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TOM PETTY! Man, wow! I've always dug Tom Petty, but lately I can't seem to stop spinning his stuff. The "Damn the Torpedoes" album is so cool. Of course, there are the hits that everyone knows (Refugee, Here Comes My Girl, Even The Losers, Don't Do Me Like That), but there are two underrated gems on this disc: Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid) and You Tell Me. I probably listened to You Tell Me 50 times in the last 5 days. What an amazing song. Just the way that it's seething just below the surface, but keeping its cool outwardly. There's a subtle aggression to the song that is really incredible. And I think the thing I admire most is the way the band works together to create the vibe of the song. There's a ton of open space in the production, leaving room for each instrument to have its say, giving the impression of a smoky barroom confrontation creeping toward the edge. I could go on an on about this one song, but I won't. Just do yourself a favor and check it out.
Tracks for the new CD are almost done. Just vocals and a couple of
guitar solos to go, then a day or two for mixing/mastering. In
June, we're filming a couple of music videos (plus a video for
"Song For My Parents" from the Shadows CD), then in July I'm
taking a few weeks off before hitting up the coffee shops in
August. I'm already working on my setlist for those shows, and I'm
adding in some older tunes I haven't played in a long time, which
is cool. It's always fun to dust off the old stuff, especially
getting reacquainted with the lyrics, and thinking about where my
life was when I wrote them.
ikh
March 22, 2008
And what about that new solo album I've been promising? It's
*almost* finished! In fact, everything's done but vocals, which
I've been rehearsing like crazy to get them how I want them. You
guys are gonna love this CD! November 3, 2006 Queen really is the greatest band in the world. A lot of people only know them for their big hits, like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, & Another One Bites The Dust.
All those songs are amazing -- but they are just a tiny fraction
of this great band's history. Their first three albums (pre-Bohemian
Rhapsody) are all prog-rock masterpieces. But the thing is, unlike
most prog bands, Queen were never nerdy. They managed to blend
heavy metal, classical, jazz, folk, and blues together but with a
sense of style and pomposity that proved these four really were
royalty.
Not only that, but I've been talking to Amy Timbers, vocalist for alternative rockers outta the belly. I played bass for otb for a few years right after I graduated from EMU. We're talking about the possiblity of playing together again, which I'm very excited about. I'll actually be going to to rehearsal with otb this Wednesday, to play, talk, and just see how things go. It's been three years since we've played together, and some things have happened that make it look like this is the right time to hook back up. I'll keep you posted! Other than that, I've been staying busy with Harry Potter books (which I resisted until a couple of months ago, but now love), and TONS of new music. In the last 8 weeks or so, I've added tons of CDs to the collection, including: T. Rex (one of my new fav's), King Crimson, Nirvana, Elton John, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Black Sabbath, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, and tons of others. Some of these are albums I used to own but hadn't in a while, and some are totally new to me. I'm trying to expand my collection beyond just heavy metal, and to really study the greatest rock songwriters! One last thing -- stop by my Myspace site. I'm new to Myspace, and it's not really the kind of thing I'd normally be into, but these days, musicians are pretty much expected to be there. So stop by www.myspace.com/iankeithhafnermusic and add me to your Friends list! Enjoy the autumn change...
Ian Keith Hafner February 24, 2006
It's FREEZING cold out! January was so warm, and my dad always taught me that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. And just when it seemed like we might make it through winter without the bone-chilling cold, here it is. Freezing cold temperatures! But you know what? I refuse to complain about it. I'm living here by choice. I could always move to Florida, or California, or somewhere else that's warm. But I LIKE it here!
January 10, 2006
This year I'll be 26. That means I'm halfway through my twenties. Funny how I still feel like I'm 18. I'm not one of those guys who worries much about age. To me, it's how you feel inside, and how you live your life. Sherry often tells me that I'm like a 4 year old trapped in a man's body. She's right! One last thought -- do yourself a favor, and today, find someone you love, who you haven't TOLD that you love them lately, and tell them!
See you soon! Ian Keith Hafner
November 25, 2005
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was the first time that I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents. If you're married, you know how it is -- holidays get a little more complicated, and you have to figure out which set of parents you'll be visiting when. So I got up yesterday and made a turkey. By myself. You might not know it, but I'm a pretty good cook. I've never made a turkey before, but I figured it couldn't be too hard. It wasn't, but I had to stop and wash my hands about fifteen times during the process. I can't stand having blood on me, or turkey guts, or whatever. Being a good American boy, I did spend the day thinking about what I'm thankful for. A million things came to mind, but the two that I thought about the most are my relationship with Jesus, and the life I share with my wife, Sherry. When I stop and think about it, both of those things are absolute miracles, and even if everything else was taken from me, if I had those two things, I could be happy.
Ian Keith Hafner
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