benjaminf

It's weird how people come into and out of your life. I haven't hung out with Jannell in like two years- about and now- even though she lives in Memphis still. Somehow I've clung on to her "spirit" again (for lack of a better term) some people just have a strong mental vibe. Like caring and understanding/ mixed with a reserved stack of moral values, and I love Jannell for that.

It's crazy how people get lonely- destitute- depressed and turn to religon- one of the biggest forms of fear/ drama/ control that there is. Jannell once said that she can't stand that Christianity (for an example of one religon)that uses fear to control and mastermind sheepish believers. And it's a sick way of life. I think that any preacher should only focus on good things. It is never anybody's place to condemn and control people with their beliefs. All you can be is a good influence.

Only God can Judge me is a weird statement. But, true in a way I guess for people who truly believe. Hmmm...I'm rambling and I don't know where this is going. Like, how is it okay for people to give their kids ritalin (speed- a narcotic) and antidepressents- that cause hallucinations and paranoia and other drugs that control people. But, it's not okay to drink or smoke pot or do other stuff. It's fucking hypocricy. Like how someone won't go to a yoga class because they're close minded ass thinks it's some "new age yuppie crap" When actually it's an ancient practice that is totally one hundred percent natural. Like they'll snort a fuckin' line of coke or meth or speed or whatever and be controlled by the drug underground scene/drug dealers, but they won't embrace something that is kind, sensative and natural because they are a self centered bitch (or bastard.)

Like I'm a fucking asshole if I try to help somebody become a better person. Fuck. (some people need a father figure/ mother figure in their life (most people in their twentys) I want to be a good influence and the person I'm trying to help calls me a dick. When it's them that is probably in it just for sex and a good time. I mean hell, we could start a family and have babies but, not if you're on drugs. You are so young an beautiful and I hate to see you tearing up and bleeding from your nose. Let me help you. Help me. Let's help each other. I know, you get what you ask for, my drinking, for example is not any better or worse that cocaine or whatever else. But, if certain people would cooperate more it would encourage myself and others to be better people too. I know, it starts with yourself though and like I said you can only be a good influence. So, ultimately I know I need to be a better influence.

Like they say: "your life may be the only bible some people read." It's true. I really want to be clean and be a good influence. Better bad taste than no taste though. You can't please everybody, nor should you want to. Okay, I know this may expose myself and others as full blown sinners, but...I've already been forgiven for my sins, so to speak. Have you?

Last night was crazy- show at the Highnote with Julie's band- Sour Deisel. They sound pretty tight. Random Conflict played too and another band called Six Figure Suicide. Six Figure Suicide was the main band that stood up front and rocked out with me while I played. But, also Sour Deisel and Julie's boyfriend Jay stood up front and rocked out. (Julie was freakin' hot and sexy in the band. singin' and just being pissed.)

I tore my underwear- breifs off while on stage (by reaching into my pants and pulling the waistband off- ripping it off) and just ripped the whole junk package wrapper off and threw it to this guy standing on the front row. He wore the waist band elastic part around his neck like as a necklace. That was awesome.

I got a phone call just as soon as I got done playing (from Meagan Boshell) about a party goin' on in Jasper @ Heritage Hills. I met them at Arby's at midnight and hung out with Gary (the Retard) at Arby's. He drooled and made felatio hand symbols at me (the first two fingers on the hand splayed and the tongue out stretched to "lick the pussy") I laughed. Cuz really I'm on his level. Straight up retarded humour. Maybe it's from me being a ritalin baby or whatever. But, I was just like: "Drool on you crazy, crunk retarded G."

I thought that aloud (I mean- to myself), I didn't say it to Gary. And there's all these fucking people that say that Gary the Retard is normal and that he's "Just Faking" For example: (he acts "normal" around his dad) I think that's a pile of horse shit. I've talked to that droolin' son of a bitch (casualty of miscalculated procedures during the birthing process- doctors mistake maybe- and supposedly the family gets alot of money if their kid turns out retarded and it's the doctor's fault.)

But, my point is: there's not a God Damn normal thing about the guy. I've seen him throughout the years and talked to him several times and If you think that's an act (the way Gary the Retard acts) then you are a fucking retard yourself. Because he's a crazy droolin' fool. But, ironically he can drive normal and hit on chicks somewhat normal. So, what gives? He's not fully retarded I would guess. But, still Gary is the product of his environment- the Yo boy attitude. And hell, he's ...pshh I don't know...I don't even know what the point of this rant is.

