HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EBONI!

Spaceballs the animated series?

Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made. Spaceballs-the T-shirt, Spaceballs-the Coloring Book, Spaceballs-the Lunch box, Spaceballs-the Breakfast Cereal, Spaceballs-the Flame Thrower

robert johnson

The most widely known legend surrounding Robert Johnson says that he sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi in exchange for prowess in playing the guitar. Actually, the location Johnson made reference to is a short distance away from that intersection. The legend was told mainly by Son House, but finds no corroboration in any of Johnson's work, despite titles like "Me and the Devil Blues" and "Hellhound on My Trail". With this said, the song "Cross Road Blues" is both widely and loosely interpreted by many as a descriptive encounter of Johnson selling his soul. The older Tommy Johnson (no relation, although it is speculated that they were cousins) also claimed to have sold his soul to the Devil. The story goes that if one would go to the crossroads a little before midnight and begin to play the guitar, a large black man would come up to the aspiring guitarist, retune his guitar and then hand it back. At this point (so the legend goes) the guitarist had sold his soul to become a virtuoso (A similar legend even surrounded virtuoso violinist Niccolo Paganini a century before.)

wikipedia man

Snake near a Coke machine?

I was walking back from my early morning pee when I saw a garter snake like this one just chillin out on the floor near the vending machines. I thought it was pretty funny so I rather dramatically started yelling 'help help snake!' Man, people started freaking out! I grabbed a box and trapped it, and just when I was about to just scoop him up and bring him outside the maintenance man came over and said 'I'll take care of it.' What did the redneck asshole do? He just lifted up the box and stomped him! Oh well, I figure any snake that slithers into the DHS CIS building where I work (Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services) is probably suicidal anyway.

art hop pictures care of angela and ben

Hip Crowd

the le duo & Johnny Sparkle

Mike Y.

Aaron H.

Hammer & Saw

Ryan Power

Greg Davis

(blurry) Oak

Home Items (pre Rock stardom)

thanks a lot

Well, the Art Hop went off without a hitch- we were never more than 18 minutes off schedule, no one got fined for noise or alcohol, and except for a couple of stolen bikes (sorry The Cush!) I didn’t hear of anything bad happening.

Much Thanks & Love to all the bands and everyone who helped set up/poster/blog- and everyone who just came to enjoy the music:

Ben, Todd, Mike, Tanner, Brian, Marnie, Gahlord
Drew, Phil, Tom, Clark, Andrea, Athena, and everyone else at the Green Door
Greg Davis
Hammer & Saw (Marina, Michelle, Emily)
Ryan Power
Home Items (Aziza, Mandy, Michelle, Emily, Meghan, Stacey, Angela)
Oak (Tobi, Sara-Paule, Tyler, Chris)
Magic Sparkle (Johnny & Jess)
“Party Star” (Kyle, Dan, Matt, Will)
The Smittens (Dana, Colin, Holly, David)
The Cripples (Aaron, Jeb, Ryan [Andy])
The Cush (Burette, Gaby, Steve, Chris)


I hope everyone had as good of a time as I did- the Art Hop is always one of my favorite times of the year. Next year expect bigger and better…

JB

Ps. Everyone who missed the Home Items set missed the show of the year.

a(r)t the hop

(This Friday September 8th at the Green Door Studio, G1, corner of Pine and Howard Streets 4.30-11.00pm)

Casey wrote a little something about the Art Hop musical goings-on in this weeks SevenDays.


I hope everyone can come & check this out- it should be lots of fun. I got a little over zealous and booked 11 acts, so thanks in advance to people who are going to save my ass by helping out alot (Todd, Gahlord, Mike, Ben, Brian, everyone at the Green Door Studio etc...) Also, thanks a ton to all the amazing, eclectic bands who agreed to play. I'm so psyched- I get to see all of my favorite VT bands and play in the same evening!

So here we go.....

t.l.d

-------

great weekend!

started off thursday with me buying new shoes- only three months after I truly needed them- hate spending money on necessities-

friday night the "party star" and Cripples show was awesome- the place was pretty packed and, while it sucked waiting half an hour for a drink, it was great seeing so many people I hadn't seen in awhile- then off to breakfast's apt. for a little after show party, complete with a drag queen and a little too much jim beam choice (gross cheap jim beam) followed by a drunken regrettable trip to denny's.

saturday spent hanging out with jenny and eboni- up for the weekend from nyc- lovely girls

sunday night tanner and I hosted a little dinner party (jenny cooked delicious salmon tuna mushroom sauce delights) slash lets watch the deadbeat club and show off our new clean apt party. followed by half dozen episodes of 'peep show' maybe the funniest thing ever-

monday I tried to recover from the weekend, said goodbye to jenny and eb- napped- then great nest material practice- not only do I feel that we're ready to play friday night, I also feel better about the way I played- It'll be great- and Mike will be there!

keep your eye out for art hop posters and also Casey's write-up in tomorrows sevendays

t/l/d

dabor lay weekend

So, less than two weeks until the big art hop show…things getting busy and hectic…anyone have a p.a for me to borrow…gahlord maybe? Gotta get ahold of all the bands- make sure we can do this with a minimum of amp swapping etc…but with the two semi-stages it should be cool- also have to work in some nest material practices- haven’t played really since may- sounded kinda creaky and rusty- I myself sounded like shit…need to get in their for a few hours and try to re-discover my drums…

I’m already excited for this long holiday weekend…Kyles band “party star” and the cripples are playing Friday night at the monkey in Winooski…my friend adam’s band turkey bullion mafia sat. and sun. nite at nectars- and does greg have someone coming to the greendoor on Sunday? Thought I read something about it at solidstate…plus maybe family bbq in the f.c… hang out with gage and natalie- fresh new nephew and niece-

t.l.d

Celine

"Could I, I thought, be the last coward on earth? How terrifying! …All alone with two million stark raving heroic mad-men, armed to the eyeballs? With and without helmets, without horses, on motorcycles, bellowing, in cars, screeching, shooting, plotting, flying, kneeling, digging, taking cover, bounding over trails, root-toot-tooting, shut up on earth as if it were a loony bin, ready to demolish everything on it, Germany, France whole continents, everything that breathes, destroy destroy, madder than mad dogs, worshipping their madness (which dogs don’t) a hundred, a thousand times madder than a thousand dogs, and a lot more vicious! A pretty mess we were in! No doubt about it, this crusade I’d let myself in for was the apocalypse!"

This is a quote from ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Talkin about WWI- but is it really much different than our current situation? Or maybe all wars are the same? Nobody quite sure why they’re fighting, or who- some not caring why or who- what a mess!

