I will be playing a live show at 11:00 tonight at Darwin’s Waiting Room (Southeast Corner of 36th Street and Indian School Roads). Comedian Adam Kohler will be dropping in to noodle around on Electric Guitar and Acoustic Bass. Hope to see you all there.
Geno Panino and A Glass of Gruet Bubbly
Sunny Day Gruet
The clouds broke over Portland – here comes the sun – and it’s time for a little flop-flop adventure. Today I decided to get a little business done and then maybe, oh, I don’t know ‘do something I guess’. It’s a day before the big show at Eugenios and I figured I’ll take the day off and soak up the sun and dig on the locals for a while. I started out with a stroll down Hawthorne Boulevard and called Eugenio’s to see if I could catch the owner Eugene for a chat before the big night. I wanted to tell him how many people I think are coming and just put a face to the name. He’s been so good to me I thought I’d pay him a visit.
Down 34th Ave and a the left on Division Street and I scooted through the door. I had called about ten minutes previous and Eugene was out running errands so I’ll have a little lunch and sit on the patio. Kate was behind the bar. She’s an M-80 in a swimsuit and jean shorts sweeter than anything and fully capable of beautiful disaster if you meddle with that fuse. An angel with the devil her pocket, breaking hearts and taking names – don’t cross this one. Yeah, she’s rock and roll, man.
I ordered a Geno Panino and a glass of Gruet bubbly in a short stubby glass. I try to refrain from using stemware due to my penchant for destruction. I want no challenges today. So it’s bubbly in a stubby – Easy is the recipe, and the finest ingredient is time; so it’s slow-go to the patio. There’s a champagne sunrise at three PM and I’m in search of a day-buzz.
The Nicest Human Being on the Planet
Eugene rolled up in the alley by the sidewalk in a white Honda Accord and stepped out looking exactly like I expected him to. Laid back and relaxed. Eugenios should be built on a boat with Eugene at the helm swaying smoothly on calm waters and going where the breeze wills you. He’s rocking a blue T-shirt and cream-colored shorts and shades. He looks like he just stepped off of the deck of a schooner somewhere sandy and blue. He puts you in the mood he’s seems to be in perpetually; unceremonious, and cruising across the surface of the earth doing what he’s doing and then checking something else out for a while. The way it used to be? The way it is here at Eugenio’s. He’s a natural restaurateur.
Matchbox Omega
Three girls sat at the long table across from me, in true Portland fashion, we were all sharing the same table in a matter of minutes. Just in time too, because no more than a minute later I would have been destroyed by a cyclist that slammed into the chair that I was sitting in. These girls saved my life. Myshelle in sleeves and a sundress. A 4′ 11″ live wire and a kindred spirit of the bartendress Kate. Ashley in a simple grey dress and a push up – making a statement in muffled colors the statement she made sounded something like “Damn!” All the while laying down the wit like a short-order cook. Becky behind her cell phone peeking out to smile and drop a joke. Everything said about one could be said of the other if we are speaking solely on first impressions. There the kind of girls that make the clouds break and I blame the perfect weather on them. They had a name for their little coalition: Kappa Kappa Matchbox Omega.
Kappa Kappa Matchbox Omega:Ashley, Becky, Myshelle, and Kate
Chad meandered into the mix, he’s moving to Portland from Vermont and searching for a house. He won’t find it today, the Matchbox Omega girls stepped in and he and I are about to be hijacked. Before long we were all ’life-long’s' riding the crest of a wave beatific and ready to sail this thing all the way up to the Gold Dust Meridian on Hawthorne leaving Eugenio’s in our wake and on the docket for tomorrow night. Showtime.
Myshelle, Ashley, Chad, Kate, and Supernormal Tyler
Meridian
The Gold Dust Meridian was the next destination, so we paid the tabs and said our goodbyes to the crew of Eugenio’s leaving it as our safe harbor. We’ll return tomorrow night, and I can repay the debt of a great day to all of the people who gave it to me. That’s why I love playing music, the human connection. Stepping in and creating happiness for people, positive and prolific – I’ve got one-and-a-half hours of stage time and it’s gonna go by to fast. At the Meridian, we found a back patio, Omega had been there before but none of them had noticed it before. The little pathway was like entering a secret garden and we assembled ourselves at a table. Omega was drinking Mojitos made with 12 year Rum, and I was stepping it up a bit. I had an IPA and a shot of well bourbon, I was seeking the day buzz, and hell bent getting on there. Our collective energy soon filled the patio to the gills with day-drinkers. General jackassery and side-splitting laughter, Myshelle drew a Black Bart moustache on her index finger and was holding it up to her face and the rest is a blur. I believe the buzz had arrived. And I believe it skipped a few stages and put me straight in Zangsville!
