I Suck at Blogging
December 14th, 2009
I am not dead, I am just resting. Sometimes I don’t have anything to say, or at least anything that’s longer than 140 characters. My life has been a bit chaotic recently because earlier this year we moved into this new house, and over the last few months there’s been a lot of construction – drywall, tiles, table saws, plaster dust everywhere. I have no closet or real bedroom. Since April my wardrobe has consisted of whatever was in the one box of clothes that I unpacked and put next to the bed, which is in the room that is supposed to be the living room, but right now is the fake bedroom and soon will be my fake studio. All my gear is still mostly in boxes, though some of it is piled and tangled up on a desk that is covered with a plastic sheet. So that’s been nice. Not really the most inspiring environment for a sensitive creative soul like myself. Those of you who have lived through construction will perhaps understand: the chaos seeps into everything, so that every aspect of my life feels MAKESHIFT. Also the children repeatedly need to be fed and bathed and dressed and soothed, and they are frequently covered in plaster dust, or drinking paint, or eating drywall screws.
But I want to tell you a few things. Recent (and not so recent) shows have all been wonderful. And though I didn’t say anything about it here, the UK trip was pretty fantastic too. The last show of the year was last week in Brooklyn, and I look back now on yet another amazing stretch of touring, generously supported by all you people who continue to surprise me by showing up at all. I have made it through another year pretending to be a rock star. Thank you.
Thanks also for participating in my poll about the cruise idea. The investigation continues, but I can tell you that based on all of your very helpful feedback I’m now looking at options that are not as long and expensive. This means it probably won’t be this Summer, and it probably won’t be out of Seattle, so you can all resume planning your Summer vacations without me. I would really like to do it, I just need to find the right situation. I’ll keep you all posted and give you plenty of advanced warning.
Already it’s time to start talking about touring plans for 2010, and if you look over there on the shows page you’ll see it starts in mid January with Orlando, St. Petersburg, Atlanta, and then continues with San Francisco, and then Dallas, Austin, (Houston?), and LA and Seattle and Portland and yet another run at Vancouver. I’ll write a proper mass email soon, and of course you can subscribe to the mailing list or the RSS feed so that you are certain to hear about all the details.
Some new songs would be nice, don’t you think? It’s been a long dry spell for me and I’m not sure exactly why. No doubt part of it is the seeping chaos situation described above, but I’m sure it’s more complicated than that. I look back at some of the Thing a Week songs that happened in spite of whatever inconvenient circumstances I was dealing with at the time, and many of them are much better than they have any right to be. A few of them are great. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that I’ll ever get into that headspace again, that desperate, wide-open, WTF state of mind that leads to something like “Re: Your Brains,” which quite honestly I can no longer remember writing. The more distant those acts of creation become, the more they seem like accidents or miracles, things that happened to somebody else. It’s daunting sometimes. I worry that I can’t compete with me. And I know the way through it is to write, or as Merlin says, to make the clackity noise. If there’s one thing I learned from Thing a Week it’s that, but my lizard brain continues to resist the solution. And I can come up with any number of excuses, but they aren’t real; I haven’t been writing because I haven’t been writing. The why of it isn’t nearly as important as the physical act of sitting down and getting to work.
Whoops, gotta go, Robocop 2 is on!
please come to Houston!
From one musician to another, I totally relate to being in a dry spell. Here are my own humble suggestions which I’m sure you’ve received from others already, but I feel I must voice:
-How about an album collaborating with Paul & Storm? Nothing helps a creative block more than collaborating with other musicians.
-How about another artificial deadline? Another Thing a Week is probably out of the question, but how about Thing a Month, or Thing a Bi-week?
-A mediocre Jonathan Coulton song is still tons better than any song that’s on pop radio, so I hope you don’t let your past glories hold you back
Your last three songs were absolute gems, apparently done far outside the self-imposed-and-now-we’re-all-expecting-it-from-you pressure of Thing a Week, so I think you still gots more creative stuffs in ya.
Somewheres.
It’s probably down beneath the angst and guilt of being a touring musician away from your family for long stretches. (Just kidding!!!)
Whenever you’re ready, we’ll be waiting.
You just need the right inspiration. Maybe something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dadPWhEhVk
A couple things to say that might be interesting to hear from just one fan:
1. No matter what you post or write, I come to your site nearly every day. (I rarely log in) I don’t care if there’s nothing new – that just doesn’t bother me.
2. You’ve already written more songs that mean something to me than any other band has. You’ve written more hits (IMO) than most popular bands ever do. Consider the 80′s hits – many of them one hit wonders. You’ve already done so much more. Nearly everything you have written has been awesome to me. There are still songs that seem new to me. There are still songs that are hitting me hard with their awesomeness. There are still songs that haven’t even begun to hit me yet, but I know will. Hell, I just got done listening to “When you go” again. Niagara Falls. You don’t need to write anything new. You’ve already done so, so much. I wish the world could hear your songs.
Please don’t take that as some creepy fan statement even though it appears to sorta border that. After all, like I said, I just got done listening to “When you Go” so I’m a little bit fragile right now.
