Claire and the Potatos Perform at the Earth Day Festival

Posted on by Thor

The Earth Day Festival was held at Lake Eola on April 19th. This was the same day as the World Wide SketchCrawl, so I invited artists to come to Lake Eola for a sketch marathon. The festival was so crowded that I never met any other artists. I did one sketch in the artist vendor’s area which was slated as the meeting place. When that sketch was done, I walked around the festival looking for other artists and scouting out the next sketch opportunity. Of course, when I heard music, I was gravitated towards it.

Claire and the Potatoes performed under a tent right on the eastern shore of Lake Eola. Last year, Claire was bitten by one of Lake Eola’s swans, so she kept an eye out as she sang. I sat on a low brick wall and sketched. Most of the audience stood on the walkway. All of the music was original dealing with misunderstood youth and romance. The group is a sort of pop hipster comfort band, with a soothing retro sound with dark undertones. The band members are Leslie Rising, Guy Larmay, Marc Sirdoreus and Jim Myers.Someone shot a photo of me working on the sketch, so this sketch circulated a bit on Facebook. Because of that, I thought I might have posted this sketch before. I’ve decided to sign each sketch when it goes online to help avoid confusion in the future. With this sketch done, I decided to call it a day and head home. I was discouraged that I didn’t meet any other artists but it turned out they were out there enjoying their day of sketching.

Mark Your Calendar! Tonight, July 12 between 8pm and 1am, Claire and The Potatoes will unleash their new
album, “Have An Okay Time With Claire and The Potatoes!”, and they’re
doing it at The Geek Easy (114 S. Semoran Blvd)!

It’s the first chance to get the new album (three days early, too),
and the first five people to purchase one will also receive one of the
few remaining copies of their first EP gratis!
Opening the show will be
Bucket of Nails (unpredictable spazz-rock from Orlando)
and then Figments (rock and roll from Tampa)
. There is no cover, so get out and soak up some tunes.

Jubal’s Kin at Stardust Video and Coffee

Posted on by Thor

Jubal’s Kin performed at the Monday Night Farmer’s Market outside Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL). This sketch was done a while ago before the kids went off to collage. I know Gailann Amundson formed an all girl group called “The Buck Stops Here.” Her brother is the only guy in the group, so perhaps he is the “Buck”. I always enjoy hearing this local group that plays heart felt Appalachia-Infused Cosmic Americana. The group hails from Longwood Florida and Roger and Jeffery Amundson round out the group.

RobotMan

Posted on by Thor

The outdoor entertainment tent at this year’s Fringe Festival rocked. Jessica Pawli organized all the bands and she brought in some amazing talent. There were times when I was between shows and I just had to stop, listen, sketch and enjoy. RobotMan had a fun jazzy sound with plenty of energy. Frankie Messina was sitting in the front row and I asked him how long the group had been playing. He said, “Probably not much longer, but I’m glad I am here to catch them”.

I always agonize that I might not have enough time to do a sketch, but I jumped right in anyway. The fast paced music slipper notes helped carry me along. Sometimes faster is better and accuracy can be replaced with spontaneity. The music reflected that thought as did the sketch. What a fun surprise to catch RobotMan in action on the lawn of fabulousness.

The Buck Stops Here

Posted on by Thor

I’ve been sketching performances by Gailanne Amundsen for years. She performs with her brothers, Roger and Jeffery , as Jubal’s Kin. These young performers harmonized beautifully. Gailanne met three other female performers at music festivals with the same passion for music. Together they formed, “The Buck Stops Here” which they describe as four does and a buck playing indie-soul-folk-pop-old time music. The idea of forming an all female group with one buck as backup is unique.

Julie Norris is the host of Front Porch Radio on WPRK, and she invited the girls in to perform their first live radio broadcast. The radio station has just renovated the music library and it now can be used for live performances. Rebecca Branson Jones, Julie Chiles and Shona Carr were driving in from North Carolina. Gailanne and Jeffery hail from Orlando. The band literally arrived minutes before going on the air, and there was a mad scramble to get ready. The studio buzzed with excitement.

From the other radio booth, the stage manager raised three fingers then two then one. Julie went live and introduced the group. This was her first time in the new recording studio and the microphone wasn’t on. The problem was fixed quickly and she interviewed the band. Gailanne is like a big sister to Julie’s daughter Maya, so there is plenty of love there. Of course the music speaks for itself. They performed some beautiful traditional folk songs and then some originals. The all female harmonies are pitch perfect. The group performed at a Cake Walk Party while they were in town. A cake walk is sort of like musical chairs, only home made cakes are the prizes. In most photos and videos of the group, it is funny to see Jeffery hidden in the background. He is fine with stepping back to let the ladies shine. It is exciting to see local talent as part of a group that shines so bright. I hope they come back soon.

