The Musashi Trio Live at The 4th St Tavern San Rafael

20 minutes away from the epicenter of the bay area in San Rafael, on the south end of 4th St, people come out to see live music...at The 4th Street Tavern

They dance, drink, hoot and holler. In between sets they come up and tell us that they are enjoying themselves. They laugh and smile. They always tip. What more could a local band ask for in a venue? Not much more. That is why we love playing there so much. With a crowd already doing their part from the get go, all we have to do is basically...rock out some jams until they close the bar. And the wonderful thing about that is that we love to rock out some jams, anyway. That's why we do this. On top of that, the crowd keeps us pumped up and in turn we reignite the crowd.

It's that simple...

 So here is a clip of one of those nights. Footage taken by Cory DeGregorio. I like the fact that it pays homage to our "Sideways" cd at the beginning.

Anyway, next time you hear that we are playing near you...this is what you can expect.
From the end of our first set, out of three

Mary Had A Little Lamb by Buddy Guy (ala SRV)
Enjoy...








The Musashi Trio

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Sideways by The Musashi Trio

Rhubarb Pie by The Musashi Trio

Mmmmmmmm....

Long Distance Blues by The Musashi Trio

Long distance love can test anyone's faith in themselves and other people.

This song is a testament to those who have endured.

 And to those who have suffered.






The Musashi Trio @Itunes

Phony Preacher by The Musashi Trio

  

A preacher is a person of the cloth. A person whom has dedicated his/her life to the people of the church. A devout follower of God, who's duty is to preach the ways of religion for the sake of mankind. Someone who has taken a vow to teach and restore the goodness in the heart of all. When a preacher is arrested for breaking this vow, it becomes an entirely different subject.

This subject is very difficult to talk about. No one likes to hear about news like this.

All the stories on the web suggest that this is an on going problem in the world. A problem that we must face, endure and eventually solve. This problem touches the hearts of all who practice religion and those who do not. These stories are often tragic, yet somehow they reveal an awareness that we must all accept.

This song is about all these stories.





The Musashi Trio @ Itunes

Constant Sorrow by The Musashi Trio

A Man of Constant Sorrow, an epic song from the movie O Brother Where Art Thou will always be an all time favorite of the Musashi Trio. In fact, we like it so much we had to do our own version...

Enjoy!

                            

Never Gonna Be Enough

A tune from our album SIDEWAYS

                                                

Bad Bad Man of the month: Rick Santorum

GOP Presidential candidate Rick Santorum (R-13th Century) is a social troglodyte whose obsession with limiting reproductive freedom has led him to be a leader in the conservative effort to stop coverage of birth control as preventive care for which there would be no insurance co-pays, and to make the absolutely ridiculous and offensive claim that pre-natal testing is little more than a liberal plot to increase abortions. In a concession to the political popularity of access to contraception, however, Santorum has also made a recent push to claim that he has no interest in outlawing birth control, telling the Washington Post that “the idea I’m coming after your birth control is absurd.” Predictably, conservative commentators have echoed this claim to assert that Santorum doesn’t pose a threat to access to birth control, with Ross Douthat at the New York Times claiming:

Continue reading article


Rick Santorum gets Bad Bad Man of the month award from
The Musashi Trio



The Musashi Trio @ itunes

The Musashi Trio: Cause and Effect pt1 -Sideways

The world has indeed gone sideways. I am reminded every day by the headlines I see via computer, TV, Radio, phone, newspaper, magazines... it is unavoidable. And we the people of the world are overwhelmed with this abundance of negativity.

The Musashi Trio is supporting the ranks of people who want to do something about it. They say the pen is mightier than the sword, I say the music penetrates the soul faster than either of them. With this understanding, it is inevitable, the path in which I must follow.

The newer generations are faced with more information than any generation before us. I find it necessary to pass on the knowledge that my parents and grandparents have passed on to me. The attention span of most people in this technological era can be compared to a brick tossed in the pacific. Before all hope sinks to the bottom I intend to offer what strength and wisdom I have. And though you may be grown and educated, take a look at the younger generation

behind us who may be looking for a way to make some sense of this world. It is difficult to not sound pedantic...so I turn to the music.

