uhh, everybody please put a thumb in the air..

This is an account, a musical exploration told through old photographs (from a Eastman Kodak Brownie) found in a secret compartment within a vintage chest I bought from a local salvation army. There were eleven pictures total, with ten of them being marked 1-10 on the back, and the last a portrait of this lone voyager staring out at the land before him he would soon travel.
 So I took the liberty of creating a story through music, and words, to this obscure mans photo-documented journey across majestic landscapes and beautiful scenery, which ultimately ends in him disappearing Earth through a time warp found in the Rockies above the desert.

 From the thinning threads of night came the Voyager. Among low hills smothered in dust and littered with old brush he saw sunrise (1.Sun Breaks Night). He made his way from the rolling mounds to a shore where at such an early hour only one other person was roaming (2.Tides at Dawn). Continuing on it became overcast as he moved inland and came to a field masked by fog (3.Fields Cloaked In Mist). Traveling further, he happened upon a skyline of hills that made him change direction in his endeavor, and toward it he now headed (4.Distant Horizon). Once reaching the crest of these hills he found a path that winded down and around a multiple of bluffs that eventually led him to a waterfall (5.The Glow of Cascading Water). Deeper into the knolls he went and found a forest line shaped in a half moon. Through the forest he ventured until a strange man appeared, his clothes caked in old mud and his face bore the look of someone untamed. The strange man asked the Voyager to join him in a drink by his camp fire; and so the Voyager accepted. The strange one passed him a flask and they both drank from it (6.Upon a Forest Dweller). Night fell and the Voyager fell with it into a deep sleep. The next morning he woke up with the strange man nowhere in sight and himself feeling weird in the head, dizzy and not sober amongst his senses. Hiking down from the forest a road appeared and he could now barely walk, clearly he had been drugged. Holding out his thumb, attached to his quivering hand, an old sky blue pick-up truck stopped and he hurled himself into the bed. As the truck moved on he starred straight up as they drove through a cast of mountains which felt, to him, were stretching up to the sky (7.Looming Mountains). He was dropped off in an old mining town where a train was heard from afar coming in to make a stop. This is when the Voyager ran for the tracks that lay behind the town and caught up to steal a ride...wherever it was going (8.Boxcar Journey). Now speeding at 50 mph and still feeling the effects from the contents of the flask he began to make up incredible ideas of how to improve life with simple inventions like the automatic sharpener that lives within a pencil. It was here when he realized he was among a massive desert where cactus were bending and breathing and birds flew into each other making bigger birds, though he would not know it; this would be his last stop (9.Watercolored Desert). He watched the train take away into the long desert, which looked from time to time like it was melting, and noticed a mountain covered in rocks that jet out this way and that, so he climbed his way to the top and found a cave. Entering this cave a bright round light flourished, crackled, and hissed a small distance away, drawing him in like a friend calling his name. He walked into the glowing orb and disappeared into the light. As his body was consumed whole the orb then swallowed itself, vanishing into thin air (10.The Portal).

to be continued...

Get on the Air @ 562.653.0707
Live From NumbSkull Studios in Long Beach, CA
Wednesdays 7-10pm PST

Heavy T’s Grow Show Pros, (except for that waste-of-skin Duff Man), combine decades of experience in the hydroponic and horticulture industry. Thee Heavy T, Horti-Control Kris, and broadcaster Vinny Stone, along w/ everyone’s grow guy to hate–cause he does it all wrong–The Duff Man, get together and provides three continuous hours of hydroponic education & entertainment weekly.
All the while allowing you to sit back and listen to an enlightening live podcast/broadcast of the most influential hydroponic and organic talk radio to date– Complete w/ top industry sponsors, interviews, caller questions; consistent gifts, gear and prizes w/ live store broadcasts & events–


Get on the Air @ 562.653.0707
Live From NumbSkull Studios in Long Beach, CA
Wednesdays 7-10pm PST
 
