ska and reggae – Peggy Lu Who's Just Sayin'

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival – June 22,2008

Yesterday, I went to the World Music Festival in Boonville. There were some really amazing acts that played, Chris Murray Combo, The Expanders w/ Pat Kelly, Stranger Cole, and Roy Shirley, and Cornel Campbell to name a few. I think Stranger Cole was my favorite. It was also great because a lot of friends were there. The downside was that there were wildfires in the area, so there was a lot of smoke in the air, and my throat is a mess today. It’s like I smoked a carton of cigarettes and drank a case of whiskey. On the upside, I’m sure the guys would say it’s hot.

Anyway, I took a whole lot of pictures, so here’s a few:

Soul Captives ft. Liz & Kolle of Strange Manor

I saw The Soul Captives on Monday night. During one song, our friends joined the band on stage to sing back ups. I shot a little video. This is my first YouTube video, too.

The sound is a little rough and distorted, ’cause I took it with my little Kodak EasyShare piece ‘o crap camera, but it’s not too too bad.

I took a bunch pictures, too.

Who Does That “Woo Ooh Ooh” Song?

So I’ve had this song sort of stuck in my head all day. It’s not one of those ones that’s running in the foreground of my consciousness, but more like a score, in the background of the action. it’s been pleasantly keeping me company all day, as opposed to that time that I had “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” blasting inside my brain for six weeks. It’s not bombarding me, and it’s not fully distracting either. It was lulling around in the corners of my thought processes, and I didn’t even fully understand that it was a presence until just a little while ago.

But then when I realized that I’ve had a song running through my head for most of the day, I started to think about what song it was. Then it came to the forefront, and for a second, I didn’t even know what song it was.

And then I realized something. It’s one of our songs. This is a first for me. I have one of the songs of my own band stuck in my head. This is a really cool kind of feeling. Much cooler than Marilyn Monroe.

Crazy Single Girl Life, Pt. 2.1 Photo Addendum

Here are the few photos I took on Friday night.

What I wore.

Had the Bowser’s Pizza with Rippor and ‘Elle before the show.

Deal’s Gone Bad

Commando!

Baby Bro.

Rippor, ‘Elle, and Baby Bro

I didn’t get a single decent shot of The Slackers, but you know, I have a million of those already.

My Lip is On Fire

I wrote this on Saturday, but I guess I hit save instead of publish, so it’s not as current and “breaking news” as I was hoping it would be.

It’s the best kind of awful sensation I’ve ever loved, to be in physical pain from practicing. I had my second get together with my band today. We really got into some more of working out exactly how things are going to go together on certain songs. I never thought I’d see the day where someone would be truly impressed by anything I could come up with musically. but Ruckus was digging some of what I came up with on one particular song. I wanted to do back flips, but I think I did a good job of playing it cool.

Even if it wasn’t fulfilling to hang out and jam with those guys, they’re all pretty cool, too. I would probably hang out with them just to hang out with them. They had me cracking up in full gerbil laugh mode. In case you didn’t know, and they didn’t before today, when I laugh really hard, I squeak like a small rodent.

The giggles were brought on by our further attempts to find a name for this damn band and the ruminations on penis jokes that that inspired. The name I came up with last week was so cool that it’s already been taken by a trio in Canada, so it’s back to the drawing board on that.

I’m sure there will be many more stories to tell.

Crazy Single Girl Life, Pt. 2

Went out last night, and saw a couple of bands I like and know, Deal’s Gone Bad and The Slackers. Missed a lot of The Slackers set, actually, as I got too wrapped up in the socializing and silliness. I think I’m a little bit spoiled, because I know they’ll be back and I’ll catch them next time.

Went to a gathering after, and found myself trickling in my door around five this morning. Normally that’d be fine, but I have practice and my mom is coming in this evening. It’s going to be one very long and interesting day.

Still crazy. Still single.

Big Weekend

The fun starts tomorrow evening, with friends from Chicago, Deal’s Gone Bad, opening for The Slackers of New York City at Slim’s in The City. I have been looking forward to this show for weeks. Months even. It’s always good to see friends, and when those friends are also great musicians and performers, it’s like a double whammy.

Saturday I have another band rehearsal. The last one was a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to this next one. We might have a singer by then.

Saturday evening my mom is getting in. She’s going to be staying with me for over a week at The Rock. Hopefully we won’t be giving each other black eyes, sharing such close quarters in my studio apartment.

Sunday, Mother’s Day, Mom wants to go to the Winchester Mystery House. I think Creeper is going to join us, as he’s lived in the San Jose area most of his life, and still has never been.

Monday I am taking a personal day from work, so I can spend some more time with Mom. Three day weekends are the best. Every weekend should be a three-dayer.

What are your plans for the weekend?

The New Men in My Life

So, as I mentioned briefly last night, I’ve joined a band, playing sax. It’s a new band that’s still coming together out of Alameda. If you’re into labels and genre, it’s ska, soul, and reggae. We’re so new that we don’t have a name yet, although there was a name that I threw out last night that the guys seemed to like, but I’m not sure it’s written in stone just yet, so I’ll keep that to myself.

In keeping with my tradition of not using anyone’s real names in my blog, I’ve already assigned code names to my bandmates – Pedro (bass), Ruckus (drums), and Commando (guitar). So far as I can tell, none of ’em smell too bad, and they all enjoy any joke involving either pee pee or underpantslessness, which is good, ’cause I’ll probably be spending lots of time with them in the confined space of a practice room. A sense of humor seems to be a good asset in such situations. They also don’t seem to mind my belches.

We should have a singer soon, as the guys have been getting together with a few last week and this. This will probably be another female, so I won’t be the only woman in the band. Also we would like to have a keyboardist. I’m not sure if there will be any other horns.

Last night we got together and “jammed”. This was a first for me, and I have to say, I surprised myself. I’m not nearly as awful as I thought I was. I know that I’ll get better too, with time and practice and possibly lessons. I am really looking forward to being a part of this group, and see it as the next big adventure of my life.
Making music is good times!

I’m IN!

Tonight was my first practice, and I am officially in the band. I am so incredibly thrilled right now, and geeking out in a major way. My first band. It only took me how many years?

Pardon me while I go call everyone I know and shriek in their ears.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night – Starry Plough

This past Saturday I trotted down to the Starry Plough in Berkeley to see S.O.L., Monkey, and Los Hooligans. Beforehand I talked to Momser about how my life is changing. She was telling me that it was a grieving process (in more than one way) and that I needed to respect that and allow myself to go through it. She suggested a short wake, where I raised a glass to the life I knew, bid it a fond farewell, and accept its passing. I decided to celebrate life past and present with some very good friends, and, you know, beer.
I took many photos throughout the evening, but unfortunately didn’t remember that I had my
camera until after S.O.L.’s set. I really enjoyed their set, and was really intrigued with how they’ve changed over the years. I hope they play again soon, so I can maybe give it a closer listen.

Kelly made it out