Creaking for the Coffee

My hostel room has a built in alarm clock.  A feature not listed on the Portland Hawthorne Hostel website pre-arrival, nor was it covered in the tour.  When the early-riser goes to the kitchen for their morning cup of Joe, the aging floor boards creak underfoot.  The floorboards also happen to be my ceiling above my top bunk perch.  Mind you, this is not a complaint.  It gets me up and out for the day, I didn’t have to call the front desk and request an 8 am wake-up call, instead I am nudged awake gently by little creaking noises and the occasional dropped item.  Hostel travel is all positives.  In fact, this feature should be touted as an upgrade.  A wise traveller should opt for the room with the 8 am creaky-roof”.  It’s all mine for two more nights, sorry guys.

Gresham MAX line

Out the door and on the Tri-met

After the shower, and the java it’s to the 14 Hawthorne, over the river and up the hill to the Japanese Gardens.  I had heard about the gardens and saw some footage on YouTube, so I added this to my mental-list of must-see places.  On my first ‘free-day’ I jumped at the chance to see this beautiful place.  Being from Arizona, I am accustomed to a different kind of green.  Foliage and what-not is a very hearty green back home, yellow-green and browns, reds, etc.  I was in need of some good ole’ deciduous-chewy-basil-kind-of-green. 

 Enter the Garden

A Little Walk 

I explored every inch of the Japanese Gardens and spent a good three hours retracing my steps and turning back to do it all again.  When I visit a place like the Japanese Gardens, or a zoo I like to go through the park in one direction and then revers the path so that I see everything differently.  If I were capable I would have burrowed into the soil and dug on them roots. 

Central pond, reminded me of Monet’s Giverny

Loopy-loops

On one of my reverse laps, I found something I had missed the first time around.  I stumbled into a little hut type meditation thing.  I don’t really meditate in the traditional sense, but I figured I’d try to get into it, Supernormal-style.  So I took out my notebook, closed my eyes, and began making little hash marks on the paper while I sat and listened to the garden and walked through the Garden again in my mind. 

 I was surprised when I opened my eyes that there was a picture-of-sorts there.  And it did look a little like a Japanese Garden.  I titled and dated it and I’m gonna keep it, but, here you can have a copy.  No one ever said I was a visual artist.  I play music like a banshee, but, I draw like a monkey. No shame in that.  If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing.  No judgment on how well, just a can-do kind of thing. 

This place is enchanting, delicately trained vines sculpted with rudimentary methodology.  Simple sticks of bamboo fastened to branches with twine have done the majority of the shaping and training of the branches, but, most of the Japanese trees and plants look as though that is just how they grow.  What I know of Japan is it’s art, I can say Japanese art, and I get an image in my mind as I am sure you do as well.  There is a distinctive look beyond a simple font to all things Japanese, and the reason for that I would guess is nature.  The trees shrubs and other things beyond my botanical prowess have that distinctive ordered Japanese look.

 Right-click, Save as Desktop

From the Garden to the City

I spent the next few hours walking downtown and asking around if anyone knew of a place where I could have a Beer and Blog.  I don’t mean Wi-fi.  I mean, a bar with physical computers in it.  Why do we all have to own a laptop?  I don’t like carrying around all of that stuff, power cable, computer, then with all of the other elements of this SupernormalRecords.com enterprise.  What if i drop it?  What if I get caught in the rain, and soaked to the bone, or in this case; memory?  Just to many what-if’s.  But, here is yet another ‘what if’. 

Training Branches Traditionally

What if?

What if a bar put along one of its walls an array of a few basic desktops.  I am in the Fat Straw, a little Bubble Tea Joint and I love working in this place, but I want a beer man.  My love for blogging and my love for beer are two very strong competitors.  And I would argue, life sustaining drives, urges man!  C’mon Bar Owners.  Open the Beer and Blog, the Blog-N-Beer Tavern, or The Blogger and Lager!   I’ll do it if you give me the dough of course. 

