Music therapy

To Those Who Lost Their Newspaper Jobs

by Bill Brenner March 3, 2011 Coping tools

Sad to hear that some old friends lost their jobs at the local daily newspapers they labored at for years. People I know at The Eagle-Tribune, Salem News, Newburyport Daily News and Gloucester Daily Times were hit. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B–3cId-YE&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] A few years ago, I would have seen this as an evil company sticking it to good people who gave their best years and efforts to the machine. I don’t see it that way…  [Read More]

Get the Funk Out

by Bill Brenner February 22, 2011 Music therapy

I’ve been in one hell of a funk in recent days. I explain why here and here. Getting sick didn’t help matters. But I’m just about ready to come back out. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL4qYwJjnCY&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] See, I believe in the words a friend recently scrawled on her Facebook page: “If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” I’ve always believed in that. And while I backslide in spectacularly pathetic fashion at times, I never stay down for…  [Read More]

Face the Music

by Bill Brenner February 21, 2011 Coping tools

No, not THAT music. I’ve done plenty of that in recent days. I’ve done the best I can to right some wrongs, and now the healing process continues with some of my favorite medicine. Allow me to share some with you: The Stooges is a good place to start. I looove these guys. Such a collection of misfits. Such raw power: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSN-Y1W4Jm4&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] Winter’s been getting to me and I’ve been thinking of warm places lately….  [Read More]

When The Music’s Over…

by Bill Brenner February 11, 2011 Communication Skills

Twenty years ago, as a student at North Shore Community College, I was obsessed with The Doors. My ambition was to be Jim Morrison. I’m glad I got over it. Mood music: Back then, I fancied myself a poet. I joined the Poet’s Society. I grew my hair long and started wearing a pair of leather pants I had borrowed from Sean Marley (back then, I could actually fit into them). I wore a suit…  [Read More]

Who Was Joe “Zippo” Kelley?

by Bill Brenner January 12, 2011 Lessons from the past

I’ve written about how Joe Kelley and I were friends in college and how I dropped out of site as he was tearing up the Boston punk scene. But I don’t think I’ve given you enough of a picture of who he was. To help me do that, I reached out to some friends. I’m especially happy that I got two members of Pop Gun to share some memories, because their music was part of…  [Read More]

Ballad of Joe Zippo, Part 2

by Bill Brenner January 8, 2011 Music therapy

This is the second post on my old friend Joe “Zippo” Kelley, who died last summer. Specifically, this is about the lives he made better just by being who he was. A benefit show in his honor is next week. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkDNjMLgrFk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999] As I said before, my friendship with Joe played out when we were both attending Salem State College (it’s a university, now). He was a friend I would smoke cigarettes with outside the…  [Read More]

Saturday Punk Songs

by Bill Brenner November 20, 2010 Music therapy

This Saturday, I share some of my favorite punk songs. Some of it may not be punk from a technical standpoint, but to me it’s all about the vibe. NOTE: I’ve noticed a crackdown on what you can embed from YouTube, so for now just click the “watch on YouTube” link and the music will play in a separate tab while you read. I’m trying to select videos that are in the clear, but at…  [Read More]

Saturday Soundtrack: Mood Swing Edition

by Bill Brenner November 5, 2010 Music therapy

Been having some mood swings the last 24 hours, and my musical selections reflect that. These are songs to listen to when frustrated. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGhZ6mH7P-g&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGSw9zNw8Y8&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxrd_jZJxkg&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8SUqzB94lQ&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukHqzqZOe7g&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Soundtrack of the Week: 10-30

by Bill Brenner October 30, 2010 Music therapy

Since music — especially metal — has been a vital tool in my recovery from OCD and addiction, I celebrate each Saturday by sharing songs that got me through the week. I must be getting into the Halloween spirit or something, as you’re about to see. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6pRJhP4Lrw&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU6iP0WLsU8&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKYALsp-sIg&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xcwt9mSbYE&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awi14wDTxNw&fs=1&hl=en_US] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rC3l3niTaE&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Soundtrack of the Week

by Bill Brenner October 23, 2010 Music therapy

I’m starting a Saturday tradition. Since music — especially metal — has been a vital tool in my recovery from OCD and addiction, I’m going to celebrate each Saturday by sharing songs that got me through the week. Welcome to my party. Songs that pulled me through this week: Let’s start with Zippo Raid. I got a copy of their “Punk is in Season” album at the benefit for Joe Zippo last week and can’t…  [Read More]

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