Hi everyone. Kevin Cooper and I just knocked noggins for a bit, chittery-chatting about all and sundry undry the Sun..He was nice enough to collaborate with me on this aweSUM (awesome and THEN some) interview, and post it on his really cool blog. An author and musician himself, please do come by and “meet” us both!! (with a gorgeous please attached…:)
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Joe Bonamassa plays Arlington at Santa Barbara
December 13, 2013 
4 Comments
Joe Bonamassa sings & writes the Blues. Correction. Make that: Joe Bonamassa plays Blues guitar. Scratch that. Joe Bonamassa is the Blues, the way Poe was muse, Michelangelo sculpture, and Vincent Van Gogh, art. Like a combination of Stevie Ray Vaughn & Eric Clapton, the onetime child prodigy is almost a quarter century into reshaping the Blues landscape, and still better, his driving beat and forward-moving lyrics make it obvious this is one Blues Man who’s going to be in the pink again, soon.
From the crashing start of his 8 o’clock show at Santa Barbara’s Arlington theatre last night—the New York native started on time, and latecomers be damned—to the final chord two and a half hours later, I was captivated. Jiggling like a palsied person in my plush seat right along with the other 2K attendees in the grand but small venue. (a venue wherein cameras are apparently allowed, so note to selfie about that!)
As hot as revenge sex, lead song Slow Train grabbed me by the hair, making it stand on end like an ovation, a tingle that went clear down to my toe-tapping tootsies. Was it really an acoustic guitar inciting and exciting me so? It was. Accompanied by band members the gracious star introduced 2x (I still don’t remember their names..;) a seated, sun-glassed Joe on acoustic guitar went off the tracks as soon as he pulled out of the station, backed up by bass, bongos, & drums. By fiddle, mandola, & second guitar. By maracas, keyboards & even washboards at some junctures, since there was plenty more dirty laundry to come.
Videe of acoustic guitar rendition of Slow Train
subscribe to: http://www.youtube.com/user/JoeBonamassaTV
Because this is one band that skipped changing outfits to change my perception of them. After an hour or so of each song better than the last—ranging from covers to originals that included such tunes as Jelly Roll, Jockey Full of Bourbon, & Athens to Athens—they flat-out changed instruments during the 15 minutes of intermission. Exchanging acoustic for electric while audience members exchanged pleasantries in the lobby, the throwback, interlude tradition was reminiscent of grander times to which the elaborately appointed Arlington theatre is well-suited. There was a bar on the patio (I think so, the crush was too amazing to negotiate) tables stacked with free-music download codes, and premise-leaving permitted, thus insuring a pampered crowd returned to the auditorium to find the stage transformed.
Videe of electric guitar Slow Train
subscribe to: http://www.youtube.com/user/JoeBonamassaTV
As was the song Slow Train, though Bonamassa didn’t lead with the reinterpreted number. Prowling the stage in a suit reminiscent of the Fab Four with gesticulations still more fabulous, Joe led us Around the Bend, through Dislocated Boy & John Henry, and poured on a Sloe Gin that was anything but. Riffing like the Dead & jamming like Floyd, the playlist was as linked as you’re about to be, when I close this shout out with a every link to the “Blues Rock Titan” I could find.
Subscribe to: Elexmage on YouTube for more great Joe Bonamassa videos!
https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa
Thank you Santa Barbara! Good night! pic.twitter.com/sxwgep6ysb
— JOE BONAMASSA (@JBONAMASSA) December 13, 2013
Gallery III
September 10, 2013 14 Comments
You’ve all gotten a chance to see my work here at CHARRON’s CHATTER; today I’d like to share another sampling of my late sister’s artwork: Diane Caroline Robiscoe. She could work in many mediums, as evidenced below.
Diane Robiscoe
Pastel
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor – pointillism technique?
