Sunday Showcase 1-23-05

So last nights show was pretty good, all of the bands were very professional. You could tell how hard they all worked to bring their own special sound to the audience. They played their sets like there were thousands of screaming fans in the crowd instead of the handful of friends they could muster up in the freezing cold weather (even by NC standards).
Seven bands performed as follows
1. American Aquarium
2. Big City Reverie
3. Austin Freeman
4. Sequoya
5. Eyes To Space
6. Early Morning Swim
7. The Know

Styles in music varied greatly, but the audience didn’t seem to reflect the difference. Everyone was young and excited to get to play. Standout performances go to, “Eyes To Space” and “Early Morning Swim“. I felt they had the most to offer and the most originality.

Eyes To Space brought more people in than any one else. The club filled quickly as they set up their instruments for sound check. The lead singer played a Key-tar, something I haven’t seen in many, many years. Their music reminded me of Devo, synth pop with lots of energy. I have noticed many bands lately with that 80’s new wave sound. So would they be defined as Post Wave? I had fun watching them play and I loved the songs.




Early Morning Swim had a whole different approach. Fronted by an acoustic guitar and two lead singers providing a beautiful blend of male and female vocals. Their Violinist played the hooks and the leads. No one over played, each member understanding the importance of space in music. Their songs are well crafted and driven by an A+ rhythm section. I’m looking forward to hearing more of them.

First Gig in North Carolina

I was very surprised that a friend of mine from the local band Early Morning Swim asked me if I would like to play The Cat’s Cradle. I thought about it for one second and said yes. The Cat’s Cradle is after all one of the best clubs in the area. I couldn't believe that I get to play music on the same stage as Gillian Welch, Cat Power, Kristin Hersh, Tortoise, and Neko Case,

It’s called The Sunday Showcase and the only promotion is what the bands tell their friends. They sent us about 50 tickets color coded so they will know exactly who you came to see. The only local bands that play there are pretty big nationally. Like bands on Merge records, Southern Culture On The Skids and Trailer Bride. I think they want to see who you are and what you have to offer.

I will not bring in a lot of people but all of my close friends will be there and that’s enough for me. If the weather permits it should be a good time, and I’ll post my review of how it went and the great acts I get to see.

In Memory of Nutmeg

(12-28-98 to 1-20-2005)


(update 5/24/05)

We had Nutmeg for 4 years and she was a wonderful pet. She died of Adrenal Disease, and cancer of the pancreas. A common fate for American bred ferrets. I miss her so much and I think of her every day. We found a fortune cookie she had taken and stashed in one of her hiding places. We opened it and the fortune read " Wish you a good journey". It was so poetic and profound that it brought tears to my eyes.

Two Sisters

We’re out doing yesterday
We want only to make it home
I check the skies everyday
It makes me feel less alone
They may seem so far away
From this particular stone
You feel lost because you forgot
Who named us as their own

Two sisters sing a lullaby
Holding hands the other cries
Come the morning her face is dry
And the other's sorrow wells inside
Two lovers sing a melody
For the sisters harmony
They sing so tenderly so you’ll find your way back home

If there’s something they could see
It would surely be polarized
With good and bad, black and white
Ice and flame, day and night
But you know it’s monochrome
The color of flesh is judged by the bone
as they wait on a rocky shore
So I guess I can wait a little more

Two sisters sing a lullaby
Holding hands the other cries
Come the morning her face is dry
And the other's sorrows well inside
Two lovers sing a melody
For the sisters harmony
They sing oh, so tenderly
So you’ll find your way back home

My boat sailed across stone harbor
A sweet low song of my mother
A locket made of feather and bone
A sweet low song to guide me home
I heard your car on a hill
in the silence my thoughts distill
Life then left to our will
And never stop until...

Two lovers sing a melody
For the sisters harmony
They sing oh, so tenderly
So you’ll find your way back home
c.2004




You can hear this song "Two Sisters" on the player below