Odds and Ends

(Ralph Stanley image courtesy of thebluegrassblog.com)

Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there and greetings to all you mother lovers.

I'll ask your indulgence of this stream-of-consciousness post. I've got several unrelated bits and pieces of news to report.

Item No. 1: Music journalist Don Harrison has a cover story in the latest Virginia Living magazine about bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. I haven't sunk my teeth into it yet, but I expect it to be deeply satisfying.

Item No. 2: My Friday night music prowl was semi-successful as I got to hear Tokyo at The Boot, but arrived to late to hear The Villains at Tanner's Creek. Instead, I heard the rockin' rockabilly band Two Tone Cadillac. Tokyo proved to be a tight, competent quartet of bass and drums, keyboards and guitar. The Coldplay-Radiohead thing was in full effect, but they played so well and with so much passion, I can't knock them for it. I'll definitely see them again. Two Tone Cadillac is a trio that cranks out snarling, distorted rockabilly, complete with chugging upright bass, tattoos and one tall blond pompadour. They're not overly distinctive, but certainly devoted to the classic style.

Item No. 3: Mas Y Mas is preparing to release its "Proud Sponsors of Pepsi" LP and will play The Boot May 16 in honor of the occasion. Show starts at 10 pm and cover is a paltry $5.00. Here's an overview of what you'll get from the Mas Y Mas minister of information:

"1. NERVOUS HABITS (www.myspace.com/nervoushabits)
Kids still know a thing or two about crusty ol' punk rock and its
effect
on your beer belly.

2. NEW ROCK CHURCH OF FIRE (www.myspace.com/nrcof)
Fugazi, if they traded their politics in for a smoke machine made of a
pinata-dragon and matching jumpsuits, and were still good. And sold
T-shirts.

3. MAS Y MAS (www.rocksotough.com)
Our "Proud Sponsors of Pepsi" LP is coming out, and we're handing out
25
Silver Classics CDs to show-goers for free as well. We will be
providing a
power point on the food crisis, and how all your hedge fund money can
be
converted to straight ice for the nu-wave revolution.

4. THE HOUSE FLOOR.(www.myspace.com/thehousefloor)
Semi-local dance-pop powerhouse transplated for one night from the top
of
Airport Road in Blacksburg, they deliver live, and are our only
label-mates on www.soundfriends.org."

Item No. 4: Ampersand, a band recommended to me by my friend and neighbor Jim Roberts, is playing Stockley Gardens Arts Festival next Saturday 1:30-2:30. The group includes many (but apparently not all) members of old-time acoustic music combo Three Legged Back Porch Collective.