Using Ormolu to keep the family together

One of the reasons I joined facebook (pretty much the only reason other than being able to share pics/videos of Oliver) was to play Wordtwist/Scramble/Scrabulous (aka Word Twist, Boggle, and Scrabble).

Word games are pretty big in my family. I have a lot of great memories of spending rainy days at the Shore or at grandma/grandpa's house playing Scramble or Boggle with my grandma, Aunts, and Erin. Normally scrabble is the game of choice and can get rather competitive for all of us. So much that a few family members don't dare join a game when my grandma, two of my Aunt's, and I sit down to play.

These days Word Twist has been dominating a lot of my time, as well as Erin's and my sister Elizabeth's. The point of the game is to make as many words as possible from 6 letters. The bigger the word the greater the points. If you use all 6 words you get a bonus. It's simple enough. Of course there's the occasional time when you really have to question the validity/need for particular words in the Webster Dictionary.

Which brings me to Ormolu. Last week I was playing a game against Erin and my sister. In one particular round neither of them had gotten the bonus word. As you can guess I got it. Normally that would be fine and I'd move on to the next round or getting something else done in the house. However within minutes of finishing the round I heard a loud exclamation of !ormolu! from Erin who was playing in the other room and discovered that I got the word. Almost at that identical time I received a text message from Elizabeth that said nothing but ormolu!! Both of them were rather incredulous that I was able to guess (I mean pick from my vast repertoire of vocabulary words) that particular word and use that bonus to propel me to victory a few rounds later.

There really isn't too much of a point to this post outside of the fact that a simple application like word twist can not only improve vocabulary but keep your family close as well.

And in case you were wondering ormolu means...

1. Any of several copper and zinc or tin alloys resembling gold in appearance and used to ornament furniture, moldings, architectural details, and jewelry.

2. An imitation of gold.

Louisville 3

After the show, and nearly falling down an escalator and finding an area of downtown Louisville that GPS could not find, we loaded up the van and went off to a club called Gerstle's. This was recommended by Rebecca, whose art show was where I played. Her friend's band, Hambone, was playing there. It was a nice-sized club with an interesting sound system, and advertised pool tables, though I never saw one...

Hambone was blues. Kind of Stevie Ray stuff, but more grit and pain than him. The bassist did the whole first set on an upright bass. Which was cool, though he didn't really ham it up. With an instrument that big, you have to be a little flashy, i think. But that could be just me.

I think the highlight was this song that turned out to be "I Like Toast and Jam" but Hambone changed a few lyrics. And the song became very very different. It made me think that someone could do very well for themselves taking children's songs and adding vulgarity and sex into them. You know you'd be interested in hearing that (once at least).

And then on break. They had a DJ - DJ Stymie. Who was a middle-aged guy with a straw cowboy hat and sunglasses. He started off playing hardcore metal (that was apparently local - which at least was the one redeeming factor). And then suddenly started playing soul and good music. (Not that that lasted too long, but was unexpected after the hardcore metal set). And the DJ music was almost twice as loud as the band, which should NEVER happen, in my opinion.

For me, blues gets really repetitive, and so we left and wandered the streets for a while. There were a few other clubs on that block. Plus, it was still like 70 degrees. So I wanted to soak up as much of that as I could.

The next club with music was an Irish pub. However the music was a jukebox, and it was rap. Gangsta rap. Not Irish even. So we continued on to this club with weird emo/cowboys on stage. They finished up their song and announced that their friend was coming up to sing some Willie Nelson. Intriguing.

And he looked like Willie.

And he sounded like Willie!

Wow. I was deeply impressed with this man. And he did Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (one of Willie's best for my taste).

The night ended after the band got back up and tried to sing Dolly Parton.

Ugh.

The next day kicked off with a flash. We went off to 3rd Ave cafe. Hallelujah is all I can say about this place! It has a festive N'Orlean's style to the inside, though it's a glorified diner. I think I already wrote about this place, but I really loved it. Seriously I was choked up after reading over the menu. Vegans everywhere - go here!

