A Week of Winter Waves and Summer Blues...

I can't remember the last time we had a solid week of waves and
weather that went from summer to winter and back to summer.
It was in a word- crazy. But the locals took it all in stride. It's not like they had a choice. Besides, I think they were all digging the surf we were all blessed with to be concerned with the weather. Just like being a kid. We never cared what the weather was doing.

We went outside to play. The hell with the weather. We were kids!



But the surf was this good. Here's Max on day two of the swell.

I couldn't help but think back how far he has come in his surfing.
From a young clueless grom to one of the boys in the line-up. The learning curve has been swift and relatively easy for Mackey and his friends. Jesse Gould, Perry Reynolds, Kody Grondin, and all his other childhood friends who he has grown up with here on the seacoast. They can all surf. And they all surfed this week.

Surfing and music have always been a big part of my life.

And I have mentioned that this summer will be my 50th year
surfing enough times. But it's also my 50th year playing the guitar.
I know. I must be old. Well, I am. I'm on the downward side of that hill we all climb. And let me just say that after 40 we are all on the slow descent. Not many of us live past 80.

So when you turn 40, you have basically peaked and are now on the slippery slope.

That's not to say that you can't have fun in your 50's, 60's, or 70's.
You can, but you will not be the same energetic person you were
in your 20's, 30's, or 40's. Sorry.

There are no magic pills, or potions you can drink to bring back
your youth. And your bones, joints, and muscles just don't bend
and move they way they used to.

But, you can still surf, and you can still play the guitar.



And last night I did just that. Played with my brother Johnny, and my two ex-bandmates Rich Appel and Lenny Dunn. We did a show for the SURFERS HEALING benefit to help fight Autism at the Dog Bar in Gloucester. And while I did not feel that I personally played that well, my brother Johnny really did light up the room with his burning licks.

So my point is, you can be old and still play guitar.



And not really lose anything. Especially if you are playing the blues.

Let's face it, the Blues is timeless. And the older you get playing
the blues, the hipper you get. Can't say the same for other genres. And whenever I see or hear about some of the "Old Punk bands"
from the 70's doing these reunion gigs I cringe.

I mean, who wants to hear and see some old men with white hair
and pot bellies jumping around in leather jackets and sneakers
pretending to be 19 or 20?

Not me. I think it's amusing at best. The whole punk thing was about youth and rebellion. Seeing old punks in their 60's? I don't think so. My advice to my old punk rockers is to let it go. Let it go. It's over.

Play some acoustic tunes or tell jokes. Because your angst and
screams fall far short of what it meant back in the 70's.

"Playing The Blues Heals All Wounds"

My latest movie is due for a early July showing. And I think I'll end
up showing it at the Legion (next to Flatbread) for an old school premiere. Portions of the proceeds will go to the WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT. So Stay tuned.




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SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 10 YEARS!