Adam Lieb:

Some might ask: Why the blog entry about broccoli? I thought this was a MUSIC website? Well yes, this is a MUSIC website, but ocassionally it is nice to 'branch out' with flowery language, and try to spear another topic... otherwise it's just: music, music, music...too much music...you know? Besides, I like vegetables, and broccoli is just one of the ones I like...I just happen to be a musician who likes vegetables...Ravi Shankar has been a vegetarian for 87 years, and it hasn't affected him adversely... BB King?...another story...maybe I will write about other market offerings (or bar-b-qued ribs) in the future...stay tuned, stay fresh...

I almost OD'ed on Roman Broccoli this week! Roman Broccoli is an other-worldly thing, and tasty too...It is kind of a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, because it is white on the inside and green only very near the surface (and only slighty green too) more shaped like cauliflower in a head, and not with individual stalks or spears...and pointy! the stuff looks dangerous, like you could cut yourself just touching it...but once cooked...fantastic! I highly reccomend Roman Broccoli!

"In a time like ours, when the genius of the engineers has reached such undreamed of proportion, one can hear music as easily as one can buy a glass of beer. It only costs 10 cents too! Should we not fear this domestication of sound, this magic preserved in a disc that anyone can awaken at will? Will it not mean a diminution of the secret forces of art, which until now have been considered indestructible?"

- Claude Debussy (1913)

crescent blues
lake of fire
get to know him
my old friend the blues
no place to fall
john riley
I just need you
there is an art to happiness
capitola
colours
quella sera
dock of the bay
honk for peace
what's goin' on
breathe

I don't think I have found one Italian who has heard of Gram Parsons, but I will think about him today and sing his songs...I know Emmylou will, and I hope you will too! Long live the American songwriter- wherever they may be found. This week is warm, I am writing and preparing for the trio gig on the 15th...stay tuned...

Saturday in Rome, the weather still warm. No jacket needed for my bicycle trip through the neighborhood. Two flat tires! (not one) yes, two flats...hence this entry's title...but I did find a beautiful park and a beautiful health food store (they have tofu and everything) and I felt like I was back in California for just a few minutes... I'm rehearsing with a trio for my gig on the 15th with some really beautiful musicians from a (5 piece) jazz band. Should be good...stay tuned...

It's finally turning colder in Rome. At least yesterday was. I rode many miles anyway and even stopped in for a bicycle tune up. In Rome, there is an unusual bike co-op sort of place, where they believe riding bicycles is a quiet protest against oil and war! This place, called 'ciclofficina' goes around the city collecting old and broken bicycles, and takes donations of bikes and bike parts...then, offers it all free to everyone! People come there to fix, tune up or even build from parts, their own bicycle. I was there for hours, and learned things about bicycles I never knew! Italian, English and Spanish was spoken, but all the talk was about bicycles. When leaving on my newer, smoother ride, I wondered why more places don't try this idea. Paris is becoming a bicycle culture to rival Amsterdam, and Ferrara, Italy is another huge bicycle culture...ride on...

no need to head south this weekend, so i can stay here and enjoy the eternal city. finally a bike ride in the slightly brisker air! a new song, a new student and a (very) local gig on the horizon. i thought playing at the HBG was close to my house- this place (Flux 23) is even closer! i can walk there... which is a good thing, as i don't have a car and it's tough to carry the gear while riding a bicycle...i met some exiles and heard them sing...stay tuned...à

Let us craft our ship with care. There is an Art to Happiness, this truth was always there...

well only a slight chill, but that's not going to stop me from bicycling past the coloseo pretending not to be a tourist! Rome weather is pretty mild through the winter (I've heard) and walking and bicycling should be possible year-round. Not too many cyclists wearing those fancy spandex pants with the padding on the butt, and the water bottles etc. like we see in California, though. Despite being very large, Rome is rather provincial, and, (according to the Milanese) part of southern Italy.
stay tuned...

An interesting commute, to say the least... This morning I woke up in Rome knowing it was time to take the train to Naples 'to go to work'.
No, it still really doesn't feel like work, but it was earlier than usual, anyway!
When one takes the train in Italy, there are 2 classes of service, of course, but in this case, there are also 3 classes of trains! Priced accordingly, I can reach Naples in 1.5 hours, 2.1 hours, 3.5 hours... maybe 4 hours!
And you'll meet a different type of folk on each variety! I am not recomending the slow train- unless you may want to contemplate what the Buddha calls "the impermanent transient nature of our existence"
See you in Napoli!
adamo d'america

today is John Lennon's birthday- if you're reading this, and you play music, think about him today...
sing a song or two...
all you need is love, you know? I am in Rome, and my new routine seems to be, weekdays in rome, weekends in napoli. things are well!

I know it sounds implausible, but it is true. an indoor day, the first light rain that i remember in this past month. laying low to recharge for tommorow night- madigans.
a few other clubs in napoli and roma are interested in the 'cant-auture' from new york...(am i still from new york?) and some more opportunities are most definitely on the horizon!
anyway, if the music thing doesn't work out, there is always buddhism... does anyone have any news from home? stay tuned...

