A Message From Jon:
Hi. I'm still here.
It's been an interesting and slightly strange August. I resigned my full-time position at The Love Garden, where I had worked for 14 years. I don't recall ever talking too much about the shop here on the blog, but let me just say a couple of things: First of all, I'm extremely proud of the store. We frequently hear customers from all over the country telling us that it's one of the best record stores they've ever seen. We strive to be fair, friendly, and interesting, and I think we've generally accomplished that, and I have every confidence that we will do so in the future. Secondly, I'd like to publicly state how much it meant to me that my bosses, Kory Willis and Kelly Corcoran (and earlier Zippy Hester) accommodated my school schedule, always paid me a living wage, and made sure I was taken care of financially when I had to miss weeks of work with a fairly serious health issue a couple of years ago.
Actually, let me drop this in, at the risk of giving you too much information. The "issue" referred to above was testicular cancer. I was 37 at the time, past the age at which the disease normally occurs. My point is, guys, check yourself out regularly, and if anything seems amiss, go to a doctor. I waited quite a while (probably a year or so) to do anything about it, and as a result had to endure chemotherapy that probably could have been avoided. I know...I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, the reason I quit the store was because I have a student teaching assignment this semester. I'll be teaching three Accelerated Senior English classes and one Science Fiction class. I'm very much looking forward to it, while simultaneously worrying that I'm a complete fraud.
I'm actually kind of hoping that being away from the store will make music more precious (because less of it) and therefore get me more excited about it than I have been for most of 2006. I really enjoy getting in my car after school and turning the stereo up, understanding that "up" is not nearly as loud as "up" was in 1982. I hope I will have more motivation to update this site frequently, because your kind words and comments and e-mails really do mean a lot to me. Once again, I'd like to thank Andrew Chalfen and Stewart Mason for their help and patience.
Oh yeah, saw a couple of Embarrassment reunion shows this weekend. I can't say they were musically stellar, but it was cool to see those four guys playing a bunch of songs I loved, and there were certainly glorious moments. Bill Goffrier was particularly good. He's still a post-punk guitar genius.
Thanks for letting me ramble. As a reward, here's a belated Little Hits tribute to the late Syd Barrett by Martin Newell's Cleaners From Venus.
Peace,
Jon
It's been an interesting and slightly strange August. I resigned my full-time position at The Love Garden, where I had worked for 14 years. I don't recall ever talking too much about the shop here on the blog, but let me just say a couple of things: First of all, I'm extremely proud of the store. We frequently hear customers from all over the country telling us that it's one of the best record stores they've ever seen. We strive to be fair, friendly, and interesting, and I think we've generally accomplished that, and I have every confidence that we will do so in the future. Secondly, I'd like to publicly state how much it meant to me that my bosses, Kory Willis and Kelly Corcoran (and earlier Zippy Hester) accommodated my school schedule, always paid me a living wage, and made sure I was taken care of financially when I had to miss weeks of work with a fairly serious health issue a couple of years ago.
Actually, let me drop this in, at the risk of giving you too much information. The "issue" referred to above was testicular cancer. I was 37 at the time, past the age at which the disease normally occurs. My point is, guys, check yourself out regularly, and if anything seems amiss, go to a doctor. I waited quite a while (probably a year or so) to do anything about it, and as a result had to endure chemotherapy that probably could have been avoided. I know...I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, the reason I quit the store was because I have a student teaching assignment this semester. I'll be teaching three Accelerated Senior English classes and one Science Fiction class. I'm very much looking forward to it, while simultaneously worrying that I'm a complete fraud.
I'm actually kind of hoping that being away from the store will make music more precious (because less of it) and therefore get me more excited about it than I have been for most of 2006. I really enjoy getting in my car after school and turning the stereo up, understanding that "up" is not nearly as loud as "up" was in 1982. I hope I will have more motivation to update this site frequently, because your kind words and comments and e-mails really do mean a lot to me. Once again, I'd like to thank Andrew Chalfen and Stewart Mason for their help and patience.
