tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75174020407020112092024-03-05T07:18:13.947-08:00My St. LouisDoggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-22942398414045937932012-08-04T08:36:00.002-07:002012-08-04T08:36:36.550-07:00Comfortable Under This Rock, Thank You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s_af9B2P_S2zwK53EoEUprFKlPLekK8WZhorR1STuiwdEU73vVgxiTXK8NXmRVZr0gF_V1jOpEcluyq7fvXkk85CIN10LPKjXHa0MwaZoyR5-huuLMDVga19FAa_VQfao_d_SXbfm_5A/s1600/Megabus+Crash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s_af9B2P_S2zwK53EoEUprFKlPLekK8WZhorR1STuiwdEU73vVgxiTXK8NXmRVZr0gF_V1jOpEcluyq7fvXkk85CIN10LPKjXHa0MwaZoyR5-huuLMDVga19FAa_VQfao_d_SXbfm_5A/s320/Megabus+Crash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sitting here, listening to Judee Sill’s The Kiss. She is
definitely one of music’s great losses. I’m getting lost in the labyrinths of
fate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had this summer all mapped out. I was gonna camp as much
as possible but it’s been too damn hot. There’s nothing worse than trying to sleep
in a tent when it’s over 90 degrees. I’ll never forget the night Dylan and I
spent an entire night in my car with the AC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have 2 major skydiving events I’m missing. Last week a lot
of my jumping buddies went down to <st1:place><st1:city>Sullivan</st1:city>, <st1:state>MO</st1:state></st1:place>
for an annual memorial service for friends we lost in a crash. We not only lost
dear friends but the operation had to close.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t been able to tear myself away from editing the
final part of the band’s DVD, so I didn’t go. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This weekend is an old timer’s reunion in <st1:place><st1:city>Taylorville</st1:city>,
<st1:state>IL</st1:state></st1:place>. My other drop zone in Vandalia has also
closed. I’m still working on the film. I can’t afford it anyway. I know I’m
going to regret not being there. The prospect of a bunch of non-current hot
dogs trying to out crazy each other is pretty frightening anyway!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was supposed to meet up with my friend Tom. We just got
word that Tom broke his back during a bad landing in <st1:place><st1:city>Ottawa</st1:city>,
<st1:state>Il</st1:state></st1:place> at Skydive Chicago. He was air lifted to
<st1:city>Peoria</st1:city>. His wife Drea says he’s
coming home soon and shouldn’t be paralyzed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe we’re getting too old.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other thing we’re supposed to do this summer is stay
with our friends Marion and Terry in <st1:city>Chicago</st1:city>.
I’m going up once with Valerie and another time with my daughter Chloe. Chloe
is fascinated with dinosaurs and is dying to see Sue, the world’s largest T-Rex
skeleton at the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Field</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We should have gone by now but I have to finish this film.
I’m working on the finishing touches so it shouldn’t be long. I just have to
get a couple more <i>important</i> interviews.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Terry and Marion---- if you’re reading this, we are still
coming!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They turned us on to something called the Megabus. We can
get to <st1:city>Chicago</st1:city> for almost nothing.
It’s a good thing (and a miracle) we didn’t go last week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Megabus on its way from <st1:city>St. Louis</st1:city>
to <st1:city>Chicago</st1:city> had a flat, lost
control, and veered into a bridge. One person died and dozens were air lifted
to hospitals in <st1:city>St. Louis</st1:city> and <st1:place><st1:city>Springfield</st1:city>,
<st1:state>Il</st1:state></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes inertia is its own reward.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-48394177063876938432012-07-29T06:46:00.000-07:002012-07-31T11:32:12.515-07:00Jury Duty<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I turned 18, we had just gotten the vote. The argument
was, if you’re old enough to get drafted and die for your country, you're old
enough to be part of the decision making process. What a joke that turned out
to be. Without corporate money you might as well hang it up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was young and idealistic I really wanted to part of
the process. I knew my vote threw me into the jury pool and I saw it as my
civic responsibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first vote was for an independent and I prided myself on
never having picked a winner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had friends who voted for Nader. At the time I thought
both parties were so bought and paid for, it didn’t matter who you voted for.
People who voted for Nader were derided for giving votes to the Republicans. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I now know, if Gore had won we wouldn’t be at war or be
facing our current deficit. It really does matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie, my son and I visited our friends Uncle Bill and
Martha Rose last night. They were shocked to learn how much I hated Obama.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He gave the banks Bush’s TARP with no strings. They refuse
to lend so small businesses and home buyers are screwed. One third of his
stimulus was in the form of tax cuts. This was to make the Republicans happy.
Not only will they not acknowledge it, but it watered down the stimulus so much
they can say, “See, it didn’t work!” He said, “Single payer is off the table.”
So we lost the public option.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His “pragmatism” has set the Democratic party back 20 years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The American public is convinced he’s socialist. By that
logic, the right are Nazi’s and Fascists. The ignorance scares me. Big money is
rewriting history. A guy I work with learned that Nazi is an acronym for
National Socialist Worker’s Party. “Socialist, that proves they were lefties!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My son has been doing research on presidential candidates
and found someone in the Green party he liked. Uncle Bill and I looked at each
other and said, “There’s a vote for the republicans.” In his defense, Dylan
pointed out I was idealistic in my youth and never picked a winner. “It’s my
turn now,” he said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uncle Bill said, “If you don’t vote for the lesser of 2 evils,
you vote for the greater of 2 evils.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is all long winded back story for my real story; I had
jury duty this week. Needless to say, I’m a lot more cynical now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get picked every cycle. I even get picked as a juror. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last time I told them I was a self employed courier, living
paycheck to paycheck. It would be a financial hardship for my kids and me. They
bumped it back 6 months to Christmas and it was even worse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A friend of mine at work said that excuse works for her
every time. I guess they only believe women have to raise kids.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I been worried about covering bills for months. What if a
trial drags on and on. Last time I was in one that dragged on for a week and a
half before they settled out of court. That was after sitting for 3 days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think things have changed a little. Last Wednesday we sat
until <st1:time hour="15" minute="0">3:00</st1:time> in the afternoon before
they started calling jurors. There weren’t really very many of us. They kept
calling numbers and I was convinced I’d be called. They must have picked 2
thirds of the crowd. They didn’t get me. I was kinda hoping they would so we
get get it over with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One woman didn’t respond. They kept repeating her name over
the intercom and she never responded. Finally they marked her absent and picked
some other schmoe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About 30 minute later she came in. She’s been on her cell
phone out front. Everyone in there was on a smart phone or lap top. They
scolded her, told her to sit down and unmarked her absent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They then told us we were excused from jury duty. It was all
over. We were told that in spite of the fact that we sat there all day doing
nothing, we could take pride in the fact that we did our civic duty and
participated in the process.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-43080229846478653602012-07-22T07:28:00.001-07:002012-07-22T07:28:14.835-07:00Spreadin' Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGygJyjoxI6lSQ7WIOrYa_Qizoqc38vnSczwHJpPP6wHuAwjB1iHss1dPH89C9T46A9osoNpla2g9AEaPLwR5YPpTo8MWl3hm7y_1StRd7P07nCICXylo0cbKdlmrW5DzoQvaKIdsb7BK/s1600/Camel+Head+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGygJyjoxI6lSQ7WIOrYa_Qizoqc38vnSczwHJpPP6wHuAwjB1iHss1dPH89C9T46A9osoNpla2g9AEaPLwR5YPpTo8MWl3hm7y_1StRd7P07nCICXylo0cbKdlmrW5DzoQvaKIdsb7BK/s320/Camel+Head+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGUD_uugQ-7zB3H5gDshPBc_BIuukNFqXMPs9iwm6TOOSWuUxz50iY-Ai_b4fWK7wXX0WiC-n88J2dDUegtsSuk5TgB4CV2AUxH48Mg8iPzJHpr37x2MH0aAXUOi2o437ckar7blSy7_6/s1600/Heather+Clowning+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGUD_uugQ-7zB3H5gDshPBc_BIuukNFqXMPs9iwm6TOOSWuUxz50iY-Ai_b4fWK7wXX0WiC-n88J2dDUegtsSuk5TgB4CV2AUxH48Mg8iPzJHpr37x2MH0aAXUOi2o437ckar7blSy7_6/s320/Heather+Clowning+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLixqxRcHA3qdr7IlZYKNEd1TZbKb_08X2gA3bBexyauJRhDZKLe38BIpErmt2bjhwMotVkXLvPsotlU8yZiN0DWbHmdgzHCyRtqn2E4HguqvtO-UC7ol6CpR9NYkwCRelMhBoqu02iYY/s1600/In+The+Parade+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLixqxRcHA3qdr7IlZYKNEd1TZbKb_08X2gA3bBexyauJRhDZKLe38BIpErmt2bjhwMotVkXLvPsotlU8yZiN0DWbHmdgzHCyRtqn2E4HguqvtO-UC7ol6CpR9NYkwCRelMhBoqu02iYY/s320/In+The+Parade+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7H86ndCPtSGcVE0eCXxI1B2z2Lcp_LSjiFOp-LeLefVEkmpajjy7WYMeNry-yePAMq7z5FjbDbJAihjJQI5Bz88krBvbBEtJDRZgrsVdVwkKeZ-ruJr-Lhfk2EuOl9x7t6mqApjFbXHq/s1600/Pointy+Toes+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7H86ndCPtSGcVE0eCXxI1B2z2Lcp_LSjiFOp-LeLefVEkmpajjy7WYMeNry-yePAMq7z5FjbDbJAihjJQI5Bz88krBvbBEtJDRZgrsVdVwkKeZ-ruJr-Lhfk2EuOl9x7t6mqApjFbXHq/s320/Pointy+Toes+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wX59XnXPFSp2PpHTqdb-RDreGTLrcx0VvD71zjQeCM2Y84LTaLzQEXKS-aUEY-BQf9O_YQwF2D5PMjzqov7TlVz3FkQzwbwQJv6bSpxLDsFRBfm9oLuT-RNLmSFN83KPQvDFlMRE4BTM/s1600/Pre+Parade+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wX59XnXPFSp2PpHTqdb-RDreGTLrcx0VvD71zjQeCM2Y84LTaLzQEXKS-aUEY-BQf9O_YQwF2D5PMjzqov7TlVz3FkQzwbwQJv6bSpxLDsFRBfm9oLuT-RNLmSFN83KPQvDFlMRE4BTM/s320/Pre+Parade+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we ride in the Banana Bike Brigade parades we usually
get paid $5.00. I guess it’s for a hamburger when we get to the carnival that’s
usually at the end. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love all the small town festivals we’re in. I really think
we’re the favorites of the parades. The kids line up so we can slap ‘em five as
we ride by. Adults come up saying we inspired them with new ideas for their art
class.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday we rode in New Athens, Illinois. It’s a perfect
little town off the main road against the <st1:place>Kaskaskia River</st1:place>.
You could drive right by it and not know it’s there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel guilty that I get credit for the wonderful creations
we get to ride.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie, the kids and I became part of it when I ran into my
friend Jon at a political rally downtown. He thought my kids would enjoy it. I
think Valerie and I enjoy it more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We usually grab a couple tables after the parade. We’re
pretty conspicuous and folks come around to meet us. There are people with
fascinating stories. The carnival owner told us his wife loved us and he had to
say hello. They’re from <st1:state>Texas</st1:state> and
they spend their entire life on the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New <st1:city>Athens</st1:city> has a
historical society with a museum. I couldn’t imagine what they had so I went
in. Among other things, they had ancient cheerleading outfits from the high
school. It was an incredible look at <st1:country-region>America</st1:country-region>’s
past.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The BBB are really about 5 or 6 people with friends coming
in and out. Valerie and I joke that they only call us when it over 100 degrees
and no one else will do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An artist named Uriel made the first bike and taught others.
