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Great Guitar

June 2, 2026 in Listening by Colleen | Permalink

Hello to my fellow guitar fans! If this is not you, maybe skip it? Or maybe not, as you might enjoy something you find here? I don’t know.

As you probably do know if you’ve been around a while, I grew up in a very music focused home. We weren’t instrument players, just incredibly devoted listeners, especially my Dad. Thanks to him, I often wax poetic about knowing lyrics from The Doors in utero and going on to being a great fan. Their music rocks! It wasn’t just The Doors I heard as a whippersnapper, but every manner and style of music. Jazz, Standards, Country, much, much Rock and a little Folk, too. There is always something new, however long it’s been in the universe, to discover and enjoy. These just so happen to be my favorite guitar songs. Also, aside from the first, not in any particular order. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Cream – Tales of Brave Ulysses: This is the first song, aside from anything by The Doors, I remember really liking, as a very, very young child. It is all the things: voice, drums, not just a great guitar sound. Plus Disraeli Gears has one of the best album covers, ever. It is neon my friends, neon.

The Doors – Roadhouse Blues AND Spanish Caravan: Come on Robby, do it…

Scorpions – Sails of Charon: My initiation to 70s Scorpions. Yowza!

ZZ Top – Brown Sugar: Wait for it…

The Rolling Stones – Can’t You Hear Me Knocking: It never gets old. I grew up with the Sticky Fingers album version with a genuine zipper, but was never allowed to zip it, wah! Also, to my friend Keith in heaven, much love.

Led Zeppelin – Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You: Nah, just keep playing.

Tool – Jambi: What happens when I’m open. Just go…

Audioslave – Cochise: It slays.

Alice in Chains – Bleed the Freak AND I Stay Away: Damn, just damn. ALL of it!!

Big Head Todd and the Monsters – The Leaving Song: They were the first band Greg and I ever saw live together, at Herman’s Hideaway on South Broadway in Denver. 1992, maybe? Probably.

Judas Priest – You’ve Got Another Thing Coming: My first introduction to spiked garments. I bought a pair of black leather flats ringed in them soon after and felt pretty badass.

The James Gang – Walk Away: I could listen to that opening riff on a loop, but then I’d miss the rest of the fine wizardry that is Joe Walsh.

Black Sabbath – War Pigs: Greg and I thought we were excessively late to this band’s party when we finally bought albums a few years ago. Then, upon listening, I already knew the songs. Turns out, my Dad had their albums way back in the day and played them enough for me to know them without knowing it was Sabbath. Ha!

Van Halen – Runnin’ with the Devil: It’s a Volvo, a Mercedes, an Opel, and a Volkswagen.

Fleetwood Mac – The Green Manalishi: Z O I K S ! ! ! For a second, fantastic, Kirk Hammett version, also on THE Greenie, here you GO.

The Allman Brothers – One Way Out: Another opening riff worthy of an endless loop, then Duane breaks on in and it levels up and up and up. Goll-ee.

Queens of the Stone Age – Song for the Dead: This is my all-time favorite bedtime song. I kid you not.

Primus – Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver: Stay weird, Les Claypool.

Dio – Don’t Talk to Strangers: W O R D .

The Black Angels – Young Men Dead: Don’t you waste no time.

Cake – Nugget: Shut the F*CK up…

Billy Strings – Planet Caravan: It’s Black Sabbath AND some mighty fine picking.

U2 – Wire: This is The Edge!

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood: Man, oh man, could he P L A Y !

Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls: I mean, right?!

AC/DC – Hell’s Bells: I won’t take no prisoners…

Yes! – I’ve Seen All Good People: A heart warmer for all time.

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Like Eavesdropping

February 2, 2026 in Learning, Listening by Colleen | Permalink

It began in 2024, with a highly anticipated visit with friends. Upon arriving at the house, one of our hosts, in a super festive mood, eagerly showed me a new purchase, and actually said these words, “I hope this makes you jealous.” My body froze in shock (why would anyone say this?!), and I quickly changed the subject. Later, in the warm intimacy of a moving vehicle, the two of us chatting convivially, more horrible words were uttered.

Before I say what they were, I have two thoughts/truths to convey. The first is a defense mechanism recently “invented” by my own person, but it may be actual gospel elsewhere, and I had yet to encounter it. Anyway, it goes like this: whenever I feel hurt by another, I mentally remove myself, repeat what was said aloud, and hear it as a stranger would, like eavesdropping. How do I react now?

The second relates to my marriage with Greg. Since we chose not to have kids, our relationship is our beloved child. It is nearly 35 years old and looked upon reverentially. It is sometimes petulant, oftentimes silly, other times awkward, and mostly quite loving, affectionate, and thoughtful. Without the distraction of child rearing, we have put our all into its cultivation. We have had lengthy discussions on what is best for it and us. It is well oiled, well loved, well considered. No detail has been left to chance, really. It works.

