Happy Monday, everyone!
What a nice fresh start to a nice fresh week. I hope you folks had a great weekend. I got to jam with some buddies, and have written you an account below.
A quick announcement: If any of you happen to be near Charlottesville, VA, this evening, swing on by Three Notch’d Brewery for a fun Astronomy on Tap event. This is my first time at one, and I’ll be one of the two presenters. I’m scurrying off to finish the talk on the Summer Triangle. It’s been years since I’ve played a “bar gig”, and my first ever without a guitar. I might have to bring one anyway, but I digress….
Letters from Josh
(A weekly update from Josh Urban’s adventures on the farm and in the city. #90)
Howdy, folks! The sun is shining and the birds are making a ruckus here on Long Mountain. Speaking of joyful noises, you should have been in downtown Lynchburg yesterday afternoon! There was a jam session - a meeting of the minds - a cause of slight alarm to the respectable folk passing by until they heard the music, and realized that we were just quirky artists of the friendly type. We had gathered around one of Lynchburg’s charming public works - outdoor pianos in miniature “bus stop” shelters, painted by the local art students. This one was perched high on a bluff walk overlooking the most down part of downtown. The railroad snaked between the restaurants and the James river, which glittered through the lush trees. Nearby, a geyser of river water shot 190 feet into the air, marking the place where town founder James Lynch had his ferry crossing in 1757. “Yes sir, we’ve got the highest fountain east of the Mississippi, I reckon.” There must be something about the location that inspires the beginning of things. It was about a year ago when I first laid eyes on the scene, and thought “I could be happy here.”
And so the music started. If Jesus had a hoop earring and played the keys, you’d have James on the piano. Immediately to his right, crunched under the tiny roof (the weatherman got it wrong, and it was raining) stands Hector: cool shoes, cool jeans, gold chain, playing guitar. Jacob walks up in the rain. I suspect him of being a poet. (That’s both a description and a compliment.) He’s got the hair for it, and has brought a traditional Celtic drum from his mother’s homeland. Daniel saunters up with a beach vibe, lugging a Cajon (Box to sit on that’s actually a hand drum.) Jacob whips out a penny-whistle. It’s stopped raining. The melody seems to conjure a rainbow on the opposite bank of the river. James starts in on some atmospheric piano. Hector adds some tasty guitar notes. Daniel drops into a groove on the Cajon, I follow with some chords. Sound layers build, each man half-listening to his comrades, half-listening to where the music could go. It seems the perfect soundtrack to say “In a land far away” and tell legends of dragons or hippies. A French bulldog wanders by to see what the Humans are up to. I wonder if John Lynch would have enjoyed the music. You never know what will happen when you found a city. - Josh
PS. Got the tractor fixed!
Love it! A beautifully written piece. Nice work, Josh!!