But, the party was crunk-ish. Beer pong on a really nice wooden dining table and we even funneled beers. I bought some Red Stripe and heated it up in the microwave. Yum Yum. I took some pictures of everybody and jammed with this one dude and Dirt and Levi too. They had a fuckin' shnauzer named Sam that was only two years old but still was gettin Kateracts? and he's was a yappin' fucker. Everytime somebody lost a ping pong ball Sam would retrieve it and I'd make him give it to me- it was droolin' sweet. I would say it would've been cool to play spin the bottle but, there was like 5 girls there and 30 guys. Weird. People know not to let their daughters out late at night. If'n they wanna raise 'em well.

Speaking of Raising 'em well- Julie's cousins- (that I know from church)- two chicks who's names I haven't fully learned yet- came to the show at the high note. That was sweet. I didn't leave Blake's house until it was dawn @ (Blakes's)- the dude's who's parents were out of town at the Heritage Hills house party. Whatever. I needed to sober up and masturbate first. I reckon we will have a jam session in the basement at my house tonight and then late, late, later I'll go back to that house party (Blake said it would be kickin' again- (saturday night) since his parents won't be home until sunday evening.

Hello people of the Walker County- Jasper and surrounding areas- please read this column and do what you can to help the performance art scene in Jasper and surrounding areas.

This includes helping my band myspace.com/benfarleyband and the performance art venue- The Underground Theatre- (the basement- living room of my house)

I am interested in booking acoustic bands- that can play without a p.a. or speakers (though we have a p.a. system we may use if we need it) also solo singer/ songwriters or play groups (one act plays) or stand up comedy. Any performance art is welcomed at the Underground Theatre.

please add my you tube page if you have a you tube account (you may check out our music videos there and other things we have filmed) youtube.com/benfarley1979

Message me on my space or email me at- ben_farley2000@yahoo.com

if you need to call or text my cell phone please do so @ (205) 302 8952. Prank phone calls are also gladly accepted.

Upcoming events at the Underground Theatre (located at 451 Macedonia Loop Jasper, AL 35503)

Cory Taylor Cox - myspace.com/corytaylorcox
Wednesday December 16th 9:00pm $5.00 donation requested

please help us spread the word about this and other upcoming Underground Theatre shows.
and remember if you have an acoustic band or solo performance act that would like to play, or if you have a stand up comedy act or poetry reading or a play group that would like to do a series of performances at the Underground Theatre please get in touch with me.

Thank you for your passion and support,

Ben Farley

I've been throwin' back to the late 90's/ early 00's - I've been playing drums and singing at the same time again. A feat I know. but, it's, in the long run- one of the best ways to get my Ya Ya's out. I'm not using any cymbals...just shakers, a floor tom, kick drum and snare. It makes for a rather original sound. And much less bright and harsh.

So, we are gonna have a big Beautiful Losers jam session at my house this saturday night...but I'm also planning on playing the Highnote Lounge this friday night. With- Random Conflict, Sour Deisel and the Derelict Project. Oh Hell Yes. I haven't played a show with Random Conflict in over ten years. And the last time I even saw them live was in '03.

I's still trippin' on the Science Bird show last night. The Highlight really being the dual fiddles of Helen and Jannell. That was a hoe down for sure. If they had kept it up longer I would've had to hit the dance floor like nobodies dirty little biznass. But, I'm going to church this sunday for sure. I miss seeing everybody so much. It's only been two weeks away- bizzy with band practice but, The whole nine yards- i miss the drive up there, the music , seein' and talkin to the people...the out to eat with the church fam. lunch and dinner. Wow. It's like an addiction. I need my churchy fix.

When they start speakin in tongues at the church service, it's like Primal Scream therapy. Have you ever heard of it? It's when a bunch of mental people get in a room and just cry and scream and freak out together. Whatever, just dance and flop around and howl and moan. It's rather punk rock penecostal.

It was weird and cool seeing Hannah and Helen Gassenheimer at the Bottle Tree last night. I haven't seen Jannell in like two years until last night (not to mention Helen or Hannah- it had been longer since I'd seen them) Jannell was playing fiddle of course and doing back up vocals/ tambourine.

It's like I was watching a movie they had been making for a couple of years. Their bassist and drummer were awesome too. I got to hang out with LaDonna Smith also. Yay. she is nice and awesomely cool. It's fun to talk with her about music. She asked me if I'd been making any noise lately. She prefers improvisation in music. She plays Viola.

