Total Advertising I Know, But It's for a Good Cause

So I'm doing another book sale at Eyedrum on June 20th. We're looking for donations. So, if you have shelves full of books you want to clear off let me know and I'll come get them.

Give Your Spare Change to Eyedrum

Okay-I never write about Eyedrum. I feel like its a conflict of interest since I'm on the board. But, we're hurtin for funds these days. So, if you're reading this and you're not a member, or you're a member and you haven't re-upped your membership this year-PLEASE do. We need to keep the lights on and no kidding-we might not be able to this month.

Cinematic Orchestra- Almost Painfully Beautiful

Two weeks ago I made a sojourn to the big city for an experience I knew would be one of those moments in life that if you let pass you by, you will always regret. I was right. It was a life changing musical event.

Cinematic Orchestra played one of their THREE (what a crime) U.S. shows in New York in the last week of April. They played in a tiny little venue in the East Village called the Jazz Standard. Somehow they shoehorned their seven bodies, piles of equipment, instruments and talent onto a stage that couldn't have been more than twelve feet deep and 25 feet across (when you have a stand-up bass, a piano, a sax player, and two guitars-that's damn snug).

These guys are musicians with a capital M. We're talking people who GET IT. They weave sound in this unbelievable web of beauty. Voice, electronic, real instruments, amazing, amazing. I was literally moved to tears. I have seen a lot of shows. I thought that maybe Andrew Bird was my favorite, or Zoe Keating..but this has to be it hands down. I just wanted it to go on and on. I don't think I could have gotten tired of hearing them play. I suspect if there weren't non-smoking laws in NYC they probably would have played longer. But they (and truthfully I) really needed some nicotine.

I also got to discover Grey Reverend, a friend of theirs who calls Brooklyn home and has done some work with them in the past. He played most of the set and did an acoustic'ish version of "Build A Home" that was breathtaking. Needless to say, I recommend you dash out today and buy everything they do and pile on the Grey Reverend while you're at it.

After the show I got a chance to chat up their road manager and their remarkable (and downright cute) sax player. They were of the opinion that there was nowhere in the south worth playing and I *hope I disabused them of this and they'll come to Atlanta. My fingers remain crossed. But, if they come back I'm certainly doing the road trip again.

Been Gone Too Long

I haven't forgotten about this blog. I have just been up to my eyeballs with life of late. Things haven't slowed down, so I'll just leave you with the following little snippet from Mrs. P. I stumbled upon a first edition of 'Death and Taxes' the last time I was in The Strand and I haven't been able to stop reading it.

Lady, lady, never start
Conversation toward your heart;
Keep your pretty words serene;
Never murmur what you mean.
Show yourself, by word and look,
Swift and shallow as a brook.
Be as cool and quick to go
As a drop of April snow;
Be as delicate and gay
As a cherry flower in May.
Lady, lady, never speak
Of the tears that burn your cheek-
She will never win him, whose
Words had shown she feared to lose.
Be you wise and never sad,
You will get your lovely lad.
Never serious be, nor true,
And your wish will come to you-
And if that makes you happy, kid,
You'll be the first it ever did.