There are few things as tormenting as having a cold on the day of a show, but here I am, in my own hell at the snotty end of a cold on the day of a show.

At least (I think) I'll be able to sing tonight. As always, these zinc lozenges have been a source of fortune. Things could be much worse.

Thursday night we headed out to the Factory Theatre down by Copley to catch a our friend Crystal in a performance of Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady and she was absolutely brilliant. (I believe this was Happy Medium Theatre's first full production.) We'd seen Crystal several times before, but this was the first time we'd seen her in a central role—or starring, if you will—and it was one of those moments you realize that you have really, really talented friends. Our buddy Michael Fisher also had a role in the play (pivotal, but shorter than we would have liked), and he pulled it off magically. Hell, the entire cast was great. I'm still shaken by the show. If you haven't had a chance to see it, there's a showing tonight at 8pm (eww, awkward scheduling conflict) and another tomorrow at 3pm. After that, you're shit out of luck, son.

Anyway, I've got some more tea to mainline before the show tonight. I'll see you there. Or else I will find you. And then I will sneeze on you.

Henry

Action packed weekend. Friday (after a day spent watching Spinal Tap once again), Jen and I went to the Glasvegas/Kings of Leon concert, accompanied by our friends Beca and Martin. Got there in time to catch the last 2½ songs (bummer). Concert was out at the Comcast Tweeter Great Woods whatever the fuck it's called now amphitheater. We were two rows behind the covered section of the place and got royally pissed on by the gods (leading me to ponder why it's so difficult to cover up the rest of the seats). Anyway, Kings of Leon was fun enough, put on a good show, and I don't hate them, but I can say—after much deliberation—they just don't do it for me. I dug a few of their tunes, and there were some really great moments; but most of their songs get tiresome and don't really go anywhere. Sorry, guys. I tried. I really did. (Maybe if you let us open for you on your next tour or something I'll reconsider my stance.) Don't mean to sound sour or anything, the evening was fun. A personal highlight for me was the high school kids to my left singing every word. They were so into it. Stuff like that makes me smile. Things that don't make me smile: waiting an hour and a half in the parking lot before we can even move the fucking car.

Saturday, we had another session at Dan's to finish up the tune we started on Labor Day (drums and vocals). We did a whole rewrite of the lyrics on Thursday and it worked out splendidly. A lot of work on Friday, it was a good eight hour session, but it was fun work. We tried out a lot of harmonies and things at the end of the day, but we were still in a giggle over Spinal Tap (notably, that scene where they're at Elvis' grave and trying to harmonize on Heartbreak Hotel). After dinner, we headed out with Annie and Chris to Charles' house (enter Charles Murphy: onetime bassist for Pyotr/Verre who is accompanying us for our tour in a few months). He was having a "milkshake party", which is exactly what it sounds like: people come and hang out while he makes milkshakes. It was fun, and I had a Dr. Pepper for the first time (...with whiskey). His roommate, Joe (and member of Finisher) was awesome and we shot the shit for a while about the new Beatles remasters.

Case in point, listened to the White Album in remastered mono today... I will never be able to listen to the stereo version again. It's not even (necessarily) an audiophile fetish thing, the mixes are just better. Looking forward to the mono box set arriving at Aloud HQ in the mail...

Chilled out today for the most part. Saw the final episode for King of the Hill. It's a shame, but better to burn out.. etc. etc. Guess Fox just had to make room for a third Seth MacFarlane vehicle [this is where I roll my eyes].

With that, friends, I bid you good evening as I saliently pat myself on the back for having ignored the VMAs another year.

Henry