We put out the feeders today.
This guy showed up as we were hanging them.
Hail, hail, the gangs all here!
Many years ago I changed careers from psychology to to technology. Best life decision I ever made. The psych field is made up mostly of scammers and others who are probably more psychically and psychologically damaged than the patients they treat.
Since my move to the tech field over 12 years ago I have had a great time, earned some decent money and had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most dynamic people one could hope to run across.
Unlike those who ponder the fragile psyches of their fellow man, these folks write software and design networks and network security systems intended to further the technological wonderland that is the very heart and soul of the Internet age we enjoy today.
Over the years, as I have moved from job to job, I have met and kept track of a handful of these guys.
Once in a blue moon when the stars are aligned just right we come together to catch up and shoot the proverbial shit.
Yesterday after work was one of those times.
Blake, myself, Kevin and Jeremy
Blake lives in Idaho now and telecommutes to work at McAfee. Kevin writes software at the same company I work for and Jeremy came back to Houston just recently after a stint at Sourcefire in Maryland. He’s back in Houston doing some work for my friends over at Alert Logic.
Ralph
Ralph is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle and preparing to insult you.
We love Ralph.
Saturday night
A pleasant evening at the 3700 S. Main Entertainment Megaplex.
Got chill with Mitch Pauls, England James and Peter King of the Light Rock Express at the fabulous Sig’s Lagoon before their set at The Big Top.
Thomas has created such a cool space. That’s him in the second pic with Trey standing to his left.
The main attraction was Sharon Jones performing with The Dap Kings at the Continental Club. Old school funk. It was a very nice groove and a heck of a Saturday night.
The Technology Bytes Crew
Last night’s show was odd.
The magnitude and scope of the aftermath of Katrina seeped into the program last night.
Calls ranged from those wanting to talk about the toxic sludge that will be pumped into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River and the environmental impact to questions about data recovery services.
The mood seemed somber and very low key in the beginning. Still, we managed to flesh it out with the humor and lightheartedness that is the trademark of what we do for two hours every Wednesday night.
In some small way I like to think we were part of the recovery process last night. Life returning to normalcy…a chance to reflect but also to just “be” again without the awfulness slapping you in the face in a constant barrage or images and sound bytes culled from the cesspool of disaster that is Hurrican Katrina’s legacy.
I have to remind myself to turn off the news and watch/listen to/read something else lest I be beaten down with the enormity of this event.
So yea, last nights show was odd, but in a good way.
Leaving the station Dwight Silverman commented on the silhouettes of the show’s crew on the front porch of the radio station. It was rather eerie and captured a certain mood so I clicked this shot:
The crew; Dwight, David, Phliktid and Barrett
Saturday night
In 1965 Roy Head’s song “Treat Her Right” was at the top of the charts.
While back-to-back Beatles hits kept Roy Head out of the number one spot, “Treat Her Right” was a worldwide hit.
Archie Bell’s “Tighten Up” topped both the pop and R&B charts in 1968.
On Sept 3rd, 2005 these two musical legends appeared at the Continental Club with The El Orbits as the opener followed by The Allen Oldies Band and then a mix of the members of both served as the house band for Archie Bell and Roy Head.
I didn’t get pics of the El Orbits but here is a great shot of Allen Hill getting goofy with The Allen Oldies Band. All those great 50’s rock and roll songs set the mood for the evening.
That’s Landis Armstrong on the far left, Mikey Trafton on the bass, Allen Hill on vocals, my good friend Jim Henkel playing the sax (that guy can play ANYTHING!), Joe Earthman also on sax and David Schoenbaum playing the Farfisa organ. Invisible behind Allen is the one and only David Bebee on the drums.
Guess what? Allen’s got a fever! And the only prescription..
You guessed it! MORE COWBELL
Before long the stage was reset and the band was in place for Archie Bell.
Notice the very talented Allen Hill has switched to the bass guitar.
He did not disappoint. This Houston native still had a ton of soul and put on a most memorable performance.
His set was followed immediately by Texas’ own Roy Head.
You will note that Jim has moved to the guitar, his primary instrument and it’s none other than the Dazzling Pete Gray playing the piano.
40 years later Roy Head still knows how to put on a show! Incredible energy!
The climax of the evening was when Roy Head and Archie Bell teamed up to sing “Got My Mojo Workin'”.
To top off all the great music there were some good friends in attendance who hung out, shared drinks, sang along, danced and just generally contributed to the good vibe of the evening’s festivities.
And now the obligatory picture of myself and the performers.
I look just a tad insane in this one. I’m just crazy for live music!
Road Trip!
There are maybe 5 or so artists on my “must see at any cost” list.
Right up there at the top is Adrian Belew.
Adrain Belew is a phenomenal guitar player. He has performed with some of my favorite bands and musicians; Frank Zappa, David Bowie, The Talking Heads, King Crimson, The Tom Tom Club, Jean-Michel Jarre, Laurie Anderson and Paul Simon.
I’ve seen him play with King Crimson and with Zappa on the Sheik Yerbouti tour. The last time I saw him was with The Bears at Rockefellers many years ago.
When my band mate and friend Joe told me Adrian had formed the Adrian Belew Trio with Mike Gallaher on bass and Mike Hodges on drums I was quite excited. When we found out he was touring plans were set in motion.
At the time we checked his tour schedule his only date in Texas was at The Granada Theater in Dallas.
This meant one thing…ROAD TRIP!
Tickets were purchased on line and we got second row center seats. On Sunday Morning Joe and I took off for the show.
The Granada is a great place to see a live show. It’s small, cozy and intimate. Our seats were spectacular.
There was an opening act called Bagg. A local Dallas jam band similar to Moses Guest and Drop Trio here in Houston.
They were good. I know they must have been very excited to share that particular stage this night.
But the main attraction was what we were all here to see. It was worth the drive and the wait. Adrian Belew did not disappoint. He played some of his new and older solo work as well as a few very choice King Crimson songs including Three of a Perfect Pair and Thela Hun Ginjeet.
After the show Adrian signed autographs, talked to his fans and mugged for the cameras.
What a great night!
Musical time travel
Seeing Beetle at the Big Top last night had the look and feel of what it might have been like to see The Beatles at the Cavern in Liverpool back in the day.
The Knitters put on a fine show at The Continental Club which also hearkened to a bygone musical era.
Gosh, I recall listening to X way back in the early 80’s as I was sowing the seeds of my musical dissidence.
