Happy Pride Month Y’all!

I am an out gay man and I believe that this may well be one of the more important Pride celebrations in our community’s history. I will be visible this month and I will support my LGBTQ family as well as supporting all who support us. This is about love, life, respect and our freedom to be who we actually are.

I kick off the month with one of my favorite tunes. We are here, we are queer and let’s dance!

Village People – San Fransisco (You Got Me) – 1978

 

Memorial Day Weekend Dance Party!

In honor of our Warrior Queen Anne Marie in Philly, let’s have a Dance Party!

Klymaxx – Meeting In The Ladies Room – 1984

Vanity 6 – Nasty Girl – 1982

Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life – 1984

It’s been two years since I received that call and my heart sank. Today I remember the treasured moments I was blessed to spend with my dear blogger friend and how she lived her life to the fullest.
Anne Marie…you inspire me, I miss you and I love you. I still smile when I think of you. XO

California Sober

When this video showed up in my YouTube feed yesterday evening I’ll have to say that, as a sober man living in California, the song’s title intrigued me enough to click play.

Wow, what a nice surprise this was.

I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of SW Virginia in the 1960s & 70s and at family reunions bluegrass music was the staple. As a child I enjoyed the bluegrass but didn’t really appreciate it. As an adult I’ve found not only is bluegrass nostalgic but it is a beautiful art form full of life and feeling. I can honestly say that I now appreciate and enjoy it …as long as it’s good. This is good, really good.

I hadn’t heard of Billy Strings before, so I did Google him to learn more. Seems he’s been around a little while and has some cred under his belt, as well as a like minded political view that makes me appreciate him even more.

Now to say this song is about a “strict” sobriety as I live it would be a false statement. However I so deeply appreciate the story it shares and find it to be a beautiful work of art that I’m grateful I found. I’ll be checking out much more of Billy String’s music in the future.

Billy Strings – California Sober (feat. Willie Nelson)  – 2023

Christmas Time Is Here

A tradition that will continue is the playing of this tune to welcome Christmas into my home.
May yours be filled with peace, love and joy.
Merry Christmas…

Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here – 1965

…and in case you want to know a little more about this tune as well as the show from which it came:

Night four, a bonus post…

As featured here on FearsomeBeard on night one, Kurstin x Grohl are posting nightly to YouTube for Hanukkah. Tonight’s post features Violet Grohl and it took my breath away.
Then I read the comments.
Janis Ian who wrote and performed tonight’s piece was the top comment. She thanks them both for so beautifully performing her song and let’s them know how they are helping her in her own journey. I’m still grabbing tissues as I write this.

Kurstin x Grohl featuring Violet Grohl – At Seventeen – Janis Ian Cover – 2022

Janis’ original version is a big part of my childhood soundtrack. I feel the need to post it as well. The little boy in me adores it.

Janus Ian – At Seventeen – 1975

Thank you Greg, Dave & Violet for this beautiful night four performance. Thank you Janis for this song, this beautiful song.