Hugo's Theme
A new instrumental track from The Corinthian Columns
Greetings, Jagged Time Lapsers!
By the time you (hopefully) read this, I will have officially turned 59. It’s a prime number, and in most ways — except for the fact that my Pete Townshend stage leap days are completely behind me — I do feel like I actually am in my prime, even though I vividly remember turning 27 what seems like just a few years ago
If I’ve learned anything in that time, it’s that love, kindness, joy and creativity are the things that really make life worthwhile. And those things all come together in “Hugo’s Theme,” the latest track from The Corinthian Columns, a.k.a. my musical “solo project”.
A year ago today, I wrote about my newly-adopted cat Hugo (named after the great Hugo Fattoruso of Uruguay’s Los Shakers), who at the time was just beginning to come out of his shell six weeks after I’d adopted him. In the past year, this sweet little loaf has slowly but surely come around to the point that he’ll often sleep by my feet at night, and when I’m awake he regularly bugs me to pet him and scratch his chin and ears, calling out with a combination of grunt and burble that’s just too damn cute for words.
Hugo still won’t sit on my lap or let me kiss his sweet head, but I suspect we’ll get there eventually. In any case, my initial worries that maybe he’d have been better off back with his feline friends at the shelter vanished as soon as he buddied up with Tiny, my other cat; they have long been thick as thieves now, and it makes my heart so happy to see them play, wrestle and snuggle together on a daily basis.
The original chord progression for this tune sprang from my guitar shortly after Hugo arrived, and I noticed that he would often trot into my office as soon as I began strumming it. The music slowly developed over time, and it eventually occurred to me that if Hugo hosted a 1970s-style TV variety show, this groovy instrumental track would be its theme. Feel free to intone such announcements as "With special guests Jo Anne Worley... Joe Frazier... and Mummenschanz!" over it in your best Don Pardo voice.
All profits from Bandcamp sales of this track will benefit the Ulster County SPCA, which housed and took great care of Hugo for many months until our paths finally crossed. (And if you purchase it today, May 2, Bandcamp will waive their take as part of the “Bandcamp Friday” promotion, meaning that every cent goes to the artist — and therefore, in this case, to the shelter.) The UCSPCA is a wonderful organization and could really use your support — especially now that we’re in “kitten season”.
And hey, if that’s not enough reason to check out this jam, Steve Gerlach of the truly awesome Chicago instrumental band Outronaut — who is such a great guitarist that he makes me want to cut off my hands in frustration — has lavished “Hugo’s Theme” with this completely unsolicited rave:
Recommended to fans of instro grooves, from Khruangbin back to the Isleys. Reminds me of when I first got my very own radio in 1973. I dialed it into a station that was playing “Livin’ For The City”, “Who’s That Lady?”, etc, and that was that - set it and forget it! You see? Jams like this get me reminiscin’ like Sonny Liston! Somebody stop me now!!!!
If you’re a fan of my writing (and/or me personally), shelling out for a paid subscription to Jagged Time Lapse would of course be a lovely birthday present; I am a professional writer by trade, and the support of my paid subscribers has been enormously helpful amid the increasingly barren publishing landscape of the last few years. But it would make me even happier if you’d buy a download of “Hugo’s Theme” from Bandcamp, donate directly to the UCSPCA, or do anything else today to assist animals or humans in need. (Ziggy’s Refuge and Farm Sanctuary is another wonderful animal charity I can fully vouch for.)
This year has already been a really rough one for most of us non-billionaires, at least here in the US, and it doesn’t look like things are gonna get any easier any time soon. Kindness, generosity and generally stepping up to the plate to help others are what will ultimately get us through this time of wanton cruelty, corruption and cowardice, and I’d be most honored if you’d spread a little positivity today with me (and Hugo) in mind.
Thanks for reading, and for listening. Catch you all next week.
I was DOGE'd and cannot afford much, but I downloaded Hugo's Theme. My best wishes to him and the other shelter animals! Cool track!
Top notch tune, and lovely post too. Our furry friends bring us great joy and the USPCA does a wonderful job of ensuring they are not abused. I plan to be doing a run this Saturday in support of them. Also, just glad to see you back on the Columns tip.