Good Friends & Bad Habits

That’s exactly what last Saturday night was! Good friends & bad habits. And because of that, there’s not much I can really say about it, other than that. However, I’ll do my best.

We arrived about 9pm, which is early for me, for Todd Dickey‘s annual “Let‘s see how late we can stay up“ fest. It was an open-door party. Literally, the front door was wide open & remained that way for most of the night.

I brought some of my homemade guacamole & a crock pot full of meatballs in none other than Stubb’s BBQ sauce. Fletch & I also brought a couple bottles of Vodka, some Bloody Mary Mix & as always, a bottle of Tequila. All the liquor was thrown into the hot tub full of ice in the back bedroom & all of the beer was in the tub of ice in the other bathroom.

Let the party begin!

Along with the good friends & bad habits, there was also good music.
There was a rumor that some old band members from bands of the past would be there. But Bryan Poole & Jimmy Adams never showed. It’s too bad because I would’ve loved to hear Bryan sing ‘Blue Moon’. It’s been so long since I’ve heard him sing that. And if Jimmy would’ve showed, two-thirds of The Banti Roosters would’ve been there. Shady will probably never show, but there were enough musicians that someone could’ve taken his place. In expectation of this, I wore my old Banti Roosters t-shirt, which everyone thought was in really good condition for it’s age. But girls don’t wear huge t-shirts anymore, so of course it still looks good. I had to belt it. Mick’s ex-wife, Andie & I used call ourselves the Panty Roosters since we were always around.

Anyway, back to the night. Lash & Ringo were there, so of course The Mercury’s played while the rest of us made trips back & forth to the bathroom. That’s where the liquor was, remember? Most parties end up in the kitchen, but we spent a lot of time in the bathroom.

Later in the night, The Filter Kings played while Zip & I slipped up to the bathroom again for tequila shots, as usual.

Let me take a minute to tell you how I know Todd Dickey. In 1986, the year I graduated, I went to a Halloween party at 8459 ‘C’ Street, otherwise known as The Shack. He lived there with Jim Bogensberger & Dave Lynch. I don’t know how I ended up there, but I did. By the end of that year, I was dating his roommate, Dave, for the next 4 years. During that time, Todd & I had a love hate relationship. Dave was a drinker & anyone Dave drank with, I kind of just tolerated, and Dave drank with everybody. When we broke up, I continued my friendship w/ Todd & I joke that in the break-up, Dave got the albums & I got Todd. As much as I miss the vinyl, I think I got the better deal.

I’ve celebrated Todd’s birthday with him forever it seems. Back in the day, we rented a Limo which took us to strip clubs from here to Lincoln and back. We did that for a few years in a row. Since then it’s been at Todd & Melissa’s place. It’s ALWAYS been on a Saturday night. Until last year that is. He had his party on Sunday last year! And it started in the day! And it ended early! I have not let him live it down. I give him shit about it every chance I get. I said he’s getting’ old havin’ parties on Sunday afternoon.

So when his birthday started approaching this year, I asked him if we could have a big boy party on a Saturday night this year. He said we could. And it was also great because he worked his party around my schedule. Fletch & I are always the last ones to leave & that‘s rarely before the sun comes up. However, this year, either people were stickin’ around later or I was feelin’ older because at 5am I finally had to go. Fletch & Todd & I finished off some more meatballs first & I think I begged him to go back to Sunday parties. I’m too old for this shit!

I'll check & see if there's any photos I can post, so check back.

Hot ‘N’ Throbbing Satchel Grande

We didn’t make it in time to Polyester in time for the exhibit 'Twisted Youth, The Punk Rock Photographs of Adrian Boot'. My friends Janna & Ginger made it & said there were photos of The Ramones, Iggy Pop, etc… I wished I’d made it but it’s going on until May 29th so we all (I’m speaking to all my music lovin’ friends) should check it out.

