Kevin Slick: Journal

I've completed my latest album entitled "Random Images from an Unmarked Box" I thought the title was appropriate because I was working from scraps of lyrics and musical ideas, improvising and putting them together, often without a clear idea of how they would come out. I tried out some things that just didn't seem to work so they were put away for another time. If I improvised something that felt like it worked then I would add a few other instruments, yes, I'm playing everything again on this album. I was greatly inspired by the early recordings of artists like Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, or Bob Dylan were you would generally have guitar and vocals with maybe another guitar or piano but no big productions. I also kept the album to...well, album length. While I appreciate the amount of music you can cram onto a CD I love that you can listen to an album like "Tea for the Tillerman" in one setting and take it all in, so this new one is only 31 minutes. For now you can hear all the tracks at http://www.myspace.com/kevinslick It will soon be available in physical form from CDBaby and through all the outlets like iTunes, Rhapsody, etc.

I've been working on recording some new material and you can hear it on my Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/kevinslick I had a pile of song notes and unfinished works so I just took out the scraps of ideas and began to improvise, recording whatever I came up with. I added a few overdubs, or more than a few in the case of "Dancer's Eyes" but otherwise tried to keep things simple and hold on to the feel of improvised music. I plan to keep recording like this through the summer. I welcome any feedback as the songs are kind of works in progress.

I have started recording some new old songs this past week. I had several songs in notebooks that were mostly fragments of ideas. Some actually had music written down but mostly they were just sketches. For several years I thought I would make an album of one or the other groups of these songs, all the break up songs, all the songs about love, all the songs about whatever and there never seemed to be enough of any one subject. So this week I began turning on the mics and having a go at whatever page I opened up to, if there were only a few words I either just sang them or made up more. I recorded first takes pretty much and then began overdubbing in small doses. I've been re-inspired by many of the albums I listened to twenty and thirty years ago that featured vocals and guitar with perhaps a bass or second guitar added in. I'm aiming for that kind of sound, also a spontaneous feel that hopefully will come with the highly improvised style I've been working with. I expect to have several songs ready for listening within the month and more available by summer's end.

I just read this statement from the president of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 1000, my local in the musician's union. I am a member of two unions, as a musician and as a teacher. Many of my ancestors were coal miners who were fortunate enough to have benefitted from being union miners. I am saddened by the news from West Virginia when it appears that people who provide such a vital service to our country are working in unsafe conditions and that the hard fought labor battles of the past need to fought again. Here's the statement from AFM Local 1000, it expresses my feelings exactly.



"On behalf of the membership of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000, I want to extend our condolences to the families of the miners lost in the disaster at the Upper Big Branch Mine (UBB) in Montcoal, West Virginia. The twenty-five miners who lost their lives, the four still missing, their families, and their entire community are in our prayers and in our thoughts.



But condolences are not nearly enough of a response to this preventable tragedy. Men and women working in twenty-first century America should not have to worry that there is no recourse for their concerns about workplace safety. For years the Upper Big Branch Mine and its owner, Massey Energy Company, have been cited for numerous violations, especially for high levels of methane and coal dust, the frequent cause of the kinds of explosions that occurred this Monday at UBB.

Even in news reports today surviving UBB miners asked for anonymity when relating past safety concerns for fear of losing their jobs. Non-union miners have no protection in such matters. And non-union mines have no leverage for pressing for the safety of those who mine our coal. To put this into perspective, the miners who died at the Sago, WV mine in January 2006 were working in a non-union mine on a federal holiday. There wasn’t a union miner in America working that day until they reported for the rescue team at Sago.



Nor are words or outrage a sufficient response to West Virginia’s latest sorrow. We at Local 1000 pledge our membership in support of organizing drives in our nation’s coalfields. We will be there both in spirit and in person to walk the lines, to play at the rallies, and to support our sisters and brothers in their efforts to save their families, save their jobs, and, as has been proven to be literally the case, save their lives.



We call on all our brothers and sisters in the American Federation of Musicians, all union members across this great nation, and all people of good will to pledge the same. We can help prevent future disasters by helping workers organize and win the kind of protection only unions can give working people. It’s been proven that the companies won’t do it. It’s been proven the government can’t do it. And history has proven that we can do it.



Solidarity Forever!



