Music for the soul

No matter what certain people say, fly-fishing is not the only good thing for the soul in the world. Let’s say that on a scale from 1 to 10, fly-fishing is 11. But for me, music, is at least 10 as well.

When I’m fishing though, the last thing on my mind is music, because the sound of nature is the best soundtrack at that moment. But any other time, I barely do anything without music.

Whether it’s Billie Holliday to wake up and check my mail, or Metallica to drive my car (although it’s Booker T and the MG’s at the moment), Rage Against The Machine to clean up the place, Marvin Gaye while I’m cooking (I can’t help it, I like to sing when I’m fixing a meal), or some old school reggae like Burning Spear to take a shower (an early Miles Davis works great too).

I pretty much described my day here, except for one thing.

Tonight I went to the third concert in 12 days, and each of them was memorable. Three different styles of music on three different locations, but I left three times with a big smile on my face.

 

The first was the “Boban I Marko Markovic Orkestar”, which was a genuine Balkan party.

This is Marko playing his trumpet like an AK47.

 

The second was “Intergalactic Lovers”, the new stars in the Belgian rock scene.

This is Lara Chedraoui, the girl behind it all.

 

And last but not least, tonight we went just across the border to France (which is only a 45 minute drive) to see James Blake.

Some call him a prophet in today’s music, others say it’s just a hype, but I can guarantee you that I saw an artist at work that is certainly worth following the next couple of years, because this kind of talent is very rare. The combination of very slow and very low beats that make your trousers look like your national flag in a tornado, in combination with a 60’s golden soul voice is unseen before, and a joy to witness.

And thanks to my good friend Ruth for taking these pictures, all the laughs and great moments!

Dark music and tying flies

Once again, the music that I was listening to, has inspired me to tie a fly.

 

This time it was ‘The Good Son’, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

This is the record where I got to know him, and the first time that I got to see him live (lots of years ago, damn I’m getting old). So a bit of nostalgic will certainly play a roll here, but I still think that it is one of the best albums he has ever recorded!

This fly is about 15 cm long, tied on a Mustad Salt Water hook, size 6/0.

- red Luminous Tinsel

- black Indian cock saddle hackles

- red Vampire Plush

- red bucktail
- repeat the first four steps

- black Indian cock saddle hackles

- and some more black Indian cock saddle hackles

- some of those sexy eyes (with a dark gaze tonight)
- and epoxy around the head

And now I’m going to bed, because I can hardly keep my eyes open anymore,…

The ‘Lonesome Grace’

At the moment, most of my free time, I’m spending on the ‘Djuza Project’

(you will certainly hear a lot more on that matter later).

But tonight, those sexy eyes from last week were gazing at me again, so I had to tie some more pike flies with them.

If you follow this blog regularly, then you will know that music is an important aspect in my life.

I’m definitely NOT one of those guys that goes fishing with an iPod plugged into my ears. While fishing, the sound of nature, the water, the birds, the whispering of the trees and the sound of a fly-line floating thru the air,.. that’s my music!

But while tying flies, that’s something completely different.

So, for this fly, I was looking for something sexy and elegant, combined with raw power. So it didn’t take me long to pull Grace Jones out of my record collection

(yes, I still use a record player, in fact, I’ve bought a lot more vinyl than cd’s lately).

The first fly, I’ve tied while listening to her first album, Portfolio (1977).

 

It’s about 17 cm long, tied on a Gamakatsu SC15-2H, size 5/0.

 

The materials I’ve used are:

- feathers from an Indian cock saddle and a Chinese cock neck (two colours)

- Vampire Plush (chenille)

- bucktail (two colours)

- Krystal Flash (three colours)

- grizzly saddle hackles

- artic fox (four colours)

- sexy eyes

- epoxy around the head

The second one, I’ve listened to her fifth album, Nightclubbing (1981).

 

Same size, same hook and the same materials as the fly above (just different colours).

 

You could be surprised how much music can influence your tying (or anything else in your life actually)…

The ‘Lonesome Tom’

 

Since I’ve tied two more colour combinations of yesterdays pattern, I had to come up with a name again. And again I’ve found my inspiration in the music I was listening to.

This might be the perfect opportunity to share another passion in my life. For me, listening to music and tying flies is a combination that gets me in a sort of healthy trance (I think that if the roof blew off, I wouldn’t even notice it).

This time I was listening to Tom Waits, and therefore I called it a 'Lonesome Tom’.

If you want to tie a head like this yourself (which is the head of a Bullhead basically), you can find a great tutorial by Dave Lindsay on his new website http://www.spanglefish.com/tyingpredatorflies (and loads of other interesting stuff on predator fly tying as well).

And for those who are interested, this was the music I was listening to.

I particularly like the seventies period of Tom Waits. He recorded some great music back then, and the two albums that I prefer the most are these:

 

            ‘Closing Time’                                                   and ‘Blue Valentine’

He is on the top of my list of artists that I would like the see live, but until this day, I’ve never had the opportunity (he’s an odd fellow when it comes to concerts).

I named the ‘Lonesome Dee’ after David Eugene Edwards, from Woven Hand.

Actually, I like all of their albums, but the two that really stick out (for me) are:

 

              ‘Blush Music’                                                        and ‘Mosaic’

They are also a fantastic live band. I‘ve seen them a few times, and if you want to see a man with charisma dripping from the stage, go check them out yourself if you got the chance!

Joana Amendoeira

After my post on an exhibition that was really worth checking out, last week, I've decided to put a little more culture on my blog. From now on, when I visit something really good (an exhibition, a concert or whatever), I will let you know.

 

And tonight was certainly memorable!

My father and I went to a concert of Joana Amendoeira, one of the most important Fado singers of the “new generation” (for those who don’t know, Fado is a traditional Portuguese style of music).

If you have the chance to see this lady live on stage, don’t hesitate!

You can find more about her on http://www.joanaamendoeira.blogspot.com or http://www.myspace.com/joanaamendoeira

Thanks again, Dad!