Mama's Doin' Her Creative Thang!

My older daughter come home from school Thursday enthusiastic about an opportunity to go to summer photography classes at the Academy of Art. Immediately, I felt resistant...too much money, too far, too much driving, but miraculously I kept my attitude neutral. I've had to learn to PAUSE before saying NO! I was busy "Elluminating" on Thursday night, so she shared her excitement and info with her dad. I have been ruminating for the last few days about the dynamics between parents and their children planning for the futures. Of course, that sounds so middle-aged and middle-class, but I fit both of those criteria officially. How do I as a mom support my daughters' (both of them!) dreams and aspirations? What do I say...yes, dear, art school is a great choice over an academic degree! Then risk my child will have no "back-up" plan. Do I press for my kids to make pragmatic choices, over creative ones, and risk limiting their artistic opportunities? WHERE DOES MY RESISTANCE COME FROM? Then, I realize, muddled in all of that, are feelings and thoughts I don't want to admit to...why didn't I get to go to art school or music school? Where is my opportunity for creative expression? 

When the girls were little I remember watching them tap dance their hearts out in sparkly costumes feeling a little heartbroken. Dance classes were too conventionally-female for my own liberated mother to allow me to attend. My mother fought for her own opportunities creatively and academic. Her children and her motherhood threatened her opportunities. She was a serious student and feminist in my childhood. Her vision was very narrow and self-focused. As a girl, I never had pink dresses...just jeans and Converse. As an adult, my heart still breaks for some reason to wear sequins! Well, after a huge hiatus, I have that opportunity to perform and wear sparkles singing in the band. My own creative expression has an outlet! I feel I have reclaimed a part of myself, but that part had not even existed yet! So, at 40, I finally became a singer. It feels like I can finally breathe, inhaling deeply. But I know I still have some other creative energies lurking inside...waiting. It could be drawing or painting or something digital...or all of the above. It is buried further, beneath the music. It's time for it to be released.

So, meanwhile, my life now is not an either/or world. My own creativity can be expressed...while I help cultivate my daughters' opportunities. It's not too late for me or too early for them. I can support them while I continue to find my own creative voice. And I can't wait to see what my girls will do in all of their endeavors!

Of course...much time has passed since last post, but, alas...the actual living of life must precede the chronicling of it! I can't resist reflecting on the Inauguration. I watch with 90 quiet and respectful 5th graders. In general, they didn't really get it...but they listened, clapped, stood with asked and even bowed their little heads during the prayers. It was an uncomfortable intersection of prayer in school for me...but it was part of a national ceremony and they weren't forced to participate. I was struck by all of the hoopla over the course of the last few days. I love that music is such a big part of making these ceremonies have more meaning. But I have to say, by about 30 minutes into the Neighborhood Ball, I couldn't watch anymore pop stars perform. Hearing people try to recreate classic song poorly was painful. Honestly, no one could hold a candle to Stevie. Move out of the way, young whippersnappers, and let the old man still get the job done! I love to see old singers with their pipes intact. It gives me hope that I'll be singing into old age. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a few weeks off of Touro life...enjoy yourselves. See you next semester!

Edgy Political Commentary!

I've posted a heavy video my husband created for our shows. The song is an indictment of war profiteers that have influenced U.S. foreign policy, at the peril of our soldiers and our Bill of Rights. Not really for the faint-of-heart. So, pass if you are feeling sensitive. It has been known to offend some of our audience members. It has been incredibly well-received at most of our shows! 

Dogs of War (Music by Pink Floyd/Video by Rich Harley)

P.S. I hope our president-elect does not give us any material for videos like this! I guess we'll see...

My head is heading in too many directions!

Try as I may...my wonderfully circuitous brain is undermining itself. My brain has a pattern all of its own, which I have embraced in my old age. I am not a linear gal, and I really can accept that. The only danger is when I've gotten myself too busy, then I'm in trouble. My brain stops being creative place to be. Quickly, all the curly-cues become stunted and the flourishes die off. I'm left with little wisps of ideas that disintegrate when I reach for them. It's a sad, sad place to live. Then, I get on my own nerves! I find myself daydreaming about one of my favorite lyrics (from the B-52's)..."Get a job! What for? I need time to think!"...it's from a song called "The Deadbeats Club". It conjures up spending the day in coffeehouses having deep thoughts with your caffinated friends. Man, I miss those days! It's all about orthodonists, doctor appointments, grading papers, Touro assignments and that damned research textbook. I'm worried that (in the words of Gob from Arrested Development)..."I've made a huge mistake!" Sigh. More will be revealed!

Wrapping up the fall season

We closed out the fall season at Vacaville Ulatis Center. It was a well-attended show, but not the sold-out show we had there last year. Sensitive musicians do take that a little personally. But overall, a good show. The theater is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility...really a pleasure to perform in. The sound was excellent, which makes it a pleasure to sing! We have to rely upon the house sound people when we play these large theaters. Lots of subtle elements go into good sound. There is stage sound and house sound. The house sound needs to be mixed well with good effects so the audience has an enjoyable experience. The stage sound is a bit more complicated. Each musician has a monitor which needs to be mixed to their liking. More guitar, please! Less keyboards! More of this or that voice! Multiply that by seven band members! And with a band full of musician who have lost their hearing...it's a challenge. Strangely, I also had a good number of past or present students in attendance. The show is definitely PG-13, so it's a bit nerve-wracking. I warn their parents that it's not a kids show...so buyer, beware! Now, that it's all wrapped up until a couple of shows in late December, I can do my tasks at hand...report cards, conferences, and class assignments!

Looking forward to...

I am thinking about how we are solidly into autumn...report cards are due soon, and our last show for 6 weeks is this weekend. I am thinking about how in 10 days or so, I will be through my many tasks of the last few months. I am thinking about how I can catch up on various elements of our classes over the break. I am thinking I may just make it after all!