John McCutcheon

President, AFM Local 1000"

I had a goal this year of being published in at least three different magazines and with the new issue of Scary Monsters I've reached third base. Here's the link to the new issue: http://www.scarymonstersmag.com/ I wrote an article about filmmaker Kevin Corcoran (a member of the Ultra Secret Society of Those Named Kevin) I've been in the studio as well creating tracks for the next Robyn Hitchcok tribute album Glass Flesh Volume Four. You can hear what I've done so far at my Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/kevinslick Looking ahead to the summer already I'll be playing at the Monster Bash Film Convention once again, this year doing my "Moon Suite" to accompany "A Trip To The Moon" and we've already laid plans for a return engagement of "Nosferatu" for 2011. Of all the film scores I've done "Nosferatu" is by far my favorite one to play and listen to.
I have a show of some recent paintings up at the school where I work so this is a pretty productive time creativity wise. It never seems to be enough though, and I'm sure more is on the way. I have plans for at least two new albums by the end of summer and considering it's been six years since "Dust Tracks on the Road" it's about time I think.

It feels like forever since I was recording, and I guess the time wasn't right until now. The last album I did was "Dust Tracks in the Road" way back in 2004. Big Sky Radio began working on some tracks this past fall and maybe that jump started the process again. Whatever it is, I've been recording once again and the latest results are on my MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/kevinslick there you'll hear four new recordings of songs I did for Glass Flesh Volume Four, the latest Robyn Hitchcock tribute album. I don't know if they'll use all the songs, but you can hear them now. I expect more tunes (of my own making) will be coming along soon.

It's been a while since my last update so I hope you're doing well in the world. Here's what I'm up to; I've been recording tunes for the next edition of Glass Flesh. This is the series of Robyn Hitchcock tribute albums that have been coming out for years now. I did a few tunes on earlier releases as well. If you do a search under Glass Flesh I think you can listen to some of the previous releases. I have some recent recordings available for listening on my Myspace page at
http://www.myspace.com/kevinslick Many of these are in the rough mix stage, fans of Neo Pseudo may be interested in hearing some old favorites like Whistling Eyes again. For the most part, the recordings on Myspace that sound like a whole band playing are indeed a whole band - Big Sky Radio. This is myself, Michelle Allen and Jay Allen playing and singing. The other tracks are solo banjo pieces.
Speaking of Neo Pseudo you can find all available CDs at this address -
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NeoPseudo My solo recordings are available through just about any download place like iTunes or you can download as well as buy actual CDs from
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/kevinslick I've been working on music for another one of Brian Nichol's movies, this one entitled "The Mummy in the Maze" which will be shown at this year's Monster Bash in June. The images I've seen look excellent, it should be a great homage to classic horror films and just a lot of fun.
I've also been doing some writing. New songs, poems and articles for several magazines. I have two longer articles in the new issue of Monster Bash #10, you can find it here
http://www.creepyclassics.com/product.sc?productId=3837&categoryId=46 I also participated in a documentary film about the Monster Bash film convention. You'll see me waxing poetic about monsters and classic films, plus my music is used extensively throughout the film (You'll hear the opening riff of my song "Night Radio" about 50 times!) You can get it here
http://www.creepyclassics.com/product.sc?productId=4012&categoryId=6 After two sunny, fairly warm days in a row I'm willing to believe spring may be coming. Have a wonderful day and drop me a line sometime to say what you're up to.

I just heard that CIty Lights record store in State College, PA will be closing soon. I spent a lot of time in that store checking out albums (yes, the vinyl kind), tapes, CDs, books and magazines. Greg, the owner of the shop, was like a master of ceremonies as he presided over the scene. He could direct you towards music you were bound to like because he knew your tastes in recordings. It was like the human version of the "People who bought... also like" links that appear when you buy online. I suppose buying online is one of the reasons why City Lights and numerous other independent record stores are closing their doors. I miss the good old days of going down to CIty Lights and hanging out, but I am not completely nostalgic about those times. These days there is so much more music available to the average consumer. Long ago I used to read about a release and spend weeks or months trying to track down a copy. I did find other great stuff in libraries and enjoyed trips to larger cities to search in bigger stores but overall it was just more work. I know that many artists who work in niche genres are able to sell much more music now online. I used to sell my indie releases at City Lights and now they sell all over the world on iTunes and other online download shops. So overall, there is much that has improved for musicians as well as fans. So what do I miss?
I miss the human interaction. More often than not I'd not buy anything at the record shop, but would hang out and talk music with Greg or any number of other patrons who were in the shop. I miss seeing bands play live, being able to sit two feet away from Greg Ginn flailing away on his guitar was amazing. I think that online retailing of music has many more benefits for the fan and the creator of the music but it misses the human interaction and connection.
Maybe the future will bring coffeehouses or listening centers that are primarily for gathering with other fans of recorded sound. I don't feel bad about buying a CD from a band on it's website, but I miss having a great place to hang out.

