Inspiration?

Web
music
www.harmonycentral.com The best site I know for FREE music lessons (many instruments).
www.christiancambas.com The website of my brother in Athens, DJ and remixer Christian Cambas. He produces progressive house dance music, but the tattoo on his heart says “Rock N Roll!”
www.dashville.com The website of one of my best friends and one of the most creative and prolific dudes I know, Justin Stahlman. Much stuff here, music, art, info...quite motivational.
www.blabbermouth.net Heavy music hotline board.
www.metalsludge.com Rock music news board.
www.stevesmusic.com Big ass music store in Montreal (sells gear online)
www.daddys.com Very good website for a U.S. music instrument store chain.
www.headbangersbasement.com Montreal hard rock radio program (broadcasts online).
www.berkleepress.com Career textbooks for musicians. If you play music, any book from this line is a MUST, I ‘ve read them all. Up to date and very educational.
www.montrealmusiciansonline Website to connect music industry people in Montreal. Gear, Gigs, bands, etc..
www.mofofunka.com My friend Jason Anderson’s band in Atlanta Georgia. Great guitarist and a very funky band!

Health/Fitness
www.tonyblauer.com Montreal’s own Tony Blauer is a leader in the world of practical self defense for the street. An authority on protecting yourself. Very logical and well read.
www.senshido.com A montreal self defense school derived from Tony’s fighting style. (Definitely not a walk in the park).
www.exrx.net A very comprehensive net guide to weight lifting.

Movies

Feel Good

THE OUTSIDERS Directed by Francis Ford Coppela. One of my faves. Smalltown USA streetgang story set in the 50’s. Everybody on Earth is in this movie.
HE GOT GAME A Spike Lee film. Denzel is caught between his anger and his family.
CROOKLYN Also Spike Lee. Story of a jazz musician trying to make ends meet and support his family.
PHILADELPHIA Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in an HIV infected man’s legal struggle. I very much like the music at the end of the movie.
Comedy

HOW TO BE A PLAYA Unkown movie about a chick hound who believes he is invincible. All kinds of ghetto humor!
A FISH CALLED WANDA Brittish slapstick. A classic...If u haven’t already seen this u need 2!
FLIRTIN WITH DISASTER Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette in a dark and twisted yet funny movie. Everyones a character in this one!
DEUCE BIGALO Both one and two are hilarious. Two was voted by Ebert and Roper to be the worst film of the year, but who the hell r they?! This here is Leigh talkin 2 ya!!
FERRIS BUELER’S DAY OFF Bueler...Bueler...Fry...Dont even try to act like if this movie came on TV right now you wouldnt put off whatever u were doing for 20 minutes!

W A R
THE LONGEST DAY An hour by hour account of the day the allied Forces Moved against the Nazis in WW II.
TORA TORA TORA A depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 (mercifully without Ben Affleck).
THE PIANIST A random tale of a musician’s struggle for survival in Poland under Nazi occupation.
THE KILLING FIELDS A story of friendship during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
Action
ENTER THE DRAGON Probably the most famous of all Bruce Lee movies
GOODFELLAS Dark mafia tale full of humor and violence!
SUMMER OF SAM Gives you a feel to what it was like to be a New Yorker in the 70’s during the summer of the David Berkowicz murders.
HANNIBAL Directed by Ridley Scott. All-star cast, good story and Hannibal doin his thang!
BLADE RUNNER Also a Ridley Scott film. Probably the best Sci fi movie of all time.

Horror
THE OMEN (ORIGINAL) They do not make them like this anymore! Top notch cinematography and great soundscore.
EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE I like this one because its different. mixture of horror and courtroom drama. The actress who plays Emily Rose is positively creepifying!!
THE DEVIL’S REJECTS I like this one because it is an education on how to produce a film on a low budget. For that reason I recommend watching it with the director’s comments as well.
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT My cousins all disagree with me, but I think this is one of the greatest horrors to come out in a long time! Also very low budget, but believable acting and an interesting myth. Eerie and unnerving!

