Highway 38

Going through some old photos and found this one. Taken by James Ducat. Enjoy.

Blog Troubles

My blogging has been deeply disturbed as of late. I have a hard enough time with my Tweets and Facebook updates. Not to mention, I think things like Twitter or Facebook or other "mini-blogs" have almost made sites like these obsolete.

Another reason for the inactive blogger is the fact that there is nothing really to report. For the next couple of years I may be doing the exact same thing every day. My hopes is that the redundancy and perseverance will pay off and I will have more to report than I can handle one day.

Keep your eyes peeled on Myspace for some new demo stuff here.

Love you all.

age.

Okay, I will post now...

Honestly, things have been so discombobulated I haven't even been able to put my thought into logical sentences.

Things are better now, though.

I got a new job at this upscale restaurant here in Green Hills called Nero's and it really fits well.

Still looking for a place to live but that will also come in time.

Since I have been here I realized a few things:

I love and miss my family (Autumn and Ryan included) just as much as I ever have. They are so important to me and I wouldn't trade a day with them. So, yes, it is hard to be away from them. However, what has changed is my attitude. I am more focused, more driven and most importantly more patient. God has done a work in me without me even knowing it. Spending time in California was for a reason and the reason becomes more clear everyday.

Once I get a place to live, I can't wait to hit the ground running with my music. I am currently working on a five song demo that we recorded drums for before I left. I am also writing new stuff everyday so keep your eyes open.

Below is a picture of my first Tennessee Titans game (Carter gave me tickets) and my first pro football game since I was like 11.

I love every person that reads this, thank you for your prayers and your love.

age

American Saturday Night

As much as I love to do this, I am always unsure about the readership that these cd reviews accumulate. Oh well, its not about the response its about the release...

The other day I decided to go buck wild on iTunes, something that hasn't happened in a while and it was much needed. I picked up the first Coldplay album, which I misplaced a couple of years ago, for only $7. I also grabbed the new Mat Kearney and a few other singles.

However, the reason we are here is because of my unrelenting urge to always buy a Brad Paisley record. A few have been bad, most have been bearable and one has just been just plain interesting. So when I started listening to American Saturday Night I was a bit skeptical, and sure enough the opening track "American Saturday Night" sounded much like many Brad Paisley tunes I had heard in the past such as "The World." But as the cd progressed I was very much pleased. Of course, the two new singles off the album "Welcome to the Future," a song where Brad doesn't shy away from using his lyrical creativity as much as his guitar virtuosity, and "Then," the song where every man in America kicks himself for not writing it to his loved one first, are both very "cookie-cutter" Brad Paisley type tunes.

However, it is the b-sides (as usual) that really make this album leap past Brad's last few records. I am particularly partial to the slower tunes such as "She's Her Own Woman," a bluesy/soulful ode to his independent girl, "Oh yeah, Your Gone," a perfect mix of cute and clever and "I Hope That's Me" which is my vote for next single.

Brad must include tracks that make us giggle and these include "Catch all The Fish" and "The Pants", which I officially dedicate to me brother-in-law and "You do the Math." I don't thing Brad would be Brad if he didn't have songs like these.

I have often picked on Brad for picking on his guitar too often. However, on this album you can really tell he tries to break out of his style and explore new techniques, (or just showcase them) while still being himself. We all know that he can play the hell out of his Tele, as we heard on the previous, mostly instrumental album, Play, but he certainly puts himself at the top of list of Nashville guitarists with this one.

And can I just say thank God we don't have any William Shatner or Little Jimmy Dickens tracks on this one! I mean, they are funny guys but it was getting a little old.

With American Saturday Night I am entertained and impressed for the whole album, start to finish. I recommend it.

Be

The longer I sit still,
The more I feel the universe moving,
And conspiring
To my favor.

happiness...

A few weeks ago I was standing on the porch of a country club in Marietta, Georgia overlooking a golf course with a beautiful sunset.

In that moment I was happy...

An Update From a Nomad...

Next to the term above, I have also been deemed titles such as gypsy, free-spirit and just plain crazy! I don't know why I am so radically different than, not just everybody else in my family, but everybody in this town! I just go where the wind blows and I trust that God is gonna put me on the path that he wants me, as long as I walk through the doors that are open for me.

Anywho, I just got back from Music City a couple of days ago and had a great time working at CMA Fanfair at LP field, as well as the CMT Awards. And, as I could have guessed, being there just made me want to go back. Everything I want out of my music is in that town and it just feels like home to me. Its not a matter of if I am going back, it is when.

Which brings me to the next topic: What is the next move? This is not a pitiful pawn move to distract the other player from what you are really doing. This is a "I'm moving my bishop right in the line of your Queen" type move. Its big...its important. Once again, two roads are placed in front of me, and once again I am faced with the fact that I can't pave a road of my own that splits the two. Its one or the other.

In the meantime I think I am going to create a new blog. I have been dancing around the idea of starting a blog/website that is strictly based on social issues around the world. It is stupefying how little people are informed about the atrocities and injustices that go on all over the world. I don't necessarily consider my self qualified for such an undertaking. A minor in global studies hardly equips me for such a task, but I think with some hard work (and some help from others i.e. Jeff *wink*) that it could turn into something really cool. The most recent push to start this project came from an email that I got this morning. It states:

Good morning from Bangkok:

I had a meeting yesterday to discuss the unfolding atrocities being committed by the Myanmar government against the Karen people (40% Christian). More than 4000 Karen have crossed into Thailand in an attempt to flee the tightening noose of the Myanmar army. One camp now contains more than 800 children and pregnant mothers. The Myanmar government has given the Thai government until Tuesday, June 23rd, to send them back or else they will begin shelling the Thai refugee camps. In the past, the Thai government has bowed to the wishes of the Myanmar government. If they do so this time it could mean a blood bath for the Karen people.

Please pray!

Duane and Jeanne

I am also messing with the idea of starting a guitar/music blog where I can document my feeble attempts at getting better, as well as have discussions, forums, videos etc.

Please let me know if you think either of these things, (or perhaps both) would be worth the time. If you reading this, I probably directed you here, and I directed you here for your opinion. I love hearing what my friends and family think.

With Love,

age

New Website.

If you are here, you haven't heard about my new website. I will be posting my blogs on there from now on. Blogspot has done me well but I have found this new website is easier to find and to use. You can click here to get there or put the address below in your web browser.

www.ajsoldo.com

Thanks.