exposed

 

Watt hauling gear

 
The last gig of the year, as it was billed by Mike Watt, I had the duty to show up. It turned out to be a weird reunion of many musical strides, running of the same circle. I went along with Nels Cline, and through him I met/remet many faces I’d seen over the past couple of years. It was a little socially overwhelming to be in a place where a good amount of people know each other. It was almost like a community, an actual live, living community, flesh..blood, and faces. Yes, I sound a little tripped out, because I did. One of things characterizing LA is how spread out, hard to organize it is. I can only think of one month out of the year where this is possible. Specifically the last week of the year – seems to be the most willing of all occasions for people to actually come out of their comfortable hiding places and secure the connections after the family obligations were over with. It is as if christmas time put a huge pressure for people to be with families, and because of it, the slight revolt in people needing to verify their own choice of their own free willed connections, the other identity. 

All in all it was a weirdly exhilarating evening.

Jessica Catron and Jeremy Drake

Watt talks to audience

Pete Mazich of Secondmen

yet another instigation for people to 'start your own band'

Watt's post gig socializing

Nels listens to the playback

Going into this recording session, I knew immediately I was in on a very significant project. With my busy schedule of working full time, training afterward for a few hours each day, I still managed to show up to this most nights except the first one when Jon Brion and a ton of others were on the one day/side A session. But for the rest of 7 days, luckily for me, sessions like this go on a little late.  As long as I can physically reach the studio couch in Burbank, I’d be fine & happy.

Nels Cline in recording session

Nels was commissioned to write 39 pieces of music to accompany a series of painting be Ed Ruscha. It is to be released in 2 CDs along with the reproduction of the paintings in a form of a book. David Breskin – producer/poet – was writing poetry for each piece of painting. Musicians Scott Amendola, Devin Hoff, Alex Cline, Vinny Golia, Dan Clucas, Jeff Gauthier, Jessica Catron, Jeremy Drake, Brad Dutz, were the ones I caught up with. 

It has to be one of my favorite moments of the year.

Jeremy Drake's hand and guitar

Jeremy Drake - guitar

Jessica Catron on Cello

Dan Clucas on trumpet

Devin Hoff - bassist

Jeff Gauthier - violin

Alex Cline - percussion

Scott Amendola - drums

studying the chart