Your Favorite Hamburger is a Cheeseburger is about to be sent to the manufacturing plant. I’m very pleased with it. We decided to make it with a sleeved jacket containing one cd and the diary of a werewolf. It has 5 songs, making it an ep. The lp, Diorama of the Golden Lion, is almost finished. It has much more than 5 on it. And then after that, we plan on recording another one.

One day, I was having lunch with a fellow named Fishboy. He told me his bandmates were ready to play new material even though they had just put out a concept album. As he told them, “I don’t think I will be like Will Johnson but I definitely won’t be like Corn Mo.” I hate setting up recording time. I’m never ready. Once I am there it is great. So this year, if things go as planned there will be at least 3 releases.

old-timey camera phone

Saturday night, I went to the Lakeland Jamboree in Cadiz, Ky.

The last time I went it was a $2 or $3 cover and no beer since its a dry county. My Aunt Lilly was there along with a lot of older ladies in their 80’s. It was pretty relaxed as far as shows go. The Grand Ole Opry is relaxed, too, with people walking back and forth on stage while the guest artist is playing.

During that show, there was a guy standing in the back of the room wearing a dress stuffed with a pillow, as if he were pregnant, grinning just as big as he could. When it was his time he walked to the stage as a cd played Loretta Lynn’s “One’s on the Way”. He stood on the stage grinning, until Loretta sang, “Whoa! One’s on the way!” He would say it, too, and then stand there grinning until that line came again. The folks were rolling. It was the darndest thing.

He wasn’t there this time. It was just music. $3 cover. Soda and popcorn were $2 total. A couple of kids did “Dueling Banjos” and it was excellent. There was a minor argument on stage between the host and a guest which added some nice drama. The best part of the evening was a guy in the audience who came up to sing Merle Haggard’s “Branded Man”. I really think that guy did some time. He embraced the shit out of that song, tugging my heart a bit.

I’m going to try to go back next month. I’m glad this place exists and I’m glad these people enjoy playing for us.

Lilly’s Rocking Chair. Her stories are on.

A knock-knock joke told to me by my 3-year-old niece:

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock.
who’s there?
banana.
banana who?

knock knock
who’s there?
banana
banana who?
Shaggy ate the banana.
joke told by girl holding twig

Yesterday, Sxip, Adam, and I did a storytelling presentation at LeHigh University. It was great fun. Sxip’s an amazing storyteller. He’s into magic realism. Adam gave a history of beatbox/vocal percussion, explaining the difference between the two. I described my story writing process and gave examples of my work. It was a great group. A fellow named Mason cooked for everyone and it was very relaxed. Deborah, the sweet woman who booked us, took us to lunch at the faculty lounge. We were going to eat in the “Hogwarts” cafeteria but it was being used.

denied. I thought about that scene from Fletch.

We went to the other cafeteria and had a nice lunch with Dave, the fellow who takes care of things, and Deborah. It’s been a while since I’ve had wedding-style buffet. Good spread and good people.

Sxip and Adam

After lunch we did a masterclass for the composition department. I was a bit intimidated at first but that went away as soon as I began. I demonstrated ways of changing sounds on a grand piano, specifically making a tinny sound to mimic a ragtime piano. And then I demonstrated some songwriting methods I use.

After each of us did our presentations, we improved together. It was a lot of fun. I rarely do that anymore.

Deborah had invited us to dinner at her house, so until then Adam and I got beers at the hotel bar. He’s a brilliant fellow. He acquired a residency at Cornell through Craigslist. He beatboxes 24/7.

Deborah and her staff made us dinner and provided exotic liquors, including Unicum. Sxip loves liquor and dinner so he was in heaven. I was too but mostly because they were great, great people. Good dinner, good drinks, good folks.

On Saturday night we played to about 200 people sitting at tables on the stage of the Zoellner Arts Center’s Baker Hall. The ages ranged from 8 to 88. They loved it. They had martini glasses filled with m&m’s; wine, cheese, beer at the bar. We each did 2o-minute sets. Adam played his bike wheel that was wrapped with cassette tape and attached to a tape recorder. Sxip played his music box among other things. It was a fantastic time.

Deborah bought us dinner at the Bethlehem Hotel. Good times. I’d love to play there again.

We had a great time Sunday at the Mercury Lounge. The other bands – Seedy Ease, Drowning Girl, and Charlemagne – were fantastic. The drummer for Seedy Ease is amazing to watch. I love watching someone multi task during a song, i.e. play keyboard and drums at the same time.

Brian, Neil, and Brendan from the TMBG crew showed up and ran sound and lights for the show. I was a bit giddy seeing them behind the soundboard having fun. It was a good, good night. We rocked the show really well, trying out new songs.

The next night I played at the Hot Tub Variety show with Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal. Cracked Out and Reggie Watts did separate sets and then joined each other at the end of Reggie’s. John Oliver also did a set. He’s very, very funny. Kurt and Kristen are brilliant entertainers. Truly funny. I played a few songs on the piano. I like finishing a set and feeling like I scored a goal from the back pats of my teammates. All those fellows are fantastically good-hearted.  I got a free Duvel. It was rewarding.  Just like my life.