Please Happy

Martin Sexton is the only person who has inspired me to scream Hallelujah! while jumping up and down and dancing.

And the other night, my cousins’ version of Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen by way of Jeff Buckley) had me in tears.

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Another singalong from Grandpa Whaley’s house!

I grew up with jam sessions in the kitchen. Violin, guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, voices. At Grandma’s, we’d gather around the piano. At Stony, we’d crowd around the campfire.

A few weeks ago, when we were home for a few days, Grandpa Whaley hosted a dinner party for the fam that turned into an engagement party that turned into a jam session. This is a short recording of my dad and his two brothers singing “Paradise” by John Prine. Also known as Muhlenberg County.

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I always loved having music everywhere, but only now that I am sharing this familiar world with the person I love, do I realize how fortunate I have been to have live music coming out of the windows and doors and kitchens of my life.

Just in case you were curious.
Spring Street. China Town. Los Angeles, CA.

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Alabama Chicken

Here’s one of ours.

Then, last night, we went to see The Spinto Band play in L.A. (They’re here on tour from our homeland in the mid-Atlantic.)

And, they opened for a band called Miniature Tigers.

I guess they thought Kittens didn’t sound poetic enough.

“…you’re a different person than you were just then. And we’ll never get this chance again.”

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Luke Reynolds has a new website: LukeReynoldsMusic.com.

He played an acoustic set at a bar on Pico last night. We heard about it last minute. Like, last last minute. Arrived at 9:52 for the 10 p.m. show. Chatted with Luke, met his old pal from Blue Merle who just moved to L.A. and was there to spectate. We all watched and listened and got into it. Luke played old songs, newer songs (like the one I quoted above – Forever to Reach – that got me through some seriously long bus rides in Asia) and some new new ones off his latest album Maps.

I felt so fortunate to be there watching my friend, my sweetie pie next to me, swaying to the passionate guitarist, songwriter, vocalist Luke Reynolds.

When presented with such opportunities, even (especially) after a long day of craziness, you just gotta say yes. Woohoo!!

OK, I’m a huge fan of OK Go! And stop action vids. And Echo Park Lake. And Love. So, this video, well, it feeds all my needs. I just wish they had invited me to participate in the picnic. Love the geese!

Thank you, OK Go for being so kooky and creative and awesome. I am so grateful to share a zip code with you!