Who’s “Heavy T’s Grow Show”?
* Host Heavy T operates indoor horticulture stores & distribution companies in the hydroponic industry.  A tremendous background in the field, “T-Dog” rocked the hydro world by introducing “Heavy T’s Grow Show” after a need needed to be met in a such a rapid growing industry.  Innovation, dedication, design, heart & the LBC have completed the circuitry for what those who know him–those who call him: “Heavy T”.
* Co-Host Horti-Control Kris has invented products proven highly beneficial, consistently surpassing expectations, and always meeting the consumer w/ dedication and quality in the horticulture market. With a taste for stand-up and a thirst for the environment–  Horti brings the hands on knowledge and trial ‘n error to tell you how to get growing good and how to get “getting” your product to market.
* Vinny Stone, long time hydroponic enthusiast, and has a broadcasting background in talk radio in Los Angeles.  Armed with a permit to operate a 50,000 watt radio station; playing operator, air talent & green thumb extraordinaire–Vinny has earned his spot on Heavy T’s Grow Show as your Executive Producer.
So Who & What is the Duff Man?
* The Duff Man IS human and IS a curse. A one of a kind plague. This Co-Co-Host to “Heavy T’s Grow Show” is really f’in LUCKY that Heavy T & the Gang ever re-considered his wretched ass on the show to broadcast his bullsh*t. Fortunate for him it’s good to educate those on the show and the listeners; this retarded evil that lurkes in EVERY GROW COMMUNITY–Listen closely & regularly to identify these rat trolls and keep them far away from you, your life, your person–YOUR GARDEN!
Following Duff’s Advice = A Moron

WHAT IS THE DUFF & WHY THE DUFF FREE ZONE???

Duff is the garbage you grow when you don’t know how to grow. When you have a high quality genetic plant but you keep producing CRAP–or as Duff Man calls it:  The Love.  Because you simply don’t know how to grow.
~Are You A Duff Man?~
Stop spending time on those “grow” forums online trying to ask those particular questions, searching for the right answer–
Remember:  Many of those people on the forums– They listen to this show.
 
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Live Stream Wednesday’s 7-10p PST

Hello there and let me welcome you to GreenPal, the easiest way in Oklahoma City to order lawn care services and grass cutting online. Allow me to explain a little bit about how GreenPal and how it works how the mobile app can save you money on your lawnmowing services. First I'll off start off by explaining the old way of finding and scheduling the lawnmowing services in Oklahoma City and then I'll explain how GreenPal works and you can judge if you want to try it out or not. Normally whenever you need your grass cut you'll have to call several lawn care services nearby in Oklahoma City to request proposals for how much it is going to cost for landscaping service. Now as a rule of thumb you're going to have to call 10 different local lawnmowing companies for every single yard maintenance quote that you receive. This means that night so you want three different prices from local lawnmowing services you will need to make at least 30 phone calls do yard maintenance companies nearby in Okc to get three different competitive yard maintenance prices. GreenPal makes that so much easier because we have attracted and onboarded the best local lawnmowing services that cut grass throughout the Oklahoma City area in Oklahoma county and so you can put your address in preferences with respect to what sorts of yard work you wanting done and GreenPal sends the word out to nearby lawnmowing services in the Oklahoma City area notifying them to submit a price for grass cutting on your yard maintenance.

