Am I Pleasuring You? or Here's Looking Up Your Old Address.

I can't even remember where I left off. Last week was helllish (which is one more than hellish). I tried to wean myself off caffeine all week and I was a sluggish sack 'o potatoes. At least I wasn't having the dreaded anxiety (i don't think they're panic) attacks. So there's the solution to that problem. I accepted the job with The Eat and i've got my work cut out for me. Their drummer, Chris, was a hero of mine when I was a pup. Still is. I hope I can come up with something that will make them happy. It seems my project calendar is deep in the swamp. It's nice to be needed but it's also nice to conserve sanity. Which of, I suppose, i'm a quart low or two cards shy.

Was O'Hara's last week? Anyway, Bongo ended up being there but he left early. That sucked. There were a few songs that we had to scramble to fill harmony parts. He seems to be a bit up and down at this point and I worry about it. Last night was the return of the Dillengers after a few weeks off and it showed. As usual, I was all over the map timing wise and i'm sure i'm gonna hear aboot (that's Canadian or, as I like to call it, Canoodlean) it today. I deserve it. But it was a good night overall. This guy I know (i guess he could be called a friend even though I don't know him very well)....Fuck it. This friend of mine, James, came by with entourage in tow and that brightened things considerably. James is moving to Nashville to be with his boyfriend, Matt (just kidding). I'm bummed. He was really cool and always nice to me. Rumour has it he may be back in town around Halloween time. Hope so.

Wednesday, I've got the Bamboo Room with the Dildogers (which means Thursday i'll be dumber than a bag o' hammers at work...if not completely def (sic)) and Friday I have my first practice with the Eat. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. This week's prediction for listening: Otis Redding and plenty o' The Eat!!

'Lil Peetie.

A few hundred posts back, I mentioned a band called thursday's child and I raved about them quite a bit. I've gotten a few emails from them about possibly playing second guitar with them at a gig or two but scheduling conflicts have prevented us from working together as of yet. This afternoon, I got an email from them asking me to play drums for them at a gig in New York City. I'm hoping I can do it. They're great and it would be nice to play an out-of-town gig. I've been having a lot of dramatrauma in the personal life lately. Stuff I can't really talk about that i've been bitching to everyone about. It's like i'm forgetting to take my lithium and i'm all out of sorts. I'm not on lithium (for those who don't know me). Last night, I met with Yves, Brian and Greg to see if music could be shared and it was. Unfortunately, it was sort of directionless...but not terrible. Eddie O'Brien asked if I would play a gig with The Eat and I jumped at the chance. The Eat were about the best punk band we had around here in the beginning of the Eighties. My stepbrother and I would listen to their records all the time. It is certainly an honor to be asked.

Naked Man Does Laundry. Film at 11.

Haven't posted much 'cause I haven't really done anything interesting. Last year, down time was August-September. This year, it's a month late. I have one gig this month and it's this coming Saturday at O'Hara's. I really hope Bongo is up to it. I think people will boo us if he's not there.

Yesterday, we cleaned up the house a bit and Kris bought a cinnamon broom so the place still smells like a pack of Freshen Up gum. We had our friends Jen and Vena (?) over for a bit last night and I broke out some 45s and spun them. We ended up at the Jetsetter (Jojo at my mom's) and had dinner and checked out the entertainment which was some blues. My mom promised to take Jojo to Chuck E. Cheese (they should close the place 'cause i heard they found a mouse in the kitchen.) and she bailed on the idea so it was left to us to take her this afternoon. I hate that place and some of the kids are snotty little spoiled brats (this is in Byoca). We played skeeball and all the usual games and after spending probably 20 bucks on tokens, we won enough tickets for Jojo to take home a bracelet and two Tootsie Rolls worth about 78 cents.

My day was not going so well when I pulled into Borders to look around and I saw a new John Coltrane video has come out. I had that in my hand at the checkout counter when I noticed a box of stuff they were putting away. Bad idea. On top of the pile was a brand-new OTIS REDDING video!!!!! I was so excited, i was willing to take the beating for spending too much money. I'm counting the hours until Jojo goes to bed so I can tuck into it. It's here This has turned out to be a great day. FUCK TOMORROW!!!!!

The Infamous Banjo.

