So Saturday was fun if tiring. I woke up at 9 but was moving real slow due to my cold; I kept having to wipe my damn nose every 30 seconds so naturally I was running late. I managed to pick up the dozen cupcakes in a decent time though and get to the gig just in time to tune and warm up a little. Stefano helped me out by going to pick up little brother. The guys were nowhere to be found when I arrived, in fact they were at the bar next door having drinks. But I had a lot of people show up and I was very happy about that! My mom, stepdad, dad, his girlfriend were there. Also my friend F. and his kids. Also JFu and her baby. And Stefano's friend and his son were also there. I had 13 people there just for me, not bad for an in-store and we had a decent sized crowd in front of us--thank God. My dad videotaped some of our performance though he made me upset a little bit by telling Leo that Leo used to have a good bass player, and now he's got me. See what I have to put up with?
After the show we enjoyed cupcakes, signed CD's, loaded up, and went to the bar next door so I could get some Brandy which I thought would help my cold. We hung out there for awhile, the band and Leo's girlfriend, an artist friend of ours and his dad. Leo was getting drunk though and getting into philosophical arguments with me. Soon Stefano and I split to go drop off my car at home and take his car and our gear to the next gig with Sonny Boy. Sonny Boy saw my 120-watt Fender combo amp and made a remark that I'd probably want a more powerful rig for an outdoor gig such as this one, with more depth. I didn't say anything but was thinking, Jeez, criticize me already and also, Damn, this is my ONLY rig!!! Anyway, we had gotten there early enough to go inside the restaurant and eat and cool off a little so we did.
I had never played with Sonny Boy or the guitarist and drummer he had there, though I of course knew them through the local blues scene. Sonny Boy had told me previously we had to do the song "Big Mamou" so I looked it up on YouTube and got it down (see? I do my homework). After the 1st couple songs he called Stefano up to sit in with us and Stefano ended up playing the whole 3 sets with us. We had fun and none of the songs were too challenging, a few minor slips aside. I thought I was pretty solid and I even knew songs such as "Sugar Coated Love", "Wade in the Water" and "Walking to My Baby" although the Rolling Stones' "Miss You" gave me a little trouble since I hate that song. I played a funky bass line on it and thought it was ok. There were plenty people out there watching us, dancing, and having a grand old time. It was actually pretty fun and it was awesome getting to stand next to Stefano and play with him! Later on crazy Leo showed up in his kilt and skates and, clearly drunk, began dancing alone right in front of us. Philipo also showed up and I made him go get water for the whole band. My dad's girlfriend was also nice to drop by too.
I got bit by some kind of insect while playing--not a mosquito? The bites are small and red and still itch today! But all in all it was a fun gig though Leo at one point yelled for us to "Play something you know!" and I had to threaten to kick his ass in front of everyone. When the gig was over I complimented Sonny Boy on being such a good bandleader and he said there were some bad chord changes but he thought he handled it like a pro. I was like, ?!?!? I mean, the guitarist--who's played with Sonny Boy before, BTW!--missed a couple chord changes that even ***I*** caught! I was a little upset and told Stefano that Sonny Boy didn't need to be so down on the band and that if that's the way he feels, see if I play another gig with him! Stefano said not to take it personally, that Stefano missed some changes too. Whatever. The next day the guitarist, the drummer, AND Sonny Boy all posted nice things to me on my Facebook page. I responded to the guitarist's and the drummer's and left Sonny Boy's alone.
Sunday we slept in reaaaaal late and then I decided I needed to replace the dead geranium and cactus on my patio (both were murdered and that's all I care to say) so we went and bought some kind of succulent plant and some other kind that don't require much watering. Then Stefano had a hankering for Vietnamese sanniches so we went and got some ($2.50 each!!!) before heading to Big Walter's bday party. Tons of our blues musician colleagues were there and it was fun and I even danced a few songs, also drank some Johnny Walker Red since the bartender said straight booze is best for a cold.
Yesterday a reporter from the Houston Comical called me to say she's doing a story on my dad and would I answer a few questions. I had voicemailed her b/c I don't answer #'s I don't recognize. When I heard what she wanted that gave me time to think about: 1. If I should even call her back, and 2. If I did call her back, things I would not be willing to talk about. So I did call her back after discussing it with Stefano and I decided I would not discuss anything personal such as about my family.
Her questions were: 1. What kind of dad was he? 2. What kind of person is he? and 3. Something about what contributions I think he's made to Houston, the filmmaking community, etc. So for #1 I said "I can't comment on that." She said my dad told her that he was a "pretty bad dad." I repeated that I couldn't comment. (Seriously--this subject is strictly for my psychiatrist's office, if I had one. And for my book that I'll write someday, Daddy Dearest!) For #2 I said "Unique." She asked me to expand on that if I could and I said something like he's a real charismatic Houston character. For #3 I did in fact state some good things about my dad, his films, his work, his regard/respect by all in the filmmaking community, etc. Then she asked if me and my dad were "friends" and I didn't respond b/c I knew that if I said something like "I wouldn't say we're friends" then THAT would be the quote! I know how those damn reporters operate!!! She continued on, asking if we had a relationship and I said yes, that we support each other by attending each other's events, he comes to my concerts and I attend his things, etc. Then she ended by asking if I wished he would live his life differently, like not living on the edge so much, saving his money, things like that and I said "He has his reasons for living his life the way he does and I don't question it." Sooooo... we'll see how this article turns out. Should be interesting.
I'm taking tomorrow off from work again, just to recuperate from today. I spent all day on the couch, watching movies and catching up on DVR. I need to finish some of my damn library books, as always.
1 comment:
dude sounds like we got the exact same disease!
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