200,000!

That's a heck of a lot of miles! The YosiMobile tends to get cranky these days. And who could really blame her? She's not old. Only about 6 yrs, but she's got lots & lots of miles, & lots & lots of memories. A prized token is a small angel pin I keep on the sun visor. No, I'm not an angel believer, especially not the Angel of The Highway, (protect us). But, it was a pin sent to me by the grandparents of a little girl who "just loved my concerts." They felt I should have it. So, it went in the minivan. Most days I forget it's there. Kinda like you forget there's a hazard button on the steering column. But I know it's always there & this angel (the little girl) is somehow with me through the many miles. Been with me to Florida. A few trips to DC, Philly, NYC, CT, VA, MD, DE & way too many to count in the Garden State. Family outings, rides to gigs, shopping, etc. In a million years I would've never picked this pin to adorn...err...anything. Perhaps a Keep on Truckin' pin would be closer to my speed for a little kitch. But then I suppose it wouldn't have the same delicate sensibility of a dotting grandparent.

Fave Punk/New Wave discs

Had a chat with a friend about fave punk & new wave discs. This was a tough list to compile because there are SO many great albums. Many of the artists have several titles that could easily end up at the top of the list.

Here are my Top 10:

1) The Clash: London Calling

2) Sonic Youth: Sister

3) Iggy & The Stooges: Raw Power

4) X: Wild Gift

5) Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady

6) Joe Jackson: Look Sharp

7) Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols

8) Ramones: Rocket to Russia

9) The Cramps: A Date with Elvis

10) The B-52's: The B-52's

Depending on the mood & the day I can easily substitute these bands with the likes of: Devo, Dead Kennedys, Fugazi, Bad Brains, The Pixies, XTC, etc.

What are your Top 10?

Sold Out!...& swashbuckling

Well, it happened...Yosi & The Superdads have finally sold out completely...every seat at The Jewish Museum in NYC that is. Pretty exciting show today, this President's Day. We arrived at the museum to set up a couple of hours before show time. It was extremely chilly & he wind was freezing as we loaded in. We were told more than half the tickets were sold. But by show time the place was packed. Extra chairs had to be brought in. The crowd was lively & positive. Two new songs were added to the live show. "Bulbes" a traditional Yiddish Klezmer tune & "This Land is Your Land" which capped off the concert with a patriotic yet ragtime/blue grass feel. The joint was a-jumpin'. Next stop Germantown MD...3/3 Sat., 1:00PM, "Yosi & The Superdads" Black Rock Center for The Arts.

Oh, BTW, all three Levin boys have been immensely into Star Wars. Thanks to HBO having all the movies available this month & mama gettin' her boys light sabers. It's electric swashbuckling here at our home. May the force be with ye lads.

Planet of The Apes

Flipping channels on Sat. night I came upon the Planet of the Apes. Nik sat down next to me on the couch & said, "what's this, Dad."
"Oh, an old movie about apes ruling the planet & humans as animals, with Charlton Heston overacting (especially at the end)."

Now, I haven't seen this film since my early teens on the ABC 4:30 Movie.
I think Nik dug the costumes & kooky action/chase scenes. One particularly great moment is of course when Mr. Heston captured in a net exclaims, "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!" The 14 yr old part of me wanted to yell, "You tell 'em, man!" Funny, how that visceral reaction is there toward injustice & cruelty.

Seems I've forgotten some of the major socio-political (albeit, heavy-handed) points of the film: science clouded by religion, evolution theory as heresy, separation of church & state, man's destructive nature, respect for all living creatures, etc. I assume these topics must've made quite a stir in 1968. Do they stir the audience today? Seems the issues haven't gone away. I just don't see them in movies anymore.

George Taylor: Doctor, I'd like to kiss you goodbye.

Dr. Zira: All right, but you're so damned ugly.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Quick update:

1) Great new interview with Kenny Curtis of XM Kids on the "other" blog: Indie Kids Rock.

2) Got a copy of Alternadad by Neal Pollack. It's a page turner. (Who is Paige Turner?) It just might be safe to be a dad AND hip.

3) Hannah learned how to play "The Black Parade" on piano. Self taught too! I'm impressed. Except...she plays it over & over &...ahh, even at 7am this morning!~ I tell you her bros were NOT AT ALL pleased. Of course, my brain was tapioca this morn so I was no help in alleviating the early melee. However, I had the good sense to keep quiet until such time as I had enough caffeine in my veins to hold on to a thought. (It's been a quiet day. Ha!)

4) Boring stuff: painting Hannah's room. Had two neighbors weigh in on a debate regarding possibly installing a chair rail & color to paint said item. (Told ya it was boring.) As usual, Heather was right. The neighbors were right. I was wrong. So, by default, being wrong I get to the "right" thing, & paint the room according to those in the right.

5) Jonathan had a Pajama Day at school & was quite excited about it. For a second just before entering his preschool room he was hesitant wondering if the other kids had their jammies on...you know, like that dream...you're enter your classroom & you are the only one who's naked...ayieeeeeee!!! Well, much to his relief all were jammin' in their jammies.

Butternut Squash Soup

Winter chill has finally hit the northeast. It's been one of the warmest winters in ages. All we want to see is an inch or two of snow SOMETIME before spring. I want to see the kids wearing their PJ's inside-out in hopes that we have school closings. Don't you love those early morning radio school closing announcements? You know how all the kids huddle around the radio to really listen for their school.

Anyhoo, it was cold enough for that midwinter delicacy, Butternut Squash Soup. Mmmm. And this time I made it extra thick. Not exactly by design, mind you, but by steaming more squashes (squashi?) than needed. I don't know how you feel about a hot bowl of that thick orange stuff. For us it's truly livin'. Total comfort food. Warms yer belly & soothes yer heart. Ain't no wars started over a bowl of Butternut Squash Soup, I'm sure.

Who booked this gig?!

Waking up at 5:30am to play a gig with a band just seems wrong! Good lord 'n gravy, to add to our woe we had to travel 2 hrs. to get to Salem. No, not Mass. NJ. Where's that? Just a stone's throw from the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I called Gary at 6:30am to see where he's at & just to ask, "Who booked this thing?" Got a cheerful laugh from the superdad who woke up at 4:45am! (I thought I was nuts!) Joe was even better. He pretended to have just woken up to give me a shock. He & Steve got a chuckle at my expense.

If the early bird gets the worm we got a school full of wiggly worm-like kids. The shows were lots of fun, & the crowds were enthusiastic. Afterwards, we headed to Cracker Barrel...mmm, mmm, good. Nuff said.

G'nite.