april 2025: it's gonna be may
First of all, today is my brother’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REGGIE!) Give him a big ‘ol shoutout if you know him because he’s the best and deserves the best day today. ❤️🥳
Anyway, I’ve made it to the other side of turning 40 and springing into spring. I’ve been going on walks in the morning and enjoying all the fresh blooms in the neighborhood.
My bucket list this month includes starting my summer vegetable garden (I skipped it last year out of total laziness, but I’m determined to create a bountiful harvest this year), reading a bunch of books I’ve recently acquired, catching up on Severance and getting into shape for the start of softball season (it now takes a lot more to warm up this old body to avoid injury). The park near my house added a new basketball court with a newly smooth surface, and I see it as an opportunity to take out my rollerskates again.
Besides all that, I want to write a bunch of new songs this year, but it’s been weirdly busy to sit down and channel that energy. Maybe I should also take my guitar outside and see what happens? The sun has been calling me this season.
How are you doing? How’s spring been treating you?
Next Ovef Ow show is May 14 at the Burlington.
It’s been a few years since we played the Burlington, but we are sharing the bill with a touring act, MADRiD, whose set is a 30 to 35 minute, three-act birth-to-death puppet jazz experience. I mean, c’mon!
We don’t have any other shows lined up after this so we’ll likely hunker down to keep working on new stuff. Don’t miss it. Tickets here.
I continued the Octavia Butler Earthseed chronicles with Parable of the Talents, and wowowow. It gets a little Handmaid’s Tale in the middle and then slows down at the end but overall a great, prescient read.
Also, made it to Quimby’s twice this month and wanted to buy everything. (My superpower wish is the ability to hold a book up to my head and absorb all of its content in an instant.) I picked up two graphic novels that looked fun: Tedward by Josh Pettinger and Punk Rock Karaoke by Bianca Xunise (Chicago artist!)
April 30: Mamalarky at Schubas (their new album may make my top 10 this year)
May 2: Japanese Breakfast at Salt Shed
May 9: Lambrini Girls with Party Dozen at the Empty Bottle
May 10: DINOSAUR! (Paul Sheer’s improv group) at the Den Theatre
May 12: Sasami at Lincoln Hall
May 23: Tennis at Salt Shed
Birthday = new records! I am trying to slow way down and enjoy what I have, and something about listening to the vinyl versions of these albums made me pay attention and like them more than upon first hearing them over streaming.
Cartoon Darkness by Amyl and the Sniffers
Songs of a Lost World by the Cure
II by Dungen
For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) by Japanese Breakfast
Total Jerks by Judy and the Jerks (and I finally got to see them live last month — they ripped through a 30-minute set and it was super fun! I love them.)
Burn Your Fire For No Witness by Angel Olsen