I saw Kirby in the audience and we hugged and chilled all night. Helen had on these crazy sexy cool platform shoes. they were purple I think. Like, I wish I'd taken a picture of them. It reminded me of a more conservative version of what Amber Valentine from Jucifer wears. Alot more conservative but, they still have the same effect. She had on these grey looking stockings and they had stripey lines goin down 'em. and she was wearin' a little black dress.

Hannah Belle (Helen's sister) also played guitar and sang some of her songs, and by God---she had on a flourescent green tu tu. I shit you not. Like a psychadelic ballerina. It was awesome. I had an Irish Car Bomb that cost $8.50 and then just drank a bottle of water and finished watching them play. Then I bought a Yuinglinge for $3.50...then me and Kirby snuck back stage to meet and greet the band. It was fun, we talked about LaDonna's recent trip to Amsterdam and how she smoked weed all over the place ... legally. well, it's like they describe in the movie Pulp Fiction I reckon.

Anyway, next I grabbed a Miller High Life from the band's bin of complimentary beer. and I started sucking on that and foaming all over the place. Everybody was like: "whoah, Ben are you driving home?" and I was like: "no, I rode my horse here and he knows the way home." then Jannell and Kirby started singin' "my little pony" and I sobered up. I actually wrote that song for Jannell, not exactly about her but, with her in mind indeed. It's great she seems to like it so much. I don't think I've ever told her I wrote it for her. (It was during the time when I really was all about playing music with her. But, it doesn't make sense to play music with somebody that lives so far away I guess.

That's why I want to tour. I think I was born to be on the road. Even though I've spent alot of time at home, just studying music and movies and practicing performance and film editing/ directing and writing songs/ booking shows. I think I was bred into it. My mom and dad drove to Birmingham from Jasper so my mom could have her baby in a Birmingham Hospital. I don't know why exactly but, I was kind of born on the road in that way. Growin' up with my dad rockin' out to his old records on the turntable and crankin' classic rock radio in his truck all the time and sharin' his beer with me if I got thirsty.

Man! we had fun playin the battle of the bands at Zydeco the other night. I only wish we could've played longer than thirty minutes. d;flaksdf;asldkjas;dlfkjasd;flkj;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf;lkjasd94jj4r904r04cjp94w8938yctp498th48y5pq498hdlskjfk.djlaiufrielguiregwfkebfekb
When I drove by Bryce's Mental Hospital the other day...I think I saw the old abandoned part out back where the Dexateens filmed their live acoustic music performance (which can be seen on You Tube) and their ghost hunt thingy. It was weird. There was this golden colored statue of a woman standing in a fountain out in front of the front door...she was pourin' water out of a bowl or something. Maybe she was pouring out holy water for all her homies minds that had been lost.

Beats me senseless ...Sense Less....Less Sense...Pay Less Shoe Whores. Rack em. ..
Whatever. I didn't get to go see Anna and the kids today...I sat up my drums and microphone/ p.a. speakers and practiced singin' and playin' drums at the same time...something I haven't done in a while...in a minute, but...It looks like I'm gonna start doin' it again...As good as I am at it...It would be a waste to hire a drummer that couldn't play my songs better than me anyway. there are so many more decent guitarist than drummers and there are so many more people that wanna play (six string) guitar rather than bass.

I really want an acoustic upright bassist and an electric bassist. It would be amazing to have someone that plays both. I think I'm gonna go see Helen G. and her sissy at the bottle treeeeeeeeee this wednesday night- (Jannell is playing too I heard>!!!)). Hell Yeah. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! What are you thankful for? You better think of something good.
I have my drums sat up to where I can sit in my swivel/ office chair and just spin around to play drums and then all I have to do to play the keyboard- piano- organ is just turn around bright eyes. Then I got my sweet ass Taylor axe handy too. I've just been jammin' all evenin' on the drums and singin. Real Fun. It really has been a while since I've done it regularly. It...and...."it".....you know what I mean. Pft.

I'd like to go jump into the lake in the middle of the summer right about now. I simply deserve the best...You simply deserve the best. LOL... (: Brb.............okay I'm back. I want a man junk speedo. I'm hungry. I cooked hamburgers for supper tonight. Everything my grandmother said this evenening was totally incomplete and ...she would just start to say something and then not elaborate on what hell she was talking about. ..she was being vague and absent minded. I just stopped guessin'...I was like: "yeah...yep...I know exactly what that whatchyamacallit thing your talking about is and "I like them things that your talking about what you said you wanted me to bring you..." well, one clear thing was when she asked for her glasses. I wish I could read her mind so conversations would be easier. (Telapathic)

Okay so, I told you about the nightmare I had about Cindy right? Okay, well here's another mind trip dream/ reality occurence freak out- or a waking "dream" I had when I was in the shower back in '03...it was 2 am or so...I got in the shower and I was washin' off when I thought "FIRE!!" it just flashed in my head- like- something is on fire ya know.? But, I was thinking what is on fire...our house?....no.....my grandma's house....????? no, i'm being paranoid...But it was like somebody was trying to tell me "help! Fire! (something is on fire!) I finished my shower and got in the car to go to wal mart to get some groceries...about a half a mile from my house I saw fire trucks lined up and a house still smoking from an apparent fire. Weird. Too weird.

