I play guitar and co-write songs with two different collaborators in two quite different bands. Both bands emerged, evolved and morphed from a theatrical production that we wrote and performed in, in the mid-2000’s. Kind of extraordinary. It is just something I am lucky to do, and I’m incredibly happy to do; rehearsing and being onstage within these friendly confines. Even when a gig goes bad, which, thankfully, happens less & less often, being in these bands is a vehicle to elevate, to open the door to peak experiences.

The fuck-ups and bumpy gigs are always instructive, and part of a never-ending, always happening, learning process. You learn how many ways you can fuck up. Turns out there are a million. Maybe more. Every fuckup is an opportunity to re-think, to adjust & readjust, to refine your shit. You experiment with guitars, guitar pedals, amps, cables, picks. You end up with a set-up, a stage approach that can withstand the elements. There is a on-going process of refinement propelled by the desire to avoid fuckups.

There have been various line-ups in both bands over the years. The constant in both bands: me and my two very distinct, and distinguished, always-inspiring, songwriting partners: The Lovely Carla Hayden & the mighty Pat McDonald.

Both bands (whitewolfsonicprincess & The Telepaths), pretty much have their shit together, although, really, nothing can ever be taken for granted. These little collectives are some of the best, most giving and creative musicians and human beings I know. We are gathered together to focus on a mission to god. Two quite unique and often gnarly creative crucibles. Maybe this two-headed, creative beast is the finest and best way I truly, madly & deeply get to spend my time.

I love being in a band, I love writing songs, I love performing, I love collaborating with other musicians. I get to creatively express myself, but really, the secret key, the hidden knowledge is the reality of an invisible connection with the other players. The best of the creative work? The unspoken, almost mystical, musical communication between the players. Yes, as Pete Townshend once pointed out, it’s all about the vibes; hearing, seeing, living the vibes. When you do the good work with a solid group of musicians, all connected, listening to each other, playing together, with confidence, and a concentrated focus and ease, it can be truly transcendent.

If you are in a band of committed, creative souls, you are creating a bigger energy and a bigger vibe that rises above the simple human domain. I mean, it’s completely human state, that somehow elevates to a divine-like state. This happens even if you are just playing a simple two-chord r&r song. A god-head emerges out of the mud. Out of that simplicity can emerge a mysterious, enveloping wonder. One of my collaborators always tells me “music is my religion.” I get it. The commandments? Play with heart and soul. Give your all. Listen. Listen. Listen. Know your shit. Let go of your ego, and sink into the band of connections. Honor the vibe. Ride that vibe upward for all it’s worth. No telling where it will take you.

It’s an outward, and maybe more significantly, an inward journey. By doing, you are working on your self, your own spirit and being. Where are we going? Wrong question. Where are we doing? We are doing everywhere. R&R. It will save your soul if you are willing to give it up. You give it up willingly. I think of that Santana instrumental: “Soul Sacrifice.” Yes. Indeed. And I mean, damn the torpedoes.– Jammer

Who you meet…

We saw Son Volt on Thursday night at SPACE in Evanston a week ago. Mind-blowing. Bone-rattling. They opened with some Sir Douglas Quintet songs and then they played all of “Trace,” their masterpiece album. It was so unexpected and so damn inspiring. R&R really can save your soul.

There was an opening act. We didn’t know there was an an opener when we arrived for the show & when he walked out on stage, no introduction, with a long beard, wearing a cowboy hat, carrying a Martin acoustic guitar. Our first thought, maybe Jay Farrar, Son Volt’s front-man, had a radical make-over & transformation.

As soon as he started singing we knew, nope, it wasn’t Jay. 

It was Anders Parker. He was amazing. One lone singer & guitar player. He was singing songs from his latest album “The Black Flight.” (2023). A loose collection of story songs about his great-uncle Leslie Hunter Parker, a fighter-pilot killed in a dog-fight in Belgium in World War I. The so-called Great War. 

He captivated, enthralled. He really did hold the audience in a spell with his words, his guitar playing, his entrancing voice. Not an easy thing to do. A lone performer like that is totally exposed. Nowhere to hide. Every picked note, every syllable launched into the air naked. 

