Richard Strick

My band, Barbed Wire Valentine is seeking a drummer and bassist.  Our drummer, Herb Gura is leaving us in September, and our bassist, Eric Bredt will be playing guitar rather than bass.

At a jam recently with another drummer and bassist, I was reminded of the attributes I am looking for in musicians. (That is, aside from the obvious ones, like; they must want to develop and  perform the material that I want to do, and they must be compatible with everyone else in the band.) 

But, as to musicianship,I think that the first thing I listen for in any musical relationship is “good ears”.  By that I mean; listening to what the other musicians are doing, and trying to understand the material and work in a way that compliments the other parts, and the material itself.  Not asking for much….

In any case, I'm still looking.  I may have to resort to artificial measures; some kind of beat box, so Eric and I can perform independently.

At our jam, I was also brought back to why Eric belongs on guitar.  Music to my ears!  I love to hear him play!  You are going to love it too.

All that being said, we still have about six months before Herb leaves us and forces these changes. During this time we will be looking for opportunities to perform.  We are open to suggestions.  I also want to highlight the fact that  we can power up the band in areas without a power supply.  (We can bring our own.)

So if you are planning  a gathering of music lovers that you think would appreciate our music, give us a yell.  And watch for BWV popping up in some of your local joints.  I think you'll be glad you did.

Best Regards,

Richard Strick

When you tell someone you are musician/songwriter, the question invariably arises;  What kind of music do you write/play?  I have always had difficulty coming up with a suitable answer to this. And it's not that I haven't tried.

Often I just respond that I play rock and roll, which, tome meansthat I like to work with an ensamble that includes guitar, bass, and drums. But sometimes I like to play. mandolin instead of guitar. Sometimes I play solo with just a guitar or mandolin. Some of my songs sound like folk songs. I have a song that might be described as hip-hop.Another one sounds Celtic.

I really try to let the songs be what they are…whatever that might be.  Sometimes it takes a long time for a song to mature; to grow up and become what it was meant to be; to grow into its personality, like an individual.

One thing that I think is present in almost all of my songs is my sense of a deeply troubled world. I can't shake it. I think I was born with it.

It's not that I haven't known happiness.  I have had my share ofjoy in life, and still do.  I just had a delightful supper with my loving family.  Of course that makes me happy.  It also makes me think of all those who are doing without, and I cannot be content.  It isn't right and we must change it.

So my songs always have this dark side to them.  But maybe it's not dark…maybe it's light and all this happy stuff is really darkness…okay, lets not get carried away now.

Anyway, I've been thinking about all this stuff and lo and behold!!! I've discovered my genre!  I play Uneasy Listening!

So if you are an uneasy listener,you might like my songs.  And if you like my songs, shoot me an email at richard@richardstrick.com and I will put you on my mailing list and send you these monthly updates ( The Ides ) as well as any breaking news about appearances of myself or myself and my band,Barbed Wire Valentine.

Thanks for reading,

Richard

The most important feature on my website is not my music, this blog, the band, the EPK…it is The Book

Something I have believed since I was quite young, and in the process of tossing out all I had been taught, is that there is such a thing as the truth. It doesn't have anything to do with opinions, theories, beliefs, religions, philosophies, or science, unless these things align with it to some extent.

Then, of course, the question arises; How does one determine what is true? I think truth comes from above us; from the creator. I think that throughout our history, and even before history was recorded, that there have been those that the creator communicated with. 

Unfortunately, mankind is very good at polluting the good things they are given. (Exhibit A: planet earth) This propensity has resulted in these communications being commandeered by those with an agenda, and distorted so that they are useful for this agenda and nothing more; the truth being lost, the polluted truth being mistaken for the real thing.

The solution to this problem is simple. Cut out the middle man. That, in a nutshell, is what the book: Revealed Translation of John's Revelation is about; each individual establishing this communication for themselves. (This is a terrible over-simplification. I should say that this is central to the teachings.)

When I happened upon the book some 55 years ago, I was struck by the first words of the introduction. It says the book was written by Jesus through a medium. What gets me, all these years later is how casually that is disregarded. I can't wrap my mind around seeing a claim like that and not investigating…but there is much in life i can't wrap my mind around.

Anyway, if you, like I do, believe that there is such a thing as truth, and honestly want to find it, I urge you to open the PDF on my website and read, and open your mind to the possibility that it could be exactly what it says it is. I believe that to be the case.

Best regards,

Richard

This, from the prologue to Tim Albertas' book, American Carnage. “To consider Trumps rise is to recognize the essential ingredients of American life: instinctual outrage and involuntary contempt, geographic clustering and clannish identification, moral relativism , and self victimization.” You said a mouthful there Tim.

Lately I've been wondering where people get their ideas of what's really going on.  Often,  it seems people move rather easily from one idea to another; either discarding the earlier one, or incorporating it into an overall belief that allows both ideas.  Seems in many ways like shopping; like for clothes of jewelry; shopping for ideas that suit you.

