Sunday, June 29, 2008

Thanks, but no drama for me today!

It's been a low-key day here at Nutwood--have you noticed that we seem to have a lot of those? And on purpose, too!

It was rainy this morning, but it's cleared up nicely, so our Grillin' Date is on. I don't have any large potatoes to bake (a must for steaks, in my book), so I proposed Jerk Chicken and Spanish rice. Ken thought that sounded good, so Jerk Chicken it is! No problem, mon! Hey, I found a recipe over the weekend for Cuban Chicken, too, and I want to try that one of these days.

As we were reading the paper this morning, the phone rang, and it was Kim and Steve from California, the ones who just had birthdays! It was fun to get caught up, and we talked a bit about confirming the dates when we'll be visiting. We'll be going out in early August to see family and friends, and our proposed dates for a visit at their place works for them. Ken and Steve are planning on a golf outing one day--I suppose Kimberley and I can find some trouble to get into something to occupy us that morning--and then we'll hit the lake one day. We've already heard back from my niece Jen that she will be in town (she gets to travel all over the place for her job--Italy, Spain, Paris--what a gig!) when we're there, and Ken's brother Mike will also be available--I hope his son is, too. So good deal! Things are shaping up nicely. Ken has been working on getting us a hotel for the nights that we aren't staying with people, and he found a couple of great possibilities...as he was narrowing the choices down, the price jumped about $300! Not TO $300, it jumped from around $250 to over $500. Good golly! Needless to say, we won't be staying at those places. Bummer, too, because one of them was a hotel from the 1920's, right on the coast in La Jolla. We figure there must be something going on in the area for prices to jump like that. He's still looking...wish him luck!

I don't use my MySpace account very often, but I had a notice that I had an email from this guy (there on the left), Peter Coyne. He's the lead singer of The Godfathers, a British band from the 80's and early 90's. They've reunited and have been playing gigs in Europe. Peter was responding personally to all the people that have left comments on their MySpace page--how cool is that? We've exchanged an email or two, and he sounds like a genuinely nice guy. I had heard rumors that they might be booking some dates in the States (the rumors are true!) and mentioned that I hoped they'd make a stop in Chicago. He wrote, "Beth, we could never forget Chicago - The Godfathers fave place to play in the States, bar none! Great nights at The Cabaret Metro - my kind of town!! We are slowly working toward setting up some US dates...so, fingers crossed!!!"

SWEET! I told Ken that this is one that I won't miss. (That's Kris Dollimore, their crazy-good guitarist, to the right.) Hopefully Cousin Shane can go, too, and we'll make a night of it in Chi-town. I've never been to the Metro, so I don't know how large or small it is. I don't care where they play, I just want to be there!

I'm sure most of you are saying, "The Godfathers? Wasn't that a movie?" Well, the singular form, yes, and the band loves such iconic movies, and according to Peter, they named the band after that movie. They also have a couple of songs that reflect their love of movies and soundtracks, such as the James Bond-like "John Barry," who was the guy who did much of the music for the Bond movies (and a version of the James Bond theme music), as well as "Gone To Texas," their tribute to Ennio Morricone and his spaghetti Western soundtracks ("The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" is Morricone's most well-known work of this type).

I wouldn't really group The Godfathers in with punk bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash--they're on the cusp between punk and post-punk. They continued well into the 90's, long after the whole "punk explosion" had ended. They always struck me as more of a basic, kickass rock band, showing some of the anger of punk but really excellent both vocally and musically. One of my favorite lyrics of theirs comes from the song " 'Cause I Said So," when Peter spits out:

Every day's a thrill when you're living like me
Don't read Baudelaire's poetry
And I don't need no Ph.D.
'Cause I'm ten times smarter than you'll ever be
'Cause I said so!

Fun stuff! And no, I'm not an angry person like that--it's just rock n' roll, man. I like it!

One of my favorite songs of theirs is "I'm Lost and Then I'm Found." Lyrics first (tabloids never change, do they?), then a live video.

 

Read about some princess and her junkie friends
Didn't start my day off right
Old James Dean jumped from his grave
Swore that black was white
Read it in the papers the writing's on the wall
And someone earns a dollar out of every lie
It don't make no sense worrying at all
And I wake up and I'm wondering why

I'm lost and then I'm found
I'm lost and then I'm found

Everybody's giving me the third degree
Don't know when I'm up or down
Cigarettes and women be the death of me
Better that than this old town
Read it in the papers the writing's on the wall
And someone earns a dollar out of every lie
It don't make no sense worrying at all
And I wake up and I'm wondering why

I'm lost and then I'm found
I'm lost and then I'm found

Wintertime is coming hear the howling wind
Didn't get to sleep last night
Stoned in my confusion makes no sense at all
Couldn't change it if I tried
Read it in the papers the writing's on the wall
And someone earns a dollar out of every lie
It don't make no sense worrying at all
And I wake up and I'm wondering why

I'm lost and then I'm found
I'm lost and then I'm found

 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alas, the rain has returned, so it will be the Foreman grill tonight :o(

We are booked at Shelter Island, in the San Diego harbor, should be nice.  It took me about two hours, but with AAA, we were able to lock in for less than $200 per night, before taxes.

Anonymous said...

Bucko (AKA Ken) wrote: Alas, the rain has returned, so it will be the Foreman grill tonight :o(

Yeah, but we don't have a Foreman grill! LOL I used to have a Hamilton-Beach indoor grill, but just didn't use it enough or have a place to store it. If I want to pseudogrill indoors, I've been using a cast iron stovetop grill pan.

B.

Anonymous said...

It's been threatening rain here all day, and still hasn't rained. The cool breeze blowing through the house is awesome though. It's just a quiet day for Doc and I at home (a rare treat in the summer with all his gigs). Oh I forgot to tell you we brought a vehicle. It's a 2001 Honda Passport 4x4. The mechanic found a few minor gliches ( our mechanic said it was a sweet deal and a great car otherwise)that the dealership is willing to pay for, as well as lowering the original price. If all goes well we should have it sometime next week. I'll email pictures along with the dining table ones i still owe you. (Hugs)Indigo

Anonymous said...

Sometimes no drama is a good thing!  Ya'll just got back from a vegecation and soon you'll be off again!  California prices are always high in the summer time...
xoxo ~Myra

Anonymous said...

i've never heard of that band but that is beyond cool that one of the members emailed you. The Internet is an amazing device. Sounds like you had a good dinner....and i just know you'll enjoy your CA trip.
HUGS

Anonymous said...

I have to hold my hand up and say I've never heard of the godfathers but that's awesome that he sent you an email :o)  Hope you do get to see them xxx  P.s good luck to Ken with the holiday hotel search

Jenny

http://journals.aol.co.uk/Jmoqueen/MyLife