We're Open!

My posts have been noticeably short these days. Here's why (Click the logo for more info!):

Tonight, we opened. Never have I experienced such a wonderfully accepting and responsive audience. And working on this show has felt as if I've stolen someone else's wonderful life.

If you have a chance to check it out, please do. We are having a great time with this one.

peace.

Uncle Shotsie

If I'm honest, the only reason I'm posting this is because I have the pleasure of seeing Uncle Shotsie everyday, and it's fun to post youtube videos of people I know. Having said that, this is my first look at Uncle Shotsie in all his brilliance. Dig those lapels, why don'tcha!?

Working on this show feels like I've stolen someone's fantastic life. I'm having a good time.

peace.

One More Thing

Even though this is a new month, I couldn't resist posting what I discovered last night.

This is a hidden track on The Roots' first live album The Roots Come Alive. When I first heard it, my first thought almost exactly matched one of the actual comments under the video on Youtube.

Black Thought is simply scatting this stuff, and he's still more engaged than 90% of the emcees I hear!

Outstanding.

peace.

Emcee of the Month: Black Thought

There are thirty-year-old rappers who wish they could throw down like this.

"@ 15" from The Roots' Rising Down album


I'll be back with some thoughts about this tomorrow. Enjoy!



peace.

Emcee of the Month: Black Thought

Emcee of the Month for October 2011: Black Thought

Yup. It's getting real.

I'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts.

peace.

A Simple Tribute

"Act Too...The Love of My Life" by The Roots feat. Common



I wonder how my musical life would have been different if I was never exposed to The Roots. Perhaps I would be much more into other genres of music, like classic soul or reggae. Maybe I wouldn't have such a unrelenting desire to see or hear live music (because live Roots shows are simply the best in the world). It's possible I would have never even become an artist, rather a veterinarian or a motorcycle mechanic. Because The Roots are, quite literally, one of the most influential groups of musicians to my personal sense of artistic aesthetic. They have been at the epicenter of just about every important moment of hip hop for the last 15 years, (the exposure and mentoring of J Dilla, the formation of The Soulquarians, accompanying Jay-Z's appearance on MTV Unplugged, performance in the concert film Dave Chappelle's Block Party, the house band gig on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, etc.) and have proved to be one of the most consistent, thoughtful, versatile, and innovative groups in the history of music.

This is my favorite track from their 1999 release Things Fall Apart. They do Philly proud.

peace.

A Quick Thought on Auditioning

In the past couple of weeks, I've attended what feels like a gazillion auditions, for various theatrical productions in the greater Philadelphia area. In all honesty, I've had a ton of fun at every single one.

However, there is an element to auditions that I never considered (or realized) when studying to become an actor. Auditions are really, really hard work.

Firstly, there's the task of simply getting to the audition location. Since most thriving theatre communities exist in major metropolitan areas, this will almost always involve crowded buses, tardy trains, or heavy road traffic. Planning time for unforeseen delays and detours can be quite tricky, especially on days with multiple auditions (like today).

Then there is the extreme variety of roles for which I've been auditioning. Each one is so very unique and different from the next; it's a tough job keeping up with who is who and making the transitions from playing one character (with a distinct set of beliefs, needs, and ideals) to another. This element is compounded by the necessity of reading all the wonderful plays I've been sent in order to have a more complete sense of who these people are. It truly requires a full time effort.

However, I feel the most challenging aspect of this flurry of auditions is meeting and interacting with the various personalities in the audition room, especially from directors. Each one has his or her own feel, sense, or impulses for making theatre. Being open and receptive to such a wide range of suggestion and adjustment is an absolute must, but more often than not leads to intriguing discoveries in the moment and movement of an audition. And every moment requires complete commitment and abandon. I'm tellin' ya, tough stuff.

Nevertheless, everyone I've met has been nothing but welcoming, accommodating, sincere, and professional. I'm really very happy to finally be making my way, and in such a first rate theatre community. I'm having a great time.

peace.

A Quick Thought on Community

As of this morning, I've been a member of the Philadelphia theatre community for 11 months and 10 days. I've mailed or emailed dozens headshots and resumes, attended tons of auditions, and seen as many plays as my time and resources can afford. It's been a difficult, exhausting, wonderful, inspiring, thoughtful, blinding experience. Even though it's been a year, it's really only felt like a month. I hardly know where the time went.

