Category Archives: music

Happy [Non-] Mother’s Day

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EdenWhile all women have mothers, not all are mothers. I salute you today, maiden aunts of the world. Here is your swamp rock gift by “modern backwoods” band, Bow Thayer and the Perfect Trainwreck. Play #11, Happy Ending.  This song captivated at their record release show with its hypnotic speed + cool vocals.

Nod to mothers: A boy in church, when asked why we celebrate Mother’s Day, replied: “Because of the special love of a mother.”

Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck’s album, Eden, was written almost entirely on electric banjo and fuses experimental elements with Americana, rock, bluegrass, and folk. 

“Not many people move to Vermont to pursue a career in music. But for me, it felt right…” says Thayer. “Because Vermont is so isolated and rural, I feel like I’m looking at society as an outsider, which is a big part of my perspective on this record. It also feels like we are in a bubble trapped in time in many ways. It’s beautiful and weird.”

“Harkens back to the rootsy groove of The Band.” – Twang Nation

Obey the Sign

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i'd tap that shoe oddity biggerMy own weird example of asking for (and receiving) a sign is how I landed in L.A.  I had abandoned NYC after 1 too many psychotic boss & boyfriend let-downs and was living in VT. The ponies! The lakes! But I was fraternizing/knitting with people twice my age. Knowing I could relocate back to VT, a retirement/casket state, I asked the Forces one day while driving: “Forces, where should I move?”

Exactly then, the Killington radio station WEBK (The Peak) played Randy Newman’s I Love L.A.  [Who would spin that song at a New England ski resort — DJ Jungle Jane?]  I laffed. I left.  “I got it; I’m gone.”

While snowshoeing today, a cloud formation looked suspiciously like the I’d Tap That t-shirt maple tree. Clearly it means I should tap that.

Obey the sign, even if you didn’t ask for it.

Oscar Oscar Oscar!

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kristen-stewart-crutchesLast night’s Oscars amazed, delighted, and appalled–from riveting flop sweat moments to charming winners and iffy dresses to the incredibly odd closing number. The vampire actress seemed a limping pill-popper and sullen presenter but I for one liked that, having wearied of clean living by high achievers. I was hoping she’d been in a cat fight or lover’s brawl but she reportedly stepped on glass. Let’s hope it was at least in a fraternity basement.

Gone forever are the awful thematic dance numbers by pro dancers–replaced with the weak dancing of the stars redeemed by the nutty hosting of Seth McFarlane & kicka** belting by divas. With the usual display of comical reaction shots, shifting bodices, and weepy spouses, we laughed, we cried, we aged. Thank you, Oscar.

UVG recommends: Argo, Pi, and The Impossible. All 3 big screeners for different reasons.

Snow Falling Off Cedars

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shoeing at the 3SI

The X-country trails are much wider than this snowshoe trail.

In Vermont, we make hay while the sun shines and make tracks when the snow falls. In between, we get indoorsy.

Find places for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing here and especially here. The charming Three Stallion Inn, located in cozy Randolph (the geographic center of Vermont), is where I took this photo today. The only sound was snow falling off cedars and the birds. They have a nice Valentine’s weekend package and it’s quite near I-89; use of their densely wooded, hilly, underpopulated trails is included. I recommend also the ski touring center at the Woodstock Inn, which will run you more but has a gym, indoor pool, and hot tub. It is more of a hike off the interstate, 30 minutes from Killington. There is a cool-looking concert that Saturday night in Randolph’s Chandler Music Hall, favored by musicians of all stripes including “fiddlers” Natalie MacMaster and Midori.

All of Earth’s Peoples Have Their Dance

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happy people dancing on planet earthI love that this guy isn’t so fit, and the unbridled joy of all the nations dancing. The music is perfect.

Nutters like the creators of this video who spread cheer on a disturbed planet deserve, in my opinion, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Which is actually called just the Medal of Honor, despite what the angel says about Harry in It’s a Wonderful Life.

If an intergalactic oppressor invaded and forbade earthly pleasures, we’d reply in 900 languages: “Good luck keeping us from dancing, pally.”

Play it here:  http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120710.html

Trippy, Trippy Night of Music Plus

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Bow Thayer setVermont band Bow Thayer & Perfect Trainwreck held an album release party for their new gem, Eden, last night at the Chandler Center for the Arts. With a sooper trippy stage, aws musicians including a chick horn section, belly dancers, and rabid groupies unable to remain in their seats, it was an extravaganza of mid-winter revelry. Jeff Berlin’s drumming on some especially rrrock-ing numbers converted yours truly into a BT&PTW junkie.

Banjo Bow

LERV the banjo.

They have been described as “Vermont’s third nationally acclaimed rock band” — watch them rrrock-et. Bow Thayer fans go wild I

The Russians Are Strumming, The Russians Are Strumming!

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And sister could pick!

While many celebrate one man’s questionable achievements, including the accidental discovery of land leading, arguably, to genocide,  on Columbus Day (one of the more shocking Sopranos episodes, btw), some turned instead this weekend to the 9th Annual Russian and Slavic Cultural Festival in Howell, NJ.

Folk dancers from Troika dance troupe

If you haven’t heard a balalaika contrabass–or eaten those savory dumplings I won’t attempt to spell–you haven’t lived. I love how  every culture seems to have its dumpling.  Meat wrapped in dough… a tidy, giftwrapped present of meat. Fabulous!

Note 1: Amid much conflicting Internet info, it seems Columbus day wasn’t made a federal holiday until 1937, under FDR.

Note 2:  Don’t get me wrong.  Some of my best friends are Italians. A vivacious and lusty people. You always know where you stand with an Italian. Happy Columbus Day.

The Mud Season Variety Show

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B Flat And Her Hot Bunzzzzz

Nothing beats Randolph’s spring talent show, called Mud for short. You could tell B Flat really loves her Hot Bunzzzzz, she wasn’t just lending an obligatory nod to the Little People like the other big stars do. Fave numbers included the juggler, the hypnotist, the line dancing to Fake I.D., and Farmer Dave’s C.R.A.P.  But really, who could pick from this fertile field of raw talent?

My Favorite Things

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Frantic for last-minute gifts? Here’s some for not a lot of quid:

“Mind Blowing Funk Hits”

The Ziploc Vacuum Starter Kit. With no battery or plug, your giftee will be pumping his or her way clear to obsession~and I’m not talking off-label use. Then you got your Avon Moisture Therapy hand creme. Sure, I dig l’Occitane at 4 times the price, but not so the metal packaging you can’t get product out of after a certain point. For readers and jokers, one of my all-time faves is The Joys of Yiddish; if you’re a real schnorrer, which may or may not mean “cheapskate” in Yiddish, you can get it used for 23 cents plus shipping here. There is a new version out but I can’t vouch for it [enter Yiddish punchline]. For the gift of beauty, might I suggest Laura Mercier’s face polish; a pricey scrub at 30 bucks but worth it. Lastly, for hair, I have yet to top Terax Crema conditioner (buy American!) but that could be because I can’t find a good shampoo. Which, you know, might make a nice gift, as would … Bose headphones. No pressure.