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September 12, 2008
Dear Citizens of Mulletopolis:
Have you missed me? I’ve missed you more. Since we last chatted on May 27th, I haven’t done a damned thing. The only thing I’ve been tinkering with is a little project called iHux, which I’ll tell you about later. Other than that, I think I stayed home for the entire summer.
No, wait! I played a gig in Arlington, VA. Acoustic guitar in hand, this carefree bard packed up his gear and set out for a relaxing afternoon of entertainment at the U.S. National Science Foundation Workshop on Arts, Creativity, and Learning, hosted by Christopher Tyler, Ph.D., Head of the Brain Imaging Laboratory at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, and Daniel Levitin, Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory for Music Cognition and Expertise at McGill University. Just your average coffeehouse busk-a-roo, right? You probably recognize Dan Levitin’s name from Mullet #1 when I lectured to his class up at McGill last Spring. Levitin and I do the weirdest gigs together and this one may’ve topped them all. Say it out loud: I rocked the National Science Foundation.
Actually, I sat before a semi-circle of 25 scientists and described my creative process whilst throwing in a song or two. I even made up a pretty bad song on the spot—which should’ve undermined any claims to my having a creative process. I mentioned that motion aids my songwriting process and offered that I’d written more songs while walking my dog than any other setting. Oh, I do say, that did get the discussion roiling!
It was pretty fun to be in such unusual and distinguished company. And, of course, just when I’d sized up the setting as Fish out of Water Visits Planet Brainypants, a bearded professor approached me and asked, “Did you ever read Jacob Slichter’s book?” The gears in my brain paused. Is he asking me about “So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star” by the drummer from Semisonic?
Yes, Jonathan Fineberg, Professor of Art History at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was.
“Yeah! Great book!”
“I thought you might know it. Jacob’s Dad’s a friend of mine. Brilliant scientist.”
Well, whatta ya know? Drummer boy’s got a pedigree. Makes sense. Jacob’s book is truly a great read, with a spot-on take of the music industry’s wonderfully baffling bullshit. Definitely seek it out. And while you’re at it, check out Jacob’s dad:
http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/People/Slichter/
Charles Slichter from the Dept. of Physics is about to receive the National Medal of Science at the White House. Wonder if Semisonic’s playing the after-party?
Oh, yeah, I remember something else I did this summer. I went to see CSN. My father-in-law Terry is a political pal of Steve Stills, dating back to McGovern days, so, he’s with the band. The best moment of the show was when Nash sang an anti-war song and received a smattering of boos mixed in with the applause. Classic DC difference of opinion. It was worth it just to feel some tension at a rock show. Actually, that was the second best moment; the best moment was when the band dedicated a song to Terry.
Afterwards I mingled backstage. When I was 12-years-old and mesmerized by songs like Hung Upside Down, Bluebird, and Rock and Roll Woman from one of my all-time favorite albums, Buffalo Springfield Again, I probably didn’t envision this:
And when I saw Woodstock The Movie as a teenager in Greece, far be this from my pimply thoughts:
I like to think of these photos collectively as Huxley, Stills and Nash. Has a ring to it, don’t you think?
Graham Nash liked my “Star Club: Hamburg” t-shirt and asked if I’d read Jonathan Gould’s Beatle bio “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Agghh! How could he pick the ONE Beatle book I haven’t read? Caught me with my knickers down. Badda boom.
Earlier this summer I also saw my buddy and songwriting partner Robert Lamm perform with his band Chicago—which he does when he’s not writing with me hee hee--and the best moment of that show was when Robert dedicated “Saturday in the Park” to my daughter Fiona. I loved that. So it was a good summer for dedications.
I just remembered one more thing I did this summer. I played a pretty interesting party in June. I flew to London where I hooked up with booze experts Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller (who happens to be my ex-wife). Launched by the success of Anistatia’s best selling book “Shaken Not Stirred: A Tribute to the Martini” about a decade ago, A & J have created a career in which they only drink on the job. They give demonstrations on how to make perfect cocktails, rescue long out-of-print recipe books by legendary bartenders, curate booze museums and other cool stuff.
