7/12/2005
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Taking a little time off to be with mother and baby, which is nice. Sylvie has her first pediatrician appointment today, so we're hoping for a clean bill of health. They are going to put her on a feeding schedule, too, which would be very helpful. Last night she gorged mightily and it all came back up...on me...after a horrible burping accident. Of course, she was unfazed, and hungry again 15 minutes later. Fatherhood at its finest. :-)
7/11/2005
More photos!
Well, I've put together a little photo album at Flickr.com to show Sylvia in all her glory.... Thanks a million for all the well wishes we've received from all our fantastic friends and family!Check out more Sylvia photos here.
7/07/2005
IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!
Sylvia Ida was born on July 3, 2005 at 3:55 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs, 13 oz. and is 19.5" long! No wonder she was running out of room inside mommy! She and Jenny are both happy and healthy and everyone is happy to be back home now. What an amazing thing! We couldn't be happier...or prouder!
6/29/2005
And now for your [easy] listening pleasure....
Thank god! I've finally found an easy, free, way to host some of my music in a streaming format. Now, if you're so inclined, you can go to this site and listen to four of my songs without having to suffer through a forty-hour download. I will be reverting to the 1960s-era idea of releasing singles one at a time (I've got several in the can now waiting to be posted). As I can only have four songs at a time up on myspace.com, I will cycle through them on a regular basis. I'll announce new releases here on the blog.
BTW, a hearty, and humble, thanks to all those who have given me feedback on Humbucker. It's really fun to be able to create music others can enjoy.
6/27/2005
The Power and the Fury
So I went to see Sleater-Kinney at the 9:30 Club on Saturday night. I didn't have a ticket to the sold-out show, so I had to pull a "I need a miracle" style canvassing of the people in line to get into the hall in order to find one (which I eventually did after 25 minutes).
I went to see the guitarists, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, really, but lo and behold, instead saw the best drumming spectacle I've ever witnessed firsthand.
The band's drummer, Janet Weiss (no, not the Rocky Horror Picture Show heroine), pounds the drums with such visciousness and sheer power that it's hard to believe that she can keep it up for a full 90-minute show. Yet, somehow she does, and then some. We're talking Keith Moon, Dave Grohl, and John Bonham-style bashing here--a crushing wall of sound that propells the music and defies anyone in the audience to ignore her. I was blown away.
And the rhythms were dead-on. Weiss played tight, crisp passages that gave way to wanton destruction and returned back to the groove again and again. I'm telling you, it was amazing. If you get the chance to see this woman play live, do it.
Plus, they covered Danzig's "Mother," which was very cool.
I went to see the guitarists, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, really, but lo and behold, instead saw the best drumming spectacle I've ever witnessed firsthand.
The band's drummer, Janet Weiss (no, not the Rocky Horror Picture Show heroine), pounds the drums with such visciousness and sheer power that it's hard to believe that she can keep it up for a full 90-minute show. Yet, somehow she does, and then some. We're talking Keith Moon, Dave Grohl, and John Bonham-style bashing here--a crushing wall of sound that propells the music and defies anyone in the audience to ignore her. I was blown away.
And the rhythms were dead-on. Weiss played tight, crisp passages that gave way to wanton destruction and returned back to the groove again and again. I'm telling you, it was amazing. If you get the chance to see this woman play live, do it.
Plus, they covered Danzig's "Mother," which was very cool.
6/24/2005
Photorama/Death From Above 1979
Blogger has finally gotten around to letting you upload images directly into your post, thank god. That said, Flickr's system was pretty easy too. But I'm lazy, so I'd rather only go to one site to do one task (blog). Did you ever notice how most bands suck? Well they do. (Many would say mine does and I do, too, which is their right even though they can kiss my lilly white culu.) Well, here's one band that Does Not Suck: Death From Above 1979. One distorted bass and one drumset, and they really groove. Try it, you'll like it. Hey mikey.
6/23/2005
Crimeny, what a hassle!
So sorry to everyone who tried to download the Humbucker files and couldn't yesterday. I've got a ZIP file that I can send anyone who wants it. Or you can use this link to download it (It should work, although it's a big download.)
http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0IX3V3H1A42IC0B49ZBQ62J7PG
Just email me a the_lurking_one AT hotmail DOT com, and I'll shoot off a CD to you. Also includes a cool PDF of the album's liner notes.
http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0IX3V3H1A42IC0B49ZBQ62J7PG
Just email me a the_lurking_one AT hotmail DOT com, and I'll shoot off a CD to you. Also includes a cool PDF of the album's liner notes.
6/22/2005
My new solo album...FINALLY!
Well, I'm finally ready to release some new music. It's been a long, long while since I've put out an album of my stuff, but I hope this will be the first of a flurry of work from me.