Must give some blog time to my friend and yours, Michael Hawn. Mike has been in and out of hospital lately suffering from the ill effects of chemo-therapy. A few years back, Mike told us he had some form of leukemia and there was nothing to worry about. I'm worried now. As usual, he's being very light-hearted about it but I would like everyone reading this to send out a good vibe to him. Mike (Bongo) and I go way back. I joined this band called The Trouble Boys back in the 80's and Mike was a friend of theirs. If memory serves me, I met him at my first gig with them in Hollywood. He went on to be one of my closest and dearest friends. When I moved away we still kept in touch and when I got back in town he got me to join his band, The Funkabilly Playboys. He also got me a good job at Verizon. He's always looked after me and I hope somehow I can do the same. I love you, pally! Last night, we went to the final Spoony gig at Cheers in Fart Lauderdale. Before that, we went to our friend Vena's and met Jen and JC there. Vena had a guitar so I had to play it and a hootenanny ensued. Eventually we made it to Cheers. We had fun and I successfully socialized without too much fear. We cut out of there early with ears ringing. Rumor has it a new project might present itself Tuesday. Who knows?
* photo by judy blem.

Clang Bang/Clang Bang.

Today's endeavor went smoothly. Yves of Destruction was who I met with. We had a great time together and I feel like i've gained a friend. We played some original material to each other and became fans. He's a great songwriter and singer and, hell, just a great guy all around. We actually started writing a song together and that went really well. And he likes corned beef. And he has a piano. What more could you ask for? It was also nice to have a rare day off. Sometimes when I have time off, I don't know what to do with myself. Sometimes I only feel real when i'm playing music. Our bathroom is still being renovated and the tile went down today. My bedroom smells like burnt plastic. If you never hear from me again, i'll have died from inhalation. You can split my records among you.
* top photo by judy blem.

Midnight, Tennesee.

Today was just not my day. Rick called to let me know we won't be playing Elwood's on Sundays for a while. As much as I complain about them now and then, i'm gonna miss them. My drumming is going to go to complete shit. Like it isn't already. Judy Blem dropped a project in my lap that I might consider. Tomorrow, I have the day off work so i'm gonna get some things done. I have that meeting with a future-possible-musical-ally in Hollywood that i'm looking forward to. I get real depressed when I have too much time in-between gigs...and complain when I have too many. There's no pleasing this jerk! I 'spose i've been sad lately 'cause i'm listening to sad music.

Just Let Me Say For The Record: We're Giving Love In A Family Dose.

Rainy days make me sleepy. Outside my window, it's lightninging and raining a bit. I don't know why I haven't been blogging....oh, yeah...I haven't had the fucking time. I think I might have a lead on starting my own band. I find out on Thursday. I'm taking that day off work and i'm gonna hang with a new-found musical ally and see what sticks to the pasta. I've been having feelings I should be writing songs so i'm really gonna try and i've got one i've just started. I really hope it works out. Like all my musical endeavors, this one will also be a side-project. I had a full weekend of gigs this past week. Friday was Elwood's. A few friends stopped by and while I was talking to them I felt a panic attack coming on and thankfully it went away quickly. I think i'm pretty sure they are caused by lack of sleep, stress and too much caffeine. The gig went OK and afterward I ended up at the Hurricane to see the Spoonys. I arrived too late and didn't hear/see any music. Saturday, we played the Jetsetter and that's always fun but the crowd usually peters out early so we played to chairs at the end. Mike Jones always makes me a bitchin' egg cream.

Yesterday was Elwood's again and after that I ran to O'Hara's to take part in the Spoony's all-star jam thingy. I played drums and guitar and neither was that painful. Matt and I played simultaneous lead and that was cool. I hung out afterward and chatted with everybody and didn't get home 'til around four. Today was a cleaning day 'cause our bathroom is getting redone this week. I really wish I had something interesting to say other than the facts. I'll have to save that for the next post. Luckily, I don't have any major plans during this coming week...other than having a filling replaced tomorrow and seeing the Spoony's last gig at Cheers on Saturday night. I have no idea why I added these pictures. One of them was taken during my first punk phase when i was around 11. Another one is with Bongo when we were in our twenties. The last one is of one of the bands I played in in San Francisco called Candyass. On the left is East Bay Ray from the Dead Kennedys.