Judy, Nanci, and Terri (and Lloyd)

We had a wonderful time seeing three fantastic performers this weekend. Imagine Terri Hendrix, Nanci Griffith and Judy Collins in one spectacular show.

We arrived very early at Montclair High School in North Jersey to be sure that we would find the auditorium and not get stuck in traffic on the parkway. This allowed us to be close to the front of the line when the doors opened. We managed to get two seats in the center of the very front row, about 20 feet away from the performers.
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Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines (Grammy winner for producing the Dixie Chicks 2002 album Home – as noted by the emcee), led off the show. As always, Terri and Lloyd played and sang with skill and joy. Terri played guitar and mandolin, with Lloyd accompanying her on guitar and dobro while adding backup vocals. They opened with "Hole in My Pocket" (which Marsh predicted they would play)

Show me ways to save my soul

show me ways to save my soul

I've got a hole in my pocket

where it all slips away

They also played the title track from Terri’s newest CD (due out in July) "The Spiritual Kind", and Terri’s signature song "Wallet".

You've got to own your own universe

roll in the grass and kiss this earth

and keep my name on your mind

and my number in your wallet

for when you got the time

They finished up with the raucous "Take Me Places", which features both strenuous strumming and vocals, ending with Terri singing scat in several octaves.

Take me to Mexico

wake me up in Singapore

Maybe we can see morocco

Take me where I've never been before

rat tat tat rat tat tat etc...Come on baby let's go let's go

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Nanci Griffith followed, delivering songs with a wonderful clear high voice. She added a dose of political commentary, while relating stories of her beloved "chain smoking, scotch drinking, socialist" mother, and her inspiring hip (with a finger snap), jazz musician, two-time WWII POW step dad.

She culminated her performance with a great rendition of "From a Distance", which she was the first to record. She then brought Terri and Lloyd back on stage for a great version of the Buddy Holly tune, "Well...All Right". Nanci declared herself as an honorary "Crickette".

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Finally, the magnificent Judy Collins took the stage in a sequined suit and a glorious mane of flowing white hair. The emcee asked everyone to sing Happy Birthday – Judy turns 68 on May 1st.
Playing 12 string guitar, and accompanied on piano, she opened with terrific versions of "Both Sides Now" and Someday Soon". She also included a cover of Harry Chapin’s "Cat’s in the Cradle", which she insisted everyone join in on.

Judy also added her own key board and piano (she was a young piano prodigy before moving to the guitar). She told stories and sang of growing up in Colorado, joining the New York folk scene in the early 60’s with the likes of Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.

For an encore, Judy brought Nanci Griffith back out for an a cappella version of "Amazing Grace".

What a finish. What a night.

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Memorable Concert Quotes:

Terri Hendrix, introducing her song "The Spiritual Kind"
"Spiritual people inspire me.
Religious people frighten me."

Nanci Griffith told of repeating this quote from Texas journalist Molly Ivins in front of a group of fellow Texans.
"Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention."

Judy Collins before singing Harry Chapin’s "Cats in the Cradle" said that she thinks Harry is up in heaven "Looking for a word to rhyme with ‘indictment’".

Oh you Animal!

Better late than never, here is a cell phone picture of Eric Burdon and the current Animals playing at Camden County College last month. Eric sang most of the Animals early hits, including "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place", "House of the rising Sun", and many more. The crowd loved it!

Up Next: Terri Hendrix and Lloyn Maines opening up for Judy Collins and Nanci Griffith. Whoo Hoo!

Hexed

The Cassini probe has photographed a bizzare hexagonal cloud formation circling the North pole of Saturn. The feature was first noticed 20 years ago by previous probes. Apparently, hexagons have staying power.

Visit the Nasa Cassini page for more details:

Clouded Leopard, Hidden Dragon?

Well, no dragon, but the leopard may have been hidden. A new species of leopard has been discovered living in Borneo and Sumatra. This kitty is as genetically different from other leopards as the lion is from the tiger.

The clouded leapard is not really new. Researchers have known about it for many years. They did not think that it was a unique species, however, until the DNA comparison was made with other cats. So the real mystery is why it took so long to figure out.

From AP:

The Borneo clouded leopard is darker than the mainland species and has many distinct spots within its small cloud markings. It also has a grayer fur, and a double dorsal stripe.
Clouded leopards from the mainland have fewer and fainter markings within large clouds on their skin. They are also lighter in color.
"It's incredible that no one has ever noticed these differences." said Andrew Kitchener from the Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums, Scotland.

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Demille . . .

Here is a recent, true color view of Saturn from high above the plane of the rings.

See more at the Cassini-Huygens mission home page.

Danger, Will Robinson!! DANGER!

This is the new international warning symbol for radiation. The feeling was that the old three triangle symbol was vague (unless you are afraid of fans). The new symbol sure scares me!

I feel like a Monty Python knight facing a fierce rabbit . . . "Run away! Run away..."

Sally

Something special for Valentine's Day. She's red. She's hot. She's raring to go!

Thank you, Matt

http://www.stiny.org/index.php?c=1

Here fishy, fishy, fishy. . .

For all of you wierd animal lovers out there (YOU know who you are).