I'm back on the air. In case you didn't know I worked in radio for about ten years on the air and as a writer and producer. I grew up listening to the radio in the 1960s and 70s. I would sleep out in my treehouse on summer nights and listen to the magic sounds drifting in through the two inch speaker on my radio with the antenna pointed to the stars. Cousin Brucie would speak to me from New York City, I'd hear the sound of Philly Soul on WFIL, CKYW would come in all the way from Canada. There was the "Groovology" show on the local station WMAJ, not to mention the wonderful sound of baseball games on radio. Even today, the sound of a crowd in the background and the slow measured cadance of an announcer describing the pitcher's preperation for the next pitch is one of the most beautiful sounds I know. And yet, as much as I loved the experience I don't recall that it was a dream of mine to be on the air. I was probably more interested in being a rock and roll guitar player (which I also got to do as a full time job for several years) I stumbled into radio actually. My friend Ron Adams was already working for radio stations in State College, PA, my hometown and he eventually pulled me into doing commercials or small bits on the air reading the weather etc. Soon after that, with art teaching jobs in short supply, I found myself working full time on the air. My last regular broadcast was in 1991 and while I've missed the excitement of the medium, I haven't missed the stressful, uncreative world that radio was becoming even in my last days on the air. Fast forward to 2009, the same Ron Adams now owns a station in the lovely, small town of Ligonier PA and since it's automated, or pre-recorded it means that I can "do" a show even from my home in Colorado. A good microphone, digital recording and the internet are all that's needed. So tune me in sometime on AM 1620 in the Laurel Valley of Pennsylvania or at www.ligonierradio.com on the internet 12 midnight to 5am Eastern Time Mondays through Fridays.

When in the course of human music making it becomes necessary to seperate a band from the name it has previous used etc. You know how it goes. For over a year now I've played with two other musicians as the Slick Allen Trio, three people - trio, everyone's last name was either Slick or Allen, made sense, but also sounded too much like a jazz trio to me so we've changed our name to Big Sky Radio. Well, what does Big Sky Radio sound like? I'd love to know. For now you can find us at www.myspace.com/bigskyradio and on Facebook as well. I'm still here and if you're here that means you've found me.

Les Paul died on my birthday this year. I think I may have seen him on my birthday once. When I lived in New York I went over to the Iridium Jazz Club to see him many nights. I wonder if he kept the drawings I did of him. One night I was drawing during the show and afterwards he asked for a couple of the sketches. My birthday is a good time for me to think about time and how we move through the years. Perhaps it was this nostalgic mood that had me re-listen to my cover versions of songs by the well known and loved State College, PA band Cartoon. I posted them on my page at MySpace - www.myspace.com/kevinslick so you can have a listen if you like. The crickets are singing outside the window tonight, the air is still and warm, the last rays of sun have gone behind the mountains to seek the farthest shore to the west ... "As far as Selidor" now that reminds me ...

It's summer and I've been spending most days tossing the wiffle ball, throwing the frisbee or helping my son learn how to ride a two wheeler. When not doing that I've been working on movie music - This year's silent film is The Magician, which will have it's premier in June at The Monster Bash. I've done music for two short indie films, one a documentary, the other a 50's sci-fi spoof called "Attack of the 50 ft Ghoul Girl". There's also the new Lon Chaney double feature - Outside The Law and The Trap from oldies.com featuring my music. The Slick Allen Trio continues to spin our folky music around the front range and at least two of us are going east this summer to play some shows. You can find out more about the band at www.myspace.com/slickallen trio.
One of the most meaningful works I've taken on this summer has been writing a memorial or requiem for Forrest Ackerman. This will be premiered in June. I used sound bites from an interview I conducted with Mr. Sci-Fi and then used the music to express what the words could not.
I hope you're having a wonderful summertime, drop me a line - come on out to a show, have a good time!

