Thanks YOU Paz for playing and singing with the (mostly) a cappella choir - we couldn't have done it without you. Jenny p.s. - I need more after hours reports. Next year I'm going to start "training" to stay up until dawn a week or so before the fest begins. Michael Paz wrote:Oh MY GAWD!!!!! There I said it! It went so fast and even thought I hardly slept (and never while the sun was down) I feel like I missed so much. I am sure lots of folks will tell you how wonderful the Full Moon was, the food, the people, in gifted detail (better than I) so I would just like to touch on my personal highlights in streaming form (no particular order). First of all my heartfelt thanks to Ashara for the fifth time. This event fills me up and keeps me going for almost a year. I think you ought to consider doing it twice a year. Heeee heee heee! Your efforts are forever appreciated. Being able to get Jack Nielson up there with me was so amazing and he had such a good time playing with other folks and listening to the music and connecting with old "buddies" from the New Orleans fest. Hooking up and hanging out with my old traveling traveling traveling Buds Alison and Julius and then getting to stay with Kay in Brooklyn (thanks so much Kay and I love Holy Man tooooo, hope you didn't mind me singing along) and hanging with Patrick and some my other pals in NYC. Great sushi place too Alison! One of the best parts of this year was getting to hear so many people who have come up but not done anything on stage. Please more of you people get the feck up and play more. Captive audience duh!!!!! Bob Murphy you should just do a whole fecking hour of stand up and music. I dreamed you singing to me last night. You as Ethel Merman doing Joni Mitchell sends me over the top, but then when you had her doing White Rabbit and The Needle and The Damage Done, it sent me over the edge. Hanging out with you down down down at the pool garage was so much fun and the music jams there were as powerful as ever thanks to the late night krewe. BTW Smurph I would love to produce your alter egos tribute to music. With feature performances by Kay Ashley and Susan Guzzi AND Patrick Leader. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! The musical performances every night were just SO brilliant. I was driven to tears by so many people this year. That damn Jack Neilson made me cry with his Wedding Song for Mags and Brei (actually called "Shine On Our Love") and I have had that song beat into my head for the last year during the production of his record. It just brought it all home when I saw Mags and Brei and so many other couples on the list. Bryan Thomas doing A Case of You was another one that just opened the flood gates. Bry you kill me man and your playing gets better and better. Claudia's collaboration with John and also Marian and Hell's collaboration were just stunning between lyricists and musician and then performer. WoW! Perhaps the best musical moment for me was Nikki playing and singing her ass off (at the same time) on stage. You go girlfriend!! A VERY close second place goes to watching Jack sing with Christina and Henning. Also made pretty weepy. Meeting so many new people and putting faces with the names. The only bad part for me is the time factor. I end up spending all my time with friends from past fests or the musicians or the drunks (not necessarily in that order). A note to all JoniFest newbies-Hang out late will sleep when we're dead! The most fun with my clothes on category was having the honour of playing for the folks who asked me to play for them. Thank you so much Sherelle, Yael, Alison, Donna, and Nikki (with special thanks to Jenny Goodspeed for asking me to work with the acapella group). It's always such a gas playing with the Divine Chuck E on keys and OHMYGAWD Roberto and Chris and Les and Jeff thanks so much for playing with me on my set. It is such a gas for me to play with such gifted musicians (I think next year we should also play with a drummer). Other amazing musical highlights this year were: Les Ross (just wonderful and if I were gay.. Well nevermind), Jack Neilson DUH!, Marian Russell, Claudia (as always what a songwriter beautiful spirit that just spills out of her and surrounds you), Sue Mc (the legend wow we are so blessed to have you and thanks for all your efforts and hard work), Jenny Goodspeed (I was transported by your set. Your playing and everything are growing and blooming out loud), Susan Guzzi (what a freaking joy to hear and feel your power), Giselle YOU BITCH!!! just you wait till I get up on the stage the next time I am gonna roast your ass, but good. Thanks so much for the reverse heckling feel free to use me any time for the BUTT of your jokes. If your jokes were half as good as your playing and singing...and your version of Magdalene Laundries was just off the hook. And after all that teasing (which really did make me laugh so hard) you made me have a big boo hoo as well.) Thanks for the emotional roller coaster ride! Pearl it was a joy to see you get up and I enjoyed your set so much. As I did everyone's. There were some amazing moments from everyone all three nights. I smoked half cigarettes (mostly inside that back room) so I wouldn't miss anything (and also to not get wet the first two nights which is WHY you have a cold Alison!!!!! I hardly talked to anyone to not miss any of the music. BTW Patti W (Thanks for the pick of which I found a few more of the floor) your version of Hejira was mind-blowing and I may just never play that song again thanks to you. Christina and Henning I see nothing but good stuff for you guys. Best of luck with the record! What a voice and NOT so hard on the eyes either. Thanks so much to Kate and Jeff for organizing the song circles every night (especially after stage managing all nights). The was some of the most amazing stuff I hope they at least come out on the video tape (thanks Ashara again) so we can re-live some of that stuff. I was gonna try and see what I got on tape (which was not as complete as last year, but I am pretty sure Les Irvin was on the ball). There was so much other stuff that filled me with joy but I would gush forever. Thank you all so much for all of your support, friendship, love, music, and caring. I reserve the right to write a follow up to this stream when I decompress a bit more and the streaming starts happening again, which will include my trip to Woodstock, under age girls in bars, self medication, and some other of the after hours memorabilia. Till then I bid you all a fond good night and pleasant dreams. Huge BIG BLACK BEAR HUGS TO ALL!!!!
Love Michael Paz P.S. Will someone please make sure to call Full Moon and send someone down to the garage/pool table area and tell Victor the fest is over and he can stop playing. Love ya man, but you won this year. I heard you playing long after the sun came up and was forced to my bed. I remember when you passed out on the floor at Ashara's the first year I met you. It's the youngsters that always just can't hang. Right Alison!!! SEND NOW Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes
