Caleb Hawley » Blog

Time, Place, and Talent

Caleb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:24:04 +0000

Music is a great substitute for carbs. When applied right, it can give you energy better than just about anything (as long as your not listening to Damien Rice). This morning while desperately lagging on a run through the park, I pumped myself up by blasting Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” album on my iPod. Before I knew it, I was sprinting. I’ve listened to this record many times before, but it especially jumped out at me this time around. So much, that when I got home I decided to do a little Stevie stalking, and went to my trusty friend Wikipedia for some answers. The first thing that caught my attention was Stevie’s real name: Stevland Hardaway Judkins… wow, no wonder why he went with a stage name.

As I scrolled down I came across his birthplace – Saginaw, Michigan. This blew my mind a little bit, because I’ve been there, and it was overly underwhelming – I suppose a lack of things to do could be partially credited to his virtuosity on multiple instruments? Saginaw started to make sense the more I thought about it. It was just over an hour’s drive to Detroit, which is where Stevland moved when he was four, and was where Berry Gordy founded Motown Records just six years later. It only took a year for Gordy to find and sign Stevie, and the rest is history.

Now there is no doubt that Stevie Wonder is a genius, and arguably the most influential songwriter in pop, soul, and R&B music, but it was more than just talent that put him where he is… time and place also played there part. It makes me wonder (no pun intended) how many Stevie Wonder’s are out there, never to be heard. So much talent, so many songs, so little radio stations.

I guess that’s why you just have to live your life and be happy with any outcome, because no matter what you do, time and place will always play their part.

Soundtrack to a Cat Fight

Caleb — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:34:01 +0000

I had an interesting experience the other night at a small venue I was playing in New York City. During the encore, I noticed some stirring amongst the crowd. At first glance, it seemed to be that somebody had started a mosh-pit, which would have made my childhood dream come true. However, a closer look determined that what was really going on was a Catfight! Ironically enough, here are the words I was singing as two women were simultaneously trying to tear each others’ hair out…

“But Still… Across the map there’s all this tension built
A whole world living by division’s will
But I’d like to think it’ll change”

A perfect juxtaposition, but it gets even crazier…

Here are the words I was singing as one girl fell to the ground after taking a slug to the face…

“Ever since the world began, when the people go down
They get right back up again.”

Sure as shootin’, right as I sang “Back up again” she was on her feet back up and swingin’.

This was the first “real-time” soundtrack that I’ve ever witnessed, and if it was gonna be a movie, it would definitely be in the action films right next to Die Hard VI.

Mmm mmm Gospel! Danbury, Connecticut – 5/21/10

Caleb — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:38:11 +0000

Having some fun with a make shift Gospel Choir in Danbury, CT. And whadya know, there’s that purple shirt again…

Meeting my Dad’s Long Lost Brother…

Caleb — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:07:56 +0000

Last night I had the opportunity of a lifetime. One that I can be sure I’ll never forget. I met my dad’s long lost brother. His name is James Taylor. OK, maybe not his long lost brother, but at least his brotha-from-anotha-motha. They sing and play the same, have the same sense of humor, and lots of times they even look the same. Nonetheless, I have grown up on the music of James Taylor, and I think it’s safe to say that he’s one of my biggest musical influences, if not THE biggest. There was no way around this, as I was forced to listen to his light-rock sound even during shred-metal days of my earlier youth.

Connections came through to make this all happen. Through a friend of a friend, my wife (who grew up on Carole King, so it worked out well) and I were able to score a couple of $1,000 tickets for free! We got to show up early for the sound check and got to hear the band practice a bunch of tunes. It was hard to imagine what it was like for them, sound checking with songs like “Sweet Baby James” and “I Feel the Earth Move”… I mean, they’ve gotta be so tired of playing those songs.

After the sound check they came up and did a meet and greet with all the crazy fans. What can I say, I was a bit star-struck – but I was at least able to tell James what an influence he had had on me. Look, I even got a picture!

Start Recording My Next Album Tonight!

Caleb — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:25:23 +0000

So I know it hasn’t even been a year since I released my sophomore CD “Steps”, but I’ve been writing like a maniac and it’s time to begin the next one! Tonight.

