February 28th, 2010.

*Andrew Luttrell and his guitarist Shane performing at Java Mammas. It’s always wonderful to see my idols from my younger years. If only they were all still alive*

It’s Sunday morning. I’m making coffee. Our coffeemaker is hugely industrial-looking and has been given the less-than-delicate name Eleanor. Eleanor needs to hurry it up because this morning I truly need her sweet nectar.

Last night we played the Quarter – and though it was by many accounts a good show, and the beautiful sound system there made us beautiful, and the beautiful lights there did the same for our faces… I missed Heather’s djembe terribly. And I missed her voice. It was like all that clarity and fullness merely pointed out the absence. Every missing THUMP and every missing twinned note was screaming through its non-presence.

*Working the audience at Java Mammas – Francine’s son wanted to know more about audio recording than I perhaps had time to tell him right at that moment..*

And so I felt out of sorts.

Though I could never be this way, I think it’s cool that my Dad labeled lightbulbs to know how long they lasted. I stopped by my mom’s house and replaced this freshly burnt out bulb from Nvoember 2004.

Dan Houtz’ new band Ashes to Embers was decidedly bad-ass. They have a really amazing lead-guitarist and Dan is simply one of the best rock vocalists I’ve ever encountered. It was a Hell of a rock show. For a brief period of time I’d wanted to hook up with Dan as a bass player and play some metal, but seeing what he’s pulled together around himself, I’m horribly aware that that would’ve been something of an embarrassment!

*We managed to make it over to our friend Erica’s performance in Arsenic and Old Lace in Bowie. It was a lot of fun even IF I had to watch her scream in terror and get attacked by scar-faced men.*

This week is dense with music. Tuesday night we’re going to try out a new place via its open mic. Wednesday night we’re the featured act at another open mic. Thursday night is MY open mic. Friday night’s Michos with the Weathered Road and Saturday night is back to the New Deal Café for the first time in I have noooo idea….

Which reminds me. I’ve got to print posters. Frak!

Moments later, having commented a lot on Amy’s latest artwork, printing posters, thinking about Life the Universe and also Everything… having made myself a to-do list (more posters, some contract stuff) and a short schedule (realizing that other than Monday, we’re playing out every night this week… almost like we’re working!) – we’re back on I-95 listening to Led Zeppelin. Well – Page and Plant – which is decidedly NOT Led Zeppelin.

Dan Houtz at the Quarter in Baltimore, MD working his merch table and explaining how excited he is to play with his new band Ashes to Embers. And damn – after hearing them, he definitely SHOULD be excited. They were quite deserving of great rock cred.
Setting up the cello at the Quarter. We thought about plugging into the Marshall stack because it’s about as bad ass as would’ve been humanly possible, but alas we figured it would be a disaster.
ilyAIMY performing at the Quarter without Heather. It was painful not to have her.