Broken promises. Oh, yes. You say you'll never join an all female band ever again, and then one day you find yourself with an opportunity involving one, and you just say why the hell not.
I'm going to believe this is going to be different this time. For one thing, it's so low-key that I'm not even sure I'm officially accepted, but I think it depends on me and if I keep coming back. I plan on it - it's a very unusual project, at least for me, and I think I can offer a lot to the sound.
I guess this means I'm about to enter the indie/garage rock world as well, which is where this project would fit into. It's nice to just show up and learn songs right now, and just be a part of something that doesn't completely depend on you for decisions. And I won't have to book anything, and I get to sing as well. Should be interesting and fun and ultimately gratifying. What the hell, I'll be playing, right?
But a side of me is still maintaining a cynical, jaded outlook and keeps waiting for a phone call saying they've decided to go with someone else who "fits" better or something like that, and I'll be off on my search again. I suppose that's the realistic way of looking at things. In the meantime, I'm going to learn the bass line for "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division and come up with parts for the original songs. None of them are particularly hard, but the arrangements are good so that's really all I'm looking for right now. I'll just go ahead and learn stuff to get ahead (have to learn music for a paying gig also) which should keep me nice and distracted.
Another plus is that it appears I can relate to everyone in the band - they're all nice and nerd girls like me. Hooray! Nerd grrrls rule! Well, time to go home. Hope that satisfied everyone's curiosity that reads this blog. : )
'Til next time!
Friday, July 23, 2004
Thursday, July 15, 2004
As I suspected
Yes, I knew I would falter with my mostly regular act of blogging. Well, no harm done - my afternoon freed up and I'm free to write a little.
Thought I'd have one more regular entry before going back into the character studies. There's been some recent developments in my musical pursuits, some of which are very exciting to me right now. First of all, it turns out my bass/percussionist project will probably not happen for medical reasons (or possibly just lack of real interest on the part of the percussionist). That's alright. One just keeps up the search.
So - on a whim, I jammed with my husband, whom I swore never to play with again, and for some reason it worked. Apparently enough time has passed that the usual obstacles between us didn't rear their heads, and we created something quite cool between us. It was nice playing with a good drummer again, that's for sure. We decided to work on a bass/drums thing which should be low-key, fun and not detrimental to our marriage. : )
The music will be completely up to me, so it should be interesting to see what I can come up with.
But now it's time to head home for the day, so I have to end my ramblings mid-stream. Next blog: Another Broken Promise. Suspenseful, is it not?
Thought I'd have one more regular entry before going back into the character studies. There's been some recent developments in my musical pursuits, some of which are very exciting to me right now. First of all, it turns out my bass/percussionist project will probably not happen for medical reasons (or possibly just lack of real interest on the part of the percussionist). That's alright. One just keeps up the search.
So - on a whim, I jammed with my husband, whom I swore never to play with again, and for some reason it worked. Apparently enough time has passed that the usual obstacles between us didn't rear their heads, and we created something quite cool between us. It was nice playing with a good drummer again, that's for sure. We decided to work on a bass/drums thing which should be low-key, fun and not detrimental to our marriage. : )
The music will be completely up to me, so it should be interesting to see what I can come up with.
But now it's time to head home for the day, so I have to end my ramblings mid-stream. Next blog: Another Broken Promise. Suspenseful, is it not?
Friday, July 02, 2004
Character Sketch #2: Son of the Hippy Trinket Maker
Oh, you know those kids. The ones with the smart aleck replies and the wiser than their years look about them. This kid was different, though - instead of using his advanced intelligence to annoy his family and friends, he used his blossoming intellect for profit. He knew how to work the room of his dad's hippy gift shop with the finesse of a seasoned car salesman and I found him very interesting to observe.
"All of this jewelry is hand-made, you know," he mentioned casually as I touched the delicate hemp braiding of a choker that had caught my eye.
"Is it," I replied. "I wouldn't have guessed."
My hint of sarcasm was not lost to him, but he continued the conversation nonetheless and asked me if I was local or visiting. I answered his questions as I glanced over the other knick knacks, ignoring his comment that my top was interesting but the print was "too busy for him." Then he wandered over to another customer. I listened to him charm an older lady out of eight dollars and marvelled at his powers of retail know-how.
He had sun-dusted blonde hair which his parents probably cut when it got too long, and he definitely had the relaxed island attitude about him, though oddly paired with a street savvy appropriate for the Hawaiian lifestyle. I think he was about nine or ten, and he sported a worn satchel that crossed his chest and rested on his left hip. Very hippy chic. I could imagine him at a Grateful Dead concert, his parents dancing on the lawn while their kid fended for himself amongst the crowd. No doubt, he'd be just fine in that environment.
The most surprising thing about him was when I purchased the hemp choker I had been looking at, saying that I liked it for the pendant. It was a silver marijuana leaf, and he said he sold a lot of them. You know, California being so close and all.
"You like that pendant?" I remembered him saying.
"Yeah, I do," I replied, admiring the fine detail of the leaves.
"You want some?" he followed with quickly. I couldn't believe what I thought he was suggesting. I didn't know how to respond to a 9 year old kid asking me if I wanted to buy illegal substances from him.
"Um..." I faltered, trying to be non-chalant, "let me check if there is a definite interest. I'll get back with you."
He gave me a non-commital nod. I quickly made my purchase and walked back to the hotel to make my report.
"I don't know if he was really saying what I think he was saying," I told my husband. "Yet what else could he have meant? It was just so weird!"
