Happy Independence Day to everyone, even to those in other countries, because everyone needs to have a happy day every once in a while, even if it's the uber-partriotic holiday of a bully nation that not a whole lot of other countries like very much.

Of course, I sincerely hope that will change, and soon. I may not be a 'my country right or wrong' kind of guy (thank goodness!) but I do like America and American values. You know, the real ones—liberty, opportunity, equality, compassion—not the false ones that eight years of Shrubya would have us believe.

I know it's late in the day, and most people are already doing what they'd planned on doing for the holiday, but when y'all get back to these here intarwebs, let me know what you did. I, personally, am spending the day resting, playing City of Heroes, and perhaps watching a DVD. Tomorrow, I have a game and then a concert, so I need to be well-rested.

Gakked from my friend Celest Woo over on Facebook:

OK, here are the rules: 15 Books

Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Tag at least 15 friends.

Here are mine in no particular order (free-association order):

1. War For the Oaks by Emma Bull
   
2. Jhereg by Steven Brust
   
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
   
4. Number of the Beast by Robert Heinlein
   
5. Luck In the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
   
6. Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly
   
7. Doc Sidhe by Aaron Alston
   
8. The Sundered by Michael Martin and Andy Mangels
   
9. The Romulan Way by Diane Duane
   
10. The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen R. Donaldson
    
11. The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust
    
12. Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
    
13. The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
    
14. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
    
15. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

"Man In the Mirror". A classic example, in my point of view, of the message transcending the messenger.

In my post-teen years, I wasn't a fan of Michael Jackson, either musically or as a human being. But no one deserves to die that young. And on that basis, I mourn him.

A few weeks ago. I was reading a really good book. ;-)

I'm not a fan of either Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Twilight, but given a choice, I'd take Buffy any day of the week. So this little video mashup made me laugh.

It also quite scathingly points out how much of a creepy stalker Edward Cullen is...

Well, as of this past Saturday, Allison's and my new 3-song EP CD, O, R'lyeh? Iä, R'lyeh!, is officially released! This CD contains three Cthulhu-themed songs: "Hey There Cthulhu", "Bloody (Before It Eats My Face)", and "Timere".

You can order it at my online store for only $5 plus shipping!

Or, if you're planning to be at the show on Saturday, you can buy a copy there!

Sunday's Heroes Against Hunger Concert was a lot of fun. Folding Mister Lincoln were AWESOME, so much so that we're seriously thinking of having them back for another one towards the end of the year.

We got 55 pounds of food for the San Diego Food Bank this time around, more than twice as much as last time! However, the monetary contributions were smaller, only $25 (as compared to $75 last month). Even so, it was a definite success.

Next month's show on July 5th will feature Allison Lonsdale from 6pm to 7pm, with my band backing her up! Those of you who are used to hearing Allison at our monthly Lestat's shows are in for a real treat.

ALSO, don't forget that Allison's and my 40th Birthday House Concert and Party is this Saturday at 5pm in the College Area. If you still haven't RSVPed and you'd like to come, shoot me an e-mail at ebenbrooks (at) ebenbrooks (dot) com.

I wrote this on the way up to the Music Strategies Conference. I'll let y'all guess what it's about.

The Last Place
by Eben Brooks

Well, I'd like to tell you
It isn't your fault, dear,
But Momma told me not to lie.
And I wanted to tell you
I'd like to see you again
So I can spit in your eye.

(Chorus)
But this was the last place
I ever expected
To see your face again
'Cause this is the last place
That I'll ever call you
A friend.

I know Mister Karma
Has already gotten you
For all the crap you pulled before
But inter arma
Enim silent justitia
(In other words) All's fair in love and war

(Chorus)

It's been many years now
Since we've been lovers
For which I thank God every day
'Cause when I think back now,
It just makes me shudder
At how you threw my love away.

(Chorus)

I'm at the Music Strategies 2009 conference at the Westin LAX. I've learned a lot about music marketing in the past two days! I thought I knew a lot before, but the music industry is in such upheaval right now and things are changing so fast that all new rules apply. My brain is so full I feel punch-drunk, and it's probably gonna take me a week to figure out what the hell to do with all the new information.