Then you are in total control. Lawn maintenance pricing is emailed and texted to you and then you can read over lawn care services reviews that other residents in the Oklahoma City area had to say about how they did on their lawn maintenance for those customers. This is by far the best way to make an informed hiring decision on who you want to cut your grass and maintain your lawn and landscaping throughout the rest of the yard maintenance season in Oklahoma City. But it doesn't stop there, after they cut your grass for the first time you will receive a photo of your freshly cut yard for your review. This is great if you are not living at the particular property that you were requesting yard maintenance for and so you can verify that the yard cutting was done to your satisfaction. After you're able to verify you can simply pay online through GreenPal secure website or through the landscape maintenance mobile app. You're in total control and GreenPal is set up for your total convenience. Also if you need any other yard maintenance services done the Oklahoma City landscape maintenance business that you hired through your GreenPal account can submit to you pricing for those additional yard maintenance services as well. Anything from mulch to shrub pruning, to reseeding can all be ordered with your GreenPal account. So if you live nearby Hambrick Botanical Gardens or Martin Park Nature Center or over by Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City GreenPal's got you covered just click on the button to get started and your days of haggling and negotiating with local lawnmowing services in OKC are over and your weekends are now taken back. Also if you do not live in the Oklahoma City ok area you can use GreenPal to order lawn care service in Edmond OK and also lawn mowing businesses in Midwest City OK if you need a good referral for that part of Oklahoma City.


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1933 NW 39th St Ste 123
Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Phone:
405-256-3080

Are you just waiting for a sensitive new folksinger, complete with touching, precious lyrics, and a heartfelt desire to change the world with his songs?  Well, you sure ain’t gonna get any of that with “PAUL WIGGINS!”  Singing left-field songs like “Trophy Wife”, “Jerks Like Me”, “No Fun Being White” and “Road Apples” (yes, that one is about what you think!), “PAUL WIGGINS!”  is more fun than a clown on fire!!!

“PAUL WIGGINS!” performs songs that could be the soundtrack to your life…if your life happens to be that of a surly college kid, or a middle-age malcontent. If you spend your days showing up, punching in, putting out, pitching in, punching out, cleaning up, heading home, throwing up, turning in, sacking out and shutting up, these songs are for you. Simple, witty, stripped down music, just right for Saturday night jukeboxes, finding a sweetheart, cuttin’ a rug, and cryin’ in your beer.

“I Suffered For My Music-Now It’s Your Turn”

Bookings & CONTACT:
Sore Thumb Music: 506-381-1853                                                                                    lazyfolksinger@rogers.com
www.reverbnation.com/allfolkedup  

Firstly, if you’re holding the CD "ALL FOLKED UP!" in your hand, I wanna thank you for buying, or stealing it. Whether you LISTEN to it is up to you (although I hope you will!) There is a lot of music on the market today, and if mine goes into rotation on your personal listening device, I am grateful. If it becomes a kitchen party favorite, I’ll be a happy hillbilly! 

Secondly, I wanna thank my wife and kids for their love, tolerance, support, tolerance, eye-rolling, tolerance, faith, tolerance, humor, tolerance, bullshit meters, and finally-tolerance!

I spent a lot of years in the Canadian Music Industry, first in radio, then at record companies. I had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the biggest artists in the world, either writing about or playing their music on-air, or going on the road and promoting it. Playing music myself was not high on my bucket list, and after travelling, hanging out and working with guys like Lenny Kravitz, Colin James, Tom Cochrane, the Northern Pikes, Alice Cooper, etc. (ooops lemme just pick up those names I dropped!) writing and performing music actually ended up on my fuck-it list! Talk about intimidating!!

But, in a long-ago defining moment for me, while working in radio in Vancouver, I had the opportunity to introduce John Prine at a show in the Commodore Club. Backstage, I mentioned to Mr. Prine that I was interested in writing and performing, but that I didn't think I sang or played well enough. "Just write," John told me. "I got one of the worse voices in the world, and I ain’t the best guitar player but all these people are here to see me. It's about the songs."  It’s advice that I carried for many years, before actually putting it to use.

Although I have floated a few demos out occasionally, more than 25 years after my conversation with Mr. Prine, this CD is a true DIY work project, with all the songs being written, all instruments played, everything recorded, mixed and mastered by me on an 8-track recorder in the “Used To Be My Daughter’s Bedroom Studio”, in Riverview, NB. There are some mistakes, some erroneous ambient sounds, and some less-than-perfect notes hit and played, but ya know what? Even Jimmy Page left mistakes in Led Zeppelin songs, and if it’s good enough for a guy with that kind of divine talent, there’s no way I’m gonna be too goddam precious about my shit!!! 

