Whipped cream and other Swedish delights

Monday night I went to see Jens Lekman at the Beachland Ballroom. It was one of the best live shows I have seen in a long time.

Jens had a back up band consisting of 6 women, one of whom was his opening act. They were all dressed in some sort of white frock. That sounds like it would be sexist and stupid, but it really was kinda cool.

The backup band had trumpets, saxophones, accordions, recorders, COW BELLS, etc. At one point my friend Sharon who was at the show suggested that it was a bit Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

It was....but in a GOOD way.

During an encore he played the song Julie. He was up on stage all alone with his guitar playing along and then all of the sudden the horns came in from behind the audience. Part of the band had formed behind the crowd. It was really lovely. I am rarely surprised by anything at live shows, other then the amount of second hand smoke that I am huffing in at about a pack an hour.

Here are a couple of songs for you if you don’t know his work. Black Cab (my fave) and Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill.

If you like them, go buy the cds at Music Saves!!

Whipped cream and other Swedish delights
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

The Terrible Twos!

The Terrible Twos!
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Saturday I went to the 2 year birthday party of my favorite record store. Music Saves.

it's just the best place to find yr indie rock and pop gems.

Also the owners Melanie and Kevin are the nicest people.

I love when folks call my radio show and ask where they can find that Jens Lekman ep, Maple Leaves. I happily send them to Music Saves.

There was also a concert next door at the Beachland Tavern to help celebrate the occasion.

I went so I could see Machine Go Boom. Check em out. They, like all the other indie kids, have a MySpace page. Kinda like the Thermals, but more Cleveland-ish.

"Take me out to the ballllllllllll gaaaaaame

"Take me out to the ballllllllllll gaaaaaame
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

I have not been updating this blog like I would like to. I can blame computer crashes and nothing to really write about. Both sorta true...both not true enough.

Last Friday I took Monica to her very first professional baseball game.


She likes to tell the story about when she moved to the United States as a 12 year old and had the pleasure of her very first American Jr. High gym class. They played softball. A game she knew nothing about.

The gym teacher, being the sensitive caring type that most gym teachers are handed her the bat and chose her to go “up to bat” first.

Monica told me that she didn’t even know how to hold the Louisville Slugger so she cradled it in her arms like a baby and went and stood in the middle of Home Plate. That’s what she thought she was supposed to do. They eventually showed her how to swing the bat and she hit the ball. After she hit it everyone yelled at her to “RUN”!

I think she said she ran out towards the pitcher.

Even with all that emotional damage she loved going to see the Indians get their butts kicked by the Minnesota Twins. I think it had something to do with all the snacks that were available and the 7th inning stretch. She did not believe me when I told her that everyone was going to stand up and sing a song.

The main interest in life and work

is to become someone else that you

were not in the beginning.

If you knew when you began a book

what you would say at the end,

do you think that you would

have the courage to write it?

What is true for writing and for a
love relationship is also true for life.

The game is worthwhile insofar as

we don’t know what will be the end.

-Michael Foucault