Post-show report & Turkish events

Hey My Birthday is coming up...April 16th, and my dad's gonna be in town. I think we'll go get some Middle Eastern food and maybe go see a play - SO MANY Turkish events going on around now. It makes sense, given the tulips are coming to Boston with the approach of (Insallah) springlike weather someday soon. It's one thing I do dearly love about this godforsaken dreary place. OK, I'm a little weary of the gray cold.

Anyway, tulips are a symbol of the Ottoman Empire. And it just so happens that there are a plethora of Turkish events going on over the next month or so - plays, concerts, and films.

Curious?

Check out:
http://www.bostonturkishfilmfestival.org/
and I read about a play at The Huntington Theatre called 'The Cry of the Reed'
http://www.huntingtontheatre.org

I already went to one film at the MFA the other day, and it was cool. Pretty typical of Turkish films, but of course just the vistas and the sheer sound of the language alone reeled me in, so to speak.

And then the Turkish concept band (hee hee that's what I should refer to it as when people ask!!) Black Fortress of Opium played our CD release party at the Abbey. It was a success. We got a bunch of video I hope to post someday soon, and over 100 people showed up. The men loved the belly dancer...she was quite enchanting! And people misheard me when I said "Go up to the Bull God and grab a sticker" and thought I said Bull Dog. No no no. Yeah, we got merch now! It's fun !

As for me, everyone asks how it went but it's as if I weren't even present. The sound flowed forth but it was over in such a flash.

My whole life is speeding by.

It was cool to see who showed up and who didn't. There were definitely some surprises.

Martin came and hung out the next day a while, too. I helped him find the sweet spots for the flyers for the show we're doing together in May. And we checked out this awesome place for brunch called Deep Ellum in Allston (thanks for the tip Irina!). Do folks around here know that's the name of a neighborhood in Dallas, TX?

Anyway, it's the best friggin' breakfast burrito I've ever had, but I recommend skipping the hot sauce.

This weekend Tony and I are gonna go to the wolf farm in Ipswich. Can't wait!

Ethiopian food , Death, & Yak Fur

My life as of late...

I’ll start with Sunday night, as I’ve been wanting to post about it for a few days.
Tony and I went to Asmara, an Ethiopian restaurant in Central Square. We tried something very new! I had no idea about how Italians had colonized Ethiopia, and thus left an indelible mark upon the land. We ate enjera bread and meats and potatoes with out hands. I tried a cabernet from South Africa. All was lovely. Tony spoke a little Italian with the waitress. So cute!! {He’s been informing everyone around him of Rome’s history and influence - my landlord, the waitress, me - his knowledge of history is impressive} When the waitress brought the dessert menu, I almost died. It was just like in Türkiye - where the dessert menus at the cafes have little pictures of each delectable treat. These Italian desserts at Asmara were provided by Bindi. I’ve seen their trucks around town, but never knew what delights they held within their inner sanctums until that moment. Tony seemed familiar enough with them - he knows them or something. We got 2 so we could sample each - a "Black Forest" cake with seemed more like Tiramisu to me, and an "Exotic Bomba". That was basically a big scoop of vanilla, mango, and a spot of cherry ice cream encased in white chocolate. YUM!!!***!!! It was kind of like some divine Easter egg of sugar...

Then we went to see "The Other Boleyn Girl" with Scarlett Johannson and Natalie Portman. The story is cruel and tragic. The king has the best costumes - lux tapestries of rich colors, and lots of pelts draped about shoulders! I found that the best acting came from supporting characters, and not the leads. I chalk this up to the fact that the 2 leading ladies are still pretty young.

It was a lovely and charming Sunday evening.

Then, Monday morning, things turned very very dark. Upon coming home on the subway, I exited the station, as usual. I noticed the intersection I normally cross to get home was blocked off with tape that read "Police Line Do not Cross". I looked to my left and saw an eighteen wheeler from a supermarket stopped in the street. I saw police bending down near it. I also saw what looked like orange plates in the road with numbers on them - marking a crime scene. I also saw what looked like a streak of water or something in the road, in a line that is similar to a skid mark.

I felt a HEAVY vibe pervading the air; it clung to me and stuck in my mind all day, bringing me way down. I saw nothing directly that would indicate what had really happened - that a 28 year-old Harvard doctoral candidate, Isaac Meyers, had indeed been hit and killed in that very intersection almost 4 hours before I arrived - hit by that truck, and the body dragged for a block.

I have found myself so affected by this. I sensed the death in the air, and I wonder if this is a newly heightened sense, after my mother’s passing. Even still, I am disturbed, and it casts a shadow over me.

One day you’re here, one moment, even. And then gone. Gone as the wind blows. And in that absence is such a questioning sorrow. Out with a whimper, for sure.

Despite all that I have other news to report. Thanks to Tony for being cheerful and getting and keeping my spirits up most of the time, though I know sometimes it must seem an impossible task!
Yak fur portion:
Friday night, I did a solo set at the MidEast Corner. I never have to do a gig like that again and I am so glad about that!! As Tony put it, "It’s ghetto!" It is a background music kind of spot, and I played it with my quiet instruments on a noisy Friday night. But the fact I was able to get up there and do it all by myself and overcome FEAR and ANXIETY (didn’t drink coffee for 2 days before the gig) is a testament to a strength for which I am thankful. Some friends came and supported, and that rocked!! It was a benefit for Tibet’s cause against China, so to speak. I was given a yak fur bracelet woven by a Tibetan nun. It is a symbol of opposition and resistance, and I wear it now.

I mistakenly brought an amp which was about 5 times bigger than the gig demanded (or the size of the stage), but where pilgrims go, there is the Ka’aba. Next time, I’ll leave the Stack at home;)

Thursday, Tony and I performed "Halellujah" as written by Leonard Cohen. It was at Squawk - a Cambridge happening where poets and songwriters gather to express themselves and share words and song. The hostess of the night gave me such a nice intro. It was cool performing in a church. Siunded so nice, and the people looking at me, I felt like a preacher of song. I imagined what it mustn have been like for Marianne Faithfull to perform at that church in NYC with Marc Ribot on gtr...etc.

The band:
We’re getting Tshirts made for the show, etc. Dave Tree is silkscreening them, and we hung out in his studio last night after practice, listening to the Butthole Surfers and joking around.

We’re doing a short live set on WERS on Friday morning @ 10:30AM that’s 88.9FM in Boston, and we have an interview on WAAF Sunday night.

The show is imminent!