lsg spot – 2am Disco Fries – Oct 21 2011

HOT Rewind

Shakedown at Arch St. Tavern

“It’s Friday night.  I am staying home.”  Famous last words.  I’m not entirely sure how I went from visions of a nice night on my couch to disco fries at two in the morning, but that’s how it went.  Via a local bowling alley with a stop to get my Dead on at Arch Street Tavern with Shakedown.  I can’t remember the last time I had the opportunity to shake my “sugaree” but shake it I did.  Honestly, my inner hippie chick sang.  How I love the smell of Patchouli and sweat.  If you like the Dead or ever did, you should absolutely check out Shakedown.  It’ll bring back…flashbacks?  Shakedown is opening for RUSTED ROOT on Sunday.  Details are here… (http://www.shakedown.net/sched.html)

Speaking of Arch Street Tavern…Arch and I and Chip McCabe are cooking up a big collaboration on December 10.  Stay tuned!

LBR Meetup at the Chester Meeting House

Chester Meeting House is an amazing place to see a show.  Who knew?  Apparently, LBR’s own Anne Castellano (http://www.myspace.com/annecastellano) along with The Hoolios (http://www.myspace.com/hoolios) and John Fries and the Heat (http://www.johnfriesmusic.com/) did.  Mike and I checked them out on Saturday for a mini-LBR team outing.  Anne was exceptional, solo on guitar, The Hoolios were a special find for me, and John Fries was excellent as always.  John tells me that they are going into the studio in November so hopefully we’ll see something new from them soon.  We did get a preview of what will be on that as he did play some new tunes.

Anne Castellano

The Hoolios

John Fries

One other special note:  The Thomas Hooker Parade is in Hartford on Saturday at 2:00 pm.  It was started by Mayor Mike Peters in the 90’s and is described as “hands down the weirdest, most made-up, rag-tag, cut loose, high-spirited, Mardi Gras bead and candy filled parade in Hartford.  Its purpose is to celebrate ourselves; our (capital) City, our creativity and our people” (http://www.hartford.com/event-detail.php?id=341) .  You should totally go and stop at the Pour House after for the CT.com launch party.  I did say Mardi Gras beads, right?? 

“Spot”light on…Patti Smith Photo Exhibit at The Wadsworth

I was 11.  It is one of those life snapshots for me.  I remember being blown away by the album cover when my Mom brought it home.  On it was this sexy dark-haired woman wearing a light colored (I remember it as pink) tank top in what I thought was a provocative pose.  And wow the Mapplethorpe inner sleeve!  The album was called Easter.  And whenever my Mom left me at the house, I would put that album on the record player and crank it up.  I had to have worn out the grooves.  I get a little giggle in my heart thinking about the first strains of “Til Victory”.  God I loved her kick ass delivery.  And she dropped the F-Bomb!  OMG!  On a record!  I couldn’t believe it.  And I would belt out “Because the Night” like my life depended on it.  I was Patti Smith.  And I loved her.  It’s funny…I just listened to “Ghost Dance” and can still sing the lyrics… (smile).

Anyway, Connecticut’s coolness factor goes skyrocketing on Friday as Patti Smith’s “Camera Solo” photo exhibition makes its US premier (that’s right…she’s starting here!) at The Wadsworth Atheneum in Harford.  Can you believe it?  I can hardly.  The exhibition will include seventy photographs, one multi-media installation, and one video work.  It will be running at the Wadsworth through February 2012.

I thought that by being members we’d have the chance to see her show October 20 (the night before the exhibit opens) gratis.  But no and it was a bit pricy for us.  However, as members, we do get to have a members breakfast Friday morning so we can see her work before anyone else AND…a signing.  I’m hoping that my Mom still has that Easter album.  All these years later, I’d love to be able to have her sign it.  Wish me luck!

If you live in CT and you have never been to the Wadsworth, what are you waiting for?  You will be blown away by the caliber of art we have in the permanent collection housed at the Wadsworth.  You don’t have to go to NYC to see world renowned art.  It’s right at your back door.  For more information on the Wadsworth and the Patti Smith Exhibition, contact the Wadsworth (http://www.thewadsworth.org/)

I could have picked a few winners from the Easter album but I have to go with what I sang as a budding young rocker chick.

What’s HOT this week…

Friday October 21

**Katie Wilson, Outer Space, Hamden – 7:00 pm

**2nd Annual Hartford Zombie Crawl, Starts at Pig’s Eye Pub, Hartford – 7:00 pm

**Boom Boom Review Burlesque Halloween Party, Anna Liffy’s, New Haven – 8:00 pm

**Acoustic Afterdark featuring Heirlooms, Firebox, Hartford – 9:00 pm

**Dead by Wednesday, dEUCE bUG, et al, Acoustic Café, Bridgeport – 8:00 pm

**Fright Train, Essex Steam Train, Essex – 6:30 pm

**Manic Productions presents Th’Legendary Shack*Shakers w/Lushlife and The Proud Flesh, Daniel Street, Milford – 8:00 pm

**Paris in Plantsville, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Bring your props for audience participation!) plus Beat City Beauties Burlesque, 15 West Main Street, Plantsville – 7:00 pm

Saturday Oct 22

**Mindz-I Ent. presents Inside Out, Georgetown Saloon, Redding – 9:00 pm

**John Street, Downtown Café, Bristol – 9:00 pm

**Exposed Music Festival featuring Freedoms Reign, The Webster, Hartford – 6:00 pm

**Halloween at Arkham Asylum featuring Stark Raving LuLu and The Peacock Flounders, Zen Bar, Plainville – 8:00 pm

**Hooker Day Parade, Step off at High and Allyn, Hartford – 2:00 pm

**CT.com Launch Party and Hooker Day Parade After Party, The Pour House, Hartford – 3:00 pm

Sunday Oct 23

**Harvest Festival featuring Shakedown and Rusted Root, Haddam Neck Fair Grounds, East Haddam – 6:00 pm – Shakedown; 8:00 pm Rusted Root

Hey! You! We’re not done yet! Check out my fb page – http://www.facebook.com/lsgoriginal – and follow my antics on Twitter at @lsgoriginal. Web page forthcoming!

Peace…

lsg