When they’re not working in the colorful world of cocktails, Anistatia and Jared and their equally adventurous London friends like to throw theme parties. This year’s theme was The Swinging 60’s and about twenty of us convened at a quirky mansion in SW England called the Old Rectory.
Cue the incense, oil-based light show, communal meals and late-night sing-a-longs by a giant fireplace…which is where I came in. I led the group through 60’s classics like Tell Her No, Sunny Afternoon, All You Need Is Love, Bus Stop, Bang A Gong as well as odder nuggets like the Move’s Flowers In The Rain, and Unit 4+2’s Concrete and Clay. Since English music is kind of my thing, I couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic bunch of revelers. It was like psychedelic summer camp. I’d rank the Old Rectory gig right alongside the NSF!
On our way from London to the area around Bridport, Dorset where the Swinging 60’s awaited, Jared, Anistatia and I managed some of the most poorly timed touristing I’ve ever been party to. First we drove to Stonehenge, arrived early afternoon, and were told it had just been closed to visitors. It was summer solstice and the police were bracing for an onslaught of hippies, druids and other fans of giant upright slabs. Drat!
Undaunted, we drove on in search of “Clouds Hill”, the home of T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia. Once we got in the general vicinity, I think we circled our destination six times before finally figuring out where we were. We definitely saw this sign more than once!
We were intrigued by Wool and especially Monkey World, but decided the Tank Museum sounded more Lawrence-like and maybe they could tell us where Clouds Hill was. After driving for another half hour on roads hemmed in by hedgerows
we successfully located the Tank Museum, and it looked pretty cool. But no deal.
The Tank Museum closed at 3pm. (3pm…really?)
Some kindly soldier types pointed us toward Lawrence’s house, and at last we found Clouds Hill. You’ll never guess. Yep. Closed for repairs.
Our only victory was finding a stumpy roadside monument commemorating the site of Lawrence’s death by motorcycle. Finally-- a tourist spot the Brits couldn’t shut down in mid-afternoon! Although modest, this was an upright slab I could get into.
If you’re a fan of the movie like I am, and Lawrence of Arabia is My Favorite Movie of All Time…this was really cool. Who can forget the opening scene with Peter O’Toole on the motorcycle? Jared and I were captivated and immediately went deep into scholarly thought.
Well, it’s been great to connect with everyone on the world-wide mullet. I guess that’s about it. Can’t think of anything else. Here’s a shot of your faithful correspondent sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
I’ll do my best to be a better correspondent in the coming months. I can’t really put my finger on why it took me so long to get back on the mullet. Oh! Wait! I forgot to tell you about iHux, that little project my wife and I were cooking up over the summer. We’ve been developing iHux for nine months and are happy to announce the results of our labor. The full name for iHux is actually Imogen Huxley.
Purgatory Falls
Deluxe Edition
available now!
The P. Hux tour de force Purgatory Falls is now available in a deluxe edition with a bonus track remix of "I Loved Everything" and an expanded 16-page jewel case booklet. Included are all the lyrics, never before seen photos and detailed notes about each song from this 2001 classic album. The new Purgatory Falls cd is still at the old reasonable price of 13.99 and all copies ordered from parthenonhuxley.com are signed by P. Hux. Shipping is immediate. Please order Purgatory Falls here:
http://www.parthenonhuxley.com/phuxstore.html#Purgatory
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Guitar lessons--I've started teaching guitar to Maryland/DC kids and adults. My budding rock stars seem to be getting a lot out of it and it's really fun for me, too. It's been a long time since I've broken down my technique and I think I'm learning just as much as my students. If you live in the area and want to learn how to play, contact me at huxmail@aol.com Subject Line: Guitar Lessons.
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