Thanks to Paul for writing the framework. I tweaked the colors and fonts. If something looks fucked up in your browser, let me know.

Thanks to Coolfer, I received tons of traffic from Curbed in the past 24 hours.

Here's a very human review of the Ann Arbor show - it was nice to meet you again.

Keep an eye on this site over the next few weeks.

Keep an eye on this site over the next few weeks.

A beef cut diagram, for the aspiring butcher in you.

Friday night's NYC show went well, ran into lots of old friends, a good turnout. The club is located in one of my old neighborhoods (Williamsburg), and I am constantly shocked at how the area has changed. If you had suggested to me (in 1993) that I would have my choice of at least 2 sushi restaurants near the Bedford L stop, I would have laughed at you. I drove by my old loft, and not surprisingly, it is being converted into "1700 sq. ft. luxury condos". When I lived there, I had 4400 sq.ft. (3 adjacent 3rd floor spaces, connected by large sliding fire doors) for $1600 / month. I would imagine those 1700 sq. ft. lofts will sell for somewhere in the $1 to $1.3M range. I also walked by a 5000 sq. ft. house I looked at in 2000, then listing for $1.1M. It is certainly worth $2.5 to $3M today. It has also been divided into individual condos.

Spent the evening with friends in Chelsea. Saturday was beautiful, did some shopping in Soho and Chelsea. Ran into a DC bud, and a few old West Village coffee buddies. NYC is always changing, but I can typically count on running into old friends. It's one of the coolest things about NYC; most people think it's this monolithic landscape, when, in reality, it's a series of small neighborhoods, and it's very easy to find your old neighbors.

The drive from NYC to WDC later that afternoon was HELL! 6.5 hours, what a nightmare. I had figured on Sunday being the busy drive day - I guess I wasn't alone in that assessment. Went out for a nightcap with some buds, and ran into lots of guys who were at the BLOWOFF show on Thursday - everyone was still buzzing about it. I'm hoping the club will allow us to work upstairs on a more regular basis, the live set went over great.

Sunday was all about relaxation, catching up with friends, and a quiet night at home. Two shows this weekend, one more BLOWOFF on the 11th, and then I'm a free man for a month.

What a busy day! Cooking, cleaning, dinner for 8, the first BLOWOFF live gig, I was on my feet for 20 hours solid. I am wiped out, which is exactly how I love to feel - as I head to NYC for tonight's gig. I am hoping the traffic gods are with me this cold and sunny afternoon.

I hope that everyone had as good a Thanksgiving as I did. Whether spent with family, friends (my chosen family, as I like to call them), or in reflection, we all have something to be grateful for, even as the crazy world around us spins faster and faster. I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful support system around me - the friends who entered my home to count our individual and shared blessings, and the new and old acquaintances who celebrated with us last night at the club - it means a lot to me. It's been a trying year at times, so I feel lucky to be in my current position in life. Many thanks to those who have kept me upright and moving forward through the year.

More thoughts on Monday.

10 bucks at the door. Starts at 10 PM. Set at Midnight. Music until 3 AM.

Made it home in one piece after a long ass drive today (Chicago to DC - 720 miles). Last night's Milwaukee show was good, a very nice room to play, top notch production and crew. Drove back to Chicago last night, and did the big one today. Great driving weather most of the way, it wasn't bad at all. The first 250 miles, I'm fidgety; after that, I'm in the zone, sort of numbed out, and staring straight ahead. Spent most of the drive listening to "Body Of Song" stuff, it is kicking my ass right now - all very tight, it sounds so good out of the studio. Talked to some pals along the way as well, love my Treo 600 for checking e-mail as well. I also love Chicago. Fucking dizzy tired now - must lay down.

It's been a fun run of dates this week, and only one show left in Milwaukee. Friday in Ann Arbor was enjoyable, albeit a bit strange. Dykehouse, whose Midrange CD has been one of my favorites this year, turned in an odd set of indie-rock karaoke - as the crowd turned to look at me as if to say "did you arrange this". Saturday in Chicago was great fun, sold out show, and though I was operating on very little sleep, I managed to vindicate my lackluster performance in February. Sunday was spent with friends, working out, coffee houses, record store shopping, the great things in life. Chicago has an abundance of these things, all within walking distance of my accommodations. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the shows, and especially to those who made sure I was properly nourished - sometimes I forget to eat, and that is a bad thing!

All right, off to breakfast and my favorite out-of-town gym in the world. Blogging without coffee is so unnatural. More later.

