All is quiet on New Year’s Day, and so am I. Fortunately I happen to have a New Year’s story in my back pocket. It’s a bit of a rough read but […]
All is Quiet on New Year’s Day
Ventriloquism For Dummies
The following is a piece of thinly veiled fiction that I wrote several years ago and haven’t found a home for. I concede, oh great magazine publishers — it’s not for you […]
Deep Cuts: The Obligatory Christmas Playlist
I swore that I wasn’t going to do this, but here we are just two days away from the big day and I can’t bear the thought of you listening to the […]
Deep Cuts: Songs About Fighting
Have you ever seen lion cubs wrestle? Humans are no different, especially boys. We go through a period where we behave like badasses even though the overwhelming majority of us aren’t. We […]
58. I Can’t Wait For You to Operate
Every kid thinks that his or her hometown is boring. As you read this a pimply Manhattan teenager is complaining that there’s nothing to do. Mon ami in Paris is so disgusted […]
What Every Record Store Window Should Look Like
The Beat, Sacramento, California. A truly great record store.
Deep Brushstrokes: Musician-Painters
In rambling about The Beatles’ White Album I mentioned something along the lines of the band at that point being three great artists and Ringo off in separate corners making art. Coincidentally, […]
57. I’d Give You Everything I’ve Got For A Little Piece Of Mind
I’m desperate — my tank is empty. The notebook hasn’t been marked up in days. I turned on my iPod today and a tumbleweed rolled across the screen. For the first time […]
Rocking It Sears Wish Book Style, 1975
Oh yeah, this could all be yours if Mom and Dad weren’t stupidly thumbing through the snow suit section of the catalog right now. Related “Why It Matters” piece: https://jamesostafford.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/56-the-brightest-fireplace-glows-in-every-face/
Cappy Lewis: 1939-2011
On November 10, 2011, lung cancer got the best of doo-wop legend Darryl “Cappy” Lewis. You’ve never heard of him? Neither had I until I cracked open The Sacramento Bee and read Robert D. Davila’s obituary. I couldn’t believe […]
