For the past two years I’ve gone to the POP Asheville Festival, and I had an awesome time both years. I blogged about it, too.
The festival right now is in a little trouble — the money kind of trouble. Now, I don’t have any money to give but if I can support a great event by talking about it here, then I’m gonna do that. Please, Asheville, support this festival — it’s one of my favorite things about living here and gives such color to an otherwise grey January. I’ve discovered great bands, had an awesome time on LaZoom, and felt like I was stealing it because it was all so cheap. So yes, I would be willing to pay more. I’d pay $25 for two nights of awesome music and bus rides. I think it’s worth that.
Also, Congrats and Good Luck to my friend and former colleague Susanne Hackett of Pollinate Consulting on being named Director of the Festival.
Me, my friend Par and his friend Lulu of Unifire all have our birthdays on the 11th and 12th of February. Par, promoter and CNG car expert (as well as smackin good DJ) decided he’d throw a party for all three of us at the Emerald Lounge, and he booked the Firecracker Jazz Band to play it. Par will DJ as well for part of the time, and he always gets people groovin’ so bring your soft soles or your high tops and prepare to wear a hole in the dance floor.
Come on out and help me celebrate what an awesome year 25 has been for me, and to rock and roll my 26th birthday! This should be an awesome time, I’m really excited.
- The Emerald Lounge on South Lexington [ Map ]
- Thursday, February 12, 2009
- Don’t park in the lot across the street.
- $5 at the door to cover the band (worth it — I promise)
- R.S.V.P. if you’re hip
Par asked me to design the poster, whch is all over town now. This took me about an hour and I’m pround of how it turned out, but I wish I could have put another two hours of work into it to really polish it up. This is probably my most public work to date, and I’m always trying to level up my craft.
I can’t believe I’ve only been living here a little over a year! This town has been good to me. Thanks, Asheville!
Last year, not long after I got to Asheville, I went to this little music festival, POPAsheville, that was held downtown. I had a lot of fun last year; I even blogged about it. Serendipity abounded and I surfed the weekend wave to completion, but not exhaustion. Musical highlights at the festival included Nerd Parade (they gave out condoms in awesome containers), Mad Tea Party and Heypenny. Heypenny is kicking ass — they sound great and they have a new album that I’m desperate to get my hands on. Their last album has been a constant favorite over the past year.
I had countless memorable conversations.
- Sally, thanks for the encouragement. Best of luck with your girlfriend from Alabama. I hope you made it home ok.
- Mark, you’re very well read. Now, just one more day!
- Good luck with that iBook, Siobhan. Hope Z’s advice helped.
After a short day of Saturday work at the office I had an awesome dinner at Nine Mile with colleague Sensible Kitty. Have to make this a routine.Then I returned to work only to find the place surrounded by firefighters. Turns out our landlords and owners of the building, Glazer Architecture, didn’t follow their own advice and they let their office get too cold and the pipes to the sprinkler system burst, but didn’t leak until the ice thawed hours later. Only the fire department can turn that off I’m told, but it was not before water damaged the Jerusalem Garden restaurant and the dance studio below. Thankfully, I had slept in the office and ran space heaters to keep it warm and I woke up to a balmy 68° that morning. So not only did I not have to drive home (thankfully) but I also kept the office safe.
There was so much more; maybe I’ll get to it later today.
Heypenny, one of my favorite regional touring bands, just released this video. If you haven’t seen them, you should — they are head and shoulders above the crowd.
Malia showed me this… thanks! I’m into some oddball music, so this is right up my alley.
Here’s an arrangement of the Cantina Band tune from Star Wars. I put a stride left hand with it and tried to make it swing. There’s six sections to the original piece, but I only play three here.
Learned this years ago, and still dust it off once in a while.
Also, just got a new digital camera.