Well, not too weird...too weird would be if a dog ran out into the street while on fire and got ran over.

Well, I had to go to the group photo for "A great day in Tuscaloosa." sunday afternoon @ 2 to be in the group photo of alot of musicians or band members that used to (or still do) be active in the scene in T town. I saw Jon Ezell there, Jill Chambles...D.C. Moon and friends...Frog (Randy Palmer)...Adam Guthrie, Jon what's his name that played drums for Green Beret and by the way- he played drums on his wife's (Lauren Krothe) new CD and it rocks!!!!!! She plays piano and sings.

Johnny Kulinich invited me to go to the Booth last night (saturday night) cuz he was jammin' with Rollin' in the Hay!!! I showed up a little late (cuz we had band practice) and got there right when the were closin' their first set with Gin and Juice...Johnny said "what's crackin'" and he got me in for free and then bought all my drinks like a true friend. I had three Irish Car Bombs (should've stopped there) also had a sippin' glass of Jameson and another Guiness. Fuck. I was okay though.

We danced and danced and hollered and sang...(I had ear plugs in) and I ended up dancing with this nice, groovin' lady- "Danielle" who must've been 40...but she was HOTTT!!! Wow, she just kept doin the same dance move - just kinda like a leanin' and rockin' ----well, kind of a shuffle...the place wasn't too packed. Johnny K bought all my drinks like a good friend. Did I mention that already? Hay rocked the house. It had been about a year since I had seen them. I think the last time they played Jasper was last fall @ Cafe Bills in Jasper.

Right now it's monday morning. I'm just now gettin' around to writing this because we played the bloody Battle of the bands @ Zydeco last night...we sold the least tickets- ZERO! so we had to play first but it was all good cuz I was ready to get home. Saturday night I stayed at the "Moon Winx" roach motel in Alberta (Tuscaloosa) just down at the end of the strip on the other side- end of University Boulevard. Sunday afternoon I went drivin' around trying to find Reese Pheifer Hall- which it was easy to find- right out in front of the Library (Gorgas) on the corner. That's where the group picture was taken. They're displaying it @ Egan's on December 11th- for a Christmas Party!

The hotel is a hotel I had stayed in before. We used to stay in room #44 back in '99. I lifted the bathroom window to get some fresh air and the window would'nt close back down- I tried everything. I could not get the window to close...I got paranoid somebody would see my booty so I went and got the picture off the wall in the main room and put it up in the window seal- to serve as a window...It was windy out so, sure enough it fell and glass broke all over the bathroom floor. I got to clean that up and disposed of the whole picture- glass out the window into the grass and the frame and pic into the dumpster outside the hotel room- in the parking lot.

Afternoon sunday I drove out to- stumbled upon the mental hospital "Old Bryce" mental hospital. I got an email from Helen Gassenheimer last night- she and her sister are playing at the Bottle Tree this wednesday November 25th. I'm there like a square peg pusher. I'm listening to the Tom Waits song "Rosie" off of his album Closing Time right now.

Doh-sehki the pilgrim doggie traveled a long distance to be with it's pack. Along the way he ate small children, grass and drank some tiki torch fuel which made him throw up and run fast. He spat flames out of his mouth and out of his hind quarter's mouth. When He finally made it to southern Kansas and was reunited with his pack they started breeding and making puppies to make everybody go: aawweee.

They stayed up late at night and howled in rhythm of the horse gallops and in tune with the train song. Doe-sekki was a great dane doggie with a big dong and a giant laugh. Dosek laughed like a grown man and talked like a crazy pigeon would do if it was on a window seal pooping off down onto the crowd below. Hey! Somebody's gotta fertalize the humans- hair growin like cha cha cha chia pets...

Right now I'm drinking water and looking into the sunrise hoping for some squirelly action today. My friend Zebrasia is coming to walk on the water with me at noon. She is wearing her hula hoop dress and bringing hummous dip and pita bread that we will warm over the camp fire at nine thirty p.m. Dancing with hula hoops on fire is Zebrasia's profession. She joined the circus back in '94 when she was only 15 years old and at that time she was riding on the backs of horses while standing up! When I first saw Z doing that I thought: "Now there's a brave, talented girl. I had to meet her. I was 17 at the time. I had just dropped out of high school.

