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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

I had a dream about a beautiful river that flooded its banks.

It was evening. I was walking along the river. My boots made a shushing sound as I moved through the tall, soft grass along the bank. The night air felt warm and open and alive around me -- like I was slow dancing with the air as I walked. It was a perfectly clear night. The honeyed nebulae twirled above my head like a chandelier that you'd just spun with a fingertip.

The night exuded magic and boundless possibility.

I looked across the river to the other side and sitting on the bank was a white Bengal tiger. It was licking its chops, silently observing, tail switching a bit, waiting... vaguely menacing.

That's when the feeling in the air began to shift from wonder and beauty to lawless disaster.

I noticed that the ground had changed beneath my feet. What had once been a well-worn dirt path was now a muddy wash, slowly filled with water. The river was steadily rising past its banks.

I hurried to the house by the river. I didn’t live there, I was just a visitor. I walked inside and went to tell the son and the old man (his father) what was happening. A strange occurrence. Was this normal? They both ignored me, refusing to listen. The old man looked annoyed when he turned around and hobbled upstairs saying, “Ehh... I’m going to take a nap.”

I looked out the windows of the first floor, alarmed at what I saw. The surrounding fields were glassy in the starlight, already filling with water.

I followed the old man upstairs saying “Look out the window! Any window!” He refused to do it. Refused to believe.

I ran downstairs, gathering my backpack and some books I’d brought inside as I went. I found the old man’s son and said, “This is real. What are you going to do?” He just looked down, spread butter on his toast, and murmured something I couldn’t understand.

I decided to gather my things and get the hell out of there. The water was moving faster now – I could feel it.  I looked out the window, quickly. It was nearly as high as the front porch. 

Out in the front yard, wading through thigh-deep water, were 2 men - strangers – one with a rifle, the other holding a two by four. They looked hungry for something that would never satisfy them… ready to take advantage of the situation. I pointed them out to the old man’s son. He ignored me again, fiddling with something in his hand… a twig or maybe a paperclip.

Water was entering the first floor now… spilling through the windows.

I ran to my truck, found the handgun that I had hidden behind the seat, started the engine and drove up toward the main road through a muddy wash. 

As I turned the bend, the house began to break apart and float into different directions. 

Posted By John Common at: 4:12 pm. Add Comment

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

NEW SONG: THE TIME BETWEEN

THE TIME BETWEEN
Dec 3, 2011

I see faces in the windows, they don’t stop
And ghosts in speeding cars, they don’t stop
And priests passing needles, don’t stop
And drunks blessing bars, they don’t stop
I took you in my hands, tried to understand
I had a perfect plan, I was gonna be your man
I thought my naked will was strong enough for two
I could of held back the waters if you wanted me to

The time between when I first saw you and now
Keeps haunting me… I wanna give it back some how

There’s a child’s face in the moon, it don’t stop
This bed is a cradle, it don’t stop
I’m changing my tune, it won’t stop
Just as soon as I am able, it won’t stop
I begged you to change, tried to rearrange
You went and got some strange, and then I got exchanged
Everything good, washing down the street
Pouring down the gutter, underneath my feet

The time between when I first saw you and now
Keeps haunting me… I wanna get it back somehow
I can’t make these thoughts stop
I can’t roll back the clock
But I can burn like the sun
Til these dark days are done
The time between… I wanna get it back right now

My metaphors are burning, they don’t stop
And rhymes are pouring out, they don’t stop
I’m guilty of suspicion, it won’t stop
I’m harboring doubt, it don’t stop
I never thought you loved me
You put yourself above me
Always pushed and shoved me
Then you got sick of me
I guess I’m the one with the broken heart
Brain dead, drunk and falling apart

The time between when I first saw you and now
Keeps haunting me… I wanna get it back somehow

Go and use my troubles, they don’t stop
As lumber for your dreams, they don’t stop
Build your perfect mansion, don’t stop
While I sleep in the street, don’t stop
It’s lovely and quiet, I’m stirring up a riot
If it’s all in my head, then why’m I still cryin’?
My dreams for tomorrow are down at my feet
Pouring down the gutter, and washing down the street

I can’t make these thoughts stop
I can’t roll back the clock
But I can burn like the sun
Til these dark days are done
The time between… I wanna get it back right now
The time between… it keeps haunting me somehow

Posted By John Common at: 2:12 am. Add Comment

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

NEW SONG: 25 DICKS

25 DICKS
November 19, 2011


think you’re a star
king of the bars
ya know what you are?
25 dicks

rent’s overdue
shitty review
you got no clue
25 dicks

stuck in a van
you and your band
it gets out of hand
25 dicks

out on the road
in a commode
dreamin’ of home
25 dicks

you started with one
and got three more
then you looked down
and found six on the floor
when there were ten
you thought it would end
you felt like a whore
when you hit twenty-four

wherever you turn
you get yourself burned
you’ll never learn
25 dicks

ya never get paid
never get laid
feeling betrayed
25 dicks

the vaunted kazoo solo goes here

25 dicks, that’s a stiff allegation
25 dicks, a sticky situation
25 dicks, you need an amputation
25 dicks, 25 dicks

You can’t cope
You’re at the end of your rope
And you got no hope
25 dicks

No matter what you do
You get yourself screwed
Feeling to blue
25 dicks

CH

think you’re a star
king of the bars
ya know what you are?
25 dicks

stuck in a van
you and your band
it gets out of hand
25 dicks

Posted By John Common at: 5:11 pm. Add Comment

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

NEW SONG: DAYTON

DAYTON
11-15-11

I’m in a motel / Drinking in a shower
Not a care or a worry / Been here an hour
Takin my time / In Dayton

