clementine: 2010

Hi!

I'm writing from 'the Love Shack'. That's right, Aye and I moved into an apartment on March 1st; 2br, perfectly cozy, have all these boxes lying around and there's still stuff that needs to be taken care of (gratefully, we've been looked after). But I know that it will all be coming together little by little.

I've been inspired and thought I should update my header. Represents me pretty well; it's basically made with old artwork I had stored in my computer. Artwork that hopefully will be displayed on people soon.

(for more pictures go to my flickr)

Dennisse and Kenya already visited and with a little tequila, we celebrated until 5 am. I cant wait for all the gang to come. In the mean while there's been a couple of sessions of video chatting, its pretty much the simplest way to catch up...

Last Thursday, March 25th I invited Wayo, Aye and Erick to come see Devendra Banhart and the Grogs (at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach) with me. We got there super early so we sat and smoked a few cigarettes. I was telling a story, i remember, turned to Erick and saw Greg Rogove (he plays the drums) walking hand in hand with a girl -- i froze, just kept staring and he did too; he gave me a 'i know you know who i am' kind of look haha... and i did, he's very tall and handsome, stunning. Fifteen minutes pass by and i see this small group of people approaching the venue, i saw Devendra walking right in the middle, he was trying to hide his face with a hoodie, he passed by me and i was too shocked to say anything.... everyone who noticed him kept quiet, even holding their breath and when he got in the bar this guy was like DID YOU FUCKING SEE WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?! everyone was freaking out hahah.

We got in and stood right in front of the stage, there was this couple that started talking to us, very nice people, they had met him a few times before and said that he's as sweet and laid back as his reputation precedes him to be, he once wrote something for their son in regards to the song "Hey Mama Wolf", incredible!! They recommended a few sister-bands of Devendra that I'd never heard of and wished me good luck in my first Banhart concert experience. Very nice people.

So he comes out, says hello and he starts to play. I remember i kept thinking "He's even more beautiful in person. I cant believe he's 4 feet away from me. FUCK!" like 30-40 minutes after he proceeded to shake hands with everyone on the front line. After he shook my hand, the girl who was next to me gave him some flowers (she had been waving them at him for most of the show and he never looked -- this was her chance... so) he froze, i don't think he knew that they were flowers and a second later he's all smiles and gives this girl a hug and kiss. He gave Wayo a 3/4 high five after that and almost kicked him in the head too.

Each member of the band sang a tune they'd written (Devendra is awesome, man). He also sang the verse of song that he'd written a day before, it was pretty funny. And in the nature of the topic he invited to the stage a person from the audience who: 1) had written a song 1.5) that the song that she/he had written hadn't been listened by anyone else and 2) never sang in front of an audience. A girl who had a band called Kira and the Lesbians (i don't know if that's how the name's supposed to be spelled) got picked randomly by him, she got up the stage and he put his guitar on her. She was really amazing; the lyrics, the melody, her voice... two thumbs up. Good for her. The crowd was going nuts when she was done. He got her demo and the band played the last song.

Needless to say the show, the band, the vibe, Devendra himself completely exceeded my expectations, best show I've ever been to. Hands down. Aside from being an amazing poet, singer, artist; he is such a lighthearted, sweet person. He makes you feel like you matter to him, like he's your friend. I love him and his band so much.

So the four of us left that concert with the full-on experience, some crappy pictures, one of his instruments and a set list. Don't hate, we're just cool like that.

Another week is ending and it's sweeping the rest of the month as well.

Hope you're having a good week-month-year-so-far too.

Here's to the days and nights to come.

Love,
Me.

Love Poem to a Stripper
by Charles Bukowski

50 years ago I watched the girls
shake it and strip
at The Burbank and The Follies
and it was very sad
any very dramatic

as the light turned from green to
purple to pink
and the music was loud and
vibrant
now I sit here tonight
smoking and
listening to classical
music
but I still remember some of
their names: Darlene, Candy, Jeanette
and Rosalie.

Rosalie was the
best, she knew how
and we twisted in our seats and
made sounds
and Rosalie brough magic
to the lonely
so long ago.

now Rosalie
either so very old or
so quiet under the
earth,
this is the pimple-faced
kid
who lied about his
age
just to watch
you.

you were good, Rosalie
in 1935,
good enough to remember
now
when the light is
yellow and the nights are
slow.