Hi

After lamenting my not posting and talking about the same stuff too much, I just got back from the benefit at La Casa I menitoned in the previous post. Much was accomplished.

1) I've found out when and where my 'local lo-po' broadcasts from, information I've been wanting to know, but too lazy to try to figure out.

2) While I know my rule is to not to talk about bands that are not from around here, I am breaking it. The second band in the lineup tonite was the Molehill Orkestrah, from Tucson, AZ, billed as "Eastern Klezmer-Core" on the flyer. Oh my, I am still vaklempt, my $5 for the benefit got me 3 bands - one of which was this 8 piece Klezmer, as tight as almost any Klezmer I've ever heard. But wait one second, on reflection, I've never heard a Klezmer band live because they tend to be expensive shows (worth the money though to someone that has it.) Anyway, Molehill should 'fess and say "Southwestern Klezmer Core", for the extra beautiful twist on this band was the subtle Spanish guitar/mandolin head they put on some of the numbers and a break in one song that I swear keep flipping between Klezmer and a Bossa Nova rhythm, pretty wicked. Who knows if they'll be back this way, but well worth taking note. And if you have never heard a klezmer band, even on recording get your heinie out there and find some (Klez qualifies as 'Wall of Sound' bands with which you can't go wrong)

3) The mighty, mighty news. I've a new band to talk about. Shortstack. So Cowlick Lucy played with them once, and I see now that the guy playing upright for them, played banjo in Helen & Pete's.

"Shortstack, Haunted Hill Rockabilly" per the flyer and this time the description is right on. Four pieces in this band, very spare and very moody. The upright, guitar, lap steel and a tiny drum kit (bass, snare, cymbal, highhat and a wok(?)) I spent way to long mezmerized with this tiny, tiny kit. As I know none of the players names I'm at a small disadvantage to speak of them individually, but what was most striking is that the entire impression is that everyone plays to the song, not to themselves, there are no solos or major flourishes. Now that I think about it, it's what makes them Dischord-esque. Apparently they will be on a fundraising comp that is getting help from Dischord. The Shortstack material is truly rockabilly/lo-country/almost Appalacian sounding-if I exagerate a little. I know I am gone on a band when sight unseen I leave a first show with a lyric stuck in my head. Such is the case with "Troubled Mind". Musically it was reminiscent of "Wanted Man", but lyrically not like it at all. I will have to hear this song again. Soon hopefully.

Reflecting on July and why my postings were so horrid, I found some peekaboo silver lining. I did see the WP's Weekend section Roots/Americana show at Carter Barron and I saw the Seldom Scene on the Library of Congress stairs. I would have liked to have said something about seeing the 'new' Scene, but about 30 minutes after that show my back went out and it became priority #1.

In the here and now, this has just come across my email account. It's not in the side calendar, so lets' see if you are paying attention. There is something afoot at La Casa - 3166 Mt Pleasant St NW - this Saturday that is $5, goes from 8-11 pm, is going to be rootsy, tho interestingly enough, I got the "fo" from Planaria. A band called Short Stack is playing that was recommended to me by two people, Vivian & Cret-aquaintances from very different times in my life, yet the same recommendation. The other two bands sound interesting too, I just can't remember the names at the moment.

Sigh, look how long it's been since I posted! Sorry. And I have not named any stand outs for July, I am slipping again. I am tired of singing this tune, I am broke! Money for music is harder and harder to come by, you know I am fully in support of paying for talent, but I am getting to the point that I can't. I am thanking my lucky stars for Summer and free outdoor concerts, like The Grandsons at the National Zoo on Thursday, but when winter comes I am going to be screwed. If you do not see me out and about, at least "remember me well" or "remember me when".

I was traveling for five days and when I got back I had emails from new musicians I have not met (ie. heard) yet. Great! I will be trying to check ya'll out. I think it is so cool that it's musicians that gravitate to groupiegirl. When I first started the blog I was not sure it would be that way, but in my unscientific estimation that's the way it's turning out. Doing the blog is like a big thank you card to you musically inclined artists that really put on a show.

Now do any of you musicians want to buy some art? Paintings, sculptures, photos, a robot?