Let's rewind to, oh, about March or so, when I happened into the Bowie Starbucks. I shared the bill that night with Jerry Bresee. Jerry retains his Cheshire-cat cheer, still gigging around with his fine portfolio of originals. Jerry's been at it for twice as long as I have and complains only half as much. On hand were staffer Elyshia and friend, whose ages in sum would still be less than mine.
Fastforward to June 2, at the Redoor Coffeehouse, near Annapolis, MD. Here we see hosts Ed Sparks and Patrick Raymond, who run this shindig, and perform with a veritable platoon of stringed instruments, some of which are their own hand-built creations. Here's reasonable study of Ed and his Guild jumbo in action. Our hosts featured young Mr. Eric Balkey this evening. This aspiring songwriter already has his storytelling patter down, which charmed the audience.
I was in Montreal on business on June 13, and found the usual array of street musicians on Rue Sainte Catherine Ouest. Dang it, I did not capture the Solid Gold Elvis: a person seated with guitar on a chair on a box in front of the Hudson Bay Company. Everything was painted in gold leaf, including the suit, stiff face mask, and hair sculpted to look like pre-army Elvis. Taped vocals eminated from the person, who robotically played the guitar in accompaniment. The gimmic here was to decide if it was a person or a machine, and if the artist wanted to attract attention, it worked. Alas, I can share with you this habitant playing his chromatica (a suped-up harmonica that can be played in more than one key), as well as this provincial trio playing literally for loose change. That concept is tempered a bit by the fact that "change" in Canada includes one- and two-dollar coins. Love those Canadians.