Gonna have to go. Charlie and I are taping a cable TV show this afternoon which should be aired the week or so before the Release Show. (Which is April 25th and tickets can be ordered right NOW at www.zachmusic.net/order.html)

Louisville 2

Day 1 in Louisville started off at Nitty Gritty. Nitty Gritty is a wonderful vintage clothes shop, with a whole room upstairs of men's clothes! Yes! There was a brown leisure suit hung upon the racks this time. I have never had the opportunity to actually purchase or get or be given an actual leisure suit (from the 70's). So I was intrigued. And tried it on. (I think there are some blackmail - or maybe Sear Mail-Order catalogue - pics on facebook). It was a size or so too big or else, I would have been wearing it that night for my set at Rebecca's art show at Regalo.

From there, I went on foot to hand out fliers for my Monkey Wrench show the following night. This inevitably took me to the Guitar Emporium, where I drooled at the Telecasters, Rickenbacker's, Orange amps, mandolins, electric sitars, and various effects pedals.

Hunger starting to play a role, I met up with my friends Angie and Theresa and had lunch at Lynn's Paradise Cafe - a brightly painted and hyper-eclectic cafe. They had a working mirror ball hanging, super cool lamps, pants made out of used tea bags and hanging from the ceiling, and crayons at all the tables. Attached to the front of the cafe is this shoppe that is like Big Fun (in Coventry), full over weird, silly, and goofy things, like a book called "How to Traumatize Your Children." Anyway, this place is a historic place, and very much a locals favourite. On top of all this, they had some good food! I got for the first time ever, a Portabello Burger. I have tasted one before that I did not like, but this was soft and juicy, and very tastetabulous.

Aside - I have had a thing about mushrooms for well, ever (up until about August, that is). They are fungi, and that is not something i felt we should be eating. It was a big deal to me, but i broke that wall down (with Korrin's help) and now actually can say that I like them. Very weird to be typing this and reading it back...

From there, we found out that Regalo has 2 locations and the one I was performing at was the one that no GPS could find. It was on S. 4th St, which was unknown to TomTom or Garmin. But we did find the place without too big a hassle. The hotel was swanky and had a revolving door, huge chandeliers, escalators, and a huge bar with the bar itself being a long fishbowl with real fish swimming back and forth.

I played a spirited set, with an uber-fonkay version of Bittersweet Symphony being one of my personal highlights. That, and nearly falling down the escalator after dancing too wildly on it!

More to come, but i am realizing i need sleep. Au revoir.

Louisville

Yes, I Agree with Michael that Daylight savings time is a good thing.

It means Spring is coming, which right now, as I sit inside my Ohio home as the rain berates the house and the mercury falls some 20 degrees of today's temperatures alone, is very welcome.

Daylight savings time happened upon me where I was sitting at a picnic table in a backyard patio of a Neighbourhood bar (called Nachbar - or some such German word translating into "Neighbour") underneath an array of stars while the piano/drums duo's sounds filtered outside mingling with the smoke and the conversation of the crowd.

And I mean it when I say I love Louisville!

Any city whose slogan is "Keep Louisville Weird" is alright by me!

I'm not honestly sure what Louisville would be like everyday, but the times I have trounced in, I have not wished to leave so soon. They have a thriving arts community, an amazing First Friday Art Walk, cool clubs, Vegan food (more than Northeast Ohio for sure), and better weather!

Highlights:
1. Ramsi's. As always. You know, I have been tempted many times to just drive down there on an off day for dinner. The Seitan Parmesan sandwich is out of control amazing. And they have plantains too! I can't say enough good things about Ramsis.

2. 3rd Ave Cafe. Just found these folks this adventure. You walk in to a good-sized diner that has a N'Orleans kind of decor, and pics of Elvis all over. There is even a slightly spooky Elvis seated at the door as you come in. They have a quaint little patio on the sidewalk. And they have a lot to choose from! I had to order the Vegan Ruben, and was nothing less than thoroughly sated by it! The tempeh was Delicious and the sauerkraut tasted like it does after being cooked with Vegan Sausage (ie New Year's). At one point I actually welled up, and was nearly at that point a few times!

