I’m having trouble keeping up. A LOT of that trouble is on the social front. I can see on my calendar three gatherings that I’d really MEANT to go to but just couldn’t make the time for. A party and a non-romantic coffee date and a singer/songwriter meeting that probably wasn’t “just social” for most of the people involved, but for me probably would’ve been mostly about the meet-and-greet with my local community.
I’m horribly aware of that grown-up lack-of-time creeping in and making me too tired to MAKE time for my friends. House of Musical Traditions often drains me, and frankly – betwixt that and my REAL job of being all musical n shit, I rarely have that longing for social contact that drove me when I was younger. Of course, back then I was often locking myself in the basement for days at a time to finish a painting. Visual art is so much more solitary – if that was still my focus I imagine I would be DRIVEN to get out more often.
I guess part of it also has to do with the fact that I don’t have a local social nexus anymore. Whereas the weekly open mic at Perk meant I had one place to hit to see all my friends a couple of years ago, now it’s all about playing favourites, balancing schedules, spending money in a new place… I’ll have to make some time (sigh) to really make friends with Six Mile Coffee, cause that seems a superb place to just hang out, think, read, get caught up and whatever else. It’s not hip or frankly BIG enough to be the nexus that Perk was, but it IS just around the corner. We’ll file that under small blessings.
Soon Heather’s heading out for a solo tour and I’ll go South with Kristen. Our side of things is going to be mostly a social trip, though we’re going to try to hit up open mics while we’re down there. One of Kristen’s best friends is down in the Triangle and hopefully I’ll be able to catch up with some of my own peeps – it’s strange and awkward to be in different places, especially since Kristen and I will be playing some open mics together. It’ll be like missing the better half of my voice. Meep.
I think this is one of the first times that ilyAIMY has appeared in lights! Wahooza! 
Heather and I demonstrating that we’re not nervous about playing with Ellis Paul. 
Heather’s SO not-nervous that she sits and plays his guitar for a while. He keeps this one tuned to Drop D and… fuck – what am I saying?!!? HERE’S A PICTURE OF HEATHER PLAYING ELLIS FREAKIN PAUL’S FREAKIN GUITAR!!!!! 
Backstage before our gig with Ellis Paul at Cellar Stage in Baltimore, MD. We’re in a room normally occupied by Boy Scouts – and apparently some of this made this highly useful poster. My favourite is “YOU WILL DIE!!!!” 
Heather trying out her sassy pose before singing “Speed of Trees” with folk-deity Ellis Paul at the Cellar Stage in Baltimore, MD.