Oh yeah, saw a couple of Embarrassment reunion shows this weekend. I can't say they were musically stellar, but it was cool to see those four guys playing a bunch of songs I loved, and there were certainly glorious moments. Bill Goffrier was particularly good. He's still a post-punk guitar genius.
Thanks for letting me ramble. As a reward, here's a belated Little Hits tribute to the late Syd Barrett by Martin Newell's Cleaners From Venus.
Peace,
Jon
26 Comments:
Jon,
Sorry to learn you had to battle cancer but I do appreciate your note. This also gives me a chance to thank you, Stewart and Andrew for the great music and insights via this site. I hope you have a smooth transition into teaching.
Best wishes,
Steve D.
jon, one of the reasons little hits is such a great site is that your comments are always interesting, informative and well written. if these are any indication of your teaching skills, your students will be as lucky as your blog visitors. best of luck in your new gig.
jtfl
Jon:
Dude. I'm so sorry to hear about your cancer. I hope you're doing better.
People, I can personally vouch that Jon Harrison is officially One of the Nicest Guys in the Whole Damn World.
He's also a talented singer and songwriter and musician. He doesn't talk about that much on here, it's like he's humble or something.
Find some Wilmas or What Gives music or some of his other stuff. It will make your ears happy.
Thanks, Barry. I am in fact doing better. It usually feels like it never happened.
Jon
Thanks for the update. I had feared the site was just going to fade away, as so many do, and I had only just discovered it a couple weeks back, and have really enjoyed it. (Don't mock the run-on.)
In any case, congrats on the teaching job, congrats on the recovery, and I definitely hope you do find time to hit us with some more gems when you can.
Jon,
Glad you're in remission now and best of luck with your future career. This has been my favorite MP3 blog ever since I discovered it (and an inspiration in starting my own), so I do hope you have time to continue in between everything else you do...
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Thank you for giving me a 'piece of the world I couldn't see' to paraphrase a line from a Trypes song posted here last year. Not that it's over. The Embarrassment concert proved that it’s never really over. The context changes but we return to glimpse the beauty, and experience joy that comes from friendship and music. We are reminded that the songs and artists are unique and so are we. It gives me hope and strength to endure the casual and petty indifference of everyday life.
Jon,
I'm new to Little Hits and from what I have seen these past months you get a standing ovation. As a old friend growing up with you and seeing you perform in your earlier days (the Wilma's and performing at the Frog Dome) you have always been a influence for me, my family and many others.
It makes me so happy to know that you are reaching out to others through Little Hits and now through teaching.
Who needs two testicles anyway one will do just fine thats all you really need anyway. All joking aside you prevailed and we are all so happy.
Good luck with everything.
Scott G.
Thanks for your note. Your site has been one of my favorites, often reminding me of some great music I had forgotten about.
Good luck with teaching! You will probably have a blast.
Jon, it was good to see you at the Embarrassment show Sunday. It'll be strange not to see you when I visit Love Garden, but I wish you the best in your new vocation. Take care.
Jon,
Good luck with your new teaching gig, your writing is wonderfull and you will make a great teacher I'm sure. I am constantly cracking up at work when reading you comments about each song. I have seen alot of Blogs like this and what makes this one far better is the writting. I think you should really consider doing a Little Hits Book!
Jon,
Best of luck in your new teaching career and with your continued remission. Ditto what Anonymous said about the witty writing really making this blog special. Extra thanks for spreading the good word about some great music. Rock on,
-Dan
Best wishes on the teaching gig, Jon! One of my other favorite blogs (Vain, Selfish and Lazy) ended recently because Fred got a teaching job, so I am glad to read that Little Hits will continue. Good advice to all of us guys on TSE (testicular self-examination). In my real life I am an oncology social worker... but I wish I worked at a record store!