All the songs will be themed around the topic of “problems”. They could be made up problems, real problems, ridiculous problems or serious problems. Some songs have been written from my point of view, but most are written from the perspective of someone else. I’ve always been an observational person, so it’s been fun to try and think up what people might tell their therapist. In fact, I actually asked some therapists if I could see their client’s files, but they told me it was against their “rules”. So instead I tried to pull a James Bond and sneak into their offices, but unfortunately I got caught….

OK that was a lie, but I only said it to point out one of the strangest problems/disorders out there – compulsive lying. Moving on…

You may ask why I would want to devote an entire album around this subject? Well, mainly because it seems to be so relatable. It seems like every kid I meet nowadays in on some form of medication, which is so very strange to me. People seem to think that if a kid is hyper they must have ADHD, and if a kid isn’t hyper they must be depressed. Why is that our mindset? What if their “problems” are just a part of who they are?

The album will be entitled “We All Got Problems” and I expect to release it in October.

Techno Wedding – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Caleb — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:06:02 +0000

Well, I’ll be playing my first full Techno Show…. but you’ll never find where it is!!!

Bring Me Back to the Sixties

Caleb — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:45:20 +0000

This past Tuesday night I got to see James Taylor perform with Carole King at Madison Square Garden. The demographic was pretty amazing: 28% middle-aged women with bull-cuts, 70% bald white guys, and the remaining 2% were the product of their reproduction, which I am proud to say included me.

I’ve grown up listening to James Taylor, and at one point believed my dad actually WAS James Taylor… Kind of like Clark Kent is actually Superman. “Sure, Dad… business trips? Yeah right, you’re playing Woodstock and you know it!”
I mean, he plays guitar just like him, sings a lot like him, and even looks like him. And here’s the kicker – they’re both bald. Imagine that!

I digress. JT’s live album has been in heavy rotation for the past fifteen years of my life. And even though you can hear James Taylor in Dentist waiting rooms all over the country, his live show is rockin’! The band he plays with is top notch, and they know how to make “light rock” rock.

After seeing how cool Carole King was, and realizing how truly timeless both of their songs are, I began to envy the people sitting around me. How lucky they are to have grown up in a time where music was about the music, rather than image and the “cool” factor (have you seen pictures of a younger James Taylor? – my point exactly). I wish I lived in the 60’s – such a great time period for music!

Us Musicians Have it Tough!

Caleb — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:03:51 +0000

I often get asked what I do during the day. Some people tend to think that musicians work at night and then just sleep and eat fruity pebbles during the day. However, this is not true. And I’ve made a video to prove it to you!

In NYC, my latest musical extravaganza has been playing the part of Lady Gaga at a couple of tribute shows. It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s taken a LOT of hard work. First, it’s forced me to listen to her CD from start to finish at least five times, which is the equivalent of 60 hours of construction. Then, I had to learn her dance moves… whew, it’s a hard life.



The Cookie Dance
Caleb — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:36:20 +0000
Wow, you gotta love random dancers!  Last weekend in Philly, some lady got way into the “Cookie Dance”. How lucky was I that she happened to be a world class hippie dancer!  Wow.  This needs to happen every show.  
 




Me as Lady Gaga
Caleb — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:26:47 +0000
Here it is… there’s many more videos, but this one’s my favorite because it was my first time ever using fake blood.  
 




Lady Guy-Guy
Caleb — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:23:38 +0000
Last night was one of the FUNNEST (not a word, but should be) nights of music I’ve ever been part of.  Though I feel like a part of the left side of my brain has  rotted away from listening to exclusively Lady Gaga for the past three weeks, it has now proved to be worth it.  I expected that it would be my first and last night as a drag queen, but I might have to do that again sometime.  
I have a new found respect for pop stars, because of how tiresome their form of entertaining is.  Between the wigs, five costume changes and crawling around like a lion, I was as sweaty as a whore in church (heard that one yesterday).  
There have been times in my life when I’ve made fun of current pop music, calling it surfaced and shallow.  Truth be told, I’m wrong.  Most pop music is to made to make people dance, so who really cares about it’s lyrical substance and musicality.  I think Count Basie put it best when said, “If you play a tune & a person don’t tap their feet, don’t play the tune.”
Pictures of the Gaga show to be posted soon!



