LarsMortensen.com Bio/Blog

Well, not disease but a damned annoying nasal drip/congestion problem.  For the first time since I started playing at the K.I.S.S a few months ago, I had to cancel the gig.  I got home from work a few hours before the gig and knew things didn’t look good.  I sat down with my guitar and tried to figure out a voice that would work.  I couldn’t sing a tune for the life of me.  Anyway, reliability is important to me as performer and it bummed me out to have to cancel.  My sincere apologies to anyone who came out that night.

If I really think about it, this drip thing has been plaguing me for a few months now .  I get this nasal drip every few weeks, which then leads to an agitated throat and a soar voice.  Actually, I can hang with it for the most part.  I have an almost cursed level of being able to get used to things.  The problem is that I’m a performing singer.  I need this old voice to work.  Anyway, I’m doing some serious digging as to the causes, cause this has got to end.  Right now I think it’s either something in my apartment, dust or mold hidden somewhere that is causing this.  That or I have a lingering sinus infection that keeps surging on and off.  Hmm…  I’ll let ya know what happens.

In my pursuit of cures online I was reminded of the benefits of  Apple Cider Vinegar, and discovered something called oil pulling.  Oil pulling is a trip.

To health!  Mine and yours!

-Lars

UPDATED: 1/19/09

So I did get over this finally.  It seems it was a sinus infection.  What cured me you ask?  Antibiotics?  Nasal sprays?  Pills?  None of the above.  It was the blessed Neti Pot.  Another one of those things I’d heard about for so long but never tried.  It solved my problem in a matter of days.  Now, if my nose is getting stuffed, or if I’ve breathed in a lot of airborne junk, I rinse it right out.  No more  constant nasal drip.  No more recurring sore throats.  It even helped with a tad bit of snoring I think I developed from my not being able to breath in my sleep.

Well, there it is.  Google or Wiki it if you want to learn more.

Just got back from another great drum tracking session for the new record.  Tim “T-Dog” Miller was killin’ it as usual on the skins.  The crew has got a few songs under our recording belt and they’re sounding really good.  I’d love to go off about the track listing and all the awesome sounds you guys will hear but I can’t.  I feel sooooo good about what we’re doing, that’s all I will say for now.  The core four members (Tim, Lesley, Brendan, and I) are really getting in the swing of things and the process has become such a joy.  I can’t thank the others enough.  Seriously.

Hmmm… what else.   Oh yeah…  I am developing a new “members only” area on my website which includes special treats like free mp3s, insider info, and opportunities to pre-order music and tickets to upcoming events.  For the first beta testing version, all you have to do to become a member is get on the email list.  Until the the member area goes live, all list members are getting a free live mp3 of the fan favorite “Leaner”.  Just sign up here or at larsmortensen.com.  A lot of people have really enjoyed this track.  I’m glad I chose a good one for y’all.  Enjoy…

Be well everyone and thank you for your support.

Lars

In the last week I’ve started my day a few times watching music documentaries and live performances.

Looking for some live Neil Young I found this interview with Charlie Rose from 2008.

Man, I love Neil Young.  I identify so much with what he’s saying in here.  So many things including the responsibility to the flow that gives songs to people.  The night I really discovered Neil Young was at the annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline 1998.  A bunch of huge bands played and they all played essentially acoustic sets.  Well Neil was kind of the MC, and he played a few songs by himself between bands.  This man, with just a guitar, a harmonica, and his voice had the whole place silent like a library.  There were people with their mouths hanging open just overcome by this one man in a huge 20,000+ amphitheatre.  R.E.M. played that night, a very intimate set.  I also remember Neil playing his song “Helpless” with Phish, and at the end they repeated the “Helpless, Helpless, Helpless” line in a 5 part harmony that was like, soul crushing.  I was speechless after that.

Seeing kindred spirits like this is refreshing and invigorating just like a good vacation.  Watching the interview I  was inspired to take advantage of this little blog y’all read to tell you about a few things I like.  Not just musical things.

Hmm… I love to to be alone.
I love my friends.
I love to see my friends succeed.
I love real conversation and debate.  The kind where people are actually speaking there mind, expressing true opinions.  Revealing that they can think for themselves.  Where people engage themselves and their minds.  I’m sure you would agree that this is harder to come by then it should be.

