Leftovers Day show was good. Small crowd, but I knew most of them (and also knew where they’d heard about the show). Near as I could tell, they liked all the songs. “Bluebird on My Windshield” was an obvious favorite; so were “The Abomination Two-Step” and (of course) “Pole Dancing for Jesus.” “Hank’s Song” made ‘em think (good), and they liked “The Occupation Song,” which continues to surprise me—I’m not that happy with it, but it’s the audience’s opinion that counts, not mine.

Jane’s electric fiddle was great (as was Jane); we used Ken’s big amp—which is also a 3-channel—instead of the Arts Center’s. Could have used an additional song in the set (too many of the songs were short ones); overall we were just about five minutes short. (The 2^nd Street Market didn’t mind—they were closing down as we were packing up.)

Next up: solo gig at the Thirsty Lion in Old Town Portland on Tuesday, Dec. 6. 25 minutes of Christmas songs. I have six of those—if I can re-learn the chords to “Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire.” The sheet music for Mel Torme’s original is insanely complicated, and full of fruity jazz chords, and I know I didn’t do it that way. Mine is country music, with just enough of a riff to suggest I’m aware Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” exists, and I know how to play it (which I don’t, of course—that’s why I wrote new music).

“Justin” the big computer’s still not working—I should have insisted on proof the repair job was successful before paying the shop in Portland. I can take it back—and I’d have time to do that next Wednesday, when I go to Portland for caller lessons and to pick up the marimba. I do worry I’d be throwing good money after bad, but don’t know how to avoid it. I don’t have a clue how “Justin” is built—everything in that gigantic case is different from what I’m used to—and I’m not sure there’s anyone on the Coast who can work on it now that the techie who reportedly built it has been hauled off to jail. I have a feeling “Lazarus” the laptop is going to be the main computer for a while.

I need to record “The Occupation Song” because people keep asking for it (a good sign). I would like to include on the recording at least mandolin and standup bass (the Crazed Weasels) and fiddle (Jane), but I could do a full-blown production with trumpet, lead guitar, keyboard, and harmonica—I know people who can play all those things really well, and I can mix it in Audacity like I did with “Blue Krishna.”

I might not even have to record each instrument separately—I think I have adapters that’d let me hook up two or maybe even four sets of headphones (if I can get them) so multiple people could play at the same time. My mix—reminiscent of the choreography done on the old Porter Wagoner Show, where they had only one mike on stage and were taping the show live—would have to be perfect, though. The trade-off is if I have to record each instrument separately it will take a lot longer—and I hate to waste anybody’s time. I’m pretty good (if I keep practicing with the Tascam and computer)—but am I that good?

The video is what I expect will be the biggest challenge (and I do like challenges—it’s what got me into city-management work in the first place), because I can’t include any footage of any “Occupy” encampments. The one in Portland is broken up and dispersed and all the others are too far away. I’ll have to make do with (1) footage of where the Portland encampment used to be (it’s still fenced off because it still looks a mess), (2) footage of the little weekly “Occupy Manzanita” demonstration (I’ll have to catch them during the half-hour or so per week that they’re demonstrating), (3) footage of the musicians as they’re being recorded playing the song, and (4) footage of the places mentioned in the song—a coffee shop, a bakery, a library, a restroom, and so forth. I do have all of those immediately to hand.

Rapture Room Sunday night. Meeting a local songwriter Tuesday to listen to something he’s written (I’ll get to find out in the process how he knows me and why he considers my opinion important). Thursday night at the Tsunami, next Saturday at the library. Friday, I’ll skip music in Garibaldi and go to the play instead.

Joe