Diane Robiscoe
Perspective Drawing
Diane Robiscoe
Glazed clay with design
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Have a great day. To view the flagship Gallery posts, please click: Gallery I and Gallery II
Rerun
June 2, 2013 8 Comments
Recently I interviewed with Cristian Milhai over at his place, and thought I would run the post here–kind of like a rerun of a good TV show. Hope you get a kick out of the direction I took with it. 🙂
I’m breaking with my usual area of focus today, interesting blog posts, to review the work of Karen Robiscoe, an avid blogger and author I’ve come to know through the WordPress Blog-o-sphere. I’ve been impressed by her style and diversity since happening upon her blog: CHARRON’s CHATTER, so much so I invited her to guest blog at my site today. *looks worriedly toward crashing sounds emanating from the kitchen*
Of course, no one was more surprised than me to find the lady on my doorstep this morning, but I have to admire her get-up-and-go. She certainly got up and went *winces at the sound of shattering glass * and who knew she even had a passport? (Note to self: privatize address) It seems Karen interpreted the invitation to guest blog with me quite literally, traveling all the way to Romania to do so, but I suppose that’s a hazard of interviewing the literary minded, at least if you interpret the root of that word liberally. *cranes head nervously toward sound of suddenly barking dog* So, without further ado, let’s meet the lady now!
Cristian: Welcome, Karen, welcome. How was the flight?
Karen: Fancy. *sits on couch, and pummels cushions enthusiastically* And a little long. We circled the runway for hours!
Cristian: Blame Twilight for that. Part of the reason I invited you to visit virtually.
Karen: Two bags of peanuts., though.
Cristian: Jet lag is the worst.
Karen: It certainly is. Especially if you use frequent flyer miles. Do you know they actually seat passengers in the cargo area now?
Cristian: *points to splintered frames askew on a fluffed cushion* Are those my glasses?
Karen: I got all kinds of cozy with a giraffe. That’s probably what’s riling your dog.
Cristian: I don’t have a dog.
Karen: You do now. Where’s your guest room?
Cristian: I don’t really have one.
Karen: You don’t mind couching it then, do you? *pounds cushions again, completely shattering frames* I have a bad back.
Cristian: You’re getting off topic. I invited you here to discuss writing.
Karen: Writing? You want to talk about writing? I thought you said: biking.
Cristian: I want to discuss your blog and pending book release.
Karen: And after all that trouble I went to ship my unicycle. *sighs dramatically*
Cristian: Tell me, Karen, while I still have patience—and readers. What kind of writing do you feature at your blog CHARRON’s CHATTER?
Karen: The pixelated kind, mostly. Are you sure we’re not biking? I noticed some really excellent trails on the way here. Right after I stopped to gather these wild mushrooms. *reaches in bag, and produces some suspicious looking fungus* Want some?
Cristian: I’ll pass, thanks. So you’d characterize your writing by dots per inch?
Karen: Uh-huh. Except for the Post-Its. I get crazy heavy-handed with Post-its. I use yards of the things. I’ve been known to write entire novellas on Post-Its.
Cristian: Speaking of novellas. You have an actual novel pending publication, don’t you? An urban fantasy titled: SPIRITED REMIX?
Karen: I do indeed. It details the adventures of a disenfranchised Spirit seeking posthumous redemption.
Cristian: Sounds interesting.
Karen: It is. The guest appearances by Carlin, Hendrix and Einstein help.
Cristian: Definitely an unlikely combination. When will SPIRITED REMIX be released?
Karen: Your guess is as good as mine. Say, what is this stuff? *grimacing as she finishes the last crumb of Cristian’s breakfast*
Cristian: An Egg McMuffin.
Karen: It tastes so exotic! So delicate and flaky!
Cristian: That’s the paper wrapper, Karen. *exasperated, and hungry now* And we’re going to have to wrap this up.
Karen: That’s okay. I have a yen to write some poetry just now anyway. Something with teeth! Fangs, possibly…
Cristian: To feature on your blog?
Karen: No. I posted a Non-Tucket before I left, and I like to switch it up. I’ll post the poem after I feature an op-ed about current events.
Cristian: You mean those clever ,rhyming riddles you write?
Karen: Only if the news is funny.
Cristian: I meant the ‘Non-Tuckets’. Where did you come up with that term, anyway?
Karen: On my keyboard.
Cristian: Yes, but what does it reference?
Karen: Oh, any number of things, as long as it rhymes. It’s versatile like that.
Cristian: You write idiom-based poetry, too. Would you classify that as a Non-Tucket?
Karen: A rose by another name, eh Cristian? *Karen buries her nose in dish of dried flakes* Mmm, so fragrant. Is this pot pourri indigenous to the area?
