’d be interesting in such a thing? My idea then and now… Continue reading another Blue February? grab your handkerchief

digital detox (for social media) and grieving for those damned dogs

We decided last weekend that we’d do a Digital Detox starting this next Sunday, and neither of us really thought it through. Late last night (or two nights ago, at this point), Miriam turned to me and said, ‘You remember what we agreed to last weekend?’ In a split second, it all came rushing back… Continue reading digital detox (for social media) and grieving for those damned dogs

Come let me make your February a bit bluer

Despite being inundated with ridiculous romcoms and even sillier pop songs, a rather boisterous part of me has resisted romantic love for a good part of my adult life. I remember at some point reading  that Frank Zappa quipped that he thought the expectations people had of romance actually killed any hope of that love… Continue reading Come let me make your February a bit bluer

hereabouts it’s going to be played by Old Braunfels and hope to see you there 

Well, we seem to have our best gigs in summer, and this year’s no exception.  Jarrod moved away and then moved back home over the course of this most recent trip round the sun, and we’ve even reconnected with former (& hopefully future) fiddle player & singer Violeta, who’d moved to Chile.  Now she’s back… Continue reading hereabouts it’s going to be played by Old Braunfels and hope to see you there 

The western sky alight and melodies rattle round in my head

Playing with a new band, as well as  ramping up new projects with Old Braunfels, as Jarrod has made his way back to Munich after months of being a digital nomad. Welcome back home, you old goat.  But what was I saying? These new Germans I’m palling around with love playing covers of stuff you’d hear… Continue reading The western sky alight and melodies rattle round in my head

Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head

‘Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe so müd geworden, daß er nichts mehr hält. Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Stäbe gäbe und hinter tausend Stäben keine Welt. Der weiche Gang geschmeidig starker Schritte, der sich im allerkleinsten Kreise dreht, ist wie ein Tanz von Kraft um eine Mitte, in der betäubt ein großer… Continue reading Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head

Feverish thoughts while trying not to think too much about the Munich Security Conference

Thought I felt a cold coming on, but there was too much going on this weekend in Munich to slow down. I wasn’t going to be a hypochondriac about it, so I pushed on through. It’s early February, so that means the annual Munich Security Conference was taking place. I typically pay close attention to… Continue reading Feverish thoughts while trying not to think too much about the Munich Security Conference

Sea and sky twenty years later

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t31thiT2r8] I feel like a castaway but I’m not afraid You and me and a couple of dusty volumes I wanna be your Messiah but there’s no way I feel the tide roll in around us You be the sea and I’ll be the sky I want you with me now don’t wonder why… Continue reading Sea and sky twenty years later