In the book, The Creative Habit, written by Twyla Tharp, there is an entire chapter on Where’s Your “Pencil”? The question refers to our American Express, Don’t Leave Home Without It, tools that fuel our creativity. In our everyday lives, there exists a metaphorical pencil, which is the necessary puzzle piece that drives our creative hustles.
Every time I visit OPEN, Joshua’s hands are perpetually covered in bike grease. When I see him, we dance through our customary social greeting which habitually begins with him saying, “Sorry man, my hands are dirty…” — followed by a hand slap that tightens into a tug-of-war style embrace, which leads into a shoulder-to-shoulder connect for the finish.
The fact that Joshua’s hands are always grimy is comforting to me. His greasy hands are symbolic of Joshua’s creative passion for what he and Zack, both, hope to bring to the familial and collaborative space they have created with OPEN.
For Joshua’s hands, gloved in filth, hardened and sometimes scarred from a day spent repairing and building bikes, the grease represents his pencil and is the one tool that feeds [your] creativity and is so essential that without it [you] feel naked and unprepared (Tharp, The Creative Habit).
What is the pencil for your creative habit? For me, quite literally, it is a pencil. True to my hustle, it is called the perfect pencil. As a writer, my pencil helps capture the world around me through finished narratives, or by sharing the fractured elements of stories without a voice.
Where’s your pencil? What creative spark to your habit will it bring to keep your fire burning? I suspect that once you discover the tool, the only thing left to pursue is your passion. Like Joshua, with his hands perpetually covered in bike grease, this is one habit you will never have a need to apologize.
Our man Clarence (DYKC) does. He dropped by this afternoon for lunch and brought us something to spin on the turntable. The Menahan Street Band “…is a collaboration of musicians from Antibalas, El Michels Affair, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Budos Band. The group was brought together by musician/producer Thomas Brenneck to record in the bedroom of his Menahan St. apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.” One track on this disc, “Make the Road by Walking,” was famously sampled by another Brooklyn native, Jay-Z, for his hit “Roc Boys.”
The smooth sounds emanating from the speakers are a perfect complement to the laid-back but creative and focused vibe here at OPEN. Like DYKC says, music for “grown-ass people.” Thanks, Clarence!
J.D.O. just released his latest and (in my opinion) greatest album to date. The very East Coast sound of J.D.O. is a complex amalgamation of fresh beats and dynamic lyrical texture, all of which is ‘rapped up in every track from the underground drives to the slow jams. There’s even some bonus/hidden tracks, some live and some produced, that are sure to make you bounce.
Hey everyone! This is Dave, the re-cycling hatter of Boston! Let me say a few words about myself. I like to teach, sew, build bike shops, backpack, ride my bike and I love music! So you’re reading my first post… I hope you enjoy. If by chance, you do not enjoy, then I don’t want to hear about it… haha… why should I lie? I don’t!
…ME
Wearing my first hat... before I got my sewing machine!
… here goes nothin’…
‘music musings’
There are concerts that make you think of the money you spent and how many beers you could have had for the same price or how many falafels or even how you could have replaced that worn out seat or chainring on your bike or snagged yourself a handmade cycling hat; all of which can be obtained at OPEN. Well, minus the falafel. Then there are those concerts that make you say, “That was worth every penny!” A few nights ago was the latter and then some. I would have gladly paid $50 to see these guys, but it was only $10 upstairs at the Middle East.
Hailing from Chi-town, IL, this septet (yeah that’s right, 7 of them… sometimes 8 ) razzle-dazzled me from opening feedback drones to the parting peace signed thank yous. There were horn playing percussionists, harmonizing drummers, glockenschpiel tapping bassists, synthesizing females, hand-bell ringing everybodys and a show that left me torn between wanting to be lost in the music and darting eyes, trying not to miss a thing that was happening on stage as the whole group shifted and shuffled about, playing each others’ instruments and like a clock, kept in time and step with one another with superb fluidity.
Anathallo (Greek for refresh or renew) is the band and Canopy Glow is their latest album. Released in November of 2008, Canopy Glow features bone hollowing harmonies and heart stopping percussion. All of the seven member band sings and the only one who stays in place on stage is the drummer behind his kit, but even he had his chance at the front of the stage as he was singing back up vocals on one of the songs they played. It is rare for a band to have a unique style, deep and socially aware lyrics, and stellar musicianship to boot. Rare as it may be, a few nights ago I found it, held it and then watched it fade into the distance as I rode home with my wife.
