-
10/6, London
I rented a piano for the show last night. I got a good deal on it and the chaps who hired it out were really nice. I had a hard time finding the place and everyone I asked in the neighborhood had no idea what street I was looking for. I found a bus map and made my way to garage that rented instruments. I got a nice ed key piano. It was much heavier than the one I have and I was in a hurry to get to the show so the fellows called me a car service. When you call a car service, make sure you ask how much ahead of time and that is what they did. Weight
The car was a brand new Mercedes and I was quoted £10.
"This is the most expensive neighborhood in London believe it or not," the renter in Hampstead told me. I guess that’s why car services there use unrivaled German engineering.
I had a time getting it to fit in the car but it worked fine.
"Hey, nice car. Is it new?" By this time we were driving.
"How much did they quote you?"
"10"
"They didn’t mention that you would be bringing this" (pointing to my board) "This is for a £17 car."
"But this time its £10?"
"No. I’m going to have to charge you 17."
"But you quoted me 10." This part went back and forth. I finally asked, "Can you cut me a break?" and I thought he was about to stop the car and let me out. I was in a bind so I gave in and told him to keep going.
Then Mr. Uptight tries to small talk me. "What kind of music do you play?"
I pointed to the backseat and said, "I play piano." It was quiet the rest of the way.
I got out and told myself again I was prepared to lose money on this trip and that the focus was on rocking my audience the best I can.
And I did. And I was rewarded by the ladies and gentlemen of the bar buying me beer for the rest of the evening. Good Times!
-
Corn Mo UK!
Thursday, October 6
LONDON
THE TROUBADOUR
w/ Common Rotation
263-7 Old Brompton Road
8pm all ages ticketsFriday, October 7
LONDON
THE TROUBADOUR
w/ Common Rotation
263-7 Old Brompton Road
8pm all ages ticketsSaturday, October 8
GLASGOW
The Barfly
w/ Common Rotation
260 Clyde St.
tickets -
Lebowskifest
Friday, October 21
NYC
Lebowskifest!
Knitting Factory
w/ Bling Kong, Herbal Nation, and Hair SupplySaturday, October 22, 8pm
Corn Mo and Magic Brian Present!
Parkside Lounge
317 Houston at Attorney
w/ Brad Aldous, Sylvia Machete, and Todd Deatherage -
Midway Cafe, Sept. 3
Good times were had in Boston. I got a ride with Alan Astor, who was playing the show, also. He rented a sweet ride that also fit a Boston band going back from a NY show, called Big Digits. He reminds me of Tom Jones. He’s got the magic as they say. He looks like one of the guys from Megaforce, the movie starring Barry Bostwick, made during the post-apocalyptic movie boom that followed the cape tails of Mad Max. His set was him and his Ipod. He has a band that plays his NY shows. Real good.
John Manson set up the show. Guys like him are pieces of gold. Vic Thrill is like that, too. They will set up shows and take care of bands and make sure everything’s cool and go out of their way to help you out. The bill was John’s band, Young Sexy Assassins, Heloise, Alan Astor, and me.
If you ever get the chance to see YSA, do it. They’re badasss.
Heloise sings with dancers and a band. She’s real good, too.
John’s girlfriend had a birthday. So, we met up at her house for the before-show party. Her sister’s accordion was broken and I tried to fix it but needed more time. So, I put on a party hat and a couple of blinking rings and hung out with the locals. A parade ensued and the party marched down the street to the venue with a boombox in a shopping cart leading the way.
I hate watching hecklers during someone else’s set which is what I did. I get so angry. It’s the same feeling as someone talking in a movie theater- when you think they’re done, they start up again. Oh, well. I let it go.
I rode to my couch with John and Eve and Eve’s dad and Rich. Eve had the hiccups so I tried scaring her in the car and it didn’t work. So, when we got out of the car I got rid of her hiccups by staring at her. It’s awesome when this works.
“Are your hiccups gone?”
“Yes.”
So, then her dad asked me to help him walk home 9 miles. So, I stared at him, told him he was good, and watched him walk down the street. I hope he made it home okay.
I woke up on John’s couch and no one was around. So, I made myself coffee with the espresso machine that he had picked up from a moving neighbor. Really good coffee. And yesterday’s paper.
Then, his new roommate came in and we hung out and went to a brunch down the street. Really nice people. Really nice. I met this girl who drives an escort. Not the car but the harlot. She makes sixty dollars an hour. When I say she I mean the driver. One of the customers lives with his mom and waits for her to go to bingo. There’s a movie to be made.
Now I have “Never Been to Me” stuck in my head. Just kidding. But maybe now you do.
I took the Lucky Star bus to Chinatown NY. It wasn’t bad. Although, I think the driver left someone at the Roy Rogers. Thank goodness I hate Roy Rogers.
