for those about to rock

i like pictures and making the people laugh

school of rock - jamming with my friend jamie's son jamie (jr.), my trusty 12-string (brought along at the host's request) and my trusty bueno y sano tee (a second skin to those that know me) at jay's 4th of july weekend bbq.

heart-warming scene, ain't it? what the camera DIDN'T capture was that we were actually smack dab in the middle of an idyllic, pastoral heaven, complete with puppy dogs, rainbows, ice cream sundaes and a host of tiny woodland creatures slowly awakening in a harmonious symphony of tranquil sights and sounds.

speaking of woodland creatures, did i mention that jamie's brother slew a deer and brought the kill over to grill? my first impression of venison was that it's an awful lot like beef in terms of texture and flavor, though there is a distinct, salty-ish (though not entirely unpleasant) aftertaste that hits you seemingly out of nowhere. good stuff, and thanks to jay's generosity, i now have a freezer full of it at home.

















briana is a rascal. her brother jesse is a rascal, too, though he thought that this picture makes him look like he's a rascal that's missing a tooth or two.

just to set the record straight, the gaps are a trick of the light, folks. jesse's got an impressive set of chompers.

perhaps it was the venison we all partook in that made them so giddy?

















hanging with jamie, a friend from work and one of the all-around best people i know. you might not be surprised to find out that jay's a tattoo artist in his spare time, what with the ample ink he's got adorning his arm, and if i ever, ever settle on an image or string of words i'd like to have committed permanently to my skin, he'll be the man for the job.

jay also happens to be a hell of a drummer. he used to play as a member of tribal wisdom, a heavy rock and hip-hop outfit that set off mosh pits in boston throughout the 90's.

the dude sitting behind jay's head with the guitar is rich, tribal wisdom's old axe-slinger. usually, when someone asks to bust some stuff out on the guitar at a gathering, i find myself dreading that i'll be treated to the full repertoire of Songs That Have Been Deemed OK To Play In Front of Others; unless the person pulls out a tune i've been meaning to learn, i prefer hearing something original, even if it's just a little noodling. otherwise, it just feels too much like we're going through the motions.

well, rich dispelled my worries straight away when he picked up my guit and proceeded to put on an impromptu guitar clinic. unbidden, he started dropping bits of knowledge about voice leading, jazzy chord substitutions and other things i'm just beginning to get the hang of -- his impulses as a guitar teacher no doubt taking hold of the reins -- as i sat and did my best to absorb the music theory and stylistic nuances that his fingers were illustrating at blinding speed on the fretboard. the guy has played guitar for 25 years, and was recently involved in a music project with gary cherone, who himself has sort of implicitly set the bar high for guitar players he'll work with, having sung in bands with two of the greatest guitarists of all time, van halen and nuno bettencourt.

meeting rich and watching him play up close was an unexpected highlight of my afternoon. he's a spectacular musician and modest, down-to-earth guy.

















brie holds her new friend jay jr., while jay sr. performs double duty, grabbing my ass with one hand and jesse's pec with the other.

just kidding, jay.

posted by jomilkman @ 10:56 AM