We started travelling with her family in the convoy. It was an old fashioned covered wagon being pulled by horses. These people were Retro as Fuck! We shot rabbits with sling shots and cooked 'em in soup. We made friends with this one rabbit who wore contacts ... colored contacts... so this rabbit had one pink eye and one blue eye. It was hot and awesome. I freaked out on a daily basis.

I'm going back to the place where I was baptized into the church of rabbits and squirrels and chickens and birds tonight. We are going to hypnotize horses and eat seaweed wrapped sushi. Drink sake with the pilgrim doggies who have just rolled into town...then...of course...howl at the moon in unison with the other packs of dogs. For this one night- a tradition- we will all come together and build a big bonfire made of school desks made out of solid pieces of wood- no processed wood...and just be warm and thankful that our dog's female companions are politically correctly called bitches. I'm speaking for my dogs of course...Not my human companions. Somebody has to speak for the dogs. When there is so much to be learned from them. They need a translator.

I had the strangest occurrence this morning. Last night I had a nightmare about my X girlfriend Cindy, I saw her at the mall and was trying to talk to her and she started hitting me with her fists- punching me in the ribs and stomach and arms. It really hurt. (But it was just a dream.)

The weird part is: I haven't seen her or talked to her in about two years....UNTIL THIS MORNING AT WAL MART!!! OMG. When I saw her I nervously waved and smiled and said: "Hey." She smiled and said "hey" like she knew that she was in my dream the night before. I pushed my buggy into the soda/ beer/ water aisle and had a kinda silent freak out. I was kind of panicking like- it felt like she was after me.

Okay. The Really Strange part is : (but only part 2 in the trilogy of X girl meets spooked boy.) this morning before I left the house I was watchin' this (1978) movie on IFC called The Last Wave. It was about this crime investigator that lived in Austrailia and was questioning these Aborigini men about a supposed murder of their friend. The cop who was investigating the death of the man was having all these strage blurry dreams of a figure in a foggy light who eventually turned out to be one of the Aborigini dudes (like, I think it was one of the actors from Crocadile Dundee). but anyway, after the cop had the dream about the dude (in which the tribal type dude) was holdin' some tribal stone with blood on it- he later met the dude through the people he was questioning and when the Aborigini man came to dinner @ the investigators house...the cop asked the man: "What is a dream?" and the Ab sed: "Dreams are shadows of reality."

Okay, so I rarely think of Cindy and ... I don't know....If it had happened to you, you would've flipped your wig. Too strange of an occurrence I'm telling YOU THE TRUTH! I should've talked...(chatted) with her and told her I had a dream about her the night before. I've got another strange dream/ reality occurrence about a house fire (that happened back in the winter of '02), but I'll save that one for later. Goodnight sweet prince & or princess.

Well, I've been jammin' with James McCauley more lately...he's been playing bass mainly and some keys. Jonathan Guthrie has been playing acoustic lead and rhythm guitar for me also. Zac Cagle is back in town and he's been playing guitar with us too. Every practice gets better. It's cheesy I know but we are playing a battle of the bands in Birmingham this sunday November 22nd- in southside at Zydeco with (Bands that are also playing: the Arrangement (hmmm...), Negative 29 (these guys rock!), A Forest of Corpse (my favorite band name out of all of them), Southern Distortion (second favorite?), Assemble the Fleet (nice), To Scream Love (poetic), Awake the Bride (for she is Beautiful), Augustine (the month I was born in) and last but most def not least- Dreams of Flight (I have them too.)

So, it's Ben Farley vs. All the Above listed bandy wandys. I was contacted the other day by some cats from Tuscaloosa about a group picture they are replicating (is that the right word?) of some famous group picture that was taken of bands/ songwriters/ scenesters from New York back in the late 80's or something. I was contacted cuz o' my startin' (or helpin' to start) the girl fronted punk band "Our Aura" back in the winter of '97. And also, I'm not going to fail to mention Johnny Inc. and all their fabulous parties and shows I was so glad to be naked and famous at (as Johnny "On the Spot") Everybody in the (what I liked to call Rock 'n' Roll) club (male and female) was named "Johnny _________" (fill in the blank- come up with your own last name (or one would be appointed to you.) I knew right away (when Johnny Grits asked me) what I wanted my Johnny name to be: Johnny on the Spot (after the Ween song Jonny on the Spot!) Plus I played some Johnny Inc. parties and shows with the Nursery School (band w/ Dustin VanHorn.) Anyway, that's all the information they will ask me and this group picture is being taken this sunday November 22nd at Reese Pheifer Hall on the University of Alabama campus.

