October Tidbits

October times

Fall is upon us. The cooling breeze swings through the woods setting off a new bird song. Leaves of brilliant colors dance their way through the cloudy afternoons. Sweaters and hot tea, soup, and pumpkin pie are all here and quite welcomed.

Most of my energy has been focused on Peace Week and Evening for Chuck, but I’ve experienced a few cool things I’d like to share.

Serena Ryder’s record has been on my Ipod since I loaded it on a few weeks ago. The chanting of the Radha Temple Singers and the Maha Mantra are still in daily rotation, as is George Harrison’s first record All Things Must Past.

I just began The Shambhala Principle by Sakyong Mipham. This book outlines ideas to create an enlightened society. It is terribly important in these tough times. Even 30 pages in, I have gained some valuable insights. Definitely a recommendation.

As I haven’t encountered much fiction I have wanted to read in the last few years, I picked up Herman Hesse’s “Beneath the Wheel.” Well, perhaps it’s not all fiction… it seems to be about Hesse, at least in some ways. His writing is always engaging, and half-way through, I am finding it interesting.

The Quotable Thoreau has been sitting on my bedside for months, and I finally delved in. This isn’t the only book of Thoreau in my possession, but it’s a wonderfully complete collection of various thoughts and sayings. Thoreau is an interesting man, filled with brilliance and difficult hypocrisies. We are all works in progress.

World Peace Jubilee!

I so love this event! I cannot wait to be back performing and partaking in all the amazingness that is the Jubilee!!

Jubilee Peace Fest

October 17-20, 2013 ~ 6:30 am-11:00 pm 

All ages, Kids Program is FREE

Register for one session, one day, two days, three days or all four days.  Attend for as low as $18!

CURRENT SPECIAL DISCOUNTS…
10% off on 2-Day Pass
15% off on 3-Day Pass
20% off on 4-Day Pass

Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration with locally and internationally known teachers, musicians, authors, artists, and chefs unfolding the path to world peace.

Live Music, Yoga Workshops, Meditation Practices, Vegan Cooking Classes, Health & Fitness Seminars, Spiritual Activism, Organic Gardens, Hiking Trails, Labyrinth Walking and More. 

Musicians:

Sticman of Dead Prez, HuDost

Luminaries, DJ Cavem, Ajeet Kaur, Oakes & Smith, ThePeace, Amy Ferguson is Grandma Dirt, Zach Freidhof

Yogis:  

Erica Jago, Julie Kirkpatrick, Marni Task

Mimi Loureiro, Kathleen Kastner, Anna Ferguson, Chris Belanger, Jutta Daeschlein, Lara Heimann, Ashley Hunt, Rachel Roberts, Ximena Savitch

Chefs:  

Afya Ibomu, Hannah Kaminsky, Jason Wyrick

Amanda Nicole Smith, Mark Stroud

Speakers:  

John Pierre, Will Tuttle

Patrick Murphy Welage, Alex Lippert, Jenna Schroer

If you have not yet been able to officially sign up for the 2013 event, we are connecting to make sure you knew to sign up and register for the Fest here: https://jubileepeacefest.cincyregister.com/2013.  There are work-trade and volunteer opportunities as well as scholarships available for the World Peace Diet Facilitator Training here:  http://jubileepeacefest.com/work-trade-volunteer-scholarships/

Also, the first 99 registered attendees who "like," "comment," and "share" the Jubilee Peace Fest poster or use the image as their cover or profile picture for this year’s Fest will receive a gift bag with a unique blend of items from the sponsors. 

Do you dare to invite your friends to sign up for 4 days of peace on earth?  Here is a link to the Facebook event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/506254679423598/ and let them know about our new website (found at:  http://www.jubileepeacefest.com) as it has the weekend’s full schedule of events, list of presenters, speakers and the food menu for the yummiest vegan food on the planet! 

www.jubileepeacefest.com

contact@jubileepeacefest.com ~ 513-300-9642

Akron Beacon Journal and Provenance

Today, the Akron Beacon Journal published a wonderful story/ review of Provenance.