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a darkly comical, cynical look at life in Europe and America during and after WWI. I’m not finished with it yet, but if anyone wants it after me just holler- also, the sequel to ‘Journey to the end of the Night’ is called ‘Death on the Installment Plan’ what a great title!

t.l.d

?uestlove

Every time I see or hear this guy I have more and more respect for him. Besides being an outstanding drummer, he has a sweet afro and a pretty cool stage name (it's no 'the le duo' but still...) Just saw Dave Chappelles Block Party yester day with Eboni, and it is funny as hell and has some great music. Maybe I'm finally coming around on (some) hip hop? I dont know- but I thought The Roots and The Fugees and Dead Prez and Angie Stone & Erykah Badu were alright.

power to the people- one love- peace out

t.l.d

still moving

Still is still moving to me
And I swim like a fish in the sea all the time
But if that's what it takes to be free I don't mind
Still is still moving to me
Still is still moving to me

And it's hard to explain how I feel
It won't go in words but I know that it's real
I can be moving or I can be still
But still is still moving me
Still is still moving to me

t.l.d

"Party Star"

Saturday Aaron H, Mike L and I took a little drive to attend a concert in the ‘Burgh (this time it was Hinesburg) My good friends “Party Star” were playing their first show along with Workingmans Army, Sounds of Urchin, and Named By Strangers. ¾ of “Party Star” used to be in a band called The Lestons, one of the best live local bands I’ve ever seen. Their shows were so much fun- the songs were rocking and funny and the rhythm section tight as hell. The other 25% of “Party Star” is my friend and former roommate Kyle (aka K-Chev aka John Paul Jonsey) I hadn’t heard Kyle play much electric guitar since we were in a band together- and that was mostly drunken shitty-ass cover songs. More recently he’s been playing bass in a band called the Night Birds. Although his guitar was a little low in the mix, his lead lines blew me away- man is he good. So much talent in such a greasy-haired frame. “Party Star” has the same energy as the old Lestons, but with a little harder edge. Plus Kyles lead lines are way different then the old guitarist, Gabe. Needless to say they played great, especially for a debut show, and I recommend them to everybody who loves rock & roll. Oh, did I mention they were playing at the Art Hop at Green Door Studio Friday, September 8th at about 8 o’clock? Also Monkey House w/ The Cripples 9/1/06.

Cool,
t.l.d

parables

The Jerry liked to teach in parables. Most hippies were too dumb to understand them, however. Being a kind man, The Jerry would always explain.

From the Book of Lesh- Chapter 8, verses 11-15

The Parable of the Pot-Grower Explained

This, then, is what the parable means: The reefer is the word of God. Those on the edge of the path are people that have smoked it, and then the Devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are people who, when they first smoke it, welcome the weed with joy. But these have no root; they smoke for awhile, but in times of trial they give up. As for the part that fell into the thorns, this is people who have smoked, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach stoniness. As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have smoked the pot and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.

Next week, the Jerry battles WeirDog…

t.l.d

thinking daisies

When does a band stop being a local band?
How do you define local band?
I'd say a local band is one you can catch on a Thursday night at a local bar for less than $10- not one who's every Burlington appearance turns into a local media event with tickets costing as much as some big-time acts. So, in my opinion, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals shouldn't even be eligible for Best Local Band in the Seven Days Daysies awards. And who the hell did the Dirty Blondes have to sleep with in order to get runner up? (just kidding- I saw the DB's this weekend and thought they were awesome. I want to party with them)

Tomorrow, the next chapter in the life of Lord Jerry.


t.l.d

Jerry Week!

Today kicks off my annual ‘Jerry Week’, a nine day celebration of all things Jerry Garcia. August 1st (the anniversary of the Jerrys birth) to August 9th (the anniversary of his death)

For those of you who don’t know, the Jerry was born on a small hilltop cabin in Tibet under a full moon and criss-crossing rainbows. Nursed by a she-wolf, the Jerry obtained total enlightenment whilst playing a single note for 45 minutes on a dusty mandolin. Upon reaching the age of 15, the Jer was air-mailed to San Francisco where he single handedly invented ‘peace’ and ‘love’ and led the United States out of a period of darkness into the perfect utopian society we enjoy today. Then he met Bob Weir and everything turned to shit.

The end…….or is it?

Stay tuned!

t.l.d

pics

Some pictures of Chevalier Fest I last weekend at the Overtime Saloon in St. Albans.
If you look closely you can see Tanner and Boz and Brian, but not 1 picture of JB! Drummers get no respect!

t.l.d

This is kinda cool...

'On the Road' un-edited to be published in 2007.

Getting ready for Multiplicity '06- I'm bummed that I'm going to miss the Crombie St. block party and the Old North End Ramble but I gotta support the 'burgh.

Everyone have a fun weekend!

JB

Art Zoo

From the Burlington Free Press dot com:

"A free one-day event called Art Zoo takes over Battery Park in Burlington from 3-9 p.m. Saturday. One of the creative forces behind the art-and-music mini-festival is Jonny Aquadora, formerly the powerhouse drummer behind Burlington rock trio Fire the Cannons. Art Zoo will feature performance artists as well as bands from Burlington, Boston and Montreal. The "Above the Clouds Acoustic Stage" hosts quietly intense singer-songwriter Anna Pardenik and ex-Dialogue for Three mastermind Rob Koier from 3-5 p.m. The "Electric Stage" operates from 5:30-9 p.m. with Momster (a wacky creative duo you just have to see to believe), Boston group Hats and Glasses, Montreal's Many Mental Mistakes, Aquadora's latest project Magic Sparkle and Burlington groups The 78s and The Cush. www.aquadora.com/artzoo"

anyone going to this? I probably will...

jB

rock & roll extravaganza!

If anyone is interested, I'm playing in a pick-up band Friday July 21st 8pm-ish at the Overtime Saloon in sunny St. Albans, VT. All cover songs, Beatles, Elton John, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, even a little Skynyrd. Should be a fun time for all....


jB

How I almost Killed Two Kids Last Night

I was returning from seeing ‘The Proposition’ last night with Eboni, driving North on S. Winooski. I pulled up to the stop sign at either Maple or King, not sure- one block from Main. There was a skater bro shirtless holding a board running around stopping traffic, I was like ‘what is this idiot doing?’ just thinking he was fucking around- drunk high whatevs. So I looked around, no traffic, and started to go when all of a sudden- on my right side- screaming down the hill- come two fucking idiot sonsabitches on skateboards… I slammed on my brakes- only about 5 feet into the intersection- and seriously came about 18 inches of taking those two dumb fucks out. The traffic director guy yelled ‘what are you doing!!??’ and when I drove off he pointed to his head and said ‘think safe!’ my witty retort? ‘you think safe, ASSHOLE!!!!!’

Now I’m all for skateboarding, and being cool and rebelling and thrill seeking and teen angst and hating your parents or whatever silly trip these guys are on but just don’t do it at 9:30pm when its dark out and at least have the guy come over to my window and say ‘hey, skaters are coming through here, hold up a bit would you?’ yes I would, gladly.

So in conclusion, FUCK THOES ASSHOLES THAT FREAKED ME OUT TO NO END AND WHO PROBABLY DON’T KNOW HOW FUCKING CLOSE THEY CAME TO GETTING KIA’D TO DEATH!

JB

Highlight of Yesterdays Show

Phil and Friends with Trey Anastasio playing Viola Lee Blues:

The judge decreed it, the clerk he wrote it
The clerk he wrote it down indeed-e
The judge decreed it, the clerk he wrote it down
If you miss jail sentence, you'll be Nashville bound

Some got six months, some got one solid
Some got one solid year, indeed-e
Some got six months, some got one solid year
But me and my buddy, we got lifetime here

I wrote a letter, mailed it in the
Mailed it in the air, indeed-e
I wrote a letter, mailed it in the air
You may know my brother, I've got a friend somewhere

Joan Osborne sounded (and looked) great. Other than that, the show was only so-so...and wet, very wet

JB

& Friends

Off to see Phil & Friends (fet. Joan Osborne) Mike & Trey, and The Duo tonight at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds. I’m really excited to see Phil, I saw him a few years back at Memorial Auditorium and it was so much more vibrant and fresh and good then I ever saw the Dead play, with or without Jerry. And say what you will about ‘What if God Was One of Us?’ Joan Osborne has a great voice and I bet she can belt some Jerry. The Duo I’m kinda ehhh about. They are similar to Medeski, Martin and Wood but not as good- I saw them at Nectars and was disappointed. Not really sure how I feel about seeing Trey and Mike. So many of my teenage years were spent listening to Phish and seeing shows, and by the end I was a little sick of them (and the fans) and swore never to see Trey solo…but anyway, regardless of how creepy or lame or weird they are, I still think Trey and Mike are pretty good musicians. Although I do blame Mike for most of Radio Beans recent problems, and Ben tells me Mike and his friends have a hell of a time deciding between a soy or yogurt base for their Muddy Waters mango smoothies.

