Oh politics. Got my ballot in the mail yesterday and I spent breakfast chewing over an omelet and the issues that were unfamiliar to me. Reading bills is boring. But the specific bill that’s the last thing on the ballot is a particularly dryly-worded thing that points to a bill that is an absolutely meaningless re-definition of “outlet malls”… meaningless until it’s put into the specific context of what’s being fought over. I’m not sure on the issue, but with the number of mailers being direct-mailed to voters, I guess it’s a pretty high-ticket item to at least two moneyed individuals. I’D propose a bill that requires any bill to have an attached rider that explains what problem’s being fixed, because in this you’ve really got to do some digging before you start to figure out why anyone should care how an outlet mall is defined.
Practicing with Mosno and Rowan and Acacia et al for the big show next week!Warming up for our house concert outside of DC on Saturday, October 15th, 2016.All warmed up for our house concert outside of DC on October 15th, 2016.
Man, I can’t wait until November 9th. Then we just wait for the dust to clear, the ash to settle, and TRY to talk to our family-members again – we’ll see how many personal relationships have been permanently sundered.
Heather and her brother Justin performing “Fire and Rain” at our house concert – really Lovely rendition!In hindsight – this is the first time we started really trying some of Rowan’s originals – we DRILLED Charm and Strange and really brought it forward at this show – rob 12/19/21Getting to the gym in October requires walking past a number of Halloween decorations, including this massive animatronic inflatable cat! I hadn’t been to the gym in a hot minute and today was a little… breath taking. I upped the weight on all the equipment by one notch and embarassed myself by having to take a quick breather in the last 2/3 of the class.Truly a master of his craft – my featured artist on October 17th was the marvelous Jeff Miller from Nashville, TN. We originally met years ago in Pittsburgh, PA and since then we’ve crossed paths semi-regularly – and he’s just gotten better and better and better. Probably moreso than any other artist I’ve ever seen, I’ve watched him evolve and every time I see him there’s some refined nuance, some new edge, some new trick – he’s truly a master of both acoustic guitar and loop station, and his voice is kind of exquisite too. Go check him out. I’ve come to dread the West Madison open mic – not because of the space – it’s a beautiful room, great food, great staff – but because it just seems to be getting NOWHERE. We had a small surge in the middle of summer, but as we got over the holiday hump, we just never caught the attention of any repeat customers (with the exception of Dave GodbeyDave Godbey – above, practicing a tune with Jo). And sure enough, me and the owner had been talking about ending the open mic and tonight we put the nail in the coffin – a hiatus if not actual cancelation – BUT the night was okay because I met those three dogs. They were moist and fuzzy and joyous. And soon, so was I.
