Ok, so here’s what happened.  The Lionel Young Band was playing last Thursday night so I moseyed on down, and as I entered the hotel lobby, who did I see standing at reception but the delicious Ms. Brown herself.  We hadn’t seen each other since before Memphis, and even with her stellar written recap, I wanted all the great details relived just for me.  Her Deliciousness didn’t disappoint, as she glowed, giggled, and glistened with details aplenty.  We even discussed the William Wordsworth poem “I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud,” and it’s implications regarding the sweetness of memory, which for the poet was, “Great emotion recollected in tranquility,” and asked which is preferred, the actual experience or just after, with the wisdom of the permanence of remembrance.  Although in William’s case, he was recollecting metaphorically dancing with daffodils while Erica was recollecting actually meeting and jammin’ with legends (whilst becoming one in her own right).   It was great fun and a privilege to hear it from her in person.   I can’t decide if I enjoy her music more or her company.  Fortunately, I don’t have to. 

Ok enough gushing all over Ms. Brown.  Now I’m going to gush on some Kate Keiser.  After Erica and Lionel’s killer version of Nappy Brown’s “The Night Time is the Right Time,” (which I understand they did at Margolin’s jam in Memphis) and Erica’s “Dynamite,” Kate sat in with Lionel and the boys and let me tell you, we have missed that girl!  But not for long, however, as I have a sneaking suspicion she’ll be coming out this Saturday night for a sit-in with the Delta Sonics.  I’m thinking, “It Hurts Me Too.”  Kate, what are you thinking?

While on the subject of solid singing chicks, the newly-formed Gretchen Troop Band will have their inaugural Outlook gig this Thursday.  We had this to report back in December:

Let’s get back to the Shamans’ final and farewell for a minute here.  Gretchen Troop has a voice not to be believed.  If you wish to hear for yourself (worth the wish), she has now formed the Gretchen Troop Band.  It was a great farewell and we all appreciated the not only the music, but the momentousness of the evening.  I’ve heard Jasco play with Mojambus, so now I have the excited anticipation of hearing Gretchen with her new playmates.  I’m sure it will be soon. In the meantime, there’s a CD I’ll discuss in a minute.

Then, if you’re of the mind that two different styles should be presented…, then Raven’s Flight, A Compilation of the Shamans’ Work, is the perfect complement.  The strength of Gretchen Troop’s voice overwhelms the first-timer, and the choices the Shamans made for this CD should given an award.  Troop must have an intrinsic instinct as how to best showcase her remarkable voice, and Jasco just knows what he’s doing.   Admitting to a Howlin’ Wolf weakness, that they cover two (“Who’s Been Talkin’” and “Killin’ Floor”) elevates the status of this CD to an exalted standing in Honeyland....A hauntingly beautiful CD.

See you Thursday night. 

I know the Idus Martiae (Ides of March) is more than two weeks away, but I can’t stand it any longer.  I was recently in a deli that was playing video footage from the sixties of the Beatles arriving at a U.S. airport, and the girls were going barking mad, and I mean truly bat-shit crazy.  Well, candidly, that’s exactly what happens to me when Jason Ricci and New Blood hit town, and 3/15 is freak-out time;  tears, fainting, squealing, screaming, hair pulling, and of course dancing.  Typically JRS symptoms don’t begin their occurrence in the patient until exposure commences.  My symptoms at this time are slightly diluted and seem to be a “light” version of the syndrome.  I think I may have the even rarer condition known as Pre-JRS (and if you don’t know about JRS, read this:  http://www.bouldershomeoftheblues.com/News10.html ).

And as if that weren’t stirring enough, we’re also having a special birthday party that night for our good friend, Jackie Eberl Deall, the saint who married our other good friend, Jerry Deall on January 28^th.  Anna, a friend of Jenn Cleary’s and big fan of JR&NB, will once again bake her death-by-chocolate cake for the celebration.  It’s not to be believed.  Thanks, Anna.

On Sunday, 3/9, the Colorado Blues Society is holding their board meeting from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00p.m., and then Lionel Young and Mark Diamond will follow with a blues jam from 7:30 until we let them off the stage.  Now, it is my understanding that during this meeting other musical things are going to be happening, and when I inquired to Dan about this mystery, here was his response:  My understanding is that Erica, Lionel and John Alex Mason will all perform.  I know nothing more.

So, Dan, how does it feel to be completely out of the info loop?  Well, regardless, it sounds like one hell of a day of worship!

Here’s the poem Erica and I were discussing. In as much as this has been one of my all-time favorite poems pretty much forever, I decided you could all use the reminder to reflect on some of your more marvelous memories today.   One of mine involves Al Gore.  Don’t ask.

Honey Sepeda

                        I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud

          I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
          That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
          When all at once I saw a crowd,
          A host, of golden daffodils;
          Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
          Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

 
          Continuous as the stars that shine
          And twinkle on the milky way,
          They stretched in never-ending line
          Along the margin of a bay:
          Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
          Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

 
          The waves beside them danced; but they
          Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
          A poet could not but be gay,
          In such a jocund company:
          I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
          What wealth the show to me had brought:

 
          For oft, when on my couch I lie
          In vacant or in pensive mood,  
          They flash upon that inward eye
          Which is the bliss of solitude;
          And then my heart with pleasure fills,
          And dances with the daffodils.

MEMO TO HONEY

Dear Honey:

It's been great seeing the crowds build for the blues and even better seeing more women in the audience and a lot of dancing.  I was thinking about putting my male wait staff in spandex hot pants.  Do you think this would help bring in more girls?

Always willing to try something new,

 
Dan

Dear Dan:

Well, that’s an interesting idea.  However, esthetically speaking, spandex hot pants will only work if all the men make an appointment for a “boyzilian.”  It involves hot wax.   I understand it’s quite painful, but I’m certain the women would be very appreciative.   Since you state you’re “always willing to try something new,” why don’t you make the first appointment; let the guys know first hand what to expect.

Yours truly,

Honey