The Weblog of Daniel Tashian

Still occasionally smoking cigarettes, which is just horrible. But I’ve pretty much stopped doing anything else bad for me, which is good. Had to get my passport renewed, so to Kinko’s for the photo, and let me tell you I looked pretty thuggish and gruesome. Took several naps, and for some reason, tried writing a song, but I figured out that I was just re-writing “Home and Dry” which was kind of a disappointing revelation. But you can’t be deterred by these little setbacks. When my ancestor William Bradford was appointed to lead the Massachusetts 3rd divisional militia in the Revolutionary War, did he say: “Waaa!!! My feet are cold! I’m going home!!” Nope. He fought on like a bastard and gave the British hell! And so, just when you think you get something going, you hear the new Coldplay song and then I had to take another nap it was so good. That Chris Martin guy is such a badass songwriter. Really, it’s the melodies that meet all the standards of excellence. To Hopkins for dinner, then to PM with Kate York. Betsy and Tami and Bonnie Baker and Jeremy Lister and had one drink and saw the Eatons. Home about 10 and made a sweet potato.

Well I slipped up and said something stupid and basically the whole day was taken up by trying to undo that. But Kelly called and said she wanted to come visit for Liz’s birthday, so that’s nice. Continuing to Feng Shui the studio and had a conference call with the Silver Seas and the label about this festival in England in July with Morrisey and Beck and it looks like we’re going to do it. We will do like Chuck Berry and pick up a bass player over there. There’s supposed to be some guy who plays with KT Tunstall who is really good. Went to dinner at Hopkins and continued to Feng Shui my life. I’ve got a new desk now, and dusted everything and gone through a lot of old papers, and I put all my winter clothes in storage. I have some kind of preppie spring clothes (seersucker and pastel polos, etc.) but I wonder if I’m sort of not into that style right now. I’m leaning towards more of a dangerous and bad kind of look with boots and whatnot. I think they give a fellow kind of rustic exterior if you catch my d. Went to PM with Rachel and we talked about obsessions and I really only get obsessed with 2 things: Love and Music. I like to watch Tennis on TV and there are a couple other things I like to do, but really, I have no hobbies. I think I have to really give this a long hard think because every man should have some hobbies. I think reading is one. And Jazz piano. Nobody will ever hire me for jazz piano, so I suppose that is a hobby…

Walked to Starbucks and the post office with the dogs- Both anxious to be off the leash. The piano was being tuned, so I went home and took a nap, then back to hopkins and I played for an hour. Kelly called from the kitchen store: “What was that pan you were telling me I should get?” - The piano sounded lovely, but the thing is, I can’t concentrate on singing as well, because I’m thinking about what notes to play. I called Jason Lehning and told him I would probably stick to the guitar. We talked about recording the new Seas record, and I was trying to convince him we have the songs, but he’s not sure. I know I need some more songs, but it’s hard sometimes. You have to get on a schedule where (if you’re me) you really shut the world out and don’t answer the phone because you could be on a roll with an idea, then you start thinking about these distractions and it’s gone. But it also doesn’t work for me to rent a cabin and really get away to write. You find yourself staring at the walls and feeling lonely and that doesn’t work either. The best thing is to make a lunch date, then keep the phone off in the morning, then make a dinner date, and work in the afternoon. Well, at any rate…I keep telling myself “Something Interesting is Going to Happen” - Went to Hopkins for dinner, then to PM and met Liz and Jessica and her friend Anne Marie. Then to Rachel and Beau’s and there were people playing bluegrass by the campfire. That girl Brynn is a wicked bass player. Then I played a game of Backgammon and I lost.

Well it’s cinco des mayo. Played the piano quite a bit and walked to the post office. Lanky asked me if I wanted to play at Christopher’s Pizza, but I just don’t know about playing solo at the moment- if that’s really the thing I need to be doing. We got an offer on our house. I hope it sells soon. Kate York invited me to the studio and she was working on a song we wrote. It sounded good. Those guys Justin Louckes and Ian Fitchuk are really super talented. I played some keyboards and some bass and did some background vocals. It was fun. Still in the process of Feng Shui-ing the studio. I know with absolute certainty that the futon must go. I hate helping people move. If I know someone is moving and they call me I just don’t answer the phone, but the problem is, when I have something big to move, there’s nobody I can call! Moving furniture is like my least favorite thing in humanity. Maybe David Mead will be around and he can help me. Looks like Meijer’s wants to use “We’ll Go Walking” on a compilation cd. I’m quite hungry these days. I look remarkably skinny for how much I eat. I wish I could get the swimming routine going again, and maybe I will. I just hate getting water in my ears. Almost as much as I hate moving. Got some nice emails from Tyson Rogers and Bill Demain re: “From My Windowsill” and that was sweet. I still need to go to Alex the Great and hear what they’ve done. Don’t Resist! Trust the Universe! That’s my new motto and I hope it’s my motto forever. Something set the alarm off at Angelo’s, so he called to see if I would go check it out, and so I went over and it was a cd that fell off the shelf. Kelly called and said she missed me. Sigh.

Been on a bit of a hiatus if that’s the word. Hopefully back now. Got to figure out how to update from my phone. That would be cool wouldn’t it? Been traveling a bit. A few new songs to post to the demos section. Maisie called the other night, said she’s been listening to the demos. Took a couple trips to New York. I love it, but I think I am more of a country guy in general. The big city gets under my skin after a bit. Ran into Ryan Adams. He was both affectionate and smug at the same time. I tried to introduce him to Kelly Jones but he wouldn’t have it. We basically broke up but we’re still friends, Kelly and I.  It was just tough to keep the long distance going, plus I wanted to start a band, but she’s got to make her own records right now. Nashville is beautiful this time of year…amazing weather ! Been playing my grandmother’s piano quite a bit, and she’s always coming in saying (admonishingly) “Beautiful day out there!”, as if I was insulting the weather by sitting inside and playing the piano. I wish I could get the piano out in the yard. Been cooking lots of carrots. I wonder if my skin will start turning orange? Called Henry Gross, and he was saying how lame it was that the Stones never gave Ry Cooder writing credit for “Honky Tonk Women”. I just wanted some jokes, and he gave me couple good Rodney Dangerfield ones: “My wife met me at the door naked- she was coming home!” and “My wife’s got me down to 4 times a month. 4 times isn’t so bad. I know 4 guys she’s cut out all togther!” Been writing some songs with David Mead, and he recorded one of my tunes for his new record- “From My Windowsill”. Also, I heard Leanne Womack has recorded a song I wrote with Natalie Hemby called (oddly enough) “The Bees”! The Silver Seas are on for a residency at the Basement in July, and so on we go. I want to make a trio record and just have piano bass and drums, but we’ll see. This post is mainly just a catch up, and i’m going to post some new demos. Hopefully I can resume my de-riguer modus whatever you call it.