And in the first months, I hardly knew a soul in town.

Tonight I went to see a fantastic outdoor production of Richard III by Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company. (If you have a chance, check it out! There's information here!) Some of my castmates from Delaware Shakespeare Festival's The Winter's Tale where there to enjoy the show. (If you have a chance, check us out! There's information here!) After the show, many of us stuck around to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and laugh with familiar faces.

As the stories and conversations played on, I began to feel something different about myself tonight.

I genuinely felt as if I was becoming a part of something in this town; a collective; a culture; a society. Due to the important work I've done so far in Philly (both on my own and with others), I've begun to build a respectable history for myself here. I'm no longer the guy that someone met at the bar one time, humbling announcing myself as the new guy in town. I have new energies in my life that are becoming important and welcomed facets of my experience. I felt the beginnings of friendships and important conversations. I sense I'm starting down the right path towards being a productive member of a first rate theatrical community.

It's a good feeling, and I'm incredible grateful.

peace.

Hip Hop Summers: 101

I'm throwing down a gauntlet tonight. If you claim to be a follower of hip hop music and culture and you DO NOT know the words to this song, then you have some studying to do. (There are songs I should know that I don't. So I have studying to do, too!) As far as I can tell, summer doesn't begin in the world of hip hop until this song starts spinning on the radio.



Here, I'll even put up the lyrics so you may follow along. Don't say I've never done anything for you.

Verse 1:
Here it is, a groove slightly transformed,
Just a bit of a break from the norm,
Just a little somethin' to break the monotony,
Of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be
A little bit out of control; it's cool to dance
But what about a groove that soothes and moves; romance?
Give me a soft subtle mix,
And if ain't broke then don't try to fix it.
And think of the summers of the past;
Adjust the base and let the alpine blast.
Pop in my CD and let me run a rhyme,
And put your car on cruise and lay back cause it's summertime.

Verse 2:
School is out and it's a sort of a buzz.
Back then I didn't really know what it was,
But now I see what happens it's
The way that people respond to summer madness.
The weather is hot and girls are dressing less,
And checking out the fellas to tell 'em who's best.
Riding around in your Jeep or your Benzos,
Or in your Nissan stting on Lorenzos.
Back in Philly we be ou in the park.
A place called the plateau is where everybody goes.
Guys out hunting and girls doing likewise;
Honking at the honey in front of you with the light eyes.
She turn around to see what you beeping at;
It's like the summer's a natural afrodisiac.
And with a pen and pad I compose this rhyme,
To hit you and to get you equipped for the summertime

Verse 3:
It's late in the day and I ain't been on the court yet;
Hustle to the mall to get me a short set.
Yeah I got on sneaks but I need a new pair,
'Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there.
The temperature's about 88.
Hop in the water plug just for old times sake.
Break to ya crib change your clothes once more,
'Cause you're invited to a barbeque that's starting at four.
Sitting with your friends cause y'all reminisce
About the days growing up and the first person you kissed.
And as I think back makes me wonder how
The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia.
All the kids playing out front,
Little boys messin' round with the girls playing double-dutch.
While the DJ's spinning a tune
As the old folks dance at your family reunion.
Then six o'clock rolls around,
You just finished wiping your car down.
It's time to cruise so you go
To the summertime hangout; it looks like a car show.
Everybody come lookin real fine;
Fresh from the barber shop or fly from the beauty salon.
Every moment frontin' and maxin';
Chillin' in the car they spent all day waxin'.
Leanin' to the side but you can't speed through,
Two miles an hour so everybody sees you.
There's an air of love and of happiness,
And this is the Fresh Prince's new defintion of summer madness.

There will be a test on August 31st. Be prepared.



peace.

Big Bird

Today I drove from Philadelphia, PA to my brother's home in Richmond, VA and the trip was fairly uneventful. Traffic was sticky in spots, my cat puked and pooed all over her carrying case (in fact, she puked before the truck even started moving), and I didn't have any air conditioning. But really, this is all nit-picky stuff. My cat and I made it safely to Richmond and I'm very happy to be hanging with my brother, my niece, and my nephew.