 If this were filled with Sake I would have Stayed here all day

There’s that for now.  I think I’m gonna traipse around downtown and see if I can get a little more of the strong pulse of this cities music scene.   Back into the city now…

The Public Transit Tour is rapidly approaching.  Here is a sneak preview of the poster for the show at Eugenio’s to take place on Friday May 16th.

• Listen to some Supernormal Tyler music. (link will open in a new window)
• Learn more about the ‘Public Transit Tour’.
• Watch all our videos right here.
• Read the life story of your’s truly.

In addition to the music performances to be part of the Public Transit Tour, Supernormal Records has added another aspect to an already packed itinerary.  Through our varied associations, we have booked a Wine Tour of the Willamette Valley Wine region west of Portland, Oregon. 

Follow Supernormal Tyler as he teaches you about Oregon Wines and ride shotgun as we travel some of the most breath-taking scenery in the US, and strum the strings among the vines. 

Wineries to be visited

• Argyle Winery 691 Highway 99W Dundee, Oregon 97115 (Map It) Argyle Winery produces still and sparkling wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Their wines have received numberous 90+ point ratings from publications all over the world, and our customers prize these reasonably priced, delicious wines.

• Sokol Blosser Winery 5000 Sokol Blosser Lane Dundee, Oregon 97115 (Map It) Sokol Blosser has survived, grown and prospered as a family-owned and run operation, and the family is proud to have been part of developing and shaping Oregon’s now prominent wine industry.   Sokol Blosser Winery strives to create wines of world class quality that are produced sustainably, mindful of the environment and your health, and that express the distinctive flavors of their hillside vineyards. Sokol Blosser wines reflect who Sokol Blosser is – Their values and their sense of place. 

• Archery Summit Winery 18599 NE Archery Summit Rd Dayton, O.R. 97114 (Map It) Centuries of winemaking have proven that the best way to move grapes from bin to barrel is with the natural force of gravity. This is particularly true for the delicate, easily damaged Pinot Noir grape.  From the start, the building at Archery Summit would be, despite the cost, a gravity flow winery. They also wanted their “home” to be simple. Designed from the ground up, actually, from below the ground, the winery integrates classic architecture and technically advanced viticulture.

• King Estate Winery 80854 Territorial Hwy, Eugene, OR (Map It) In 2002, King Estate winery, vineyards, nursery, and all surrounding gardens and landscape received organic certification by the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic association. Today we are home to the world’s largest contiguous organic vineyard with over 465 acres planted. They are known for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris/Grigio, which we farm organically and dry (dry-farming means no irrigation is used).

We will keep you updated with the developments of this program and the release date of the “Supernormal Wine Tour: Willamette Valley” to be released in the month of June.

MORE INFORMATION 

• Listen to some Supernormal Tyler music. (link will open in a new window)
• Learn more about the ‘Public Transit Tour’.
• Watch all our videos right here!
• Read the life story of your’s truly.

“Supernormal Tyler Live @ Rula Bula” (4 of 5)

SUPERNORMAL TYLER VIDEOS POSTED AT RULABULA.COM

A webmaster over at Zenith TPM uploaded 4 of the 5 “Supernormal Tyler Live @ Rula Bula” video’s to the Rula Bula video page.  The player and arrangement look great and Supernormal Records could not be happier.     You can see the video that was left out above.

Supernormal Records did not send these videos to Zenith TPM or Rula Bula, they simply used their internet prowess to seek out our productions and post them in their project.  It appears as though the Supernormal tentacles are spreading out through the “internets”.  Don’t worry this octopus just wants a hug.  Thanks for the love Rula Bula and Zenith TPM.

