I'm having a new poster designed to advertise my upcoming shows. In the next few days, please feel free to find me on FaceBook and vote on your favorite. Any input from you would be helpful.

BATV films all the concerts at Kiss The Sky Records on the last Sunday of the month hosted by Noah Gabriel. My show there this past Sunday with friends Rob Anderlik, John Michaels & Barbara Hollek was no exception. Filming this appeared to me to be no small effort. These guys set-up the equivalent of a film & recording studio in a record shop within just a few hours. Multiple cameras, mixers, computers and a spaghetti bowl of cords and wires. Enjoy the fruits of their labor this Fri April 4th (time TBA) when it airs on BATV. Comcast channel 17, ATT channel 99 in the Northern Illinois area or online next week at your convenience http://mybatv.com/show/live-from-kiss-the-sky/ or www.jimgreenmusic.com

This is what happens in this place to those with ringing cell phones during performances. Get it? Do you see it?

After 3 months of just rewrites I finally finished a new instrumental piece with the working title of, "Wiggle Room". Now I need an extra hand to play it. I'd settle for an extra finger or two though.

In reading about this fella pictured here..  even though he doesn't play guitar or piano. But, I guess he does make use of the extra digit in his own way by climbing trees and collecting coconuts in Cuba.

Dear Hollywood, 

Enough with the action star walking away from explosions and not reacting to them. Just so ya know, it is now beyond cliche'.  

Also, please refrain from using the phrase, "I didn't sign up for this." in the dialog.

                                                                                                                                                              Thank you!

If aliens came to our planet to conquer us and said "Bow and kneel before us humans or we will fight you with our superior weaponry!". I think we could just show them THIS VIDEO. Even better, we could have Clint Eastwood deliver it in person and say "Before you Nancys think about pointing those ray guns at us, you might want to look at this. Yea... that's right... we're a bunch of crazy sons of bitches. Now you gotta ask yourself... Do you feel lucky?  Cuz we do that for fun on our day off." 
(Sorry, over active imagination)

So funny cuz it all sounds so familiar.

Good times last night at The Cellar Door in Downers Grove last night. Special thanks to Ruth Schneider and friends for being there and this pic. Looking at this I now know why I just woke up with a massive headache. That speaker is way to close to my head. 

On my run today I noticed something in the snow. It took a few more paces for it to registrar what I just saw. I stumbled upon (and almost ran through it) a wildlife murder scene if you will. I suddenly felt myself flashing back to TV series like CSI and Dexter. I was staring at it (in my mind, investigating) and imagining what took place here. "What's the blood telling you Dexter?" It's telling me a poor little birdy flew to the ground, hopped a few paces to the west when suddenly in one fluid motion, a big bad ass hawk came swooping down in a crushing blow,  snatching it in it's talons and flying off to enjoy lunch. Minus the gross bodily fluids and violent act that took place here, the impression of the wings in the snow surprisingly looks very elegant. The sun seem to be highlighting that part of it, making this photo dark in subject but wildly beautiful.

I have, just as you have.. a unique, never to be repeated role to play in this world. Mine is a personal drama for which I am at once author, actor, director, and producer. But all too soon, we become members of the herd. "Are we sent here," asked Thoreau, "to do chores and hold horses? Society says, yes. What do you say?

A couple days ago I went in the music store to get a pack of strings and came out with a guitar attached to them. Here it is in action at last nights gig. It's a Cordoba nylon string. Love it! Thanks to Nick at the soundboard for it sound good even plugged in. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jconn0403/11247087676/ 

Thanks John Connell!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jconn0403/sets/72157638430098896/with/11247392616/

Thanks to the good people at Just Goods in Rockford, IL and of course those who came to listen. That was was fun. Let's do it again sometime! 

Also, very happy to find this note/doodle from Jasmine in my tip jar after hearing my song "Sailing Sunsets". Thanks Jasmine!

OK.. I finally broke down and had to watch Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball video. It's official, the last person on Earth with a computer or TV, has now seen it. My opinion... Well, I guess it's still true... SEX SELLS. Perhaps for my next video I can top this and be seen nude humping a small pool of green jello with a jackhammer while whip cream comes pouring from the ceiling on top of me. Nahh.. sounds like a lot work... and really sticky.

Seeing how the video has nothing creative or interesting to offer, leave it up to Conan O'Brien to at least make it brilliantly funny.

I love running. I realize how strange this statement sounds to some people. When making it, I tend to get the same kind of question from non runners asking, how I could love something that causes me so much pain and discomfort. I had a friend once tell me, “I hate running. If you see me running down the street, throw a blanket over me because I must be on fire!” It can be somewhat of a challenge to express the love for running to someone with this sort of attitude and fear of spontaneous human combustion. But today, I’m digging deep and feel a need to express it. I do not expect every non runner to read this and make a bee-line for the nearest Nike outlet but, maybe just a better understanding of why we “crazy people” do this “crazy” thing.

 I started running as a teenager out of overwhelming frustration and stress (oh those wonder years). Confused about how to deal with my then situation I pulled a Forest Gump and bolted out of the house and started running down the street… and kept running. Totally unplanned, wearing blue jeans, and no water. Forget complex carbohydrates, I had pure teenage angst fueling this run. In the end I think I only made it to the other side of the next town but it was great because I was so damn exhausted to even think about all those things that were gnawing at my brain at the time.

Gradually my runs became less spontaneous and more planned and deliberate. What started out as a way to exhaust myself from thinking had become a way to think more clearly. A running meditation if you will. No music, in tune with my surrounding, listening to the rhythm of my footsteps, awareness of my breathing, I feel like there is a real art to it and is very similar to traditional meditation in some ways.

Besides the physically fit advantages, I feel running has helped me on life’s journey and has personally shown me a path leading to better and brighter days. I’m more confident and can step out of my comfort zone more easily because of it. When I’m on those hot and sweaty long runs I kind of feel like I’m being purified and I’m recreating a better me. American Philosopher William James was quoted saying, "Beyond the extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own". 

I don’t know if running is for everybody but it works for me. I you feel like you want to give it a go, give your body some time to adapt and you might surprise yourself by suddenly subscribing to Runner’s World Magazine. Unfortunately “Most people don’t run far enough of their first wind to discover they have a second” WJ.

(Yesterdays post.. posted TODAY)
Today will be the last long day of driving for the tour to CA and back. We'r heading out now to play a show in Peoria Heights, IL tonight and then a home town show at The House Pub this Sunday. With it all winding down I started thinking about all the folks we met doing this. The majority have been so generous and nice it's made the tour really worth doing. What has kept it interesting are the crazies. Like the conspiracy fueled mind of Charlie the bigot who also claims to be a descendant of Pocahontas. Then there's the oh so memorable eye patch wearing, crotch grabbing guy who liked to practice his Karate moves at Starbucks. They all have there place in this world and what a wonderfully colorful world it is. John and I are a little road weary but are already talking about other possible tours in the near future. Cheers to all our venue hosts, new and old friends and fans. Thanks for welcoming us into your town/club/home.

See what happens in the 5th and final episode of our mockumentary when we finally make it to Hollywood. Hollywood, The land where dreams come true and stars are born. 

Well, we made it to LA. I think these pics some it all up... friends, weirdness, and The Foggy Mountains. Going up the steep hills to the Hollywood sign proved to much for the van. It's OK now.. making our way to Phoenix for the next show.