Tom O'Brien
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12/1/2012 7:45:12 PM
One of my favorite things
Sitting at the beach at night with beer and herb around a fire singing songs. It's just one of my favorite activities. I haven't done it in a long time, but my girlfriend and I are moving back to California in January, so it's likely that it's going to be happening more frequently. Singing around a campfire in the redwoods is pretty sweet, too.
Outside of the usual gigs and studios and such, where are your favorite places to make music?
Oh, yeah, I've got a new song, too. Check it out. Oh, What a World
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Stoneman
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12/7/2012 11:58:56 AM
Well, I have always been enchanted with water be it fresh or salt. Being near the water is almost spiritual for me. I have been in Cali all my life and have spent so many wonderful days on the beach writing and singing songs. Early on I would go down to Venice Beach and hang out with the Hippies. Most of that time is a blur because of all the drugs I ingested. But I did enjoy playing music with those crazy people. I was only 14 years old and was lucky enough to survive without over dosing. The hippies were the first White people I had ever met and liked. They accepted me even though I was different and I thought that was so cool. Years later I would spend an annual week vacation in Santa Cruz where I would meet up with some Jamaican friends who came to California every year. They always rented a home with a private beach and we would go out and build a fire. Then they would bring out drums (including steel drums), guitars, horns and keyboards. We would have a blast smoking ganja and playing music all day and most of the night. It was through those experiences that I began to hone my Reggae chops. I haven't seen those guys since the early 90's but I still have all the great memories.
But yeah, being near the water has always spawned great creativity in me. I guess that's why I joined the Navy during the Vietnam war. I wanted to defend my country but I also wanted be near the water. It was a friend in Vietnam who helped to expand my guitar playing from the 5 chords I had taught myself. We would sit on the shore of the Mekong river and he would show me how to play various chords and strumming techniques. Unfortunately, he was killed during a skirmish one night. But I owe my early guitar chops to him and the fun we had by the river. Also, the two R&R spots that they sent me after my war zone tours were Subic Bay in the Philippines and Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Both of these island places have great beaches that I enjoyed writing songs on. During my 6 years in the Navy I traveled around the world twice and was fortunate to enjoy beaches in many countries. Like I said before, the water is very spiritual for me.
Now days I love to go fishing in the summer. While I fish I always play my acoustic guitar and record any new ideas I get. My love for the water has always been there. So much so that I have instructed my wife to cremate me and spread my ashes in the Pacific ocean when I check out.
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Tom O'Brien
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12/7/2012 7:00:01 PM
I forgot about Yosemite. Bob Elliott lives not too far from there and you just can't get much better scenery for inspiration. Somehow the place you're in informs your playing.
Steve, I spent a week in Greece once and was very tempted to stay on a beach there and never leave. Those must have been incredible times for you. I'm a tad jealous.
Stoneman, I know what you mean about water. Rivers, lakes (spent a lot of time at Lake Tahoe, in fact, I once had a regular outdoor gig at a restaurant right on the beach there). But the ocean speaks to me of the infinite. It always adds a nice background sound. Better than any sound I could ever make.
I've never said a good thing about our country's time in Vietnam, but it sounds like you made it through OK and even improved your chops! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? You're lucky to have seen so much of the world.
I also forgot to mention that one of my very favorite places to sit around late at night, just playing - not performing - is in Bob's living room with the family just hanging out, doing their thing. I can just relax there and play from my heart.
Oh, now I'm reminding myself of others - A good friend of mine's family had a piano warehouse where people would store amazing pianos. They sold some too. But my old band used to practice there, so I had a key. Sometimes I would go there alone and sit at a 9 foot grand and just play whatever I felt. I'm not really a pianist, but when there's no one listening, you can make some pretty amazing music. In fact, I think some of the best music I've ever made has been when no one's listening. I go out on a limb more, make a lot more mistakes, but also take risks I never would with an audience.
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