After his incredibly satisfying set I told my companion, the Lovely Carla, that I had to meet the man. 

I needed to know how he was getting that fabulous, rich, powerful acoustic guitar sound. That is one of my own personal obsessions. Always looking for a mythic, perfect, soul-full, resonant tone. You know they say the sound that a player gets is “in the fingers,” it also helps to have well-made, long-traveled guitars. The wood ages, the sound gets better over time. When it comes to acoustic guitars, older, more worn and beat, the better. Maybe it’s the same with players too?!

I wandered over to the sound-booth and asked the sound tech how she got such a good acoustic guitar sound in the room. She told me it was just a direct-connect from the DI box to the soundboard. Ha. Pretty cool. And rare. Usually a direct-connect like that leads to thin, tinny, jangling sound. At least that has been my sorry experience.

I saw that Anders had appeared behind the merchandise table. I told my companion we had to go meet the man. And, if we went to talk to him, we just had to buy some merchandise. We did, and we did.

We introduced ourselves and talked music & guitars. I asked Anders what kind of pickup he had on his guitar, he told me it was a K&K pickup. Happy to say that is what I use too. Plus he uses an old LR. Baggs pre-amp. Hmmm. Might have to check that out although I use a K&K pre-amp, pretty happy with it.

I asked about his picking technique. On his picking hand he uses a thumb-pick, and he has his other finger-nails professionally manicured; he displayed his fingers, the nails were naturally-polished, and sharpened. Every finger on his picking hand is basically a pick. That is the bluegrass way. I wonder if I should try it? I use a hybrid-technique favored by the great Richard Thompson, pick held between thumb and forefinger, the other fingers free to pick. I don’t use my fingernails, instead, I use the soft pads of my fingers.

I wondered to myself, do I need a total re-think, and a new technique? Not sure, but that’s an interesting question, subject to further review.

Anyway, it was nice, friendly, easy conversation at the merch table. Anders is quite the soft-spoken, gentle, intelligent soul. We bought a CD version of “The Black Flight,” and a cool gold and faded-red Anders Parker T-shirt. Two new fans. You know, in the music biz it’s all about the merch, we were happy to shell out some cash directly to the man. 

The Lovely Carla and I have been spinning Anders Parker’s album all week. Just fantastic.One of our new favorites, both artist and album. 

Who you meet… yes…indeed… who you meet can change your life… open your heart and head, lead you to new directions. – Jammer

We played a storefront r&r show Friday, July 28 at Jarvis Square Pottery. Another hot day in the city, We were a bit worried that the temps inside the music room would be stifling. But we lucked out. A storm blew in and cooled things down a bit by the time we took the stage at around 9 p.m. or so. 7 of us were crowded on a small stage. Playing to a totally packed house. Fabulously welcoming vibes.

There is something about playing a small room, it concentrates the energy, and heightens the connection between performers and those for whom we perform. The audience too becomes an essential ingredient to the mix. Sure, we have the songs, we play the music, but the energy we create is filtered thru those who give us their undivided attention and it all becomes so much more. 

Lightening and thunder and strong winds outside, and inside too. We truly did conjure up our own storm.

It’s surprising how our band is now perceived. We have our own quirky, original, homemade music, and it seems to really connect and speak to folks. There was joy and dancing in the aisles. A truly inspiring thing. I burst into flames on stage. It’s a typical thing for me. Almost lost my pick during one song, the sweat flowing down my fingers. We had a few minor kerfuffles, a glitch or two, some feedback from who knows where, we are definitely a challenge to any sound-person. We also had a mis-cue or two. But what we lacked in absolute precision we made up with energy, passion, panache. 

Really.