There's a very nice article in this week's MW, addressing the history of Blowoff, and previewing the Thanksgiving night gig.

Last night's show in Cleveland was quite good. I popped a string on the acoustic, which gave me small headaches with tuning for a little while, but it didn't dampen any of the energy in the room. The whole day was quite fun, spent running around town my buddy Jocko. We've been in touch all year, and he was the most gracious escort, getting me to the gym, guitar shop, lunch, and coffee (where we met the son of Pere Ubu's Scott Krause). Another old NYC bud drove up from Cincinnati, and after the show, we all drove from one side of Cleveland to the other, in search of the elusive after-show meal. The weather has been unseasonably warm in the area, so the typically grey industrial landscape of Cleveland was transformed into a surreal movie landscape, with factories and warehouses shrouded in heavy fog.

Off to Ann Arbor today - the trip is going well.

An article in today's Cleveland Plain Dealer, hyping tonight's show. (May require registration)

I should mention two local (as in DC local) blogs which some of you might find amusing, and most of you will find baffling: Clubutaunt and ClubWhirled. So fabulous, so true.

Last night's show in Pittsburgh was interesting - I thought it was good, maybe a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. I forgot the second verse to "Gauze Of Friendship", but managed to find my cheat sheet after finishing the music, and read the missing quatrains. It sounded good as free-standing poetry.

The South Side neighborhood is very funky, high end restaurants mixed in with boutiques, beatnik-y shops, and old neighborhood purveyors. Cool row houses, narrow streets, very walkable scale. Once you leave this ten-block stretch, you need a car in the worst way. Pittsburgh is very spread out, hilly, and the residential areas are fairly separate from commercial nodes.

Just arrived in Cleveland, after a brief but rainy afternoon drive. I need to get on the treadmill - I have been carb loading all day, and it's not a pretty sight. I feel sluggish.

Listening to the new David Cross CD is the highlight of the day. Here's an excerpt, and here's more info on him.

The SubPop artist page for David Cross.

Buy the CD from Amazon.



David Cross: Track 3 (it's Not Funny CD, SubPop Records, 2004)

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know. Availability is limited.

It's time to hit the road. Postings will likely be less frequent for the next 8 to 10 days, as I tend not to have a lot of spare time on these acoustic tours. Wake up, eat, work out, eat, drive, sound check, eat, play, eat, sleep, repeat. Ah, the glamourous life - it's all I know.

There was a mention of the Rock For Karl show in yesterday's New York Times (registration required). In the days following the show, I received a ton of letters asking me to say something about playing two songs with my old band mate, Grant Hart. Here's the short version: Grant got my number from my lawyer, called me an hour before doors opened, and asked about playing a song together. I said sure - without thinking about it. We met at the club and picked two songs. I played my set, Grant joined me for two songs, and that was that. We talked about the SST dilemma, and the sad state of affairs surrounding the handling of the "Husker Du Estate". Packed up my stuff, said goodbye to everyone, and went to the bar for a nightcap.

I was hesitant to say much about that part of the evening - not for personal reasons, but as to not create some sort of false hope. It was what it was. It was a spontaneous act, a nice gesture for a good cause, and nothing more.

I am looking FORWARD to this week's acoustic dates - I've got more new stuff to try out, and old friends to see. Between these dates, a tentative release date (finally) for "Body Of Song", and all the LoudBomb stuff (2nd CD, and the "Versus Series"), I'm pretty well booked for 2005. Add in the BLOWOFF CD (which has been finished for a few months), the first gig on Thanksgiving night, and the Winter 2005 DJ season, I will be super busy with NEW music.

Friday was soggy. Went to the bar, saw the usual blog suspects. Bear Invasion, I sort of missed it. I went down to the host hotel 2 years ago, but didn't really participate this time. An early evening for me.

Saturday, finally. 14 hours in the studio, finished up 3 new songs I'd been working on: "Days Of Rain" (see how the process works?), "Love Escalator", and "I Am Vision, I Am Sound". Did not leave the house all day, and it was a nice one. Played all 3 at BLOWOFF, as well as all the other new "Body Of Song" stuff. People are digging it a lot - guys coming up to the booth, pointing at me, me nodding and grinning, then they get the big grin, and head back to their dancing / headbanging / swaying. Lots of sexy men at the bar - and the rock music is starting to take over the house music. Rich and I were on fire, and the dancing did not stop until 3 AM. A fun fun night, a long long long day of music. I felt great when it was over.

Sunday, another nice day. Brunch with buds, walking and record shopping, home for a quiet night. Recharge.