So, to paraphrase Mr. Carlin, I’m hoping that my songs might become part of the soundtrack to your life…if your life happens to be that of a surly college kid, or a middle-age malcontent. If you spend your days showing up, punching in, putting out, pitching in, punching out, cleaning up, heading home, throwing up, turning in, sacking out and shutting up, these songs are for you. Thanks for the support, and remember….I Suffered For My Music...Now It's Your Turn!

Dr. Benjamin Robinette attained the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance from Texas Tech University (TTU) in May 2013, where he served as the studio teaching assistant and in-house arranger to Professor David Dees. His studies and mentorship under Dr. Christopher Smith and Dr. Angela Mariani also garnered him a certificate in Early Music Performance Practice from TTU. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) where he studied with Dr. Connie Frigo, and the Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he served as the studio teaching assistant to Professor Taimur Sullivan.

At UTK he won the university’s concerto competition twice, received the School of Music's award for woodwind performance excellence three times in a row, was awarded several outside performance scholarships, and had a soprano saxophone concerto written for him by David Pegel. At UNCSA, Robinette won the School of Music's concerto competition as well as the UNC-based Rosen-Schaffel Competition, which resulted in a performance of Alexander Glazunov's celebrated Concerto in E-flat with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. Robinette also collaborated at this time with composer Duncan Youngerman on two newly-commissioned saxophone works: Stillicidium and Déjà.

Recently at TTU Robinette performed several successful conceptual recitals. A retrospective of Duncan Youngerman's saxophone works resulted in the world premieres of two complete cycles of his compositions: the Splash cycle (previously known as Stan the Man) and the F.M. Air cycle of unaccompanied soprano saxophone works. Robinette’s saxophone octet arrangement of György Ligeti's Hungarian Rock also inspired an all-saxophone arrangement of Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra for over 70 university and independent saxophonists from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. 

In addition to the saxophone, Robinette is still actively involved in both the World Music and Early Music programs at TTU. Getting involved in vernacular music led Robinette to rekindle his interest in dance as well, joining the Tech Irish Set Dancers and participating most recently as a dancer and singer in the 2012 production Dancing at the Crossroads.

Due to a long-standing love of the Zimbabwean thumb piano styles of the mbira dzaVadzimu and the matepe (both of which he taught himself how to play), he founded and is currently leading the TTU Mbira Group, the first academic ensemble of its kind in the state of Texas—earning him the TTU Vernacular Music Center's annual scholarship. Outside of his academic activities, Robinette has also recorded a matepe DVD (the first of its kind!) entitled “Matepe Spirit” with his teacher Joel Laviolette.

His interest and pursuit of Early Music as a bass vocalist and as a researcher has encouraged Robinette to ponder fundamental questions about the nature of historically-inspired performance, leading to the creation of his latest project: Quartet Exordium. A saxophone quartet only in instrumentation, they explore repertoire of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in order to deliver performances of early music that excite modern audiences and challenge conceptions of how modern instruments can effectively transmit the music of the distant past. Their initial series of concerts involved the subtle but complex music of the Ars nova and Ars subtilior from the late 14th and early 15th centuries, culminating in their appearance as featured guests of the TTU Early Music Ensemble in January 2013. In March 2013 on Easter Sunday they recorded a compact disc featuring a liturgically accurate four-saxophone adaptation of Renaissance composer Johannes Ockeghem's Missa Prolationum. Additionally, this recording supplements Robinette's doctoral thesis entitled “Interlocutio: A Process for Performing Renaissance Vocal Polyphony on Saxophones.” 

Robinette currently lives and works in Lubbock, Texas with his fiancée Melody and their two cats Loki and Belle. During his downtime he enjoys singing complicated Medieval and Renaissance music (as well as not-so-complicated catches and glees), trying new restaurants and coffee shops, baking desserts, reading science fiction and magical realism novels, and adventuring across the country.

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