I look forward to making the photo and interview deal, chat with some cats and chicks and make the B'ham gig afterwards (we may have to play as early as 4:30 p.m. which is good because James has to be home to the kids a.s.a.p. Drake Busby has been playing some drums for us and Ronald D. Smith too. But, for now I'm going to play drums and sing on the songs that need drums, and just piano and/ or guitar on the other ones. I've only seen one show at Zydeco...It was Frank Black (from the Pixies) and the Catholics. Great Show. I even got my picture taken with him and it was awesome: He was trying to put his arm around my friend Ryan Langan and his (Frank Black's) left hand- knuckle bumped and grazed my front teeth- as he was reaching his arm up and around to embrace Ryan. It didn't hurt but it was very awkward and in the picture you can see the awkwarditiy in Frank's eyes. I need a copy of that picture. Jennifer Langan has it.

The Trip up to Nashville to see Leonard Cohen the other day was awesome. Melissa Bonds went with me and my dad rode with us. My Aunt Merenda bought the tickets for us. The drive up there was sunny and perfect fall time weather. We laughed and joked and told stories and I think Melissa got unshy around my dad- he is a rather funny person and socially friendly afterall. We stopped half way in Cornersville and ate Subway. Then traveled on.



We finally got to Smyrna where my aunt lives in a subdivision and chilled there for a couple of hours before heading the the big, beat city of Nashville. Merenda put me and Melissa down in the basement- two small beds down there and a yoga mat- big foam- egg shell type cushion laid down with a white sheet over the top of it, adorned with some rubber coated dumb bells. Merenda told me I can do my yoga on it.



Melissa and I chatted and chilled and laid on the beds. We then went upstairs and had some munchings of the roast Merenda had just cooked. My dad snoozed on the couch in the living room- with the TV on. Merenda has a new dog- Danny- that her friend who recently passed away left for her to take care of. Fransea- the little one eyed cute little mut is still living. She looks like she's going down hill...she must be thirteen years old at least. Francee will just stand in front of the door and stare at it.



My dad drove us to Nashville in Merenda's jeep...Melissa and I rode in the back. We got to the spot and parked the white jeep and walked- noticing what parking lot we parked in- close to the cross- intersection of Church st. & 6th avenue- it was easy to remember because of the 6th avenue Church of Christ in Jasper. We waltzed into the Hermitage Hotel that had a cool, mellow bar/ restaurant in the underground level and floor level- a huge foyer and stairs that led up to admissions and up above in the ceiling- a dome of beautiful stain glass happenings much like the one in the Methodist church in Jasper.



I went upstairs to it all- the warmth- all the people dressed nicely- sitting on couches and chairs rapping and talking about this and that- the fake log gas fireplace at the end of the hall looked inviting with two women standing there in deep conversation. I went over and asked them if they are going to the Leonard Cohen concert and they looked at me dumb founded- "No, where is the concert? Here?" I then suddenly realized and was reminded that I was in the big city..."country punk, city punk" and all the people around me are not planning on going to see L.C.



I was so stoked- my party hurried me off to the Theatre where the concert was taking place. The Theatre was packed. Almost shoulder to shoulder. All the scents...all the faces...all the clothes or lack thereof...I wanted to talk to everybody but, there was only so much time until showtime. We filed around and I nodded to the coat check girl and kept mine on my back...not actually knowing she was the coat check girl at the time and had to ramble around with my overcoat and extra Leonard Cohen- "Beautiful Losers" t shirt that I bought...that I actually changed up in my seat on the grand teir thingy- I was modeling it and Melissa help me hold my other shirt down over my back as I swooped the new one on under the comin' off shirt.



The lights went down...the audience loomed and cheered...the band walked out...strapped it on and started rockin' "Dance me to the End of Love"...the back up singer ladies moaned and breathed...(pushed out air) into the mikes...grooving...sounds....an orgy of sound...very stereo...perfect...unbelievable almost...the back drop curtains light up- glowing sunburst- moon beams anonymous...Leonard jogs rhythmically out on stage...hails...grabs the microphone...walks slowly up to the guitar player that was sitting in a chair, kneels down in front of him and cries to him...calling out to us the lyrics to "Dance Me to the End of Love" and after the verse he springs up youthfully and purpose fully at the mature age of 74...we were in deep- swimming around for a three hour concert full of aero dynamics and perfect, imperfect- honest musicianship- the best- my favorite concert I have ever seen.