Myshelle and her Black Moustache
One guy came in with a guitar and some one said paly us a song, he refused. I took that as my cue and went back to the Hostel and got the Git-fiddle. I walked back on the patio and asked if I could play them a song and so I played “Arizona Born and Glory Bound”. That song is kind of becoming my anthem for this trip. “the secret to success is get the F*** out”, an urge I am trying to fight. I fall in love with everywhere I travel and the common theme around here is that what is trying to happen to me has happened to many. Ich bin ein Portlander! Myshelle asked me if that was a harmonica, I said “yes”. Apparently, she plays. She started tooting around on it and I played a remix of one of my own tunes: “The Things I’m Gonna Miss”. Normally, it’s a heartbreaker track slow and solemn. People have told me it made them cry, but, now it was up-beat jovial and I gravelled-up the vocals and Myshelle rocked the Harmy. I had to go after that. I could have stayed there all day, but, I wanted to hit the Muddy Waters Open Mic on Burnside and the sign-up started at seven.�
The Crew is Growing at the Meridian
Murky Moods at Muddy Waters
I arrived at 7:05 and the place was already awash with troubadours with guitars in-tow. I got a negative vibe and heeded it. I chose to head back to the hostel and good thing I did because about ten minutes later I had to put the buzz to bed. I spun motionless on the matress then dropped off the planet at 7:00 PM. That’s Rock and Roll.
More Pictures and videos coming soon.
I’ll be hitting this Open Mic Tonight and Filming the Performance, Hopefully
I hit the streets with Joseph O’Brien and we hoofed it from SE Hawthorne Boulevard all the way to Alberta Street. It was quite a hike but well worth the trip. A woman named Tamara runs the open mic and she had two assistants, (Nik and Rachael) digitally recording the night. Hopefully, can get a hold of that and toss it up on this site soon.
Rachel and Nik
The true test of the quality of an Open Mic is who is running it. Sure, the quality of performers is important, but, when a night is run by professionals and cared for like it was Wednesday May 14th at The Alberta Street Public House in Portland, Oregon the performances shine and the vibe gets positive enough to change things about this little ball we live on.
Tamara-The Professsional
Gil (a street musician) Joseph, and I hit the streets and in true busker fashio Gil was asking every passer-by if they wanted a song. Dusty, a guy strolling home, stopped on the corner of Alberta and tenth, and Gil went into it. I popped the latch on the case and backed him up on harmonica. A 20 minute chat and a drop in to the Plaid Pantry for some beers we soon found ourselves parked on a wall along the sidewalk and shot the breeze and talked music and dreams. Good Times. Thank you Portland.
No town is a town without the errant Elvis here or there. I present to you, Portland Elvis.
I really dig this guy, having fun with it. I like how he’s billing it as a Sidewalk Tour 2008, sounds like the Public Transit Tour.
I did some sight seeing today at the Japanese Gardens and toured the city finding street performers. I’ve got some amazing pics and videos to share, but, the Fat Straw is closing.
Till tomorrow…
How’s that for a Root Chakra?
On May 11th, Supernormal Tyler is heading to Portland, Oregon to commence the ‘Public Transit Tour’. It appears as though, the earth is moving in anticipation of this event. Scientists cannot tell you why this is occuring, but, Supernormal Records has uncovered the secret.
“Scientists at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center have recorded more than 600 earthquakes in the last 10 days off the central Oregon coast in an area not typically known for a high degree of seismic activity.” (article)
“This earthquake “swarm” is unique, according to OSU marine geologist Robert Dziak, because it is occurring within the middle of the Juan de Fuca plate – away from the major, regional tectonic boundaries.” (article)
The earthquakes are unique due to the fact that they are not occuring along the fault lines. Scientists are re-routing research ships to take water samples form the area above the epicenters of these recent 600 earthquakes to gather more data about the anomaly. There is no definitive explanation for the recent odd scientific activity. Basically, another one of Earth’s great mysteries. Or is it?
A Formal Apology
We at Supernormalrecords.com hereby issue a formal apology. The recent tremors are associated with the activation the generators in our underground lair. Sorry, we needed to make sure we could get the lights on and be able to plug in our Wii when we arrive on May 11th, 2008 for the Public Transit Tour. When we fire up the lair it makes a horrible racket, that is why we are doing it so early.
Our Offer of Assistance
Also, if the scientific community would like water samples, there is no need to re-route a ship. I can call Deter and ask him to open up the window and fill up some Fiji bottles and send them to you.
Please accept our apology, and sorry for the rukus.
Sincerely,
Supernormal Tyler
“Video clip of Deter heading off to the store to buy some Fiji water”
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Finally the long arduous task of formatting and typing out the lyrics for my tunes to date is complete. The docket stands at 53 songs and counting; Literally. While slogging through a week of search through the notebook, typing, then the inevitable point and click and format and copy and paste, I managed to crank out another ditty; “One World”. You can hear a no-frills demo at www.myspace.com/supernormal or at last.fm. I’ll upload the fully mastered version to those services after my nap.
One World will be the first song that will be put up on ccMixter. Have a look at what is available from ccMixter as far as re-mixing goes. But, to get into the remixing game, you must study the ways of a remixah.
THIS IS MY IMPRESSION OF YOU ON THE INTERNET
Currently, I am editing some new video projects. “The Things I’m Gonna Miss”, and ”Jingo” are being filmed and edited and will be posted soon. In the meantime. You can hear ”The Things I’m gonna Miss” here.
