Ben And Bruno

Emusic

2008-12-24T02:27:30Z

Two "BB" albums ("My Mother's Hand" and "100 Grim Reapers"), the newest EP("Hard History: Story of Bruno and His Bingeful Bosom Buddies"), and a new live recording of a show at Vertigo Records in Grand Rapids, Michigan are now being sold through Emusic under the moniker Grand Manor. Our friend, Patrick Lelli, has arranged a new initiative to make our music and some friend's (Breathe Owl Breathe) music available. The intent will be to fund more physical releases later on. physical copies of the albums are still available here and here.

ODETTA

2008-12-04T03:24:56Z

One of my favorite female singers, Odetta, died today. She was 77 years old. This interview, which is being featured on the New York Times website, is pretty beautiful. She is also mentioned in Martin Scorcese's documentary as a major influence of Bob Dylan, "No Direction Home". This is her clip in the film:

FOR THE BETTER OF IT

2008-12-01T01:52:13Z

I watched "The Apartment" the other day. I watched it alone and cried at the end! It is one of the few times that I have been able to identify the reasons for my reaction. Four reasons: 1) Jack Lemmon has always reminded me of my maternal grandfather. His look, his voice, and the way he carries himself. 2) There is a New Year's eve party. Celebration of renewal. Cheap paper decorations. Toasts. Does it for me every time ("Sleepless in Seattle", "It's a Wonderful Life", etc.). 3) My sister told me a story that our mother had told her. It was about the first time my mother had seen "The Sound of Music" (CORRECTION: It was actually the first time my mother had seen The West Side Story...as corrected by my mother.) and that after the film, her and her friend were overcome with a joy and excitement that made them giggle and cry as they ran down the middle of the street. (After leaving the New Year's Eve party...Shirley MacLaine is shown running down the street, smiling with joy and excitement.) 4) The score reminded me of the Adagio in Gustav Mahler's symphony number 10. I was given a recording of it a while ago. I wanted to post it here...but unfortunately couldn't figure out how to. The recording I have is Riccardo Chailly.... if you want to find it. Try your local library. I have been trying to identify something unnamable, for a while now. It's a feeling and a sound and an image and something very real, but I really can't figure it out. It is out there and that is where it is meant to be, probably.

SPECIAL WORK

2008-11-27T02:42:38Z

Tame Impala - Half Full Glass Of Wine from Modular People on Vimeo. The first project that I had a hand in is up and finished. It's for a Modular band called Tame Impala based out of Perth, Australia. I worked on a lot of the stop animation...one of my favorite activities. Even though my back is more hunched over due to it. Dimmer - "degrees of existence" I was involved, on a smaller level, with this video for the newer band of legendary Shayne Carter (of Flying Nun band, Straitjacket Fits). There are many other videos to be seen here: special problems.

KRAFTWERK

2008-11-26T23:40:50Z

Four old dudes on laptops is definitely one of those "once in a lifetime" experiences... and by that I mean... I only need to see it once.

HAPPENED AS IT MAY

2008-10-31T22:50:16Z

PHONING IT IN... continues to develop as an entity. Pretty nice new website and easier archive browsing. The site also features drawings by fellow michigander/indiana-der, Erin Tobey. It's been about three years since BB played on the show...a performance I am still pretty proud of. It might be unprofessional for a musician to comment on (let alone read) reviews of their own shows. For my songs the reviews are far and few...So, when I am able to gather feed back (MY FIRST FEEDBACK IN GLOSSY PRINT, MAY I POINT OUT!!) I have to feature it. On top of that, it's been a while since I could call anything I do/have done "professional." So, might as well. The reviewer loved Lucky Dragons, as he should, and then placed me among two of the great song performers...Calvin Johnson and Kermit the Frog. I have been likened to muppet characters before (not only in my singing...but the lanky way I run/dance) and as it was a large part of my media consumption growing up, maybe it's fitting.

BENJAMIN J. SCHAAFSMA (September 7, 1982 - October 25, 2008)

2008-10-27T20:49:25Z

The day Ben died, I walked to the harbour. The day after he died, I walked to the top of Mt.Eden/Maungawhau with the intent to think of him and read a few things aloud. There were tourists at the top of the dormant volcano...laughing loudly and listening to their tour guides. "Somewhere at the bottom of the hill...there is a large stone. After battles, they'd lay the bodies of their dead or the enemies dead upon it", I wasn't close enough to make out which. As I went to read aloud, I felt indulgent and embarrassed. "My back is wet from sweat...my ass is wet from the moisture on the ground." I couldn't help but dwell on my inability to be taken over by some great feeling...some great peace...some great grief. And I realize that this is it...the wet ass, the people laughing, the weight of my body as I walked up the hill, the stupid moment when I tried to read and heard my voice. The everyday. Thankyou, Ben. http://www.g-rad.org/benner/memorial/