There’s Carolyn, Jon, Lori, and Chris who’s always working hard keeping the
bikes road worthy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s all about bringing art to the people and I think they
really inspire everyone they come in contact with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told Jon there was no need to give us the 5 bucks, we just
want to be part of it. He said, “Don’t let them hear you say that!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out their Facebook page-----------</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/BananaBikeBrigade">http://www.facebook.com/BananaBikeBrigade</a></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-38930980964114571112012-07-15T05:44:00.003-07:002012-07-15T05:45:52.251-07:00Tony's Project<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tony Patti and I were going through videos of Wax Theatricks
rehearsals to see if there was anything I could use for the DVD. I think there
will be good Youtube stuff. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He told me he hadn’t been able to finish his personal
project since Danny had passed. It certainly took the wind out of my sails.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we were in rehearsals for the Wax reunion, my son and I
went down to a studio in <st1:place>South St. Louis</st1:place>. Tony asked him
to bring a t shirt so he could put band art on it for the show. Dylan cherishes
it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If recordings were still on vinyl, his band had just
finished side one. This was just over a year ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Fall Danny, Dominic, Dylan and I went to Tony’s house
to hear his new quad release of Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia. It was the
happiest I’d seen Danny since he got sick. He said he was going to throw away
his stereo copy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Quadrophenia, Tony played his project. It’s incredibly
ambitious.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first half is a concept album and he made the band learn
and play the whole thing straight through. I suspect you won’t be able to play
a single song on the Cd. You’ll have to listen to entire thing. I have to
admit, I’ve wanted to control my audience’s listening experience myself on
occasion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a record maker, the whole really is academic. It reminds
me of Hitchcock’s Rope. He filmed the entire thing on a stage with a single
moving camera. It was an ambitious experiment, but in the end it didn’t matter
to the audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we were listening to Tony’s project, I couldn’t help but
thinking, “This would have been so much easier to record in pieces!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just got a skeleton of a musical piece from Carl
Weingarten and Walt Whitney. I have to do what I’m gonna do to it and send it
back. That’s how the next Delay tactics record is going to be made.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The DVD has been consuming my every waking moment and I have
3 other projects behind that. Not to mention 2 unfinished Fojammi records and 2
records worth of my own material.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just after Danny passed, we had a huge party for him at
Duff’s Restaurant. My buddy Stephen Martin pulled me aside. He said Danny had
given him a message for me. “Finish your stuff!” It does seem like every time I
start making headway on it, I get distracted. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4XHOjOZ_yQOmQrMdkwBxFC478lHyo7Ayl4UBUivxUlvoK-Fq6vrTsvixY8BRWDv0cIFaLeqVEXDnEMJomOR3gWjZ1Ro6oA8_kpogFodVw_n_3yujhR8jCgwoKE4t1-WaixlL9q7ecZuK/s1600/Tony+performing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4XHOjOZ_yQOmQrMdkwBxFC478lHyo7Ayl4UBUivxUlvoK-Fq6vrTsvixY8BRWDv0cIFaLeqVEXDnEMJomOR3gWjZ1Ro6oA8_kpogFodVw_n_3yujhR8jCgwoKE4t1-WaixlL9q7ecZuK/s1600/Tony+performing.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Get off your butt and finish the project Tony.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-48144555324307356472012-07-09T05:40:00.002-07:002012-07-09T05:40:22.023-07:00Time Lost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTYMR8-EHKapd0xXs0niXezwN9u5-R4YFzhJahoX3e1G4sRj01jr1ADhWbYJICqqsR3YsxpSln4KU5BRDwXWoOL8s777wTT1apOMfCRXGFkWs2JwyuH1aUBlOBYqWv4h2ZzGhrKDPD65x/s1600/father-time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTYMR8-EHKapd0xXs0niXezwN9u5-R4YFzhJahoX3e1G4sRj01jr1ADhWbYJICqqsR3YsxpSln4KU5BRDwXWoOL8s777wTT1apOMfCRXGFkWs2JwyuH1aUBlOBYqWv4h2ZzGhrKDPD65x/s320/father-time.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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I sat down at my computer Saturday morning around 7:00 to edit the Wax Theatricks film. When I
looked up at the clock, it was 8:00
Sunday night. Needless to say, no blog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get emails when I’m tagged on Facebook. That’s the only
time I go on. I see friends who must spend their entire lives there judging by
the amount of posts, forwarded articles and thumbs up that cover my wall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have musician friend who tell me they won’t rehearse
unless they get paid. Why not learn the material at the gig?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s how I feel about computers. The only time I ever felt
like time wasn’t being eaten up by them is when I was paid. I could spend days
trying to figure out a software glitch or assemble a pc at a workbench. Days
gone with hardly anything to show for it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worked several years in the I.T. department at Harrah’s
Casino. We used every kind of technology, network, and hardware known. Training
had to be done on the fly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of time and money was wasted because they didn’t want
to pay for training. That seems to be the current trend. I guess Harrah’s was
ahead of its time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve built every computer I’ve owned since the mid 90s. I
could never have afforded them otherwise. I’ve spent countless hours trying to
install drivers for hardware that didn’t want to play with the rest of the
system. Building good music machines has a learning curve. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I kill hours on my own time, I honestly feel like I’m
sacrificing my life for my art. Life’s too short!</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-18982160941700149002012-07-01T09:38:00.002-07:002012-07-01T09:38:20.599-07:00Marion and Tracy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRMZiIg3TDqMb7AgOWYvWg9sBzsEPKM2ANselV3WUCM0KbG0twW6d9gOJckhrzJyuhMJHiwXt_qLIIieuyPRux38fEGjRzjcmhIlu3XX18dNMgBRfXDdq3aIN4EPMo8QkfVeHhyDC8wCh/s1600/Tracy+and+Marion+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRMZiIg3TDqMb7AgOWYvWg9sBzsEPKM2ANselV3WUCM0KbG0twW6d9gOJckhrzJyuhMJHiwXt_qLIIieuyPRux38fEGjRzjcmhIlu3XX18dNMgBRfXDdq3aIN4EPMo8QkfVeHhyDC8wCh/s320/Tracy+and+Marion+pool.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week I posted that Tracy and Marion were waiting it out
at a friend’s house while <st1:state>Colorado</st1:state>
burned. I’m sure everyone who reads my blog knows by now that they lost their
house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city>Tracy</st1:city> says every
day he thinks about something else that’s gone forever. He lost videos of his
band Go Dog Go’s first and last performances. He lost his audio studio. I’m
gonna make sure his next one is even better, but I guess that won’t bring back
the recordings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They went to their property to see if anything was left. <st1:city>Tracy</st1:city>
told me they looked at each other and laughed just like he and I did when we
came home to our looted apartment in the <st1:place>West End</st1:place>. We
were in our early 20s and I can’t tell you what losing our stereo meant to us.
Sometimes you have to be able to let go and move on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city>Marion</st1:city> is a
practicing Shambhala Buddhist Christian and it seems to be helping her attitude
about the whole thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They love their property, but they’ve decided to find a
house closer to the road. <st1:city>Marion</st1:city>
says she’ll have to get used to not walking around naked. I’m surprised after
all they’ve been through she even cares.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve all been through hell already this year but I think
Buddhism agrees with <st1:city>Marion</st1:city>. I ran
into her at Fojammi’s wake at Duff’s and she looked younger and happier than
ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently a lot of people want to know how they can help
but right now they just want to figure out where to go from here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re all behind you guys. We love you and you know it!</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-41861765988800043482012-06-24T06:40:00.003-07:002012-06-28T04:01:51.730-07:00No Internet!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPQ3YOq2G_sIZUsW68bDbGOxw0xXBb60ydOY4qWOWKdNvnVff9hQA3n8piYmlxKyW7q0ebRudro9-mQiMvz4UudpGN92kXQNFG_TmbRtZSEI60DFrQIBRxcRDQcG3kfgNrO-vKvpu5TeR/s1600/Jon+Sombrero+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPQ3YOq2G_sIZUsW68bDbGOxw0xXBb60ydOY4qWOWKdNvnVff9hQA3n8piYmlxKyW7q0ebRudro9-mQiMvz4UudpGN92kXQNFG_TmbRtZSEI60DFrQIBRxcRDQcG3kfgNrO-vKvpu5TeR/s320/Jon+Sombrero+lite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxUT6icIpcU5_XR9qnfSu21bT-Hrv_jpR6n37teAkL4fxvEKT1qXb0N0wyE9whxnHGAExCOrtmiTKWFA3zpCqMWsEjpoqCf9b7B1m-sGHdUqIDLx2tXThxzUT3fF-90jeJ9ITdVMh3ufC/s1600/Wm+Reading+at+McGurk's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxUT6icIpcU5_XR9qnfSu21bT-Hrv_jpR6n37teAkL4fxvEKT1qXb0N0wyE9whxnHGAExCOrtmiTKWFA3zpCqMWsEjpoqCf9b7B1m-sGHdUqIDLx2tXThxzUT3fF-90jeJ9ITdVMh3ufC/s200/Wm+Reading+at+McGurk's.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aviM_34Fi9cXUfr7c8Ej-S58sahvPRvhiP3pcO3-0Ckd980-OyBpI6f8_1z7LvaKQ5Hj7ls9jQT_ct9twieU2alouqb-1sKVM5fKQxUVgbIN9qlH9wR8VqFLPcLFQhJRe2xB681DuRtL/s1600/Chloe+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aviM_34Fi9cXUfr7c8Ej-S58sahvPRvhiP3pcO3-0Ckd980-OyBpI6f8_1z7LvaKQ5Hj7ls9jQT_ct9twieU2alouqb-1sKVM5fKQxUVgbIN9qlH9wR8VqFLPcLFQhJRe2xB681DuRtL/s200/Chloe+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt2w6-GBJB8ypjzcO75WaW4Br0LBCgqeMhurH-w_e1hg0DEt8YhizCP_WtOxThZ8mjJTqzywxjntV0m3clnJST7tNkLKjtoDCngS-2LS19aGEqn9gqBXjRLjzlCSVTOJOWL8rQaPF1Yj5/s1600/Dylan+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt2w6-GBJB8ypjzcO75WaW4Br0LBCgqeMhurH-w_e1hg0DEt8YhizCP_WtOxThZ8mjJTqzywxjntV0m3clnJST7tNkLKjtoDCngS-2LS19aGEqn9gqBXjRLjzlCSVTOJOWL8rQaPF1Yj5/s200/Dylan+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ltuNAuznhgG2r_rhjbYHMtIO6ESED5SF3_MyuBTDyogCVWNGXR6s8qLCMk2pZXg0EPHOEEvZj35PHSdZIRt0O1zRWgeASRaozeMEW8_ucK5MPSHQXcbJvUBsoCqrqxs4SjSuz8FJm3Bx/s1600/Dave+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ltuNAuznhgG2r_rhjbYHMtIO6ESED5SF3_MyuBTDyogCVWNGXR6s8qLCMk2pZXg0EPHOEEvZj35PHSdZIRt0O1zRWgeASRaozeMEW8_ucK5MPSHQXcbJvUBsoCqrqxs4SjSuz8FJm3Bx/s200/Dave+Marissa+Banana+Bike.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been without internet for 8 days. Wow! My blog will
probably be pretty sporadic this summer anyway. I’ve been pretty obsessed with
assembling the Wax Theatricks film.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot has happened in 8 days. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, Tracy and Marion are in the middle of the <st1:state>Colorado</st1:state>
forest fires. They’ve had to stay with friends and won’t know until Tuesday if
they lost their home. They had to give their cat to the local Humane Society.
We’re all thinking about them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our friend Jon who drafted us into the Banana Bike Brigade
was hit in front of his home by the TKOs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Technical Knock Outs are a group of young boys whose
mission is to literally knock someone out in a single blow. Jon says they know
what they’re doing. They hit him in his jugular vein and he went right out.
They got his wallet and 3 beers. This was 3 blocks from our apartment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jon has had run ins with them 4 times. One time he was
riding his bike. They threw half a brick at him, but his back pack stopped it.
They often use half a brick because they’re easy to throw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year there was a girl who could positively identify 7
of them. She didn’t show up in court and they had to let the jerks go. She had
obviously been threatened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They killed a Vietnamese man on Grand. Francis Slay, our
mayor, found a victim by our library on Grand. He was one of Joanie Thomas’
employees. He suffers permanent damage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needles to say, Valerie and I are very concerned. She
pointed out that all the victims seemed to be men over 50.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can anyone be so removed from empathy? We see it all around
us. Our current politics are a symptom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a lighter note---</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie, Dylan and I went to McGurk’s Wednesday for a book
signing by our buddy William Stage. We got our autographed copies of Not Waving
Drowning. He’s funny as ever! His wife Mary is pregnant with their 9<sup>th</sup>
kid. All but the first are girls. I think baby girls were the majority of the
audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We met Bill McClelland and partied with Rommie Martinez. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie, Chloe, Dylan and I were in a parade with the Banana
Bike Brigade in <st1:place><st1:city>Marissa</st1:city>, <st1:state>Illinois</st1:state></st1:place>
last Saturday. The largest float was the Marissa chapter of the Tea Party.
There was also a giant blue float with a portrait of Jesus that read, “Jesus
walked on water!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I scared some of the other bikers when I said very
loudly, “I wonder what they think of us homosexual communists!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the girls asked, “Are you homosexual?” Another
blurted out, “I must be communist!” She was dressed in a red tutu that matched
her cardinal bike.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dylan and I are looking forward to a parade in Red Bud, <st1:state>Illinois</st1:state>
this afternoon. It will be 100 degrees.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie escaped it with a family reunion and Chloe’s in <st1:state>Florida</st1:state>
with a friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">The pics are all with camera phones,
so they're not very good. Jon with bikes after a Cinco de Mayo parade we were in
a couple of years ago. William reading at McGurk’s. The kids and me last
weekend. No one got a good pic of Valerie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-5360463868271650032012-06-09T06:27:00.001-07:002012-06-23T08:41:58.416-07:00Delay Tactics<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MglgSZqS8cbtZKXqgoCIy1CAXWqq8EInqscU_hZgBYO4TxJKK5Q_txiAcGhuTDxo64eijKo5v-_QjOACwBQPBQWRLhEo3T8LImTNlTb214Wv1wwbffcQsno2sRi-kXbhLESbkCXWp1Z/s1600/Delay+Tactics+first+live+show.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MglgSZqS8cbtZKXqgoCIy1CAXWqq8EInqscU_hZgBYO4TxJKK5Q_txiAcGhuTDxo64eijKo5v-_QjOACwBQPBQWRLhEo3T8LImTNlTb214Wv1wwbffcQsno2sRi-kXbhLESbkCXWp1Z/s320/Delay+Tactics+first+live+show.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the few nice things that happened as a result of our
friend Danny’s passing was getting back in touch with old friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was contacted by both Walt Whitney and Carl Weingarten.
