Monthly Archives: December 2011

Music

Whatever happened to Blue Meridian?

December 18, 2011 – 4:10 am

When Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Donovan Lyman is in Orlando and runs into old fans of his band Blue Meridian, it often turns into a “where are they now?” conversation.

Those encounters are both amusing and a little frustrating for Donovan, because he never stopped recording and touring with Blue Meridian — he just switched coasts. The band’s sixth studio album, “Skint & Shattered,” was recently released online and is physically available this week.

If you were a fan of original music in Orlando during the ‘90s, you had your choice of great bands to see on most nights of the week at The Sapphire, Go Lounge, Barbarella, Scruffy Murphy’s, Skinny’s, The Copper Rocket or House of Blues. And Blue Meridian was one of the most active, prolific bands on the circuit.

As the quartet’s founder and frontman, Donovan was a relentless promo machine. In addition to being a musician, he was a freelance graphic designer who churned out unique posters for every gig.

Donovan Lyman

The band maintained an aggressive performance schedule, released a couple of well-received indie albums and won numerous awards. At the same time, consistent airplay on Real Radio 104.1 turned “Sideways Silverjet” and “The Way I Feel” into regional hits.

And then the band disappeared.

Well, not really. That’s a common misconception among a lot of East Coast fans.

Blue Meridian has been alive and well in Los Angeles for almost 10 years now. After the band’s first West Coast tour in the early part of the last decade, Donovan decided California was the place he ought to be. So he came home, tied up some loose ends, held a fire sale at his Bumby Avenue house / rehearsal space / headquarters and headed west.

I still miss the Bumby house, which was only a few minutes from Beefy King. I frequently met Donovan at the classic Orlando lunch spot whenever I could break free from being an Internet Pioneer at “The Orlando Sentinel.” Some of the best times were when we grabbed our Beefy sammiches and spuds, and then took them back to his place. That’s when I got to hear the latest songs and new mixes before they made it onto a stage or CD.

Luckily I’ve been able to continue the experience virtually since Donovan settled in LA and formed a West Coast version of Blue Meridian. And we still have lunch at Beefy King whenever he’s in town.

To those of us who faithfully show up a few times a year at Donovan’s Orlando shows, Blue Meridian never went away. Actually, the band is more popular than ever. There is a strong fan base not only in Southern California, but also in Europe and the UK, where the band is a big draw on international tours.

Orlando album-release party

Now that you know Blue Meridian is still around, it’s time to get a beer in one hand and a copy of the new record in the other.

Come out to The Back Booth in Orlando this Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. for the Orlando release of “Skint & Shattered.” Donovan will perform an acoustic set full of old favorites and selections from the new album, which will be available at the show.

I bet he will even explain the album title. And if you’re really nice, he’ll let you buy him a Red Bull and Vodka!

If you absolutely can’t make it to the show on Wednesday, then head over to CD Baby, Amazon or the iTunes Store and buy a copy of “Skint & Shattered.”

Donovan spent four years perfecting the performances on this record, but it was worth the wait.

The first finished track I heard was “Heaven’s Heavy.” I loved it right away because it sounded familiar and fresh at the same time. It has a classic Blue Meridian feel, but stands apart from anything on previous releases.

What is consistent across every Blue Meridian record, however, is the lyrical imagery from Donovan.

Oh love, on a string. It makes you jump so high like you’re bounding about on springs.
Is that all the heaven we’ll find? Don’t be scared of what our powers will be combined.

“Godspeed” is a driving anthem that will probably be a favorite of fans who like the heavier material from the self-titled first album and “Brave Angel.” Donovan even lets loose with a powerful “C’MON!” during the song’s opening. That little element made me flash back to the “Blue Meridian” album, where he did the same thing going into the second verse of “Dream Breathe Scream.”

“Lina Los Angeles” is chock full of SoCal references. This chorus makes me smile every time I hear it:

Lina Los Angeles, give me a slow kiss, pour me a Grey Goose, put me in show biz.
Lina Los Angeles, queen of the Wild West, you’re kind of a big deal, and I’m sort of impressed.

The record lightens up a bit sonically with “Never Grow Old,” “King of Hearts” and “God’s Daughter,” all of which are in the vein of the quieter, more ethereal material on “Avalon & Babylon & Me.”

