Catch-up

Wow.

Two months without looking at this site. One would think I hadn't been up to much- not true! Traveled to see my Del Castillo buds, first to Corpus, then to Austin. Caught several Buttercup gigs, though I have yet to make it to one of their Austin Tuesday Grackles. Weeknights are just tough to do, ya know? I payed for going to austin to see DC.

Got some WONDERFUL news the other day! My step brother's band Machine Head has been nominated for a Grammy! I am so happy for them! Dave's been in the band for 12 years, and all but one of their six albums, and it is about damn time the Industry in this country recognised them for the talent they are. I was so pissed at Roadrunner US when they fired MH! Roadrunner UK had its head on though, and after the album Through the Ashes of Empires took Europe by storm, RR here wised the hell up! I was livid about the treatment the guys got, and wasn't happy when they re-signed with them, but I know they didn't go with any half-assed contract. And the new union has paid off mightily for both sides now!
I will actually watch that damned award show ( I hate that junk....what a waste of time!) Just to see Dave and the guys in the audience. Maybe I will get a friend to TIVO it, so's I can skip over all but the important parts. Who knows- maybe they will ask Machine Head to PLAY the awards! That would SO rock!

Haven't been out to see much local talent lately. Just cannot seem to motivate myself into smoky, noisy bars. The occassional coffee house will have something that interests me, but on the whole, this city is once again lacking a place for true alternative musical approaches to be heard. There was many a night where I wanted to be elsewhere, but I really do miss the Red Room. We gave the unique a place to be, and while the audiences weren't always there, the artists loved it. Doors opened as a result, but not enough, and I think I am feeling the withdrawl. Need a dose of Billy Harvey, or Matt the Electrician, or a thousand others that passed thru our doors. Sigh.

Maybe it is the season that is making me sentimental.

And yesterday was the anniversary of that bad,bad day in 1980. I wrote about it in detail last year, so won't this time. Instead,a link: www.imaginepeace.com

This is a site run by Yoko, for the same cause she and John spoke out about for years.
Go visit, send a message to the peace memorial, and remember the positive that John Ono Lennon brought to, and left with this world. We still miss you, bro.

namaste.

Imagine

Is there a definitive image of John Ono Lennon that the world will remember him by? I doubt it. He is destined to become a legend, a fallen hero relegated to history books which don't catch half the poignancy of his life. It is the way of things.

I remember the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show when I was about 5. I remember the covers of magazines that both blasted and embraced the guys of that band. Mostly, I remember the music, which played in the house until my siblings all left for college or other stuff. It rang in my ears so much, I bought myself copies of the LPs, to fill the gaps my sibs had left.

I remember the break-up. It stunned the world, because none of us were really paying attention. Hindsight is 20/20, and now we see that business was tearing the music to shreds. If they could've given over the business and been able to trust someone to let them be the artists they were and are, who knows? The Beatles, like the Rolling Stones, might still be out there.

And I remember one really bad day.

I don't want to write about it here. I want to remember what was positive about John, how he had finally some to love his life, and make music that showed his soul was at peace. That's why the picture of his boys. He left us a good legacy in them.

So here's to you, Johnny. You might not have realised it then, but you and your friends changed the world, quite literally. I will always wonder what might have been, but I too will celebrate what was, and is. After all, all you need is love.

"all we are saying is give peace a chance."

good times.....

Ah, I remember the Police. I was in university up in Austin when Roxanne came out. I am a huge Golden Earring fan, and was miffed for awhile, because their new album had a song by the same name on it. The Police rubbed off on me though, with time. I was, after all, a punk. One cannot ignore the truly different, and well, frankly, they were tremendous musicians, in a time when half the bands could barely play their instruments. My ears are discerning, even if the heart may want to get out there and slam dance sometimes (for you youngsters, that was what we did LONG before mosh pits existed.)

Ironically, I didn't see the Police in concert til much later in their career, before the break-up. They played the Frank Erwin Centre in Austin sometime in the early '80's, and while it was a good gig, I don't really like those big gigs. Might as well rent a video and be comfortable at home. Herein is my dilemma. They're back. And I would love to say I am going, but I haven't made up my mind. Luckily, I have awhile- tickets don't go on sale til next weekend. The problem is that I know where they are going to play and the place is a freakin' echo pit! I would challenge the best soundman out there to dampen the sound in the place enough to make it worth my money and while to go! Back in '98, I went to see Plant & Page at the Alamo Dome (also referred to in this city as the Ugly Dome and the dead Armadillo.) The place can hold 50 to 75,000 people, they used only half of it and the reverberation was atrocious. The overwhelming sound and heat (the AC died shortly before the first band hit the stage!) didn't dampen my experience, but I have heard them in better places.
The Police are scheduled to play the AT&T Centre, and I have been in this room. Extremely high ceilings, with nothing to absorb sound, and a centralized stage with hanging speakers pretty much spell noisy to me. I don't think I could find a sweet spot in the room if you gave me five days! That's a soundman's term for the point where all the elements of the sound blend perfectly, and I have a soundman's ear. I have been one for a long time.