After a lot of catching up and nostalgia, we decided it was time for a new
Delay Tactics release. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike Wax Theatricks, Delay Tactics focused on
instrumentals. I was very proud of the sound of the recordings. I blame Walt
for that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had a 4 track Scully recorder. Wax Theatricks was
recording on 16 and 24 track decks and getting nowhere near the sound. I kept
thinking about Sgt. Pepper being recorded on a 4 track Studer machine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carl is sending a 10 minute piece he and Walt have been
working on. He asked what format I would like it in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This brought up an old lament of Danny’s and mine. The
current format of music favors convenience over quality. Even the best 192k MP3
is no match for a CD, although it beats the hell out of tape or even FM radio.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told Carl to send it to me 44.1k/16 bit because that’s
what CDs use. The problem with that is the Recording Industry Association of
America ( RIAA) announced Cds will end next year. I think it has more
to do with how easy it is to steal than obsolescence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess unless it’s a band promoting itself with sales at
the venue, we’ll be downloading everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walt has been mixing everything at 48k/24 bit in surround
sound. That’s what they use for DVDs and unfortunately, it’s complete overkill
in this day and age for music.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Christmas I gave my son a stereo with a turntable
because he’s into vinyl now. Having grown up with boom boxes and ear buds, he’s
amazed by the sound. He likes to turn the bass all the way up and blast. The
house shakes, the dog freaks, and my ex’s screams can’t be heard over the din.
It’s great! The music sound’s terrible though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What will be the new standard?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you haven’t already seen it, check out this 1985 PBS show
about Delay Tactics.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZbAyCfjRSM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZbAyCfjRSM</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
pic is from a Delay Tactics show in the early 80s.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-53090017778712491342012-06-03T06:59:00.001-07:002012-06-03T07:05:59.868-07:00Birth to Earth, Womb to Tomb<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-irKQ-CDYq_F52JqMZ4kxFKAvRlBjCpYd8aGVOHFJ1Y_wiLDd61xEUsMbe22S9hl7nuTHStetLuQPe5WUQFjZYNcBKSqRSC3_pS_ZjiHsX9h5CVnTYtVoixFCgE5rDAUZa31SMstFjBD/s1600/Dylan's+High+School+Graduation+with+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-irKQ-CDYq_F52JqMZ4kxFKAvRlBjCpYd8aGVOHFJ1Y_wiLDd61xEUsMbe22S9hl7nuTHStetLuQPe5WUQFjZYNcBKSqRSC3_pS_ZjiHsX9h5CVnTYtVoixFCgE5rDAUZa31SMstFjBD/s320/Dylan's+High+School+Graduation+with+dad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday was one of the milestones in my life. My son
graduated from high school. His class was so large, the event was held at the
Family Arena in <st1:city>St. Charles</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He graduated Cum Laude which is a miracle considering he
totally gave up on school the last semester. I guess that’s not totally true.
He gave up until we started getting notices that he was failing and not even
bothering to hand in assignments. The last couple weeks of school he got
serious and pulled off a sleep deprivation marathon that pulled his grades back
up. We were really worried he was going to lose his scholarship to <st1:place><st1:placename>Webster</st1:placename>
<st1:placename>University</st1:placename></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While all this was happening, I’ve been editing the band’s
reunion concert DVD. They’ve given me a deadline of June 25<sup>th</sup> which is
the year anniversary of the show. My friend Tom asked what the big deal was. It
made me realized how unappreciated editors are. On top of the video, I have to
mix the music too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You find yourself in a control-freak situation. Dominic
would love to take on some of the workload, but I have a vision of how it should
turn out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fojammi started the video part of all this and would only
let me work on the audio part. Now I understand. Even when he
was too sick to work on it, I didn’t dare take over until he was gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point of all of this is the strong sense of rebirth I’m
feeling from all of these endings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my girlfriend got pregnant there was a mad dash to get
married. I met her skydiving and we had a freefall wedding. It turned out she
was from a huge Catholic culture, so we had to do the church thing too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was also in the middle of a music project with Margaret
Bianchetta and Stephen Martin. Margaret came up with the name MSD
(Margaret-Steve-Dave) which I though was brilliant. One of our largest
utilities in <st1:city>St. Louis</st1:city> is the
Metropolitan Sewer District.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Margaret agreed to sing One Hand, One Heart from West Side
Story at the ceremony. I though it was a totally original idea but I’ve since
learned everyone has used it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Margaret was in a band with Mary Dee Brown and Monica Casey
called Hot Club Canary. As a wedding present, they agreed to play at the
reception.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Originally we were going to have the party with a bonfire at
a friend’s property on the <st1:place>Missouri River</st1:place>. Unfortunately
it snowed and the party was moved into the church’s gym.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got a great pic of the girls playing under a basketball
hoop. They really made the big time. I sent them each a copy as a Christmas
gift but I don’t think they thought it was as funny as I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This swirl of activity was all centered around Dylan, who
wasn’t even born yet. It’s been insanity ever since.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My daughter Chloe has probably been even more intense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our way to the graduation, Dylan and I stopped at
Monica’s to get the pic for my blog. It was the first time they’d actually met.
Monica is leaving for <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> for a couple of years. I
think she’s going to be a teacher. I can’t believe I didn’t bother to ask her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coincidentally Steve called me yesterday just as the
ceremony was ending. He wants to sift through all the tapes from those sessions.
He didn’t even know Dylan was graduating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the way, Steve was best man at the wedding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp_rY9C-uaotwk_BpFtqzn3bbOs7GOwxSCQP-15xwmp1tzMIwTLdBocsH69cFnUjH_c_fvKrIPC1FqlVPlhLDGV2Bf6YSzj6gEJEm4dirt873YOGqRJegCE9r0iclXpV6IhtySgb0o5Lk/s1600/Hot+Club+Canary+under+Hoop+lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp_rY9C-uaotwk_BpFtqzn3bbOs7GOwxSCQP-15xwmp1tzMIwTLdBocsH69cFnUjH_c_fvKrIPC1FqlVPlhLDGV2Bf6YSzj6gEJEm4dirt873YOGqRJegCE9r0iclXpV6IhtySgb0o5Lk/s320/Hot+Club+Canary+under+Hoop+lite.jpg" width="259" /></a>Everything seems to be coming together.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-80570805571479058412012-05-26T07:07:00.003-07:002012-05-26T07:46:40.191-07:00Tommy Bankhead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrqD8D7s6khosb4Bw_MF2QtQGj-eVWRGgN2_cvGP1jtD2iSyo74BFbCHy1EQRBEBfFDw_v2WkAkaqZdhIWpTONPyH76ayIZxBX4bzJp640VaFIVvscGWJ-bssCvai7N1xIulMieV8vMU/s1600/Tommy_Bankhead_Front_Cover_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrqD8D7s6khosb4Bw_MF2QtQGj-eVWRGgN2_cvGP1jtD2iSyo74BFbCHy1EQRBEBfFDw_v2WkAkaqZdhIWpTONPyH76ayIZxBX4bzJp640VaFIVvscGWJ-bssCvai7N1xIulMieV8vMU/s320/Tommy_Bankhead_Front_Cover_big.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie and I are going to a blues festival downtown this
afternoon. We’re going to see Dave Black, Leroy Pierson and the St. Louis
Social Club. They are all friends of ours, and all were part of the great
Broadway Oyster Bar 80s music scene.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The place was half as big as it is now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was no heat in the winter. We had two fireplaces and
threw sleeping bags over the doors. Stains on them gave an uncomfortable
impression. If you brought a log, you got a free drink. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was no AC in the summer. I used to set a bus pan full
of ice on the bar with a fan behind it. We had to close for two weeks every
year when the heat got unbearable. That’s when I went on some of the greatest
travel adventures of my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday nights was Tommy Bankhead and the Blues Eldoradoes.
Tommy was a legend. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had backed musicians such as Howlin'
Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James (his cousin), Joe
Willie Wilkins, Robert Nighthawk, and Joe Hill Louis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first encounter with Tommy was when I was 17 at a small
bar called Sadie’s Personality Lounge on north <st1:place>Union</st1:place>. I
told the story in one of my first posts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadie’s was part of the actual Chitlin’ Circuit. The place
was so outside of the law, cops wouldn’t go near the place. No one even blinked
at the fact that my friends and I were obviously minors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had to get over my uptight, repressed bullshit as soon as
I walked in the door. A three hundred pound <st1:country-region>Vietnam</st1:country-region>
vet, who had lost both arms, grabbed me with a claw and pulled me into the
dance floor. I looked around the room and decided, “I’m gonna dance!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend Freddy talked us into coming. He was jamming with
the band. At one point, he handed me his guitar and said, “Play with Tommy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was playing away when I looked over at Tommy. He asked,
“You went to music school, didn’t you?” I was crushed. I couldn’t get off the
stage fast enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t had the balls to jam spontaneously since. I really
regret it because I was asked to sit in with Chuck Berry once at the Oyster
Bar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Years later I told Tommy the story. He didn’t remember it at
all, but he thought it was funny. I used to change the name of the bands. I
called them Tommy Bunk Bed and the Blue Avocados. Tommy didn’t think that was
funny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best sax player I’ve ever seen anywhere was in Tommy’s
band. “Big” Joe Enloe. There’s just no way to describe him. He just made life
bearable. If you walked in while they were playing, he made laughing sounds
through his horn and you just had to laugh. Out of nowhere he tongued his reed
and it sounded like the Roadrunner. The man lived and breathed through his
horn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dominic asked him for lessons. He said, “Man, you can’t
teach this!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When he died, he had one of the most incredible services
I’ve ever been to in <st1:city>East St. Louis</st1:city>.
I can’t begin to go through the list of Blues luminaries who arrived. Everyone
was there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tommy’s drummer Ben Wells cried like a baby. I don’t think
anyone in the band ever got over it. They were never the same after that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark O'Shaughnessy (owner of BBs Blues and Soups) told me he
got an 8 track recording of the band at Mississippi Nights with Joe. It’s
become one of those mythical projects that have disappeared into the ether. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Blues Eldoradoes came out with an LP about a year later,
but they just didn’t capture what they were live. Joe was really missing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tommy was a sheriff for the City of <st1:city>St.
Louis</st1:city>. He used to transport prisoners. It was strange
running into him on the street. A cop’s uniform just didn’t fit his outlaw
nature.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my friend Sharon and I would count our cash register
receipts at the end of the night in the back room, Tommy would show up knocking
on the window while his <st1:city>Lincoln</st1:city>
idled behind him. He wanted to party on the <st1:place>East Side</st1:place>. I
was welcome, as long as the girls were with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the end of his life, he became revered as one of the
greats. BBs still has giant posters of Tommy papering the walls. Tommy would
show up wheeling a canister of oxygen behind him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He died in December 2000 from respiratory
failure due to emphysema. I found out about it on NPR. He had become
a national figure.<o:p></o:p></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-75503701980109091062012-05-19T07:58:00.002-07:002012-05-20T05:59:35.651-07:00Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CAH5ApUaXDihgKGDe_IGzUW-ITV_SotWlpoqYbb8EWUQaZBRtMNkVD7ME3gv6o3HF55DK__5jEcXs3WTY7nCT49T4VQPUvmC7XN1SHdW-6Uk_un06EwOKD86ViSkmgvc80EJqKMJXYj/s1600/Can+O%27+Ketchup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CAH5ApUaXDihgKGDe_IGzUW-ITV_SotWlpoqYbb8EWUQaZBRtMNkVD7ME3gv6o3HF55DK__5jEcXs3WTY7nCT49T4VQPUvmC7XN1SHdW-6Uk_un06EwOKD86ViSkmgvc80EJqKMJXYj/s1600/Can+O%27+Ketchup.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dominic just posted a clip on Facebook about a trip he and I
took in a VW Minivan to the east coast when we were kids. Coincidentally, I was
going to post a story about that trip last week but our internet went down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I want to talk about food.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a child of the 60s, my mom had a 50s food aesthetic.