Japanese scientists have captured on film a very rare type of shark. The frilled shark usually keeps to very deep water. Not something you are likely to find in the wading pool.

That was no sloth, it was my husband.

Not surprising. He probably could reach the remote. Any similarities to the previous post are completely coincidental.

From Yahoo News:

Wed Jan 24, 11:46 AM ET
JENA, Germany - Scientists in the eastern German city of Jena said Wednesday they have finally given up after three years of failed attempts to entice a sloth into budging as part of an experiment in animal movement.
The sloth, named Mats, was remanded to a zoo after consistently refusing to climb up and then back down a pole, as part of an experiment conducted by scientists at the University of Jena's Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology.
Neither pounds of cucumbers nor plates of homemade spaghetti were appetizing enough to make Mats move.
"Mats obviously wanted absolutely nothing to do with furthering science," said Axel Burchardt, a university spokesman.
Mats' new home is the zoo in the northwestern city of Duisburg where, according to all reports, he is very comfortable.

Uh . . .yeah . . .I'm awake . . .

Still here, and almost recovered from the holidays.

Party On

We recently enjoyed the CAI holiday party at the Hotel DuPont. The best part of the night was seeing daughter Karen dreesed to kill, in a real dress even! Here she is with boyfriend Adrian.
She looked even better in person - simply gorgeous.

Wave On

Here is great shot of Saturn's tiny moon Daphnis, which the Cassini orbiter discovered inside of the rings. The moon, named for a shepherd from Greek mythology, creates waves in the rings as it "shepherds" the material and creates one of the prominent gaps in the structure.

Zappa Plays Zappa

We took in a wonderful tribute concert by Dweezil Zappa in Atlantic City. The terrific band played a wide range of selections going back to "Call Any Vegetable", but included much of Frank's later, jazzier music. Other highlights were "Peaches en Regalia", "Montana", "Zombie Woof", and "Idiot Bastard Son".

http://zappa.com/zpz/index.html

The show featured Zappa alums "stunt guitarist" Steve Vai, drummer Terry Bozio, and Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals, sax and flute. The band also included another drummer, percussionist, guitar (along with Dweezil), bass, keyboards, and additional saxophone. I have never seen so many percussion instuments on one stage (this, from someone who has seen a lot of indoor drum line performances).

It wasn't quite Frank and the Mothers at the Filmore, but it was great to hear that music played live.

Blue Corn Tortillas

Nice teeth.

Thanks, Matt.

http://www.stiny.org/index.php?c=1

The play's the thing

Joe just completed a run playing in the pit orchestra for the Rutgers production of the hilarious play "Urinetown". He played trombone and euphonium for the quirky, offbeat musical, and sounded great!

In this picture, he certainly looks like a denizen of the town where everyone is forced use pay toilets, or else!

Ring Light

A beautiful view of saturn and its rings, taken while Saturn was between the Sun and the Cassini probe.



More at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

Giant Pink Space Frog

Giant Pink Space Frog Crushes Earth

His eyes see nothing but the sorrow of eternity.

http://www.stiny.org/oekaki/

Rutgers Rah Rah

Some scenes from the Rutgers homecoming game last week, and the Rutgers Glee Club.

RU Rah Rah!

RU Rah Rah!

Hoorah! Hoorah!

Rutgers Rah!

Upstream Redteam!

Redteam Upstream!

Rah Rah Rutgers Rah!

Agent #1

Good thing he's on our side!
More of Agent #1, and Stiny, at www.stiny.org

Steelyard "Sugartooth" McDan

That's the name of the wonderful summer tour featuring Steely Dan and Michael McDonald. We caught them on a beautiful August evening at the Tweeter Center amphitheater on the Camden Riverfront.

The show opened with Michael McDonald doing a long set that combined many Doobie Brothers hits, along with Motown covers that he has featured on his last two CDs. McDonald's voice was in great form belting out Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson tunes, accompanied by a strong backing band that included a terrific sax and backup vocals. He finished up with a rousing rendition of "Taking it to the Streets", that brought the crowd to its feet. We felt that we had already gotten our money's worth with half the show to go.

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker arrived with a 10 piece backing band that included four horns and two backup singers. They opened with the exuberant "Bodhisattva" and then carried on with a virtual greatest hits list of Steely Dan songs, including "Aja", "Peg", "Hey 19" and many others. Only one recent tune, "Pixeleen", was tossed in the mix. I would have enjoyed hearing "Cousin Dupree", or anything from Fagen's excellent new Morph the Cat CD, but most of the songs were rooted firmly in the 70's. Mid way through the set, Michael McDonald joined in on vocals and keyboard. He added an extra spark to "Show Biz Kids", "Do it Again", and others. The show ended with my favorite Steely tune, "My Old School", filled with wild guitars and a crowd once again standing and singing along with every word.

We left feeling that we had gotten two great concerts for the price of one.

They got the house on the corner

With the rug inside

They got the booze they need

All that money can buy

They got the shapely bods

They got the steely dan t-shirt

And for the coup-de-gras

They're outrageous
Show Biz Kids

Steelyard "Sugartooth McDan - The man, the legend