Shining From the Inside Out
Several months ago some close friends lost their apartment to an electrical fire. A lot of their things were destroyed or damaged but what they really lost was their cat, Henry. They’ve since settled into a new place but the “Fuck A Fire” benefit show was held on their behalf last night. It was bittersweet, seeing our little community pull together to offer them some help. But it made me happy to have these people in my life.
I Could Drive Forever
Road trip season has officially begun with my inaugural visit to Pizza Farm for 2009. Last year my first jaunt to Stockholm, WI took place a little earlier, on a cold, drizzly April day. This time around was quite different. The unexpectedly hot and green May day felt like mid-July. It was most pleasant and surprisingly not very busy on the farm. It was a good evening to take a deep breath, and take myself out of the flow of my busy, stressful life, if only for a little while. I plan many such sanity-preserving return trips before the summer is out.
Land of the Freaks
Despite or because of problems swirling around me, music still remains my constant. I can lose myself in it and forget my troubles for a bit. Thankfully my Saturday night was jam packed with a musical cornucopia. After too many missed opportunities I finally bore witness to King Khan and The Shrines. More photos here. Earlier in the evening I caught Skoal Kodiak at Art-A-Whirl in what may have been their best set since the Simultaneous Fest a couple of summers ago. And later on I was treated to the unexpected awesomeness of Milwaukee’s The Chain. But I’ve unintentionally contributed to their mysteriousness (they have no MySpace page or recorded songs!) by failing to photograph them.
Update: There are some song snippets here. Thanks Adam!
Strike Another Match, Go Start Anew
Friday saw the end of an era. My friends’ band, Charles de Gaulle, played their final show (one of the members is moving out of state). It was a solid last stand, played with Falcon Crest and Meth & Goats. But CDG will be missed. More photos here.
