NP: Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders, Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders

Haven't had a lot to talk about lately, or rather, most of it is fairly mundane personal stuff or non-mundane personal stuff that I'm not inclined to say out loud. I'm not quite ready to extol David Allen's GTD framework, which I've been reading about but haven't really implemented. On the other hand, I've been trying to shift my focus from projects to actual steps within those projects this week, and the early returns are encouraging.

Of course, it also might be that I moved to a cubicle on the "outer rim" of the floor, where there's actual natural light.

Saturday's Diver gig -- the one I kept comparing to dating someone at work, because if it went badly, I would feel uncomfortable going to my favorite bar -- was frustrating on any number of levels, although oddly satisfying on others. Everyone in the back room was either someone I knew, or only one step removed. On the other hand, there's wasn't anyone else in the room. I felt a little hung out to dry by a couple of people who will remain nameless -- and if you're a friend who didn't show up, I'm emphatically NOT talking about you, and I'm upset with myself for completely underestimating the effect of the holiday weekend.

Last night at Vaughan's was the usual mix of fun, exhaustion and train wrecks, as I debuted a stunningly off-pitch version of a tune from the Taylor Hawkins I've been digging so much lately. Just couldn't find the melody. Then, when I got back up for a second go-round, I felt really confident as a singer, which doesn't happen that often. Usually, I feel somewhere just south of adequate-to-middling, and I'm okay with that. Maybe it's the addition of four solo "Coz Sings!" dates to the show calendar that has me thinking "yeah, I'm actually decent at this." Maybe it was just singing songs I know well enough to not need the words in front of me.

Whatever it was, it was apparently worth less money than the last time Anto wasn't there, which is becoming the circumstance under which I get paid in more than just free beer.