I am just so happy that I found your music.
I suck at checking other people’s blogs.
I hope that your life gets less chaotic, but not so ordered that you have nothing to write about. I bet there’s a song in your guitar about somebody who’s living in an out-of-control makeshift mess and is sad. And I bet I would love that song, because my apartment is a mess right now and I don’t think the mess stays exclusively on the outside of my head.
Well, it’s true what Merlin said, and it’s true what people are saying about deadlines: deadlines work, and you should either get yourself one, or just commit yourself to making clackity noises or chunka chunka noises for fourteen minutes a day. But the reason they’re called deadlines is that after a year of them, you’re dead tired. And also very much alive. So basically a zombie or a vampire. But not a suicidal one. I think I had a point here but I can’t remember what it was.
Anyway, I don’t want to pressure you into writing songs or anything, because it’s not like I’m entitled to new songs, and it’s not like I don’t already have a lot of great songs from you. For me it doesn’t matter, I’ll still go to your shows even if there are no new songs, and try to get you to sing the old ones I haven’t heard live yet, gradually increasing in difficulty until you’re singing The Presidents *and* The Elements at double speed.
But at the same time, I don’t want to say that you should just rest because you’ve already written loads of great songs and and we’ll love you anyway (even though you have, and we will.) Because I’m pretty sure that writing new songs or other things would be rewarding for you. And if it’s rewarding for you, then you should do it. After a few baths and cups of teas, as the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Deadlines says.
Ninjas? Vampire Zombie Pirates would kick their asses. Unless they were MUTANT ninjas, of course.
On the lighter side, how about “All I want For Christmas is Prozak” (subtitled ‘Since the kids are home for a week’)?
I’m with Janelle, Houston’s music scene might totally blow, but you can come play in our apartment and we can call Janelle over. Maybe I’ll make some wassail.
“Damn it, JoCo, you’re planning a tour, but you’re not coming to Finland!! Well, yeah, there probably aren’t much fans of yours here, and I don’t think you want to freeze your ass in the cold, harsh environment of
.
And good luck with the new songs! I’m looking forward to hear them!”
OMG there’s someone else from Finland too. Yep tour would be awesome, but I know it isn’t possible here.
I agree with other guys, just put some deadlines and think about some themes like ninjas, pirates and random stuff
Auuugh, my failure at stalking you means I didn’t read this post until today to find out that you’re playing Dallas, and all the best seats are gone. Friiiiiig.
If only I had enough Mata Hari in me to sleep my way to the front. I’ll just have to sit in the back and enjoy you from afar, Joco.
JoCo please write soon. Otherwise I shall be forced to sned you my work and beg you to record it. And trust me you don’t want that!
Hi Jonathan,
My husband and I have recently discovered your music and we absolutely love the things you’ve done. Since we haven’t even heard everything you’ve already done, we can wait a while for some more.
I am disappointed that the cruise idea won’t be happening. My husband were talking of joining you to celebrate our 10th anniversary this summer. However, may I respectfully beg and plead for you to come to Vancouver, or even Victoria. Please, please, please!
I want to let you know one of the reasons that I love your music so much. My mom was diagnosed with advanced, aggressive cancer in the summer this year. It was shortly after my husband introduced me to your music. I loved what I heard so much that I had my mom listen to some of it. She instantly became a fan, too. Your refreshing, lyrically-beautiful, and sometimes downright hilarious songs really brightened her spirits. Listening to your music brought light and hope to an otherwise dark, scary time in her life. Thank you so much for that, Jonathan.
Today, six months after diagnosis, and five months after doctors opened her abdomen to discover uncountable numbers of tumours, small and large, everywhere they could see, my mom is cancer-free. It truly is a miracle. Now she gets to laugh and cry through all your wonderful music for many years to come.
Another way your music has touched my life is by bringing my husband and I closer together. Sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Many evenings we crank up your tunes and dance and sing while making supper, whirling our four-year-old and 18-month-old daughters around the room, sharing laughter and enjoyment. Our older daughter always insists that we start with “Mr. Fancy Pants”, followed immediately by “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance”.
I really must let you know that you have been successful at corrupting the younger generation in our household. Our four-year-old sometimes randomly blurts out, “You’d see the voices that control me from inside my head say I shouldn’t kill you…yet!” (It’s hilarious, and I can just envision the awkward conversation one day when her preschool teachers ask me to stay for just a few minutes after class!) Also, our friends’ 2-year-old likes to wander around their house, mumbling almost incoherently, “All we want to do is eat your brains….” So. Well done!
In all seriousness, I love your music, and, to be blunt, find you to be a genius at what you do. Your sound is beautiful and unique and you obviously sing with passion and joy. Thank you for all you’ve done.
-From a loyal fan in Western Canada
When will you be coming to Australia? D:
The only difference between the JoCo who did thing a week and the JoCo now is more fans. Try thing a week again only for 3months,and not a full year, and even more people will buy them and love them outright. That’s all, 3 months thing a week.
please come to houston!!!! please!!!! please!!!!!!