Monday Night Jazz Jam

Posted on by Thor

Monday Night Jazz Jam was founded by the late pianist Billy Hall. This event has provided Great entertainment and supported numerous charities since 2008. The event happens on Monday nights at the New Mingo’s Restaurant, 100 South Eola Avenue Orlando FL, in Downtown Orlando.
Networking happens between 7 and 8pm and the Jam runs from 8 to 11pm. Several TOP Musicians and Vocalists including
Joseph Jevanni on the keys, Don Black on the Sax,
Jacqueline Jones-on vocals. The evening is hosted by Yvonne Coleman of Jazzy103.com

I arrived early and got a table near where the performers would set up.  The drums were piled in and set up. The drummer asked if he could borrow my table for a second. He rolled his drum sticks on the table I assume to get a feel for their balance. Yvonne welcomed me. When the music fired up, the place came alive.  I ordered a drink and settled into the sketch.

I sketched through the first set and finished up during the second set. Different musicians rotated in throughout the evening. There were plenty of singers who rotated in as well. There is an undeniable energy to these Monday night Jams. I didn’t stay until the end. Once the sketch was finished, I headed home.

The Mudflappers

Posted on by Thor

At Florida Blog Con the closing keynote by Pat Moore of Marketing Nutz. Nothing she talked about made any practical sense. I glanced around the auditorium and most people seemed to be surfing the web or checking their Facebook status.

There was a Ford after party in Full Sail‘s back Lot. Sysco provided the food, and Pinnacle Vodka provided the drinks. The Mudflappers provided the entertainment. I pulled over a chair and sketched. One woman and her child danced to the music but for the most part the music was something people shouted over. I’m sure I should have mingled but it is just as important that I do what I do. The performers thought that I was writing an extensive review. I last saw the Mudflappers at a Fringe Fundraiser at Hard Rock Live. Their music is lively and fun and I tapped my toe as I sketched. Their music pulls its influences from the outlaw country of Johnny
Cash, the blazing bluegrass of Earl Scruggs,  the roaming melodies of gypsy swing
à la Django Reinhardt, to the prohibitionary jazz of your local
speakeasy. This sonic gumbo is held together by the sultrily celestial
harmonies of leading lady Sarah Elizabeth Patrick the violinist who, as it turns out, is expecting a baby. Her flapper’s dress hid that fact quite well. Soon there will be a little Mudflapper kicking up his or her heels.

 When the band stopped, one performer stopped over to see what I was up to. He knew my work and said one of my sketches was being used as his laptop desktop. I smiled, but groaned inside, there was another use of my work where I wasn’t getting paid. Then all the performers started coming over.

By the time I was done, most people had left. I had some pasta , a coke and some incredible peanut butter cupcakes and then headed home. I learned plenty at the conference and now it was time to implement changes going forward.

Great Irish Hooley

Posted on by Thor

Over Labor day weekend, Monday September 2nd, I went to Raglan Road (1640 North Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL) for the Great Irish Hooley. Raglan Road is located on Pleasure Island near Downtown Disney. A Hooley is a unique Irish Festival jam packed with the best of Irish Music and Entertainment outside of Ireland. This sounded to good to be true, so I braved the Disney Tourist crowds to get a sketch.

When I pulled into the Downtown Disney parking lot, it immediately began to rain. I pulled out my iPhone and pulled up the weather radar app. Sure enough the radar showed a small rain cell right over my location. The clouds were moving fast and the radar showed a wide open expanse once the storm passed. The radar updates every five minutes and I waited in the car with the rain pelting loudly on metal. After fifteen minutes the rain slowed and I started over to Raglan Road.

As luck would have it there was an awning that provided perfect cover right across from the pub. The lightning rods on every corner of the pub seemed ready for any strike. The outdoor stage was covered with tarps and I assumed I would be sketching a rained out event. One of the Irish dancers, Daniella, spoke with tourists in front of the pub. She took an interest in my sketch and then spoke with Disney Coworkers who were exploring the parks on their day off. He was leaving his Disney job soon and she expressed regret about having to see so many people always leaving. A manager checked with the bartender, and nerves bristled that she would start telling employees gathered outside the pub what to do. The manager noticed me sketching and walked over. Luckily she just glanced down, said, “Nice” and walked off.

