Here is a link to the book Aunt Syd is talking about, just click on preview book unfortunately they don't allow you to look at the whole book because they want you to buy it. Fortunately for you if you decide you want to buy I didn't mark the price up.

Raising Sand

Sydney took me to the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Raising Sand" tour concert last Tuesday at the Greek Theater and I want to thank her for a great experience. She also gave me the CD and typically I've been playing it over and over again to hear the words and stories and get it stuck in my head.

I had heard they had collaborated on an album and I remember thinking what a strange pairing this is; the Christian, country singer and one of the bad boys of rock and roll. But time has mellowed Robert somewhat and the blend is like Chocolate and Cherry, just flat good. Alison seemed a little shy on stage. I've seen her several times on Austin City Nights and she seems to be happy to let the band have more of the spotlight. She was the same way here, but her voice and fiddle smoked and Robert just puts on a great show. He is the master of the stage.

T Bone Burnett produced the album and played in the band. He also did several numbers in the middle of the show to give Alison and Robert a break. Besides the album tunes T Bone put together a blend of older songs with a new twist. If you saw "That Thing You Do" you remember how Jonathon Schaech's character wrote the title song as a slow ballad, but when the drummer Guy Patterson, played by Tom Everett Scott, got flustered on stage and increased the tempo the song took on a completely different flavor. Well they did this in reverse. They played Led Zepplin's "Black Dog" at about 1/8th the speed and "I'm In The Mood" about 1/2 speed. Only the hard core Zep fans recognized them early in the song. I didn't know what they were singing till the lyrics started. It was like a rediscovery for me. I hope they put them in an album.

The opening act was Sharon Little and if you've never heard of her it's because she just put out her first CD. I recommend you sample her stuff on the web. She has a smokey blues voice that reminded me of Janice Jopplin, but smoother - less raw. Check her out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD4bESDYj2g.

Before the show and after dinner at the new and trendy Kitchen 24 on Cahuenga (Syd knows all the hot spots)we had an unexpected treat when we went to Amoeba Records and the Watson Twins were performing live. Coincidentally, they were the backup for Jenny Lewis who was a member of Rilo Kiley. Dave Ford from Syd's video below was also part or Rilo Kiley. One more example of the six degrees of separation I guess.

Anyway, thanks little sis. It was a great evening.

A Wonderful and Very Cool Gift

Well, another Santa Monica Fireworks show has passed and it was very fun. I have some pictures to post which I'll do later when I have a bit more time. In the meantime, I had to tell you all about a very special gift that Jenni sent me and I was able to show off at the gathering yesterday (it was a big hit!). Jenni turned the first year of the Risser Chronicles Blog into a book documenting many of the entries (including comments). She also included a DVD of the video of Jett boxing the Dog in his Tigger costume- makes me laugh everytime!
She did it off of blurb.com. If you have any interest of doing the same (you know, sending me a book and all :-) you can ask Jenni about it. She also made one of her blog documenting Aaron and their families adventures. Great idea.

David Ford

Aunt Syd asked me to post this video of David Ford sampling sounds only to loop them live, i.e. at that moment, to create to create the effect that an entire band is playing for him while he sings.




Q. How do I embed videos on my website or blog?

A. To embed a video, just copy the code from the "Embed" box—you can find it in the "About This Video" box when you're watching the video.

Once you've copied the code, just paste it into your website or blog to embed it.

Check it out...

... I finally got my video to download.  Check it out in the last posting.  He's added even more fish kites and another scuba diver.  I'll see if I can get another updated version.

Santa Monica Fireworks- June 28th

Yes campers, it's that time of year again... the 4th of July (but never ON the 4th of July) Fireworks Show in Santa Monica.  The date is rapidly coming and is Saturday, June 28th.  Santa Monica always has there fireworks on the Saturday BEFORE the 4th of July and they're shot off from the school across the street from my apartment.  Doesn't get more convenient than that!  The above is a picture of Sade and Jeremy at last years show.  The top picture kept downloading sideways and I gave up trying to correct it.  Turn you head :-)

I know some of Toni's clan had expressed interest but I think the trip for Stephen Randall's wedding might have superseded this one.  

Regardless, I would LOVE to have whoever can make it join us.  An earlier beach trip is the norm and we can shuttle people so we don't have to deal with too many parking issues.  We picnic around 5:00 p.m. then stroll and play games.  Fireworks are at sunset (~8:30).  Afterwards it's flagcake at my apartment, kids are changed into p.j.'s  for the drive home and by the time you're out the door for home all the traffic is gone and it's smooth sailing home.  Have I convinced you?  I hope so.  

Below is a video I took in Santa Monica (provided I set it up correctly... I ain't no Eddie!).   This man sets up his kites every Sunday.  This was from a few weeks ago.  This past Sunday he had even more up.  It was so fun... like watching an underwater adventure in the sky.

I'm Sorry, Stevie Schmitt, Where-ever You Are!

Soooo... in talking about time flying by and new puppies in the house, it made me think of a story of Me, Sydney, Stevie Schmitt and Pansy The Wonder Dog. Back in the days of our childhood (60's) we owned a little dog named Pansy. I'm sure you young-ins have heard of her and / or seen her picture. Anyway... we used to give her 'dirt baths' because we thought it made her coat shinier (after we brushed all the dirt off, of course). This required us burying that poor, brave, tortured dog in dirt up to her ears. She was such a cooperative soul. Well, one day Sydney and I (around 7 & 4 years of age - give or take) were in our side yard giving Pansy one of her dirt baths, when down the street walks Stevie Schmitt (he was around 5 or 6). We had Pansy halfway buried. He had never witnessed the dirt bath ritual and inquired (with concern) as to what we were doing to Pansy. I immediately piped up (with a voice of disgust) that "we're tired of Pansy so we're going to bury her alive!" Syd obediently followed my cue and kept silent. Horrified, Stevie responded, "don't do that! I like Pansy! I'll take her!" I responded, "you have to ask your mother first and we're not going to wait so you better hurry". Stevie quickly turns to run home (about 4 houses away) calling out, "just wait! I'll be right back!" As soon as he was off and running Syd & I quickly brushed off Pansy and put her in the house. We then ran back to the dirt and piled it up. Soon Stevie was running back yelling, "My mom said I could have her! My mom said I could have her!" The two of us sat there patting that mound of dirt with our little shovels as I looked up and said, "You're too late!" Stevie ran home crying.

Yeah, it was a rotten thing to do... but what a clever trick for one so young. Scary!