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Kev's Thoughts

Thoughts from Kev Atomic that would take too many tweets to convey-sometimes random, but often related to music and/or the industry.

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Happy Thanksgiving

11/28/2013

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I honestly can't recall how many times I had to write some sort of "what are you thankful for?" paper when I was a child in school. Needless to say, I've spent much of my life being aware of just how thankful I am for the many things I've had to be thankful for.  So instead of telling you how thankful I am for so many things, I thought I'd tell you what's really on my mind this Thanksgiving holiday.


Many of you know this is a weird time of year for me: my father was both born and died in the month of November (born 11/7, died 11/30). It's a time of year in which I like to reflect, and also put together puzzle pieces from my past. Ultimately, separation from my father is always on the front of my mind this time of year, and not necessarily in a sad way. Instead of thinking of how much I miss him & what not, I tend to think of people that are separated from their loved ones-for any number of reasons.


Thoughts of my belated father take me instantly into a state of empathy for those that are alone for the holidays--I can't explain it, it's just how it is. I empathize best (especially during the holidays) with those that are alone: the lonely, despondent, the broken, and the shattered. I didn't choose this: again, it's just how it is. 


For those that don't know, I spent many years alone--(this was before I met a girl and had children, of course). There was a time in my life-it lasted almost a decade-that I thought I'd die a lonely and early death. It wasn't that I ever wanted to die, it was just that I felt it wouldn't matter if I did. I didn't know at that time that this was a dangerous thought to have, but somehow someone was always there to keep me around--someone to show me compassion.  Call it luck, fate, destiny or good fortune or what have you, but someone was always there: someone that made me realize my existence mattered. Those people weren't always friends and family--in fact, many of them were complete strangers, hard as that may be for some of you to believe. 


My point in telling you this is to remind you that the holidays are an especially difficult time of year for those who are alone for any number of reasons. I'm not alone anymore-and very grateful for that, of course-but I've been there and know the emotions of a person that's alone feels during the holidays, and I know the thoughts too (yes, I've asked myself the unspeakable "What if?..." questions).


If you believe in what we're doing, and you want to make the world a better place, reach out to someone you know is alone for the holidays--they need you more than you realize. Whether it's a neighbor, cashier at your local store, or the family member that's been cut off: we all know and recognize someone who will struggle with their existence during this holiday season. Today is a great day to call someone you haven't spoken to in years, or even to introduce yourself to the neighbor you've never spoken to. 


I'm not suggesting you say anything in particular or take any specific action, by the way. I know from my own experience that there were times in my life that the simple smile from a stranger made my day brighter, kept me alive. Do yourself a favor this Thanksgiving holiday, and reach out to someone who needs it--I guarantee you know someone who will be alone this day by no choice of their own. Seriously, sometimes a sincere smile & a sense of compassion in the heart is all it takes--sometimes, even, the difference between life and death. Let's make this the best Thanksgiving day ever!


Kev
oxox
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A Very Special Veterans' Day (Thank You, Dad)

11/13/2013

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Another Veterans' Day has come and passed, and we remain thankful for those who serve and allow us to live the lives we live without fear.

This year was a very special Veterans' Day for me, however, as through the efforts of several people, we were able to release a very special album unlike any we've ever done. The music is ours, but the words are those of a Veteran: Duke Sherman who wrote a fabulous book of poetry called "A Soldier's Thoughts" and was kind enough to send me a copy. We were inspired, and the rest is history in the making! If you'd like to know just how this project came about, I encourage you to read Amused Now's blog on it and watch the interview they were kind enough to do with me & Duke (link to the video is on the same page) http://amusednow.com/blog/soldiers-melodies/

The album, as you might have guessed is called "A Soldier's Melodies." Even if you don't end up purchasing this album, we highly encourage you to listen to the samples and read the blog page so that you'll have a better understanding of why we do the things we do. As I intimated from the last paragraph, all lyrics for these songs were taken directly from Duke's poems. I found myself changed after working on this project, as through Duke's words I was able to really empathize with our combat Veterans in a way I couldn't before.  We hope that we translated this empathy properly into the music, and that it will serve to make the day of many a person brighter. We'd be even more honored if you'd stop by Duke's site which is here: http://www.duketheman1.com/default.html (If you go there now, you'll see a most beautiful review of the album along with a touching letter-front and center!)

The album will be sold exclusively on Amused Now, and as I understand it, will remain available until the end of the month (November). We're grateful to have had the chance to do something special like this and hope that at least a few of you will be inspired by it. If you're interested in even more details, then I'd suggest you follow the following people on Twitter:

@cynthiakahn
@amused_now
@duketheman
@1cryingeye 

As always, we thank you for your amazing love and support. Please never forget to be grateful for the life you have, no matter how challenging your life may be. Many of us have been there, many of us understand. We're all in this together!

Kev

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Where I Came From (Remebering My Dad Through His Music)

11/6/2013

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I think at least some of you know that my dad was a musician, and also the one who really got me started in music. Rather than share stories of my dad and what he meant to me (we lost him to a brain tumor Nov. 30, 2007), I thought it might be nice to share a few songs from the two bands he was in. Since my dad's birthday is Nov. 7, the entire month of November has sort of become a time of reflection for me-a time to remember where I came from, and how memories of these sorts of things have shaped the person I've become.


Due to the kindness of one of my dad's good friends, I'm fortunate to have some tapes of live performances, and even just a bit of info about them.


The first two songs I've posted are from his very first band, The Shantels, which he formed with childhood friends when he was 17. My dad is the guitar player and does backing vocals; his best friend from youth (and next door neighbor) Gary Brooks is the lead vocalist. Gary Brooks died many years ago also from cancer, I believe, but I can't remember which type. Other members of The Shantels (all from Morris, Illinois) are Denny Neary, Greg English, Dave Butz, Terry Nelson, and John Boyle (though I don't know who played which instruments aside from my dad and Gary). 


The two songs by The Shantels I've included here are from a show they played at the Morris Catholic School gymnasium from August of 1970 (my dad would have been 19 at the time) You'll forgive the sound quality, I'm assuming, and understand what it means to me to have these recordings.


The third song I've included here is by his second band, Prairie, which he formed in '71 while attending college at NIU in DeKalb, Illinois. Unfortunately I have no info about any of the other members of prairie at all, other than I know a couple of them were friends with REO Speedwagon who were essentially the SIU (Champagne, IL) version of my dad's band at the time-as I understand it.


This is from a live show at the 5th Dimension in Joliet, Illinois, though I do not have a date--it had to be somewhere between late '71 and early-mid '72. My dad is the one who says "The name of our group is Prairie, and we're from Northern Illinois University, if anybody doesn't know" before the song starts. 


I hope some of you can find a little pleasure in hearing these songs (they really do capture a neat element of the time period, rough as the recording quality is). I really appreciate those of you out there that have supported Atomic Honey, and given me the outlet to share my time of reflection; being able to do so makes it a much more pleasant season for me. Thank you again.


Kev
oxox
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