We did make it in time for a rock star parking spot right outside of the Blue Barn Theatre. We saw Hot ‘N’ Throbbing starring our lovely friend, Kirsten Kluver. It started out funny but then it took a dark & depressing turn. It was a tragedy of pornography and domestic abuse within a family. A mother who writes adult pornography w/ a daughter who is growing up too fast, a nerdy, yet perverted son and an abusive drunk for an ex-husband. It was interesting how they used voice over characters to portray her writing & the characters thoughts. And throughout there was a connection with Moby Dick & obsession. The more I think about it, the more I liked it.

Next stop, P.S. Collective for James Carrig’s opening. James was unable to make his own opening because was ill & in the hospital. There was a poster board there for anyone to express their thoughts on his photos or wishes to him. His photographs were interesting & colorful snapshots of ordinary things we see in everyday life. We wish him well.

We headed to the Waiting Room from there for the new Satchel Grande line up. My girls, Zooey, Sarah & Melissa & I got down & funky and boogied up front as usual. We always start out w/ just our purses on stage, then, as the night goes on, we continually add more clothes to the pile that we keep peelin’ off. That’s always a good time. I did miss me my Mike Daeges though. It’s just not the same w/o beein’ able to flirt w/ his shy self while he was drummin’. The new drummer just isn’t my type.

I left the dance floor & thought I was comin’ back so I left w/o sayin’ good-bye to my girls, which is very unusual for me. Sorry girls.

On our way to the car, we ran into Justin again. This time at his art space next to Espana. Him & Daniel were working on the place & painting. We stopped in for another quick social collaboration & more hugs where I realized that Justin makes patchouli smell so much better.
The only thing on the agenda tonight is the annual event I’ve been goin’ to for as long as I can remember. Dickey’s birthday! Let’s see, I’ve known him now for 24 years. Wow, he’s getting’ old! I’m rarely home before the sun comes up. I’m exhausted just thinking’ about this night of good friends & bad habits!

Stir it up w/ Loom & Kyle Harvey

We started the night off in the Stir lounge at Harrah’s. We were there for the much anticipated Stir Cove 2010 launch party. We had drinks & free Chicago Dawgs and caught up w/ summer friends while waiting for the announcement. They will announce more in the next day or 2. But for now, this is the list:

May 21: Goo Goo Dolls
May 22: Gregg Allman
May 30: Earth, Wind & Fire
July 4: Fireworks & Super Diamond
July 8: Barenaked Ladies with Kris Allen
July 9: Eric Church
July 15: REO Speedwagon & Pat Benatar
July 31: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Aug 1: Al Green
Aug 6: Dierks Bentley
Aug 8: Jimmy Cliff
Aug 13: Phoenix
Aug 29: David Gray & Ray LaMontagne

Josh & I got to work entering all the shows into his calendar.
And now Stir is adding more to the mix with “Stir Live & Loud”. In the Stir Lounge, local bands will be playing $5 shows on Fridays & Saturdays. It all starts on April 16th w/ Little Brazil & Digital Leather and April 17th w/ Thunder Power & Garfan?? Who is Garfan?

The Miller Lite guys were there & they had these cool little video badges about the size of a name tag that loops 6 hrs of video. Can you imagine if I had one of these? Oh the fun I would have. He said they’re about $200. That’s a bummer. But hey! My birthday is comin’ up.

Next stop, Espana for Brent’s birthday Loom. We ordered drinks & the bartender insisted on charging us tax on our drinks because they were still serving food. REALLY? You don’t ever charge tax on alcohol. I wonder if I can write that off.

We got April fooled by Gary Vaynerchuk. Due to a tweet we rushed to be one of the next 100 to buy his book in order to get free wine for life! Just now (noon on Friday) went to see if we made it only to see that his next tweet was “April Fools”. That was a good one I must say. All night I wondered if I had won free wine for life.

Hung out with one of my favorite people, Buck Bowen. We planned a goin’ away dinner where he will make us sushi. Yes, Buck Bowen, the sushi chef. I can’t believe he’s moving. 2 of my favorite people are moving to California this month. They just don’t get it that they are gonna fall into the ocean & die.