I have been listening to Anathallo for a few years now and up until a few nights ago at the Middle East, I had never seen them live. I ran into an old friend before the show and he told me I was in for a real treat, a musical experience that will shatter your top 5 favorite concerts. It did just that! Buy their album, see them live, sing along, read their blog… they have a little something for everyone.
The years have gone by remarkably fast since I first stepped foot on campus at Pratt. Every now and again I come across old friends who are (or aren’t) up to amazing things. Today, I was surprised to finally see my old pal Naturel (government names are so played out) with a web-presence: TheNeueSound. He has always been the creative kid with drive in multiple areas; The first day I met him, he made it clear that his goal was to use his abilities as a designer to put food on the table and provide himself with as much studio time as possible. I’ve been talking to him on and off over the years, as we’ve both been trying to find our rhythm as creative minds and visionaries. As a designer, Naturel has been holding down the creative direction of Engedi Chang for a while now, where everything is looking good and feeling great:
While I’m impressed by the design work, it doesn’t get me nearly as excited as his lyrical abilities. I’ve held onto (and still listen to) some of his earlier tracks, which are now maybe 8 or 9 years old! Remember home-grown, backpack rap from back then, where the beats muffle out the lyrics and you’re forced to squint your ears to hear? I know there is nothing like the good old days, but the world keeps on turning, just as the volume knobs do at Naturel’s shows. Here is a little something of recent:
Keep on, keepin’ on my man – you know Boris and I will always hold down your fan club in Boston!
Brek.One worked hard last weekend, so we decided to give him a break and bring in a guest – let me start by saying that we’ve got something special here:
The Butcher Block for Open Bicycle – Frank The Butcher w/ Paul Mighty.
Download (right-click & save) the Weekly Commute #4 here.
I got a text the other night that read, “I murdered the podcast,” which kept me awake for a few hours frantically checking my email, waiting for something to appear in the inbox. In order to fully understand why I was this way, you need to really understand who Frank “The Butcher” is. Before I give you the rundown on Frank, here’s a note he wanted me to pass along:
This is not a test! It’s Frank The Butcher here for the OB Crew… This is a special edition Butcher’s Block podcast for your Weekly Commute. I did it how I’m supposed to do it, the way you’d expect it and definitely how you needed it to be. Big shout to my co-d Paul Mighty who will be joining for on the “Block” from now on. “Don’t front you know I got you Open…”
Peace
Frank The Butcher | TBB
And now for the rundown… After repeatedly writing and erasing sentences, I’ve settled on this as my introduction to The Butcher: Frank is a cultural voice that lacks the bullshit that has become common within our daily encounters. He’s an honest writer, cornerstone within the music industry, established creative-mind, intelligent businessman and most importantly a humble, hardworking family man. While keeping his chin-down and pulling more cultural weight than Doctor Dre did with Ed Lover, Frank has fun – much like we’re trying to do with our bicycle shop. Meet Frank:
As one of the few truly credible authority-figures on classic hip-hop, graffiti and street culture, there is no question to why he is partly responsible for helping turn the things we’ve grown up doing for fun into a legitimate way of putting food on the table. After all, that is the American dream isn’t it? I’d like to think that Frank has grown fond of what we’re doing with this bike shop project, because its all in the same family: hard work, real passion & cultural progression.
If you want to seek a little more education on The Butcher, pick up the next issue of Vapors or Sneaker Freaker, check in with the HighSnobiety columns, listen to one of the many episodes of the Weekly Drop or try to catch him while he’s keeping Concepts under control in Harvard Square. Frank’s got a lot going on, so keep an eye out for more from The Butcher Block.
Since I started to stray away from bicycles in the last post, here is some random, yet partially Notorious Weekly Commute related east coast/west coast beef news. According to Billboard News, Death Row Records has been auctioned off! Apparently Suge Knight pulled some sort of bait & switch as he collected a check for $18 million from a corporate Canadian monster, of course leaving a few people royally ticked off – read it all here. Just as Obama gets ready to make things right, Canada goes and steals Pac. State-supplied health insurance, decent economy and a solid line up of classic MC’s, I might just head north of the boarder!
…Speaking of the Weekly Commute, we have a special guest DJ this week and the next installment will drop tonight! There are more classic cuts in it than Edward Scissorhands can handle!
