July 2021
-
July 30th, 2021. Joel Pomerantz Memorial.
Gathering at Seekers Church in Washington DC to remember Joel Pomerantz. Jay Keating, of SAW (Songwriters Association of Washington) ring leader for the evening. Tonight was really beautiful. I don’t know what Joel would’ve thought of it – there were in evidence PLENTY of people here who knew him far better than I – I…
-
July 29th, 2021. COVID upDate.
At the moment I’ve got to admit, COVID’s not really terrifying me. Not like people do. Not like the racist radical right’s attack on American ideals and democratic principles, not like getting into a car accident and suffering insurmountable medical debt, not like running a mic cable, having someone trip over it, and trying to…
-
July 25th, 2021. And then it all went BOOM.
So – positive first : All the stuff I was saying about my community, giving back, and it then synergistically giving back to ME again – is probably how Mark H Rooney felt tonight about taiko. It was cool to watch that outpouring of Love and … well … thankfulness allll from the outside. Now…
-
July 24th, 2021. A Broadcast from a Mysterious Location.
Tonight was a LOT of fun. Stunning weather, decent sound if I DO say so myself, a great stage courtesy of Jimmy Stewart, and incredible talent thanks to rob’s Open Mic alumni, or at least the local contingent thereof. I worry that I’ve lost a little bit of my grace, my banterificness, and apparently I…
-
July 22nd, 2021. Burn it. Burn it with fire.
So horrified by the ongoing fight AGAINST vaccines. I know, I know, I’m a horrible Fascist rob – but if I was in charge… Look… if there was a handgun sitting in a house and someone assured you it was unloaded – or maybe they assured you that they’d HEARD it was unloaded, and then…
-
July 20th, 2021. American Ice Co.
Alisha O’Malley kicking off her Tuesday night open mic at American Ice Co Cafe. As I contemplate a return to open mics, hosting in Ellicott City, missing them, Alisha O’Malley’s open mics at American Ice Co. are helping to tide me over. I dread the fact that the most promising lead I’VE got on my…
-
July 18th, 2021. VOMinate.
Shh. I’m enjoying a quiet morning. I slept with earplugs in. I haven’t turned the air conditioner on. The cat didn’t miaow for food. It’s just me and the fans pushing air slowly. The soft tap of my keyboard. In a little bit I’ll have to get up and start shuffling things around. Keola’ll be…
-
July 15th, 2021. An open air open mic.
Setting up – pic from Kristen Jones. Little Market Cafe has truly created an oasis in the midst of a hot, difficult summer. Every Thursday night Main Street Open Mics, Kelly Secret and the Little Market Café host an open mic outdoors in their courtyard. It’s a beautiful space and 7/15 I had the honour…
-
July 15th, 2021. Joel Pomerantz.
(above : Joel Pomerantz performing at my Capital City Cheesecake open mic in Takoma Park, MD in February of 2013) The Steve Key band at Steve Key’s 47th Birthday Party at the Electric Maid in October 2004. Joel Pomerantz died Thursday morning. He’d had a stroke about a week ago and had been unresponsive ever…
-
July 12th, 2021. Ellicott City.
Sweet Leda in the Parking Lot D / Tonge Row / Little Market Cafe courtyard in Ellicott City, MD. Tuesday night we played this beautiful little oasis. Much as my cynicism tells me that there’s a lot more Live music outdoors and pay is dropping, ilyAIMY’s PERSONAL experience is that music’s moved outdoors, it’s a…