Sweet Lou Coney Island Warriors

Sunday's news that Lou Reed died shook me up. It shouldn't have been a shock. He'd been living on borrowed time since the 70's. Yet there I was on the verge of tears...at any minute I might have become a blubbering fool. But I kept my cool. I had to for Lou. After all; he was the coolest (sorry Fonzie, but you're like the Ted Nugent version of cool - all sex and rock'n'roll without the drugs).

I discovered the Velvet Underground in high school. Where The Doors had been bubblegum acid trips, the VU was the sound of the junkie gutter. Depravity. Ultimate rebellion. I was soon so into them that I was even checking out Delmore Schwartz books. I dipped into dreams being responsibilities. I bought Transformer and thought about hitting people with flowers. I learned guitar to "Sweet Jane" and formed a band. And then another one. And another one.

I've been listening to the Coney Island Baby album often since Sunday. It was a "comeback" album for Lou after Metal Machine Music had soured most everyone, besides Lester Bangs, on him. Coney Island Baby was received well by the critics. I think it even sold a few copies. I didn't get this record until I was pushing middle age and my first listen was one of mild amusement. That has changed over the years. I've come to admire it's studio sheen mixed with confessional Lou lyrics. It has a stately gutter punk grandeur to it that I like. It has comforted me in this first week without Lou.

Back From The Land Of The Dead

I am back. I've spent years wandering the land of the dead (Facebook), but I've had my fill of cat photos, political misinformation from all sides, dumb rumors....hell the list of time killing brain cell destroying items could take a lifetime to disclose. It almost destroyed my ability to communicate. To be, of all things, SOCIAL. So as of today I am breaking away back to my first foray into the web. Back to my home Soulfish Stew where the party never ends and where I am master of all. Where I am forced to confront a blank page and produce something for my and your amusement. Right now there is no amusement for me. I am jobless for the first time in 13 years. I made a huge mistake and switched departments where I worked and crashed and burned after a new manager came in. So I've got way too much time on my hand to play Doodle Jump. So I'm spending my days sending out resumes and perusing every job site out there. My fevered mind is in failure mode. Which is another reason I'm back to my blog. Forgive me if this starts slow, but soon I will be in full Wally spontaneous composing method and I will feel much better. I'm kicking around E-book ideas too. So don't cry for me Argentina....well okay cry a little. Things are going to look up for this intrepid fool.