With Mardi Gras party season in full force, my attention is turned to the festivities on Pensacola Beach, where I spent ten glorious years celebrating that most convivial of seasons. This year the memories are more poignant as I learned of the passing of Mary Drees on January 5th of this month.
On the Krewe of Wrecks Royalty float, 1993
During the time I spent with the Krewe of Wrecks, I came to know and love Mary. Most of those years she was the Head Wreck, leading the boisterous group of Krewes and clubs who put on parties, a champagne breakfast, a parade, a red beans and rice lunch and much more.
Mardi Gras on Pensacola Beach was conceived in the fall of 1979, after the tourists had gone home for the winter and the beach fell into the lull and boredom of the off season. Larry Geisel, Frank Douglas, and Jane Waters hatched the plan over drinks in the Islander Lounge. It wasn't always easy, this fledgling party to give life to Santa Rosa Island in the winter. But the committee grew, the locals responded and by the time this writer arrived on the scene in 1989, Mardi Gras on the Island was celebrating its tenth year.
Jane Waters Cooper wrote about Mardi Gras on the Island and the Krewe of Wrecks in her 1997 book, To the Beat of an Island Drum. It is an interesting read about the history, the problems, the good times, and is chock full of photos of the participants through the years.
The feature of the Krewe of Wrecks celebration I appreciate most is the sense of community. The floats are homemade by the Krewes and the Krewes typically support the local concern of their choice with fundraising efforts. Certainly, there are some raucous parties and a lot of beads, but many of the festivities are family friendly, a real community affair.
Having been brought into this party by our friends, Steve and Martha Cooper, I fell directly into step with their family and friends group, The Flamingo Social Club. I spent some years' parades in pink - crazy hats, sweatsuits, plastic nose - another year in a toga, some years spectating. The year Martha was outgoing First Mate (the Wrecks' version of Queen,) found me on the Royalty float (pictured above.)
I want to say thank you to all the people who made Mardi Gras on the Island a reality and those who keep it alive today. Many of those wonderful, fun-loving people have passed through the years. Each time I hear that we have lost one, I am sad, but their remembrance leaves me smiling. This year, to Mary Drees I say, rest in peace and please wave at us and throw us some beads from the parade!
In anticipation of the third Assembly Line Concert coming up in March, I want reintroduce readers to David Nefesh. I first saw Nefesh live, online from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan, during last year's Assembly Line Concert. An instant fan, this review is the favorite of those I wrote last year, and certainly the album is a favorite. I hope it inspires you to explore Nefesh's music and to join us online, in the stream, March 19-April 2, 2011 for the Assembly Line Concert where you are sure to discover brilliant music and friends.
David Nefesh -
The Point of it All
Listening to David Nefesh perform in a live acoustic setting, one is instantly engaged by his lyrical, poetic nature.But that turns out to be only a warm up for the rocker underneath.With his latest release, The Point of it All, the Michigan songwriter has crafted a terrific rock album which also captures the soul of his acoustic guitar and verse.
The title track, "The Point of It All,"begins with memorable guitar licks and then immediately offers lyrics defining the spirituality that fills this album."Like when I see a child pick a flower in his bliss / Two old lovers on a park bench sneak another kiss / Hands that reach out to the dying hearts all drenched in pain / May it rain, oh heaven may it rain."Across the 14 tracks we find that, with great insightfulness, Nefesh continually sings about the things which drive his spirit - happiness, love and peace.
The second tune, "Let it Out," is a rockabilly styled poetry jam with intelligent lines and surprising rhymes with Nefesh sometimes grabbing the listener's attention by speaking, more than singing, the lyric .
Demonstrating that he can change up both the tempo and the mood and not lose the energy, the album continues with "Red Wine".This solid ballad speaks of dulling the grief of the heart, forgetting pain, leaving loneliness behind.The familiar theme is beautifully expressed here with weeping guitar phrasing and haunting lyrics.Another moving composition is the lullaby "My Little Dreamer," which is conveyed with vocal tenderness, accentuated by acoustic guitar and Larry Everhart's harmonica.
Two tracks on The Point of it All feature classical stringed instruments.Hannah Hudson on violin and Jake Rutkowski on cello lend their talents to the lilting tune "Yonder Together."The second, "The Way You Love Me," is a nice blend of Sarana Verlin's violin, and Nefesh's acoustic guitar.Cheryl St. Rebel also provides beautiful background vocals on "The Way You Love Me," complimenting Nefesh on this and other tunes, including the title track.
Displaying the chops of a hard rocker, Nefesh delivers the electric and edgy "Stick to Me," which could be an anthem of any decade of rock and roll. Drawing on the great wealth of musical talent from the Detroit music scene, the rock tunes keep coming, including "Heretic Son," "Your Chair," and the power ballad "Tell Me."Jef Reynolds appears on bass on four tracks, and Ron Pangborn and Dave Marcaccio share the drums credits.The poetry also resonates with these songs, such as on "Tell Me," which asks, "Tell me why the budding violet shrivels without rain / Tell me why can't beauty coexist without the pain?" and other questions of life and love.