Read it here: http://enjoy.ohio.com/sound-check-zach-is-back-with-album-of-collaborations-1.429970

Or pick up a physical copy somewhere!

Other News

I recently watched "Sleepwalk with Me", a film by Mike Birbiglia, http://birbigs.com/. This film is based on his stand up special of the same name. It's a hilarious account of his life and trouble with sleepwalking. Ira Glass helped bring the film to fruition as well, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Every bit as enjoyable as the stand up. I recommend this film. He's one of my favorite comedians, too, and I love all his CDs. Check out some youtube of his stand up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYl9BSiV-P4. 

"The Yoga of Jesus" by Paramahansa Yogananda has been on my shelf for a while, and I finally got to it recently. Yogananda is best known for his divinely inspiring Autobiography of a Yogi. He has a unique and interesting view of Jesus, and his idea of Christ-Consciousness. I always seem to learn great insights about the teachings of Jesus from other religions. A lot in this book spoke to me, as I believe that we all are creatures with the Divine soul within, and looking at Jesus' teaching through the lens of spirituality and the Bhagavad Gita provided many insights.

"Chant and Be Happy" is a little collection about the Hare Krishna movement, featuring interesting interviews with George Harrison and some stories from the Vedas. The power of the mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Krishna Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is well documented. I have noticed an improvement in my own happiness since chanting this mantra a few times a day. It's worth a try, and any spiritual practice involving singing and dancing is pretty a-ok with me.

"Stride Toward Freedom" by Dr. King is his account of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. King's insight and understanding of nonviolence is always inspiring. I have read and continue to reread all of Dr Kings writings as we can learn so much from his brilliance, and what he accomplished. We can all keep up the fight to create a peaceful and just society.

Got a good chanting CD by the Radha Temple Singers, which was produced by George Harrison, and features the Hare Krishna Mantra, which actually topped the British charts in the early 70s.  

As I'm typing this, I'm listening to Augustana's first record and Owl City's latest release All Things Bright and Beautiful. The latter is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's so bubbly and happy. Sometimes you just need effervescence. And there's some clever writing there as well. As for Augustana, their latest release is one of my favorite records of the last decade, and I haven't had a chance to get into their earlier records til now.

Speaking of guilty pleasures, I've been helping my gramma move into an assisted living place and helping my mom as well; hence my mom has had the TV on a lot, and I have been watching it as I spend time with her. She loves these two shows, which have now rubbed off on me - The Mentalist and Castle. Both are crime drama shows with a very light bent to them. I think there's some clever writing in them, and they are both in repeat on some cable channel. I need to pry myself away from the television, as it just renders me useless for awhile, and I have far too much to do. That's my confession for you.

CD Updates

PROVENANCE

Is out and available!! You can get it physically at shows, Time Traveler CDs in Cuyahoga Falls, and by emailing me at zach@zachmusic.net. You can get it digitally anywhere music is available. I prefer Itunes and CDBaby - www.cdbaby.com/cd/zach6.

All proceeds from this record go to creating a fund to help Akron area non-profits create programs to educate and inspire nonviolence. The legacy of our arts community to create a peaceful place is the goal.

This record features Rachel Roberts, Ryan Humbert, Maurice Martin (of Winslow), Kristine Jackson, David Ullman, Emma Shepard, Randi Driscoll, Diana Chittester, Scott Franklin, Courtney Cable, Colin John, Brent Kirby, Charlie Mosbrook, Charlie Trenta, and TM Gottl. Find out more at www.zachmusic.net/provenance.


POPLARS

Magical Things is in pre-production. We have been scheduling out recording in October, and we hope to release it in time for the holidays. We've been performing these songs during our shows and will continue to do so. Emma and I are excited for this project to reach world-wide release.


