A Little Change of Scenery

We planned a little live music for this past Sunday night instead of the usual karaoke.   When the Beatles Guy suggested it to T a couple of weeks ago, T was actually not sure I would go for it.   But I thought that was a GREAT IDEA.   We were starting to just do the same old crap every Sunday.   I hadn’t heard my old friend, who I will refer to as Sayasu, play in years.   Since Monday was a holiday that meant that we’d probably see some donkeys wander into the bar, which often meant bad, screaming karaoke.

Some live acoustic, especially from skilled guys like these, was an excellent idea.   Since our place already comes with a live set up (we run the karaoke through a Mackie 808M & the music comes out a pair of wall mounted Mackies), all the guys had to do was come & plug in.   Well, & sound check & whatnot, but we already had the mics, mic stands, cords, etc, lying around.   Even spare guitars.   And a Sunday night clientele of people who are just about all either musicians or music enthusiasts.

It was a great idea.

Sssshhhh

Don’t let Fox see this.

Keola, wipe the drool from your mouth please.

The Works.

Well, it’s here.

It got here way sooner than expected, certainly sooner than the freaking Civil Twilight CD I ordered from One October Records (ordered on July 15th.   I bet those bastards forgot about me.).   It even got here sooner than the post I wrote introducing my love of Jonatha Brooke, which is scheduled to post tomorrow.

I mean, I ordered The Works the same day I wrote that post.   And it got here already.

I guess I’ll just have to schedule this post as well.   lol

The 2nd copy is going to go to Lara, since it was just her birthday.   I have yet to listen to this CD — there is a stack of CDs on my desk as I type, all waiting to be listened to — but I’m going to wait for the right time.   I hope it’s good.   Go Bob Clearmountain.

Jonatha Brooke

It’s probably time for me to mention Jonatha Brooke.   Being as nitpicky as I am, I have a favorite band (Jane’s Addiction) but also a favorite artist.   I know, I’m a cheater.   Sorry.

College days, early 90s.   I spent days writing songs, playing guitar, & arranging harmonies with a talented girlfriend who, being gay, introduced me to a world of what is often considered “lesbian” music: Joni Mitchell, Indigo Girls, KD Lang, Marianne Faithful.   I first heard of what was then described to me as a “pair of dykes” called The Story & borrowed my friend’s copy of Grace In Gravity for 3 years (heh), putting track #3 on continuous play.

In 1996 I heard a single called “Nothing Sacred” one day on the radio & I obtained a copy of Plumb, which, beyond the haunting 1st track, brought tears to my eyes in “Inconsolable” & scraped at the pathetic dregs at the bottom of my heart in “No Better.”   I couldn’t believe the clear, vulnerable poignancy this woman’s voice.   This woman happened to be Jonatha Brooke, one of the 2 dykes, who was now married to her keyboardist.

Ok, so maybe it was just the haircut.