The Hippy Nuts: Blog

The Hippy Nuts were reeling from the slowed down economy and decided to use the time off from our session work and teaching lessons to write, record and  make videos for our songs.      We penned a song with the opening lines--'Everybody is feeling a little down right now cos they lost  their job and they're broke.  Me? I'm feeling like a million bucks cos I'm working for love.'   "WORKING FOR LOVE" song will be on our new album, and the video is up now on facebook as a first cut, with the final version coming soon to Youtube and the rest of the world.   The "LOVE" recording sessions were fun, espcially when pal David Olson of Speakeasy Productions dropped by and cheered us on.   He has a keen ear and a creative eye.  

Here's the story:) We made some calls and gathered , director Frank Keraudren, modern dancer Yves Musard, 2nd camera operator and graphic artist Avi Bonime,  Tim's amazing intern at Sandpile Records Studio, James Elliott, and of course THE HIPPY NUTS musician pals Joe Izzo on drums, T.Bag Jade, Larry Heinemann and Joe Bates on Bass. Frank Keraudren actually shot a second video for us before he edited the first one.  We were so glad that Keruadren  had the time off from his big editing jobs to do this for us.   What a joy that shoot was.  We rented Wings Theatre on Christopher Street and shot a Fellini-esque  piece to go with our cover of Mississippi John Hurt's beloved tune "Beulah Land"   That day at the lovely old theatre, surrounded by these world renowned artists who gave so freely of their time and talents to this HIPPY NUTS venture made me feel that I had died and gone to Heaven.   I remarked that my life should be like this all the time.   I want to spend my days working for love and collaborating.   Speaking of Heaven, that's what the song "Beulah Land" is about; and what a great way to take a longer view of things when you work on a song about the sweet hereafter.   Times may be tough financially for people and there are days when you don't know what to do that feels useful.

We have also spent these months helping our 85 year old neighbor, Fred who has lived in our building for over 50 years. We helped to get his apartment repaired, and his things moved out and then back in when the renovation was complete.   We also got him signed up for Meals on Wheels, which is a wonderful organization.   Fred is a retired artist who has also written a stack of novels and short stories.  In fact, one of the first encounters with him was when he dropped by a stack of his cartoons and a box with the manuscript to his novel.   We have gone from simple nods and hellos  to this neighbor throughout  the previous decades to sitting for long hours over cups of tea and laughing at his world war II stories which he spent drawing maps and in cafes in Italy.  

If after reading our story you think of a an anecdote  to share with us about your experience WORKING FOR LOVE, please comment/post here.

Until then, please enjoy your work time and your playtime keeping in mind what my mother always told me:  "If it can be fixed with money, then your problem is not that bad." 

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