"Juana's Blessing," highlighted by another brilliant electric guitar riff, is an enthralling story song about a message written on a napkin by a mysterious and beautiful woman."Juana's Blessing" and "When My Faith is Grey," two very different types of tunes, both reflect the depth of Nefesh's faith and on each his vocals are equally emotive.The lyrics of the simple, acoustic "When My Faith is Grey" express our doubts and wonderings with impeccable phrasing, meter and lyrical flow.Two more tracks make the most of Nefesh's talent for putting words together and setting them to his melodic guitar style - "Brave" and the final cut, "Come Morning."As "Come Morning" closes, the listener is ready heed the message to get up, get out, feel love, and seize the day.
What about that other message, the one written in the note by the mysterious Juana?That message of encouragement is, "keep singing with your childlike spirit / God loves it and She wants some more."David Nefesh's spirit clearly shows throughout The Point of It All.We hope David Nefesh keeps singing.We love it too, and we want some more!
I first saw Angel Snow, and her guitar, performing at a friend's wedding. Now she is making a name for herself in Nashville, collaborating with Viktor Krause, brother of Alison Krause. Her exciting releases this week were a beautiful new video of her song "Coals and Water," and the news that two of her songs will be on an upcoming Alison Krause and Union Station album.
One of those songs is "These Days," cowritten with Viktor Krause and performed with him in this video:
One listen to Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand's album All the Good Summers and it's a beautiful, romantic album. It's also full of depth and musicianship. Get yourself away from household rumblings of computers, refrigerators, and televisions. This is music to be absorbed.
The album opens with the engaging rhythms, vocals and harmonies of "Jetstream" and sets the tone for what is assuredly not a mere folk album. Percussion sets it apart and pulls the acoustic instruments and the electric guitar into a moving frolic through the senses.
Lovers of classic southern rock will say the second track, "Samuel Mason," is the best tune on the album, and deservedly so.This gem of a tune is the stuff my summers were made of in the late 1970s, and it has a timeless quality that could place it decades back or on a stage at any outdoor festival today.
The VanNorstrand brothers make most of the music on this album with their guitars, mandolins, fiddles and vocals.Andrew adds banjo and Noah, percussion.They are joined by Pete Sutherland on piano, keyboards and organ, Kevin Dorsey on bass, Rachel Bell on accordion, and Dana Billings and CV Abdallah sharing credits on drums.
Noah's wife Kailyn Wright also provides vocals and I especially like her harmony work on "Faded to a Dream."In the lyric, summer fades to a dream, while the music flows strong and ebbs, then builds to a crescendo at the end.Kailyn Wright is later featured on "Elinor," a traditional style folk song. Here Kailyn and the VanNorstrand brothers have produced a lovely "old soul" sort of tune, both lyrically and melodically.
My favorite lyric from All the Good Summers is on the track "You Are the One in My Dreams." Andrew VanNorstrand's banjo and Rachel Bell's accordion draw the listener in and then disappear as the words emerge, "You are the one in my dreams / and I don't know what that means / you are the one that I see / and I only wish I could be."
"The Wasp's Goggles" is an innovative instrumental and a most pleasing surprise. Upbeat and jazzy, the fiddle floats off the guitars and the effect is magical and a bit of a "buzz."The percussion sets a Latin jazz beat that practically demands moving feet and body.
I said this was a romantic album and "Love and Winter" proves it, turning the tempo down a bit, but retaining a bit of the jazz. The VanNorstrands have a flair for fitting the rhythm to the message of the lyric.I can only say what I take away from this lyric.Love has seasons and when we find it, it is not always the season we want it to be.In an album entitled All the Good Summers, the VanNorstrands have given the listener much more than summer, they have given us the desire for summer to return.
Summer, it seems, has indeed gone, according to "Only One Season."It is a somber lyric, "Once I was a young man / And thought that I could do no wrong / Thought of only one season / When nights were warm / And days were long."With the simple instrumentation of this tune - guitar, organ, and the banjo I love - the album takes a turn back to folk music and some Celtic roots.
"Lady Pole (or A Night at Lost-Hope)" brings more of that Celtic touch to the strings. Then a solemn fiddle backed by piano, tugging at heart strings joins in. Finally, here comes the rhythm again, provided by guitar and percussion and it is another beautiful instrumental.
Much as I love the singing and stories on this album, the instrumentals really are the ones which leave me smiling. And so, listening to "A Song for Reverend P.D. Midgett III," I smile again and reminisce about every old preacher I ever knew. Add the fiddle and the preacher starts to stomp. On this track also, Andrew's banjo has just the right touch.
"Where Should I Go" is the final tune and I thought the name sounded like a gospel song. But it is really a full on rock and country romp. Go ahead and two-step, it's irresistible. These guys do not look like they would know the electric guitar sound of 1960s country music, but they nailed it. They added drums to spice it up and a bridge that has you screaming for more as they rock down the last bars of the album.
Be sure to crank up the volume on All the Good Summers.You are not going to want to miss a note or a chord.
