Cosmic Buffalo is going through a rearranging of the deck chairs right now and the personnel picture is kinda cloudy. Plans are being made and it looks to a very exciting time for all of us that will be shuffling off on a Buffalo. Now, I would love to pay tribute to the band that set me on this path to create messages that fit the music in a way that maybe somebody out there will be able to draw strength, inspiration, or something profound enough to change them a little bit. What a great honor that would be, and most times you can only hope that somebody hears the message. I saw Pink Floyd in 73' on their,"Dark side of the Moon" tour, it was in Colombia MD, the output was quadraphonic and I was with April Manganello center stage front row. Oh Heeeaaaalllll Yeeeaaaaahhhh!!!!. After watching that performance and this song in particular made such an impact on me that I still think of that moment, that would be my goal in music to reach the point that Pink Floyd took me and so many others of my era. Enjoy!
Influences
Of course my family, my Mother took me to see Dizzy Gilespy and Pearl Bailey @ Kennedy Center. All of my siblings brands of music of which included the english invasion headed by the beatles, since I was the younger brother of 2 older girls I was witness to some of the most psychotic behavior by them over the beatles. It was about that time I was noticing girls too so, seeing their reaction I thought it best to study it too.
Julie my next oldest sister, may have had the biggest impact and influence via the music she was into then. I always envied her for being of age to actually see Jimi Hendrix and the Doors.
My Mom was always singing musical soundtracks around the house and her Mother my Granmom used to play piano in the silent movies and vaudville acts. we called her affectionately, "Jeanie with the two tone Peepers" for the reason that she had 2 different color eyes. Grandmom was about the most concentrated form of love that I have ever known.
Sitting under the credensa playing 45's like ,"here comes the night" by Them featuring Van Morrisson. then the Beatles came to the Ed Sullivan show, great big one there. The biggest though I can say without hesitation, it's my Dad. otherwise known as Bud to all, and it happened by osmosis, see: even at my age I could tell that we were struggling. The world was our oyster as children the world was grand, with just say 5 bucks my friend Jon and I found on the bank of the creek got us a large Pop's pizza w/pitcher of Pepsi and penny candies and comic books from the Wheaton Newstand, great times.
Bud was working 14 hour shifts and by the time he came home it was all he could do to carry himself up the front steps of our house. when we would go to the store or the gas station, I would observe him let cashiers count out the change for a bill bigger than he had given. He would just smile at this person and then say,"don't you think you should try that again?".
The clerk would get red faced and then would make the proper change. Bud would make a joke and then we were on our way, never did he explain what he did to me. hell I knew he could have used a bit of money coming to him from the blue. But he would always give it back, always helped anyone in distress and never took gratuities for doing so.
You know it's the hardest choice almost always to do the right thing. The opposite can be said for the other option, in fact doing the wrong thing in the doing of it is much easier that doing the right thing almost always.
You can sleep better though cause there aren't any bones rattling around in the closet. Here's to you Bud, didn't ask for you but I couldn't have picked a better Mom or Dad if i had a choice
Jimi Hendrix / Spirit / Frank Zappa / Pink Floyd / Allman Brothers / Derek and the Dominos / Tom Waits / the Doors / Cream / John Prine / Keb Mo / Little Feat
Now, these cats can flat out jam, and why wouldn't they. Better than half of this band has backed up some of the biggest names in Motown. Like Stevie Wonder / Ray Charles / Marvin Gaye / James Brown.
Who's the luckiest Buffalo?? Me that's who, these guys backed me up in the very first CD release party held at the Avalon on E. Lawrence Ave in Santa Clara CA.
Also on the Bill was Bob Harvey (founding bassist for Jefferson Airplane) The Jerry Miller Band, featuring the legendary guitarist from, "The Bobby Fuller Four" and of course,"Moby Grape". With him are Tiran Porter and Dale Occerman of the "Doobie Brothers Band" and John "Fuzzy" Oxendine from "Sons of Chaplin" and "Boz Scaggs". And then there was myself in front of this wonderfully talented band "Koolpop and the Groovemasters" from Las Vegas.