I was drunk on the mic / Nobody showed
Another Tuesday night / Real rock and roll
Taking my time / In Dayton

We shower in shifts / Sleep on the floor
Totally adrift / Gimme some more
It’s a big ole country / Sky and land
Pound for pound / Me and my band
Coffee in the morning / In the bright sun light
Drive all day / and into the night
For Dayton… Waiting

I’m stripped down / opened and raw
Bloodshot and blurry / One single straw
Takin my time / In Dayton

CH

Cut free and twisting / Like paper in the wind
Thinking of quitting / But until then
Takin my time / In Dayton

Posted By John Common at: 5:11 pm. Add Comment

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Fleeting

Driving west, finally, toward the sunset. Chicago to Des Moines. It’s been a great tour. Feels kind of long on one hand… 21 days on the road. But after a while, you sort of hit a rhythm and let go of a lot of stuff… and it doesn’t seem that long at all. Like you could keep going for a long, long time – and like it. That’s where I am right now as I write… in the farthest back seat of the van, a little more than halfway between Chicago and Des Moines, driving into a dusky sunset toward our last show of the tour.

Ray Charles is on the stereo. I was just listening to Daniel Lanois. Those two should have done a record together… never gonna happen. Which reminds me of something that touring has brought into even tighter focus: music is a precious, precious thing. It takes so many accidents or happenstances for something beautiful or worthwhile to happen in music. On so many levels, too. A song, a band, a tour, a sound, a record… If we’re lucky enough to experience something that’s true and real and good, we must love it deeply. Because it is fleeting.

Funny how we keep re-learning the same lessons over and over. Mine, tonight, right now: gratitude for where you are, what you’re doing, and who you’re with.

Love, 
John

Posted By John Common at: 4:11 pm. Add Comment

Friday, November 18th, 2011

How tour's been going

Tour's been great. We're nearly done... tired and ready for our own beds. Friends have been asking how it's been going. Here you go:

In Chicago tomorrow night (11/19), we'll be the slow kid with the perfect three point jump shot.
In Des Moines the following night (11/20), we'll be the greedy business tycoon who learns to love.
In Minneapolis, we were the retired bank robber who's comin' back for one last big score.
In Louisville, we were the feel good hit of the summer.
In Ann Arbor, we were the feisty little neighborhood kid whose crazy idea saves the planet.
In New York City, we were the hooker with a heart of gold.
In Asbury Park, we were the mob boss' psychiatrist.
In Wilmington, we were the intelligent dog sidekick with a whacky sense of humor.
In Asheville, we were the single father who's gonna make it in the big leagues.
In Charlotte, we were the snarky, gay barista who makes obscure cultural references.
In Atlanta, we were the grumpy old man who remembers his childhood fondly.
In Pensacola, we were the gruff-but-lovable cop.
In Austin, we were the spicy mexican gal who's doing things her way.
In OK City, we were America's Girl Next Door.

Love you,

JC&BFoL

Posted By John Common at: 12:11 am. Add Comment

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

On tour...

On tour, the days shart to shift.

Thursday feels like Tuesday. 
Friday feels like Monday.
Sunday feels like Wednesday.
Monday feels like Friday.
Tuesday feels like Sunday.
Saturday feels like Tuesday.
Wednesday feels like Saturday.

And noon feels like morning.

Posted By John Common at: 3:11 pm. Add Comment

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

5 Things John Misses While On Tour

1. Emma's ears
2. Sipping pinon coffee while standing in my kitchen listening to NPR on an old radio
3. Personal space
4. My bear slippers (can't bring them on the road -- too dangerous)
5. Standing on that rock in my front yard at 1AM

Posted By John Common at: 3:11 pm. Add Comment

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

TOUR UPDATES!

Hi Everyone (Again).

We are having a great time on the road and meeting lots of new folks.  Thanks to everyone who has been coming out to shows!  We have a few updates to our tour schedule as we added a new date in Charlotte at the Evening Muse on Wednesday November 8th  and changed our venue in Minneapolis to the Ritz Theater on Thursday, November 17th.  For more details click here.

Other recent things that we've been up to include our new session from Daytrotter  which is online and available for (free)!  We've also had the pleasure of making a new video with director Drai C. Lloyd who created a short film inspired by the song "The Man Who Could" from Beautiful Empty.  Click on the video below to watch it here.                        

Love,

John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light Beautiful Empty Fall Tour

Nov. 9—Charlotte, N.C., Evening Muse

Nov. 10—Asheville, N.C., Lexington Avenue Brewery

Nov. 11—Wilmington, N.C., The Whiskey

Nov. 12—Asbury Park, N.J., The Saint

Nov. 13—New York, Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2)

Nov. 15—Dayton, Ohio, South Park Tarvern

Nov. 17—Minneapolis, The Ritz Theater

Nov. 18—Milwaukee, Bremen Café

Nov. 19—Chicago, Abbey Pub

Nov. 20—Des Moines, Iowa, Gaslamp

 

Posted By John Common at: 8:11 pm. Add Comment

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Our Daytrotter session is live - free download!

"John Common makes sure that he leaves nothing unturned when he writes. He makes naked people. Or, he turns them naked. He disrobes them." -- Daytrotter

I hope you dig the music!  You can hear/download three songs from Beautiful Empty / Side 3 and one new song named "Your Man" -- all recorded live in the Daytrotter studio in August during our summer tour.

Here's the link:
http://bit.ly/uBVnZi



-- Words by Sean Moeller, Illustration by Johnnie Cluney, Recording engineered by Mike Gentry at Daytrotter.

Posted By John Common at: 2:11 pm. Add Comment