homemade pie and lutheran coffee

We had our first gig this evening. Homemade Pie fit right in with the rest of the offerings at the church pitch-in. There was green bean casserole, cocktails weenies in BBQ sauce, slaw, sauerkraut with potatoes and sausage, three kinds of pie, and snickerdoodles.

The room was full of awesome people. A row of darling girls sat on the floor in front of us, families and grandparents filled the round tables with folding chairs behind us. I soaked in the vibe of fellowship and good natured-ness. 

 You can get your own taste of Homemade Pie here:

wrapping it all up

Scott Avett

Here is my recap of Day Three of the Austin City Limits Fest.
http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-festival-2012-day-three-recap/

I can't wait to do it all again!

home again home again

Me. Austin Airport 4:30 a.m. The only part of me that was fit to photograph

Yawn.

My flight was at 6:00 a.m., which meant getting to the airport at 4:30.

Bleck.

I had a great time in Austin and it was nice to spend almost a week away from work and mowing the grass and doing laundry and the day-to-day business of being Nora.

For my re-cap of Day Two of the Austin City Limits (with photographs!) click here: http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-fest-2012-day-two-recap/

over.

My favorite shoes are staying in Austin.

Sorry Austin.

It has been a great vacation. I heard at least nineteen bands and watched at least twice as many Law and Order episodes.

The week was a nice mix of music, writing, watching television, and napping.

Between the flurry of wrapping up work and getting ready to leave town and the slight pressure to get the photographs edited and recaps written, not to mention the hours spent at the festival I was still a little tightly wound.

Today was the day of true relaxation. A lovely steak and a whiskey made it seem like vacation.

Just in time to pack and set my alarm for 4:00 for a 6:00 am flight time.

It was fun while it lasted!

red hot

Flea. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Austin City Limits Fest 2012

I was lucky enough to have photo credentials for the Red Hot Chili Peppers show at the Austin City Limits Fest. 

I’m blown away by the staying power and popularity of the band. At the risk of showing my age, my first RHCP concert was at the now defunct Indianapolis venue, the Patio in 1985. There are several grainy YouTube videos of the show (yes, there was video back in the day). 

I was in college then and I remember finishing my waitressing shift, driving the hour it took to get from Purdue to Indianapolis, changing out of my polyester Arni's uniform in the car, and spending my tip money on the cover charge and two beers. It was a crazy show. The band was all over the stage and in various stages of dress – there were tube socks involved, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, in the past 27 years I’ve seen them play in increasingly larger venues to arena stages. If anything the remaining band members – Anthony Kiedis and Flea – are in better shape now. Drummer Chad Smith joined the band in 1989; guitar player Josh Klinghoffer has been part of the lineup since 2009. For the record Klinghoffer was six-years old the first time I saw the Chili Peppers.

There were teenagers in the ACLF crowd that had been in the front row since 11:00 that morning that hadn’t been born when the band formed. The Red Hot Chili Peppers arrived on stage to thousands of fists pumping and screaming fans, and they started out with the energy to match the crowd.

They started with “Dani California” and played with an intensity reserved for younger men. Ironically Klinghoffer is nursing a broken foot and played a good part of the show from a chair, but couldn’t help jumping up and joining the fray several times.

The band ran through several of their hits, “Otherside,” “Suck My Kiss,” “Tell Me Baby,” “Under the Bridge,” By the Way,” and “Give it Away” during their two-hour set. I can’t imagine that everyone didn’t have a great time.

I know I did. 

success

Danny Matthews and Tyler Wheeler

My camera and computer are friends again!

I'm busy editing that photos of the eight bands I photographed today.

Here is a recap of yesterday's music: http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-festival-2012-day-one-recap/

I'll leave you with one of the first photos that I took day. Check out the Wheeler Brothers, I think you'll like 'em.

homemade pie

I've dusted off the typewriter and am click-clacking away for the fresh-from-the-oven band, Homemade Pie.

I can't tell you how dang excited I am! Getting to hangout with true musical talent is goose-bumpy good.

Your first chance to hear the newest old-fashioned band around is October 20, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN (20650 Cumberland Road). We're opening for the Flea Bitten Dawgs.

Doors open at 6:00. Plan on socializing and enjoying a potluck dinner before the show -  bring some tasty food to share. I'm promising to  bake up a batch or two of my Indiana State Fair Blue Ribbon Snickerdoodles. And, of course, there will be pie!

What does Homemade Pie sound like?  A delightful mix of ukuleles, typewriter, fiddle, dulcimer, washtub-bass, slide whistle, washboard, kazoo, guitar, and amazing harmonies.

