INTERESTING TIMES

Pain is temporary.
It may last a minute, or an hour,
or a day, or a year,
but eventually it will subside
and something else will take its place.
If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
--Lance Armstrong

Resiliency is a trait all leaders share
The ability to respond effectively in times of upheaval requires honesty, courage.
By Dr. William Sparks in Charlotte Observer | Sunday, Mar. 14, 2010
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/14/1309784/resiliency-is-a-trait-all-leaders.html
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Toto - Africa || performed by PERPETUUM JAZZILE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LQlfMmW7s

This choral number has an AWESOME intro--for those who love powerful storms.
hint: make sure your sound is turned up for the intro
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Great show last night at the Aladdin, our local theater. Lucy K played first. She is a terrific singer and writes lovely songs. David Wilcox is a blast of laughter, awesomely creative guitar playing, and enlightening lyrics.

After the Female to Femme movie D and I went to a fundraiser for Siren Nation. The show was well worth the $15 price of admission, and it was the 3rd annual Dolly Hoot. Apparently the event gets bigger every year. The McMenoman's Mission Theater was full but nowhere near maxed, and the crowd was assorted, including quite a few businesslike looking middle aged males. I enjoyed the venue. The event was MC'd by a crazy chick named Amber from NY who put on a different dress---and a different personality---between each act. Late in the show she impersonated Dolly pretty well. The acts were local artists doing their favorite Dolly Parton songs. One of the singers could speak east Tennessean just like Dolly.
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The whole time I was watching them play, I kept thinking it would be nicer if we had a campfire. It was a tit bit nipply out there. It would be nice if we were on some isolated beach along a river. We could sit in a circle around the campfire, dispense with all the big speakers and shit, and have a conversation. Pass a pipe. Sing a song. Relax and enjoy the quiet in between the stories. I so much prefer a folksy personal musical atmosphere to the modern concert scene. There were a thousand or so too many people there for my preferred setup. Of course, this was a benefit show, with money going to good causes. The Indigo Girls consistently do their part to raise funds for others. They believe in tolerance and love, and in caring for our planet. Messages that could use more air time.
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The first time I saw this cocky little man play, he played with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. No doubt, he rips on the electric bass. His band tonight included a percussionist, keyboardist, two other bass players, and two babes one who mostly grooved on stage. One sang with gusto and the other could also play bass. The bass playing chick had one good short rap about women hanging onto their souls. There were a few other messages of love and acceptance that I liked. All in the band were black skinned. Their tour and recently released CD is called the Soul Circus. I think.
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