orry I've been out of touch, things have been a bit hectic lately - had a lost weekend in Bangalore, hanging out with DJ Anoop Absolute and his lovely wife Roxy, who works a heavy schedule for Tommy Filthfinger... I mean Hilfgiger - I finally succumbed to the electronic throb after a couple Johnny Walker Blacks and danced with the lemon-lime lollipop girls - In a land of a thousand talas - the complex beats of Indian music - But you gotta just about break down and weep when you see everybody shakin' what their mama gave 'em to that tired old 4/4 - Ate every chance I could at Koshy's - delish tandoori fish - Yep, finally fell off the veg wagon for a bit of tasty violenece - My apologies to my finned friends - Next time dinner's on me...
You might love it here - But certain aspects of it are extremly challenging - Like breathing at times or just walking down the street without getting crushed by anything or anyone else that moves - Meditation obviously began as a way of counter-acting a complete lack of personal space - Like having five people at the adjacent table plus the waiters, all watch you as you eat - staring - not to be rude - but out of a curiosity - Its exhilarating and exhausting - Some things are truly great - like a buzz cut, shave, scalp massage for 40 rupees - less than a dollar - the barber was quite happy when I gave him 100 and told him to keep it - Then there's the miles and miles of incredible fabric, cheap tailors or you can buy amazing clothes readymade - And get your laundry done, washed and ironed - 5 pounds worth for about 2 dollars.
So I'm back in Chennai taking lessons with Krishna again. Yesterday I didn't want to be late so I skipped breakfast, just drank one cup of rocket-fuel coffee and made it over to the studio - He says next time he will lock me in a room so I won't go anywhere and will just practice the whole time. He called me "lazy" after I told him I felt lightheaded and hadn't had breakfast yet - It was almost 4pm, I was putting down a mandolin track on his new CD - "You haven't practiced or eaten John, you are very lazy - Why?" At least he said it with a laugh! I've been quite delinquent I must admit as I was off in Bangalore partying with the pretty people - My Spanish travelling partner Javier has gotten over the runs and has headed to the North for more adventures -
I'll be making my concert debut here in a couple days with master mandolin player U. Rajesh (U. Shrinivas' younger brother) - just for one song but none the less - Bought an amazing paisley silk shirt for the concert for about $20 (expensive!) and will be practicing almost continuously til then - Keep you posted on the time and date so you can say a little prayer for me - Don't want to cause an international incident -
People ask me sometimes if I like or listen to world music. (a term I can't even understand let alone hate.) My answer back is, "I'm assuming you mean disco?" Best of luck on your upcoming performance although I'm sure you won't need. You're in the zone!
John,
These dispatches, written and visual, are such a tonic, no...actually a pleasing juxtaposition, as I stare down the train tracks of the gray Michigan landscape out side my studio.
Good luck on the gig! -Glenn