Perhaps the best live performance ever, of course I am just a bit biased. Echoes causes something of an epiphany for me, very spiritual. VERY!! Never will I forget watching from the center stage front row of Columbia MD outdoor stage. I was 15 and had taken my long time obsession April Manganello with me to this concert. It was also Quadraphonic unbelievable, and when the Black Chicks all dressed up in silver glitter dresses with silver lipstick and silver full length gloves, silver eye shadow. Plus I was stoned beyond anything remotely resembling reasonable. I was STONED. I will never tire of Pink Floyd they are my rock and roll heroes. Hendrix and Lennon too.
Not sure how many of you have heard of Shuggie Otis. He is the son of Jhonny Otis the legendary Blues guitarist. With this one album Shuggie cemented his name in the sidewalk of incredible artists. This song ,"Strawberry Letter 23" will rein for me as a classically groovy song. Plus, I like that the guy in the video kinda looks like the Cosmic Buffalo. hahaheh.
I am the Cosmic Buffalo and with the help of some of the very best musicians I have had the pleasure to work with the we will work on getting us a permanent band together for fun and all that. Now let me introduce you to the Cosmic Buffalo & TJ Crew Project. This song was recorded in Los Gatos after I walked in that afternoon with verses and chorus and an idea for the rhythm and beat. TJ Politzer-Guitarist and Master Sound Engineer too, plus Josh Felner on Drums and "Hap" Scott on Bass. Between 4 pm and 10:30pm we had layed the root tracks with the vocal cadence it was a wonderful night. This YouTube is the end result of my first attempt at video editing. Submitted this to the Obama campaign and I can't figure out why they didn't want to use it. Maybe to confrontational. Perhaps, heheahha.
Now let me introduce you to the Remington Riders of Campbell CA. Jan Lewis and Jerry Miller along with Jimmy Struend and Lance Brown (who is the singer in this great parody). They just keep cranking these songs out. For the last 3 years now. Being featured on Willy Nelsons Anti War site for the cover of one of Willies songs,"Peaceful Revolution" by the way that video is a classic. Jerry Miller guitar is screaming velvet good dude. Do yourself a huge and check it out.
Then there is the immortal Lowell George and Little Feat. This one is,"Teenage Nervous Breakdown" man I must have seen these cats at least 7 times in the 70's. This song has a special place in my heart because I did have "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" when I was 17 years old, did the "Coockoo's Nest" trip. Would have liked to sit that one out, but then again it probably helped me to appreciate others more. It's all good, but not as good as Lowell and Little Feat, they always succeed in making me dance.
Just gotta have me some more Floyd, how can I say this right. These guys are so fucking incredible that I am always spellbound no matter how many times I hear them. Now that Richard Wright is gone, no one will ever hear this again. The lucky ones got to see these guys in the 70's, what a frikking great band.
UGH! It's just that he picks the damnedest (I know it's not a word) times to take a nap. I am STARVING and I didn't plan on cooking because my dad gave us a gift certificate to go to Ruby Tuesday and we had plans to go. I tried to wake him up over an hour ago and he's still laying there. I'm moving on from annoyed to pissed off! anywayz, it went good. We got stuff for our wii. How was yours? know what sucks? that IM supposed to be the one that knows about "web-stuff" and your profile is better than mine? Maybe I should just let you take care of mine like mom does Dan's...ohh, that reminds me, speaking of mom; i finally got her to start taking those surveys online like i'm doing, cuz i know the extra money sure comes in handy. you should really try em. i mean, if i got mom to try it, psh, i can get anybody to, heh..i guess you'll have to type the link into internet explorer or whatever, but here it is:
www.work4surveys.com
... anyhow, I know we are both kinda like "wo ah" right now. But I just wanted to take a second to remind you that you are Amazing!
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christi wants you to join their band in Rockstars, a game where you can form bands with your friends and play gigs, battle rival bands, and become famous on MySpace!
YO Check it out if you're in the hood ..... Pissed off Pete’s 4528 Mission st@Ocean SF CA 94112 BANDS: the Plastic Saints, The Gravetones(chicago), The Jim Rowdy show