BRIGHT LIGHTS

The band has been working on this record for a while, and we have over 14 songs in the running to make the cut. Im excited about the direction we've headed in the songs and production. You're gonna love it! Plus it'll be great to have songs like Hymn and Beats Louder Than Sounds and Plants out and available to y'all! We're wrapping up recording this month, and are looking for a late fall release.

September Adventures

Namaste.

What a delightful few days we’ve had to round out August and begin September. Weather like this is my favorite sort; not too hot, a nice breeze, and the humidity is low.

August provided some really moments: a rollicking Lock 3 set with the Bright Lights (one of our best sets ever!), a transcendent set at Rockin on the River with the Bright Lights, the Poplars sang in the sunshine at Square Fest, a fun Bright Lights party in Columbus at Hal and Als, a great yoga and music event with the great Ron White, several delightful sets for the 30,000 folks at Chicago Veggie Fest, joining my friend David Ullman onstage at Musica for our duet of Happiest Sad Song, and we released Provenance to the world! Plus a lot of great little moments along the way.

The folks at Chicago Vegan Mania summed up my music pretty well, I think: “energetic one-man feel good orchestra.” That’s my new favorite quote!

Please visit www.zachmusic.net for my full schedule of shows.

This Week

Highlights

Provenance and the Fund

CD updates

Other News

THIS WEEK

Thursday the 5^th – Stewart’s Caring Place Butterfly Garden Event – 4pm. Stewart’s Caring Place 2955 W. Market St, Fairlawn.

Friday the 6^th – Lock 3 Farmers Market – 11:30am – 1:115pm. 22 S. Main St, Akron. Part of Restaurant Week.

Friday the 6^th – Thorncreek Winery – 7pm. 155 Treat Rd, Aurora.

Sat the 7^th – Heini’s Market – Noon. Main St, Sugarcreek.

Sat the 7^th – Akron Art Walk – 6pm. Zeber Martell Gallery (43 Furnace St, Akron). My favorite artists in Akron. I always have wonderful yogi and vegan conversations with them. This is also the kick off of the Akron Art Prize.

Sun the 8^th – Art in the Park – 1pm. Fred Fuller Park in Kent. There will be at least a couple Poplars songs as well in this set.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Sept the 11^th –  Heading back to Dayton for another yoga and music event at Purpose Yoga! 5pm.  

Sept the 13^th - The Poplars will be bringing our indie, folky, happy music to the Spot. 8pm. $5. The Spot is the most fun party in Akron. Good music, good art, and good folks! We’re excited to be a part of the line up!

Sept the 20^th – Kent State Folk Fest! I’ll be back at Pufferbelly’s 530pm. The Poplars will do a short set in the middle of my set as well. I always love this evening.

Sept the 21^st – Chicago VeganMania! The best vegan event in the Midwest, easily! I’ll be playing at Noon-ish and then also at the official after party at 7pm. Gonna be a good time!

Sept 22^nd – Harvest of Peace – Noon. The Akron Shambhala Center 1707 Front St Cuyahoga Falls. This veggie food and music fest will be a nice collection of folks. It’s also going on the 21^st if you aren’t planning on making the trip to Chicago.

Sept 29 – Oct 6^th – The 4^th ANNUAL AKRON PEACE WEEK! Way too many events to list here, so check out our great blog with guest bloggers, and tons of peaceful info: http://akronpeaceweek.blogspot.com/

PROVENANCE and the FUND

Community means a lot to me. Making a community record has been such a source of inspiration and joy. To work with friends and great writers, and have to opportunity to grow as a human and a writer has been an experience I won’t soon forget.

You can buy the record now at all shows, Time Traveler CDs, and online anywhere music is available (like Itunes). Here is a quick easy link: www.cdbaby.com/cd/zach6

All things Provenance can be found at www.zachmusic.net/provenance. Even the lyrics to the entire CD are up: http://www.buffalozef.blogspot.com/2013/09/provenance-lyrics.html.

