…speaking of the past, present and future.. I still love this passage below. And oh, how it still applies to everything.

"Growing up is all about getting hurt. And then getting over it. You recover. You move on. Odds are pretty good you're just going to get hurt again. But each time you learn something.

(excerpt from Jim Butcher's novel White Night)

I got woken up about 30 minutes ago by a party at my neighbours. I was not sure whether to be annoyed or amused, especially as I became aural witness to their heartfelt choral rendition of Radiohead's 'Creep'.

And so I am still awake.

Earlier in the evening, spending some time with new friends, I was reminded of a song I love and the video of it is below. And next Friday we resolved to go see Jon Brion perform at Largo at The Coronet. I love, love, love him.

Here are the lyrics, which are rather special.

You've gotta hope that there's someone for you
As strange as you are
Who can cope with the things that you do
Without trying too hard

Because you can bend the truth
Until it's suiting you
These things that you're wrapping all around you
You never know what they will amount to
And your life is just going on without you
It's the end of the things you know
Here We Go

You've gotta know that there's more to this world
Than what you have seen
Because we all have a limited view
Of what we can be

As we move along with our blinders on
Each one of us feels a little stranded
And you can't explain or understand it
Each one of us on a different planet
And amidst all the to and fro
Someone can say hello
Here We Go

The feeling that someone really gets you
It's something that no one should object to
It could happen today
So I suggest you skip your habit of laying low
It's the end of the things you know
Here We Go

Because someone can say "Hello,
You old so and so, Here We Go"

Quite a bit of performing coming up very soon, and some other exciting things. This coming Sunday, May 17th, I'll be at Hotel Cafe, as part of a fundraising show for musicians of Nashville who lost their belongings in the recent flooding. Then, May 24th, find me at O'Brien's in Santa Monica in an informal songwriters' circle.

Of course, June 5th will be my TEDx event and I'll post details and links on that in a jiffy. June 9th is Hotel Cafe – a very special show, and you'll know why very soon. June 22nd – Cafe Was in Hollywood – part of the Koffeehouse Productions event. And July 9th in Las Vegas, and July 10th in L.A. – Lilith Tour!

PS: a summer Los Angeles residency is in the works, as well.

More soon.

Tonight I got a last minute invitation to go see Peter Gabriel in concert. It was a little bit like magic at work, because you see, I heard the info re: concert on the radio (KCRW) a week ago and my excitement went through the roof: Peter Gabriel in concert. At the Hollywood Bowl. With a 54 piece orchestra.

I tried to reach out to the people I know who may have been going, but also to a couple of my – as I call them – 'good ticket faeries' – i.e. friends or fans who are privileged, professionally connected or $$ enough to be always in best tickets to events such as this. But to no avail. And then, at the last moment, a ticket came through.

Today – Friday – was already a day of roses and bruises. I parked my car to find the driver's side mirror cracked when I returned. I practiced and sang to an amazing breakthrough.. which will only keep giving, if I stick to what I discovered, and practice it diligently enough. I had a few moments of insight so incredibly clear, gratifying and beautiful, I found myself close to tears, as I sat at a keyboard, at a friend's house, doing my scales. I set myself up for an evening, only to find another waiting in its stead. I ended it, so full of emotion, that only a glass of white wine courtesy of a friendly roommate was able to get me to a place of being able to breathe, take a time out and write.

Peter Gabriel. You have to understand. I spent a few years being utterly obsessed with the man: his music, the arrangements, the ability to transcend anything going on at the same time and incorporate world music into his work so seamlessly it was not a fad, it became a trend. To a degree, whenever you hear anyone these days do anything with 'world music', it is what he did first. He is a pioneer. He is my music idol. If we were anywhere close to the same age, i would not be in Venice, CA. I would be in the UK, somewhere close to his Real World Studios, stalking the poor man in order to become one of the two background singers he had on stage tonight.

I adore him and his songs.

"Solsbury Hill" is my theme song, probably, if I had to choose one.

And when it comes to love, it would be 'In Your Eyes'.

While, if we were to bring up faith, forgiveness and hope.. 'Mercy Street', 'Don't 'Give Up'. Don't you agree?

There are so many.

I got to see a few major concerts in the last few years that stick in my mind. The Police. Depeche Mode. Sigur  Ros. And now, Peter Gabriel.

You know, running in to the concert at the Hollywod Bowl, I saw the billboard with Herbie Hancock on it. In October I met him and played Ravel with him in four hands on the inhumanly perfect piano at his house. He is an amazing human being. I look forward to doing some interesting creative things with him sometime very soon – if I am lucky. I hope as I progress with my opera-meets-pop-meets whatever, we can collaborate and do something brilliant.

Peter Gabriel. How can you be so completely yourself and yet rule over the Hollywood Bowl? This was probably the biggest, most important lesson yet to hit my jigsaw puzzle of this whole artistry thing. This had nothing to do with ego. This was artistry and channeling at its best. I am running a risk here. I knew – I felt – what he was doing. Everything. From pauses and choices to not talking to the crowd. And he was not a talker. Oh. I have no words. I felt a fellowship. I *knew*. I related.

The first half of the 3-hour concert which flew by like 30 minutes was all him and the 54 piece orchestra. It was: intense. Moving. Something that made no attempt to attempt or ease you in. Something that drove you to tears. Yes. I found myself weeping the 3rd song through.

The first half was his last album, which I am now downloading on iTunes as we speak.

The second half was him and the orchestra performing outtakes from his other albums.

Between the day, the concert, the insights, I am a bit overwhelmed.

I know tomorrow the delight will win out. But tonight, I am so overwhelmed, inspired, and almost in pain. Perhaps hearing these songs, in such a moving setting and with orchestra, brought to the surface memories from long ago.