So I left off with the dynamics of stage sharing, who gigs with whom and whatnot. I'll Start with the bene at Iota because it is fresh in my mind. Can I just tell you the biggest most pleasant surprise of the Alejandro Benefit was Karl Straub singing harmony with Mary Batiata on a new song of hers. Whoa, harmony is an understatement, they sound great together! Karl has played guitar live with Little Pink on more than one occasion and I think he produced her first album, oi vay, why did it take so long to discover how great they sound together?

Other funzies at the bene, hearing the band June Star. They had opened for LTH, like over a year ago at The State - I remember them as being interesting. They totally hung together at this benefit, even with what was a sit in drummer (I think?). And this sit in drummer, he rocks - he played electric and sang a number of lead vocals with Lee Wilhoit & Phoebus in a band that is yet unamed, or so they joke. Anyway, gotta find out what this talented youngster's name is. Another treat was Bill Kirchen, rockin solo with some old bluesy stuff then sitting in on Jumpin' Jupiter's set. These are really fun things that just don't get a chance to happen day to day-yay for benefit show mentality!