Frank and Marnie are coming and its sure to be a blast…

Peace, man- like dig it
JB

Syd Barrett Dies!!

Shine On You Crazy Diamond...

brûlure dans l'enfer, Zidane!

What a game! Man, I hate to see the championship game go to penalty kicks, but I am a big fan of head-butts, so what the hell! Zidane Zidane Zidane!! Henry! Ledoux! shucks

jb

curses!!

All this talk of Independence Day activities (BBQ, fireworks etc) has got me thinking about my 4th of July Curse, or as I refer to it 'Fuck-god-damn-it-ouch!'

Anyway, on two separate July Fourths, I have painfully shattered my front teeth in weird and unpredictable ways.

1. 7/4/1999- This is when the curse began. Early in the afternoon, after the Alburgh 4th of July parade (I've missed it maybe 4 times in my life) I went to my old friend Kyles house- he was still living with his folks at the time...actually he may not have been there (still in Utah) but I went to see his parents/older brother Jeremy. My friend Pete B. was already there- he had his motorcycle parked in the driveway- and clumsy ass lets never pay attention JB walks too close to it and BURNS THE FUCK OUT OF HIS LEG ON THE TAILPIPE!!! Yowee!! I'd never been burned so bad where I could see the skin turn from black to white to red in about 5 seconds! Well, Kyles mom Kim took care of me and bandaged me up, and I started drinking to dull the pain.
Later on we all decided to go to a shitty Canadian bar called 'the Rocket SuperClub' basically just a place where underage Americans go to get wasted. I was out on the dance floor shaking what my momma gave me, when someone passed me a bottle of Champagne- so I took a big slug 'o the jug, someone bumps in to me- crash bang boom BROKEN TEETH!!! I was in the bathroom spitting up teeth and blood for 20 minutes before I could find a ride back to the U.S.

2. Flash forward to 7/4/2005- I'm a little older, a little wiser. I have a healthy fear of glass bottles- learned my lesson. I had just got back from the Alburgh 4th of July parade (quite a spectacle really) and was at Oakledge park for the Three Tomatoes/Niccos Cucina party (lots of friends of mine worked there at the time- Kyle, Marnie, Frank, Marie, Jess, Josh, Ross etc..) the day was winding down, I was sitting on the beach petting Ivan, my friend Pete R.'s huge Rottweiler and I guess when I stood up it was a little too sudden jerky because Ivan tried to BITE MY FACE OFF!! he just split-second-fast snapped and bit my face. I've never been hit with such force before. My glasses went flying- blood was all over my face and in my eyes from a puncture wound right above my eye, and alas, MY FRONT TOOTH WAS BROKEN AGAIN!! man... It didnt really hurt that much, I suppose (I just looked like an idiot with a broken tooth for a few days) and cute girls in swimsuits were taking care of me...plus I got to miss a day of work...so...

This year I'm going to be a little more cautious... I'm staying away from dogs and glass bottles...fuck it, I may even wear a mouth guard... but I'm still going to the Alburgh 4th of July parade, and still drinking beer at 10am, and still having fun (I hope)

JB

ps. The Cripples fucking rocked Metronome last night...Burlingtons new rock gods?

how sweet it is...

I know erectile dysfunction is no laughing matter, but I think it is hilarious that the right-wing psycho prick asshole freak loser Rush Limbaugh got detained at the airport for having a bottle of viagra that he didn't have the prescription for. I just hope it turns out to have been procured by illegal means- that fuck

on a softer..errr I mean lighter note, Ghana goes up against the near impossible to beat Brazilians today. Good luck, men!

JB

flip/flop

go Ghana! I'm sorry I lost faith little buddies, but I'm back! Send them yankees a-packin' oh wait....sorry...god bless America!

JB

marg king

Pretty fun weekend; Friday was my little brother Cody’s (aka Code-Bob, aka Margarita King) 21st birthday, and needless to say, we tore the OP a new one. I was surprised and glad at how many people went out with us, Tanner, Kyle, Jared, Boz, D-Mo, Eboni, Tatiana and I’m sure I’m missing some. At one point Darren was checking ID’s at the door and no one even cared. Eventually I think we all got shut off- after a tray of Jagermeister shots we left anyway.

Saturday my Mom had a little seafood bbq for Codes bday and Spikes H.S graduation. Eboni came along for the ride. What a great meal of lobster and mussels and clams and bratwurst and potato salad and Sunkist. Eboni and I took beautiful historic Route 7 back to Burlington and had a great discussion about porn and other things. Ahhh Eboni…..

Tonite Gregs thing at the box. Dig it..

JB

I have mystical visions and cosmic vibrations

It was Allen Ginsbergs' 80th birthday a few weeks back (June 3rd) and I meant to celebrate it but forgot. So I figure I'll make up for it by posting the first few lines of my favorite Ginsy poem, 'America'

'America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right mind.
America when will you be angelic?
When will you take off your clothes?
When will you look at yourself through the grave?
When will you be worthy of your million Trotskyites?
America why are your libraries full of tears?
America when will you send your eggs to India?
I'm sick of your insane demands.'

talkin' 'bout flag burnin' blues-

'Other veterans' groups say the amendment would erode the freedom of expression that they fought for, a point echoed by Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont. "In America you do not stamp out a bad idea by repressing it, you stamp out a bad idea with a better idea," he said. Leahy said veterans' groups should focus on improving health care and other government services owed them.'

It's great to live in such a perfect, peaceful world where our government has nothing more pressing to worry about then whether or not flag burning should be banned or whether homosexuals should be 'allowed' to marry or whether or not Barry Bonds takes 'roids. Ahhhhhh....bliss

fuck,
jb

football

So now that my African and South American choices for World Cup champs have gone down in flames (Costa Rica and Ghana) I'm going to smarten up and root for a European team, namely France. Viva le France! Croissants and wine and Maurice Chevalier and Jerry Lewis and shady business deals with Saddam Hussain and Sartre and 'Ma vie en rose' and Rimbaud. Sounds good to me ;)

JB

Dafnis Prieto

I went and saw Dafnis Prieto and the Absolute Quintet last night at the FlynnSpace as part of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival 2006. Prieto is an amazingly talented drummer in the Latin jazz/afro-Cuban/straight up jazz kinda way. The rest of the band was pretty tired however, too many circa-late-seventies-Herbie Hancock keyboard solos and circa-early-nineties-Kenny G soprano sax solos for my taste. The violinist and cellist were very good, switching between bowing and pizzicato (which I really like) I only have one question: wouldn’t you think Dafnis Prieto and the Absolute Quintet would have six members? 1+5=6. Who states their name, and then adds themselves to the quintet? I should start calling my solo outfit ‘John Benson Ledoux, Jr. and The Le Duo’ yeah

JB

Pee-Wee gets his dues

Finally, someone is re-airing 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse', perhaps the best kids show from the 80's. Regardless of how much Paul Reubens masturbates, I loved this show and will show it to my kids when and if I have/adopt/abduct them.
22 Emmy(tm) awards? Phil Hartman? Who could ask for anything more?

