Jack Tar

Ok, a little bit about me: I've played the guitar since I was 10 years old. I didn't really get "serious" about it, or maybe a better way to say it is I didn't find my voice with it until I was about 15. I've been writing songs pretty much since that time, with varying degrees of success. Recently, I feel like my songwriting has really jumped up a notch. For some of my original tunes ranging from songs written several years ago to songs written about 5 months ago, go to my other page here www.myspace.com/jacknbutcher. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- In 2005 I moved to England to learn how to build guitars, and to learn more sea shanties. I built the guitar you see in my pictures and you hear on my recordings while I was there, and yes that's my first guitar, and indeed the first thing I ever made out of wood. I utilized primarily hand tools, and very few power tools, attempting to capture the traditional craft of the luthier (acoustic instrument maker). I'm currently working toward building my own workshop so I can go into business for myself building guitars and other stringed instruments. -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Living in England definitely changed my life. It changed the way I see our American culture quite a bit. Things are very similar, but there's something different about it, I really can't totally put my finger on it. Its just a different way of looking at life, over there. I lived in a beautiful little village named Port Sunlight, right across the River Mersey from the best freakin city in the world, Liverpool! Aye, she's a rough town, but if ya give her her respect, then you should be ok. It was there that the love I have had for sea shanties and songs of the sea really flourished in earnest. Sea shanties are songs that sailors in the days of sail used to sing together to keep the rhythm of the work and thereby make it quicker and easier, as it would keep everyone hauling or pushing at the same time. ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------- While I was living near Liverpool, I had the opportunity to sing with some of the best shanty singers in the world, among them were the groups StormAlong John, Armstrongs Patent, Three Sheets to the Wind, and the Caniffe Family, just to name a few! Totally changed my life! I also met so many awesome people, especially some real great Irish folks. I had the chance to sing solo a capella in front of a PACKED, centuries old, sailors pub right down on pier head in the Salt House docks section of Liverpool! And to then sit and trade songs with some old IRA guys, who kept feeding me Guinness and asking me to sing em more songs! The words dream come true don't do it justice. I never could have even imagined that I would ever be in a situation like that! ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Since I've returned I've pretty much just been a poor struggling musician, while trying to build my tool collection and find a location for me to set up my wood shop and begin to build guitars for you good folks! I'm something of a Jack of All Trades, in addition to being a Jack Tar! I work as a councilor in a group home for people with mental retardation, also for the Post Office as a dispatch driver and a rural route sub. I've been a park ranger, a slate roofer, carpenter, lumber yard muscle, concrete mason, painter, hardware dick, and on and on! ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Now, I'm trying to get myself together, trying to get more gigs, and hoping to have my workshop together in the next year or two. I've been studying Buddhism for years now, and I've recently started a meditation group, which you are more than welcome to come over and take part in. Whether you need some help learning how to meditate or you just want to talk, you are very welcome. Practitioners of all levels, from those who know almost nothing about Buddhism to those that are masters, are very welcome to join me for some meditation and conversation about what works for us and how to improve ourselves. Get in touch with me if you are interested! ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- I'm available for bookings for anything from bars, coffee houses, and private parties to weddings and bah mitzvahs! My repertoire is quite extensive from folk to classic rock and a bevy of original music! If you want to have me play for you, send me a message here and I will definitely get back to you promptly! I think that about sums it up for now! Don't be a stranger! Namaste!