That reminds me of the problems so many of our young people are having with gender.  The confusion is palpable. Like Jack White says in his song What's The Rumpus, “I've got  a feeling that the truth's become opinion these days”.  Fashionably is not the way to think.

Barbed Wire Valentine is rehearsing  regularly and adding to our repertoire; looking forward to getting out and playing for folks. Open for suggestions. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for reading.

Richard

Some thoughts about songs.  My songs reflect my sense of perspective; how things fit together: what it's all about; my sense of history and destiny; my belief that we all come from the creator and, by whatever route we choose, we'll eventually arrive where we belong.

I know I'm not the only one with this sort of perspective, but it is not common.  I think that is what makes my songs different from a lot of the materiel that is generally produced. (My manifest lack of reverence for the sort of polish made possible by recent advances in digital technology may be another marked difference.) 

I was gratified to see that Jack Whites' new record, No Name, was nominated for best rock album Grammy award. I'm trying to decide which of the songs on that record I'm going to cover. Right now it's a three way tie between What's The Rumpus, Bless Yourself, and Archbishop Harold Holmes.  What's The Rumpus is in the lead.

Running a little late with this.  It's the 17th, a bit past The Ides. BWV opened for The Strangers again last night in Santa Rosa.  I was pleased with the audience response. Not just from the other bands and all, but random people who just happened to be in the joint were responding.  That's what I look for when I play; people paying attention.

I'll cut this short with that.

Best Regards,

Richard 

Here we are!  The Ides of October! I have a few things on my mind now.

One:  Barbed Wire Valentine has had the great good fortune to be invited to open a show for my good friends and fellow rocknrollers, The Strangers. It's November 2nd at the fabled Forestville Club; the venue that has been the launching-pad for so many…shall I list their names?…Naaaa, you know who they are.

Be that as it may, y'all  need to make it to the Forestville Club, 6300 Front Street, Forestville, CA to see The Strangers rock and roll the place, and Barbed Wire Valentine starting things off at 8.

Two: Why isn't everyone listening to Jack Whites new record, No Name?!?! And why isn't it on Rolling Stones list of probable nominees for best rock album at the Grammys? Dolly Parton? Hackney Diamonds?

Three: Thinking about how Revealed Translation of John's Revelation (The Book) has found its way into many of my songs. Here is an excerpt that is an example of this. It's from Chapter 18, which discusses the fall of the government of The United States and had a strong influence on my song, Critical List.

“ This time the contention arising because of dissatisfaction with the rule of men will arise in its fury and sway man toward submission to God’s law. Whereas in ages past it always resulted in the utter abolition of the standards of men. This would come again, were it not that revelation reappears to protect man in the midst of the great strife and confusion that is to envelop the world. And this ordinance of revelation concerns this action and the voice of Angels in the will of God which will warn men by their wisdom and lead men by their guidance speaking through the consciousness of men who will be prepared for that purpose. This is the voice that John speaks of which shall be heard from Heaven, saying: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.” Were it not for this warning voice, and this helping hand, which will be heard and received by numbers and by scores, men would indeed fall victims to the consequences that will soon arise as a result of the world’s sins and selfishness of men. And were men to fall victims to the consequences of it, the destruction of the human race from the face of the earth would follow. But the protecting hand of God is over man; therefore these evil consequences which would otherwise be, will be swayed even as the tree is swayed by the wind. And men shall not realize how critical was their condition until the time is past, and men turn their hearts to the purposes of the Infinite and Allwise.”

Here it is, the first of my monthly newsletters.  Well you have to start somewhere…better late than never

News of what?  I guess you could call it my work.  In that vein, I should mention my two CD's, “Me And My Jawbone”, and “Barbed Wire Valentine” (with Hearts and Bones).

Each of these CD's has eight of my songs on it.  They were “released” in 2014 and 2017 respectively.  I had 100 of each of them made.  I still have quite a few.

Besides CD's, these became available on streaming services.  Despite the fact that this is available to any of a bazillion people, most have not heard it.  Aside from my own lack of promotional effort, another factor in this failure to connect with an audience is what are called gatekeepers; that is those that decide what music they are going to present to you and me on these services.

This brings me to the point.  Because of this gatekeeper situation, I've decided to close that gate myself, and make future releases available from my website or on CD's and skip the streaming services.  In addition, there will be video releases from time to time to show what the band is up to.

“The Ides”…the idea is the middle of the month.  That's what I'm going for…should be possible.

The band?  “Barbed Wire Valentine” is the new name.  “Hearts and Bones” didn't work out.  Paul Simon had something to do with that..

We're a duo right now.  Working on adding drums and a second guitar to the mix soon, but me and Eric Bredt (bass) are ready to get out and play now, and will be soon. Stay tuned!

That's about all I've got now.  Thanks for reading.

Richard