The footage from BlogJam is available for online viewing. Head to the respective readers' pages, and they will direct you to their videos.

BLOWOFF tomorrow night, and Bear Invasion all weekend long! Not too many extra bears or cubs at the club last night, but a fun time nonetheless.

See you next week.

I'm taking a short break from discussing the dismal political maneuvering that's happening around me. People in DC seem to be emerging from their funk, and getting back to a healthier balance of day-to-day life and the larger picture. It can be overwhelming, particularly in a town that voted 90% Kerry, but houses the Red machine.

Yesterday, more rehearsing for the November 25 BLOWOFF gig at 9:30 Club. Our short set is sounding ready for public ears.

Went to the club to see Interpol last night - packed to the rafters. Secret Machines and On! Air! Library! opened the show. I arrived 15 minutes into Interpol's set, and had a restricted view of the stage; the sound was great, the band was on, and the people were enjoying themselves. Hanging around after the show, I was mildly amused by the sight of the backstage security guy being approached by several patrons, each with amusing stories of how they "had to meet the band". One young lady noticed I had a VIP pass, and started in on me with her need to get backstage. I was entertained by her (fairly longwinded) dissertation on how unaffected she was by famous people, how she knew many artists, and Interpol were "true artists" (please define - no, continue), and she just had to say hello, how they shouldn't be kept at arms' length from their fans. When she paused, I mentioned to her that one possible reason she wasn't allowed backstage might be as simple as "well, they're probably changing clothes, or eating dinner, or gathering up their cell phones and wallets".

Spent a few minutes with Sam - we've been friends for a while, the old Williamsburg scene and all that. I'm happy that things are going well for them, they're a good bunch of guys, very hard-working, always on the road. I've warmed up to the new album - it took me a few listens to catch the vibe, but I'm digging it now.

A photo from last night.

I'm starting to gear up for next week's tour dates. I hadn't been playing much the past few months; fortunately, the rehearsals for the BLOWOFF gig on the 25th are getting me back in stage form. I'm looking forward to getting out of DC for a week. I'm curious to travel through the Great Lakes area, and hear what people are thinking (about the election result). In the meantime, here's a few thoughtful letters I received over the past few days.

I just read your piece on the election. I live in New Zealand, and I can say we are all pretty gutted down here too.
 
I am sick of the American moral majority representing Christianity in the world. I am not gay, and consider myself a liberal Christian, but to me Gay Marriage/civil union makes complete sense. I actually used your log to connect Miss Poppy who wrote that article "Why the Bible does not condemn homosexuality". I thought it was fantastic - and so I printed it off and started evangelizing the conservatives :)
 
Just remember - in NZ we are passing the civil union bill. Yes, there has been a knee jerk reaction from a church that models itself on middle America, but on the whole we are fairly tolerant.

A*****

Amen, brother. I work in a middle school, and I see the beginning struggles with sexuality every day. Kids are NOT being taught the lessons they need to be, and it frightens me. Last year, we had a small epidemic of girls giving blowjobs to boys left and right because "blowjobs aren't sex". I died a thousand deaths when I heard that. My district doesn't have a real comprehensive, honest sex ed. curriculum, and I worry that these kids aren't getting it at home. Kids have sex, no matter how much abstinence or facts you throw at them. They're having it earlier, and they're having it riskier.
One of my colleagues is having trouble getting the high school's gay-straight alliance off the ground. We're going backwards, and it frightens me. This administration's point of view frightens me; it feels like when I was in college again, and my gay friends were demonized. The roots of my political activism were in AIDS awareness, even before womens issues, because one of my friends killed himself when he found out he had AIDS. I guess it's time to find all those contacts again, and get working.

I can only imagine how scary this must be for you, someone who has experienced this on a deep personal level. Sometimes, I feel like I don't belong in this struggle, but, like all civil rights issues, voices outside the focal point are needed too.

C*******

I heard a conservative radio talk show host on Friday saying that there is no real reason to ban gay marriage. He pointed out how ironic it was that the religious right has for years attacked the homosexual community for supposed rampant promiscuity, and now wants to stop them from entering into commited, monogomous relationships.

Despite the fact that he's a nutball on most other topics, it gives me hope that there are some at least decent, if misguided, conservatives out there who might stand up over the next few years.

