Dave Mason and Mama Cass

 

It was the seventies and I was partying in Venice. Used to be a very cool all night private club on Ocean View named the Mirror Go Round with all these crazed Egon Schiele like neon portraits. Serious partying done there.

Anyway it was three in the morning when we decided to leave and go to Zookies, the late deli on 14th and Wilshire to get some food. Dave Mason was sitting in a booth a few feet away with his mother. Didn't talk to him but thought that it was cool that he was there with his mom.

S & G

 

Nasty rockstars

Steve Winwood put out this statement yesterday on the passing of his Traffic co-founder, Dave Mason:

“We were deeply saddened to hear of Dave Mason’s passing.

Dave was part of Traffic during its earliest chapter, and played an important role in shaping the band’s sound and identity during that time. His songwriting, musicianship and distinctive spirit helped create music that has lasted far beyond its era, and continues to mean so much to listeners around the world.

Those years remain a special part of the band’s story, and Dave’s contribution to them is not forgotten. His place in that history will always be remembered, and through the music, his presence endures.

At this sad time, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and all those who loved him and his music.”

Noble words but my only thought was, why couldn't you have said something this kind and decent to him in the last thirty or forty years? All those who loved him, which obviously doesn't include you.

I loved both musicians but I honestly think Winwood treated Mason like shit. This is Mason's version of what Winwood told him at his dismissal: 

"I don’t like the way you write. I don’t like the way you sing. I don’t like the way you play. And we don’t want you in the band anymore.’  

Purportedly he didn't like Mason's more "pop" songs, like Feelin' Alright, which happened to be very well regarded and successful. Perhaps he considered him an artistic threat?

Winwood insisted that Mason play bass at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gig in 2004. Mason demurred, saying he had never played bass in his life and declined to play.

I can't find the citation but I remember an incredibly lame thing Winwood said where he completely dismissed Mason's contribution to Traffic by making note of all the great Traffic songs Mason never wrote. Wow.

Mason always had hopes of getting the band back together, for even a show, but it was not to be.

“It’s unfortunate that Steve Winwood can’t get together with me and go out and make one sort of last performance of Traffic. I’m just open to doing it. You know, we don’t even have to talk, you just have to get onstage for an hour and a half.” Dave Mason

I got to see Traffic in 1971, with John Martyn and Free. Dave was already gone of course. Later I saw him solo. He was an amazing player, as good as anybody, very lyrical.

So thanks for the nice words Steve. Just a few days too late to make any sense or have real meaning. Why be nice now?

*

And it gets me back to one of my favorite rock star peeves, the "I did it all myself" attitude. Easy to run down the megalomaniacal figures that subscribed to this brand of narcissism. How about Sting, David Byrne, Paul Simon and John Fogerty. Ego trippers all.

They were really good at minimizing the contributions of their bandmates and partners. But I think in every case the band en toto was superior to the solo act. But the leads are so possessed of insecurity that they hate to give anybody any credit. And in every instance the whole was better than the parts.

I loved the Talking Heads but I do not care for David Byrne in the least anymore. I was reading about one of my favorite singers, Johnette Napolitano. 

The Heads were formed by the members of Talking Heads after their unsuccessful attempts to convince lead singer and lyricist David Byrne to return to work with the band. The three remaining members decided to record new material as the Heads and collaborate with various artists who would primarily provide the lyrics and vocals. The backing tracks for No Talking, Just Head, including that which became "Damage I've Done", were recorded in November 1994. Once completed, the band began contacting other artists they wanted to collaborate with, including Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde fame. Speaking to Billboard in 1996, drummer Chris Frantz said, "We had never met her before. We just admired her work. I went to see her show in a club, and I was just amazed at the power she has."

What happened to this cool group of incredible musicians? Byrne sued them.

[Johnette] is one of several vocalists featured on the 1996 album No Talking, Just Head, by The Heads, including the single "Damage I've Done". The group was formed by three members of Talking Heads (Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth). Napolitano was the primary vocalist for The Heads' only concert tour. The Heads was intended to become a full-time band, with further studio albums and tours. A live CD-video of the first tour was planned, featuring performances from many of the album's guest artists and Napolitano on vocals for the songs originally recorded by Talking Heads. David Byrne sued the band, saying their name and presentation was too evocative of Talking Heads. The suit was settled out of court, and The Heads ceased activity.]

Byrne was reportedly irked by the success of the Tom Tom Club and it obviously carried forward. Mr. Ego went out of his way to ensure that his former bandmates missed a payday. All about you, right David?

What a dick. 

Same with Simon. Great player, good singer but his voice will never touch Artie's, sorry. The combination of the two far outweighed the solo efforts. But Simon's ego wouldn't put up with it.

Me, me, me.

Crying to be heard

<

Sad headline

“Last July, Donald Trump demanded that Texas draw five new Republican seats in the middle of a decade, igniting a chain reaction of corrupt MAGA state legislators attempting to rig the midterm elections. While many expected Democrats to roll over and play dead, we did the opposite,”Who would have thought?

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY)

I thought it was a real hoot last night listening to GOP talking heads shriek and rend their garments after the catastrophe in Virginia when they wouldn't say a peep when Trump initiated the same practice in Texas.

Republicans air misgivings about redistricting push after Virginia vote.

Business Stuff

 

FedEx just delivered eight large boxes of artwork. 

A man from Florida called me some time ago. 