Vegetables came out of a can. Remember canned asparagus? I have to admit that,
while I don’t indulge today, I do love canned peas. I used to melt Colby cheese
in them. That still sounds good to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you want a good laugh, find an early edition of The Joy
of Cooking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With absolutely no guidance, I experimented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember when there was nothing else in the fridge; I
would make Wonder Bread, Miracle Whip, and pickle sandwiches. I can’t even
think about Miracle Whip or white bread now without gagging.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last time I intentionally ate meat was in 1979. The only
things I miss to this day are fried bologna sandwiches. I used to take 2 slices
and put Colby and cream cheese between them. You had to keep flipping it,
because the bologna wanted to curl as it cooked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to break my mother’s heart by disappearing for weeks
at a time in the county without calling. I had to scrounge for food. I remember
eating Cheerios in chocolate milk with scoops of peanut butter and cream
cheese.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I had a thing for Colby and cream cheese. I used to
melt them on pot pies and frozen fish sticks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A real delicacy for me was baking French fries with
hamburger, Colby, cream cheese and catsup. Sometimes I’d throw pork and beans on
it. I loved cooking catsup into everything. I wonder when I started eating
vegetables.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I worked at Duff’s Restaurant as a kid, I put catsup on quiche. They say real men don’t eat quiche. They do when you put catsup on it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Years later my wife took me to Duff’s for my birthday. Chef
James Voss placed a huge industrial sized can of Heinz on our table. By the
way, they wouldn’t let us pay for the meal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all had strange ideas about food when we were kids. I
think I was hitch hiking in the middle of the country somewhere when Dominic
convinced me that peanut butter and sunflower seeds had all the essential
nutritional components.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As recently as the early 80s, when Fojammi and I shared a
studio, I’d show up at his apartment at the crack of dawn and start the day
with some kind of cereal with a scoop of peanut butter and a glass of orange
juice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend Ali taught me frozen concentrate OJ could be eaten
like popsicles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On that east coast trip with Dominic, we were in Maine
and hadn’t eaten in 3 or 4 days. We found apples floating in the melted ice of
our cooler. I hate fruit, but I still remember it as my favorite eating
experience. It’s amazing how much starvation can enhance a dining experience!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve already mentioned in an earlier post what a mistake it
is to eat raw vegetables after 2 weeks of fasting. Damn Dick Gregory!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere around that time period I lived on coffee milk
shakes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s amazing that, at this point in my life, I know you need
a combination of fresh vegetables, a complicate carb, and a protein with all
the essential amino acids including B-12. I think you have to learn those
things when you go veg.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cook every meal for Valerie, my kids and me with those
rules and I never cook the same thing. Every meal is an experiment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some reason every one of them ends up tasting the same.</div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-23051155089197837262012-05-05T07:15:00.000-07:002012-05-05T08:40:50.031-07:00Synth Gods<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie checks out books she thinks I might like at the
library. The last one she brought home was called Synth Gods. It’s a collection
of old Keyboard Magazine interviews.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bob Moog, Eno, Jan Hammer, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Rick
Wakeman, Bernie Worrell, Joe Zawinul, Tomita, Stevie Wonder’s programmer and
even Prince were represented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There seemed to be no limit to the sounds you could create
in the 70s and 80s. The old analog synths used filters, wave generators, and
noise generators. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first, they were all in separate modules, and you had to
patch each one in separately with wires. They looked like some kind of science
fiction super computer. You had to go through a painstaking process to generate
each sound, and you could only play one note at a time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s pretty amazing if you’ve ever heard Walter Carlos’
Switched on Bach. All of those sounds and chords were recorded one note at a
time! If you’re not familiar with the name, he did the synth music for Clockwork Orange.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a golden age of new music and experimentation. The
newer digital synths have presets and musicians rarely create new sounds these
days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I consider our keyboard player Fojammi a synth pioneer. He
was living in the <st1:place>Central West End</st1:place> in the 70s when he
brought home an ARP Odyssey. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We plugged my guitar and his synth into his stereo and
jammed all night. When we listened back to the recording, I felt like my range
of sounds was limited, in spite of the fact that I ran my guitar through all
kinds of stomp boxes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was something missing though. Danny and I felt the
sounds weren’t organic enough. They had kind of a plastic sound that was too
novel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Danny learned, and taught me, how complex natural sounds
were. Simple sine, triangle and square waves would never be satisfying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Danny began to collect guitar stomp boxes and delays. His
sounds got really interesting. It was also a golden age of analog stomp boxes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right around this time, Danny got an Apple 2. It was a 48k
computer that stored information on huge floppy disks. It’s still turned on in
his studio, even though he’s gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He eventually upgraded it to a 2+ which made it 64k. This
was when the famous Commodore 64 came out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We began to learn early computer recording. It was strictly
midi, which means it was like a player piano. You plugged the keyboard into the
computer, played your part, and the computer played it back. If you wanted to
add tracks, you had to add more keyboards. You couldn’t add multiple parts onto
it like tape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The great thing was we were able to record great sounding
music in our home. We were in on the whole thing from the beginning, and the
software companies actually used some of our suggestions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keyboards became polyphonic, so you could play chords. To
me, the great moment was when they became multi-timbral, which means you could
play different sounds at the same time. It was like having several keyboards.
They even began to sell the synths as modules without the keyboards, so you
could control them all from a single source. It made it a lot cheaper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll never forget showing the whole process to my buddy
Dominic. I created a simple drum machine pattern, and quickly added several
keyboards parts. I was just trying to show him the potential and didn’t care
about bad notes. When I played it back, it sounded like a sick, warped record.
The computer seemed to be looking at us in contempt. Dominic said, “So this is
the future of music!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Danny’s creativity was boundless. He wrote a program that
generated poetry and stories. He created an algorithm that used pools of words
that were grouped into the rules of syntax. The randomly generated poems seemed
deep and even a little frightening. Two years later, someone else actually
published a book based of this idea. I remember the story airing on NPR.<br />
I almost forgot, speaking of Keyboard Magazine-------<br />
In 1984, Keyboard gave my band, Delay Tactics, a rave review for the album Any Questions?. In particular, they loved my synth work on Hands On Fire. Keyboard is so prestigious that I was really flattered.<br />
The problem was, Walt Whitney did the great syth work. I played the small hook melody. When they asked how I wanted to be credited, I said, "Just say synthesizer." I didn't want to build up my contribution because it seemed so small. Keyboard assumed I did it all. I guess it proves what Mies Van Der Rohe said----- Less is more!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I intended to write a lot more about this period in our
lives, but I’ll have to break it up. The more I remember, the more my mind
wanders down different paths.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a piece of Danny’s computer art from 1986 called
Skinwire. Below is his description.<br />
<span style="color: maroon;">Skin Stretched Taut as a Wire
Between Moons</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTtygOL2Y8kYvBI5NAnBTnNianGjT_O_1HVciQc2JFGezdhssdpaJ5NLWdJ_HzcuzqODPifdeoAoSZ8mx_0NBcgACZGSWxqeBue8cxUHQsPPZaFY6nqE4snbENjFA_C36jV7ExQkFL3RO/s1600/Skinwire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTtygOL2Y8kYvBI5NAnBTnNianGjT_O_1HVciQc2JFGezdhssdpaJ5NLWdJ_HzcuzqODPifdeoAoSZ8mx_0NBcgACZGSWxqeBue8cxUHQsPPZaFY6nqE4snbENjFA_C36jV7ExQkFL3RO/s320/Skinwire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Based on a painting done on an
Atari 1040 ST back in 1986, using the program NEO. Back in the day, Macs were
great for making b&w ellipses, and my mind reeled at having 256 colors to
play with. Everything has changed completely five or six times since then, but
the core image behind this picture reincarnates ruthlessly. Or it's just a
stick of Wrigley's walking a tightrope on psilocybin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-3186663228721427432012-04-28T05:14:00.000-07:002012-04-28T05:23:02.114-07:00Local Radio<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpLlBZYVdilkq7LzLgDyHdibWXh_sSnhm1gUpKCrsQPrkbHPdNi1iyJGY1yFpLFTvQPuzpo14wd9w_QE-AGsw8SIdxVEEE_zcF7lvAbO5aqFlNyFg40d_3bw-c_9eTKWvFpWVQgxJMhPJ/s1600/Carney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpLlBZYVdilkq7LzLgDyHdibWXh_sSnhm1gUpKCrsQPrkbHPdNi1iyJGY1yFpLFTvQPuzpo14wd9w_QE-AGsw8SIdxVEEE_zcF7lvAbO5aqFlNyFg40d_3bw-c_9eTKWvFpWVQgxJMhPJ/s1600/Carney.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OgD1mE1hc2isMRlSwv7M0az9JM1_speywE-v6vQLiZd1zUN3HK7Jn4o1y_ug7RflxHlZNxl7-X_tRSz4ERX2UlJk0uz_cOXHNWN1ksRXy9QUGDKkbYtGrRYOf-HAOfKapnxINjxgHpox/s1600/Jaco+on+Assignment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OgD1mE1hc2isMRlSwv7M0az9JM1_speywE-v6vQLiZd1zUN3HK7Jn4o1y_ug7RflxHlZNxl7-X_tRSz4ERX2UlJk0uz_cOXHNWN1ksRXy9QUGDKkbYtGrRYOf-HAOfKapnxINjxgHpox/s1600/Jaco+on+Assignment.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2XsaQRxBYTsnGhvhcUhSuXwSjftZNDOG-UwC-3IL2pdLFyalvovy5KtztPcNG8Ob_vhemyrY_EV8QPGV3q-knjthUw02ClJNtdJUtf81Qgu7gndMMn_JlbOYMOTLqJkOnU0Eon9kj1JY/s1600/JC+Corcoran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2XsaQRxBYTsnGhvhcUhSuXwSjftZNDOG-UwC-3IL2pdLFyalvovy5KtztPcNG8Ob_vhemyrY_EV8QPGV3q-knjthUw02ClJNtdJUtf81Qgu7gndMMn_JlbOYMOTLqJkOnU0Eon9kj1JY/s1600/JC+Corcoran.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve never really been happy listening to music on the
radio. It seems every genre has its schlock and that’s what they’ll play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Occasionally our local access station KDHX plays interesting
World, Old Blues or Pop music. I think my problem is that I listen while
driving and it’s too distracting for me, so I listen to talk radio.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Larry King was great in the 80s. He was on the Mutual Radio
Network and his show was in the middle of the night. Once they put him on TV I
totally lost interest. That was right about when NPR started airing their news
shows. They are still great. They do seem to pander to the right for fear of
losing funding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For instance, I’ve heard them called human based climate
change controversial. 98% of climatologists say it’s a fact, but big money has
put doubt in the American public’s little minds, so it’s controversial.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are politicians who believe anything good will survive
free market capitalism. People will support it with their money. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think there are a lot of things we need exposure to that
don’t create that happy feeling you want to pay for. You certainly can’t get in depth coverage of anything that strives to reach the biggest audience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my opinion Free Market media has been so dumbed down,
it’s dangerous. We’re becoming a society of idiots. Look at our
representatives. I don’t even think they’re evil, opportunistic charlatans
anymore. I think they really are that ignorant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every time KTRS’s Frank O. Pinion makes a snarky remark
about the fabricated Global Warming issue, I wonder why people refuse to take
responsibility for their actions. If you shit in your living room, it’s gonna
stink!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know this post should be in my political blog, but believe
it or not, I’m too frustrated to even think about politics anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local TV newsperson Charles Jaco was my favorite radio
personality. I couldn’t believe he was as openly Lefty as he was. KTRS didn’t
have the balls to support him, so it didn’t last long. Man he was funny!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It should give us pause that vulgar, hate pushers like Rush
will never have to fear cancellation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to enjoy Rush. He was so over the top, I thought his
show was satire. When I listened to his Ditto Heads calling in, I realized
these poor fools were for real.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the late 90s, John Carney had a morning show on KTRS. I
though he was great. He was so funny; I knew his show couldn’t last. When they
fired him, I was one of the people who petitioned KMOX to get him. He finally
got on, but his hours were never convenient for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I heard he was recently canned from a music format show on
KEZK. What a mismatch. That could never have lasted. He’s way too much of a
personality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran into John at a benefit for The Heaters bassist, Rich
Amsinger. I love those guys and have played several shows with them. Rich is
battling cancer. Front man and drummer Mark Rogers is going through the same
thing we just went through with Danny. I will do a real post about Mark and The
Heaters soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie called me yesterday to tell me JC Corcoran was fired
at KTRS for being too controversial. I’m not really a big fan, but I do
remember him making fun of religion and Climate change deniers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
KTRS has never had the courage to stand behind their talent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe this will leave an opening for Carney, but I doubt it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
