Ephemeral Retention: December 2007

With the dawn of a new year less than 24 hours away, my mind can't even begin to grasp the thoughts of what the next twelve months (and even the next seven days!) have to offer. New home, new roommates, new city (but not really), and all of this with no job as of yet. Anything is possible in 2008, absolutely anything, so let the games begin.

I have decided to mark this New Beginning by squeezing the trigger of a self-threatening explosive that I've been fingering for many years now; a live and [hopefully] active online journal. Unlike most modern "blogs," though, Ephemeral Retention is going to simply be an online storage unit for me, where I can write and store stories that I would sadly otherwise forget, simply to remember the story itself. The primary focus will be to document the live music that I'm lucky or unlucky enough to see this year, but hopefully subjects beyond music will filter through on a regular basis as well (sex, drugs, and politics, etc); there is, after all, a major, major election this year, so be forewarned, and enjoy.

At some point tomorrow, New Years Day, I will be moving out of my apartment in Fayston, Vermont and back to my old college town of Burlington. I will be sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with a complete stranger named Nicole and her 3 year old son, Taysean, and I really have no idea what to expect. The apartment is subsidized and I am not--nor will I be--on the lease, so I have to move in at night and live there in complete secrecy, and I'm not really sure what will happen if They find out that I'm living there. I will also be making the move with roughly $40 in my pocket after January's rent is paid, and I have yet to secure a job. So it goes.

I'll worry about all of that later, though. I'm going to keep my Wednesday-Thursday bar tending shifts at The Moon in Waitsfield for the time being, and I'm pretty sure that I've got my foot in the door at a very small yet very respected microbrewery in Burlington, which would honestly be a dream job come true. But even if that keg goes flat, so to speak, I'll stay at the pub until something else comes along, and I can always hop back on board slinging java at the coffee joint I worked at in college anytime I want. So even though securing employment is one of the many unknowns that I'm about to jump face-first into, it's hardly one worth drowning in, bill collectors and utility companies be damned. Besides, it's New Year's Eve, and not a time for being cynical.

Tomorrow is going to mark the threshold into a new and very important chapter of my life. With my chin held high and the wind at my back, I'm going to walk down this snow covered mountain in Fayston and into Burlington with rose-lensed sunglasses strapped on tight, because 2008 is going to be such a profound and monumental year that I'll even need that day in February to squeeze it all in. In a nut, I can't even imagine the multitude of what lays ahead of me, and I'm frankly a little bit scared, but at the same time I can't wait. I'm going to get every last drop out of the next 366 days, and hopefully I remember enough to write about it, too. Full steam ahead, boys. Full steam ahead.

As infinitely excited as I am about the prospects of 2008, I can't help but know that 2007 is going to be a tough one to beat. Last year, I was living in the basement apartment of a mountainside chalet with two like-minded friends, paying only $300 a month for rent, everything included, I only had to work part time, manning tables and the mahogany bar at a swanky little pub in Waitsfield. I also helped book and promote music, and meet some of the most fascinating musicians, architects, real estate agents and common drunks around, and also eat and drink every day for free; a privilege that I beat, drugged and raped for all it was worth.

Even more defiantly than the great job, the fancy home, and all the free beer and Scotch I could stomach, 2007 will mark the year in which I saw, felt, and experienced some of the most powerful and soul-jolting music that I have ever seen: Neil Young and his wife Pegi on Broadway; Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard at Vermont Fair; The Pogues in Boston a week before Paddy's Day, and the Dropkick Murphys in Burlington a week after the Sox won the Series. I got to see Page McConnell and Mike Gordon play at the Simpsons Movie Premiere in Springfield, where I also got to meet and shake hands with Matt Groening. I took my mom to see Bob Dylan, and also got to see Phil Lesh play a show in Glens Falls with "The Felon" Trey Anastasio, in the exact same room where Phil and the Grateful Dead played the night that I was born. I got snuck in to see Ratdog in Burlington by a guy I've never met before, and Mike came out as the "Special Guest." Then later that same night, I got to see Page sit in with George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste, and Brian Stoltz , a half a block down the street at Club Metronome.

