I'm glad I already had a ticket for the Silver Mt. Zion and Carla Bozulich show at the Great American Music Hall last night, or I probably wouldn't have gone because: A) it was sold out, and B), I would have felt irresponsible spending money on fun since there are all sorts of things we need, as opposed to want.
As it was, it was an excellent show. On the way to the venue I saw a guy, in lieu of the usual sort of hip hop medallion, wearing a genuine school clock on a chain around his neck - you know, the big, clunky 12" diameter ones. It made me laugh out loud.
Carla Bozulich started things out singing and sometimes playing guitar with keyboard, cello, and drums, in addition to another guitarist, accompanying her. The first few songs were decent, including one I overheard somebody saying was a Low cover (must be on one of their cds I don't own). Then, the keyboardist started a funereal organ dirge, sounding for all the world like Paul Chain, and Carla got some tall guy (audience member? co-conspiritor?) to carry her down off the stage, and then proceeded to sing the remainder of the song while making her way through the audience. After regaining the stage and finishing the song, the band was joined by Bonfire Madigan for the title track from the new cd, Evangelista.
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band was up next, and put on a stunning show. Their instrumentation consisted of two guitarists (sometimes three, when the drummer switched instruments), drums, upright bass, cello, and two violinists. The vocals, often thin and wavering, are a bit of an acquired taste, but one I've acquired. Everybody else sang backing vocals (hence the "Tra-La-La part of their name) to much better effect than can be heard on their studio recordings. They even did a couple of new songs, "a million people died to make this sound," and "Blind, blind, blind," which took up about a half hour of their stage time since most of their songs clock in at about fifteen minutes. They played for nearly two hours, with the sound ebbing and flowing from delicate violin plucks to full bore assault on the eardrums and back again.
This morning, of course, was the only morning this week that I had to go to work. Work consisted of going to the Office of Education all-staff inservice at The Flint Center in Cupertino. Our school was nominated for an award for our astronomy program, but we didn't win. Oh, well. At least the keynote speaker was energetic and amusing, punctuating his powerpoint presentation with cartoons hilariously relevent to the room full of educators and support staff.
Jen's out getting the girls haircuts right now. The boys got theirs earlier today. Tomorrow the three bigger kids go to school. Summer is gone.
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