I've been in the throes of some sort of non-gigging funk. I took the fall off to concentrate on writing and producing. I've been strapped to my mix desk for nearly 4 months, recording and writing, adding, subtracting, editing, mixing, mixing, mixing. Its been an interesting road, one with quite a bit of frustration and in some instances a little drama but the one thing I can say is that I'm definitely ready for some more live shows and to get back to playing.
Bassist Larry Cook and I have decided to do something crazy and play all our favorite Elvis Costello tunes on the last day of February in 2009. We were comparing lists somewhat wide-eyed yesterday. We both have some obscure tunes from the EC catalog, perhaps a testament to our both worshipping at the temple of Costello.
I remember in high school seeing a violinist from the city orchestra I was in get on the elevator after practice. The one thing I noticed about her was a tiny reddish button with the words Elvis Costello on it. The only Elvis I knew, was the one who liked peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and I only knew that because my doctor parents had a secretary who had tiny shrines built to the former Elvis all over her rented house, the other half of which was my parents private practice. Costello was of course one half of a comic duo that I never seemd to be able to get straight, even now. So the next time we were outside the practice room at the local college I finally asked, "who is that?"
That one question opened a waterfall of other questions, some of which I'm still asking today. Alison led to the Beat to Everyday I write the...Beyond Belief, Tokyo Storm Warning, Veronica, Clubland, the list goes on and on. Who is this guy? How in the hell can he be so prolific? And so good? The man moves me.
Dinner: Chorizo over rice
Listening: Dido - Safe Trip Home
