tornado bait

Lately I've started playing guitar again. Like most things in my life it just hits me like a wave and it didn't take much trying it just started when I decided it ought to. I'm not good but I'm playing daily and learning some of the Lorna covers. I'm playing my mother's 3/4 Guild guitar - she got it in high school I think - maybe college. As I've been playing it's sort of reconnected a nerve to my past and forced me to revisit the person I used to be. I kind of abandoned myself in Chicago in some ways. There wasn't a super solid girl to leave behind there but there was most definitely something lost. Like I said before about the waves once I came back to KC I holed up and cried my tears and boiled with shame and then one day I just hit the ground running and The Grisly Hand began. I have been repeating "Venture to impress yourself" lately. Words of wisdom from Amanda Seales - from a longer form IG video in which she mused on why we are af...

Well my bold foray into firing my blog back up has been both delightful and filled me with a sense of shame as I've "slacked" off. But then, who is counting? Blog God. I'm so happy I'm not sitting at a desk anymore and not again in the foreseeable future. My musical discovery lately has been more organic - listening to what others are psyched about, going to shows and even, gasp - creating music with new people! I tried and failed to see the Y La Bamba and Dana Louise & The Glorious Birds show at Uptown Arts Bar last Monday (I was late.) But I got to hang out with and trade some songs with Dana and her current touring band (a bunch of homies) later that evening. If you haven't heard Dana sing in person from her teeth to your ears you need to make it happen. The next morning after hearing her sing with Noah, Fritz and Zac I was still like, "DAMN!" Here's some wom focused stuff I've been jammin' to. As a dear friend said lately it...

Well hey there. It's a good thing that keeping a blog doesn't actually matter because I just kinda spaced there for awhile. Spring is in the air. Outdoor concert season has arrived. The trees are pink and green and the temperatures are jarringly perfect. Sometimes I try to remember to celebrate since the weather is complained about ad nauseum in the Midwest. Celebration is more complicated, isn't it? I've been cataloging my records, beginning with my country collection. It's been very nerdy and fun. It's interesting to see what's worth something and what's not. It's funny how the dissemination or past demand for a record drives down it's value. Like, chill everyone and their mom has that record now. I'm hoping this will help guide my future searches. I often stand and try to remember if I have a song on vinyl, etc. You know, real first world problem shit. Musically - I saw The ACB's (one of my favorite bands evar) and Natural Man at a...

Didn't turn over many new musical stones this weekend. I did enjoy listening to El Coyote's just released full length album . It's pretty tender and earnest so make sure you're not in your feelings as the youth say. Also, maybe give 'em a like on Facebook. Since they are a new band they could use the love. What I'm really here to humblebrag about is seeing SLEEP last night at Liberty Hall. It was heavy as fuck and rad. (Duh.) The crowd was predominantly white men which should make just about anyone but white men uncomfortable, but everything was "chill". A guy puked in the lobby trashcan after the openers finished- so that was kinda funny. Poor fella. Master your high lil buddy. Once the band started there was some sporadic moshing but mostly just a lot of head banging. #bangover I swear Al Cisneros looked right into my eyes but I was in a boomer balcony seat so I also might have just been really high. Oh the other thing worth mentioning is that be...

This morning while waiting somewhat awkwardly for my co worker to return to her desk (she uses the front desk for 15-30 minutes as she arrives first at 8) I said, well at least it's sunny out. She whirled around and said, "It's over tomorrow. It's not gonna last. It's gonna snow." I was like. Ok you're a lot of fun thanks tell me more about the world. What difference does tomorrow make to today's sun? I didn't discover much music this week as work has been busier than usual and my evenings have been spent seeing music or rehearsing. I have a couple wedding gigs this season and used those as an excuse to incorporate some happier songs into my book. I don't know why I'm so drawn to the melancholy ones, and they certainly go over beautifully from time to time but in general I feel like I'm kind of a bummer. I learned this song at Robert Castillo's request, but also because my sister, Melinda, used to LOVE Frank Sinatra and wore out...

My horoscope called me out for being all fired up about everything but work. The audacity. Me making plans and not considering any other factors. Anyway here's some things I'm excited about! Friday, March 30th - CS Luxem /Fullbloods/ Jim Button & The Beholders (The Brick) If you're not hip to Fullbloods  - stop what you're doing, sorry boss, and listen to "Mild West" their 2015 release on High Dive Records. You can also give them your money and download it here .  Fun fact, I played in an ELO cover band with Ross Brown the lead songwriter for Fullbloods. He also recorded Fritz Hutchison and I doing a few folkie songs last year in his basement complete with trippy LED lighting. ::rips bong:: Saturday, March 31st - " Eat Local & Organic Expo " at Johnson County Community College  10am - 3pm, "In the Gym" and no entrance fee! Saturday, March 31st - " Oddities & Curiosities Expo 2018 " at KC...