I have demonstrably little self control. To elaborate, a thorough reading of this very blog will reveal that I have maybe, if you're generous, one half fraction of a degree more self control than absolute zero.
But, we are all born with deficiencies, and this being mine, I try to work on it by exercising control over the myriad distractions that seem whole-heartedly devoted to keeping me from reality and work.
Unfortunately, I must admit one galling failure in this effort, and it regards the entire A Song of Ice and Fire book series and the Game of Thrones tv series it spawned. where the world they share exists I am helpless.
Luckily, however, the season finale has just ended so there will be no more game of thrones on television until next march 30th, so, barring heated debates with fellow book-readers, and teasing conversations with show-watches before spring 2014, there will be absolutely minimal fantastical nonsense on this blog.
I am ready to emerge from the cocoon of distraction and procrastination that GRRM built for me, a new woman, ready to engage in the truth of the world I live in.
and, oh!! do I have updates. Mr. Azari and I left Toledo thursday may 30th for chicago, determined to take all the rural, barely-drawn-onto-the-maps, roads. so as he drove i had a roving map going that popped up live music venues and showed how far they are from our route. the first one we found that looked cool was called the barn, so we drove by it and didn't want to knock bc it looked like somebody's house, so we emailed and facebooked, and as we progressed on our journey across indiana they called us back and booked johnny for friday the 7th of june. amazing!
encouraged, we pushed on to chicago, where my best friend in the entire whole great wide expanse of the universe, my ALI was waiting for me!! my excitement at our reunion cannot be held down by words. I love her manly man, chef andrew, her goofy dog addy, her very polite step-dog cooper, and her unaccountable ferret jack, with all my heart. i can't say enough good things about these people and their hospitality. LOVE them.
So they took such good care of us and came with us to an open mic at the abbey, where johnny killed, mostly he had none of the nerves he was nervous about, either because of my friends' warmth or which inspired my friends' warmth. i withhold my opinion on that particular cycle. They were incredibly welcoming and he played incredibly well. He continued his habit of raising eyebrows and the bar at open mics the following night at the elbo room, where he also killed!
In unrelated news, he will be playing a full TWO HOUR set at the elbo room, in chicago, from 9-11 on tuesday june 18th. so definitely tell everyone you've ever met about that show.
After we left chicago, ridin high on those open mic successes, we broke up a little bit, but immediately got back together bc of love. i'm told in grown-up relationships fighting does not equal breaking up, but im still learning that lesson. I think i'll get it soon. So onward, then, toward The Barn in indiana! we had some time, so we took a night off camping in indiana, roasted some marshmallows, i told ghost stories, he played his guitar, we fought together to destroy a great tent-intruder wolf spider, it was a wonderful night. the next day we drove through south bend to see whats there, and found an incredible man named ishmael who, for reasons unfathomable, is running a venue called 'quincy's.' but i'm sure he was a good reason for that. He welcomed Johnny's playing with open arms, so we'll be playing there in btwn detroit and chicago this week.
then on our way to the barn we stopped at this great place that gave me pulled pork and let johnny smoke indoors.
the barn was unbelievably cool. i made friends with girls!! and we danced!!!!! you have no idea how huge that is for me. it had been too long. johnny learned a lot about playing to an audience - these kids were not his usual crowd - happier, smiley-er, etc. they loved him, but he learned what they had to teach him about smiling.
and then - and then! they made us vegan food for dinner AND put us up!! one of the best gigs i've ever been a part of. I love you, the barn in st joe indiana.
SUMMARY:
Johnny Azari plays
Detroit MI at PJ's Lager House Tuesday June 11 at 10:00
South Bend IN at Quincy's June 14 from 7p until he falls off the stage
Chicago IL at The Elbo Room Lounge from 9p until 11p
and then we move west, and provide you with more western updates. look for cowboy hats.
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