The album is called "Humbucker" and includes 7 of my newest recordings. Here's the track rundown:
Another Bass: Sort of a techno feel, in keeping with the experimental aspects of the album. I wanted something you could dance around the house to.Download
Ballentine: This is the first single off the album. This song originated as a riff I'd been working on for a while but couldn't get any lyrics to fit with. Then one night in our D.C. apartment I was sitting there looking at Hoops and Yoyo and got inspired. Download
Blarney Take 2: This is a cover song about someone slowly turning into a social vampire, originally written by my brilliant friends in the now-defunct Portland band, Lucky. I knew the songwriters, Sean Richardson and Keith Walters, from back in my college days when they were in StrawFyssh, a Charleston, WV band that played with Feast of Stephen on more than one occasion. These guys are amazing songwriters. Download
Gap Soundtrack: I wanted to try my hand at an instrumental that would be good background music for a movie. Download
Jellyfish Eater: The tragic story of a girl, a beach, and a washed-up jelly. The other single off the album, and my favorite song on here. Download
On the Dance Floor: I originally wasn't sold on this song, but Jenny couldn't quit singing it around the house, so I thought I might be on to something. Download
Red Wine and Good News: I love this song. It's sung in an imaginary language. :-) Download
To get to the files and download them, right click on the "Download" link and "Save as" to your HD. I hope you enjoy the record. I had fun making it.
The album is called "Humbucker" and includes 7 of my newest recordings. Here's the track rundown:
Another Bass: Sort of a techno feel, in keeping with the experimental aspects of the album. I wanted something you could dance around the house to.Download
Ballentine: This is the first single off the album. This song originated as a riff I'd been working on for a while but couldn't get any lyrics to fit with. Then one night in our D.C. apartment I was sitting there looking at Hoops and Yoyo and got inspired. Download
Blarney Take 2: This is a cover song about someone slowly turning into a social vampire, originally written by my brilliant friends in the now-defunct Portland band, Lucky. I knew the songwriters, Sean Richardson and Keith Walters, from back in my college days when they were in StrawFyssh, a Charleston, WV band that played with Feast of Stephen on more than one occasion. These guys are amazing songwriters. Download
Gap Soundtrack: I wanted to try my hand at an instrumental that would be good background music for a movie. Download
Jellyfish Eater: The tragic story of a girl, a beach, and a washed-up jelly. The other single off the album, and my favorite song on here. Download
On the Dance Floor: I originally wasn't sold on this song, but Jenny couldn't quit singing it around the house, so I thought I might be on to something. Download
Red Wine and Good News: I love this song. It's sung in an imaginary language. :-) Download
To get to the files and download them, right click on the "Download" link and "Save as" to your HD. I hope you enjoy the record. I had fun making it.
6/20/2005
Claws
My big toenails are as sharp as razor blades. Seriously they are deadly weapons. I remarked about them to Jenny tonight:
"My toenails are really sharp."
"I know, you slice my legs to ribbons every night."
"Sorry."
"You should use my file to make them dull."
"But then how would I kill my prey?"
"My toenails are really sharp."
"I know, you slice my legs to ribbons every night."
"Sorry."
"You should use my file to make them dull."
"But then how would I kill my prey?"
6/17/2005
Mom and Dad visit!
We're psyched to have my Mom and Dad in for the Father's Day weekend. Last night we had a cook out of chicken apple sausage and grilled asparagus...yum city!
I'm currently staring down the barrel of three untranscribed interviews for FRETS and Guitar Player that I must get done soon. The band I interviewed last night, Kinski, from Seattle, play some bitchin' instrumental rock and both guitarists were very friendly. Check them out if you get a chance and watch out for the article in an upcoming issue of GP.
I'm currently staring down the barrel of three untranscribed interviews for FRETS and Guitar Player that I must get done soon. The band I interviewed last night, Kinski, from Seattle, play some bitchin' instrumental rock and both guitarists were very friendly. Check them out if you get a chance and watch out for the article in an upcoming issue of GP.
6/12/2005
Just like old times!
This last weekend our dear friends Jane and Sarah came out to visit from Oakland. We were the last stop on their whirlwind East Coast tour, and we're so happy they made it.
Jane used to live in D.C., which meant that we could skip the super tourist stuff and concentrate on the good stuff: Ethiopian food on U St., Yueng Ling Porter and exotic cheese plates, Eastern Market and a quick tour of Jane's and my old houses on Capitol Hill (turns out we lived one block from each other and didn't even realize it back in the '90s) and killer cookouts with our D.C. friends.
We had a blast having them stay with us, and look forward to introducing them to A.P. sometime soon.
We miss you already!!!!!
Jane used to live in D.C., which meant that we could skip the super tourist stuff and concentrate on the good stuff: Ethiopian food on U St., Yueng Ling Porter and exotic cheese plates, Eastern Market and a quick tour of Jane's and my old houses on Capitol Hill (turns out we lived one block from each other and didn't even realize it back in the '90s) and killer cookouts with our D.C. friends.