I love modern japanese author, Haruki Murakami.  Absolutely fantastic.  Serious depth yet often strange and mindbending in an altered reality kind of way.  Right up my alley.  Kafka on the Shore, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and A Wild Sheep Chase are all fantastic.

I really love radio plays,  specifically those from L.A. Theater Works.  Friday nights on KUOW in Seattle they broadcast 2 hour radio plays presented by LATW.  This is one of my favorite things in terms of entertainment.  I’ll listen while enjoying a good meal (at ten o’clock? yeah, I love the night), and maybe some wine.  Or sometimes I’ll load my mp3 player and take a walk and listen.  I have a few secret spots outside the house I like to go to and watch the world go by while listening to one of these awesome plays.  Really, check ‘em out.  They  include famous plays and books, translated to radio, and also include famous serious actors.  WARNING!  In order to really get these stories, to get the full benefit, you have to actually listen.  Sit down, and focus on what’s going on.  Once the voices and characters are marked in your brain you can drift a bit if you want.  That is another thing I like about these.  There’s no screen, you have to focus on the screen in your mind, like a book I suppose.  A little while ago they started “podcasting” the plays so you can get them via the internet.  It’s also how I discovered the company that I broadcast my WebSets through, Big Contact.

Another thing that I used to get a lot from was LibriVox.org.  It is a non-profit site where people read books and stories and post them as mp3s.  Any work that is in the public domain (pre 1923).  I went on a Sherlock Holmes binge with LibriVox.  They’ve got thousands of titles.  Think about all the classics.  Want to hear someone read ‘em to you? Load your ipod, make a cd for a long road trip, whatever.  Short stories, poetry, novels, religious and philosophical texts.  Bram Stoker, Dostoyevsky, Jane Austin, etc. etc.   You can also contribute by reading and recording something at home (it’s easier than you think).  Check them out…

What else…

I love to sing.  I love to feel the vitality singing brings for me.
I love to write something new.
I love to improvise music in groups.
I am very passionate about a lot of political stuff I can’t talk about.

I love musical documentaries, and video of live performances.
I recently watched Possibilities, a documentary about the making of a Herbie Hancock record in which he collaborated on every track with some other famous, or established artist.  I love that kind of thing.  Seeing all the different ways people work, the different talents and their different forms.

From pop stars to jazz genius’, here’s the list of people featured on the different songs:
Christina Aguilera, Trey Anastasio, Brian Eno, Lisa Hannigan, Angélique Kidjo, Jonny Lang, Annie Lennox, Lionel Louke, John Mayer, Raul Midon, Greg Phillinganes, Damien Rice, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Paul Simon, Sting, Joss Stone.
That doesn’t include his awesome backing band players.  I’m a music creation geek and I love this kind of stuff.

I also watched an MTV produced documentary about Nirvana called the” Nevermind  Interviews”, which was a bit of a blast from the past.  Nirvana was one of my first musical obsessions.  In one of my first bands in highschool, sometimes at practice, as an activity we would just cover the entire Nevermind album.  Ahhhh, the innocent good old days.  Something that always trips me out watching old Nirvana footage is the fact that Dave Grohl, now leader of the Foo Fighters, was their drummer. I  mean that guy is freakin’ awesome on those drums.  His place in music history was secured just in that.  I’m sure he would have made a place for his other musical talents to shine whether Nirvana had continued or not, but it really is amazing.

Wow… I’ll stop there.
Don’t forget to check out the latest WebSet.
See y’all soon…
Lars

I recently spent a week camping out at Lake Ozette, part of the Olympic National Forest, at the Northwestern tip of the Continental United States.   It was so great to get away, no phone, no computer.  Just waking up to some good coffee, going on an excursion for the day in the form of a hike or two, then coming back and setting a fire, chillin’ with a beer and ending the night looking at the stars.  I miss those stars.  I wish I could go back tomorrow.  Soon…

Part of the trip included going to Cape Flattery which is literally the northwestern tip of the US (minus the whole Alaska thing).  Cheesy as it seems, it was really cool standing there, seeing Canada across the water.  I grew up in the South Bay of California and I used to get out to the ocean pretty often. These days, those visits are all too rare and during the trip I really enjoyed just sitting on the beaches, listening and staring out.  It’s strange to think how distant the ocean has become in my life.  Another soon return.  Soon…

Here are a few photos from the trip taken by the lovely Megan Erickson. I also added two shots I took from the restroom near the Ozette campsite.  There was a hand dryer with some amusing vandalism on it I thought you might get a kick out of.  I sure did.

