A Little Bit of Stuff

This week, I've been listening to Finn Riggins' new release A Soldier, A Saint, An Ocean Explorer; Ky-Mani Marley's Radio; Friend and Foe by Menomena; and Seattle band, The Blakes.
I caught Billy Joel on Monday and Dane Cook tonight at the Taco Bell Arena, and saw the Adversives open for Skeleton Key at Neurolux last Saturday. Billy Joel was a treat; Dane Cook was a hoot; and Skeleton Key was one of the best shows I've seen this year. My Top 10 of favorite live shows is going to have to become a Top 20. Or, since I have such a terrible memory, I guess it can stay a Top 10 because I may forget what was on there. I should start keeping a list.

If you're in the Boise area, check out Molly Hill's gorgeous new exhibit, "China Daydream," at J. Crist gallery.

Atkins in (for the night).

Damn it's good to be a reporter

Due to some technical malfunctions--Intervision's frontman, Paul Creighton,forgot to charge his cell phone and Witchcraft's tour is taking them through dead spots where cell phones don't work at all--I have three interviews today, but I write this without even a hint of complaint. I love interviewing people almost more than writing about them at times. Speaking to these people is so humbling; they've chosen a path, they've followed it and they're doing a pretty damn fine job. Yes, I understand that I am "the press" and that, of course, they're going to speak with me. It gets them exposure and, regardless of how amazing these people are, they are artists ... you can't be a good artist without an intact and fully-functioning ego. And I've had a few interviews that were less than stellar in nature either due to my own lack of preparedness or due to the fact that the person on the other end of the phone or other side of the table is a bit one-dimensional. But even those interviews are rewarding in their own ways. I learn more about myself--I need to get up earlier, prepare questions, do my homework--and the interviewee--that shallowness or narcissism might actually be intense focus, something my own ADD nature just doesn't allow for. Nary a day goes by that I don't feel very fortunate to be doing what I do.
One more example of how I'm living the fabulous life (no, Fergie, it's not fab-"o"-lous. It's just not.) is getting to participate in the annual Boise Weekly Cover Auction. Click here for photos and more info courtesy our editor/paparazzo, Shea Andersen: BW Cover Auction. We raised over $15,000 this year ($3,000 of that from employees)and I walked away with Ben Wilson's "OG Winter Wonderland" a piece I will treasure for as long as I am.
Atkins out.