My favorite songs were "the Partisan" and "If it Be Your Will" plus a new blues song of Cohen's- which- they say was his first time to perform it live (on this tour) - "The Darkness"

We got kinda lost and couldn't find the way back to the interstate after the concert. We got pulled over because of an expired tag and one head light out, but we didn't get a ticket- though the cop had the spot light on the driver's side door area and as he stood in the light we noticed his muscular (all of seventeen year old arms) were shaven...how flattering...how nice for him to shave his arms and spotlight them for us. I wanted to put some miracle grow on the hair of his arms.

man, I haven't been done anything on live journal in a month of sundays.

after my space (A.M.S.) and the availability to put your music on there I didn't feel the need to use live journal.

but, my newest my space music page is www.myspace.com/benfarleyband

so if you have one go add me there and check out my songs.

Also, I'm startin to book acoustic shows at my house again (the Underground Theater) as we dubbed it back in '96

- shows in the basement lounge-in North Jasper AL (45 min north of B'ham)

If you or anyone you know is into (singer songwriters, acoustic based bands) that would like to play a house show at my house in Jasper ......let me know

my cell phone is (205) 302 8952 ......call or text me......


I went and saw Old Crow Medicine show and Dave Matthews Band in Birmingham the other day.....it was freakin' sah-weeeeeeeeeeeet.

two of my favorite bands.

the last show I saw that was this killer was Tom Waits at the Alabama Theatre last summer.

I've been masturbating regularly so I'm all good in that area.

I could poop more. I need to poop more...but, I still use Huggies Baby wipes everwhere I go and indulge in outdoor defecation.

Fertalize the Earth with my Feces.

Garlic oomphs your sex drive.

www.myspace.com/benfarleythebeautifullosers



you can get our new cd for free at sound shop in the Jasper mall


and at Charlamagne Records and/or Renissance Records in southside Birmingham



thanks and love like whoah,


Ben Far Far Farley

and that's where I've been doin all my short story blogs too

check it out please and ADD US... (thank you)


www.myspace.com/benfarleythebeautifullosers

call me if you are in Jasper and wanna hang out or your band needs a gig

205 302 8952

-Ben

I just spent an awesome weekend in Memphis with Jannell and Michael

we went to a contra dance (sp?) that Jannell played fiddle in (with an Irish folk dance band)

then we ate sushi and crashed

Mother Fucker Memphis is crazy

there's these dudes that like to drive down the wrong side of the street on their bikes - drinkin forties and cussin out loud

"Mutha Fucka I drank my forty Cruisin down the street on my Huffy, Bitch!"

Well Michael Sherer is down south again

which makes me think- we need to get forties, get naked , get on bikes and ride around Jasper gettin crunk

Saturday night we had a massage (therapy) train going at Jannell & MIchael's

We painted a Yurty and got our hands dirty

this old cat was jammin on his mandolin and we told ghost stories after he left

the Walker County Independent Theatre (lead by Terry Kelley)

is having an" open mic." @ Hot 'n Smooth cafe this Thursday night at 6pm

everyone is welcome and it is free admission.

ANYONE is welcome to come and do ANY sort of performance art.


the only rule is it can't be vulgar or nude


this includes any type of "acoustic" music- bring your guitar and sing a song or do a dance

read a poem or tell a short story-

do a skit or a "one act play" drama

or whatever your imagination creates- it can be improvised or planned out etc...

Elizabeth Ross and Carlton Hall are putting on a play the next day (this coming friday)

- it will be held at the Community Center of the Memorial Park Natatorium in Jasper

--at 6:30 pm (this coming friday)

please invite your friends and family as it is suitable for an all ages family environment...

we are doing excerpts from it this Wednesday @ 3pm @ the Athletic arts center and at the Walker Independent Theatre's open mic at Hot 'n Smooth

if anyone would like to participate in the play that Carlton and Liz are putting on (we are writing it ourselves and practicing it all this week @ Bevil College Campus in Jasper)

you are welcome to participate. please contact me here or on my cell phone if you have any questions about the above stuff or

about practice times for Liz and Carl's play

thanks,

Ben Farley of the Beautiful Losers

p.s. my cell phone is (205) 302 8952

I woke up at 5 am buzzing about ideas for the play that Carlton Hall and Elizabeth Ross are putting on


we are planning on taking a couple of five minute excerpts from the play and showcasing it

at this coming thursday night's open mic. @ hot 'n smooth - put on by Walker Independent Theatre... (Terry Kelley & Co.)



