Grace writing this one: I managed the WCS competition last night with Abram of indigtalkids.org and Randy and Seb of Musync Music Licensing. These guys knew what they were doing. It’s always nice to not have to explain how to judge “Best Performance”. It was fun meeting Jillian Grandfield, Rick and Valerie and Jason Gouveia. I played the new song “The Believer” for the first time ever and got great feedback. I competely disagree with one thing someone said and completely agree with something someone else said. It feels good to have confidence and humility in the right balance (remind me of that later when I do something totally arrogant). I have completed Episode 2 of Making the 3rd CD for the song “Go Where You Were Meant To” and can’t wait for Jacob to teach me how to do some cross-fades for finishing touches. I drove the kegs for the Cold War Olympics Team at Bay to Breakers on Sunday. It was way more fun than I thought it would be. The keg exchanges went smoothly and 9 kegs later, Whit and I were able to walk to the finish line and dance next to the smoking rocket our team had so expertly crafted and brought along with them on the race. People were really appreciative and I can’t believe it was so successful. Jules and Kristin found us somehow and we went back to North Beach for pizza. Meanwhile we await a Mackie speaker in the mail for upcoming performaces and Joe and I are chillin Thursday night to work out even more new songs. Thanks for reading and touching base with us! -Grace By the way, here’s a link to a photo of the B2B Missile.

The good doctor, Joseph P. Funkmore, writing this one… before everything else, Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Onward… when turning your passion into a means of sustaining yourself – whether that passion is chemistry, music or both of them simultaneously – it’s easy to get completely lost in the details and the endless to-do list and forget why you’re actually doing it (Grace, back me up on this). Last weekend, I got two really good reminders…

On Thursday, I went to Yoshi’s in Oakland for the second time (first time was courtesy of this band’s lovely namesake) and saw Poncho Sanchez with my labmates. I was moved by music I had no familiarity with, wondering what might be coming around the next musical bend, getting lost in the latin rhythms and letting an outstanding flautist (Roger Glenn) get me honestly excited about the instrument for the first time in awhile. When I got home, despite the late hour (12:30am), my level of inebriation (sake good!), I put on “Stand Up” by Jethro Tull and played flute for at least an hour. Luckily, my upstairs neighbors must have been having an end-of-semester party and not cared… or at least were sound enough sleepers not to wake up, come downstairs, and rap on my door.

On Saturday, it was a trip to the Hemlock Tavern to see Cryptacize, featuring my favorite local songwriter, Nedelle Torrisi. I found Nedelle on Pandora.com over two years ago, have been addicted to her music ever since, got to meet her and her band a few months back, and I’m even covering one of her songs now (she’s given me her personal blessing, so it’s cool). I delighted in sitting in the club, hearing a few of my personal favorite songs, singing along, in some cases with non-existent harmonies that have arisen in my head after repeated listenings. Despite the ordeal that was the trip home from SF, I got home again inspired, this time pulling out the guitar at 2am and playing and singing in falsetto as quietly as I could, making up new stuff on the spot. Two hours later, I was in bed with sore fingers and knees, but with “Dig That Treasure” rocking me to sleep in my headphones and an irremovable smile on my face.

After the weekend, it dawned on me that I experienced the gamut of things that seeing the Trio can produce… the new people in the crowd – sometimes randomly in the joint, sometimes brought by friends, sometimes there to see one of the other bands – that hear us for the first time and latch onto something they had no idea they’d find that night… and our good friends, singing along to every song and waiting impatiently for us to play the one that’s been in their heads for the last week… and everything in between! I do this, among many other reasons, because I get to generate the kinds of feelings I had this weekend in other people. If feeling it is great, then knowing I had a hand in making someone else feel that is even better for me. Can’t wait to do it again…

Special thanks to Etai, my brother Jim, Laila, Dennis, Chelsea, Dave, Wes, JP, Sean, Alex, Jake, Karina, Kristen, Jimmy, Gwen, Megan, Ellen, Sierra, Elizabeth, Amelia, Tim, Kevin, Toby, Hazel, Lauren, Jacob, Robyn Harris and Chris Trapper for making the night successful. I know I forgot some people, so if I did, please know that we play so much better when you come out and we really appreciate the time you shared with us. I will post pictures from last night in our Photos section when I get home from work (I have the camera here, but left the card reader at home). It was a night of solid song writers. Robyn was self-deprecating about her hand in the night, when really, she had put together a great bill and all the seats were filled. Granted the door man, Rob, was totally drunk from 6:30pm on, but thanks to my brother Jim for picking up the slack at the door. There was also one fellow who had to be removed from the club to keep him from yelling at the stage, but perhaps this is the price of an intimate bar. The performers talked with the audience, who easily spoke back. So intimate it was that Chris Trapper, the touring headliner, left the stage to sit next to Dave in the audience and sing him a birthday song. We played one of our newer tunes “Slow Down” and I was happy Ellen and Megan recognized it. Robyn had some new tunes as well, accompanied by the pitch perfect starlets Elizabeth and Amelia. It was our first time playing there and I must say that until 9pm, I was very doubtful about the space, but then it filled and we got all the benefits of an intimate cafe, except add in alcohol and a sound guy other than myself. I am lucky for the new friends I met. Each person who came was extremely supportive of the artists, regardless of who they came for and I suspect that it is these people who hold up the SF music scene and keep it alive. The people I met last night are those who realize all the acts are striving together toward the same awareness and the same good feeling. For their vibrance and understanding our band is truly grateful. Please let us know how we can come support you in the future. -Grace

My cousin Ava had her first communion this past Saturday. I hung out at her house until 7pm with Whit and then drove into Windsor. My Uncle Marty told me I would know when I got to Windsor when I felt like I was in Disneyland. It’s true. The buildings are new and colored in bright, contrasting hues. The stores are boutiques and there are no chains in sight. I believe it all sprang up as a result of the wine boom. The owners of the Wine Shop are Stephani and Tony. The couple is friendly and extremely appreciative. I got the gig through my friend and sometime sit-in instrumentalist Curt Yagi. Stephani shed a tear over the song “Just This Once”, which really touched me. I love wine bars. They are like tea bars- they make everything slow down. They are intimate. When I talk to the guests they are close enough to respond comfortably. I hope to return there soon and hopefully see some familiar faces. We caught up with my friend Becca afterward and then headed home. We then had band practice Sunday and rehearsed some new songs, some of which we will play tomorrow at the Hotel Utah. I am excited to play with Robyn Harris again. Her songs are funny and heartfelt. No one will be dissapointed in this venue. Thanks for reading these posts. How was your weekend?

Hey Folks. There are still some great independent music stores out there with great amangers like David at Rasputin in Berkeley. The band decided to put the tangible albums in this store because this is where we go on a regular basis to check out new stuff and talk to local taste makers. You can find it in the rock section. Sure the CD will be in more and more stores, but I thought I would share my particular joy about this one since we are a Berkeley-based band and proud of it! -Grace