general fuzz

We’ve had a really fabulous run of awesomeness for the past decade or so. We’ve been super blessed in so many ways. In the last few years though, it sometimes felt like we were going through the motions. After eating so much cake, it became less exciting to partake in life’s chocolaty goodness. Time oozed on and often slipped away.

Time sure got a kick in the pants once the happy circle on the pee stick entered out lives. Since then we sourced a house, moved in, acquired a plethora of baby accessories, threw several parties (housewarming, superbowl, an epic baby shower), formed a small army of doctors, experienced many different styles of yoga, and connected with tons of people. We’ve had visitors stay in our fancy new guest room, built a ton of IKEA furniture, and made the house our home. I got to watch Stina experience life differently every day. The previous pattern of life was obliterated. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve crammed in too many concerts (highlights were Big Organ Trio and Leftover Salmon), toiled down on some serious general fuzz tunage, and started to really venture out in the the east bay (buying relatively high end baby gear on craigslist results in visiting the many suburbs of the east bay). I’ve managed to really savor almost every day for the past 9-10 months. Life has that sparkle again.

We’ve been approaching this whole baby thing fairly non-traditionally, which is true to form. People knew we were pregnant a few days after we did. Fortunately the baby stuck, but we wanted our community to rally around us if it didn’t. Our large scale co-ed baby shower was really a party that was baby shower themed. I’d like to think that our shower takes the prize for amount of alcohol consumed. Our community is having a huge hand in helping us name the baby. I’m really happy when we buck the trend.

On the other hand, OMG WE’RE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY!!! This is no longer an abstract concept. We’re in the end game now. We just learned that the baby is currently in breech position (feet first). We’re going to attempt an external version (where her doctor attempts to push the baby around) on Tuesday. If that doesn’t work, we’re having a c-section in nine days. Single digits, people.

When we talk about the future with our son, I have no concept what it will be like. Its no fun thinking about letting go of all activities that bring me joy. On the other hand, the concept of not doing these things can only be referenced in a life where everything is exactly the same except I’m not writing music, being social, seeing shows, and being goofy with Stiners. Well that last one will be omni present in our lives, but it will be a more, “I’m so tired, I’m going to vomit” kinda goofing around. I can’t conceptualize what life will be with child. I know there’s going to be a lot of love, challenges, and personal growth, but its all really abstract right now. People say everything will change once you see/hold your baby. I’m curious if thats true. I won’t consider it a failure if its doesn’t happen. I’m wagering the whole process will be a rewarding experience, one way or another. It would be astonishing if everyone was lying. I guess that would be worth finding out too. Then I could expose the great parent conspiracy on this blog.

Transitioning to our new pad has been intense, to say the least. The move, which was life consuming when it happened, seems like a distant memory. The day after we moved into to our new home, we had surprise visitors all day long. It was the most wonderful thing that could have happened. It hadn’t dawned upon me that the majority of our friends live in the East Bay until then.

Our new house doesn’t feel like home yet, but we’re getting there. Its a nice house in a fabulous neighborhood, right where Rockridge, Berkeley and Temescal intersect. My current street is sorta like living in Newton West, except for omnipresent Oakland vibe. I saw a dude take a piss on the street from the curb of the sidewalk one block away. It’s a very odd mashup of a suburb and a urban environment. The culture diversification is really different the SF. My favorite thing is that I can bike everywhere I need to go. I bike to the BART, the grocery store (of which there are four of), and the four or five yoga studios. I ride a bike pretty much everyday, and that brings me great joy. There’s endless stuff to discover. Unfortunately, there are very few parks. This irks me greatly, especially since I spent most of the decade living 50 feet from Golden Gate Park.

At this point the house is pretty setup. The only thing left in boxes is our art. We acquired a guest bed, and Stiners parents came out for five days over Christmas. This was a brilliant idea. We put them to work, and made huge leaps forward in setting up the house. Micheal, Stiner’s dad, is an architect, and proved to be rather handy with tools and a ladder. Ikea gladly accepted a lot our money. We haven’t setup the baby’s room yet, but that’s the last major hurdle left. My office is in a separate cottage which proves to awesome for a studio, but makes me feel really isolated when I’m there for long stretches of time.

