Ok, I'm going to attempt to write aboout some music, really fast. Again, I apologize to Last Train Home for not writing about the music. Eric wore these buckskin colored leather pants to a show at Iota last month and I still can't think straight-just kidding. Honestly, I have been sickeningly busy pimping my work at this
Art-Show. I forgot what it was like to be 'a working artist'. Feels good.

So last weekend I treated myself to a nite of combos-solo.

The first stop was American Legion Post 8 over in Southeast for a self-titled CD release for The Dustbowlers. The drummer has been my neighbor for years-so you know what a pleasure to hear him accompanied by vocals and melody. The Dustbowlers are a 3 piece outfit, Mike on drums and percussion, another Mike on bass and double bass and backup (a natural combo for bands I like) and Tim on stringed things (guitars) and lyrics. So listening to Tims song's, I'm struck at the Californ-I-A-ness of the lyrics and his delivery. I seriously have not heard that sound around here in like 5 years, and then I was only hearing it because of another musician friend, who rode into town with his real name and out of town on the psuedonym Sri Baba Marley Jones-that you may remember, he played the songwriters circle, Galaxy Hut, and a few other gigs. So, what is this Californ-I-A sound? Think of Woodie Guthrie's annunciation of electric-I-T on Coulmbia River. Appropriatley enough, the first trak on The Dustbowlers is called "Hey Hey Woodie Guthrie", which is as much about the lonesome sound as the master himself. Another stand out happened to be 'Tailfins', a lonesome metaphor where a visit to 'The Cadillac Ranch" in Texas (you know the place where an artist has buried a bunch of heyday Cadillac's noses in the ground) spurs thoughts of finding your identity before your sell-by date. This song's like a dirge and paints such a clear picture of this unique American monument that it makes me squint in the Texas sun.

Anyway, it's apparent that these guys have been playing music for along time and I hope to see them getting gigs around town and mixing it up with the Virgin-E sound and song writing. Tim's got the lead singer speak down, already pegging Mike and Mike as the 'Beatnik Cowboys" at this homey CD release

To completely 'fess, had to bust out of the The Dustbowlers shindig to hit Staccato and see Cowlick Lucy and the newly formed Karl Straub Combo play together. I arrived at Staccato well into the advertised 1st set of Cowlick Lucy (a band I've already talked about) to find Mr. Straub sitting in with them on guitar. Very, very good move. The strenght of Karl's guitar playing added new force to Cowlick, especially to "Sheep in Wool's Clothing". The "VU" sounding songs "Downtown" and "Breakdown" totally turned this audience on at Staccato. They were captive, and I may note, not totally made up of musicians. Predominently-yes, totally no. I was quite pleased to be approached twice by people that struck up conversations with me about how great they thought the band and the club were when they saw me writing and singing along. Staccato's 'sound improvements' to shut the neighbors up who complain of sound leaking out, have in fact improved the sound inside tremendously. I got there too late to be in the front, but sitting all the way at the back upstairs bar, where I could not see a lick, the sound was clear and crisp. Take into account, the place is smaller than Velvet Lounge, but Staccato's really got something.

As does Karl Straub. This Combo is a new outting for Straub. He played for years with an outfit called the Graverobbers, fronted by him and his song writing. Right now 'The Combo' or this band is getting comfortable with new songs and Karl classics. I admit to not having heard the Graverobbers many times, though I'm a huge devotee of their CD's. The Combo fits it name as the new players in the band seem to hail from more high end lounge oriented rock music, less garage band/folk. I look forward to these guys developing too. Also kudos for Cowlick Lucy's Paula & Vivian singing those high note girl back up vocals to Karl's bubblegum ballad "Shonen Knife". When I listen to it on CD I always here those girl voices in my head, and like anyone, gotta love it when fantasy meets with reality.

Ok, hope that whet your whistle. It's going to be a busy week. I hope to give you some bite on the LTH Wolftrap extravaganza. Then the day before Thanksgiving, the mother of all shows, Americana Motel 2 at The Birchmere. The one year anniversary of the show that changed my life, brought me back into the live music scene, continues to inspire me, and has introduced me to all kinds of lovely people and experiences.

If you want more pre-show information on any of this I suggest you check out groupiegirldc on yahoo groups and look at the calender and links. Thanks-talk to you later.