Cristian: Those are corn flakes, Karen. Anything else you’d like to add before we close?
Karen: Bananas?
Cristian: Well, readers, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little get together with Karen as much as I have.
Karen: Can I borrow your car?
Cristian: You can keep up with the author at website: CHARRON’s CHATTER, featuring poetry and philosophies, one-liners, fictions, riddles and more, or better yet, simply ask her for an interview. Please!
So there it was there then. Hope you enjoyed…it was sure fun to write. 🙂
Gallery II
April 23, 2013 20 Comments
You’ve all gotten a chance to see my work here at CHARRON’s CHATTER; today I’d like to share another sampling of my late sister’s artwork: Diane Caroline Robiscoe. She could work in many mediums, as evidenced below.
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Clay work
Diane Robiscoe
Pencil Sketch
Diane Robiscoe
Glazed Clay
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Sculpted Clay
Diane Robiscoe
Acrylic
Diane Robiscoe
Sculpted Clay
Diane Robiscoe
Markers
Diane Robiscoe
Tin
Diane Robiscoe
Colored pencils
Diane Robiscoe
Detail Clay Work
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Detail Clay Work
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
Watercolor
Diane Robiscoe
I had trouble finding some of the original discs, so unfortunately lost some vital DPI when re-sizing some images, blurring the finer points, although a few are re-sized at proper DPI. Once I retrieve these discs, I’ll feature additional Gallery posts. Have an inspired day. To view the flagship Gallery post, please click: Gallery I
TAAB2—A Recap of Ian Anderson’s Concert Tour
October 20, 2012 4 Comments
I’ve always wanted to see Jethro Tull, ever since that song “Aqualung” came out, so I was a fair amount of excited to attend former frontman Ian Anderson’s concert last night at the Chumash Casino. The frontman is the voice, after all, the most recognizable quality to a band, and Mr. Anderson delivered that voice pitch perfectly & more. A veritable Pied Piper of many generations, the flautist, guitarist, and mandolin-playing vocalist had a story to tell—a couple of stories, really, performing albums: Thick as a Brick 1 & 2—and a rapt audience to whom to tell it. An audience that could & did sing enthusiastically along.
Let’s get a better look at those…
So, we’ll be sitting in his lap, then?
Jim and I couldn’t have had a better vantage point. Treated to front row seats courtesy of a friend in the rightest of places, the show that commemorated the fortieth anniversary of the first album’s original release began not ten feet from where we sat. Left leg elevated and bent in his trademark, scissoring, Taebo-like stance, the sixty-something crooner wove a web of enchantment with his mad piping skills, engaging demeanor & resounding voice. Add in the props of cavorting, fellow vocalist Ryan O’Donnell— cane & umbrella, bowler, jester outfit & cassock as appropriate—and all of a sudden you had a performance on par with a rock opera!
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Backgrounded by projected graphics that varied between shadow shows & colored lights, and images of war, school, church & industry, the progressive rock music was much more than a sequence of sets strung together. The playlist unwound like the continuing biography it was, the biography of fictional child character Gerald Bostock introduced in the original TAAB as the writer of the poem that inspired the lyrics for that album. Gerald is fifty in TAAB2, and his life has followed one of various paths; scenarios suggested in lyrics narrative & philosophical, and dramatized through the capering antics of both lead singers.
Gnu Free Documentation License
The two-hour plus show was so artistically done and overall enjoyable, I’m hard put to pin down a favorite part, but I’ll give it a shot. The spoofed YouTube video of a: “posh bloke in a garden setting” portraying Ian as a tour guide at a sumptuous estate was brilliant, as was violinist Anna Phoebe Skyping in a stringy contribution while juggling baby & domestic duties, while both guitar and drum solos by Florian Opahle and James Duncan respectively—were phenomenal. (The drummer being Ian’s own progeny, of course.)
Last but not least, the “Death by Chocolate” gelato we picked up on the way out of Samala Showroom was a good bit(e) too, and the incidental jackpot won from a one-armed bandit was pure money. Sure Santa Barbara is nice, but the amenities of Santa Ynez Valley—and Chumash Casino & Resort—are a great bet, too.
This post is featured in Arts & Entertainment category of: Scifi News & Chat
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