BOOKS
music
THE SELF PROMOTING MUSICIAN--Peter Spellman Written by a teacher I had at Berklee; I absolutely recommend this to any aspiring music industry person. A crash course in methods of advancing your music career.
BANDS BRANDS AND BILLIONS--Lou Perlman Written by the guy who financed, developed, and later got sued by the Backstreet Boys and NSync! Its less on music than it is on Business--any kind. Simple supply and demand, but presented in a very interesting way.
EFFORTLESS MASTERY Kenny Werner I bought this not knowing that many college music programs use it as a textbook. I am very glad I did, I learned alot about the difference between being a good musician and a very good one. I tried to apply what I learned in this book to my playing and it worked. If you surrender to it, it will work for you too.
COMPLETE GUIDE TO FILM SCORING--Richard Davis a tough read, but enlightening; I dont watch movies the same way anymore, I am much more in tune with the music.
HOW TO GET A JOB IN THE MUSIC AND RECORDING INDUSTRY--Keith Hotschek Awful title, but great book, doesn’t take too long to read either. This could really be applicable to anyone, its more on the subject of professionalism than on music. Tries to help musicians get their acts together!
Inspirational
LEADERSHIP--Rudy Giuliani A step by step explanation of the things he did that many New Yorkers believe greatly improved the state. A managerial handbook.
WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR--Dan Millman A story for all ages from a well respected 20 year career spanning author. Boy moves to a new town and a mysterious teacher takes him as his apprentice.
FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER--Loung Ung A woman’s survival story as a child during the Cambodian holocaust under the Khmer Rouge between 1972 and 1976 in which almost 2 million people died. Very tragic and moving story.
AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY--Aniko Galambos written by a family friend who passed away earlier this year, Aniko interviewed women living with breast cancer and examined different attitudes and methods of coping.
YOU COME TOO--Robert Frost One of the worlds greatest poets, this collection paints a picture of what its like to live in New England in the winter. (I like New England, but dont like winter.)
Fun
SEX MONEY KISS-- Gene Simmons Good old Gene tries to teach us how to make more money, different rules for men and for women. both can profit sez Gene. A fun read, but bear in mind this is the guy who tried to copyright the words ORANGE JUICE!!
THE VAMPIRE LESTAT--Anne Rice The classic ex-vampire writer explores Lestats origins in this prequel to Interview with the Vampire.
STRENGTH TRAINING ANATOMY--Frederic Delavier Want to see what you look like on the inside? Illustrations of what we look like under our skin. If you hurt yourself, this is a good way to help you visualize and assess the damage. (Neat too.)
DARK LORD: THE RISE OF DARTH VADER--James Luceno A sequel to Revenge of the Sith and a prequel to the original Star Wars, here you get to see Vader complain about the suit and mechanical limbs, get disrespected by Imperial commanders, and develop his scheme to overthrow the Emperor! Its official...IM A GEEK!
TV
PEOPLES COURT Great show, you got the smart lawyer outside the court, you got the big guy busting balls out front and you got Judge Marilyn Millian directing traffic!
Judge Judy Watch this to learn more about human nature. Peoplez iz tryin everything thats thought up!!
CNN I have to get my fix every once in a while just to feel plugged in.
Late Night with Conan O’Brien Inside this mans head is a 24 hour 7 day a week Simpsons episode!
Saturday Night Live I don’t care who the cast is, I will always love this show. This year they have a guy doing a MENTAL Al Pacino impression!
All in the Family One of my all time favorites...and people say IM sarcastic!!
Cops The more people watch this show the less they will probably complain about their own jobs.
Discovery Channel I usually feel relaxed after watching this channel. And Steve Irwin, THIS WORLD WILL MISS YOU FOREVER.

This is a list of stuff I am currently checking out: Album:MYSTERY ROAD by Drivin n Cryin Book: Lonley Planet Guide to Mandarin
TV Show:The Class
Movie:THE PROTECTOR Country:England Website:www.engrish.com Concert:Pharmakon and Ian Ferrier... http://www.myspace.com/pharmakonmtl Ambient Poetry Rock group from Montreal

Songs I would recommend checking out:”N Dey Say” and ”Over and Over Again” by Nelly
Food:Restaurant Kanda--Great sushi place on Bishop--all you can eat on Friday & Saturday nights (make reservations!)

Thing I would recommend trying:extending the conversation

Leigh quote of the month: “Strike! Your negativity is bowling me over!!”