On The Bench

I seem to be evolving into a different being, diurnal, a creature of the day. There’s a struggle going on between my Inner Child and Inner Mommy, and the Mommy’s been winning. I was waaay overcommitted (both in the “fun” and “no fun” categories) and sleep-deprived for years, when it really started to affect my health, mental and physical. I imploded last year, and realized that I had to change things… or else.

One of the hardest things to do was to make a loose commitment not to go out for late club shows on a weeknight (unless I can sleep in the next day), stick to genuinely early ones that start no later than 8pm, and not too many. It’s tough!! There are so many, and I seem to be missing a lot. Just 3 weeks ago we went to see Reckless Kelly’s CD release at Waterloo Records. I won free tickets for the show at Antone’s! A kickass show with The Gougers opening (a band I know since I worked for them, plus I did a gig poster for Reckless Kelly (shown on right) through their publicist but still haven’t been formally introduced. This is my own fault, especially I was hanging with their publicist at Waterloo. Dammit. Sometimes I am too shy for my own good). I gave the tickets away to someone who really wanted them, and I was sure he’d go so they weren’t wasted. Reckless plays Gruene-style Texas Americana Roots Country (that’s what I’d call it). Listen to Reckless here.

Then yesterday, I went to see James Hunter at Waterloo Records. His voice needed a rest, so it was a signing only (and I totally understand based on his unbelievably hectic schedule, including Jay Leno just the night before). His road manager offered to put me on the guest list for tonight’s Antone’s show… and I turned it down… getting up at 5AM… yada yada… I sure sounded like a weenie especially since the band is going on several days with no sleep… and I really wanted to go to that show especially since he didn’t play at Waterloo. {sniff} Now my Inner Child has been throwing a tantrum since that moment of missed opportunity. As for James Hunter, he’s like a combination of James Brown, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and lots of other 60s soul singers, except he’s a British white guy. He and his band are absolutely delightful, writes all his own stuff. Listen on his MySpace here.

Oh well… these days I seem to live for 7PM, curled up on the sofa with home cooking, MrB, a cat, and something good on TV – a DVD, a favorite show (waiting for most of them to return), or maybe just Olbermann. By 9PM I’m cleaning up the kitchen, trying to keep up with a few blogs, including this one, and propping my tired eyes open and thinking about the 5AM alarm. Mommy calling for Lights Out By 11. I'm a one-person dysfunctional family. The weekend will be here soon. Life is hectic enough.

Tags: Music - Austin