happy holidaze

this is probably the best xmas vid ever

b-l-a-c-k-nuss

so ya haven't posted in a long ass time but, I've been busy, doing stuff ya know. Riding bikes, collecting pine cones with the Sugar Pine Foundation, sleeping on the ground, drinkin whiskey and supping on miso soup and rice.

Roland Kirk, Rashaan Roland Kirk, man didn't get lot of love from the critics when he was with us, called him sideshow and worst. Players knew, Coltrane was a fan, he was one of very few folks who got free reign when working with Mingus, along with Eric Dolphy pretty good company I would say. People seem to get what he was trying these days due to the hard work of Joel Dorn, who worked with him when he was with us, and dumbasses like me who made it my business to spread the word. I first heard Roland while in high school from the herbal dealing jazz flautist who lived above my dentist's office. My friends had no use for the music but something clicked with me. The flute guy would put on "I talk with the Spirits" and go on about the percussive work of Ro's flute playing and somehow I thought yeah you're right.  So really check his stuff out especially from his Black Classical Music, right before his stroke, which incidently didn't really stop the man, He could play two horns at once before so this guy could still play with one hand and play he did, so get on the Rashaan train and Prepare to meet a Miracle. till next time we'll keep the light on for you

magyar a go go

so anyhow what about this

I don't know why but I kinda like this

Maybe there's something wrong with me

Turn Your Radio On

dug out and been listening to my old John Hartford LPs. John has always been a favorite of mine, what can I say. Lucky enough to have written Gentle on My Mind, it gave him the money to not really care about recording music that may or may not sell. I was lucky as well once, when I met John when he played in Reno some time ago, he was interested in me being from Pittsburgh since he was a riverman himself. .We talked about barges, tow boats and rivers more than music. As always he put on a great show, though later we found out that he was probably in a bit of pain as he was pretty sick towards the end. I know where I was when I heard that John had died, sitting in the Duex Gros Nez listening to the Risky Biscuit Hayseed hoot, I admit I cried right there and then. So I couldn't find a good version of Turn the Radio On, but this is pretty good too. On the night The Boy was born and nothing was right I sat there with him in in ICU singing to him, I know I sang him this one a couple times

As it turns out it was one of the first songs The Boy sang as well, along with Give Back The Keys To My Heart, but we will leave that for another time.

so we went to Pittsburgh for a spell were we stole wi fi from McDonalds

went dahn tahn an at

went for a walk along one of those rivers John and I loved, this one being the Allegheny 

ran into Pine Top Perkins at the museum 

we will get to him and the rest of the Blues Fellas

Saw a ball game

the Buccos lost but played a good game and what a ball park they have now. My old friend Steve W came down outta the hills to see it with us ending his boycott of all things owned by the Nutting family. Drank some good beer by Penn's Brewing and Yungling didn't drink any Iron City though don't know how that happened.

But anyways back in beautiful Reno again, don't laugh after the humidity of Pittsburgh the 90s round here feel like spring time. I love Pittsburgh but honestly have no idea how I put up with that. Anyways we updated the Boy's bike, new bar, stem, seatpost and even some STI shifting for him. Just about out grown the old Trek but he's not ready to give it up quite yet.

So it is Hot August Nights round these parts this week and if you don't know what that is (if anybody is actually reading this) one word "google". But that also means Hot August Bike is happening tomorrow evening as well so hold on with baited breath, what ever the hell that means, for a full report

Egypt 80

so we finally got off our asses and went to something during Reno's Art Town, kinda knew I was going to this one Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, the above vid is from a couple days before. The Boy brought his Flip camera so we will post some from the Reno show in a bit. Now I had to work at 5am the next morning but missing this would have been a big no no. 15 piece band from Nigeria, son of a legend and probably the hardest working man in show business it was just ferkin awesome. The Boy and I got some  subs and went down the park at least an hour before hand got the last spot in the front and got ready for the fun. Afro Pop, Jazz, Funk they did it all usually all at once. Looked like a mix of older guys from when his dad led the band and younger cats, and they all had the chops.