P****

I am ashamed and angry that my home state (Georgia) has voted to remove the Constitutional right that guarantees the pursuit of happiness with it’s vote for Amedment 1 (banning gay marriage) in this last election.  Your blog drives the point home even more to me and I hope you will continue to speak about how this is affecting the gay community and what your thoughts are.  I honestly never thought I would see a time in our country where the hate would be so intense as to force people to actually vote to deprive other people of the most basic of rights.  I thought we were getting smarter than that and I thought we were really understanding how to live together better.  I was so wrong that I now wonder how I missed this one.  How could I have been so blind?  How did this happen?

I now wonder if a day will come where I will be told that I cannot marry a black woman because I am a white man.  I wonder if I will be told that I can not marry a Jewish woman because I was raised as a Baptist.  I wonder if I will be told that I cannot marry a woman from Italy because I was born in America.  I wonder if gay men and women will become in America what the Jews were in Germany in the 1930’s.  What is happening right now is not about love or understanding or even being a Christian.  It’s about hate, fear, ignorance and control.  I have no idea how of exactly what to do.  But.

It’s sparking a desire in me to make radical changes in my life.  I have lived my life in a way that I thought was right.  I treat people with respect and kindness.  I give them a wide berth and as long as they are being cool to one another and aren’t ruining other lives or making people miserable I say live and let live.  I’m living a decent life but now I need to take ideas and feelings I have to make things better outside my small orbit.  I’ve sheltered myself and I think I need to do something about it.

I don’t want to fight against any group, no matter how hateful.  I want to fight FOR something positive.  I just don’t know what to do or what group to join or even if joining a group or political party is the answer just yet.  The past four years have made me want to become more politically active, the past week has sent me over the edge of the cliff.  Last Monday night I saw someone from your past, in concert.  Mike Watt was here in Atlanta doing his new piece.  He still speaks the old Minuteman credo at the end of his show.  Start your own band.  Paint your own painting.  Write your own book. 

I want to take that old saying and do something about it.  I hope you will continue to write about the issue gay men and women are now facing and don’t back down from it.  I think that your writing is important and you should say what is happening.  I’ve always respected you because you are an artist and your music has been a part of my life for about 20 years now.  In many ways I am who I am now because of people like you and Watt, D. Boon and Paul Westerberg, Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye.  You guys gave me thoughts and ideas that I may not have come to without your music.  You inspired me then and I know that you still inspire me.

B**

The last three mornings, when I sit to write or talk to friends, the recurring theme is kids. Not wanting to have kids, but gay kids. Kids recognizing their sexuality is not similar to the majority of kids around them. I think about the message that was sent in 11 states, and I worry for those kids. Dealing with the realization that one is homosexual is a challenge in itself; so much progress had been made for so many years, and now it seems it is being swept away. I don't think most heterosexuals have an understanding of how complicated life can be for gay kids.

I sense we are entering a period in our history where the alleged majority will, as a way to divide the masses and advance an extreme religious agenda, demonize the "gay lifestyle"; I hope they are ready to watch the teen suicide rates increase over the next few years. Sex education will be another issue that needs to be watched, for the sake of our young. Let's hope we do not see a return to the arcane notion of abstinence being the only way to avoid STD and teenage pregnancy; we know better.

Listen: kids are kids, and when boys realize what the cock can do, and all the places it can go, and how good it feels to use it, no amount of proselytizing can change the science behind life, sex and disease. Human nature remains the same. It's one thing to have a born-again Christian looking to his divine power for guidance (for 4 more years); it's quite another to bury one's head in the sand, ignore the obvious, and attempt to advance an agenda which will cost us more young lives - and these will be the ones who are too young to die in the Middle East.

If you are a parent, please keep an eye on your local educational institutions (first spotted on By The Bayou).

Otherwise, my weekend was good. Friday, after more BLOWOFF rehearsal, Rich and I met the gang at Windows, followed by dinner. Saturday was a lovely day, two trips to the gym, lots of walking, and a late night stop at the Eagle to mingle with friends. There must have been too many newbies in the joint; at one point, the music died down, and a voice came over the sound system to remind people to "keep the aisles clear of all carry-on baggage", or something to that effect. Sunday was one of the nicest days of the year, and I spent most of it out of doors. A quick trip to Taint, a few familiar faces, and that's that.

Beyond the election, some of the biggest news 'round here is the closing of First Avenue. I grew up in that room; or, more appropriately, found a way to avoid growing up. I sit this morning, with two nerve wracking personal issues looming over me, and can still remember the exact layout of the entire building. Three more stories.