I have found myself returning to the city, recharged and therefore re-focused.  After what so far have been some really great jams in rehearsal, we will begin tracking for the new full length record in late October.  I hope to have some previews in the WebSets for November though I make no promises.

Meanwhile, the solo Kiss Cafe gigs continue every Wednesday.  I’ve got the new limited edition Periscope EP v2 for sale there.  It has 5 live bonus  tracks, 4 are acoustic remasterings from WebSet 1 and 2, and one smokin’ rendition of fan favorite “Ranger” recorded live at the Kiss Cafe.  A bigger and bigger bag of people are showing up to get their dose of the music.  I’m loving meeting you all.  See you there.

Last night’s gig was a real pleasure.  I played a few rare ones and some of the songs really surprised me when they come out.  Utilizing all the sounds I have from my guitar and loopers is really a beautiful journey.  Last night’s 2nd set opener, Imaginary Walls, was probably the most dreamy, softly psychedelic version I have ever done of that one.  The beauty of it (or some would say the horror) is that I almost never plan or practice the ideas that get transformed into reality on stage here.  Imaginary started with a soft vocal loop, (one of my signature layered vocal synth sounds) and just grew out of that.

Now that I’m really getting settled in at the Kiss, set two is becoming a real treat.  Not that set one isn’t sweet too, it just serves a different thing.  After set one (about an hour/hour fifteen) I take a 20-30 minute break, have a beer at the counter, and greet new faces who are diggin’ things (Hi Brendan, Dale, Nancy, and the silent ladies in the back).   Then I usually step outside and reflect on the first set, feel where I’m at, and write the second setlist.

Set two is for the music after the kids go to bed.  The people have decompressed from the work day.  Their minds and bodies have opened to the more subtle things.   The sun is starting to fade slowly and I am more settled into the space for the evening.   This is where I let myself get lost in the songs (which is my natural way when performing but sometimes I gotta pull myself back into reality just to stay in touch).

Some songs turn from 3 minute nuggets into 10+ minute dreams.  I almost never play a set in the order, or with the exact songs, that I’ve written out.  There are always surprises along the way that lead me elsewhere.  Sometimes I’ll be improvising on something and a tune will enter my brain and I’ll segue into that.  Other times, something in the room, whether an actual event or just a mood tells me that something else is right at this moment.  This week I played a song and in the outro ended up playing a medley of covers including Stand by Me, and Lean on Me.

The music is alive. I let it breathe.  I guide it and it guides me.  It’s an easy, mutually respectful flow between us.  Come and get it…

I’ve just met with engineer/producer Brendan M., not to be mistaken with the other Brendan’s, and we’re beginning pre-production on the new record.  Nice…
Oh yeah, and the next WebSet looms, it will be a selection of live tracks from the residency gig at the Kiss Cafe. Dig it…

Until later,
Lars

So the residency at the Kiss Cafe in Ballard has been pretty cool.  Amanda (co-owner) and John (cuisine master) have been so awesome.
I love playing two sets in a night.  I’m really enjoying jamming on songs for a while, especially looping layers down to really go far out there.

So far I’ve been playing 7-10 pm-ish.  Last week Set 1 started at 7:30 pm and I played until just after eleven.
Things are flexible, very organic.  Already a number of songs that I’ve been playing for a while have under gone some serious transformations and new arrangements.  Songs like Ranger, Cesar, Traffic Control and more.  Thanks to the live looping tools I use I’ve finally been able to improvise at  length and mutate songs just a little here and a little there.  I love improvisation.  Probably 2/3 of the music I listen to regularly involves improv, whether it’s live jazz, Phish, or one of my favorite local secrets, Goat.  Kind of Blue (Miles Davis-one of the biggest selling, most important jazz records of all time) is an amazing testament to the power of stream of consciousness style, skilled improv.

I must also mention that I am really diggin on the sweet beer selection at the Kiss.  Seriously.  All the Ninkasi brews are awesome.  Elysian Jasmine IPA… mmm.  You definitely get quality here.  A dollar or  two more then yer typical draft but oodles more satisfaction.

Periscope has sold out so I’ve got a new special edition coming including a few bonus live tracks, 1 or 2 are live from the Kiss Cafe, and some others remastered from the WebSet series.