The Bug from Hell!

May 31, 2006:
Imagine that you're wearing clown makeup, a pseudo-pirate costume, you're playing keyboards with a band in front of 2,500 people as 30+ performers dance around on stage, THEN SUDDENLY YOU ENCOUNTER THIS BUG FROM HELL RUNNING ACROSS YOUR KEYBOARD!!!!

Warning: Clicking on photo may cause nightmares

The 1st thing running through my head was, "AHHHHH HOLY SHIT!" Then after composing myself, I continued playing through the tune while simultaneously putting it out of my misery. I would've embalmed and mummified it too except that the song was over.

African Gig - Beastly Ball

No, the sign doesn't say Beastiality Ball. Read it again.

Within a week of coming home after my 2 1/2 month absence, I got called for my fist batch of gigs. My first reaction was, "Cool! I get to play some other music besides the same 15+ tunes I've been playing over the last couple months!" My second thought was, "...and I don't have to wear any makeup to do this gig!" I'll take it!!

It was an African gig for Camaroon singer Dodo Munoko (I didn't know I played African music either!). The Los Angeles Zoo hosts a fundraiser every year called the Beastly Ball to raise money for the zoo and botanical gardens. The tickets were $1000.00 each and the night is jam packed with V.I.Ps, celebrities and lots of plastic surgury, which is what we're known for here in L.A.

Dodo was nice enough to bring some African garb for me to wear because, of course, the dog ate all my African clothing. (click pics to enlarge)

Thanks for the duds Dodo!


Soundcheck


The gig


Saw this beautiful peacock and had to take a pic

No gig is complete without your token bearded dragon

Short Video
(Why am I not in the video? Because I'm the one with the camera.)

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Video: Backstage at Cirque

This video below captures the type of thing you might see someone rehearsing backstage at a Cirque du Soleil show. Svetlana and the group of muscular dudes were practicing for an event we call "Cabaret." It's a private show that's is done in colaboration with other local arts organizations in Buenos Aires.

Flyer - Svetlana

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Hard Rock Cafe Gig - Buenos Aires

On June 6, the Cirque du Soleil band got together to do a gig at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires. Our bassist couldn't make the gig, so we found Fernando who they call Paddy (because of his Irish last name).

We did some classic rock, some U2, Sting, and our own version of "I Will Survive." No one left the place, so we must've sounded good! Even Amira, our Rock & Roll chef sat in and did a version of "Superstition." The house was a'rockin' and it was a blast!

Thanks for the photos Pamela! (Click on pics to enlarge)

Paul Hanson, Benoit Martin, Serge Maheux, Armen, Fernando "Paddy" Lee

Benoit, Serge, Armen, Fernando

Paul, Benoit, Fernando, Armen

Chantal Blanchard

Amira, the Rock & Roll chef!

Quote of the Day: Gay Bashing the Soccer Ball

I took a walk up to Brand Park yesterday just to relax a bit and chill out. I saw these teenagers kicking around a soccer ball. One of the kids mildly kicked it to his buddy who missed it as he tried to kick it back. He did not like the fact that his foot went right by the ball and missed.

It was then that he lashed out at the ball and yelled, "This ball is fucking gay!"

Oh the victimization! Oh the humanity!

Back in Los Angeles

I just got home from Buenos Aires yesterday. I meant to post more on the blog, but the the internet connection at the hotel in Argentina was painfully slow!

What am amazing city...the people, the food, the culture. My sister picked us up from the airport and as we came down the off-ramp it started to feel like the entire last 2 1/2 months was some kind of bizarre dream.

It's been an incredible adventure so far and I'm looking forward to seeing Brazil from Aug-December (Sao Paul and Rio). But first, time for some R&R - that would be either rest and relaxation, or rock & roll. I'm going to do a bit of both.

The Jam Session

Nothing breaks up the monotony of "Groundhog Day" like a good old fashion jam session - complete with Elvis jacket! How did this come about? Well, at the premier party I met this guy named Gaston. When I told him that I was a musician, he asked, "Do you want to experience something very strange and interesting on Sunday night?" "Absolutely!" (As long as it doesn't involved the gimp).

So he tells me about his buddy who they call Baños ("bathroom" in Spanish). Baños has a gathering of friends every Sunday night to have a jam session. He's a plastic surgeon and an extremely cool guy, because the first Sunday we showed up, they were out on the sidewalk leaving the jam session! See, Gaston told me that they play till the wee hours of the morning. So we didn't think it was too late to show up at midnight. He invited us into his house and we jammed for about an hour. And when a few more Cirque people showed up at 1am, Baños let them in and hung out till about 4am. He felt so bad about his buddy Gaston giving us misinformation that he organized a special jam session a week later for the Cirque crowd. These guys even played "The Final Countdown" from 80s hair-band Europe! Too bad they didn't know any Asia. We had a blast!

Meet Baños

Man, these people like to party!

The Elvis jacket wasn't an option, it was a necessity!

Haku's first time on stage playing lead tamborine!

Left to Right: Olivier, Nuria, Svetlana, Serge, Elvis, ?, James, Benoit

Saltimbanco Premier Party - Buenos Aires

Some pics from the premier party of Saltimbanco - Buenos Aires, Argentina - May 6. It was held in a converted warehouse and went until 6:00 a.m. They had tango dancers, good music, dancing, booze and...um....I don't seem to remember much more. Thanks for the ride home Robski!

Click pics to enlarge