they got good and smoked up first, now we have been telling The Boy for years when he asked "what's that smell" we would always skunk, at least we weren't lying, check out mini Miles there in the purple. We let him know what they really were doing and explained that where they come from it's ok and really it's not a big deal though they, the man, makes it one here. The band was tight and funky, the horn section was pretty unreal, mostly young guys

the guitarman on the left there on one song just about blew my mind with his playing, both hands were just going in an Afrojazz thing that I have never heard anyone do

and this guy here, this guy, this guy was awesome he was a show unto himself, I would guess he was probably the most "skunked" of all of them.

and Seun, he is the MAN sang, danced, played the sax, very well I should add. After the show a bunch of the band was out in the crowd, don't know why didn't take any pictures, maybe felt to much buggin. But the guy in the red on the left side of the stage was talking with us, I said you should meet my son. The guy got the biggest smile on his face and immediately put him in a bear hug, the Boy didn't know what to do. Man I hope they come back again cause this was one of the best thing I have ever seen. It seems as I get older somehow the shows keep getting better, music is such a gift to the world from what  ever it may have sprung from and music just keeps on giving, I mean man I love me some Red Fang, and I love me some Dexter Gordon, and I love me some Waylon Willie and the Boys and thankfully there is more good music in world then bad. Glad that I read Lester Bangs and Robert Christagau (probably spelled your name wrong sorry man) when I was a kid glad my Mom and Dad let me ride the bus into Pittsburgh when I was 14 years old to see concerts, glad for the record collections of my older Brother and Sister glad for both the Soundwaves (one records one CDs) that I found and lost, glad for the Electric Banana that started out as a disco and then became a punk club, glad for Graffiti's where I saw so many good bands at their starts (looking at you chili peppers and fishbone) glad for WYDD, WYEP, WRCT, KTHX and all the good radio back in the day, man I got quit cause I could just go on and on

and oh yea, bikes are awesome we like bikes we ride bikes don't get me started but do dig the Boy's tie and dig Berto C punchin some dude

till next time

fire breathers

loverman by Charlie Parker came up on shuffle today and man the little call and response between him and Red Rodney is just awesome ya know. But anyways looking for something of that to post I found this instead, ferkin Pharoah Sanders is still aforce to be reckoned with and James Blood Ulmer, just pudding ya know.

don't have much else to say, windy as the hell the last couple days still rode some mostly of the to and fro varieties, later skater

ron burgundy up there cowboy

so ya I'm a pretty crappy blogger, can't keep up with the workload, bummin out both my fans but what are you going do? I do like Scotch though, waffles too, steak? not that much too much chewing. Course right now I am drinking Riesling outta a hello kitty cup, you want to fight? Anyhows yes we have been been riding the bikes think I have rode a bike everyday since May, huh go figure, like Eddy Merckx said  "On my bike I am simply myself". Now don't get all riled the hell up I aint comparing meself to the Man, just saying. So we went up and rode to Tahoe, was pretty nice though we had some excitement on the way up.

The whole ferkin roof rack just about came off my friend's car, sitting there enjoying the ride when WHAM I was looking at the Boy's bike outta the side window. Stopped on the side of 80, always a fun prospect and got it right load the bikes back up and with our fingers crossed went on our way. Wound up in Tahoe City which was far too crowded for my taste, as is usually the case, kinda anti social in my old age. 

The boy kinda enjoyed it though what with his new old wool jersey all. The ride back was a pleasant affair, the Boy was channeling his inner Johan and not letting anyone make break for it he chased all comers down, no break for you.

Instant Johan gonna get you, just you wait and see.