"Well, go back there and get some!" His eyes were glowing with the promise of Maui Wowee, almost within his stoner grasp. "Just ask how much for a sample."
I looked at him with faint disgust. What once was an upstanding, fairly well-mannered professional man in his mid-40's was suddenly tranformed into some high school pothead, giddy with the anticipation of scoring some tasty herbage. I sighed, and told him I'd give it a shot though the thought of it made me extremely nervous.
He came with me when I returned to the shop the next day, and I made my move. I wanted to get this unpleasant business done as quickly as possible. I approached the boy, and after some awkward attempts at conversation I attempted to subtly hint that I was ready for a purchase.
"So. That pendant we were discussing yesterday."
He was quiet, and didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I tried again, with less finesse.
"How much would that pendant be? Say, if someone wanted a taste?"
Again, I was met with a blank look, and finally it dawned on him what I was getting at.
"I have no idea where you could find any of that!" He seemed genuinely disturbed by my inquiries. I was embarrassed myself, and announced that it seemed there had been a misunderstanding. He agreed, and abruptly stopped talking to me altogether and went to help yet another elderly woman whom he was probably going to wheedle some cash out of. Bewildered and not unduly horrified by what I had just attempted, I went to my husband who was sitting under a tree.
"We've had a misunderstanding," I explained with a shrug. Neither of us could figure out what just happened, and we theorized that perhaps my husband's presence nearby had freaked the kid out. Nonetheless, he was clearly disappointed, but I managed to make his pout disappear by purchasing a Mexican caramel coconut confection at the nearby farmer's market. It wasn't Maui Wowee, but it did the trick for the moment.
But I wonder about that boy and what will become of him. I thought he'll either be the greatest sales guy in the world or perhaps a character actor, or maybe just another incredibly strange person that one chances upon when vacationing far from home. Who knows what decisions he'll make as he grows up and realizes just how smart he is and how much he can do with that knowledge.
"All of this jewelry is hand-made, you know," he mentioned casually as I touched the delicate hemp braiding of a choker that had caught my eye.
"Is it," I replied. "I wouldn't have guessed."
My hint of sarcasm was not lost to him, but he continued the conversation nonetheless and asked me if I was local or visiting. I answered his questions as I glanced over the other knick knacks, ignoring his comment that my top was interesting but the print was "too busy for him." Then he wandered over to another customer. I listened to him charm an older lady out of eight dollars and marvelled at his powers of retail know-how.
He had sun-dusted blonde hair which his parents probably cut when it got too long, and he definitely had the relaxed island attitude about him, though oddly paired with a street savvy appropriate for the Hawaiian lifestyle. I think he was about nine or ten, and he sported a worn satchel that crossed his chest and rested on his left hip. Very hippy chic. I could imagine him at a Grateful Dead concert, his parents dancing on the lawn while their kid fended for himself amongst the crowd. No doubt, he'd be just fine in that environment.
The most surprising thing about him was when I purchased the hemp choker I had been looking at, saying that I liked it for the pendant. It was a silver marijuana leaf, and he said he sold a lot of them. You know, California being so close and all.
"You like that pendant?" I remembered him saying.
"Yeah, I do," I replied, admiring the fine detail of the leaves.
"You want some?" he followed with quickly. I couldn't believe what I thought he was suggesting. I didn't know how to respond to a 9 year old kid asking me if I wanted to buy illegal substances from him.
"Um..." I faltered, trying to be non-chalant, "let me check if there is a definite interest. I'll get back with you."
He gave me a non-commital nod. I quickly made my purchase and walked back to the hotel to make my report.
"I don't know if he was really saying what I think he was saying," I told my husband. "Yet what else could he have meant? It was just so weird!"
"Well, go back there and get some!" His eyes were glowing with the promise of Maui Wowee, almost within his stoner grasp. "Just ask how much for a sample."
I looked at him with faint disgust. What once was an upstanding, fairly well-mannered professional man in his mid-40's was suddenly tranformed into some high school pothead, giddy with the anticipation of scoring some tasty herbage. I sighed, and told him I'd give it a shot though the thought of it made me extremely nervous.
He came with me when I returned to the shop the next day, and I made my move. I wanted to get this unpleasant business done as quickly as possible. I approached the boy, and after some awkward attempts at conversation I attempted to subtly hint that I was ready for a purchase.
"So. That pendant we were discussing yesterday."
He was quiet, and didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I tried again, with less finesse.
"How much would that pendant be? Say, if someone wanted a taste?"
Again, I was met with a blank look, and finally it dawned on him what I was getting at.
"I have no idea where you could find any of that!" He seemed genuinely disturbed by my inquiries. I was embarrassed myself, and announced that it seemed there had been a misunderstanding. He agreed, and abruptly stopped talking to me altogether and went to help yet another elderly woman whom he was probably going to wheedle some cash out of. Bewildered and not unduly horrified by what I had just attempted, I went to my husband who was sitting under a tree.
"We've had a misunderstanding," I explained with a shrug. Neither of us could figure out what just happened, and we theorized that perhaps my husband's presence nearby had freaked the kid out. Nonetheless, he was clearly disappointed, but I managed to make his pout disappear by purchasing a Mexican caramel coconut confection at the nearby farmer's market. It wasn't Maui Wowee, but it did the trick for the moment.
But I wonder about that boy and what will become of him. I thought he'll either be the greatest sales guy in the world or perhaps a character actor, or maybe just another incredibly strange person that one chances upon when vacationing far from home. Who knows what decisions he'll make as he grows up and realizes just how smart he is and how much he can do with that knowledge.
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