In about 20 minutes, I need to be downstairs with my guitar to get ready to play a song in the Music Strategies concert for the rest of the hotel guests. There are about 600 people attending a military conference here, so I think we're going to have a good audience.

I've also made a lot of connections here among the other musicians, and I think I've got a few more people interested in playing Heroes Against Hunger shows! Tim Sweeney himself even plugged the show during the last conference session at 4:30. (Don't forget, the next Heroes Against Hunger show is tomorrow!)

The 40th birthday party house concert on Saturday the 13th is definitely going to happen. If you have already RSVPed, thanks! And if you haven't, please do so by sending me an email to ebenbrooks (at) ebenbrooks (dot) com.

I've also learned that I am going to be playing at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas this time next year. I don't know many details yet, but I'll let you know what they are as soon as I do.

Anyway, gotta dash downstairs now and get ready to play.

Allison "caprine" Lonsdale and I are celebrating out 40th birthdays by throwing a huge party and house concert! We'll be performing a lot of our favorite material, including a bunch of our filk songs. Plus that day will also be the official release of O, R'lyeh? Iä, R'lyeh!, our Cthulhu-themed 3-song EP—everyone who attends gets a copy for FREE!

So if you wanna come, comment here with your e-mail address or RSVP to ebenbrooks@ebenbrooks.com. We'll send you general location information immediately, then follow up with the exact address and location approximately a week before the show. It will be outdoors, but there will be shade provided. Also, if you like, bring a snack or a drink to share!

Here's all the pertinent info:

Saturday, June 13th, 2009 — 5:00pm to 9:00pm
House Concert and Birthday Party for Eben and Allison!
At a Friend's House in San Diego—RSVP for directions!
Price: $10, which includes a FREE copy of O, R'lyeh? Iä, R'lyeh!

I just got word that an interview I did with the San Diego Reader is going to be published in tomorrow's issue. Furthermore, it's already on their website, here: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/may/20/ministerial-cred/

The reporter, Jay Allen Sanford, told me in an e-mail today that "If the web version generates some comments, eds [editors] may request followup coverage."

So do me a favor, please. The article mentions that the Band is playing on June 7th at Claire de Lune, but it doesn't mention that it's a Heroes Against Hunger show. So please leave a comment on the story about how that show will help feed the hungry in San Diego County, and that it's a monthly show that happens every first Sunday. That may be enough for the Reader to do an article on the Heroes Against Hunger Concert Series, which will bring lots of new faces to the shows.

Thanks! Hope you enjoy reading it, and let me know what you think.

Today is Mothers' Day.

I was looking in the mirror the other day, and I noticed how much like my mom I look. take away the beard, soften up a few of the angles, and I'd be nearly a dead ringer for her. I even have her coloration, which is strange, because my dad is dark, and we all learned in high school biology that dark is dominant and light is recessive. Yet here I am with dark blond/light brown hair and green eyes like Mom instead of black hair and brown eyes like Dad.

Mom was . . . interesting. Strong, spirited, but also very vulnerable. She had a tendency to lash out when she felt threatened, but she had a very strong nurturing streak, too. It made for some difficult times growing up, but I am who I am at least partly because of her, so I don't think I'd have it any other way.

She died on August 30th, 2001. The breast cancer that she'd survived three times came back a fourth and took her. Dad and I are still sifting through what she left behind, but mostly the pain is just an occasional dull ache these days.

If your mother is still alive, tell her you love her while you still have the chance. If she isn't, remember her well. And in either case, please consider donating something, anything, to the breast cancer charity of your choice, like Susan G. Komen for the Cure or The American Cancer Society.

Photographers Richard Rasner and Jenna Black were at the show on Sunday, and they took a bunch of very cool photos. Richard posted some of his yesterday in this post. Here are a some of my favorites:







And then Richard used Ugo's Hero Studio to make this:



Thank you so much, Richard! :D

-------

Richard Rasner can be followed on LiveJournal at uniqueblog and in the uniquenudes community.

Last night's Heroes Against Hunger show brought in $75.92 and 21 pounds of food. That's enough to feed over a hundred people for a day. The Wild Older Women were fantastic, and we had a blast doing our set. It was also great to see Richard Rasner and Jenna Black, the two photographers who participated in the Heroes Against Hunger Tour in December, there at Claire de Lune as well. They took lots of photos, so as soon as I get some copies, I'll be posting them.

