Well it’s been a full and crazy month and a lot of music. Local groovy funky faves Spurgie Hankins band played the Empty Glass a couple of times and now plan on doing a regular Tuesday night gig there. It’ll be cool to have yet another musical option to add to Bob Thompson at Legends on Tuesdays. Low Man’s Lyric returned to Julie J’s to play a moderate but extremely enthusiastic crowd. The crowd was just “patriotic” enough to make this left wing peace lovin’ liberal a wee bit nervous but all was well and the band sounded great. I just want them to add more originals to what looks to be a shaping up to be great repertoire. I went to last open mic at the EG for me for a while. (I’m turning into daytime work girl-eek!), as usual it was much fun. You get such a great variety of acts and an astonishingly large crowd (don’t these people have to work?).
I just can’t stay away from Westlake. Checked them out at Mulligan’s. They didn’t bring their usual huge entourage and the energy was lacking a bit but as usual they played a solid if unsurprising show. After a set, I left to go check out Freekbass at the Sound Factory. I miss the freaky painted keyboard player but Freekbass himself was still cool and funky. With a sparse crowd at the SF though the show was hard to get into. I hope they attract a bigger crowd next time. It seems the crowds at the bigger shows have been slimmer than usual this past month. I hope it’s the funky weather and not indicative of lameness on the part of Charlestonians.
Toledo’s Lazy American Workers returned to Charleston and I finally got out in time to see them. On a side note, Todd Evans vocalist/guitarist is now Beefcake the Mighty for Gwar. LAW are a good band but either I’m getting old (no never!) or the vibe was just off. They seemed too loud, too fast, and too angry. Maybe I’m past the angry punk thing. Ah the evil of encroaching maturity. Or something like that. I also went to check out Dave McCormick (aka Corncob) at Sam’s. Here’s the thing. He’s got a great voice, a good band, and plays covers really well. But that’s it. I only caught one set and he may have done more originals then but not when I was there. Also he had a stand in female vocalist who did a great Janis Joplin but also did No Doubt-which did not mesh with the country rock sound they had going for them. The EG featured Adam Brodsky. AB was a funny and weird folkie. I enjoyed the songs however no one seemed to enjoy his aimless and long ramblings in between songs. They were often longer than the songs themselves.
Highway Jones is apparently playing everywhere every weekend. I’ve seen them at Sam’s, the Empty Glass, AND the Sound Factory. Featuring rotating guest musicians and vocalists, including Bill Holstein and Debbie Grimm they must cram about 20 people onstage. HJ is looking for a new “groove oriented” (actual quote) bass player so if you fit the bill… One of the shows I saw them do featured a tribute (with guest musicians) to Kevin Duffer who passed away this past month. Kevin was a funny guy and while towards the end our relationship was problematic, losing someone who contributed so much to the music scene in Charleston is always a blow. I remember seeing Kevin play solo at JT’s lounge in Dunbar for the first time. He had a great voice and was good songwriter. I remember seeing Bletherskate and Blackwater Hollow and time and distance have softened these memories. It really makes a person regret acrimony and lost friendships. But I leave this thought with this line that Kevin used in a song (a quote from Richard Adams’ Watership Down) “My heart has joined the Thousand for my friend stopped running today.”
Coming up next month Tilting at Windmills (progressive rock featuring Chuck Biel) will be debuting at the Empty Glass on May 8th. The first EP will be available at the show. Also at the EG will be Noizbox featuring flutes, pots, pans and a bassoon. On may 9th, the show will also feature Cleveland’s Catwalk Blue. Taylor Books will feature folkie John Lilly on May 3rd and Beckley’s Damn the Flies will be at the Sound Factory on May 31st.
Syphter is losing their vocalist so if you are a pro vocalist and wish to set up an audition please contact them by email, syphter@syphter.com. Phil and Tom from Highway Jones have been recording their side project the Satellite Junkies, it’s an alternative country/Americana band that will debut a new dc and play some shows this summer. Shorthrow will be will be in the studio recording their sophomore cd. Stychntyme’s drummer Mike is getting ready to go on tour with Tantric so they will be taking a break. Finally, Cleveland’s Lords of the Highway drummer has left the band and they are looking for a drummer, so…check out the website http://www.lordsofthehighway.com.