I have taken too long to check back in...at least according to our class criteria. But, alas, the humble adventures of semi-professional musicians continue...

We are in a busy stretch, gig-wise...so we've been away for a few weekends in a row. This last weekend, we played at a private party...which left a lot to be desired, to say the least! So, I'll pass on giving you the boring details of that event. Good news is...we won't be taking any more gigs like that any time soon!

The weekend before we played a magical gig in Big Sur. I can't say I'd been there before...so it was a lovely surprise. We drove down Saturday morning. It was a beautiful, amazing trek down the Pacific Coast Hwy. Sadly, we passed helicopters and emergency vehicles attending to fatal crash of 3 Stanford students. Always a reminder of the short, fragile nature of things. 

We played at the Henry Miller Memorial Library in a road-side grove of redwoods. As you may recall, Big Sur was threatened by fires earlier this summer. The fire line was 10-15 feet from the back of the buildings. Pretty wild. They all worked really hard to save this funky little spot from the fire. Successfully, thank goodness. 

It was an outdoor show, which can be sketchy. The turn out was moderate, by our recent standards, but very enthusiastic. When the sun set, the temperatures dropped and we had to work hard to stay warm on stage. The crowd settled in for the show. Our good friends, Chris and Bev Sanders, came down from Carmel for the show...along with their pal, Gaston, who is famed for being the first one tobring Birkenstocks to America. Seems appropriate!

We were pleased to see the hula hoopers were in attendence. Who knew the fad lives on? We played some of the original 60's psychedelic Floyd, much to the audience's delight. It was another magical night for us. They booked us for next year already!

Sunday, we took the kids up to see Chris and Bev in Carmel. We ate breakfast, toured their art studio, and walked the beautiful beach. A perfect end to a lovely weekend!

Here's one of the better videos posted on YouTube of the band. We were at Little Fox Theater in Redwood City.

Hey, I just thought to add a link to the band website. By the way, I wrote much of this copy, as well.

www.houseoffloyd.com

Adventures on the Road

The Harleys have returned from a successful gig in Eureka! Lots of driving, but absolutely worth it! Our entire family participates in our shows. I sing my heart and shake my groove thing. My sweet husband creates, compiles, and projects all of the videos (a key element of any Floyd show). Our younger daughter, Spencer, sings onstage during the chorus of Another Brick in the Wall ("We don't need no education..." The irony greatly amuses me!). Our older daughter has stopped performing recently ("I'm too embarrassed, Mom!"). She takes a lot of pictures and manages the younger kids. She mingled with the locals at this show, much to my chagrin. 

We arrived Friday evening, after tearing out of Benicia (no grading this weekend!). Gratefully, the accommodations were excellent...big rooms, hot tubs, and both kind of pool (swimming and billiards!). I have decided the hotels make or break a gig. If you have crappy accomodations, you have nowhere to land, if only for the hour before the show. I am not a super traveler (and neither are my kids!) so adjusting to being away so often is nerve-wracking to say the least. With a comforting place to land, I am always rested, relaxed, and ready to put on a show. To say we have stayed in some really sketchy places is an understatement. One of our seedier motels has been rename the Sea Stash Inn, for the interesting garden in back that my children were horrified to discover. 

On this lovely weekend, we played the Eureka Theater (opened March 1939). Many of the old Art Deco era theaters have been purchased and renovated by extremely dedicated patrons of the arts. We play these theaters all up the state. To see these vital venues being restored to their past glory, hosting live music is inspiring. The musicians always play a game of "what if we could do this to our little Majestic!" The folks at Eureka Theater, Steve and Tina Stone, have owned it since 2005. It is a huge theater (800+ seating) and a huge project. 

On the day of the show we loaded in our lighting equipment and instruments early, around 11am. It takes several hours to set up for the huge production that is our show...lighting, lasers, fog machines, projectors, multiple keyboards, guitars, drum kits, sound equipment, etc. My job, with my fellow back-up singer, Sheri, was to drive up to Arcata and do a bit of creative marketing. A huge icon for Pink Floyd is a winged pig. We just so happen to have one, the size of a VW van, named Albert Floyd, by our kids. We drove the 6 miles up the road, discovered a farmers market in the town square, and inflated the flying pig. The responses are priceless. The kids and dogs notice the monolithe first, dragging their grown-ups behind them. The mix of folks milling around the market was stunning. Aging hippies, of varying degrees of lucidity. Scrappy college kids with budding dreadlocks. Middle aged, liberal elite. Jugglers, hulu hoopers and acrobats. In short, our perfect target audience. We met several folks who were already anxiously awaiting our show. Several more who were thrilled to hear about it. Over all a very success venture out with Albert.

After deflating the pork products, we returned to the theater just in time to reinflate and hang him for the evening show. The house techs always love helping us with that task! Then, we completed an arduous sound check. With seven musicians, 4 guitars, 2 bass, 5 keyboards, drumkit, and lap steel guitar, the job of doing sound for our band is no small task. We had enough time to return to that luscious hotel, shower, shampoo and shine. 

All of this hard work pays off for the 3 hours of stage time. The audience was appreciative before we even played the first swells of "Shine on You Crazy Diamond". They could not have been more enthusiastic, in their distinct psychedelic way! As the clock struck midnight, they rushed to the stage front and sang every word of our closing song. We tried to organize our final bow, but were joyously interrupted by their appreciative (and appreciated) hugs and handshakes. It was breath-taking. A lot of work for a few very magical moments. Then...after all that love and adulation, we take a few deep breaths and pack all of that stuff back up again, humbled, but happy.

Discovery of the Blog

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XXOO,

Melle