Adam James

Current mood: thoughtful

Two weeks ago, I was on my way to the mall. I was sitting in the MARTA station waiting for a train and grooving to the sounds of my bro’s band Assumptions Debbie (now called The Heights. Check them out: www.myspace.com/theseheights) when a guy sat down next to me looking like he wanted to talk. There were plenty of empty benches in the place, so for him to sit down next to me, I feel like he must have wanted to talk about something. For those of you that know me, you know that I’m a very social person, willing to talk to just about anybody at any time, but in this situation, I turned away, trying to avoid eye contact at all costs. He got a call on his phone (or pretended to) and got up and walked away, but it got me thinking.

The week after, I was on the train again, no iPod, and someone sat by me on the train and we got to talking. The difference was not only the iPod (or lack thereof) but also the lack of this intense desire NOT to have to talk to anyone. Granted I’m not always in a talking mood, but I feel like having the iPod on makes it worse, or makes me not want to talk at a time when I would otherwise.

Maybe i’m making more of this than there really is, but it seems that everyone is so desperate to “connect” with other people these days, and I hear so many people talk about how lonely they are, yet when they’re out in the real world, they’ve always got headphones on, are talking on cell phones, are punching away on their laptops, etc., seemingly too busy to acknowledge their fellow human beings. Or too scared to.

I think part the problem today is that we have too many methods of escape, too many ways of forgetting that we’re all human beings, that we’re more the same than we are different. Too many ways of allowing technology to get between us. What’s next, virtual sex??

So if you’re reading this, I encourage you to stay off the iPod, the cell phone, the laptop, WHATEVER, for a day. Just try it. Talk to a stranger, at least acknowledge them in SOME way. We’re afraid of each other, and for what? I’m sure some of you think I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but isn’t is usually the crazy ones that turn out to be right in SOME way??

Hey cats ‘n’ kittens,

Just wanted to remind you that I’ll be playing at the Red Light Cafe tomorrow night. Here are the details:

WHEN: TOMORROW Tuesday, March 13th, 2007, 7pm
WHERE: Red Light Cafe, 553 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
INFO: $7 at the door and I have presale tickets you can get for $5 until the show. ALL AGES too!

I’ll be playing with Bria Kam who is making her return to Atlanta after a stay in North Carolina! Come have a good time and welcome Bria back! Cheers! Adam

“Road To Peace”-Tom Waits
Okay, so it’s probably general knowledge that on some level, I wish I could sing all gravelly and stuff like Tom Waits. I don’t know why, but I do. Something about his voice just gets me. This song, from his recently released box set “Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards” is a tale of ideology as a means to destroy. In it, he details a suicide bomber 18 years old who has never spent a night away from home, yet he’s boarding a bus with bombs strapped to him. Waits then details the Israeli reaction which includes the destruction of a city and its people. The song is repetitive musically and quite long, but this is because Waits wants the listener to pay attention to the lyrics. In the end Waits muses “Maybe God is lost, and needs all our help, on the Road To Peace.” The message is powerful and when backed by Waits’ inimitable voice (which sounds better on this track than it has in a long time!) the effects are devestating.

Welp, it’s about time to head to work. I shall see thee on the flip side. HAve a great day! Adam

Greetings one and all,

As of this writing, I’m back at work at the Park Tavern after a lengthy vacation during the winter and getting re-used to having food and drink spilled on me. So if anyone should feel like coming in and say hi and/or watching the spectacle that is me working, come by Park Tavern on just about any weekend. I’ll be there! Beyond that we have the….

NEXT SHOW!!!
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WHEN: Tuesday March 13th, 2007, 7pm
WHERE: Red Light Cafe, Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta, GA
INFO: ALL AGES! $7 at the door, $5 presale! If anyone is interested in a presale ticket, send me your address and I’ll send you a ticket at which point, you can send me the $5. We’re working on the honor system here!

Thanks go to Bria Kam and Cindy Lou Harrington for lining this show up and putting me on the bill!


UPCOMING SHOWS
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WHEN: Tuesday, Aptil 17th, 2007 8:30pm
WHERE: Smith’s Olde Bar, corner of Piedmont & Monroe Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308
INFO: $5 at the door and 21+ only

A big thanks to Kahle Davis for this one. The lovely and talented (he pays me well to say stuff like this) Patrick Cook will be playing right after me, so if you like deep voices, his is the deepest!


OTHER STUFF THAT WILL MAKE YOU THINK I’M TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL (that is SUCH a lame phrase!)
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”jazzrocksoul” is approaching completion! We’ve just to do the mastering and the artwork is taking shape! I’m hoping to have it released by early May!