Stay Awhile

    The little girl knew it was her birthday too.  Would they have a cake for her?  Better to get into as many photos as possible.

     Dear friends contemplate their date the following year and are ever present to assist and ease any stress with grace and humor, stepping back when the procession is underway.

     Sisters Kathy and Eileen leads the gang of eleven+ into a hasty one off rehearsal; they are all here with their sweet souls to bring two as one.  I look into each of them and am proud and honored by each magnificent individual.  

     My dear Uncle Tom, shy in crowds but beaming with pride.  Feeling in a dream; a collage of our lives manifested in all those that surround us.  Much as the crashing of different tunes creates a new song that is all about the old songs, is this.

   Time slows down, moving as a scene in the Matrix but the feeling is different. The feeling is good, peaceful.  I am one with the sky and earth and I see everyone. 

     Brother not in his comfort zone but willing.  Stands with me not too often but this Saturday afternoon, he is here.. Jeremiah in a sports coat.  Ann and John, Mom and Dad, near, and together.  Standing between trees and  lovely faces.  I feel like laughing.

    A room full of matriarchs wear Mardi Gras beads on their heads. Soon, Stephanie will give us music that forever captures the mood, and Maria's Dad uses words as his music. These are the greatest of gifts.

    Robert and Peter protect in their silliness.  The Rainbow crowd bring us just desserts.

    Reverend Tsondu and Kath  offer their kind services, but please leave out the line of  "golden sunlight energy".   We hear "fill your body with golden sunlight energy".  I am laughing.  And sweating. This is just us.  You and me.  I'm holding your hand.  And I will always hold your hand.

10/17/92. 

Hardly Strictly 2012

   Recharged and regenerated on the weekend past; 25 solid hours of music in a 53 hour span.  This year I took Friday off and Maria and I volunteered, jumping all the way into composting, recycling, and sorting. San Francisco is at an 80 percent rate of reducing waste and leading the nation in doing so. Most people were plenty nice in thanking us, and being careful (even if not correct) in trying to sort out their own stuff.

     In it's first year without its leader, Warren Hellman, the festival missed his presence and the joy he brought to the stage when addressing the crowds and the musicians.  Even so, his family kept things as they had been with the wonderful team that always presents great players and a spirit that saturates the event in joyful sounds.

      By volunteering, HSB takes care of its own and we would have access to the Family and Friends areas of the festival- proximity to stages, space to breathe, shelter from sun (or cold),and food and beverage.  Also, Maria scored for me a backstage wristband.  Going back stage at all the stages was thrilling, awkward and part mystery solving.  What is behind the stages in the musician areas?  Mostly just more chairs, couches, picnic tables, space and better food! Plus the musicians!  I made a rule to not photograph anyone back stage if they weren't on stage and I wasn't going to bother anyone too.

      Just the same, standing next to Steve Earle as he welcomed Dave Alvin, or Del McCloury greeting John Doe, or somewhere really close to Ralph Stanley and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins was a major threat to my major poker face.  Often standing next to musicians watching their peers or heroes on stage, or near a playful dance and tender moments with their children.  With my guys I played catch although at one point  my concerns behind the Banjo stage curtain might be the distraction of the silhouette of our ball floating in the sky.

      Also at one point I was shocked (no!I've been discovered) by someone calling out "Brian".  I sheepishly looked up (small hope that it was Emmylou Harris) and saw the person smiling at me, who I could not recognize.  Walking toward her, I was perplexed -who is this??- fortunately face to face, recognition set in- was someone I had not seen in 10 years, who always had a way with hanging with musicians....Michelle Barnett.  Whew!  The rat was not ratted out.

   Running around less and less each year, understanding that all the acts are good and I'm simply going to miss most of them.  The Family and Friends viewing areas allow a more enjoyable view of crowded areas so seeing old friends in the Knitters, or Del McCloury, Jenny Lewis, Buddy Miller, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris was rewarding.  Small stage performances of Allison Moorer and Sara Watkins were powerful.   To be anywhere near Ralph Stanley is always a pleasure and historically, feels unreal- in my lifetime!  First time views of Dwight Yoakam, Son Volt, O'Brien Party of 7, the Civil Wars and the crazy New Orleans Bingo Show were rewarding as well as watching the tribute to Doug Sahm and all the guests that showed up to honor a man who blended  Tex-Mex sounds into the Texas Tornadoes and with the Sir Douglas Quartet, "She's About A Mover".  Always catching up with this year's New Orleans contingent, the Soul Rebels and Amanda Shaw.  There are no (on stage anyway) shy performers from New Orleans. Nods to the Time Jumpers, Jerry Douglas, the Flatlanders and Elvis Costello. Also Robert Plant showed up to play harmonica...

    Thursday night I began with a concert of Septeto Nacional from Cuba but enjoyed the group intreplay of Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Allison Moorer and Steve Earle, Friday at the Chapel/Preservation Hall West (777 Valencia). Then Saturday night it was another show by Jenny Lewis, the Watson Twins, Jonathan Richman and Farmer Dave at the Great American Hall, with Cailin and Hale. 

   (Nice to spend some time with the Burckins!).  Other than special days with the family or our travels, this weekend is something I do most of all for myself.  And it just feels right.

  

   

Oakland A's Comeback Win!

We went to an A's game Saturday and it was the best game (finish) this year.  The A's are battling for a playoff spot now despite having the 2nd lowest payroll in baseball.  The Yankees with a near 200 million payroll, near 75% more than the A's and have one more win to show for that 150 million.

Our game found the A's playing sloppy and sluggish for the first six innings, down 4-1 in the eighth.  Rallying to 4-2 and with some great defense the last two innings, the feeling was the A's would rally in the ninth.  And they did. Josh Donaldson hit a 2 run homer to tie the game with one out.  In the bottom of the tenth, the swinging A's, edition 2012, won with a 3 run blast from Brandon Moss. 

This is the best  who are they? team in a long time.  Pitchers that are mostly rookies and seemingly so far behind Texas as recently as September. And now back 2 games from Texas with only 3 to go, the A's have beaten Texas to tie- the only time Texas has not led the division solely all year.  Tomorrow is for the Division crown and the winners do not have to play a one off Wildcard game.  Awesome stuff.  The working class baseball team- almost as if these guys are paid hourly.  Almost.

The A's stadium is roomier and with the echoes, loud.  Felt like a day in the park.  

As for the Giants, they have just eliminated the Dodgers from the playoffs, and have won 94 games, winning the division by 8-9 games.  The G-Men will play either the Washington Nationals or the Cincinnati Reds, with the Cardinals and the Braves playing the one off Wildcard game.

Depending on tomorrow's game and Ryan Vogelsong's results the Giants can finish with 4 -15 game winners and oddly, none named Lincecum.  Buster Posey will finish with the Majors leagues' best batting average, and one of the highest On Base Percentages (2 catchers! have the highest OBA), as well as the probable MVP award.

Not bad, bay area baseball fans.