I’m currently rich with yoga classes, since I signed up for new student specials at 4 studios. Its been crazy being exposed to totally different styles of Yoga. I tend to reject them all at first since they are unfamiliar. I’m starting to figure out that I prefer Hatha yoga to Vinyasa. I don’t dig the flow classes – yet. I learned the important lesson that if there’s a lot of really fit women in a class, I should turn around and walk out.  Normally I’ll start checking the clock around 45 minutes into an hour and half yoga class. That’s when I’m starting fatigue and wondering how much more I have to endure.  In the class with all the fit women, I looked for the first time 20 minutes in. I knew I was in big trouble.

My favorite new place is the whole word is the Starry Plough. They have awesome live music every weekend. The day we moved, I went there to catch a Dead cover band, because I could. It was pretty fun. I’ve never in my life seen an audience dance so ecstatically at a Dead themed concert. In fact I’ve just returned from seeing Further in SF and the audience was not even closed too as jazzed as the folks in the Starry. I’ve now been there 4 or 5 times. I last was there to see Albino with Angel, which was crazy fun. There are several amazing beer bars in the nearby, as well as a few breweries.

Our time has been jam packed with setting up the house and holiday parties. I’ve been hell bent on seeing as many concerts as possible. I’ve spent all my other free time focused on composing music, which has been coming along nicely. I would totally have a new album out in time for Burning Man this year, especially if we weren’t having a baby. Except I’m not going to Burning Man, and alledgely we are having a wee one. I’m attempting to be ok with that. As Stina wisely said – I have the rest of my life to be a musician.

The pregnancy is coming along nicely. No major hurdles yet. We’re entering the home stretch.

I’ve been spending lots more time in close proximity of our friends children. Its gotten me pretty excited about being a father. It’s also gotten me terrified about being a father. That seems about right.

Yom Kippur has come and gone once again. During my day of intense reflection I became overwhelmed with the sheer number of ridiculous celebratory activities that occupied our waking moments. So much happened in the last year that its slightly hard to comprehend. 6 weddings (half of which I had an active role in), 3 bachelor parties (which I had a big part in organizing), 3 trips to Boston, work kicking my ass all over the place, Phish tour, Burning Man, Belize, relationship changes, tons of friends and family visiting, far too many concerts, that whole economy collapsing thingy, and the occasional emotional breakdown. Life hasn’t been boring. I was really focused on the concept of time, which seems to march forward relentlessly, regardless of what we do.

After living a roughly linear life for the past 4 or so years, we suddenly banged a sharp left into pregnantville. And even though this year was crazy intense, I’m incapable to fathom the insanity that’s about to transpire in the next year.  I’ve embraced the concept of moving into a new place, but the rental market isn’t really hugging me back. The longer this one way hug goes on, the more awkward I’m feeling. My goal is to transcend awkwardness until it feels like an active form of dominance. Then I’ll have the confidence to transition this hug into getting all the way to second base. Booyeah! They don’t call me slick for nothing.

Really.

Nobody calls be slick.

I seem to be caught in concentric circles of music. I saw Galactic at the Fillmore last weekend, and I’ll see them again at hardly strictly bluegrass tomorrow. I started this week at Dead Night @ Milk, and then Angel and I saw Dark Star Orchestra last night.  If music is playing, and I’m slightly interested – I’m so there. I’m on a serious concert jag right now. Gotta get out while I still can.

We went back into the hospital so we could do some baby related radar. They sure have some fancy dan devices at the hospital now days.

Stina is incubating quite nicely, which is pretty much all thats important these days.

Summer goodness rolls on unabated. One night I got to live one my fantasies by seeing bands at both the Connecticut Yankee (A New Monsoon benifit show with extra bonus Lebo) and a block down the road at the Bottom of the Hill (the New Up kicking off their big national tour). It was the hippies vs. the hipsters, and I had great fun bouncing between the diametrically opposite crowds.

On Friday, we went down to Outside Lands to listen to a few bands from outside the perimeter, but then ran into our friend Aaron who hooked us up with ridiculously cheap day passes. Totally bonus Thievery Corp and Pearl Jam. It felt good to roll though one more time while we still live within spitting distance to the festival. We streamed the rest of the festy from the safety of our living room. Thanks youtube.

