2/24/04: MM meets Jonatha Brooke / Rolex washout / scary Quizno's commercials / random emails

Went to Brookdale Community College recently to see Mark Geary, Mike Errico and most of all, Jonatha Brooke. As any regular reader of this space knows, I am a HUGE Jonatha Brooke fan. The show was actually a benefit concert for the school's radio station (90.5 WBJB "The Night", NPR affiliate) and I figured it would be easier to get to meet her at this venue than it would be next month when I'll be seeing her at the Public Theatre. And after her excellent solo performance, it was as easy to sneak backstage as I had expected. What I hadn't expected was what a starstruck goofball I'd become when I finally did get to meet her. There she was, all by herself, just chilling in her dressing room with the door open, and just as I was thinking about what I might say, she spotted me, a deer in the headlights. I introduced myself, told her what a fan I was, that I was a songwriter, too. Got an autograph. Sheepishly handed over a CD of what I have from the demo so far, said barely anything. Not "You've been a areal inspiration to me." or "Here's a copy of my demo. I hope you like it. Maybe I could open for you sometime." More like, "I just wanted you to have this." Good going. Way professional. What an idiot. I hope I'm more prepared next time.

Two weeks later I saw her perform at a live taping of Last Call With Carson Daly. It was interesting to see the taping of a "live" television show. It looks completely different as it happens that when it actually airs. One thing really cool about the show is they have go-go dancers on stands doing their thing while the band plays. The house band for this taping was Living Colour! Cool. Way cool. They're cool even when they're not playing, just standing there. They rocked, did some stuff from their new album, "Collideoscope" (including a cover of AC/DC's "Back In Black"?!). When Piece Of Wood asked where they've been hiding all this time Corey Glover said, "We had big egos for while and we fought but we grew up and everything's cool now." Good. We need more bands like this. They mentioned they're trying to put a tour together with the Roots and Public Enemy. When it came time for Jonatha to play they moved all her fans to an adjacent sound stage where she performed. I got a choice spot up front and I'm not sure but I think I got the "I remember you" smile and wave from her. At least that's how I'm choosing to remember it. She must've recognized me. I'm not that easily forgotten, am I? See you in March, Jonatha.

Did the Rolex 24 Hr race in Daytona again last month. It was OK. My only problem was...I DIDN'T BRING A SUBMARINE!!! Rain. Rain. More rain! After that? EVEN MORE RAIN!! So much rain, in fact, that for only the second time in the race's 42 year history it was "red flagged" (cars parked in the pits, covered, with their engine's off!). So there will be no pictures for the gallery this time around. I didn't take any; there was nothing to shoot. Weak. Superweak.

So have you seen the commercials for Quizno's Subs lately? I'm am very afraid of them. I don't know who came up with this concept but the last thing it makes me want to do is go to Quiznos. They feature some rat/mouse/hamster-like animal with googly eyes and a human mouth with few teeth bobbing around like cardboard cutouts, playing spanish guitar and singing really, really badly in a half-falsetto voice. If you haven't seen them yet, you can see them on their site. If you have time, please take a look at them because I need witnesses to prove they exist. So far I can't find anyone else who's seen them and those who don't think so already are starting to think I'm a little weird. I guess they're an example of the kind of ad that's so annoying, you can't help but remember it? Like the "I'm loving it!" McDonald's spot. Worst campaign ever but I can't get that friggin' jingle out of my aching head.

One last thing - I've been getting random emails lately from people who come upon my site through unrelated searches for "'82 Honda Nighthawk" or "Chili Peppers" and are taken aback by some of the things they find. Like "Who are you to dis Anthony Keidis?!!" or "I just wanted to look for pictures of my motorcycle but instead I was ambushed by your vulgarity!". Jeez! Why don't you cry about it?!! Relax. It's the internet, kids. You never know what you're going to get. PS, it's my site and I can say whatever the hell I want to. If you're that upset about it, go make your own damn website so you can tell the world how evil I am. I'd be flattered. Really.

Band auditions (TM & Massimo)? Still ongoing. The parade continues.
Recording? Still ongoing. Compilation should be done next time around, less than a month or so.

Spring can't come fast enough!!! Hope to have some good news for you by the time it gets here. Think warm thoughts...

MM