It doesn't get much better than an autumn evening of homemade food, music, and laughter.

$10 for adults; kids under 16 are free. 

dr. drake to the psych ward, stat!

Rick Springfield, Indiana State Fair 2010, photographed by me

Last night I had one of those anxiety dreams where you are lost and seem to never get to where you're going. 

In this dream I couldn't find my car in a parking garage and I kept walking in to strange situations like craft fairs and church picnics, while worrying about being late for something important. 

Guess who appeared from around the corner to help me?

Mr. Rick Springfield (Dr. Noah Drake to you General Hospital fans) himself. And he was wearing a sweater with butterflies. 

I wish I could remember more.

Indiana State Fair - Day 10 - 2011 Edition

Today is an incredibly sad day. The stage at the Indiana State Fair Grandstand collapsed last night, killing five, with scores of others hurt.

You all are familiar with my deep love of the State Fair and the fact that I've leaned against that very stage dozens of times with camera in hand waiting for the concert to start.

 Thanks to all of my blogging friends that reached out last night through facebook and e-mails. I safely at my waitressing job when the tragedy occurred.

Please click here for my thoughts on the day.

Sending cyberhugs to you all. xoxxox

lazy sunday

There is still plenty of snow, if anyone wants any.

Today was a lazy day. No work, no deadlines.

Church, than  back to bed.

I managed to rally long enough to go hear music and visit a new brewery downtown, Flat 12 Bierworks. 

The very talented Tad Armstrong and Brian Deer were playing.

And I got a brewery tour.

It's nice to see how the other half spends Sunday.

house concert - chad mills

View from the best seat in the house - Chad Mills concert

Have you ever been to a house concert? It's just that - a concert in someone's house. I love them - everyone is there to listen - no bar chatter or blenders whirling drinks or freakishly tall people standing in front of the stage. And the musicians have time to tell stories and talk about their songs. I took Mom to see one of my favorite musicians, Chad Mills, play the Redbud House Concert Series tonight.

I'm a big fan of Chad's - not only do I think that he's a great songwriter and I've enjoyed seeing him grow and stretch his wings in the last five years, but Chad is an outstanding member of our music community. He plays early morning farmer's markets*, charity events and is generous with his time. But most importantly, he's committed to his beautiful wife and cute-as-a-button daughters. He seems to manage the balance of home, work and family.

Click here to hear "Meant To Be." 

I've heard musicians say that they feel naked playing a house concert. There is no microphone or equipment or smoky haze to hide behind. As an audience member, I felt stripped down also - no notepad or camera or speaker to shield me from the music. And that is what makes house concerts so great, you really have a chance to connect with the words and music.

I encourage you to attend or host a concert. It's as easy as pie (ummm, pie). I wrote a cover article for NUVO about house concerts - you can read it here. If you're interested in hosting a house concert read my how-to guide here. 

I'm mad at myself that I didn't think to shoot a video of one of Chad's other songs, but I didn't think of it until his final song of the night. .I'll leave you with the video I took of his last song, the title track  and bar band anthem from his latest CD, Make the Door. You'll have to excuse my late start and my giggling at hearing his mom shout, "DRINK LIKE FISH!"

See you tomorrow!

 * I asked Chad to fill in at the Broad Ripple Farmer's Market for last minute cancellation. Not only was the weather cold and rainy, but the Broad Ripple High School marching band was practicing just a few yards away. 

the best laid plans....

typewriter, 49th and Broadway

I'd been looking forward to Thursday - I'd spent three nights in a row at home (gasp!) and had a full evening planned - in fact I was joking earlier that  'Thursdays were the new Saturdays. Everything seems to fall on Thursday...

6:30 - band practice
8:30 - Danny Flanigan and John Byrne playing at the Corner Wine Bar
10:00 - Hotfox playing at the Melody Inn.

And since I'd planned no wiggle room things started to fall apart before they even started.

I didn't leave work until 6:15 and the roads were slick and I've driven like an old lady since I was 12 so I didn't get home until almost 7:00. I tossed some food toward the cat, grabbed my typewriter and some pastries and ran out the door, forgoing changing into something cute.

I drove to practice and juggled the typewriter, baked goods, my camera and a diet Pepsi as I walked toward the house - as Dad would say, this was a classic lazy man's load. I was thinking that I should set something down and come back.

I kept walking.

And the inevitable happened.

The case popped open and the typewriter bounced off of my foot and into the intersection.

I scooped everything back up - thank goodness the pastries survived - and burst through Cara's front door - arms loaded, red faced and full of apologies. 