JB

weekend

I have a niece now, Natalie Meagan Ledoux- born 6.1.06
such a little cutie
I'll put a pic up as soon as I have one

I went and saw Ahmad Jamal and Idris Mohammed Friday night, and I think JT put it best "The man is 76, doesn't look a day over 50, and put on a show that made me feel like I was witnessing a moment from the heyday of modern jazz... wow!" Saturday night I saw Ryan Power at Radio Bean followed by 'Buffalo Springsteen'- they are so good- country rockin'
Today I helped a friend move and then sweaty-rain-wet-exhausted passed out on the couch-woke up- ate some fu da- watched Simpsons- and now off to bed.

and guest

I've come to realize that I am a very fortunate fella. I have great friends and family, moderately good health (I'm not dead) and even though I complain that I am broke a lot, I do O.K financially. Lately the thing I've been most grateful for is Marnie and her awesome 'employee and guest' pass from the Flynn. Free shows! Now I know that most my friends are musicians, and some of them might be saying 'hey, shouldn't you be paying the acts that are performing for you?' I will answer this with a parable, much like Jesus...just kidding. I say HELL NO! Most of the bands I've seen so far I wouldn't normally buy a ticket to, either because they were too expensive or I don't know the band well enough to take the chance on them. But now that I've seen them I probably would pay to see them again and/or buy their cd's.

shows I've seen for free with Marnie:
Son de Madera
Joao Bosco
Gonzalo Rubalcaba

and coming this very Friday: Ahmad Jamal & Idris Mohammed

yep,
JB

palindrome

'go hang a salami i'm a lasagna hog'

Yesterday at a bbq in Franklin VT I had bratwursts cooked in beer and then quickly grilled and they were delicious.

memorial day weekend

So, after being brainwashed by Casey @ Solid State for six weeks, I decided I would get a ticket for the Pants show Saturday night; or more accurately I would allow Marnie to buy me a ticket (thanks Marnie!) Although I was quite young when the Pants ruled the school, I think I may have seen them once at Toast with my buddy Jared and we used to listen to their cover of ‘Golgi Apparatus’ over and over.

So Saturday I told Kyle I’d bring him up to his sister Angela’s graduation party, and then maybe I’ll put in a little family time (my niece should be here any day now!) and then speed back to Burlington for the big show. After that maybe raucous late night after hours rave down drink fest memorial day in style.

jb

Alburg(h)

My hometown has a Wikipedia entry, although I guess no one told them about adding the 'h' back to the end of 'burg' It is basically just a run down of the 2000 census results, but still cool. 0.15% Asian! yeah!

jb

fleet-fingered passion

Wednesday night Kyle and the Night Birds along with Fire the Cannons and the 78's are playing at Nectars

I wont be able to go, but a little blog publicity never hurt, right? Did anyone else hear Marge Simpson mention the blogosphere last night? yeah

JB

rainy saturday dreams

woke up at 4.35am this morning to work the last four hours of my mandatory overtime. It actually flew by and wasn't that bad, and I got home by 11 and went right back to bed. which leads me to a dream I had:

my mom and my brother jacob were UN aid workers delivering food to impoverished areas of russia. they stumbled upon a compound made up of russian/american/vietnamese militants who were deserters from the vietnam war. needless to say they weren't very welcomed and they were killed, I think hung. I was back here in the good 'ol USA and heard about my mom & brothers death through CNN headline news. weird, huh? me and my other brothers and dad were scrambling around trying to decide who was going to call jakes pregnant girlfriend and tell her the news. hopefully this wasn't some kind of weird message from the future. if it is it must be quite veiled, because my mom isn't very likely to ever leave the US, and I don't think jake could find russia on a map, plus he isn't very fond of charity,

ok. have a good saturday. me? I'm going to see the cush at parima. thanks for asking sweetie.

JB

Last night, Kibosh Records was born for real. I just started talking about starting a record label last week, and I never thought anyone would be interested. So I was pleasantly surprised when Gahlord and Mike L and Tanner and Todd and Mike Y and Ben and Boz showed up and were so enthusiastic. We even have a couple of acts that may be interested. Nest Materials last show at half speed anyone?

So the next step is registering the trade name with the State, and the URL with the internet ferry (or whoever is in charge) and checking out a few websites that help distribute music online. Also, I have to figure out where I fit in- I’m really ignorant of business, computers/internet, recording-editing-mixing etc… but I’m more than willing to learn.

Home Items debut tomorrow night…I am excited to finally experience them live.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Fela Kuti lately. Funky Afro-Beat. Dig it.

See ya! JB

cant trust that day

Couple bands Tanner turned me on to this weekend that are sounding really good to me here at work Monday almost lunchtime (now after lunchtime when I fixed the VCO link)

vibracathederal orchestra
and
Konono No.1

see ya!
jB

Can I still get in if I'm sexy?

Great time at the Monkey last night, everyone! I thought it was the best show we've put-on in awhile-playing with Mike and Sara-Paule is always so much fun/so inspiring for me. My favorite part of the night is when we did this little free-freakout thingy-Brian wailing on the shrill trumpet blasts- and as soon as that ended with a crash Mike started this groovy/funky bass line and I was on it in a second-that started another strong piece.

Rainy day Saturday didn't accomplish much- trying to sleep off this cold- tonight off to see Greg Davis and Friends with the Books at Higher Ground. Tomorrow mothers day/laundry/Sopranos. Monday work trying not to get fired for failing to show up for mandatory overtime today.

So I got quite a lot of feedback about the whole record label idea, and I think I'm going to try to go for it, as a hobby. Sure I'll probably never release anything, but I'm excited about it right now and I've got to have something to be excited about! I'm going to call it 'Kibosh Records' and if anyone is interested in helping, or shooting the shit, or just drinking, I'll be at the OP Tuesday 8ish for the first 'staff meeting'


everyone make sure to call your mom tomorrow!

peace, jB

Jean-Paul Sartre says...

'Friendship doesn't exist to criticize, its function is to inspire confidence'

have a great weekend everybody!

love, JB

Record Labels

I have a few questions about small, local record labels

1. What do they do?
2. Would it be hard to start a record label?
3. Is there any chance that anyone will care; is there a chance to make a difference or affect the local music scene at all?
4. Are there any legal thingys I would have to know about?
5. Does anyone want to start a record label with me?

I am just looking to stay involved in music / have fun (maybe a website) now that NM is on extended hiatus/lost weekend/broken up mountain/summer holiday.