John Carney, Charles Jaco and JC Corcoran.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-5883943446002672262012-04-15T08:41:00.001-07:002012-04-15T08:43:24.175-07:00The Finish Line<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIAem2S6mO1_gOy7OeYj_IrsAHO6GMeSGLHCZ-iJ853CZ5vmOr9SzUO7pTeAJVy_vQvC8Y-LxkJAL7XYmjuOjjbQlwXnQZZCoBBSpHbfjyGFMQPjUfuRlaja97B-4vPGikANdid8new5T/s1600/Marion-Terry-Dylan+Field+Museum+4-1-12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIAem2S6mO1_gOy7OeYj_IrsAHO6GMeSGLHCZ-iJ853CZ5vmOr9SzUO7pTeAJVy_vQvC8Y-LxkJAL7XYmjuOjjbQlwXnQZZCoBBSpHbfjyGFMQPjUfuRlaja97B-4vPGikANdid8new5T/s400/Marion-Terry-Dylan+Field+Museum+4-1-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731653417060169186" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Time really does seem to speed up as you get older. For me, it’s a mad dash to the finish line to finish all my projects. Danny didn’t quite make it, so his material gets added to mine.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">To really hammer in the point, my little boy just turned 18. He’s a full grown man now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It seems like last year I bent over his little red, newborn body and rubbed his wet head. My whole world had just changed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I think about how much my friends and I had been through by 18, I’m astounded. We had long since left our families behind, well on the way to making our mark on the world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two weeks ago Dylan, his mom and I went to Webster University for his orientation. I feel like I grew up on this campus. I didn’t recognize anything. The old buildings are just a façade, hiding a huge complex.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The recording studio looks amazing. It has “state of the art” everything. I’m trying to convince Dylan that’s it’s just a glorified version of my studio. Everything is computer based now. When I was there, we were deep into multi-track analog recording. For all the technology of the day, the sound was terrible. The kids kept tweaking parameters they had no business playing with.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dominic told me Go Dog Go recorded their CD in the new studio and it was hell getting a decent sound out of it. I guess some things will never change.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After our visit at Webster, Dylan and I drove to Chicago. Our birthday present to him was a day at the Chicago Art Institute. He’s wanted to go for years after listening to my stories. There are so many iconic pieces there, you really feel like you’re surrounded by history’s great moments.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny and I have always had a love hate relationship with Facebook. Some of our closest friends seem to live there, forsaking actual human contact. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In his last days, Danny’s wife Laura was trying to explain his disdain for it to a friend. “I’m sure Danny would have loved it, if he weren’t too sick to use it,” she said. “No, no, he hated Facebook before that,” Laura insisted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The great thing about FB is the good friends I’ve found that had been lost over the years. Not to mention, I can spread announcements.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I got the idea to take Dylan to Chicago, I knew I could only do it on the cheap. I’ve been there many times, but most of my friends have moved away. I posted, “Does anyone still live in Chicago?” on FB, not thinking I’d get a response. I ended up getting a few responses. My friend Susie Nicholson posted, “What about Terry?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Marion and Terry Boyd were a couple that used to be regulars of mine when I tended bar at the Broadway Oyster Bar. We discovered we were kindred spirits sharing our love of the same bands. The Oyster Bar was an incredible place for music in the 80s.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">With Facebook, I learned Terry was an old Laclede Townie too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I hadn’t seen them since the 80s, but I wrote Terry asking if we could stay with them for a weekend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Absolutely!” he said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It turns out Marion and Terry are members of The Art Institute and The Field Museum. We didn’t have to pay to get into either place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The four of us ran through the museums like kids in a candy store. It was so fun to be with people who share my love of art and science. Dylan loved every minute of it too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It turns out Terry taught an art class at Webster. Reality seemed to crystallize into the inevitable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The knowledge we shared about artists and movements went on and on, but the Field Museum was the real surprise. The first thing you see when you walk in is the skeleton of Sue, the world’s largest T Rex. I had read 2 books about her and felt I was in the presence of a movie star. The museum also had the hundred year old, taxidermied remains of two lions that terrified South Africa. They found a cave with their collection of human remains. A whole train was filled with Great White hunters. When they were killed, rugs were made on their skins. By the time they put them back together for display, they were much smaller. I had read all about them with fascination.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We spent one evening watching home movies on YouTube with Marion’s sister and the inevitable Chicago pizza.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We also visited my dad’s old buddy Bob Koester. He’s a Chicago music luminary. Dylan wants to learn everything he can about my dad. He wasn’t disappointed with Bob’s stories. Dylan was also impressed by the fact that Iggy Pop had once lived in Bob’s basement. There was a T-Shirt in Bob’s record store signed by Iggy that said, “The most generous guy I know!” Iggy said Koester was always attacking him in his autobiography I Need More.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We left Marion and Terry from The Field Museum on Sunday afternoon. Marion actually cried. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m going back with Valerie. I’m also going back with my daughter Chloe. She loves dinosaurs.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">Marion’s sister wrote about Dylan and me in her blog. She changed our names. Check it out-----------<a href="http://www.ohithinkso.blogspot.com/2012/04/but-you-dont-know-me.html"><br /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ohithinkso.blogspot.com/2012/04/but-you-dont-know-me.html">http://www.ohithinkso.blogspot.com/2012/04/but-you-dont-know-me.html</a></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">I took the pic of Marion, Terry and Dylan with my phone at The Field Museum.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-46808377902476790692012-04-07T08:04:00.009-07:002012-04-08T09:07:44.595-07:00Fojammi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yqsi1o6A4qqCzktLNWDugLOs2azCqSUdRmQp71HYD60Vh-TY3lZnzmBpMBsYszHZanHtOCsELp8ij0wwdEWhhGvak5R6619VUBVknBzLtYhfryKIwP8mDmq59LPyBGp1Jm0dBx5W_hI7/s1600/Danny-Joanie-Steve-Dave+lite.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bY9gHOp6KwhE3NrH-2lhlrFkTBcggCyZKd4yg6FXPBGF7p33WdSE45wCj7pOBVC6w-O6WNSl41f6IXExYoTj0aNUaPYUwsdV_K6knBrvx1UtA2MTUUBR3ueQ1ha54lYZEpSP7nyb5C0N/s1600/Fojammi%2527s+Groomsmen+Portrait+lite.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtw-EcXzjO0JVMC1xXfzQSvLo1vbUFcChVNrpxz5i5DLH4UxAwOXdyBFzIIgRU-rXtvvsP76tBZhPhKM_XOutkUoLNCozgU4gCgKWc4ysGHMz0lVVaAv5C2pn7fBhECnT8MOrhDiGt0Tx/s1600/fojammi+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtw-EcXzjO0JVMC1xXfzQSvLo1vbUFcChVNrpxz5i5DLH4UxAwOXdyBFzIIgRU-rXtvvsP76tBZhPhKM_XOutkUoLNCozgU4gCgKWc4ysGHMz0lVVaAv5C2pn7fBhECnT8MOrhDiGt0Tx/s400/fojammi+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728681224591575378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NBoYCjJk-6zk6_kiG-d_kaLLPDfsF8CQhAic3iDZ900uteZ55W1Vfzht4EhW_5n7Ai99gFEY4HCS1bnIiqkQrlV5V0aF52BsLRTmzqxhIMlHO9xp_H76gvEDqM3d21pHkTruLVnRd8ne/s1600/Bald+Wax+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NBoYCjJk-6zk6_kiG-d_kaLLPDfsF8CQhAic3iDZ900uteZ55W1Vfzht4EhW_5n7Ai99gFEY4HCS1bnIiqkQrlV5V0aF52BsLRTmzqxhIMlHO9xp_H76gvEDqM3d21pHkTruLVnRd8ne/s400/Bald+Wax+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728681107649016354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e6oXEGCofV8kB9BKJJ0v3MluABjjUi-4q3Jcxe12s_gXseURaEeMjP_W1wUdpFdjkmhhO4UiD0poLduXvfX1IBRJqHQz7p27N8XIldInW25AGZhztB7xiD_nrLnB2NAiOaQrpN2jLFeC/s1600/Wax+back+cover+composit+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e6oXEGCofV8kB9BKJJ0v3MluABjjUi-4q3Jcxe12s_gXseURaEeMjP_W1wUdpFdjkmhhO4UiD0poLduXvfX1IBRJqHQz7p27N8XIldInW25AGZhztB7xiD_nrLnB2NAiOaQrpN2jLFeC/s400/Wax+back+cover+composit+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728681013052157234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bY9gHOp6KwhE3NrH-2lhlrFkTBcggCyZKd4yg6FXPBGF7p33WdSE45wCj7pOBVC6w-O6WNSl41f6IXExYoTj0aNUaPYUwsdV_K6knBrvx1UtA2MTUUBR3ueQ1ha54lYZEpSP7nyb5C0N/s1600/Fojammi%2527s+Groomsmen+Portrait+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bY9gHOp6KwhE3NrH-2lhlrFkTBcggCyZKd4yg6FXPBGF7p33WdSE45wCj7pOBVC6w-O6WNSl41f6IXExYoTj0aNUaPYUwsdV_K6knBrvx1UtA2MTUUBR3ueQ1ha54lYZEpSP7nyb5C0N/s400/Fojammi%2527s+Groomsmen+Portrait+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729015164043233746" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yqsi1o6A4qqCzktLNWDugLOs2azCqSUdRmQp71HYD60Vh-TY3lZnzmBpMBsYszHZanHtOCsELp8ij0wwdEWhhGvak5R6619VUBVknBzLtYhfryKIwP8mDmq59LPyBGp1Jm0dBx5W_hI7/s1600/Danny-Joanie-Steve-Dave+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yqsi1o6A4qqCzktLNWDugLOs2azCqSUdRmQp71HYD60Vh-TY3lZnzmBpMBsYszHZanHtOCsELp8ij0wwdEWhhGvak5R6619VUBVknBzLtYhfryKIwP8mDmq59LPyBGp1Jm0dBx5W_hI7/s400/Danny-Joanie-Steve-Dave+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729061650867215970" border="0" /></a>Sunday before last, after posting my blog, I went to my studio at Fojammi’s house. His home is a large, converted convent and my studio is in the chapel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I knew something was up when I saw several people hanging around the front door. I asked why they were out there, but I knew the answer. There was no reason to be inside now. My brother, Danny Stefacek, had finally died in the middle of the night.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I walked in and found his wife Laura. She took me upstairs to see Danny who was in her bed. He had been in his own room through most of the ordeal. He had gotten so small, even his smallest daughter could have carried him there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny’s eyes were open. I kissed his cold forehead and told Laura, “neither one of us was very emotional.” We both almost cried.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had been planning what I was going to post for the last year and a half, but when it finally happened the wind was totally out of my sails. I’m having trouble talking about it now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There were many Facebook entries about it and for some reason it made me a little angry. I felt like FB should have shut down in his memory. I know everyone loved him and felt compelled to share it. Maybe I just didn’t want to see his death confirmed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">About a month ago Danny had finally gotten fed up with the needles in his arm and pulled them out. It was a turning point. The hospice nurse said his body was already in the process of shutting down and he could only last a few days. Laura came the closest I’ve seen to crying.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny’s sister took me up to his room to see him. His face was barely exposed under the blankets. He said something I didn’t understand. I asked, “What?” His sister said, “He said he loved you.” I knew he did, but my mind wouldn’t let me process it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to talk about the adventures and trouble we’d gotten into over the years, but I can’t. Every morning I start the day thinking, “Danny isn’t seeing this.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny was incredibly lucky to have found Laura. I can’t begin to describe her sacrifice and devotion. It’s truly humbling.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our last adventure was the Wax Theatricks Reunion. Tony Patti video taped it, and I’m assembling it right now. Danny had already produced about four songs and I’m picking up the project from there. It’s going well and I hope we have a party for its release.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our original intention was to use it to promote a prog rock tour in Germany. There seems to be a market for it right now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was getting excited about being in a band again. So was Danny. I can’t believe we let all those years slip away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny was the best song writer I’ve ever known. My son has been discovering his lyrics on the Name Magic LP. It was really a Wax Theatricks record, but we were breaking up at the time. Danny even described it as the sister record of the last Wax LP.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny left behind a huge body of work including graphics, literature and music.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was able to get him to lay down piano tracks for unfinished Wax Theatricks songs. I hope we can finish them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He was in the middle of 2 CDs. Tony got him to lay out the order of the songs and even found the lyrics on Danny’s laptop. I couldn’t believe the luck. Danny had already recorded the music tracks and he had a habit of incorporating the melodies in his piano parts. I thought this would be a cinch!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Danny’s studio is still up and it feels like his specter is in the room. His laptop was on and in the middle of the room. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Someone has stolen his laptop. I can’t tell you what a personal tragedy this is. He labored over his lyrics more than anything else. I found 2 songs printed out and he’d finished his voice work on one of the songs. I’m going to search his other computers, but Laura assures me they were all on the laptop.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m going to do my best to finish the recordings and start web sites for his art and prose. He was incredibly gifted and his work should be out there!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When he pulled the needle from his arm he was supposed to only last a couple of days. He lasted two weeks. His blood pressure was 120 over 60. He had the heart of a teenager. He had the heart of a lion!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He donated his body to St. Louis University Hospital. He insisted there be no funeral. Unfortunately the chemotherapy rendered all but his retinas useless for transplant.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our friend Dan Holt posted his film Doctor Ignarantia on YouTube. It was made in 1982. Danny and I play Ignatz’s friends who freeload and steal his beer and food. We’re also in the dream sequence. My friend Sharon pointed out how great it was to hear Danny laugh. We were 23 or 24. We’re about 8 minutes into the film.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Check it out-------</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2TEsALEsXU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2TEsALEsXU</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everyone’s been thinking about what would be a fitting tribute. I intend to get his work out there which should speak for itself. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I would like to propose “Perform a random act of kindness for Fojammi” in whatever way works for you. Danny would not have approved of anything that caused stress.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Something small and beautiful------ like Danny.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Pics are----Danny's original referee profile pic for the St. Louis Arch Rivals---- Wax Theatricks plays Webster College Halloween '81 or '82---- the back cover of our last LP---- Danny's groomsmen at Graham Chapel-Wasington University. I think this was late '80s. Check out the flare bottom tuxes. Left to right---- Tracy Wynkoop, Dominic Schaeffer, Jimmy Voss, Fojammi, 2 guys I don't know (one of which is Laura's brother), and me---- Fojammi, Joanie Thomas, Stephen Martin and me circa 1985.</span><br /></p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-74035383832215261182012-03-25T07:42:00.002-07:002012-03-25T07:51:51.860-07:00Chicago<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_isK42vyW0M7S6hC9vRmpFsP8ddDpzBfGzw_UTxekuNtt3Rl-JsdTYmknP4PQ6LyUUAI9HCjWs6KVRGa8ni4yUf9f0qxf-XO1GwVJ4w9DCF5ofwa9wQBXB8UK-Xo3x3mLvvW-6Qu4D9N/s1600/1972+Waring+8th+Grade+Graduation+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_isK42vyW0M7S6hC9vRmpFsP8ddDpzBfGzw_UTxekuNtt3Rl-JsdTYmknP4PQ6LyUUAI9HCjWs6KVRGa8ni4yUf9f0qxf-XO1GwVJ4w9DCF5ofwa9wQBXB8UK-Xo3x3mLvvW-6Qu4D9N/s400/1972+Waring+8th+Grade+Graduation+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723847379516779298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2atOLsHUG0-XKAatDrfgWdIQu8EiFNAALNJkDzuxjMT-Ont9brVOQtE0KUpcfP5elvTGrP2QznsXwW7nfNESBpA7vTdEgW6oy75KlQwL1LMPdDPLL0jFg8jmUjMQkoV1pQlV8oSMZHrB4/s1600/Dylan%2527s+bday+card+2012+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2atOLsHUG0-XKAatDrfgWdIQu8EiFNAALNJkDzuxjMT-Ont9brVOQtE0KUpcfP5elvTGrP2QznsXwW7nfNESBpA7vTdEgW6oy75KlQwL1LMPdDPLL0jFg8jmUjMQkoV1pQlV8oSMZHrB4/s400/Dylan%2527s+bday+card+2012+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723845973303407058" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Eighteen years ago this past Friday, I hunched over a small table in a dark room, rubbing the head of a small, wet, bloody creature that changed my whole world. It seems like last month.