Anyway later in the week riding home from work I made some new friends, 

I like em, they don't talk much, kinda smelly though, but to be truthful so am I some times, and they told me about a sweet raspberry patch nearby. Had the chance to blow out of work early today, so I did

Rode some, rode with the boy some, got some bolts and such from Ace found a sweet suntour front derailler at the RBP. They mustn't know what a cool one it was cause it was mixed in with the junk, or maybe I am the only one who thinks it's cool. Don't have anything I need it for but it can wait. Anyways building a bike for a friend we will call her Rick. She wants something to commute  on start taking longer rides on and such. I found an unlikely candidate in an older Fisher women's mountain bike

trust me I have a plan and besides we saved it from a trip to burning man.

Anyways Charles Mingus, MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS

Man Mingus was something wasn't he, and I'm not talking just bout his playing, the man could write and arrange with the best of them. I'd put him up against any of them, go ahead name someone better I'll wait

So yes he could be a tyrant at time, He punched trombonist Jimmy Knepper in the mouth breaking his front teeth, Knepper played with him again. He had all the players play it as he wrote it, no going off on your own thing with two notable exceptions, Eric Dolphy and Rashann Rolan Kirk. Put on Roots and Blue turn it way the ferk up and listen to the genuis. Bands today don't play much of his stuff, because it's hard complex stuff and it can be hard to wrap your mind around it. So anyways there pards signing off with this, enjoy and remember, stay classy

neko

so we went and saw Neko Case again last night, what can I say but if she comes round you better go she her. That girl got a set of pipes on her that can not be truly appreciated until you hear her live, I mean shite man where the hell is that coming from. She was all high from Vietnamese coffee she said and kinda had a runnin gag all night about George Thorogood last time she came through Reno she was all about Pole Dancer U. Here's a couple more shitie pictures cause lets face it wasn't there to take pictures.

the Boy approved

funny when I was his age I was riding the bus into Pittsburgh with my friends to see concerts, not seeing seeing them with my parents, oh how the times have changed. I think he has seen more shows by this age then I did, even if he does not remember them all. 

I made him stand in this enclave for this pic, he said hurry up it smells like pee in here, I replied yes son it does. First time at the Knitting Factory here not a bad place except for the slapdicks who stand around talking, loudly no less. OK so if you want to spend your money and talk instead of listening, which of course we all know is a lost art, but hell I spent my money as well and do want to hear it so shut the hell up or go stand way the hell in back. Reminds me of seeing Kathleen Edwards couple of years ago when a friend and I saw her in a crappy spot at the Reno Hilton. Bunch of punters just talking away she gets pissed and says to them you know some of these folks came to hear us play tonight so why don't you shut the fuck up. They left in a huff rest of cheered and Kathleen never played there again, my guess is she didn't care and would probably do it again. Anyhows Neko

oh yeah been riding the bikes, went to the Reno Bike Project couple times last week getting a bike built up for a friend of ours

don't judge just yet

rode out to Verdi and found bliss in the form of smooth fresh tarmac 

people out there like guns, just saying

and while at the Bike Project found a bar and stem that put the La Raza back in drop bar mode, a Nitto Rando bar that looked like it was never used and a Salsa stem that put the bars somewhere I can use them. Can proudly say they are still lower then the seat, so lay off I really love this bike and what good is it if it just sits on the peg. Yessirebob got the best of both coasts there Petaluma and Sommerville representing .

little presso stop so I could drag my ass home, and yes that is my phone I have lost my status of the last man on earth without a cell phone. Anyhows as they said on the Simpson's both our fans must be thrilled till next time Adios Amebas 

hound dog

not as in nothin but

lifer

so yesterday on the way home minding my own business in the bike lane for christ's sake almost get brushed by some fat asshat in a car looking at me smiling like dude I could totally kill you, ok to be fair I have no ferkkin idea what the asshat was thinking but that is what I have to take it as. He goes on by and what kinda sticker do you suppose he has on his car well I will tell you what kinda sticker he has on his car, Pro Life. Guess he only supports that before the actual birth

you know really I could care less about anyone's politics, was talking at work today that I miss those those days when it just did not make a difference which side you where on. Guess I am on my side, sleep tight America somethins bound ta give

alberto contador's mastercard

  

so we rode bikes some this weekend, firstly the Tour de Nez grand fundo  where we rode outta Reno and into California

actually we didn't have to ride into California but it was only an extra 100 yards or so.  We rode back into Reno where we had food and I had couple of beers at the finish.

