pale beneath the blue

Road stories and more from singer/songwriter, pale beneath the blue.

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Spend your holidays with National Treasure

It is Thanksgiving weekend tradition to go to the theater for a new film. We actually wanted to see Pierce Brosnan's new flick but there was only one showing. Instead, we went to see "National Treasure." I was curious to see this since I've spent so much time in Washington DC this year (and Nicholas Cage was another strong point.) It was awesome to see the inside of buildings that I've driven past so many times. The Library of Congress is beautiful. Anyway, the movie in itself was pretty cool. A bit farfetched, but a fun adventure you don't want to miss. My only question is, did the Egyptians or some other ancient culture have the ability to make a big stone door that opens by some button in a rock wall nearby? And if so, did it really make that annoying scraping noise when it opened? Just curious.

Anyway, what have you folks been doing this Turkey Day weekend?
Rhonda

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Air-piano and poetry for the Holidays

Ready for the Holidays? I just want to thank everyone for coming out to the Trolley Stop on a dreary Monday night to listen to Emily, Whitney and myself. The crowd was feeling a little feisty. Does anyone know who the guy was who played air piano and guitar through my set? He was pretty good. Anyway, I was reminded that it was in October of last year at a girl/solo/live show at the Trolley when I first actually met Ray Bigelow. He sent me a poem that he wrote that evening while watching the performances. It's called, The Cold and She and it's really cool. However, I seemed to have misplaced it so I thought you would all enjoy this instead:

"My Favourite Goth Things"
Friday, February 06, 2004 Fairborn, OH

Blooddrops on roses and morbid obsession
Pasty white faces, despair and depression
Chrome-studded collars chained to nipple rings
These are a few of my favourite things
Anorexic vampires bound in black leather

Darkness at midnight and inclement weather
Demons that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favourite things
Goth girls in corsets with gloomy mascara

Doc Marten boots stomping hard on viscera
Sleeping in grave yards and feeling Death's sting
These are a few of my favourite things

When the sun shines
When the birds sing
When I'm feeling glad
I simply remember my favourite things
And then I can feel ... so sad
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Who else would like to share?
Have a Great Thanksgiving,
Rhonda

Monday, November 22, 2004

My Time With Prince--one Guitarists journey

I started reading this book last night about this musician's ride on the Prince train. I couldn't put it down. I was really tired, but it's really interesting to read the "road to success" story of a really down to earth and cool guy. I met author and guitarist/songwriter, Dez Dickerson at 2nmc in September where I also purchased this book. If you like reading those rags to riches, before they were stars, behind the music kind of things--check it out: www.dezdickerson.com

What are you reading?
(New and improved with anonymous comments. Just sign your name if you want to be known.)

Friday, November 19, 2004

Hair color and Techno Music--the Link Revealed

I went to the salon (Mark Phillips) the other day to have my hair colored and highlighted and I remember thinking, "Wow, this is some really good techno--not too obnoxious. Kinda soothing in fact." The wierdest thing happened when I left. I got into my van and the very first thought that popped into my head was, "Wie geht es innen?" (How are you doing?) "Was ist das?" (what is that?)--I came to my senses enough to say, "Why am I speaking German?" Yes, I took German in high school. I learned a few words but was never able to speak it. I even went to Austria (note cover of rhe's, Fairy Tales & Happy Endings), but would answer in English when anyone talked to me. Are there subliminal German messages in the techno music? Or maybe it was the chemicals.

Patrice and I headed over to Columbus that night to play an open-mic at the
Thirsty Ear Tavern. Fortunately, she speaks a little German and could help me decipher all the Deutsch that was running through my head. We saw some really cool folks like Tara Naomi, and Leo Clarke and we met another cellist, Mike Ingall. All were very cool and exceptionally helpful. Then we ran over to Oldfield's on High to catch guitarist extraordinaire, Jim Volk. My buddy Keith Jenkins came over to hang out with me for a while and we reminisced about singing the Lita Ford/Ozzy Osbourne song together many years ago. What a fun night.

If you are still reading, I just received an email from
Masion on the Hill, an internet radio station out of DC. Check out Mark's review of "Inside." Scroll down a bit...ah, you found it.

Monday, November 15, 2004

Powell Resigns Cabinet to begin Career in Rap Music

Though Rap may be the next logical step for Colin Powell, he and the other Flee-ers will probably get rich by writing tell all books. Can't wait for that. Wish we had some great gossip about some politician that we met doing something seedy at the Austin Grill in DC, but we don't. All we can tell you about DC is that it's one of our favorite places. We met so many cool people and our good friend and fan (and poet) Ray Bigelow came out to see us since he was visiting from Dayton. Also, Jim Steed (local artist extraordinare), Human Factor (Blake and Paula), John Althen (who makes the weird noises on Inside), and Chris, Cathy and Eric Peterson (our wonderful hosts) just to name a few.

Our travels also took us to Cleve-land. Another really cool place that we love to visit. Again we had the pleasure of playing on WRUW with Cuzin Dave. Then we headed back to the Spider to play. We ended up staying until after 12. I got to chat with my friend Todd and his wife Mary and I also met some really cool folks from Columbus? Long story. I was exhausted so Patrice had to drive to Pittsburgh where we were staying with her cousin for a couple of days. I remember waking up several times and Patrice was turning around. Pennsylvania--our nemisis. Maybe I'll write a song about it someday.

oh, oh, oh, I almost forgot. We went to Ikea in Pittsburgh. So, I already know everything I want and I go immediately to reserve the items I want. I even found some other things that I figured would be useful. However, I go down to pick up everything and check out and what? You don't have it? Excuse me? Well, what was the point of reserving it? NO, I can't come back in a couple of weeks--I live in Cincinnati! I was a little annoyed to say the least. It did make it easier to move our equipment around in the van, but still. Now I have to pay shipping.

Anyone else have irritating Pennsylvania or Ikea stories? I hear that misery loves company...
Rhonda

Monday, November 08, 2004

Leo Sayer feels like dancing again?

So, it's Monday, again. I don't have cable so where do I find news? Yahoo. Yeah, I'm always the last to know. I didn't find out who our President was until Wednesday evening. But I checked out Yahoo this morning only to find that a) there is no big news and b)Leo Sayer, 70's "pop-star" wants to move to Australia to begin his career all-over again. First off, do two hits make a pop star? I guess we've lowered our standards--maybe I'm already a star and I just don't know it yet. I think I need to reconsider the cable thing--I'm out of the loop.

Anyway, lots of cool stuff happening. We are featured on a cool site this week--check it out: www.mp3collegeradionetwork.com and we've been added to internet radio station www.mansiononthehill.biz

We'll be seeing those of you who live in Cleveland and DC this week. Until we come to your town again, you can keep up with us via our new website. Thanks to Matt Smith for redesigning it.

Ciao!
Rhonda

ps--we had a great time at the Empyrean Coffee Bar in Nashville last weekend. What a cool group of folks we met. We definately look forward to going back there again soon!