“Call Me Crazy” – A New Song in the Making
Caleb — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:29:51 +0000
So, as I’ve mentioned before I’m working on a new CD entitled “We All Got Problems”.  The theme is… well, you can probably guess.  Anyway, this is one of the songs in the making.  I just wrote it, so I can’t help but share it.  Enjoy!
“Call Me Crazy”
Lyrics 
“Call Me Crazy”
Do I swallow them?

Or is it them that swallow me?

They say they it sterilizes

My personality

Did I come in crazy?

Was I born a little mad?

Cause if God me corrupted
I don’t understand his plan

Chorus

It’s just me

I’m my own man

There ain’t anything wrong

It’s just who I am

I don’t need change

So I’ll spit em out
So go ahead and call me crazy if you want

Well the doctor’s say I’m better

But what is better supposed to mean?

Is it defined by numbness

To my own reality?

Seems I haven’t been myself

Since they’ve had me on this stuff

Don’t wanna be your guinea pig

I think I’ve had enough
Chorus

It’s just me

I’m my own man

There ain’t anything wrong

It’s just who I am

I don’t need a change

So I’ll spit em out

And go ahead and call me crazy

Everybody calls me crazy

Go ahead and call me crazy if you want



Luke Skywalker and I Are One in the Same
Caleb — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:50:29 +0000
One of my favorite things about being a performing musician is the people I come across.  And I gotta be honest, I’ve had some strange encounters.  You might imagine the conversations I had the night that I was put on stage in between two “Wizzard Rockers”, who sang music only about Harry Potter – Or the awkward dialogue that took place after playing for a crowd of ten transvestites, and no one else.
There are so many interesting experiences, and one of my new favorites took place this past Friday night.  I was playing a show at Columbia University’s “Postcrypt Coffeehouse”.  It’s an un-amplified room that’s been around for years, hosting musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley and Ani Difranco back in the day.  Nonetheless, it has some regulars.  One particular man really seemed to enjoy my set.  He was very complimentary after, and I will never forget his comparisons he bestowed upon me.  He told me he loved my vibe and how it was like I was channeling Jim Morrison through the galaxy.  Then he proceeded to get deeper, comparing me to Luke Skywalker, saying I had a force that would bring people together.   
Awesome is all I can say.  Ever since I was five I have wanted to be Luke Skywalker.  And now it turns out, we are one in the same.  I am now a Jedi. 



Livin’ Off of Last Night
Caleb — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:46:57 +0000
Wow, last night was amazing.  So amazing that I’ll be feeling it for the next week or so.  I played a show to a packed house at Rockwood Music Hall, and was in awe of the audience.  If you’re not a performer, you might not realize how much of a two-way street a live show is.  The energy of a crowd is contagious, and emotions are synced between performers and patrons.  For example if I sang songs about hating my life, there would probably be a couple of suicides to follow.  Sorry, that’s brutal, but that’s why I love creating mostly positive music.  It always brings out the best energy, and gives me smiles to see and laughter to listen to.  
Last night just felt right, and a crowd singing along to one of my OWN songs was the greatest feeling in the world.  It’s not about ego, but it’s about feeling like something has been accomplished.  I realize I’m only twenty-five, but I can’t help but feel like I’m at a standstill sometimes – last night proved progression, which is the only thing I need to keep on going.  Thank you NYC.



How Does One Become Cool?  (A Strange Dream)
Caleb — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:27:45 +0000
       I think being cool is something you either have, or don’t have.  For me, it’s just not in the genetics.  It must be a subconscious worry for me, because I had a dream about it last night, and this is how I remember it…
       Once upon a time on a long and boring road somewhere in upstate New York, Caleb’s dog Fargo had an epiphany. While he was grateful of his master’s generous and loving ways, he wished he could be cooler. Fargo probably would’ve just trained him, but he’s only ever known how to be cool on dog terms, which basically consists of sniffing buttholes.  
       When Fargo was sleeping, his great-great-grandpa appeared to him in a dream (he was standing next to Moses, since all dogs go to heaven).

       Fargo asked “What does my owner need to do to become cool?”

       He simply replied with “Skinny jeans and eyeliner.”

       Fargo laughed out loud and informed his great-great-grandpa that he was not talking about his female owner, because she was already cool enough.  There was no laughter on the other end… only a stern seriousness.  Fargo was surprised at the answer, and knew his great-great-grandpa had to be right.  Fargo was saddened by the fact that he did not know how to relay this important piece of information to his master.  
That’s when I woke up…