RAIN WITH SUN

2008-10-09T20:05:17Z

I remember watching an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman with my mother. In the scene, it was a wet and muddy day in the newly developing town of Colorado Springs. (Byron Sully was probably off hunting buffalo with the GREAT WHITE WOLF. Loren Bray was slurring words. I always had a strange attachment to Horace, the owner of the general store and the only telegrapher in town. He must have gathered a lot of secrets, written them down twice, and then with his big goofy grin... bribed the townspeople for land shares and/or guns.) The sun was shining through in the background as the rainy episode developed, highlighting each rain drop and revealing that it's origin was not from the sky... but from a sprinkler system suspended above the actors. This, for my mother, was evidence of the disadvantage of the strict time schedules in filmmaking. The sun and rain would never exist together and if they do in a television series or a film, it is a clear indication that it is a created set in sunny California, on a lovely day, and so destroys the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief. So, I am NOT in Colorado Springs and I can't connect to Michaela Quinn or the three orphaned children that she has been TRICKED into taking care of. Since moving to Auckland, I have realized that rain and sun are somewhat guaranteed here. I have witnessed, almost daily, gorgeously bright sunsets, sunrises, and midday sun hangouts with full on showers happening in front of them. I'm not sure if it is a characteristic of the city's elevation, the fact it's between two bays, or the general modestly optimistic nature of the population ("Well, it's raining now, but LOOK there is the sun hanging out behind it!...But yeah, it is raining."). I'm pretty positive the rain/cloud combo happens in lots of places around the world. It's probably not exciting for a non-midwesterner to realize that. But for me, it allows me to truly believe in Dr. Quinn... to be able to smell her hair, hold her soft (yet firm and directed) hand, and know that at some point... this show was REAL! MOTHER, IT HAPPENED! It did.

WOODY ALLEN as a model

2008-09-28T23:22:55Z

I found this eye protection sign to have strong resemblance to Woody Allen. Yes? Lucky Dragons show went really well. It was very nice seeing them again.

LUCKY DRAGONS SHOAW IN AUCKLAND

2008-09-26T02:23:32Z

"BB" has been added super last minute to this show! Excited to play with Lucky Dragons again...in another foreign country.

R.C. LEGACY GOES INNER

2008-09-18T01:53:50Z

R.C. LEGACY records, the label run by my brother David, has put up a website that features the releases and shows by the bands released on the label. One of which is the "BB" release, "Hard History: the story of bruno and his bingeful bosom buddies" which is now only available through the website. Check it!

AUCKLAND

2008-09-17T08:41:32Z

I arrived in New Zealand this morning (Wednesday the 17th) around 5:30am. The flight was pretty painless until I got off and then the jet lag set in. I had to lay down. Took a short nap. Ate some food. It was a really sunny somewhat brisk day. Now, it's raining. Supposedly, it will be for the next few days. NO WORRIES. Before coming here, I stayed in San Francisco and Los Angeles. California has always treated me well. I have some good friends there, whose generosity continues to grow greater and greater. In a recent post, I pointed out finding two of my friends in clothing advertisement...in Florida. This past visit to San Francisco...I found yet another chance media publication featuring one of the same people...

FORTUNATE TIMES

2008-09-11T01:30:52Z

The past few weeks have consisted of a series of relaxed events. My brother has married a lovely girl, I spent a week with my friend, Andrew, and now I am in San Francisco using the bus system to explore the many parts of the city. Nothing in the trip has disappointed or lacked all that I had anticipated. I generally have high expectations for what amounts to normal or mediocre events. I do not think that this trip has been that much different from the others I have taken. All of my travels have moved me. Generally, everyday contains experiences that allow me to move outside my body for a few breathes while at other times I feel tired and bored. My revelation has been that desiring those moments of transcendence, or whatever you want to call it, depends to a great degree on an ability to forgive the body for limiting the mind. And I don't mean to say that all of these revelations are physical in nature, but instead that reaching a certain tranquility depends on attitude and acceptance of limitation. I am not invincible. I don't know everything. My opinions are not all encompassing. Walking around each day will be taxing on my body. Going to sleep or lying down is always more enjoyable than work. Eating costs money. ETC. I am finding that the list of limitations is getting longer, but I don't really believe in them. I'm learning to not blame myself for having them while still attempting to defy them. Somehow I think there is just as much joy in being defeated by them as there is in defeating them...or maybe just as much life.

Overseas

2008-08-02T12:25:25Z

This monday, August 4th, will likely be the last "full band" BB show for a while. It will be at Vertigo Records with Nat Baldwin and Breathe Owl Breathe. I am going to be traveling to New Zealand for a little bit. I have found an opportunity there that I feel I need to explore. Please, come out and wish our raggidy bunch a safe ride through life. We're all going through changes...becoming new...or old depending on how you look at it. blessings.

TO BE BACK

2008-07-14T00:21:55Z

We are back. Sort of. Our tour band disbanded as quickly as it was formed. Karis turned around and drove back to Florida. Bob returned to Baltimore, MD to continue his unprecedented success as a "GNARLY TEACHER/LANDLORD COMBO!" Matt and I have re-assimilated with some of the old band to play a show with the Dodos. It was a treat. Here are some things/people we ran into and have loved since being back: These things help you. Up next, is a record...unknown how it will be produced, but it will be and is in the process. Also, more t-shirts, handmade sketchbooks, dresses, war paint, temporary tattoos, famous movie stars from the fifties, rechargeable batteries, girlfriends, "boy" friends, etc. THANKYOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US TRAVEL AROUND AND PLAY SHOWS!