blue skies

The weather is really great today, for my day off. 80, sunny and no humidity. Just came in from a trip to a neighborhood festival, but the blazing sun did me in. It will certainly be nicer out there once the sun hits the (somewhat distant) treeline and buildings on the Ave facing west.
The Flat Tire taps they were tasty.

Best part of the trip was the exploratory zig-zag along the river front. Last years flooding kinda wiped out the the landscaping along the riverbank, but it's coming back and I see there are a few little trails forming. It's great having greenspace areas near the homestead.

Tonight looks to be a Mother Fools/Mickeys/Marquette triple M trifecta of live performances. Oboy. I'm seriously hoping to not have to plan for another RTQE tomorrow, tentative dinner and social plans await if not.

Patrick and Sam and drummingTom have made a commitment to stop spending as much time playing songs we know and concentrate on jelling our respective contributions into our own music. I have much hope that we will get there, maybe this year.

Also on Tom's playing out agenda is a gig downtown, 1st on a bill of three groupings. The thing is to be a duo with Lachmund and I for about 45" or so. I may completely pull out the stops and become more or less unhinged at this. Just so you know. It's

Saturday, August 8th
Capitol Lakes Grand Hall
333 W. Main, Madison
7PM (note the early time)
●Lachmund and Hamer duo
followed by, not necessarily in this order:
●Hannah Jon Taylor quartet
●JoAnne Pow!ers quartet with guests from Chicago and Philly

I should note that, once again, some of the best music at the place I work has been cover stuff, imagine that. Pete K and the crew were spot on with his group Shakey doing Neil Young's 'Harvest' yesterday. A superfine turnout of friendly patrons and the music of Neil Young played with heart and gusto. Good times! Can't say much for the late show, but I hung in there until bartime.
And then there's The Gomers and that Gomeroke. They make it a show. I have said, 'hey, if the singer sucks, just listen to the band!' and of course 'they can play anything'

Oh the drama at work, will it never subside? 'nuff said
Am I enjoying my day off? Most certainly.

listen:
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
Thelonius Monk w/John Coltrane
Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
Bill Monroe

wham wham wham

Tonight's late night club-sitting oeuvre was festooned with steel barrels as percussion. Old school industrial. I should know, about 1991 I was doing this too - blame it on Skinny Puppy...and Jamie Muir in King Crimson 1972. From him came the loops of heavy chain in each hand. Thrash, thrash. Ah, the good old days.

10.5 hours of door and 3+ of clean/setup this morning, that's all I've got.

listen:
(in between sets)
Dub Trio
Heartless Bastards
the bartenders played these, bless 'em
(this morning)
Richard Thompson - Amnesia
Dub Trio haha
(this afternoon)
múm
birds