*sigh* It's no fun being a music fan and having to deal with mediocre venues. That's one of the reasons I stuck it out at the Red Room. We had some amazing nights there, with music played at reasonable volumes, so it could actually be HEARD. For that reason alone, I am sorry San Antonio never caught on to listening, really hearing music.

Still, to watch Sterwart Copeland on drums....Andy summers on guitar.....Sting on bass. They've all done nothing but grow as musicians in the years since the Police.


Guess I am going to be spending some serious time weighing the pros and cons. And looking for my binoculars.....

Del Castillo Goes Batty!

South Texas is home to the largest concentration of bats in the world (at least according to National Geographic),about 40 million mexican freetails and about 5 other varieties. Only Austin,however,could find a way to celebrate the urbanization of their bats- holding a festival right over the place where the bats roost. Of course, it is one of the busiest bridges in the whole city, with cars, buses and such going overhead and, bikers, hikers and canoe- ers underneath. If the bats don't mind that, they shouldn't have too much trouble with some music, hm?

I was surprised really- even though I got there late-ish in the afternoon, I doubt the bats were any more roused than usual. Folks who have lived in Austin for years, many of whom had never seen this daily....err....nightly...event were congragating to watch the little mammals come out from under the bridge about 9 PM. I was astounded at how little people seemed to know about bats. Without them here in such numbers, the mass of south central Texas would be unlivable- the insects would overwhelm humans and crops. So be nice to the little fuzzy flying mice. They are not vermin, they do not suck blood, or automatically carry rabies. They ARE however a vital part of the local ecosystem,each eating nearly its weight in insects every night. It's natural pest control- appraciate it!

www.batcon.org

Okay- Del Castillo and the bands before them could've used some light-loving bats last night! Just about the time the little furry dudes were heading out, I looked over and saw the stage just swarming with insects. I started taking bets among the Posse how long it would take Alex to inadvertantly swallow a bug! He never did to my knowledge, but the little critters certainly did make themselves at home during the set. It remains to be seen if I caught the cricket sitting on Mark's knee during one of his solos, just paying complete attention to the guitar. See guys!? It's even intra-Species now!

We lucked out at this gig- it could've been a scorcher- but the weather gods let things cool down for us, and other than humidity, it was a good night. The Boys seemed to be happy to be home, and the despite some sound problems, it was a wonderful gig, Couple of new tunes, including one called Everlasting (possibly a partial title- got that from the set list) that has an absolutely BLISTERING bit of drumming from our Mike Zeoli! I love the DC Trio- Bert, Mike, and Carmelo, but this drum line stopped me in my tracks. I've seen Mikey play metal, and he showed some of that off in this number. Wow.

I am headed for Corpus Christi in a few hours and have some loose endss to tie up here before the drive. I will write more later. Ya know....I miss the Red Room sometimes. I found a lot of good new music there. But I am so glad to be able to go see Del Castillo again. There just isn't anything quite like them.

www.delcastillomusic.com

The things I do for music......

I am sunburned.

I am dehydrated.

I am soooo tired.....!

And I had a blast making my way to Austin to hang out at Waterloo Park and watch a lot of people become potential new Buttercup fans.

It was so blessed hot and humid, it took awhile for folks to decide to come out of the shade for a song or two, but the boys kept it popping and rocking enough, I think they made some new friends, for when they play INDOORS next up there!

It was the Austin Hot Sauce Festival, and the salsas had trouble conpeting with 95 degree weather and 75% humidity. Chips were gettin' soggy just sitting there! My fellow Del Castillo nut Angie had entered a chocolate-piqian (lil tiny super demon hot chilis) salsa, which she promised to make for one of her get-togethers sometime. Lines to taste the non-pro stuff were long, so we opted out to head to the Texas Chili Parlor for some grub and cool down time.
Man, to think I am doing it again next weekend, willingly, at the Bat Fest for DC....I think the Tejas sun musta fried my mind! At least the Boys are playing after the sun goes down. I may have to sacrifice my front of stage spot, but I might be up to traveling to Corpus the next day, per current plans. They play indoors there!

ah. Must go feed the body some more, and do some chores, then sit and chill before
bed. Been a long weekend. Zee was down here last night with Gypsy Soul, and next Friday is Joe and Hilary, then Saturday in Austin, Sunday in Corpus...good lord, I am tired already! Whew. I thought when the Red Room ended that my life would get simplier. Pphht! Not a chance! ;)