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dylan and I are going to Chicago next Friday. He’s always wanted to visit the Art Institute. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of my friends who lived there moved away years ago. I’m not really a big fan of Facebook, but there’s no arguing its good points. I’ve found friends I haven’t communicated with in years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I simply posted, “who still lives in Chicago?” on the wall and got a lot of responses. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dylan and I will be staying with my old buddies, Terry and Marion Boyd. (Thanks Suzy!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first time I went to Chicago was for my 8<sup>th</sup> grade graduation. I sat on the bus with my friend Ronald. At about 3:00 in the morning he pulled out a shaving kit (like he shaved!). He produced a can of warm beer which exploded upon opening. I thought we were going to be busted for sure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My old girlfriend Pam used to argue this point with me, but Lake Michigan was my first experience of the ocean. The water’s horizon stretched across the whole skyline and was over my head. I fell backwards on the beach thinking the water would come crashing over my head.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our class spent most of the day at the Museum of Science and Industry. It had taken on mythical proportions in my mind because I remembered stories my dad told me about the captured German U- Boat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The submarine lived up to my wildest expectations!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My son has those same expectations of the Art Institute from my stories.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m pretty sure Terry worked at the local store in Laclede Town where I spent 8<sup>th</sup> grade, though I didn’t know it at the time. I got to know Terry years later when I tended bar at the Broadway Oyster Bar. His wife Marion invited my girlfriend Joanie and me for dinner because she wanted to test her cooking prowess on a couple of vegetarians. I remember we had black bean chili.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It seems like every time I’ve been to Chicago as an adult I looked up my dad’s old buddy Bob Koester. He a big deal record producer up there and he’s always been good for a great time. I’m sure I’ve posted about him earlier. He started in St. Louis with Delmar Records.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">By the time I was 18, I’d already gotten into most of my trouble. Maybe Dylan skated past all that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can only hope!</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">Pics are my 8<sup>th</sup> grade graduation class and the card Valerie made for Dylan this year.</p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-40526536801085889462012-03-18T06:39:00.002-07:002012-03-18T06:41:44.321-07:00Conversations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhS3hzPEkZdHvZPnpptPhG8cIcPgsCYzQUxuLxIuR3ggwIUQASAMgiAs-rYtNiwpfIiEsHTVuYbbCMaV15s2vLv5qi58Pu3GZwVGKD4mdWhesLqDjyyE06HSicmjA1yu2ERfarc13sdMK/s1600/Lora.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhS3hzPEkZdHvZPnpptPhG8cIcPgsCYzQUxuLxIuR3ggwIUQASAMgiAs-rYtNiwpfIiEsHTVuYbbCMaV15s2vLv5qi58Pu3GZwVGKD4mdWhesLqDjyyE06HSicmjA1yu2ERfarc13sdMK/s400/Lora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721231856677843330" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I finally got an acoustic guitar I’d been waiting for this week. It took 2 months of shopping to settle on it. It ain’t easy finding a $500.00 guitar that’s worth recording.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are a lot of cheap guitars that play well. Seagull, Simon & Patrick and Alvarez really stood out, but they all used composite woods that just didn’t really have the tone. For that matter, even Martin makes a cheap composite.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Epiphone makes a dreadnaught with a solid mahogany body, spruce top, and rosewood fret board for $500.00. I did something I swore I’d never do; I ordered one from Guitar Center. These supermarkets cater to parents who want t o spend a fortune on their kids, but have no idea how to do the necessary research.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t want to buy one on EBay because I wanted to play it first. Sure enough the strings buzzed when I ran through a few scales. I had their tech adjust the neck and all is well. The D string is a hair flat at the 12<sup>th</sup> fret, if anyone knows how I can adjust this, please comment! I think it’s only noticeable with a strobe tuner though.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My search began when I transferred my old 8mm films to digital. I found footage I took of my girlfriend Lora in the 70s. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last year when we did the Wax Theatricks reunion, I dedicated the song Conversations to her. After the show Dominic told me he didn’t know I’d written it for her. Fojammi jumped in, “He sure did!” Danny was there during that whole period.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At that time, Danny, Dom and I were taking trips out to Sullivan to visit. She was dying.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The great thing was, we all had a chance to tell her how much we loved her. I just went through that experience with Danny, but Danny said it first.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last fall we had a service for Lora in Forest Park. My friend Kay gave me 2 books I’d made for Lora as birthday presents. I posted The Oddity earlier and uploaded a flip book that ran through it on YouTube.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the back of the book were the lyrics to Conversations. There are a few differences from the version the band did that were interesting. We recorded it for our last LP, but it was too fast. The band had a very excitable chemistry. Sometimes we wouldn’t even notice how fast we were playing. The performance was great though.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’re thinking about rerecording it, if we do a studio CD. I’m in the process of recording a personal version for the film. That’s where the guitar comes in. I wasn’t happy with my guitar, I borrowed Danny’s daughter’s guitar, and I even borrowed my son’s Alvarez. Nothing worked!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My plan today is to finish the song. Tony Patti has agreed to help me finish the video. Danny was going to, but he’s dealing with other things at the moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pic of Lora by Matt O'Shea</span><br /></p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-26784733943906551042012-03-11T07:53:00.003-07:002012-03-12T15:48:36.558-07:00Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyxXPqv_LZ5w2kaV3s89a-ceHTrTc8MJxJGxnMaHc7l_eCD2pzXXpdIMGEf34yFKgMUIudALm70cshbZsDxCRaFzRNXjrNG5MxqvpOzPZn-19nXajghoh0NWzoOYTMM-35vwCKmDDJRWB/s1600/Quantum+Leap+Busch+Stadium.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyxXPqv_LZ5w2kaV3s89a-ceHTrTc8MJxJGxnMaHc7l_eCD2pzXXpdIMGEf34yFKgMUIudALm70cshbZsDxCRaFzRNXjrNG5MxqvpOzPZn-19nXajghoh0NWzoOYTMM-35vwCKmDDJRWB/s400/Quantum+Leap+Busch+Stadium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718653174601799490" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Last night Valerie and I drove out to Old Town St. Charles to go to a surprise party for my old boss at Quantum Leap Skydiving. I was swept back into a family I had almost forgotten about. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There’s a Quantum Leap FaceBook group. The pictures everyone posts are from back in the day. In my mind, everyone still looks that young. In person, I almost didn’t recognize a few dear friends. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m constantly amazed by how much can change in a few short years. From 1990 to 1993 my life was a total adventure. There was never time to look back. In 1993 I got married and my whole skydiving world changed. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I remember being invited to a hot tub party by a couple I was jumping with. It didn’t occur to me I couldn’t bring my infant son. Looking back, I’m embarrassed by how incensed I was.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think the best way to illustrate the effect is to look at how much the Beatles changed from 1965 to 1967.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Right now my friends and I are facing a lot of looking back. We’re asking ourselves if our lives meant anything really. Some of us are gone and some of us are going. The important thing is we’re still there for each other. Maybe this will pass and we’ll start looking ahead again, the next round.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Something in me feels guilty for living on. I almost want the rest of my life to fizzle into emptiness so I can say my friends didn’t really miss anything.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The big question everyone was asking last night was, “when’s the last time you jumped?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Archway Skydive Centre is closing because of legal problems. I started with them in Sparta, Illinois. I worked there for years. My skydiving wedding was there when they moved to Vandalia.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’re having an Archway reunion in Taylorville, Illinois in August. My buddy Dan Cunningham is organizing it. He’s had to warn everyone there that will be a bunch of old timers who aren’t current. There are going to be some crazy large formations!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I earned my Jump Master rating up there. I’ll never forget the wild dancing around a bonfire as a pretty girl poured schnapps down my throat. The following night, I partied with her at the local bar and found out she was 17.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everyone I knew in Taylorville is dead now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The surprise party was for Jim Cowan. He and I got our J ratings together in Taylorville. He and his brother Scott were in the world champion CRW team Quantum Leap. They were world champs for years. From that, they were able to get the first SBA loan for a skydiving operation. They made skydiving legit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Their dad Curly was also an old friend of mine. He was a regular when I tended bar at the Broadway Oyster Bar in the 80s. He used to run a drop zone in Washington Mo called Ripcords West. I know quite a few world champs and they all grew up on DZs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m 54 and feel like I’m just now middle aged. I’m looking ahead as much as I’m looking back.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Pic is Quantum Leap over Busch Stadium back in the day.</span><br /></p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-61805605635901913982012-03-03T10:33:00.002-08:002012-03-03T10:37:31.065-08:00Parker<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tj809Pm2CsxoGDmUL_ILYIqAOeT3-Xf5T56J1HOxNmWT2xsYXjkT5MTfxLMoo6k_3RSjkFM-RGhzDcYB3l8I9RhyphenhyphenT8wFbRKwaQACyFSzRmxZduxLlYjO70usysepa1Gg3mMvMn2vKvza/s1600/Laclede+Town+Circle+from+Parade.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tj809Pm2CsxoGDmUL_ILYIqAOeT3-Xf5T56J1HOxNmWT2xsYXjkT5MTfxLMoo6k_3RSjkFM-RGhzDcYB3l8I9RhyphenhyphenT8wFbRKwaQACyFSzRmxZduxLlYjO70usysepa1Gg3mMvMn2vKvza/s400/Laclede+Town+Circle+from+Parade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715741100014462530" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Last summer I was at a birthday party in the Central West End. The conversation turned to “where are they now?” and the subject of David Parker came up.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David was one of the Laclede Town kids I grew up with. His stepfather Jack Parker ran O’Connell’s Pub in Gaslight Square. Now it’s at Shaw and Kingshighway. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Parkers lived in the first circle on Lawton in Laclede Town. My family did, too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David’s older brother Tommy was my age and I ran with him. David was my brother’s age and they ran around together. It seemed like most of the Laclede Town kids came in pairs like that. Dominic and Benet were part of that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Parkers left town once, and my brother and a bunch of his friends got into their house. They somehow caught a rug on fire. He must have been 5 or 6. Geo Ramsey was part of that group. David’s mom Pat decided my brother Patrick was the ringleader and banished him from their home. I’m not sure why she thought Patrick was their leader, but several years later when the Parkers moved to the Central West End, he still wasn’t allowed in the house. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">She would always refer to him as “that troubled child of yours” to my mother.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tommy is a vet now. Years ago, he put down my brother’s dog Saloon who had a severe case of heartworm. My brother ended up with the dog when my dad died.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The day it happened, Patrick bought Saloon a steak and played with him all day before he took him to Tommy. It was heart breaking.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, when we were talking about David at the party, it came out that he was in prison in Nicaragua. It had something to do with psychological abuse involving his wife. Knowing David, it didn’t seem that hard to believe his behavior might have been taken that way by someone who didn’t really know him, but his wife?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There has always been a bit of arrogance on David’s part. First of all, what’s he doing in Nicaragua? I guess it might be a natural place for an old lefty like him, but you take your chances in a foreign culture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before I moved away from home, he was visiting my apartment in Soulard. To show me how meaningless money was to him, he tore up a twenty dollar bill. I could only think about the rent we were having trouble paying.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Local televangelist Larry Rice was preaching late one night on TV to the homeless people at his New Life Evangelistic Center. I saw David in the audience. I’m pretty sure David’s a trust fund kid, at least he’s not hurting financially. He was there to be part of the cause. I myself have sent Larry money for attorney’s fees for certain causes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I left a phone in my name when I moved out of an apartment in the 70s. Dominic and David moved in. David ran up a bill calling his biological dad in Europe. It was hundreds of dollars and I had to pay it off. Right about that same time, he fronted us money to complete our first LP!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He used to wear half a mustache, completed by half a beard on the opposite side of his face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He became a jazz pianist and I ran sound for his group once at St. Louis’ City Hall. It was on a landing of a huge cascading set of stairs. It sounded like they were in a cave. It seems like every sound gig I’ve ever had was like that. I had to run sound for Patty Thomas’ benefit at the Casa Loma ballroom. The place was not meant for electricity!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So here’s why I’m recalling all of this; I got a call from a prison in Nicaragua two days ago.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David told me he wanted to find my brother. He had heard he wasn’t doing well. He didn’t have time to go into the details of his incarceration because his phone card was going to run out at any minute. We had quite a lengthy conversation anyway.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He wants everyone to know he’s innocent of the charges and that he loves and thinks about everyone in St. Louis.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I asked him how long he’s going to be there. He said they won’t tell him anything until he goes in front of the judge. He can’t see the judge until he gets an attorney. He says Nicaragua is so riddled with corruption, he can’t afford an attorney. The U.S. Consulate is corrupt, too. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When he gets out, he intends to expose everyone. I hope he’s being quiet about all of this right now or he’s never getting out. I can’t imagine he is though.