I'm Just Out Here Sitting On the Fence

   I don't know what to make of the gig our band played at the 133 Club this weekend. I guess I shouldn't be surprised with the mixed reviews. Some loved it/some hated it. I was great/I was too loud. I showed off too much/I looked like I was having fun and that helps sell the band....It's a lot to try and sort through.
   I know for sure it wasn't the greatest show I'd ever performed, but I had good time. That should be all that matters....
   But it's not.
   Band dynamics are an unholy motherfucker to deal with. I hate the politics of trying to get 5 people in the same room at the same time and moving in the same direction. IT is not easy. It is my least favorite part of the ride.
   And, it is getting old.
   I have a terrible reputation for ditching bands. That's because I have a hell of a time getting along with people whose ego outweighs their talent. I know I'm not the best guitar player, but, I also don't go running around professing to be The One, either.
   I just want to play, man. If I could get around all of the other bullshit that would be just dandy.
   I've put a lot of hard work into this band and after a year and a half I still don't think it's jelled.
   I am right on the edge of throwing in the towel and moving on.
   As my faithful followers know, I am working on getting my first book ready for publication. I am thoroughly enjoying the process even though it is a lot of hard work. The best thing for me is....I am the only one I have to deal with. The only external decisions I have to make is which mug I want to pour my coffee in and whether I have enough cigarettes to get me through my schedule.
   That's it.
   The mixed reviews for the book are still in the future, and, hopefully, they'll be mixed?!? No creation of art is ever without it's detractors. I understand that. But, whatever happens, I know it will rise or fall from my shoulders. There will be no variables that are out of my control. No mixed vision. No clash of egos or wills.
   Whatever fate awaits my book, I know it will be because of me and only me.
   I sure hope I know what I am doing................
 
 

Saturday Night-A Go-Go

    Last night I took a much needed break from all of my various projects and spent Saturday night making the scene and partying!!
    My cohorts and I started out at a cool retro birthday party for my bands lead singer. It was 1962 all over as he celebrated his 50th birthday. The company was great.The retro clothes were horrible and the food and open bar were awesome!
    I had a wonderful conversation with one Don Peteroy. Like me, he is a poet/writer/musician, who, (along with his lovely wife Phoebe) are members of my singers other band No Consolation. He is this year's winner of Playboy's prestigious short fiction award. His first book Wally comes out in October. We discussed literature and music, discovering we were both big fans of the Beat writers. It was nice to compare notes with a kindred spirit at the beginning of his own literary adventure. (And when he reads this, I am SO jealous of the residency at the Kerouac house-lol!!)
   Not wanting to leave our singer bereft of food and alcohol (especially alcohol) my cohorts and I moved on after a few hours to Ripley's Boat Club to see a band that are friends of my partying cohorts (nameless to protect the guilty!) I can't remember the name of the band but they were great and their guitarist put on a hell of a show!!
   We had a few beers and split a pizza to quell the mad munchies as we jammed to the bands last set. We were a little put off to discover that our bands did a lot of the same songs. But, hell, good material is good material and they did a wonderful job!
   We finished out the evening at Snappers. I had never been there and really like the stage and out door set up. The band there played a good mix of country and classic rock and the crowd never got a good chance to leave the dance floor! Part of the entertainment for me is watching the wild gyrations of the inebriated dancers. I always get a kick out of it when my band is playing and it is even more fun as part of the crowd where I can pay more attention. It is also valuable research for my band, seeing which songs bring the best responses and what brings the feet to the floor.
   So, after a few more shots and more than a few laughs, as the band went into their last song, I relinquished my keys to our designated driver and we headed for the shed.
    It was a great night with some great people and I can't wait to do it again!!!
 
    And just a heads up, My band-The Cosmic Atomic Zombies-will be appearing at the 133 Club this Friday-8/24 starting at 9pm-come thirsty and ready to jam!!!
 
 

Update or A New Screaming Bag of WTF??

   Hey all,
   It's been a few weeks since my last post. I have been so caught up in the excitement of getting my book published I've been slacking in other areas.
   My blog being one of them.
   I (always) have a hell of a time trying to figure out what I want to write about each week. Because- A) I don't think any of you want to listen to me bitch about stuff and- B) I don't want to seem egotistic by talking about myself a lot.
   I'm not really that bloody interesting, anyway.
   So what does that leave?
   Me bitching about how I don't want to appear egotistical.....OK that's just not going to cut it....
   I could go on about politics and piss EVERYBODY off.
   But no, that's hella boring.....
   I could write something about the Olympics but aside from a passing infatuation with Kerri Walsh Jennings, I really haven't been paying that much attention....mostly because I was pissed that NBC screwed me out of seeing the Judo and Boxing.
   They also need to make MMA an Olympic sport so they can stick it on @ 1am on a Tuesday for everyone to miss!!
   Now, I know, I should have DVR'd it if it meant that much. The problem is, the only programming note you had is...."Still to come...." Which meant anything from 5 minutes to three days....So, it's kinda hard to put a time stamp on that....
   I know, I know, bitching again......Sorry.......
 
   I haven't really had any quiet moments of revelation this week. Or, if I have, I've just been too damn busy to notice. I've been cramming work in on the book in every calm moment I can find. I'm almost done with the second draft and I want to get it done before I have to start the re-writing stage with my editor.
  Really, I'd like to have a week or two away from it before I start the re-writing process, to refresh my batteries. I want the book to be as good as it possibly can be and I realize that after staring at this second draft for the better part of a year, I need to leave it be for awhile and give my brain a chance to re-boot and re-group so I can put the final draft together with all the nuance and verve it deserves..........

   I hope all of you have a good week....I'll see you soon........