My girlfriend also took some pictures. Here's a really good one of Sweet Joyce Ann:

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 - 6:00pm
Heroes Against Hunger Concert, w/ The Wild Older Women
Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge
2906 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
619-688-9845
Price: Free (bring donations!)

The inaugural Heroes Against Hunger Concert features The Wild Older Women (Sweet Joyce Ann and Annie Rettic) from 6pm until 7pm, and then The Eben Brooks Band from 7pm until 8pm!

Please bring donations of non-perishable food or cash to give to the San Diego Food Bank. And remember that a portion of all CD and merchandise sales also goes to the Food Bank.

[EDIT: This morning, an update to the schedule arrived in my e-mail. Here's the new info!]

Sunday, April 26th, 2009 - 2:00pm
OB Beach Party!
Winston's
1921 Bacon Street
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
(619) 222-6822
Price: $5

The OB Beach Party at Winston's is an annual event filled with great music! This year, we, The Eben Brooks Band, are performing at 7pm! We'll be playing a full-hour set, but come earlier in the day to see some of the other great acts! The schedule for the day is:

2:00--Madera Acoustic
3:00--Chelsea Flor
3:30--Chad Cavanaugh (Birthday Party Begins!!!)
4:00--The Outlaw Ringo Jones
5:00--The United Saints of America
6:00--Drop Joy
7:00--THE EBEN BROOKS BAND!
8:00--Tornado Magnets (CD Release Party)

This is going to be an awesome show! See you there! :D

It's been almost a week since I confirmed the date for the first Heroes Against Hunger show, and I still haven't managed to find a band to play the second half. I'd had four bands express interest, and one of them said they could do the show in June, one of them said they could do a later show (after their return from overseas), and I've had no response from the others. I've since e-mailed or called about a dozen other bands and musicians, and I've had only one response from those—and he predictably said "I'll get back to you."

I'm running out of time! If I don't get the advertisement in to the Reader by tomorrow, it won't run next week. Plus I need to get the press release written and sent out, get the flyers made up, and contact the radio and TV stations...but I can't do any of that until I know who is playing with us on the 3rd!

I'm tempted to take this as a sign that it won't work, but darn it, I know it will! I just have to weather the scary parts. Like this one.

Finally, after months of asking various venues, talking with a bunch of booking people, and getting nothing but "We'd like too, but"s...finally, we have a venue and a schedule for the Heroes Against Hunger Concerts!

A big thanks to Betty is in order, as it was indirectly her suggestion of the North Park Theater that led us to our actual venue, Claire de Lune. The North Park Theater, while awesome, is WAY too big for us right now. But a recommendation from their booking person to Claire (yes, there is a Claire behind Claire de Lune) got me in the door there, and I met with her on Thursday to conclude the deal!

Starting on May 3rd, and continuing each month on the first Sunday, from 6pm 'til 8pm at Claire de Lune Coffeehouse in North Park, the Heroes Against Hunger Concerts will feature The Eben Brooks Band and one or two other acts to help raise money and gather non-perishable food donations for the San Diego Food Bank.

We haven't yet booked the other performers, but we've had a lot of interest. Scheduling takes time, and I expect to be able to make an official announcement soon!

I forgot to post a link to Vlog #20 when I made it, so here it is:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeDC5Ee4YWo

And here's the one that went up Monday, Episode #21:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJWiFUz1auo

No need for a summary, here it is in all it's naked glory, from December 22nd, 2004:

This is my journal. Take it or leave it.

I've decided that enough of my friends are using this thing that it's high time I started doing so as well. And since I've been trying to think of ways to increase my exposure musically, I decided to make this my Music Blog. I'll be posting interesting items here about what's coming up in my musical career and other such interesting tidbits. For those of you who are local and want to come see me perform, you can sign up on my Yahoo Group by e-mailing ebenbrooksmusic-subscribe@yahoogroups.com</a>.

Please note, however, that I struck out the part that is no longer applicable. Nowadays, if you're local and want to come see me or my band perform, go to http://music.ebenbrooks.com/ and either use the short form on the left or click the link to open the large form and sign up on my newsletter. If you do, you'll get cool MP3 downloads every month! What could be better?