Thought for the Day (Dec 1)

Subject: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Peter T.
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 09:03 AM

(dec 1) - We sit in the Free Times Cafe, a Toronto folk venue, which is having its "Open Space" Monday night. Rick Fielding has just ended his radio show, and we are around a table, with the also legendary, bearded local patriarch, Mose Scarlett. An endless parade of weirdos with guitars go past, heading for their 5 minutes on stage, some good, others hideous caterwaulers. Young hopefuls come up to shake hands with the masters, sit and doodle on their guitars, or talk to the friends they have dragged out to paper the place. The room is full of dreams and fantasy, craftsmen and loons, people who light up the place, people who have dragged the night in with them. One intense songwriter sits and talks to me about his life which is all music, all songwriting. We talk about Charles Bukowski, about how much hard work it is to be a really good drunk. Ken Dunn, who was on Rick's show, talks about his voyage through psychology and music. Mose talks about his life on the road, pouring endless doses of sugar into his coffee. Someone wails. Advertisements for next week's events change hands. It is a tribe, this particular musical tribe, as exotic as a bunch of New Guinea headhunters: and this is one of its core rituals, its rites of passage -- the open stage, the mentors, the newbies, the five minutes on, the trying out of the new guitar, the handing round of the old Martins. Where is its anthropologist -- its Franz Boas, its Claude Levi-Strauss, its Margaret Mead to record its bizarre familiarities?

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 09:42 AM

I nominate you - you seem to have a good start on it....

Regards, Neil

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Willie-O
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 09:48 AM

Hey yeah. Mose added to the patina of my old Martin once by playing it in a hotel jam. He can use it any time! It suited him.

A five minute set? Gads I hate those. Either way too short or way too long. This open stage must have quite the sign-up sheet!

Bill C.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 10:05 AM

Maybe I should be more realistic. Get a job at the Free Times Cafe and become recognized for being a good cook.

BB

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Night Owl
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 10:32 AM

Seems to me "its Margaret Mead" is here...at Mudcats..collectively.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: InOBU
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 11:16 AM

Actually, I think the anthropologist of Traditional music is Alan Feldman of the Donigal Fiddler fame. I was a student of his old pal, Nadia Sermakakis, and would go to his lectures every so often. Any one in touch with him, say hello for me, and watch what you do and say around him, it might wind up in a book - and Alan will not be offended - I hope - when I point out that anyone (ALAN!) who compairs mask wearing between south sea islanders and members of the IRA - well lets all be on our best behavior when he is observing and writing. Could be compair playing the Uilleann pipes to ... I cant emagine! Larry Otway

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 02:28 PM

Peter, take a look in the mirror.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: --seed
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 02:34 PM

I'd do it, Peter, except early in the evening I'm stressing about my own five minutes on stage, then I'm on stage, then I'm REALLY stressing about my five minutes on stage...

--seed

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Marion
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 02:37 PM

I've been to a Monday night at the Free Times. I don't think I've ever seen so many guitars per square foot of space before. Even I brought my guitar, and didn't even play it.

Great place.

Marion

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 02:49 PM

Oh by the way, Peter like Mama KatSageWalker say........
Look in your mirror and you will see a talented writer God bestowed in thee.

BB (one of your literary admirers)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: annamill
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 07:59 PM

Hi Peter. Oh, welcome back. I really missed you. All the other writers were wonderful, but they weren't Peter T. and I'll bet anything they would say the same.

Your Free Times Cafe sound like my house, only RnR. We have some pretty well known locals that are extremely talented come just for the freedom from 5-minute gigs. Sometime they play for hours. (My poor ears) Honey's always on the drums.

Good to Read from you.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 12:27 AM

I should mention that prior to checking out the flora and fauna at the Free Times cafe, our own Peter T Pepys was a visitor to the splendour of CIUT. Yep, he got a chance to see just how cutting edge radio operates.(the cuts weren't very deep and he'll be ok in a few days) Peter's description of the activities at the Free Times seems pretty accurate, although he's probably too polite to describe me as a sort of "rainforest greeter". The truth is that every one of the denizens whom I brought over to meet him had been told ahead of time that he was Sir George Martin in disguise, and was in Toronto looking for talent.
Seriously there IS a resemblance.
Rick

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 02:54 PM

Although actually I think he looks more like one of Bergman's stock company. Kind of a "friendly Max Von Sydow". Chess, anyone?

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 03:02 PM

Hard to know which is more frightening, though Sir George now says he is deaf (and given his Beatles tribute album, including Goldie Hawn, the evidence is in). Oh, well, better than looking like Death, I suppose. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: noah zacharin
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 10:14 AM

this is my first reply on mudcat, having just joined last night. rick f mentioned it to me, re: the hand problems that i have been experiencing with my new guitar (see new instrument. hand problems? 30 nov 99.) once a week i host the free times cafe open stage. i get to play about a half a dozen songs through the night, some singalong, some new, some not, and am always surprised by someone or something that i see that night. most other mondays i'm also there, meeting new folks, deepening with old friends (see first message: i am the "intense songwriter" that peter met, though truth be told my life is more multi-faceted than he thinks. wheee!) it is always an experience, so come on out and say hi (to someone!)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: Peter T.
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 10:24 AM

Hi, Noah, glad to see you. I have heard about some of your facets subsequently!!!! I didn't realize you were the host of the evening (oops). You must have some real stories to tell. Welcome to Mudcat -- a sort of Open Stage of the mind. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 10:25 AM

Well...........being me, I gotta' ask............

Is your name really Noah Zacharin? Or is that a handle/pseudonym thingy? Like, "This pop is sugar free and has noah zacharin in it either."

Just curious. Either way, WELCOME TO MUDCAT!!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From:
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 01:48 PM

i wasn't the host that night. possibly the third monday of dec is my next. and yes...quite the thing. actually, one of the best parts of my monday nights is sitting in with all kinds of singers, just listening and doing my best to add to what they do. whoo hoo (as homer might say.)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 1)
From: noah zacharin
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 01:50 PM

like i always say: like saccharine, but the real thing. yes, it is my real name.