Hello Boys and Girls!
What a wonderful fathers day. It started with my favorite breakfast, fried
corn meal mush. I haven't met too many people in my life that even know what
that is. My grandfather use to make it for me. Basically it is Corn Meal
(Quaker) cooked down like oatmeal or grits (you southern folk feel me don't
you??) Only you cook it much longer till it gets really thick (about 45 min)
then you put it in a greased shallow pan and let cool. Put in the fridge over
night and then cut into 1/4 inch thick strips and size and shape you want (NO
salacious comments here WallyK) and roll in flour and deep fry. They should be
crisp on the outside and soft and yummy on the inside. You can eat them with
butter and/or syrup or honey or what ever you want. YUM! I like em with butter
salt and black pepper.
Anyways the rest of the morning I vegged out, played guitar (checking out
a new DanElectro Baritone that I may buy, BUT I really need another guitar),
but I digress. The kids took me to see TombRaider which was great and if
anyone has Angelina's home phone number please pass it along to me privately.
Then they took me out to Nola Restaurant (an Emeril establishment) which is
out of this world. By the time dinner was over it was time for me to go to
House of Blues and catch the "really big show". I had passes waiting for me at
the will call and went right in and hooked up with her road manager Paul
Mitchell (who actually mixed the live record) which is my fave of Jonatha's so
far. We hung out for awhile talking and he made a reference to Jonatha that I
am sure she would not have been flattered with, something like (paraphrased)
we like to think of her as a Joni Mitchell meets Cheryl Crow. I DON'T THINK
SO!!!! In the interest of civility, decorum, protocol or whatever I refrained
from saying anything negative to him, but I think Jonatha is a true original
and find the comparison a little lacking in imagination. Anyways, it was
getting close to show time so I went up to catch the opener, Kim Richey, who
was absolutely fantastic. I bought one of her CD's and invited her to be on
Jukebox the next time she comes thru town.
Then the main event!!!! OM MY GAWD!!!!! She walked out on stage with NO
fanfare or intro in the finest looking pantses (correct pronunciation for
pants in New Orleans) that looked handpainted and a yellow Bee Gees Tour
Jacket which she flaunted around and modeled for us. It was freezing cold in
the joint and she made several references to it all night long. She is so warm
and real, in her stage presence. She makes you feel like you are really a part
of everything and makes alot of eye contact. We shared a couple of "looks"
like the ones when she was on Jukebox, once during How Deep Is Your Love, she
looked at me a couple of times and I swore she was telling me that this song
is so hard to sing and play, but boy did she nail it and the bass player had
her back with the bg/vox. By the way here is the full set list:
Glass 1/2 Empty
Blood From A Stone
Red Dress
I'll Take It From Here
Crumbs
Genius or a Fool
Is This All
Digging
No Better
How Deep Is Your Love
Your House
Still Point
Steady Pull
Linger
Encore
Look At You
Because I Told You
Before she did Genius or a Fool, she told a story about how the song was
written inspired by a conversation she had with Daniel Lanois in LA when he
was on tour with EmmyLou Harris. Dan asked her what she did and she replyed
that she was a chick singer songwriter. Then he made a remark about the colour
and style of her shoes. He said that she was either a genius or a fool.
Anyways the story is so long to tell, but that was the gist of it. She also
remarked before Is This All, that she would like Chaka to cover it and if
anyone sees her to please pass it on to her. Linger is such a cool song and it
sounds so good with the band live. I wish I had a recording of the version of
Because I Told You So, cause it so different from all of the ones I have.
The 1 hour and 15 went by SO fast I could not believe it and there were
still so many songs I wanted to hear. We were sitting right by the stage so
when the set was over she came out and gave me a big long hug and we talked
for a bit. Then she went out and signed CD's for a while and came back and
hung out with my friends who had stuck around having a cocktail after the
show. We talked for a while and she signed everyones DVD's and stuff and we
talked about her coming back on Jukebox, AsharaFest (which she will not be
able to attend cause she will be in Colorado that weekend), her tour, coming
back on Jukebox in August or Sept. with her fab band. The band really kicks
ass and I love to combo of her on acoustic and a rock and roll band backing
her. It's really different than her acoustic solo, but I love both and would
jump at the chance to see her live in any format (OK OK I'm a slut, but I good
at it). If you guys have a chance to see her, do not hesitate, run don't walk,
to the show and get close to the front so you can experience her better. We
talked about going up to the Foundation Room in the House of Blues for a
cocktail, but she said she was wiped out from the road and wanted to go crash,
so we called it a night.
I think Freda is really concerned that I have another obsession here as
she specifically asked me not to "run off with that woman" or "join the
Jonatha tour". Little chance of that since I think she is already married as
well, altho dating is so much more fun after your married (but oh my gawd I
digress again). She does have a big old rock on her left hand tho. Looking
forward to going home and watching the DVD tonight. Sorry to those who are NOT
interested in Jonatha and my raving on and on and on, but hey check the chick
out, I'm a pimp for her baby and I am wicked good at.
Love
Michael
NP-25 or 6 to 4-Chicago