My latest film score for a classic silent film is out now on DVD.
Here's the link:
http://www.oldies.com/product-view/5800D.html
It's a double feature with Lon Chaney - Outside The Law, directed by Tod Browning and a rare Chaney film The Trap which paired Chaney with Irving Thalberg plotting the film. The Trap is short, very little of the film remains but they did a great job restoring the film. the Trap is also interesting in that it's Chaney's most stage-like acting on film and one of his rare flops at the box office. Still you can see elements he would bring back in later films.

More words of wisdom from kindergarten. After talking about Earth Day and what we can do, one boy said "Wow, Earth Day is really a hard day". When I asked why he said "We've got to take care of the whole planet!"

Springtime in the Rockies! The weather changes every few minutes, sunshine and seventy degrees followed by two feet of snow. Reminds me of the story where a king asked his wise men to boil down all the world's wisdom to one sentence and their response was "This too shall pass." The story goes on to say he next asked them to condense all the world's wisdom to one word. After a few years work they returned, the word was "Maybe"

I couldn't begin to tell you all the times I cried today. Seeing Barack Obama hug John Lewis on the steps of the capital, hearing Aretha sing, listening to the soaring melody of "Simple Gifts", hearing the thoughtful, soulful, heartfelt words of change, seeing the ocean of beautiful humanity that stretched across the mall and truly transformed the city and made a people's history. That's only some of the moments I'll remember and cherish. But alone in my car tonight driving home after watching the replay with friends I was listening to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes singing "Wake Up Everybody" and I was so filled with joy I just started shouting and crying and singing. The words of the song where like dynamite exploding a dam inside me that held back joy, hope and faith in the future.
Isn't this a Time? Isn't this a wonderful time?

Today as I thought about Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday 80 years ago today I recalled the words the words of Abraham Lincoln when, at Gettysburg, he talked about it being up to us to carry on the great work that others had begun.
Later in the morning at work as I talked with kids about King's message we were coloring pictures of him. One child said "I'm going to color him all colors because I think he'd like that".
And I thought so too.

And so it's time to change the calendar once again, one year gone and another one on the way.
I've added some new sites to the links page on this website mostly related to my current group The Slick Allen Trio.
I hope you're all having a lovely holiday time. The sun is shinning here on the snow capped Rockies and my banjo is standing nearby.
Happy New Year and I look forward to hearing from you, whoever and wherever you are, soon.
-Kevin

This year I am thankful for my family and friends and for the courage, wisdom and vision our country has shown.
Today I read once again what I consider to be the greatest speech in American history. It perfectly expresses not only what and who we have been, but what and who we can be.
I invite you to read it along with me:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I am thankful for all of you who will be part of this great work.
Happy Thanksgiving

Here's some of the best post election writing I've seen so far from William Greider: "Against all odds, he persuaded a majority of Americans to believe in their own better natures and, by electing him, the people helped make it true. There is mysterious music in democracy when people decide to believe in themselves. "
It's a beautiful day.

Tonight I raised a glass to toast the election of Barack Obama. As I did this, I thought of Paul Robeson, Studs Terkel, Woody Guthrie, Martin Luther King Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson and so many others who built this victory with their hard work and their dreams in the past. This is a great day to be alive, a great day to be an American.

This past week we lost a great American treasure, the writer Studs Terkel. In his amazing life he wove the tales of everyday people into an incredible tapestry of Americana. Perhaps his greatest skill and one we could all aspire to was listening. He was a great listener. As an interviewer he spent most of the time listening and his probing, inspiring questions came from a reflective place rather than from an agenda. Studs Terkel was and is one of my mentors and he was following the election with great interest. So tonight as I watch the returns that hopefully will show Barack Obama winning the election I'll be smiling thinking of Studs and how he never gave up, always kept believing, always listening.

I just watched the most uplifting and beautiful segment on Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. Here's the link so you can sing and hope along:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10242008/watch3.html

Yesterday Jamie and I took our first leaf kicking walk of autumn. I love that. What more do I need?

Okay, here's the assignment - Do your part to annoy Sarah Pallin... read a book! and if you really want to piss her off, think about it, maybe even talk about it with friends!
It occurs to me that nothing is more scary to the extreme right wing nuts than people thinking.
Think on!