However, the most impressive event today happened just as I was passing by Andrews Air Force Base, just east of Washington D.C. I'm cruising along on I-95 when the shadow of an enormous plane swooped across the interstate. I mean, it had to be as wide as the entire highway (I think it was six lanes by now). It crossed the southbound lanes first, then the northbound ones heading east towards Andrews. I looked out of my window to see what kind of plane it was and saw this:

I was dumbfounded. I just figured it was going to be some standard issue military cargo plane, not Air Force One! I immediately called my dad and told him what happened (since I knew he'd be especially interested in my aeronautic experience). I mean, did the President just fly over me!?

It turns out that at the same time I saw Air Force One, President Obama was in the Oval Office meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, so he couldn't have been on that plane. Therefore I didn't actually see Air Force One, since the plane only carries that designation when the President is aboard. Nevertheless, it was a bit awe-inspiring to be buzzed by the President's plane. It made my day.

peace.

Pooped

I drove from Philadelphia to Elizabeth, New Jersey today; a town just south of Newark Airport. I spent about 3 1/2 hours of my day driving. So I'm spent.

Tomorrow, I'd like to spend a little time hashing out a chronic sense of culture shock I've been feeling since about 2001. But for tonight I'm going to hit they sack while watching this:

If you haven't seen this, you're missing a good one. Check ya'll tomorrow.

peace.

Reunited!

Today I rescued this beauty from the icy slumber of winter storage:

This is my 2000 Suzuki SV650S. I bought it in 2008 and I've put at least 15000 miles on it during our time together. We've had wonderful riding experiences in five states and two countries. It has a 649cc 90° v-twin engine and Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart tires. Since we've been together, I've upgraded it with Galfer Wave brake rotors, Napoleon Bar End Mirrors, a Gorilla security alarm, Trail Tech Vapor gauges, and a 2005 Kawasaki ZX-10R rear shock absorber. And the work hasn't ended. This season I plan to convert it over to more upright and back-friendly handlebars and remove the slightly more aggressively positioned clip-on bars.

For the last four months, my SV had been in storage in a facility on the outskirts of Philadelphia. This morning my cousin Nina and I loaded up into my Nissan Xterra and drove out to the storage unit. When I lifted the door and saw my bike sitting there covered and undisturbed, I felt like Marty McFly opening the cave where Doc Brown had hidden the DeLorean. It was like finding a lost treasure.

I rolled it out into the sunlight to install the battery and see if I could get it started. It took a little while, about five or six minutes, but I finally choked and gassed it to life. It sounded better than I remembered. When I first got into motorcycles I was initially drawn to the sound of an inline four. But now the sound of a high performance v-twin engine does it for me every single time.

After we let it warm up for 10 minutes or so, I put on my riding gear and hit the road towards home. And even though the temperature must not have been much over 40° it was a magnificent feeling to be back on my bike again. I can't get away from the pleasure I feel when I am a part of the environment through which I'm traveling rather than passively observing it from the confinement of an automobile. When I got home, my fingers were stinging with pain and my nose was running faster than Usain Bolt. And I had loved every minute of it.

Get ready. You can be sure more motorcycling blogs will be coming soon. C'mon spring!

peace.

We're Open!

I'm just getting in from the after-opening bar celebration. I'm going to bed. Tonight was big fun.

But come see! More info here!

Tomorrow: new Emcee of the Month!

peace.

What's all this white stuff?

If you're in the northeast, you may have noticed a little bit of precipitation over the last few days. Seeing as how I'm a country boy from eastern North Carolina, snow will always remain somewhat of a novelty to me no matter how long I live up here. When I see it blanketing the streets, houses, and trees around the neighborhood I can't help but feel just a bit of excitement and wonderment. Yes, snow can be dangerous and cause damage to property. Yes, it's a pain to shovel for an hour twice a week. But a day in out in the snow can be an incredibly fun adventure.

My cousin Nina, her two-year-old twins Madison and Roderick, and I had one of those adventures today. We went sledding over at the local park and had two solid hours of frozen fun. As I mentioned earlier, I'm from eastern North Carolina where there is very little snow and virtually no hills to slide down. So this was my very first time sledding and let me tell you, if you haven't had the opportunity to do this, go to where the snow is and get to it. It's off the hook!

But enough yackin'. Here are a few pictures of our day, courtesy of my cousin Nina.

Here are Madison and Roderick doing their Inuit impressions.

That's me with our trusty steed, a 2001 Nissan Xterra. My dad calls it "The Billy Goat."

I'm not quite sure what this one's all about.

And for the grand finale, a video of my first sledding experience for your viewing pleasure. I am such a child.

peace.