I learned about Bob Woodson through Glenn Loury’s YouTube channel, which I discovered during these PhD years. The timing created an unintended comparison. On one screen the university assigned texts, […]

I have been reading about university enrolment declining. It makes sense people question it: the expense, the debt, the uncertain employment afterward, and the assumption that institutional recognition is the […]

Mr. Hamm at Grant Park High School gave me the keys to the music room. Not permission for Tuesdays between three and four. Not supervised access, conditional upon good behaviour. […]

The object is to become a successful touring musician, although after playing for twenty minutes everyone realizes the actual object is to get home with roughly the same amount of […]

The Bob Lefsetz interview with Bob Cavallo. One of the best I ever heard. Stories about managing Prince and his ego, The Lovin’ Spoonful and Canadian Zal in food fights […]

The dentist she removed my old crown and fitted a new one. Dentistry requires a peculiar kind of faith. When the dentist tells you a tooth needs replacing or a […]

“Hold the violin gently,” said Mrs. Novak. “It isn’t trying to escape.” “It feels like it is,” said Oliver. “Every time I put it here it wants to fall.” “That’s […]

A woman from England wrote me with questions about my book. This in itself was suspicious. From the internet most either want money, validation, or directions to the bathroom. She […]

I went to the Tate Gallery sometime in the 1980s when I was in London with Blue Rodeo. I don’t remember exactly what year it was. Touring has a way […]

There comes a moment in many musicians’ lives when they realize the person saying “trust me” most often is the person requiring the most supervision. Managers arrive in mythology before […]