Week 12: "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"

"Who needs fan mail when you have the Internet? "

Nuno Bettencourt 

The Woodshed's first letter of acclaim, set to music and notations...

 Dear "Dispatches from the Woodshed,"

On your 100th day of success!!

“PARTES DE UNA FORTALEZA” (Features of a Fortress):

I have tried to write this entry like the “great maestro” might do in blog’s format. I have perhaps failed, but no one has to read this but him anyway (unless someone cares to read it for some reason).       

[Day #78] "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley (live acoustic cover by Ian Ste Croix)

The Castillo San Cristobal fortress, built over 150 years ago to protect from land armies of Holland and England, was designed by a Irish born Chief Engineer, Thomas O’ Daly.   O’ Daly served Spanish authority only because Spain was an enemy of Ireland’s enemy: England.  

As far as introductions to this review/anniversary bash goes, the “great maestro” shouldn’t worry that what I’ll say about his project is lame.  I love what he’s done with Dispatches From The Wood Shed: A Song A Day For A Year on YouTube so far.

[Day #79] "Winter Wonderland" by Felix Bernard, lyrics by Dick Smith (by isc w Goodwin Street Jazz

Last summer, in June of 2012, Ian Sainte Croix of Dispatches from the Wood Shed: a Song a Day for a Year was talking the talk about starting the next Bohemian movement, but meanwhile also treading thin shit in the roots department as far as a consistent living situation.  It crushed his spirit to not feel the vibe of the variance in the basement of the previous house he stayed at, but this Londonderry basement reverberated the right roots in the end.  I’m thankful for that clarity. I’d like to wish him all the luck in the world.     

    Bastions: “Bastiones sobresalen de las murallas para disparar al enemigo.”

(Bastions stuck out from walls so defenders could fire at enemies.)

Mostly, people play with him repeatedly to establish their success along with his.  From the talented and young to old players alike, he’s collected recordings and videos pointed honestly toeveryone’s advantage.    

[Day #80] "Your A Mean One Mister Grinch" by Dr Seuss and Albert Hague (live by Ian Ste Croix)

         

Embrasures: “Tronera, espacios abiertos sobre las murallas para disparar canones.”

(Embrasures, openings atop walls, let soldiers fire while protected.)

The slotted tops of his fortress’ walls are easy to shoot from without risking fear of being shot himself. An environment for an artist to peek from behind the curtain of judgment and practice with other artists without scrutiny, but with great critique among friendly words is perfect for all the shy ones who’d never come out if he hadn’t called them forward.

       

[Day #81] "Seasons of Love" from Rent (live cover by Ian Ste Croix)

Ramps: “Rampas, permitia el movemiento de canones.”

(Ramps provided access between levels.)

We all know what a ramp is, but for this specific location of being in this fortress of his, they signify the ability to shift between levels and connect the early players with the more advanced in a way that suits both levels without committing performance suicide.    
 

[Day #82] "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano (last minute offering by Ian Ste Croix)

         

Ravelins:  “Revellines, fortificaiones que protegian la muralla.”

(Ravelins are outer defenses protecting the walls of the fortress.)

He’s been collecting songs and writing them for years prior of this project’s start date. Some he stores in semi-ordered, laminated sleeves in a red, “baseball card” binder, and others in a white binder with a pineapple on the front.  Some more in the endless depths, that is the Internet.  

[Day #83] "Restless Heart" by Bruce Boucher (performed by Goodwin Street Jazz

Casemates: “Casamatas, utilizadas como cuarteles y almacenes.”

(Casemates become used for storage and quarters.) 

Ian’s proud to be Irish.  He’ll tell you that almost immediately.  

Maybe, his blogs’ description of his demeanor and life tragi-comedic is what affects me as a subscriber to his project. All his daily contributions of covers and occasional originals redone in his current progressed state of his talents including his gathering up of all the souls he can remember from past, present, and future under his roof to create the next Bohemian rhapsody right under Londonderry, NH’s feet.  

He’s had to work hard to ration out the available time with each artist and made it work for the first time in his life with successful results to his liking and his fans’.

[Day #84] "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero (cover by TOMMC)

Loop-holes:  Aspilleras, aberturas que protegian el fuego de fusiles en la fortificacion.”

(Loopholes allowed for protected gunfire.)

  

He can lower or raise his level to the ability of his current additions to the project of a certain day or days.  

Try to relate the decline of “good tunes” from the Clear Channel, mainstream bullshit on the radio amperage today.  Now relate the push of early 80’s to millennium era’s underground movement members and think of them in detail.  Now think about him covering them better sometimes than the original performers have ever performed them.
   

[Day #85] "A Long December" by Counting Crows (live cover by Ian and Nicole Ste Croix)

Dry moats: “Fosos secos, detanian al enemigo que se aceraba al a Fortaleza.”

(Dry moats stopped enemies short of the fortress.)

In his war against the mainstream distress of the usual pop auto-tuned disgrace of “Top 40 List” artists, the ability to not be shot himself, but to call all the shots, is essential. As far as blogspot blogs go, check out all his pictures he’s collected into concrete narratives over the past month’s entries of his blog.  I’ve seen him sit there glued to the current post for the week, endlessly waiting for the perfect imperfect shot to show up on Google Image Search.

[Day #86] "The Greatest Ride" by Ian Ste Croix (live at Imago Dei)

Wells: “Pozos, encima de las cisternas que almacenaban qgua de lluvia suficiente para un ano.”

(Wells, tapped massive cisterns storing a year’s supply of rainwater.)

Dispatches from the Woodshed: a Song a Day for a Year has so far been a progression into recording successful videos for posting each day. His current wells are mainly the people he’s collected for their talent and friendship over the years. Collecting all the rainwater needed to hydrate the world with a song, a day for a year is quite the challenge. Tablature for guitar and lyrics are more available free of charge for him to learn.  Technology has dug deeper wells from which he can draw from.  Let’s face it.   

[Day #87] "Saving For A Rainy Day" by Mikey D. Morrison (with Ian Ste Croix)

 

 Sentry:  “Garitas, puestos de observacion.”

(Soldiers stood guard in Sentry boxes.)

The importance of encouragement and respect is handy in his book of tools for making this project align with the anxiety and knock it out.  This progression for everyone involved in his project suddenly lurches towards success.     

[Day #88] "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum (live cover by Cutest Kittens Ever)

Sincerely,

Marvin Ratchet

Dear reader,

Thank you for these fine words.  Ian hopes, with the help of his muppety friends, to continue to meet and even exceed your expectations and current evaluations of this project in the months to come.  Keep reading, keep listening.  There are many cool and crazy songs and set-ups to come.  Sincerest thanks for joining us on the Woodshed ride. 

[Day #89] "It Had to Be You" by by Isham Jones, lyrics by Gus Kahn

Sincerely,