Bacon!

check out this new shirt from my friend Curtis Rx!
Pick one up for yourself HERE

fun at the fair

photo by heather kelterer

Summer Is Here, Let The BBQ's Begin

Curtis & I
(photo by Heather Kelterer)

Aimed Arrows selected top 10 EP of 2009!

The folks at Powerpopaholic.com selected "Aimed Arrows" as the 9th best EP of 2009! I have been a loyal reader of the Powerpopaholic blog for a long time now, and am completely honored that they chose my EP as part of their top 10 list. In addition to selecting it #9 of 2009 they also gave it a nice review which you can check out below:

I would like to thank all of you that bought the EP and those that helped so much with its creation: Dana for her brilliant artwork, Iain for his honest opinion, Curtis for his voice & ear, & Justin for the guitar solo on "Weary Arms".

Download "Aimed Arrows" by clicking the paypal button to the right.

Gibson 335

This Gibson 335 has to be one of my most prized possessions. Obviously because it is a classic guitar model used by nearly everyone (Chuck Berry, BB King, Eric Clapton, etc) but also because it belonged to my Dad. The 335 was his main guitar during his touring years of the late 70's & early 80's. He told me he bought it in Ventura, CA at a music shop on main street around 1976. I asked him why he decided on the 335 and he said his main reason was because he knew that Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues played one and he was a big fan of the Moody's. I have a very clear memory of the first time I ever saw this guitar. I was 4 years old sitting on my parents bed and I asked my Dad about his acoustic guitar. He handed it to me and attempted to show me how to play a chord. The neck was far too thick for my four year old hand, so he went into his closet and pulled out a big black case. He opened it up and inside was his 335. The neck was very thin and much easier for me to play a chord. It was my first experience with a electric guitar and I will always remember it well. These days my Dad plays bass (in my band in fact) and has given me the 335. I haven't been using it much as I have been having a long affair with my Telecaster....but last week I dusted of the 335 and used on my latest song "Frida At The Harbor". You can listen to that recording below and get a good idea of what the 335 sounds like.
Fun Fact: Curtis RX has used this guitar live many times

Free Music Friday!

Hello friends. This week's 'Free Music Friday' song is extra special. It's a brand new song recorded this week! The song is titled "Frida At The Harbor" and it has a bit of a back story. My friend Curtis (Villains & Vaudevillians) & I enjoy the occasional bonfire at the harbor nearest to us. On one such occasion about 6 months ago we found a picture of Frida Kahlo (the very one pictured above) while we were walking around the boardwalk. As I'm sure most of you know, I have been interested in Frida Kahlo's work for sometime now. So when I found this photo laying on the ground in front of me, I took it as a personal sign of good luck. Soon after I placed her in my pocket (dirty minds please wander), Curtis said "Well, here comes another Frida song by Paul Starling....." He then sang in a Roy Orbison type falsetto: "and i found Frida at the harborrrrrrrr!" It now sticks in my mind as one of the more beautiful moments of the last few years. I enjoyed it so much that I recorded him & I singing that line over and over, into my cellphone. Flash-forward a few months ahead and I found myself in need of a chorus to a quirky new song. And who better to include than one of the finest surrealist, Frida?
So ladies & gentlemen, for the second time (the first being "Ballad Of A Raincoat") I present to you a song co-written by Paul Starling & Curtis Rx (well one line, but credit where credit is due!)
"Frida At The Harbor"

Download Mp3

Curtis Rx New Website

hello friends, wanted you let you know about my good friend curtis rx's new website Villains&Vaudvillians it's packed full of his original short stories, poems, history lessons, and much much more. check it out!

~paul