fart piano

Tonight I was approached by some people who knew who I was, having me at a disadvantage.  After introductions they explain that they are glad they ran into me, having purchased Viper Mad on a friend's suggestion and really enjoy some of the playing on the album from the entire band.  They had listened enough to have a favorite sax part, bass part and piano part.  They also commented on the drums on the last track - something that Chuck and I discussed recently while both in a state of mind that didn't allow for effective communication...

ANYWAY

These two nice people were recently trying to find my schedule online and catch the band live.  They told me they used the BING search engine and typed in "REV CHRIS PIANO".  They then (without realizing it) clicked the filter so the results only contained YOUTUBE clips.

This was among the top results...

Here is a link to the commercial.

That pretty much sums up what I do to pay my rent I think.  Thank you, BING, for continuing to be better than GOOGLE.

Back that Belt Up

Yesterday morning I intended to put a belt on.  Intended is an interesting word choice.  I was going to say that I attempted to put on said belt, but after it was all over: wearing the belt was never truly attempted, just intended.

As I looped the belt into the first loop (on the left side of my waist) I used my left hand to grab my business card case off my dresser.  Since the left hand was busy I crossed my right hand over to my left side to put the belt into the second loop. 

Then something happened.

I am not sure what, but I instantly felt pins, needles and intense pain at the base of my spine. 

I haven't been very mobile since.  The best part is: our house is out of any sort of pain killer AND our heating pad suddenly decided it wouldn't turn on.  I have resorted to using masking tape and attaching STAY WARM packets to my lower back.  I have the masking tape circling my body three times to keep those suckers in place.

Needless to say I have spent this morning online searching for and ordering the finest sets of suspenders this side of the giant sequoias in Southern California in preemptive strike against a repeat of this situation.

Yours til the milkman goes on strike,

Rev C

open letter

It amazes me the extent to which people of my age go to purposely surround themselves with other people who agree with them one hundred percent of the time.

I would hate this kind of existence.  By definition it would involve solely on going thru motions and nothing more. Experimentation would be impossible: it could encourage evolution.  In conclusion: change is bad because we all already agree with each other, right?

I learned years ago that intelligent people who don't always see eye to eye are the best company.  In college one such friend, in particular, really affected me. Not a month, maybe not even a week goes by that I don't smile at those days in New Orleans...  We both loved music.  We both loved the same blues and classic rock, but we bonded over the country and folk music he showed me, and the jazz I showed  him.  We took each other to concerts with whoever we were dating at the time.  One would buy tickets the other would buy the beer.  I saw Jerry Jeff Walker, he saw Astral Project... I saw Robert Earl, he saw Earl King...  When things got rough we had each others back: We drove the other one home when someone was too drunk to drive (usually him).  We let the other one crash in the living room when someone was too high to sleep (usually me).

We still speak occasionally.  Bi-annually our words amount to a fraction of what they were a dozen years ago.  They are typed instead of yelled over vinyl we were convincing ourselves is in better condition than it actually was.

He is the finest man I have ever met, the truest friend I have ever had and I regret the years we spent out of touch... 

... you bastard.

Goodbye Blue Monday

Today's weather is gorgeous and although I have piano students all day (11am-6:30pm) I am lucky enough to have had a 7 mile drive before and after the 11am lesson.  I jumped on the chance to skip the car and grab the Buddy.  Let me tell you: the drive was amazing.

On my way home I stopping into my parents for the sole purchase of using their toilet.  I grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen on my way out (after doing 40 minutes of scales on their Steinway... and boogie woogie patterns in all keys) and noticed something on their deck.  Next to their Gas Grill (which, as always was cleaned and covered after its last use) were three tanks of propane.  This is in addition to the one already hooked up to the grill, yet hidden from the grill cover.  Was there a BOGO on tanks at the True Value that I somehow missed?

That's My Girl

I am doing this blues as a solo piece on the new album.  The lyrics are silly, but accurate.  More details on the High Rollers record soon (I hope).

She looks so fine, all the people stare,

She's always hip, she's never square

That's My Girl.

She can tell time with the sun,

By my first sip, her drink is done,

That's My Girl.

She's never leave me, 

she says she needs me,

That's My Girl.

I never seen another one,

She's as rare as they come (or uranium),

That's My Girl.

She always Rocks with a Fonky Roll,

Staring at her will never grow old,

That's My Girl.

I'm gone: She misses me

I'm back: She kisses me

That's My Girl.

The prettiest face in this whole place,
Will send you right to outer space,

That's My Girl.

