Dear Friends,
What a nice, but hot, Saturday.
I lounged in the morning. And yes, this is a truly random thought kind of blog today. It’s just a flow, ya know, let’s go.
I lounged and watched some episodes of Suits. This fucking show makes me yell at the TV sometimes. It can be so entertaining and also super infuriating. It has occurred to me in the last week that it is such an effing soap opera. I’m into the fourth season and there is so much soapy stuff going on. I can’t let it go just yet, I have to know how certain things work out, but I’m guessing there will be more shouting profanities at the TV.
Sky and I went to Bookman’s around noon, and we picked up a few necessary things. She got a puzzle, a game, and some toys, and I got some books for my classroom. I looked through the records for a bit, but I was a good boy.
After we grabbed some lunch, my dad stopped by, and we had a good visit. He dropped off some birthday loot for Liam and got me caught up on some goings on at his house. I tried a new flavor from Athletic Brewing, their Oktoberfest, and it was pretty good. I would buy it again.
Then I took Liam to work, grabbed a shower, talked to Rhondi, and headed over to pick up Tracey. We met Lezlie and Tiffany and had some dinner before going to the Bob Log III show. We ate at Sake Haus on Roosevelt, and it was really good. I enjoyed the heck out of it. I usually avoid sushi unless Markus makes it, but it was a nice dinner with friends and fun was had.
Sake Haus needs to get an NA beer on the menu, though.
The four of us hit the Crescent and met up with Johnny and Teresa B. and heard a good amount of The Rebel Set’s set. That felt strange to write, but I think it is proper. They are really solid and I enjoy them whenever I see them.
Bob, my old buddy, tore it up, though. It was nice to see Bonny and Stephan, too. We all go way, way back. I also got to see Stephanie and meet my buddy Jim’s sister, Kristina. I’ve written about Jim a lot and miss him. I just wanted to hug them both and say something that would make them feel better because, damn it, Jim should have been there tonight, but I think I failed in the spoken word department.
I still haven’t gotten used to being at a cool show and not running into him. Seeing Stephanie and Kristina, though, was wonderful. It was great to get to see Jim a bit in his sis.
After the show, I picked up Liam from work and headed home for more Suits. I’m going to try Godless, which is also on Netflix, tonight, I think. Goddamn fucking Suits, though.
I also realized looking at Facebook that I missed a party at Dolly and Hoss’s house. I need to look at my FB invites more often, I guess. I’m sorry guys. I had no idea.
Today in Freeze practice and then seeing Granny, hopefully. Afterwards, some laundry and getting into bed early. We shall see, though. I might meet Bob for a chat, too. That would be good. It’s been way too long.
*****
Near the end of Trunk Federation’s run of being the best band in Phoenix, and that only died because the band ceased to exist, they put out a record that I happen to love.
Lay The Hip came out in 2000. At that time in my life, I was living in Ahwatukee, which is a suburb of Phoenix on the south edge of town near Tempe and Chandler. I was working in sexual violence prevention and driving all over town to a different school each week. It meant a lot of time in my car, especially getting out of Ahwatukee each day.
I was privy to a lot of how Lay The Hip was made. A lot of the music and lyrics were pretty personal, if I remember correctly, especially for Jason. He and I had gotten pretty close after working together at CASA and just spending time hanging out over the back half of the 90s, so when it came out, I fell in love with the songs. I was then and still am pretty attached to this record.
I happen to think these are some of Jim’s best lyrics. He’s my friend, as well, so maybe I am biased (I actually am totally biased) but ii is very easy to feel that way when it comes to Trunk Federation. They were and are great dudes who happen to make great music.
“Load Up The Jetset” was pretty huge for me for a long time. It moves with a great pace and just has that, at least to me, combination of mod, power pop, and indie rock that these guys did so well. It’s a rocker and I love it. I love every single “hey” in the song, too.
“hey, hey.”
“Dirty Little Commentary” has this wonderful line about being at a funeral and, I’m paraphrasing here, soaking up “Every detail.” I remember having a conversation about this one and getting the story behind the song and just knowing exactly what Jim was talking about. Phoenix was full of dirty little commentaries in those days. Luckily, most of us have gotten older and wiser and not older and bolder.
“A King Is Bored” is another one that I just love Jim’s lyrics on. It also soars in parts that make it have this weird mix of triumph and pain. Chris is a great drummer and one of my all-time favorites and on “A King Is Bored” he shines as usual. Bob, too. All of them…just wonderful players.
I remember that Jason told me he played “Thin Turns Blue” at his grandfather’s funeral on an acoustic guitar. After he told me that, the song brought tears to my eyes quite often and when my grandfather, Tom, died, I listened to this song a lot. It helped me get through some tough times.
This is another reason why I love Trunk Federation. Their music lifted me up so many times. I sang their praises back in the day, but I don’t know if I ever was able to articulate to those guys how much they truly meant to me.
I’m honored to still call them friends and they are hugely important people to me, but I’m also a fan. A very thankful fan who was able to breathe a little easier many times because this record gave me strength.
*****
See you tomorrow.
Clearly AI thinks I have a fish problem.
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