I got home and watched Sin City and fell asleep. Nick Offerman kicks ass. -
Press!
-
Purchase College
I bought a soft case for my piano on Saturday so that I wouldn’t have to carry my big, hard case on the train. I hate going into music stores and magic stores. I always feel like an idiot. I should leave magic stores alone, anyway. I’ve got enough crap I can try to master without buying the latest bank breaker.
Speaking of magic, I had time after getting my case to get a beer with Magic Brian and Riley. Magic’s been gone all summer street performing in Europe so it was good seeing him again. I like the smell of beer. I guess that makes me a dork but I already told you I do magic tricks.
On Sunday I played at Purchase College. I took the Metro train to White Plains and then waited for the #12 bus. After waiting about half an hour, a student pointed to a passing shuttle that was free and faster to the college. So, we ran to that one and it stopped everywhere: malls, grocery store, hotel, smoke break; but I got to the school on time.
I wandered around the venue a bit and waited for Jesse, the promoter. He had bought a deli tray and five cakes (cake replaces beer) so I went with him to the grocery store to hang out a little. He’s a good guy. He had booked me at a club in a strip mall a couple of years ago. That was a fun night, too.
I played with Beans. He’s excellent at rapping acapella. So good at it. He doesn’t need beats. And then there was this band called Nuclear Power Pants. The two singers were conjoined twins accompanied by a big coat for two and a band (including a g-board) with foam dinosaur heads that glowed from the black lights. Their lyrics were wonderfully dumb and I loved them. I love bands like that. They reminded me of the 2 Skinnee J’s. I couldn’t stay for Dead Unicorn because I had to catch the train back to NYC. I didn’t have any cake. -
“Die Legende von Herrn Admiral Nacht die Seite Tänzer und der Platz Tätowieren”
This was an article found on the floor in the residence of the late Mr. Issac Woodall of Kansas City, MO on January 17, 2005 . No clues as to what newspaper it was collected from but some document-hobbyists claim it never went to press. The article was written in German, thus this is my loose translation of said piece.
“Die Legende von Herrn Admiral Nacht die Seite Tänzer und der Platz Tätowieren”
January 10, 1866 by way of January 9, 1985 – A playful animal, the deer. Especially moon deer. Once in 1813, one of the deer, Sir Admiral Nightside Dancer, put on a wonderful display from the sweat of bipedal beavers. A temple, dedicated to Nightside, lit up so much that the Council of Fifteen decided it was going to alert Blue Planet (our earth) to their secret life. Not that earth would have the ability to travel to the moon at the time but 150 years was not enough time to scramble for cover.
The display included carousel-like deer prancing in slight light which is not unlike a combo of lasers and LEDs, only a bit dimmer due to CF guidelines. Lasers in almost a sepia tone would be correct.
Sir Admiral Nightside Dancer was very upset at the quenching of his extravaganza, so much that he almost put on a travel coat and went to earth to blend into the Hapsburgs but was stopped by CF just short of winged departure.
And now, when you look at the moon on January 15, you can see antlers and tears in what looks to be a fake constellation technique known as a Space Tattoo. -
August 2005
Haven’t kept up with my own news. But, no news is good news. Plus, I hate writing news. Writing in third person feels stupid. So, I guess this is bloggy news.
New CD
I’m working on a new cd. Many tracks are done, including “Havi Nagila Monster”. The tentative title is “Your Favorite Hamburger is a Cheeseburger”.I had some computer problems in getting the tracks uploaded. I think its working now. I’m apprehensive about them because I’m on a budget. I work with what I got.
Some songs are short and some are really short.
Each cd will come with a live ant with your name written across its back. In my blood. Some cd’s will have earthworms instead. If you get one of those, you get to visit my chocolate factory. You’ll each get a chocolate statue of yourself to eat. Don’t let your dog eat it!
My Space
There are two Corn Mo myspace sites: one for music, one for buddy.
The reason I have two is because I can’t do it right the first time.
Look for new blogs on one and new music on the other.Itunes, et al
My stuff will be on Itunes, soon. Hopefully. And other downloading sites, too. So, if its out of stock, the ghosts of those songs will soon become audible.Guest Frontman
I’ve been guesting (is that a word? it is now) with bands this summer. It’s fun. First, with They Might Be Giants doing “Hocus Pocus” and then with Ben Folds doing “Get Your Hands Off My Woman“. I hope to build some momentum with this. Enya is next!Circus By the Sea
The circus musical is getting better. A work in progress creates hope. Ron the drummer messed up his hand. He’s the John Henry of drums. But his heart won’t explode. You should see him play.