Which shocked the heck out of Cara, since it was not band practice night.

I left the baked goods as a peace offering and went to Plan B - joining up with the Girls Night Out dinner that I thought I couldn't attend. I missed the dinner part, but it was good to join the conversation and laugh and talk about boys and the future.

The party moved to the bar to finish our drinks. I like most music and even if I don't, I appreciate that folks have enough guts to get up and play. I do have a few musical prejudices - I take an immediate dislike to any guitar player wearing a tie-dye shirt. And the duo was was playing to a prerecorded sound track, which is just weird and wrong. I had a headache and furrowed brow by the time I got out of there.

And I was late for seeing Danny and John. I got there just as they were done. Boo.

Since I was 0 - 2 for my plans, I sent a text to a member of the next band before I drove to the venue. Sure enough, they'd canceled their set. I had a slight freak-out when I realized that I was texting with a 19 year-old college freshman. The fact that I'm older than his mom didn't help.

I ended the evening by wandering through yet another grocery store looking for cranberries. I forgot to do my annual stock up. No luck on finding those either.

Boy is my timing off...

celebrity santa

Santa Nora, December 22, 2010

I don't consider that I'm a celebrity in any way shape or form. But I was for Birdy's annual Christmas party. 

I found out when I walked in the door and was handed a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey and the suit. 

I suspect that I was chosen because this guy didn't show up....

2009

I wasn't prepared for the task. In retrospect, I should have done the shot - you need a little courage to get your photo taken with with a bunch of folks that have possibly had a cocktail or two.....

Can you believe that someone asked if Santa wanted to hang out by the dumpster and get high? I guess that explains why Santa eats so many cookies when he makes his rounds...

austin city limits 2010 - day three

Another wonderful day in Austin!

Click here to all about it!

austin city limits festival, day two - 2010

Read all about my Saturday adventures at the Austin City Limits by clicking here.

austin city limits festival, day one 2010

I've had a few wonderful days of lounging in my pajamas, reading in the sunshine and drinking whiskey.

I was a little less-lazy today. Click here for my recap of the first day of the Austin City Limits Festival.

austin city limits festival, eve

Hey! I'm in Austin.

The weather is perfect, wish you were here.
Read all about it by clicking here.

indiana State Fair day 7 - 2010 edition

Rick Springfield....RICK SPRINGFIELD!!!

Rick played at the Indiana State Fair and I had a photo pass. I was so close I could have reached out at touched his black Chuck Taylor tennis shoes, but he and I were wearing the same shoe and I didn't want to embarrass him by pointing it out. Or get hauled off by those nice beefy security dudes. 

I can't quit talking about this, but the dude will be 61 next week! He looks and sounds great. 

Read about the show and the rest of my adventures by clicking here. 

broken dishes

I’m not a crier. With the exception of a memorable weeping jag over a breakup I generally don’t shed many tears. It feels weird at times, everyone else will be sniffly and red-eyed and I’m standing around feeling guilty for not crying. I used to think I had a cold heart for not being quick to tears, but decided that cold-hearted folks would not worry if they weren't crying.

I’ve had tears in the back of my eyes since Wednesday morning when I learned from his parents, that an old boyfriend, Ken Fisher had been killed in a motorcycle accident near his Philadelphia home. But couldn’t manage to actually cry. Yesterday another friend and neighbor was found dead in his house from a fire. It was a busy day of work – I seemed to be doing everyone’s job but my own, gave a speech at a media company and had several after-work obligations so didn't really have time to process the news.

I got done with all of the things I had to do about 11:30 last night. I stopped at my favorite music venue on the way home and heard an excellent band that played traditional country music – lots of George Straight and Hank Williams . I figured that if I wasn’t crying after three whiskeys and a pedal steel solo it wasn’t gonna happen.

I got home at 1:30, fed Pacifist Kitty, looked at the mail, started a load of laundry and washed some dishes as I made popcorn. I made a pyramid of bowls on my drying rack. One slipped and crashed in to the sink, breaking it and the dishes still in the sink.

Finally. Tears.
I sat on my kitchen floor and had a good old-fashioned messy cry.

a peek at nora at the austin city limits festival.

Two Weeks' Hard Labor: Day 5, Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX

I'm sorry I've been missing in action. I'm back in Indiana working and working and writing with the occasional nap thrown in.

I feel compelled to point out that I was wearing the bandana out of necessity, not as a fashion statement. It was 87 degrees with 98 percent humidity. I'd totally given up on what I looked like.

See you soon!