It's Time To Get Things Started
Hey Soul Mates,
just a few hours away from Showtime. The wardrobe has been selected. Set lists have been printed. Time to relax for a little while. It's been a busy day so far. Picked up a new shirt and tie to go with the new striped jacket & cream cords I'll be sporting tonight. Looks summery. Very raspberry.
Last night was chockful o' music. First we whisked down to the Knitting Factory in Hollywood for the huge Kiss or Kill night. Our buddies the Waking Hours put on a really high energy show. They played a few new songs as well. A nice rebound from their show at the Troub a few weeks ago. Then we zipped up the 101 to Reseda. That's where Adam Marsland was performing with the Chaos Band. We are pleased to announce that Adam will be playing with us on June 17 (which will be our next show in LA).
Gotta ice the knee and get in one more sitting at the humidifier.
Love, Power, Peace
Blue Wednesday
Hey Soul Mates,last night was a middling one for the Dodgers. The Nationals prevailed in the pitching duel. It was cool seeing the Nats for the first time. Now, I'm back to one team in Major League Baseball that I've never seen play in person. That would be the Tampa Devil Rays, with little opportunity to see them soon.
After the game, I ran into my old friend Peter Lurie. He introduced me to his friend and co-worker Lafitte Pincay III. They are both analysts on Horse Racing TV. Pretty cool, Lafitte's father is the sport's all-time winningest jockey. Peter and I were in a band (very briefly) when I first moved to LA. We were on stage together the first time I performed here in LA.
The best news of the day: I had a breakthrough on a lyric I've been working on for a while. It's a new midtempo number called "Everything My Heart Desires." I sat on the chorus for weeks before a good verse hatched, then I got two. This one will be debuted at a show in June. We also got some big help down in San Diego from my buddy, Steve. He's helping us organize some performances there. We'll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks, Stevie.
Today, I'm off to the Doc's to have him take a look at my knee. It's a good looking knee at least.
Love, Power, Peace
Wounded Knee
Hey Soul Mates,
we are still preparing for our Saturday show. I'm in the midst of some knee weirdness. The pain in my knee has been replaced by numbness behind the kneecap and on the sole of my foot. Zowie. It feels like my knee is asleep. Wake up!
This week leading up to the show, you may see me out and about Los Angeles. Tomorrow night, I'll be sporting the Blue at Chavez Ravine. The Nats are in town to play the Dodgers. Thursday night is Crunko De Mayo. I'll be wandering down to the Gig to support some friends, Howy & Russell, whose bands are performing. Friday there is a big lineup at the Knitting Factory and several homies are playing there including the Waking Hours and the Letter Openers. And then suddenly: it's Saturday and we're up!
Yours from L.A.
Love, Power, Peace.
Hey Soul Mates,man, do I love my bandmates, cousin.
They are the best. We had a productive rehearsal tonight. Even though we are all battling through bowling injuries and fatigue from the week in general. We are very excited about playing for you this coming weekend. Our last show was very uptempo. This next one, we'll be doing quite a few of our ballads, our slow jams. While we normally do one slow song per set, we'll play at least 2 on Saturday. Ladies...
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of Steely Dan. Perfect driving music late at night, but also perfectly good for walking around North Hollywood in the a.m. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed their music and how much of it was unfamiliar to me. There are lots of groups/artists out there that I really admire, but don't necessarily incorporate into my own music. Steely Dan gets pretty funky on occasion. Their playing is just inspiring. And Don Fagen's lyrics bear repeat listenings. "Peg," "Reeling In The Years" & "Deacon Blues" have always been among my favorites. But now that I've discovered some of the album tracks, I've been wearing out "Pretzel Logic," "Bad Sneakers" and "Any Major Dude Will Tell You." A Decade Of Steely Dan was one of the earliest CD's I bought. And my buddy Mike gave me Fagen's solo masterpiece The Nightfly one Christmas. When I was in college, I would listen to Are You Experienced? to get through all nighters. But, in the daylight (oddly enough), The Nightfly would put me in daydream mode.
Fagen & Becker (Steely Dan)
The Dan made it back into the news in a big way the last 5 years when they accomplished two odd-defying feats. First, they made a reunion album called Two Against Nature and managed to walk away with Grammy's big prize. Risen from the ashes. That was bested by their horribly comedic campaign to be selected for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They were the first major act to actively seek election and succeed. Where others have whined, Steely Dan simply lampooned. You can still see their letters to the Rock cognoscenti and decision makers on their website.
This reintroduction to their stuff began when my friend Dr. Rahuna and I were talking about "My Old School" and how brilliant it is. Maybe this will lead you to Steely Dan or to remembering them. Their music immediately takes me back to childhood in the 70's and FM radio, star-filled late night drives in the family car and summers in the Midwest. I didn't understand what the Dan was on about, I just knew it was great music. Now I listen to it and marvel: how did these two white dudes sound so jazzy and make pop singles at the same time?
That's for them to know and for us to find out.
Love, Power, Peace.