saw buncha bikes most kinda looked like this

then Father's day came and we did little dirt riding to see the explosion of wild flowers happening up in Sardine Valley

crossed a creek

rode some good forest roads

some of us fell on the forest roads

took in the view, complete with sheep, shepherd and sheep dogs running around

and even crossed the same creek, this time over a bridge where we stopped and got eaten alive by skeeters

then in the evening we all went to our friend's restaurant for a sublime meal yo

http://www.lavecchiareno.com/

all in all not a bad way to spend your weekend

oh and by the way alberto contador's mastercard number is 5987 4652 7773 4120 exp 04/12

have at it

rotten apples

I don't know what the hell was wrong with our computer this afternoon but it appears that I fixed it, huh go figure. I seems like maybe it is really fixed this time round time will tell. Don't feel like writing right now so here's this

happy frikkin friday

well I use to get disgusted...

... now I try to be amused
Riding to work this morning say 5:15am or so when this guy passes me on a bike as well as blowing through 2 red lights. Now the first one, no big deal but the second one has a car making a left hand turn. Doesn't get hit which is cool but he flips the guy in the car off when he honked. Now we all know I can be guilty as anyone else in these matters but this just was such an asshat stunt. I turned and shook my head and shrugged the what are ya goin to do shrug to the girl in the car next to me, at least she smiled. Maybe she won't think all cyclist are brainless smucks. Then of course with old Pants Legstrong pickin fights in Aspen who the hell knows.

Whoda thought old Declan McDermott woulda had such staying power back in 77. My red shoes have long been in the dust bin replaced with my blue shoes, for now.

On tuesdays ride home saw a shite load of cops up in a kinda weird place on this hill between two streets, turns out they found some human remains up there discovered by a hiker. Now I'm just saying weird place to be hiking up there in the thick brush, not that there's anything wrong with that, but no real trail in that little swarth of brush there, maybe taking a short cut.

Anyways though nobody is reading this in all likelihood The Tour de Nez Grand Fundo is this weekend up here in beautiful Reno Nevada (don't come up though you won't like it) all the particulars can be found here
 http://www.tourdenez.com/

deep in the dna

living proof of that 

met this cool cat yesterday on my ride home, came round the bend saw him said hey kit, he said meowrr and walked right out to so had to stop and give him a scratch behind the ear

                                           I love the Pogues, I remember watching em with my Mom when they were on Saturday Night Live years ago she loved em too. Gawd they were something they actually brought something new to music

messing with the kid

16 years ago Rory Gallagher died of liver failure, Rory was probably one of the greatest rock/blues guitarist maybe ever. When Jimi Hendrix was asked by the British press what does it feel like to be the greatest guitarist in the world Jimi said dunno go ask Rory Gallagher

My friend Mike and I went up to Youngstown Ohio to see Rory when we were teenagers. It was cold as hell and we were waiting at the door, the people running the place took pity on our sorry asses and let us in. We sat through the sound check and talked to Rory before the show some. I have heard since that Rory was the nicest guy in the world, and I gotta believe it. We asked him to play Pistol Slapper Blues, he said boy that's a hard one I don't know. But  when he broke out the dobro during the show and said this is for my friends up front here we probably had the biggest smiles in the whole club.

Anyhow, I have since found out that Rory wasn't as "unknown" as we thought, that he was held in high esteem by his peers to this day. No more messing the kid

maditude

this guy here has it

Amish drag racing

so The Boy thinks I should have a blog since it seems like a have a lot to say but really say nothing. So bikes, music, politics, pretty much nothing is out of bounds I suppose. So with that