Lou Reed (and then darts)

Legendary Lou Reed. Influence and Inspiration! 1942-2013 (Photograph by Jean Baptiste Mondino- http://www.jeanbaptistemondino.com/)

I hope you don't mind me spending a little bit of time away from the oche and 'on the wild side' as it were. This past Sunday (Oct. 27, 2013) Singer,songwriter, poet,photographer,inventor and martial arts master Lou Reed passed away at 71 years of age.
There had been some indication, hints here and there that Lou's health had not been 100% but until it became as dramatic as him having a liver transplant I could pass it off as 'old age and fatigue' .
To be honest, i feel cheated by that liver transplant. As harrowing as the circumstances were, it did seem to imply that Lou had a new lease on life. Certainly,between having a new liver and the strength he got from his Chen style Taiji we would certainly be seeing a new album, new projects, maybe he would even finally return to Toronto for a show?
Sadly, as we know that was not to be.  Lou i think could not be expected to give any more to the universe and the universe in return had given him a lifetime that must surely have been an adventure.
My own personal journey into becoming a fan (and I was a big one, but I'd like to think a sane one) started in junior high when I brought the 'banana album' (in vinyl ) off of a friend who had in turn picked it up second hand along with promises of life changing experiences that would go along with it.
At the time I was only starting to develop a true sense of my musical tastes and was listening to a lot of Chuck Berry, Bo Didley, Carl Perkins, 50's kind of stuff.  My first impressions of the Velvets was mostly favourable on the music side of things but the guy (what was his name, Lou something?) really couldn't sing!!
How I wet from those first early listens to developing a palate for Lou's voice i can't be certain of, but I do know at one point I made a distinction that his voice was like bag pipes, that even when it wasn't 100% pleasant it always drew something out of you, and was powerfully emotive. 
Slowly but surely and through all the incarnations of Lou as i collected his back catalog like precious gems, i became a die hard Lou fan.  
A lot can be said of Lou's lyrics, and it is justified as only perhaps Leonard Cohen is more poetic.  In my teens I remember in the stores that sold posters and t-shirts you could find shirts that said 'Jim Morrison the great American Poet' and it made me so mad!
Now Lou's guitars depending on who you talk to are either painfully overrated, or shamefully underrated.  I can understand either opinion and the perspectives and standards that go into forming either one of them, but for my part I don't even know if I am qualified to say one way or the other.  I just know that if it wasn't for Lou I wouldn't have ever learned to play guitar.  Lou himself said his guitar parts were dirt simple, but so often they were also so good! if you want a good example of what I mean listen to Dirty Blvd!  so simple, but the way he puts it together it works so well.  Maybe he saw the value in a single chord, a note, a tone, a sound a noise?
At the end of the day though, what is the thing that makes Lou a rock and roll hero?  Sure he has fantastic lyrics, but sometimes he has to rush the vocals to get them to fit, and his voice isnt always the best and his songs can be simple.  Maybe because of all of these things, as well as in spite of them.  it could very well be argued that he has all of these flaws, and yet he brings them together and makes them work. Mostly though, I think Lou is a rock and roll hero because he was brave. He started his career in music as a teenager and he maintained that career for over five decades.  He had one true, giant break, and that was Andy Warhol, and I think he made a good account of himself.  

i met Lou a couple of times. Only briefly, and only as a fan but he was neither monster nor saint.  A bit funny to be honest. The first time I just wanted to meet him, but hadn't brought anything so he went and grabbed some 8X10  of himself and signed that.  (It was in gold pen, I still have it) I thought that was a nice thing to do.

Good bye Lou  Thank you for everything.  

Dart Board Chats Gains Momentum

Getting people on board and excited about a new idea or a new way of doing things is a daunting task and easier said than done.  I don't think the Dart Board Chats thing will be anything earth shattering, but I do think it is something worthwhile, and i do think that once it gets going people will enjoy it, and not just darts people. Travel people, current events people, celebrity gossip people, science people.  once it opens up there will be a lot of potential.  The juxtaposition between darts and any number of serious or important persons may seem absurd at first glance, but I believe it will work, and work to excellent effect and value! 
The problem of course is getting the support to get there!
Well, good news as one person who also shares some enthusiasm for the project is notable American Dart player Phil 'Mad Hatter' Fried who has signed on as an ambassador for the project. Phil is behind such darts related efforts as Improving darts as well as Support and Promote Women's Darts among others and is now also helping to generate a fan base and enthusiasm for the Dart Board Chats fan page on Facebook. 
Realistically our best and most likely chance to get this fun but crazy idea off the ground is to get support from all of you that will be just a little to start, but then will will explode into a massive wave of support.  So, if you are wondering, yes if you like the page and if you share the page it helps!  
There are other ideas in the works, as well as other possible avenues of support as we gain momentum but as of right this second that momentum needs to come from you. Luckily all that needs from you is a click of the mouse, so not hard at all to support a pretty unique idea!

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..and just plain ol' darts..

Well when I'm not dreaming up newfangled darts/tourism/journalism hybrids I am still as ever plugging away at my own darts.  The team is still doing well. undefeated well at least, but no idea how much that has to do with my 'leadership'. As for myself, I think mentally and emotionally I am on a much better track than I had been more recently, but physically I have been no hell, with at least a month now of back and shoulder pain. It is affecting my ability to keep my upper arm stable while I play, and my practice sessions have gone by the wayside.  
Now, I don't think this means the end of darts for me, but it has gone on long enough that finally (stubbornly) I am going to go see a doctor and get it sorted out.  I think if I don't my development as a darter will at best be on hold.  A part of me is a little bit afraid it is already something that will have a permanent negative effect on myself and my darts, but mostly I just think something has gotten knotted up that just needs to be unknotted.  I'll know more after I see the doctors! 
Oh and I do have a bit of fun news, and that is I now have my first ever set of custom darts.  I have taken no end of abuse for picking movable points, but well that's what I wanted so that's what I got, and they really are a lovely dart and release beautifully from the hand.  I am quite happy with them.  They are copper tungsten as well, and it really does give them a sort of warmth in the hand that I really like!
yeah, I know at the end of the day it is the darter and not the dart, but I'd still rather throw a dart that I liked/felt comfortable with than not!
I had them done at Gray's Darts if you wanted to look at getting a set of your own! 

My new custom darts based on my Silfr Sigr darts.

Just One Mo' Thing..

'Strache on the way!!

In addition to all my darting about I have also decided to do my bit this year with supporting the 'Movember' movement. I'm not usually a mustache guy, but from what I recall the last time I had one I looked a bit too much like Burton Cummings for my comfort!  Only time will tell how this foray into stache-dom will turn out!
If you want to sponsor my 'stache and support a good cause as well you can do so at this link..

Movember Donations  





I know budgets can be tight, especially this time of year, so greatly appreciated if you do decide to sponsor my mustache! 

Thank you all once again for taking the time to read what I have to say. Hope to see you all next time as well!

Dave 'The Abominable Throw Man' Sproull

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