July
28 - Kill your TV
Gigs this weekend in San Jose with drummer, Steve Nelson, introduced
me to a
couple
of fine bass players: Bing Nathan and Aaron Cohen. Nice to be meeting more local
players. Some hockey team and their groupies were in the Fairmont on Friday.
A new gig for me, and a blast from the past re being a trained monkey in the
corporate world. Not one, but TWO huge widescreen tvs in the lobby, bookending
the dance floor, streaming cable sports-talk and highlights. TV is like heroin
for me (Never actually tried H., but it's a useful simile.) The 'great save,'
homeruns, and of course the big brawl. Such immaturity on the sports fields.
It's still so weird that TV will show an endless loop of two steroided out, testosterone
beefcakes
bashing
the
crap out of each other, but not two guys kissing. Or even being sweet. Sick medium.
Please, kill your TV.
May/June
Vanilla, with a few bright spots, including the resurrection of Kirk's
Libido, the ambient-improv thang I used to do in the 'before time.' this time
with guitarist Greg Chua. Sweet textures.
5/31/08
Way fun night at Paragon, with Carl Rosenblum, guitar. The
sub
for
drummer
was a no-show, so Carl and I forged ahead and had a great time.
5/03/08
Fun night at Paragon with Steve N. trio, Doug Pohorski
on bass (terrific player!), and some appreciative peeps in the house. Special
thanks to William and Jenna for your kind comments and for listening. It was
also Cinco de Mayo pre-holiday bustle downtown SJ, and the blue lights were
out
in force. The whole downtown area was blocked off, making it possible to leave,
but not get around. Glad we loaded in early. A little too much social control
for comfort.
4/26/08
- Java Beach
Songwriter's night at JB with pal Jesse Strickman. Jesse's
got great tunes and an über-sweet presentation - such sincerity and warmth.
As usual, he brought along his friendly posse, and we had a nice crowd. (Check Jesse's
band site.)
I opened,
premiering a couple new tunes, including "I Am With You Always," an
antidote-to-emo country/gp/ballad thingy. Jesse played 'headliner,' then we
closed with a couple
more tunes and a version of Greenday's 'Good Riddance.' Fun all around.
2/09/08 - Paragon
Trio with Steve Nelson, drums, and Doug Pohorski on bass.
Doug is a TERRIFIC player, great time and extremely lyrical - really strong soloist.
Had lots of fun. Two-for-two with the line up from Nelson (nice going Steve),
and we've played enough together now to be developing a "band" sound - not
just a lounge trio.
Nice
crowd
and
this
time
I
ate
the
Ceasar
salad
(no
more
burgers!).
1/26/08
- Paragon Restaurant, San Jose
Trio with Steve Nelson on drums, Glen Richmond on bass.
Fun straight-ahead bread & butter. Had a cheeseburger - seems everytime
I gig with Nelson, it's cheeseburger tonight. Where's the fettuccini already?
8/4/07
- Java Beach Cafe
Smokin' gig tonight with Naim on bass. Nice turn-out of some
students and family - Thanks Sean, Drew, Lewis and bros. and sis'. Great to
see Michele and Alex (the biker victorious!). Naim and I have some new pre-production
tracks available for your listening pleasure - my tunes, for the most.
Working late nights to button-up the book edits. What a project...
but I really believe this is going to help people, so it's worth it. Note to
self - "read the time signature!" (re new tune, Pentamodo)
5/12/07
- Java Beach Cafe
Guest, Robert Szeles (say-lesh), of Kiss The Girl
on tour - I opened with tunes from Perfect Strangers, but mostly new
material. Previewed bits of Metaphorasaurus, and Animals React.
Robert performed mostly from Kiss the Girl's new CD, Touch, but
also a sweet medley of tunes on two chords, including Smokey's Second that
Emotion, and a cute rendition of Three, from SchoolHouse Rock.
STANDING ROOM ONLY at the Cafe. Nice evening.
4/08/07 - Java
Beach Cafe
Last time it was the disposable camera - this time: a comment
book. Got just a couple takers this time, but one good comment: "When they
ran out of things to consume, they consumed each other." Food for thought.
Maybe next time a camera AND a notebook.
Overheard the barista, Justin, make the comment, "I think
I'll shave my head then." So I composed and sang a tune on that riff on
the spot. Could be the start of something...
2/25
- 3/25/07
Cruising the Hawaiian Islands. It's a gig and a chance to see
this place - my first time. Check out some pix: HAWAII
Started out as a three-week gig, but turned into a four-week
run. Most of it was cool enough, but let me say, some things are just not right.
Now, I have a few rotund friends who are very cool, happy people, and I don't
want to offend anybody, but: middle-aged, fat, hairy, white guys in speedo's
is just WRONG. EEEEeeewwwwWWW!
Met some locals - real locals, not expat' mainlanders - who have
some thoughts about the continued occupation of the country of
Hawai'i by imperialist U.S. forces. Even the veteran ex-hippies
are burnt out on the expansion and wreckless development. "Profit
kills and capitalists eat their young."
Like many places I've visited - it's nice once you get away from
the concrete and the noisy white people. Amazing air. But the
towns are all becoming big, tacky strip malls. Creepy.
2/10/07
- Java Beach Cafe
Really fun evening, with a set by songwriter, Jesse Strickman,
and some jamming with Colorado homie, Eric Wayne on trumpet.
Good turnout and quality peeps. Thanks! Passed around a throwaway
camera and invited the audience to play D.P.... check out a few
of the keepers: PIX
1/23/07
- 7 Mile House
Nice turnout for the jam. Some great playing by sax man Aaron
Cohen. A maiden voyage for my new Behringer pocket-mixer - worked
great, and easy on the schlepp!
1/06/07
- Java Beach Cafe. Great turnout and lots of fun
tunes. Many thanks to Jesse Strickman and Josh Owen
for playing a set. (Check out dearindugu.com) Covered
quite a few bases tonight, a bunch of my stuff of
course, Joni, Lennon, and fielding some requests
for Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, including one of
my fav's, My Romance. Also premiered a new version
of a tune with lyrics by my pop, Don Snelling, "Poppa
Saw You Kiss Me Last Night". Got a good response
from the crowd - it's a 'cute' tune. Made some new
fans, nice comments. Venue seemed to like it. I hope
to return soon.
NYE
- Lavanda Restaurant with "Pentamento" Jazz Trio.
Nice folks having a good time. Haruwn Wesley on bass,
Mike Bastian on drums. Swangin' and such. No fights,
no falling-down-drunks, no craziness or shouting....what's
wrong with these people?! (just kidding) Only a few
freeway weavers on the way home from the gig. Nice
evening.
12/24
- Wow. Attended the premier of my friend, Maya Dorn's
new rock operetta, "Venus Christ". It was so wrong for
so many reasons - really glad to have been part of
it. My task was to video it. (Thanks Andrew!) Some
very cool Afro-based grooves with some original and
quirky earth-mother tunes. Very daring. Very daring.
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