“On February 12th, 2008, I played three songs (Father’s Son, Carousel, Arizona Born and Glory Bound) at the Open Mic Night hosted by Walt Richardson.  I had Pope run the camera for me and spent a week editing together the videos and posting them to YouTube and, it looks like someone over at zenithtpm is on top of things.  They found them and posted them yesterday.  Just in time for the Public Transit Tour“

- Supernormal Tyler

NEW VIDEOS

More videos are in production for the “Public Transit Tour” in Portland, Oregon (May 11-18th, 2008).  The first show will be at Eugenio’s at 3584 SW division Street (Map It).  We are in the development process for a slew of Supernormal Tyler Live videos, Travel Vlogs, and day-to-day blogs during the tour.  Take your digital-self on the road with Supernormal Tyler.

Public Transit Tour

 Portland, Oregon

May 11, 2008 - May 18, 2008

“By Rail, By Bus, By Flip-Flop!”

 MORE INFORMATION 

• Listen to some Supernormal Tyler music. (link will open in a new window)
• Learn more about the ‘Public Transit Tour’.
• Watch all our videos right here!
• Read the life story of your’s truly.

The earth is getting ready for the Public Transit Tour.  Are you?

On May 11th, Supernormal Tyler is heading to Portland, Oregon to commence the ‘Public Transit Tour’.  It appears as though, the earth is moving in anticipation of this event.  Scientists cannot tell you why this is occuring, but, Supernormal Records has uncovered the secret.

“Scientists at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center have recorded more than 600 earthquakes in the last 10 days off the central Oregon coast in an area not typically known for a high degree of seismic activity.” (article)

“This earthquake “swarm” is unique, according to OSU marine geologist Robert Dziak, because it is occurring within the middle of the Juan de Fuca plate – away from the major, regional tectonic boundaries.” (article)

The earthquakes are unique due to the fact that they are not occuring along the fault lines.  Scientists are re-routing research ships to take water samples form the area above the epicenters of these recent 600 earthquakes to gather more data about the anomaly.  There is no definitive explanation for the recent odd scientific activity.  Basically, another one of Earth’s great mysteries.  Or is it?

A Formal Apology

We at Supernormalrecords.com hereby issue a formal apology.  The recent tremors are associated with the activation the generators in our underground lair.  Sorry, we needed to make sure we could get the lights on and be able to plug in our Wii when we arrive on May 11th, 2008 for the Public Transit Tour.  When we fire up the lair it makes a horrible racket, that is why we are doing it so early. 

Our Offer of Assistance

Also, if the scientific community would like water samples, there is no need to re-route a ship.  I can call Deter and ask him to open up the window and fill up some Fiji bottles and send them to you. 

Please accept our apology, and sorry for the rukus.

Sincerely,

Supernormal Tyler

“Video clip of Deter heading off to the store to buy some Fiji water”

MORE INFORMATION

• Listen to some Supernormal Tyler music. (link will open in a new window)
• Learn more about the ‘Public Transit Tour’.
• Read the life story of your’s truly.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• http://www.katu.com/news/local/11619346.html
• http://www.livescience.com/environment/ap_050305_quake_swarm.html
• http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/11/earthquake_detected_off_oregon.html
• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080413184801.htm

Public Transit Tour

Portland, Oregon

May 11, 2008 - May 18, 2008

“By Rail, By Bus, By Flip-flop!”

Thank you to Eugene, the owner of Eugenio’s in Portland Oregon for booking the first date on the much-anticipated “Public Transit Tour”.   

• I will be rocking Eugenio’s Friday, May 16th from 8:30 PM  - 11:00 PM (MAP IT) 

I am continuing to contact venues in and around the Portland area to fill out the rest of the dates. I will keep you informed of all the progress right here at supernormalrecords.com, and, of course, if you are on the mailing list, you will be sent your updates.   

Not on the mailing list yet? Just send an e-mail to supernormalrecords@hotmail.com with “ADD TO MAIL-LIST” as the subject, and I’ll let you in on the special offers and reduced price booze promo’s and other general secrets.