When the song “Crystal Clear” first appeared on “Avalon.” It was all finger-picked guitar, mandolin and violin. It had a bluegrass and Irish folk vibe the first time around. Donovan recast the song for “Skint & Shattered” with electric guitars, a heavy bass part mixed right up front, and a lockstep rhythm that brings to mind “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” by the Proclaimers.

If you are an old Blue Meridian fan who didn’t realize the band is still making music – you should buy this record. And if you’re in Orlando, please come out to The Back Booth Wednesday night.

If you’ve never heard of Blue Meridian before, but you’re a fan of good rock ‘n’ roll with well-crafted lyrics – you should buy this record.

I’ll even make you a deal. And by “you,” I mean the FIRST person who wants to take me up on the offer. Not EVERY person. If you buy “Skint & Shattered” and decide it’s not your cup of tea, contact me and I’ll personally refund your money.

There ya go. Nothing to lose.

And now — the videos.

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Babble

Time to give “Frosty” the cold shoulder

December 3, 2011 – 8:13 am

Like all parents, I do everything possible to protect my kids and keep them out of harm’s way.

Bug them about wearing a helmet when they get on a bike or skateboard. Teach them about stranger danger and how to dial 9-1-1. Keep them away from Jerry Sandusky.

But it wasn’t until this week that I realized a classic piece of Americana is actually a tool of the unified forces that are hell-bent on corrupting our youth with the systematic introduction of drugs, disrespect, dalliance and dependence.

I’m talking about …

… “Frosty the Snowman.”

This has nothing to do with political affiliation or religious preference. The song is an equal-opportunity offender. To prove the point, I hereby submit my analysis of the lyrics:

Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal

Right off the bat, the song urges our children to use tobacco and fossil fuels. “Hey, kids. Coat your lungs with tar, and use coal for everything possible instead of choosing an eco-friendly alternative.”

Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say
He was made out of snow
But the children know how he came to life one day

What’s that? One moment there was no life, and then POOF there was life? I see … so now we’re teaching creationism in our holiday ditties. Got it.

There must have been some magic in
That ol’ silk cap they found

So much wrong here. In two short lines, the songwriters managed to introduce the concepts of occult and welfare. The kids in the song “found” the hat, and then gave it away. Just like the government finds tax money and gives it away to people who sit around hitting the pipe all day while the rest of us work. Obviously that hat belonged to someone! Maybe an old person who will catch his death of cold if his head isn’t covered. The kids should have turned it in to Lost and Found.

For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around

Dancing? Hello! You let kids dance and it’s a slippery slope straight downhill to drinking, making out, car wrecks and a Kenny Loggins song.

Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me

Sure, kids, head on outside and play with every drifter and hobo who come through town. Traipse around with these ne’re-do-wells, then see how quickly you end up chained to a tent stake out in the woods while your captor writes ransom notes using pus from his open sores. The good news, is you’ll get your 15 minutes of fame on the side of a milk carton.

Frosty the Snowman knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let’s run and have some fun before I melt away

The sun is hot. But this Frosty character doesn’t even stop for a moment to suggest that the kids lather on a little SPF 30 to protect their delicate epidermis. Once again proving himself irresponsible. You know damn well that Obamacare won’t pay for skin-cancer treatment.

Down to the village with a broom stick in his hand
Runnin’ here and there all around the square
Sayin’ catch me if you can

I’ll tell you why he’s running here and there. Forgive me for getting all street on you bitches, but “snow” is another term for cocaine. The “snowman” is selling drugs to your children. He himself is all hopped up on the devil’s dandruff and can’t stop running around the square.

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler stop

Frosty only paused a moment. That’s it. Then he continued on his merry way, even though the local constable had to holler at him. This drifter has no respect for law enforcement, and you’re letting your sunscreenless children run around town snorting cocaine with him.

Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye sayin’ please don’t cry
I’ll be back again some day

Just another good-time Charlie who destroys a few lives then moves on down the road, leaving a trail of empty promises about coming back one day to make all your dreams come true. This is the stuff of Lifetime movies.

It’s time to thumppity-thump-thump Frosty’s ass for good.

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