Hi, gang, Just a quick note about our get-together. We've got two problems -- one is to find a place that's quiet enough for all of us to be able to chat and actually get to know each other -- and the other is to find a day of the week that's both a weeknight and a weekend night. The latter may be difficult.
On to Wednesday night: My main squeeze Robert was too tired to come this time, so I went alone; I snagged the front table at the place, as usual, had dinner and waited for the rest to arrive. The only two others who came while I was there were Richard G. and John G., both of whom I've gotten to know in the last few months. We chatted as audience members and performers alike arrived. The cool thing about sitting at the front table is that you get to see every tiny change in expression as the singers sing. And you get to hear them better, too -- given that this place is totally acoustic -- I don't know whether the nice manager, who is so supportive of singer-songwriters, actually forbids it out of kindness to nearby residents (there is a flat directly above the place), or what, but it pays to get there early and grab the front table. The three of us sat together, along with two of the performers and their friends. In order, there were Garrin Benfield, who MCs and performs every first Wednesday at the Bazaar, a singer/songwriter from L.A. named Sacha Sacket, and a woman named BeRN who sings what she calls "frock" -- a mixture of folk, pop and punk, as I beleive she describes it. Garrin was as great as usual, and Sacha was a marvel -- plays both guitar and piano, both masterfully and with a distinctivwe style; the closest I can come to describing him is sort of a male Tori Amos/Kate Bush -- he becomes a character, and paints an impressionistic picture of him/her with his lyrics. He's charmingly shy to talk to, and cuter than a bug's butt (dark hair, blue eyes). BeRN, truth to tell isn't great a singer or player, but she largely makes up for it with wit. She's clearly influenced by Patti Smith, and did a new piece dedicated to her that was half spoken, half sung, and funny. I was exhausted, and had to leave early, so i missed the one "joni Moment" of the evening (as described yesterday by Richard G.), and I also, to my chagrin, missed Darice. Sorry, kiddo. I won't be so tired next time! It was a great evening, but I really have to find a place where more of us can meet, on a weekend night, so more people can come, and we can chat and get to know one another. I have a lead, from a friend, for a place that sounds promising, and i hope to have news soon for the SFBayJMDLers for a weekend night get-together. Warmly, Walt
