August and Birthdays

Off to North Carolina Mountains to celebrate the run of another year- I turn 27 Sunday. It is nice to be back in Georgia with the family after a six week, action packed stint in our fair District of Columbia. Junior League Band (notice the name- Junior League BAND- cough cough trademark being finalized as we speak:) ) was cordially accepted into a few fine festivals on the circuit this summer to which we give a "tip of the hat" to- thank you to Summerfest in Milwaukee

">

and FloydFest in Floyd Virginia

">

">

">

"> in That Last Floyd Fest picture, Russ Halgren used his photographic stamina to make me look like a babe. Thanks Russ for the help:)

Oh and Did I mention I got to meet David Grisman? Ah-mazing.

">

Feeling shiney and new, we picked up this fiddler:

">

So now there's a legitimate babe (can't you tell from Sadie's picture) in the band. It's ok though bc one day we will all look like this hot mama:

">

Right before we picked up our new fiddling babe, we picked up a bass player with ink to boot. We needed a little bad boy in our image, so we all got sharpees and covered his forearms in the latest greatest ink imagery we could google: see below:

">

Will's forehead is next.

Then we met Erik Lawrence. Then Erik Lawrence introduced me to Levon Helm. Then I got an old southern man peck on the cheek/lip goodbye in front of everyone as we left. This was my first Midnight Ramble as Erik's (Levon's sax player and leader of the band Hipmotism in NYC) guest. Wow- what a shot in the arm for a young, new, unsigned musician such as myself going for it. We brought erik down to DC after a quick stop over at the NewPort Jazz Festival where I saw from the backstages Esperanza Spaulding, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, and more. After a long midnight ride down 95 to DC, Erik recorded some Baritone Sax on the Junior League Record (out September 30th) and all of us Junior LEaguers were sitting pretty our new addition to the record. That combined with Kailin Yong on the fiddle (of the Boulder Acoustic Society), our very own Alex Platt, Will Waikart, Eli Cohn, and Martin Thomas....well, it's sure to be a good one friends. "Mitchell Williams Fo Govena"- look for it. Soon. Mitchel Williams was my elementary school bus driver for the Atlanta Public School System, and was an old white dude who decided to run for Governor and would use our bus route to flyer teh town with his "Mitchell Williams Fo Govena" signs. If you check out random electrical boxes in town, you can still find them left over from the late 80's.

Speaking of Martin Thomas: Martin Thomas, our Harmonica extraordinarre, was just recently arrested, detained and deported from Beijing for peacefully protesting to Free Tibet. A famous British Journalist was also taken into dentention, and the entire event caused quite a stir: see below: We are glad he's back in DC home safe: Martino, Our Hero. And Harmonica Man.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/aug/13/tibet.protest.john.ray

and an article describing an incident with a journalist covering la manif
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/13/olympics2008.chinathemedia

And on CNN
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/08/13/ray.olympic.protest.itn?iref=videosearch

Cheers fellas and females.

New music to watch for: the Moondoggies record comes out next week- get it from hardley Art. I just saw Grizzly Bear in DC- they were spectacular. Alex gave me the Avett Brothers Emotionalism record a ways back and I finally listened...excellent and good for a long drive. Really enjoyed Marco Benevento at the Newport Jazz Festival, that was pretty exceptional music- as well, he and his band were quite the gentlemen. Of course, Esperanza Spaulding was mesmerizing. And I can't get Levon Helm off rotation. As well, I've had this random resurgence of Ray Charles "Hit the Road Jack". Some of the old soul stuff and "Night Time is the Right Time". Of course I've been listening to various mixes of Junior League Band's demos, first mixes, second mixes, third mixes... and will do so until the record is fully mastered. It's fun to watch it progress. I've also put Alison Krauss back on rotation...I know, its been all of a few weeks since I listened to her last. However, this month, I am on the "So Long So Wrong" Record. It's wonderful, in everyway. I suggest you join me and put it back on your own rotation. I like to watch her older YouTubes. She's so much more awkward than the charmer of a gal she is now. There is hope for us all.

I leave you with an oldie but a goodie.

www.JuniorLeagueBand.com

Lissy