Movie
I was going to see “The Aristocrats” with my friend, Lucinda, at the movies but opted out because I want to wait until it comes out on dvd. That way I can watch one joke a day. Like a Far Side calendar. This isn’t news anymore.*Upcoming Tours
Finally, I’ll be going to the UK in October with my friends, Common Rotation. We have good times together.*I’ve since been told this movie isn’t set up with joke after joke. But dreams do come true.
-
George Michael Fan Fiction
George Michael has a perch in his giant flat in London. It was only a rumour until now. When he pulls back his copy of “Can’t Reach October”, all the walls gain mysterious shadows that resemble the inside of a cage and a long plank of log slides out from a side wall about the height of where a second floor would be.
He stands on this perch and sounds you can’t hear anywhere else come alive. What a bird! What a beautiful bird he becomes! Charlotte Church once visited during his private time and fainted from wonderous clarity! He promptly smoked two cigars so that she would think it was only a dream.
Well, anyways, you will never hear this angelic audio for it is for no one but George.
One day, while wiping his forehead with a cloth due to a clean perspiration, George felt a new stubble on his cheek. He stroked it, thinking, in the same manner as a think-stroke, and noticed it wasn’t his own!
He had come by someone else’s stubble! Believe it or Not! -
Circus By the Sea!
EVERY WEDNESDAY IN AUGUST AT 8pm!
Circus By the Sea
A rock musical by Corn Mo and the Fabulous Miss Una
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (across from CBGB’s)
$20 -
Boston, Sept 3
Saturday, September 3
JAMAICA PLAIN, MA
MIDWAY CAFE
3496 Washington Street
w/ Heloise and Alan Astor and YOUNG SEXY ASSASSINS! -
Parkside Lounge -TONIGHT!
Saturday, Aug 20
NYC
BIG ASS BEER NIGHT AT THE ARGO
PARKSIDE LOUNGE
317 E Houston
10pm
$5
w/ Corn Mo, Fishboy, Sarah Ruth, Dutch Treats and Paul Slavens. Come see my Denton pals! -
Purchase College
Sunday, August 28
PURCHASE, NY
PURCHASE COLLEGE
Southside Lounge
8pm -
Ben Folds at the Borgata in Atlantic City
I had a blast in AC. Ben’s been hanging with his family so me and Jared and Lindsey went to the Steel Pier and got hooked up on free rides. The guys that run that place are real nice.
We rode go-karts and I kicked ass until this young guy grabbed his chest inside his car. He looked about 12. I think he was okay but it was a real scare. I felt bad for his dad. I can’t imagine how bad it sucks to see your kid hurt like that.
Then, me and Jared rode the Rocket. That ride’s bad ass. It shoots you 200 feet in the air and its hard to process your bearings, so its a true thrill ride and not a “nod” to thrill rides.
We went to get dinner at the ac bar and grill where lobster is cheap and the beer is delicious. I got a bloody mary there once and they put Old Bay seasoning in it. It didn’t work like I wanted.
But enough about ruining myself.
Ben Lee kicked ass. Rufus Wainright did the same. He brought his sister out to do “Hallelujah” with him and they became a couple of angels. Sweet, sweet angels.
Ben’s amazing at what he does. He’s got the magic. And Jared and Lindsey are tight. So, getting to sit in with them is just as tremendous as it sounds. I was really nervous and paced constantly, waiting. And when it was almost time, I rocked back and forth, going over pieces of the song. And when Ben introduced me, I ran on stage (I’m not a graceful runner), sang “Keep Your Hands of My Woman” with them, and was too nervous to stay for the applause, and ran off stage as soon as I was done.
It was too quick to savour. I enjoyed myself fully and knew what was happening but still, I should have savoured it more, unlike a child eating a porterhouse.
Yet, believe you me, I can still taste how bad ass it was to sing for Ben Folds. -
My friend needs help
My friend Jen is about to be deported. If she does, my friend and former roommate, Dave, will have to leave the country, also, because she is his wife, his friend for life. In the meantime, Jen can’t visit her relatives because then she’ll never be able to come back to the states.
Jen and Dave are filmmakers. You can click on the Bigfoot link to the right to see Dave’s work.
You can click on this site to get more info: www.pleasehelpjen.com
I don’t know the complete history of the legislation involved but I think that back in ’96, a Texas congressman introduced a bill that would allow deportation above a judge’s ruling.
These are good folks doing some cool things and I don’t want them to leave. -
A Donkey Made That Special
One time there was this kid who needed money for puppy. And so he got a job with his neighbor’s farmer. The farmer pretty much just needed shit shoveled and put in a pile. Boy wow did that pile have some stink!
Meanwhile, a goat was learning to speak. It was still a dumb goat but on a goat level, it was pretty smart. That goat was working on sentences, passing the kindergarten that the farmer had set up in the chicken coop away from the other goats because dumb rubs off so easily.
