Nonconnah Album Release Pinic in a State Park

Had a very busy and awesome day yesterday. First thing is I got up and went to this record yard sale in the neighborhood (had seen signs for it), but it ended up exactly what I'd expected: just blues and classic rock. And while they advertised having cds, it was mostly vinyl, but I guess that made it easier to look through. There are a few things I keep my eye out for in that sort of genre so I was prepared for it, but they didn't have anything interesting. Then I finished getting ready for the show. I was carrying some sound equipment and grilling supplies. I had borrowed Jacques's keyboard amp to be able to do a stereo setup (along with mine that's the same kind of amp), but I realized that everything just couldn't fit into the car (still mostly driving around the old car, didn't wanna abuse the new one like this so soon, but generally trying to keep off it til all the paperwork and stuff is done, since we can). So it was no stereo. But that also made the setup simpler. I went to get gas and ice and a newspaper or something like that for kindling so stopped at the gas station around the corner. I went in to pay for the ice and also looked for a newspaper rack but didn't see anything. But as I was leaving I saw a single newspaper sitting on the edge of a counter, clearly not labeled for sale or near anything where it would be, it just looked like someone had left or discarded it and I picked it up on the way out. After I got the ice I saw that I needed a little more so I went back in to buy another bag. Then the guy working there was all that newspaper wasn't for free. And so I was embarrassed as fuck and explained the misunderstanding, but he said it was okay and something about when they don't sell them they leave them for the newspaper people to pick back up or something. But yes, I felt exceedingly stupid. But after all that I went and picked up Jim Ed who'd asked about a ride and since Mary Beth wasn't able to come I was able to take him along.

Had been in a bit a of a scramble because I was running late, but I ended up only being five minutes later than the appointed time. And I was the first one there by quite a bit, everyone was running late too! So I got to set up. Also got Jim Ed to volunteer to run the grill. Oh yeah, the grill I brought we've had for years but this is the first time it ever got used! People showed up. We set things up. I got to see a couple owls and tortoises. One of the owls was really teeny and looked like a baby but they said it was actually quite old (I guess just a small kind of owl, I forget the name, something like a something-screecher owl). The rangers and people at the T.O. Fuller State Park were very nice. I'd seen video Magpie had sent before of the room we played it, a screened in kind of semi-outdoors-indoors setup, but hard to tell from the video. But in person it was a pretty nice setup. We set up on one end with a great view of the trees and nature and stuff through the screen behind the performers. A real good number of people showed up, more than I was expecting so that's great. At one point during the peak of the crowd, all the chairs they'd set up were taken and a couple people were standing. Hard to estimate but maybe there were twenty to thirty chairs out, so that seemed pretty good to me! It's really hard to tell how things will turn out with such an uncharted sort of event. But it was really great. It was a pretty warm day and a bit hot being outside (though shaded and breezes came through the screen and they had fans that were very nice if you were right under them). But I was carrying so much stuff around and moving around the whole time that I was just pouring sweat constantly. Someone said it looked like I'd just gone for a swim. I got the charcoal started for the grill, but Jim Ed tended to it with the meat and faux-meat once it got started going. We had the Rochester white hots and some veggie burgers we'd picked up. The only thing that ended up being something like a problem was there was this Fall Festival going on nearby and they had a band playing and it was loud and you could hear it clearly where we were. But we rolled with it. They offered that we could do it inside the building if the other music interfered, but we liked the view and the feel outside so we figured we'd give it a shot.

Okay, Karl was the last to get there but we managed to get set up kinda mostly sort of close to on time. For Stupid Lepton's set you could hear the other band a little bit, but I think a hallmark of good experimental music is that it accepts and incorporates any other environmental sounds into its own context so it was kinda fun. His set was really really good too. He brought the plant of course so it was nice watching him with a bunch of trees in the background. Fosterfalls has a much quieter setup. I thought we could try doubling up with their small amp and my keyboard amp, but didn't have the right cable connections. But they played inside so no interference. It was air conditioned inside so that was a nice break! And their set was lovely and a nice time. Was told that the owls enjoyed it. Then back out for Nonconnah's set. The other band and show and all was over so no interference. They did two pieces, first with Denny and second just Magpie solo. Really good! The crowd had thinned out a bit by then, but that happens. The hotdogs were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly so Jim Ed did a great job. Think everyone had a good time. I saw some people I didn't expect to see and it was all real nice. Packed up and cleaned up and loaded out and we were getting out around sunset. Had a real good time and everything exceeded my expectations on pretty much every level.

Was pretty tired and sore when I got home. It was early but just wanted to cool off and rest up. Watched a bunch of Facts of Life with Mary Beth and talked about it all. Stayed up kinda late but now having a chill day.