an open letter to the NStar representative that I talked to yesterday

Hello, nameless, faceless voice on the other side of the phone.

I owe you an apology.

Yes, it was me who called at 1pm to get my heat fixed. And it was me who called again around 6 to get an update on the progress of the process. And it was me again getting so upset at 9pm last night that I was shaking while trying to stay calm talking with you on the other side of the phone.

I know it's not your fault. In fact, a portion (at least) of the blame belongs with me. But for some reason I chose you to be rude with and on whom to take out my frustrations. I don't know your situation. I don't know if this is a job where you are (also) struggling to make ends meet. I don't know if you were just bored at home and are looking for something to do. I don't know if this job pays the majority of your bills, if it's merely a placeholder as you interview during the day for a job you are more qualified for, or if it pays for your books this semester.

I don't know what your life is like at home. Do you have someone to go home to? From the slight crack in your voice as you made a suggestion on how to bundle my kids if it gets too cold, was it something you have done before? Was I so horrible either with my tone or with my words that you needed a moment after our conversation?

I know you were trying to be helpful as much as you could. I know that it was after hours and that other people have families to get home to, make dinner for, spend time with, keep warm, but I still wish there was something you could have done.

I took a cold shower this morning, but at 9am (maybe even due to your help) we once again had hot water and heat.

Was I a baby for complaining too much? Did I complain enough?

Either way, I wanted to say I'm sorry if I ruined your night. And if you never think of me again or never get a chance to read this, I still owe it to you to say that.

peace,
Dann

so it really DOES matter what mood you're in

so, for a bunch of reasons, most having to do with stress and what a not-so-pleasant week it's been so far, I finally cracked and played a whole bunch of cranky songs. but I couldn't do it. I don't know whether it's my propensity to allow my ADD to kick in or it's that I couldn't stay that sad and cranky for that long, but I eventually hit an E Major chord, talked about how awesome it would be if just going from a major to minor chord or letting something just resolve would make the whole world better... but here's the list: Ruby red hair Dice (the song about a woman who is getting old with her kids and isn't sure her life is what she wants anymore...the chorus "It would have been nice if they had told her they were playing with loaded dice") Lockstep (the politically charged song about how certain veins of tv entertainment are not being truthful and causing problems) Lessons learned (the "I wonder if you still think of me" song. once you break up with someone it goes from spending every minute with them at least in spirit and then POOF nothing) I’m on fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) Release (Pearl Jam cover - this is where it starts to get un-cranky) Dreaming without you (ah, the Theo Christmas song about keeping your love secret) It seems just like a dream (a song about a lovely trip I took to Positano) Parking lot kings (ok, not totally happy, but reflective, on how cool things are going to be because you pushed yourself and weren't satisfied with just mediocre) Greensleeves (wait, this is a song from the Middle Ages. Rock.) Mona (the best song ever about a rug, written by Roberto Conte.) see you next week. peace, Dann

so it really DOES matter what mood you're in

so, for a bunch of reasons, most having to do with stress and what a not-so-pleasant week it's been so far, I finally cracked and played a whole bunch of cranky songs. but I couldn't do it. I don't know whether it's my propensity to allow my ADD to kick in or it's that I couldn't stay that sad and cranky for that long, but I eventually hit an E Major chord, talked about how awesome it would be if just going from a major to minor chord or letting something just resolve would make the whole world better... but here's the list: Ruby red hair Dice (the song about a woman who is getting old with her kids and isn't sure her life is what she wants anymore...the chorus "It would have been nice if they had told her they were playing with loaded dice") Lockstep (the politically charged song about how certain veins of tv entertainment are not being truthful and causing problems) Lessons learned (the "I wonder if you still think of me" song. once you break up with someone it goes from spending every minute with them at least in spirit and then POOF nothing) I’m on fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) Release (Pearl Jam cover - this is where it starts to get un-cranky) Dreaming without you (ah, the Theo Christmas song about keeping your love secret) It seems just like a dream (a song about a lovely trip I took to Positano) Parking lot kings (ok, not totally happy, but reflective, on how cool things are going to be because you pushed yourself and weren't satisfied with just mediocre) Greensleeves (wait, this is a song from the Middle Ages. Rock.) Mona (the best song ever about a rug, written by Roberto Conte.) see you next week. peace, Dann

set list questions and set lists...

so...I find myself not actually making set lists beforehand, which is both awesome and scary...I always want to make sure to give people listening a good show, but I want to include songs YOU want to hear, songs that are good songs, and maybe even a few covers...