• Listen to some Supernormal Tyler music. (link will open in a new window)
• Learn more about the ‘Public Transit Tour’.
• Read the life story of your’s truly.

Stay Tuned to supernormalrecords.com information on show’s and general happenings, and thank’s again Eugenio!

“Eugenios in beautiful Portland, Oregon”

I have begun the process of contacting venues for the Portland “Public Transit Tour”.  The first I’ll tell you about is a quaint little joint on the venerated NE Division Street in Portland.  I have sent an interest contact e-mail to the owner, Eugene.  I have been told by a credible source that this is a great little venue owned by a good guy who treats artists right.  I hope to get a sweet little gig here.

I will let you all know about the status of the shows as I am contacting them and booking them.  When we get closer to the dates of the tour (May 11th-18th) I will put out a full calendar of shows, and begin posting commercials and hype-vids to the site and the YouTube channel. 

For more information on the “Public Transit Tour”, view the “Tour” page on this site.

If you’d like to know more about Eugenio’s visit their website by clicking here.  You can view Eugenio’s menu get directions, hours of operation and contact information.  I hear they serve the Gruet bubbly.  Yum. (www.eugenios.net)

If you will be in the Portland area May 11th – 18th email me at (supernormalrecords@hotmail.com) and I will add you to the growing e-mail list for reduced admission prices, drink specials (if applicable),  as well as the “in” on private events.�

You have a dream.  You have talent.  You have a message you want to communicate to the world.  You have dreamed of success in the music business, that is your supreme dream, how very Supernormal of you.

So, dear dreamer, I ask you; Who in this world will serve your dream better than you?  Who will push your dream to have your music heard by those venerated masses and get you where you wish to be?  The answer has presented itself in this post nine times already, and you haven’t seen it.  The answer is: YOU. 

This is the most opportune time for the Indie Musician – I capitalize for a reason.  Being Indie and managing your own career top-to-bottom is key in this evolving industry.  Here is a little known industry secret, the big-labels, the A&R rep’s, those who you wish to please, are lost.  They see an industry being taken out from under them.  They see the dissolution of revenue streams.  They see Indie-Musician’s finally getting it.  They fear the truth of where we are as a community of artists.  They murmur, “Uh-oh, they figured it out.”  And this has all been driven by the listeners – the masses who were the ultimate goal.  Skip the middle.  Serve the servants.  Ask yourself, “why is net neutrality even in issue?”  Because it threatens power structures.  Power structures who never had your (our) best intrest in mind.  You want proof?  Look at history.

Histrionics:

Since the old-timey days of Woody Guthrie, to the recent past of artists like Gram Parsons, to modern who-are-they’s like David Ryan Adams, to me, yes me.  I/You have a better opportunity of “Making it” than any artist in history.  It just requires a dream-shift.  It is easier for you to sell as many records as the Beatles than it was for the Beatles.  You might not have that kind of ‘goods’ and it takes a special connection to move that many units, but, (to a certain extent) it all can be managed by one person, you.  And the best part is, you control the process creatively, in regards to marketing, and any other regards you wish to fathom.  You have the power to vertically integrate yourself and be your own record label.  Trust me, I know, I am.  I am Supernormal Records, it’s me and someone who believes in me, my brother – drawk.  I’d fain trust anyone else, I’ve tried that before – it didn’t work.

Everything I have ever wanted is at my fingertips now – literally.  I am doing it right now – you are reading the fruits of my labor.  I can record records in the echo-laden bathroom of my one bedroom apartment, I can press disks through third-party vendors like, Disc2Day, OasisCD, or Discmakers, I can upload tracks to mp3 hosting sites like: last.fm, iTunes, I can sell them at my very own merch table at shows along with T-shirts I have designed myself from third-party vendors like Acme Prints, Cafepress, Customink, and the like.  I can order stickers, and you can google that on your own.  Basically, I can do what a major label can do with the exception of pay-to-play on a clear channel station – I don’t capitalize for a reason.  Who wants to be among a community of soulless hacks?  If you like the band Nickelback, you can go ahead and f-off.  If you are in the band Nickelback, PLAY FROM YOUR F#@ING HEART!!! If you don’t understand me, click here .  Technology has paved the path for you so why not walk that path with me?