While folding jeans it hit me! In addition to my many other talents, I'm also a domestic goddess! Here's a collection of my Domestic Goddess Tips! (Or are they jokes, cleverly disguised as tips?)
Domestic Goddess Tip #726: If you MUST drop a raw egg, let it fall straight into the cat's food bowl. Makes for very easy cleanup.
Domestic Goddess Tip #1022: If you suddenly toss the yogurt container into the air so that, on hitting the floor, it explodes all over your hand, sleeve, keyboard, and cell phone ... you should also check your hair and the back of your head.
Domestic Goddess Tip #409: At your own peril, try to trim your toenails after liberally applying shea body butter to your entire body. Again, I say, at your own peril.
Domestic Goddess Tip #408: Using no sweetener in one's tea makes cleanup easier after one chokes and spews said tea across desk and floor.
Domestic Goddess Observation #315: It is difficult to re-tie a shoe while wearing gloves.
Domestic Goddess Tip#2009: If you must cook while facebooking, it's best to set a timer.
Domestic Goddess Tip #1030: Should you press the "self-clean" button while the brownies are still in the oven, it's okay to immediately flip out.
DomesticGoddess Tip #1215: If you hold the pickle jar too close to your chest while wrenching off lid, you'll smell like pickle juice later.
Domestic Goddess Tip #291: If you can't get the lid off the toilet cleaner bottle because it's so empty that the sides have sucked in, it's time to run down to Dollar General for more.
Domestic Goddess Tip #137: Take the candle out of the wrought iron candelabra BEFORE you pound on the candelabra with a hammer.
Domestic Goddess Tip #37: Only buy tea kettles that whistle. (Don't ask me how I know this is important)
Domestic Goddess Tip #4782: Do not attempt to unfurl tea bags with wet hands. The strings will wrap around your fingers and the tags will stick to you.
Domestic Goddess Tip #42: When there is crap floating around in your vinegar (excluding hot peppers of course), you should toss it out and buy more.
Domestic Goddess tip #8743: Do not slather greasy lotion all over your feet, put on flip flops and then immediately decide jump in your stick shift car for a quick drive. (new meaning for a slipping clutch) [Cross reference Domestic Goddess Driving Tip #1]
Domestic Goddess Tip #747: If you pop a button off your garment, take a few minutes to stop and sew it back on right away. Pulling that garment out the next season and finding the button taped to it, is just not cool.
Domestic Goddess Driving Tip #2: From the time you put a big glob of lotion on your hand, you will never catch a red light all the way to your destination. This is especially important to remember if you are shifting gears manually.
Domestic Goddess Tip #4180: When preparing that nasty brown rice that you hate so much, but eat anyway as part of your healthy lifestyle, you may accidentally dump over half of it in the sink and then not have to choke it down as leftovers later. (this may also work for other things you don't like)
Domestic Goddess Tip #420: If you find that the lid on the big kosher pickle jar was not secure when you tipped it sideways as you went to put it back in the fridge, you can quickly and easily wash your feet in the bathtub.
Texas Domestic Goddess Tip #1: It's not a good idea to store more than one empty coffee mug on the floorboard of your car. If you have to stop suddenly, they might roll into each other and break in half.
Domestic Goddess Tip #518: Don't try to bounce the dryer balls thru the dryer door-they could take a wild hop, landing behind the dryer, not in it.
Domestic Goddess Tip #709: If you put away the laundry occasionally, instead of leaving it hanging above the dryer as if that's a revolving closet, then you might find things you "lost" are on the shelf behind the laundry, such as that flashlight & extra rechargeable battery which goes with the drill you needed to hang blinds.
Domestic Goddess Tip #716: Painting your toenails without enough light has a similar outcome to applying lipstick while inebriated.
Class offerings:
"Perfecting the art of applying lipstick without the aid of your reflection." How-to video included.
"Perfecting the art of eating oatmeal while driving a stick shift." Available in audio for busy commuters.
"Perfecting the art of drying hair with one hand while brushing teeth with the other." Classes enrolling soon.
Domestic Goddess Tip #722": Struggling with motivation to clean the inside of your microwave? Try this: 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, 1 cup of water, shallow bowl, 3 mins on high. You'll being cleaning that microwave immediately!
Domestic Goddess Tip #810: Just take my word for this one. DO NOT try to slice a kosher pickle spear in midair.
Domestic Goddess Tip #824: 2 green bottles, 1 round, 1 square. make sure to pour from the round one into your glass. round=wine, square= olive oil.......(thanks to guest goddess Rinda Brenton)
New Class Offerings for 2011:
"Peeling back the layers to a new you." Part 1: Scrubbing the Veggie Blues Away,
A Primer on Using Brushes to Achieve Immaculate Presentation in the Kitchen. Domestic engineers receive a 10% discount for early registration.
Domestic Goddess Tip #120 Dont push the trash bin to the road wearing clogs, grey/black/silver sparkly floral socks, turquoise & lime pj bottoms, and a coat 3x too large. It disturbs the cows.
