General updates

For some reason, I got a wild hair to update the lighting in the basement. I forgot why, but even with windows open and the two opposing florescent lights, this room was always dark. I started watching some YT videos and learned about wafer lights, 6" LED lights that simply clamp to drywall/ceiling tiles.

Lucky for me, the basement has a drop ceiling and I've been complaining about the lights for years. Years!

For about $100, I was able to get lights (x6), wiring, grommets and connectors. I did have to make a trip to Ace to pick up the right grommets, but after that, it was just some climbing up and down a ladder, snipping wires, connecting wires, cutting fiberglass ceiling tiles, and then, after about 4-5 hours, completion.

I was gonna put in 6 lights, but ended up going with 5. Sort of a weird configuration, but it works in the space. Really brightens things up and all I need now is a dimmer switch. Really like the improvement.

Now I just need to clean the room.

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That was one cool thing from yesterday. The other was that Paul from MS called me. I've known him for a few years now, since he started working at the EBC as a contractor. He's climbed the ladder and is now a manager of the ES team and he's been trying to get me back. We've been talking the past few weeks since I visited in December and it sounded promising, but turns out there is no budget for me to come back to my old team.

However, over at the IEC, an opening happened and they have an immediate need for someone. Paul brought me up to Cindy, who runs the IEC, and they agreed that they needed to talk to me. So he called me yesterday and we got the ball rolling. I was put in touch with Suzanne, who works for an agency that staffs people at the IEC. I had talked to Suzanne last year when I was looking, so we got back in touch and she sent over the background check paperwork.

Though it's not done yet, it looks promising and I had people congratulating me via text already. Until I sign the docs, I won't feel comfortable, but once it happens, it's a nice step forward. Back to the people and place I love, steady check (but paid only once a month), benefits (better than what we have), and lots of growth potential.

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Been playing way too much The Division 2. It's crazy, when I have free time, if I'm not hanging with Marci and watching our new obsession, Life Below Zero, all I want to do is play TD2. It's such a great grind and they drop just enough positive reinforcement to make me want to get on and play more. It doesn't help that Danny is into it, either, so we're jumping on a few times a week if he's up for it.

Love it!

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Music has been on the backburner for now. PITO had a gig earlier this month and hasn't rehearsed since. Cass and Robb played a quick 3 song Dear John Letters set last weekend for a Crocodile show. Too cold to go, so I stayed at home. I did have Sunset Grooves practice last weekend, which was fun, as always. We are sounding pretty good, despite having a month off from our last show. And we had rehearsal planned this Sunday for our upcoming 2/2 gig, but Dennis just let us know he has something going on that night, so looks like only one more practice until the show.

As far as PITO stuff, we have a show 3/2 at Darrell's and hoping we can get some recording done at Lang between then and now. Sadly, though, both Cass (friend) and Robb (cousin) have lost people close to them, so there may be some Real Life events getting booked that may cause delays. All good.

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Speaking of music, I keep thinking of recording more bass covers, doing a deep dive on Nate Mendel/Foo Fighters, showing off picking skills and justifying the GAS for a NM signature P bass. There's one in Bellingham for $1075 that I might be able to get for $950 if I go pick it up? Of course, I have no money, but one can dream and keep it in mind... Maybe if I get some gigs and CNY money and birthday money? Who knows; it's the last thing I need, but GAS is GAS.

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Ok, that's it for now, quick update. Time to brush my teeth and gear up for a run. Warmest it's been in a week and I skipped yesterday to install the lights. I can almost see the sun peeking through the clouds!

Gig report! 8/7/2021 Stereo Embers at Slim's for STAGFEST

There's a wonderful glam/pop/rock/dad band in Seattle called STAG. They have their Summer Stag Party on a yearly basis and we were added to the bill for this year, along with relative newcomers (as a band, but not individuals), the Kathy Moore Super Power Trio, as well as Mark Pickerel and the Peyote 3 (local scene legends in a super group).

Slim's is a biker themed bar in south Seattle, 3-4 miles from the stadiums. The bar/seating area does have a stage, but the cool thing is in the summer, they host shows outside in their "backyard," where the outdoor stage is an old flatbed truck.

Usually they backline equipment and this time, I was glad they did as my Trace Elliot amp took a dump last show. For this gig, I had an Orange Bass Terror and an Ampeg 410 at my disposal and needless to say, they functioned loudly and I left quite satisfied.


The first band up was the Kathy Moore Super Power Trio (please excuse the sound guy and obscured bassist). Aside from an excellent band name, the three women that make up the SPT are stellar musicians as well. Kathy is quite the shredder and threw down on many of the songs in their set (including one in 7/4!). The matching outfits were the cherry on top!

We followed with a powerful set of our own. As I was sharing equipment, I left the amp where it was (high hat side) when usually I'm on the ride side. It doesn't affect me much, but my guitarist is not a fan of being on the opposite side of the stage.



As we started our set, it wasn't dark out yet, so I could see fine. Trouble was, just in front of me on the floor was a LED light that was blasting on and off and was in DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT to my fretboard. It really became an exercise in muscle memory and hand/arm placement by feel for many songs. Add in the fact that I wear my long hair down at shows (not in practice; i should change that!) and I had a definite recipe for not being able to see much of my fretboard.

On a couple of our songs, we hit certain points and I get a little hoppy. The suspension on the aforementioned flatbed truck definitely took the hits of me jumping up and down and transmitted directly to my drummer, who said he had to bolster the snare by squeezing it between his knees! Oops!

We finished our set and reassembled in the crowd to many handshakes and backslaps and selfies. 99% of us were mask-free and going with the flow. I must admit it is a little weird, but I'm getting over it, being so close to everyone and yelling in their ears to be heard.


STAG followed us and, as always, they blew the joint up. They have very finely crafted pop/rock songs and, for Stag Fest, bust out a couple of horn players to supplement. So cool and so well done. So well, in fact, they blew the power for a second and had to source different power about 3 songs in. After that was done, the show continued with more lights, fog and high leg kicks.



Rounding out the night was Mark Pickerel and the Peyote 3. Very excellent alt-country story rock with a very vintage, thumpy bass offered up by Drew Church. They were a nice little post-rock dessert with their pompadour and professional delivery.

Great to be back amongst the hopefully vaccinated masses. Luckily where we live and perform, that is most people and so far, no one is making a big deal of it at the venues yet.

I did get a wildly effusive compliment (possibly enabled by several adult beverages consumed by the complimenter) saying that my playing reminded him of Ronnie Lane, Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney. I can't say I'm influenced directly by any of those men (didn't know who Ronnie Lane was; never got into Cream; only know the big Beatles hits as a casual fan), but was quite humbled by the compliment.

For 18 months away from the stage, I missed it a lot. Having 2 shows in back to back weekends is a great way to get back in the game. We're doing it again in Sept, with back to backs once more. Maybe next time I'll remember to take more pictures (and of food) instead of borrowing off of friend's facebook feeds.