All the money from this effort are going to create a fund to help Akron area non-profits create programs to educate and inspire nonviolence in our community. I welcome all donations to this fund, beyond just CD sales. No amount is too small or large. Together we can create a way to help the community forever. This fund has become a large personal drive for me. We can do so much good. Please consider helping us bring nonviolence into our community to a much greater degree.

CD UPDATES

All projects are moving forward. For more info, visit the blog: www.buffalozef.blogspot.com.

OTHER NEWS

I recently saw Sleepwalk with Me, a film by Mike Birbiglia based on his stand-up comedy special of the same name. I think he’s hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyed the film!

More recommendations and such at www.buffalozef.blogspot.com.

EVENING FOR CHUCK Returns! Peace Week is coming up, and I hope to see you at our numerous events, including the 7^th Evening for Chuck, which benefits Stewart’s Caring Place this year. October 5^th.  

That’s a lot. There’s more on the blog, so stop by buffalozef.blogspot.com for more insights into Zach’s world.

See you soon. There’s a free hug awaiting you.

Namaste.

Zach

Luminosity Lyrics

Invocation

I call you              I wait to hear

Cuz I need you near

I crawl out     from my shelter

Cuz I need you here

I look up       past the stars

Cuz you’re not here

I listen           to my heatbeat

Cuz I need you near

I walk back    to the water

Cuz I thought you’d hear

And I am       just one man

Who needs you near

-------------------

 Repeat

-------------------

And I am       the one man

Who needs you near

Yes I am       the one man

Who needs you here…

The great beautifier

If I know what love is      It is all because of you

If I know what love is      It is all because of you

All I understand            I know because of love

All I understand            I know because of love

Chorus:

Love love is the great beautifier

Only from the heart       Can you touch the sky

Only from the heart       Can you touch the sky

Love never claims         It only gives it only gives

Love never claims         It only gives it only gives

Chorus

It’s not what you look at that matters

It is only what you see

Chorus

Look/ See

Ive always been the boy who felt at home

In my mind & on my own

Inventing situations I could run through

Bending all the stations I could improve

Inventing a lover from a girl I knew

Girls fly like satellites girls fly like satellites

Close enough 2 see ya but never gonna come 2 me (so)

Chorus:

The more I look the more I see all the possibilities

the heart of Love is inside of me (inside of me inside of me..)

Ive always been the boy with a book in his hand

Never failed to see power in the flower or the songbirds dance

Inventing situations I made true

Blending all the colours til I found you

Open up the curtains & look at the view

Tho girls fly like satellites girls fly satellites

Im the one circling the love that has come to me

Chorus … Love & God inside of me

Love reflects from inside of me

It’s a beautiful day if you want it to be (3x)

So say that it is & it will be

It’s a beautiful day I hear God sing

It’s a beautiful day in the little things

It’s a beautiful day you gotta believe

Love flows from within so open up that spring

Chorus (2x)  what we want we must be

The greatest heights lie inside of me

We’re all made of beautiful things

We make all the love we could ever need

…. It’s a beautiful day if you want it to be … Love flows from within so open up that spring

Surround Me

I get tied up all day

I wish I could see you

But I drive for hours on end

And I wish you were there

To wrap your arms around me

Surround me

I wake up in the morning

Still dreaming I see you

Cant wait for the evening

When I can hold you

And wrap your arms around me

Surround me

Chorus:

I would          never ever let you go

Your hand in mine is the

Only time I feel right

I would fight a tiger just

To look into your eyes

And wrap your arms around me

Surround me

Chorus / Turnaround

And wrap your arms around me

Surround me

Chorus (4x)

I Won’t Be Gone too Long

When I leave I won’t be gone too long

The bat of an eye is a lifetime

Oh oh I will call out your name

Oh oh I wish that you could hear it someday

And I wish that I could cry                    (I got clouds inside)