Someone joked with the bartender, saying, “You look lonely. Seven dollars for a Guinness! No wonder you look lonely!”  He ordered a drink anyway. The stage was cleared and Johnny Norton and Justin Murphy began to play. A crowd formed quickly in the street to watch. Declan Masterson followed that act playing lively music for jigs and reels. The dancer, Daniella began doing a jig in front of the band, then people in the audience joined in. This turned out to be an amazing performance by traditional Irish musicians who had been flown in for the four day event. Though off to a soggy start, this turned out to be a hell of a good time. I heard the interior of the pub is absolutely gorgeous so that may warrant a return visit.

The Maitland Food Truck Cafe

Posted on by Thor

On June 10th, The Mother Band performed at Lake Lily as part of the Maitland Food Truck Cafe event. The band was just starting to set up when I arrived. My focus shifted to the long line of food trucks, so I sat down and started to sketch. A TV news crew was there interviewing food truck chefs. That made me suspect that I was on the cusp of a breaking story.  Perhaps a food truck was a front for a huge drug trafficking ring. A gun fight could break out, forcing me to sketch from behind the cover of a tree. Perhaps it is mob week on TV and I’m imagining things.

 I’ve seen the retro styled Yum Yum truck before at other Food Truck events. The Tree House Truck was new to me. A mom and her daughter ordered a meal and sat at a picnic table to eat. A Korean girl looked over my shoulder inspecting at every line as I put it on the page. The sky was getting grey with storm clouds and thunder rumbled across the lake. It began to rain with a trickle of large wet drops to start. I was under the cover of a tree and the leaves offered shelter for my sketch at first. Then the deluge started and I quickly packed away the sketch and ran for my car. By default, the sketch was done. As I drove home, I realized I was hungry. Why on earth didn’t I order some food. I’d make a terrible “Foodie” since my focus on sketching distracts me from tasting. I also forgot to listen in to how the band sounded in the distance. Strike two for my in depth reporting.

Mark your Calendars! The Maitland Food Truck Cafe is tonight, Wednesday August 21st and August 28th starting at 6pm on the shore of Lake Lily. The event is closed for the month of September and will reopen on the first Wednesday of every month starting in October.

Brad Catron Quartet

Posted on by Thor

On April 17th I went to Tastings (164 Lake Ave Maitland Fl), to listen to jazz and sketch.  The Jazz Tastings Quartet performs every Friday starting at 7PM. I ordered a white wine and a lobster bisque that was delicious. The band got on stage just as I was finishing my bisque. Cary Frank was on the keyboards and you can’t see him in my sketch. He is behind the bass player, John Toney.  I recognized John, I had sketched him perform once before at the Obama Campaign Headquarters. Brad Catron was up front with his self deprecating humor and fast fingers on guitar. The fish bowl tip jar was half full of dollar bills from the start.

The music was lively helping motivate every line and splash of color. After my second cup of white wine the sketch started to look not so bad. As often happens, the band took a break before the sketch was done. I kept painting, forgetting about local color, and going with colors that worked for the sketch.

It was a good sketch session, although the bisque and wines were more expensive than I expected. Most people don’t recognize the cost of making art.  Maybe I should put a tip jar out every time I sketch. With my luck, I’d be arrested for busking or begging.

Earth Fest

Posted on by Thor

Before work on Saturday I went to Earth Fest in Lake Concord Park (95 Triplet Lake Drive Casselberry FL). When I arrived I walked towards the sound of music. The Hindu Cowboys were performing and I immediately started a sketch. Next to me a bicyclist stopped and watched me intently. His name was Hector and he came from New York City so we had something in common. He lamented the fact that he seldom sees artists like myself sketching around town. In NYC there are herds of artists in Times Square. He also lamented that you never see musicians performing on the streets of Orlando.

The Hindu Cowboys finished up their first set playing Johnnie Cash‘s Folsom Prison Blues.  While they were gone I added watercolor washes to the sketch. When I was done, I wandered through the sea of tents. I was hungry and looking for a food tent. Someone offered me a health bar that tasted like a Fig Newton. One tent had an active bee hive on display. By the time I was ready to head to work, the Hindu Cowboys were on stage again playing Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. The music faded away as I made my way across the ever busy 17-92 back to my car. Maybe there is something wrong in this need to sketch everyday. A movie trailer for the next Thor movie, hafd the tag line, “What would you sacrifice for what you believe in.”.