3. The Monkey Wrench. A great venue! Located across from Nitty Gritty, it's in a cool, hip area. Plus, it has a good stage, and decent sound system! Not to mention it is quite the area hangout! I had a blast performing there.

4. Bardstown Road. A funky road that houses the coolest places to go and shop in Louisville. Think Coventry or Highland Square but multiplied for a mile or more. Ramsi's is on this road, as is Ear-X-Tacy (an amazing CD/LP shop), a fantastic Book shop, the Guitar Emporium (oh if I only had an extra $750 lying around...), 2 breweries (including one which serves a sweet and tasty Meade on tap), a handful of vintage clothing stores and hippie shops. There is also a Smoothie King, Cafe 360 (lots o vegan stuff), and a slew of cool ethnic restaurants.

5. Amazing people!! People like my Super Hero Louisville Official Street Team Tzar, John Strizak!! People like Rebecca Simpson (who used to own Jenicca's with her sister Jennifer - and who was having her first art show at Regalo in the gorgeous Galt House Tower/Hotel right on the Ohio river!)

daylight savings time

daylight savings time is awesome for so many reasons.

1. being able to finish that round of golf after a long day of work

2. not having to drive to work and home from work in the dark

3. means that warmer weather should be coming around the corner sometime sooner rather than later.

4. more daylight means more seritonin and everyone could use a little extra pick me up these days

however it is definitely not cool the night time moves ahead. not cool at all.  cheers to much less sleep tonight.

HEllo?

Hello? Is my band out there? Where are you?

Are you miming your posts? Cause they can' see that. Unless you video yourselves and post that.

Cold cold cold

I love double-decker gig days. So, this Saturday, the last day of February, was a blast. (mostly)

The first show was a wonderful Cancer benefit held at Brandywine Ski Resort. I did it last year too, and it is always a nice time. I arrived as the Fret Daddies were still rocking there set. As I found Ryan and Ashley (the fine folks that booked me there), the Fret Daddies saw me and busted into an inpromptu version of "Distracted!"

Did I mention this was an outdoor show? Yes. It was. They had a tent set up, with a propane heater inside.

However, as I was setting up, I found out that the propane had run out during the last couple of songs in the Fret Daddies set. That, and the wind began kicking up, and blowing directly into the tent.

I was given a pair of "hot hands" which I clutched wildly in between each song for a minute or two. By the time the 2nd verse of a song would roll around, I could no longer feel my strumming hand, and just holding onto the pick became a major effort. About three-quarters into my set, they brought in a large outdoor heater (one of those kinds used by restaurants that have patios), which allowed me to be able to dance around a little, and only take a minute in between songs trying to thaw my fingers.

But it was a lot fun - regardless!
And from there, it was on to Hudson, and Marcelitto's.

This was my second time at Marcellito's. The first time was the end of December, and an all-around blast.

This time was even better.

Im not sure if it was because i was so happy to be warm. Or so excited to be able to actually feel what my fingers were playing, but something special was in the air. Something tangible.

And it brought out a wonderful show! One of the best and craziest solo shows I've done in a while. Lots of emotion all night. And I think that I have never done Purple Rain as well as it came out that night! I poured everything I had into the solo - i found myself playing things that were actually surprising me! I'm honestly not much of a lead player, so I'm always amazed when I can play something remotely close to what I hear in my head. Usually, I am a ways away from what I hear, but I got there several times (actually most of the night)!

Plus, there was a great crowd of support enjoying themselves. That really means a lot, and is deeply appreciated!

I hope that everyone brings such joy and love to the Northside! (hint hint hint!)

Welcome to March, by the way!

And if you haven't purchased any Trevor Hall yet, you should. I reccomend the songs Lime Tree, Venomous, and House of Cards (at the very least).