Stina and Angel just rocked the joint birthday party at chez Krudden. We’re old, and love the afternoon party. People rolled through all day, and now we’re basking in the glow of feeling really connected to our friends. It was a really excellent day, and there’s still three jello shots left.

Life’s been feeling extra poignant lately, what with the impending baby and all. While I’ve been diving head first into a true concert and general fuzz bender, the nagging suspicion that everything’s going to radically change lurks right beneath the surface. My role at work has been shifting for a while, to the point where its almost like I have a new job. So a “new” job, a probable move to a bigger space on the horizen, and then a baby. Hmmm. I’m not so good with change. Tough titties, I guess. Its gonna happen, and in a big, big way. The best thing I can do is have a positive attitude, so lately I’m attempting to rock a “BRING IT ON” front. I’m not really fooling myself though – underneath it all, I’m scared shitless.

Anyhow, tomorrow I boldly head back into the desert to lose my mind.  One last time.

Its been a freaking crazy summer. Our most epic yet.

By a lot.

Summer is always a densely packed celebratory time for us, but I’m not sure if I can put into words how insane things are right now. I had a rather full 6 day east coast trip. Conveniently enough, work sent me there to top my brain off with knowledge. Saw all the family a bunch and caught up with many friends, and then raced Mike

and Nikki

back to SF. They won. I met up with them and my wife at the house of Krudden. We promptly headed south to participate in the celebration of Dave and Kerri tying the hitch knot.

They chose Big Sur to be their wedding destination, and there was coastal nature everything. Go figure. During the few moments of unplanned activity, the Ducey’s and I headed south without a destination. We happened upon a trail which led us down down down through a tunnel in a mountain and eventually to the ocean. I heart California, even though it’s broke.

The wedding was cause for another mini Newton North High School reunion, now familiarly embellished with all of our significant others.

Dave was not an organized little duder back in high school. Sometime during college, his brain snapped like a glow stick, and he became extremely anal. That was about as predictable as Angel working for the IRS. It means that Dave and Stina connect in terrible ways that frighten me. Of course he tapped Stina for her extensive “knowledge”. Everyone had different jobs, and with each job came a different title. I was the Music Monkey. Dave’s brother was Best Monkey. Stina’s minions were Monkey Bitches. And so forth.

Then they got married.

I know how much Dave dislikes to be the center of attention, so its was more then a little amusing to watch him take it and like it. I was honored to give a short reading and be the appointed DJ for the evening. This meant pressing play on itunes at various points of the night. I was under strict orders not to touch the playlist, but the Music Monkey has a mind of its own. I also appointed myself MC for the evening, which amused me.

Dave’s had a long history with knives in my house.

Dave’s fully responsible for my love of music, and his dance setlist did him justice. I really appreciated the table decorations, since I watched Kerry painstackingly assemble one when I visited for of our Grateful Dead junket. We really had a fabulous time. I’m quite pleased that Dave and Kerry found each other.

Then we headed north, hit the brunch,

and made it back to cold cold Frisco. We wandered around the park until we found the tube fighting championships.

It was pretty Epic.

The Ducey’s had to sadly depart on Monday morning. Stina’s Cousin Carmen and brand spanking new husband Andrew arrived Monday night.

They took of on Wednesday afternoon. That evening we got to hold Jason and Lindsay’s one day old baby. Intense much? Huge congrads to the new parentals!

Now we’ve finished packing our bags for Michigan. Let the celebrations continue.

We hosted a smallish party to celebrate the beginning of ‘09.

It was nice.

Thanksgiving weekend was a fabulous transition from being plugged in at work to being plugged into the tv. Ah, TV, how I missed you. And now that I have netflix and hulu available on the tv, it can be an endless journey of brain deadeaning goodness.

First, though, we hosted Thanksgiving. That was a good time. Stina spent far too much time making food, which left the couch all empty and inviting. She made three kinds of stuffing. I got to become very close with our bird, insofar as spending some quality naked time together, cleaning off the brine in the shower. Then 14 people arrived, I put some clothes on, and the snacking commenced. We had ourselves a right feast, and satiation was duly achieved. It was an excellent day, especially because everyone really pitched in with the cleanup. Good work folks.