So, driving along, me feeling warm and fuzzy, with what I thought was the best company, I was verbally assaulted. My friend, in what I can only assume was, as I am not a mind reader, a fervent zeal to demonstrate her moral superiority over a different, lesser woman of close relation, forgot who she was with (unemployed me), and uttered a fierce pride in never “using” her partner, for “his” insurance. “At least I never did THAT.”

For context, when I was very young and imagined my life, it was not with a man, but as an independent woman, with a great job, in a fabulously cozy and well decorated home. What a crazy surprise to find a perfect partner so young (19!), and the homes I imagined soon thereafter. A greater surprise, more so anguish, was at not being gainfully employed, or even, to be honest, employable, for the better part of the last two decades.

After much soul searching, Greg and I made peace with it. Him more than me, truth be told, but with a great partnership, comes great understanding. It is now our shared pain, and when I am down about it, our shitty burden. OURS. No one else has dominion over it. We have mutually worked our way in, up, down, and around it.

That being said, this has not prevented me from having deep shame on the subject. No surprise, guess how horribly I was stricken upon hearing her words?! For nearly a year (!!), I lingered silently over them, sometimes defeated, others positively riled. Was I really a user? Did Greg feel the same? One day, he made mention of his tiring of our friend’s frequent caustic remarks on all manner of subjects, as she rarely had an unexpressed thought, however rude or unkind.

I saw my opening, screwed up my courage, and came to my eavesdropping exercise. We were now collectively sad and angry. Who on earth declares such things to a supposedly dear friend? So, we ruminated, for days and days and days, and wrote the kindest letter we could, leaving the friendship.

It was, wildly, not the last. After a horrifyingly painful few days in the company of another “friend,” aided by the eavesdropping tool, we felt yet more disbelief at how easy it seemed for people we dearly loved, for decades, to treat us so badly. And not for the first time.

We came to realize many things. First, these friendships were forged as young adults, when our values and beliefs were less solid, and unkindness wasn’t the deal breaker it is today. Second, when we lived in Portland (more than ten years ago!), and only encountered them every few years, their insensitive idiosyncrasies were less visible, and we didn’t truly know who they were. If we met them now, they would remain strangers. Finally, we noted, in small part, the fault was ours, for not setting better boundaries. “I don’t like that. Please stop.” You can bet your sweet bottom that future friends will know better where we stand.

Musical Throne

December 1, 2024 in Listening, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

I haven’t done a playlist in long while, and one late evening while listening to music (of course), Greg and I got to go-go-going on our favorite artists and bands, and here we are. A relatively small Musical Throne of favorites from a pretty vast library. Alice in Chains to Willie Nelson. The best of the bestie best.

Click the song title to hear it! I hope you enjoy, and maybe even discover something new for yourself.

Alice in Chains: Our car stereo storage system is not so bueno and sometimes resets in the middle of a song. Until our recent purchase of Santana’s Abraxis, Alice in Chains was always the default starting point, and in particular, the song Again, which was never really a bad thing. Jerry’s guitar!

Head Creeps :: I Stay Away :: All Secrets Known

Andrew Bird: Once, in conversation with our most fabulous friend and financial advisor of twenty-four years (!!), we mentioned Andrew Bird. A bit shocked, he said, “That weirdo who whistles all the time?” The very one, Sean.

Fake Palindromes :: Plasticities :: Rising Water

The Black Angels: Back in the days when I was on Facebook, this Colorado born and Oregon living gal stumbled upon an “I Miss Texas” thread, and this band was the most compelling reason on the list.

Doves :: Young Men Dead :: Melanie’s Melody

Chris Cornell: The voice. The Voice. The Voice. Also, the spirit.

Birth Ritual :: Can’t Change Me :: Cochise

Dolly Parton: America’s Angel on Earth. Sings like one, too.

My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy :: I am Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes :: A Few Old Memories

The Doors: This band, if I had to wager, is imprinted on my DNA. Thank you, Daddy.

Queen of the Highway :: Take it As it Comes :: Strange Days

The Eagles: One of the most prominent bands of my childhood that I could never, ever quit.

I Can’t Tell You Why :: Peaceful Easy Feeling :: After the Thrill is Gone

Ella Fitzgerald: Simply the best. I love you, Ella.

They Can’t Take that Away From Me :: Misty :: Blue Skies

Fontaines D.C.: This band is one of the myriad I’ve discovered on independent radio. Thank goodness for it!

Televised Mind :: Jackie Down the Line :: Starburster

Frank Sinatra: With many thanks to my parents and grandparents for this one. The voice ain’t half bad, either.

