Used a "universal coupon" to buy a snare drum and drum pedal to add some punch to a few songs. Still working on a special stand for it, but I think it's gonna be great. Looking forward to my next gig: January 19 at B.B. Rover's Cafe & Pub for my "Belated-Not-So-Suprise-Birthday-Bash-and-Open-Mic-Night.
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Last night was my final performance of 2013, and today begins a one-month hiatus from music. On January 19, I'll host a special open mic night that will include a belated birthday party for myself. David Harbaugh, Dave Jutras, and possible Terry Kufner are coming down from Dallas; Richard Leslie is coming from Waco; Paul Teneyuque and Kaye Reznick have confirmed from Austin, and David Patrick Dunn is a strong maybe.
Merry Christmas, and here's hoping for a happy 2014. Sunday was a fantastic open mic. Richard and Alene came down, and Richard, Paul and I performed together. Big crowd, and lots of performers. Sadly, Kaye couldn't make it. She was feeling a little under the weather. I'm substitute hosting open mic next Sunday, and after that, I'm taking a couple of weeks away from the music scene as performer or audience member.
 Chrissie and Jimmy Joe Natoli (a.k.a. "The Better Halves") hosted a holiday party at B.B. Rovers last night. Several of my favorite Austin musicians were there, including David Patrick Dunn, Paul Teneyuque and Kaye Reznick.
I managed to perform a reasonably passable (and extremely sanitized) version of Harbaugh's MFXmas song. Jimmy Joe played a lead break for me, and the crowd really seemed to like it. Folks were sticking their heads around the corner from the other room for a peek. At David Dunn's request, I also played "Mary Rode Joseph's Ass." Not quite a Christmas song, but not completely unrelated either. The crowd sang along. I loved it!  Watched Kaye Reznick perform at Star Co Coffee Friday night. It was a tough gig in some ways because there was a private (and very noisy) holiday party happening in the backroom during her show. At one point, Kaye was singing a slow ballad when the sound of fast clapping echoed from the back with loud voices shouting "Open it...open it...open it."
Still Kaye performed admirably, as she always does. I learned that she got the gig after playing at the Tuesday open mics held there. I'll have to put it on my list for next year. Enjoyed a holiday pot luck party with the Austin Ukulele Society last night. These folks are so much fun. I'm still having troubles with the constant transposing of chords (e.g., a C-chord on a uke looks like a G-chord on guitar), but I'm slowing improving.
I may start bringing my cuatro (a Venezuelan instrument similar to a baritone ukulele) next time. That'll make it easier for me to follow along, I hope. 
Emily Herring (above) was one of several incredible performers at yesterday's Rose of Texas Fair in Marble Falls. She really rocked the Uptown Marble Theater.
The entire show had nothing but A-1 talent, including: Penny Ney, Meagan Tubb, Annie Acton, Jean Synodinos, Barbara Malteze, Leeann Atherton, and one of my favorite Austin All-Stars, Brigitte London.  Between sets at BB Rovers last night, Brigitte London gave David Patrick Dunn and a few friends the change to sing a few songs, too. That's me on the right, looking like some sort of crazed stalker, singing back-up.
Weebly, my web whatchamacallit, recently "upgraded" its system. Now, I can't use my regular browser (Safari) to access my own damn site. Had to d/l Firefox.
Thanks, techies (add a dash of sarcasm here).  Between sets at Paul Teneyuque's gig last night at Hanover's Draught Haus. That's David Patrick Dunn on the left and Kevin Marin blowing the blues harp on the right.
Good times, indeed. |
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