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Music Communities/Schwervon! Tour Pics
I worked a live sound gig 2 nights ago for a Hip Hop party that featured 21 MC's. It was kind of like going to an old Antihoot open mic at the Sidewalk but for Rappers. They all performed to backing tracks and most of them even had lead vocals on them. So, it was a bit like watching someone karaoke to themselves. There was a DJ who played the tracks and made funny noises. He kept the energy going. My job was to mix the over all level and try to mix the live vocals in with the track. It was tricky because all the rappers had different levels of experience and different qualities of backing tracks. There was a guy on stage who would announce the acts. He was also the promoter. He went by the name Green Eyes. At first he seemed kind of curt and mean but I think he was just a little nervous about the event. As the night went on I could see that he was really trying to create a scene. I can respect that. Some of the rappers were better than others and I'm sad to say that out of all the performers the only women during the whole night was a single guest singer and few back up dancers. Green Eyes kept encouraging people to network and buy drinks. Occasionally, one of the rappers would talk about "unity" and urge the other rappers to support each other because it's the only way they will be able to make it. Read more »

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I can't believe it's already spring break. Harmon and I went downtown to visit the Brooklyn Bridge to complete his optional weekend exploration assignment. It was Monday so it was difficult to get him to go because he's really literal. Breakfast was from the coffee cart. Since we were on 125th Street we could buy breakfast and then shop for dvd's, we bought Hanna, Hop, and Rio. I saw the trailer for Hanna and that the Chemical Brothers did the soundtrack so I'm going to see it in the theater so this will be a good preview. The weather was great so we walked to the east side to get the 6. So we take the train to the stop and make it onto the bridge. The bridge was really crowded. It was a classic NYC mix of people. Being that it is one of the seven wonders of N.Y.C. There were tons of tourists ( it was spring break after all) and there were tons of New Yorkers peddling and hoofing it over the bridge on bike and foot. The New Yorkers are great. Some of them were getting upset at the tourists for blocking the way. I mean it is New York and there are places to go and things to do in a N.Y. minute. Read more »

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One of my oldest friends is dying of ovarian cancer. It's hard to say or to type or to think but it's real and it's happening and it's on my mind every day. She is 28 years old.

Nicole and I first met in Cedar Lane, a high school for teens who have suffered trauma and abuse as children. We shared the same art class, although never even spoke until I was looking for someone to go see Joni Mitchell with at Merriweather Post Pavillion. She had the car and I had the tickets. Joni wasn't at her best. She was visibly tired singing classic jazz standards and playing with a 20 piece string section. Nicole and I were bummed as as we left, so we rolled the windows down and blasted "Carey." Everyone in the parking lot started cheering and dancing. For a moment, we felt like celebrities.

I moved in with Nicole and her family during my senior year of high school. My mother had recently relapsed on heroin and left behind a husband, three very young children, and me. Nicole's mother and brothers welcomed me into their home without a second thought. They bought me clothes, fed me and became my family. Read more »

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1. Why don't you ever want to ask me 5 questions?

2. How did Gummo get his name?

3. If you were a spaceship, which would you be, and what would be your mission?

4. On a pentatonic scale, how awesome am I?

5. (this isn't a question, I was just giving you the answer to #4).

Have a great time in Tennessee.

<3jo