JB

Sonic Youth + The Gilmore Girls = Quality Television

Marnie and Frank hosted a bbq Sunday to honor three May birthdays, Kyles 26th Thans 40th and Marnies 31st. Sample menu- all food prepared by Frank and Marnie and Bunser

Some kind of coconut milk soup
Red hen bakery bread
Three cheeses (one from France, two from VT)
Guacamole and salsa
Mussels cooked in beer and butter and scallions
A keg of Shed Mountain Ale
Chicken
Sausage
A whole organic salmon
Coleslaw
Asparagus and fiddle heads
Birthday cake

What a perfect day for a bbq! I ate and drank my fill, went home and passed out at 6pm only to wake up at midnight confused-

Beauty, JB

stupid Bush propaganda war

Referring to this article here.

sure, al-Zarqawi may have trouble firing a machine gun (US made btw) but the guys with the ideas and the money and the support such as himself are MORE DANGEROUS AND MORE POWERFUL than the guys with the machine guns and bombs strapped to their chests. I'd like to see fucking G.W fire a machine gun. Or Dick Cheney. burn.

on a lighter note, Marnie, Mike, Yanni and I were at the OP last night drinking venting bitching laughing watching baseball when some reps for Shipyard Brewing Co. came in and gave us pitcher after pitcher of Old Thumper English Style Ale. yeah. free beer, dig it.

JB

couple of things

1. I finally got my Kia fixed/inspected! That means for the first time in at least 18 months I am totally legal. And it cost like $250 less than quoted. They ended up just fixing some shit instead of replacing it. My kinda people. B&A Auto in sunny Georgia Vermont.

2. I'm listening to some Zappa, check out these sweet lyrics

womens liberation came creeping all across the nation
I tell you, people, I was not ready
when I fucked this dyke by the name of Freddi
She made a little speech then, oh she tried to make me say when
She had my balls in a vice but she left the dick,
I guess it's still hooked on but now it shoots too quick
(Bobby Brown Goes Down)

3. Even though I didnt go to work today I found out from my spies that everyone at work is mandated to work over-time the NEXT THREE SATURDAYS IN A ROW AT 6AM IN FUCKING ST. ALBANS!!! God Damn it I fucking hate the concept of 'mandatory over-time' fuck it all fuck fuck man! plus its in St. Albans so I'll have to wake up even earlier to get there. balls

4. I found a cd today that has on it the track that Mike Yun and I recorded when we first moved our shit into the Green Door Studios. It is pretty good and I was worried I had lost it forever.

5. Everyone have fun on Cinco De Mayo while I'm in bed at 9.30

later, JB

hey sports fans!

Now, I’m not the worlds biggest sports fan, although I do watch the occasional Red Sox game or Super Bowl; and sometimes to get back to my roots I’ll watch a little hockey or curling. Plus once or twice a summer I like to go see the VT LakeMonsters (formerly the Expos)
Latley I’ve been hearing and reading about the up-coming Soccer World Cup and I’ve got to say I’m kind of excited. I remember back in 1998 I watched quite a few matches with friends, and although they’re long (and sometimes boring) the passion and fanaticism of the European and South American teams and fans is very exciting.

So even though I know nothing about soccer, and I’ll probably forget all about the World Cup in a day or two and never watch a match, I’m going to root for Ghana and Costa Rica. Go Teams!!

JB

yeah

I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air

I'm pickin' up good vibrations

Close my eyes
She's somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world

(one of my all-time favorites- also some of the greatest lyrics ever!)

Big Papa's

I heard a little rumour last night- it seems that 135 Pearls, the areas only gay-ish bar, which has been around as long as I can remember, and which has been hosting some really great bands lately has been sold and is being turned into a Papa Johns Pizza place! So now the count is, Gay Bars in Burlington: 0, Mediocre Pizza Places in Burlington: at least 10.

Oh well... as long as they dont close down the O.P I'll be ok.

peace, JB

hit me

Maybe the situation with Nest Material wasn’t as dire as I let on. Just an identity crisis and a hiatus- not the fuck you break-up I figured. Practice was fun last night- just Ben and Todd and I- and Mike will be here for the ‘last show’ Friday, May 12th so that will be cool.

In other music news, my new band with Kyle and Jared, tentatively called ‘the Delta State’ already has a gig lined up 5/13/06 even though we haven’t practiced and have no songs and Jared is still in Alaska until 5/6/06. But I’ve made bongs with less, right?

Tonight I’m going to load my I-Pod up at Bens and then try to make it over to the ‘Home Items’ dance party/ Emily B-Day bash at Pearls.

Peace, JB

Album of the Week

Actions by Krzysztof Penderecki & Don Cherry

Apache AH-64

when I was a kid I was obsessed with helicopters. My friends and I would draw pictures of them and then argue about who's was faster.

Books in my cubicle at work:

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book
The New Testament of the Jerusalem Bible
The Complete Plays of Aristophanes
The Incredible Sai Baba
Ginsberg: A Biography
Miles: The Autobiography
Louis: The Louis Armstrong Story 1900-1971
The Dharma Bums
Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman

I bought new non- Birkenstock sandals yesterday!

I've spent way too much time at the OP lately. Last night I went there early and had a few, but then came home for a nice evening of relaxation. But then Kyles bro Jer (pronounced Jare) called me up so I just HAD to go back. He lives in Upstate N.Y you see, doesn't get to Burlington much. While there I think I drunkedly talked to Todd and Ryan and Michelle and Emily but I cant be sure. Hopefully nothing too embarassingly drunk was said. But fuck it if it was, right?

but oh well oh well I wasted my now-once-a-week-drunk on Friday beautiful spring day instead of saving it for tonight at the Uterus. It should be a big fun night with bands and a DJ Capsule so everyone come!

Today I have to deal with Yanni and keep him here so tomorrow he will bring me back to Swanton. Did you know Swanton has a pair of swans that are the offspring of the ones given to the town by Queen Lizzy Deuce in the 1950's? Well, it does. Happy Middle Saturday Between Good Friday and Easter Sundae and have a good Easter and maybe I will see you tonight and continue this ramble.

Love, JB

Transcription of Conversation Last Night @ OP

JB: So, whats new with music?

Michelle: hmmmmmm

Ben: uhhhh

JB: So how about indie rock; whats up wit day, huh?

Michelle: I don’t really listen to it much.

Ben: The only good indie rock is ‘Built to Spill’

JB: I cant really get into it, not that I’ve tried, but it seems so popular right now!

Gahlord: Anyone under 19 cant make a decision for themselves. Indie rocks popularity is the direct result of ridalin and (unintelligible) latchkey kids……I have an open tab!!

Ben: ‘Built to Spill!’ ‘Built to Spill!’ 'Built to Spill!' (passionately tears off navy blue and red striped sweater)

End.

Jazz Fest

Sun Ra Arkestra at Higher Ground
Ahmad Jamal at the Flynn
Maceo Parker at Water Front Park


It's going to be a busy June!

those are some cats I just gotta hang with...shit

JB

Milk

I saw a great film last night called ‘the Times of Harvey Milk’ about the activist and first openly gay California politician. Milk, who was a San Francisco Supervisor, was gunned down along with the mayor of S.F by a fellow Supervisor, Dan White. White only got five years in prison, basically getting away with murder- in part because of the ‘twinkie defense’ – but I figure it was mostly due to Caucasian-boy-next-door-former-firefighter-White vs. openly-flaming-queen-activist-Milk.

It is an amazingly funny, heart retching film and I recommend it to everyone.

Have a sunny week!

Love, JB

10 Days That unexpectedly Changed nest Material

down down down down I've been feeling kinda run down lately- been all nervous about all kinds of things some I've discovered others hidden- summer approaching always gets me down on myself- scantly clad people every where just make me feel fatter and uglier and less appealing then ever- and the my finances have been all f'd up and my cars need of repairs and band stress- all weighing down on me as of late. needless to say last night and all-day-today I felt a nagging dread about the band..would we be able to keep going and playing and sounding presentable now that Tan has left. I was so worked up last night I don't think I got to bed at all and ended up not going to work today- but after practice I gotta say I feel a whole lot better. We just played with no stress and no expectations and no worries. hopefully that freedom continues at the uterus sat. evening. ramble ramble ramble.

