What else can I write about

Some more random tidbits from the DrumR throne:

- I have a monthly jazz gig every 4th Wednesday from 6pm-9pm at Cato's Ale House in Oakland, CA. Under the name "Jim Richards Trio", I am generally accompanied by my former college bandmate Lorenzo Farrell on organ, plus a guest third musician, either on guitar, saxophone, etc. I enjoy meeting new people through this gig, networking with new musicians, and generally playing for the sheer joy of it. The audience is as authentic as it gets, as on some nights we've finished songs to raucous applause, only to be greeted by crickets upon the end of the next, less-well-executed tune. They are not there to hear you, but when you get their attention musically, they appreciate it. Also Cato's has killer food specials, so much so that sometimes I forgo the free band meal we get and pay for one of the many daily specials.

- Tomorrow, Saturday, I'll be performing with East Bay Brass Band at Rockwall Winery in Alameda, where they are holding their food truck event "Urban Palette". Really looking forward to that gig, even though I'm more of a beer drinker myself. Hoping the wife and kid can come without getting bored.

- I'll be turning 41 this month. Hoping for an epic tailgate at an Oakland A's game. Due to the nature of the A's schedule, my birthday always ends up on interleague series. I'm learning to get over that.

- I don't go out very much, but I heard Ginger Baker is playing Yoshi's Oakland AGAIN. Last time I missed it. Friday and Saturday 6/14 and 6/15. I have a few of Ginger Baker's jazz albums, as well as some live recordings, and even as Ginger ascends into octagenarian status, his looping groove and thumping toms sound great in a jazz context. He has such regard for the music, even if sometimes he comes down a bit heavy-handed. Also I tend to forget how much of his style is so directly influenced by African drumming. Hope wife will like it, I'm draggin her out to one of these shows.

- I keep listening to this album "Love in Flying Colors" by the Foreign Exchange. Just the combination of tones, instruments and voices, ... just really working well for me for the most part. When I'm not listening to that, I'm listening to Slayer back catalog. Also when it gets hot my reggae collection gets the dust blown off it.

- There is so much television I don't watch - basically all the bigs: Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, ... wife is still watching Mad Men, so I get some updates on that. But I really want to see Silicon Valley. The first episode they put online was so good, and I am such a Mike Judge fanboy. (*I saw Frog Baseball in a movie theater! Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.) King of the Hill was the last television sitcom I watched.

- I feel like out of all the things I need to do, "something creative" is atop my list. I love playing drums, I love music, but I feel like my creative juices are getting backed up. Maybe it's all the cover songs my bands are playing. I have this overwhelming desire to build a Franken-something: some type of electronic drum monster, or maybe a bicycle, or maybe some sort of electronic drum monster bicycle. I just dunno.

- I hope when I get my MBPro back, I can still find this blog.