Someone who has seen us many times over the years said to me afterwards that it was the best show he’s ever seen from us. Not an idle comment, this enthusiastic validation comes from a magnificent singer-songwriter, and talented performer in his own right. His kind words really hit home. It truly was a magnificent evening. A good rare thing. We are so damn lucky to have a creative vehicle. We get to ride the good vibes and shoot towards some kind of grand transcendence. Sometimes everything clicks, despite all the odds. I mean, it seems to happen often now. Lightening in a bottle. A good kind of storm for sure. – Jammer

So happy you asked. Remember that recording session we had earlier this year at Electrical Audio in Chicago? Yes, a total peak experience. We are still mixing. Almost done. Then onto mastering. Then, well, album cover design, CD packaging, and then, hopefully, finally, album release. No hard dates yet. Still in the works. It’s an interesting process, no doubt. We are so excited about sharing our new music with the world, we do think it’s the best work we’ve ever done, with an absolutely amazing cast of characters; the finest musicians, collaborators, and human beings imaginable. You should have been there! There is magic in the groove… – Jammer

Lots of great comments after our show at SPACE last Wednesday. Words that wafted over us: Powerful, Beautiful, Inspiring, Rocking, Grooving, Transcendent. Pretty fabulous. A very joyful & enthusiastic response to our funky, organic, homemade thing: 21st Century Druid Music.

Maybe my favorite comment of all was from our great friend Lisa, an incredibly beautiful soul and a consummate creative spirit.

Lisa says: “WWSP is becoming a whole ecosystem unto itself, a self sustaining planet, a movement!” 

Nice. We do love Mother Earth and our movement is definitely based here. We like to speak to and for the trees, the rivers, the mountains, and all the pretty creatures. But, yeah, we have kind of become our own living, breathing, ecosystem. It wasn’t planned, it just evolved that way. Last Wednesday it was a no-holds-barred, beautifully-joyous noise-making, 8-member collective. As Carla always reminds me: “It’s about the vibrations, Jammer.” Yes, indeed, it is… – Jammer

Big love to all the beautiful humans who came out to last nights show at Space. It was an amazing night! Magic! Jammer and I were delighted to be-able to share our story songs and little prayers to the interconnectedness of all things with you all and to send the wwsp vibrations out into the universe.

Thank you to The Mixture for sharing the night with us. Love! Love! Love! Thank you, thank you, thank you to the staff at Space! Thank you to Tess for making everything run smoothly and Johanas!!!!!!! (I hope I got the spelling right here) WWSP is kind of a beast for the sound tech, and the sound was fantastic!!!!! – Carla

Last Night at Evanston SPACE was truly a fabulous kick. How to sum it up? “The Owl takes flight!” Pure joy. Thanks to all who helped make it happen. With Carla Hayden, whitewolfsonicprincess and The Mixture…- Jammer

If you are going be interviewed about music or any other creative thing, you definitely want to be interviewed by the incomparable pop culture, multi-media dynamo Pat McDonald at HollywoodChicago.com Pat is sort a test-tube baby made from Chicago Media Powerhouses: a dash of Oprah Winfrey, mixed with Studs Terkel, Siskel/Ebert and Irv Kupcinet (know your history people!). Be sure to check out the Lovely Carla Hayden‘s story about meeting Steve Albini at Electrical Audio

HollywoodChicago.com: As you both write songs together … how does what you bring to each other as songwriters help you to complete a song?

Carla: I feel a song can be anything, everything. A prayer, a story, a healing agent, joy, sorrow, a message in a bottle, a universe, or a door opening. 

Check out the full interview here: https://hollywoodchicago.com/news/37504/interview-whitewolfsonicprincess-at-evanston-s-space-june-14-2023

Yes. Back to SPACE that fabulous music room, sharing the night with our good friends The Mixture. 21st Century Druid Music meets Psychedelic Soul. Hope you can join us. Tickets on sale now. Ticket Link Here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/whitewolfsonicprincess-the-mixture-space-tickets/13102395

Jammer

Hello Friends & Family – Thank you all for your kind and generous contributions to our Indiegogo campaign for our next album. We expect to release “Seeds of Light,” early in 2024. Lots of work left to do. Every contributor to our campaign will receive a copy of the album. If you chose a t-shirt as a “perk,” they will be mailed out to you soon. We are so honored and humbled by your support. – Peace & Love – Carla & James