JB

flambadiddle roll

Listening to a lot of free jazz this week, especially stuff fet. Elvin Jones, Rashied Ali, and Ed Blackwell, as well as a lot of CAN and reading Mickey Harts book has made me realize that I need to get back into my drums for real- studying and practicing and learning and bliss-ing out trance like for hours. So this weekend I think I’ll dust off the ol practice pad, get some new heavy practice sticks and a rudiments book, and go at it. Paradiddle, single stroke roll, and flam myself into happiness. Also, the tabla is amazing- I bet I could even find a tabla class in hippy Burlington. Anyone interested?

Speaking of CAN, I finally listened to ‘Monster Movie’ Wow is that a lot different than the other three CAN albums I have! More psychedelic 60’s U.S sounding. Jaki is kinda toned down, doesn’t yet have that funky groove like on ‘tago mago’ and ‘ege bamyasi’ Track 3 ‘outside my door’ sounds a lot like real early Grateful Dead.

Word.

jB

the Delta State

‘During activity the brain predominantly pulses in alpha and beta, or between twelve to thirty cycles per second. Theta is the zone of electrical activity the brain decelerates into right before sleep, or the delta state, when we pulse at between two to four cycles per second…Theta is that period of drifting right before sleep when all sorts of thoughts and memories wash through consciousness…’

This is from a book I am reading called 'Drumming on the Edge of Magic' by Mickey Hart. He is exploring the possibility that an altered trance-like state can be achieved by percussive sound, especially drumming.

'Drumming on the Edge' is a very interesting book; part biography, part history of the drum, part quasi-scientific study.

Dead-Head?

Someone stole Jerry Garcia's toilet!

Well, I've been doing practically nothing lately except importing cd's into my sweet new Ipod. I know I know I should be outside, the weather is great etc... but I want to get MY cd's done so I can borrow YOUR cd's.

Tanner leaving the band is official now, and although thats a bummer and I'm sad to see him go, I'm nervously-excitedly waiting to see what direction Nest Material takes now. Tan's keyboard filled up a lot of space- that is going to be lacking now- but I see us going a little more punky/rocky maybe- give Marnie and Brian more room.

By the way, wasn't Brian's birthday Flatbread thingy supposed to be last night at 8? I showed up at 8.30 and looked around and didn't see anyone I knew. Anyway, I digress.

There is some really cool/exciting NM news that I'm itching to tell everybody- but I'll wait till its a little more official.

3 cd's imported whilst typing this post- that reminds me...the first cd I ever bought was Mtv Unplugged Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded '94 or so- all tapes before that, baby

So, everyone enjoy the sun for me. Someday I'll drag myself away from this computer/ipod and live like a normal.

I (now) Pod

I finally got an Ipod! 30 gig video. It is even cooler than I could have expected. I've been importing cd's for hours and hours and I'm barely at 3 gigs. I'll probably be hitting up everyone I know for music so don't be too annoyed. My James Brown and Grateful Dead collections look pretty impressive in the cd wallet, but hardly make a dent in the ipod. Wow. So I hope everyone had a good weekend and I'll see ya all soon.

JB

So last week my 'check engine' light came on in my car. No big surprise, it goes on and off as it pleases.

Yesterday, I brought my car to get inspected (it's way overdue) and it failed automatically because the 'check engine' light was on. No big surprise, I've come to believe that all mechanics and any state inspection laws are crooked.

This morning some eagle-eyed Essex police officer spotted my past-due inspection sticker and pulled me over. I've been driving illegally for eight months, and the day after I try to get inspected I get pulled over. How do you like that? He just gave me a warning and even told me about a garage that would let some things slide whilst inspecting. I think this is the only cop I've ever had face-to-face contact with who wasn't a cocky prick fuck-face.

On a brighter note, its the weekend and the weather is great and I'm exhausted and I'm gonna sleep like a baby. So I'll see ya when I see ya

JB

Manitoba, eh?

J. B. Ledoux

Born: approx. 1915
Died: approx. 1982

Recording Situation: These two selections and the next four are made from tapes made by Albert Sutherland on a home machine at parties in Camperville around 1967 - 68.

1. Romeo’s First Change (with call) - The pickup (usually three notes at the beginning) was cut off in the original recording. Romeo’s First Change is the name given by Andy De Jarlis to this tune, but it seems to have been well-known before he recorded it. Today, most versions are regular in phrasing, much closer to De Jarlis’s recording, whereas, this one has several shortened phrases. The opening phrase is much the same as that of Little Burnt Potato and Bride of the Wind, both old ‘Down-East’ standards. However, the rest of the tune does not correspond to either of these two.

Gilbert Delarond, a local resident, is calling a First Change, but some of it is indecipherable from the recording. Notice that the calls occur often in the middle of musical phrases, in a ‘prompting’ rather than ‘patter’ style.

“The allemande left... (unclear)... and you go all down, all the way to the right, the four a way down the center...(unclear)... See your way there and all the way back... ...The allemande left with the old right and the old left hand, all the way down the middle... (unclear)... then meet your own and give her a... (unclear)... ...Second couple into the race, then put away... and go under ...back and right and left through. right away back to you places all. All, bring the left back.... (unclear)

2. G Two-Step - Unknown

whatever

I played ping-pong today for the first time in at least a year. I was rusty but still kicked everyone's ass.

I find myself humming the song 'fire' by Jimi Hendrix even though I havent heard it forever. It's funny how that happens. I really like the drums on it.

I got real drunk last night and had a blast at the Radio Bean. Plaing the guitar is awesome. Someday I might even use my left hand.

My brother Spike is on his way to Burlington to hang out tonight.

I dont really have too much to say on this blog thing anymore. Maybe I'll get some inspiration again soon.

Beware the Ides of March!

Yesterday afternoon my brother Gordie called me all excited and said that he heard on the radio that Will Ferrell had died in a para-gliding accident. I think it was a hoax. He heard it on a radio show on the Howard Stern network called 'Bubba the Love Sponge' huh...

JB

debutante

All but a very few SeaMonsters (and some random Montpelier-ites) missed my electric bass debut Saturday night. But fear not, because Friday night at the Radio Bean, approximately 11:30 pm, I will be making my ACOUSTIC GUITAR DEBUT!! One historic event after another. It must be a great time to be a Nest Material fan!


jB

the show tonight

I had a great time tonight, thanks to everyone that came out. a little run down of the show tonight...

we got to the langdon st cafe early. it was great- we went inside just to chill out for a while, and the cute girl working there informed us that we each got three free beers AND a free sandwich. So Brian and I were like 'fuck yeah!' I had a turkey melt.

ryan went on first. he has a really cool looking danelectro guitar. his songs are really good, about drinking and life and feeling blue and all those important things.

aaron was next. he showed up at the cafe with his parents and sister, and I think the extra family inspired him to play awesomely. he even played some old sherpa songs which I really like.

then the 'ol nest material went on. todd and tanner arrived in the nick of time. I was a little nervous, with all the shit happening this week- tanner announcing he was leaving, all kinds of stuff.

the first set belonged to todd. he ranted and raved and was flat on his back with a shaker screaming his beautiful little head off. we switched it up a little- tan played drums while I (kinda) played bass for a bit. we took a ten minute break.

for mini set 2 we decided to play the 'pulse' part of our most recent opus. it is really rocking and up-beat and I think it was the perfect end to the evening.

well, we got back home in time for marnie and I to go to the monkey house for the last few songs of kyles gig. the nightbirds are good. everyone check them out. I ran into some old friends I hadn't seen in a while.

a good night all around

peace, jB

That night time sniffling sneezing achey-head fever so you can go to sleep and get some rest post

I have a cold. Not a bad one, but just enough that my nose constantly runs and one nostril is plugged. Its funny, because the plugged nostril keeps switching...sometimes its the right, other times the left. I took off work today and slept in. I awoke to Todd on my couch, he went out drinking last night and got locked out of his house (Tanner was at Evas) So he came over here and luckily Kyle was still awake. We got some breakfast at the PC and had a little NM talk. Tanner is leaving the band, and shit is gonna be a lot different. After these next couple of shows in March I think we all are going to take a little break. But hopefully we will PLAY ON. Improv like it was in the beggining.