We invoked the friday after Thanksgiving open door policy, where folks trickled by for a little round two. This evolved into poker, and climaxed into my personal highlight, when I made a bad situation much worse with no hesitation. It was both glorious and regretful, something not easily achieved.

We even fit some fun concerts into the fray. On Saturday we caught Guitarmageddon (TLG’s Josh Clark side project) open up for Bustle in your Hedgrow (instrumental Led Zepplin). It all started when Josh walked up to the mic and said, “I gotta warn you, this shit is gonna be loud” and then they just tore into an incredible set of Nirvana covers. It was pretty epic. Sean Leahy does an excellent Cobain. Nirvana with extended, shredding guitar solos just tore my head apart. Then Bustle ripped it pretty good. Joe Russo has got to be one of the best drummers alive. I wish they would add a singer though – they would cover Zepplin better then Zepplin could now.

On Sunday, I scraped together enough inertia to go check out The Herbalizer, and I really glad I did. A seven piece trip hop funk outfit, they defied genres and kept me fully interested during their entire set. This band constructs music that normally would just be a dj – but with two versatile horn players, a singer from another planet, drummer, keys, bass, augmented by a ridiculous dj. It was inspiringly good.

Speaking of Josh Clark, another side project show I saw recently that blew me away was Region of Darkness. This was Josh Clark, Steve Molitz, Steve Adams, a singer name Adam Iscove, and fucking Steven Perkins on drums (Jane’s Addiction). Steven Perkins is an absolute MONSTER on the kit, and it was awe inspiring to be 10 feet away from his nonstop onslaught of rock. I caught a taste on the ole camera:

There seems to be no correlation between summer ending and the amount of celebratory doings goin on. Apparently all sorts of people were born in Sept (like my wife). We had a bbq for Stiners (complete with 5 day old Oli Linden), went to Russian River to blow out Dave SGs 30th (where I discovered my new favorite game: beer cannon), and Rachel had her legendary now annual pool with pool slide pool party with potato salad extravaganza. Also, Heather’s about to do something awfully messy, so we had to party it up with a keg and fire.

I’ve failed to write up most of the concerts I’ve been attending, what with life and motivation and all.  Here’s a brief overview of bands that I broke my band cherry on recently:

The Bad Plus

JJ sent out an email that was vague but titillating about seeing these guys, so I went.  Never heard a note if them before walking into Yoshis, which is now my new favorite venue. 8pm shows (done by 10 for the 10pm show), seating with fully snooty bar service, people are quiet during the show, very classy, etc etc. The Bad Plus blew me away. Sort of a jazz trio made up of piano, upright bass, and drums, they can play in and out of rhythms like nobody I’ve ever seen. They are what I wish MMW would be. Three virtuoso’s, super inventive, but don’t stray so far off the path that I lose interest. They did some crazy covers, played some freaking awesome music, and I’m ready to see them again.

My Morning Jacket

Rachel and I headed out to the Greek to see these if these guys bring it big. A rocker five piece, they did give it their all for over 2 1/2 hours straight, and put on a good show. Ample guitar wanking and full on rock and roll screams gave them credibility. I now appreciate  their new album, “Evil Urges”, much more. The ticket price to fun ratio was a little too high though.

Juno Reactor

JR was the first electronic band that I ever really got into, right at the beginning of college. I hadn’t listened to them for over a decade, and had never heard of them touring before. I went, it was shockingly different then I expected. The dude behind JR brought out a whole crew of traditional Taiko drummers to dance, play crazy drums, and even play horns (not brass instruments, horns like a shofar). Not to mention a rapper (whom I actively disliked), an eerie yet affictive female vocalist, and totally shredder of a famous Japanese guitarist (Suzio). The whole thing was quite dramatic, and even though I totally got into it at times, many times it wasn’t really up my alley. It certain stands out in its originality though. Here’s a much more indepth (and positive) review.

So yeah. Next up – the invasion of KJ and AJ -> the Fribers get Married (presented by Stina) -> the Fribers get wasted (with general fuzz performing and DJing) at seconding wedding/party. I’m out of my skin with joy while throwing up a little bit in my mouth. Bring it.