it starts at 6pm this thursday night and it'll be

one act (short) plays and "open mic" for poetry reading, dramatic interpretations of short stories,

live or prerecorded music

dancing etc. welcome

open and free to the public

tee shirts, new recordings, Bi polar bear


i recorded bi polar bear today.



it makes me miss improv.



improv tell no lies



wait till yall hear the improv stuff that's gonna be on the cd



it rules



and i just talked to jeremy nelson (from texas)



he's just about got the beautiful losers t shirts ready to print



(or at least he's closer)

it's an off centered indie rock type shirt he said



Question of the Day: what are you doing on the ground?



Answer: Just lying here.


7:05

I love lovers cuz they make babies and fuel the world with coolness


I am so glad that I got some sleep last night. I usually stay up all night long and go to sleep at dawn.

I actually went to sleep around 11pm last night and woke up about 3 30 or 4

recording last night sucked. I was half awake and hungry and I had just talked to Lorene on the phone and she mentioned that I should record Bi Polar bear and

I went in and tried to do it and halfway pulled it off good. I just need a more flexible studio

I wanna do all my songs and do my own versions of some cover songs (steal em and make em my own)

, I love it when people cover my songs and make em different. I'm totally flattered and it makes me feel like people really appreciate me and need me.



I know my songs are cool and I wanna share 'em.

I really need to record with James again.

i actually called him at 3 30 this morning and left him a message about it



I 'm looking forward to playing the next Brittany Ayers booking show.

saturday jUne 16th. I'm gonna play it solo and rock the house with some righteous tunes and tongue in cheek comedy that's gonna make people metaphysically throw up all the bad stuff.

It's so easy to play solo. I really wanna go into the studio and record with Lorene- doing some improvisation.

If anyone is willing to collaborate with me and has the need and the will to make it sound good I can meet them half way and make it twice as amazing.

that's why I have my own band. or solo title. so i can play with who i wanna/ need to play with and they can't edit me and limit me out of selfishness.

well i got that off my hairy chest.

<img src=Fantasy, Fiction, Friction. I woke up this morning and my house was on fire. Angels came flying up just in time to carry me out of the top window. I threw up as they carried me cuz I ate too many fruit loops. They carried me to a green pasteur and we took our clothes off and went swimming in the nearby lagoon. We built sandcastled and shrunk ourselves so we could get into them. Once we got in there were little jellyfish squirming around. I decided to get into a rocket that was sitting on the beach. When I got into the rocket the members of the Killers were in there playing acoustic instruments. I drank White Russians with them and then went to an A.A. meeting where everyone was playing ping pong. The walls were covered with blood and this lady over in the corner was shining the shoes of this midget. I laughed hardily when I saw that. He was cockeyed and singing Tom Waits songs. I jumped out of the space rocket at 357 mph and 57,748 feet in the air. It hurt when I hit the ground and died, but I went to heaven and smoked some pipe tobacco with my grandfather. He was wearing a red speedo and dove off one of the clouds and fell for 848 light years and landed in our pool. So, I followed him down to Earth and fell through a rainbow which was one of the gayest experiences I've ever had. It was forever imprinted on my brain scan cat dance machine. I pogoed to Mars bouncing from star to star. I collected misquito faeries and plunged into the abyss where we fished for souls and screamed bloody murder at the funny old school jazz musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Jordan. Billie Holiday was crooning in the mist of the morning as the sun rose over the abyss. I smiled and cried as she tanked out a bottle of whiskey and poured it into my mouth. Kurt Cobain was risen from the Dead and smoked a mad phat blunt with a Christmas hat on. It was laced with speed and he freaked out and proceeded to dance and ask for heroin. I told him there was no heroin store in the abyss, so he started jammin' with Dizzy. He was playing drums and making farting noises with his mouth and I said "oh you naughty Kurt Kobain. He flipped me off and grew wings. As he flew into the light he peed and cried and his face became a Garbage Pail Kids sticker and it was called Killed Kurt and it was a picture of him blowing his brains out all over the wall with a shotgun. A swarm of Gay parade folks came walkin' up over the edge of the abyss and into it and we told em we were expecting them and they lit up the cave with a rainbow glowstick parade. We sang koom bah yah! and played bongos and cried a river which we floated on into hell and said Hey to satan and went on down to Davey Jones Locker and then just followed the bubbles back up to the ceiling where someone had pullled the cork on the ocean. And we went down down down the drain. 11