And I don’t know    why…

Chorus:

Love is what you make it         

I prefer to make it than to pass it by

Let love awaken                     

And time will never break it though it tries

A soul is the thickest vine                     A soul is the thickest vine

When I leave I won’t be gone at all

On and on in a kiss like it rains and it starts

Oh oh I will carve out your face

Oh oh in the hills of Orion’s grace

And I wish that I could cry                    (or just close my eyes)

And I don’t know    why…

Chorus

Oooh a soul is thicker thicker thicker than time           (2x)

Oooh love is the thickest thickest thickest find             (2x)

Love is what you make it

I prefer to make it than to pass it by

What are you saving

Love is all your taking when you go

Love           (is the thickest find)                               (3x)

A Love       (is the thickest find)

Sea Monsters

The waves are crashing the storm’s blowing in

All our years of blindness we’re gonna pay for it

The thunder is cracking above and below

My feet are dry but for how long I don’t know

Chorus:

Oh there’s a sea monster out there & its coming for us

There’s no science fiction & few here to trust

Now there’s no room left to run

And I can feel it coming up

We’ve been sailing awhile in uncharted seas

Ignoring the compass & the smell on the breeze

We’ve all heard the stories of those here before

From the rare survivor or what washes up on shore

Chorus

It’s the end of the calm before the doom looming

Up opens like a giant black rose the sea

Hold it down boys strap yourselves in we’re not gonna make it home

Tho we don’t deserve it may the good lord give us some mercy on our souls

Oh oh oh ohhhhh (4x)

Oh there are sea monster out here all coming for us

Its not science fiction we’ve killed the albatross

Now there’s no room left to run

And I can hear it coming up

Ooh ooh oohhhh…

Over the Road

Open up your blue skies

Let your love out

Open up your blue eyes

Let your sun out

So I can feel you

Like raindrops

Falling fallen

On my heart

You can light my way home  (2x)

My way home

I hear your voice

In doorbells

In wind chimes

And the old crowd

You can light my way home

You can guide my way over

Over this road

Over this road

Over this road

Over this road

Over this road

Over this road

Chorus                                    …                    over this road

-

Shoulder

I may not know what to say when you're down

Tho words may leave you know I'm always around

When the pain takes over

Put your head on my shoulder

I may say the exact wrong thing

When trying to show the support I bring

When the night gets colder

When your voice falters

Put your head on my shoulder

Chorus:

My shoulder…

It might not be a sunny day but the stars’ll be bright

It might not be a sunny day but your hands in mine

I may play a song you don’t wanna sing

But there's more love in my heart than any song could ever bring

When it jumps up from a smolder

When your light just wont color

Put your head on my shoulder

My shoulder…

It might not be a sunny day but the stars’ll be bright

It might not be a sunny day but you're on my mind

It might not be a sunny day but your hairs just right

It might not be a sunny day but your hands in mine

Put your head on my shoulder…

TUNNEL VISION

You wake up in the morning against your will

Off to work at a place you hate but it pays your bills

What good is money

When your soul is falling

Apart

You’re distracted light refracted a tunnel vision tunnel vision

You’re impacted life inactive tunnel vision tunnel vision

Chorus:

Stand up out of your grave

Let your fate drive you to grace

Life’s not meant to waste away

Trust me before it’s too late

You wade up to the evening and make your way home

To the woman and family that you barely know

What good is money

When your soul is hungry

And it don’t eat gold

You’re distracted runnin laps in a tunnel vision tunnel vision

You’re malpracticed by your conscience a tunnel vision tunnel vision

Oh no you’re breaking down you got to go

Oh no it’s coming down you’ve got to get out

You’ve got to get out you got to believe in now!

What good is money

It’s not honey

For the soul

Chorus       (let your faith drive you to grace)

You’re distracted disconnected in tunnel vision tunnel vision

You’re the apple of satisfaction but tunnel vision tunnel vision

Tunnel vision…