Sunday: Nothing I’m watching-I haven’t gotten
addicted to any pay cable shows yet. I’m waiting for
the end of Buffy to add a new show. Monday: I’ve
started watching Everybody Loves Raymond and trying to
remember to watch Crossing Jordan. While it’s
ostensibly about commitment phobic Jordan, it has a
great and surprisingly diverse cast (although they did
kill off the only black cast member). I really watch
for the character interaction and moral lesson (it has
one on each show) rather than the “mystery.” Tuesday:
It’s the return of Just Shoot Me. While the show has
totally gone downhill, the network is going to let it
finish out this season after all so I’ll watch it
until the end. It was such a funny show in its
heyday. I’m not sure what’s happened to Less than
Perfect on ABC. It hasn’t been reported as cancelled
but…I haven’t seen it on the schedule for weeks (I just check ABC.com-it's returning April 29th).
Usually its just crap at 9:30 on Tuesdays. I missed
Watching Ellie last week so I will watch after
Frasier. Buffy is a repeat this week “Bring on the
Night” but a good episode. Then its full speed ahead
until the very end. Sniff. Wednesday is a full night
on multiple networks. That 70’s Show (FOX) will have
a cameo by Seth Green (Oz! Scott Evil!), George Lopez
(ABC)-(I just like seeing Chicanos on TV), Angel (WB),
and Enterprise (UPN). Thursday night is Must See TV.
One new episode of Friends, on repeat of Friends
(where’s Scrubs? I’d rather have a repeat of that), a
new episode of Will & Grace (w/Madonna) and a blooper
show (again I’d rather see a repeat of Good Morning
Miami). On Friday is the Finale of John Doe! At
least they are showing it. Also on Sci-Fi is the TV
show Tremors, which I caught once and it’s pretty
funny. On a side note, it appears that Hunter is
back. Weird.

I have a crush. I won't tell who but he's in this band. Also I was showing my friend Bessie a picture of my friend Billy Dynamite and she said, "Man, he has a big dick." I will never be able to have a conversation without looking at him "down there." Ankle is better but still hurts. Well I am sleepy must go to bed. I need to post more. I have shit to say but no time to type.

I had a great day at my new job. I learned lots of things. I helped someone file a protective order all by myself. I found out I get to have my very own laptop when it is done being reprogrammed. And a company cell phone. Unfortunately I took a spill on my way out the door and have just sprained my fucking ankle. It seriously sucks and the only Vicodin I have left didn't do crap for me. I just recovered from spraining the same damn ankle in October. Sigh. At least I still have my crutches and ankle brace from then.
L

Feel sorry for me

Hey I got a new job! I actually got promoted! I really thought they wouldn't give it me. Not because I'm not qualified but because I think that they don't really want to promote people in house. I really thought they were just yanking my chain by interviewing me but I guess not. Yay! I am now civil legal advocate. I get to go to court with victims of Domestic Violence so I am very excited. I think not only can I do alot of good there, but it will hopefully be a good stepping stone for my occupational future. I've also been very busy. I've updated my webpage, my Yahoo! Profile, and started a new group for Charleston, WV musicans. So how about that? Anyway got to go do laundry, and dishes. Oh yeah, watched Iron Chef last night for the first time in a long time and what great timing. Morimoto v Sakai. Bell Pepper battle. Excellent! Sakai solidly beat Morimoto. Next week Sakai goes up against Chen Kenichi . It should be awesome.

When I told my Buffy mocking boyfriend that Spike
might be moving to Angel next season his reply was
"Hey that'll make you happy. Maybe Spike and Angel
will start doing each other like you like to read
about. Spike will probably be the bottom since Angel
is so big. Or I guess he'll probably be Angelo"

Me: Anglelus?
Him: Yeah

I read waaaaay to much slash if my so can say things
like this.

Yikes! Too long with out posting!

Here's last weeks Angel:

Connor and Cordelia
Man, I got icked out all over again. Ewwwwww. I was
actually saying it out loud. I think he may be
starting to see through her manipulations. I wish he
had been there for the big showdown.

Gwen and Gunn
Ha! Take that Angel and Fred. The expressions on
their faces were priceless asked for Gunn. Turgid
supernatural soap opera indeed Gunn! Gwen, woah! And
while I thought Fred and Gunn were sweet, Gunn and
Gwen are boiling hot. I got the shivers. Nice to see
something actually sexy on this show.

Wesley
I’m back from hating Wes to feeling sorry for him.
Although I found his relationship with Lilah way more
palatable than C and C’s so his over identification
was a little overstated. But I see his pain, and I’m
glad he’s grieving instead of playing it off.

Morimoto
Since when is the Iron Chef Japanese on Angel?


Angel
Ooh is Angel playing Angelus style mind games with
Cordevilia or is he doing one of those dopey right on
the spot things by accident (as usual)? Yep, he’s on
the money. Nice to see Angel smart again.

Lorne
I was screaming: No! Don’t die! I knew those
credits were bad news. Thank you God or Joss or
whoever for saving him. I couldn’t lose him as well
as Lilah and Manny. Magic 8 Ball moment was
priceless.

Damn, Ats has been awesome since the break was over!