In April we got our first gig playing at a grocery store.  It’s an unusual place for live entertainment, but what a brilliant idea; it totally works. Live music makes a trip to the grocery store so much more fun.

We love it; the customers and staff love it.  What a welcome surprise for shoppers. They stand considering an onion, a steak, whatever, beautiful music floats over, and BAM we come strolling into view. There is a double take and then a smile. Little babies riding in carts tune in. Bigger kids do silly dances and clap along, laughing. We cruise through the produce section, down the dairy aisle, through the bakery.  The camera phones come out. Relatives in other states get messages saying, “Look! We have live music in our grocery stores!”

Buy for Less has it’s heart in the right place. They're supporting the arts on the ground level. Who would think that bringing local culture to their patrons would be a mission for a grocery chain?  Remarkable! This sets them apart from most businesses. Thanks Buy for Less / Uptown!

Watch us in action on YouTube strolling through the grocery aisles!

Sean Cummings is the real deal traditional Irish Pub, complete with Celtic music, no exceptions. They have live music seven nights a week.  You wouldn’t think there are so many Celtic musicians in OKC, but there are, and here is why:  While many music scenes are exclusive clubs resisting musicians from outside their clique, Sean Cummings' Pub takes a different approach. Everyone is welcome, as long as they play Celtic music, simple as that. It’s a cozy place to experience and celebrate the culture.

Over winter break cabin fever set in, and we decided spur-of-the-moment to head over to Sean Cummings.  Roger Graham, a friend and supporter from the Acoustic Oklahoma days, had a gig there.   We stepped in and chatted with him for a moment.  He said, “It’s a shame you didn’t bring your instruments.”  Casey replied, “Actually we did.”  Roger exclaimed, “What are you waiting for, bring em in here!!” So we played the three Celtic tunes we knew for the pub.  

           
 One bright morning, back when Casey and I were still playing in Burlap Tuxedo, before there was a HonkyTonk StepChild, we were cruising down May Avenue.  We were passing the Dunkin’ Donuts when I misread a sign,  “Coffee Jesus!?” I exclaimed.  “No,” Casey explained, “that says Coffee Jobs, but I like that.  Coffee Jesus has a ring to it.”  

Tulsa musician JJ Cale passed away yesterday.  We couldn't let a day go by without learning one of his songs.  Here it is. Our tribute to JJ Cale:

I used to enjoy the cute squirrels scampering in the world around our house.  They are like the little monkeys of North America.  But now when I look at them, I feel like throwing rocks or getting a pellet gun. 

Casey and I were taking a break, leaning back in the plastic lawn chairs, catching up after work on a gorgeous spring afternoon, when this little bit of something fell on me.  I looked up to see a squirrel hurrying away on the branches.  Casey said, “Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to tell you, this squirrel has been carrying around a big bone up in the trees for days, gnawing on it, and making these weird sounds. He dropped it over there.  Go take a look.”  I did, and there was a long thin bone scraped up with teeth marks.

A week later Casey was pruning some trees along the river. He noticed our neighbor James’ lawn was overgrown, and went to ask if he should mow it.  Walking up to the door he saw the mailbox overflowing with letters, packages on the porch, and there was no answer at the door.  If Casey had any sense of smell, he would have called the police right then, but he returned to his chores along the river bend.  The suspicion that James was dead inside became overwhelming, and he called the police to do a well-fair check.