Knitty Gritty

I just got home from a really nice evening... of knitting. I'm not a knitter, though I want to be. Again... it must be that "I'm old now" thing like bird watching, on a previous post. Well I hit the mother lode tonight... I saw needlepoint birds at The Studio, where we were knitting! Cool! Here are some of them. I can easily do without the old fake vines, but cool nonetheless. Thanks to Felice Azorsky of Bagettes and Jennifer Roe of Tastebud Magazine for putting this together. GREAT idea!










The yarns were inspiring. I want to make something! I saw some cool knitted fingerless gloves... I had to put one on and imitate the poor little match girl from the old moral story. I can't tell you how many times my son has cut the fingers off his gloves so he could stay warm and still catch a football. Great colors and textures... wine and candy corn... gorgeous witty women... what a beautiful way to spend the evening.


On a completely different side note... TRAIN has a new album, due out Oct. 27th can be listened to here on MY999 ! The whole new album "Save Me San Francisco"! I particularly love songs "Parachute" and "Marry Me" and of course "Save Me San Francisco" where Train made a shout out via social media on Twitter and Facebook for their fans to come to the recording studio in San Francisco and clap on the namesake song. Many of the people I've met over social networking the last few years went! Here they are... Gotta love TRAIN! Congrats to Alisa, Monique and the others... fun opportunity. Take a listen too... tell me what songs you enjoyed too. The TRAIN tour is already under way and I hope you get to see them. It's a great date!

"We're going backward, in order to go forward"

...I think we've all had to do that at some point...

One of my all time favorite bands, TRAIN (woot!), is coming out with a new album/DVD, SAVE ME SAN FRANCISCO on October 27th.

side note: I'm about to do something I don't recommend. I'm starting out with a negative. Not against TRAIN, but you'll see... and I have to in order for you to understand where they've been and what's coming ahead...

Their last album, FOR ME IT'S YOU, was absolutely fabulous! However, it didn't do well in sales. Why? Because their management company, Sony Music, in usual historical fashion, did not promote it or the band. No sir, not well at all... in fact, it was pathetic! Tour attendance was low because no one knew they were coming to their towns. I'm not really even sure if radio spots were bought, promotions or cross promotions made. In fact, the TRAIN band members eventually had to go back to their roots and rely on street teams that they contacted, to get the word out. I'm sure it's not the impression TRAIN wanted to leave anyone with. I feel certain Sony wouldn't have wanted it that way either, if they had known how poorly their client was being treated. I could do a whole other blog on the bands that have been dissatisfied with SONY MUSIC over the last two decades. Why anyone signs with them now, I have no idea. But TRAIN learned and they sought out innovative clever professionals. This time, they have a new management company, CRUSH Management and TRAIN couldn't be more excited. All I know is... Sony couldn't have eff'd this up more in the past... and it can only get better from here. In fact, it already is...

Check out TRAIN's website and you'll notice up toward the top of the initial page, links for social networks and other social media sites so you can connect with them quick and easy! I love this, because lead guitarist, Jimmy Stafford, is tweeting from the road and posting photos. You can get real time photos as they get to locations, sound check, on stage. Guest guitarist, Hector Maldonado, is doing the same thing. Lead singer, Pat Monahan, has always been available on through his blogs and is as open about the successes and challenges they face as a band... another way to reel the average Joe and Jane like you and I, in. As for their website, it's a great place to hear the first single "Hey Soul Sister" on their album SAVE ME SAN FRANCISCO. This single is available for your listening pleasure, although it just became available on for purchase on iTunes today!!! Nice going guys and to web guru, Justine Foreman at the band's website! Nothing like a good teaser to build a frenzy. The title of this album, SAVE ME SAN FRANCISCO, is a homage to the city and reflective of their efforts to get back to their roots (and hard core fan base in San Fran)... going backward so they can go forward. Getting back to their rootsby way of connecting with fans again... one on one, mano y mano. What better way to do that, than through social media. You can find them here on their twitter page, Facebook fan page, Myspace page and Youtube. Yes, they do respond to comments and questions... Yes they do give a huge hoot about you and what you think. Yes, they are gearing up to tour!

I hope you get to see them too. Then post your photos... WOOT!