Music Overload

Holy cow, I have experienced so much music in the past few weeks I don't know what to do with myself! Makes for a long post!

The open mics have been pretty packed the last couple of weeks. Gotta get myself up there on the stage... sigh. i'm working up my calluses again with trying to record stuff at least.

So let's see - Brian Joseph was April 1st (how appropriate! :D )

Open mic on the 5th. It was extra packed because the German kids making the Lynch documentary were filming there, and they must have inspired a bunch of students to come.

ArtWalk on the 7th. (I had some photos up at Nola's apt/gallery! didn't sell anything, but I traded Alek for some cups). After the show, a few of us went to see Flapjaw Larry at Cafe P. I got there just in time to hear their new song I'd been hearing about, "Salty Taco"... I have a feeling it's not exactly about tacos, but no one will tell me anything, they just sort of laugh or smirk... hm. Anyway, they ROCK, and dancing is good for my health.

Bari Koral on the 8th. NYC singer/songwriter, who is on the college circut. This was the first time I'd heard of such a thing - having an agent who specifically books you to colleges. Interesting tactic. Anyway, Bari is supposed to be one of the highest grossing artists on the college circut, and she was good. The crowd was pretty small, but she said she was ok with it because she just liked to come to Fairfield and it was like a little haven/resting place for her in the middle of a trip. She's into yoga and such. I felt a little bit disconnected from her for some reason though. Probably would have helped to sit with the others after the show and get to know her a bit, but Anna P was in town and I really wanted to catch up with her. The funny thing is, I kept seeing Bari around town the next few days, but I don't know that she made the connection that I was at the concert. She came to get breakfast at Cafe P north at the same time I came up to get mine, and she was wearing a cool sweater, so I told her I liked it. She thanked me and started to tell her usual story, and then said "Oh, when I'm in New York it sounds exotic to say I got it in Iowa, but not here! I got it in Iowa City." heh heh. I'm really, really liking her CD though. Very catchy tunes!

I missed the person at Cafe P on Sunday the 9th because I went with G and Tommy to see Girlyman in Cedar Rapids. Lis Harvey was their opening act. Here's what I wrote about that concert in another blog:

Im inspired by everything. I write about anything. Anyones story can become your own thats as true in life as it is in art. - Lis Harvey

Went to a Girlyman concert tonight, and discovered wonderful, funny, sweet, smart Lis Harvey. Hooray. I told her about Cafe Paradiso, and put it down on her mailing list, so who knows??? I also told her how it was a great chain, I met Girlyman through Dar, and her through Girlyman, so next time she came through, she should bring someone cool along. :)

Girlyman was also wonderful, funny, sweet, smart and amazing as usual. Gilberto and Tommy came with me. It was funny to watch G figure out that all these songs he'd been hearing in the background were by Girlyman, and that he really liked them. And then "Why didn't you tell me when you went to the Dar concert that they were going to be there? I would have come?" Well, because I didn't KNOW them until the Dar concert, heh heh. I have to admit, I think it took them a few songs to warm up, they seemed a little tired, and even (gasp) a teeny bit off on the harmonies for the first few?? maybe? But they hit their stride during "Amazing" and just rocked it out from there! And not that the first few weren't good, just not as perfect as the first time I remembered them in my head. And you can't blame them, it's live, and it's a crazy life, all that traveling and such. But yeah, they got in it, and just got better and better. yay.

Tommy bought "Little Star" and talked to Nate, telling him he looked like Eddie Izzard. :) He took it as a compliment. I kinda busted in from the back right after they signed a set list for someone, and just thanked them and said I already had both of their CD's or I would have bought one.

I love CSPS. They have cats!! Yes. Really. And good art. And they bring in good concerts. I wish they were closer. ah well.

Oh, and the awesome thing? I signed up on the street team, put up lots of posters and sent out emails promoting them, and I was on the guestlist! Hooray!! And Tommy saw the posters, and that's how he knew about the concert and told me he wanted to come. And he bought a CD. So I made a direct difference. :D And who knows, someone might have more awareness of them now, for later...

Tues April 11th (Collin's Birthday!) Arthur Lee Land came to Cafe Paradiso. I missed most of the first act because I was at Collin's birthday dinner, but I got a full hour of the second, and stayed after a little to help clean up and hear the after concert talk, which I always like. He's quite amazing - does this looping thing where he's recording loops right on stage and gradually builds up a song - drums, shakers, guitar and bass line, then solos and sings over that lush background! pretty wild to watch it happening! He also had a rather small audience, but it WAS Tuesday, and he was new. He's willing to give it another go some weekend this summer or fall when he comes back this way.

Wed April 12th, another rockin open mic, although not quite as full as the last.

Friday April 14th, Afrochinstrap played at Morning Star. G and I went a bit late, and stayed for one set I think. Those kids can rock! They mostly do Nirvana covers and such, but they do a good job. They rotate vocalists - Kevin, Gemma and David M, so that adds a little variety too. I was tired, and a bit overwhelmed by the crowd. yeesh I feel old. It's pretty amazing to be back in that High School energy, but feel so removed/past it. And horrible to feel the few glances of: "hey, they're old, what are they doing here?" heh. Just a flicker of wishing I was cool in their eyes, but got over that pretty fast.

Tonight Adrien is going to be singing in Cafe P, looking forward to seeing what she's been up to.

Feels like my whole paycheck after bills is going to Cafe P! hah! A most worthy cause, but yipes. Meret and I were talking, and she said something like "your music budget must be overloaded!" and I said "Yeah, I need to like work for you guys or something!" She said I could probably do the door sometimes, and I said if she ever needed help with postering or whatnot I was up for that too. So hopefully she will think of me and that would help me a bit. I mean, especially with these people charging $10, and then if I buy a CD for $12 or $15... and then with 2 or 3 people coming a week. :O Can't keep up with that. But I guess I don't drink, and that can get expensive for people... whatever. we all have our habits and addictions. Music can't be the worst one!

Oh, so my latest discovery, of last night is: The Weepies! Hooray! I was checking out Mandy Moore's playlist on iTunes, and was reminded that she's been writing songs with Lori McKenna, and then stumbled over The Weepies on there, and went to their site and got hooked. sigh. Too much to listen to! My iPod mini is full, so if I want to put new stuff on, that means someone gets booted off. It's all on my computer, so it could go back on later, but boo... hard decisions.