Rich and I started rehearsals for the first live BLOWOFF gig. It'll be Thanksgiving night, in the big room of 9:30 Club. We're not doing a long set, but it's a special sneak peek of what's to come. We'll be spinning our favorite tunes all night, so if you're not too stuffed from turkey and alcohol, come to the club. We start the music at 10 PM, and will play our short set when the time is right. (We also have regular BLOWOFF on Saturday the 13th.)

Please read the entry titled Two E-Mails. Then, head over to this article about Senate seats. And Mother Jones, too. ...the battles over gay marriage appear far from over as conservative Christians and others gear up to insert anti-gay discrimination into the Constitution.

Back from personal issue number one. Manageable. On to number two.

One day passes, and not much changes. I suspect it will be that way for a while. Once the slide begins, though, it will be noticeable, and hard (but not impossible) to reverse. Our leader has been handed the receipt. He sees it as a mandate. I am fearful for the young men of this country. I fear there will be a reinstatement of a draft, particularly if we choose to invade Iran next year. Many lives will be sacrificed in the name of this senseless ground war. If / when the draft is reinstated, the youth vote (and in the interim, organized protest) will become a greater factor. I can't imagine anyone of voting age passing up the opportunity to have their voice heard. I always participated, even if it was a vote for the lesser of two evils. It's a civic duty.

At the risk of sounding like someone's Dad (and at 44, I probably will), we'll get through this in one piece. Granted, there's never been another time quite like this: the Internet, and personal technology in general, has changed the way we share and perceive information. Ideas and concepts can spread quickly, and that has its' plusses and minuses for everyone. The Holy War frightens me - there is no winner in a war of this magnitude.

As a homosexual man, I am prepared to feel as marginalized as I felt 20 years ago. Anyone remember Anita Bryant? Her nonsense helped to galvanize the Gay Pride movement. Remember ACTUP? They're still around. Last time, I didn't speak loudly enough; I won't make that mistake twice. The gay marriage issue (0 for 11) helped to galvanize the right? Perhaps. Regardless, equality is always the right thing to fight for.

Today is not much different than two days ago. We all move ahead, focused on our hopes and dreams; we review priorities, make adjustments, and continue forward with our remaining days. We still care for the ones we love, the ones we need, the seemingly insignificant moments in each day that add up to something much greater than intolerance and greed. The unconscious choices, rooted in our upbringings; in compassion and understanding, the core beliefs that guide us through the obstacle course of life. These are the fragments which assemble themselves to make us complete beings, and no political party can change our individual templates - unless we let them. Unless we let them.

Pick your battle, find some free time, and make it happen. Forget about recounts and vote fixing, the conspiracy theories that will propagate this weekend; it doesn't matter. They won. For now. Move forward with purpose. Move forward with focus. Visualize the world you want, and make it happen.

Letters from the faithful.

Election. Need I elaborate? We live in a country of lemmings, Bob. The airhead masses have chosen the status quo as their safety net and have declared that injustice is justice. They have spoken for separate but equal - dont ask dont tell - closets - self-hatred - internalized homophobia. They endorse ignorance guiding the country to the dark ages. Spending without responsibility and no plan to finance it. Global animosity and plummeting international respect. They defy self freedoms and choose instead to turn suspiciously inward - shunning those who try to espouse peace, understanding, and compassion. The masses have run to a platform built on fear and hatred.

A***

I think the thing that strikes most over here is the increase in the popular vote. The first-past-the-post electoral system we have over here is just as prone to the same inherently undemocratic results as 2000 (I think the last john Major/ tory gov't held power with only 34% of the popular vote, but a thin majority of seats in parliament thanks to electoral boundaries on constituencies). I think a lot of us felt there may well be a bush victory despite the weight of world opinion, but it would have been easier to take in a way if it had've been another result theft (a la florida) or supreme court gerrymander, but the popular vote increase forces some reflection on the state of the nation. I know from my trip to the states this summer that patriotism is a vital force in (some) of the american psyche, but as I know from growing up in Derry/ londonderry in Northern ireland, it's a short step from patriotism to jingoism to secterianism. It worries me that that the secular democracy is becoming willed out of existence by "faith"based oligarchy - both here with Tony Blair's increasingly messianic behaviour and in the states.

A*****

Today is a sad day for awareness. Bush will be SO smug over today's result. He'll see it as justification to impliment more draconian, racist, knee-jerk policies which Blair will puppy-dog along with. I can't think about it for too long, I'm visiting Canada soon...hopefully end up there for good!

R***

"As a country, we will pay for this."

