Convergence part the first

The start of the weekend.

I headed off around 1 after getting some stuff I needed for my travel bag and drove straight through. No stops. The drive to MN is so much easier than the drive to the Chicago area. Well … shorter anyway. It was gerbil city out on the road today. The Iowa speed limit had just gone to 70 mph today so folks were either unaware of it or taking it as a dare. I kept getting stuck between them. Funfunfun.

I found the place that I am staying with little difficulty. It’s amusing that I am staying at a Motel 6 considering … well … not all of you have heard the song yet.

I slept for a few hours and headed off to the convention hotel. I like the space and hope some year to be able to afford to stay here. It is the most expensive rooms of any hotel I have been in the last couple of years. You would think that considering how many people this con brings in they could get a better room rate. Maybe next year I can find some folks to room with.

Anyway … I digress (really ???)

I got my badge (a story unto itself, it would not be politic to go into it though) and wandered around a bit when the fire alarms went off. At the time I was in the opening ceremonies and we all got chased out. I started heading for the door, but went by the Harmonic Convergence room and saw that Riverfolk were indeed on at 8:30. I wandered in 15 minutes into their set and saw the rest. Wonderful as always and it was chirosinger who tried to set a capo wrong (see, it’s not always chasophonic !!!)

I saw various folk I know, a couple who have LJs that I have to look up names on before I post this (let’s see if I remember, I still haven’t worked out if this hotel has WiFi anywhere). (yes indeed it does, but I am too lazy to go find names right now)

I suppose that a problem that I have with the MN cons is that I still don’t know a lot of folks around here. I’m getting to, but considering that (and yeah, go ahead and scoff) I do tend to be a little shy, it’s taking me time.

I ran into a fair amount of folks I know though, and finally decided to head to the bit atrium here and type for a bit.

One nifty thing, I was next door at the DQ getting a burger (the face that they take plastic will help my cash problems a lot, it’s gonna be a rough weekend) and a couple of folk who had seen me at Marscon came up and chatted for a few minutes. I needed that.

I’m listening to the various music that is going on all around me, between the stuff in the Space Lounge and the music at the parties and the music that is coming from the dance, it’s an odd mix. I kinda like it. Hearing some of this makes me want to get out my synths again and make some music with them. Yeah, when I have time. I miss that in a way though. There is a chance that my old synth band might do something again. Between us we have the ability to finally get the sound we always wanted, as compared to the sound that we settled for 2 decades ago. Or I might just go ahead and do something on my own. We’ll see.

Well, more later. The music circle starts in an hour or so, the part of the weekend I am most looking forward to. Now I need caffeine.

Convergence Part The Second

or

Andy, play the blues for a sheep

The music circle started just a little after I posted. I was still brain dead and tanked completely on The Woman I Want. I mean completely. I got out my book and staggered through it. What I played last night was …

The Woman I Want (the what-are-the-words-of-a-song-I-should-know version)
How Can I Miss You (folks sang along, I hope you all feel dirty now)
Gun Sale At The Church – Buddy Blue/Beat Farmers (in response to the song before)
Bang My Bald Spot
Things You Never Know (which I had not done in ages, went well too)
Perfect Moments (no one had heard this song, a nice ending)

I do, as is frequently the case, have to commend the ever so wonderful Andy Anda (who will be playing with me Sunday) for his sterling work. I tried to give him plenty of room to play and man did he take advantage of it. It was a blast.

Chirosinger was fading through the night, but was still wonderful. Chasophonic was so smooth. Wylderwolf (or do I still have you two confused?) and his partner in crime have come so far in a year and were deeply wonderful. The SCA fellow whose name I didn’t get was brilliant. I hope he is there tonight too. The young woman who sang acapella was great. Freeimprov is getting better and better and more and more twisted.

This was a night when I was NOT the most twisted person in the circle. I had to fight to keep up actually.

Oh, some words on the drummers. Man I had fun with you guys last night.

So I am about to head back to the hotel for the afternoon.

I just got voicemail from the guy who ran the standup comedy contest thanking me for being in it. Lewis is a cool guy and he is doing something really major for the central IA area. I highly recommend coming out when the open mike starts up again in September.

Ok, heading back … how are you folks ???

Just a quick note

Andy Anda will be playing with me tomorrow, you might want to get in your cars and head to MN to see this.

These are always the most fun shows. And I am making sure he has a vocal mike this time. You all have to suffer the way I do.

update and a question Any requests ???

Convergence Part The Third

or

WiFi works in the Harmonic Convergence room.

Cool

I wrote some of this this afternoon ... so there

3 Pints Gone just got off stage, their usual rousing performance.

Now I am waiting for them to work out the buzz on Adam Stemple’s guitar.

I was at a panel called Filk For Idiots or some such thing. It was a beginners guide for … well … a lot of folks who knew all about filk. David Romm was more or less the moderator. I didn’t know three of the rest, but Lukeski was also on the panel and played a bunch of stuff by himself and other folks (got to hear Inner Voice again, I need to get that CD, but money has not allowed).

It was a good time, and I ended up missing Folk Underground’s set. Bummer.

So the singer with Adam is incredible. This is going to be fun.

More as it goes along.

Back to now ... 10 pm in the HC room.

I'm watching David Perry, great stuff. I'm going to head up to Connies shortly to see some of Luke's set. I want to see some of Janti, sounds like they could be cool. And then the Nick Atoms later. funfunfun

More later, everyone having a good night ???