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A couple of weeks ago, when Fojammi was still capable of talking about anything, I told him about Pat Parker still holding a grudge against my brother. He told me Pat had died, but she had married a second time. He was some kind of Celt and an unapologetic folkie. I love that description. Apparently he’s dead too but Danny really loved him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, this is the public announcement I promised David. </p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t find any pictures of David. This pic is from Parade Magazine circa 1966. It’s the first circle in Laclede Town. My house was the first, just off picture to the right. The 2 story behind the VW was my friend Raymond’s place. The 3 story next to it on the left was where the Martinez’ lived. When my friend Rommy was being bathed as a baby, I learned the difference between boys and girls. To the left is where Geo Ramsey lived. The 3 story to the left of that is where the Parkers lived. This is the place my brother and his pals set on fire.</p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-40481460594534490272012-02-25T18:10:00.004-08:002012-02-25T20:57:18.592-08:00Hell on Wheels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpsr9i4rYr2k2TqKkTBn8-tOViicPR1veuA7zJ-eFJg9fFEDdkczPr4o_8yyAsJGq0vV1uhJC62FC5VhCOl-Dntg0lwGFQ0gWNGDfA4zkFIIKEQbit-trGjdhBxxsSCVn17TDAImhC-Gx/s1600/Chloe+Driving+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpsr9i4rYr2k2TqKkTBn8-tOViicPR1veuA7zJ-eFJg9fFEDdkczPr4o_8yyAsJGq0vV1uhJC62FC5VhCOl-Dntg0lwGFQ0gWNGDfA4zkFIIKEQbit-trGjdhBxxsSCVn17TDAImhC-Gx/s400/Chloe+Driving+lite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713261148718666610" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Anyone with a teenage child will recognize the horror in this photo. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My daughter Chloe turned sixteen on Valentine’s Day. Two days later, she called to tell me she got her driver’s license on her first try. Two days after that, she called to brag about her new car.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My son Dylan and I both failed on our first attempts.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It didn’t really sink in until Dylan called to tell me he and his sister were going to the grocery store. I said, “Remind Chloe, her soda contains a flame retardant and try to find some healthy vegetables.” “No, you don’t understand,” he said, “just Chloe and I are going!” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A sense of dread almost left me breathless. Chloe was driving. I imagined her texting while driving through a red light into a group of pre-school pedestrians.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The time span of her first driving experience is pretty similar to what mine had been. The difference is, I had already been working for two years and had to buy my own car.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Wild Life” was a black <st1:city><st1:place>Pontiac</st1:place></st1:city> station wagon with a red interior. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On one of my hitch hiking journeys to the east, I left her with my brother. “Don’t forget to top off the oil every couple of days,” I instructed. When I got back to town, Wild Life had thrown a rod. ------- I still grieve.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The big difference these days is the mandatory liability insurance. I could never have come up with that when I was a teenager. Even with a job.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My ex and I were supposed to have a deal with our kids that they’d be working to pay their own insurance. I couldn’t afford it anyway. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chloe somehow convinced her mom that she would have a job in a few days if her mother could just front a couple of the payments.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My son is so opposed to getting a job; he’s resolved not to drive at all. After all, a lot of my friends don’t drive. My friend Fojammi has successfully made it through his entire life without a license. My son likes to think of himself as a tough urban kid and urban kids take the subway, don’t they? They don’t run very often around here though!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A lot of my friends didn’t drive for years, but it’s impossible to live in the <st1:place>Midwest</st1:place> without a car.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dylan’s about to turn eighteen, and I think that might put him in a cheaper insurance demographic. He does have his permit, and let me tell you, it’s been a life saver when we come home from one of our Soulard parties, probably literally.</p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-25177387062990251852012-02-20T05:37:00.000-08:002012-02-21T03:58:07.780-08:00Cover Music<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBKrYlsWcQP_EaPnOHZ4LKKQt_PgiEFyKirvsX037s5JIvL7gXhsAxKg_zOxiKEJLI1sqhd1nAeJc0XvAOtD_hNXdlr5TOU3hPdjPit9i13tenKaAfkZBTwm3u143wcJzMw2aWX2k0TEo/s1600/John+Cotton+playing+w+Jimmy+1+orange+lite.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBKrYlsWcQP_EaPnOHZ4LKKQt_PgiEFyKirvsX037s5JIvL7gXhsAxKg_zOxiKEJLI1sqhd1nAeJc0XvAOtD_hNXdlr5TOU3hPdjPit9i13tenKaAfkZBTwm3u143wcJzMw2aWX2k0TEo/s400/John+Cotton+playing+w+Jimmy+1+orange+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711212067574709122" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I have one last Jon Cotton post.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We didn’t start out as song writers. In fact, what we played depended more on our abilities than our taste.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were playing Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Canned Heat, Jethro Tull, Spirit, Cream, and more. If we were capable of playing it, we considered it fantastic music.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was very lucky that, Dominic could pick out just about anything on the guitar and show it to me. I’m still amazed at how quickly he picked up the flute. His sister had one, he decided we needed a flute player, and there you have it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Somewhere along the line we found a couple of clarinets. I used to step outside Dom and Benet’s <st1:place><st1:placename>Laclede</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Town</st1:placetype></st1:place> townhouse and use the pay phone on the corner to call my mom or girlfriend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was out there one night improvising strange scales on one of them when there was an answer in the distance from the other. We concocted a really interesting piece as Dom marched over to join me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Across the street, a hippie couple sat in the grass marveling at our music. Ron and Lisa became good friends and when I was 17, Dom and I hitchhiked to <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state> to stay with them for a while. I think we left with two bucks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just after we write Webster Hangover, John Steffen left the band. He was in the process of becoming a priest. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Schaeffer’s long time friend, Jimmy Hill joined the band as bassist.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My friend Gary Peek has always been sensitive about music without bass and he was quick to point out its absence in Webster Hangover. That’s probably because he plays one.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jimmy was into Jazz and had us playing Killer Joe almost immediately. He was also funny as Hell.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I not sure how long he was in the band or why he left, but he was replaced by Tracy Wynkoop and the rest is Earwacks history.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jimmy has been working for the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee’s Barney Frank. Frank just retired, so maybe I should find out if he wants to get back in a band.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This recording is the band paying Jethro Tull’s Driving Song. I found it on the back of the same cassette Webster Hangover is on. It’s pretty accurate if I do say so myself, right down to Ian Anderson’s flute vamps at the end.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I don’t really have enough old pics to choose from and I used footage from some of my old films.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Check it out---------</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrd743wpgQo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrd743wpgQo</a>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-17019003534020134102012-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:002012-02-13T16:29:23.417-08:00Webster Hangover: The Back Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12OjsEzu_sOV566XVWB0fC2uyVfFItpVZdG-LOwuP4PfsG-GpDsy4TlsUSrjhmy4WtbQw2Tfj-i_oxmA_oI6vugOFM5YApbNqEYLKUrzeGbrCdTrQx0wHSRoE37MrTRa5S5fu6warUn0K/s1600/john+cotton_lite.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12OjsEzu_sOV566XVWB0fC2uyVfFItpVZdG-LOwuP4PfsG-GpDsy4TlsUSrjhmy4WtbQw2Tfj-i_oxmA_oI6vugOFM5YApbNqEYLKUrzeGbrCdTrQx0wHSRoE37MrTRa5S5fu6warUn0K/s400/john+cotton_lite.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707951318633013538" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">I spent 6<sup>th</sup> through the beginning of 8<sup>th</sup> grade in a small, unincorporated area between Webster and <st1:city><st1:place>Kirkwood</st1:place></st1:city> called <st1:city><st1:place>Oakland</st1:place></st1:city>. It was a beautiful wooded place and the only house I had ever lived in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I actually went through 8<sup>th</sup> grade in <st1:city><st1:place>Kirkwood</st1:place></st1:city>, <st1:city><st1:place>Hillsboro</st1:place></st1:city>, and back to the city in <st1:place><st1:placename>Laclede</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Town</st1:placetype></st1:place>. In spite of that, I spent more time out of school than in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city><st1:place>Hillsboro</st1:place></st1:city> was a bit of a culture shock. It was a huge rural school that kids were bussed in from miles around. In spite of its size, every single kid was white.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I moved back to the city, I still missed all my friends in the county. Already suffering from acute nostalgia, I began to hitchhike back when I was 14.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first person I looked up was my buddy Don Belk. He was in a band and turned me onto the cheap guitars at Mel Bay Music in <st1:city><st1:place>Kirkwood</st1:place></st1:city>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He had just fallen in love with a girl named Lee Bock in Webster. He left his girlfriend Nancy, and to make him jealous, she decided I was her boyfriend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This was the first girlfriend I ever had and when she realized Don wasn’t coming back, she dumped me immediately.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was great while it lasted, though. She was 16 and had access to her dad’s car. I was the only kid who had a girlfriend that drove.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">She lived in a huge house that had a secret passage to hide runaway slaves. It was part of the Underground Railroad. I used to hide from her dad in there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lee had a twin sister named Lin who was the first girl I really fell in love with. With <st1:city><st1:place>Nancy</st1:place></st1:city>, making out was very matter of fact and we went right at it. With Lin, we hid in the bushes by the railroad tracks and it must’ve taken 2 hours before got up the nerve to kiss.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I started bring my city friends out there. We were nobodies back home, but in Webster we were the worldly city boys. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Somehow, an intense amount of disdain I had for a girl named Pam turned into an equal amount of love. I left Lin to be with her and we became inseparable. She even came back to the city with me and entered the alternative high school I went to with Dominic. Logos gave us SLR cameras and access to a dark room. That’s how I took all the pictures for this project. Unfortunately, I took the pictures so there aren’t any of me. My dear friend Margie Manne provided me with what I have.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This was all happening as the band was developing. We were experimenting with everything!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The twins’ older sister Ali went out with my buddy Kent who lived downstairs from me in our old Soulard house. It had been rehabbed into an apartment building. This was before gentrification and the place was a dump. Ali is still one of my favorite people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Almost as soon as we started learning songs, Dominic and I wrote. We decided it wasn’t too ambitious to write a rock opera based on our life and loves in Webster. After all, we were a couple of world weary 15 year olds. We called our masterpiece Webster Hangover. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All but two of the songs on this project were recorded on a little cassette recorder I placed on a table at our first audition as Jon Cotton. It was at a place called The Star Chamber in Clayton. In those days 18 year olds could drink 3.2 beer in restaurants in <st1:state><st1:place>Missouri</st1:place></st1:state>. They didn’t know Dom, the oldest of us, was only 16.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We performed the entire opera and landed the gig. Unfortunately, the night of the actual gig there was a basketball game on TV and no one wanted the band to play. Friends that showed up weren’t happy about it and made that pretty clear. We were all asked to leave.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think all of the songs are represented here. I couldn’t find a copy of “Someone to Talk To” so I recorded the only two verses I could remember. Dominic left his flute at my studio, so I used it. Originally he sang it and played flute. Luckily the song was in C so it was easy to play. Unfortunately, I still had to record several takes because I have absolutely no lip. I nostalgified it a bit with the EQ. It’s the one with the black and white hallucination scene form one of my early films.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The last piece was also the last song of the project. It’s called “Going Back to the City”. It’s a recording of the band learning it in Dom and Benet’s basement in <st1:place><st1:placename>Laclede</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Town</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I left in some of the banter because I love the sound of our young voices. Benet was probably 13 and his voice hadn’t changed yet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My girlfriend Valerie and I took a field trip to Webster and <st1:city><st1:place>Oakland</st1:place></st1:city> to get shots of the houses for the instrumental track. The houses in order are: my house in <st1:city><st1:place>Oakland</st1:place></st1:city>, Don’s, <st1:city><st1:place>Nancy</st1:place></st1:city>’s, the Bock’s, Pam’s and finally our house in Soulard. I don’t have any good shots of Benet and Dominic’s place in Laclede Town West. The best I could do was the aerial shot at the beginning. The pan stops at their house on the corner. We rehearsed in the basement there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The tape was old and I could only retrieve bits and pieces. Almost all of the lyrics are lost and that’s probably just as well. The pics are a little beat up too. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">By 15 we’d seen it all as evidenced by our lyrics---</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“You say you can rely on me, but you don’t know for sure</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My blood runs cold, I’m thin and old and my thoughts aren’t quite so pure”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Check it out -------</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p> </o:p><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swFUJX6YI90&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swFUJX6YI90&feature=youtu.be</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swFUJX6YI90&feature=youtu.be"><br /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jon Cotton was: </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jon Steffen – Lead Guitar</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Benet Schaeffer – Drums</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dominic Schaeffer – Vocals, Flute, Acoustic Guitar</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David Udell – Rhythm Guitar</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The songs are:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place>E Harmonix</st1:place></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Webster Hangover</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Someone to Talk To</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Slip Away</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Instrumental</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Going Back to the City</p><p></p></div></div>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-74450112578645828792012-02-05T16:05:00.000-08:002012-02-05T16:16:12.271-08:00My Axes pt. 