We had a blast having them stay with us, and look forward to introducing them to A.P. sometime soon.
We miss you already!!!!!
6/02/2005
And now the crap part of owning your own home
Please notice the soccer cleats. They are necessary to keep me from sliding fully under the whirring blades of my mower and becoming Joe mulch.
That's okay, Jane and Sarah can earn their keep when they get here by doing the impossible side yard.... :0)
That's okay, Jane and Sarah can earn their keep when they get here by doing the impossible side yard.... :0)
Yabba Dabba DO!
I would like to officially announce that I have Flintstone feet.
Bummer.
Or, maybe not!
An excuse for extra foot massages and pedicures!
Bummer.
Or, maybe not!
An excuse for extra foot massages and pedicures!
Memories...light the corners of my mind
I miss:
My sister, my friends, A Cote, Rockridge/College Ave. for shopping, eating and flower buying, the place in N. Berkeley that's run by lesbians and has basic super-yum breakfast treats, Lands End cliff walk in San Francisco (where Joe proposed and has the best view of the Golden Gate bridge), Chouinard Winery in Castro Valley, Picture + Pizza + Pub movie house,Woodwards Garden restaurant in SF, bonfire parties at Ocean Beach (esp. happy memory as that's where I met Joe).
Don't miss: Summer that's chilly and damp. Not being able to park just to see a movie or go to the grocery store. That working like a dog still doesn't allow you to buy a house that's not teensy.
My sister, my friends, A Cote, Rockridge/College Ave. for shopping, eating and flower buying, the place in N. Berkeley that's run by lesbians and has basic super-yum breakfast treats, Lands End cliff walk in San Francisco (where Joe proposed and has the best view of the Golden Gate bridge), Chouinard Winery in Castro Valley, Picture + Pizza + Pub movie house,Woodwards Garden restaurant in SF, bonfire parties at Ocean Beach (esp. happy memory as that's where I met Joe).
Don't miss: Summer that's chilly and damp. Not being able to park just to see a movie or go to the grocery store. That working like a dog still doesn't allow you to buy a house that's not teensy.
6/01/2005
One year in DC...whoa that was fast!
Well, it's been a little over a year since Jenny and I left San Francisco/Oakland for the Washington DC metro area. Amazing. Time really, really flies now. The Bay Area is really much better to visit than to live in, if you ask me. (Nobody did, but what the hell, it's our blog, so....) Still, it's got me into a little reflection mode about what I miss and don't miss about living in the Bay Area.
What I don't miss: lots of things that really begin and end with the $700,000+ housing prices....
Now, what I miss:
EBOT soccer. It's been a serious pain in the ass finding non-competitive soccer out here. I miss my EBOT family and the weekly chance to score goles.
The wine country. Man, do I miss this one. Livermore Valley, I barely knew ye!
Friends. Obviously. Although almost all of them have moved out of the Bay Area already due to the factors listed above.
We are much happier in DC. It was a nervewracking decision to pull up stakes after a decade of S.F. area living (an average of Jenny's and my time in the area), but we're convinced we made the right one. I just don't see how people get ahead of the game out there.... Here in DC we've got a house, upcoming baby, jobs, family...all is good. It's been a hell of a year. For us, it was the right choice.
What I don't miss: lots of things that really begin and end with the $700,000+ housing prices....
Now, what I miss:
EBOT soccer. It's been a serious pain in the ass finding non-competitive soccer out here. I miss my EBOT family and the weekly chance to score goles.
The wine country. Man, do I miss this one. Livermore Valley, I barely knew ye!
Friends. Obviously. Although almost all of them have moved out of the Bay Area already due to the factors listed above.
We are much happier in DC. It was a nervewracking decision to pull up stakes after a decade of S.F. area living (an average of Jenny's and my time in the area), but we're convinced we made the right one. I just don't see how people get ahead of the game out there.... Here in DC we've got a house, upcoming baby, jobs, family...all is good. It's been a hell of a year. For us, it was the right choice.
5/27/2005
Last "date day"
Last Saturday, Joe and I took our last patented Jen-Joe roadtrip and had a "date day" in St. Michael's. It's on the Eastern side of Chesapeake Bay.
It's a very cute town with a main street, a ton of mid-to-late 1800's era buildings and yummy seafood. We ate at a restaurant right on the harbor that a local recommended -- it was SO good. Crab cakes for me. YUM. Plus a virgin piña colada. I am crazy that way!
Basically we walked up and down the main street, looked in shops, looked at cool houses, had an ice cream cone and sat on a porch and watched people go by. Also, I signed up to try to win a 1966 Mustang convertible (cherry red with a beige top, aka my dream car). The St. Michael's Rotary Club was selling raffle tix...so I signed up...
