The view from the 13th Floor in Baltimore, MD. We got to play with Jeremiah Clarke and the Lighter Thieves and Shane Burke – it was a great night (though perhaps we were an odd mix). It’s cool to look over my city and see my school and just generally FINALLY play the Belvedere. I’ve always wanted to be on this stage, ever since I used to come see Underfoot here. It was sort of a pathetic night, turnout-wise, but hopefully we’ll land another show there (one where we go on BEFORE 12am or so) and get to introduce some people to the best view there be of Charm City.
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Last night was Lovely. Heather and Rowan and I performed at the College Perk with Transcendent Third and had a good, though perhaps not as lucrative as I’d like, show. Dan Zimmerman joined us on bass since Sharif had some dumb thing at work. Stolen from us, he no doubt languished under the yoke of his employer, making far more money, but probably having a whole lot less fun and fewer mojitos.
One of the interesting side effects of the 13th Floor’s policy of NO EQUIPMENT IN THE LOBBY is that the bands frequently get lost between elevators on the 12th floor, wandering around beautiful dance halls and ball rooms as we try to find the WAY OUT!!!
Though the night started awkward (a friend kicked off the evening by trying to hook me up with someone, which is always kind of… interesting) it progressed through all the usual stages of gigdom – beginning in that set-up phase with being amped for the show, then the awkward “I’m wiring things THIS way but you’re wiring things THAT way” part of set-up which is swiftly superceded by the panic of realizing that suddenly 8.13 is on you faster than you thought and it’s time for the show to BEGIN.
Tuesday, rather thn hitting up the College Perk open mic, I went to my friend Heather’s violin recital. She was AMAZING and watching her play and knowing that she likes MY music – well – her and her kind, the trained and hard-workin’ – are almost unbelievably skilled. She was just breath-taking. It was cool to be in an entirely different environment for a change – in the depths of the University of Maryland’s music school. So different from art school.
Transcendent Third did their usual good job of being simply wonderful. Their words flowing through me and keeping my energy high. There’s something about their words that always drive me to distraction. They word some of my moods so beautifully, so intensely.
Heather at Java Mammas in Reisterstown, MD. To view more photographs from the Java Mammas open mic (or to add some) – check out our openmikes.org page.
Another newcomer to the Java Mammas open mic, Morgan and his friend Courtney were both left-handed (like myself), but UNLIKE me both PLAY left-handed. Artem had never seen that before and just stared with his mouth open. It was good to see his mind toyed with.
Alex Colvin charming his way through a set at my open mic at Java Mammas in Reisterstown, MD. Last Wednesday was my most crowded night EVER – with 19 performers on the list. We managed to make it through but only by the grace of having managers on the staff who were willing to stay out late. (thank you thank you Josh and Leyna!!!)
I was amused that Artem and Murray ran next door to the car lot to practice for their set. It showed though, We’re Going to Hell For This’ set was swift but well executed!
Uncle John built this. It is an unholy percussive contraption that we had a little bluegrass jam on after the open mic.
Uncle John Sawbriar was an old friend but a new-comer to my open mic. I hope to see him become a regular!
As I write this, I’m sitting at College Perk for the morning just thinking – and Hannah Spiro is coincidentally on the couch across from me singing along with whatever’s passing through the Perk speakers, it’s distracting but fitting and Lovely.
The twins did a great job and then we struck forth with wild abandon. Having both Sharif AND Dan on stage means there’s some conflict here and there – who’s on bass?
And in general I can’t get past how muchI LOVE having Sharif in the band, so have no fear, but every once in a while it’s a lot of fun to change up a part, either with a drummer or with Keren Lee on bass (specifically his take on Choke Cherry is so freaking dancey that it gets my booty on the move) or with Dan Zimmerman – having him means all bets are off and you never quite know exactly what’s about to occur. It means that we play stuff that the band doesn’t practice, cause, Hell – none of us have practiced together in any case. Not for a long time.
Heather and I performing at Huckleberry’s Coffeehouse. We’re screamy. Thanks to Hillary for the photographs.
Heather and I being very, very earnest on stage at Huckleberry’s Coffeehouse in Abingdon, MD
And an awesome surprise – a bunch of kids from my open mic in Reisterstown car-pooled down and popped in to see their first non-family-safe ilyAIMY show. A very different experience for them I’m sure.
Today the weather is beautiful and moody and pretty matching in my own feelings. Cliffs of cloud and shafts of sun and everything overhead moving with a swiftness. I’m hoping for rain soon. (Thunderstorms in the forecast, Life could be good!)
Okay, I’ve become distracted and unproductive. Time to move on then to other tasks.
Thoughts – Sarah Fridrich’s jazz brunch at College Perk? Pretty nice! Prince Caspian was an AWESOME movie, as was, surprisingly – Capricorn One. On the NOT HOT list would be The Good Shepherd and 30 Days of Night. Also, remind me to tell you a little bit about Artomatic.