She knows my words tend to urge,

And purge ideas most find absurd,

That's My Girl.

I'm nothing without her,

She makes me shower,

That's My Girl.

Twisted Tail

I played at the Twisted Tail for the first time with the High Rollers on Saturday night.  Parking was a bitch but it's South Street on at weekend night, so what do you expect?  The stairs we had to load-in to reminded me of George Street Grocery in Jackson, Mississippi.

Richard, Rev C, Tony & Chuck

Former George Street Grocery: About a dozen afternoons were spent trying to get a Hammond Organ (plus Leslie) up the narrow flight of stairs.  Everyone in the band always helped on the way in, but the way out it was usually me and two underage bar backs.

We tried some of the food at Twisted Tail.  Between Kristen, Tony and myself we had the Shortribs Appetizer, Pulled Pork Soft Tacos, and Crawfish Mac N Cheese, respectively.  Two 90-minute sets later the night was over but the last joke to be had was this: I started loading my car at 1:42am.  After I finished loading, got paid and assembled at in the parking lot for the drive home I look at my phone and it was 3:24am.  It was more like a "Daylight Raping" because nothing was saved!

On stage at the Twisted Tail

There was some stress in the evening.  Just driving from 17th and Market to South and 2nd took over an hour.  Saturday night in a major metropolitan area is a bitch.  On top of that add on the fact that idiot keeps showing up at gigs and claiming to be in the band.  I am all about people using music as a way to deal with life's ups and downs.  I am all for someone learning and improving their skill on their instrument.  I think that music can do more than therapy, drugs and sex combined (well, maybe not sex).  I am NOT supportive of people showing up at my gigs and demanding to sit in.  After I say "No" they actually go to the club owner and ask him.  This is my job, it's how I pay my rent and behavior like that threatens my job security.  It's not cool.  That being said, I hope this doesn't discourage young cats from trying to sit in.  I want the next generation to prove themself and find success entertaining.  But if you are unable to blow a single whole note twice in a row take some time to woodshed and get better.  It will take longer than a few weeks, but have patience and stick with it!  The world needs the next Miles or Nick Payton to figure out what comes next.

For archive's sake:High Rollers Set List 03.09.2013 @ Twisted Tail, Philly PA

SET ONE
THE IN CROWD

TIPITINA

SMOKIN WITH SOME BBQ

EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I DON’T KNOW

RED WAGON

QUARTER RAT

HEY NAA

NEW AREA CODE

BROAD STREET SUBWAY

I FEEL FINE

HERE COMES THE MAN

AINT MISBEHAVIN

DO THE FAT TUESDAY

BYE BYE BLACKBIRD

DOG DAY BLUES

HALLELUJA I LOVE HER SO

WEED SMOKERS DREAM

LOOK WHERE WE HAVE BEEN

SET TWO

FRENCHMAN ST STOMP

IF YOURE A VIPER

EGGPLANT

NOBODY KNOWS YOU

TAKE BACK YOUR WEED

I ATE UP THE APPLE TREE

MY BLUE HEAVEN

CANT TAKE MY BABY NOWHERE

JUNKO PARTNER

BLUE MONDAY

I WANNA BE THE BIG CHIEF

HIT THE ROAD JACK

RIGHT PLACE WRONG TIME

HIDE THE REEFER

HELLO GOOD EVENING

PALM COURT STRUT

THE IN CROWD

close the city

Following Hurricane Katrina there were major sections of the city of New Orleans that were made unavailable to the public.  I know because, from Philadelphia, I made repeated attempts getting friends to try and get our cat out of our Marigny Apartment.  They were never able to access it.  I recall the military being stationed at the end of I-10 exit ramps blocking the flow of traffic. 

After reading this today it make sense why they did what they did, although it pissed me off for months.  If they allowed the Quarter-Rats, the diddyboppers and the rest of us drunks back home we would live without power for God-knows-how-long.  We would be sitting pretty (in the dark) until something even worse happens then we would be, like the people in the article, quick to blame the powers that for our impotent outlets. 

Solution: close the sections that aren't fit for living, especially with the recent cold blast in the Northeast.  CLOSE THE CITY.  Where are the shelters and offers of open homes that we experienced back in 2005/2006?  Did post-Katrina hospitality meet humanity's quota for the next 100 years?  Where is Larry David?  He let a fake family crash on Curb Your Enthusiasm, why not try it for real this time?

This country - this government made so many mistakes after Katrina that we are all never going to forget...  Why ignore one of the few smart decisions?