Meanwhile Tanner wants to work on his own music, and Todd too; and Kyle and I are trying to put something together. We use to have a band called East Infection (aka Burnt Col.) East Infection played 95 per cent covers, and 85 per cent of the covers were Sublime. But we had fun and drank a lot and had a little cult following. Now Kyle has tons of original rock songs, really upbeat and fun music. So I'm real excited about that.

Anyway, you should all check out the next three Nest Material shows because who knows?

3/11 the Langdon St. Cafe (Montpelier)
3/17 the Radio Bean (Burlington)
3/23 the Fire House Gallery (Burlington)

I was just thinking-

because we're playing last on sat. night in Montpelier-

and Ryan will have already have done the sensitive singer-songwriter thing-

and Aaron will bring the attitude-

Nest Material should just bring the rock-

should we re-do the new drum action piece?

or freak something all new for the Capital City?

I'm getting real excited about the FireHouse show-

I bought a new shirt-

and may even dust off the 'ol Elvis tie-

bought for high-school graduation...

i kinda feel like an idiot. the purpose of last night was to hang out with mike before he left and I, of course, drank too much jim beam and passed out on tanners bed. i remember mike coming in the room to tell me he was leaving and i was all 'ahjkafjri see ya later hsdhu !!' so mike i hope you had a good time and i love seeing and playing music with you and i'll see ya next time! i am going to treat myself to a nice lunch and then come back here and pass out again. thanks a lot for the great meal and pie last night everyone. word

JB

snow

a spontaneous poem by John Benson Ledoux Jr.

Snow!
that white blankety illusion of a perfect
day when the cold recedes and the white
sparkle sun shines away

Snow!
if only for a moment it comes
to sharpen my perspective of this
world like a yellow sun drenched desert

Snow!
falling falling falling
sled sleigh angles king-of-the-mountain
bringing back my child-hood snow balls
an inch at a time

Miles the Stud

from Miles Davis' autobiography (thanks Todd!)

"I was really into Irene. I got my first orgasm with her. I remember the first time I bust my nuts I thought I had to pee and jumped up and ran to the bathroom."

jB

!@#$%^&*()

tonight is going to be a lot of fun

i'm listening to the second disk of 'thinking about a season'& digging it

i really like the akron/family & angels of light track- hows the rest of the album?

i bought some peanut m&m's for a snack today

afterwork i might stop by the contois yamaha store and see what they have for drum machines. the new nm joint has made me want to drum machine it up

movie soundtrack freaky blue grass man of constsnt sorrow dr. john-ish end to practice last night

i went home and ate pasta salad & lasanga leftover from kyles grams funeral

jB

Those were the days...

I used to have a really close relationship to my stuffed animals when I was a kid- three in paticular.  The first was Bucky Beaver.  He was given to me before I was born.  My cousin gave him to my grandmother to bring to me in Panama.  The second was Mousie (RIP).  I think she was won/bought for me at a fair or carnival.  Rounding out the holy trinity was Dookie-Dickie, the bald-headed monkey.  I dont remember how I came to own him.
Bucky Beaver and Mousie were married and Dookie-Dickie was their son.  During the day they lived the normal stuffed animal life, but at night they were super heroes!!  We slept in bunk beds (I was on the bottom, my brother Jacob on top) and I would entertain with grand stories of how Bucky, Mousie, and Dookie-Dickie saved the world!

When I was about ten one of my brothers caught head lice (Alburgh Elementary school closed down almost every year with head lice epidemic) my Mom said she had to put all the stuffed toys through the wash. And of course, Mousie was killed. Blowed to bits she was. I was crushed-burst out crying. All my brothers laughed at me. I didnt care. I loved her.

Well, I grew up, moved to Burlington, and joined Nest Material. Dookie-Dickie and Bucky Beaver live in a stuffed animal/super hero retirement home in Alburgh (aka my Moms house)

peace, brother, peace...JB

Everyone was in fine form last night. I love when Mike comes back for practice, its like all the stress and band problems melt away and we just rock. Like we want to prove to him that we’ve still got it. I’m really looking forward to March; we have a show every week- including this Friday at the Narthex, 8pm w/ Greg Davis and Hammer & Saw. Fun Fun.

JB

Kyles Grandmother passed away last night.
I would just like to tell the whole Chevalier/Leclair family that I am sorry for their loss and that they are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sure I'll be going up to the wake if anyone is interested in going with me. Probably Tues. or Wed. night.

love, JB

about drinking

I really dont miss drinking
at all.
I have absolutley no interest in going to
the bars.
All that crowded loud mardis gras
frat stink.
I had fun last night but woke up with such
a headache.
Three or less drinks is enough.
I went for years without
being hungover.
That was the fifth of Don Cossak Vodka
($6.99) or
Gallon of Carlo Rossi ($9.99) a
night period.
I want to be
a homebody.
I dont want to be
a somebody.
Until today I thought Don Knots was
long dead
I miss him
already.

Cant Buy Me...

I finally figured out how to post pics listening to Beatles anthology with Kyle. Tomorrow pictures of parade & gumbo.

It's too Funky, Funky in Here!

Right this very second my usually bland and boringly cluttered cubicle is being transformed into a super-fly funky sexy R&B shag pad thanks to the very first installment of the JB & Eboni CD club! Are & Be Mix 4 Jay Bee features, among others, Bill Withers, Prince, M.J, Nina Simone, Stevie, and D’ Angelo. It got so funky I broke out in a cold sweat. Get up offa that thing I said to myself, you gotta use what you got to get what you want. Poor Eboni, she’s down and out in New York City while this funky drummer is keepin it real. Ahhh, livin in America! Well, in case ya’ll didn’t know, I got soul…and I’m superbad (also I really like James Brown)

The real JB

Part 1.

I finally put insurance on the Kia! It's like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. Naw alls I have to do is get Sophia inspected and I'll be 100% legal. Fuck yeah!

Cody, JB, & Spike Summer 2004

Great little papusa party last night, everyone! Lots of fixin's: black beans and refried, carrots and kale, cheese and pumpkin seeds, plus two of the greatest fruit salads I've ever had (actually, I just mixed the two together, forming a super fruit salad) Mandy made an apple cake and I made some banana bread with a little maple for that Franklin County kick. After dinner and some experimental margaritas, Emily found some toy instruments and we had a Home Items/Nest Material/Greg Davis super jam. It was really fun and great food and friends.