A goat learning to talk is sort of like learning to ride a bike on two wheels. Almost, almost . . . and then you just baaaah(goat sound).
Meanwhile, the boy had almost finished for the day and was going to the area where the donkey and the two mules were kept. And someone was about to get his chocolate into someone’s peanut butter.
The goat saw the boy and was angry, a passionate angry even about seeing a boy steal the donkey’s poop.
And like a magician who doesn’t practice, the goat trotted over to the boy, stopped, panted, and said,
“A donkey made that special.” -
milk the deer part 2
and Milk looked down and saw blood dripping on the ground. forgetting his first word, he became confused, not knowing that he too had wandered, all the way to Colorado where nosebleeds are frequent.
the hunter’s child, too, had a nosebleed. and soon, the whole forest looked as if they’d all eaten red velvet cake batter through their noses. it was some sight.
the mayor of boulder decided for the state of colorado that the day be named Dia de Sangre and then Ted said, “why not name it Nosebleed Day, instead?”
Ted became mayor the next year and won the whipped cream eating contest on Nosebleed Day the following year.
what was even better to a few was Nosebleed’s Eve. some say they saw a young child riding a deer with a white saddle, both eating candy apples which in boulder is now nosebleed red and not candy-apple red but still just as good. -
Milk the deer
there was this deer and the deer’s name was Milk. his mom named him such because he had a splash of white on his back. Milk never outgrew his name or his splash. one day a hunter’s child saw Milk eating a sunflower. now what’s peculiar here is that the sunflower grew in the woods, away from sunlight. the hunter’s child had wandered as his father was watching a fishing show on his portable. when Milk saw the hunter’s child he jumped sideways and kept one eye on the child for deer are good at one-eye stares.
the hunter’s child said, “Hello, what’s your name? I think my dad calls you Good Sausage.”
Milk strained like an animatronic puppet, trying to get the words out, but everytime he tried to speak he only grunted a bit at most.
when commercials interupted the bass catch on the tv, the hunter called for his child.
the hunter’s child heard such call and said, “I’ll be right back, deer.”
and Milk blurted the word, “Okay.” -
Lebowskifest
I met The Dude. The dude that Jeff Bridges plays in the Big Lebowski. The real dude. He’s a good fellow. He displayed his stage banter with the mayor of Louisville, Jerry Abramson, as the dude would do. Put a politician next to The Dude and you’re getting your money’s worth ($20, unless you’re a child, and then you get in free to a rated R show and I said poo poo words during my set). The key to the city will go a long way. Believe you me. And the Dude got it. A key to the city of Louisville.
I have a key to the City of Denton. Well, its not a real key. When you try to open the city with it, mistakes fall out like an overstuffed closet full of ping-pong balls with “bad choice” written on each. Somewhere, there’s a room with a bunch of bad balls . Ha Ha. Balls.
It was hot. Real hot. Yet, I didn’t pass out on stage. And my accordion’s wax didn’t melt. And I didn’t open any ball closets allowing balls to flood the stage, bouncing and unruly, with two college kids trying to get PE credit by hitting them off the stage while I try to gather them and put them back in the trunk. Enough about balls.
I played Hocus Pocus by Focus with the Giants again. Afterwards, we ran on the bus and Linnell gave me the hardest high-five that no one has ever seen. So intense was the buildup that I could feel the sincerity.
They asked me to ride with them to Philly do the encore at Penn’s Landing but I couldn’t get Avis or Hotwire to let me turn the car in at a Louisville location. Both Avis and Hotwire couldn’t make a decision to take more money. So, I had to take the car back to Columbus and miss out. Oh well.
Southwest charged me for checking my keyboard. I think they’re starting to date American. I tell you: Jet Blue wants your business and won’t nickel and dime you once you’re there. They just don’t fly enough places.
There was a cowboy on my plane. Real Texas cowboy: always had the hat on, lacer boots, jeans pressed with the crease, and a button-down with a Nascar number above the pocket. The real deal. When we landed, he shouted a “Whoo hoo. Never been to New York City!” Some Long Islanders behind him laughed and began singing “New York, New York” and his ladyfriend, a hot forty-something, looked a little embarassed. The cowboy saved her embarassment by pinching her under the ass as a foretelling of things to come. I’d swear he had Big and Rich songs playing in his head.
The MacArthur airport has a shuttle service to take you to the train. Its $5. The driver was excited about my piano. He played trombone with an opera in Argentina and had just started playing piano. We talked shop and I gave him a cd.
I had a nice train ride home and a nice mini-tour. -
Wereblood Stinks
I smelled the blood of a werewolf once and it was stinky. Like pent-up dinner from long ago let loose from its tupperware container. That’s what wereblood smells like. So, I bottled it up and got it to where I can spray it where ever there are too many farters.