One Last Gate to Pay

(posted for Thombstone/Stone Bone)

Hey lady Ink-

I will pass on to you a eulogy/poem that I wrote and was published in the De Soto Gab(cab newspaper) and on the editorial page, of The SF Examiner. A buddy of mine, went down to Mexico to die. He was an old cab driver, I used to give his daughter rides and wanted to convey to her my feeling's, with something other than a drug store card.
I framed the following words under glass and left it on her door step.

---------One Last Gate To Pay--------

The world has long forgotten his many acts of kindness, as he moved along the public way......

He was the gray-haired ancient coachman whose life was measured out by the countless metered
rides in the myriad streets beyond his home........

I likened his role to the gears of a clock like world, to which he provided movement........

To him the great affair was to move his passengers from points of pick up to destinations, while
giving them friendly counsel along the way..........

Drifting off and half asleep one night.........to my ear from far away.....I saw him smile and heard
him say....."just one last gate to pay".........

South of the border a wave crashed ashore and returned to a silent sea............

By Tombstone Johnstone
For Pierre Spencer

Artist Reception: Sunday May 3rd, 6-9pm

Please join us for an artist reception Sunday May 3rd, 6-9pm
This is the final open studio date for our current art exhibition.

Featuring artistic works from:
Bren Bataclan- Boston
Lynn Bridget- Los Angeles
Sofia Harrison- Napa Valley
Robyn Holmes- Los Angeles
Scott Kildall- San Francisco
Tim Weldon - NY/SF

Ink Studios
NoHo Arts District
11135 Weddington (@Lankershim)
#220
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(Directions)

Below is a video clip featuring a sculpture installation in the show by artist Sofia Harrison

Fresh Cuts

Was getting to wondering about a few musicians that we haven't heard from in quite a while and found that the subjects of my music musings are indeed releasing new works.

Van Hunt:
One of my personal favs. On May 8th VH will be releasing: Use In Case of Emergency - a few rare items from the vault ' a salve for these desperate times.' .only on www.vanhunt.com.

RiceBoySleeps:
By Sigur Ros frontman, Jon Birgisson along with collaboration partner Alex Somers. Due out July 20th.

Pete Yorn:
Fellow Jersey native and a most gifted singer/songwriter Yorn is at long last releasing a new record (June 23rd) entitled "Back and Forth"- first single "Don't Wanna Cry" - we still haven't gotten over Strange Condition. You can also catch Yorn performing on the Coldplay tour.

The MAGNIFICENT, Leonard Cohen, has released a live record "Live in London" from his current tour. Reaching its completion now- was amazing live performance, if you caught it. Genius. The record can give you comfort after you come down ........ we just love this man.

If It Be Your Will
(Leonard Cohen, Nokia Center, LA)

Destiny and Timing

Timing and destiny are inevitably entwined and we must learn trust the Universe.

In the book EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert there is a section on destiny:

Destiny is a play between divine grace and willful self effort. Half of it you have no control over, half of it is absolutely in your hands and your actions will show measurable consequence. Man is neither entirely a puppet of the Gods nor is he entirely the captain of his own destiny. He is a little of both. We gallop through our lives like circus performers balancing on two speeding side-by-side horses. One foot is on the horse called "Faith", the other on the horse called 'Free Will' and the question you have to ask everyday is which horse is which, which horse do I need to stop worrying about because it's not under my control and which do I need to steer with concentrated effort.

Yet Another Sobering Reality of Life

Your the last person that I wanted to send this message to and I know how disappointed you will be. I argued with myself over and over again about telling you this. I finally had to face reality and I realize that there is no way around it. Some things in life you just have to face up to, no matter how
hard it is. If there was any way around it, I would take that course of action rather than hurt someone
who I care about, but there is not and I must say what I must. It was so painful for me to face up to this that I really considered going through a second party, but I thought what good would that do, in the end I would have to tell you anyway. Sometimes in life we have to sort of "man up" to reality, regardless of the consequences. I know that you know me well enough to understand that I would not hurt you intentionally and if their was any way around this, I would do it. You really should find a place to sit down and let this sink in and please don't email me and ask why or am I sure about this, but there is no such thing as an easter bunny.
There I've said it.

Sincerely, JJJ

Face The Music (And Dance)

Well, this is probably another one of those shows not to miss, I mean - Herb Alpert is quite the musical pioneer and legendary trumpeter.His wife, Lani Hall, is one of the most wonderful and talented vocalists .

The pair perform together at various venues, material from their new record.
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall Live "Anything Goes"
They performed two sold out shows last week at Vibrato, Albert's Jazz venue in Bel Air.
You can catch a show at Yoshi's in SF in June.