“Today, six months after diagnosis, and five months after doctors opened her abdomen to discover uncountable numbers of tumours, small and large, everywhere they could see, my mom is cancer-free.”
St. Jonathan?
On the other hand, I’ve learned it’s not a good idea for an over-50 guy, going back to college, to walk around singing Skullcrusher Mountain. It’s just not as funny somehow.
Have a life. Make more music when you’re compelled to. Thing-a-week is more legacy than hundreds of “famous” musicians left, and they still have careers off their once-upon-a-time success. And you can always do the Johhny Cash thing in your old age – intense, moving covers of classic songs from the old days, like Baby’s Got Back.
Convenience fee, I had no idea such a thing existed.
Still worth it, though! I’ve been watching for another Portland visit for a while.
All I wanted for Christmas was JoCo’s box set. And I didn’t get it, and was a very sad panda indeed. So I bought it anyways (yay!). And I am Very. Disappointed. In all of you people. How could you not inform me how terrific it would be?? Ok, you did, I’m just not very observant okay? So, it was a very happy day (well, couple days – I picked it up late Monday night and am still enjoying many songs I hadn’t heard before).
You know how when you buy an album, and there’s maybe 2-3 songs you really like, and another couple that are just OK, and the other 5-6 do nothing for you? An album. They’re physical discs that contain the… you know what, it’s not important (old! I’m old! Gah!). What’s important is that I did a Real Mathematical Analysis that involved counting and stuff, and I like – really, really like – 83% of the full set. And the rest are OK. Only 2 songs I don’t like at all which either means that JoCo is super-talented or I am the nearly-ideal target audience or both.
The Future Soon, I Crush Everything and Blue Sunny Day are my current favorites, all for different reasons.
JoCo – for the record, your money-pooping cow business model works. I followed a link to Skullcrusher Mountain a few months ago, then grabbed a couple of free songs (Skullcrusher, When You Go, KML), heard others on YouTube (including the Wil Wheaton version of My Monkey) and got hooked. I got impatient and stole a couple songs before Christmas (borrowed! I borrowed them! I knew I would be getting the box set!) and then ponied up the cash because I would like there to be more of your music in the future. Sorry to make you read all this but I guess I took a typing pill and I feel fantastic.
Yay! Finally a visit to Orlando! Can’t wait to see you. The Social is a cool venue too.
When we saw Kevin Smith speak he said he wouldn’t be making any more Clerks-type films. He said he would never be in that place again in his life — desperate filmmaker with no budget and boundless passion for his film. That’s why he’s turned to different films, for better or for worse.
Maybe you can try something like that as well. You were in one headspace when you wrote the Thing a Week now you’re in another. Instead of trying to move back into that headspace, try something from where you are right now. Something different so you don’t feel like you’re competing so much with yourself: different genre of music, music parodies, collaboration with other musicians. You could try jumping media try your hand at writing short stories. Heck, there might even be enough in Skullcrusher Mountain for a whole novel.
Maybe trying something different is more intimidating than repeating your previous style, but it might be where your best future creative work lies, too.
Good to hear from you! We’re rooting you on! And…hey! Make that tour out of Seattle! We West Coasties want to cruise with you!
My bet is that those moments of inspiration are still firing, but when they do you’re probably busy stepping across floor joists or managing some other chaotic circumstance. Many creative souls I know have sparks that have to be fanned into bonfires before they’re forgotten or lapse into being under-appreciated by the host being. I think that was my long-winded way of saying “don’t worry about it!” Cool humanity won’t spoil.
Also, I agree with DavidK. Committed artists always seem to find niches, reinvention, new ways to develop. Personally, I have no doubt wherever you go, it will be magnificent.
Hi Jon-
I was excited to find out you will be visiting Vancouver during the Olympics! — unfortunately Ticketmaster sees fit to charge a Facility Charge and a Convenience (?) charge which makes the tickets unaffordable for me.
Oh Well — maybe I’ll run into you at a local Starbucks.
Cheers & Good Luck!
Peter
Solution to dry spell: BUS PLUNGE!
(I was at the Minneapolis show in October. I am still waiting. You know you want to.)
Hi JoCo, loved the Pittsburgh concert. I would not have thought one could play Billy Joel’s “Pressure” on a guitar, that was cool.
I really enjoy when you play with different musical genre’s. Perhaps a blues, gospel, disco, rockabilly or opera song might be in your future creations? Would love to hear another Gregorian chant song from you.
Tom
I’ve been doing a song-a-week thing for the last few months focused on building a collection of songs I can play live. One thing I’ve noticed is that I only have a certain amount of space in my head to devote to songs. I need to either finish or deliberately set aside whatever song I’m thinking about now in order to make room for anything new. Push the old stuff out, stop thinking about it, and new stuff comes in to fill the same space.
If that’s the issue, writing new songs might not be terribly compatible with touring.
I found Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talk pretty inspiring – she gives some alternative ways to think about inspiration that are helpful.
I hear you on living through construction and dealing with the mess and chaos. I once had to make do for several weeks on just the contents of one or two cardboard boxes while the entire main floor of the house was gutted.