I saw Gov't Mule only three times in 2007, which is slightly under par, but I did get to to see Warren play two cosmic sets with Phil Lesh and John Scofield at a ski resort in the Catskills, as well as sit in with the New Orleans Social Club, Michael Franti, and even G Love, respectively. I also saw The Allman Brothers in New Hampshire, with Luther Dickenson sitting in on a couple tunes. I saw Seth Yacovone acoustic fifteen times and electric seven, including a colossal three-set New Years show one year ago today at Nectar's, and another not-so-colossal three sets in September at the most awkward wedding reception I've ever been to. I saw Japhy Ryder six times and the Turkey Bouillon Mafia five, the Starline Rhythm Boys four, and Grace Potter three, and twice each the North Mississippi Allstars, Assembly of Dust, and Vorcza. I got to see John McLaughlin, PFunk, Ozomotli, the almighty Ween, and even GWAR, as well as the Sound of Urchin, Spookie Daly Pride, U-Melt, RAQ, Tea Leaf Green, acoustic moe, Ray Price, Jimmy Vaughn, The Machine, Lotus, and Shake It Like a Caveman, plus all the unnamed local bands that I have already forgotten about. But no matter how much these forgotten bands may have rocked or sucked, I'm sure that I had fun while I was there, whether I was blackout drunk just simply ignoring them, because even bad live music is better than no live music at all, and you can quote me on that; I'll stand by that statement forever.

So without further ado, here's to 2008. May it be bigger, better, and louder than any year before it, and may we all find ourselves the healthiest and happiest we've ever been. Slainte, and good luck.

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Music I saw in 2007...

