ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Ok

so

here we go...

First things first thanks to the good folks at the International Acoustic Music Awards for naming me "Artist of the Month". They do a good job of promoting tons of good independent music and I appreciate their support. Their comments were kind of interesting in that they picked up on a few things that most of my reviews have overlooked. Writers are the laziest bastards in the whole world. It's true. I know!

Here is a sample of what they heard!

Check out the jukebox page to listen to and download over 30 songs for free!

Visit this page to purchase CD's!

Well, I have been having trouble sleeping again. It's been years since I have had trouble with insomnia, but it's really back for real. This blog is called "Insomnia", but most of the time this is really just me staying up late because I am an energetic kind of guy who finds sleep to be sort of boring.

Lately though, I have been all screwed up when it comes to getting my winks in.

Here is some fun stuff to do when you are waiting for the sand man:

www.infowars.com
www.unknowncountry.com
http://pot.tv/archive/series/pottvseries-14-0.html
http://pot.tv/archive/series/pottvseries-12-0.html
www.myspace.com
http://www.bcrecordings.net/store/index.php?main_page=page_4

Ok

well

only the sleepy know when to shut it downnnnnn.....

Love, Joe Nolan
Subscribe to this blog here.

The Cutest Infestation

Ok,

so,

first things first:

Rest in peace Mitch Hedberg.

For those of you who didn't know, Mitch was a great comedian. He was funny, but the thing that separated him from the pack was that "he" was funny. He didn't just say funny things (although I think he was a very talented writer and improvisational performer). His whole persona was so ridiculous and sweet that he just endeared himself to you in an intelligent and goofy way. Find out more here.

The White Stripes have a new CD coming out called "Get Behind Me Satan". As a result my song "Get Behind Me Satan" is getting tons of plays on the website. Great minds from Detroit Rock City think alike. Thanks Jack.

I have been finishing up a series of drawings that I hope to include in a book of poetry that will be available some time this summer (hopefully). They are "self portraits" and also religious iconography. Those of you who are familiar with my other my work know that I feel that "all art is martial art". Which is to say, the elements that create the successful martial moment are the same ones that create successful art.

These elements are: 1) confrontation, 2) impact and 3) movement.

Anyone who is familiar with the visual work I have done in the past knows that it is my contention that "art" is best employed to express that which is beyond the bounds of language. In this sense I reject all "conceptual art" out of hand as an intellectual conceit and an ignorant miscalculation.

A concept is an idea. An idea is a collection of words. A collection of words is most simply (i.e. most elegantly and therefore most beautifully and therefore most artistically successful)conveyed by...wait for it...more words!

Please just write me the essay you are going to have to post in the gallery anyway to explain your faulty efforts.

Because of my understanding of "art" as the language that is beyond language, in my opinion it is most effectively applied to those concerns that elude our clumsy mouthings: emotions, impulses etc. Being somewhat over-the-top as an artist and a person I, naturally, tend to push this to it's logical conclusion and concern myself with the ultimate "unspeakable": God and man's impulse toward the transcendent.

Anyway.

That was just a little rant I wrote at the Library.

Please post a comment or 2.

Only the humble know when to shut up.

Be humble in your sleepy hands on this world.

Be a Killer in Heaven.

Love, Joe Nolan
Subscribe to this blog here.

Pick a Card

Ok

so

As some of you know I didn't drink all during Lent. I was raised CAtholic, but I no longer practice. This was strictly a lesson in mindfulness and discipline.

I broke my fast with a Tarot reading and half a bottle of wine.

Here are the cards I pulled. Any and all interpretations are welcome.

I used a Celtic Cross pattern (as always) and a Crowley Deck (the most beautiful).

1) The Chariot
2) The 9 of discs
3) The 7 of swords
4) The Queen of swords
5) The Queen of Discs
6) The 10 of Cups
7) The Magus
8) The Hanged Man
9) The Prince of Wands
10) The Prince of Cups

I am not interested in posting my own interpretation, but I did not follow this reading up with any other work to ground my 40 days of "fasting" and I felt this reading offered many insights into the enormous changes I have felt in my life over the last year.

I spoke to Joni at Christmastime and her and I both sighed and laughed and made animal noises at the strange and brutal and magical and sweet and wondrous year gone by. May this one be more of the same.

Do your own reading here.

That's all for now.

Beware. Don't meddle with the Tarot in some vainglorious self delusion. Be honest with yourself, about yourself and it will be a formidable ally.

Adieu,

Joe Nolan
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