This morning as per email some of us met up at The 'Cluse for break-fast. Delicious cream herb gravy biscuits yummy yum. Then the usually-boring-but-this-time-pleasant drive to Swanton, bringing Kyle to see his Grammy. Nest Material practice later, then back to short work week. Next Saturday Mardi Gras parade + hopefully gumbo at JB's

peace, JB

A bright green tuque

Tuque
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A tuque (Canadian French: tuque, also spelled toque in English) is a knitted hat, originally usually of wool though now often of synthetic fibers, that is designed to provide warmth in winter. Sometimes considered Canada's national hat, all tuques are tapered and brimless, and they are often topped with pompons.
The word tuque is not etymologically related to the name of the chef's toque, although tuque is usually spelled "toque" (though still pronounced /tuk/) by assimilation. The word is also commonly misspelled "touque".
During the 1837 Patriotes Rebellion a red tuque became a symbol of French-Canadian nationalism, a symbol that was briefly revived by the Front de libération du Québec in the 1970s.
Today some consider tuques to be somewhat lacking in sophistication, though they are indispensable in cold climates. The most famous media characters to sport this kind of hat are the SCTV characters, Bob and Doug McKenzie. Michael Nesmith of The Monkees also wore this hat in his television series. Bill Murray wore this type of hat in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
In the United States, this type of hat is usually referred to as a knit hat or knit cap, sock cap or stocking cap, watch cap, and sometimes as a ski hat. In the southern United States, it is sometimes called a toboggan.
A beanie is a similar type of hat, although tuque and beanie can be synonymous in California.
There is also a town known as La Tuque, Quebec, named after a nearby hill that resembles a tuque.

Musings on a Half-Day Friday 3Day Weekend

I'm never ever ever ever ever going to play someone else's drums at a show again!!! Its so hard. Thanks everyone for coming, and even though I thought my playing was a little ehhgh, I think for the most part the show went off well and the practice showed and the chart worked, mostly. Someday I'll be able to hear everything. Thanks to Andy for the drums (you got a pretty sweet deal on those babies) Thanks to the Seamonsters for coming out in force. Thanks to everyone up front for whoopin (Greg) and banging on our toys. Thanks to Yanni for yelling 'filet minong' in the middle of a conversation I was having with somebody, completely out of the bloo. Thanks to Michelle and Angela for always making me laugh. Thanks to Gahlord bringing his state-of-the-art 1992 mini-whatever recorder-majiggie. Thanks to Ben Brian Tanner Marnie and Aaron. I cant wait till next show (3/3 right?) with (lord)Todd AND Mike!! Hells Bells!

love, JB

What I Think About at Work:

CD’s that will get me psyched for the show tonight
(in no particular order)

Bitches Brew (disc 2)- Miles Davis
Ascension- John Coltrane
Gris Gris- Dr. John the Night Tripper
An Uncultivated Meadow- Nest Material
In the Jungle Groove- James Brown
The Complete Fillmore West 1969 (disk 11)- The Grateful Dead
The Complete Cellar Door Sessions (disk 4)- Miles Davis

Thats why they call him 'Willie'...

...seems like his heroes have always been gay cowboys.

I had a great Valentines Day yester-day, not lonely and sad as usual but filled with friends and food and Donnie Darko.

Sabrina, a friend of mine (1/2 Thai), makes me delicious Thai red curries whenever I ask, all I have to do is buy tofu bamboo veggies etc. So I figured I’d have her make a big batch and treat Kyle + myself and whoever else didn’t have big romantic Valentines plans. Michelle brought a nice salad and also 1 cookie (for me!) leftover from big cookie making night Monday. Marnie (who HAD Valentines plans later…Frank was working) showed up with some pretty flowers for us (with a little card telling Kyle to fuck off or some such) Also Fast Eddie and Tim ‘Big Trouble’ Burgher.

We kinda watched Donnie Darko: at first Marnie just skipped from chapter to chapter trying to find a song she really like (never did) but then we watched last ¾ straight through. It is a great movie that I hadn’t seen in a while (and I wasn’t really paying attention (Kyle+Tim wrestling)(also Kyle+Marnie)) so I was confused as all hell. Jena Malone is beautiful.

Well, big show tomorrow. I’m excited as usual. I finally get to see ‘The Cripples’ For those of you who don’t know, Aarons previous band ‘Rock and Roll Sherpa’ is one of my favorite local bands of all time. So there you have it.

jB

Sophia

Every Friday afternoon at about three o'clock I park the Kia, and for the next 48 hours I try to forget all about how the 'check engine' light just came on, and the rear suspension is shot, and it needs an oil change, and the transmission is failing, and I owe a ridiculous amount on it, and have no money to fix it, and there is no insurance, and its not inspected; and there have been nights where I dream I get into an accident and am so fucking financially screwed that I wake up cold sweat. Ahhh, peaceful joyous denial....

jB

Going to sleep has been a real puzzling mystery for me lately- I've always had the weird hallucination period where I see strange things on the ceiling and light shows from behind my eyes being played out in front of me in multi-colored oil+water light shows from 1968 Fillmore West. But in the last few weeks/months its been a disjointed out-of-body experience where I toss and turn and sweat and go through a whole myriad of 'who am I what am I why am I' and my entire emotional self is flashing round and round for the six minutes or so before sleep. I used to enjoy it but now its getting old and I just want infant-like pure sleep with no worries or dreams or nagging dread regrets.

"Unto my rightwell beloved Valentine"

Next Tuesday is everybodys favorite holiday, St. Valentines day. Maybe Chaucer said it best:

'For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.'

Or maybe The Magistrate said it best:

'Fuck Valentines day,
shit.'

Either way, I was thinking about having a little get together at my place for the single folk St. Valentines evening. Nothing special, a little dinner, a little movie watching, maybe a little Trivial Pursuit playin. Anyone interested? If not, I'll probably do what I do every other February 14th: Watch sitcom reruns, have a good cry, jerk off, go to bed.

jB

Tanner McCuin, King of all Media

a few random things

I just re-signed up for ebay and made my first bid in 5+ years. Grateful Dead Fillmore West three disk set. I'm gonna wait a while and see if I can get that new Miles Davis Cellar Door for a reasonable price.

I love chocolate Silk soymilk.

Saturdays are great sittin at Radio Bean with Yanni and a big cookie.

My new cell phone isn't as easy to use as my old one.

It was great (briefly) seeing Sarah yesterday.

I had some problems burning cd's today. I-tunes reversed the tracks which is no good for Dead live cd's...I Know You Rider>China Cat Sunflower? I don't think so.

After listening to the new 'Metaphysical Graffiti' and accompanying single yesterday at the T&T Music Factory, I feel really really good about the band.

I am so excited to hear 'Home Items'

that's all for now...I'm gonna be watching the SuperBowl tomorrow and eating guacamole if anyone is interested.

love, jB

new magic from the nest material

Just re-listened to ‘metaphysical graffiti’ and I finally get what you’ve all been talking about all these months…its great, pretty amazing even. At first I was probably just a little jealous, you guys made this great cd and I’m only on the last 1/3, but now that I’m more of a ‘team player’ I love it.

What is the next step to be able to release this for the show on the 16th? Does it need re-editing/mixing/whatever? I’m not good for all that, but I do know how to use Kyle’s cd burner now so I could make copies. Plus we need track names, there are 9 tracks right? We should just choose the names random as before but stick with the same names for all the cd’s.

Well, I’m going to be watching ‘in the name of the father’ tonight at around 8 come one come all.

Love, jB