I am liking this town! (city)
Like New York, but with older marble and fresher vegetables...I walked for hours today, and wow, it made me realise...I need a bicycle! Many contacts for gigs and maybe a few students on the horizon...
Some new Music coming my way too- stay tuned for that.
The weather is still very warm. Perfect for walking both day and night (especially night) and there is still tons of good pizza (Roman) Tonight I play with 'Blue Stuff' at Big Mama (www.bigmama.it) ...Is anyone reading this?

Today (Mahatma Ghandi's birthday) I had the chance to visit and tour the 'Forum Music Village' recording studios in Rome. This studio was opened by Ennio Morricone in the 60's or 70's and recorded much of his movie soundtrack material. From 'The Good the Bad and the Ugly', etc... up through 'La Vita é Bella'... A few of the engineers sat in and we listened to some of the cuts from Amnesia on Ennio's (very) large speakers...fun. They seemed to like the Music and I have some new friends... looking for a Roman bass player (sorry Michael) all is well, the pizza is good more than half the time, but different than Napoli. stay tuned...

I am back in Roma, looking for work (and an apartment) This city has so much to offer! Very different from Napoli or Firenze, and certainly a world-class European capital. This coming Saturday, I will play here with "Blue Stuff" at Big Mamas...

Fulvio Sorrentino is learning many of my songs, and as he does, we add more to the set. On this night, some of what we played was:
Crescent Blues
Colours
It Was Cold
Circles
Beijing
Le Spingole Francese
Quanno Chiove
I Say i sto cca
I Know a Little
Like a Rolling Stone
Something
The Nullarbor Song
Quella Sera (close to the fire)
and quite a few Townes Van Zandt songs...
overall, a better sound than last time...

My first night back at Madigans (Irish) pub in Napoli. Why are there so many Irish pubs in Italy? I'm sure I don't know, but they like beer and MUSIC... I guess they liked me, because the owner booked my for 5 more dates (see calendar page) and it was WAY fun! The Harp Strong Ale, is also worth trying if you are in the area. I played with Fulvio Sorrentino and he was excellent! When we first met 8 years ago, it was difficult for us to communicate- His English and my Italian, both bad... now our words flow more easily, and the notes... come fratelli!
stayed tuned...

This past weekend was filled with musical happenings for me! A new recording studio has opened up outside Napoli in a town called Cardito. The studio, called "Max & Play" is named after the owner's son, Massimo, who is a very talented (and blind) multi-instrumentalist. The studio had an opening night party, where 2 bands played. The 2nd band was "Blue Stuff" a well known Napolitan blues band. I was asked to play with them, and ended the evening with a few of my songs. They asked me to come back the following night, and we played again. Massimo asked for my cd to learn some of the songs and I hope to record a new song "Quella Sera" with him at this studio. To work in Rome is my next challenge. I think my spelling (in English) is getting worse!

I am back in Napoli with what really feels like family. Who cares about crime, traffic, pollution, murder and traffic patterns of insanity, when you have pizza and love and music? There is a street in Napoli called "via Tribunale", and please believe me, this is the epicenter of pizza worldwide! After all "A-16" is the name of the highway that leads to Napoli... (I promise I won't spend all of my blogging about pizza, it's just that I have just arrived here and I can't contain myself) The blog will resume it's discussions 'musicale'
stay tuned... adamo

A-16 watch out! This is the land where pizza is born! I am going to try and contain myself-(after all I don't have to eat at every pizzeria in Napoli the first week) There will be time to visit Pompei, the home of Toto, (not the dog) and rehearse for Friday night.
We shall see...stay tuned...

My first week in Italy is nearly complete! I say 'finding my footing' because I have already been in Rome, Florence, and now on to Napoli. Searching for what are the best posibilities for an American Musician looking to share his songs and Music with this other culture. My first 'official' gig is in Pozzuoli next Friday. I will play solo, but the beginnings of a backing group are forming in both Roma and Napoli. Working on some new Music and learning to cry. The people I've met are as kind and generous as I remember most Italians to be. I sure hope I don't get fat...stay tuned...

Today is Sunday. I am in Rome. What more is there then being in Rome on a Sunday? We haven't seen the pope yet, but we hold out hope.
My friend GF (whose name is far too long to write out in full here with my limited typing skills) is a guitar player and writes for a Italian guitar magazine. He knows many big words and a few big chords. Today is my parents wedding anniversary... I must call them...stay tuned~

There is so much more I could say about this night at HBG, but wait, isn't this supposed to be the "euro-blog"? I haven't even left yet! But that happens today-
Flying from San Francisco to Paris, and then on to Rome. My next EB entry will be written from Italy! I sure hope I don't gain too much weight over there...stay tuned...

Wednesday night was my last night in Healdsburg, my adopted home. We played a beautiful and fun gig at "HBG" which is always good, but tonight it was really special! So many friends came out to listen and to play! Ten musicians in total played (though not all together) It began with one very special boy- my star student- Robert, aged 10. He played guitar and SANG with the band! He sounded great and so grown up... following Robert, the band played a beautiful Casey Chambers song whose refrain states: "I'll learn to live in a new town- but my heart is staying here" the cello of George Chavez added so much to this song, and to the entire evening! (thank you George)
The rest of the band included: Michael Lindner, Timmy Haagen-Daz, Alan Stassforth, Gary Violin, Thomas Loos, Doug & Martie McPherson. A large band!