12/31/06-1/1/07 Seth Yacovone Band. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
1/6/07 Starline Rhythm Boys. Local Folk's Smokehouse, Waitsfield, VT
1/10/07 Seth Yacovone. Langdon Street Cafe, Montpelier, VT
1/18/07 Vorcza. Slide Brook Inn, Waitsfield, VT
2/1/07 Grace Potter w/ open mic house band, Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
2/12/07 moe.acoustic. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
2/17/07 Japhy Ryder. Nectars, Burlington, VT
3/3/07 Starline Rhythm Boys. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
3/9/07 William Elliot Whitmore. Avalon, Boston
3/9/07 The Pogues. Avalon, Boston
3/11/07 Spookie Daly Pride. Pickle Barrel, Killington, VT
3/31/07 Mile 21. Sugarbush, Warren, VT
3/31/07 Lucid. Sugarbush, Warren, VT
3/31/07 Twiddle. Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, S. Burlington, VT
3/31/07 Japhy Ryder. Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, S. Burlington, VT
4/3/07 Les Nubians. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
4/7/07 Seth Yacovone. Cider House BBQ, Waterbury, VT
4/13/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectars, Burlington, VT
4/14/07 Japhy Ryder. Sugarbush, Warren, VT
4/14/07 Assembly of Dust. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT (w/ Scott
Tournet on guitar)
4/27/07 Seth Yacovone Band. Stone Church, Newmarket, NH
5/17/07 Eric Squindo. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
5/19/07 Seth Yacovone. Private Wedding aboard The Spirit of Ethan Allen, Lake
Champlain, VT
5/19/07 Seth Yacovone. Cider House BBQ, Waterbury, VT (w/ Brent Weaver on accompanying guitar)
5/23/07 Oak. Langdon Street Cafe, Montpelier, VT
5/30/07 Page McConnell. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT (w/ Mike Gordon on bass)
5/30/07 The Decoys. Nectar's. Burlington, VT
6/1/07 New Orleans Social Club. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY (w/ Warren Haynes on guitar)
6/1/07 Gov't Mule. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/1/07 RAQ. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY (late night set)
6/2/07 Assembly of Dust. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/2/07 U-Melt. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/2/07 Ozomotli. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/2/07 G-Love & Special Sauce. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY (w/ Warren Haynes & Ozomotli horns)
6/2/07 Tea Leaf Green. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/2/07 Gov't Mule. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY (w/M.Franti; J.Cinninnger; J.Clark; Ozomatli horns & Machan)
6/3/07 North Mississippi Allstars. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
6/3/07 Michael Franti & Spearhead. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY (w/ Warren Haynes on guitar)
6/3/07 Phil Lesh & Friends. Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY [Phil, Warren, Scofield, Molo & Molitz]
6/16/07 Sugarshack. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
6/22/07 Seth Yacovone Band. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT (w/ Adam King on keys)
6/22/07 "Liggy's First Waltz Superjam" Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT (w/ SYB, Turkey Bouillon Mafia, Dave Grippo, Brett Hughes, Lowell Thompson, Marie Clair, Tim Sharbaugh, Kevin Shapiro, Chris Friday, & Mikey the Bouncer emceeing, dressed as Gene Simmons & intermittently blowing fire.)
7/1/07 Jimmy Vaughn. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, VT
7/1/07 Bob Dylan. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, VT
7/6/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
7/6/07 Starline Rhythm Boys. Breakwaters, Burlington, VT
7/20/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
7/21/07 Page McConnell. Simpson's Movie Premiere Party, Springfield, VT (w/Mike Gordon)
8/3/07 Andromeda Taxi. Meadowbrook Second Stage, Gilford, NH
8/3/07 North Mississippi AllStars. Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, Gilford, NH
8/3/07 Allman Brothers Band. Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, Gilford, NH (w/Luther Dickinson)
8/13/07 Seth Yacovone Band. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
8/13/07 Turkey Bouillon Mafia. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT (w/ Seth Yacovone BandLowell Thompson on guitar and Chris Friday on vocals on guitar, bass and second drumset, )
8/17/07 The Machine. Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT (w/ Pink Floyd Laser Light Show)
8/19/07 Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT
8/26/07 Blues & Lasers. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlingotn, VT (The Nocturnals with Benny Yurco (guitar, Turkey Bouillon Mafia) & Steve Sharon (second drum kit))
8/26/07 The Samples. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
8/31/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
8/31/07 Bad Suit. Club Metronome, Burlington, VT (w/ Todd Stoops on keys)
8/31/07 Shake It Like a Caveman. Club Metronome, Burlington, VT
8/31/07 Japhy Ryder. Club Metronome, Burlington, VT
9/1/07 W.E.S.T.. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT (Japhy Ryder without guitar)
9/2/07 Ray Price. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Jct, VT
9/2/07 Merle Haggard. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Jct, VT (w/ Willie Nelson)
9/2/07 Willie Nelson. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Jct, VT (w. Merle Haggard & Ray Price)
9/2/02 Myra Flynn with Nick Cassarino. Red Square, Burlington, VT
9/5/07 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
9/5/07 The Brew. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
9/8/07 Seth Yacovone Band. Randi & Joe's Wedding, Lincoln, VT
9/8/07 Tons of Steel. Randi & Joe's Wedding, Lincoln, VT (Dead cover band w/Seth Yacovone)
9/12/07 Seth Yacovone. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
9/15/07 Gov't Mule. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT (w/ Mike Gordon)
9/19/07 Wise Rokobili. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
9/24/07 Okkervil River. Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, S.Burlington, VT
9/25/07 John McLaughlin & 4th Demention. The Egg, Albany, NY
9/28/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's. Burlington, VT
9/29/07 Grace Potter & Nocturnals. Burke Mountain Music Fest, East Burke, VT
10/3/07 Wise Rokobili. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
10/7/07 Japhy Ryder. Mad River Glen, Fayston, VT
10/9/07 Brian Kenney Fresno. Langdon Street Cafe, Montpelier, VT
10/17/07 Turkey Bouillon Mafia. Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, S.Burlington, VT (w/ S Yacovone, S Hadeka & "Mr. Charlie" Frasier. All Grateful Dead music, for "Big John's" 30th Birthday)
10/19/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
10/19/07 Starline Rhythm Boys. Charlie O's, Montpelier, VT (night 1 of a 2 night live album recording)
10/19/07 Nick Cassarino & Friends. Positive Pi, Montpelier, VT
10/19/07 Sessions Americana. Langdon Street Cafe, Montpelier, VT
10/19/07 Calamity Janes. Black Door Bistro, Montpelier, VT
10/20/07 Phil Lesh & Friends. Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY (w/ Trey for whole show)
10/24/07 Seth Yacovone. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
10/27/07 Roots of Creation. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
10/27/07 Spiritual Rez. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
10/31/07 Lotus. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
10/31/07 Sound of Urchin. Nectar's, Burlington, VT
11/2/07 Ratdog. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT (w/ Mike Gordon on bass)
11/2/07 Porter Batiste Stoltz. Club Metronome, Burlington, VT (w/ Page McConnell on keys)
11/6/07 GWAR. Higher Ground Ballroom, S.Burlington, VT
11/9/07 Seth Yacovone. Nectar's. Burlington, VT
11/18/07 The Briggs. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
11/18/07 Dropkick Murphys. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
11/26/07 WEEN. Higher Ground Ballroom, S. Burlington, VT
11/27/07 Nothing About Grover. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
12/6/07 Turkey Bouillon Mafia. Club Metronome, Burlington, VT
12/8/07 James Kinney. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
12/12/07 Seth Yacovone. Purple Moon Pub, Waitsfield, VT
12/14/07 Secret History. Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY
12/15/07 Peggy Young. United Palace, New York, NY
12/15/07 Neil Young. United Palace, New York, NY
12/20/07 Vorcza. Slide Brook, Warren, VT
12/31/07 Japhy Ryder. Gate House at Sugarbush, Warren, VT