His grandfather was a painter in the Santa Fe and Taos area in the 1970's. He made friends with lots of good local artists.

His own kids weren't all that interested in the artwork.

I don't know that there is anything earth shattering in the group but it will be fun to break it down on Friday and see what I actually have.

This is one of the paintings, by Dane Clark (b. 1934) an excellent artist who worked both in Hawaii and New Mexico.

*

Speaking of work, I drove to Los Angeles yesterday to pick up a Toshiko Takaezu plate I had purchased at auction. Took about three hours to get there. I left six or seven paintings with my friend John to sell at auction. Was tired of looking at them.

There was an auction going on when I got there and I had bid on a couple things. After I was done speaking with my friend I looked down and saw that I had been outbid on my intended purchase and left to go home.

Was a long trip home on the 91 freeway and I decided to stop at Vincenzo's in Lake Elsinore and have a late lunch. I looked down at my phone and to my consternation saw that I had actually won the item for 2k. I had bid $1600 and they had added the juice.

Now I get to make the same six hour drive tomorrow.

What an idiot!

Cheapass

A friend of mine is selling some of his Padres baseball tickets. Really nice seats behind first base. The price? Three hundred dollars for a pair of tickets. Padres are having a good run (have you looked at the Mets record?) but there is no way I could swing it.

I am too cheap.

I don't see how people do it. I started watching the Padres as a kid when they were a minor league team at Westgate Park. I was too young to see them at Lane Field. Probably paid four bucks a ticket. I know that was a long time ago but sheesh.

I don't think I could have fun spending that kind of dough.

Ditto concert tickets.

I was checking out shows at the Belly-Up recently and was astounded by the prices. Here is an example but pretty much par for the course today.

Two hundred bucks for an Eagles tribute band? I wouldn't even pay that to see the Eagles, unless maybe they brought Don Felder back.

I hate to sound like a grandpa but in my day...

Best show I ever saw was Jethro Tull Thick as a brick at the Sports Arena in 1972. 

Paid $4.50. 

Caught the Stones at Madison Square Garden the same year for under seven.

Mick's birthday concert no less.

I know that times have changed but I haven't. I still hate to buy razor blades they cost so much these days and don't even ask about gasoline.

How much is Disneyland today?

The famous San Diego Zoo?

My god. No wonder everybody is broke. Don't even ask about streaming services. How the hell do people afford this?

I am glad that I am comfortable out in nature. My normal recreation is free or limited to a Parks pass. Cheap entertainment is where it is at for me. And a decent meal every once in a while.

God bless all of you that can afford it. Some of these recreational pursuits are so expensive that I would feel guilt ridden the whole time I was there, couldn't enjoy them anyway.

Happy birds

 

Goodbye Dave

 

Coq au Vin

I've made coq au vin several times in the past but decided to up my game a little tonight and do things a bit more properly. I looked at a couple recipes including one from the great Julia Child and went to work.

Leslie bought a giant combo pack of drumstick/thigh sections at Frazier Farms yesterday. Hmm, the Le Creuset stockpot or the dutch oven? I went with the latter. It is a little heavier and heats and sears a bit better.

First thing I did is cut up five bacon strips from Hemplers, our favorite, and cooked them at the bottom of the dutch oven until almost crispy.

I pulled them out and reserved them to a paper towel covered plate for later. 

I then browned and seared the seasoned chicken in the bacon fat, finally pulling them out and putting them on a platter to sit too.

I added a splash of marsala and deglazed the bottom of the blackened bits, not having any cognac readily on hand. 

We don't do onion but I added onion powder and then six cloves of garlic. 

Thirty second cook down.

Chopped up three carrots and put them aside for later too. 

I added three cups of cabernet sauvignon and three cups of chicken bone broth. 

I also added thyme, balsamic vinegar, a touch of sugar, salt, pepper, tomato paste and a bay leaf and brought it all to a boil.

While it was simmering I sautéed mushrooms in a skillet and reserved them as well.

I added my chicken and carrots back to the pot to simmer and started on the beurre manié. 

This is a traditional french sauce thickener made by combining flour and warmed butter and making a mash with it.

I pulled the chicken and carrots out one more time and slowly stirred in the beurre manié. 

I then strained the entire sauce into a mixing bowl so that I could get a clear reduction. 

This is the step I usually skip.

My chef friend Melissa guilted me into doing it the right way for once.

Thanks Missy!

I added the chicken back in and let it simmer. 

Leslie came home and made polenta. 

Right before I plated I added the bacon and mushrooms back into the mix and it was time to eat.

Wish I had fresh thyme but I did not.

Leslie absolutely loved the meal, all the praise I require.

Lot of work, lots of extra dishes to clean but worth it.

Barona Speedway

Jim Ramsey and I went out to the Antique Drag Races at Barona Speedway yesterday. It is an annual affair and our friend Harry was running his 53 Studebaker.

What a great day, breezy, not too hot, the coolest cars and people you could imagine. 

I am just starting to process my pictures, hopefully got some decent shots. 

Haven't shot cars in a long time. 

Very rusty.

I will continue to post as developed.

Hawks feeding

After about sixteen years of freely taking pictures of the red tailed hawks nest, the birds got sneaky and put leaf curtains up this time. I had no idea what was going on in the nest or how many hawklings had been born.

I saw them feeding the other day, answer is two.

When I have time I will bring the great lens and tripod over and try to get some better shots.