It's a very cute town with a main street, a ton of mid-to-late 1800's era buildings and yummy seafood. We ate at a restaurant right on the harbor that a local recommended -- it was SO good. Crab cakes for me. YUM. Plus a virgin piña colada. I am crazy that way!
Basically we walked up and down the main street, looked in shops, looked at cool houses, had an ice cream cone and sat on a porch and watched people go by. Also, I signed up to try to win a 1966 Mustang convertible (cherry red with a beige top, aka my dream car). The St. Michael's Rotary Club was selling raffle tix...so I signed up...
5/26/2005
Totally Rad
My evil twin is pictured at right, doing what he does best: playing the hell out of a guitar.
Johnny Rad was the other guitarist in my college-era band, The Feast of Stephen. Nowadays he's living in Parkersburg, WV and plays mostly at singer/songwriter events. His songs are fantastic, with "Free the Frogs" being my personal favorite.
The cool thing about playing in a band with Rad was that our styles are completely different, so they compliment each other well.
Where he is technically adept at the instrument, I am a sloppy mess of a player; where his phrasing is modal and uses complex chord voicings to weave texture into the song, I bash on my strings as hard as I can in the hopes of an unexpected, feedback-aided sonic discovery; while he can play YYZ, I can play Tom Sawyer. You get the picture.
Anyway, in the photo at right he is using his super powers for good at a songwriters' cancer benefit. Go Rad!
Johnny Rad was the other guitarist in my college-era band, The Feast of Stephen. Nowadays he's living in Parkersburg, WV and plays mostly at singer/songwriter events. His songs are fantastic, with "Free the Frogs" being my personal favorite.
The cool thing about playing in a band with Rad was that our styles are completely different, so they compliment each other well.
Where he is technically adept at the instrument, I am a sloppy mess of a player; where his phrasing is modal and uses complex chord voicings to weave texture into the song, I bash on my strings as hard as I can in the hopes of an unexpected, feedback-aided sonic discovery; while he can play YYZ, I can play Tom Sawyer. You get the picture.
Anyway, in the photo at right he is using his super powers for good at a songwriters' cancer benefit. Go Rad!
5/25/2005
Working for the weekend
Life here in the D.C. Metro area is all wet right now....yuk! Last year at this time it was 90 degrees. Where is summer? I'm sure it will arrive soon enough and press its heavy, humid foot down on the back of our necks and make us beg for fall again.
Actually, I don't mind the heat too much. Some folks find it oppressive, but after almost 10 years of Bay Area 55 degree backyard BBQs all "summer" long, I'm ready for some bakin'!
I can't believe the baby is almost here!!!! Jenny and I went to her doctor's office today for a scheduled appointment, and the doc told us that the baby could come at any time now (although we're still scheduled for an Independence Day arrival). It's so weird to think of being a dad. I hope I can live up to a tenth of how good a dad mine is. It's scary as hell, mind you, but exhilerating nonetheless.
This weekend promises to be a busy—and fun—one. Jason and Liz are both coming in to visit and we have a BBQ scheduled with our cool neighbors, Bill and Kim, for Memorial Day. Fun!
Actually, I don't mind the heat too much. Some folks find it oppressive, but after almost 10 years of Bay Area 55 degree backyard BBQs all "summer" long, I'm ready for some bakin'!
I can't believe the baby is almost here!!!! Jenny and I went to her doctor's office today for a scheduled appointment, and the doc told us that the baby could come at any time now (although we're still scheduled for an Independence Day arrival). It's so weird to think of being a dad. I hope I can live up to a tenth of how good a dad mine is. It's scary as hell, mind you, but exhilerating nonetheless.
This weekend promises to be a busy—and fun—one. Jason and Liz are both coming in to visit and we have a BBQ scheduled with our cool neighbors, Bill and Kim, for Memorial Day. Fun!
5/23/2005
34 weeks and '80s movies
How do these two relate? Well, I am 34 weeks along being prego and the AP (aka alien peanut) is playing out scenes from "Footloose" and "Flashdance," while inside.
It's insane the amount of movement that's happening. Arms/legs are flying around and rise up from the belly. Day...night...afternoon...sitting here at work... doesn't matter...it dances around so much! Sometimes I think it's doing jumping jacks, as it feels like all limbs are going at the same time. Watch out Denise Austin, we may have a fitness prince/princess that will be challenging you in the near future.
It's insane the amount of movement that's happening. Arms/legs are flying around and rise up from the belly. Day...night...afternoon...sitting here at work... doesn't matter...it dances around so much! Sometimes I think it's doing jumping jacks, as it feels like all limbs are going at the same time. Watch out Denise Austin, we may have a fitness prince/princess that will be challenging you in the near future.
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