Funny. I've been quietly following your blog for several months--some fucking brilliant music here, and damn fine commentary on it as well. I just visited Lawrence and Love Garden for the first time a few weeks ago not knowing about the Little Hits connection.
Good luck in the teaching game. A very rewarding challenge.
Jon...I am glad you are doing well, and wanted to second your 'check yourself' message to guys. I have also had testicular cancer. I was 24 (in 1986) with two young kids...pretty scary stuff. Needless to say, after removal of the offending testicle and lots of radiation, I am still here at 44.. and even fathered an additional (Healthy) kid after the fact. I make sure both of my sons get checked on a regular basis.
Long Life, and good luck with your teaching.
I massively hope your health is going well. You give us so much music (and, as I said earlier, so ridiculously much detail about this music), and for FREE, that I have to say thank you very much!
For instance, if it hadn't been for this site, I probably NEVER would've known that the Dead C's "Bad Politics" is 1) way better than Yo La Tengo's (fairly okay) cover version, 2) sounds oddly like Hawkwind. Probably never (or much later) would've heard "Jeffrey, I Hear You" or Dolly Mixture.
Keep on blogging... and at whatever pace is comfortable for your career and personal life. Respeck.
Hey Jon,
Sorry to hear about your battle with cancer but we're glad to see you got through it ok...it'll be sad not seeing you around LG any longer even though we never get to the store as much as we'd like to,but good luck with the teaching gig and hopefully we can keep in touch
take care,
Greg and Christina
Congrats on the teaching gig, Jon. You'll do great. You've been an articulate, intelligent, and direct guy as long as I've kind of known you! I had no idea about your health battles. Wow. I'm glad to know you're doing better. Take care.
Kisses, chum. Sounds like everything's on a cool & exciting track here for you, and I'm only sad I didn't get to drop by & see you at the store last time I was briefly in town. Oh, and 14 years! Wow. I think I was only there for 2.
Then again I guess that means I've been HERE for 14 years too. Okay, that I can follow.
Goodest luck!
Jon, we read your blog for the first time in months and find out that you've left our favorite record store. Congratulations on the teaching gig. We know that you'll do wonderfully.
Hiram and Melissa
Jon!
Joe from Chicago here.
Student teaching! Well done! Worrying about being a complete fraud, huh? I got news for you, all of us teachers are frauds! What sets us apart from the rest of the dopes is that we know we're frauds!
All the great things the people on this blog write about you are more evidence that you have, in my opinion, what it takes to be a great teacher.
You will be excellent, and your students will learn from you.
Take care.
HI Jon,
This is crazy, but I am so happy to find out your in LA (Lawrence Area), b/c I found the page by looking for "Jet" by Big Dipper, and now I read your blog.
I hope all goes well with you and I wish you strength.
When you mentioned Love Garden, I remember when that store opend, I was an undgrad. at KU, right before I moved to start grad. school. Good luck with the TA'ing. I am now a prof. in Miami.
All the best, and thanks for the page,
Bill A
Hey John, Greetings from Brooklyn and beyond. Congrats on the teaching gig. I missed your smiling face last time I was in town and at the Love Garden in May. Glad you've won the bout with Cancer. Sounds frightening though it's good to hear your feeling better. I always appreciated your friendliness and just the "you-ness" of you. Found your site about a year ago and it always makes me miss Lawrence and the people who live there whenever I read it. Best of Luck in your new career. Hope to run into you one of these days. Peace, Curt Flowers
I think you are kinda, all-right, good-in-a-strange sense of the word - guy...
love you to pieces -
your brother
Jon, I just came across your blog today (Dec. 19) and I'm simply blown away by what you done here.
I was music director for a large Southern campus radio station in the mid-80's. I'm having a blast listening to some songs I haven't heard in 20+ years, but even more amazed by the vast amount of material I wasn't even aware of. It's been a blast!
I lived in the Kansas City area for a short time in '89 and used to go to the Bottleneck to see shows. Caught the same Big Dipper show you mention on one of your pages. Good times.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and obvious love for these gems.
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