I think you're ABSOLUTELY right. When I saw that people voted for Bush based on "moral values" rather than the war or economy I was appalled. I, too, consider myself to have deep moral and spiritual values, but they are precisely what prevent me from falling in line with GWB and his minions for an instant. I feel that this country is so fearful that it is now reacting in the worst possible way--it's getting downright mean. I was astounded that the gay marriage/civil union intiatives went down by such huge margins. I wouldn't honestly expect them to pass, but 75%/25% is a bit much. Part of me knows that we have to keep fighting the good fight, but another part realizes that this administration pays no heed to anything but it's own diabolical interests. I wish I could say we get what we deserve, but the people that will do most of the getting are the people that deserve it least. I apparently have nothing in common with at least 50% of the voting population nor do I want to. Sure, that means I might have plenty in common with the other half, but that's still a tough position to be in when they have all the power.

J***

What you wrote today in your blog is so right on. Thanks for putting into words what I have found so hard to articulate. I am so depressed. I have never cried after the outcome of an election. This morning I did. This is a very dark day for the United States of America.

S****

You know what is the really sad part of what you wrote? That the religious right is not a majority and that the people like us are just not motivated enough to show up as a voting faction in the numbers that they do. Now, we just sit back and watch the horrors pile up and hope that we will be able to chose in 4 years.

C*******

Last night's outcome leads me to believe the majority of this nation is comprised of God-fearing Christians. We are represented by a leader who has divided the country, and has turned a deaf ear to the rest of the world. We are in a holy war, and our European predecessors are very concerned. We have been instilled with fear: fear of God, fear of the Muslim world, fear everywhere we turn. Fear and hate is in the air; can't you smell it? They call it faith.

I am truly saddened by the results of this election. As a country, we will pay for this. If you're a left-leaning, progressive, liberal type, you'd better be ready to fight for every inch of your rights. This is much more serious than any of us can imagine; there are many forest fires raging on the political landscape, and not nearly enough water or manpower to put them out. Supreme Court nominations, the Patriot Act, the Holy War, womens' right to choose, the imminent bankrupting of America. One party dominates the entire process, so there are no checks and balances. This is division. Start reading. And have a laugh or two.

The lines weren't too bad at my voting location. I waited around 30 minutes, and once I showed my voter registration card and driver's license, I was done in less than 2 minutes.

It's always interesting to see the mix of people in my neighborhood: overwhelmingly Democrat, a decent balance of Caucasian and African-American, fairly homo, some yuppie, lots of long-time residents. Conversations tended to focus on the mundane (celebrity gossip - Oprah, Magic, Nick Cage, Tom Hanks) and the developers (empty buildings in the neighborhood going for outrageous amounts).

I'll be spinning tonight at the 9:30 Club, at an event presented by 99.1 WHFS, Rock The Vote, and 18th Street Media. I'm up from 8 to 9 PM.

Please vote. It's time for a change. We need to take our country back.

I endorse John Kerry for President. He is an honorable man, a thoughtful man, and he was in a band.

Friday night, Geek and I went to the Miss Adams Morgan pageant at the Hinckley Hilton. I don't normally do / like drag, but this was a festive event, with many familiar faces milling about. I went as Michael Chicklis. There was a very large turnout, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. 6 hours later, a slice of pizza (my first in ages!), and the fat lady sings.

Saturday night was Blowoff - not as packed as usual, but lots of regulars, some old faces I hadn't seen in months. The highlight of the night: one of my Baltimore buds showed up with his European pal, and in a real show of friendship, his (doctor) bud brought him a flu shot - how romantic! Good sets, and I am now officially wiped out from the previous weekend and week.

Sunday was a super lazy sunny 80 degree day, wandering around the 'hood, running into blog buds, a pleasant late evening walk, and finally to bed.

It's another lovely weather day in DC. I was up early this morning for my annual physical and blood work. All immediately measurable signs portray me as the picture of health. I have gained 23 pounds in a year (tipping it at 197 this AM), and only 1 inch on my waist. Body fat is up 2%. I am getting bigger and stronger, particularly the past 2 weeks. I need to stay at it; touring always messes with my progress.

Here's a New York Times article on rockism. Rockism is silly. Popism rules.

Here's an article on a strange infection. I heard details about this specific strain last week - it is easily passed from person to person. Ugh.

I may have linked this before, but I got some play on the front page of Pollstar last week. The title of my next record is Body Of Song - whatever, no worries.

And finally, if anyone wants to buy me some clothes, I am a 34 waist. I like the camo and topside jeans. The tees are nice as well.