If this is something that makes sense to you, then you will understand why I write the songs I do. My cause is as common as any good persons cause. And we are putting our songs out there for an effect.

Here is the link to hear the song "Sideways"

Here is the link to our Mp3 downloads.

Your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

The Musashi Trio: Kens B day and Chop Bar Pig Roast review

The weather was perfect. The location was great. An amazing crowd showed up right on time and filled the Linden Street Brewery grounds. Chris from the Chop Bar knows about party planning. Ken, our bassist knows everybody. Add 4 roasted pigs, beer, wine and live music and it's a REAL LIVE party.

We started our first set at 5pm and some where in there we all sang Happy Birthday to Ken. The crowd was in a festive mood. Parents who brought their children were seen milling around the giant Bounce House. Kids hopping and bopping inside. At some point during our first set break, it started deflating. I don't know why, but all kids were removed from the Bounce House safely thank goodness. Someone must have unplugged it. Or maybe it was done intentionally. I don't really know. Luckily The Oakland Soft-Rock Choir was on stage doing their thing entertaining the masses.

Our second set included all songs form upcoming album "Sideways" and it turned out to be a crowd pleaser. You can always tell by how many people start pulling out their camera and video phones. It makes the band feel appreciated and even more juiced to perform. And everybody got in to it, man. And the women. (pause) Oh bless the women that come see us play. The fine assortment of women dancing was an amazing show in itself. I saw a couple of dudes snappin pics of just them. Don't blame them either. Good times. The sun started setting and I could feel its warmth like a spotlight in the sky as if to say, you have just torn the roof off the suckah. It was good times, I tell ya...

And we can't wait to do it again...soon!

Thank you everybody!

Yours truly

The Musashi Trio

Stay Strong J Lo

Music heals hearts. And the problem is that they have to break first. So while all the news and media are antagonizing her affairs like little children, I wanna send out a message of hope, strength and determination.
 This is from my little hat of demo'd tunes. And I'm sure the band will back me on this one when it is time record the next album...

Here's to you Jennifer Lopez...and all the folks who need a little reminder during hard times.

Give it up To Get It Back by

Your truly
Musashi Lethridge of
The Musashi Trio

Where Do The Musashi Trio Songs Come From?

I, Musashi Lethridge, am the sole song writer for The Musashi Trio. There are many ways to write a song and no artist has the same method. We know this.

  Some songs have been written in the after math of an argument or break up. Some in the moments of pure bliss and happiness. Or even upon request. I have heard Jack Black say that he waits for "Insperatu" to write songs for Tenacious D. And those dudes are awesome! We all know that.

 There is no "one way" to write a song, is what I'm saying. In fact, I have used all of the above mentioned techniques and methods. Many times. And I am always thankful for the song, subsequently. No matter what the process was. No matter what.

 The amazing part of song writing, to me, is the moment before a song is written. Because it doesn't exist anywhere in the scope of reality...yet. What was the world like before Jimi Hendrix wrote "Purple Haze?" There are some people who remember, I am sure. But who has the time to think about that?  Or what was the world like before Prince decorated this planet with melodies, grooves, hooks and rhythms for all to covet. Or before Earth Wind and Fire sang us that reminder of September?

When I think about songwriting, it's as if there is an invisible song tree somewhere in our minds and it grows just as we do. It produces and replenishes just as we do. And it sits at the end of some unknown journey that you must always take to get there. Sometimes that journey takes a long time. But once you find it, you become familiar with its whereabouts. And the more you visit, the easier it is to travel back to it. Again and again and again. Sometimes in the blink of an instant. I have worn a deep groove in this path and know exactly where this tree sits in my mind. And as a result, all things come to fruition in light of this beautiful wonderful tree. And no I'm not talkin' about weed. That's the beautiful wonderful PLANT. The song tree is simply my long winded analogy and metaphor to describe my method and theory for songwriting. And where the songs come from.

 But we will never have just one answer. We know this. I am just thankful the songs keep coming. I have so many now. In fact, I started using digital storage places to keep them all. Here a few that I have recorded and placed on a Reverbnation website. Most of these are future Musashi Trio songs. If you have any opinions to share, please let us know which songs you would like us to play first. And we will gladly oblige your request from this queue.