But Don’t Listen to the Liars?:

I never have ‘been’ before in my music career before January of this year (2008).  I have let others usurp my ambition and let them share in the decision process and compromised the notion of where I’d like to be.  I compromised.  I compromised in a world where I never had to.  I gave in, and I was weak, because I was ignorant.  I took the canned answers from Billboard Magazine, Music-Industry related books, and other industry outlets, and so-called sources.  I gave up on myself succeding in an industry that never wanted me to succeed.  In the end/beginning, I wised up, and I woke up to the fact that if I were on the radio (in it’s present form) I would be a soul-less jukebox selling my soul to fit into a little box for which I was intended.  Sit here shut up, play your songs and then pay your label.  I would have been a pan-flash.  I would be cold and old in a matter of minutes, when all I want from this industry is longevity.  

More succinctly, if you like Nickelback you’ve been duped.  You don’t like Nickelback, you just hear it incessantly so you think everyone else likes it; they don’t.  Radio listenership is in the toilet.  Why?  Because program directors are out of sync with their listeners.  Dear dreamer, they don’t give a damn what you want to hear.  They’ve got oiltankers full of liquid sh^t like Nickelback and it foghorns into the port everyday and spills out onto the airwaves and slowly makes us all stupidur. 

I am INDIE – I am FREE -Give Me LONGEVITY  

Hacks lack longevity.  Longevity is acheived through a slow rise.  There are no over-night successes, only bottle rockets, and they burst and cease to be.  If you are an over-night success you are a phony, and your done shortly after you have begun.  If you require proof (read: Britney Spears) popular culture is a misnomer.  It lacks anything resembling culture and it is only popular because someone shoves it down your throat everyday.

Through out history, there were Southern Baptist Negro Bluesmen/women who called Elvis Presley a sell-out, just another foolish man usurping the truth for profit.  His legs were “All Shook Up” when he was young.  And by forty he was “All Washed Up.”  Elvis – A lazy, fat, farting, pill-popper, giving up the dreams of this mortal world for a chance to sing songs by number from a teleprompter – Please don’t forget he died six inches above a turd – there is a divine reason for that.  I have stood in his home, I have seen the lie.  Elvis-Frickin-Nickelback. 

There is a great game being played and we are witness to it every time we turn off our car radios out of frustration.  Please understand, Dear Dreamer, that you possess the secret to seeing all of your dreams through to their fruition.  You are the sovereign master of your own ambitions.  You need nothing but love.  Play from your heart!  You’ll live through your’ own dreams and, in turn, we all will come along.  It isn’t easy work and more often than not it seems like no one is listening.  But such is the great game.  This is your penance, your Indie-penance, your indepen-dance, your dance, your chance.  Won’t you join me?  Be Free.  Be Indie.        �

Tonight you have a unique opportunity to participate in a global movement.  The best part, it is nearly effortless. 

On Saturday, March 29, 2008, (TODAY) Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, PHOENIX and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation.

Be a part of a global movement at the flick of a switch! 

If we care enough, This can truly be “One World”.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_c5K7Jdw9E[/youtube]

• Do Something Supernormal

• www.supernormalrecords.com

We are taking this show on the road. May 11th – 18th Supernormal Tyler and crew will be doing a “Public Transit Tour” of one of the world’s greatest cities, Portland Oregon.

An exercise in sustainable living and rocking and rolling, this trip will be documented in true Supernormal Records fashion. Check back for show dates, public appearances, and reports on the life their livin’ in good ole “Rose City”. Weve got a suitcase full of Hi-8 tapes, and some change for the Tri-Met. We hope you enjoy the show. Details to follow.