The End of an Error; The Beginning of an Era

An African American hand, that of President Barack Obama, taking oath upon the bible of Abraham Lincoln - a truly American story.

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

-Barack Hussein Obama II, January 20th, 2009, 44th President of the United States of America

Farewell (for now), Ryan.

On the Cardinal Cave:

me- 34-a non smoker and happy, for the first time in my life.. i am excited to finish this wonderful time i have had with the cardinals and whatever new adventures may come after march. atlanta will be my last venture with the band and i am grateful for the time we have had and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together. i am however ready for quieter times as i think it is very evident i am struggling with some balance and hearing issues.

also, no drama or anything but i am okay to step back from all of this right now and i think i did enough manic blogging when i felt alone and isolated during the last few years of travel. these last few years were the hardest i can remember and the most rewarding but i have loved ones to care for now and i am lucky i have been given a chance to turn around and see just what i am capable of as a friend and as someone who is not gone forever every year- it rendered me incapable of things i needed to be to myself and others- and my schedule sometimes never ended when the shows did- and some of that was my doing. and i lost someone i loved, and i lost myself.

that changed. i got to know just who i am in this little spell of time here recently. and change is the nature of the world and i naturally embrace that.

i won’t be blogging here anymore either- but not for effect- it just is not being kind to myself- i need a life that is mine- i need to grow up and grow in to who i have subtly been working back towards since i stopped all that nonsense and i know also no matter what i choose to do in the music world, because i chose to do things my way and never lie i will always be viewed as an “asshole” ( i hear and have seen things in the past) and i am not, and i know the truth and i know who i am.

also it is kind of ridiculous to blog as because i am a musician and anything i say here just gets reprinted at some point out of context. i say NOT FAIR but it doesn’t matter what i say anymore or what is fair anymore really does it- the 21st century media has it’s own rules about what is true and what is not. it is not a life- not one i want to live anyway and i don’t really care to participate in narcissistic over-indulgent behavior anymore- that was never my intention- i just wanted to fight for my right to make music and to be given the benefit of the doubt. now, because i have stood up for myself and fought for myself i am labeled all kinds of awful things. well, i will walk away now and it will not matter what anyone say’s. there are other things i can do in this life, other ways to be creative and to try and help others and be expressive without being demonized for attempting to gain the same things any other human being desires- love- friendship- understanding- and being able to express yourself without constant fear of being mistreated for speaking up

. i have friends to make, brand new books coming (two of em’ not counting that one already printed and on it’s way out there and i LOVE writing….yay!)and a whole lot of living and learning to do.

i am excited to step away. i lost more than anyone will ever know (hearing, soneone i loved, my sense of dignity, a never ending losing battle with stage fright and now my hearing and balance due to an inner ear issue- people accusing me of not being sober when i am suffering tremendous pain and nausea from my inner ear symptoms- people accusing me of theft (THEFT- ….awful) and this is not much of a life, not glamorous like those ridiculous video’s a long time ago television played and no it is not monetarily as rewarding as people would like you to believe and yes, it is soul destroying. especially when you spend your life trying to write about the really difficult stuff and you stand there losing your way and people yell at you like you were in a circus. when it was your dream to matter and you realize one day, it never mattered- i mean, i am a punch-line and a footnote in what is worse to yell at someone besides “free-bird”. i mean, i lost. and it’s okay because i seriously snuck some pretty neat idea’s in there in the work when i was making those mistakes or they were being made by others. this business is no science.

andf you know, whatever this is- it’s not my dream. and it is a punishing thing to endure when you are getting worse and worse- it’s not my dream, my dream was mike watt’s crazy shaking leg and electric fingers- or how sonics droned into beautiful cluds and how it felt to just let go and static up a riff and find the sweet spot- but getting yelled at for just being a songwriter- to be called so many horrid things because i chose to love music so much, and also to look for peace and balance in my life- that is not kindness and just not my thing. at least not now.

quitting smoking was a good step and i am happy i also am just now beginning to understand how important it is i take better care of myself in every way right now.

anyway, enjoy these shows and know that i am not abandoning anyone and that i loved playing music in the cardinals and hell, even before i was in a place to try and learn to be well, music was my life source-

maybe i will play again sometime but this is the time for me to step back now, and i wish everyone peace and happiness and if music is your dream, or if just dreaming is your dream, may you find your way through the rough patch with ease and i hope you let go and it takes you all the way there-

loving kindness to all.

R

d. + Peter Christenberry: This Thursday

Merry Christmas, Avery

Merry Christmas, Avery. I know that you can't read yet, but someday you'll be able to - someday you'll be big like me. But for now you're still a little star. I do know that you can talk, and run, and jump, and learn. And I also know that you love to go to sleep to music. So I made you a lullaby for Christmas. It's not as beautiful as you, but it's the best I could do. I'll think of you every time I play it, and while I live more miles away from you than you have fingers and toes, I hope you'll think of me when you hear it. I'll make you a promise that I'll play it for you next time I see you. I can play it over and over if you like, until you fall asleep. And then someday, when you're big like me, but I need a little help because I've fallen down, you can sing it to me until I fall asleep. Because you'll always be a star.

I love and miss you,

Uncle Dustin

"Big (for Avery)"

When you want to be big like me
And strong like you think I am
I'll be the one to show you how
To use all your love
And lift up the world with one hand

Because I know
You'll show me one day that you're bigger than I'll ever be
And I know
You'll show the world why it's got to believe

And I know
The mountains and the sky will give you everything you need
Because you're a star

When I'm not big like you
Or strong like I think I am
Will you be the one that I need
To remind me how to use all my love somehow

Because I know
I'll need a little help from your hands when I've fallen down
And I know
You'll show me someday that I've got to believe

An Exit Strategy Unlike Iraq

Christmas Gift Ideas

Brother, farewell

d.J Presents: Vectors

Vectors is my latest continuous mix. It celebrates minimalism and teases much more than my previous Rain+Shadows mixes (available in the archives). That said, Vectors eventually gives way to the endorphin-laced melodies towards the end...because I just can't help myself. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

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Show: Monday, November 24th

Yes We Did

In the 21st Century, we need not be white, Christian, Muslim, Oregonian, gay, straight, or even "wrong" or "right". We are, but human. For all our beauties and blemishes, we are inextricably confined by the code of our corporal and spiritual existence. Let us, just for a moment, not consider the potential success or failure of the next four years; rather, let us consider the "fierce urgency of now". We all indeed share common desires upon this lonely planet, from India, to Spain, from South Dakota to Oregon: we want security. With the events of today, we can receive that gift. We are secure knowing that, despite our woes and fears, our successes and failures, that we are all in the same arena where every local action can affect global reaction. We are all among this curious, yet chaotic planet where the boundaries of language cannot explore, and the vast possibility of uncertainty can dominate. My fellow human beings, the cloaks of our past have shed a skin, and shed a tear. The 21st Century of "humanism" has just knocked loudly. I, for one, am willing to answer the door. To ignore is to risk our security.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

-President-elect, Barack Obama, 11.04.08