Be well in the world. Fill your soul with music.
And we hope to see you at the next gig...

The Musashi Trio

What Music Means To The Musashi Trio

When the show starts I feel the crowds anticipation in my heart. I think about all the worlds problems and issues and the endless questions that people have. I wonder for a moment if music is indeed the one true remedy for all of this. Then I begin to feel it all surge through my fingertips. And into my voice that I am allowed vent my ideas with. The many hours spent brooding, pining and searching for all and any answers that people can accept in one continuous moment of music. Yes. The music. And in this particular case, my music.

Our music. A true sword in a victimless battle of musicianship where everyone wins. And we The Musashi Trio are on stage in the heart of it. I look to my left and see The Rev. Ken Roussell with bass in hand. He looks up and acknowledges me with a subtle nod of his head.




We both feel the steady rhythm of the kick drum as we begin to play. Jim Richards lays down the beat as solid and fluid as the ocean waves pounding a beach. Yet the song is like a ship that carries us out and beyond, relying on the timing of each surge. The rhythm is so essential. It is the line between utter chaos and comprehension of sound. Without the rhythm, the music would be a cluster of melodies, scattered in the wind. It would be as empty as a movie with no music or soundtrack. Void of depth. Linear and flat.

And as we play into the night, each song is a journey. A spiritual trip in and out of the moment. An escape from the woes of reality. A temporary relief from the daily stress of life itself. We mean to take each and everyone in the room with us out and back again until the show is over. Sometimes I finish a song and I feel my spirit floating back down to the stage the way a leaf floats from limb to earth. 

And at the end of the night I am satisfied. Everything makes sense to me when I have made people enjoy music. There is no amount of fame that will ever be worth more than just that. Making people happy with music has been a long tradition in all cultures since the dawn of time. If you have time to think about it, all culture relies so heavily on its music, that when ever it become a lesser priority to money...society begins to decline. It may not collapse, but it starts to slide away from its root. And that is why I feel it so necessary to do what I do. We are part of large organization of souls who continue to provide music for the masses. It's 2012 and we have just begun here in America. And because there is such a world wide connection of people on line, there seems to be no limit in the direction music travels and speaks. Always to our hearts when in need. To our minds when in doubt. And forever in our souls... is the music. And we, The Musashi Trio are going to play our part.

See ya at the next show and be well until then.

The Musashi Trio

Photography: Amelia Kennedy

Artwork: Les Toil

Musashi Trio Mp3s

CD cover Art by Les Toil

We have Mp3s available for listening here at our MYSPACE SITE

And if you like what you hear, you can buy them here at our Reverbnation STORE


Domo Arigato!

Sideways by The Musashi Trio coming to i tunes soon...

Coming soon to i tunes from The Musashi Trio...

(Art work by Les Toil)

The world has indeed gone Sideways...just look close at this pic.

But with help from this dynamic trio, we may have a chance to straighten it out again...

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? At the Chop Bar with The Musashi Trio!

Well, it was a fine day in Oakland at The Chop Bar. Celebrating Ken's birthday with friends and family. Ken, being the bass player. After a heaping plate of roasted pig, The Musashi Trio leaned into their set with this brilliant cover of
 " Man of Constant Sorrow. "
This song is originally a country style folk song, which I heard first in the movie,
"O Brother Where Art Thou?"
 I had no idea that it could be a funky cold medina!

The Musashi Trio @ Rockridge Street Festival '09

This was a great day of family fun, food and great music.

The Musashi Trio plays Voo doo Chile (slight return) in front of a church. I asked Musashi how he felt about playing loud rock music in front of a place of worship:

"One of my FAVORITE things to do!" says guitarist Musashi Lethridge.

"I actually went to pre school here. And this is where I helped elect President Obama...our neighborhood voting place. And now it's where I played Jimi. It's even more of a special place to me now..."

They had a special little guest join them for a grand finale. Someone's child jumped on stage and started playing air guitar. It was the cutest thing!

...I'd keep an eye on that kid...

 He may be a future guitar hero!

writtten by

C.D. S

~Video by Karthik

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