running for a cure

my friend amy is running a marathon to raise money for the leukemia & lymphoma society. i you would like to donate some extra change to a great cause you should check out her site. i'm sure you know someone who has been affected by leukemia and lymphoma or have been affected your self. if you have time you should check it out. thanks!

t.


www.active.com/donate/tntmida/AWallenbeck

i used to jam.

this past week i was in nashville recording songs for a record, band, or project yet to be determined, pretty cool huh? the lineup in the studio was cason "have you heard my willy nelson story?" cooley, will "the condore of rhythym" sayles, ben "the scientist" shives, and yours truly. it was so good to go into the studio and just write and create with some brilliant guys, in a really free and inspiring setting. it has been a long time since i just went into the studio and "jammed". remember when you first strarted playing guitar and you went to your friend's house and you jammed until your mom called and said that you were grounded because you missed supper? somewhere along the way you got better and then you didn't have time to jam anymore. i think this happens because it is uncomfortable in some way to walk into a room and and not know what is going to happen and you are forced to communicate from scratch with your instrument. great things happen when you just go with your gut and you don't worry about looking good, when you are worried about looking like you know everything you really kill your own creativity. i am starting to ramble or sound like the drunk guy at the party that keeps yelling "you guys really jammed tonight!" in your ear trying to scream over the music...sorry. all i am trying to say is that i had a great time this past week with some good friends and that i realized i need to "jam" more metiphorically speaking. i need to stop playing it so safe and just enjoy the ride, it is alot more fun. stay tuned for more info on the band.

summer is nice

hello everyone. i just have to say that summer is so nice...maybe it is because the winter is so long that we minnesotans we really need to soak up as much of the summer as we can. i really think our harsh winters are a small price to pay for our mild summers. the older i get the more i have come to enjoy all the seasons, yes even the winter...i know some people out there think that i may have finally gotten frost bite on the brain for liking the winter. i think i must suffer from some sort of wobegon guilt because i need to have a bitter winter to feel like i deserve a mild summer. i think it is time to brew a nice pot of coffee and sit on the front steps and soak in the beauty. i suggest you do the same.

new demo

hello. i have been writing a lot lately so i thought i would put up a new demo on my myspace player for you guys to enjoy...or not, it's all a matter of opinion, but i will warn you that this demo is particularly chopped full of that demo'ee goodness, children playing, computer fan etc. you get the drill. enjoy...or not. this song is about how fragile and beautiful life is, it is a sort of a poem set to music. it's a soem if you will.


my myspace page

thankful?

today i flew from home from baltimore, and i was on a plane with a bunch of soldiers that were coming home from the war in iraq. they were not that much older or younger than me and you could tell that they were on the last leg of a very long journey home. when we landed i got out of the plane and waited to see their reactions and the reactions of there family members when they saw each other. it hit me so hard that i walked all the way back to the baggage claim with heavy tears in my my eyes! i have to remember that when i am at home in my warm bed and my kids are sleeping safe and sound, somebody else's father, son, daughter, or mother is somewhere defending my freedom! it doesn't matter what your opinion about this war is, you have to agree that all wars are horrible and proof of how messed up and evil that mankind can be. i know it is really early in my blogging career to be doing the "patriotic" blog but i just had to get this out somewhere. this is not supposed to be political, i just want to remind even if it is just myself to be thankful for all the sacrifices that so many young and old have made for me to raise my family in peace. i am very thankful.

baltimore

this morning I flew out to baltimore to visit my good friend jack and to play a show, this should be fun! it is an unexpected treat to come out here and play some songs. I also met an old aa fan named nikki who had some encouraging words about how our music had affected her life. that was cool! it is so cool to fly across the country and have someone you have never met encourage you! this is also the first time I have blogged from my cell phone...sweet. that's all for now.

vegas baby!

yesterday i had the pleasure of playing with my friend mat kearney in the fabulous las vegas! i haven't played with him for a little while so it was really nice to catch up with him. no offense to people who live in las vegas though...your city is crazy! vegas is an assault on the senses, from the moment you get off your plane you hear the high pitched song of the slot machines! i was only there long enough to play, eat, and sleep and then head back home...short and sweet. las vegas is the opposite of minnesota...but i kind of like it...the strip shines like a giant goldtop in the sky. oh no...vegas has finally worn me down. I recall, Central Park in fall, how you tore your dress, what a mess, I confess, that's not all.
Danke Schoen, darling Danke Schoen. hahaha.