mandalay

true dreams of wichita

so i believe i'm at the end of my four-day run of sickness, missing work and office space mentality. i've been living almost entirely on sugar-free popsicles and contemplating what it would take for my bosses to let me work from home all while going stir crazy - at home. i found out that my lease is up a week earlier than i thought so i have less than a month to decide if i'm staying in austin, find another apartment if i am, and another job and apartment if i'm not.

i am beginning things, which would be foolish to do if i'm leaving. my website is now up, after many many hours of work by not just me, but my brother ross. if you haven't seen it yet, have a look at www.aliasgrace.com. last night i went to a meeting for Rank and Revue, a bi-weekly publication which covers the music scene on Red River. i signed up to photograph three concerts this month so i'll be getting published for the first time in a couple of years. i've put the word out with the meeting planner of TIPRO, the association whose conference i photographed last month, that i'm looking for more work. my voice and guitar lessons are progressing in 30-minute increments. so this is what i'm wondering - what more do i have to find in austin to make me content to remain here for the next year until i go to grad school?

i went to the mike doughty show last night after the meeting. stopped by red-eyed fly first with dave to see sean who is always nice enough to make me amaretto sours and not let me pay for them. he was glad to hear that i will be photographing there and perpetuating good publicity for his bar.

as far as the show, mike doughty was great. i have definitely caught some flack from friends for having not one, but two soul coughing albums. but what can i say? it's funky, unique and just good chill music. and i love the man's voice. if you don't know who i'm talking about, take a moment to recall the super bon bon song and then try to forget how many times you heard it and go pick up el oso, my favorite album of theirs.

the vibe at this show was the best i'd experienced since ACL last september. mike doughty invited the audience to ask his bandmates questions and joked with them constantly. he had several friends in the audience, one of who threw underwear, not once, but twice onto the stage. most people were dancing, the beats in his music are hard to ignore. a guy in the front in a black wilco t-shirt was air drumming and singing the words to every song, which i'd expect to see at a john mayer concert, but which was nice to see in such a small venue. another thing which happened which i didnt expect to see at such a small show was him getting catcalls along with the requisite "i love you mike!" from a girl there cuddling her boyfriend. he played some soul coughing stuff, including circles and true dreams of wichita and did a couple of covers as well, including words by duluth band low, which was great. what more can i say? it was just a nice, happy, intimate show and if i had the funds i'd go back and see him play there tonight too. alright i must go put my party clothes on - everyone have a happy 4th.

posted by amanda @ 8:28 PM