I danced a little but not w/ the crowd of sweaty bodies. I like my space when I dance so I usually end up in a corner dancing by myself. Which is fine with me. That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh!

On our way to Barley Street we ran into our friend Justin Beller, who I just love & adore. He told us of his friend Daniel's new art space next to Espana & of his living space a few doors down. We stopped up at his place, which is a gallery of his beautiful

contemporary art work, for a quick social collaboration. His work is as gorgeous & sexy as he is.

We reminisced about how long we’ve known each other & when he played w/ The Roadside Band/My Friend’s Band at our engagement party 15 years ago at McFoster's. As Justin says, things just keep getting’ better. And they do!

Back on track to BST for Kyle Harvey‘s cd realease. I have to admit. I’m guilty of never seeing his solo show. I’ve seen him w/ It’s True a million times. And I thought I saw him the night of the Thanksgiving Benson Blackout at Mick’s, but I see now he was at Burke’s that night. Hey, it was dark, I couldn’t see.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen him yet. I felt a little left out on what everybody else there had apparently already discovered. Tim McMahan was like “It’s Kyle-fucking-Harvey!” And it was. I really enjoyed his lyrics & his interaction with the crowd that were on the same page as he was in a book that I just opened up. I didn’t leave empty handed. I bought 2 CD’s, another is on the way & a very cute t-shirt. He knows my passion & weakness for soft band shirts.

Tonight we have 2 art openings, a play at the Blue Barn, a band & a dj.

No Rest for a Rock Star!!!

Last night was the first night in the beginning of a 6 night run for Fletch & I. Maybe we need to slowdown, but instead we went to Slowdown for my very first Bassnectar show.

Bassnectar is a free-form DJ that mixes just about every genre including ragtime, punk rock, blues, polka, salsa, film scores, gansta rap, beat boxing, balkan gyspy music, ska, death metal and dub. He self describes his music as “omnitempo maximalism,” which basically means no rules, no limitations, and no hesitation in fusing the familiar with the strange or the classic with the cutting edge.
And he has the longest hair I’ve ever seen!

The music is so freakin’ loud that there were warning signs as you came in saying “We love your ears, wear your ear plugs” And to make sure we could, there was a free ear plug dispenser at the merch table. I usually don’t do ear plugs but I wanted to shove 2 pairs in my ears. It was so loud I could literally feel the music & it felt awesome.

It was a festival of lights & heavy dance beats. The crowd was made up mostly of trippies. Trippies are a cross between nappy headed hippies and glow stick carryin’ ravers. The trippies had enough glowsticks & other toy lights to light up the forest during a new moon. It brought me right back to my younger & freer mind altered days.

Come on Scooby-Doo, where are you? At Slowdown, of course. Oscar, from Sesame street was also there. One trippy asked me who Fletch was shootin’ for. I told him The Reader & he asked if that was an Omaha paper. Who doesn’t know that? He then went on to say “Like I said, (which I don’t think he did) I’ve been in a hole for the last 2 years. I’ve been away in treatment, but I’M BACK NOW!”
Yes he was!
Then he said “I hope you have a wonderful life” & danced away.

Another guy asked me if I wanted to dance. Would I be there if I didn’t? How does one answer that? It certainly isn’t the kind of music of the dance hall days back in our parents time when a girl sat in a chair along the wall waiting for this exact question to be asked. I think I said “I am dancing!” & crawled away through the railing up to the next level. Poor guy. He looked like a really clean hippy.

Everybody must’ve had fun because there was so much dancin' going on the floors were sweating. My number one complaint at shows is that nobody dances anymore. Well I definitely couldn't complain last night. But seriously, the floors were wet. But they weren’t sticky as with beer so it had to be sweat. I also found a lost phone, lost sunglasses & a single lost shoe.

I had an awesome time too but I don’t think I lost anything, except maybe some hearing, even with the ear plugs.

Tonight we have the Stir Cove Summer Concert line up announcement party. We then have Kyle Harvey’s CD release show at Barley Street. And we gotta try & make it to Loom for our bohemian son, Brent Crampton’s birthday.