I need to know a few things.

1. What songs should I play less?

2. What songs should I play more?

3. What song is YOUR favorite?

Set Lists for the week:

4/2 (SL) 1. RockStar 2. Dreaming Without You 3. Whispering Amen 4. Don't Say That 5. Paris 6. Parking Lot Kings 7. Means Justify The Ends 8. Waiting For The Dawn 9. Someday 10. Changes 11. No Pain 12. Year

4/6 (SL - live on treet.tv ) 1. RockStar 2. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms 3. Parking Lot Kings 4. Black Sails 5. Her Majesty Cry 6. Cafe en San Juan 7. No Pain

4/9 (SL) 1. Dreaming Without You 2. Mona (Antonio's Crush cover...wait...does that count as a cover?) 3. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms 4. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard cover) 5. Lessons Learned 6. You May Be Right (Billy Joel cover) 7. Good Morning, Chelsea 8. Fantasy 9. Don't Say That 10. Ash Wednesday 11. Did You Ever Have 12. Footsteps

4/10 (SL) 1. Did You Ever Have 2. RockStar 3. Black Sails 4. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard cover) 5. Parking Lot Kings 6. Cafe en San Juan 7. Bittersweet Love 8. Gone 9. Dreaming Without You 10. Bobby Jean (Bruce Springsteen cover) 11. No Pain 12. Bad Medicine (Bon Jovi cover) 13. EAB 14. Fantasy.

whew.

peace, Dann

fan art?

consider this a challenge - email me YOUR entry at dannrussomusic@aol.com

peace,
Dann

classic rock? CANE conference 2010

First off I apologize for not writing more about my project - a group of songs based in ancient myth and history - and I had way too many songs for the actual presentation itself. I ended up recording four songs for an EP titled "Her Majesty Cry" that I gave out at the conference and played a bunch more.

Secondly, thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to play, to all the attendees, and to the long-ago writers of myth who put together some amazing material with which to write music.
For those of you who are wondering, the set list was:
1. Run Run Run (the story of Apollo and Daphne)
2. Paris (the story of Paris and the Trojan War)
3. Ulysses (the story of the Odyssey)
4. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (yes, the U2 song - it's a pretty good adaptation of Catullus 8)
5. Her Majesty Cry (the story of Orpheus and Euridice)
6. Fire ("Hephaestus's Lament")
7. Black Sails ("Ariadne's Lament")
8. Etc. (one of my songs not about myth, the last verse of which is in Latin)

the lyrics to the songs (and some of the recordings) can be found at http://www.dannrusso.com/cane_conference_2010.html

peace,
Dann

mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

so it occurred to me that I promised set lists of all my shows and I have been sorely forgetful of putting them up, so as a St. Patrick's Day resolution (I know, a week early) I vow to post set lists as soon as I can remember them :-P

Tuesday March 9th - RL Show @ McGann's (Boston)
1. Dreaming Without You
2. Good Morning, Chelsea
3. Parking Lot Kings
4. It Seemed Just Like a Dream (What a Day)
5. Wanted Dead or Alive (yes, the Bon Jovi song)
6. No Pain

Wednesday March 10th - SL Show @ Bay Vista (SL)
1. Fortunes, Forecasts & Lucky Charms
2. Good Morning, Chelsea
3. The Scientist (Coldplay cover)
4. Dreaming Without You
5. Waiting For The Dawn
6. Para Que No Tengas Sed
7. Parking Lot Kings
8. Greensleeves
9. Desire (U2 cover)
10. Year
11. Plain Jane
12. Did You Ever Have
13. Capture My Heart.

thank you all for listening

peace,Dann