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikj5Ngeq_MTC14PkQ4eB7pRi9gfPHZfrTbEIvFjWUN_kxvftGYx5lpjp6TsIrLmmoy709IBJlJ5YZS1xY4f0AKOf4xhvhCLiwJYsA9PhGQiGQkcRXcmttau7bIaozAyH-JodeoJ_7zhr2/s1600/Wax+Reunion+w+Les+Paul+2+cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk1BrJJOGphlbvG_jy2rYgZ9w3Gp_tetkbBBep8J7gsRZTFZbvIZdCTJbFLPR3mCXTlamssY0YYtj97C5dzHcLO_uHFl-BJ917JOhP4RdAc7eX1OUxkIR_QCwTjatUorTlD5ZwXjzZFZG/s400/Dave+w+Greg+Bennett+cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705807765889373490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheffdAaK10Zneg8kUT9TSGA8X5lQagjDFpvqBQWvWWALJ-vu9TU9i1_2kF-HAnfK7NSp6SY-RXLdRbasZreMaJCwK7fDYaJlMCsg20Gcp9kFhevOyb4G5CyKM0iIGtExyVdKeo3DsDmVnW/s1600/Mommo+Xmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheffdAaK10Zneg8kUT9TSGA8X5lQagjDFpvqBQWvWWALJ-vu9TU9i1_2kF-HAnfK7NSp6SY-RXLdRbasZreMaJCwK7fDYaJlMCsg20Gcp9kFhevOyb4G5CyKM0iIGtExyVdKeo3DsDmVnW/s400/Mommo+Xmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705807631357123634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ6cx7kRyE17JkZAU7YvvPBFVFkzVKKmE3gmor67Zd6pE8-LTC9tuPVskOBUagg3a1BfqXqj_e3uTgC_EF29Yi8Al-gXo_LkNjLtjhyphenhyphenpXWAWqP4oBiEbw6z99zpeikU9WhZY5uo3aVWC9/s1600/Fender+Acoustic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ6cx7kRyE17JkZAU7YvvPBFVFkzVKKmE3gmor67Zd6pE8-LTC9tuPVskOBUagg3a1BfqXqj_e3uTgC_EF29Yi8Al-gXo_LkNjLtjhyphenhyphenpXWAWqP4oBiEbw6z99zpeikU9WhZY5uo3aVWC9/s400/Fender+Acoustic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705807462224942386" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">During the mid 80s I decided I was through with live music for a while. Recording has always been where my heart is. I never wanted to be the movie star; I always wanted to be the director.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Fojammi had taught me lot about computer recording way before anyone else we knew was into it. Recording was within our financial grasp, but there was a lot to learn. We shared our wants with the software manufacturers and actually saw them realized. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We released our first post-Dominic recording as part of a collection of <st1:city><st1:place>St. Louis</st1:place></st1:city> artists called Urban Cabaret. The song was called Black Olive.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We experimented with a really crude mono sampling device controlled with a drum trigger pad. I really loved what we came up with but it sounded terrible. Poor Benet had to program his part on a drum machine and we hadn’t yet learned how to process the sounds.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Right about then, I decided it was time to get a guitar with a whammy bar. I actually walked into Dale’s Music in Hazelwood and swapped my beautiful Les Paul even for a $700.00 Fender Telecaster. It was an incredibly bad deal for me, but I was determined to have a whammy bar!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I loved the Tele’s neck and its pickups switched from single coil to double coil Humbuckers. It could sound like a Fender or a Gibson. In retrospect it was a good trade. I still have it and it does everything I need, especially now that I understand the correct use of amplifiers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I always wanted to plug an acoustic guitar right into the recording deck. After a little research I bought a Canadian L. Baggs acoustic/electric. It looked like a Stratocaster. It’s the guitar I used in the Christmas YouTube video I made for my mom. It sounds great with a slide, but it hardly sounds acoustic.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I bought a $300.00 Greg Bennett acoustic at a guitar shop in Clayton, but it’s time to get a real one.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been using my son’s Alvarez in the studio. It’s like I came full circle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Come to think of it, I’ve been using an old plywood Fender acoustic Steve Martin gave me years ago. I love that thing, but it doesn’t record well. I stopped changing strings on it over 5 years ago because it doesn’t make a difference. It’s a piece of junk I’m totally comfortable with. I write all my guitar stuff on it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I always regretted giving up the Les Paul. Gibson gets in your blood. After a lot of research, I learned Epiphone’s Korean Les Paul used heavier wood than the Japanese one. Epiphone is Gibson’s low budget version, but Les himself let them use his name. I found a Korean one on Ebay and put real Gibson pickups on it. I got those on Ebay too. I love it. I figure I put together a $2000.00 guitar for $500.00.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">Modified Epi Les Paul and Telecaster at the Wax Theatricks Reunion, current acoustic, Acoustic/Electric, and the junky Plywood Fender acoustic I love so much. You can just make out my son’s little half size nylon string acoustic behind it. It was his first guitar. I think he was three.</p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-32801322620285399302012-01-28T11:30:00.000-08:002012-01-28T12:25:03.258-08:00My Axes pt. 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO4UjmRAMwO85XaFhCzVKDIwZA2xbPscoDQjNtJz4oe2pFfUiM-tIdRWzudA4mJ6vq509Q0T4rt4yd63Fh5bDcSwIdX_3RSEH6HDStS2n5jD_mvb2G0gPRVmsHPYjcL_IO4LDA-sd-cF8/s1600/Any+Questions+cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO4UjmRAMwO85XaFhCzVKDIwZA2xbPscoDQjNtJz4oe2pFfUiM-tIdRWzudA4mJ6vq509Q0T4rt4yd63Fh5bDcSwIdX_3RSEH6HDStS2n5jD_mvb2G0gPRVmsHPYjcL_IO4LDA-sd-cF8/s400/Any+Questions+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702779054589201922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPF6grmNTpeQbEpd9oVv3W0Or_3OicZzZiqYlGitQh0OM09FreR36x18vUPrjVyaOOB6w_h9JLgj8WPXqejhmMT45krcpw3IHKEcaSu-_Y0wk0z6e3tG31V7SNgbWKSy9AeBNJ5mFJeJ8/s1600/Earwacks+at+the+VFW+lite.jpg"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoAp3Ze3JKyKe0rG7kx2IYH8i9FnJHqIAHuAlVjueeZm3yXR_OMFlUDIdi-5nyzGL5gJx5D-Qsg2dXMhrDthimSWgBSGyqCO2hK7Z5CuqqaPOq_NfeJ5dWHlD5gF1zHyaciIF1gJfo-Hm/s400/Earwacks+at+the+Peanut+Pool+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702767990714920994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VhEEdDrnTZtpmCJWLI_GaQqUdZq-BFfJbFZaU2ctMo8F9FhvONBV8eyAbdrgpYC0uObagoBQ9IutXXiksSL32JH7bI38EnO3bAXUfegsFDhOVC-nva3X1WtR_XONRJz8l9onq_VOeKC4/s1600/Earwacks+at+Kirkwood+Park+lite.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VhEEdDrnTZtpmCJWLI_GaQqUdZq-BFfJbFZaU2ctMo8F9FhvONBV8eyAbdrgpYC0uObagoBQ9IutXXiksSL32JH7bI38EnO3bAXUfegsFDhOVC-nva3X1WtR_XONRJz8l9onq_VOeKC4/s400/Earwacks+at+Kirkwood+Park+lite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702767789844834690" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Before any of us knew you don’t buy new musical instruments, there was a guitar shop on the border of Overland and University City named Silver Strings.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We heard the owner drove through the south buying up guitars from out of the way little pawn shops. He’d bring them back to St. Louis, fix ‘em up and sell them for almost nothing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I saw my first National Steel there for $150.00. I thought it was a novelty item. I also saw my first Gibson Firebird and Melody Maker. The Melody Maker was $125.00. It was a late 50s model and we called it a baby Les Paul.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had my eyes on a beautiful, red, ’62 Les Paul that looked like an SG. There was a white ’63 that had 3 gold pickups. The one I liked had 2 silver pickups. I thought the white one was a bit ostentatious. Of course, that one is highly prized by collectors today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The owner told me Martin Barr, the guitarist for Jethro Tull was looking at it. I never knew if he was just trying to get me to grab it, but when I saw Jethro Tull’s Passion Play tour at Kiel Auditorium, Martin Barr was playing the exact model.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can’t remember what I paid for it, but it couldn’t have been much considering my salary as a dishwasher at Duff’s Restaurant.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That guitar will always be my favorite. I can’t even remember who I sold it to, although it was probably stolen.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not too long after I got it, my girlfriend Lora bought an Alvarez acoustic at Music Folk in Webster Groves. I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. I had to get one, too. I spent $100.00 more than she did, but mine never sounded as good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I used Lora’s on all our records. Mine was stolen.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Years later, when I was working at Wuxtry Records in the West End, as pay I took an Alvarez Yari 12 string acoustic, a flute and an alto sax. I’m pretty sure I got my first black Les Paul Black Beauty that way too. I told everyone it was from 1958, but I never really knew. I had to be from at least the early 60s. It was beautiful but someone ruined it with white Dimarzio pickups.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">One night, while Lora and I were sleeping in my first floor West End apartment, someone broke in and stole my 12 string, my flute and sax. We were in the next room.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">During this same time, the band was rehearsing in the basement of a Fraternal Order of Eagle’ hall on the south side. Someone broke in and stole my guitar and our P.A. mixer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Local detectives got right on it. One of them told me his buddy said they shouldn’t waste their time on us hippies. He told him my guitar was probably worth more than he made in a year. I doubt that was true, but I loved the story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">They found the equipment on a roof less than a block away. They were able to identify the guitar by a leather strap that had Earwacks stamped on it. Lora’s dad made it for me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I never thought I’d get it back so I bought a ’66 Black Beauty. When the old one was recovered, I sold it to my boss at Wuxtry. He sent me an email recently that it was in Hawaii.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I never was happy with the sound I got from the Black Beauties. By the time the band broke up, I realized it was my amp. I had a vintage Ampeg VT-22 with really expensive Altec speakers. It was so heavy, it took two of us to carry it. To get a good sound out of it, you had to turn it up so loud your ears bled.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I rented it to Keith Richards or Chuck Berry for the Hail, Hail Rock and Roll movie they made for Chuck’s 65<sup>th</sup> birthday. They used it during rehearsals at Chuck’s farm, but no one plugged into it on stage. They hated it too!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">Pics are: My first black Beauty on the promo shot that would become the cover of my band Delay Tactics' album Any Questions? - it's the one on the left, My second Black Beauty at some VFW post in the late 70s, Dominic playing that same guitar at a Euclid Jubilee, my Alvarez acoustic, and 3 pics of my SG-looking Les Paul—The most recent in our LaSalle Park attic, a fund raiser for Eugene McCarthy mid 70s (my first Presidential vote),<span style=""> </span>and the oldest one is our band playing at Kirkwood Park which feature my red Les Paul and the acoustic.</p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517402040702011209.post-73365980992898331092012-01-21T12:08:00.000-08:002012-01-22T09:20:07.942-08:00Happy Birthday to Me!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP7dkYkBCA670DCTG83clysVvuQo2QrXxew_jRSTfcLUSa6kiaarQPq3ZHkkyCpKepEESGkKhqz2ICKivxGzhsVNV1ZqQhj7su6VlaJDbQTp5NvBJc1YtkTPWuj4TU1jgUOn0dDqHoUL6/s1600/Bd+card+54+lite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP7dkYkBCA670DCTG83clysVvuQo2QrXxew_jRSTfcLUSa6kiaarQPq3ZHkkyCpKepEESGkKhqz2ICKivxGzhsVNV1ZqQhj7su6VlaJDbQTp5NvBJc1YtkTPWuj4TU1jgUOn0dDqHoUL6/s400/Bd+card+54+lite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700179960282373026" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">“Women keep busy in towns like this. In the cities it's different. The cities are full of women, middle-aged widows, husbands dead, husbands who've spent their lives making fortunes, working and working. Then they die and leave their money to their wives. Their silly wives. And what do the wives do, these useless women? You see them in the hotels, the best hotels, every day by the thousands. Drinking the money, eating the money, losing the money at bridge, playing all day and all night. Smelling of money. Proud of their jewelry but of nothing else. Horrible, faded, fat, greedy women.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Joseph Cotton gave this speech in Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt. For me, Hitchcock seemed to have two different kinds of films. Incredibly personal, dark introspection and pure escapism. I love them all. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think I’ve seen every one that’s available, including the silent ones. Hitchcock made <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s first talkie. He had almost finished shooting Blackmail, when he talked the studio into adding sound. He ended up slapping audio onto the silent stuff. He knew sound was bringing us into a new age of film, so as a joke he used the shadow cast from a lamp to look like a mustache across the lip of the bad guy. Kind of an homage to vaudeville bad guys ala Snidely Whiplash.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shadow of a Doubt has always been my favorite. Joseph Cotton was so hip with his matching white shoes and hat. I learned it was Hitchcock’s favorite too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For sheer escape, you can’t beat his “running man” films though. They were a great roller coaster ride across some continent. North by Northwest, Foreign Correspondent, and Saboteur come to mind. They were probably all the same film but they never got boring.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Valerie knows how much I enjoy this stuff and used North by Northwest as the theme for my birthday card this year. What she didn’t know was Cary Grant’s birthday is January 18<sup>th</sup>, same as mine. It seems like everyone I know shares a birthday with Elvis, Hitler or Martin Luther King. I get Cary Grant!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dylan almost brought up another coincidence. He said, “Wasn’t that film made in 1958, the same year you were born?” I was thinking, “Wow!” Turns out it was made in 1959.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My buddy (and old boss) Dan Holt turned me onto the composer Bernard Herrmann. North by Northwest was one of his best soundtracks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another film in this category was Torn Curtain with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. An odd combination, but it worked for me. Herrmann’s original soundtrack for it was just too dark for the studio execs. Hitchcock was forced to use another composer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the 80s Hermann’s was finally released on vinyl. I’ll never forget Dan editing it back into the movie. I wonder if he still has it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dan, a friend of ours named Mark, and I used to dub our own voices onto TV shows using Dan’s VCR. They were pretty new and expensive at the time. This was years before Mystery Science Theater 3000. I remember them being hysterical. I’m hoping Dan puts them on YouTube one of these days.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dan was a fellow Hitchcock fan. The films I didn’t watch with him, I watched with my buddy Tracy who was also a big fan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was going to add the second installment of My Axes, but I have to show off my card.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It took a day and a half to go through my FaceBook birthday well wishers. I never go on FB, but the birthday messages were forwarded to my email. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thanks everybody!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>Doggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690441803055873134noreply@blogger.com9