Winter always turns to Spring

If you are doing any Spring Cleaning and you are in the Los Angeles area please consider helping a young foster girl feel like a Princess for her Prom by donating dressy items you no longer wear to
Dressy Drive: Items Needed include
-Women evening wear – gowns, dresses, etc
- Accessories – shoes, purses, jewelry, slips, wraps
(All sizes needed. Please make sure dresses are clean and on hangers)

Donations will be distributed April 19th at PROM PREP 101, which is
hosted by North Hollywood Department of Children and Family
Services.
Tax deductible donated items may be dropped off at either location below:

Lovette Panthier, SCSW
Resource Coordinator
panthl-at- dcfs.lacounty.gov
(818) 717-4686
(213) 471-6298- cell
20151 Nordhoff St., Chatsworth, CA 91311

Ink Studios
11135 Weddington Street (@ Lankershim)
Loft #220
North Hollywood, CA 91601
415 425 5683- c
info-at-inkit.com
*please specify if you would like Ink Studios to collect you receipt
for your tax deductible donation(s).

_____________________________________________________________

While rummaging about I happen to come across a birthday card from my dear flatmate Rod (bkr) - given to me some years ago at probably on of the most amazing birthday parties had (hosted at the home of Marc Canter on Potrero Hill).

As inspiring today as it was when Whitman wrote it:

(I discovered that you can buy these cards on amazon)

Hail to the Musicians

We have just learned that SF School District has initiated a program for teachers which provides an educational guide book with Jimi Hendrix gracing the cover with the following musings "Remember the first time you heard Jimi Hendrix?" "Our plan is as transformational now as his music was then!" We don't have a copy but sounds good.
For more gory details on the state of affairs in arts education.....visit our blog




A very special thanks to all the wonderful people who help bring the orchestra of music to life..... please help to keep the music alive and the arts programs in our public schools.

Just for fun- I've included a video clip of one of our personal faves....Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith talking about how he got his start in music.

Even though he does refer to yours truly as a 'naughty school girl' (must have been the pigtails) - we still love him.
Promise to get better with our camera angles next time.

Golf w/Green Day: 4/20

Help support Music in Schools Today while you enjoy a round of golf hosted by Green Day's Tres Cool.
Monday, April 20th - Sequoia Country Club

The 3rd Annual Music in Schools Today Golf Tournament, Hosted by Tré Cool will be held at the beautiful Sequoyah Country Club in the Oakland Hills on Monday, April 20, 2009. Proceeds of the event will fund Music in Schools Today's Music Integrated Learning Environment program in the Oakland Unified School District.

Register Here

This amazing event includes a full day: lunch, a round of golf at one of the Bay area's best private clubs, and dinner! Golf with Tré Cool, Mike Dirnt, Bobby Hutcherson, Lawrence Karnow, John Kessler, Tom Luce, Butch Vig, and Vinnie and Icky from RadioAlice, among many others.

Some of the Live Auction Prizes

* Radio Alice ~ Producer for a Day with Sarah & Vinnie. Value: Priceless
* Dude Ranchers Association ~ 4 nights at Rancho de los Caballeros + golf +
Southwest Airlines ~ 2 unrestricted round-trip tickets. Value: $3300
* Calistoga Ranch ~ 3 days/2 nights in Bay Forest Lodge. Value: $2000
* Reunion Resort Orlando ~ 3 days/2 nights with deluxe accomodations +
JetBlue Airways ~ 2 round-trip tickets. Value: $1500
* CordeValle ~ 2 days/1 night, plus a round of golf for two. Value: $1235

Silent Auction Prizes

* Gretsch ~ Hawaiian Guitar with Pickup & Gig Bag, Aged Natural. Value: $959
* Gretsch ~ Double Jet Guitar with Gig Bag. Value: $790
* Leedy ~ Snare Drum, donated by the Gretsch Foundation

Hope to see you there.

Beautiful Freedom

Photo Courtesy - Robert Altman
(collector editions prints of this photo available )


Mr Havens performed a very intimate show last Sat. night at the Napa Valley Opera House. Harry Manx opened - a special evening.

Havens played a 2 hour set strong, full of spirit and sweaty. The master strummer and vintage man gave us Freedom along with many other greats and closed out the evening with Cocker tune "You Are So Beautiful" and had full audience participation alternating back and forth lyric words of 'beautiful' with 'wonderful'.

Post show we quite literally ran into the legend at the elevator while exiting off the wrong floor mistakenly, which gave us a great opportunity to chat one-on-one with the man who exudes such immense warmth and kindness. One of my guests sat next to Havens in first class on a flight some 25 years ago during which the two had shared some great conversation ... some part about Haven's museum in NY for kids which he immediately recalled upon re-connecting. As the story goes, people in-flight kept coming up and kissing Haven's rings, my friend wasn't even sure who he was at that time...

We hugged and parted ways, but not before Richie graciously signed his photo in my personal copy of Robert Altman's "Sixties" book (pix above) taken by Altman in 1968 .



Generate Kindness.org