Days of Lore

This one time at band camp … They didn’t have this sort of thing when I was their age. I stopped off at Children’s Park last Saturday (July 1) to check out the Ethos Music Camp performance to a) see for myself what it was all about and b) check out the new post-Birds Of Fire project, Ink Ghost.

I got there just in time to see a young band do a smoking rendition of Shocking Blue’s “Love Buzz” (yeah, that song Nirvana covered on Bleach). Then there was a three-piece that sounded like Jethro Tull sans flute, whose vocalist resembled a Louder Than Love-era Chris Cornell and sang about swabbing the poop deck. Hey, kudos to any kid that age brave enough to put the words “poop deck” into a song.

It appeared that everyone involved had a good time, and there were some really talented kids out there. I wish they had something like this when I was a kid. Instead, I went to regular old camp where I got to sing “Kumbaya” and some song about peanut butter and jelly.

Seeing ghosts It was my first time seeing Ink Ghost, the new rock project featuring Teddy Omlor, Zach Ahern and Aaron Markus of Birds Of Fire (R.I.P.) and Rett Mathews of deerpen. The music is a little more piano-driven, a little bit prog-rock, and I liked it. My only complaint, and maybe it was just the mix, was that the drums were a little too up front.

I didn’t see any upcoming shows listed for these guys, but I’m sure they have something up their sleeves. I’ll keep you posted.

Why I’m so angry The dudes from Stationary Legs came by the office earlier this week and dropped off their new six-song EP. I must say, it frightens me … but I can’t stop listening—especially “Snitches & Talkers=Stitches & Walkers” and “What Say You, Don Juarez III.” If you want to pick up a copy, check out the Legs tonight (July 6) at Off Limits with Redding rock quintet Fire Breathing Dragons and local noisemakers Lysistrata and The Secret Stolen before the band heads out on its West Coast tour.

Why I’m so depressed Also check out the Velvet Underground cover night this Saturday (July 8) at Off Limits as The Shankers, Cair Paravel, The Imploding Spastic Ephemeral (with the CN&R’s own C. Owsley Rain on drums) and others take on V.U. The man himself, Lou Reed, will perform as part of the Chico Performances series in Chico Nov. 5 at Laxson Auditorium. For a complete list of what else is on tap for Chico Performances: www.chicoperformances.com.

Flaky musicians OK, the deadline for the CN&R (Chico Area Music) compilation was officially June 23, but we’re still allowing some stragglers to bring their entries by the office. Interested? Go to www.newsreview.com/camcd, fill out the application and bring a disc by with your best two songs … if one of them has the words “poop deck,” you’re a shoe-in.

Everybody’s business When it comes right down to it, I think everyone would ultimately like to be their own boss. Think about it. No more dealing with middle management (whom I rank right up there with politicians), you can wake up at noon and work in those see-through boxers you’ve owned since high school if you damn well please, and you, I repeat you, are in complete control of everything.

Anyway, I’ve been kicking around this idea for a new business for years now. As any journalist can attest—this occupation is about as lucrative as french-fry detail at In-N-Out.

My concept is still in the early stages, but I think I’m on to something here. You’ll just have to wait until next week … dun, dun, dun …

Missing: Red Track Jacket A fond farewell to my friend and former bandmate Scotty “M.F.” Jason, who is off to the magical city of Merced to continue his career in journalism (that is until he reads about my genius new business plan in next week’s column). Good luck, my friend.

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