One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) :: It Happened in Monterrey :: The Last Dance

Iron Maiden: Wholly on Greg’s favorite list, but late one evening on Channel 12 (fellow Gen X of the Denver metro, you know), Run to the Hills was the first video this junior high girl without MTV ever saw. I still like it.

The Prisoner :: Run to the Hills :: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Jerry Cantrell: The Riff Lord is a polymath, y’all!

I Cut You In :: Psychotic Break :: Atone

Joy Division: I have no words for how much this band meant to me as a teen.

Transmission :: Autosuggestion :: Atmosphere

Led Zeppelin: The name really does say it all.

The Song Remains the Same :: What is and What Never Should Be :: That’s the Way

Mark Lanegan:: King of the understated stage presence.

Gospel Plow :: Song for the Dead :: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division!!!)

Metallica: Greg, Greg, Greg! The first band he saw live and in person, and at Red Rocks. Pretty sweet.

Ride the Lightning :: For Whom the Bell Tolls :: Orion

Peter Gabriel: Another of my angsty teen finds that meant ever so much.

The Feeling Begins :: Humdrum :: That Voice Again

Pink Floyd: Peerless.

Us and Them :: Echoes :: Comfortably Numb

Ronnie James Dio: Greg, again, but I have no real objections, besides his name alone.

Man on the Silver Mountain :: I :: Rainbow in the Dark

Radiohead: They have such a diversity of sound, yet it always sound like R A D I O H E A D. Also, the only road trip we’ve taken to see a show – Portland to Seattle 2012.

Bulletproof…I wish I was… :: Subterranean Homesick Alien :: Separator

The Rolling Stones: Another band of childhood that I could not imagine my life without.

She’s a Rainbow :: Gimme Shelter :: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?

Tommy Guerrero: Perfect for a sunny afternoon, well, any afternoon really. Plus, the skating!!

Directions of Possibilty :: Water in Your Hands :: Headin’ West

Van Halen: At a party once, chatting with my pal Eric, Van Halen came on the hi-fi, and, as you do if you’re a fan, know it from the first note. I squealed, “Van Halen!” and maybe did a little fist pump, and he’s like, “How did you know?” “We’re Gen X man, how did you not?”

Dance the Night Away :: Runnin’ with the Devil :: And the Cradle Will Rock

Willie Nelson: An American treasure, full stop.

Last Thing I Needed First Thing in the Morning :: Whiskey River :: Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys (p.s. – I love the Electric Horseman!)

Seasons

October 18, 2024 in Gardening + Nature, Listening by Colleen | Permalink

As I was out snapping this collection of photos, I fretted over posting too much of the same, a meal made, a Pike’s Peak photo, another ambered leaf in fall, before mildly chastising myself that this is what seasons are, a repetition, two points joining to make a circle. It is also who I am, a person sharing her singular journey. Another year has passed, and I am grateful to have made it, yet again, to this time of intense color and diminishing light, a year older and hopefully wiser. I still make my mistakes, mostly quietly, occasionally with bravado and much brooding over them, before moving forward. Like the tree from bare to bud to green to yellow, orange, or red. It is all good.

Additionally, I would be remiss to not include the best song, sharing the title of the post, from the late and very, very great Chris Cornell for your listening pleasure, or at least mine. Seasons…

This is What it Looks Like

August 6, 2024 in Listening, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

Us, in summer, it is early morning, on a weekday after exercise and a dog walk. Weekends, upon waking, Greg a little sleepy-eyed and Juniper on the hunt for movement, my voice, and a coffee cup delicately placed on the ground for her to lick. The fountain is creek-like, the garden alive with bees and birds and a host of fliers. Our little sanctuary of green and calm. I love it!

And now, as the Monty Python boys would say, for something completely different. Last Thursday, we trekked up to Fiddlers Green for a little bit of ROCK. Not sure I have ever mentioned this here – Greg and I are rather big fans of Alice in Chains, and their amazing lyricist and Riff Lord guitarist Jerry Cantrell is out promoting his latest album, I Want Blood, with the slightly creepy cover just above. He’s also touring with Bush, whose 90s album Sixteen Stone is pretty spectacular, and two other bands we scarcely heard of.

Cue a hot-hot to trot day on the Front Range and a delightfully high energy crowd. Everyone brought it! Highlights: The drummer from Tim Montana clad solely in his underpants. The large number of fine folk that knew every word to every Candlebox song. Jerry belting solo tunes, like his latest, Vilified; Alice in Chains greatest hits, including Would?, my absolute favorite of theirs, to which I sang my heart out and cried, maybe just a little bit, too. But, but , but, that wasn’t all! Bush was also quite stellar, and Gavin Rossdale especially philosophical AND electric. The final photo has Jerry jamming with them to Comedown, which was really, quite a perfect end. Oh, happy day!

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