Special thanks to Art Luna for having me, to Ali McNeill for the kind words and beautiful vocals, and to ContrAddiction for bringing people and headlining with great, harmony-driven pop rock. Thanks also to Deanne and her man, Tommy, Kristen, Cara (Kera?) and the friends they brought. Thanks to Jacob and his friends who caught the tail end of the show. Many thanks to John and Judy, Shawn E, Joe B, Richard, and the friends that came with them. Thanks to the friends of the other acts who stuck around. I’ll post pics within the week.

Other than the overamped distortion that came from Luna Cafe’s speakers (last time I will mention this in this post and I apologize for this sound issue), I felt really great about this show because the people who came really understood and appreciated the music. The hoots and hollers filled the room with an ease that is highly underrated. The great thing about this place is the intimacy- when someone makes a comment in the audience, I can talk right back to them and the whole place can hear it. The group really solidifies in a spot like that and I am lucky to have good friends and supportive, helpful musicians around me. Thanks also to Kyle, who got too ill to come but sent an entourage in his place!

The morning after the Sacto show, Whit and I drove straight to LA where we would remain for only 24 hours before driving back. Talk about devotion- he has all the brownie points right now, especially since he did most of the driving. Now I often get asked at shows why I don’t try out for American Idol. The reasons are these: 1. people who get good ratings and are sure to be kicked off because they are so laughable are picked over hundreds of worthier singers because the show needs people to criticize, 2. Idol is for people who can only sing other peoples’ songs- they cannot create anything and are in a sense vocal instrumentalists more than they are artists. I am a songwriter who also plays instruments in addition to being a singer. I don’t sing what someone else told me to and my talent lies in creating and performing original music for those who enjoy it.

With that explanation out of the way, you will now understand why I drove to LA for just one day to stand in a very long line to audition for a songwriting competition show. It’s called Hitmakers and it comes out on Bravo some time soon. Given my liking for Top Chef and the fact that Bravo’s competitions tend to actually pick people with skills in the desired area, this appeared a worthwhile adventure. The inspiring part was sitting in a line of 400 people at 6am. I was number 38 and the songwriters on either side of me were extremely kind and talented. We all shared a fellow feeling (who uses this term who wasn’t forced to read Jane Eyre?) and we all shared our dreams and enabled each other not to take the day too seriously. I’m still trying to remember the name of a songwriter from the Bay Area who sat next to me who plays at the Blue Rock Shoot in Saratoga. He’s married, wears a beanie, is really nice and writes great hooks. I think someone in the West Coast Songwriters Organization will let me know who he is. And Lauren- what’s your last name? I want to google your incredible music..

Whit and I saw family too when we were down there. The trip was very precious (darn conversationalist passive voice). And if I stop self-editing out loud, I may be able to tell you about my first trip to Harris Ranch on the way back. We had eaten at Ginger Grass Vietnamese for lunch in Silver Lake, which puts the place on Center St in Berkeley to shame I’m sorry to say. I tried some amazing tofu. Hours later after tense convos on the purpose of tailgating, we stopped at a strange cowboy wonderland. I read up on the ethics and manner in which our food was coming to us and it all seemed more live, local and sustainable than usual, so I was excited about my prime rib sandwich. Who knew that prime rib comes with big inch-thick layers of fat around it? I should really know this. For those of you who savor this part of the cow, you would have liked it because it was the kind that just melted away so to speak, but I had to partition it off myself. We calmly appreciated our sweet potato fries and pondered the lives of the locals at the bar, complete with dazzling buckles and real big-rimmed hats. I’m not sure that I will go back- maybe just for the vegetable plate since it’s all grown right there and I won’t have to dissect it.

Ok, ok, this is my music blog, so I’ll get back to that. I’m getting married in June, so there aren’t any gigs planned before then, but there’s plenty of recording planned for the new songs so many of you have heard, including string sections and some new accents. So I may blog about recording or about someone else’s show here in the interim. Or I may tell you about our move to Martinez which enables us to keep the music going. This week I’m looking forward to my brother’s Black Lager Mateveza release at City Beer in San Francisco. There’s nothing like good, flavorful microbrew. See you all soon. And thanks for listening.

-Grace

Special thanks to the members of Festizio, the Deborah Crooks band, Kwame Copeland, Mustafa at the door, Marie, Gay and her entourage, Colette, Owen, Maren, Josh, Beth, Susan, Ben B., Michael, Luke, Jacob, John, Stephanie, Nicole, Frank, Rolf, Kirsten, Abby, Catherine, Joe D., Mary Lee, Deborah the film maker, Nat, Kendra, Ben on sound, Tatiana for the backstage viola jam, Jimmy M. and everyone else who was there that we didn’t get to talk to personally before or after the show.

I did not see, but I heard that the rain was pouring hard last night. I was too busy backstage playing a decrepid upright piano while Tatiana soloed on the viola. The fact that the backstage green room flooded while we played came as a complete surprise. This situation became funnier and funnier as the bartender snooped around to find the “source of the water”. Despite the Sunday slot and the pouring rain, friends came out to support our new sound. There is so much to be grateful for. The friends who came out for Festizio and Deborah were super encouraging and we sold a bunch of t-shirts- hope you like them! I hear softness is the best thing about them.

So there will be a video up of at least one song from the show in the next couple weeks, along with some pictures once I gather them from various people.

In other adventures, I saw a show with “7 Orange ABC” at teh Numi Tea Garden. They too, boasted an Acalanes alumn. I see a trend in our highschool. I didn’t connect with every musician while I went there, but we seem to be turning out a lot of rockers- Meric Long, Forrest Day, 7 Orange, Elliot Randall (the list goes on). What was it about this highschool that fostered such creativity and risk taking? Similarly, Berkeley High tends to churn out these jazz phenoms- clearly because of their outstanding jazz program. However, we had no rock program at Acalanes, so all this has to stem from a great choral and orchestral program. I do see harmony as a commonality and vocals as central to these Lafayette artists. Seeing 7 Orange and David Serotkin at the Numi Tea Garden gave me particularly pleasure because I am a tea enthusiast. I like the idea of hearing the lyrics and hearing the acoustic version of a band’s song. I like being able to comment inbetween songs in a room that isn’t too loud, but just right. And I LOVE tea. I’m out of this chocolatey Bailin Gung Fu (spelled right?) red tea from Teance on 4th street and I miss it. I must venture back.

I’m looking forward to mine and Whitney’s wedding in June and to our upcoming shows, though they are sparse due to wedding planning. We’ll be at Luna’s in Sacto on 4/23. Also, Whitney and I are moving to Martinez to save money for touring and his school (he’s majoring in music of course). We’ll be situated there by May 1st, but will be in Berkeley and San Francisco as much as possible regardless. Anyway, I just wanted to express my gratitude for your attendance and support. I can see the hands holding me up as I go through my day. See you soon.